Title: Old Habits Die Hard

Theme: #4 Rivalry

Rating: PG-13

Pairing(s): Virkirnoff & Natalya, Razvan & Ivory, Sibling Love

Summary: Sometimes the things we miss include moments of immaturity that never dies.

Yup another update. Why? Cause it came to me. I like writing these. They're kind of amusing. I got a list of themes to use, but like I said, I don't mind if anyone throws some out there. It could be a suggested group of characters or just a theme. I might not be the world's best writer, but I do try to keep the fanfic as believable as I can. I have read most of the books but it has been some time.

So yeah...haha. Read! Enjoy!

Review! They're like cookies to me and make me giddy inside.

Sometimes, Ivory wondered, just how much did Razvan miss his past?

He never intentionally showed it, nor did he bring it up other than the few times it slipped from his mind. But his pain was always in the way he moved. When he ran with the wolves, Ivory could catch the faintest reminder of him as a child running from his sister's out stretched fingers, laughing and taunting them until she was near tears. Sometimes he'd feel guilt over it, other times...

Ivory couldn't explain it. Though his sister had tears in her eyes, Razvan could remember the moment as filled with love and joy. Since Ivory could empathize more with Natalya more, she couldn't quite grasp Razvan's point of view too well.

He had a family now. A new family, Ivory supposed, but even she knew it couldn't quite make up for what he lost. Most of the warriors had accepted him, slowly but surely, but his own sister stood far off from him. She feared being hurt again, she feared being betrayed, and those feelings kept her from him.

And it pissed Ivory off the most.

"She has her reasons," Razvan would always shrug away from it. He was use to Natalya's guard when it came to him. "I just accept it as it stands."

"Don't you miss her?" Ivory asked, prodding the subject a little more than she would have liked. "Don't you miss how you two use to be?"

"Asking me that is the same as asking if you miss your brothers," Razvan's words speared her in the chest, but Ivory refused to let it show. His eyes visibly softened and he caressed her cheek. "And the answer is yes. I miss her very much. I miss how we use to compete over everything."

"As if she could win," Ivory scoffed, trying to pick up on his playful tone.

"And she did," Razvan flashed a smirk. "At least she thinks she did. I was just nice enough to allow her to win."

Yet they barely talked.

An Easter celebration had been set up together by Raven, and as much as Ivory didn't want to be around the entire number of her people, she forced herself and Razvan to go. God be damned if she allowed him to waste any excuse he had to mingle with his sister. To her relief, Vikirnoff had showed up and managed to drag in Natalya. The two siblings refused to relax for most of the dinner and conversations, yet with a leveled gaze upon Vikirnoff, the two of them came to a silent agreement.

They stayed and held conversation between just the two of them. Vikirnoff barely spoke yet there he was talking technique with Ivory. On and on they went until one by one their fellow Carpathians departed.

"Perhaps you could show me this weapon?" Ivory stood up her seat. She turned and touched her lifemate's hand. "I'll be back."

"That was cruel," Vikirnoff sighed the moment the two of them slipped out of the room. The two of them mingled in the kitchen, their sensitive ears perked for any signs of conversation between their lifemates.

"But even you have to admit it had to be done," Ivory fought the urge to rub her hands in worry. "I want Razvan to be happy once more."

"Natalya misses him so."

"Why doesn't she let the past be the past?"

"That is easier said than done. You expect her to put aside years worth of feelings and fears? Could you put that aside for your killers? For your brothers?"

Ivory had to look away because the answer was plain on her face. There was no way she could do that.

"I didn't think so," Vikirnoff shook his head.

Bam!

Ivory jumped and whirled around for the living room before Vikirnoff could overtake her. The two of them burst into the living room.

Natalya was on her feet yelling, hands whirling in the air. Razvan was on his feet shaking his head, and scoffing.

"I'll have you know I'd be a good one! Better than you!" Natalya snarled.

Razvan snorted, "That's an unfair advantage considering I couldn't do anything!"

"Oh waa!" Natalya wiped a fake tear from her eye. "I'll show you! We'll have a whole team of them."

"Quality over quantity sister."

"Then Vikirnoff and I will beat you there too!"

Ivory looked at Vikirnoff for an explanation but the seasoned warrior could only smile and shrug. "She told him the news I take it," He spoke calmly.

"What news could make them fight like this?" Ivory watched Natalya bean her brother with one of Raven's cushions.

"She's pregnant." And Vikirnoff couldn't look any prouder. Vikirnoff looked at the arguing siblings and snorted. "Who knew that siblings rivalry would get them talking again?"

"You produce nothing but girls!" Natalya grabbed another pillow and smacked Razvan with it, nearly taking out a vase in the process. "I'll have a little boy! Just you wait, it'll be a little boy and I'll raise him to be a good man to kick your ass for his Momma!"

"In case you haven't realized," Razvan snatched the pillow out of the air and hurled it back. "Nattie," He sneered the one name that made Natalya snarl. "Girls are much more appreciated than boys."

Razvan got to his feet suddenly, and snatched Ivory by the waist. With a clear bout of showmanship he hurled her over his shoulder, much to her protest and bade his farewells. But before he departed out the door, his lifemate upon his shoulder, he turned and sent one last sniding smirk at her.

"And consider it 'on', Nattie. I'll show you how it's done."

But the only person who would know how it was really done would be Ivory.