a/n: decided to start over the roman numerals + start a new arc with a timeskip, hope you guys enjoy the return of the return (if i still have readers anymore that is lmao)

—

If you've never seen a dragon the size of a corgi have a case of a sniffles, I'll tell you it's painfully adorable. Obviously, I wouldn't say that to Justin's face. Just as the ice was beginning to thaw and I was beginning to think we'd escaped the winter without any illnesses, here I stand making soup for our greener-than-usual friend.

I loaded up a tray with a steaming hot bowl and tasked Vinny with it's delivery. Before he could make it out of the kitchen, I heard the tray clatter to the ground behind me. Vinny shrieked, soup went flying, and Moony came running. I sighed to myself upon seeing what had startled him out of his own skin. A certain slut deciding to teleport into my kitchen unannounced.

Asher sat atop the counter, legs crossed and tail flicking like a mischievous cat. He glanced the mess he'd incidentally caused. "Mortals are so dramatic."

"We have a front door." I deadpanned.

"And for an immortal, you're quite boring." He retaliated.

Ignoring that. I quickly readied a new bowl of soup, plenty more to spare on the stove. "Here. Take this up. I'll clean it up, after I deal with... This." I gestured down Asher's sinful frame. Moony clearly wanted to stay behind to continue lapping up the spill, but Vinny urged her out, extremely eager to put some distance between himself and our uninvited guest.

"I can't stay long. Short chain, I'm afraid." He presented me with a beautifully wrapped gift. Rich reds and silk, kissed by the perfume of the palace's garden. "Dear Ville coerced me into being his delivery boy, just this once. I'd normally never demean myself like this, but I made an exception for you. He said it was for a couple you know. I honestly didn't pay much attention."

"It's a wedding gift for Ezra and Yuu." I responded upon glancing the tag. "Tell him we said thank you. And thank you for making the trip. So, I take it things are going well at the palace?"

"I'm enjoying myself more than I thought I would. Initially, I didn't think it'd go anywhere. I mean, Ville's interest in me was nice, but I read him as an obvious top and I don't bottom. Foolish of me to assume the God of Love wouldn't be versatile. It was the first time in my life I'd ever had sex with someone who had the level of expertise I did. It was refreshing, to say the least."

"Ville's a good friend, and I'd prefer to not hear about his sex life in detail, please."

"Oh, but he's so good at giving head."

"Asher."

He snickered, happy he'd gotten to mess with me, even if only a little. A dramatic sigh fell from lips. "I should be getting back. Ville wasn't in the best of moods when I left. I was explicitly told it wasn't the day to try his patience. But, it was good to see you again, my dear. And, by the way, I like the new outfit."

And with one last look from his "fuck me" eyes atop his Cheshire grin, he disappeared. Yeah, I bet the slut did like my new uniform. He had a particular fascination with my face the first time we met and disliked the mask I used to cover it. I don't need such things anymore, or so it's seemed. A lot has changed since the snow began falling. Spring was nearly here, and I must wonder what else it may bring with it.

Though our castle had changed in many ways, it remained the lively home Ricky and I had built together. Soon after Ezra and Yuu had made it back home, now happily married might I add, Kuza and Yuki moved to the capital of Avatar Country. They both held onto Ricky and I in unhealthy ways that wouldn't allow growth or change. It was time their lives to move forward, and so they made the decision to accept positions in the king's army. Yuki was always more of a city dweller anyways. Since I've become less dependent on blood as well, finding him dead bodies to feed on had become more difficult. As for Kuza, there were few places he could go long term with his condition, but under Johannes' watchful eye was thankfully one of those few. I didn't realize until well after they'd left, we needed this change just as much as they did.

Shortly after they'd settled their choice with us, Ricky also decided it was well time to give Ash what he'd promised her; information on her father. He didn't even tell me what he knew, saying it was in everyone's best interest to forget about the whole thing. Of course, he was right about her all along. Once she had what she wanted, she left. It was a tearful goodbye with an open invitation to return, but another goodbye nonetheless.

I'm thankful to say that was the end to the drastic changes. The others remained their same cartoonish selves. The only thing that had changed on Yuu was the addition of a wrist tattoo signifying his marriage. He still smiled bright as the sun, delighted when I stopped by his room with Ville's gift. Yuu removed an letter from the underside of the ribbon, only to find that there were two. "Looks like there's one in here for you, too."

"Strange. Asher didn't mention it." But I suppose now I understand why Ville didn't leave the delivery up to any old servant. My name was penned in Ville's perfect cursive on one side, a wax seal imprinted with the heartagram on the other.

My friend,

I must leave the palace this evening to tend to something terribly urgent. Sudden changes like this aren't easy on Rune, and I'm afraid I'm also shorthanded at the moment. If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to ask you to come stay at the palace in my absence and aid the staff in caring for the little ones. I haven't the slightest idea how long I will be gone, but I anticipate it won't be more than a week at most. I'll write with updates should it become necessary. I know I can entrust you with their safety and wellbeing.

With love and gratitude,

Ville

—

It wasn't even a conversation between Ricky and me. Ville is the reason our love and lives still stand. If he needed a favor, it wasn't a question. I savored one last kiss with my darling lord before taking flight across the evening sky.

Apparently my timing couldn't have been better. Upon arriving at the palace, I could hear my favorite fairy beginning to cry. I rushed to his room immediately. Rune had pushed himself into the corner of his bed and pulled his knees to his chest as tightly as he possibly could. He'd hit his wrists against each other or his legs in an attempt to stim out all the negative feelings. I know he needed his space, so I handed him his favorite stuffed animal and told him I'd be there the second he needed me.

It was the night of the week Ville usually read to him. I'm sure he'd do it every night if he could spare the time. Though I know I'm no God of Love, Rune was willing to accept my reading as a consolation. It didn't take long for his eyelids to grow heavy, weighed down by the terrible stress of the day. Once Rune was tucked into bed and soundly asleep, I took a walk around the palace to get a proper grasp of everything, see where I could offer a hand if necessary.

I struck up a conversation with one of the guards, after she'd recognized me as the "cheesecake person." I've been called a lot worse. She didn't seem to have any idea why Ville left and said everyone else was equally as clueless, but they'd come to know his moods well enough to know it was nothing good. I doubt Asher knows anything beyond what he mentioned either. Regardless, I don't think the gamble is worth it. He's meant to be endured in small doses.

Well, I suppose I might as well work to my reputation. I was in no mood to sleep, too worried about what had pulled Ville away so urgently. When I reached the kitchen, I was surprised to find somebody up around at this time of night. A short girl in a peasant dress and boots, dirty blonde hair gathered under a bandana. When I say short, I mean short. 5'2" at best and struggling hard to reach the top shelf of a cupboard.

"Would you like some help?" I asked, doing my best not to sound like a grossly condescending man.

She jumped out of her skin, grasping her chest as she spun around to face me. "You scared me!"

I chuckled. "Sorry. Everyone I live with is used to it."

"Um, there's a jar of dried strawberries up there, if you wouldn't mind." Obviously I didn't mind. She was soft spoken, but not in a reserved way. It was a gentleness, like a kindergarten teacher. "Thank you. My name's Shelley, by the way. Well, actually Shelley's my middle name. My first name's Mary, but I go by Shelley."

"Mary Shelley." I said, "You wouldn't happen to be one of Ville's kids?"

"You know my dad? What am saying? Of course you do, you're... here." Okay, gentle, but a little scatterbrained. She stepped out of my way, hopping up on the far end of the counter, to give me space as I started pulling ingredients out. We continued out conversation, between her snacking that is.

"I owe my life to your father. My name is Chris, by the way. I don't think I remember seeing you around the previous times I've visited."

"I haven't been back in awhile. I've been doing an apprenticeship with a doctor in Etihull. It's this kinda small town north of the Wastelands."

"I've been to Etihull once." I replied, "I only stopped through for a night, though. I live in the forest just north of there. What made you come back?"

"Oh. My dad asked me to. I mean, he'd never force me to do anything, but when he asked, I could tell it was important. And then he left. So, now I'm stuck. Waiting for him to come back. I'm a little worried. My brother, Romeo, told me he asked everyone to come home."

"Romeo? You don't mean the Romeo that works in the garden?"

"Yeah!" Shelley smiled, "You didn't know he was my dad's son? He's the only one that lives here full time still. He's technically my half-brother. I don't have any full siblings, my other half-brother, Valentine, is Romeo's full brother. Then there's Rosanna, Aziza, and Sajan, who're all, like, full siblings to each other, but half siblings for me and Romeo and Valentine. And that's all of us, that we know of at least!"

Yeah. That you know of. I'm not saying shit to her about Calypso, but the irony of it was a little sad. Shelley was certainly a talkative one, but I didn't mind the company while I baked another cheesecake for the lovely palace guards. Once we changed topics, it was enough to get my mind off things temporarily. I was even more worried, though... Ville had all his kids come home before leaving on this urgent business. What could be urgent to someone as powerful as him is a frightening thought.

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a/n: sorry i took a long break on this story, but if there's still anyone reading now, i would love some comments/predictions/theories <3