A/N: This chapter contains a little bit of citrus, just a warning.

Chapter Four

The Beginning

Ellie cuddled the blankets and snuggled into her bed. Ever since she had started the trend of them getting up at at least six, she had woken at five and enjoyed just snuggling in her bed. She was so comfortable, she loved the bed, she loved her room, everything around her made her feel at him. She wondered if she would have felt like this in any other place she lived in. she supposed that she would have, it would have been home, but she chose to believe that this place was special and that was why she felt the way that she did about it.

She glanced at the time, she had twenty minutes before she had to get up. That gave her enough time for some 'her time'. She leaned over the side of her bed and reached into the bottom drawer and pulled out one of her shameful novels. Moving back into bed she began reading, her eyes pouring over the pages as it became racier and racier. Strong hands held her thighs open, she gasped as his lips brushed over her thigh, the prickles on his chin tickled her, causing her to squirm.

As Ellie read she felt her abdomen pulse, she slid one of her hands down her stomach towards her core. Her fingers pushed past her knickers and slid down until they found her clit, she gasped as she pushed down on the nub. A quick glance at the clock- she still had time. His tongue was long and hot, pushing inside her. Her head flew back and she tried to push back at him, but his hands held strong and she couldn't move, she cried out. Ellie's hand slid lower and her fingers slid through her wet folds, then lower. Her finger circled her core before slipping in, she bit back a moan and continued to read. He pushed her back onto the bed, he climbed atop her, his hard body radiating with heat, his steel eyes burned into her. Her hand sped up its movements, her eyes closed as she felt her core begin to clench, she was close. She dropped the book, her hand continued its movements, her mouth hung open, she was close, her hips moved with her fingers, she was close, she was-

There was a knock at her door. "Rise and shine Dear Ellie!" Ardyn's voice flowed into the room.

Ellie froze, her body twitched and her heartbeat pounded in her ears. 'Oh fuck.' At the sound of her name again she sprung up into the seated position and fumbled to find the book, after a few seconds of panic and fumbling, she found it in it's spot beside her. The she heard the door handle being turned, she clutched the book and as the door began to open she flung it under the blanket. Ardyn stepped into the room.

"Ah! Ellie, good to see that you're awake!" he raised a brow at the sight of her. Her eyes wide in a dear caught at headlights expression, her paleness, and her heaving chest. "Are you alright Ellie?" he crossed his arm.

"I, oh umm, I-I'm alright sir!" she glanced at the clock, five minutes to six...really? She was suddenly taken with annoyance. "Just a bit frazzled, I was sleeping when you knocked- I, is there something wrong?" she tilted her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest, thank the gods that she was wearing a shirt.

He stared at her for a long time, his eyes locked with hers and she was struck with the thought that he knew that she was lying. She suddenly felt guilty, though she wasn't sure why, he was the one who had interrupted her time. "Well," he began slowly, a grin tugged at his lips. "we're going away for a few days! It'll be fun!" he laughed. "Well come, on! Get dressed," he turned and headed towards the door. "there's coffee downstairs, you look like you need it." and with said, he left the room with a laugh.

When the door closed Ellie slumped back into her pillows with a sigh. "Oh my." she flung an arm over her face. Her body was protesting, demanding, that she finish what she started. She wanted to slink back into the bed and continue, but her encounter with Ardyn had put her out of the mood and she knew that he would come back if she didn't get up now. She pushed herself out of her bed and went about showering and getting dressed. A simple black skirt with a white button shirt and black blazer complete with her short heeled shoes. Once she was dressed, she tied her hair back and went about packing her things. In her small suitcase she packed a few extra suits, shoes and her other essentials. She also found herself packing her book, vowing to finish her morning exploits as soon as she had an opportunity.

"I wonder where we're going today." she said while picking up her suitcase. In the four years that she had been working for him, she had gotten used to him taking her on random trips. They were usually to the imperial city, or sometimes other places, like Altissia- a smile tugged at her lips, she had loved that trip.

X

She placed her suitcase by the front door before heading into the dining room where she was met with the sight of Ardyn sipping tea and reading a newspaper. At the place beside him was a plate of jam toast and another cup of coffee. She smiled, it was kind of him to make her some breakfast. She sat in her chair beside him and began to eat her toast. She took a quick glance at his newspaper, he was reading an article about the war. She frowned at it and reached for her coffee, she had had enough of this war.

"Where are we going sir?" she asked.

He turned to the next page, an article about the oracle, he frowned and turned the page again. "To the research facility. I have some things to check up on, and I think you'd like it too," he didn't offer her anything else. He turned the page again.

"I see." she finished her toast and reached for her coffee.

"When you're done we'll head out." he continued to flip through the paper, Ellie tried reading some of the articles, but he seemed uninterested in reading this morning and was continuing to flip through the pages. Suddenly she saw an article that caught her attention, her eyes widened and her heart jumped, she tried to read the page but he flipped the page before she could read it.

"Sir would you stop!" she snatched the paper from him and flipped the page back.

"Elise!"

She ignored his shout and white noise rang through her ears as her heart stopped.

"Veteran General Dead!"

Her hands shook while she read over the article. Her Uncle had died, had died days ago according to the article. Killed in combat, no body had been found as of yet, his airship had been blown up in the battle. She dropped the paper and collapsed into the chair. She had never gotten along well with her Uncle, but he had looked after her when her father had died and had always made sure she had what she needed, he had also looked our for her and shown concern for her welfare.

Ardyn took the paper and read over the article. "Oh dear." he frowned and turned to Ellie. "I am sorry Ellie." He reached over and touched her hair, his fingers running soothing circles through her hair. He caught her as she lunged forwards, her knees landing on the floor and her arms clutched at his shirt while she cried into his lap. He remained silent for some time, continuing to run his fingers through her hair.

"Come Dear Ellie, we'll go driving, it'll clear your head if nothing else." he leaned down and said quietly as her shaking began to lessen.

She lifted her head to look at him, their noses nearly touching and her red eyes boring into his. If she was to be honest, she would prefer to stay here, he was comfortable, warm and safe. But she knew that he was right, the drive would be good for her, especially if… "Are you driving?" she placed her head back in his lap and closed her eyes.

His fingers brushed her cheek. "Yes," he said simply. "I'll drive."

X

She closed her eyes at the feeling of the air blowing on her face, her hair flowing back with the wind. She let out a sigh. He had been right, of course, taking the drive had been the best decision for her. She raised her hands and felt the cold air rush through her fingertips. Placing her hands back into her lap she opened her eyes to look at Ardyn. His expression was neutral, relaxed even. As if feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her, a small smile tugged at his lips and he reached over to ruffle her already ruffled hair. She laughed and swatted his hands. He chuckled in response.

Driving with him always made her relax, him too. 'Good for the nerves' she had once told him. 'Good for the soul.' he had said back.

XXX

"This place..." Ellie murmured as they pulled up to the facility. Most Imperial centres looked the same, when it came to buildings, they tended to stick with what worked and was practical. But there was something about this building, this research facility that looked familiar to her. She felt as though she had been here before. She looked to Ardyn for an inkling.

He shrugged at her and gestured for her to collect their bags. She hastily opened the boot and collected the two suitcases. Ardyn's was considerably lighter than hers, a fact that had always surprised her. She then chased after him as he walked to the entrance to the facility where two soldiers were stationed. "Be a good soldier and let us in!" she heard him say before the doors opened for them.

She pulled the handles out and wheeled them behind her. She observed the starkness of the building while she followed behind him. Something felt off about this place, over the clicking of her heels she could hear the faint sound of something, almost like a roar, there was something sinister about it. She followed him into an elevator and waited while it moved down to another floor, the 'numbers' were all symbols so she was unable to tell what floor they were on. With a ding the elevator stopped and the doors opened and they stepped out. She continued to follow after him while taking in the sights of the hallway she was again struck with familiarity. She had been here before. When?

He opened a door and strut into a room, she followed behind him and found herself halting at the sight of the room. It had barely changed over the years at all. The desk was in the same place, the books had changed, the couch looked smaller and there was now a bed in the corner where there once was a bookcase, but it still looked the same. This room, this office.

"This is…" she wheeled the suitcases to beside the couch and touched the fabric, it had aged but someone had been looking after it. She felt her eyes sting, she looked up at him, he was watching her with a wryly smile. "My father..." she dropped her hands into her lap, she was suddenly very tired.

"Get some rest," he walked over to the bookcase and pulled out a book. "We've got busy days ahead."

She nodded and slowly lowered her head onto the arm of the sofa. She was struck with nostalgia, unbidden memories of lying on the very same sofa, resting, reading, listening to the sound of her father typing while she played. A tear rolled down her face and she went to sleep. When she woke it was some hours later, at least she thought it was, she wasn't really sure. Ardyn was gone, the book he had been reading was resting on the bed. She pulled herself up to sit, she wondered where he would be. Flashes of memories from when she was a child, the two of them in the kitchens, came to her mind. She pulled herself to stand, she'd try that.

It would seem that even after all of these years, the facilities layout was still the same. Just as she remembered. She stepped into the kitchen/ dining area and gasped audibly at the memories it invoked. She looked around, there were new tables and equipment, but she noticed, with a smile, that the vending machine was still the same, it had a few dents however, showing just how frustrating it was. At the lack of Ardyn she turned and left to continue her search. She wandered down hallways, noting the lack of people, there were no workers, no scientists, not even any M.T soldiers. She continued to walk, the clicking of her heels her only companion.

Eventually she turned to a hallway and was met with the sight of two M.T soldiers guarding a door. Ardyn was there, she knew it. She held her head high and walked towards them. They moved to show her away but she glared at them with her darkest expression. "I am the personal hand of Chancellor Izunia." she clenched her fist. "You will let me pass."

The M.T's went slack and made no motion to stop her. She smirked and walked past them and through the door. She found herself in what appeared to be a laboratory, the walls were books and other tools which she did not know the names of. The growling sounds that she had heard earlier were louder and she felt her heart speed up. She walked through the lab looking at the books and some of the paintings on the walls, some of them depicting macabre monsters, she frowned at them and continued onward until she reached another door, the growling grew louder and she hesitated before steeling herself and opening the door.

In the next room she saw glass cages containing what she knew to be daemons. The creatures growled at her, drawing the attentions of the many people in the room, among them, Verstael Besithia and Ardyn.

"Ah, Ellie!" he walked up to her with his arms held open. "You're awake! Did you sleep well? Come see what the empire has been working on!" he placed a hand on her back and guided her to the centre of the room, close to Besithia. From her spot she could see all of the monsters in the room. Daemons of varying shapes and sizes. All monstrous, all growling, all leering at them as though they were meat.

"What are we using them for?" she breathed, taking it all in. her eyes locked onto a daemon of hulking stature with large horns.

Ardyn stepped away from her and towards the daemons. "The empire wishes to use these creatures, to turn the tides of this war, Dear Ellie."

She took a step away from the daemons. The Empire was using them for war? Could they control them? weren't daemon's just as likely to attack them as the enemy? What are the guarantees? Why would the Emperor allow this. This felt wrong. This was wrong. She took another step back before jumping as a daemon in the holding behind her. She turned to see another one of the big ones lung at the screen again.

Besithia chuckled. "It cannot break through."

She took another step away. It certainly looked like it was going to try.

The creature smacked into the glass again. "Oh it is excited today!" Ardyn chuckled.

It continued to pound against the glass, the barrier creaked under the pressure. Ellie glanced around her and noticed a steel rod on a table near her. Without thinking she snatched the rod and jumped in front of Ardyn. "Sir, we need to get out of here!"

"It will not get out." Besithia insisted.

The M.T's in the room moved closer to the holding. The creature banged against the glass, the glass cracked. Besithia began to head towards the door while Ellie tried pulling her chuckling chancellor employer away. "Sir!" she tugged at his coat. "We need to get you out of here!"

As Besithia pulled the door closed behind him, it locked with a click. Ellie's eyes widened and she ran to the door, she tried to open it and when it didn't budge, she smacked it with the pole. "OPEN IT!" she cried. "Chancellor Izunia is inside, OPEN THE DOOR!" she helplessly banged on the door. At the same time the daemon broke the glass, shards were sent flying at them and the daemon, with a roar, jumped out of it's prison.

Ellie turned, her eyes wide and full of terror. She had never fought a daemon before, she had never even seen on in person before. She watched, frozen in place as the daemon lifted it's monstrous claw to attach Ardyn. She clutched at the rod and charged, she pushed her employer out of the way and struck the pole at the beast. The pole did very little damage, but it was enough to draw it's attention away from Ardyn, and onto her. She readied the pole and moved for another strike. Her inexperience proved to be her downfall as the creature let out a sound and struck at her. It's claws flinging her into a nearby wall, as the back of her head hit the wall, her world went black.

X

"Ellie, time to wake up." her world was a spinning motion of red as she awoke. She felt arms holding her but all she could see were spinning colours, mainly red, but also whites of what could have been the room she was in.

She resisted the urge to vomit and closed her eyes. After a few moments her eyes opened again and she was at least able to see who was holding her, even if there was currently two of them. "A-Ardyn..." she jumped out of his arms as she remembered what had happened. "The monster! S-Sir, ugh…." she fell back into his arms, there was two of everything. She closed her eyes.

She felt him chuckle, his hand squeezed her shoulder. "It is dead. I killed it." he brushed hair out of her face.

She opened her eyes again. Her head was pounding and she couldn't glance at the light but she could at least look at Ardyn now without seeing two of him. "I'm sorry, I was p-pretty u-useless then..." she closed her eyes, she wanted to go back to sleep. She didn't want to think of her embarrassment, how stupid was she to think that she could fight a daemon with a steel pole?

A hand stroked her cheek. "You did not need to put yourself in danger to save me." his voice was quiet, thoughtful and filled with something else that she could not name.

Ellie opened her eyes and they locked with his. She could see something in them that she could not name, it was as though he was looking at her in a new light, but also remembering some painful memory. It caused something in her chest to pulse. She reached a shaky hand up to his cheek. "Sir, I will always endeavour to protect you. I will always stand with you..." before she could stop herself she clutched a hand into his hair and pulled herself up, her lips pushed against his.

He froze, his body went rigid and she panicked as she realised what she was doing. Then suddenly she felt herself being pulled closer. A hand cradled her head while an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to him. She felt herself moan against his lips and he took it as an opportunity to deepen the kiss. She clutched at him as he seemed to devour her, he was hot and hard, yet gentle at the same time. She briefly wondered about the people that may be in the room with them, but as he shifted position, causing their crotches to touch she clutched at him harder and focused on the feelings, the rightness of it all.

They say that first kisses leave a lasting impression, and this kiss would always stay with her, would always hold a special place in her heart.

A/N: Well I hope that you all enjoyed the chapter!