Isabella

Her house was trashed, absolutely chaotic and filled with toys and noise and everything she had ever dreamed of. The peace and organised lifestyle had lasted all of two days before both Isabella and Oliver realised they had free reign.

It had been nice, bonding with her son again, relearning who he is, who she is without Tomas. They could be loud and bright and no one would tell them off.

She remembered how naughty both she and Ollie felt the first time he had a bubble bath. They had giggled to themselves as they poured in a quarter of the fancy strawberry scented bubbles that Mor had gifted them. Ollie had shushed her when she laughed too loud and she had splashed him with water.

When he gaped at her, for all intents and purposes an old horrified man, Isabella had wished she had her sister's painting ability so she could capture and immortalise his expression.

That being said her little sister had been quick to help decorate her home. Feyre hadn't quite worked up the courage to enter their house, she had only just gotten used to the coffee shop by the river.

From what Isa understands, Feyre works towards each excursion. Picking a place, planning the time, food she would order and with Rhys and Mors help she would picture locations to make it easier to approach them.

The coffee shop had been a grand achievement that Isabella had celebrated with her by splitting a large slice of cake in that very shop. Just Isa, Feyre wasn't ready for the stress of Ollie just yet so the young boy had been babysat by Cas.

Which was one of the paintings Feyre had gifted her. When they had returned home from their little trip out they had found both Illyrian and child flaked out on the sofa. Cassian draped across the full length, an arm and a leg hanging off the side while Oliver sprawled over his chest.

That painting was hanging in a cluster of small 'action shot' paintings in the hallway. Including a chess game between herself and Rhys, tea with Nesta and a rather odd one of Isabella and Oliver laughing at the shadows twirling around them.

Feyre had enjoyed the challenge apparently, a way to keep her busy and Oliver found his new green themed room filled with funny portraits of dogs wearing hats and ducks wearing boots.

She still remembered his laughter when he had unwrapped the gift. It had been Feyre's housewarming gift to the young boy, along with a few canvas and cheap paints for him to practise with. Mor had apologised, stating that she had tried to convince Feyre to buy him more expensive products but that her sister had only waved her off.

Isa waved Mor off, reminding her that he was only four and had shocking hand eye coordination let alone painting skills.

But oh how his whole face had lit up at the funny pictures. Laughter had rung out loud through the room and all the adults had stopped, admiring the joy and happieness of the little boy. He had giggled quietly to himself, hugging the fox wearing a pink dress to his chest as he peered at the other photos.

Each image elicited yet another round of laughter and Isabella couldn't help but beam at him as well. Her chest had ached with the force of her joy. It had been so long since he had laughed so openly.

Azriel had gripped her hand hard from his seat next to her on the sofa. They had shared a soft look and the understanding in Azriel's gaze had nearly brought tears to her eyes. All three of them had been so worried for him, for how quiet he had been.

He was quiet even now, with Cas laid out on the floor to play with a new toy set that he had bought for the boy. Neither illyrian had minded the change in attitude, only talking to him quietly at first and building up to louder when they normally would have walked into the room loud and unapologetic.

Though the house warming party had certainly seen more than just laughter and tears of happiness.

They had been in the house for two weeks, finally settling into a new routine when Rhys suggested a small house warming party. The first week had been chaotic, neither Isabella or Oliver could sleep very well in the new location, the beds were too soft, the house too quiet and she often found herself sleeping with the little boy.

Despite the tumultuous nights the days seemed to be easier. Cassian and Azriel were over every other day. They had tried to give them space at first but they must have sensed through the– the bond that Isabella was becoming a little untethered. So they had appeared after three days to drop off groceries. The day after that was to deliver a set of children's books. The day after that was to drop off the thick quilt that Azriel had gifted Oliver.

The quilt that now resided on the boy's bed.

But two weeks had been enough to develop a routine. Breakfast at 7 (but they ate the same porridge as they did in the human realm), a walk to the park (Oliver need to burn off energy) lunch was spent on wandering explorations (guided by the shadows that never left their side), the afternoon was at home and dinner was with whichever lost bat appeared on their doorstep.

It worked, and the mundanity of it all was comforting.

So she had agreed to host a housewarming party. Which had immediately brought on a stress headache but Rhys was there in seconds, plan ready and loving every second of organising a theme.

Because it apparently needed a theme, It was a house warming party, the house was the theme. She had said as much to Cassian who had only shrugged and laughed, continuing to make red and gold themed bunting with Oliver at her kitchen table.

"Rhys likes planning social events," He had simply stated. "And he likes putting in effort for the people he cares about."

She narrowed her eyes on him. "I thought we had agreed it was his own issues."

Cassian glances at Oliver but the young boy is distracted with the triangle bunting before him. Tongue poking out of his mouth in concentration as he painted gold lines onto the red material.

Her mate rises to his feet, stepping around the table so he can pull her closer, cradling her in his arms.

"It's his way of showing that he cares." Cassian reiterated, smiling down at her. "Besides, he doesn't get to hold you the way I do."

She rolled her eyes, blushing furiously as the general swayed her gently side to side.

"Rhys is used to getting what he wants," Cassian's voice had gone colder, expression more serious. "And we have always shared everything but... It's nice, getting to have something just for us. For Azriel and I. It's like this wonderful gift that we get to treasure and protect."

She huffs, heart fluttering in her chest.

"It just feels like a lot of effort." Isa eventually whispers, wincing at the thought of all her new friends had done for them. "Especially after what everyone has already done for us."

"This is a celebration," He counters, "An opportunity for us to spoil the two of you– don't interrupt me – which you both deserve after everything. Sure, we helped you but we could have done more and you've certainly helped us more than you know."

Isabella had just sighed, accepting that this knew family was very giving and apparently very up and in each others' business. The thought reminded her of Nesta and the disgust that would always be plain on her face whenever someone got a little too open and personal about their lives with her.

Bar Isa of course, the pair shared everything.

Azriel had seen it a little differently. The only explanation he had offered was that Cassian trusted Rhys far too much. Az on the other hand has zero faith in the High Lord, which was perfect for creating tension during her house warming party.

Oliver thankfully was oblivious to the side eyes, glares and shuffled away gifts. She had seen it, the present that Rhys had quickly hidden after he had presented her with a flower bouquet. Azriel hadn't liked the flowers but she had kept them for a few days, arranged them to her taste and then put them in the living room.

They had disappeared soon after a dinner with both of her mates. She had raised her brows at the action but Azriel had shrugged, unapologetic even if he had smirked a bit in pride. It had been odd at first, living with people who rely heavily on instincts and senses.

But it was easier once she just started writing certain aspects of fae behaviour off. The whole scenting, smelling, enhanced hearing thing was bizarre but there was nothing she could do but accept it.

Her mates had done their best to act a little human, not commenting on scents and narrating anything they overheard at the coffee shop.

Which she and Azriel had loads of fun with during their weekly coffee dates to gossip.

It was nice of him to make sure she got out of the house. These days it was easy to get caught up playing housewife and living in limbo. Especially when she was stuck in a cycle of cleaning away and getting out set after set of toys.

It was hard to say 'no' to Oliver now that she could finally say yes to things.

So here she was, laid out on the picnic blanket Cassian gifted her in her front garden as Oliver played with bat-bat and the set of knights and dragon Azriel got him. She's pretty sure the dragon is winning the fight but Oliver seems happy so she leaves the mass-slaughter be.

For a while Isabella just leaned back into the grass, letting the sun warm her face as the beginnings of spring started to show. Rhys had used some kind of magic the other day to cut back the grass and the scent of it now filled the air, warring with soft breeze that flowed through the neighbourhood.

A few doors down she could hear one of her neighbours bustling outside, an elderly woman who reminded her of Mrs Cromwell. She liked to have tea outside on Tuesdays.

"Enjoying your afternoon nap?"

She squints, raising a hand to block out the sun. An action that proves unnecessary when the winged figure steps in the way of the light. Cassian arches a brow, an amused smirk tugging at his lips as Isabella hastily sits up.

"May I join you?" He mimics a posh voice but the question is genuine.

She rolls her eyes, shuffling over on the picnic blanket so there's room for him. He sighs, practically groaning as he slumps down onto the floor. Every bone creeks and cracks with the movement and she stares at him in alarm until he finally meets her gaze.

He sighs, waving her off, wincing as he settles onto her back.

"It's fine."

"You said it was a calm day." She frets, sitting up-right to glare down at him. "And I thought we agreed that you would keep me in the loop if–"

"Nothing happened." He kept his eyes closed, one hand patting around till he found her leg and then her hand that was resting on her thigh. She sighs, gripping his hand before laying back down. "Azriel, Rhys and I–"

"Oh for the love of–"

"What? What!"

"It's always you three." She hisses, glaring at him and trying to ignore the parallels of couples laying side by side while staring lovingly into each others' eyes. "Everytime something is wrong with one of you it's always the other twos' fault."

He huffs but doesn't bother to contradict her so she smirked in triumph.

Oliver runs around them, making sound effects as the dragon and knights continue to battle in the skies.

"So this is our new version of peace." Cassian mumbled and she hummed in agreement as the loud excited cries of a child disturbed the peace. "It's..."

"Chaotic even during downtime?"

"I was going to say lovely."

She grins. Isabella thinks she might love this, this new life. Every moment where Tomas would yell and hurt is being overwritten. Quiet spring days spent with her son where they would run away to the fields or kept their voices down are now loud and joyous.

Cassian only makes the day brighter when he joins in with Oliver. Acting as the ferocious Wildebeest that chases after the brave bat-bat. Their laughter rings out in the garden and Isabella just watches them, beaming delight as Cassian playfully tackles him into the ground.

Eventually Oliver grows hungry and the trio makes their way into the kitchen. It was almost natural for her to move around Cassian, to toss him an apple and have him know to start cutting it up into little kiddy sized bites as she made a sandwich.

Oliver was chatting away, talking about the friend he made at the park the other day. She was so excited when the pair started talking, Ollie was shy at first– especially when he realised that the little girl had dragonfly wings.

Thankfully to a kid like Ollie wings are cool so she didn't have to have a conversation about that with him.

Until the mother realised that Isabella was human and Ollie was therefore half-human. She had taken her little girl away like Isa had the plague. The girl had been fine but when Isabella frowned a neighbour next to her mentioned that the mother was a couple centuries old.

As in alive when humans were still slaves in Prythian.

Which is certainly something to wrap your head around.

"Are you okay?" She eventually asks once Oliver is entertained with a late lunch. She eyes her mate up and down. "I saw you wincing earlier."

"I didn't know you cared, Iz." He grins, leaning against the kitchen counter as he stares down at her. "You were so dismissive earlier."

She huffs, "I was trying to play it cool."

"Iz," He sighs, "If I worried–"

"I always worry," She interrupts, smiling at her mates as she places a delicate hand on his arm, "the same way you and the boys will always get into scrapes.... I'm just getting used to it."

He frowns, "By ignoring it?"

"By trying not to lose my shit every time you wince." She states and he sighs. "What, I'm being honest here. I'm a worrier, that's kind of my thing – alongside overthinking – so... understanding that I am mated to a literal General I'm doing my best to adjust to the new lifestyle."

His eyes soften, a quiet sort of caring shining on his face.

"You don't have to change–"

"It's not changing," She counters, stepping closer to him. "It's growth and apart of beginning a new relationship."

He grins then, playful and excited. Like a puppy. "So we're starting a relationship."

She sighs, turning away from him to watch Ollie much on his apple chunks.

"What do you think we were doing?"

"Waiting till you weren't married and in a good headspace."

She sighs, "Damn, I forgot we were being healthy."

He stays quiet and she lets him.

"You sure you're ready."

Isabella pauses, thinking about it. Letting herself think about how far she's come.

"Yeah," She smiles, excited. "I'm ready to spend nights out and try new things. It sounds quite nice to do those things with someone by my side."

"Some- One?" He grins, wiggling his eyebrows and she sighs.

"Some-three." She smirks, loving the way his nose scrunches up at the reference to his High Lord. "Fine, some-Two. And by some I mean you and Az."

"Just us." He states, no room for augment as he tugs her closer to cradle Isabella in his arms. "No one else."

"No one else." She agrees.

A/N: We're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!