"Eric" Gio calls as soon as he sees the boy coming out of Adrian's home.

"Gio, hey" Eric smiles surprised to meet him here.

"Are you back for good?" he asks Eric surprised as well seeing him here of all the places.

"Ah...not really I was just..."

"He is here to take Ariel" Devilin states as he joins them.

"Did I miss something?" Gio grins knowingly.

"They are mates, nothing to miss about it," Devilin answers sourly.

"Oh well congratulations" Gio pats on Eric back happily.

"What are you so happy about?" Devilin asks Gio.

"It seems only you are the one without a mate, last one" Gio teases as he knows how much he hates being the last one.

"Don't talk as if you know everything about me," he snaps shocking both the men.

"So, does that mean you found your mate?" Eric is the one who asks.

"I don't know you enough to share my personal matters, don't worry about me but Ariel, if even an ounce of her hair is out of place I will throw you in the pits of hell so far that you won't even be able to find yourself" Devilin threatens him harshly.

"Are you threatening me?" Eric grins widely.

"No, it's a promise" Devilin answers before pushing past him as he disappears.

"So, he is the Devil" Eric comments as Devilin is out of sight.

"Don't mind him, he meant no harm well not until something happens to Ariel that is. She is a very sensitive subject to him," Gio suggests as he walks along with Eric wanting to catch up with him.

"I know" Eric smiles.

*******

"So, where have you been?" Gio asks curiously, as they take a seat in the garden.

"Here and there" Eric answers vaguely.

"Don't you think it's time for you to come back home?" he asks.

"I don't know" Eric sighs heavily.

"Hey now, you can always search for the cure being around too you know. I think both Eri and Engel will appreciate it more if you are near them" Gio suggest to him sincerely but Eric just smiles in return as his answer.

"Anyway, so what's this about taking Ariel?" he asks grinning at the topic.

"I have settled down in one place so"

"Ah, so you want some alone time with your mate then" Gio teases him.

"I have been alone for enough I guess" Eric smiles shyly.

"Good, good, may be she will be able to bring you back home after all this time. I am happy to hear about you"

"Thanks, well I heard you kidnapped my sister" Eric asks changing the topic away from him.

Gio laughs at that as he admits he did.

"She is safe if you are worrying" Gio comments assuring Eric.

"Nah, I know she is always safe with you, I don't worry about her much between you and dad I know she isn't alone...

But my mother is different case, heard she left house and now dad is on the hunt for her" he asks as well.

"Yes, the last I heard she was with the twins on some vacation so Enzo has gone to bring her back. I am sure they will solve their differences, they just need to sit down and talk" Gio answers as a hint of worry is in his voice.

"Hope everything goes fine between them as well you and Engel. I will take my leave we will be leaving as soon as Ariel gives the green light" Eric sighs getting up.

"It was good to see you and hope you decide to be back soon" Gio answer as they hug and walk to different directions

******

Devilin walks towards his building when someone stops him, he turns to see the security guard calling him.

He hands him a bouquet of flower as well some bags and a card, and it does not takes a genius to know who left it for him.

Devilin with a sigh walks towards the elevator making sure he was alone this time and not some blonde jump him.

When he reaches his room, he once again throws the bags and flower somewhere before he goes to see what the card is about

Just as he goes to read it his phone rings, so he puts the card away and picks up the phone seeing it was from his father.

Devilin sighs as his father called him back on duty, he groans, as his plan to laze around was gone.

Therefore, hurrying through a shower he goes to the council headquarters to report.

*******

Engel stares out of the room's window, the room she has been staying in for past few days, she just stares blankly out as there was nothing more to do but just sit and kill time.

She does not turn around to see who entered the room, as she knows it was one of the caretakers bringing her food but this time a different voice calls her out.

She turns around to find Rose walking inside the room with a smile.

"Engel, I know you are not happy to be in this house, but I think I have given you as much space as I can provide for you to come to the terms that you will be staying here...

In addition, I think it is time to get up and out of this room. I have a few things I would like you to do" she smiles politely.

"I don't want to do anything" she answers bored.'

"I am not requesting darling, it's an order and this is my house if you haven't forgotten which also means you will have to do as you are asked...

You see I am not a very patience person like our Gio, so please get up and out of the room. I have shown you enough hospitality and now it's time you start acting like a good girl and guest showing me how happy you are to be here with me" Rose explains as she pulls Engel up and along with her.

"I said I don't want to" Engel protests but it is of no use.

"Okay, let's see what you can do to help me around. Ah, yes this" Rose smiles as she gathers some flowers.

"These are some fresh flowers from our garden, please make sure they are cut perfectly and put in these vases, these vases go in every room," Rose demands as she leaves Engel alone.

Engel sighs not believing the nerve of the women who just plain out right ordered her around as if she was some maid, she takes an empty seat and just stares at the flowers along with the vases doing nothing.

After few minutes of just staring at those flowers, Engel finally sighs giving in and picks up the flowers and scissors to cut the stems.

Rose smiles in victory as she silently watches Engel doing her work even if a bit late, but it was a start.

*******

"Are we really going to just do this all day long?" Chris asks as he tries to get up from the bed but Jane stops him.

"What is wrong with just doing it?" Jane asks as she was enjoying spending time with him.

"Just the fact that you are making my family uncomfortable and we can do much more better things than just lying around" he points out to her.

"Really, like what?" she asks with a frown.

"Come on" he pulls her along with him as they get out of the room.

Chris smiles as he walks to the library with his mate, he picks up some books and takes it with him before he puts them all on the table.

"Please don't tell me that the idea of your fun is reading" Jane asks dreadful.

"Why, don't you love reading a good book, to learn about things?" Chris asks confused as for him to get lost deep in a book is the most beautiful thing.

"No, not much of a book reader, to me it's one of the most boring things in the world" Jane states as she stays away from it.

"But why, don't you think it's exciting to read and learn new things? I mean we can imagine things, know history with the help of this...

It is amazing the power of a few words printed in the books, which will help to take you to different places all you have to do is imagine...

You can be anything and anyone of the characters" he smiles happily, while Jane stares as if he has lost it completely.

"There are much more things that are exciting than a book, sorry but all the books do is help me to fall asleep faster than I can spell it" Jane shrugs uncaring.

"Oh" Chris looks a bit disappointed.

"But, I guess you can read it for me" Jane agrees seeing his fallen face.

"Really" just like that, he beams making her heart flutter.

"Sure, just don't make a sad face if you find me asleep" she smiles as she takes a seat while he picks a book from the table.

"I promise you won't fall asleep" he assures her taking a seat as well.

"Okay" she smiles as she tries to listens to him.

*******

"Should we wake them?" Crystal asks Jean as they both watches their kids sleeping on the couch wrapped in each other's arms.

"I don't think it's a good idea, I don't know about you but my daughter isn't her best when she is disturbed and this seems a very intimate moment for them," Jean answers as they both back out of the door.

"I cannot believe all this time they were so close yet so far, oh my Chris has finally met his mate," Crystal giggles happily.

"Yes, I wish we had known it before, may be it would have saved me so much trouble worrying about her when she stayed out late" Jean sighs sadly.

"Oh, don't worry Jean, we cannot regret for what already happened, it's all fate and just because we saved ourselves for our mate doesn't mean our kids will as well...

They know what they are doing" she smiles assuring.

"Hope is all we have" Jean smiles as they both take a seat enjoying their tea while talking about their day-to-day lives.

"Mom" Devilin's voice stops both the Ladies in the middle of their conversation and turn around to look at the door.

"Dev" Jean answers in surprise seeing him there.

"Dad asked me to bring you and Jane back" he replies to her unasked question.

His father really knows how to piss him off, the old man could have said so on the phone but no he had to ask him to come to the headquarters and then back to Connor's house.

"Where's Jane?" he asks looking around only to find only the two of them.

"She is with Chris," Jean answers with a smile much to his annoyance.

"Can you please call her?" he requests politely to Crystal who nods in answer before she walks to the library.

"You could have at least said hello" Jean chides her son for his rude behavior.

"What, I did add please" he smirks before taking a seat next to his mother and picking a few cookies from the tray in front of them.

"Is that the only reason you are here?" Jean asks her son in amusement as he chews on the cookies in a hurry.

"No, I am to apologize to Chris for kicking his ass the other night as he will be the one who will have to bear Jane from now on wards" he replies with a teasing tone but before Jean could say anything Jane does.

"If I remember you were the one who was getting his ass kicked and may I remind you by my mate?" Jane smugly answers as she walks towards where he was.

"And, am I that hard on you that you cannot wait for me to leave?" she pouts feigning hurt.

"You know what I mean" Devilin grumbles as he hugs her to him.

"So, I heard you are here to apologize properly so do it properly" she teases in return before pushing him a bit towards where Chris was standing.

"Sorry" Devilin grumbles sourly for doing this but he had no choice it was for his sister.

"What, I didn't hear it" Jane shouts enjoying her brother's awkwardness.

Therefore, just to satisfy her as he was doing this for her, he takes a deep breathe and starts.

"I am sorry for starting a fight with you when you weren't the one I wanted to punch, and if you hurt my sister I will not hesitate to hurt you...

I hope you will forgive me and we can be friends even if it's for my sister," he states straight staring at Chris.

"I am sorry too, I won't hurt her" Chris apologizes shuffling on his feet as he has never been the center of everyone's attention and it was equally uncomfortable to him as Devilin.

"Yay" Jane shrieks happily, as she jumps into Chris's arms before kissing him fully on his mouth.

"Ughh" Devilin rolls his eyes while Jane sticks her tongue out for him.

"Now that everything is wrapped up can we get going?" Devilin asks bored already.

"You are leaving already?" Jane asks sad which brings a frown to Devilin's eyes.

"Yes along with you" he replies

"What?" Jane shouts

"Dad's order" Devilin replies again

"Well tell him to fuck off, I am not leaving my mate's side" she finalizes clinging on to Chris's arm.

Devilin turns towards his mother for help, as he really does not want to argue on it.

"Mom, no I am not leaving Chris's side, what if he gets sick while I am not around. I am not going anywhere without him" she protests again.

"Okay, then he comes with us" Devilin states but this time both Chris and Crystal protests

"Sorry, that will not happen" Crystal smiles politely.

"I am sorry too but either way Jane is leaving with us," Devilin informs them.

"Dev, stop being bossy in here, if my mate doesn't want to go out then respect his feelings" Jane scolds her brother who gapes at her open-mouthed.

"What about my feelings?" Devilin grits through his teeth.

"Do you even have any?" Jane asks him in horror truly mocking him.

"Fine, talk to dad about this then" he asks throwing his phone her way.

"Its okay, Dev, just take me home. I am sure your father won't mind if your sister will stay here for a few more days" Jean interrupts both of their debate.

"Mom, its forever" Jane corrects and Jean just smiles, as she knows there is no fighting her on this, as she is just stubborn as her father on a few things.

"Crystal, I hope this is not uncomfortable for you," Jean requests.

"Oh no, no it's not I am more than happy she is staying with us. She is now our responsibility the only thing I am sad about is we didn't find out about her before, but still we are more than happy about her decision to be here with us" Crystal assure Jean before they all say their goodbyes and leave.

*******

"If I get blamed for this..."

"Don't worry I will talk with your father about it. We both know your sister would not have come with us anyway" Jean points out to his son as they drive back to the house.

"And whose fault is it?" Devilin mumbles to him.

"Anyway, I know the reason for your sister not coming home, but what about you?" she asks him curious, as he has not been home for the past few days as well.

"I was just resting in my apartment," he informs her sheepishly.

"Okay" Jean smiles as she knows that his son was already of age where he will need his own space and not always be with them.

"So, does that mean I won't be able to see both my kids from now on?" she teasingly asks him.

"Ma, you know all you have to do is call me and I will be there for you. After what happened at the party, I do not think it was good for me to be anywhere near dad...

Oh, I saw Aunt Emma" Devilin informs her

"Oh really, how is she?" she asks in excitement as it has been so long since she had heard news of her sister.

"She is doing well, she was with me on my last mission," he slowly answers.

"I will not ask you what your mission was, so relax" Jean laughs seeing his face.

"I wouldn't have told you anything anyway" he boyishly grins before he stops the car.

"I don't think I want to go inside" Devilin pleads.

"Don't worry, I will talk with your father" Jean kisses his forehead before she gets out of the car.

"Oh Ma, do you think you can go see Ariel, I think she will be leaving soon with her mate" he asks as he remembers.

"Mate" Jean asks in surprise.

"Yes, the guy Eric he is Enzo's son" Devilin informs with a tight smile.

Jean smiles in answer as she pats him on his cheek lightly before she walks inside the house while Devilin drives towards Martin's pack.

*******

Ariel stares out of the window playing with the necklace around her neck, she was now on her way to wherever Eric was taking her. She was for once away from the people she has known her whole life, away from their instant protective nature, away from all the suffocation she felt whenever they tried to walk around her carefully as if one wrong move would set her off.

Now, here she was with her mate she knows nothing about still feels like they have known each other her whole life. She smiles thinking how easily she came to trust him while it took some of her own family ages to gain that.

Everything with Eric came easy, it was as if he knew what she wanted and when, he left her all alone for two years, two years where she came to terms with the fact she had a mate.

The time where she came to throw out the notion of asking Devilin to mate with her, yes when she heard about her own parents she came to believe that she could easily ask Devilin to mate with her no matter how selfish she may sound.

She knows that Devilin will do anything for her; she has known it her whole life. He gave his entire life to keep her safe and happy, he always makes sure she was comfortable and happy.

Thinking about him makes her stare at the necklace on her neck he gave it to her before she left, she smiles fondly at their last meeting where he just took the necklace and started to put it on her neck.

Requesting that whenever she needed him, all she had to do was press the back of the locket and he will appear in front of her. Even if she protested that she did not want it, he ignored it.

When he told her, it was for his own satisfaction, knowing she was safe, he would feel grounded and remain sane while she was away.

Therefore, she had no choice but to accept it. She shakes her head remembering he had the same locket around his neck as well and they had matched.

Now, here she was doing something she always dreamed of, being alone, away from everyone. Starting a new life, starting a new chapter in her life and for once she was afraid in a good way.

*******

"Careful there, if you keep staring at me like that you will fall for me" Eric's teasing voice pulls her out of her daydream.

"Huh?" Ariel asks realizing that she was staring at his face for all this time while her mind was miles away.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks curiously.

"That I am afraid," she honestly answers startling him.

"Don't worry I will not sell you to anyone, well not until I am out of money then I may have that thought" he jokes hiding his shock.

Ariel laughs freely at that statement before she shakes her head and watches him.

"And here I thought you were bewitched by my red hair" she winks his way making him laugh.

"Don't worry, it was the hair that caught my eye" he winks back.

'But seriously, what were you thinking about?" he asks once they both sober down from the laughing.

"I was seriously answering when I said I am afraid of this, but in a good way. You know I have never stepped a foot out of place without having anyone around me...

This is the first time; I have left anyone's side that is not protective around me. And, I cannot express how good it feels" she happily states.

"Just because, I am not growling every few seconds, doesn't mean I am not protective about you, but I also know with all of the males in your life before me, you may feel suffocated if I acted in such a way" he grins cheekily.

"You are the first man in my life who isn't suffocating me," she admits.

"Good, I don't plan to as well" he smiles in satisfaction.

"Eric, why now?" she asks all of a sudden.

"You mean why I came now?" he asks unsure of her question and when she nods in answer, he continues.