Aria was finishing off her hair when she heard the bathroom door open, at least she now knew that he took showers. After the awkward moment from that morning, she went to take a shower but at the same time, she used the time to think.

He was a complete cad but she didn't understand why.

But she didn't care really, the sooner he realised that she wasn't interested in him, the better for both of them…well…mostly her.

"hmm" she heard him growl as he stood behind her, thankfully she wasn't wearing her glasses, so she was glad for once that her sight wasn't the best. She felt him touch her hair which she found annoying but she wasn't in the mood to argue with him.

"that's for this morning" he rumbled right into her ear causing her cheeks to redden as she continued to fluff her hair.

"I have no idea what you're talking about" she said as she continued to get ready for her day, but her reply was that rumbling laughter of his which she ignored as she finished her hair and finally put on her glasses as she turned to get up from her vanity only to meet an…interesting sight.

Even though his back was turned to her it didn't mean that she couldn't see his muscle-bound body and it didn't help that he was only wearing a pair of black pants, no shoes so she could see his clawed feet, and a white vest which was stretched enough so that she could see his figure.

By God!?, he makes bodybuilders look like amateurs with that thick figure, she thought as she gazed at him, his hair was still a little wet so it was darker than usual, she was soo deep into her thoughts that the only thing that brought out was when she heard a deep rumble right in front of her.

"hmm, like the view kitten? If ya ask nicely…I might let you touch" she heard bringing her out of her thoughts to see him right in front of her all she had to do was lean forward and she could...

Her thoughts caused her to give a little squeak as she leant back to get away from him, but then she realised that his arms were around her chair so she fell into his arms.

She heard him laugh as he picked her up as she looked up at him with an annoyed look.

"can you put me down please," she said causing him to laugh again as he returned the look.

"how about…no" he said baring his fangs in a teasing fashion as he watched her cheeks flush as she turned away from him, but before he could continue his little game…there was a knock at the door.

"coming!" she said as she leapt out of his arms and ran to the door.

"yes," she said as she opened the door a little and looked down "oh good morning Liam"

"good morning miss aria," he said as he pulled out a rose "this is for you miss," he said as she took it from him.

"aww Liam, I love it thank you," she said as she knelt and kissed his cheek. "that was so sweet of you," she said as she watched him look at the ground with red cheeks.

"you're welcome," he said with a bashful smile, he looked up with a smile but then his eyes widened with a squeak as he ran down the hallway.

"Liam!?" she called as she watched him run off, but then she turned and found the reason looking down at her.

"did you have to scare him," she said as she re-entered the room smelling the rose before placing it in a vase by her bed.

"the brat was a distraction" he replied with a snarl, why the hell was she so happy over a dead weed, her scent had never smelt sweeter and it was because of that brat.

"if anyone is a distraction," she said as she picked up her phone and clutch purse, then she walked past him to get to the door "I'm looking at him," she said as she walked out.

Victor's eyes narrowed as he watched her leave, she was a defiant little thing but damn was she beautiful, her hair was down that day and she was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, simple but it was enough to stir anyone's imagination including his.

But since she wanted to play this game with him, he would gladly play as well but one thing was sure…he would win.


Aria walked around the mansion looking for Liam, she didn't understand this guy and frankly, she didn't want to, she had better things to do.

But as she walked, she bumped into one of the people she really didn't want to see.

"good morning…jean" she said with a…smile.

"aria, how nice to see you" jean replied causing aria to raise her brow.

"really and why is that?" she asked.

"oh, nothing…I just wasn't expecting to" jean said as she came a little closer "especially since sabretooth is still here"

"and that's my fault because…"

"you know why he's here, so get him to leave, after all,…he's your…" she started but then the look on her face was familiar to aria, after all, she had already seen it that morning.

"what going on here" aria heard him rumble, she had heard him talk but this would be the first time she would hear him sound soo…angry at someone else.

"jean!" he heard as Scott came and stood in front of jean "aria, what's going on here?!"

"why don't you ask jean" aria replied.

"I'm asking you," Scott said as his voice began to harden in anger but that changed when victor stood in front of her.

"why don't you and the red witch leave…now, then you can ask her" victor said with a growl, aria didn't know why but seeing him mad was not cool at all.

"I was talking to aria, after all, she's the one working here" Scott replied.

"don't care," he said baring his fangs.

Aria blinked her eyes in surprise, was he …defending her!?

"we'll discuss this later aria, come on Scott we have a job to do," jean said as she dragged Scott away before the matter escalated.

Victor watched with narrow eyes as they left him and aria in the hallway, he didn't know why he did it but once he saw the situation, he felt another feeling he didn't understand.

Protectiveness...but then aria's voice came to his ears.

"umm you didn't have to do that" he heard causing him to turn to her, he didn't know how to reply that so he ignored it.

"c'mon lets got you some food," he said as he walked ahead of her.

Damn my good manners, she thought, it was one thing to be rude to someone who has been rude to you, but when someone helps you…

"hey!" she called causing him to turn to her as she stood by his side, where she should be he thought.

"umm…thank you," she said as she tried to speed past him, but he quickly caught her by the shoulder.

"you're welcome kitten"


Breakfast went well, except for the fact that the brat joined them as they left the dining room. Aria had a constant smile on her face as she spoke with the brat and had ignored him again.

"miss aria will you come and play outside with us," Liam asked as they walked towards the gardens.

"sure, I'd love to," she said with a smile as a small group of Liam's friends came up and dragged her away to play under victor's watchful eyes of course.

He sat under a tree as he watched her play tag with them, he didn't know why but Logan's voice still hadn't left his head.

What was so different about aria, when she ignored him, he wanted to hurt her, make her feel the pain he felt every time she would look at him like he was the scum of the earth.

But…when she acknowledged him that morning, he felt proud and something else.

But now he was back to being ignored as she played with the kids.

"what's the matter creed, feeling neglected" he heard as he turned with a snarl.

"what do you want" he snarled as Logan took a seat beside him.

"I heard about what happened this morning"

"so?"

"could it be that THE sabretooth is trying to get on little aria's good side" Logan asked to which he was replied with a snarl from victor.

"easy creed," he said as he watched aria play with the children "I was just wondering"

"what happens between us is none of your business" victor replied.

"ok then…but you didn't answer my question…feeling neglected" Logan asked even though the look on victor's face was warning him to back off or else.

"before I say anything, explain what the hell you meant when you said that women don't want someone who just protects and provides, especially people like aria?" victor asked, even though he didn't like the fact that Logan knew something he didn't.

"she's been hurt creed, you can see it in her eyes, she needs someone who would treat her the way she needs to be treated...which is why I don't think you're any good for her" Logan said as he was rewarded with a growl from victor.

"I'm the best thing for her" he growled causing Logan to raise a brow.

"really? you say that but you've been hurting her ever since she's known you," Logan said as victor continued to growl.

"It's like I've heard her say…" Logan said as he got up and left but not before saying "you ain't her type"


Aria and the kids had been joined by kitty, rouge and Kurt and were now sitting in the field enjoying the warm weather.

"so, miss aria how do you like the institute," kitty asked as aria watched the children.

"I like it here kitty, thanks" aria replied with a smile.

"we like having you here to miss, you're a wonderful teacher," Kurt said with a smile of his own.

"why thank you, Kurt, that's sweet of you to say"

"well it's the truth," rouge said "but i…we are curious about something," she said causing aria to raise a brow.

"and that is…"

"are you single," kitty asked as they all looked at her with wide eyes.

"yes…might I ask why?" she said.

"oh nothing," they said as they giggled to themselves causing her to shake her head at their antics.

"dear lord," she said with a smile, but then her phone rang.

"hello"

"hey riri it me"

"Uriah hi," she said with a smile.

"hey how are you"

"I'm good you"

"I'm good too"

"anyway, there a party tonight at the theatre…you want to come with me"

"Uriah I don't know"

"c'mon riri it will be fun and would love to spend the time with you"

"well…if I get an ok from Charles then I don't see why not"

"great I'll see you later"

"see ya" she said as she cut the phone and continued watching the kids.


"Charles I don't understand why he is still here, every moment he's here, we're endangering the children" jean said as she stood in front of Charles, after what happened that morning, she and Scott asked to talk to Charles.

"that is true jean but until we can find a way to make him leave without endangering the children and aria, we have to keep him under watch here"

"professor have you considered why he's really here," Scott said.

"he's here because of aria, plain and simple" Charles replied.

"but then if she is the reason, then is it really safe for her to even be here," Scott said.

"are you saying that we should abandon her," Ororo said with narrowed eyes, the nerve of him.

"maybe, I mean how do we even know that she's not in cahoots with him," jean said causing Charles to put his hand up.

"believe me jean, if she was I would know but she is innocent and need our help and I for one will not turn my back on someone who believes in peace between humans and mutants and she is making an impact on the younger ones who need a role model" Charles said ending the discussion as jean and Scott walked out of the office.

"Charles? Are you alright" Ororo asked.

"I'm fine storm, I just hope that those two will soon understand aria's presence here," he said as he looked out of the window to watch her playing with the children, and as fate would have it aria looked up towards him with a smile.

"good afternoon Charles" he heard causing him to laugh.

"a good afternoon to you too aria, how are you"

"I'm fine thank you, Charles if you don't mind may I have the evening to myself today," she asked.

"of course, aria, is everything alright?"

"sure, Uriah invited me to an event and I told him I needed your permission"

"of course, aria, you can go," he said causing her to laugh.

"thank you, Charles," she said as she continued playing with the children under his watchful gaze, then he turned his gaze to Logan.

"Logan…I have a favour to ask"


It was late afternoon and aria had ushered the children inside as the weather began to cool down, aria asked kitty and Kurt to watch the children while she went to get ready.

Making her way back to her room, she walked over to her closet to find something to wear but the opening of her door signified that she wasn't alone anymore.

"kitten" she heard causing her to turn around as she almost bumped her nose into his belly causing her to sigh as she looked up at him with a bored look.

"yes?" she said as he smirked down at her.

"seems like your boss thinks he can control me," he said as he stroked her hair "he wants me to work with Logan tonight to take care of some things"

"soo?"

"so, you're gonna stay here while we work," he said causing her to laugh inside.

As if, she thought as she gave a sigh.

"fine whatever," she said as she tried to escape him but he wasn't done.

"I mean it…stay here" he said as he left her to put his jacket on and then he walked out of her room.

"could have at least said goodbye," she thought as she turned back to her wardrobe "now…what to wear," she said as she pulled out some clothes.


Logan and victor left the school that evening as they got their assignment, apparently, there was a problem with some of the mechanisms under the school, so they needed to check it out.

"geez creed, never saw you as the type to suffer from separation anxiety" Logan said as they ran through the forest, as soon as they left, Logan could see that victor wasn't…comfortable with the situation and was trying to get the job done so that he could return to aria.

"can it Logan," he said as they ran.

"I was just saying," he said as they reached their destination, "alright Vic…let's get to work"


A car drove out of the institute and headed into the city before heading to the theatre. The driver door opened to Uriah who was dressed in a dark pair of pants and black shirts, dressed simply but looked good.

"ready to go, girl," he said as aria opened the door and stepped out of the car.

"ready," she said as she stepped out the car and they walked inside of the theatre, aria looked around at the people in the party before turning to Uriah.

This was going to be one fun night, she thought as they walked over to some people.


By the time, Logan and victor returned to the institute, they were worn out and greasy but despite all of that, victor could tell that something was not right, why the hell was aria's scent this strong, he thought and as soon as the doors to the institute opened he rushed up to their room and when he reached there, he knew what was going on and with the roar that tore from his throat he was sure everyone knew.

Funtime was over…

He knew this was going to happen one way or another, so…

He was going to get his mate… his way and by force.