23th Sun's Dusk… 0900…

Azriel stared through the morning fog covering the sea, then looked back down at the dock.

"This is the part where you get into the boat, Azriel."

Serana's playful sarcasm made Azriel groan. "How many years did you say your family lived here again?" Azriel took a step away from the water's edge as the waves lapped at her boots. She was already starting to dread the trip just looking at the boat.

Serana shook her head at her. "I've already told you that I'm not going to let you fall in…"

Aela tapped her foot impatiently. Serana obviously had no idea how stubborn Azriel could be. No matter how amusing the last fifteen minutes had been, Azriel was never going to get into the row boat.

Azriel ignored her answer. "Why couldn't they build a bridge to shore?"

Serana rubbed her temple. "Because… that would mean unwanted guests?"

"You're vampires! That just means food delivers itself to you! What in Oblivion is wrong with a bridge?" Azriel looked back down at the small wooden boat. "Look, as impressive as the mighty Volkihar fleet is… I am not getting into that tiny little matchbox that's already half full of water."

Mighty Volkihar fleet… Aela couldn't contain her laughter anymore. Half full… at least she's thinking positive…

Serana couldn't help her own chuckle. "Here…" She muttered a quick spell over the boat, making it rise to the surface and the water poured of the sides. "Better?"

Azriel glared at her. "No, that's not better. What happens if you fall out? Aela and I will either drown or turn into icicles. We wouldn't be able to see the shore and I can't swim for it."

"Don't drag me into this, sister! I have no problems swimming."

"Dog paddling, you mean." Azriel muttered under her breath.

Aela scowled and looked at Serana. "I suggest an alternative plan."

"Which would be what?" Serana raised an eyebrow at her.

"We punch her out so we can get on with this." Aela ignored Azriel's shifting glare. "We'll be here all day if we let her whine about this boat. We both know she isn't going to get into it."

Azriel rolled her eyes. "No, I'm not. Someone didn't specify that her castle was on an island!"

"What? Yes I did!" Serana regarded her disbelievingly.

"Princess…" Azriel mumbled the word under her breath and Serana rolled her eyes.

"Just let me just punch her..." Aela flashed a winning grin at Serana. "Then we can have some alone time… without her whining."

Azriel's eyes went wide with her remark. "You wouldn't…"

Serana place her hand on her hip. "As tempting as that is, Aela. I have a better idea." She looked at Azriel. "How much do you trust me?"

Azriel frowned, the question hurt after everything they had been through together. Her face reflected her sadness. "You're really asking me this?"

Serana nodded and Azriel looked at Aela, who shrugged. Serana watched her expectantly and Azriel didn't hesitate with her answer. "I trust you with everything and completely. How can you not know that by now?"

Serana smiled and closed the distance between them. "Then sleep." Azriel's eyes fluttered closed as Serana whispered the words. She caught Azriel before she fell and cradled her in her arms, she walked to the boat.

"How long will she be out?" Aela watched Serana place her in the center of the boat between the seats.

"Hopefully, until I wake her." Serana sat down and Aela climbed in after her.

Serana waved her hand past the old mooring lines and they coiled themselves into the boat.

Aela looked around and growled. "Where are the oars?"

Serana threw her a quick smile. "We don't use them. My parents were never for having guests, remember?" The boat rocked away from the old dock and began to sail out to sea.

Aela grimaced as the cold fog touched her skin. She pulled her cloak tightly around herself and pulled Azriel closer.

"I forgot to warn you, the mist is almost unbearable to mortals out here."

Her apology made Aela shrug. "How far is it?"

"About fifteen minutes to the front dock and about thirty to circle around back." Serana focused on listening for any trouble as the boat sailed on.

Aela watched her intently; the worried looked on Serana's face bothered her. "What happened between you and your family?"

Serana turned back to her. "There was a time when we got along… My parents loved one another. After we became vampires, it all went downhill. My father found the prophecy and my mother focused on watching him fail."

"Were you close with either of them?" Aela pulled Azriel closer to herself and took Serana's hand.

"My father and I, not so much. Sounds so cliché' doesn't it?" Serana sighed sadly. "My mother and I were like the best of friends and honestly, she was my only friend. Then she… she grew distant. I told you she tended garden and I'd helped her. But, after centuries things with her changed suddenly. She started to shoo me away. Said she was too busy or she'd ask me to come find her later. I can't tell you how much it hurt."

Aela watched her stare at the boards on the deck. She tightened her grip on Serana's hand. "Are you afraid we'll do that as well? Forget you as they did?"

Serana nodded and their eyes met.

"We're not leaving you behind, Serana. We're not them."

They both shared a smile and Serana returned her squeeze.

Aela sat up as blackness appeared in the fog.

Serana turned on her bench to see what she was looking at. "There it is… home sweet… castle."

Aela tugged her hand. "Your home is with us now, vampire. Don't forget it."

Serana leaned forward and kissed her gently. "I won't. But, I will hold you both to that, wolf."

"Then that settles it, doesn't it?" Aela said, laughing softly at her teasing. She looked up at the sight and was amazed by the size of the place. "It's big."

"It's… something alright."

"What is it?" Aela watched her shift uncomfortably.

"I have a lot of memories of this place and most of them aren't very fond." Serana watched the rocky shore as the boat jogged out away from it.

"Then make some you are fond of."

Serana looked back at Aela, her pastel eyes reflecting the pale morning mist. Each layer of silver independent and striking. The metallic shade drank in the dull morning light. As Aela watched her, she was captivated, held in place by Aela's force alone. "How do you do that?"

Aela chuckled quietly. "How do I do what, Love?"

Serana gulped and instantly flushed. It took her a moment to form words. "What did you call me?"

Aela's lips curled into a smile. "I believe, I called you love. The Dragonborn isn't the only one in love with you, Serana. Seemed… fitting."

Aela's throaty words made her stomach do a flip. The boat turned again and the back dock came into view. Serana didn't notice anything other than Aela. She watched the werewolf smile and stroke Azriel's cheek tenderly. Her silver eyes fell on Serana again and Serana couldn't draw her breath to speak.

"That must be it." Aela jerked her head in the direction of the dock and Serana turned to look.

A whistle broke the air and before Aela could move, Serana caught the arrow intended for her head. "Get down!" Serana shoved Aela down over top of Azriel and threw ice spikes at the three guardians on the dock. Each spike landed quickly and accurately into her targets, finishing them instantly.

The boat bumped the dock and Serana jumped out. "Aela! Are you okay?"

"I am and thank you." Aela started to lift Azriel out of the dingy and Serana took her, setting her on shore. "Now let's get sleeping beauty awake and find your mother… Love."

Serana beamed as she bent down and tilted Azriel's face up. For a second, it worried her how dark the circles around her eyes had become. She brought her lips to Azriel's, tenderly kissing her. "Ahziial, wake."

Well, I will be posting chapters slower now. Time to be a grown up and head back to work.

But, I hope you guys are enjoying these! I tend to post a bit faster when you guys review, because I like the feed back... and they make me giddy. Anyway, let me know what you think of these mini chapters... oh, and if you have any ideas, shoot me a PM. As it stands now, there are about 9 more of these mini chapters to go and they are leading to something bigger. (Yes, that means more long ass chapters.)

-Red