Thanks again to my lovely reviewers :) You're always so positive

I woke to Caius twirling my hair absentmindedly while he stared out the window. A window which showed the sun was either rising or setting, judging by how well rested I felt, I assumed setting. I was about to close my eyes again when I realised I'd said to Alli we were going to check out the Purple Medallion in the afternoon.

Bounding out of bed I bent down to look for my shoes, only to remember I'd taken them off some point in the forest several miles away. "Well fuck me."

"If you insist."

I spun to give Caius full view of my disappointed look "Really?"

His smirk didn't drop and he approached pulling me into a kiss. I groaned, trying to chase the flames he ignited. He pulled back "Going somewhere, love?"

"Yes, I'm supposed to meet up with Alli."

"The woman with the brown hair?" I narrowed my eyes, how did he know that? "She stopped in earlier to return your bag and transport. Marcus thought it would be best to leave you sleeping and accompanied the girl to obtain your information."

I wasn't sure how I felt about that, and neither do I know how Marcus had explained away their presence in my apartment. "Alright, seems like all we can do now is wait till they return... what to do to pass the time?"

Caius laughed at my blatant suggestion and spun me so I was sitting on the bed looking up as he sidled in between my legs, "What indeed?"

Just then the door from my bathroom opened and Aro came out in all his glory, which while I appreciated I was more excited to see him. "Aro!" I had assumed he'd gone with Marcus, but as that was not the case I slipped past Caius to pull my raven-haired mate into an embrace.

He purred into my hair and I clenched tighter. I was never as touchy with people as I apparently was with my mates, but then again I'd never trusted someone so much to allow it. Weirdly Alli's casual touches never bothered me.

"May I get dressed, Amore?"

"You may not."

Caius flashed behind Aro and helped me push him so he was in the position I had previously been on the bed. Aro's eyes darkened significantly as I fell to my knees in front of him, and Caius slipped behind to tangle his hands in Aro's long hair, pulling the brunette into a kiss, which I greedily watched.

I kissed Aro's knee sliding forward, but stopped there with a questioning look, "Are we allowed to do this without Marcus?"

Caius answered for them, "Yes Carissima, I assure you, he will not mind."

Seeing Aro's slightly anticipated look I threw him a grin and leaned forward to inhale his scent, my tongue darting out to lap at his tip. His hands flew to my hair but stilled. I licked again, he tasted different, sweeter, most likely the venom my mind supplied.

Curious to see how else they differed, I glided my tongue along his length taking pride in the whine I pulled from him. Although upon glancing up I saw the same clouded look in his face from before, I hadn't noticed it on our first night together, but now I couldn't stop seeing it.

Trying to wipe it away, I sunk down basking in his praise "That's it darling," Still the look remained. I continued to bob, pulling back to swirl my tongue around his head and get a shot of his sweetness before resuming my task. I was good at this, I knew I was, when Aro came he appeared sated and everything seemed fine, but I knew something was wrong, I just couldn't figure out what.

Deciding it would be rude to point out, I instead pulled him into a kiss and tried to ignore it until I found the problem.

The sound of a car coming to a stop below my window told us Marcus had returned and Aro dressed quickly. I didn't miss the scolding look Caius shot Aro but didn't point it out either.

I pulled the door open as Marcus was about to knock and smiled at Alli who excitedly held up her phone to show me some pictures.

Ushering them inside I pulled over a few stools from the kitchen and gestured for the two to explain what they had found.

"Right so," Ally handed me her phone "That first one's taken from the doorway- Which by the way, I didn't think the owner was gonna let us in and knew she wouldn't if I showed my badge, honestly thought we were toast, till Mr Smoothtalker over here-" She gestured to Marcus with her thumb "Charismaed his way in."

I raised an eyebrow at him and he smirked back, "What can I say, darling, it's all a part of my charm?" I narrowed my eyes, so he dazzled the owner. Interesting.

"Yea- anyway we got in, the place was closed like you said it would be but get this-" She swiped the photo to the next one and I let out a sound of understanding, "They have the dispenser in every room."

I had thought that would be the case, unfortunately, because they were in every room we still needed to figure out how that was done. "Did you test the lube?" I ignored Caius and Aro's questioning looks, I'd explain later.

"Yep." She held out her hand revealing a patch of irritated skin, "It's the one alright, I tested every room too. All of them were tampered with, crazy clearly didn't want anyone to miss out on the fun"

Rubbing my face in thought I considered what we knew.

Problem: Hydrogen Peroxide attack

Motive: Unknown

Location of attack: Sex Club; Purple Medallion

Victim: Sex Club attendees

But the motive wasn't entirely hard to guess given we now knew the victims who were attacked. someone who had a problem with either the concept of sex clubs or something to do with sex. It wasn't a gay club so that was probably not the target, however, none of them were married to each other, obviously, it could be sex before marriage...

The problem was we didn't know how they, not only got into all of the rooms, but how all of them were hit at the same time.

Time. "Hey Alli, when did the victims show up at the hospital?"

"Around 9ish I think, but that's only when the cops were called, they could have been a few minutes earlier."

"9 PM. Surely that's just about when a club would open?"

Her eyes lit up in understanding, "It was done before everyone got there! That's how they got every room."

Marcus piped up "The owner seemed rather mortified at it all, I doubt she would have done it."

"That's true," Alli agreed "She was rather upset."

I drummed my fingers on my chair "But who would have access to all those rooms beforehand without raising suspicion, or maybe they snuck in?"

Aro gave a suggestion "Perhaps a maid?"

A maid. Doubtful in a sex club. But a cleaner could, they would be necessary and they would have access to chemicals. I snapped my fingers at Alli "Cleaner." Shooting Aro an appreciative nod for the idea.

"Shit, you're probably right, but you know now we have another problem if we call this in all the people in the hospital could end up being prosecuted, along with the club owner."

"Damn it." Getting up I went to grab some food and water, I brought back a few biscuits, which I set in front of her and handed her a glass of water.

"Thanks, do your boyfriends want some?"

I hesitated glancing at their grinning faces, so that's what they had told her, they were my boyfriends. Alli was cool with it, as I figured she would be, Alli seemed nothing if not adaptable.

"No, they're weird." I could have said they just had some but going with weird meant most people nowadays just accepted it.

Sure enough, she shrugged and took a biscuit. "What if we make it look more like a hookup group, rather than a paid club?"

I nodded "That could work, but we'd have to make sure all evidence of transactions were gone, please tell me it was cash only payment?" Marcus confirmed it, easing my worries. "Now we have to explain how we figured out where it was."

"Oh that's easy, " Alli stood clearly excited to close the case, "We just have to tell one of the victims, what happened and explain that we need to use their name for 'who told us', and obviously tell all of them they were in a 'special group' not a club, bing-bong splat, case solved."

I grinned at her enthusiasm, "Not quite, we still have to catch the guy, but when we go back to the owner, we'll ask who was on cleaning duty that night and then we should have enough to hand over to the police."

Alli moved to the door, "We'd better get the report written up, and go back to the owner tonight, as well as visit the hospital."

"You want to run around? I can write up the report?"

She chuckled giving a dramatic wink, "Only if I'm allowed to steal your bike."

I waved her off, "Yep, yep, take the helmet though."

"Aye, aye Captain."

She shut the door behind her and I turned to Marcus, "Seems like you had fun?"

"I assumed you liked her if you trusted her with your things, and I figured you wouldn't appreciate her going into a dangerous situation alone."

I nodded "A wise observation." Getting a bit more serious I dropped my eyes "Thank you, for that, and-" I flushed a little "-You know, pulling me out of the club last night." I made sure to shoot my grateful look at my other mates as well.

"You don't need to thank us for having your best interest in mind Amore, that is our job."

I frowned at myself, we were all mates, "It's my job also and I haven't been doing very well keeping your best interest in mind, I'm sorry."

Marcus hushed me "You are very new to this bond Darling, and not even yet an Immortal. Trust that you will grow and learn."

"I do trust you," I agreed "-but I would like to know a bit more about Vampire history before I become one, I asked Olly to find me some books on your history, by the way."

"Yes." Aro gave me a humorous look "I found him at the top of one of the shelves, he has been very busy with the task you set, it is unlikely he has noticed us gone, Heidi is keeping an eye on him for us."

I should have probably felt worried that Olly had been up so high but shrugged it off, the kid would do what he would do, I doubted anyone could stop him, besides he had a vampire looking after him, and I found I quite liked Heidi.

Caius pulled me to sit on the bed beside him, "We will tell you anything you wish to know Amore."

I asked the question I had been dying to for ages, "Tell me about how you guys meet."

-IMMORTAL-

I listened rapidly till night fell, and I declared I did actually have to get some work done. Marcus pulled out a book of what appeared to be poetry to read, Caius went down to the car to retrieve his chest set which Aro indulged him by playing. It was nice to just be near my mates even doing mundane things. I finished the report after the third hour and decided to check my emails finding only one from Depika.

Depika

You've been invited to the Seattle precinct for the celebration the force is throwing, you can bring whoever you want, I would recommend bringing a few friends, it's going to be pretty unbearable for a while. Sorry about the case.

I frowned, the case? What case? And what were they celebrating? I picked up my phone and clicked on the Captain.

"Blue why can you never call at a normal hour?"

"Oops, sorry Captain." I'd forgotten normal people sleep.

He huffed "Good thing I'm not married Adams, what's the problem?"

I saw my mates heads snap up but stuck out my tongue indicating it was nothing to worry about. "Nothing really Cap, just a little confused, Depika send me a strange email?"

He gave a tired sigh "I thought she'd do that tomorrow. I'm sorry Blue I really am, I tried to keep that fed from screwing with your reports but all the higher-ups cared about was the guy was caught-"

"-Wait, wait, hold up Captain, I'm missing some vital information here."

"Blue the warrant came through and we got the files on the Wonka Killer, she's been Identified and forensic evidence matches up, the donor also came forward just like you said, her trial's due to start in a month."

"That's amazing!-" I actually hadn't thought the killer was female as based on most cases they weren't but it didn't matter so long as they were caught. "So I'm assuming that's what the celebrations are for?"

"Blue... Agent Asano, the fed who took over your case has been hailed as the hero who closed it. He signed his name on your report about finding the hospital, he withdrew it from the judge before it got to her so he could do so, it's how the hospital got leaked, then he sent it back in with his name, I'm sorry Blue, I know you worked hard on this."

I felt a weight press into my chest and worked to keep my voice and face neutral, "It's fine Captain, the killers caught, who cares who did it."

He obviously wasn't buying in, "Blue, everyone here at the present who knows you, knows you closed this case, everyone's behind you in this. We know. You know, and he knows. Don't come to the party if you don't want to Blue, I'm perfectly able to make up an excuse for you-"

"-No it's fine. Really, Cap, I'm fine, it's not that big of a deal, l never did this job to be a hero, I did it 'cause I like figuring out puzzles to help people." It was true, I didn't need the recognition, it sucked someone had claimed my work as their own, but realistically, life just sucked sometimes, there was nothing anyone could do about it.

"Okay Adams, I'll see you tomorrow night, but bring something to help you get through it for god sake, no one should have to deal with that smug junior sober."

I snorted "Yep will do."

I hung up, looking over to see my mates staring at me with equal looks of what appeared to be sadness and anger on my behalf. "Oh come on guys, it's not that bad."

Caius's scowl deepened "The disrespect of claiming another's work is-"

"-Life." I interrupted "People can be assholes sometimes, that's just how it is. We're focussing on the wrong thing here, I've been chasing this killer for two years and now they will never murder another child. That is something to celebrate!"

Abruptly jumping up I turned to Marcus and dramatically bowed extending my arm "Will you Marcus, come with me to the police 'we caught the bad guy' party?" He chuckled, pulling me to straddle his lap on the chair he had been reading. "Hey!" I complained trying to get free. "I haven't asked the others yet!"

"I'm sure they'll come," He purred into my ear causing me to melt against him.

"Oh come on, that's not fair! Do mates have some kind of magic rumbly thing which makes their other mates lose the will to fight?" I huffed

Aro grinned from his position on the floor, "It is called purring dearest, and it merely has a calming effect on one's mate, it does not take away your will."

"Doesn't just have a 'calming effect'" I muttered more to myself but at Caius's widening grin I rapidly remembered their super hearing.

Surprisingly he behaved himself enough to add to the conversation "You should probably also be aware that once you have been changed into one of us, your mind will link with Aro's and his gifts allow us all to communicate to one another."

I pressed my arms against Marcusu's chest so I was sitting up straight, intrigued "Only because of Aro's gifts? Other vampires can't communicate through their minds to each other?"

Aro looked nervous, "It is not continuous, you may choose the thoughts you share, and we will not speak to you in that way if you do not wish for it, Amore."

Caius frowned at that, which I could understand it would be far simpler if they were allowed to speak that way to me, "No, it's fine I don't mind, mostly I'd just think it was cool. Although if we were fighting and you decided to consistently scream in my mind to piss me off, I'd find your most favourite object and hide it for one hundred years. I mean it."

Marcus' chest rumbled again, "And how would you manage to hide yourself for one hundred years beloved?"

I gave a dramatic gasp "Picking favourites Marcus?"

Caius scoffed "Marcus always picks favourites. One day it's me because I choose his side of a discussion, next it's Aro because I won the game of chess."

Aro nodded flashing to my side with a hand on his heart showing his fake sincerity, "It is true dearest, he casts us aside without a second thought."

I shrieked as I was moved now sitting on the chair with Marcus on his knees before me, "Perhaps they should endeavour to try harder to remain my favourite then, shouldn't they darling?"

I flushed, still not used to the affection my mates insisted on showering me with. "Can I be your favourite Marcus?" I flickered my eyelashes at him and lent down to pull him in a kiss.

He broke away "Maybe later darling, for now, you need to sleep, tomorrow you close your case, and we take you to that party, celebrating your success and then, we go home."

My heart clenched at the thought of calling Italy home, I'd never had one before, but thinking back on the castle I knew there was no other word to describe it. Distracting myself from the mush thoughts I whined into his lips "But I'm not tired!"

It was true, I'd slept for ages and doubted anything would send me off for another day or two. Marcus seemed to take that as a challenge because I found myself lying in bed naked with the Vampire once again between my legs, "Well we'll just have to change that won't we Amore?"

-IMMORTAL-

Once Blue had been well and truly rung out by Marcus, he moved to cover her with a blanket and resume his reading.

Caius, however, rounded on the Raven-haired King. "Aro, why haven't you told her!?"

Marcus kept his book open but stopped reading, listening in to the coming argument just in case he needed to step in.

Aro scrolled back at Caius "I will not guilt her into revealing her past."

Caius stood abruptly, Aro following his example both staring each other down. "It's torturing you! You can hardly touch her without appearing repulsed!"

"I perform perfectly well!" Aro snarled taking offence to the insult of his participation.

Caius took a threatening step forward and Marcus intervened trying to defuse the situation. "We will hear of her past eventually Aro, if you let her know she will not mind telling us sooner, she has already expressed that she wishes to make us feel as we make her feel-"

Aro, however, was not placated by the words "I will not force her into anything, simply because it is uncomfortable for me." His words were sharp and held no room for argument.

Caius seemed to make room by stepping forward again and trapping the raven-haired King against the wall, "Uncomfortable? You know we can hear your thoughts Aro, when you allow us, and the ones that have slipped through your defences speak for themselves. Touching her without your gift is like being blind and tied up underwater. It is torture, and if Blue were to learn what she is doing to you-"

Aro snarled and shoved one of Caius's arms down, "She will not."

Marcus eyed them both critically, before determining they would resolve the issue themselves. It had been bothering Marcus as well, so they had attempted to keep Aro shared between them while Blue waited on letting Aro into her mind, however, as their mate she wanted to touch Aro as much as the rest of them.

Blue obviously didn't know she was hurting Aro but he seemed as disinclined to deny her touch as he was to inform her. Marcus understood that having the invasive gift Aro had, he hated that he had the potential to 'steal' from their mate.

Caius however, had gone through a similar dislike of Aro's gift when he joined their relationship, he was unaware at the time like Blue was now, what his resistance did to his mate and when he found out he had been horrified, Marcus suspects he still feels slightly guilty because of it and likely knows Blue would feel the same.

Aro stayed perfectly still between Caius's arm and the one he had pushed down. Caius didn't move it, showing that he would not stop Aro from leaving if he desired.

Once Aro had remained from several minutes, Caius pulled his arm up to tangle in his hair and bring their lips together. Letting Aro read his mind and connect on a level only Aro could, it was a part of the brunette as much as his arms and legs were.

You are always welcome in my thoughts Aro

I know

No other words were spoken between the two as Caius dropped to his knees bringing the other to completion. Aro let Caius see the fear he felt of pushing their latest mate away and Caius allowed Aro to see the fear he felt seeing his eyes glazed over when they were supposed to be full of pleasure. They came to an understanding, she would have to be told soon, but not until they were in a place of safety until they were home.

-IMMORTAL-

The next morning I firmly told the Kings they were not allowed to accompany me to the prescient where I would meet Alli and hopefully identify the perp.

Aro did insist on dropping me off, which I allowed. It was a thrilling experience sitting beside Aro as he grinned, delighted racing in and out of traffic, not even bothering to hide his mirth at my confliction.

Honestly, the ride definitely spiked my adrenaline and not the best look for a cop.

He pulled up sharply in front of the police station, playing into his obvious delight I exited the car and blew him a dramatic kiss before spinning on my heels and entering the building, very aware of the multiple eyes on me.

Alli bounded over wiggling her eyebrows, "Ready for some more good news?"

"More?" I questioned.

She shot the black car a pointed look "That's good news if I ever saw it."

Laughing I stole her move and slung my arm around her shoulder, pulling down my sunglasses for the dramatic benefit of everyone around us, "Darling we have a job to do."

"Aye, aye, ma'am!"

We took our work into one of the spare rooms and settled the new evidence on the desk ready to present to Dacian and the officers who would be going to arrest the perp.

"So I went back to the Purple Medallion and then the hospital, it's all sorted. Everything should run smoothly, and -" She picked up one of the documents "-This is our guy, "Martin Martin-"

"-Seriously?" I gave her an `Are you kidding me'' look "This guy's name is Martin Martin?"

"Yeah, I know. Anyway I checked him out, did some digging last night, his parents weren't religious, nor was he growing up till he got in an accident, nearly lost his legs, wife walked out on him, seemed he turned to religion for help."

"Then decided to become some kind of vigilant for god?"

"Pretty much," She agreed "doubt he thought it through very far though, he clearly didn't have a follow-up plan because he only worked at one of these places and wouldn't have been able to attack any others the same way… Although I found this in his uniform-'' she held up a list.

One look confirmed it had a few names of the clubs we had visited and some others I didn't recognise, "Maybe he just didn't care about getting caught?" I pondered.

The door opened then and 7 offices along with Agent Dacian filed in.

He immediately came to grip my shoulders "Glad you came back Blue, I like having you in my cases." He brought his face close and inhaled deeply.

O-kay! Shooting Alli in a 'save me' look, she quickly began the rundown, debriefing the team and Dacian finally released me to take a seat with the others.

-IMMORTAL-

Thankfully the arrest was pretty clear cut and with the perc now in holding and his trial set, Alli and I were finished with the case, unless his verdict was innocent, which I doubted, then the case was being closed.

I'd asked to take Alli to lunch but seeing as I didn't know anywhere, she ended up taking me to a small cafe.

"I'm going to miss working with you," She said dejectedly staring at her cheesecake causing me to chuckle.

"Aw, I'll miss you too, don't worry I'll stop by. I'm going to visit that kid you gave the blood to, and his sister, along with the other victims I haven't met yet. Hopefully, I'll manage once a month or as many times as possible during their recovery." I refused to believe they wouldn't recover, I refused.

"I'll visit too. Not like I have much else to do."

I raised an eyebrow in question, I didn't actually know much about Alli or her life.

"I'm an orphan too, so the kids could relate to me I guess," She provided

"Suppose I am as well." I pondered my own statement, I'd never really thought of myself as an orphan but I had been on my own since I was 9, when my mother hadn't been returned to our container, when she had gone missing.

...But I wasn't technically alone anymore, I had Olly and Bella, I had my mates who even in the short time we'd been together showed me care and compassion I'd never seen, and I had my coven. Demetri, Felix, Jane, Alec… and Heidi, Heidi reminded me a bit of my mother, she held the same sell-assured confidence and the look in her eye when she had listened to me ramble in the bath, it was the same fond look I gave Olly when he came to me with another 'valid' theory proving life exists beyond the stars.

"Alli, Seattle's holding a party to celebrate capturing the Washington Wonka, it's tonight if you don't have anywhere else to be, would you come with me?" Depika had aid to invite a lot of friends.

"Sounds cool. You bet I'll be there."

I grinned stealing a bite of her cheesecake and ignoring the arms flapping desperately to keep me away. And I had Alli now too.

-IMMORTAL-

We all rode in Aro's car, Alli calling shotgun and getting along annoyingly well with the most eccentric of my mates.

Caius seemed a little absent-minded, but I figured he was always strategizing, and the last few days was probably causing him to adapt to a lot, so it didn't bother me.

It wasn't a long 3-hour drive, passing with pleasant chatter from the front and the relaxing presence of my mates doing wonders for my psyche.

Alli had stolen into my apartment to dress me up for the event, using my missing shoes, the only pair I owned, unfortunately, as an excuse to 'spice me up' for the 'smexy Italians'. Once she'd learned about Agent Asshole as she fondly referred to him as, she had then gone the extra mile, painting my nails and adding lipstick.

I actually loved her style choices, a leather jacket like her own, but mine black instead of her dark brown, paired with a black silk shirt that cut low but the way it bunched made it appropriate, and she let me keep my favourite jeans with the buttons.

I was pleasantly surprised to see all my mates dressed in suits of darker tones, although I was suspicious it may be all they owned. Aro wore solid black, matching the light-absorbing colour of his hair. Marcus much the same except with a deep purple shirt, and Caius was dressed in midnight blue, a colour just shy of the black my lips were done in.

Alli was the one who stood out with her unashamedly bright orange jeans and pastel top, paired with her jacket and complexion. She gorgeous, it hurt my soul a little bit. I tried picturing her as a vampire but only came up with the way she was. Too fucking perfect.

Due to our playing dress up, we arrived just as the part had begun to properly begin.

Depika was waiting at the doors giving a raised eyebrow at the crowd I'd brought, "What?" I enquired in fake innocence, "You said to bring a lot of friends?"

"Yes, but I was under the impression when I said it, that you didn't have any, let alone a couple hundred." I laughed, not in the least bit offended, I'd never had any before so I can see how it would look. She stopped me from entering with a hand "Um, you're fish are still in your apartment here, do you want me to keep feeding them? Or are you going to take them to…" She left it open letting me provide where I had been but Marcus cut in smoothly.

"Italy." His accent rang out, proving where I'd been.

"Italy?" She gaped.

I smirked, "You're welcome to keep them if you'd like Depika, if not I'll arrange to have them sold, once I finished my lease on the apartment."

She stepped aside to let us think "Can I really have them?"

"Sure knock yourself out." I'd miss my fish, but truthfully I hadn't thought about them much these past few months anyway.

Caius breathed into my ear as we entered "We'll buy you fish if that is what you desire Amore."

I flushed, hissing back "Thank you, but I'd appreciate you not doing that here, I know these people."

His only response was a pure and her leaned closer "Doing what darling?"

Alli bless her soul, pulled me forward giving Caius's glare one of her own back "Nau-uh tiger, no fucking in the station."

On second thought she was just as bad.

Derek chose that moment to appear pulling me into a bear hug, "Oh Adam's, how I've missed you."

I laughed brightly "Fed's bothering you that much?"

His frown could have given Caius a run for his money, "You have no idea Blue, these people…" He gave a tired sound.

"Hey!" Alli protested "I'm a feddy!" She pointed at herself in emphasis, causing the Captain to shoot her an unimpressed look.

I interjected before things could get awkward, introducing him to everyone, seeing as my mates looked uncomfortable with the stranger who had embraced me. "Cap, that's Alli, she's who I worked with on the chemical case-"

He seemed to relax at that "Ah, the one you finished today, good job Blue, Agent Alli." She gave a mock curtsey in response ringing a fond expression from him before he went back to his stoic look.

I continued "These are my friends from Italy, Caius, Aro and Marcus." At each of their names they gave a shallow bow, I decided not to call them my partners on account that many people were not so open-minded as Alli. "Guys this is my boss, Captain Derek."

Marcus outstretched his hand and shook the Captains, seemingly for all of them, and Derek gestured to the adjacent door where the main party was being held, "Have some fun Blue. You know when I said to bring something to help you stay sane, I meant in a more liquid form.."

I quickly shoved Caius through the door before he could make a lewd comment and the other two followed smirking.

Alli was fluttering around apparently popping into conversations to tell a story on one of the Agents to the surrounding officers, or one of herself, having no shame in her own screw-ups.

The King's, I had thought would be a little out of their element, but it seemed that this was what they were used to, the aristocratic lifestyle, mingling and striking up conversations, I had to admit it was sort of like the ball and they fit right in.

I did spot a few giving them not so subtle looks behind hooded eyes and regretted not announcing our relationship, just a little. Annoyingly Caius seemed to realise this and whilst staying close to me shamelessly flaunted the looks being thrown his way.

I got to see Aro engaging with a few of the more important officers, apparently eager to learn all about the human justice system. Marcus however, was the most surprising, usually a gentle but forceful presence was showing his more playful side that his brothers had warned me about.

He started by accompanying Alli over to one of the groups and I could hear as he smoothly entered the conversation with such surety in his words he managed to convince 5 police officers that William Shakespeare had no first name and it was simply constructed by historians. He turned to give me a wink after one 'claimed' they had actually 'heard that' before.

I rolled my eyes fondly and pulled Caius's arm around me, blowing him a kiss and walking away from the group.

Unfortunately, Agen Asshole was bound to join his own part at some point. A silence began to fall as one of the Senior Special Agent's took to standing at the front with a smug-looking man beside him, no doubt the infamous Fed who'd wracked Derek up so much.

"I'd like to thank Agent Asano for his diligent finding and apprehension of the Wonka serial killer. I make a toast in thanks to you, once again, making the streets of Washington a safe place."

A cheer of "Here, here." When around, glasses were raised. I put on my big girl pant's and did the same with my own glass, pointedly not noticing how Caius did not do the same.

Once the Agent had been clapped on the back and a few shouts were given in praise he made his way over, apparently locking his eyes onto me.

Caius's arm pulled me a little closer into him as the man approached, but I gave him a 'be nice' look, preparing to congratulate the Agent. "Good job on a job well done." I nodded my head politely not wanting to start anything with barbed mentions of my stolen report.

Apparently he didn't have the same reservations "Must feel strange to be celebrating a closed case? Especially one you were working on for a few years if I'm not mistaken, Officer Adams."

I clenched my jaw, giving a false smile but trying to rein it in, for Caius's sake if anything else, "Not at all Officer Asano, I tend to prefer making my own leads than stealing others though." Welp I never claimed to be good at being nice, just that I tried.

He gave a very fake laugh back "Perhaps that's why you never got anything finished?"

"I'll have you know, buddy, that I have closed every case I've ever worked on, besides, this one." I made sure to wrap my arm around Caius's waist who I could feel itching forward.

"Not your first one I heard."

I froze my mind going completely blank before a cold look took over my features, I wasn't sure how he knew about my search for my mother but shit was about to get ugly, very quickly. My patience only a tad more than Caius's who thankfully had no idea what the Asshole was talking about.

Derek stepped in between us addressing the agent, "Careful now Asano, don't let one win get to your head, especially one you fumbled at the beginning." The threat was clear in his voice, Agent Asshole seemed to assess the situation before shooting me one last cocky look and heading away.

Derek followed after him to make sure he wouldn't cause any more trouble, and I looked up to see Aro and Marcusu's gaze locked onto me, they'd no doubt herd.

They began to head over, I darted under Caius's arm to stop the no doubt ambush to get me to leave. I was fine, just a little annoyed, nothing I needed to run from the party for. I jumped into a conversation with Alli and focused on enjoying my last night with her for a while.

-IMMORTAL-

I took a break after having some food, heading to the restroom to let Alli reapply my lipstick. I was perfectly capable of doing it, but for some reason, it was rather nice to let the other girl fuss over me.

"Hey, Alli?" I had been wondering about my mates for a while and wanted to understand some things, I knew I'd said I would be open and honest with them, but I needed an outside perspective first.

"Humm?"

I settled on playing it safe due to not being able to say something due to the whole 'Vampire secret', "What do you think about my ma-partners?"

She drew back to give the conversation her full attention, "I think they seem like gentlemen and appear to care for you, but I know that isn't what you want to ask."

Ah bless Alli's blunt love, I perched myself on the edge of the sink letting my legs swing, "You're right. I guess I'm a little concerned that I don't know how to 'deal with the relationship, I've never actually been in one before."

"A polyamorous relationship? Or at all?"

"At all."

She nodded, taking it in her stride, "Well what's worrying you about it? Do you feel unsafe or pressured?"

"No, no, nothing like that, I actually feel like they might be worried about pressuring me, I'm concerned because they were all in a relationship since... high school, and I only just joined them."

"Ahhh," She gave a sound of understanding as though I'd just said something that revealed all my feelings, "That makes sense, you don't know how to make up those years, of your life with them and you probably feel a little left out of that time?"

I nodded, It was true, I hadn't really allowed myself to think about it, because I knew that I would have all the time in the world to learn to know my mates. It was actually the first part that bothered me the most. I didn't know how to tell them about my past, they were being extraordinarily patient, but I think it was bothering Aro a little.

"One of my partners, I think, wants to know all about me, everything they missed. Well all of them actually, but this one, he's more… use to people being more open, I guess."

Alli flicked one of her curly locks over her shoulder "What's stopping you from telling them?"

I hesitated "I don't know." It wasn't fear of rejection or anything as ridiculous, I knew they might be upset, but I could actually only imagine them being angry at my situation, not me…

Alli tried a different approach "If you think one of them wants to know more about you, and you've noticed, then it's probably bothering him the time you weren't together as well, he probably just wants you, all of you, and trust me they aren't going to run away screaming any time soon, not from you. I mean- have you seen the way they look at you?" She pulled me off the sink and finished touching up my lip.

I felt a weight release from my shoulders, she was right, maybe the reason Aro had been distant was because he wanted to know me in his Aro way before being int- A horrible thought occurred to me. What if Aro needed the thoughts of another flowing into him during times of intimacy, what if otherwise, it was like touching someone who wasn't there… like sleeping with a manikin.

I pulled Alli down and placed a kiss on her cheek "Thanks, babe!"

"Hey!" I ignored her desperately wiping at her check to get off the layer of lipstick, only pausing to ask if she had a ride home, "Yeah, I'm good."

I tossed her my motorbike keys, "Keep it, for now, I won't need it in Italy, and it will make sure I come back."

She pouted "I'm not motivated enough?"

I only stuck out my tongue in response and bolted to find my mates.

I found Marcus first in a crowd with Derek, "Hey I'm terribly sorry guys, but we gotta scoot." Not allowing anyone to protest I yanked at Marcus's sleeve which he allowed with an indulgent smile.

I gathered up Aro and Caius and herded them towards the exit.

"Leaving now, are we dearest?" Aro questioned, obediently moving into the driver's seat.

"Yep." I sat in the passenger side grinning at Caius's frown. "Let's go home."

The word gave the three pause before Marcus flashed into the car and Aro's eyes darkened, starting the engine with a roar. "Certo mia cara"

-IMMORTAL-

The private jet was a surprise, to say the least, and I briefly considered asking just how rich they actually were but decided against it, I didn't want to know.

We got on and I was surprised to find a rather modern layout, with a few couch-like seats centred around a table. Which Marcus headed over too. "I'm guessing this is Aro's plane?

A chime-like chuckle, sounded from behind me and the owner rested their chin on my shoulder "That would be correct my dear."

Not wasting time I spun around and pushed Aro onto one of the couches straddling his lap. He grinned and went to pull me into a kiss but I stopped him, my hands on his chest keeping him pressed against the back of the couch while I regarded him.

I searched his face and found nothing that suggested he was uncomfortable. Reaching up I ran my hand experimentally along his jaw. His face remained joyous at the touch but his eyes gave him away, the distant look was on the surface but drawing closer to peer into his eyes I found… pain.

Rearing back I hopped off him and stood, hating myself just a little bit more for what I had been, and was still doing to him.

He looked confused, "Tesoro, what is the matter?"

Unable to hold it in any more I gave a wild gesture "This! All of this, you are in pain, I can see it-"

His eyes hardened, but his voice was comforting, trying to soothe me "I am not hurt darling-"

I whirled around to look at the other two, "Is he? Is he in pain, is he hurting?"

Aro tried to speak but was interrupted by Caius, "Yes."

There was a tense moment between the two before I huffed loudly and sat beside Aro on the couch. "Did you know that I love you guys?"

I saw their heads snap in my direction and wasn't the least bit surprised that the words were true, I did, I loved the way they teased me and each other, I loved how they interacted with the other people I loved and I loved how they were so in tune with caring for what I wanted. I didn't love that Aro thought it necessary to hurt himself but I did understand why.

I turned to address him specifically "I'm so sorry that I made you think it was imperative you don't pressure me into accepting your gift, I'm sorry you thought somewhere in your mind that I would resent you for it-" He tried to speak but I shut him up by assuming my original position "-But mostly I'm sorry that you could ever think it was acceptable to undergo discomfort for my sake."

"I would endure a great many things more than simply dissociated touches from you Dearest."

I frowned "You are underplaying it. Be honest with me Aro, what does it feel like." He looked unsure as though fearful I would be angry at him, which just wouldn't do "Please." I whispered.

"It is not the same as how another would simply touch, I can not turn off my gift and just resume as if I was someone without it… It feels like you are dead, not like an immortal, but gone, no soul, no person beneath your flesh."

I felt like crying, he had been making love to someone that felt like they were dead? No wonder he looked out of it.

"Amore-"

"Stop it." I demanded, "Stop it now, I want you to see me, just like I see you."

He looked torn "I do not wish to force you into revealing your past to me simply because-"

"-Because I love you. And I want you to know me." I shot Marcus and Caius a smile, "I want all of you to know me, all of me," I turned back to Aro and inched my lips close to his "But I can't do it alone. Please, Aro."

He was about to comply when I remembered one very important fact. "Wait. You don't feel what I feel, do you? In my memories?"

He looked concerned "No Amore, why would you believe that?"

I went to tell him but found my throat close up, wanting to relive Aro of the pain I'd caused him I waved it on, "Just wanted to be sure."

He pulled me down into the kiss and I melted against him, it was chaotic the way I felt his chest heave as if he needed air, his hands trembled around my back and his eyes were shut, clearly viewing my whole life was taking some time. I didn't mind leading the kiss, my hands running over the back of his neck letting him touch more of me, alive and with him.

His eyes fluttered open and I pulled back. They were dark and full with the obvious lust that had been lost in his discomfort the first few times, but there was anguish and rage too. I pulled him into another kiss telling him to relax and that I was alright in my thoughts, I saw him do so and was delighted at the possibilities of his gift.

Once he had settled I moved off him to face the other two who were being remarkably patient.

"Suppose I'd better fill in the group?"

Marcus gave a gentle smile "That would be appreciated."

Aro held out his hand in request and I took it without hesitating, he was probably wanting to gage my emotions as the conversation began, knowing when he would need to step in. It was incredibly sweet.

I got a squeeze in response to thinking him sweet but it didn't change my mind, they were all sweet, whether the big bad Vampires liked it or not.

"Well, you all know how I mentioned I'm from Russia?"

Aro nodded "And that you left with your mother for a better life at the age of six." He seemed proud of the knowledge reiterating my point. Sweet.

"That's correct, my mother's name was Oźwiena; Slavic goddess of gossip and stories, fitting I think, for my mother never tired of stories to impart upon me, and she could never keep a secret, especially not from herself, the minute she had a revelation about an action she had done which may have confused her, she would share her findings with anyone and everyone."

"She sounds like a good mother," Marcus commented.

I gave a fond smile, "She was. The best. She called me Lada, Slavic goddess of eternal youth and love, although it wasn't my birth name, that was stolen and used by people that stained it in their filthy mouths." Aro's hand clenched in mine and I rubbed my thumb in a soothing motion, it was my turn to keep my mates calm.

"You have to understand, when we left Russia, we had nothing, no permits to travel, no money, we were fleeing to a better life, one away from the war and poverty of our town." My mind flashed to remember the screaming and sound of gunfire, I didn't remember much of Russia as I had only been six but what I did, certainly added to my inability to sleep.

"My mother was very young, only 21 and looking after me alone, but she loved me more than anything in the world so when some strangers went passing through the village offered us transport to Norway where we could start our new lives, she took them up on their offer. It seemed genuine, in exchange for the help my mother would work for them in their factory they had set up in Norway. Except that's not what happened."

Caius spoke up seemingly confused "They did not deliver you to Norway?"

Aro spoke through a clenched jaw "Oźwiena and our dearest were taken by these men to a camp of many others in similar circumstances where the ones who had offered them freedom, keep them prisoner and forced-"

He broke off staring pained at the wall, so I stepped in, recognising Caius's irritated expression, "Trafficking. We were held against our will, forced into sexual labour."

Caius stood abruptly, "Where are these men?! We will rip out their hearts and spike them on a spit!" He began to pace, part of me wanted to go and comfort him, but a bigger part of me wanted this whole experience over with, so I continued.

"My mum tried her best to shield me, and for a time she managed to hide me in one of the shipping containers and not draw attention to me, but they eventually found out and as punishment, they strapped me to a wooden chair."

Caius back went rigid and he stayed stock still, as though looking at the clouds going by, but I knew he wasn't.

Marcus's voice startled me into looking at his own ashen face, "That is why you do not like to sit on chairs? Because of whatever they did?"

I played nervously with my unoccupied hand, "Yes. It wasn't anything worse than what was to come, but it has remained in my mind vividly for years, I can't- they tied my top half secure and then allowed their customers a 'free sample'." I gave a dark laugh "My mother went ballistic, I'm still not entirely sure what they did to her, but she didn't return to our 'room' for a few weeks when she did she was bleeding heavily and drugged to hell."

There was silence and I didn't feel it necessary to linger on that any longer, "When I was 9 years old, my mother never came back to our room, I asked after her but that only got me in trouble. Not that it stopped me though, I was a trouble maker, one of my 'loyal' customers liked that I fought back, it was the only thing that saved me from being drugged into a permanent zombie state, like a lot of the other girls. It also meant that when my customers weren't there I was tied down to my chair, unable to move or do anything, but unlike them I completely lucid, I still don't know which was worse."

I tried not to notice Marcus's hand clench on his thigh, Aro's ashen face and Caiu's ridged back. I tried.

"Around 3 years after my mum went missing, I heard, what I had thought was a rescue, officers came to investigate our building, there was no way they didn't know what was going on, they walked down the aisle, I hear their footsteps on the concrete floor and sometimes they drew back a curtain to one of the 'rooms'. But they did nothing, at the time this didn't occur to me and in my vocal state I called out. I drew attention to myself and a group of the 'officers' pulled back the curtain. I wasted no time telling them about my missing mother and trying to explain the situation. I didn't understand at first why they laughed at me. I figured it out pretty soon."

I flinched as a flash showed Caius disappearing and a crash sounded throughout the plane.

"Good talk," I mumbled sarcastically to myself.

Aro pulled me into him and we waited out the sounds of destruction. My eyes watched Marcus but I couldn't read him, it was odd, I usually felt I was able to. I knew what I'd told him was bothering him, but there was another emotion flickering on his face which I couldn't decipher.

It didn't help that I knew they were all having a mind-conversation. Not fair when I couldn't be a part of it.

Caius eventually came out and sat next to Marcus, he had venom in his eyes and before Aro could stop me I launched myself at him, settling under his chin I let my own tears out, despite wanting to comfort my mates, it was difficult to talk about and before I knew it I was clutching on to him trying to muffle my sobs.

Three sets of purrs vibrated around me and I calmed down, "I'm sorry."

Caius clutched me tighter, "It is I who is sorry my mate. I should be here for your rage not the other way around."

I gave a watery laugh pulling back to address them all "Let's just agree to stop apologising to each other for caring, yeah?"

Aro nodded "That sounds like a marvellous idea Amore. Although, perhaps we should finish this conversation so it may rest at peace when we return home?"

He posed it as a question to me, but I looked at Caius assessing whether it was a good idea.

"There's more?" He inquired with a hint of fear to his voice.

"Not really," I reassured him, "Just how I got to where I am now."

Marcus nodded "Go ahead then my dear."

"Well these officers became regulars of mine after that, and from then on I felt my trust in a saviour disappear. I no longer believed someone would come and save us and so I began to fight harder, tooth and nail until I had to be chained to a mattress as well. It didn't matter though, to me the point wasn't to escape, or even to hurt the men who visited me, it was to scream, I hated them, I needed an outlet, unlike the other girls I wasn't screwed up with chemicals, unable to tell the difference between asleep and awake. I knew when I was awake and I wanted everyone else to know as well.

Eventually, I matured in the mindset that I didn't need to scream to escape that hell, I needed to physically leave. Which was a difficult task either chained to a bed with someone on top of me or tied to a chair. I did escape though, one night after the man left, I was on the bed but I wasn't chained, they had forgotten to do so-" I gave a watery laugh "-Dumb luck.

It would often take them a while before they moved me back into my chair, but it was the day so there were fewer customers, not that I could tell from the inside, but I had, had plenty time to notice things. I found I was good at that, noticing things.

I noticed that the guards had lighter feet than our customers, but they often relaxed in their duties during the day, they would sit at the end of the hall created by our rooms and they would play cards. I could hear them. I snuck out that night, and I went past the rooms then I hid inside the last curtain at the end of the hall, and I waited until they got up from their game and went past me to do their rounds, then I ran.

I made it outside, a few more had guns and were walking the perimeter, it was a sort of junkyard, so I hid, I'm good at that too. I would have waited till nightfall but I knew when it was announced I was missing every single inch of that place would be torn up in a search for me. I was 12 and knew very little of how the world, but I knew how hell did. I also knew that gasoline made fire go faster and burn brighter. I learned that when a girl had tried to escape, they strapped her to a chair like mine and they made us all watch as they burned her."

Aro sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes almost in pain, clearly remembering how I had felt in that moment.

"I was in a junkyard and I could see a big barrel of gasoline, I considered for the briefest of moments, burning everything, every fucking thing. I wanted to trap them, trap them like they traped us, I wanted them to scream, I didn't care about the other girls and for the briefest moment, I considered it a mercy.

But I didn't do that. I couldn't, not to the girls like me, not when I had remembered the other ones screams, her name had been India. I'll always remember that. They called us by our names and I hated it. I knew I would never go by my name again, my mother understood that it's why she called me Lada, but I didn't want anyone else calling me that either so later I chose a new name for myself.

"Blue Adams," Marcus said fondly.

"Yes." I told him "Know why?"

He shook his head a look of curiosity taking over it momentarily.

"Because when I was with my mother shaking and scared, she would always say to me, 'Не бойся, Лада, небо все равно будет синим, когда мы вернемся под него' It means don't be afraid Lada, the sky will still be blue when we return beneath it.' I believed her, and when I escaped and found my feet on American soil, far from that place, I chose Blue, because I hoped one day she would return to me also.

Caius purred "That is a beautiful sentiment Carissima, but why Adams?"

I gave a genuine laugh "Oh that is not so deep. It was the first movie I ever saw and it became my favourite by far, perhaps there is something about me that likes dark and strange beings with a touch of supernatural?" I gave them a pointed look and was hoisted onto Aro's lap. I let him nuzzle me and I wrapped my arms around him with a yawn.

Suddenly Marcus was holding me bridal style, "Bed beloved, another time we will learn of how you escaped that place. For now, you are here, with us."

I grinned up at him "But I'm not tired?" I expected him to see his usual smirk and declare a way to tire me out, but instead, his eyes flickered with that same emotion I couldn't place and he headed for another room, one Caius had not trashed.

"Your body says differently."

I narrowed my eyes watching him leave after sitting me on the bed. Something I did not understand was going on his head. I'd have to ensure he did not, for some strange reason take his anger out on himself, all my mates would have different ways of processing the new information I had provided tonight. Caius would rage and then he would plan, he would no doubt look to track down who had taken me, but he would find himself beaten to the punch in that regard.

Aro was different, he now knew all I knew, and he would need more time to process before his emotions fully hit, however, I got the impression he would not allow his own anger to show so obviously if he needed to destroy a room I doubted I would ever know about it, and once he had come to terms with the things I'd been through, he would reassure himself by most likely fortifying every defence he could imagine. It would be unbearable for some time I suspected, but I knew I would tell him if he went too crazy.

Marcus on the other hand, I did not know. I couldn't picture the usually calm and sleek King in a fit of rage, I think his anger might be more sudden and with a bright flicker of rage, but gone just as quickly, I wasn't sure where he would focus it.

I flopped on the bed pondering about my mates and found myself drifting off.