Blaise didn't understand where the night had gone wrong.

He had taken Haylan to his hometown in Italy.

It had been a wonderful night. They had a picnic and watched the sunset while discussing their interests. They took a walk around the river Po while discussing their pasts. They went into a small local bar to continue to talk about what they wanted in the future. Blaise had gone up to the bar to get them drinks and when he got back to the table, Haylan was gone, and the girl at the table next to him told him the redhead he came in with had run out of the bar crying.

Blaise didn't understand what had happened. What had upset Haylan?

He went home confused to talk to his Mother to figure out where he messed up and what met him was Aunt Narcissa and his Mother in the sitting room looking more grave than he had ever seen them.

"Aunt Cissa? Is Haylan okay? I don't know what happened." Blaise heard his voice crack a little and Narcissa's fury softened slightly but she still looked furious.

"I came here to figure that out myself. Haylan came home inconsolable and hasn't been able to tell us what is wrong. What did you do Blaise?" Narcissa's voice was harsh with worry for her charge.

Blaise sunk down into one of the chairs across from his still silently fuming mother and angry Aunt Narcissa.

"I honestly don't know what happened. We had been having such a good night. We talked so much and we were really connecting. At least I thought we were. We were in a bar, I just went to get us something to drink! He was smiling when I left the table, but when I got back he was gone." Blaise's voice sounded tortured, which took a lot of the fight out of Narcissa. She believed him, Blaise had never lied to her before and was quite stressed out by the result of their date.

"Sounds like something else happened. We should wait to hear Haylan's side of things before making any guesses. Blaise, caro mio, go take a hot shower and get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be stressful as well." Vivianna said to her son, getting up to wrap him in a tight hug before dismissing the sad boy to his room. Looking back at Narcissa who was biting her lower lip deep in thought.

"What do you suspect happened Narcissa?"

"I am unsure. I would guess a lot of things but none of them would have put Haylan into the state he was in when I left the castle. Haylan completely fell apart, we had to force a calming draught down his throat."

"Did anyone know the boys were going out on this date? Anyone who would want to interfere?"

"No, no Haylan keeps almost no staff that isn't house elf within range of his activities as a precaution until his guard and armies are called back into use after the coronation. Unless someone intercepted their plans or happened upon them by accident in Italy, I honestly don't know what could have caused this. Haylan was so excited to see Blaise."

"I will keep my ear to the ground and I suggest you should do the same. Hopefully, Haylan will give us all answers in the morning."

Narcissa and Vivianna said good night and parted ways. Two mothers equally confused and worried over their kids.

Haylan's eyes felt crusty and sore when he woke the next morning. His mouth was dry and his throat hurt. For a moment he was confused until the memories of the night before came rushing back to him.

Blaise had been a gentleman all evening. Haylan was feeling properly wined and dined. They had such an instant connection that made Haylan want to drift closer to Blaise constantly. They found a bar that was open and decided to head in to escape the chill of the night air. Blaise smiled at Haylan making butterflies fill his stomach at the sight. Blaise found them a table and then went to get them something to drink while Haylan waited.

There was a pretty woman at the table next to them, a brunette with blue eyes, quite tall for a woman. What dragged Haylan's attention to her was the dark glare he was receiving. Haylan was no wilting wallflower to just sit there and let this woman look at him in such a way.

"Can I help you ma'am?" Haylan made sure his translator charm was still going strong so the Italian woman would understand him

"You know he will drop you as soon as he gets you into his bed." The woman snarked.

"Excuse you?" Haylan asked astonished. Was she really talking to him? This muggle woman talking to Haylan in such a tone.

"You heard me slut. Blaise is known quite well around this town with both men and women. Quite the playboy and never has anyone for more than one night. He will dump you just as he dumped everyone else once they got into bed with him." The woman's smile was cruel, but using the slightest bit of legillimancy he saw she was telling the truth.

Blaise never had anyone more than once.

Endless faces of people being wooed and bedded and dumped by Mister Zabini.

Constant cycle since he was still in school.

Haylan was a fool.

He had thought Blaise was real with him. That he had really wanted Haylan for who he was.

Haylan felt the tears starting to form in his eyes. He couldn't look Blaise in the face after seeing him in this muggle woman's memories.

He ran and didn't look back until he collapsed into the comfort of his godfather's arms.

Haylan was ashamed to feel tears in his eyes yet again. Rubbing the crusties and the tears away he took deep breaths to try and get himself together. He was an emperor goddamit. He couldn't fall apart like this over a stupid boy.

There was a light knock on his door and Haylan felt slight panic.

"Don't come in!" His voice was scratchy and rough from crying. He couldn't be seen in such a state.

"Bambi it's just me. Let me in so we can talk?" Sirius said softly through the door. Haylan wanted to let him in. To accept the comfort that Padfoot would give him. But he still didn't want to be seen like this.

"Let me take a shower…then we can talk" Haylan declared in a stronger if still scratchy voice. He heard Sirius sigh heavily through the door.

"Of course Bambi, take your time. I will bring breakfast up with me."

Haylan waited until he heard Sirius walk away from the door before finding the energy to shuffle himself into the hot shower.

One long shower later, Haylan felt sufficiently scrubbed into being more human than not. Pulling his hair up into a messy bun without even drying it first, he knew he would regret that later but he didn't care.

When he finally met Sirius out in his private sitting room, he was in sweatpants and a t-shirt, looking better than last night but still not great.

"Oh Bambi, don't let Cissa catch you looking like a hooligan." Sirius tried to tease, but Haylan only grimaced.

"I'll be fine Padfoot, you don't need to babysit me," Haylan murmured as he made his tea the way he liked it.

"I'm not babysitting. I am fulfilling my duties as your godfather. And one of those duties is telling you something that I once told my younger brother. Men are Shit, you are better off with a dog and a dildo." Sirius spoke with a deadpan face and Haylan couldn't help but be sent into a fit of giggles. Sirius smiled at getting Haylan to laugh.

"You told your brother this?!" Haylan couldn't help but ask.

"I did when I found him crying over the love triangle he had gotten himself into. Regulus actually quite fancied your Dad and unfortunately for Regulus James was in love with your Mum from the first day he saw her on the train to Hogwarts. Can't say if your Dad actually liked boys or even other girls. He was strictly Lily-sexual. But your Mum also turned your Dad down for almost six years so he tended to flirt with everyone. Can't tell you for certain if it ever went any further than flirting with Regulus, but with the way I found him crying I would assume it had at one point gotten much farther than just flirting. Never forgave your Dad for doing that to Regulus." Sirius murmured.

"What a horrible thing to do. Poor Regulus." Haylan said softly, feeling a sudden kinship with the missing Black brother.

"You ready to tell me what happened with your own young man last night?" Sirius asked. Haylan stared into his rapidly cooling teacup.

"I don't want to talk about it yet. But I thought that he really wanted me and I was wrong Padfoot. Maybe I wasn't made for love." Haylan pondered.

"Of course, you were made for love. You love far more than anyone I know of. If Blaise couldn't appreciate that then screw him. You deserve the world, Bambi. Do not let some boy convince you of anything else. You have so much love to give and I know how much you want a family of your own. You deserve to have that family. Of course, Narcissa, Andromeda, Nymphie, and I will always be here for you. Never fear you will be without family Bambi. We love you so, so much. Someone out there will love you even more in the way you deserve."

"I really thought he was the one, Paddy. He made my magic sing. His aura felt like home." Haylan whimpered, eyes beginning to mist up.

Sirius immediately crossed the floor and wrapped Haylan up in a tight hug. "I am so sorry Bambi," he whispered, holding him close. The first heartbreak was always the worst, especially if someone's magic laid claim to another.

They sat for a long time wrapped around each other, just soaking in the comfort of having each other.

Heir Caliban

I do not know what happened yesterday. I thought we were having a good time out. You at least seemed to be enjoying yourself. Did I do something wrong?

Please tell me if I did. I sincerely didn't mean to do anything to upset you so much.

You were absolutely beautiful and stunning yesterday. Did I not say that enough? We talked so much, we connected on so many levels.

Did I just read the situation wrong?

Please respond to me.

-Heir Blaise Zabini.

Heir Zabini

Do not contact Emperor-to-be Haylan Iacob Dacian Caliban. Do not send any more owls. Do not contact by floo. Do not attempt to seek out Heir Lord Caliban in any fashion. You are uninvited to all future events happening at Caliban Castle until further notice.

-Lord Sirius Orion Black

Head of Caliban Security