I stroked my hand through Damien's hair, my mind wandering as I waited for Maximus to be finished with his duties for the night and join us. When we'd decided to adopt him I instinctively knew that meant I'd most likely be staying in Romania permanently and the thought wasn't a bad one, but it did leave plenty of things we needed to do.
For instance, I now needed to clean out anything I might want from my apartment, but the thought of going back there was horrible. Briefly images of my mother came back and my near repeated rape. I knew it wasn't likely that he was there again and I really shouldn't let him rule my life with fear, but it was hard to shake the instinct that told me to run.
A quiet knock came from the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. Maximus wouldn't knock and Leila was busy with routines. As I called for whoever it was to enter, my hunch was proven correct when Vlad's form became clear.
His voice was low as he looked at Damien resting in my lap, but the words shocked me all the same. "I've heard your thoughts over the past few hours and wanted to offer a solution. While you could go back to the states, Maximus would follow you without a doubt have no fear of that, I have an alternative."
He paused for her nod to continue, which he received after a stunned moment. "I can offer you and Maximus a home to stay in outside of the castle, should you prefer to not remain here. It will be fully equipped for your disability and have enough room for a growing boy. Obviously the invitation to stay here doesn't need to be said."
Trying to digest everything, I asked the first question that came to mind. "Why are you willing to do all of this? I appreciate the offer, don't get me wrong, but why?"
He hadn't known me that long, so the logic behind it eluded me.
His lips twitched in amusement at my confusion as he answered. "If you choose to leave, Maximus will follow you. He's one of my best guardsmen and a close friend. It makes more sense for me to help you settle in here and then I get to keep my friend close. Also, Leila enjoys having you here. She's been through much in our relationship and given even more to be with me. When there are things I can do to make her happy, if it's within my power, I do them."
That was sweet of him and it was nice to hear how close he was with Maximus. I'd already mostly decided to stay and if I was honest with myself, the thought of moving into a house that would mostly be filled with just Damien and I in the day wasn't all that appealing. Staying in the castle, as long as it wasn't intruding on his hospitality, would be easier for everyone involved.
He nodded, listening in on my thoughts and responding. "I figured you'd say as such but I prefer to offer alternatives just in case. As for intruding on my hospitality, you won't. I dealt with my father in law here for quite a bit longer than a mere month and he made me burn to kill him. You, on the other hand, are actually pleasant to be around and are a positive relationship for Leila to have in her family. A rarity."
Remembering how harsh our father was when I'd briefly met him, I took a minute to be amazed Vlad hadn't just killed him.
"I was tempted, multiple times, but that would have hurt Leila." He shrugged, "No amount of irritation is worth that."
Aw, you're a secret softy. I couldn't help but tease him just a little and he sent a playful scowl back.
"Only for Leila and don't go spreading that around."
I smiled and thought, Of course I won't, but by the look of it Mira will be adding herself to that list as well.
He sighed, "Yes, she will be which is why I was so hesitant to agree to adopting her but I've already explained that she won't receive the same open treatment when guests are here. She seems to understand, for now that's all I can hope for."
"She's smart, she'll understand. Besides, she seems to prefer clinging to Leila by the looks of it." Though she did look adorable clinging to you. She may go to Leila for comfort but you for protection.
She'd hidden behind him when scared after all…
He tilted his head in agreement, "Not a bad thing, since I generally am less empathetic than Leila."
Oh I doubted that, he'd damn near looked ready to rip her back away from Mencheres when she'd been crying earlier. He was just better at hiding the fact that he was empathetic.
Again he eyed me with irritation, "Don't go spreading that blasphemy, I have enough trouble with my reputation as it is. No need to make it worse."
I nodded, "Wasn't going to. That'd put you, Leila and Mira at risk. Nothing would make me do that to you guys."
He softened the slightest bit before hardening back to steel as he nodded. "Maximus should be on his way back to you now so I shall take my leave." He turned but stopped by the door, pausing before adding. "And Zelda? I'm also glad you'll be staying. For more than your connection with Leila and Maximus."
Before I could comment on the touching statement he was gone, the quick retreat making me shake my head. Males, they all seemed to think being allergic to emotion was a must.
Well, I knew that Vlad liked me now and I couldn't hold back a smile at the thought. I now had two siblings, a partner and a son. What an odd family I was building…
My favorite blond breezed into the room not a minute later, pausing to smile at the scene Damien and I made before bending to drop a kiss against my head. "Hello Darling, I see he's found my favorite place to sleep."
I nodded, "Not surprising, you two are similar in pretty much every other way so why not that too?"
As Maximus settled next to us, I shifted my chair to sit as close as possible instinctively as I remembered my decision. "Hey, Maximus?"
His head turned, giving me his full attention as he removed his boots. "Yes?"
Biting my lip, I carefully put the words together. "Vlad came by today to offer us a house here in Romania, I told him we wouldn't want it since the castle is more convenient. If you'd prefer the house though-."
He leaned over to kiss me, the gentle pressure making my eyes slide shut without a thought as I leaned into him. When he pulled back, he shook his head. "No, as long as this is what you want then I'm fine with it. Tomorrow we can get my things moved in here and begin to get everything planned for your last trip back to your apartment."
Some of my nerves must have shown on my face because he reached a hand out to stroke my cheek. "You'll be fine. I won't leave your side and Vlad will probably insist on bringing more guards this time."
I took a second to appreciate how protective he was before nodding, leaning into Maximus' touch as I sighed. "I know, it's just hard to shake that fear after what he almost did." As my eyes trailed down to Damien in my lap, I shook the melancholy off. "Damien will stay here when we go. I don't want to have to worry about him on top of everything else."
Maximus nodded easily, having already epected that. "I'll ask Leila if she minds watching him tomorrow for us. After a quick shower in the morning we can head out and get it finished. Then we're free to enjoy some time as a family. I was thinking I could teach Damien how to make a few things in the kitchen, or at least start to teach him since he is a bit young."
The image of Damien standing on a stool while Maximus taught him to cook made my heart twist in my chest, "That sounds perfect. I won't be of much help but-."
Maximus dropped a kiss to silence me, "You can take pictures. That's plenty of help, though I'll need to start buying albums if you really start getting into that."
The thought was definitely appealing. "I won't say no if you do."
He snorted, "Then it's decided. Let's get Damien settled in his room for now. We'll worry about shifting my things in here after we get back. Easier to organize everything if we're doing all of it at once."
I didn't argue as we both moved toward Damien's room, though I let Maximus be the one to tuck him in since the angle was a bit difficult for me. As I watched him kiss his head, I glanced down at my legs and sighed. Maybe I should have him heal them, they were definitely a disadvantage in things like this…
A calloused hand stroked my cheek, pulling me back to the present as I jolted. Maximus gestured to the other room, not wanting to wake Damien, and I nodded. Once we were back in my room, he asked. "Is everything alright? You look a bit down."
Looking at my legs again, I answered. "I should probably have you fiz these, it's frustrating to not be able to do things like tuck Damien in and it's only going to get worse…"
Maximus dropped down to my level to kiss my cheek, "Only if that's what you want. We love you just like you are, so don't choose this if it's for us."
Grimacing, I nodded. "I'll think it over some more, I still don't want you to be the one to do it, but at the same time I'm not sure I'd trust anyone else to either."
He hummed in agreement, his hands dropping to my knees in silent question that I nodded to. In the next instant I was against his chest as he shifted both of us into bed. Curling into his chest, I sighed in contentment. Tomorrow would hold quite a schedule but at least for now we could relaz.
I'd worry about the rest when it came.