#laceypara

Sleep now my child, Let mother hold your fears. And rest--good night--dream wild. Fast asleep the visions piled, Some funny, some with alligator tears. Sleep now my child.

Aedan had been alive for hundreds of years, but he had never seen something so beautiful as the sight of his newborn son. Nothing on earth could possibly compare to the sight that lay just behind him, the sight he wanted to take in a thousand times a minute. It was beautifully blinding, the way the newborn's fingers moved, the way his eyes seemed bright and curious. No normal little boy was he, no--there was something special about him. And Aedan didn't just say this because it was his son... he said it because it was true. He was already in love with the boy, and he'd hardly held him in his arms for more than a minute. With a quick glance backwards, Aedan made a turn so slow, people began to honk at him.

"Is he okay?" he asked. He paused, looking at the road for a few more moments before he glanced back again. "Is everything okay?" The baby had been alive for less than twenty four hours, and Aedan was already acting crazed. He was fidgeting as he drove away from Evelyne's house--bless her heart, really--constantly glancing backwards to make sure that everyone and everything was okay. The smile on his face had yet to be erased, and it lit up his face like lights on Christmas morning. He couldn't believe it (really, this was more like a dream than his reality) that just a seat behind him, his little boy was sleeping in the lap of the woman that he loved. 

Lucy was upset and kind of nervous about telling Lacey what was going on in her family. She didn't want to come off as someone who begged for attention or bragged about what was going on in their lives. She hated people like that; people who thrived on attention and what other people thought of them. She was trying not to cry as she slipped on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, knowing that she was going to be an emotional wreck once arriving at Lacey's. She couldn't stand to cry in front of people because it made her feel embarrassed and weak, but she knew once she started talking about what she had discovered there would be no holding it in. She walked over to her vanity and grabbed a brush, combing her hair quickly before pinning back her bangs. She didn't like having them in her face and she knew that if she cried they would become wet and begin to stick to her face.

A warm, loving atmosphere was the one that Lacey and Aedan were in right now. Beneath the haven that their plush golden covers created, they were cuddled closely together. They rarely slept in the traditional way - but make love they did. And it was always perfect... but the experience didn't just end when they came down from the high created between them. Pillow talk was the next step, the one Aedan loved dearly, as they moved closer and closer together and just stared at each other, and talked about anything and everything.

For a moment, though, there was silence. Aedan pressed his lips to Lacey's forehead and thought - as he quite often did - about how the relationship between the two had started out, and how it was now. And then for a moment, he wondered about what she had been like before they met. He had some insight into her life before Sanguine had taken her hostage, but he didn't know all that much, certainly not as much as he wanted to. It wasn't something she liked talking about, and he would never pressure her to give up more information than she wished. But now, as they sat in a comfortable silence, he felt the two had come so far that it was only fair he asked.

It had been getting easier.

Day by day, drink by drink, things were progressively getting better for Lacey, which meant they were getting better for Aedan. Christ, he'd been terrified that she wouldn't be able to recover from the harsh blows life had thrown at her. But, miraculously, she was. Throughout the course of a week she had learned that she did indeed need to drink, which was a blessing for Aedan. He was terrified that she would be one of those vampires that didn't want to drink blood at all and just let themselves starve to death. He had met a few of them in his lifetime, and had always tried his best to convince them that they weren't evil, that they could do good and survive at the same time. It was a hard task, and not one that he had always accomplished, but thank whatever blessed him that he had with Lacey.  He had to admit that Evelyne had helped greatly, what with her way with words and women alike, but he liked to owe most of the credit to himself. It made him feel better, like he was worth something so long as he could keep the love of his eternity alive. He still didn't know if she really considered herself alive or not, but he did, and in time he would show her just how beautiful and alive she was.

Aedan held his bags and most of Lacey's, watching the houses go by as they walked towards the shore of the island. It was amazing to believe that they were finally saying goodbye to this godforsaken place, saying goodbye to all that was the Sanguine Society. Most of the homes were abandoned, his friends having left them behind when they left Sanguine. And now, it was Aedan and Lacey's turn. He tried to pretend like this wasn't as big as it was, like they weren't about to make new lives together... but it was a daunting thing that was hard to ignore. Paris wasn't just the next island over. It was almost eight hours away. Not that Lacey and Aedan hadn't spent time in a plane together,  but this time was different. Aedan would not be piloting. He'd called in a friend of his to bring his plane there, someone who owed him a favor from long ago. As they got closer, not speaking much and just looking at what they'd long to leave behind for so long - and finally were - the small, sleek dark jet came into view. "Can you spot it?" Aedan asked with a wry grin, winking at Lacey before he grabbed her bags in his free arm, scooped her up in his other, and sprinted to the plane. He could hardly wait to say goodbye to it all, to memories good and mostly bad, and say hello to somewhere he had not been in far too long.

When they approached the plane, Aedan set Lacey down neatly, placing her bags at her feet. The door opened up to reveal a tall - just about Aedan's height- slender woman with silvery blonde hair pushed up in a sleek ponytail, accentuating her sharp but feminine features. "Evelyne!" he exclaimed, opening his arms up wide. The woman laughed in a voice that sounded like tinkling bells in a summer breeze, and skipped down the steps. Her long white dress, complete with a train and all, fluttered behind her as she fell into Aedan's embrace.  He held her close, squeezing her small but strong body in his arms. He remembered when they met, back in 1717. It had been a meeting of minds and wits, and the two had connected easily. They had tried a romantic relationship for a short while  - a very short while - but it was clear they viewed each other as siblings more than anything, though one couldn't tell with the long kiss Evelyne planted on Aedan's lips before she pulled away. "Aedan!" she purred, her french accent making his name sound more like a delicacy than anything else. "I have missed you too much, my dear," she cooed, pecking both his cheeks. 

She then spun around to face Lacey, smiling from ear-to-ear. "Is this her? Is this the girl?" Aedan nodded. "Lacey, this is my friend Evelyne," he spoke to his companion, placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her closer. "She'll be flying us to France this evening. Again, it's really nice of you to-" Evelyne pushed him behind her before he could finish, and stood before Lacey, her hands fluttering all over her. "Belle!" she exclaimed. "Might I touch you, dearest? You look so fragile I could break each bone! Not that I would, of course, that'd be tres awful." 

Aedan was conflicted.

More than that, he was confused. Being over six centuries old, and having plenty of life experience under his belt, Aedan had developed a certain aura of knowing around and about him. For starters, he usually donned a mask of cool composure. His expression was often blank when faced with a mass of choices or paths to take; that is, until he'd made a final decision. And that usual didn't take him very long. The experience he'd gained had taught him what was important and what was not; what was simple and what was complex; what was worth slaving over and what should be discarded. When paired with his mask and his usual aura, some people would classify Aedan as confident, which he usual was. Not quite cocky, though he did sometimes - a bit regrettably and mostly unknowingly - give off that general demeanor. Other than confident, he'd been called a know it all once or twice. That was entirely unlike the compliment of being told one was intelligent; no, that was entirely different than being considered a smart human being. Know-it-alls, himself occasionally included, tended to portray themselves in a different light than the one they actually basked in. Right now, Aedan would gladly be considered a know it all if that meant he had knowledge of what he would do in these circumstances. But the truth of the matter was that he didn't.

He wanted to take Blossom's advice and do something for Lacey - but at the same time, he was bitter in all regards to her. She seemed to be under some sort of spell by the bastard who'd bitten - and apparently fucked - her while he'd been away. This also contributed to his growing conflicts within him - now that he was back, he wanted to make sure that he put his foot down. Yet he seemed to be unable to do that without stomping it too hard. Or, if he were to place down the foot too lightly, Lacey would walk all over him and take too much control of the situation. They weren't equals - at least not physically - but Aedan tried to treat her as such. Remembering his daughter's words to him about all Lacey had been through lately, he sighed and grabbed a piece of parchment, scrawling down a note for her to dress nicely, not too extravagantly, and be ready by 5 p.m. He'd even added a please, and signed it sincerely. He slipped it underneath her door, rapped on it, and then mad a dash for his car. He left to purchase a credit card. He didn't need it at all, but he also knew that - if Lacey were to agree to his plans - she most likely wouldn't want to go to him for money.

Aedan Durer had never been good at apologies, mainly because he wasn't one to usually accept when he was wrong. At the same time, however, he also wasn't the type to justify things with the age old excuse of, "they did it first." So even though it was widely known and obviously accepted - in his mind, anyway - that Lacey was the initial wrongdoer here, he knew he had fueled the growing fire by betraying her trust. Of course, he hadn't done it maliciously - no, not a single bit of ill intent was there when he'd confided in their mutual friend - but it had still happened, and she'd still taken it the wrong way. He didn't want her to hate him...that was the exact opposite of his goal, which had been from day 1 to get her to appreciate him. He wasn't quite sure if she knew the real reason for why he'd claimed her - besides the fact that he enjoyed a challenge - but if he ever did tell her, he knew she'd brush off his answer as a total lie. Or, most likely, she'd mockingly call him noble, though he never claimed to be. He knew why she was on the offense here, having had her freedom stolen away from her in the blink of an eye. Truth be told, if he were in her place, he'd be the same way. Probably worse, if one could imagine.

The last time he left the Society was merely a day ago, when he'd gone to the beach. That night was still lingering his mind, leaving a slow smile on his face that didn't ebb as he dressed, and even as he left the mansion once more. Lacey had been asleep by the time he'd gone, which was good for him. He'd wanted this to be a bit of a surprise. He'd shot a quick text to Mel as he called a cab and made his way into the city, asking her what kind of Starbucks beverage Lacey would enjoy. He remembered her saying something about missing the place, and decided that would be the best way to break the ice between them. He'd hoped he cracked it when he helped with the gash in her arm, but now it was time to entirely smash the awkwardness to smithereens. He stubbornly held a strong hope in his heart that this would be the beginning of something better, the start of a brighter situation than the one they were in now. Once arriving at a little plaza, he tipped the driver and made his way into the little coffee shop. He was aware of the looks he got as he entered, mostly by jealous boyfriends whose girlfriends' stares lingered far too long. Everyone there was dressed simply, in slacks and sweats, and there he was - button down shirt and black pea coat. His usual attire, really nothing special...but why should he change himself just because the world was going to shit? He arrived quickly and made his order. A green tea frap for himself, and he'd gone with two options for Lacey, both of which he deemed too complicated; a Caramel Machiato with whipped cream, and a drizzling of Caramel on top. He also ordered a small, Iced Skinny Mocha, just in case she didn't like the prior choice.

He arrived back to his house quickly, but founding himself walking as slowly as he could with the drink carrier held tightly in his grip. He wondered what her reaction would be and, while there were a number of ways the unpredictable lass could react, he hoped it would at least be a good one. Upon arriving, he walked right in, locking the door behind him and glanced around. And then his heart stopped. "What..." he gaped at the sight before him - couches flipped upside down, rugs tossed about and the curtains flipped crazily around. "Lacey!" he shouted, fear fueling his voice to an almost intolerable volume for any human to hear. He worried that someone had broken in, done something horrible - who would be able to get past his high security, and the security of Sanguine, he didn't know. But if someone had, then Lacey was an obvious target, seeing as he was nearly positive she hadn't left the house that day. He ran upstairs like a bullet - at this speed, he wouldn't be so much as a blur to any human. They'd merely feel a wisp of wind curl around their features as he passed,  see a slight flicker in the air around them, if they were observant. He ran past his bedroom and stopped short, just staring at what was ahead. Drawers were turned upside down and his bed was literally flipped. Thankfully, he could tell from a glance and a sniff inside that his safe hadn't been found...however, his room was still badly torn up. Like a rampant tornado hit it...a tornado only a vampire could cause. But he didn't care about that now - he could easily compel a maid to clean the house up in five minutes flat. Have to find Lacey.