He already knew. When I got the the manor Ash was sitting in the red room where he often went to think, he didnt even look at me when I entered. Instead he looked down at an empty pad of paper he said exactly the opposite I thought he would say, "You could have came to me," he rubbed his jaw as if he was thinking to himself. Finally he looked up at me coldness settling between us as I stood infront of him already feeling shame, "I thought I could trust you."

   I looked down at my hands, "I did what I had to."

   "Why didnt you tell me?" Thinking about it, I didnt really have a good reason even Arisella tried to speak reason with me.

   A part of me still wondered why I didn't come to him, was I trying to protect him? Did I think he was going to shut me down? "I thought it would be easier if you didn't come."

   "Did I do something to upset you last night? Was my gift too much?" He frowned he was genuinely confused and he had every right to be. I had agreed to trust him, confide in him and I havn't because no matte how nice that seemed I couldnt.

   "No of course not I love the gift," I said touching my neck. "We needed to get to the bottom of the dark woods and though I chose to go about it the wrong way... I got what we needed."

   His jaw twitched slightly, "I know I had Blade watch you guys. I'm always two steps ahead so next time just inform me is that so hard? I would have agreed you know."

   I rubbed my arm nervously, "I'm not thinking clearly," I shrugged finally sitting down a crossed from him. "Everything has gone to shit all at once and I just can't think," my bottom lip wobbled slightly. "I feel like any minute I'll shatter."

   Ash looked down for a second then met my eyes, "He's getting married Nadia, you need to let go of him for your own sanity." Between my mother dying and Nixin carrying Rones child I thought I might have a mental breakdown any minute, I had to stop lying to myself. I wasn't okay and that was okay.

   "How do I stop loving him?" That was the question, that was the golden ticket. How do I go a day without missing my mom, wishing things could be different?

   "You dont," he said looking over to the portrait of Lorelei. "But if I know anything it is that you will and you can get through all the mess because you were built for bigger battles, we both were. Rone is the love of your life but you have to remember so was Gregory," I hadn't told him about Gregory and my past but I guess it was obvious. "Have you explored things in that regin again? He still loves you and the two of you have been spending a lot of time together, not any man leaves his home to follow a woman to a den of dragons."

   This took me off guard, "You suggest burying my pain with a new flame? Scratch that an old flame? In what universe is that exactly healthy?" I squinted at him as he smirked slightly.

   "I'm just saying to live your life because its going to be a long one I'm not telling you to fall in love," he said leaning forward. "Life is empty without someone to share it with, the dome is up and Meredith is trapped until we can figure out what else is needed to bring back the late King you have all the time in the world to live your life a little. You told me you wanted your own soldiers, I will make you a general." Not to mention I needed to start practicing my magic and stretching it's limits, as much as I hoped this would end in our favor I needed to be ready for a war. I also needed to be there for Simon, thats what I promised my mom. 

   "This team...I get to train them and pick them out?"

   He eyed me grabbing his cane and spinning it around beside himself, "You run a hard bargain."

   "I'm hoping that being your creator gives me some extra points," I batted my eyes.

   His lips twitches slightly but he didnt smile, "Fine."

   "What will you be doing?" I asked curiously he seemed in a more chipper mood. The months I have been here I have seen so many new parts of Ash and there wasnt a part I didnt like. I'd like to think I was selfless and as passionate as Ash was for our people but he had me beat he cared more about Valkri then his own life.

   He stood up straightening his evening blue tunic, he was actually dressed up with a matching blue and white cloak. His messy dark hair was pushed back reveling more of his tan muscular face, "I am going to live my life," he gave me an ironic grin. "I am taking Lady Scarlett out for a late night stroll," he said as he grabbed a black hat.

   "You like her?" I asked feeling a bit green with envy not because Ash was interested in someone but because I missed that feeling, that buzz. I haven't felt that since I met Rone.

   "She's a good person," he said. That hardly sounded romantic.

   I folded my arms over my chest this man obviously needed my help, "You need to be more clear with your intentions," I chastened him. "She either makes you smile from the inside out or you're just filling in the time, what is it?"

   He frowned down at me, "We are not switching things around you are the one who's going through a life changing crises not me."

   "I just want to make sure you dont end up hurting her or yourself."

   He stepped closer, so close I could smell the smoke and spark of mint on him . "You and I both know you dont care if I hurt her or not, you're jealous," he cocked his head to the side as he studied me.

   I sucked in my breathe, "You just read me..." I guess now I know how others feel when I poke around, I did not like it one bit.

   "You have a habit of letting down your shields around me," with that he spun around. "Give Gregory my best," he called out before leaving. Was he playing with me?

......................................................................................................................

   Noah and Gloria decided to take a tour with Blade so they were somewhere in town. When I walked back to the manor Gregory was out in the very back past the gardens in the wooded area cutting wood. "Planning on having a party tonight?" I asked.

   "Figured your families first night here should be a good one with everyone they feel comfortable around," he said as his bare muscles shifted under the setting sun. "I asked Ashs permission to use this area tonight he said him and Scarlet might he stop by."

   "Thank you," I said shifting from one foot to the other. "You didn't have to help me or my family, you dont have to care for Simon as if he were your own brother but I'm so glade that you do."

   Gregory put down the axe and wiped the sweat from his head, "Your mom practically raised me too," he was right. Gregory grew up in a broken home, his brothers would beat on him and his dad died at a young age, his mother was a nut who could hardly remember she had children. "No matter where life takes us, no matter who life takes I will always be by your side thats what family does. I promised your mom before she died that I would always be there for you and I will take that promise to my grave," he walked closer to me, his eyes focused on mine. His hand hovered over my face but he let it down, shaking his head in frustration. I could feel his love stronger then its ever been, what we went through was something neither of us would forget. We still both have nightmare, not that we talk about them. Sometimes I think we were put here to save each other, no matter how small or how big the problem was we found a way to each other. We always made things feel a little less worse, thats all you could hope for really.

   "I guess I owe you an apology, all those months I spent hating you," I smiled thinking back at all of our pointless bickers.

   "I never caved," he shrugged stuffing his hands in his trousers giving me that boyish grin I missed so much. Gregory used to be a wild thing just a year ago, so full of life and hope but that was all gone now. He is a man now, his dreams are no longer dreams and his love is no longer pure.

   "Here I'll help you," I said tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. We stood there for some time chopping wood, sometimes Gregory would catch me staring at him and I'd have to snap myself out of my daze.

   I kept on chopping letting go all my mistakes and fears, knowing tomorrow I'll be running around trying to save the world, again.

......................................................................................................................

   My brother loved his wife Gloria and they made the most perfect fae baby this world will ever see. "She's going to be treated like a princess here," Ash said sitting down beside Noah to swoon over the child. I noticed there weren't many babies and when I asked Blade why it was because they had a mating season... strange.

   "Thank you," Noah said offering his hand to Ash. "All we want is for her and Simon to be happy."

   Simon was beyond happy not only does this town not see many children but fae children and Simon was a special kind of child. The face of the future him and baby Stella and they dont even know it. The home Ash gave us was big enough to fit a family of twenty so I decided Gregory and I will be moving there as well this will be our last home, our forever home. "I can take you into town to pick up some tapestries for inside and some furniture," I said to Gloria.

   "We dont have that kind of money-"

   "Of course you dont," I scuffed looking over to Ash, "He does."

   "You are too forward," Gloria chastened me as she blushed.

   "I will provide you with anything you need," Ash said giving me a knowing smile, I knew what he was thinking. Me and all my demands, how far would I go?

   "So what has been going on between you two?" Noah asked pointing at Gregory and I.

   Gregory frowned, "I'm her second hand what else could you mean?"

   "You two seem awfully close," Gloria chipped in giving me a flirty smile.

   Ash and Scarlet only watched Gregory and I as we watched each other not really knowing what to say, "Not that I disapprove," Noah shrugged. "I kind of miss having you around the family."

   "You hated me," Gregory frowned which was true.

   "I hate Rone even more," Noahs dark eyes clouded over, he probably hated him more then our own father and that spoke louder than words.

   "Fair," Gregory flashed a menacing smile while he gulped back the rest of his wine, I was about ready to dive in then thought better of it. Gregory and I were still sharing a room, not because we needed to anymore but I guess because it felt nice having each other near. Neither of us has said anything about it, I guess neither of us really wanted to separate at least not yet we needed each other's friendship more then ever. "We've tried that and you seen how that ended up."

   This time it was Scarlet who spoke, "I grew up with the both of you back then you weren't right for each other but you worked. Now the two of you melt together effortlessly its beautiful really wether its just friendship or more you cant say it's not love," Its even more annoying how innocently sweet she was. Ash shifted on the log uncomfortably as Scarlets wing brushed his back he tensed up a bit, red flashing in his grey eyes. He then looked up at me, his face a bit pale.

   "She loves Rone," Ash said looking away into the woods, I wanted to read him but I kept my magic at bay. "Love like that doesn't just go away," I knew he was talking about her, you could see how much he missed Lorelei just by looking at him.

   "That chapter in my life is closed he's moved on and I am too, with my family," I forced a smile but all I wanted to do was lay down and close my eyes. Ash gave me a slight eyebrow raise, looking at Gregory who sat beside me. I looked up to Gregory and then said, "Who knows where time will take us."

   He looked down at me and gave me a lopsided smile, "Here's to a promising future," he said raising his glass. 

   I'll drink to that.