~Author's Note~

Hello my dears~! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! It's dedicated to AssassinNumber9~~! Wish you a very very very very very happy birthday dear!

I love you all so enjoy and don't foget to tell me what you think~!

Sincerely,

~Ms. AtomicBomb

P.S. Don't worry, I'll keep this story teen.

Diarmuid was the one to pull away from the kiss. His cheeks were dusted pink and he averted his gaze from her because he felt his heart beat faster when he looked at her. Her golden hair hugged her face and the thought ran through his mind that he did not deserve such an innocent girlfriend. He gave her a short smile as he lifted his hands off her waist and took a deep breath. He shouldn't be using her like this.

"What's wrong?" Arturia furrowed her brows and took a hold of his wrists so that he wouldn't recede further.

Diarmuid shook his head, "N-nothing." He shouldn't have agreed to Arturia's proposition. He shouldn't have developed feelings for her—he should have just walked away and not speak with her after seeing she was his student.

The green-eyed female bit her lips and sighed, "There must be… you're acting as if someone died, not as if we kissed." She was frowning now, and there was slight disappointment in her eyes.

He searched his mind for an explanation to give that would not hurt her feelings. He could never tell her how guilty he felt or that he stills had feelings for Youth somewhere deep down. He had to let Arturia go; he had to make sure he wouldn't hurt her as well, but… he didn't want her to leave.

He took a hold of her face with one hand and, instead of giving her an explanation or pushing her away further, he brought her into a soft kiss. He felt her lips form a smile as she gently kissed back. It was not an overexerted kiss, it was simple and tender if anything. It was an apologetic kiss. He was apologizing to her without causing her trouble.

Diarmuid jumped away from Arturia when he heard the clearing of a throat. Both of them turned towards the Kitchen entrance to see a frowning boy in a uniform with his red eyes as slits, "Please, no making out in the kitchen. We make food here, come on!" It was rather weird that he was upset because Diarmuid understood the date had gone well with Jeanne.

Arturia slipped off from the counter as Diarmuid covered his face with his arm so that the embarrassment didn't show, "We weren't making out." Arturia retorted as she pulled up the sweatpants all the way back up to right below her chest so that she wouldn't trip on the long leg sleeves.

"Yeah, whatever, don't show off your forbidden relationship anyways." Cú rolled his eyes as he walked to the fridge.

"What happened? You seem salty today…" The young lady blinked as she peeked around the fridge door and watch her best friend's crush pull out two sodas.

Cú passed the blue-green can towards the short girl and sighed, "Jeanne and I had fun, as I would like to think."

"Then?" Arturia opened the can, sizzling emerging from it after the crack of the tin, "What's wrong?"

"One, her brother interrupted us when we were about to kiss,"

Arturia's eyes sparkled, "Like you did a while ago?"

He rolled his eyes and threw the refrigerator door closed, "Second, while you are here and willy-nilly lovey-dovey, her brother clearly hates me and I will possibly not have a chance of dating her because her parents have to approve of us and you know I am not perfect."

"Oh," the blonde nodded, "I forgot about that… her father is quite strict. It might be hard for you to win her over."

"I already won her over," Diarmuid was not contributing to the conversation so Cu had shot him a sideways glance as he spoke, "I just need to win her family over."

"Easier said than done," Arturia scoffed.

Diarmuid cleared his throat this time around, "Um, it's getting late," he mumbled and leaned back onto the counter and crossed his arms.

"Is it because I'm here that the fun is over?" Cú raised an eyebrow and let a chuckle slip.

The man with the beauty mark gave his brother a short glare before looking back at the young lady, "I'll take you home."

Arturia sighed and nodded seeing that it was getting quite late—and she knew she wouldn't be able to win the argument, "Let me just get my stuff ready." She left the kitchen, and after Cú had seen her reach the living room before he spoke.

"So you finally grew a pair and kissed her. I mean, you've liked her since summer, and she is the only girl to keep that disaster off your mind." The younger male sipped from his soda as he approached his brother.

Diarmuid sighed, "I wouldn't exactly say that, though…" It was all he said before he too exited the kitchen and met Arturia at the door.

The car rolled to a stop at a red light and Arturia landed her hand on Diarmuid's, causing him to look over at her, a blush on his cheeks. She smiled at him and turned her head towards the road so that he could to the same.

"I had fun today," she spoke while tightening her grip on his hand, "and maybe we could do something for Christmas."

"Arturia," the light was still red and so he looked at her again, returning the squeeze on her hand. The guilt was pooling in his gut again and he gulped, Adam's Apple bobbing in the darkness of the car, "I…" He couldn't bring himself to tell her everything so he took a deep breath and nodded, "I would love to."

The soft glow of the stop light turned green and Arturia signalled him to go on. Upon arriving at her house, he parked the car and ran his teeth over his bottom lip, "I'll see you later, sweet dreams." He managed to say something as she removed her seatbelt with a click.

Arturia smiled and then leaned towards him, kissing him on the cheek, "You too."

Cú stood in front of the door, cracking his knuckles and taking a deep, deep breath. Oh was the anxiety killing him. His palms were sweaty and he could feel his knees fail him with weakness. "Shit," he breathed lowly trying to supress the nervousness with every breath. Did he even look presentable? Or did he look like a hoodlum?

"There, perfect," Diarmuid had finished tying the tie before patting the suit over his little brother's shoulders, "Like a true gentleman." It was Sunday afternoon that Cú had come screaming into to kitchen that he needed a suit and he needed it at that exact moment. The screeching had made Diarmuid heave and give into going to the mall—after what had felt like hours they settled on a particular Italian cut suit and brought it home with them. It wasn't until they arrived home Sunday that Cú had explained he had been invited for a dinner at the d'Arc's home.

"Are you sure?" Cú seemed more like a little boy thinking about a Halloween costume that wouldn't make him the laughing stock of the school.

Diarmuid sighed as it was already Tuesday at five fifty in the afternoon and he was due for seven, "For the hundredth time, you're fine," He sighed, "Just remember what I told you, no swear words and smile."

Cú smelt faintly like cologne, not enough to intoxicate or smother someone, but enough that you could smell it cling in a soft cloud around him. His hair was very well kept, a golden band keeping his longer hair in check as his shorter hair was styled nicely with gel. He was not wearing his earrings because Diarmuid insisted that it would make him look like a delinquent. The boy even exfoliated because he had to 'put his best face forward'.

The raven-haired man was delighted and relieved to see his brother become such a fine man, "You really like her, don't you?"

"Why the fuck would I go through this if I didn't like her?" Cú was unimpressed with Diarmuid's question, giving him a look as if he was done as his voice was gruff.

Diarmuid closed his eyes and rubbed his face so he would not become impatient with the other, "There you go again with the bad words. What did I say?"

"Ugh," the red-eyed boy grunted, "sorry, I'm just nervous." It was evident in the little habits he demonstrated whenever he was under pressure. He grinded his teeth, spoke a little too fast, and held onto something to fidget with it—which at the time was his lighter.

Diarmuid finally remembered what he had been forgetting, "Oh, and do not smoke. Things will go downhill if you do." He extended his hand, implying the younger of the two to hand over the shiny object.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," the boy waved his hand rapidly, "I got it, I'm not stupid. Just let me hold onto this, it calms me down a bit."

The teacher lifted his eyebrows, "Okay," he gave in without another struggle, "so let's practice for the last time, from the beginning."

Cú nodded promptly, shoving the lighter in his pocket, "Okay."

"Hello," Diarmuid extended his hand as he took the role of Jeanne's Father.

No matter how many times Diarmuid had prepared him, Cú was speechless as he stood in front of the door. He had stopped halfway and took a smoke before arriving at Jeanne's because he couldn't take the nerves that were taking over him. But now, after the temporary relief the cigarette had given him, he was horrified and paranoid at the fact that he smelt toxic, "Shit, shit, shit." He mumbled under his breath as he forced himself to press the doorbell just as the clock struck seven.

Muffled voices came from behind the door before it was opened rapidly, revealing a short, sweet girl in a rich green dress; much richer in colour than Arturia's eyes—nearing a deep forest shade. Her hair was loose and wavy, part of it held back with a black ribbon clip. She was wearing small earrings and light make-up. Her deeper rose lips were etched in a smile and her violet eyes stared up at him in a charming manner through mascaraed lashes. Her freckles were slightly hidden under blush and she had a silver necklace around her neck.

"J-Jeanne," Cú was captivated by her beauty, his nerves easing away with her smile but her eye still making him scared of what was to come, "g-good evening." What the fuck? Why am I stuttering!

The young man was very stunning himself with such a classy look on him. He had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a present in the other.

Jeanne leaned towards him and Cú almost thought she was going in for a kiss, but instead she greeted him the way all the French do; she kissed his cheek. Now, this didn't go without her noticing the faint cloud of death that lingered by his shirt.

She pulled away with a frown on her lips, she shouldn't have expected him to not smoke… "Cú…" she sighed, "You promised…" He told her, he bloody told her he wouldn't smoke right before meeting her family.

"I'm sorry." He too was frowning now, but he opened his mouth to make an excuse, however was interrupted by Jeanne's father.

"Aren't you going to invite the young man inside?" The tall, and well stocked man blinked from behind them. He had a welcoming and warm smile under a light mustache, both his hands behind his back and his hair swept neatly to the side.

"Ah," Jeanne stepped aside, "Come on in." She had a smile on her face again. She closed her eyes and already accepted the fact that her father was not going to approve.

Cú closed the door behind himself and offered the gift to the older man.

Jacques accepted the gift just as his wife entered the front foyer, her blond hair styled in victory curls that only confirmed to Cú that the family was very old fashioned. She was offered the bouquet of flowers; Isabelle was already enchanted with the handsome teenager.

"Hello, young man," Jeanne's father extended his hand, Cú taking it, "I am mister d'Arc, but you could call me Jacques." He gave a nod, "And this is my wife, Isabelle Romee. It is a pleasure to have you in our company this evening."

"The pleasure's all mine," Cú shook his hand firmly, "My name is Cú Chulainnn Ua Duibhne."

Jacques brought Cú into a hug, as was custom, and his smile faded for a single second before he pulled away, "Dinner is ready."

At the dinner table, Jean and Pierre waited by their seats. The table was one fore six people and it seemed much more heartwarming that Arturia's long and cold dinner table. There was the sweet smell of beef floating in the air with faint scents of vegetables and spices. It smelt divine, filling the lungs of Cú with anticipation.

The red, gold and white splashed the house with the Christmas spirit. A reoccurring theme for the house seemed to be dark woods with light coloured items and religious statues or pictures all about. In fact, by the entrance there had been a silver Benedict's cross and on a marble stand by the dinner table, a statue of Our Lady of Grace. If this doesn't scream devoutly Catholic, then I don't know what does, Cú smiled and introduced himself to Jeanne's siblings.

Grace was recited before the meal and they all proceeded to sit down and eat.

"Cú, what is your favourite subject at school?" Jacques begun the interrogation.

Cú glanced up from his food and answered, "As of now, I really enjoy History, but I have a lot of fun in physics and French."

Isabelle's eyes lit up, "Oh! You're learning French? Is it because of our daughter?"

The blue haired boy shook his head, "Oh, no, I learnt French back in Ireland, thus I'm continuing it here." He replied with a rather defined voice, hoping he sounded somewhat intellectual or something.

"What are you hoping to become in the future, any goal as of yet?" The blue-eyed man was back to speaking as he cut the steak.

Jeanne sipped at her water and turned to her crush, hoping he would answer to her parents' content.

The table was silent for a while before Cú spoke up, fixing his blazer sleeves, "I plan to succeed my father in part of his company. I'm not much of a business man, as I prefer physical fitness, but I am willing to learn the ways of my father."

The blonde female was surprised to hear Cú speak so open to the idea of business. He usually had either no comment or was against a company.

"That sounds splendid," her father gave a hearty reply, "but," he breathed, taking the glass of champagne (the gift Cú brought) into his right hand before sipping from it, "is that your goal? Or the goal of your father?"

Shit, It had been going so well! What was he doing wrong? "Um," the anxiety washed over him again, "I'd like to say both." He tried to supress the long breath he took by moderately exhaling, but these breathing techniques were not working—at all, "Although my father wishes me to continue his legacy, I too want to step into my father's shoes."

They continued to eat for a while before another question popped into the air, this time from the little boy across from him, "Do you love Jehanettie?"

The entire table shot their eyes towards the young child and it was Jean to nudge the boy back to his senses, "What? It's not a bad question, is it?"

"No, no, it's not a bad question. I…" Cú was red by this point as he started fidgeting with the fork, Love… oh my, that was a strong word in this situation. You see, people use love with little thought. People may say 'I love you' but not really mean it because you probably just gave them half a slice of cake… but when love came to Jeanne, Cú wasn't sure what to say, "I am quite serious about her," it was all he could say to demonstrate how much he cared for the female but not use 'love'.

He reached for the glass of water but instead, his nerves caused it to tip and spill over the table, reaching the other corner—right where her father was seated—and splash over his lap. Cú had probably gasped the loudest in his lifetime because he stood up hurriedly, knocking the empty glass of champagne (thank God, not shattering it) and making him apologize a few times over, "Shit, I'm so sorry. Fuck." And he let that slip his mouth without a thought, "I… apologize," he immediately spoke, the defeat evident in his voice. Wow, this is a disaster, he thought a little too soon as he also knocked over the change in Jacques glass, "Oh god," Jeanne cringed at that particular sentence as her mother's eyes grew a little, "I am so sorry, here, let me help you." He reached over with the napkin to help the middle aged man dry off the water.

"No," Jacques lifted his hand, "It's alright." His voice was quite harsh, "I think I can manage by myself."

Jeanne was just looking straight at her brother, hands clasped over her mouth and shoulders on the table. It just kept getting worse. Her brother had a smile on his face and Jeanne couldn't help but kick him under the table.

"Ah," Cú nodded and then he looked over at the little boy, who seemed to be repeating those curse words that flew into the air, "I… I think, I've over welcomed my stay." He stood straight and Jeanne immediately looked up at him with a shocked expression.

"No, no," Isabelle waved her hand, "Sit, we invited you for dinner, not half-dinner," she chuckled, "Take a seat and let's eat."

Cú looked over all the faces at the table. Isabelle had a welcoming smile on her face, Jean looked unimpressed, Pierre… we he was enjoying the whole situation because he had a bright smile on his lips and that look in his eyes that he enjoyed Cú's act… Jeanne looked defeated, and her father was pissed, "Uh… I…"

"Sit, please," The Frenchman spoke, "I'll fix myself and be right back." With that, Cú sat and the man stood before leaving the room in silence.

No one said much else for the rest of the dinner after the return of Jacques and the tick-tock of the clock agonizingly sang throughout the remainder of the meal. Cú was utterly embarrassed by the end as they all stood at the foyer of the house.

"It was a pleasure having you over," Isabelle was genuine about the matter, she had quite a bit of fun with the spectacle the young boy pulled.

"Thank you, the pleasure is all mine. You are all a lovely family." Cú gave a short bow, before Isabelle kissed his cheek as a goodbye and Jeanne did too. The young boy shook his hand and so did Jean, a look of disappointment in his eyes.

Jacques did not offer a hand and that was when Cú completely lost hope. He rubbed his neck and waved, "Thank you again for having me, Au revoir."

"À bientôt, j'espère." Jeanne mumbled and they all bid their farewells. That was until it was Jacques turn to bid his adieu, but he didn't. Instead, he offered to walk Cú to his car—which caused the whole family to run to the living room window after the two male exited the house.

"Well, it was quite an eventful evening, wasn't it?" Jacques began the conversation as they stepped down the small steps.

Cú blushed and nodded, "Ahh… yes."

"You seem a bit unbalanced in my eyes."

No comment.

The middle aged Frenchman sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, "Well… I thought quite a bit on it, after the shenanigan. And I've come to a conclusion about you dating my daughter."

Cú's heart skipped a beat, the cold causing his nose to tingle.

"You see," the man began, "I do not know how you think of Jeanne. But, I know my daughter's views on a boyfriend. This is not meant to scare you or drive you away, but I know that my daughter looks at boyfriends as potential husbands, because that's what they are. You don't go into a relationship thinking you are going to break up in a couple of months, logically speaking."

The young Irishman did not even bother speaking at all. He knew if he said something it would cause havoc.

"Thus, as much as an over bearing father I am," he chuckled, "I trust my daughter in her choice of you. That being said, I'm not quite happy with you, for starters… you smoke. That's not the kind of person I would like my innocent daughter around… but I cannot ignore the way that she looks at you… and the way you look at her; it reminds me of my wife and I. And so, I welcome you with weary, but still open arms."

Cú's eyes lit up, "Honestly?" A smile grew on his lips just as the reached his car, he felt super relieved and the nerves had finally calmed down, "Thank you. I legitimately thought I fu—messed it up."

Jacques laughed a bit, "You did. But, I don't really have a say in the feelings of my daughter."

The farewell was a bit more Latin in nature as they gave each other a hug and then Cú drove off. The family returning to the foyer so that Jacques did not notice they were eavesdropping.

"Don't think I didn't notice you," The man locked the door behind himself.

"So… how did it go?" Isabelle prompted, a smile on her lips as she already saw that the man seemed a bit brighter.

"He's a kid with good intentions. Just needs to be straightened up a bit."

Jeanne grinned and closed her eyes for a bit, "Merci beaucoup, papa." She quickly enraptured him in a tight hug.

"Arturia," her father beamed as he had witnessed her sitting in the living room watching the news, "I have a delightful announcement to make."

Arturia directed her attention to Uther, turning off the television in the process, "Yes father?"

"You will be having a coming of age party." He clapped his hands together.

"A what?" Her brows furrowed as she stood up straight.

"It was meant to be a surprise, but I had arranged it for a long time now, about five months… another reason your sister came to visit. You see, you'll almost be eighteen, just two more moths to go, and you will be having a cocktail party to introduce you formally into the company as the heir. Are you excited?" There was a bright smile on his lips.

"Um," she wasn't exactly sure what to say, "W-wh… uh. As the heir?"

"Well, we are a very important bank, and it should be known from now that you will be leading it at one point in time. This party is to introduce you to the business world and lead you to make proper connections and walk down the right path, who knows, you could even find a suitor."