Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter. It just felt like a natural stopping point to keep the chapter focused on fitting Caine into Jupiter's new life.

Thank you so much for the favs/follows. I know this isn't the most popular section of the site, so I take pride in everyone who reads/enjoys the story. This movie is so daunting to write about because so much of the background universe and culture remain unexplained in just the one film! I have to try and fill in gaps for it to make sense and to feel fully fleshed out. I hope you think I'm doing an okay job.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Deceptively Routine

Jupiter awoke in the morning and immediately rolled over to check if Caine had stayed. To her relief he was propped up in bed beside her reading a sheave. He lowered it to his lap at her movement, his gaze roaming over her face. "Did I wake you, Your Majesty?" He asked in his calm, soft voice. He looked guilty at the thought of disturbing her.

With a shake of her head, she dismissed the idea. "You can keep reading," she said, waving at the tablet in his lap, "I'm just going to lie here for few more minutes before I have to go back to being an Entitled."

Caine lifts the document again as if to read, but his attention remained on Jupiter, which she chose to ignore. The hand which had motioned to the sheave a moment before settled onto his warm bicep. He looked down at his arm and then to her face. She had closed her eyes again, sinking back into the pillow. He marvelled at how beautiful she was in this moment, relaxed and free of makeup. His Queen.

Caine could not say how long they stayed like that with Jupiter snuggled into the soft bed, her hand resting on his arm while he simply watched her face. It felt like forever and not long enough all at the same time. The familiar ache of longing thrummed in his chest. He may have been in bed with her physically, but it still felt like an ocean's worth of culture and propriety stood separating them, at least in his mind. He knew Jupiter felt less of that. She didn't see things quite the way he did about his being too lowly for her attention. The train of his thoughts brought a new pulse of longing in his chest.

Thankfully he was spared from any further internal debates by the chamber presence speaking, "Good morning Your Majesty. Your morning sparring session is in thirty minutes."

Jupiter sighed and rolled onto her back, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Caine immediately felt the loss of her hand on his arm. He worked to resist a frown as he got out of bed with her. He knew he shouldn't get comfortable with her affection, but it was intoxicating. He marvelled at how differently she saw the universe and him. Knowing he should put a stop to whatever was growing between them for her own good and bringing himself to give up how she made him feel were two different things. He just hoped that Jupiter would not be hurt in the future because of his selfish need to continue being near her.

"Your Majesty, shall I order you a morning meal?" Slipping into the role of servant calmed him as usual. This was familiar. There were rules of protocol to dictate their interaction. He also acknowledged that arranging sustenance for her felt a lot like providing for her and his inner wolf preened at that thought.

The simple question earned Caine another wide smile from his queen. "Only if you join me. I usually have a smoothie before my training session with Stinger. The kitchen staff will know what I expect. Get what you like."

Self-consciously Jupiter went about her usual morning routine, pretending not to feel the lycantant's eyes following her. His soft voice ordering them food faded as the bathroom door closed. She went through her usual morning routine of putting her hair up, brushing her teeth and getting dressed in workout clothes for her sparring session.

After speaking to the chamber presence about acquiring nutrition, Caine moved to the couch area but remained standing out of habit. He continued to skim the security reports from the day before, listening to Jupiter behind the closed bathroom door as she got ready. Even in the other room she stole his concentration and pulled his focus. The sound of the chamber door chime announcing food gave him a reason to abandon the pretense of working.

"Enter," announced Jupiter, leaving the bathroom and settling in her usual chair. It resembled a chaise lounge chair and had a hover table floating within easy reach. Seating herself and curling her legs up onto the sofa, she reached for the smoothie which had just been placed on the table by an android server. It also deposited a bowl of vaguely green looking goop which Jupiter assumed was for Caine.

The robot servants had quickly become a preference for all the menial tasks of the alcazar because she felt less guilty ordering them around. They ranged from sentient androids to small utility bots for cleaning. It amazed her that they had even less rights than the basically non-existent rights afforded to splices. She frowned for a moment and pushed the thought away for the moment. Before she could change anything, she first had to figure out how it all worked.

Taking a sip of the fruity flavoured concoction, Jupiter picked up the sheave she had abandoned on the hover table the day before. As her daily schedule populated for her to review, she came to the realization that Caine was still standing nearby, and he hadn't touched his food.

"Am I going to have to order you to eat every morning?" She asked. Her amused tone hopefully removing some of the string from her mild rebuke. Caine took up the bowl from the table and was about to take a spoonful standing when he noticed Jupiter's eyes narrowing. Quickly he took a seat across from her before eating the nutrient paste.

"What is that anyway?" Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the algae looking goop in his bowl. Caine glanced down and back up before answering her.

"Nutrient paste, Your Majesty. It is the most efficient way to consume the large quantity of protein and vitamins required for combat splices. Our metabolisms are quite high." His explanation was simple and informative which Jupiter appreciated. It was also the most she had heard him speak since their reunion the day before. It gave her hope that he might be adjusting to her presence again; settling in.

It was not lost on Jupiter that he chose not to eat for the pleasure of it. She decided not to push the issue right now. Over time hopefully she could encourage all the splices to adapt more to life as an individual instead of living weapons. Their trust in her and her open acceptance of them was a work in progress which she thought of as the first step in that process.

Jupiter went back to reviewing her schedule as she sipped the smoothie. The drink passed enough for a strawberry, banana, and yogurt smoothie that she had long ceased wondering what was in it. Stinger had assured her it was full of protein and enhanced nutrition which would fuel their morning training time. Her schedule was much like it had been the weeks which surprised her a little. With the return of Caine and Kiza it felt like things should be different. Where was the time to spend time with the two of them going to come in? It felt strangely like there was no place for them in the new routine she had built while they were away.

Her mind circled around that thought over and over. For someone with so much money and power she felt like a prisoner to the schedule set by her majordomo and to the responsibilities of her position. Looking back, she realized how dull and numb the last two months left her feeling. Jupiter vowed to speak to her staff on the matter. She had to make time for fun and happiness in this new life. Maybe when she did that, there would be more room for Caine too.

xXx

Let me know if I am cocking this up too badly (or not)!

Am I making Caine too moody/mopey? I just love the angst of it all.