"They say that a monster in your dreams was someone you met in your life. A monster is always closer then you think. Everything and everyone is either one or fighting one."

-Aria

"Monster this, monster that. There is much more to fear then just what you see in your dreams and what hides in the dark. A lot more my friend. A lot more."

-Vaas

"Look at her! She's gotten so big!" A tall man dressed in a fancy suit stated as he picked up a toddler sized Aria and held her on his hip while using one finger to play with her hand. Aria's big blue eyes stared excitedly at him while she wiggled her body about. She smiled a toothless grin recognizing the man. She attempted to talk but all that came out of her mouth were adorable sounds and squeals. She then grab for his necklaces that hung around his neck and proceed to teethe on them, slobbering saliva over them and over her tiny hands.

'Who is this man?' The older Aria thought in her baby version self. She doesn't recall how she got here or how she got small. She doesn't recall the man holding her.

"I've should've warn you about her teething," joked a female voice that Aria knew to well. Her mother. Baby Aria lifted her eyes to gaze at her mother who was approaching with a smile.

'Mom?'

"It is fine Cataleya," laughed the man as he softly tickled the bottom of Aria's chin making her squeal in delight, "I think I can deal with teething. She is a baby after all."

"Indeed she is," agreed her mother. The man leaned forward and kissed her mother on both cheeks.

"Where is Robert?"

"In his studies. Come, follow me. I'll lead you to him." Cataleya turned around and proceed down a long hallway, with the man in tow carrying baby Aria. Her eyes scanning everything as if it were new to her.

'Oh my god. Is this the house we use to live in?"

"Has he made any progress on the artifact?" Asked the man.

"A bit actually. We managed to locate where is originated from but not where it is. He did a few calls here and there but no luck. His informants said the dagger disappeared nearly a thousand years back. Stolen when the spaniards invaded."

"The dagger? The one dad was so obsessed over? The sketch in the notebook? What does this man have anything to do with it?"

"Ah. Our kind always had the urge to steal beautiful gold. Wish they had enough generosity to leave a map for us people." Cataleya laughed. Baby Aria giggled in response to her mothers laughter as she teethed on his gold chain. The man stared at her with loving eyes as if he was her actual father.

"Honey! Our good friend is here!"

"Which one?" Yelled Aria's father.

"Hoyt. The one with the golden dagger."

"Hoyt? Why...why does the name sound so familiar?"

"Ah! Hoyt!" Aria's father lifted his head as they entered his studies, he was currently sketching something in that notebook of his that older Aria knew all too well. A smile broke on his lips and he put down his pencil and got up from his seat. He went around his task, with his arms wide open, hugging Hoyt and baby Aria at the same time, "It is good to see you again. I hope that you are fairing well my friend."

"I am, thank you for asking!" Hoyt pulled back from the hug and adjusted baby Aria on his hip. She chewed away on his necklace, making the occasional cooing sound, "You're wife was telling me that you had made some progress in finding the dagger no?" Aria's father clasp his hands together in remembrance.

"Indeed I have! Take a seat! Give me a few minutes while I go retrieve the things, Cataleya my love, be a dear and get refreshments for our client."

"Friend Robert," corrected Hoyt with a smile as he took a seat near the window, sitting Aria in his lap, "Friend." Robert laughed.

"I always forget don't I?"

"Indeed you do mi amor," answered Aria's mother as she past by him to go into the kitchen. Robert following, laughing not bothering to wait for a response for Hoyt. Once they left the room, the sweet playful smile fell from his lips.

"Such a burden he is," stated Hoyt in a whisper to himself, "Such a beautiful wife as well. I wonder what would happen if Robert disappeared?" He thought quietly, pondering the idea. He had the power and ability to do that. Without a trace leading back to him.

"D-disappeared?!" The older Aria screamed inside her baby self head, horrified at what she just heard, "How does t-this man have any connection to their disappearance?!"

"No. I can't do that. She's too committed to him. She'll probably die a widow rather then find someone else," he mumbled before gazing down at baby Aria who was looking up at him with her beautiful sapphire blue eyes. He couldn't help but smile. He softly caressed her chubby cheek making her jump about and flinging her tiny arms about in playfulness. "But you, my beloved Aria, mean much more to me then your pathetic parents." Baby Aria giggled as he lifted her up into the air before smothering her face with loving kisses. "Maybe I can make you mine once I take care of your parents. I'll raise you as my own. You're still a infant my dearest, you probably won't even remember your parents once their gone."

"T-this man...he...he's responsible for my parents...disappearance...because of me? He wanted me...as his d-daughter? My parents went missing...because of...me?"

"You will be mine."

Her eyes opened in a panic. She stared at the dark ceiling. She could feel her body sweating, her clothes sticking to her skin. The mans name kept ringing in her mind like a thick fog.

Hoyt.

Hoyt.

Hoyt.

Hoyt.

She pushed herself off the bed and got up, unaware of the sleeping figure besides her. Aria wiped her face with her hands before running them through her thick, curly hair. She sat momentarily on the edge of the bed before getting up. Not before stumbling a bit out of the grogginess she was feeling and bumping into the dresser. Her first instinct was to find answers but she didn't even know where to start. Hell, where could she start? She barely remembered the man in the dream. He looked youthful. Strong. Determined. But she knew the darkness that hid under those charming eyes of his. For all she knows, that man could be dead. After all these years, Aria could only assume that he had to be. The only lead to finding her parents could be gone forever, but how could she be certain that the dream was true. "Oh mami, Papi," she whispered to herself as she made way into the bathroom, slapping around the wall to find the light switch, successfully finding it and flip it up turning on the lights only to be blinded by them. She stumbled to the sink, grasping the edges to steady her tired, sleep deprived form. She turned on the faucet and watched as cool, refreshing water spilled out. She moved her right hand and let the water pool in her palm, before moving herself closer to the sink and splashing the water over her face to wake her up. She did it again and again until she felt awake enough. She then turned it off and gazed into the mirror. She noted how her bright blue eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying. She saw the slight bags forming under her eyes but she didn't care. Her hair was a mess, it looked like a tiny baby poof ball that would usually make her giggle at her goofy appearance but it didn't this time. That name kept ringing inside her head like a symphony.

"What happened between you two and this man?" She smiled in disappointment when she realized she was talking to only herself as if she had the answers this entire time but she didn't. "Just stop Aria, you're just going to disappoint yourself more then needed," she sighed to herself, "Maybe a shower will clear my head." She moved from the sink to the shower and turned it on. Once she got it to the right temperature she liked she started to strip out of her clothes right in front of the bathroom door that was wide open, oblivious of the figure of Vaas sitting on the edge of the bed, his green eyes watching. Aria took off her tank top, exposing her torso and bra. Her body was surprisingly lean and fit. Her back carried a three week old henna tattoo design she got done. It was slowly starting to fade but the outline of the complicated design could still be seen.

Vaas eyes trailed the henna tattoo. Then trailed the curvature of her body. He felt himself bite his bottom lip not in lust, but in absolute attraction. He wanted to grasp her body as it was now, partially exposed and feel every inch of her with his bare hands. Feel her skin against his skin. Give her a pleasure he knows damn well she hasn't experienced yet. Give her the love, attention, and intimacy she deserved. As much as he craved the idea to have her pinned under him and have her moaning his name, he resisted. There was that innocence in her that he strangely adored. He didn't want to take it away from her nor ravish it. He wanted to enjoy it and savor every moment with his new beloved girlfriend. He slowly stood up and quietly went to the bathroom entrance and lean against the farm, crossing his arms waiting for Aria to notice him in the mirror which she eventually did after getting a eerie feeling of being watched. The next few moments Vaas could only describe as hilarious and cute. She gasp in surprise and her face flushed with embarrassment as she whirled around seeing him standing perfectly calm. He gave a somewhat sleepy, goofy smile. She used her tank top as a towel to wrap around her torso in an attempt to cover herself. Her face was a shade of red as she backed away before bumping into the counter. "V-Vaas! What-how-when did you get here?!" She yelled whispered at him avoiding eye contact. He chuckled lightly at her question.

"You fell asleep in my arms last night. Remember babe." Aria's eyes widen in remembrance causing her to blush even more. Without thinking, she whirled around to look into the mirror and pushed her hair off to the side and saw a very large purple bruise. She gasped in surprise when she felt his chest press against her back and he wrap his arms around her. "You don't need to be embarrassed around me my love," he purred softly in her ear as he rested his head on her shoulder and started to sway their bodies side to side, "You're beautiful on every inch of your body." Aria closed her eyes as the heat she was feeling reached her head and somewhere else below her stomach if you know what I mean.

"It's not that Vaas, I mean babe. Mi amor? I'm not good with the nickname calling sorry," she mumbled adding more to her embarrassment. She couldn't help it. This was her first, legit boyfriend in her entire life. Someone who was willing to be with her even though they only met literally yesterday but they clicked. In some bizarre, strange twisted fate, they both clicked. She nor him could describe what lure them to each other but they knew the feeling they were experiencing was beautiful. Vaas laughed lightly before kissing her on the side of her head.

"It is okay my love. I don't blame you. Take your time. I'll take it into consideration that I am your first novio no?"

"You guessed right," she laughed a bit flustered, "Um, babe?"

"Yes mi amor?"

"Can you, um, you know, release me? I'm not use to having someone hold me while I'm half clothed."

"First, open your eyes and gaze into the mirror then I'll consider it." Aria slowly opened her eyes and did what she was told. She stared at the mirror with almost a surprise look. She felt her heart flutter with radiating warmth. Their reflection stared back at them. Green eyes and sapphire eyes made a perfect mix. She saw how his arms held her. Protectively and covering her even though she had her shirt pressed tightly against herself to stay covered. His head rested perfectly on her shoulder. He smiled softly at her. "Do you like what you see?"

"Y-yes."

"Good, because there's going to be a lot more to like about me." Aria's eyes widen in surprise not knowing what he meant by that but she could safely assume it had to be dirty and having his 'friend' pressed up against her rear wasn't helping the fresh thoughts spilling in her head. Laughing at her cuteness and innocence, Vaas kissed her on the check before letting her go and proceeded to exit the bathroom. "I'm going to the kitchen. Want anything to eat? I can cook something up while you shower!" He yelled as a flustered Aria stood still in the bathroom. He approached the fridge and opened it gazing at the items within it to see what he could prepare.

"You cook?" Aria answered back after shaking off her embarrassment but was still flustered and blushing like a bride.

"Pfft. That surprise's you?"

"Yes!"

"Be prepared for a whole lot of surprises amor," suddenly Vaas felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He dug into his pocket and got it. His demeanor changed quickly as he read the name across the screen. Hoyt. "A whole lot of surprises."