So I've decided not to do previews of the next chapter, because I feel like that just puts more pressure on me. Rest assured, the excerpt you saw in the A/N last chapter will appear in a chapter, just not this one. I've had this one done for a while now so I'm just gonna go ahead and post it.

... That Time Excalibur Agreed: Caspian's A Jerk.

They were in Paris of all places, when it happened. They were visiting Sophie, while their mother dealt with a client, and enjoying the day together. They'd met at a cafe, and decided to sit at one of the tables of the sidewalk to enjoy the warm weather. Sophie was chattering away about her latest fashion job, when Lucas suddenly clamped his hand on Wales' arm.

Sophie and Wales both looked at him, concerned.

"Luke?" Wales asked, quietly, "What's wrong?"

Lucas had gone white, eyes wide, and unmoving. He clenched his jaw and kept his eyes down, "Please don't make a scene."

Wales frowned, "What are you talking about?"

Sophie glanced at her friend, then did a double take. Her green eyes narrowed to slits, the spark in them growing into an inferno. Wales blinked, confused.

"Hello son," a voice drawled behind wales. The teen shot to his feet, spinning around and coming face to face with a man he didn't wish to know.

Caspian McKandless.

Caspian barely glanced at wales, icy, cold eyes set on Lucas, "Fancy seeing you here."

Wales stepped into the man's line of sight, forcing Caspian to look at him, "Walk away. Now."

Caspian smiled, and Wales felt his blood run cold, "Wales, son! is that really you? My, I haven't seen you since you were a toddler! You've grown up!"

"Like you care," Wales growled. "From what I hear, you were only too glad to be rid of me so you could have my brother as your own personal punching bag."

Caspian's smile... turned sharp. Cold. Threatening. He tilted his head, leaning to look past wales left shoulder at Lucas, "Lucas, son, just what lies are you telling now?" He tsked and shook his head, "You know the rules. I suppose ill have to discipline you."

Wales looked just in time to see Lucas duck his head, curling under his arms in an effort to hide himself. Sophie reached out to lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her other hand curled tightly around her phone. Her jaw was set and eyes stormy.

Wales turned his attention back to Caspian, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets to hide how his fists were curling. He needed to stay calm, try to be casual. He couldn't risk trading blows with a man who had a solid ten inches and fifty pounds of muscle over him.

... no physical blows, at least.

"If your idea of discipline is beating the life out of someone," Wales drawled. "No wonder Lucas is so scared of you."

Caspian raised his eyebrows, "I would never do such a thing!"

"The previous injuries the doctor listed state otherwise."

"He's a clumsy kid,"

"The hell he is. He's got more grace than most Bladers I know,"

Caspian's jaw tightened, "He gets into a lot of fights at school."

"He's homeschooled,"

"Street fights, then,"

"You're only digging yourself deeper old man," Wales sneered. "Lucas doesn't have a violent bone in his body. The day I met Lucas, he had a black eye three days old, broken ribs, and a badly bruised leg, injuries he got from you."

Caspian's eyes flashed, and before Wales could react, a fist slammed into jaw and he was seeing stars. Wales stumbled back, bracing himself against the table behind him. Sophie and Lucas both cried out, and as Caspian swung again-

A heavy hand clamped on Caspian's wrist, and Klaus bodily shoved him away. The Capricorn Blader put himself between father and son, then crossed his arms and just stood there.

"Wales, my friend, are you okay?" Julian stood beside Wales, voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine," Wales grunted, working his jaw and probing tenderly at it.

The punch had hurt. Wales felt his heart thud in his chest as he realized, with terror and rage, that this was what Lucas had grown up with. Punches and fear. Never knowing what would set Caspian over the edge. Learning to tread carefully and pick his battles.

No wonder he was so quiet and reserved. Wales had only been hit once and he already felt like backing down. Lucas never had the luxury of someone stepping in, never knew the relief of a beating being stopped before it could begin.

Wales grit his teeth, straightened his spine, and stood where he could be seen, fully.

"Walk away. Now." Wales hissed, viciously, "Or you'll have someone on your hands who isn't afraid to fight back."

Caspian's eyes flickered between the people present, from Sophie, to Klaus, to Julian, to Nero, to Wales, and finally on Lucas. He glared at him, and took a step forward. Klaus stepped to cut him off, face cold, "I'd listen to Wales, if I were you. You might stand a chance against him, but do you want to try me? In a public place?"

Caspian looked around again, and finally noticed the crowd that was watching, whispering among themselves, phones pointed at the scene...

With a sneer, Caspian turned on his heel and walked off.

Wales watched him go, feeling slightly disappointed that Caspian hadn't chosen to take his chances in a fight. With a huff, he ran his hands through his hair and then turned to face the other three that had shown up.

"Where the hell did you three come from?" Wales asked.

"Julian had a business meeting," Nero piped up. Oddly enough, he'd been quiet for the entire confrontation, but considering the fact he'd been standing between Lucas and Caspian, he had probably been waiting for a reason to react, "Klaus and I tagged along, and we decided to make a trip of it. We were actually on our way here to surprise you and Lucas when Sophie texted and said there was trouble."

Ah. So that's why Sophie had her phone in hand. She still had a white knuckle grip on it, and she looked to be both scared and enraged at the encounter the group had just had. She frowned, the look marring her pretty features, "I have a very short list of the people who I find unpleasant to be around, and your father just made the the number one spot."

Wales snorted and sat down in his chair, "Welcome to my world." He turned his attention to Lucas, the younger teen still sitting his head curled under his arms, trying to hide, "Luke? Stupid question, but are you okay?"

"Is he gone?" Lucas whispered in response.

"Yeah. We ran him off," Wales answered, relieved that Lucas was still aware enough to be replying verbally.

Lucas peeked out between his arms, warily glancing around the area. Once he deemed it safe, he sat up, though it was obvious he was still cautious. He peeked up at his brother from under his bangs, "... Thank you. You didn't need to do that, you know."

"Yeah, I did," Wales muttered. "He deserved more than just a talking to."

"I'm actually glad he showed up," Julian commented, as he pulled a chair up to the table. When Wales glared at him and Sophie sent him a bewildered look, he rolled his eyes, "Oh, not like that. My lawyers can just turn this entire event into a stalking charge. And assault, considering he hit Wales."

Huh. Wales hadn't even thought of that.

Nero grinned, as he squeezed himself to sit between Sophie and Lucas, "There's my brother for you. Could fit right into Slytherin any day of the week."

"I was hoping he would give me a reason to hit him back," Klaus admitted. "I'm not one for physical violence unless the situation calls for it, but something about your old man just has my temper flaring."

"I'm surprised Wales wasn't the first to start throwing punches, considering how much he talks about how he'll kill the bastard when he sees him," Nero teased.

"Please, if I'm going to kill him, I'm not going to do it where there are witnesses," Wales snorted. "I have some tact."

"Do you?" Lucas deadpanned.

"Hey!"

"He's got a point," Julian said.

"Oi!"

"Come on, Wales, you know it's true," Sophie grinned.

"Jeez! What is this, harp on Wales day?"

"Let's make it a national holiday!" Nero's eyes lit up.

"No, let's not-"

Wales, though, was quickly drowned out by his friends talking over him. He decided, though, as he saw Lucas relaxing, saw him smiling, that he could take a few blows to his pride, if it meant keeping his brother happy.

Aaand, short chapter, but if I went any further, it probably would have turned very lengthy. I don't want the chapters getting too long ;-;

hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter and will leave a review!