Isabella

Nesta was in a foul mood. Some would argue that she always but that was a naive view. Oliver's 'early birthday cloak' had arrived so Nesta insisted they come over for lunch. Even when she was upset and angry Nesta couldn't help but dote on her family.

Once Isabella would have fought against such care, letting her pride dictate her but now... now she was hungry and tired of hiding it.

Oliver had taken two bites of pastry, had a sugar rush and decided to play some kind of game that involved him running around the house and sliding on the marble floor. She wasn't sure where he got all the energy from but she was sure that she would suffer the angry strop when that sugar burns out.

"You won't tell me how you got those bruises." Isabella was surprised that her twin didn't just ask flat out, it was an impressive feat that Nesta restrained her rage to just aggressively tapping her spoon against the teacup. "Nesta I'm a woodcutter's wife and it's winter, I have been cleaning and hauling wood for the past week. My legs and arms are covered in more splinters and bruises than I can count."

A sharp breath of air is Nesta's only answer and Isabella curses her long sleeved dress for not being long enough to cover her wrist. Her cheeks burn at the reminder of last nights events. Shame curls in her gut. If she told Nesta about how her hands were pinned down or pinned above her bed she would have to confess the situation it was done in.

Isabella could handle Nesta's vicious and bitter remarks about the destitute life Tomas has apparently trapped her in but to have her sister sneering at her for the- the rough way she and Tomas have sex. Isabella swallows heavily, unable to keep the taunting echo of her mother's vicious remarks from her childhood from filling her head.

No she wouldn't be telling her sister how she got that bruise.

"You know I would get you away from him."

"Nesta-" She sighs, closing her eyes so she doesn't have to see the look on her sister's face. "We've talked about this before, his my husband, the father of-"

"Except he's not." She snaps, her voice no more than a harsh whisper that Isabella's eyes snapping open to wildly scan the sitting room for eavesdropping servants. "You have no reason to stay with him. He's not the father, I can provide you with a home and money so why don't you just leave him."

Because I love him. I've grown to love him in those quiet moments, those caring gestures. The ones where he plays with Oliver, when he carves him a new toy. Or when he would dance with her during summer festivals.

Because she owes him so much for caring for her, for her son. For providing a home, an income and putting food on the table. Because she supports Mrs Mandray, cares and dotes on her. Because Tomas needs her, he doesn't know how to run a house and his mother is too old to do so.

"I am content, Nesta." She says instead. Her twin would never believe tales of love, would never accept that Tomas needs her that she owes him. Nesta would view that as a feeble reason. "And I couldn't accept your care. I will not be a charity case or a leech on your funds."

"What about Oliver's father?"

"I'm not talking about him."

"Why not." She hisses, voice sharp even though I can see how she's desperately fighting the urge to be cruel to me. "You truly loved him, and that new ring hanging on Oliver's chest shows that he clearly loves you."

"He loves his son." and that was the truth. It had been a fling, an escape born of passion and friendship. A foolish puppy love that hadn't ended on bad terms but would not give either of them romantic pleasure. "You know it would not be safe to take Oliver to Prythian."

"Feyre's there." Nesta counters and Isabella snorts, realising how desperate her sister is. "I thought you hated Feyre's new family."

"I dislike the Lordling, they're not a good fit. The brute I could do without but that's just because he's not my type." She pauses, tilting her head curiously before smirking at Isabella. "But that Azriel, he was certainly your type."

"Don't." Isabella tries to keep a serious face but the olive branch offered by her sister is quickly accepted when a smile bubbles on both twins' faces. "I am a married woman."

"Didn't stop you before."

"Nesta." Isabella gasped, eyes wide as her twin grins at her.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:

Oliver didn't calm down until the end of lunch and it had taken both twins to keep him still long enough to eat some food during dinner. Nesta had commented that he seemed more energetic and light since she saw him two weeks ago.

Isabella couldn't help but agree with her, the glamour had given Oliver some confidence again. It broke her heart that he was worried about his limited powers causing harm. Though some part of her knew it was not losing control that he feared but rather Tomas seeing him use it.

They didn't talk about Oliver's birth father in the Mandray household. He was Tomas' son and that was that.

Except it wasn't because he wanted a biological heir.

Oliver had finally burned off the sugar and eaten enough to pasta to induce a food coma. The twins shared a grateful look even if Isabella could see her sister's amused annoyance at Oliver having draped his legs across her lap.

Stroking a hand down his head Isabella resettled his head and shoulder onto her lap so she could admire her child. It hit her sometimes, that this was her child. That she made him. Most of the time it was in disturbed thought that she had grown and gave birth to such a little frail baby and now he's so grown up.

Nesta scoffed, rolling her eyes though there was no true heat behind her glares. It was clear she had picked up on her sister's captivated expression but before Nesta could open her mouth to no doubt make a mocking comment there was a strong knock on the door.

A quick glance at the time had Isabella confirming the late hour. No one ventured out of their homes beyond 4 pm in winter months, it was too dark. Even now at just 6 not a single thing could be seen out the windows beyond the occasional flash of snow.

Nesta had already reached the door by the time Isabella had looked in that direction. A quick I'll get the door to the Housekeeper and Nesta was heaving open the heavy doors. She stepped out and Isabella frowned in confusion, Nesta held the door wide for a moment before swinging it shut and claiming that it was just the wind to a servant who had just arrived.

Except Isabella could see the glimmer of a glamour and once she had seen it, it was like she couldn't stop seeing it. Slowly it flickered and waver the longer she stared until eventually Isabella met the amused gaze of Cassian.

Well that explains Nesta's foul mood.

And the figure slowly appearing behind him explained her teasing questions.

Nest shot her sister an apologetic look. There was a slight tilt of her head, a widening of the eyes that Isabella interpreted as her sister intended to tell but she hadn't expected the males to arrive so soon.

Striding from the entry hall her twin kept her head high, asking a servant to close down the sitting room as they would be retiring to Isabella's guest bedroom. Cassian rolled his eyes at the fancy words and Nesta's mouth seemed to purse in displeasure as though she could hear his taunts.

"Bat-bat." The tired mumble had all four adults freezing even as servants flitted around them, tidying away teacups and tending to the fire. Hastily scooping up her son Isabella nestled his face into her neck before making her own way out of the room.

The males had tense, Azriel glaring at the servants as shadows curled around his ears. She would have to ask what kind of magic that was, none of the others had powers so open. Though right now she hoped it would tell him if anyone else in the room was capable of seeing through glamorous.

Isabella had never found the walk from the sitting room to her makeshift bedroom so long before. They had remained in tense silence with Oliver peering over her shoulder to stare wide eyed at the winged males.

Azriel had grimaced at the attention despite his previous care on his last visit. Cassian had pulled a face that made Oliver laugh loud enough to draw a nearby maid's attention and Nesta's glare.

It wasn't very effective since she just shot the glare in the general direction of where she thought he was, but Isabella's mum-glare certainly had the male shutting up.

The door had been locked, the curtains closed and the fire stoked louder before the males dropped their glamours. That shimmering look dropped from their skin as Nesta took up residence in an armchair by the fire.

Isabella decided to take a step back, realising that this meeting was probably planned despite her insistence that she could handle the letters herself.

"Well that was a close call, Tiny." Cassian waved at Oliver who had curled up beside his mother as she sat up against the pillows in the middle of their bed.

"Don't talk to him." Nesta snapped and Cassian's attention swung around to her twin as her own was captured by Oliver tugging at her sleeve.

"Who is they?" His voice was tired but curious and Isabella cursed them for interrupting bedtime. "Who are they?" she softly correcting, smoothing a hand down his hair as he nodded before repeating the statement back to her.

"They're aunt Feyre's friends from Prythian." She smiled as Oliver tried to whisper the word Prythian but only got Pi-thane. "The one arguing with Nesta, with the red gems... that's Cassian." Again, Isabella waited knowing that Oliver would want to repeat Ca-si-an she hadn't bothered to hide her proud smile knowing that her son would want the reassurance. "And the male with the shadows and blue gems is Azriel." She paused, wincing this time because As-ri Azzz-... rial. Az- rian.

"Az." A soft voice murmured and Isabella jolted slightly not having realised the male in question had crouched down by Oliver's side of the bed. "We met the other day, remember, on the walk to the village."

Oliver nodded, suddenly shy in the intimidating male's presence. Isabella glanced at Nesta, her twin was already looking at her with a similar expression. Cassian too had gone quiet to watch his friend interact with her son.

"You can call me Az instead." They all waited with baited breath and Isabella couldn't help but admire the soft smile that graced Azriel's face."It's a nickname that I only let my friends call me." He tapped his nose, eyes lighting up to emphasis the big secret he was sharing with the boy.

"Az." Oliver murmured quietly and the male hummed in agreement so Oliver repeated it louder again, with more confidence until a grin split the male's face and Isabella's heart fluttered at the sight.

There was a pause where Oliver shifted slightly, his facin scrunching up as he frowned and she could see Azriel's smile drop in response until Oliver stuck out his hand.

Silence.

"Ol."

Isabella could have sworn that Cassian inhaled sharply when Azriel offered his own hand in return, gently taking Oliver's much smaller hand into his own scared ones. They shook hands slowly until Ollie's giggles filled the silence.

"Will you read me book?" He sounded so excited by the thought that Isabella looked out the male pleadingly even if he himself had looked at her in nervous questioning.

"I thought you were here for a meeting." Nesta interrupts, rising to her feet and shooting Isabella a look and for once she actually curses her sister's overprotectiveness until Cassian actually tugs her back into her seat.

"I will read you a book." a book, Oliver mutters in answer and the corner of Azriel's lip curls up. "And then its bed time because I need to have an adult conversation with your mother and aunt."

And thus ensued three books worth of stories.

A/N: posting these last three chapters together, they haven't been edited so please comment any errors and I apologise if its rushed or sounds a bit like crack.