And once again I deliberate from my History homework in favour of fic writing~

Sorry this took longer than I thought, I'm not actually very girly so I spent a fair amount of time looking at dresses and shoes and trying not to poke my eyes out... thankfully they are still in tact :)

Thanks to reviewers and the 'get your butt in gear' from tatsumi-hime. Have you thought of getting an account tatsumi-hime? I feel bad that I can't message you saying 'yes boss' or 'I'm working on it as we speak'. Yeah, I'm sad, but meh, lazy is probably the operative word, followed by 'plot-bunny assault course'.

Anywho - read on there is fic to be read!

Idly, Caterina wondered if Tres should be capable of feeling this strongly about anything - yes the cyborg tended to be rather 'sensitive' when Caterina was involved... But did that honestly warrant him to storm through her offices, shoving his pistols at any poor soul who tried to deter him, including Abel who had only said 'welcome back, Tr-ah!' before a gun's muzzle was placed between his eyebrows.

Luckily for the poor priest, Caterina had been talking to Sister Loretta and so had seen the scene unfold, quickly ordering Tres into her office. Now she was sat behind her desk attempting to argue with the partially deranged Killing Doll.

"Tres, I understand where you're coming from, but the situation is completely out of my control and thus your jurisdiction - there's nothing that can be done," Caterina said with a sigh, trying futilely to put an end to Tres' argument.

"But, My Lady, if you concede your political standing will diminish," Tres tried, unable to understand why she was being so submissive. "How can My Lady willingly relinquish so much power?"

"Do I really come off as that power-hungry?" Caterina asked rhetorically before shaking her head. "It's not really that much of a drop in the ranks, Tres. I'd lose far support by not marrying Cardinal Borgia than I will by doing so."

As Tres processed her words, Caterina studied her machine, vaguely intrigued by the flickers of emotion flashing on Tres' face - apparently the limiter inside him could only prevent the weaker degrees of emotion humans experience.

"Could it be that you are troubled by the man that has been chosen for me, rather than the instability of my current position?" Caterina questioned causing Tres to start.

"M-my Lady..."

Caterina smiled softly and rose from her desk, slowly walking around until she stood beside Tres' seat. Tres automatically moved his arm at their proximity, allowing Caterina to perch on the arm of the chair, reaching out to caress Tres' face with one of her hands as she did so.

"Tres... Are you forgetting to whom you belong? You are my possession. Even if I lose all political influence, you are still mine and I will not allow you to be removed from my possession until I no longer breathe." Caterina hated using the word 'possession', Tres was practically human and she didn't enjoy the idea of owning another person, even if they did claim to be a machine.

"Yes... I am... I am a machine... The Duchess of Milan's... possession," Tres appeared to struggle with the words, his glass eyes clouding with emotion he wasn't meant to feel. Acting on impulse alone, Caterina leaned forward, planting a soft kiss to Tres' temple.

"I have to go and meet with Cardinal Borgia soon, do you wish to escort me, Tres or should I ask Professor?" she would have asked Abel, but it was a high-class restaurant and Antonio's parents would also be in attendance, best to keep Abel looking like a dutiful subordinate and not a goofy, childish man with a slight lack of respect and dignity.

Tres' response was immediate, "I will escort My Lady to her meeting with the cardinal."

Caterina smiled again, "Good. Then will you please wait outside for me while I change?"

Tres nodded and waited for Caterina to be standing before he too rose and left the room.

~~~Completely unrelated, but meh: When there's vampires... in the Vatican - who ya gonna call? Abel Nightroad!~~~

Almost an hour later, Caterina was dressed in a sleek evening gown, checking herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time, not because she was vain but because she was paranoid all hell was going to break loose and it would probably start with the way she looked.

"You look fine, honestly Your Eminence," Sister Loretta told her boss.

Caterina sighed and turned away from her reflection, the dress' skirt swishing around her knees as she did so. "Remind me why I agreed to this again?" Caterina said with a half groan.

"Something about us needing to be seen together, acting like we're in love and other such nonsense Madre came up with," Antonio said coming through the door, eyes firmly locked on his cuff-link.

"Joy. And you can look – I'm ready," Caterina added, half regretting it when Antonio's eyes snaked up her, drinking in each detail of her outfit. The dress itself was made of silk and midnight blue in colour reaching Caterina's mid-calf, revealing complex-looking sandals which secured the duchess' foot with an array of leather straps. The material clung to Caterina's body in an attractive way, with her hair carefully tied in an elaborate high ponytail, secured by plaits of her own hair tied around the base. The dress was also sleeveless and so Caterina was donning long gloves that were cut off at the fingers and thumb.

"You look stunning," Antonio breathed when his brain reminded him breathing and speaking were good investments.

"Thank you," Caterina said with a smile as she admired Antonio's carefully tailored suit. "You don't look half-bad either."

Antonio shrugged. "White trousers, a fancy shirt and a dinner jacket. I wore them all the time before joining up with the Vatican so it isn't as though I'm not used to it. I'll bet it's a farce for you to get ready though."

"Yes, though I'm beginning to wish I'd decided to bear it and wear heels," Caterina commented looking up at Antonio. She knew the man was taller than her, but there was more than a head's difference between them now. Granted Abel was taller still but she felt safe rather than short with him.

"You're not that small, besides," Antonio commented, waving his hand theatrically, "how women even walk in some heels let alone run, dance and stumble around drunkenly without breaking their neck I'll never know."

At this Caterina burst out laughing, hiding her smile behind her fist. "I'd say practise. If you want to give it a try though I'll lend you a pair."

"Nooooo thank you!" Antonio said holding his hands out in a 'stop' fashion. "Knowing my luck I'd get them on and land flat on my face."

Sister Loretta, who had also been chuckling at Antonio's remarks, caught sight of the time, "Oh Your Eminences, you should hurry or you'll be late!"

"You're right, Sister," Antonio said before holding his hand out to Caterina, "Well, my Lady, shall we go?"

Caterina resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she took Antonio's hand. "Flowery words won't get you far with me."

"Well someone would slap me if I tried 'yo bitch move your ass' wouldn't they?"

"Antonio, you talk too much."

And here is where I stop.

Reviews are welcome and flames shall become target practise for Tres.