The trial is interrupted by Aro's phone ringing. With an embarrassed sigh he takes it out of his pocket and looks at the screen.
"I apologize," he says offhandedly to the half dismembered vampire kneeling in front of the dais, "I don't recognize this number."
Aro answers the call, "Pronto, who is this?"
"This is a collect call from Polk County jail, do you accept the charges?" Is the automated reply that Aro receives. He and Marcus share alarmed looks with each other before Aro replies.
"I do."
It takes a moment for the call to connect but once it does, Aro hears, "Aro, it's me, don't hang up."
Aro sputters in disbelief, "Caius what is going on?"
It's quiet for a moment and Aro can imagine Caius is rubbing his forehead in irritation. Then, much to the complete shock and surprise of every vampire present, Caius mutters, "I've been arrested."
…
72 HOURS EARLIER
…
Ann wakes up to the tickling sensation of Caius tracing random patterns along her thigh. She gives a little stretch and turns her body to face him; Caius' arms wrap more fully around her and tug her close.
"Hey," she says shyly to him as he gazes at her with warm eyes. He leans in and initiates a long, passionate kiss.
When he pulls away he lets out a satisfied noise, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
Ann did, actually that was the best rest she's ever had. Caius has an already massive ego so Ann doesn't feel like she should encourage it. Instead of the truth, Ann says, "Hmm, I suppose it was alright."
Caius must see through her lie because his smile widens and he starts kissing her again. They spend quite a while making out in bed and every time it starts to get a little too heated, Caius pulls back and lets them both cool off before starting up again.
It's both the worst and best torture that Ann's ever known.
Eventually, though, they have to get up and get ready to leave. Demetri has brought a change of clothes for both her and Caius and Ann feels incredibly grateful that she doesn't have to do some sort of walk of shame into her house wearing the fancy dress from last night.
That said, these clothes are once again not something she would normally wear or be able afford to buy. She gives Caius a look that he pretends he doesn't notice and goes off to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
The flight home is quiet with her and Caius cuddling up together on one of the leather couches on the plane. For some reason Caius had wanted all the shutters on the windows closed but Ann doesn't mind.
When they get back to Missouri, the day is cloudy and overcast just like the day before and it looks like it might actually rain.
Caius drives her home and he purposefully takes wrong turns and such to drag it out as long as possible. Ann doesn't want the date to end either.
Like a true gentleman, Caius walks her to her door and gives her one hell of a goodbye kiss that leaves Ann wanting to see him again as soon as possible.
So, she does.
She has her scheduled shifts at Walmart these next few days but she supposes on one of the days she can go out after she gets off work.
'i get off at 8 on thurs we shud hang out :P'
'I would enjoy that. What will we be doing that evening? -C'
Ann always cracks up at seeing Caius text. She can't help but think he texts like a grandpa.
'its been raining so the lake shud b full we shud go swimming :) '
…
Caius stares at the phone for a moment before he consults Demetri for advice.
"Ann would like to go swimming in the local lake," Caius tells his guard with a face of confusion, "-at night."
Demetri, who's just about had it with this whole mission and would like to get back to Italy at some point, takes Caius' phone—ignoring his huff of offense— and reads the conversation.
"Just go with the flow," Demetri tells him, "You're overthinking the whole thing."
Caius takes back his phone and looks down at it. He feels very out of touch with not only this technological era, but also his mate. She is so modern and he is increasingly becoming worried that they are not suited for each other because of it.
Taking Demetri's advice, he agrees to the date and tries not to think any more about it beyond that.
Ann, the thoughtful woman she is, even invites Demetri and whomever he'd like to bring with him to make it a double date. Demetri, it seems, is already ahead of Caius and has not only agreed to join them but has also invited that woman Christie that he had been with at the bar a few weeks ago.
"Queen Anna-Louise and I have been exchanging texts for some time now," Demetri explains offhandedly while he rapidly, and with far more practiced fingers, types out a message on his phone, "She's very funny."
Caius thinks Demetri should be demoted.
…
Ann is waiting for them outside the Walmart when they arrive to pick her up after her shift. She wastes no time hopping into the car and rattling off the directions. Christie and Demetri in the back seat are giggling to each other and Caius knows that if he looks in the rearview mirror he's going to see some things he'd rather not.
To further ignore whatever is happening in the back seat, Caius beings a conversation with Ann.
"I was not aware that night swimming was a popular activity here," he says, "However, I have prepared since our conversation last and purchased swimming shorts and other such amenities."
Ann snorts and grabs his right hand to hold in hers while he drives, "It's not—that's why we're going."
Christie from the back pipes up, "You're not going to need that swimming suit."
Demetri lets out an agreeing laugh and now suddenly Caius feels as though there is some sort of joke that he is not privy to.
Ann sees his troubled expression and kisses the top of his hand, "Just drive, cowboy, you'll be fine."
The lake is more of a pond and is located near the town's local park. There are no sandy beaches or any such thing to suggest that it is a popular swimming location but Caius doesn't argue as he puts the rental in park and turns off the ignition.
Everyone is out of the car quickly and before Caius really can understand what's going on, they're all stripping out of their clothes. He stands there, staring with a gaping mouth for several moments before Ann notices and takes pity on him.
She comes over to him, topless, and wraps her arms around his waist, "We're going skinny dipping."
Caius thinks he's might have heard of this term before but it doesn't matter if he has or not, because everyone's actions are telling him clearly what they're about to do.
Caius starts to strip out of his clothes as well and says, "I was not aware this was a nude beach."
Christie lets out an obnoxious laugh from where her and Demetri are already wading into the water.
Ann bites her lip to hold back her smile, "Think of it as one of Missouri's hidden treasures."
It is dark out and the only light is that of the moon but with vampire vision, Caius has no problem taking in the beauty that is Ann's nude figure. Gods, Caius wants to sculpt statues after her and paint murals so that the world may see her beauty.
He leans down and whispers in her ear while they make their way towards the bank of the pond, "You are captivating."
Ann flushes prettily at the compliment and tugs him into the water with her.
The water smells foul and there's this disgusting clingy algae everywhere. But no one seems to mind as they laugh and splash and swim.
Demetri fits in so well with these modern women, knowing exactly how to act and what to say. Caius is a bit humbled by it.
They spend quite a bit of time just swimming and chatting and when Caius is finally starting to feel at ease with the flow of conversation, they're all interrupted.
The shine of the flashlights in the police officers hands are bright enough to blind Caius momentarily. He had not even noticed their approach, so caught up with the activity, and apparently he was the only one who hadn't.
"Run, Caius!" Ann shouts with a laugh as her, Demetri, and Christie start swimming the opposite direction of the cops. Caius is thoroughly confused as to what is going on until it's too late. The cops are right there and Caius has no chance of getting away without revealing himself to be non-human, so he raises his hands and gets out of the water as commanded.
He has to admit, the handcuffs being placed on him and him being forced into the cruiser still wet and naked are what he's certain will be the death of any pride he once maintained.
Aro is never going to let him live this down.
…
The police officers are just as incompetent as Caius expected they'd be. He pretends to not understand English and sits there boredly staring at them as they try to interrogate him. It goes from that to them doing terribly acted charades to communicate with him.
The one phone call is the only thing that they would successfully communicate if he didn't actually speak English. He takes the phone with a huff and starts dialing.
He must have caught Aro during a trial because he sounds confused as he answers the phone.
"Don't hang up," he commands in Italian while eyeing the cops who are watching him, "And don't speak English, these buffoons are watching me."
"What is going on, Caius?" Aro asks and Caius can only imagine that the whole courtroom is listening in eagerly.
"I've been arrested," he finally gets out past his grinding teeth, "For public nudity."
It's silent for a long moment as Aro, and no doubt the entire coven, processes this. Then it's an explosion and all at once Caius can hear Aro, Marcus, and even Felix demanding to know what the hell happened.
He hushes them with a growl and begins explaining. He's about half way through his tale when he sees Ann and Demetri come into the police station. Ann appears to know the officer who greets her and she's trying to get them to let Caius go.
"He thought that it was a nude beach," Ann pleads while rather successfully charming this officer, "C'mon Dan, you can't arrest the poor guy, he's not even from here."
"I don't know Ann," the officer, Dan, replies while rubbing his ear sheepishly, "public indecency is a pretty serious offense."
"I'll make sure he gets home safe and that this never happens again," Ann promises.
Demetri interjects as well, "He does not even know English, really it was our fault for misleading him."
Dan looks back at Caius who's watching with a bated breathe before he sighs and nods, "Yeah, just make sure he doesn't cause trouble again."
Ann lets out a joyous squeal and thanks the officer profusely while Demetri makes his way over to where Caius is. With little regard for his previous conversation, Caius simply hangs up the phone. The beginning of a question from Aro the last thing he hears of it.
"We've successfully sprung you from prison," Demetri exclaims in Italian with a grin, "Let's go before they change their minds."
Caius doesn't need to be told twice, so he follows after the two of them quickly while trying to mentally erase this entire experience from his memory.
Ann, for her part, does look incredibly guilty that Caius got arrested and she hugs him tightly as soon as they're out in the parking lot.
"I'm so so so sorry," she murmurs into his chest, "I didn't think you would just sit there like a duck."
Caius rolls his eyes heavenward but knows that he's already long since forgiven her. Staying mad at Ann is impossible he finds.
"I would very much like to get some clothes on that are not these cheap prison garb." he tells her while kissing her cheek to let her know she's forgiven. Ann smiles up at him and leads him to the rental and, seemingly, towards the beginning of the rest of his life.
….
A/N: I love writing Caius in embarrassing situations it's the best. Stay tuned because the next chapter is going to be extra spicy~3
ps: Even though I don't reply to comments I just want you all to know that I read every single one and I love them and they keep me motivated to write so thank you!