Because I'm mated to an over-the-top bastard, I found myself prepping for a helicopter flight to DC the next morning. Amelia had no problem filling in as Mr. Pearlman's caretaker once Nurse Kathy clocked-out, and Griffin planned activities for the afternoon. Apparently, a game of Chinese checkers was suggested, and the trash talk had already begun.

Vincent didn't give me a chance to dwell on the fact that I had never flown in a helicopter, reminding me of the numerous times I'd flown by gollum and demon. On our way up the elevator to catch our ride, he continued his distraction techniques with conversation. Yes, willing conversation.

"If you want to adopt your gollum form while we fly, feel free," he said. "Scooby knows the full scoop. But I must warn you, it's a pain to strap in with wings."

"I doubt my wings would help me if I fell from a helicopter. I can barely fly from padded wall to padded wall," I offered sarcastically. "You would have to save me again."

"That kind of self-abuse is going to get you ten lashes."

"And the ten lashes wouldn't be abuse?"

Our banter went on like this for the next two hours, interspersed with witty quips from Scooby, who was looking forward to playing tourist at the Air and Space Museum while Vincent and I did our thing. My stomach had finally caught up with my body when we arrived at my parent's doorstep.

"I don't know why I came to the front door," I said, looking absently at the hedgerow below the window. "I always walk through the gate to the kitchen door."

Vincent squeezed my hand as he stared down at me in earnest. "I will always be right here when you need me. I will never let you down."

"What was that for?" I asked, blinking up at him.

"You've got that lost look. The one you wear when you get over-emotional."

"Over-emotional?"

"Yes, and I was reminding you that I will never abandon you. Not in this life or any other."

As I stood on the front stoop gazing at my lover with adoring eyes, my mom opened the door and popped her head out.

"What are you two doing out here?"

We were quickly herded inside where Dad waited at the wet bar, holding up a bottle of brandy.

"Rémy Martin Extra, thirty-five years young," he said. "Shall I?"

Vincent offered my dad his boyish smile. "I'd like to know how you managed it?" he said as he kissed my head and walked over to join Dad in conversation.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Mom's voice echoed at my ear, and I turned to find her staring at me. Her eyes looked refreshed, but a few drops could tackle that.

"I'm good. How are you?"

She shook her head at me. "Oh, Reese. This is your mother you're talking to." Her arms came around me and she pulled me in for a hug. As soon as I caught a whiff of her scent, infused with coconut shampoo and peppermint lip balm, the waterworks started again. And I had been doing so well.

It turned out, Mom harvested the squash before the cold front moved in, and she whipped up a perfect pot of winter soup. While every conversation that related to Theo ended with somebody crying, we also did a lot of laughing, and the time flew by all too quickly. Before I knew it, Scooby was dropping Vincent and me off on the rooftop and wishing us a happy holiday season.

The helicopter buzz finally wore off when we reached the penthouse via the sex elevator, but the hallway was not vacant when Vincent and I arrived. Raised voices greeted us as we walked into an argument between Bates and Wren in front of Vincent's apartment.

"I don't get paid to clean up after ill-tempered, old men," Bates said.

"No one has asked you to do that," Wren countered. "I merely wanted you to meet him."

When Vincent's presence became clear, the conversation halted, and I watched Vincent's face harden to stone. This was my cue.

"I'm sorry Bates. I take responsibility for Mr. Pearlman," I said. "I've looked after the old guy for two years. I know he's quirky."

Bates heard me, but his attention remained on Vincent as he performed a slow-motion blink. "I simply want to be sure boundaries are respected, since I have upheld my end of that bargain. I need to finish the laundry, if you will please excuse me."

He offered a bland nod to nobody in particular and slipped through the door into Vincent's apartment. Wren clicked her tongue behind him.

"He's becoming insufferable, Vincent. You need to say something to him."

"I'm going to do that now," Vincent said as he kissed my forehead. "Go ahead and check on Henry."

I watched my no-nonsense boyfriend follow his uppity houseman through the door, and Wren smiled, looking pleased with the results.

"How are you holding up, Reese?" she asked.

"I'm hanging in there. It's nice to know I have two families who support me."

"What's ours is yours. You have brought my son happiness. There is nothing anyone can give me that matters more." I received an unexpected hug from her, and she spoke reverently as she pulled away. "I'm sorry you lost your brother. I hope we can somehow fill that void for you."

Before either of us could get over-emotional, Wren made a polite exit, and I shuffled off in the opposite direction, blinking away moisture as I opened the door to Mr. Pearlman's penthouse. I found him involved in a cut-throat game of Chinese checkers with Griffin and Amelia. Based on my assessment of the board and their impatient comments, the game was approaching its climax, so I filled a glass of water and relaxed against the counter as I listened to the drama unfold.

"Are you sure that's the best move?" Mr. Pearlman asked Griffin as her fingers hovered over a blue marble.

"I'm not taking your advice anymore," she said.

"I told you never take advice from an opponent during battle," Amelia offered.

"I remember, but Henry isn't the opponent I'm worried about."

Griffin grinned at her mom as she finally made her move, and four moves later, Amelia shouted her victory.

"Winner and still champion," she said as she fist-pumped the air.

"She got us again," Mr. Pearlman complained, as he and Griffin shook their heads in defeat.

Amelia stood and patted them both on their shoulders before walking her empty glass to the kitchen. "Everything alright, Reese?" she asked on her way by.

"Nothing life threatening to report."

"Have you heard from Deidra since you got back from Chicago?"

"No. I figure she's gearing up for something big. She did tell me that Vincent and I aren't officially mated, though. That threw me for a loop. Apparently, I have to pass the scrutiny of the magister council."

Amelia's face hardened as she held her glass under the faucet. "I don't agree with that. Jonathan and I were served with the same rhetoric. We need to pass their scrutiny too, if he is to become magister."

"Is it the guys who make it so difficult, or am I biased because I'm female?"

Amelia shrugged. "I don't know. I'm too biased to judge."

"Do you think a fight with Deidra would prove my worth to the magisters?"

My question seemed to hit Amelia like a punch, and she rested her hands on her hips as she thought about it. "It's all about timing with the magisters. They're a bunch of hypocrites, so they'll ignore protocol if you catch them on the right day. For years they were against same sex partnerships among gollums because of the progeny issue. Yet, here we are with a high magister who is as gay as the pope is holy."

"Adamo? Really? I suppose I can see it. But, I didn't meet his mate, only his houseman."

"His mate doesn't live with him to keep up the pretense they aren't mates. I'm not surprised you didn't meet Graham. You'd remember him if you did. He's an interesting gollum."

I didn't need to know why Adamo's secret mate was interesting. I'd already met plenty of interesting gollums, and not necessarily in a good way. Since Griffin and Mr. Pearlman decided to play for second place, Amelia sent me home, and I arrived in the middle of a battle between the man of the house and his insufferable houseboy.

"... and I have asked you to be more civil to her numerous times." Vincent's voice boomed clearly through the apartment door, causing me to hang back and wait.

"I haven't said a word about her laundry getting added to yours," Bates countered. "I even offered to clean her cashmere sweater. What more do you want from me? What more can I give you?"

"Bates, I tolerate your innuendos and insipid jokes, but I will not have you making Reese feel uncomfortable in her own home."

"So, she has officially moved in? All I see is a half-full closet and a sad collection of makeup."

"She is moving in slowly. The fact is, she is permanent, and if you want to continue your job in the same way, I need you to get over your dreams of grandeur and make nice with Reese. She is engaging and funny. You should find plenty to talk about."

The next sound came in the form of nails clicking on tiles as Bonnie and Clyde sensed my presence behind the door, and I took the opportunity to walk in casually, kneeling to receive the whippets' friendly greetings.

Bates scurried over, as if he couldn't wait to run like hell. "They clearly adore you, Reese. As do we all. I will see you next time."

The gentle tap of leather shoes signaled his exit behind me, and when the door clicked shut, Vincent reached out to pull me to my feet.

"If Bates makes you feel uncomfortable once more, he's out," Vincent said. "Our former housekeeper has made a bid for the position again. Cynthia was thorough and she didn't have a smart mouth."

"No, thanks. I will take ten snobby houseboys over one thorough Cynthia."

Vincent's chest shook with a breathy chuckle, and he hauled me to the couch. We dropped onto the cushions and volleyed for position until our bodies synced up, then we both let go of a sigh.

"I hate to bring up serious stuff," I said, snuggling further under his arm. "Amelia reminded me of something I've been meaning to ask you. Have you submitted our request to be mated?"

"No, I haven't. I'm still trying to figure out which angle to approach it from."

"Angle, huh? How very CEO of you. Do you think I have a chance of impressing the council if I fight Deidra? My choke hold has improved."

"Yes, it has. And your gag reflex has gotten better too."

I elbowed him in the ribs. "You don't play fair. Any time you mention sex, I get distracted."

"I didn't mention sex. And I don't think a battle with a belligerent female will significantly improve your standing with the council."

I had a feeling Vincent wasn't employing the CEO part of his brain on this issue. He just didn't want me to get hurt. "Amelia told me something interesting about Adamo Ricci."

"Oh?"

"She said he hides his sexual orientation because it doesn't follow magister protocol. Do you think we could exploit that information, maybe get him to overlook my hybrid orientation?"

Vincent hesitated and I lifted my head to find him pursing his lips. "That would be like poking a hive to see if it was still active. You might be safe, and you might end up catching it in the ass." 

I nodded as I lowered my head again. "Point taken."