Chapter Two: The Promise of Tomorrow

Disclaimer- Twilight and all characters are property of Stephanie Meyers and Little, Brown and Company. Argeneau Series books and all characters are property of Linsay Sands and Avon Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins. Created characters and their personal plot lines are property of Avalon Phoenix.

Happy New Year everyone!

Unfortunately, I found this chapter quite difficult to write, coming up against a brick wall often. However, I did finally finish writing out the main draft and have, of course, typed it up. I am most obviously delayed in my delivery of this chapter, seeing as how a new job has me worn out afterward. To make amends, this chapter is quite long, though I hope not overly so. More action is sure to come in the next chapter, at least a more interesting plot line. There is much more dialogue in this chapter, as well as some humor(or what I hope you will find humorous). Enjoy this chapter!

P.S. The name that appears in this chapter, "Avia", is not my character's actual name. It's a nickname bestowed upon her by everyone in the family. It's actually a meaning for a general relative's name, in a certain language(the same with "nepos"). I might reveal a little spoiler if the first person who guesses correctly messages me with the meaning/translation. Happy Hunting and Reading!

P.P.S. I may not post another chapter for a while. The reason being is that I would like to write up a few chapters and type them up, get them ready for regular posting so that I have something to give you, my readers, to enjoy while I continue to work. Also, my job may be a central cause in delays, but I will endeavor to persevere to post chapters in a more timely fashion than I am currently.

Warning- There is mentioning of alcohol in this story, and there will be in the following sequels. My character is of age and very responsible. I will NOT be having any of the underage characters drinking. I do not condone underage drinking in any way. Please be wise and do not drink if you are under the legal drinking age in any country.

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Stepping off the plane some moments later, the London atmosphere charged a familiar assault on my senses. I hadn't been to London in several years, decades in fact. But I kept in touch with my family faithfully, never missing a milestone. I was proud of myself for that; for when one becomes a hermit, as you all know, you loose touch with the outside world and therefore, your family along with it.

The scents, odors, and sounds danced around my head- the warm cinnamon and deep brown sugar of a pastry shop, the recently printed paper of books and newspapers, the squealing of the conveyer belts scraping along, the perfumes of workers and passengers alike, the scent of cleaner wafting from a distant washroom with the underlying stench of rankness. One more scent assaulted my nose- the somewhat horrendous stench of the 47 year old male...Lovely. He walked by briskly, my mind asserting that he has a medical condition that he cannot help, the poor soul.

I meandered my way over to the baggage claim section, biding my time. I was in no hurry, as my family were not quite close. The traffic outside the airport was beginning to pick up, the night life of the city awakening and thriving. As it would be but a mere few moments before my luggage was loaded off the aircraft and onto the conveyer belt, I concluded that it provide ample opportunity to participate in a favorite pass time- people watching.

The traffic within the airport terminal itself was steadily picking up steadily, the people bustling about in their own manner. One trudged along, with a tendency to lead with his left foot, not exactly an indicator that he was left handed, but he certainly was. His head was slightly tilted, a cellular phone "attached" to his ear, speaking quite fervently. He seemed most anxious, yammering on about an investment deal and closing it. The sharp clipping of high-heeled shoes encased in black velvet entered the picture, passing by my immediate line of sight. With a determined gait, she preened on, a projected air of confidence broadcast to those around her. One look at her eyes betrayed her, the air disappeared in a shroud of despair. Recently, her lover had vanished, moving along to a new conquest. She hadn't believed anyone when she was told that he wasn't a gentleman. Poor soul, but something good will come to her soon.

And so, thus I continued on in such a manner, closing my eyes as I waited, taking in the sights with my other senses. Some moments later, the corner of my lip curled upward into a smirk. Slow, calculating(almost lazy) steps accompanied by a casual gait with business undertones. The closer the steps came, the wider my smirk grew, transforming into a grin.

"At last, a mere fraction of the brood has finally arrived," I remarked cheekily, my eyes still closed. "I was becoming worried."

I was met with a tenored chuckle. "You can easily entertain yourself by doing nothing for hours on end."

"At least I am genuinely productive when I am entertaining," I retorted, my eyes sparkling with mirth.

I needed not to look at the pair's countenance to know that both sets of cheeks were flushed, eyes darting around in slight mortification. However, I did take a peek for my own amusement and for unnecessary validation. Deciding to end their present mortified state, I stood to embrace them, my lengthy arms nearly encircling them both.

I placed my hand on the cheek of the young man in front of me, smiling softly, "It is good to see you, Lucern."

He returned my smile, placing his hands on my shoulders, "It's good to see you, as well."

I turned to the young woman accompanying him, my smile warming ever so slightly. "This must be your fiancée, Katherine," said I. "Or Kate C. Leever as she introduces herself, per usual."

Kate smiled sheepishly, in a slightly 'you caught me' sort of manner, nodding. I watched as Lucern wrapped an arm around her, gently pulling her to him. His eyes sparkled with great admiration and love. To anyone, it was a sight to behold, but especially to myself. Lucern had been alone for many a year, becoming a notorious recluse. He needed someone like Kate, someone with passion and spunk, to bring him out of his shell.

"Yes, Avia," said he, using my familiar nickname. "This is my fiancée, my Kate."

Glancing over her figure, I could tell that the turning had filled her out wherever necessary. While she had been reasonably close to her peak condition, there was, of course, room for improvement. Her hair appeared more healthy, shining nicely, even in the fluorescent lights of the airport. In general terms, the turning process would never do anyone a disservice, with the few, rare exceptions.

"Shall I retrieve your luggage for you?" Lucern asked, turning more towards me as he spoke.

I smiled with warm gratitude. "That would be most lovely, nepos. Thank you."

Lucern glanced at Kate with smug triumph, the look returned with a thinly veiled glare. I silently chuckled to myself as I witnessed the exchange, Kate still glaring at her fiancé as he turned to gather my luggage. Lucern was decidedly old fashioned- while sometimes a gentleman, though sometimes a bit cantankerous, even tending towards chauvinistic at times (as Kate would claim him to be after a spat). He always opened the door for the ladies, pulled out their chairs, insisted on carrying anything that might be too heavy, etcetera. However, he was quite stuck in his ways, seeing how he and Kate had first met, and in other situations he could be quite difficult to deal with, when talking to the younger generation of the family. The modern generation would call Lucern an old crony, though not in so many words. Kate's glare was, as you modern generation like to say, "shove it".

"How have the plans been progressing?" I asked, taking capture Kate's attention, coupled with that I was genuinely curious, but truly needn't ask.

A wearied sigh was my first answer, followed by, "They're coming along alright, I guess. It's mostly the usual stress of planning a wedding. The unusual stress being the two families meeting and figuring out how not to reveal anything to my family, and so on. Lucern's been wonderful, though maybe too agreeable at times."

"I know that he is only concerned with your happiness, my dear," I soothed. "Anything that would make you happy, would in turn make him delighted as well."

"In a way it's a relief," she continued. "I expect to hear the usual answer- 'No.'. But I do so want an honest opinion once in a while, or even let me know what he's thinking."

"Believe me, my dear," said I, brow raised to further finalize my point. "Lucern would most definitely put his foot down if he is not keen to something." I leaned in closer to utter the next words, "I am also quite certain that his mind will be entirely elsewhere during the event."

Kate chuckled shortly, her cheeks slightly aflame. She had caught on to my hidden meaning straight away, but did not comment. She turned as the topic of discussion drew closer, carrying my meager luggage bag. I found no qualms in wearing a particular article of clothing or any sort of outfit multiple times, and think it entirely wasteful to purchase clothing to only wear them once. Too often have I seen women , men even, do just that- unfortunately including some in my own family.

"Shall we depart?" I asked as Lucern approached, an arm slipping around Kate's waist.

He inclined his head and gestured forward in response, allowing Kate and I to walk ahead first. I had taken her arm and engaged her in conversation, mostly of how Lucern and she had first met. Knowing the story already, I enjoyed hearing how the pair described the series of events, squabbling over how a particular played out or what words were exactly said. I laughed as though hearing the story for the first time, the way silent words and boisterous expressions were exchanged made it all the more amusing.

As soon as we had exited the airport and hailed a cab, the two lovebirds acting as guides insisted for a stop at a local pub for a somewhat late evening meal. Still in the early stages of the "Honeymoon Stage", they were hungry...And in much more ways than one, might I add. Though I did think it ideal- I wouldn't be partaking in my usual sustenance until my arrival at my newest home. They both raved about Windsor Castle Pub in Kensington, roughly half an hour's drive from the airport, but I did not mind the commute.

After our arrival, we were immediately seated in a secluded corner, the lights overhead casting a soft glow over the décor. It would allow for more privacy, even though the patrons were scarce for this time of night. As we settled in, Lucern ordered a veritable smorgasbord and the three of us eased into conversations of our families and business ventures.

"Avia, What is your reasoning for going to the States, let alone to live in a virtual ghost town?" Lucern asked, leaning back into his chair. He rested his arm along the back of Kate's seat, his free hand resting on his drink glass.

My lips turned upwards into a knowing smile, one brow raised. "Where I'll be residing isn't a ghost town, my dear. There is a sizable enough population, said population being alive and well."...For the most part, I added to myself.

"There must be more to it than a simple 'change of scenery'..." He mused, trailing off, lowering his head in concentration. I heard his thoughts as he processed through every scenario, being the novelist that he is. Swiftly running through many options, his mind stopped on the only plausible conclusion. "...Unless you've either discovered or seen something.." He slowly looked up at me, eyes expectant.

I raised my glass to my lips, replying nonchalantly before taking a sip, "Perhaps I have, perhaps I have not."

Eyebrows raised immediately, Lucern waited for more information. But he would soon be disappointed, as I did not offer anything more for him.

"What have you seen, Avia?" He pressed. "I may not be an enforcer, but I can help."

I leaned towards him, patting his hand comfortingly, replying, "I so greatly appreciate the sentiment, darling. But the reasons I cannot divulge as of yet."

Immediately he huffed, slouching in his seat. I felt a slight twinge of sorrow, knowing how he despised being left out of affairs. Though notorious for being a recluse, he always disliked being left out of family matters. Some have assumed in the past, unjustly so, that because he was so reserved he never had taken interests beyond his own coupled with the fact that he wasn't an enforcer- he was left out of many things. But, in due time, all would be revealed.

Again I reached for his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Do not distress yourself," said I. "Once I am settled in my new home, I shall be inviting the family to my home. I vow to reveal more at that time."

Lurcern's countenance slowly progressed from sulking irritation to a hopeful pout. "Does Uncle Lucian know of anything?" He asked, the smallest of glimmers in his eye. I knew he was hopeful in what response I would give.

I snorted immediately, "Absolutely not."

"Why not?" Kate interjected, bewildered.

"Firstly, Lucian is not my keeper," I began, pointing my finger in slight indignation. "Secondly, I have come to the conclusion that dearest Uncle Lucian needn't know of the details at this time. The only one who knows much of anything is Bastien, as I have needed his assistance with the proper documentations, etcetera."

Lucern perked up enough that his pout disappeared. "I am surprised that you haven't mentioned anything to Uncle," he commented.

"He doesn't need to me made aware of anything at the present, as I've mentioned before," I replied, taking a sip of my beverage.

At that moment, our meals arrived, effectively ending our current conversation. While we dined, Kate brought up more topics on her wedding, Lucern rolling his eyes in jest. We also talked of family,-Lucern filling me in on my own family- with her trying to goad me into telling embarrassing stories about the family, especially her fiancé, but I would not divulge such 'precious' information. I did lean towards her, whispering so only she could hear, telling her to inform me if he was ever acting like an imbecile- granting her permission to use me as leverage for any dreadful behavior.

After our meal, we rose to depart with Lucern pausing a moment to leave a generous tip. It was an admirable gesture, seeing as how we arrived relatively late. Once outside, he hailed a cab, opening the door for Kate and I. I chose the side away from the driver, Lucern and Kate sitting across from myself. I situated my bag beside my feet, then raised my countenance to look at the pair.

"Are all of the necessities assembled in my bedchamber?" I asked Lucern.

"Everything is all set," he replied. "Your room's been booked, a car will be waiting to pick you up in the morning, and I'm sure you have all of your proper documentation."

I merely nodded, reaching down to pat my bag in indication. He turned his head towards the driver, as if he were to speak to him. I glanced at my nepos, seeing the reason for the search that would lead to an imperative question.

"Yes," I whispered suddenly.

Lucern swiftly turned to look at me, a fleeting look of surprise crossed his countenance. Kate also looked surprised, but it lingered and was more telling.

"How long has it been?" he asked, having recovered from his surprise.

"Just short of a fortnight," I replied.

He mulled my answer around in his mind a moment before he grunted and relaxed, settling back further into his seat. Kate's brow furrowed in confusion, clearly lost in the exchange that had just taken place.

"Wha-" she began.

I interrupted her by holding my finger to my lips, signaling her to keep silent. As I inclined my head towards the driver, she relaxed immediately in understanding. Lucern leaned over to whisper in her ear, telling how he would explain this peculiar conversation during a more private time. I then enticed Lucern to beguile me with tales of his adventures in London, setting of a session of a playfully laced banter between Kate and himself, the sound of light slaps peppering the conversation.

This continued on until we arrived at the hotel, The Hilton at Terminal Four. The cab driver was polite enough to take my bag for me, offering me his hand to assist me out of the vehicle. I tipped him well, topped off with a chaste kiss on the cheek, sending him blushing furiously. I smiled, amused that I had brightened his day. Lucern took the bag from the driver after assisting Kate out of the vehicle, smiling slightly at the exchange. I took my bag from Lucern, giving the couple one last embrace coupled with a kiss upon the temple, promising to give Kate a telephone call once I was settled into my new residence.

I turned from the two, walking into the lobby. I leisurely walked to the front desk, biding my time. Once there, I exchanged pleasantries with the concierge whilst they entered my information into the computer system. Moments later, key card in hand, I joined the young man who took my portmanteau, gesturing towards the elevators with a pleasant smile. After a few more moments, we arrived at our destination floor, walking the short distance to my bedchamber. I unlocked and opened the door, the attendant placing my portmanteau beside the chaise lounge. I gave him a sweet smile, placing a tip in his hand. He smiled in return, bowing at the waist before taking his leave. As he turned though, I easily caught his juvenile fleeting thought, my smile turning into a straight line.

"Hmm.." I muttered to myself.

I looked at the small sitting area of the suite, a chaise lounge in a chocolate brown accented in pumpkin coloured pillows directly across from the door. A window framed in pumpkin orange and café cream stripes sitting above the chaise, in panels and a Roman style shade. To the left, through a pair of sliding wooden and glass doors, is the bedchamber dressed in the same warm colours. A simple, yet luxurious washroom acting as an en-suite, the colours in a modern white and chocolate brown.

I removed my coat, placing it upon the bed, then walked to the chaise lounge. I draped myself along it, glancing out the window and at the stars once more, the promise of tomorrow bringing the brand new beginning for our family and others- promising to be most interesting, indeed.