Isabella

The scent of cooking meat slowly wakes Isabella from her slumber. It's a nice way to wake up for once but she finds herself frowning. Who the hell would be cooking in her home? Isabella can feel her face scrunch up in confusion but a small whimper has her instinctively freezing.

Oliver is snuggled up in her arms. For a moment she just takes him in, scanning his little body for any sign of discomfort before placing the back of her hand on his forehead. His fever seems to be cooling down so she slowly shuffles across the bed. Cradling his head in her palm she lifts him off her arm and onto the pillow.

It's only once she's settled on the side of the bed that Isabella notices the weighted blanket draped over her and Ollie. It's nice, good quality and she tries not to inhale the familiar scent wrapped around it as she tucks it further around Ollie.

It's nice to just fuss over him for a little while. Rearranging the pillows and blanket until she's satisfied that he's warm and snug. Except she's missing something. She knows she is. And Isabella could really do with investigating it before she ventures downstairs to find out how Cassian is faring in her kitchen.

She really hopes it's Cassian and not grandfather Mandray.

After a moment of confusion Isabella pauses at a gentle ruffle from the end of the bed. Her breath catches in her throat at the little shadowy form staring at her. Because it's not at all creepy seeing a little wispy shadow nervously swirling around a bed post.

"Hello." She whispers, feeling foolish but the shadow pauses before continuing its erratic movements faster. Isabella gets the impression that the little creature is excited. She really hopes it's exciting and isn't about to harm her son. "Shouldn't you be with Azriel."

The shadow puffs out for a moment before sinking in on itself, becoming denser and floating onto the bed comforter. That was clearly not the reaction it wanted. Isabella clamps down on her laughter, smothering her mildly hysterical giggles that seem to make Azriel's shadow perk up.

"You're a lot more open than I remember." She comments, seeing no harm talking to the small thing when it's clearly keeping an eye on her for the shadowsinger. "Where is your... master?"

Oh the small thing huffs at that and she doesn't bother to hide her giggles this time.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Your companion then?" That seems to please the small wisp for it- hums?

"Oh." She exclaims, inexplicably excited and the shadow freezes. "You do sing then."

It remains frozen but she gets the impression that it's tilting its head curiously.

"I've only ever heard you titter and buzz. You've never sang before."

"You can hear them?" She flinches back, rattling the bed and the shadow dives under the cover. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

Azriel seems to be fighting down a wince when she looks up at him. She opens her mouth to apologise, to wave off his concern but then pauses at the small toy in his hands. A smile blooms on her face. A fearsome Fae, shadowsinger and spymaster wearing dark leathers that accentuate the large wings and he's delicately holding a fluffy bat.

He follows her gaze and a soft blush blooms on his cheeks before it's hidden behind his smooth mask. Azriel lifts the toy slightly, offering it out to her. "They said you were looking for this."

"Oliver would have a tantrum if he woke up without it." She answers, accepting the toy. They both pause for a moment when their hands brush and Isabella fights the urge to shiver at the warm touch. Azriel though seems to look away in shame so she smiles softly, trying to show she doesn't mind the scars.

"Cassian must have forgotten it when he brought you and the little one in here." Azriel offers somewhat absently but Isabella watches him from the corner of her eye. It's hard not to smirk when she can clearly see that little competitive streak in the male's eyes. She had forgotten how important family and the 'pack instinct' was to the Fae. Nesta and her had researched fae customs endlessly when Feyre had first turned up. It would seem that her new friends had taken to competing over who could care for her best.

She tried to feel guilty about enjoying their attention but after so long of living with Tomas it was nice to bask in their care for a moment or two.

Smiling to herself Isabella slowly shifts the heavy quilt, untucking it enough that she could slip Bat-bat into Ollie's arms. Except when she pulls back the covers-

"Oh." She exclaims and Azriel's head snaps towards her. "That's where you snuck off to. Hello, again."

The shadow buzzes slightly, clearly embarrassed as it tucks itself back into the shadow of her son's side.

"I am so sorry." Azriel's mortified expression would be amusing if she knew what was going on. "They're not normally– "

"Well..." She forces out, trying to wrap her head around fae powers without letting her mother's judgement cloud her mind. "You did say they were curious creatures and Oliver did make friends with them a while back."

The shadow purrs at her words and Isabella's mind flicks back to when Cassian had made a similar noise at the sight of her son. These fae truly did have one foot in the wilderness.

"I can take it back." Azriel rushes out leaning forward but Isabella turn to him in indignation at the male's tone.

"It?" She demands, scrunching her nose up. "I thought you would be more fond of the little wisp."

He gapes at her, "They're not exactly toys, Isabella." Oh hearing him say her name like that was doing things. "My shadows are spies, who quite literally pry information from people's lips you shouldn't be so comfortable–"

"Oh yes, the fearsome creatures that informed you my child was missing his cuddly toy." She mocks, rolling her eyes. Isabella's not entirely sure why she's making it 'a thing' but it's nice being able to talk to an adult for once. Have a conversation as equals without fear of offence.

"That is not the point." He exclaims, keeping his voice as a low whisper and her heart warms at his concern. Tomas wouldn't care less if he woke up Oliver. "Just- tuck in the damn toy and I'll take the shadow back."

"No." She simply answered, fussing with Bat-bat and the quilt until she was happy with her son snuggled up to the toy and the shadow wrapping around the ragged wings.

"No." Azriel repeats, raising his brows as he watches her but she just stares back unperturbed by his mild glare. "What do you mean–"

"I've grown quite fond of Wisp here." She's naming him, Azriel can't stop her. "And someone needs to watch over Oliver while we supervise Cassian."

"First of all," He rubs at the spot between his eyes and Isabella is inexplicably pleased at forcing him to break that emotionless mask. "You want to use my shadows as babysitters?"

"Isn't that what they do anyways? At least they're watching over someone nice this time." He waves her off.

"Second of all... Wisp?"

"You clearly have no personal care for the little creatures, so I am quite content to mother them." She proclaims, smugly grinning when the shadows floating around Azriel's shoulders and wings seem to hum in delight. Azriel glares at them, clearly muttering the word 'traitors' even though she can't hear the word.

"And you want us to supervise Cassian."

Silence.

"You want to leave him unattended?" She counters and he makes a short noise of understanding. As much as she trusted the male he was almost two metres tall with large bat wings and boisterous personality. Her kitchen wouldn't survive. 

"Are all Archerons this-" He waves at her and Isabella is quite smug at the thought of her little sister wreaking havoc on these ancient warriors.

"Yes we are. Now... shall we go check on your brother?" Isabella rises to her feet, grinning while Azriel pushes off the wall he was leant against. Her smile begins to wane a little when Azriel continues to observe here, scanning her from head to toe. "What?"

"You seem happier... lighter." He comments and Isabella swallows nervously, turning back to look at her son and maybe- maybe it would be nice to tell someone.

"I am happier." She agrees, nodding slightly but refusing to meet Azriel's gaze as the mood turns sombre. "Just been thinking about life recently. Meeting all of you and seeing my little sister thriving elsewhere and doing things.... in a way that we weren't raised to do."

Azriel's head tilts, "You've achieved a lot you know." She turns to him surprise but he just shrugs a little. "You've built a home, raised a lovely son and cared for your sisters."

She snorts, "I was under the impression that you didn't think I'd done enough for Feyre."

"I never said that." He frowns a little, "And you shouldn't have had to do anything. But considering the situation you were all forced into I think you sacrificed a lot and managed to salvage something of a life for yourself."

He knows. Of course he knows, Azriel isn't the High Lord's spymaster for nothing.

"I've always been curious about human traditions." She can feel Azriel's gaze burning into the side of her head. "There's a lot of emphasis on achieving certain things at certain ages. Getting married, building a home, starting a family."

He pauses, perhaps waiting for her to speak or to give Isabella time to digest his words.

"That's not the same in all areas of the Human realm though." She thinks her heart stops at his words. "There are places where humans don't place so much value on marriage and titles. Others where they have entirely different bonding traditions. Lots of places where women have jobs and homes of their own. Granted they're not excatly free but its certainly a... step up from some of the traditions."

Isabella thinks she might be holding her breath but to have another person voice the ideas she was having. At the offer he was extending.

"Prythian has different traditions too." The words are no more than a whisper.

"I don't know what I would do in a world like that." She confessed and it was true. Isabella had been raised for the sole purpose of marriage and child rearing. Even her medical skills weren't good enough for a job, she might get an apprenticeship somewhere but how could she do that while caring for Oliver.

"I think you could do whatever you want." She snorts at his words, finally turning to face him only to halt at his close proximity. There was hardly any space between them but it was the look in Azriel's eyes that had her truly frozen. The hope and pride that shone clearly through. "I think you and Oliver would thrive in a world like that, if you let yourself."

She nods to herself, stepping back and Azriel lets her.

"I- I think I'm going to leave him." She whispers, nervously tugging at the collar of her dress. "And take Oliver to my sisters maybe."

Azriel's footsteps are intentionally loud, giving her time to stop him but when she looks up and sees her own frustrated tears mirrored by Azriel's ones of relief she caves in. He holds her. Cradling Isabella against his chest and bundling her up tightly enough that she can practically feel the excitement and pride being squeezed into her soul.

"I didn't know you cared so much." She whispered somewhat teasingly but it was nice to know she had another person in her corner.

He hums, "I think I would be excited for any woman willing to leave a husband like that but... but I think we have become friends, if you will let me call you that."

"I think my son and your shadows decided that for us."

"You make them sound like my children." He grumbles and she lets out a watery laugh that has him holding her tighter. "Will you let me help you then? As your friend?"

"I think you're going to have to get in line. I seem to have a lot more friends than I remember." And does that thought not make her heart sing.

"Wait till Cassian finds out." Azriel whispers and Isabella tenses. "Or not. You can tell whoever you want."

"I was going to talk to Rhys about it after dinner but you kind of beat me to the conversation." She grumbles, slowly pulling back even though leaving his safe embrace feels torturous. "He seems to have been dropping hints of a 'better life' for a while."

The pair slowly leave the room, taking great care to close the door as softly as possible before descending down the rickety staircase.

"Whereas Cassian was dropping hints about Tomas I assume." Azriel observes and Isabella pauses. Azriel waits patiently as she tries to find the words

"Cassian made it about Tomas." She eventually states, tilting her head curiously at her own words. "And I needed someone to make it about Oliver and I."

"And Rhys did that?" His face is carefully neutral, not judging her for whatever she says.

"No, Rhys made it about opportunities, expectations and life in general... My neighbour Mrs Cromwell made it about us." She answers and a small smile blooms on Azriel's face because he gets it. He understands that she couldn't give in to another man. That she couldn't listen to another male over her husband or have someone who didn't understand her situation personally to pass a verdict.

"I'll make her scone basket." Azriel comments with a soft grin that falters at her surprised expression. "That is what humans here do to express gratitude, right?"

Apparently she wasn't the only one learning about her new friends.

A/N: So essentially I don't know how to write fluff without angst. Sorry.