TW: Abuse (No graphic detail but there are implications / cliff hanger at end)

Isabella

When dusk began to set, Rhys and Isabella began the long walk back to the village. Mrs Cromwell's words still rung around Isabella's head, Rhys was content to keep a steady conversation about one of the cities in the Night Court.

It was only when Isabella paused, hunching over slightly as a cramp wracked her body that Rhys finally sighed and gave up the menial discussion. Despite the embarrassment and pain Isabella couldn't help but feel grateful for the male standing by her side, rubbing her back as he braced her weight against himself.

"Cramps?"

She grinds out a groan that sounds suspiciously like 'what do you think'.

"Yeah... stupid question."

She whimpers nodding in agreement.

"I don't know much about human cycles but fae ones are typically crippling-"

"So that's why you've been staying with me all day."

"Well my mother would have beaten my arse black and blue if I left a lady to collapse in the cold."

She chuckles, straightening up as the pain subsides. Rhys continues to hold onto her arm, scanning her face for any sign of lingering pain but Isabella does her best to give him a reassuring smile.

"Human cycles aren't usually crippling for most women. Granted they're still awful but I can at least function."

"Ah." A faint blush paints his cheeks and Isabella grins.

"Though I appreciate the gesture, don't you have High Lord duties to be completing." Isabella arches a brow, looking at the bashful male in amusement. She understood why he was here in the morning, having something like that playing on your mind would be enough to drive anyone insane. Except Rhys found his answers hours ago. Maybe he had been repaying her for the conversation and advice but... still, time is currency for man- male like him.

"I am allowed to have holidays." He tease and Isabella purses her lips in annoyance. "Do you normally chose to spend your holidays following around human women."

"Don't say it like that." He playfully sighs. "It sounds creepy when you say it like that."

"Well?"

He sighs, "Maybe I was curious. My brothers have been spending a lot of time here and I wanted to know what had caught their attention."

Inexplicably Isabella blushes. Despite the thoughts whirling around her head she slowly nods in understanding, pushing her behind her ear to buy an extra second of time to think through her answer.

"It would seem they have both taken a great interest in my son." She begins and Rhys raises his brows in obvious disbelief though his smirk belies his attempts to hide his amusement. "I think they are both healing old wounds that I remind them of. Childhood, mothers and from Cassian has told me of Windhaven they are also struggling with the state my family lives in."

"You do yourself a disservice." Rhys pauses, leaning back against a tree at the entrance to the market. "I personally find your mind to be so captivating, not the tragic sob story."

She rolls her eyes at his attempt to ease the tension suddenly controlling her body. But it works and she finds herself smiling.

"That's a shame considering I was drawn in by your guilt ridden story." Isabella grumbles but then wonders if it was too soon to reference such a thing. Especially when his expression goes slack for a moment but then suddenly he's laughing loud enough to show off his canines and she finds herself giggling too.

Rhys stares at her with a soft smile and bright eyes. For a moment all Isabella can do is stare back, scanning his face and taking in the high cheek bones and soft lips she had previously ignored.

"Mother!" A voice calls in the distance and Isabella turns back to the market, seeing a small figure jumping up and down, waving with overwhelming excitement. She covers her mouth slightly as a beaming smile threatens to split her face. Oh how her boy could make her smile through the simplest things.

"I'll let you get back to your family." Rhys murmurs and there's something sad in his voice.

"Why don't I host a dinner for you all." The words are out of her mouth before she can register them. Isabella's not sure how she'll host them, only that she wants to. The rest she can work out, and thinking fast on her feet she does. "Tomas and the rest of the family travel to the village over for the winter market week." She bites at her lip as the plan begins to form in her mind, she'll offer to take Mother Mandrays place tending to home while they're gone. She could claim that Oliver was sick. "They'll be gone a few days and it would be nice to see Feyre again."

When she looks back at Rhys his face is once more unreadable. Her smile wanes, and tears bubble up as she realises the stupidity of her suggestion but she was just so tired of feeling alone. When she opens her mouth to apolgise and rescind the offer Rhys quickly cuts her off-

"That would be lovely." He smiles then and Isabella thinks it must a real smile because his eyes crinkle. "Though I'll have to ask that you let Cassian supply the food, he's been dying to have someone to share his cooking with."

"He was eager to compare dishes last time he visited." Isabella smile a soft private smile at the thought before frowning at the potential implications. "But I offered to host you and if you're trying to be gracious about the cost-"

"No, not at all. I wouldn't wish to offend but-" He winces slightly, the only sign of discomfort before he sighs and glances down towards the market. Oliver was already racing towards them, gaining considerable distance now that he had decided his mother was taking too long to come back. "Human food tastes different from our food. Our senses are so heightened that... well it tastes-"

"Human food tastes awful to you, doesn't it?" She scrunches her nose up in amusement and Rhys low laugh has something tightening in her stomach. "Yeah it does."

She nods, biting her lip to keep down her little grin at learning another thing about Feyre's new world and family.

"I'll see you next Thursday then?" It's less of a question and more of command. Isabella raises her brows at the male as she walks backwards towards the market. The High Lord gives her a mock salute, "Thursday." He agrees and Isabella is left blinking in surprise as he disappears in a flash of black shadow and smoke.

What the actual fuck was-

"Mummy!" A small oof is forced out of her as Ollie crashes into her side, gripping her fiercely as though she had abandoned him for weeks. "Little sprout!"

Oliver fills the walk back to Tomas with Village gossip. It was cute to see him try and make adult conversation by getting side tracked with great tales of stomping on frozen puddles and breaking icicles. Isabella smiles down at the boy, grateful for the light he provided in her life.

It wasn't fair that she had lost her last baby. They could have been walking with her now, cooing in her arms at their older brother. For the first time in years the thought doesn't bring Isabella crippling sadness. It hurts but she's all the more grateful for her boy and- and she thinks that maybe having another baby wouldn't be so bad. She always wanted a large family but...

Tomas smiles when they reach him, greeting Isabella with a fierce hug and consuming kiss. It seemed that she was missed. Isabella did her best to smile back, to not let her thoughts plague the moment but now that she stares at the mane before she can't help but wonder what another life could have looked like.

What it would be like to have a family with someone else. Dreams she had once only had with Oliver's father slowly rise to the surface. A loving home, maybe a town house or cottage that smelt of baked bread and had a garden for her son to play in. There would be no broken windows or harsh silences, no gruelling chores, just the loving maintenance of home and not a house.

Isabella is quiet on the walk back home, content to just watch Ollie races ahead as she walks arm in arm with her husband. Mrs Cromwell and Cassian had reminded her that relationships could look different. Cassian and Azriel were so sweet and caring with her and Oliver, and they were just her sister's friends- Isabella's friends if she could be so bold. Maybe things could be different with Tomas.

Once she told him about not being pregnant.

"Tomas." She begins hesitantly and he turns to face her, squeezing her arm in what was supposed to be comfort but felt like a warning. "I- I need to tell you-"

He tilts his head and she pauses at the movement. It was smooth and predatory like the winged males she had grown accustomed to but uncomfortable, angular and there was something so much more threatening about it. She swallowed nervously, looking away when she was unable to hold his gaze any longer.

"I'm not pregnant. I got my cycle today." The words are out in a single breath and time seems to hold still even as they continue walking in silence. From the corner of her eye a muscle ticks in Tomas' jaw.

He slowly nods, closing his eyes for a second as he holds onto her tighter before relaxing. She waits with bated breath as he exhales sharply through his nose, looking out into the forest as he avoids her nervous gaze.

"That's okay sweetheart." He murmurs and a shiver runs down her spin even as he smiles down at her. "It's not something that just happens. We know it takes time, we'll just keep trying and I'm sure one day that we'll have the family you've always wanted."

Isabella nods mutely. By the time they were back at the house Tomas had seemingly forgotten the conversion and was chattering away about business to his father who was untacking the horse.

Oliver was already fluttering around the old mare, feeding her a battered carrot that barely looked edible. Taking a shuddering breath Isabella stumbles towards her son. It's only when she has one hand resting on his shoulder and the other stroking the tall mare that she finally allows her shoulder to sag.

Hidden from the men's view by the mare Isabella finally allows herself to shed a few tears. She can hear them now, muttering away. Logically she knows that Tomas and his father wouldn't be discussing her latest failure but she couldn't help but fear their judgement. She could already feel the weight of their stares, their disappointment and her skin prickles with goosebumps.

Eventually their voices raise. As all ways the elder Mandray's voice was louder than his sons, sharp words of reprimand echoing in the sudden silence. Oliver is quickly hurried away into the elder couple's house, sent off with his toys to play and under strict instructions not to disturb his great-grandfather while he's working.

Isabella does her best to continue her chores even when her husband storms past her into their own home. A single glance towards her father in law has her frozen in place. Livid doesn't begin to cover the rage brewing in his eyes. They just stare at each other, locked in a battle of predator and prey.

Her skin prickles when he does nothing but stare. Isabella was never told Mr Mandray's name, nor his wife's or father's. She knows why at this moment. Nameless. Faceless. His rage is nothing more than a reflection of his family.

They are one the Mandrays. She and her son are just outsiders.

Stumbling away Isabella makes her way back to her home but... Mrs Mandray is staring at her from the opposite house. She can see Oliver flying Bat-bat around the room behind her. There's a sadness in her eyes that has her stomach rolling. The way she purses her lips, disappointment lining her stiff posture before the blind is harshly tugged shut.

When Isabella steps into the house that never was her home everything comes into focus. The fog of fear and doubt lifts from her mind as her senses are quickly overwhelmed by the crackling fire and her husband's thunder steps.

"Tomas-"

"You did this on purpose didn't you." He snarls, eyes wide as he whirls on her from. "I didn't want to believe it at first."

She didn't bother protesting, not when he began pacing and shaking his head.

Tomas rakes a hand through his hair, "I have loved and cared for Oliver, for years. I thought you wanted a large family, that was our dream. Why are you trying to destroy our future?"

"I'm not. Tomas I swear I'm not-"

"LIAR!" He roars and she flinches back when his hands slam down on the kitchen table. "YOU FILTHY LIAR."

He doesn't give her a chance to scream before his fists descend.

A/N: (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ angst ♥