"What the fuck?" Saint snaps, having been literally thrown to the wall by his angry brother and pinned by a single fist on his chest. "Ma-"

"Don't you dare call her for help when this entire time I've let you be around my girl, the energy I spent just driving your sorry ass here and the amount I have not hurt you in the past twenty four hours is astounding." Ares practically snarls out, looking threatening as ever. Santiago pales, Bianca sits up on the pull out in shock, looking like this is what she woke up to. "What the fuck have you been doing that's making her so uncomfortable. Don't say you don't know, because that will be worse for you if you don't even know how you're messing with her. She's mine, you've made her afraid. Explain."

"Hijo just take a deep breath, ask your girl instead. Let me talk some sense into him." After a solid minute of thinking it over, tense as could be, Aress drops his hold on Saint -who shoots towards Camilla like a bullet.

Nico, who's holding Blink, and Angie both make a face at him. Bianca, with a roll of her eyes that I can't tell who its directed at, gets up and follows her best friend.

"Its not my fault she's so hot though."

Hearing Santiago's low murmur Areas whips around with a murderous glare, looking more intense than any time I had ever seen him -including when the Reeds set our kitchen on fire. His fists ball up and he's clearly ready to start swinging, I quickly dash in front of him -ready to either accidentally be hit or get yelled at as I squeeze my eyes tightly shut.

"Ev." The giant in front of my gives off a coarse whisper, I open my eyes but don't look away from his jaw. "Why would you step in front of him like that?"

"He's not worth it Mars." I say, voice overly quiet. "Don't start a fight because of him, or me. You know I hate it when you fight."

Not responding to me, Ares pulls me against him and buried his head in the crook of my neck, body shaking off his anger.

"Mars, don't be mad I didn't tell you I was scared or stepped in front." I murmur while hugging him gently, aware what I did is stupid. "Please."

"I'm not mad you didn't tell me. If I hurt you I would have never forgave myself, you know that. What is he even doing to you?"

"I-I don't even know. I'm just -I know I'm not safe around him. He reminds me...he acts a little like Isen. I'm freaking myself out, and I know that. I know that." My voice gets a little weaker as I say this, and I hate myself for it. "But he scares me. I don't like being around him, I don't feel safe around him. He looks at me like he wants to eat me, and he said demeaning things about me, he says my name and, and I hate how he says it. I just really-" I cut myself off as tears flood my eyes, to try and compose myself so I don't cry. "I really don't like being around him Ares."

"Then you don't have to be. We'll be the first to leave here once everything is over, unless you want Mamá to skin us alive." I giggle at this, knowing from his tone he's thinking the same thing as me: that he'd be the only one she'd be mad at. "He won't talk to you, fuck I'll make it so he won't even look at you. Okay Ev?"

I nod at this, feeling much safer now that I'm standing chest to chest with him and his thumbs make circles against the skin on my sides. "I love you." I reply, liking to fact I can openingly say that now. "And thank you for not hurting him, he's your family."

"I know you don't like violence." My giant grumbles, seemingly unhappy about the fact he didn't get to hit his brother. "And I'd choose you over him any day."

"But you'd choose your family over me though, right." This is said in a reprimanding tone as I see the tight lipped yeah-right type of look Ares has. "Mars!"

"What! You're my family, eventually that will be on paper too. You can blame me, all of these people here are loco."

Did he imply that one day we'll be married or is that a leap?

Rolling my eyes I attempt to be stern and cross my arms, but the way his hands stay circling my waist erases my glare. "Family is important, I'd want you to choose them."

"It would never come down to that, my mamá loves you. Mom likes you too, so does Angie -which is really weird but awesome. Nicolettá is more than happy that we're together and Donovan seems to like you too." Ares shrugs, head dipping down so he can kiss my forehead. "You shouldn't worry about who I'd choose, if everytime I'd choose you."

God now I have weak knees.

"I think that other atmosphere you reside at up there," I pick at his height. "Is messing with your brain Mars. What if your mothers heard that you wouldn't choose them."

"They'd understand." He replies without hesitation. "To be with Mom Mamá gave up her entire family, that's why I don't have any grandparents. So if something happened and they had me pick between the love of my life and them, I think they'd be proud I'd still pick the woman who makes me so happy instead of a family that makes me pick."

"I didn't know that, and that actually makes sense...I make you happy?" I ask, I could have definitely been more confident in my answer to Camilla.

"Of course you do," Ares actually chuckles at me. I pout at him, making his eyes widen slightly. Undercurrents of his anger are still there, clenched jaw, tense muscles, dark eyes. It's easy to see just how upset Saint makes him about this. "Sorry Ev, it's just -you said that like it surprised you."

"Well I knew that...I just didn't know-know it. Because I, well, actually I don't know why I thought that I wouldn't make you happy as a possibility but I did." Huffing at myself I lean into his chest. "I'm just not thinking straight I guess."

His hand slips under my chin and holds my face up to his, I go on my toes and kiss him like he wants. To stabilize it more because of our height difference I loop both my arms around his neck, his arms around me lift me off the ground slightly.

Sighing into the kiss, I know now this is exactly what I needed at the moment.

I'm put back on the ground, his arms sliding down so he can grip my hips instead. This time the kiss is slower, a shiver runs through him as I grab the back of his head, fingers in his hair -I giggle at him slightly, making him pull away just to give me a look.

Grinning at him I go back on my toes and kiss his jaw, making it unclench from where he had been tense because of the anger. "You don't have to get so upset over all this." I whisper and kiss his shoulder once before doing back onto flat feet. "It's over now."

"As long as you're still in the house with him, with someone you're scared of I won't be happy about it. I want you safe." The determination in Ares eyes is fierce, and I know I'm safe with him. "If you don't feel safe...it means I'm failing to protect you. And I don't like feeling like a failure."

"You're not failing anything!" I say a little too fast, almost offended for him. "Mars you're helping me in exactly the right way, well besides slamming people into walls, but you're the one person I'm always safe around. Don't put yourself down, it's not worth it. I hate it when you're mean to yourself."

Someone like him shouldn't even be allowed to not like themselves.

The sentient tree accidentally hits his head on the low hanging light standing up straight from kissing me, making me laugh before I could hide my amusement. "Sorry," I giggle and attempt to brush his glare off. "Its just like taking a walk with you around trees, you can never go more than five feet without being smacked in the face."

"This is funny and all, coming from a midget." Ares playfully retorts, making me gasp. "Remember when I said you have to be 5'5 to get a say? Let's bring that back."

"How dare you -mph!" I squeal as Ares, tired of my protest, grabs the back of my thighs and lifts me in the air while holding my legs against his waist. During this he somehow also managed to kiss me, sending heat coiling down my spine. "This doesn't make up for you calling me a midget."

"Wasn't meant to." Ares replies smugly against my lips, I scoff and kiss him harder.

"If you're making out stop before I get in the room." Donovan calls, making me instantly pull away but Ares won't let me slide down him -something Donovan pretends to gag at. "Like this is any better."

Pouting at his discontent I send a look to the giant, "He won't put me down."

One arm under me and one arm around me Ares hides away under my chin, "You're mine, I don't need to."

"Well, Cami got- -or rather is making Santiago- -not look, talk to, stand around or scare Peyton. Which means our fun family activities can start, so we're starting a game once the two of you are done."

My eyes widen at the news, surprised Saint is agreeing to that. Then again its probably so he doesn't get pummelled by Ares and because when mad, his mother is scary. "Oh, okay." I smile at him, thankful. "Tell the others we'll be there in a second."

Under me, Ares grumbles darkly about having to move.

Because of this Donovan raises an amused eyebrow before shaking his head with a grin. "Just a second? Yeah right." He scoffs, leaving a second later.

"We need to go be with your family." I sigh and hold onto Ares who groans at my words. "Don't get all pouty Mars, just put me down and let's go play whatever game they picked."

"So the teams are settled then," The 'game host' Angie (she just wanted to eat while watching us all make fools of ourselves) announces after drawing from a hat. "Cami with Santiago. Liv you're with Nico, Donny you're with Ev. Our last pair is Bee and Ares, good luck." She obviously doesn't think they'll be a good pair.

"Well partner," Donovan smiles down at me and I instantly grow nervous because of the game. "Ready to kick ass?"

"Oh um, yeah." I say, smiling the best I can up at him. "What do we have to do? I've never played before."

"Well its simple. We have to get through every room in the house, save for Cami and Liv's room since that's private. We're not aloud to step on certain spot which is why Angie put bubble wrap in some places. Each room has a little puzzle, like an escape room and teams compete against one another. If you touch the bubble wrap or break a rule you get points deducted and whatever order you place in by finishing the room is how much points you get. Whoever has the most points at the end wins, and gets to pick where we go out to eat. Its actually really fun. I think we have a good chance of winning, from what Ares has said you're a good person to work with."

"I'm a team player but I get pushed around pretty easy," I don't specify in what way. "So you can tell me what to do, and I'll suggest a few things but I'm really sorry if I mess it up."

"Okay, and don't be sorry I'm sure I'll screw up too." Him assuring me of this actual does help. "So game plan-"

"Ev." Ares walks up and interrupts Donovan, grabbing onto my waist. "I wanted to make sure you're with playing this game."

"Donovan explain it to me, and it sounds like a cool game to play. Are you okay playing with Bianca?" I ask him, knowing he doesn't like random physical contact with people he's not close to and she's touchy, not to mention that he's not a people person or good at playing with others.

"Why wouldn't he be?" Bianca sneers, coming up behind Ares making me in flush from her snotty tone. That's exactly how bullies used to look at me. "He likes me."

"Because um, because he's, he's not a team player? And -he isn't good at being around such, um, touchy people unless...he isn't good at-"

"Hey," My giant steps between us, bending down to place a quick kiss against my temple while holding onto my waist. "You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. I know why you ask, and it's our conversation, not hers. It's okay that you asked and to answer you, I'm okay with it. I've played this game since I was a kid so I'm comfortable with it."

Looking up to him, grateful he pulled me from that point of awkward panic, I cup his face in my hands. "Thank you Mars." Pecking him I pull away, and smile when he grins.

"Can you guys stop for one second? Its gross to see her kiss you." Bianca snaps, making a cold sad feeling enter my gut and for my smile to instantly drop. She really does act like one of my old bullies, especially with her wording choice of 'her' instead of addressing it to the both of us and saying it just to Ares like I'm not even here.

"If you don't like seeing it Bee, you can look away." Ares replies stiffly, jaw clenched.

"What's going on?" Nico, who walked in the living room and instantly sensed the tension, asks and shoots her brother a knowing look.

What's going on?

"Nothing." Once again this snap comes from Bianca, making me keep my eyes on the ground as I catch her glance like glare. "Let's just play this game. Since everyone," Her emphasis on 'everyone' is sent with a sharp look my way, which makes me flater on how I was rocking on my heels. "Is clearly okay with it."

"...I didn't think anyone wasn't." Just like me, Nicolettá looks suspicious of her best friend and even raises an eyebrow at Ares, who shakes his head slightly and a look I know means they'll talk later.

"First task!"  Angie announces, a box of doughnut balls in hand as we all pile into the entry ten minutes later when every room if officially set up to the specifications of the game. There's a lot of tape involved, and surprisingly hard to get bubble wrap to stick to the floor without popping it.

Everyone is cramped shoulder to shoulder while turned on their side, not having much room other than the two foot wide and five foot long space in the entry way by the door that doesn't have bubble wrap on it -us having to walk outside and to the front door to actually start the game while Angie just climbed over furniture, still barefoot.

I am pressed against Ares and just brush arms with Donny while Bianca seems to smother my boyfriend on the other side, which is why he turned so his back was to her -which means they can't talk as a team. I can see now why Angelina doesn't think they'll work well together -Bianca wants too much of Ares attention, like a crazed school girl, instead of letting Ares be the observer he is.

Raising a eyebrow at something Cami does Angie shakes it off with a slight smirk, "Let's get started. You have to blindfold your partner and make sure they get through the bubble wrap, over the furniture and ring the bell before anyone else. Any injuries of the person you're leading, and you switch. But you don't switch where you left off, you start all over again. You have thirty seconds to decide who's going."

"You are." Ares- -who doesn't bother to even turn all the way towards her- -tells Bianca, cutting off how she opened her mouth to speak.

It would be stupid to waste his observational and leadership skills by having him go through the maze of couches and bubbles. Bianca scoffs, but doesn't argue.

"Well you have smaller feet, so that's less room for error and it would be easier for me to see around you. Are you okay with going?" Donovan says, instantly I nod -understanding his logic even if I'm not comfortable being blindfolded.

After Angie directions everyone who's going to step forward I realize uncomfortably that now I'm standing between Bianca and Santiago, Nico on the other side of her younger brother.

Gulping I turn my head slightly to the side, making sure Ares is still behind me. He is. Smirking at me, his competitive nature comes into play, the giant grabs the side of my hip and places a playful kiss onto the side of my neck making me shiver.

This is a bad time to get weak knees.

"Hey!" Donovan snaps, my black blindfold in hand. I go to turn to him, only to have my skin lightly bit ad punishment for pulling away. "Angie, Ares is sabotaging my team mate!"

"Ares, hands off." Angelina says, sounding bored. With a cocky grin he lets me go, making me pout at how he played me.

Cheater.

"Don't let it happen again, they're enemies now." Bianca hisses at Mars, making him roll his eyes.

Its clear to everyone that Ares does what he wants, and I'm the only person that could ever tell Ares he's not allowed to kiss me and he actually listens.

Flinching, I squeak loudly as the blindfold slips around my eyes, giggling slightly as I realize it's Ares who did it as I'm pulled back into a hard body and the cloth is tied gently behind my blonde curls. "You think you'll win?" He whispers in my ear.

Nodding I say, "Against you? Of course." Just to tease him. Ares chuckles before dropping me and letting stand in the line -suddenly I realize he did that do I wouldn't be afraid of the darkness my sense are now consumed by.

Y'all anything you want to see during the game?? Please comment any suggestions you have!

I already have something spicy planned. Don't you worry. ;)

Any theories?