(Edward's POV)

I awoke the next morning when it was still dark. Squinting in the darkness, I could just barely make out the time on the clock across from my bed. It read four. Groaning, I got out of bed and got ready to leave for Peter's.

As I arrived at my brother's house, Peter greeted me with a relieved smile.

"Good morning Edward. He's ready."

Alastor stepped into the doorway, looking quite disgruntled.

I glanced at him questioningly and then said, "Thank you for allowing him to stay. I'll see you in a few days."

(William's POV)

It was five in the morning. Unable to sleep, I got out of bed and walked quietly down the hall to Edward's study and looked on his shelves for a book to read. Most of them were on medical studies but I finally manage to find what I was looking for: Machiavelli's The Prince. It was one of my favourite books, and I had read it many times; my own copy, which I had purchased in London eighteen years ago was nearly torn in half with wear, it's pages yellowed and thin.

Taking the book from the shelf, I took it back to the spare room where Mary was still asleep, lit a couple of candles, and read for an hour until she woke up.

"Machiavelli again?" She asked sleepily.

"Yes." I replied kissing her cheek. "How did you know? I wasn't facing you."

"First, it's nearly muscle memory for you to pick up that book when you want to read something and second, all four of you brothers have at least one copy of each."

I nodded setting the book aside and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better than yesterday. And you?"

"Tired, but other than that, fine." I replied. "Now all I have to be concerned about is getting you home."

"You did bring the carriage didn't you?"

"Yes. I just want to make sure every thing runs smoothly."

"When will we leave?"

"As soon as you're ready."

"Give me thirty minutes."

"Alright. We'll leave in thirty minutes."

Once home, Mary went back to sleep in our bedchamber while I asked Cristabel to watch Braden and Brielle for thirty more minutes so I could rest in one of the spare rooms before I took her home.

After I took Cristabel back to her home, I returned home and took my son and daughter with me to the stables to begin chores. Hours later, it was time to break for dinner before starting the afternoon chores.

"Papa, may I take a tray up to Mama?" Brielle asked, finishing the last bite of her meal.

"Yes you may." I replied. "And when you're finished you can help your brother clean both of your rooms before you both help me clean the rest of the house."

"Yes Papa." Brielle replied with a nod.

At around half past eleven, after all the chores were completed and everyone had gone to sleep I crept out of the master bedchamber down the stairs and outside. The air was frosty and fresh, arousing my senses as I inhaled, feeling the ice flow into my lungs. Oh how I loved the chill of the coming of winter, how the grass sparkled with frost as the light of the moon danced gracefully across it.

'Beautiful evening for a ride.' I thought to myself, and headed towards the stables to saddle Belial.

"Is my devil awake?" I asked softly, stepping into the stables.

As if in response, I heard Belial's distinct whicker and he poked his head out of the stall.

"Shall we go for a ride?" I asked, patting him on the nose.

Belial snorted, nipping eagerly at the sleeve of my nightshirt.

"That's what I thought. Let's go boy!"

I rode Belial out into the fields behind m house, the icy wind chilling my face. Belial strained against his bit, pawing at the ground. He tried to move forward but held him back. Belial snorted derisively, turning his head to look at me with shining black eyes.

"Not yet Belial." I said, urging him forward but restraining him to a walk.

Leading Belial onto the road between my house and the captain's, I decided to give Belial his head and let him into a full gallop for a short ways down the road before turning him around and taking him back towards the house to ride through the pastures.

After ten minutes of riding hard through the pastures, I led Belial back to the stables, unsaddled him, and put him back in his stall.

"Thank you for the ride, devil." I said, feeding Belial a couple of treats; then I headed back up to the house, back upstairs, and silently slipped back into bed, only to be awakened by may daughter an hour later.

"Brielle love, what is it?" I whispered sleepily.

"I can't sleep Papa." She replied quietly.

"Did you have a bad dream?" I asked.

"Yes. Will you come to my room?"

I nodded and again got quietly out of bed, picked Brielle up, carried her to her room and tucked her back into bed. Then I stretched out on top of the covers next to her.

"What did you dream about?" I asked.

"I dreamed that our house was on fire and I couldn't get out. I was so scared, and I couldn't see, Papa."

"The smoke."

Brielle nodded.

"Papa, do you ever have bad dreams?"

"Yes, sometimes." I replied thinking of the various versions of Hell my slumber had managed to conjure up in my lifetime.

"Do they ever come true?"

"No." I replied. 'But they've come damn close to it. Too close at times.'

I leaned over Brielle and kissed her cheek.

"Get some sleep."

"Stay with me Papa; I don't want another bad dream."

"Alright Brielle, but just for tonight." I replied, sliding between the covers.

Brielle moved closer to me and I wrapped and arm around her.

"You smell like horse Papa." She whispered in my ear.

"I was out riding." I replied with a smile.

"Why?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"Oh.. Papa, why will Belial only let you ride him?"

"I'm not sure. He just won't let anyone else."

"Ember lets everyone ride her."

"Yes, but Belial is different. He's a stallion, and not as friendly as your mother's mare."

"Why?"

"He just isn't."

"But Papa, there's got to be a better reason"

"And there probably is, but for now, it's time to end your questions and go to sleep. It's very late and you'll be cranky tomorrow if you don't get some decent sleep."

Brielle fell silent, wiggling around in the bed until she was all but pressed against my side, and sighed softly, closing her eyes. Minutes later, she was fast asleep. Carefully, I placed a pillow under Brielle's head and kissed her cheek.

"I love you, my little angel."