Title: Rules for the Weak

Theme: # 10 Breaking Rules

Warnings: Small crack? I don't know maybe.

Pairing(s): Eleanor & Vlad, including their loving family! Benjamin and Josef

Summary: Rules are made for a reason, but is that reason always clear?

Eleanor always wondered if there was some kind of rule book for all males of her kind.

Surely there must be some kind of code written somewhere on the proper etiquette of being a warrior who fought evil. She had years to watch and she came to a conclusion that yes, some set of rules existed..

The first rule of all was that all times, the men were to appear strong. Even if they had a sword jutting out from their stomach, or their hearts were lying in shreds, they would not flinch and always refuse aid. They would not cry, they would not wince, or even allow themselves to appear injured in any way.

Exceptions were made when said Carpathian was facing the daunting task of babysitting or should their human in laws be in town, they are allowed one night of an unexplainable stomachache. Or in the case of Traian, a sudden allergy to cats.

The second rule clung to the first. Under no means were they allowed to say anything about pain or express feelings verbally in anyway.

Exceptions were made when lifemates are involved. According to Gregori, it was more dangerous to withhold one's emotions for fear of the female's wrath. Apparently, Savannah forces him to do much sharing at the end of the day. The punishment for not doing so involved two days of diaper duties among their darling twins.

Finally, the third rule pertained to all rules and could be summed up as one thing: Male Ego.

Over the years, males didn't express their love to anyone that didn't carry a baby on their hip, or was lacking something in their swagger. Males did not hug, cry, or cling to other males. Males did not kiss; they did not share their feelings, or even be in the presence of another male. Even siblings like Tomas, Lojos, and Mataias kept a professional air about them.

Shea had thought it to be the predatory side of their kind. Each male saw the other as another an opponent of some sorts.

Eleanor always assumed it was more about their ego.

Jaxon insisted it was male stupidity.

Eleanor firmly believed that Jaxon might be on to something.

The rules governed all the males. In fact, it was hard to catch a moment when one broke the rules. They were at all times, mature, composed, strong, and not what they considered "weak". They were ruled and they were followed, no matter how foolish they may be.

But then again, there are always exceptions to every set of rules.

Eleanor wrapped her arms around her chest and smiled at the scene in front of her. Vlad in his entire tough guy ego was trapped to the edge of the couch, unable to move. In one arm against his chest, their ten year old son, Benjamin clung to him, his eyes stained with tears, while in the other arm, the adult looking Josef dozed, one arm slung around both Vlad and his adoptive brother. The three of them were warriors by their kind's standards, yet there was no denying the love that poured out over all of them the moment Josef carried Vlad home.

A vampire had come close to taking her lifemate's heart. Josef acted swiftly, almost like a true warrior rather than the fledgling that he was, and rushed to help. He fought, he got injured, and as he stood over his bleeding adopted father, Josef wept like a newborn. Benjamin had rushed to his father's side the first moment he could, tears building at the corners of his eyes.

Eleanor unraveled a blanket, and smoothed it over her family. Lovingly, the three of them shifted, murmuring and hugging closer together. Eleanor smiled and brushed the hair back from her lover's face before planting a quick kiss to the crease in his brow.

The rules were made to keep their men from being weak.

But personally, Eleanor always thought rules were made to be broken.