Ailsa

                Link's pov

                As I stare out of the grassy green hills of my home town, I don't feel the peace and serenity it usually gives me. My mind draws up the panic stricken faces of Master Cedric and Bear when I told them I was leaving for Scotland in a few hours and wasn't too certain when I would be coming back. What I haven't told them was that I only had bought a single ticket, but figured Master would figure it out soon enough.

                As much satisfaction it gave me for them to watch me walk out of their lives, I don't feel it now, two and a half months later. Both call me regularly and text me, at least once a day I need to listen to my voicemails and delete them. The only reason I even listen to them is to hear any news or update on the Reagan situation. Although it tugs at my heartstrings to hear Bear so emotionally broken and unstable, I just can't face him or Master Cedric right now. Not with how unstable my own mind is at the moment.

                "I would have never pegged you for a runner cous." I don't look up as my younger cousin Ailsa took a seat beside me on the grass. Nor do I scoff at his presence like most of my family do. All because he attracts all kinds of trouble with not being able to keep big mouth shut. I lost count of the occasions where I have seen him beaten up to a bloody mess. The rates and the amount were staggering. His parents don't know what to do with him anymore and so, the rest of the family dubbed him the black sheep of the family.

                "What brings you here, dear cousin of mine?" I glance sideways at his roughish good looks. Like most males in our family he takes after his father. Tall, broad, intimidating, fierce and highly protective of his loved ones. I have a slight inkling of why he is here instead of my brothers or his. The cheeky grin he gives me speaks volumes. There is trouble brewing in paradise.

                 The listless sigh that followed my question was a statement in itself. Ailsa has had a track record of being unable to keep a steady relationship with anyone. One of the few reasons people called him the bane of his parents' existence. But there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon when voluptuous and adventurous Sheila entered his life. It seemed she managed to sway him to finally settle down or at least tone down his attitude. The sad part is that while his parents slowly start to have hope for grandchildren, they don't know that Ailsa's older sister is paying her to play the part. Ailsa knows about it and hasn't called her on it...yet. My bet is that he did and he left them to fight it out amongst themselves.

                 "I was wonderin' when you'd be going back, and if you do, if I could come with." The question itself didn't throw me. It was the person asking it that did it. Never once since I moved to the Pleasure District, or back when I was still a cop did Ailsa express any interest in the hustle and bustle of the city. So why now of all times? I couldn't help but wonder. Though, I knew better than to pry with Ailsa about his reasons of going to the city. He would tell me when he was ready.

                 "I don't know if I am going back anytime soon." I groan as I flop down on my back to stare at the sky dotted with puffy white clouds.

                 ~~~

                 Placing my glass on the wooden polished bar, I shake my head as the bartender silently asks me for a refill. Turing to face the tightly packed together sea of bodies, I grimace as I can't find Ailsy's face in the crowd. Wondering for the umpteenth time how Ailsy managed to drag me along to this odd watering hole. Apparently this is one of his usual joints; the bouncer just had to look at him before we were allowed in.

                 Sighing under my breath, I see Ailsy walk back through the sea of bodies followed by a girl fiddling with her clothes. I shake my head slightly as she grabs hold of his arm, probably wanting his number or something. He just shakes his head and pushes her away. He stops in his tracks as he sees me standing there. Finally realising he has left me alone from the moment we arrived here. Not that I really mind but, I would have appreciated some sign concern from his side. "Let's go home." I slap his shoulder as I squeeze my way out of the bar into the nippy night air.

                 "Why didn't you get lucky?" Ailsy questions as we slowly make our way to his small apartment. "Not for the lack of them trying." He adds on as I stay silent. I am not too sure he is open minded enough for me to mention that I am in the BDSM lifestyle and didn't feel like betraying the ones I left behind by this impromptu trip of mine.

                 "I am pretty sure that is none of your business." I grunt as I flop down on the matrass in his tiny two bedroom apartment. "Just like it is none of my business what you did in the bathroom." Sighing I turn onto my side and huff as an extra weight lands on my back.

                 "There is something you are not telling me cous." I roll my eyes as he continues to ask about it. I push him back, knowing he will not let me sleep until he knows what is going on.

                 "Will you back off already?" I grumble as Ailsy finally backs off and sits on the side of my bed. "You are not letting this go are you?" His smirk is the answer I need to know that this is going to be a long night should I decide not to tell him. "Alright, Ailsy fine. I will tell."

                 His eyes are as wide as saucers by the time I finish speaking. "So you are into that kind of thing huh?" He shakes head in slight disbelief. "Never knew you were into that kind of thing."

                 "Neither did I Ailsy, until I met the right person." I exhale, thinking how I became Master Cedric's Sub and how Bear later joined me. Remembering the good times, the bad times and the ugly times brought me back to why I am home right now instead of being by their side. Silently wondering who it got out of hand so badly so quickly.

                  "Then why are you here cous?" I thought that those types of relationships only work well with consent and shit. And by the look on your face and the fact that your phone goes off several times a day tells me that aint the case."

                  "Could you just let this rest Ailsy? It's none of yer business." I growl as I push him off the bed. He holds his hands up in surrender as he swaggers out of the room.

                   The next few days, I contemplate the thought of calling either Master Cedric or Bear. My decision is made for me as Bear's number appears on my screen. "Link, is that you?" I bite my lip as Bear sounds depressed and stressed out.

                   "Hey baby." I coo softly and he starts sobbing. "Tell me what's wrong." I sit down on his sofa as Ailsy has the decency to leave me alone with Bear. My shoulders sag as he continues to babble to me about his brother and that he is slowly waking up and he doesn't know what to do now. "Don't worry too much about it baby, I will be coming home soon."

                    Then just as we are about to hang up Bear says something amazing, something that makes my heart a lot lighter. "I love you Link. I hope to see you back home soon." There is no anger or resentment in his voice. There is only resolve that I will be back. Some day. "We will talk when you get back."

                    "Yeah, we will Bear." I agree and sigh a little. "Love you too." My head hits the back rest of the couch as I hang up, my eyes closed.

                     "That sounds like you have a place to be son." I groan under my breath but keep my eyes closed as I hear some shuffling accompanying my dad's voice. "Why didn't you tell me you were having an argument with someone you love? Don't you trust us?"

                     "It's not that dad... it's just really complicated." I rub my brow as I feel a nasty headache coming on. Clambering to the kitchen I swallow two aspirins dry, hoping they will work soon. "The person on the phone is going through a rough time right now and I made it worse by picking a fight with them before leaving them high and dry."

                     I shrink back a little under my mother's glaring eyes. She always had a knack for knowing when I or my brothers were telling the truth or not. "There is more to it." She states with her dainty hands on her ample hips. "There is something you are not telling us. And the only reason you would pick a fight with anyone during their darkest hour is because you feel neglected. Usually rightly so, what happened out there Link?"

                     "You are usually like this whenever something in a case you are working on is going to go sour... soon." I can't argue with my dad there, I have always been pretty bad at keeping things to myself. I moan softly, knowing very well that dad has a way of making me talk by just giving me that one look. It's a look neither me nor my big badass brothers can stand. And of course he is giving me that look now.

                      "Really dad, there is nothing for you to worry about. It will be fine once I return home." I don't notice the slight tensing of my dad's body when I say that. "We will talk it out once I get there." I frown as my dad looks angry and mom looks a little hurt. "What? What is it?"

                       "I should have known letting you go to the city was a bad idea." My dad grumbles as he hugs mom close. "Your home is where your family is!" He growls out before storming out of the door, tugging my mom along with him.

                       "I think it's safe to say you pissed him off big time cous." I roll my eyes heavenward as Ailsy states the obvious. Rubbing the back of my head I feel the headache coming back full force. Now I have to take care of this before I will be able to leave with a sound conscience. "I am glad it aint me."

                       As news travels fast in a small town like ours, the whole town was teeming with the wildest stories about the reason my father was angry with me within minutes of my parents' departures. I knew I was walking to a very one sided family meeting a few days after mom and dad's visit. I only had to take one look at my older brother's Angus' face to know shit is about to hit the fan. His anger was mirrored by Eion and Owen, though the two of them were more annoyed than anything else.

                       I ignored the three of them as I went and took my seat at the large dinner table that took up most of the space in our kitchen/diner room. My brothers' wives and children were there as well. Like usual for a Sunday dinner, the whole family was in attendance. I was surprised however to see Ailsy there as well, looking mighty uncomfortable hovering near his parents.

                       Most are just curious about what was going on between me and my family. Usually I was warmly welcomed, not glared to death by my brothers and father. I could tell mom had been crying there were bags under her eyes and light tear stains on her cheeks. Upon closer inspection, everybody was looking down and slightly depressed. It wasn't until my younger cousin Garrett climbed on my lap and asked the innocent question of "What is going on uncle Link?" And all hell broke loose.