Isabella

Azriel was out the doorway in seconds when they made it back to the house.

"What happened?" He demands, hand going to Oliver's back to rest on top of Cassian's while he looks at Isabella with open worry. "Are you okay?"

She steps forward, placing a hand on his arm and trying not to admire the rock hard bicep she finds.

"Everythings fine," She reassures him firmly, "Oliver just got a little overwhelmed."

"Thought he'd have an early afternoon nap." Cassian supplies, greet Azriel with a sweet kiss on the cheek that has the Shadowsinger pausing like a frightened deer. Cas turns to Isabella, "I'll take him upstairs."

She nods even though it wasn't much of a question, hiding her smirk as Cassian sidesteps the now blushing Azriel who remains frozen in place. Cassian bumps his hip into Azriel's, sniggering when the shadowsinger stutters back to life with red tipped ears from the force of his embarrassed flush.

Isabella arches a brow at her mate but he looks guiltily at her.

"Azriel," She slowly drawls, voice warning and he closes his eyes with a muttered 'I know'. "If you know, then what am I going to say?"

"To stop stressing and micromanaging." She shifts in place, folding her arms and standing in what Nesta refers to as a classic mum pose. The Shadowsinger winces. "That I should trust my friends more?"

She waits, genuinely having no clue what she would have actually said. Logically, Isabella knew she would have reassured her mate, desperate to keep him calm and happy. But Azriel clearly needs to work on his anxiety and stress so she let him ramble on until his shoulders sagged.

Isabella stepped forward, sliding her hands around his waist and resting her head on his chest, content to listen to his heartbeat as they stood out in the midmorning sun.

"We're fine Azriel." She murmured.

"Ollie's not fine." He mumbled, sounding so broken that her heart clenched. "I should have been there to look after him."

Told you.

Now is really not the time to play the blame game.

"No he's not fine, but that's not on you." It was on her but that's not what Azriel needed to hear right now. He didn't need Isabella to make it all about herself. "Oliver would have had a meltdown at some point, he's a toddler."

"But this one could have been avoided."

"We're not playing the what if game Azriel." She admonishes lightly. Peering up at him and resting her chin on his chest as he cranes his own neck to look down at her. "It's an existing issue he and I are working on."

"Not one caused by my absence." Azriel states with a touch of sadness.

"Don't give yourself so little credit," She huffs, "He adored you but yes, this problem wasn't about you."

Azriel leans down, nestling his head against her neck so she just curls back into him. Letting him hold her and feeling him inhale her scent. Eventually she hears intentionally loud footsteps stop just away from them.

"Everything okay?" Cassian calls out hesitantly, stepping closer once Azriel lifts his head.

Isabella shares a quick look with Cassian, knowing her mate was holding something back from her. Perhaps he would find it easier to talk to Cassian than her. The general nodded, catching her meaning.

"C'mon," Cassian jerks his head towards the house, to the garden out back. "Why don't we go get afternoon tea set up for the female."

Azriel nods, still holding onto Isabella. Cassian waits a second before turning back into the house. Isabella continues to watch Az, wondering if he'll say anything. He doesn't but he nods to himself, pressing a soft kiss to Isabella's forehead that has her eyes fluttering closed.

He takes a deep breath, rolling out his shoulders before letting go of Isabella. Her mate steps back, offering her his arm. She smiles softly, appreciating the human gesture.

When the pair enter her home she's greeted with the sight of a fairly spotless kitchen. There's a pointed amount of clutter left behind as if to highlight that they cleaned the human way. She snorts in amusement and Azriel looks down at her in question. Isabella only shakes her head, detaching her arm from his.

For a second Azriel looks like he's about to pull her back but then his expression clears and he offers her a mock gracious bow. Isabella hides her surprise but Azriel still winces at his own awkwardness. She quickly grins, dipping down into a shallow curtsey before climbing the stairs.

It's not until she's halfway up the steps that Azriel's footsteps echo down the hall and the outside door clicks open. She hopes Cassian will get him to open up a little more. He had looked like a wild horse, eyes blown wide with panic as he scanned her head to toe.

She tiptoes into Oliver's room, finding Rhys perched on the rocking chair and silently flicking through a children's book. He looks up when she enters, smiling as she strides over to his side before peering over at her son.

Ollie looks so peaceful like this, so relaxed and sweet. But she can see the tear tracks down his face and the exhaustion lining his face as he sleeps.

"What happened?" Rhys murmurs quietly, hand reaching out to hold hers as she sits down on the end of Oliver's bed. "You were barely gone an hour."

"Ollie had a melt down." She murmured monotonously, feeling the guilt begin to set in. "He got freaked out by Morrigan."

"Because of something she did?" He keeps his voice calm and level, no ounce of accusation in his voice, only worried curiosity.

She shakes her head, "I think it was because he hadn't seen her in a while."

"He's not liking strangers I take it." Rhys comments and she shrugs. "Maybe it's time..."

He hesitates and she slowly drags her gaze away from her son.

"Maybe it's time to enrol him in a school." He suggests, scanning her face for any reaction.

She swallows nervously, feeling sick at the thought of parting with him.

"It would be good for his confidence." Rhys supplies sounding hopeful. "He would be able to make friends his age."

"He's not ready." We're not ready.

Rhys sighs, "Isa..."

"Don't." She snaps, feeling her eyes water. "He doesn't turn five till autumn."

Rhys waits a moment, letting her calm down while he no doubt forms his next line of argument.

"The academic year always starts in autumn," He answers and tears burn in her eyes. "But it could be good for him to join a nursery at one of the schools first. A few hours a week for him to get to know the other kids."

And for Isabella to get used to parting with him.

"Gods," She scoffs, swiping at her cheek. "I'm being ridiculous."

"There's nothing ridiculous about loving your son." Rhys keeps his voice firm. "I'm sure most parents cried or got stressed the first time they truly parted with their kids."

"I'm not ready." She grits out, her throat thick with tears. "He's still too little."

"Isa..." Rhys looks as heartbroken as she feels. "He's ready."

And that terrifies her.

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Lunch date number two goes much better than lunch date number one. Azriel and Rhys have taken Oliver to the park, the park where the kids go after school. Rhys had cleared it with her first, suggested that he take Ollie there and then report back on how he is with the new kids.

Mother above she wished Nesta was here to glare at the High Lord and hide both Ollie and Isabella behind her skirts.

She had nearly flung the children's book in her hands at his head. Rhys had only grinned, always happy to play the villain. She had eventually conceded but had fidgeted for the first fifteen minutes of the meeting before confessing her fears to her little sister's pointed 'Archeron' look.

"He's just so little." She states, pleading with her sister to understand. From Feyre's exasperated expression she wasn't going to be very supportive of Isabella's side. "And he's taken so long to settle here that I don't want to uproot him again."

"Bella." Feyre huffs, glaring at her in the way only a little sister could. A mixture of amusement, exasperation and annoyance. "You can't keep him bundled up safely forever."

Sure she can.

No you can't.

I thought you were on my side.

You mortals are so obsessed with sides and morals.

"Sure she can." Morrigan states and both Archerons look at the female in surprise. "Ollie's immortal. Most high fae keep their children at home for decades before letting them out into the world."

Okay, that did sound a little oppressive.

A little?

Feel free to shut up at any point.

"That sounds extreme." Feyre points a cake fork at Morrigan, sounding more relaxed with this petty argument than she had in weeks. "Why don't we settle for something somewhere in the middle."

"Human children start nursery at 4." Isabella guiltily confesses. "Well, the aristocracy children do."

"That's because humans care so little for their offspring," Mor waves off, not noticing the human and formerly human's looks. "They can have so many that getting invested in just one is ridiculous to them."

Morrigan winces when she finds both Archerons glaring at her. For a second it's as if her twin is sitting next to her and not Feyre. It was always amusing how similar Feyre and Nesta were. It's why they got on so badly together.

She owes her twin a visit. A letter at the very least. Yet another reason to pile on the guilt.

"Sorry." Mor forces out, looking guilty. "Didn't think my words through."

"Clearly." Isabella comments, ignoring Feyre's eyeroll.

"Back to the issue at hand." Feyre gets them back on track, eager for this to go well. "Why not send Oliver to a nursery then?"

"That's what Rhys said." She grumbled, sipping from her tea. But Feyre stiffened and then fidgeted. It was like a bird ruffling and resettling her feathers.

"Things are still tense with the High Lord then?" Isabella queries, setting her tea cup down.

Mor snorts, "Understatement."

Feyre cuts her a sharp glare Nesta would be proud of.

"What?" Mor askes, unperturbed by the reprimand. "You Archerons can be so stubborn."

"And Rhys cannot?" Isabella smirked, leaning back in her chair. Mor laughed, a beautiful sound that seemed to captivate Feyre.

"My cousin can be quite hard headed, yes." Mor appraises her with an interested look. "Though that seems to be your problem now."

It was more of a question than a statement.

Isabella shrugs, unwilling to share the nature of her relationship when she hadn't had a chance to discuss it with the recently befriended males. She was under no illusions that the males wouldn't need time to readjust to each other. Not to mention the new dynamic.

Especially considering that Isabella suspects she's not the root cause of their issues. They have too strong a bond to be torn apart by a woman. No. It's more realistic for it to be old wounds resurfacing and new ones that haven't been addressed.

Namely that Queen Isabella hears of in passing.

"Really," Mor huffs, annoyed but amused. "No comment?"

Isabella smiles softly, "Would you care to comment on your own relationship."

Feyre freezes but Morrigan is a courtier so she only smiles sweetly, "touche."

The females hold each other's gaze for a while. Both a challenge and acknowledgment. What's all those old boys club sayings? Game recognises game? Or something to do with lions and wolves?

Feyre coughs to clear the air but they ignore her for a long moment.

"Didn't you want to tell Isabella of your new painting?" Morrigan suddenly states.

"I hadn't realised you started a new painting." Isabella beamed at her sister, proud of her taking back the passion she lost.

Feyre just blinked in surprise.

"You two are so strange."

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"Well?" Cassian queries, practically bouncing around her as they work in the kitchen. "How was afternoon tea?"

"It was... nice." She smiled to herself, genuinely pleased with how it went.

"Nice?" Cassian queries, clearly not believing her. "Really?"

She rolls her eyes, "Cas–"

"Nope," he makes a popping noise. "I'll hold the grudge against Mor for you."

"Are you sure it's not your own grudge?" Rhys presses a kiss against her cheek as he hands reaches around her for the water decanter. "No one would blame you."

"He says as my brother."

Rhys shrugs, "I'm not the High Lord in family spaces."

"And when we go back to the 'workplace'." Cassian makes air quotes in the air as he leans against the kitchen counter. "Am I allowed to be bitter then?"

"Depends on if it affects your work." Rhys answers smoothly.

Isabella smiles, appreciating that he's making an effort with his brothers. Not just delegating and enforcing the rules.

"So..." She trails off, glancing between them pointedly. "Did my kitchen die in vain?"

Cassian snorts, swatting at her with a tea towel. She gapes at him, startled by his surprise attack. Her mate only smiles in triumph, wiggling his brows at her. He'd stopped doing that recently. Acting playful around her she means. It's nice to be involved in his ridiculous antics again.

"Your kitchen did not die in vain." Rhys proclaims, looking at Cassian for support. "Well... we've made progress at least."

Isabella feels her spirit deflate, shoulder sagging.

"Good progress." Cassian's voice hardens as he no doubt shoots Rhys a glare for upsetting her. "We're back to our normal level of annoyance with each other."

"Normal level?" She sounds disbelieving to her own ears. "Seriously?"

They shrug, perfectly in-sync.

Rhys points his glass of water at her, "You try spending five centuries with someone and not getting pissed off at them every once in a while."

"Normal. Level." She separates the words as if they're Ollie struggling to understand. "What does that mean."

Cassian's expression drops, a flicker of real rage emerging from behind his playful demeanour.

"Just some old issues we've been working out over the centuries." He shrugs, voice calm - too calm. "We'll keep the issues between us. Promise."

He smiles down at her placatingly and Isabella narrows her eyes. That statement didn't sound ominous at all. Even Rhys just smiles politely when she looks to him for confirmation. Apparently, neither of them were willing to share. It only bugged her a lot.

Isabella huffs, irritated with their stubbornness.

"Fine, but it better not get out of hand." They grinned, real smiles this time.

"It won't." Cassian proclaims, tackling her into a bear hug that lifts her feet from the ground.

Laughter bubbles out of her. Unable to hide her amusement as he spins her in ridiculous circles around the kitchen before dropping her onto a dining chair. She hunches over, laughing quietly at the spinning lights behind her eyes.

"You're ridiculous." She proclaims despite her grin and Cassian just shrugs, joy lighting up his face. "Now, who's cooking dinner? And the answer is 'not Isabella'."

A/N: I'm afraid there's a few filler chapters coming up as I'm busy running around behind the scenes trying to work out my next plotline. The bonus of filler chapters means you can basically just suggest your one shot ideas you would like to see.