It took me a wee while but i've got a second chapter XD it's not very cheery but Zelos has a dark little past so i thought i might bring that out!

Chapter One

The Only Way

Mylene Wilder lent gently against the banister, she was tired. Very tired Zelos had had a nightmare during the night and had cried for hours on end. The boy had been more than a pest since day one.

"So what's the plan?" Came a gentle husky, gentle voice from behind her. Mylene bit her lip and clung onto the banister she could hear Zelos laughing upstairs and Sebastian laughing also. Three years on and she still felt empty.

A pair of hand found her waist and a tall, well built body was pressed against her back her hands met his and she breathed deeply, "Renaldo…" She moaned softly her skin caressing his, "I just…" She felt his chin rest itself on her head, she could feel his breath on her scalp. She swallowed hard and finished, "I don't know. I really don't know."

He spun her round to face him his dark eyes boring into her storm grey ones, his long muscular arms still holding her at the waist. Mylene placed her hands on his chest sliding up toward his long dark hair, "I'm seeing Xanthos today."

Renaldo didn't say anything he just gave her a half smile and leaned in kissing her passionately, his hand was now on the small of her back his other entwining in her golden curls. It was he who pulled back looking deep into her eyes, "Will you be long?"

"No…" Mylene said placing a hand on his cheek, "Long enough. It has to happen tonight." Renaldo looked alarmed and he broke apart from her turning away and seemed to be struggling with himself.

"Renaldo…this is the only way we can-"

"I know." He said gruffly, "I know…it's just what about Zelos?"

"What about him?!" Mylene demanded placing a hand on his shoulder and turning him to look at her.

"It is his father we are talking about killing." Renaldo said shaking his head, "How do you think he'd feel when he finds out his mother murdered his father."

"If you are getting cold feet I'd understand." Mylene said cooly pointing to the door, "There's the door."

"This is the only way?"

"The only way." Mylene hissed with such venom Renaldo was completely taken aback. He took in her determined face, the way she looked her salmon pink dress which emphasized everything. She looked beautiful.

"If it means I can be with you. Then anything." He whispered running a hand through her hair.

"Mummy!" Came a small voice from the stairs, where they were standing Mylene and Renaldo were out of view from Sebastian and for a moment they both stood looking at each other, taking in everything.

"I love you." Mylene whispered as tears formed in her eyes, she slipped a hand into his briefly and squeezed it, "I promise after tonight…we'll be together."

Half an hour later standing outside the church with a three year old boy at her side Mylene began to feel nervous. She looked down at her son, he was a small three year old boy, he had short red hair and gentle grey eyes. He was dressed in a pressed suit and a red bow tie, he was watching as a butterfly passed. His eyes followed it greedily before he turned and looked at his mother.

"Mummy I want a butterfly!" He said pleadingly. Mylene couldn't even force a smile on her face as she stared at him, Zelos seemed to flinch at her gaze and looked to the ground. Sensing that she had been a little harsh on the boy, perhaps it was her guilt building up inside. After tonight Zelos wouldn't have a father…not that he was much of a father. Mylene bent low and with a handkerchief wiped a little mark off his face.

"Mylene." Came a curt voice from behind them. The same voice that caused anger to boil up inside Mylene like a kettle. She slowly stood up and turned to face her husband whom she hadn't seen for a year now.

"Xanthos…" Mylene whispered cooly turning to face him, she gave him a quick sweeping look, taking in his expensive robes and long flowing red hair. It was startling how much Zelos resembled him.

"Daddy!" Zelos gushed running towards Xanthos his arms outstretched. Xanthos merely looked at him as though he were a disgusting bug that needed to be squashed but sensing the eyes of the onlookers he lifted the small boy into his arms and kissed him reluctantly on the forehead.

Mylene walked to him and picked up his suitcase a bitter look of resentment etched onto her features, "How've you been?"

"Fantastic." He said grabbing her gently and kissing her briefly on the lips. Mylene stiffened and she saw by the looks of those watching he had once again persuaded the crowd that they were still together.

Hand in hand with Zelos walking close by they strode towards the mansion, "Are we not going to see the king?" Mylene said quietly, Xanthos tightened his grip as the mansion came into sight.

"We have matters to discuss first." He said stiffly letting her hand go roughly. He snatched his bag out of her hands and glared at Zelos as he tried to grab the other hand.

"Mr Wilder." Came Renaldo's voice as he trimmed the hedges in the front garden, "It's good to see you back." Xanthos pretended not to hear this obviously and placed his hand on Mylene's back before he cold say another word and strode into the house.

"How long has it been going on for?" Xanthos demanded throwing his bag into Sebastian's arms as he stood to greet them.

"I'll take these upstairs then sir." Sebastian said turning to leave, "Perhaps Mr Zelos would like to accompany me?"

Zelos cast a nervous look at his mother and father and stumbled forwards grabbing onto the tails of Sebastian's jackets to assist him in climbing the stairs.

Xanthos watched until they vanished into the bedroom, "How long have you and Renaldo been sleeping together?" He spat without turning to Mylene.

"I don't know what you are talking about-"

"Rumours have been spreading like wildfire Mylene." He said stiffly, "They reached me in Ozette not long ago a pair of gossips were talking nearby."

"You know fine well that rumours are not always correct Xanthos." Mylene said moving towards the fireplace making sure not to betray anything by meeting his eyes.

"I have connections." Xanthos said cooly placing a hand on Mylene's shoulder, she winced at his touch and swallowed hard, "And they've been watching Mylene. They've seen him leaving in the morning…"

"I'm tired Xanthos." Mylene said suddenly a smile on her face, "I think the time for you to worry about my sex life has passed."

Xanthos opened his mouth but Mylene was already storming up the stairs, "Sweet dreams."

It had been four hours since she had heard Xanthos retire to his bedroom. Mylene had been sitting on the edge of her bed looking at the floor waiting for those deep snores of his. She stood up and slowly descended the stairs heading towards the front door.

Her heart was pounding hard against her chest as she turned the knob and let Renaldo in. He was wearing black robes and a hood as they had planned.

The door had barely closed and he had placed his hands on her small waist and was kissing her like she was water and he was dying of thirst, "I love you…" He whispered as he moved to her neck nibbling and kissing.

"I love you too." She said her voice breaking, "But…we need to do this. For both of us."

"I know-"

"you don't know. He knows about us Renaldo!" Mylene said turning from him, "We need to kill him before…"

"Before he kills me?" Renaldo whispered, "Let's do this." He took Mylene's hand as the ascended the stairs, "Go to Zelos." He whispered when they reached the landing, "Don't let him awaken."

Mylene nodded and cast a look back at Renaldo before entering Zelos' room where he was lying asleep in his satin sheets. Mylene looked at him, and looked at him and looked at him some more. She still couldn't bring herself to feel it…to feel the love a mother should feel.

She could hear scuffing and yelling, Zelos stirred slightly and Mylene could feel her body quaking. A loud piercing yell seemed to echo throughout the house, It was unmistakeably the yell of a dying man. Zelos was sitting up fully. His innocent eyes locked on his mother who was shaking harder than ever.

There was silence, "Mummy?"

Mylene ignored him and left the room her heart hammering hard against her ribs as though it were trying to break free. Hand on the door she pushed it open, unmistakably there lay a body on the bed the darkness made it hard to make out.

"Renaldo?" She said quietly moving forward so she could see the body on the bed.

"You shouldn't have involved him." Came a cold voice from behind her, Mylene turned tears streaming down her face, she was unable to utter a single word she felt numb, "What's wrong Mylene? Did you love him?"

Mylene looked at Xanthos distraught, "Kill me." She uttered, "Kill me…kill me…" She was getting louder, "Just kill me…KILL ME!!!!"

"That would be too kind." Xanthos said turning on the spot and walking the length of the hall, "I've got business to take care of I'll return here in a few months."

Mylene watched him leave before falling to her knees in anguish crying into her arms. She couldn't look at the body behind her and she definitely couldn't bring herself to raise her eyes and look at the three year old child who was standing crying in the hall looking pleadingly at his mother and the body. Mylene remained hunched over repeating the words, "Kill me." Over and over again.