The call home had been far less taxing than he originally anticipated. No cries of distress or argument came from Xavier, he had been rather dreading it before his call, although it seemed Reko and Gregory had apparently promised him much ice cream and a day off his studies for a surprise trip to the carnival the boy had been so disappointed not to be allowed to attend before.

Vaughan had caught himself last moment from any words of disapproval, knowing that it was only fair.

He crushed his guilt at leaving the boy to be baby sat the following week by promising him that, as soon as a room was properly prepared for Xavier and as soon as Vaughan had settled himself and figured out how his studies would be properly managed, he would be having much fun at the Arya residence with the two young boys here.

The phone call was done, and Vaughan had laid on the bed, not taking off his jacket or shoes before finding himself jerking awake. The room was now made up of shadows and muted colors, the window outside giving preview to the late hour.

Standing slowly, he wiped his eyes, and blinked into the dark, only a whisper of sky and city line visible against the remains of dusk surrounded by the oncoming night.

Stumbling he managed to reach the beside lamp without too much trouble.

"Goodness," he grunted spying the bedside clock.

Nearly 7. He must have been exhausted.

Walking to the attached washroom he relieved his bladder, and splashed water on his face, fixing his wayward curls as best he could. 

Satisfied he returned to his room, snapping on the sharp light, and shuffling out of his suit in favor of a more comfortable brown cardigan with bottoms to match.

"Well, I suppose I had better see if anyone else is awake," he said to the empty room, the only accompany sound being the response of his stomachs unappeased appetite.

Slipping out the door, he stood a bit awkwardly in the lit hallway. Taking in a breath of courage he shuffled his way down the stairs, halfway to the first floor smelling what must have been dinner.

Soon after making his way towards a back hall, he had not ventured down upon his brief introduction to the home earlier, he heard voices. Some laughter. More discussion.

Sweat broke out on his brow and his heart hammered stopping his feet.

"Perhaps they have guests over," he thought biting his lip, unsure.

"I would hate to interrupt," he practiced," But I am staying here. I must eat. If there is not a seat at the table for me, I surely could grab a helping for myself upstairs. Oh what rubbish manners! I should just announce myself and make do for any humiliation for missing dinner call."

At some point while he argued with himself, he had made his way half down the hall and could hear the voices louder, but it wasn't until his name rung out that any of it registered. Suddenly he was tugged back down to reality with a heavy hand landing on his shoulder causing him to promptly squeak in absolute terror.

Hand clutching his chest heart rabbiting underneath he spun around to see Myles standing, hand still outstretched and that stony look morphing from its grim demeanor raising those heavy brows and a huff came out. Vaughan was unsure, but he thought the man looked pulled between exasperated and amused.

"Are you certain you are not the new Nanny?" He mocked.

Vaughan forgot about his racing heart and frowned, growling at the taller man crossing his arms," Are you saying you tend to sneak behind poor unassuming nannies in the middle of the night to scare the living daylights out of them?!? As for, while I hold no such title still, going around and scaring humble people in a dark hallway is not a past time I would encourage."

"Oh," the mans eyes crinkled a bit, but he quickly reverted back to that same stony expression.

Vaughan found he could not tear his eyes from the ever-scorching gaze" I tried calling your name. You were mumbling to yourself. Dinner is ready. We had let you sleep, seeing how tired you seemed. Come. You are hungry, I am certain."

Vaughan sputtered for a moment, unsure what to say or do.

It seemed for some reason that everything this man said was uttered with levels of importance, fire behind even the simplest of conversation, and it did something to Vaughan that made him want to respond just as extreme.

Instead, he took a steadying breath and followed the taller man into the dining area grumbling under his breath about the 'large oaf' while glaring at the mans wide shoulders. Did he work out? Probably, how else did he manage to take up so much space? In fact, he was very large to begin with, including his height, what did he eat as a child?

Unfortunately, while following in such a huff and grumbling this under his breath, Vaughn inconveniently forgot to process the persons movements of whom he was following and ended up running into the other man.

Stumbling back his face went red as an apple when those seated at the table had paused their meal to witness the interaction, and Myles turned halfway with his brow once again bridged high, a questioning judgement set upon his proud features.

Squeaking, he coughed and cleared his throat," So-sorry. Apologizes I seem to still be waking up from such a deep sleep. I did not mean to interrupt the meal."

"No no come join us!" Waved over Amelia, and next to her were two boys.

One was the obvious older brother, lighter features, blond short hair shaved in the back and sides with sharp blue eyes that cut to him sharply. The other boy was a bit smaller, a roundness still about him that was the last of young childhood clinging to him before he began his adolescent journey, dirty blond hair hanging around his head pulled back into a half ponytail and ending at his jawline his skin holding an olive tone a shade lighter than Myles. This boys eyes were of the same blue, but were sparkling and not as sharp as his brothers own.

"Come sit with me!" he cried promptly smacking the nearest empty seat to his left. At the table aside from the three, was a small group.

Some, such as Bradly who had picked them up earlier, were seated, and if Vaughn took the seat next to the younger boy he would be sitting directly across the cheerful driver.

Then a snow haired man, without the lines of time to accompany the white smiled past his spectacles was to Amelia's right and at the end of the right side of the long oak table was a man who was as stoic and uninviting as Myles- maybe even more so.

The tables head was empty where he assumed Mr. Arya sat.

Three others sat after making up the rest of that side of the table, three men in interesting clothes, one with thick braids running through his hair the other with a few beads mixed into his sparce braids. The third was a barely a man at all and could be argued to be very much so in boyhood with short hair, and patchy beard. They all had brunet hair and similar grey eyes and features, so he assumed them related somehow.

Last, across from the white haired man making the other end seat of the opposite side, was a frightful man, who had a scar deep and angry across the side of his face and head, disappearing only when it met up with a cropped hairline, which was shaved half way and pulled into a tight bun on his head.

Vaughan tried his best not to stare at the various tattoos that were visible on the mans very large arms and thick neck.

All together this made 9 people at the table with various others standing around the room, only two of which he had met and the two charges he would be forced to meet. All the others were a strange mash of men and women that made him feel rather exposed as they stood in various corners of the room making the expansive dining room feel rather small, some with glasses of various drink, all with calculating gazes turned to him.

Nervously he pulled his shirt sleeve further over his hand, picking at the fabric in absent worry.

What had he just walked in on?

"Um," being a loss for words Elliot, for that is who he assumed was sitting next to his brother and mother, smacked the chair again, raising his eyebrow in a questioning manner.

"Well? You're late for dinner- but we knew you would be down. Uncle tell Mister Vaughn to sit down!"

Not wanting to be told to do ANYTHING by the infuriating man, Vaughan swiftly swept past Myles and gingerly pulled out his seat, grateful that at least Bradly would be the one seated across from him, as for his constant chatter was far more agreeable than the sea of strangers staring at him.

The room was silent for a moment before Myles strode to the head of the table, jerking his own seat back," go on the lot of you. There is work to be done and I don't see any of you doing it."

The group was quick to finish drinks, politely wash their dishes, and file out of the room some giving Myles a "thank you," or a," we will be right on it."

One man, the elder who had been next to where Myles went to sit now, stood, and set a hand leaning in, a glint in his blue eye and he murmured something before smiling and retreating back.

Pausing next to Vaughan he extended a warm soft hand with a smile to match," I wish you a very good evening McClellan, and apologize I am retiring early but would like to introduce myself. My name is Arjun. Arjun Arya," his grin widened as he continued to shake a wordless Vaughan's hand," I am uncle to Myles, Amelia, and Kabir."

At this Vaughan followed his gaze to the three in question, the tattooed man making up the 3rd unknown nodding his head.

"Um, it is a pleasure to meet you," he shook the hand uncertain of how much he truly would like to eat with this group, wishing more than ever he could ring for food to be delivered to his room.

"Don't fear my brother nor my sisters sons," Arjun chuckled, reading the room all too well," they are all bark and no bite. But I myself find that, with age, I must retire earlier and earlier, despite finding this whole scenario vastly entertaining."

"Right," Vaughan said," I will . . .take that into account."

"Good night then," he said cheerfully waving and hobbling off out of the room.

Vaughan didn't have long to settle into his seat before the younger of the two boys, bright eyed and grinning at him opposed to the silently glowering older boy bombarded him," I heard you were going to bring a boy with you! Where is he? I thought we could play before bed time- I wanted to show him my club house."

"Elliot," his mothers voice calmed the younger boy with a low murmur," leave poor Mr. McClellan alone. He has just came and only just woken up and your forgetting your manners. We haven't had you properly introduced."

The boy sighed and visibly fought to calm himself down.

"It is nice to meet you," he said in a quick breath," My name is Elliot Arya, thank you for coming. Now where is the boy? I wanted to play!"

"Elliot," came his uncles warning tone and the boy slumped down mulishly with a pouty," I apologize for my inappropriate behavior. Thank you for coming all this way Mr. McClellan."

"Vaughan is just fine, "he responded in an effort to smooth away the unwilling smile on his face," Calling me Mr. anything just makes me feel old."

"But aren't you?" the boy questioned, and he heard a huffed laugh from Myles from the head of the table and a cough from their mother.

He hummed," well," he said slowly," I suppose to one so young as yourself- yes."

"And this," continued Amelia," is Keaton. Keaton," the warning in her turned tone was obvious.

"Nice to meet you," came a delayed response from the boy glaring at his plate.

Vaughan wasn't sure what to make of that. It was clear that Keaton was less than pleased at his arrival, and he wasn't sure how to address it.

Or even why.

"And," Amelia quickly pressed on," I would love for you to meet the rest of the family. This is our cousin; Kabir. Our father's sisters son. You already have met Bradly," here the cheerful man waved winking to Amelias laughing tone and then she continued her introductions," to his left are Marcell, Malachi, and Michael. Their distant relations on our mothers side," at naming the three following Bradly, they acknowledged themselves when named off in turn. The youngest with the patchy beard was Malachi, the one with beads in his braided hair Michael, and the one with intricate thick braids was Marcell.

"It is a pleasure to meet so much of your family-  do you all live here?" He nodded his thanks as a plate topped with food was set down in front of him, and he had to fight not to dig in and forget conversation.

The tattooed one, Kabir he reminded himself, smiled a very welcoming smile that completely contradicted his façade of tattoos, piercings and menace making Vaughan finding himself relax under the gaze," No. We will be for the time being, but it is but for a short time. A family reunion of sorts."

"Oh, such a large family," he commented thinking briefly to his extended relatives on his mothers very large family- a family made up of those who had a standard of 5 to 8 children each- so many so that it made his head whirl. His mother only having two had been somewhat an oddity. Aside for one Uncle who had no children- by choice a lifelong bachelor. A far more enticing prospect to Vaughan as time trudged on.

"It is," Kabir was smiling still, though something was tight along his brow that hadn't been there before.

"just as much a blessing as it is a curse at times." Here his smile morphed into a ruthless grin and his eyes slid over to Myles," is that not so, dear cousin mine?"

Myles, though there were similar features between the two, held none of the welcoming demeanor that his fiercer looking cousin held, but instead glowered at the other. A sort of silent exchange was being done, Vaughan concluded, and he was sure it was at Myle's expense.

"How about you Vaughan?" asked the wide-eyed young man who had been between the conversation- he had mixed up which one was which with the three names each starting with 'M'," do you have a large family?"

At the question Vaughan felt his heart give a sudden tight squeeze, and upon instinct he slapped a smile to his face, setting his spoon down in order to grab his napkin to dab at a non-existent spot on his face, if only to busy himself so his mind didn't busy itself for him.

"Oh, well," he forced his tone to be that of a jovial thing," I could say as much. My mother was one of 12 siblings," here he got a few astonished shouts of 'Twelve?!?' before he plowed on," and each of them aside for my one uncle has a brood of children of their own. The least being one of my aunts who birthed 5 and ended there when she had a set of twins. On my fathers side I do have an uncle, though we are not close. I believe he had only one son. He had moved to Madrid before I was born, and I have only seen him visit twice. My father and I both were not ones for travel. . . ," he trailed off, stomach clinching at the thought of his father.

At the thought of his father traveling to see said uncle a little less than 2 years prior.

Refusing to turn his mind to such matters he turned his attention to his plate and started systematically cutting at his steak, smile still plastered to his face," I took in my nephew a few years back. It is pretty much just him and I, which works for me just fine after all. When there have been family reunions, they have always been so tiring. I am quite comfortable with it just being the 2 of us. He's a great boy, he'll be here next week so you will have the chance to meet him after all."

He was rambling he knew, so he stuffed his face pushing away manners to save his rambling mouth.

This was precisely why he didn't enjoy conversation beyond that of a planned interview. His hands had been sweating before he had sat down, now he was positively dripping. Trying studiously to ignore the gazes of the gathered family he swallowed, making a polite comment to the delicious food in an attempt to direct the conversation from family.

"How old is your nephew," asked Elliot, uninterested in his attempt to redirect the topic, but Xavier was a safe enough subject to focus on, so he didn't mind.

"He is six, "Vaughan smiled to the other, setting his fork down to direct his attention politely to the child.

"Oh," a pause while the 8 year old thought then," well. He's old enough to play with us then. If he had been 5, I would have been sad."

"6 is quite the milestone," he chuckled.

"Who is watching the boy now," it was Myles and for some reason, Vaughan found he could not help but meet his smoldering gaze.

Feeling very much so put on the spot and wishing to answer correctly- thought there was only one true answer for some reason he felt it important he say it right to the intense man- he swallowed, unconsciously grabbing his napkin," With my estate manager and head butler. Reko and Gregory. Gregory has been with the family before I was born, and did well to watch over me as a lad. Both of them do quite well with Xavier."

"I am certain they do," Kabir cut into what Vaughan was sure to be a scathing comment from Myles. Was the man always so intense looking? It was sort of unsettling.

Thankfully the conversation moved away from family to more agreeable topics such as food, weather, and the boys coming football game.

Vaughan slowed his pace at his plate when blissfully attention moved away from him and he was able to get by with no other comments and was able to smoothly extract himself from the group gently excusing himself when Micheal and Marcell were bickering due to Kabirs comments who was doing his best to stroke the already burning flames between the two brothers.

Eventually Vaughan made to excuse himself, standing while thanking them for the meal and company.

"OH! "Elliot stood with him, he wondered how the boy found the energy, throwing out his arms with the gesture of an embrace," Good night! I am so so happy you're here! I can't wait for us to all have fun!"

Vaughan laughed forcefully, gently grabbing the arms before they could latch onto him and lowered them patting the boys head," Yes. Well. Good night then Elliot. I hope you, as well, get a good nights sleep."

The boy looked dejected for only a moment before nodding," I will. Thank you."

Once he left the too crowded dining room, he let out a relieved sigh, before trudging upstairs, weary. This was to be a very exhausting job, he reasoned, and he was only going to be too sure of his book progression due to it.