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Big Decisions: Part One

Modern day

"Did Ysanne say why she wanted to see us?" Jason asked, as Isabeau led him and Gideon to Ysanne's office.

Isabeau looked over her shoulder and gave him a little smile. "She did, but it's not my place to tell you."

Jason and Gideon exchanged looks.

"You're not in trouble, if that's what you're worried about," Isabeau reassured them.

"Of course we're not. We're perfect little angels," Jason said.

They reached Ysanne's office, and Isabeau ushered them both inside. Once upon a time, Isabeau would have left them then, her job complete, but now she joined Ysanne on the other side of the desk, standing just behind Ysanne's chair.

Jason and Gideon looked at each other again, then took seats in front of the desk. Jason felt a bit like a schoolboy again, being called into the Head's office.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I've called you both here because there's something very important that we need to discuss," Ysanne said.

Her tone was grave, and Jason's stomach dipped.

"We're listening," Gideon said.

"As you know, development for the children's house is progressing as planned, and construction has now begun. I anticipate it will be completed over the next fourteen months, and then we can begin the process of furnishing it, and eventually moving the children in."

"Okay," Jason said, wondering what any of this had to do with him and Gideon.

"That means I have to start addressing the issue of who's going to run the house," Ysanne said.

Jason blinked at her. "Wait," he said, because she couldn't be saying what he thought she was saying. He glanced at Gideon, who had stiffened in his seat, his forehead furrowed. "Are you saying you want . . . us to run it?"

"I would like to discuss the possibility," Ysanne said.

"I . . ." Jason couldn't find words.

Isabeau looked amused. "You sound surprised."

"Well, yeah."

"Why us?" Gideon asked.

"None of us know how the children will react to their situation long-term. They've been vampires for years now, but in some ways they're still adjusting to how the human world is moving on without them." Ysanne looked at Gideon. "They need another vampire in charge, someone strong enough to keep them in line if anything goes wrong." Her gaze shifted to Jason. "But they also need someone they can relate to, someone who straddles the line between the vampire world and the modern human one."

"Okay, but doesn't that include Renie and Roux? Why haven't you asked them?" Jason asked.

Unless Ysanne had, and the girls hadn't told him, but he doubted that. Renie and Roux were his best friends – there was almost nothing they'd keep from him.

"Renie has no bond at all with the children, and Edmond informed me years ago that he had no wish to run a house. I have considered Roux and Ludovic, especially since they are the ones who found and rescued the children, but the children seem to have responded well to you in particular, Jason," Ysanne explained.

"Not all of them," Jason cautioned.

Ysanne acknowledged that with a small nod.

"We've spoken to the children about who they felt most comfortable with at Belle Morte, and most of them said you," Isabeau said.

Jason swallowed. "Really?"

He wasn't sure how to take that. He glanced at Gideon, who gazed back with soft pride in his eyes.

"That shouldn't come as a surprise. You're approachable and easy to talk to, you genuinely care about people, you're good at cheering them up," Isabeau said.

"Stop it, you're making me blush."

Isabeau smiled.

"Okay, okay, let me process this," Jason said.

His brain seemed to have tripped over itself; he was having trouble organising his thoughts.

"What exactly would our role be at this house?" Gideon asked.

"I want the children to finish the education they would have had at a human school, including any higher education that they would have been eligible for. As of yet, I am undecided if we will employ human teachers and have them supervised by vampires for potential safety reasons, or if we will spend the next fourteen months training vampires as teachers."

"But you're not expecting us to do that?" Gideon said.

"No. What I envision for you is an overall leadership role. You would make the final decisions about the day-to-day running of the house. Any complaints would be brought to you, as would any special requests. You would also be permitted a seat at the Council."

"So . . . we'd be Lords?" Jason said.

"Yes and no. You would fulfil the same role as the Lords and Ladies of the other houses, but I'd prefer it if you did not use the title. The children will need to see you as figures of authority, but they must also be able to relate to you, and I believe that referring to yourselves as Lords of the house will put up a barrier between you and them," Ysanne said.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"Do you mind not having the title?" Isabeau said.

Jason shrugged. "Not really. No offence, but it doesn't actually mean anything, does it? It's just a name that you guys decided for yourselves."

Ysanne didn't respond to that. "What are your thoughts on this?" she asked.

"I don't know," Jason admitted.

"It would mean leaving Belle Morte, wouldn't it?" Gideon said.

"It would," Ysanne said.

Jason swallowed a sudden knot in his throat. That was something he hadn't considered, and he didn't know how to absorb it. This had all come out of the blue, and his poor brain was still scattered, trying to reorient itself.

He felt Gideon's eyes on him, as if Gideon was waiting for him to say something, but what was he supposed to say?

Was Gideon leaving this decision solely to him?

Was he supposed to choose now?

Jason threw his husband a panicked look, and Gideon reached out and took his hand.

"I assume you don't need an answer now?" he asked Ysanne.

"I wouldn't expect one now. This is a huge decision, and I assume you'll need some time to discuss it," Ysanne replied.

"And what happens if we say no?"

"Then I'll find someone else."

"There's really no pressure," Isabeau added. "You two were our first choice, but you don't have to say yes. If this isn't what you want, then don't be afraid to tell us."

"But this is important to you, isn't it?" Jason said.

"What's important to me is making sure that this works for everyone," Ysanne said. "I would never expect you take on this responsibility if it wasn't what you wanted. All I ask is that you consider it."

"We will," Gideon said. He gave Jason's hand a little tug. "Come on."

Jason felt like he was in a daze as he stood up and followed Gideon to the door.

This was the last thing he'd expected, and he had no idea how to feel about it.


1/3

A/N: Just to let you guys know that Wattpad is currently testing an exciting new feature, which is story playlists. These are only available on a few stories so far, and Belle Morte Bites is one of them. If you're using the Wattpad app, you can access the playlist by checking for the Spotify playlist tile below the story tags, or by tapping the Spotify icon on the bottom navigation bar.

I've carefully curated a list of songs that I think relate to various stories and characters in this collection, and I really hope you all enjoy it :)

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