After much inner debate, Claire did give in to the idea of reopening the tavern now, fifteen long years after Kristofer’s since deceased brother had murdered Eliza, Finn, and Emilia, as well as the three hapless mortals who were there that night. She still was quite hesitant about leaving Sean alone with his thoughts each night; but nor could she take another night being alone with hers after the dozen or so years since Thomas had wreaked such havoc on their lives.

Though Sean had come to the realization that he would just have to forgive himself since his actions were the only thing that had saved Claire at all; it was still much harder to actually forgive oneself in those darker moments. Of course those moments were haunting Claire even more so as she replaced the sign outside with one that read ‘under new management’ and then went inside to ready the place for business once again.

Everywhere she looked and everything she touched caused her to think about not just the tragedy that had taken place there, but also to think of Kristofer. She had not seen him at all since the night she had been forced to be intimate with him while feeling like she was also likely to get torn to shreds at any moment. She was positive he would have come looking for her to give him those answers to all the new questions and trauma that that night had caused in his life as well. But she had not seen him once in twelve long years. It was to the point where she had managed to convince herself that he must have met his fate that night as well. And that was yet another death she couldn’t help blaming herself for; even though it was Thomas who had compelled her and Sean who had compelled Kristofer. Claire was still the one factor that allowed his wife’s death and quite possibly Kristofer’s death to happen at all.

She swallowed hard as she wiped down the bar. Claire very easily realized that even the change of location had not done much to help chase away her dark thoughts. It had really only changed the tone of them ever so slightly. Like her random thought upon looking at Kristofer’s usual seat during his visits, that he would be approximately forty years old now, had he still lived at all. She sighed again at that thought and tried to push it away as well. She stayed, and she hoped upon hope that running the place again would eventually cause her to be too distracted to think at all; so she stayed, and she hoped.

Meanwhile, Sean was back at the estate and had just been informed that there was yet another new Kindred arrival to his territory. The servants left the new subject waiting outside the gates while they went and informed Sean of their arrival, none of them wanting to take the chance of letting anyone past the gate without Sean’s approval. When Sean did push his feet to somberly go out to meet whatever new hell might be at his door now; his face showed only the slightest relief, as well as surprise to see that the new arrival was an old acquaintance after all.

That was when Daniel’s somewhat hesitant smile attempted to surface, “I suppose that look of confusion is a bit better than what I had feared would greet me upon my arrival.”

“Daniel? What are you even…?” Sean just shook his head as he moved toward the gate, his eyes continuing to ask that question that his words didn’t quite finish forming.

“So, am I to take it that we are still friends, after… everything?” Daniel settled on with a worried tone as he continued to watch Sean, wishing that he was better at reading his aura. They may have been the same generation, but Sean did have seventy-nine years to hone his own abilities before Daniel himself had been embraced.

“Everything?” Sean asked quietly as he nodded to the servants to open the gate.

“Well, Thomas was my…” Daniel stated with a bit of his own guilt, “and I am the one who informed him of your Princedom” he added more quietly.

“I’m pretty sure that he could have found that out from any member of our line, Daniel” Sean stated, though his tone remained guarded as Daniel slowly moved through the gate.

“But I’m the one he did find it out from” Daniel added more quietly.

“I’m not big on punishing someone for the sins of their father. It usually turns out badly” Sean returned in an even quieter tone.

“That statement leaves a few questions” Daniel said warily as he moved to slowly follow Sean into the house.

“Anastasia’s not with you?” Sean shifted subjects as they moved through the foyer.

“No, you just have to settle for me on this trip” Daniel attempted a slight smile as he followed his somber new sovereign through the home to his office door.

“I must admit it’s a surprising trip. I didn’t know you were planning on visiting again at all” Sean returned as he moved to the chair behind his desk and gestured for Daniel to take a seat in the other.

“Well, I wasn’t sure on that ‘sins of the father’ stance of yours; so I was a bit worried that you would not be thrilled to see my face” Daniel added with a soft sigh.

“I don’t think your face has ever been a problem for me” Sean couldn’t help adding wryly, though he quickly moved on, “so why is it that you did decide to make such a long journey here anyway; especially if you weren’t even sure that you’d get a very warm welcome?”

“Oh it’s not that long of a journey now. With these new steam ships, crossing the Atlantic only takes a month. Traveling from the col… states only takes about that long too, and that’s only for those of us who can only travel after dark and need shelter every day” Daniel offered with another still wary smile.

“So it only took you two months to get here this time?”

“Give or take” Daniel offered another slight smile, “and I can’t help noticing that your lovely wife is absent as well” he added curiously.

“She’s endeavoring to distract herself with another venture, besides just being the wife of a Prince” Sean sighed slightly, “and you still haven’t quite answered the why of your presence” Sean reminded, not wanting to dwell on the facts of the lack of closeness that had continued to plague his marriage for the last decade and a half.

“Distract herself?” Daniel offered with a raise of the brow.

“Your visit?” Sean deflected.

To that, Daniel just shook his head, “I suppose the cold hard fact of the matter is that I have been informed that you may just be struggling a bit with your current role in the wake of my sire’s… actions” he settled on, “plus, I heard I have a new brother to meet as well, apparently.”

“Nicolas is something that you’ll have to talk to Claire about. He’s a bit on the fragile side; especially when it comes to wealthy, powerful, degenerate men” Sean added with a sigh, which did cause another furrowed brow from Daniel. Sean then moved on to the other part of the statement, “and struggling with my role? Is that politician-speak for me being an utter failure at it?”

“Ouch” Daniel returned, “I don’t believe anyone has used that particular descriptor; at least not to me.”

“But they gave you enough of that impression that you traveled to the new world to do what? Rescue me from my own failings?” Sean stated with another heavy sigh as he kept his eyes averted.

“Sean, do you honestly think that ruling comes easy to anyone? Was it easy for Haven? I seem to recall him needing a bit of help as well; if my last visit is any frame of reference” Daniel attempted to assure.

“I don’t think this problem can be solved with a battle ship” Sean sighed.

“Do you know that I’ve served five different human kings over the last 120 years?” Daniel stated, and then added, “at least give me the chance to prove that I do have a talent for solving the problems of kings, and hopefully Princes as well.”

Sean scoffed slightly, “the biggest problem is myself, Daniel.”

Daniel returned the scoff with his own, “and do you think I never had to deal with a king who was one of his own worst enemies? 120 years is an awfully long time, Sean.”

“I don’t even know how to even try and explain it to you at all; let alone expect you to fix my problem” Sean shook his head again.

“Well, just talk to me and hopefully we can figure it out together” Daniel stated simply.

“I’m not even sure why you came here, Daniel.”

“I told you; to help” Daniel stated with another slight smile.

“You just up and left your entire life to come fix my problems?” Sean scoffed again.

“Do you realize that’s the second time in as many minutes that you referred to running an entire territory as only being your problem?” Daniel stated pointedly, his tone causing Sean to look back up at him.

“I’m the Prince now; by definition, everything here is my problem” Sean repeated.

“And there’s three” Daniel just shook his head before moving on, “do you honestly think that every ruler in the history of both the mortal and Kindred world solved every problem they’ve ever come across, all alone; with no help at all? Because I’m pretty sure that has happened…” he thought a moment, “oh yes: Never.”

Sean scoffed again, “I don’t know if you’re just being British or condescending.”

“And you’re being narcissistic” Daniel shot back, though he did still wear the small smile.

“Pardon me?” Sean asked, more than a little taken by that statement.

“At least to the extent that you think that everything is a problem that you and only you can solve. Isn’t that what you’ve been saying this whole time?” Daniel returned bluntly.

“I’ve also been saying that I can’t solve any of these problems” Sean defended weakly.

“And I’ve been saying you can’t do it alone. So what are we disagreeing on again?” Daniel returned in the same pointed manner. To that, Sean just shook his head and looked away again. Then Daniel continued, “You’re very clearly driving yourself to exhaustion trying and trying to think of some sort of solution for whatever problems might be plaguing you; and that obviously does not help one to think clearly or logically. And that is why you need others to look at the problem as well and then work with them to find those solutions. This is the very basis of any sort of government. It’s why every ruler has advisors. No one person can solve every problem alone.”

“And what if the problem is…” Sean then just shook his head again.

“Is what?” Daniel replied, his voice softening slightly.

“I can’t just expect you to leave your wife and come here until all these problems go away. That could be eternity, literally” Sean sighed.

“If I get lonely, I’ll ask Tasie to come and join me. Now what problems?” Daniel pressed.

“Why are you even doing this, Daniel? You don’t owe us anything; especially anything that requires you to give up the entire life you’ve made for yourself back there” Sean argued quietly.

“I’ve lived that life for 120 years. It’s actually a good thing for my handsome face to be forgotten by the mortals I’ve been working with for so very long” he assured, then continued, “and if you still need more reasons why, I direct you to the very thing I told you both when I agreed to come here to help once before.”

“That you love us?” Sean scoffed.

“And why do you seem to be having trouble believing that? Given, I haven’t bedded you or your lovely wife in forty years or so, but I do have a very long… memory” he smirked.

Sean just shook his head again; despite Daniel’s attempt at humor, “Lately I’ve been having a bit of trouble believing anyone would…” he then just let his voice trail off again.

“Are we actually getting at a problem now?” Daniel asked softly, “has something happened between you and Claire that is making you now doubt her love for you?”

“Didn’t know that you were strong enough to read me” Sean whispered hoarsely.

“I’m not reading you; I just know you. Claire has always been everything to you. If this is the state you’re currently in; logic would easily allow one to infer that it’s got something to do with Claire” he added quietly.

“I had to do something that put such a wedge between us that I have no idea how to fix it. And I doubt all your expertise at political strife will help with this one” Sean’s eyes moved down again as he swallowed another lump in his throat.

“So, let’s fix the problems we can fix. Getting the stress of those out of your life may be the very thing you need to allow your mind to tackle whatever has happened between you and her as well” Daniel offered in the same quiet tone.

“But you don’t get it; without her, I can’t fix any problem. I can barely even exist without her” Sean returned in a raspy whisper.

“Well then I guess it’s a good thing I’m here to help fix those other problems after all.”

After suggesting that they go and locate Sean’s servants rather than trying to think at all on an empty stomach, the two men returned to the office once more as the clock struck midnight. That was when Daniel took his seat with the determination to at least solve some problem that night.

“So, aside from Claire, tell me the next problem on the list” Daniel began.

“Aside from Claire” Sean couldn’t help scoffing at the idea that anything in the world could come after those words.

“Sean” Daniel scolded, “next problem” he pressed.

Sean sighed heavily as he gave into providing some sort of answer, “I suppose one problem, directly related to the issues between me and Claire” he added more quietly as Daniel gave him another scolding look. Shaking his head, Sean forced himself onward, “is that there may or may not be a kinfolk man living in my territory.”

“Troubling” Daniel agreed, “and ‘may or may not?’”

“We haven’t seen or heard from him since…” Sean shook his head, “since Thomas was here; twelve years ago. So, we honestly don’t know if he is still here or even if he’s alive or dead. But if he is…”

“Where he goes, were-beasts are sure to follow” Daniel supplied.

“That count as a problem, you think?” Sean scoffed, still not glancing back at Daniel’s thoughtful expression.

“So, we need silver” Daniel stated simply.

“We have silver; bullets and blades” Sean informed.

“Where?” Daniel asked.

“In the armory… in the basement” Sean supplied.

“But that still would only help once they’re inside the walls. And if they got inside the walls at all; we would all be too dead to go and get the weapons. So we need to keep them from ever getting inside the walls, correct?”

“What are we supposed to do? Build silver walls?” Sean scoffed again.

“Or perhaps just silver plated, or coated with a silver based paint of sorts. Either should quite efficiently burn their nasty little claws and fangs off” Daniel stated.

Sean just allowed a laugh of disbelief, “do you know how expensive it would be to cover the entire fence and gates with silver plating or paint?”

“Good thing that the both of us are quite wealthy gentlemen these days. I say we’ve just found one possible solution. We’ll have to get on ordering the plating and paint right away, then. Now, what’s the next problem?” he continued with an unconcerned smile.