Isabella

Once Oliver was set up with some paper and colouring pencils in the sitting room Cassian and Isabella settled into the armchairs by the lit fire. She tried not to flinch at the reminder of last night's conversation, the similarities between their current positions. Cassian too seemed to remember, if the awkward shifting in his chair was any indication.

"Look, I don't want you to take this the wrong way after last night but I got you some things." Cassian seemed nervous and Isabella realised his awkward seating position was so he could hide the large bag behind his legs. "I saw you helping some people on your way into the village... when you posted the letter for us?" Isabella nodded, remembering how she had stopped to help George, a homeless man who had broken his leg some years back. "I got you some things from Vel- the Night Court. Remedies, poultices, bandages and a few books on herbal healing- nothing with magic, I promise."

She gingerly accepted the bag, startling slightly at the weight of. While Isabella slowly riffled through the contents, inspecting each one thoroughly, Cassian seemed to grow more anxious. Tapping his leg, rubbing the back of his neck. It was sweet she decided, fully ignoring the implication that he was trying to help with her own bruises.

"Thank you." She blinked in surprise, when did her voice get thick with tears? When did someone last show this much care, a small voice in the back of her mind countered. "This is really considerate of you. I'm sure I'll make good use of it."

Indeed she would, remedies like this would be invaluable in the winter months. The medication for illness among children is most prominent in her mind. No she wouldn't be sharing all of these. Isabella had sworn an oath to her mentor that she would do no harm and help patients to the best of her abilities - but she had also promised her son to do what was best for him first and foremost.

"I hope they're the right things," There was a prominent blush on Cassian's cheeks. "I wasn't sure if the books and skills in them would be translatable to the human realm."

A quick flick through one of the books confirmed that though there were plants she recognised and some she had even previously used there was also a large number of unknown, bizarre plants that were no doubt only found in Prythian.

"No, no... There are plenty in here that I can use. I'll just hide the more-" She peered down at what appeared to be a weed with glowing red roots. "Peculiar pages hidden."

Cassian chuckled at that.

"There are some unusual things found in my home land. I'll give you that." He conceded and Isabella got the impression that he was thinking of more than just plants. "You should see it sometime, I'm sure Feyre would love for you to visit."

"Feyre who went behind my back and involved our other sisters."

"It was their choice, Isabella." He said somewhat gently and she tried not to dwell on how good it felt to hear her name in Cassian's accent. "You handled the letters, yes, but your sister's want to help as well... Perhaps to make up for what Feyre did in the forest."

"What was there to make up?" Her voice had taken on a sharp note that she wished it hadn't but Cassian had paused where he would have previously challenged. Instead he waited and Isabella took the time to take a steadying breath before continuing. "Feyre hunted but she certainly couldn't cook. Nesta cooked the food, tended the fire, did the laundry, my twin kept the house running but Feyre seems to have forgotten that."

He tilted his head curiously, another reminder of how much closer the fae were closer to animals than humans.

"Elain cared for father, though I'll admit she did little beyond prattle on to him, I cared for Feyre when she was injured, and nursed father through the worst of his sickness. What do we have to make up for?"

"Then why are you helping us if not guilt?"

"Because she is my sister." Cassian nodded to himself, eyes gleaming as though he solved some bit of a puzzle or answered a question he had long been pondering. "And if what you claim is true then war would decimate this village, my home and my son's life and I would do anything to stop that."

"Family truly is one of the greatest motivators."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:

Azriel, or rather his shadows, had pestered Isabella until she agreed to let the male walk her home. She'll admit that she had been rather terrified by the small creatures when they first appeared in the sitting room. Cassian too had seemed surprised, even apprehensive when one of the silken shadows pushed a toy train back to Oliver when it rolled away. Her heart had nearly stopped at the sight. Her son, who she had spent so long hiding away as human, was openly playing with fae magic. Granted it wasn't his own, if he even had any, but it was still a fright.

More so when Azriel himself had walked into the room moments later only to seem surprised that his shadows were there before him. He had recovered far more quickly than Isabella, having graciously asked to escort her home before she had a chance to question the tendrils of darkness. When she had hesitated the small things had nudged at where her hand rested on the armchair, another curled around her foot and a third inched closer to Oliver.

It was the last shadows movements that caught Azriel's attention, the creatures suddenly rushing back to their master as though they were being dragged. If only for the opportunity to sate her curiosity of the males' magic Isabella accepted his offer.

Which is how she found herself sandwiched between the two males as Oliver twirled his new cloak ahead of them. Despite Cassian and Azriel's height, they seemed to be matching her strides, both content to just watch Oliver jump into the frozen puddles and send the shadows trailing him scattering after the ice shards.

She had been hesitant about those little creatures but a questioning glance to Azriel had him smiling kindly and explaining they were just as curious about Oliver as he was about them. Isabella guessed that was good enough. There wasn't exactly anything she could do to stop them from hurting Oliver anyway.

The thought had her souring. Feyre's new family was yet another reminder of how she struggled to protect her family. Another reminder of what lurked in the shadows. But these males were walking her home; Cassian was carrying her new supplies; Azriel was graciously guiding her around each puddle and large stone.

"Do your shadows often befriend people?" Isabella tilted her head curiously, tightening her grip on Azriel's arm as she slid on a patch of ice. Carefully waiting until she was once more steady on her feet Azriel peered at where her son was quietly muttering away to himself. Or rather to his new shadow friends. "They get curious from time to time, they wouldn't leave Cassian alone when we first became friends."

"Pesky little buggers." The male grumbled and Isabella giggled. The sound seemed to captivate the males, attracting their stares like moths to a flame.

"They do seem to have no concept of boundaries." She murmured, thinking back to the small creatures she had found lurking around her home. To his credit, Azriel bashfully smiled, a rosy blush painting his cheeks as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "I haven't been very successful at domesticating them."

"So they are separate to you - not a part of your power like the High Lord."

"tHe HiGh LoRd." Cassian mocked childishly in the background but neither of them paid attention to him, both too caught up in their appraisal of the other. "No, my shadows came to me during my youth. I didn't have the best upbringing and spent a long time in the darkness. Eventually they found me, we were kindred spirits."

"There's a sad beauty to that tale." Isabella mused, turning away when she was unable to bear the weight of Azriel's stare. The vulnerability and trust in his eyes. "No child should have to suffer."

"Not they shouldn't." The words were murmured quietly, as though to himself but Isabella still caught them and fought the urge to stiffen. The sadness and silent rage that had Azriel's body stiffening as he once more observed her son.

She hardly registered time passing during the rest of the walk home. Azriel and Cassian had glamoured himself so only she and Ollie could see them but the males were happy to keep up a conversation.

Cassian told her about Windhaven, a war camp only a fraction more glamorous than her own village. Isabella could hardly imagine it, a village on a mountain face, perpetually cold and frosted over with only three days of summer. But the way Cassian spoke about their culture, of the tales lost to time and colonisation, he had made promises to bring back Illyrian food. The mountain rock made for rough soil that bore an entirely different host of vegetables to the human realm, not to mention the difference in spices and techniques.

Her heart had warmed at his proclamations, the inclusion in their life even if it was only for Feyre's sake. Perhaps they pitied her, or found a mirror in her son but either way she was grateful for the small moment she got to spend feeling as though she was a part of something bigger. Apart from a unit.

Azriel had spoken little of his people, occasionally letting out a grunt of disdain and Isabella became aware that Cassian was trying to sell his people to her. To wow her with the wonders of the fae realm. She didn't know if he was fearful of scaring her off or was just proud enough of his people to ignore the best. It was likely both but she still found herself analysing and questioning the information given to her late at night as she lied in bed.

Oliver had seemed reluctant for the males to leave. While Cassian told her of Illyria, Azriel had been talking with her son. They were playing a game of some kind and she could have sworn that Azriel was showing Oliver his shadows. Both of them had seemed apprehensive yet also determined to learn about the other.

When was the last time Tomas tried to know the child he claimed as his son?

She peered over at him as he lay naked in bed. He shivered as a winter breeze passed through one of the broken windows and Isabella almost felt bad for taking all the blanket. Her husband hadn't cared when her son was cold so why should she care about him? For a moment she thought he finally accepted Oliver as his.

Isabella had lied to Azriel, about Tomas being caring, about their relationship being a failure from both sides but she had also lied about Tomas accepting Oliver in. Tomas would continue to claim Oliver as his to save face, so that he wouldn't have to admit how little control he has over his wife and family. Except now he wanted a biological heir now and even if those were his father's words and not his they still carried weight.

Listening to Cassian talk about growing up with Azriel and Rhys had made her... doubt. He had spoken of a caring mother, taking him regardless of his status or family. It might have just been a female thing, a maternal instinct unable to be quelled but Cassian was so loyal to his brothers, to the family they had built. It was obvious from the way he spoke about them.

What kind of family was she offering Oliver? What family did she have?

A/N: Who do you think should have the bond snap first between the batboys?