The rambunctious laughter of two small children echoed causing a lighthearted nature of the castles inhabitants. Marcus looked over at where two of three of his stepchildren played with their Lego blocks and toy cars, having the time of their lives. Aro was with his nieces pushing a small little toy firetruck making siren noises to make the girls giggle.

The girl on the left, Olive, was occupied trying to get her little yellow Lego to balance on their slumbering golden retriever. She had her little pink tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on her task, her dog, Madison, oblivious. Rose, Olive's more energetic counterpart, had made it her mission in life to try to retrieve the toy car Aro was playing with.

"Gimme!" The four year old ordered as she reached again for the toy.

Aro was quick to grab the girls hand, "You do not snatch."

"Gimme!"

Marcus stood from his throne scooping the girl up before she could even attempt to throw a plastic block at his brother in law. "What did mommy and I tell you?" He asked, taking her away from her toys.

Rose gave a halfhearted sorry before looking down at her hands. Marcus held her as he continued his lecture. "If you don't play nice then you can't continue to play. Do you understand me young lady?"

"Yes sir."

"Now," Marcus set the toddler down, "now go apologize to your Uncle Aro."

Rose waddled her way over giving Aro a hung as she apologized for trying to take the toy. As Rose sat back down to continue her play, Madison woke with a jolt, her more sensitive ears already picking oncoming noises. She was quick to get to her paws, stretching her aging muscles before making her way closer to the throne doors. She sat, her tail sliding side to side as she patiently waited.

The vampires in the room hardly took notice of the dogs strange behavior anymore, seeing how this was always a dead giveaway to who was about to make an appearance. The following sound of crutches connecting to the ground and light laughter was another. Felix appeared first, carrying a small overnight bag and holding the door open for his companions.

A woman, adorned in purple and hair tied back, moved slowly clearing the path for her eldest daughter who was right behind her. The girl was no older than 15, using crutches to help her move about. Her face was covered in various healing scars, from the knee down on her left leg was cover in a red cast. She thanked Felix as she passed him stopping to regain her balance.

Madison was quick to come first to the girls side, excited to see her owner once more. "Hey Maddie!" The girl greeted reaching down to pet her dog, "I missed you too!"

The girl stumbled quickly being righted by her mother. "Be careful Emily please," her mother stressed.

"Yes ma'am," Emily responded, fixing a crutch under her arm, "I don't need to go back to the hospital the same day I was released."

Her mother pursed her lips, her thoughts turning dark once more. She had only put her youngest daughters down for their nap when she had received a call from an unknown number. She wasn't planning on answering the call but something in her said she had to. One phone call later she was at the hospital, worrying and answering police questions about who would want to hurt her daughter. Hit and run, the police had ruled, no suspect yet found but they were still searching.

"Mom?" Emily's voice pulling her mother back to the present, back to her.

"Yes?"

"Can I take Maddie for a walk?"

Her mother shook her head. "Demetri can take her for a walk, I don't want you to overexert yourself."

Emily turned her attention over to a still humiliated tracker and Alec by his side. They were in charge of taking Emily to school the day of the incident, causing everyone in the castle, except Marcus and his queen, to doubt their abilities of keeping the newest additions safe from all dangers.

"Would you mind?"

"Not at all," Demetri said with a bow to the princess, "anything you need don't be afraid to ask."

Emily sighed and nodded, she never liked giving any of the guards orders but she wasn't about to argue with an immortal or a freaked out mother. The twins had torn their attention from their play, running to greet their older sister they hadn't seen in months. She smiled, making one of the multiple scabs crack but she refrained from showing discomfort as she knelt down hugging the girls.

Marcus and his wife both shared a look of worry when Emily knelt giving her sisters her undivided attention.

"Everything will be ok," Marcus mouthed  before he gave Demetri permission to leave and take Maddie with him.

Emily sat with her sisters and Aro letting Rose and Olive drive cars over her cast, oblivious to all that was to come.