2017, October 12th Aaron had sneaked onto the castle grounds the way Adele had taught him to and then into the castle itself. Diane and Ethan's wedding had just ended and he was meeting Adele in her room like they'd planned. This last second wedding meant that they had even less time together today, so he wanted to get to her quickly. Things back in Terres Somnia were moving fast. Henry was being even more persistent now, so they were leaving tonight instead of tomorrow. The wedding was very low key. Aside from the king, queen, Troy, Caroline, Keira and Adele, there were no other guests allowed, not even Aaron. He wanted to go to spend more time with Adele, but Troy was still being overly cautious with Dean at large. As Aaron made his way to the room he'd spent yesterday in with Adele, he stumbled upon Keira and Ethan making out in the hallway. Sensing someone's presence, Ethan's eyes went to Aaron. He pulled away from Keira. "Please, don't stop the party on my account," Aaron grinn
2019, December 22nd "So which one was it? Boyfriend A or Boyfriend B?" Aria smiled, taking her place next to Troy by the piano. "You know, A for Aaron, B for Bart," he said, handing Aria her violin. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you? I suppose you really are the jealous type." Only when she held her violin up to her shoulder and started playing did Troy's fingers find the keys of the piano. Was it silly how she liked that he just assumed she would play with him now? Aria was so angry over the last two nights that she didn't see how intertwined they'd become, how he gave her little bits of himself everyday. They hadn't played together in two nights, which meant that neither of them had played at all because they almost never played alone anymore. "Which one?" he persisted. "So I can know how jealous I should be." "If you must know, Barry came by to see the baby." She still couldn't say it, couldn't call him Ethan. Troy brushed off his concern. He was watching her, waiting fo
2019, December 22nd When CC got home that morning, the sun was already high up in the sky. Bart was waiting for her on the porch of the Arden Mansion. This was home now. They'd started living together because CC wanted to be with Bart so that she could hold him at night when the loss of Ethan overwhelmed him. How things had changed. They'd been at each other's throats for the last few days and it always ended the same way. It needed to stop. They had to actually talk. "I'm sorry Caroline. I don't know what else to say. Aria called and said-" CC sighed. "Can her name not be part of the first sentences that come out of your mouth right now? I'm super wasted and I just want to go to bed." Bart turned around and squatted in front of her, offering her a piggyback ride. She smiled. It was a start. She could be mad and still want to touch him. CC wouldn't look at him, but she'd gotten onto his back. Her hands had slipped up his shirt, onto his bare chest and she was snuggling up to his bac
2018, April 15th & 16th (Terres Somnia) How she'd convinced him to do this he still wasn't sure. These were dark times. The last thing they needed was to be caught together. Her arms around his neck as he walked through the woods with her on his back made Bart feel like he could breathe again though. When her engagement ended and she came back, they started seeing each other in secret, meeting at a cabin that belonged to her and her brothers, a place only the four of them and Emily Maine knew about. "Are you sure Aaron won't be here today?" Bart asked. "Don't you ever get tired of worrying?" CC asked, kissing his cheek. "It's not like you're fooling anyone anyway," said Aaron, standing in the doorway of the cabin, apparently waiting on them. Bart squatted to let CC down and she reluctantly obliged. "Condor," said Bart, utter dislike on his face. Aaron rolled his eyes. "We get it, Bart. You don't like me. But I'm willing to wager you're going to like it even less when Terres Somn
2019, December 23rd Troy woke up early that morning. He wanted to give Aria the royal treatment before he told her that she wasn't the only one with a red hot date tonight. When Troy made the deal with CC he had devious intentions, he really did. But then things with Aria happened and now he just wanted to get through tonight so that they could all move on. It was stupid and crazy but he was doing this for her, because he loved her. After tonight, if she came back he would tell her. He would tell her tonight and every other night forever. Aria woke up to a tray with all her favorites on it. In the center of it all sat a diamond necklace. Troy smiled at her reaction. So even Aria Maine was just a woman after all when it came to diamonds. "Do you know what that is?" Troy asked. "Besides stunning you mean?" she beamed. "That is your collar. Proof and a reminder that you are mine," he said, handing her the invitation that came just a few minutes ago. Aria opened it up. "It's from Aaron.
2019, December 23rd Bart helped CC get ready, like he'd helped her a million other times. The idea of not being the man at her side tonight killed him, but she was letting him touch her again, kiss her again, looking at him with love in her eyes. They were spending all their free time together again too like they used to and when she was busy he went back to just watching her again. It was the closest to happy they had been in days. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to CC," said Troy. He was standing in front of a limousine with a dozen red roses in his hand. As it was, Aria wasn't in love with him doing this either. If she wanted out, he was more than okay with just skipping to the end. "This is my party right? That's what you said. We could do anything I wanted to until the final destination. Right?" Troy looked past her, at Bart who was watching them through their bedroom window. "Right," he said, handing her the flowers. "You look absolutely out of this world, like you
2019, December 24th Aaron almost sat straight up when he awoke to her next to him playing with his hair. Instead he closed his eyes right back and paid attention to her touch. She hadn't touched him in weeks and it felt incredible. "I know you're awake, you know," said Aria. Aaron smiled and took her other hand in both of his and kissed it. "Well I don't. This is what my dreams are like so I can't be sure." Aria rolled her eyes, but she gave him her hand willingly. When was the last time she did that? "If you don't get up now, I'm leaving." Aaron grabbed her, pinned her down onto the bed and said, "Stay," before jumping out of the bed and going to lock the door. She sat up and laughed. "Are you expecting someone?" "Bart, Emily, Troy. It's anyone's guess who it might be this time." Her smile fell. "I can't speak for your house guest, but he's not coming this time." Even Troy could only take so much. They really got into it this morning. It didn't help that she fell asleep next to Bar
2019, July 1st The war may have ended in Warlanda, but the truth was Dean and Troy were merely shifting battlefields. Dean had taken Warlanda, becoming its regent and almost immediately declared war on Sartis Est. Troy wanted to go for her, to be with Aria like he told her he would be, but the rumours that Diane was still in play, alive somewhere in Warlanda kept him in the country that was trying to take his head. If he could only find her and place her on the throne, he could stop Dean in his tracks. Troy felt a twisted sort of relief knowing that Diane might be with Dean. Taking out King Edward was one thing. Hell, even Troy had considered taking him out when he was looking for ways to end the Warlandian Wars the first time. But Diane was a no go. Dean wouldn't hurt her. She was the only thing left of his humanity, the only thing still tying Troy and Dean together as brothers. This knowledge, this irrevocable bond gave Troy hope, made him keep looking. So instead of leaving Warla