Chapter 54 - What About The Promises That You Made, Are They Just Things That People Say

Mike's POV

My visit to Italy has not been what I thought it would be.
Even with Peter's forewarning I was still not prepared for what I encountered.

I could see Demetri and myself become very good friends. His easy going yet stoic approach to life paired well with my own personality.

As we walked through the castle it was weird seeing everyone we pass bowing their heads in reverence towards Amber.

Amber seemed to take it in stride and nodded her heads in acknowledgement as she kept walking.
From our phone calls back and forth over the last few weeks, and knowing Amber as well as I do, I know that she's still coming to terms with her new role and station in life.

Amber isn't the type of person to want people to bow down to her, but she does understand the importance of leadership. It's a weird balance of comfortably and responsibility.

Responsibility is something that we both understand on a basic fundamental level, It's a given with our career field.

It makes sense that Amber would be destined to take on such a primary role in such a fundamentally profound pillar of leadership. Anyone who truly knows Amber knows that she has a feeling of natural responsibility, of take care of people, especially the people she considers family.

She has an air and natural talent to make people feel safe, seen, and heard.

Amber is just...Amber. And we all know that Amber is and has always been destined for greatness.

I startle as I hear a girlish type of squeal. Within a few seconds of hearing the noise there was a blur of redish hair and then Amber's loud grunt as she was practucally slammed into as she wheezed out an "umph!"

If that wasn't shocking enough the fact that this random woman had practically climbed Amber like a tree and was being held up in the air against Amber's torso by Amber certainty was. The random woman then placed a loud lingering kiss to Amber's cheek.

If the shocked look on my face wasn't enough of a dead giveaway I was completely caught off guard.

Amber guided the brazen woman out of her arms and back to standing on her own two feet with and exasperated and stern "Lils".

This Lils woman's only reply was to wrap both of her arms around Amber's right arm as she snuggled into Amber's body without a care in the world.

With a deep and long exhaled breath Amber simply puts her left hand over her face as she continues to breathe loudly in and out of her nose. After a few seconds of this she then moves her hand to pinch at the bridge of her nose. It was one of Amber's tells that she's trying to hold herself and her emotions in check.

I would have intervened, but I knew Amber well enough to know that while she was irritated, this was more of the resigned irritation that you would have when dealing with friends or family when they are messing with you.

My puzzled expression doesn't leave my face as I continue to bounce my gaze between Amber and the woman currently burrowing into Amber's torso.

With a look and raised eyebrows Amber knew exactly what I was saying and asking without even saying a word.

"This is Heidi's sister, Lillyanna. Heidi had her come and visit thinking that we might hit it off. Lillyanna this is my brother Mike."

A shocked 'O' look was my initial response. Lillyanna removed herself so that she wasn't plastered to Amber, but still kept her left arm wrapped around Amber's right arm as she held out her right arm for a handshake.

"Hello Mike, it's lovely to meet you. You'll have to forgive me, but I can't help it when to comes to Amber there's just something about her. And she's so warm, it's wonderful."

I couldn't form words, and I wasn't sure what I would say even of I could, so I just gave an unsure smile as a response.

As if sensing that Amber and I needed to 'talk' Lilly excused herself after giving Amber a parting kiss to her cheek. We both watched as she strutted down the hallway and out of sight.

With a sly wicked smile I can't help but poke at Amber, "Soooo. I can certainly see the appeal this place has." Then I wiggle my eyebrows.

Amber shakes her head in exasperation as we both laugh and playfully shove each other as we continue the tour.

Amber and I continued to walk in silence for a few minutes before Amber spoke, "It's not the same as what I had with 'Her'."

We both knew that the 'Her' was Rosalie.

After a few more moments for Amber to collect her thoughts she continued, "There's a connection there, but it's not the same."

I slowly question, "Is it a time thing, where it could go somewhere?"

After a deep breath Amber continues to look straight ahead as she tries to explain, "No. It's not like that...for either of us."

At my incredulous look Amber takes another deep breathe. "It's simular to what I feel towards Charlotte, but a duller type of pull. It's still pretty strong, but it's more of a comfort thing. If that makes sense?"

Amber gives me a few moments to digest her words before she continues, "Lilly feels it more intense than I do, the pull towards each other, but even she admits that it's not a mating bond type of pull. Even Marcus confirmed that it wasn't an actual mating bond with his gift. Lilly's been alone for a very long time, like hundreds of years. She's never felt any pulls towards anyone in all of that time, besides her sister Heidi. So she's fully leaning into this. And no we're not together, but if some snuggling and some kissing brings her some comfort then I'm more than willing to do that for her."

Of all the things that I thought Amber would say that certainly wasn't on my bingo card. I couldn't help but poke fun at my sister though, "So you're a placeholder girlfriend? Her mate is really lucky."

At Amber's confused look I continue by saying, "Well with you being her first 'place holder mate' you'll be setting the bar so low that they will look amazing by comparison. You're so nice for doing that for them."

It takes a few seconds for my words to register and then I'm running with Amber hot on my heels as she's yelling about how I'm going to get it when she finally gets a hold of me.

As our laughter bounces off the walls we both can't help the huge grins that we are sporting as we fallback into our childlike shenanigans.
These are the moments that we both live for. Being together and happy.

Athenodora's POV

The castle has come to life in a way that I had never imagined before.

I can't help but smile to myself when I hear the ruckus that my daughter is making with her brothers.

My daughter. That though alone fills my heart with so much hope and joy. Amber is a perfect mixture between all of her parents.

It was so remarkable how polite and professional Amber was which is Aro in a nutshell.

Amber shared Didyme's likeness with how they were both able to draw people in and bring a warmth to people's lives.

Marcus and Amber were fiercely loyal and loved with such depths that it was overwhelming wonderful.

Amber was also able to defuse and deescalate situations like a true diplomat, which was so much like Sulpicia it was almost scary. They both could keep a level head and see situations with a rational frame of mind which highly comes in handy when dealing with problems and having to make decisions.

I like to think that Amber takes after me as well in our fierce way that we take life head on. Amber strives to make her family feel nothing safe and happy so much like a true warrior. It makes me so proud of who my daughter is. She has over come so much pain and heartache, but she came out on the other end not jaded or malicious. She emerged with a wild spirit that still can see the beauty around her.

It's that fighting spirit that I have a love hate relationship with. Why might you ask? Well, Amber fully takes after my love Caius in her stubbornness. Which is both adorable and frustrating beyond belief in equal measures.

That stubborn independent streak has been the reason behind a lot of tension and disagreements between us and our daughter during her first week with us.
Amber's job being at the top of that list.

To think our daughter has such a dangerous profession was nerve wracking and heartbreaking to find out.

Of course, Aro and Caius were very vocal about their forbidding Amber from continuing her profession and had gone as far as to jump up from the dinner table and shouting their displeasure.

Amber simply remained seated and took a sip from her wine as she continued to eat her dinner as she let her Fathers continue to yell and pace about.

I couldn't help but give a small smile at how composed our daughter remained as she let all 3 of her Father's bicker back and forth as they got everything out of their systems.

After things settled down Amber simply leaned back in her chair as she calmly asks, "Are you quite done? Can we actually have a conversation now?"

Myself and her other mother's were proud of the way that she didn't back down and how she put her Father's in their place. It was a funny sight to see. Our husbands who are so use to getting their way as soon as they open their mouths.

Not to say that the rest of us weren't worried and that we wholeheartedly wanted her to quit, but we also knew that over reacting would put a wedge between us and our daughter. Once Aro, Marcus, and my Caius had calmed down they realized that they needed to fix what damage their outburst may have caused.

Thankfully Amber was not offended and she understood where our concern and worry came from.

Apparently our reaction was on par with most people's reaction including Peter and Charlotte's. Though Peter and Charlotte were more willing to accept that their sister has a wild streak then we are.

In the end we all talked it out and while we may want Amber to pick another career or for her to retire and take up her rightful role as L'erede, we did understand her reasons and her decision. Even if we wished she would pick something safer.

Amber also balked at the idea of having guards. That remains a topic of disagreement even now, but we have come to an agreement that at least appeases both sides.

Amber has reluctantly agreed to having guards, but only when she is here at the castle or when she was away from the base and was on leave as she is now since she still has another week before she has to report to her newest duty station at Darby.

Amber of course saw the opening that we hoped that she wouldn't have seen in that agreement when we first started negotiating. We wanted to send a guard, undercover of course, with Amber when she was deployed or sent away on rescue missions, but of course our brilliant daughter saw that coming a mile wide and put a squash to that.

In the end we begrudgingly agreed to not interfere and to let go and to allow things to happen as they happen.

Of course we hated how things were settled upon, but we all were unwilling to risk losing Amber's trust. The chances of something happening physically to Amber was significant, but overstepping and breaking Amber's trust would guarantee that even if we were able to swoop in and physically save her that we would without a doubt loose her. It was clear that if push came to shove that Amber would walk away from us and never look back. So we could save her physically, but in doing so she would walk away and want nothing to do with us for the rest of her existence. And that was too great a risk to gamble with.

After hearing our daughter give the 'highlights' of her traumatic past we understood that Amber's trust is fragile and hard earned, but like her love when it is finally earned it is fully given in its purest and truest form wholeheartedly and profoundly.

The biggest argument to date was around where Amber would reside. Of course we all wanted Amber to live here with us at the castle, but Amber being stubborn and having an independent streak a mile wide of course wants to find her own place.

In the end Amber found a small apartment near Ponsacco. Which is about 30 minutes away from her Base and about 40 mins away from the Castle.

Another development was the presence of Lillyanna, Heidi's sister.
It wasn't unusual for Lillyanna to visit but apparently Heidi wanted to meddle and thought that Amber deserved to have someone to show her around the wonders of Italy.

We all saw it for what it was including Amber. It was a matchmaking attempt plain and simple.
While we now know that not much will come from it romantically they do get along wonderfully.

While it's obvious that Amber is still too heartbroken over her most recent heartache that doesn't mean that having a companion that can help fill in the gaps so to speak is a bad idea.

There are events that we all must host or attend where it is expected that our L'erede would be expected to have a companion for.

On that thought I can hear Aro and Sulpicia's raised voices trying to reason with Amber.

I make my way to the sitting room where I find Aro and Sulpicia pacing about in front of Amber who is sitting with her arms folded with a stubborn pout on her face.

I look to Peter and Charlotte who are snuggled together reading and completely staying out of the argument happening in front of them.

I don't blame them. This is a reoccurring argument that her other parents and I have all had with Amber for the last 2 days.

My gaze then falls to Mike our newest 'child'. Though like with Peter or Charlotte we feel a pull or connection with him, but the family bond isn't a very strong one, not like it is with Amber.
So we love and accept the three of them, but we only feel the family bond through Amber's love and connection with them.

We love them because they love Amber and Amber loves them, but as far as a bond goes we don't feel a true family bond with them.

Mike looks up and we lock eyes as he simply shrugs and goes back to the book in his hands.

"I don't understand why I have to have a debut at all." Amber exasperatedly says for the umpteenth time.

"You are L'erede and with that comes responsibility. Aro began to explain for what felt like the hundredth time.

"And I'm not shirking my responsibility. I just don't want to make this big debut." Amber exasperatedly explains as she tossed her hands up in the air.

Charlotte decides to try and find a middle ground by softly saying, "Amber."

It speaks volumes about the connection and love between Charlotte and Amber when Amber snaps her eyes to Charlotte's and almost immediately she softens.

Charlotte leans forward in her seat as she continues to softly appeal to Amber's sense of reasoning. "Honey, in order for you to recieve recognition and respect for your new role then you need to be presented." After a moment to let her words sink in Charlotte places her hand on Ambers knee and gives her leg a squeeze before continuing. "I know you don't want the bells and whistles but it needs to be done."

After a few moments of reflection Amber gives a heavy exhaled before conceding, "Alright, fine. I will go along with this 'debuting ball', but I want it to be on the record that it's under duress."

While Aro gives an exasperated shocked look towards Amber finally giving in so easily after all the back and forth arguing the last 2 days, Sulpicia and I give each other a smile when we realize that both Mike and Peter are smiling and shaking their heads like this is a common occurrence.

Apparently Charlotte was able to talk Amber into seeing reason when no one else was able to.
Amber, like her Fathers, has a soft spot for the women in her life.

Amber's POV

It's been a whirlwind the last few weeks, why might you ask? Well I was called away to help deal with the wildfires going on in California.
So I've spent the last almost 3 weeks out with different firefighter company's and hotshot crews helping evacuate people and fighting the fires themselves.

It has been an exhausting 3 weeks, but rewarding all the same. When I finally make it back to Italy I was rewarded for my hard and exhausting work with some much needed time off.

I'm softly shaken awake from my nap by Heidi who was nice enough to pick me up and drive so that I could rest. "Wake up sleepy head, we're home."

I only manage a small smile at that. It's not that I don't feel welcome or like the castle is not an extended home, but it's been hard for me to feel like it's my home. Not that I don't love my new parents, but I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet.
I guess it's just a thing that will take time.

I bid Heidi goodbye as I heave my duffelbag onto my shoulder as I steadily make my way to my room.

When I open my door I'm left speechless at the sight before me. I'm too stunned to move for what I'm sure has to be 5 minutes but it could have just seemed that long.

My duffle bag falls to the floor while I'm still trying to process what I'm seeing before me.

My mothers take that moment to make their presence known as they come into my room behind me till they are standing to the side of me with apprehensive smiles on their faces.

"Do you like it?" My mother Sulpicia asks cautiously.

I stutter out words, "What...How... When?" Before managing to ask, "Is this my room? You did all of this,...for me?"

My Momma Athenodora put her hands on my face cupping my cheeks as she lovingly says, "Of course we did this for you. We want you to feel at home here with your family. It's where you belong." She then lovingly pays my cheek as she steps away.

My Mom Didyme takes my hand to give me the tour as she explains, "Peter showed up pictures of your cabin in Texas and of course we know what your apartment in Ponsacco looks like. With that information we tried to remodel your rooms to match your style so that you feel more at ease here.

It was truly amazing. They managed to mix my love for the woods and outdoors with the old medieval castle style.

There was an amazing wooden coffee table that reminded me of the one I have in my cabin. Where the small couches use to be now hold big leather couches that look like you can sink right into them.

The open closet door catches my attention, because it's really full with clothes that I know I didn't have in there when I left for California.

My feet carried me over to the closet without much thought. Upon actually seeing the clothes I take a deep angry breathe through my nose.

Why? Because all of my clothes from my apartment have been moved to the castle.
And here I thought that my parents meant what they said, that they weren't trying to control me or dictate my life. Apparently remodeling my room wasn't to make me feel more at home it was to try and force me to want to stay here at the castle permanently.

Before I voice any of these angry thoughts my fingers that had been caressing the collard shirt's sleeve before me had me faltering.

I took a step forward as I examined one of my favorite collard shirts more intently.
Looking at the shirt I would swear that it was my shirt, but that was impossible, because mine had a stitching patch to fix a hole that it had gotten when it had gotten snagged on a nail when I almost fell off the Lackland Schoolhouse roof when I was hiding from Cody and Mike during an intense game of hide and seek.

This shirt was identical to mine. Except it never had a hole in it.

With a questioning look to my mothers it was Didyme who stepped forward as she explained, "We had all of your clothes duplicated. That way you don't have to keep taking your clothes back and forth. We all wanted you to feel like this is your home, because this is where you belong. We undersrand your need for your own space, but we also don't want you to wish that you had something or do without just because you didn't have it here at the castle."

I'm overcome with so many emotions all that I can do is pull all three of my mothers into a bone crushing hug.

I know that when I simply utter, "I love you Moms." That they understood that it was said with a heart full of love.