It was a long while before Ivan and Astrid made it to Falkreath Hold. Ivan enjoyed traveling the roads, overcoming the various obstacles Skyrim had to offer, be it man, mer, or beast. As they traveled, Ivan was impressed by Astrid's skill in combat. She moved silently among the shadows, killing her prey before they even knew she was there. Indeed, she wasn't the leader of The Dark Brotherhood for nothing.

"We're almost there! Home sweet home." Astrid said as they walked along the main road near Falkreath.

"Wait, really? The entrance to your hideout is by a main road?" Ivan asked incredulously. "Aren't you worried you'll be discovered?"

"Nobody's found us yet!" Astrid replied with a smirk. She suddenly jumped off the main road and landed in a small ravine. Ivan followed closely, not wanting to lose her as she moved silently through the underbrush. Astrid moved a curtain of moss away from a rocky wall to reveal a stout door with a skull carved into it.

"Here we are! Guests first, I insist." she said, opening the door for Ivan. Instinctively, Ivan felt for his bow before entering, fully aware that he could potentially be walking into some kind of trap.

Upon entering the hideout, Ivan was surprised. The place was a cave, to be sure, but it could hardly be called so, what with the lavish furniture and ample lighting. It could put any mansion to shame. In another section of the cave, Ivan could hear the echoes of people talking and laughing.

"Do you like it? This place is your home, if you do." Astrid asked, standing behind him. The coy tone in her voice was gone, replaced by sincerity. Ivan gave her a half smile.

"And my grave if I don't, I'd wager?" He lifted an eyebrow to her. Astrid only smiled.

"I wouldn't have brought you here, if I didn't think you'd like it."

Ivan looked around one more time. He nodded.

"As a matter of fact, I do like it." he answered.

"Excellent!" Astrid said happily. "Go on! Meet with the others, they're your family now!" She ushered Ivan into a larger room, where a group of people stood in a circle, talking excitedly with one another. They turned and fell silent when they saw Ivan.

"Brothers and Sisters, this is Ivan Daynes, our newest member of the family." Astrid said, introducing him. Ivan lifted a hand in greeting, putting on a hopeful smile.

"Did you say 'Daynes'?!" came a voice. Ivan turned to see an Argonian approach him. Ivan's heart leapt to his throat.

"Uncle Veezara?!" Ivan asked incredulously. The Argonian grinned and pulled Ivan into a bone-crushing hug, slapping him on the back.

"As I live and kill! I can't believe this! Ivan, you've grown much since last I saw you!" he said happily. He ruffled the fur on Ivan's head. Ivan was nearly delirious with joy. He never imagined seeing another family member of his ever again.

"Uncle! I'm so happy to see you!" he exclaimed. Veezara looked around.

"Is your mother around? Where's my sister? I could've sworn she vowed never to let you come to a place like this!" he said with a laugh. Ivan's heart sank.

"Then you haven't heard..." he said, folding his ears back. "Mother and Father were killed by an Imperial soldier. They were mistaken for the Stormcloaks that killed the High King." Veezara grew very serious.

"But that was... nearly four years ago..." he said. "Surely I would've known by now..."

"I was captured by the Imperials, and escaped being beheaded. By the time I got back to where they had been killed, their bodies were long gone. There wasn't anything left to notify anyone about." Ivan explained. Veezara closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. When he opened them again, he smiled.

"Well, at least you're safe." he said. "And you're here! This is great news! Welcome to The Dark Brotherhood, Nephew!"

Veezara excitedly introduced Ivan to each member of the family. There was Festus, the cranky old mage, Babette, who looked like a small Breton girl, but was actually a vampire, and Nazir, a Redguard who was as sassy as he was smart.

There was also Arnbjorn, husband to Astrid. Upon first introduction, Veezara had to put himself between Ivan and Arnbjorn, as the warewolf immediately saw the Khajiit and began growling.

"No, Arnbjorn. We don't growl at family members." Veezara said, as though he were talking to a misbehaving dog. The large Nord's growl finally faded away.

"Sorry. It's an instinct." he grumbled. Ivan made a mental note to stay away from him.

Then there was Gabriella, the lovely Dunmer mage. Her beauty was only surpassed by her sarcasm, and she was constantly studying tomes of magic. She only looked up briefly when Veezara introduced his nephew to her.

Once introductions were out of the way, Veezara took Ivan aside. He looked him over with a gleam in his eye.

"Nephew. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. Seems like we're the only family we've got left, so I'm glad we're sticking together." he said. Then he lifted a hand and pushed a tuft of Ivan's fur away from his forehead, growing serious.

"But I know there's something you're not telling me. You've always had my sister's eyes, so why are they red?" he asked. Ivan suppressed a shudder at remembering seeing Sithis in his prison cell. He beckoned for Veezara to follow him into an empty room in the cavern.

"Uncle Veezara, I'm afraid there's more than you think that I haven't told you. It might take a while to explain." Ivan said sadly. Veezara followed his nephew.

"I've got time, Ivan. Let's hear it."

Ivan told his uncle everything. How he watched his parents be killed, then how he was captured by Imperials and taken to the chopping block, only to be rescued amidst a dragon attack. He talked about how he became Thane of Whiterun Hold, after killing a dragon and devouring its soul. He spoke of the vampire attack which spurred the endeavor of saving the land from the Vampire Lord. He even talked about Serana, and how he grew to love her during their time together.

He explained being recognized officially as the Dragonborn, and how that incited the conflict between him and Miraak. He spoke of Aporcypha, and how his heart broke as Serana died in his arms. He remembered his time spent with the Rieklings, eventually becoming their chief, and fighting for their right to live. He finished with how his heart had been darkened, and how he was now an agent of Sithis. Veezara listened quietly to Ivan's entire tale. When it was over, Ivan fell silent, wondering what his uncle would say. Veezara finally spoke.

"Had anyone else told me that tale, I would've questioned their sanity." he said. "But for reasons beyond my reckoning, I believe you. You've certainly been through much these past few years, haven't you?"

Ivan nodded slowly, rubbing his tired eyes with a hand. There were few times in his life that he let his emotions get the better of him, but this was one of them. It was the first time he had really talked about Serana since her death. It was like admitting she was truly gone.

"Sithis promised freedom from my destiny. It was the only escape I could see. I've cast away my responsibilities as Dragonborn. I'm sorry, Uncle." Ivan bowed his head, feeling the full weight of his selfish decision upon his shoulders. He jolted upright when he heard Veezara laugh.

"Ha ha ha! It seems you've forgotten who you're talking to, my dear nephew! I am an agent of Sithis as well! Perhaps not in the same way you are, but one all the same." Veezara put a comforting hand on Ivan's shoulder. "You can rest easy here, Ivan. We are all misfits here, banded together by a common interest: Making Skyrim a better place one assassination at a time!"

Ivan considered this. In truth, each of the members of The Dark Brotherhood were here because they found something they each had been missing. A sense of unity. Ivan had to admit that he desired the same thing. He took some comfort in the fact that at least he was no longer alone.

That night, everyone gathered together by the fireplace and shared tales of their greatest adventures. Some were about recent contracts, others were stories of before they found the Brotherhood. Ivan looked around. Nazir and Babette teased each other and bickered as though they were sibling children. Astrid intervened with a motherly tone in her voice, while Arnbjorn looked on, sternly. Ivan realized that all the family dynamics were present in this odd, yet strangely endearing, family. Ivan's mind and body finally began to relax. He allowed himself to feel like he belonged somewhere once more.

Ever since he had been banished from Solstheim, and had been forced to leave his Riekling tribe behind, he had hardened himself against feeling belonging, not wanting to be turned away again. But perhaps things would be different now. He no longer carried a burdensome destiny, and he had the support of not only Sithis, but Uncle Veezara and The Dark Brotherhood as well. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could finally allow his heart to begin to heal.

Sithis stood in his plane of Oblivion, staring down at his eldest son. His face could show no expression, but he felt only annoyance at this time. Hermaeus Mora glared at Sithis with his one eye.

"I've been cheated, I tell you! I was promised a puppet, a puppet with extraordinary powers! But the Dragonborn has defied me every step of the way! You said you could control him!" he shouted accusingly.

"I can control him. But I try not to. It tends to make him do the opposite of what I want." Sithis said evenly.

"I didn't get a fair chance at him! He darkened his heart only after what I did to him! I should get another chance!"

"The boy detests you now, Mora! He connects you to the death of his lady love."

"That is not my concern! The gods have finally turned a blind eye to Nirn! This is our only chance to take control! My only chance!"

Sithis waved Hermaeus Mora away with a skeletal hand.

"I will think about it. We must see what your brothers and sisters are planning for our little friend as well. They very well might break him."

"Not if I get to him first." Mora said under his breath as he left his father's presence.