"It's been a long time since he's cried like that," Sebestian commented, once both of them were certain that Alec was completely asleep and not waking soon."It has." Amelia was sorting things around the room, closing the curtain so that sunrise would not wake Alec before he had gotten enough rest, smoothing down the blankets again, tidying up the few books not on the shelves."It's not been too long. I could track them down.""I could as well.""We can't let them get away with doing this. If we allow them to escape punishment, then others will do the same."Amelia's eyes glinted. "We will handle this.""Tonight?""Yes. Tonight."Sebestian chewed on his bottom lip as he thought. "We can't just run off and leave him here alone right now. You saw how upset he was.""He probably wouldn't wake before we returned, but I don't want to risk that," Amelia agreed."We could call someone and ask them to come stay-"Amelia smirked, finding just the slightest amusement in the situation despite he
Sebestian paid the cabbie, tipping a little too generously, then he and Amelia supported each other on the walk up to the apartment. Liam was cooking when they arrived. The smells of a homemade breakfast made by someone who could actually cook flooded through the apartment, and both of them were tempted to go straight to the kitchen."He's asleep right now. He woke up briefly. Jen got him to eat a little and then convinced him to go back to sleep," Liam said before they could even ask. It was nice having another dad figure around who understood their concerns. "It's a slow day for both Liam and me, so why don't you two slips in and see for yourselves that he's fine. Then you two can shower and change and come eat something before you both rest for a few hours. We can discuss the next steps at breakfast.""We couldn't put you out like that," Amelia started to say."It's not putting us out. Two weeks later, they were all in court. Alec was seated carefully between his parents with every
Alec woke up some time later to the sound of Sebestian's phone beeping. "Sorry," Sebestian murmured while stretching to reach the device."Tell whoever it is that you're busy. They can't really expect you to do any work when you're on family sick leave," Amelia complained.Sebestian, who had been reading his messages, sighed. "It would seem that that's exactly why they need me."It had been Allen who contacted them about Keven being sick. Normally, she would have been over at his place taking care of her Alpha herself, especially since she herself was also immune to the flu, but she was on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy and forbidden to leave the institute. Adira couldn't check on Keven for her either. She had proclaimed himself some kind of guard dog for Allen and didn't dare to leave her side for longer than it took her to stick her head out of the door and yell for someone to go get whatever Allen needed. Jenny had been trying to take care of Keven on her own, but with
Sebestian reluctantly released his hold on Amelia and pulled himself out of the bed and back to the living room.Even when he woke confused from the night terrors, Alec had never sunk into such a state.He kept stroking at Alec's curls and back and tried to ignore the way his heart felt like it was breaking with each little whimper. There was a sudden gasp and then he felt something warm on his shirt followed by more tears."It's okay," Sebestian assured while reaching for the bin in case the accidental spit up meant that more sickness was on its way. He doubted it thought. Alec should have had nothing left in his stomach by that point, which they would have to fix as soon as they took care of the fever.Sebestian returned quickly. "The rest are fine. I got them to take their medicine, got them some drinks. I think they're all going to nap some more. I brought more of the medicine for you too. Just in case."Amelia took a vial of the stuff. She was feeling almost completely cured by w
Alec slowly pulled himself up as Amelia dramatically dropped down to sit next to the child. Somehow getting what he wanted wasn't feeling right."And what should we call you, my dumpling?" Amelia was cooing away at the toddler as Alec reluctantly went into the kitchen to start dinner. Alec returned in the middle of cooking. Sweaty and with a few bruises, he still cheerfully greeted Amelia with a kiss and squatted down to coo at the toddler."Did you find his parents?" Apparently, Amelia had gotten a longer version of the story than Alec had.Sebestian's smile faded. "Alpha father. Beta mother. Neither wanted-"Alec's stomach twisted. Amelia made a hurt noise, but it was sudden and brief. Sebestian knew without looking that Amelia had already pasted on a fake smile."Do we have a name then?""Yes, his name is Leo.""So, little sweetling Leo, it looks like you'll be staying with us."Alec startled at the announcement, missing the onion he was chopping and instead slicing into his hand.
The breakfast led to a boozy lunch and by afternoon, Alec could feel some guilt sinking in. More than that though, he found himself growing angry. All their promises suddenly felt like empty words, and he could tell he was being even more of a"bluenose" as Sammy had called. Even she was getting tired of his grumpiness, though he could tell she was worried."They probably know you're with me and just don't want to interrupt you. They don't want to be suffocating.""That'd be a first. They just haven't noticed is all.""Okay, no more." Sammy snatched his glass from his hand. "You need to go home and deal with this. Sitting here and drinking is accomplishing nothing.""You're impatient for someone who has all the time in the world.""Come on," she tugged him to his feet. "I'm going to walk you home, and you're going to deal with this."And that was exactly what she did. She walked him straight into the Will's apartment, dragging him along by the hand as if leading a lost child back home.
They continued talking and drinking. Alec, head spinning in a pleasant sensation from the plasma found himself actually laughing at some of the jokes. His eyes wandered to Min's lips. He had never liked kissing. He felt no sexual attraction. Sometimes though he still found himself wanting to press his lips against someone else's. Just the quickest impact and in as innocent of a manner as a quick peck on the cheek.Eventually, the talking did become borderline flirting. Min leaned in closer, and Alec prepared to break the news to him that nothing was going to happen."Your parents are looking for this way."Okay. That was a new one. Alec twisted around to glance in that direction. Both his mum and dad were staring at him in confusion, and as soon as they caught him glancing back, Sebestian stood and made his way over.Alec waited for her to reach them. Sebestian glanced over Minj. "Hello, Min.""Hi, Sebes-"That was as far as Min got before Sebetsian was turning his back to instead loo
And that was thing. It was working. Surprisingly well actually. Alec was adhering to the rules Sebestian had set. He was staying in the apartment. He wasn't touching his phone which sat on the living room mantel where it was to remain for the two weeks. He did his usual household responsibilities with all the same attention and care as usual, and he even helped to reorganize their book collection. He followed all the rules precisely even if his attitude was chilly at best, and then they reached the third day of the grounding.Alec was pouting. It was the only way to describe the expression on his face right then. "If I'm grounded, then shouldn't I be at home anyway?""No, because there's no one there to make sure you don't go out, and besides you probably enjoying staying in by yourself more than going out so it's not really a punishment.""You make it sound like I hate people."Sebestian raised an eyebrow."I just find them slightly intolerable. Anyway, what about the retirement cent
Ady was the one that actually tried to cheer him up with something else than kind words and chocolate."So. Heard you tried to dispatch Ci with fish knife?" he asked conversationally. "Want another go at it? Somewhere more... private shall we say?"Ethan would have been lying if he said he didn't consider it. But it wouldn't do shit for the real problem. Him."I'll let you the pleasure. Didn't you and Simon were keeping her around for a special occasion anyway?""Ah yes... Well Jen said, "only crazy, homicidal maniac keep people around to kill them later". He's such a buzzkill sometimes." Ad corrected, a fond expression on his pale face. Ethan had speculated about Ad and Jen for a while, until Alec had announced that he and the young Omega were dating more seriously now, around a year ago."Well, he's not wrong," Ethan mused, "though if you did kill her, your position would be finally secured.""Appealing to me through politics Wil? So, you do want her dead!""Everyone wants her dead.
"Ethan? Are you okay?" Matthew asked, tearing Ethan from his thoughts.Damn you burgundy Gucci shirt."Yup, just admiring you," he spoke, trying to smother the deep want that was growing in his belly. Ethan wasn't the best orator, but confronted to that shirt, he was usually back to his old incoherent self, stammering half sentences around (that was why he elected to let his body do the talking for him).Matthew batted his eyelashes, accepting the compliment easily."You're wearing a new suit, darling," he commented when Ethan had sat down, eyes riveted to Ethan's chest, "without me having to cajole you in it. Recall me to send something nice to whoever dressed you. Even if truth be told, I'm a bit jealous.""I never got your obsession with dressing rooms Matt," Ethan joked. Opening his menu, he saw that Luigi had put a small note in it Everything is going right on schedule it said. He smiled."Well you're usually half naked in those, I don't see what's not to like. At that point the
All told, Ethan had tried to propose to Matthew in six different occasions since his lunch with Cammy. It was not that Ethan was bad at it, per say. It was just that Matthew was just too good at distracting him. That, and the rest of the world didn't stop trying to kill him.The first time he gathered enough courage to propose, Matthew had mistaken Ethan going down to his knee for something else entirely and made a dirty, dirty remark and Ethan's proposal metaphorically went out the window. Cammy didn't see any of that, thank God, but the flush Cammy had sported when he reported to her his failure was enough. Sammy cackled (when did Ethan lost his ability to glare at her and mean it damn it) and justified himself for going with Matthew assumption by saying:"What, you want me to ask him after a blow job? I actually want him to give me an answer when he's capable of thoughts, Cammy."She had stared at him then, probably because she never had heard Ethan talk so easily about sex before,
After all, the man had already lived hard life. Alpha, beta, and omega tended to gain marks over the years, for each person they loved or trusted enough to share their soul with. Someone like Matthew, with his warmth and smiles and beauty, should have had dozens of lines littering his skin. A bond would have explained it all.But then, of course, Ethan's gaze flicked towards Matthew other wrist, and his eyes widened at the two lines that adorned it. Two only; one black, the sign of a broken bond, and one golden, shining as brightly as Ethan's. A single active bond."I'm surprised you accepted my offer," Matthew said a few minutes later, swirling his glass and staring at Ethan coyly. "You've been particularly hard to catch, Ethan.""Ah, yes," Ethan grimaced. "I've been... busy. You know how it is, being a Alpha. Or maybe not, but well, you know...""Yes darling, I understand," Matthew chuckled. "I'm just happy to have you here.""Happy- happy to be here," Ethan stuttered, his right fin
The change was instantaneous; Sam pursed his lips thoughtfully and looked away from Matthew. His pencil stopped moving, and his grip tightened so much that his knuckles turned white."It would make Ethan happy," he finally said. The answer was a lot more diplomatic than what Matthew had expected, especially since this was clearly something that troubled Sam. "He's a lot happier with you than he's ever been before, even with us, and I think he'd be even happier if he got to live with you.""I hope so," Matthew smiled. "But that's not what I asked, Sam. Look, I can tell that you don't really hate me, regardless of the little show you put on earlier, so why don't you talk to me about what's really bothering you? Is this about me spending too much time with Ethan?""No," Sam mumbled. "Not really. It's just... His last boyfriend used to spend a lot of time here as well, and he even told me that he was going to move in once, even though it didn't happen, and he didn't like it when I was aro
"Matthew, what is it?""Cammy!" Matthew exclaimed a tad too enthusiastically. "I've got a bit of a problem, and I think that you're the perfect person to help!""Flattery will get you nowhere, Matthew," his friend in all but blood snorted. "But go ahead, tell me about this problem. I'll see what I can do.""Right, so you know Ethan?" he started. "My delightful boyfriend whom I love very much and for whom I would do just about anything. Well, he needed someone to look after his little brother today, and I jumped in to help. But now I'm faced with an eight-year-old who doesn't want anything to do with me and seems to think that I'm worse than the devil. He doesn't believe I'm good enough for Ethan, refuses to be 'used as a way to get to him' and also slammed the door to his bedroom in a clear 'i-don't-want-to-talk-to-you' way. Any ideas?""Well, first of all, you shouldn't have accepted a job that you're too inexperienced to handle," Cammy pointed out uselessly. "But have you tried sugg
Ethan was already in their bedroom when Matthew got back to the hotel. The younger vampire grinned at him happily and Matthew felt another pang of regret at his earlier behaviors. He could have been with his boyfriend hours ago, but instead he had acted like a jealous fool and wasted time on stupid insecurities that he should have gotten over weeks before."I missed you today," Ethan sighed, leaning over to peck him on the lips. "Alec said that you stopped by the wok and went looking for me after the council meeting, but I didn't see you. Did something come up?""Yeah," Matthew lied, wincing at how wrong the word sounded. Ethan was right, he couldn't just ignore his issues and keep Ethan in the dark. It wasn't fair to either of them. "Actually no, not really. I went to the training room to find you, but you were with Ady and I... I don't know, Ethan, I guess I overreacted a little bit. I went to Cammy for a while instead.""What do you mean, you overreacted?" Ethan frowned."I just...
"Sorry I'm late!"Matthew looked up at his boyfriend dryly, refusing to show how affected he had been by Ethan's absence. The two of them had been planning this date for weeks, but the younger man hadn't even managed to show up on time. Of course, Matthew understood that Ethan had a lot on his mind, but he had hoped that for once he could be his boyfriend's priority."Advin kept me late again," Ethan continued with a sheepish grin. Matthew steadfastly ignored the wave of jealousy that hit him at those words. "You know how he gets when we train. I tried to remind him that we had something planned for the night, but he refused to let me go until I beat him, which only happens like... One out of twenty times. Are we still going to that star-gazing thing at the observatory?""Of course we are," Matthew rolled his eyes. The younger Alpha had been talking about the event for over a month, which was why they had chosen this night for their date in the first place. "We should get going if we
(How Ethan and Matthew got together)"You have a choice to make. I will not ask again."The words hurt to say, but Matthew couldn't let this Alpha take over his heart, no matter how pretty he was. If Ethan refused to put an end to this sham of a promise he was planning, Matthew wouldn't chase him any longer.He breathed in deeply and ignored the pain that flooded his chest as Ethan remained silent. He lifted a hand, ready to go away at a second's notice, but then the gorgeous Alpha in front of him turned around and all thoughts of disappearing faded away.He should have left, should have given Ethan space and time to think about his offer, but one look at those sorrowful eyes was enough to stop him in his tracks. He was falling too fast for this Alpha, was putting himself through things he had refused to deal with for year's, and he didn't know how to put an end to it.(Didn't know if he wanted to put an end to it.)Matthew stayed silent, waiting for Ethan to speak up, to deny his fee