RP Log with naysowee | Baby Shopping

[kindredmi6]

A Kindred in a baby store. It was laughable, and should be one of those things that never occurred, no matter what the situation was. But with the Babys-R-Us Superstore being open twenty-four hours, and Rory starkly aware that they had nothing by the way of items for a baby if there were anymore false alarms that turned out to be not-so-false. He intercepted Aidan pacing in the hallway was Logan was apparently... bonding with Mathieu in Logan's bedroom, and told him they were going to the pub for a pint. At least, Rory was going to have a pint. Aidan could sit there and watch him. Only, it was all a ruse anyway, and instead of driving to the pub at nine pm that night, Rory went to the huge baby store and, as expected, the car park was mostly empty.

They were now walking down the first item jam-packed full of baby items as Rory stuffed his wallet into the pocket of his leather jacket, followed by his hands. He threw Aidan a smirk out the corner of his eye, watching the Ventrue walk stiffly alongside him. "Gotta secret for you. Clowns dinnae really bite."


Aidan blinked slowly before his gaze went from the terrifyingly numerous displays of clown-related child products to Rory. After a moment he tilted his head and pointed a finger in the air. "Actually, I did know a Kindred clown once. He definitely bit. His taste was circus folk." He crinkled his nose as he looked around again before picking up a stuffed elephant and wiggled its trunk as a hint of a smile finally appeared. Something that wasn't a clown. He was tempted to buy it just for that reason. "So why do you want me here?"

Rory held up a hand and scrunched his face up. "Stop, you'll give me nightmares. As if I dinnae already have enough reasons to be fearful of fangs." The store was all-but empty, so they could talk quietly and no one would be taking any notice. That was part of the reason Rory came at this time. That, and no sunlight, of course. "I figured you might need someone to talk to after everything that's gone down over the last few days. Nay like any of us expected it. Logan isnae what any of us thought he would be when he reawakened. It's gotta be a shock to the system. You dinnae really have anyone you can easily offload to. Nay saying you have to with me, but I figure I'd offer you the option."

Aidan looked up from the elephant before he dropped it into Rory's basket. "I'll pay for it. I just want to get your child something that won't give it nightmares. I know I can talk to Thomas. It's not as if he's not there for me, but I also know that I must just sound like a broken record. I've never not known what to do around Logan. And... I don't think I've found my footing since I first found out he was sick. I can't even... I'm a tosser. I'm worse than a tosser. It's just that look on his face after I told him. It just keeps coming back to me, and I haven't seen him smile since. Not really smile." Aidan rubbed his hand against the back his neck and seemed to look like he was sighing. "I'm scared I won't know how to make him smile."

Rory watched the elephant get put into the basket and he cleared his throat. "You mean the hungry smirk that makes you think he's either reading your soul or wants to bite into your heart? Aye, I've seen that. That's nay Logan, that's the part of him he doesnae understand to control yet. Cannae deny he's gorgeous, and he emanates strength. Nay doubt about it. We know what he was like before, though, and that's the hard part. If he was just put on this earth to be Kindred, then he would be the ideal candidate right now. But he was Logan Buchanan before that. You look close enough, though, and he's still there. He let's us see it. It wasnae there when he came to see Austin, and I wish I had understood what that could mean, but it was an error. I, too, had nay idea just how ill Austin was. But he will be okay with treatment. If there is one thing our family is, it's fighters. How do you feel about him being with Mathieu?"

Aidan nodded as he tucked his hands back into the pockets of his trousers, his idea of casual dress meaning that he was wearing a vest instead of a jacket with his shirt sleeves carefully rolled up. He even had the first few buttons undone instead of wearing a tie. "Yes, that's the one. That smirk... It's not a smile. Even Blaise has shown hints of a smile. Ros smiles, Juliette smiles. I smile!" Aidan rolled his shoulders before he just shrugged. "It's not as if Kindred aren't able to smile. But Logan, he hasn't. I know some of it must be because he's struggling. Who wouldn't after coming back from the dead? Very rarely does anyone remember being Embraced. Logan just hasn't had a chance to ease into anything. He's plunged right in, and then realised that maybe he couldn't doggy paddle as well as he thought. What happened with Austin has made him start to go under." He pulled a hand back out of his pockets and rubbed his fingers against his forehead. "I only hope he can grab onto Mathieu if he can't grab onto me, or you. I feel... jealous. I feel like it should be me in there seducing him to eat, but it can't be me. It has to be Mathieu, and I suppose at the end of the day if he gets Logan to eat then I can't be pissed about it."

Rory picked up a tiny blue newborn onesie with a little cartoon Loch Ness Monster on the front. For a quiet few moments, he just looked at it in his hand. He had forgotten how tiny newborns were, so innocent and new. Little feet and fingers. It was starting to feel strangely real, and such a contrast to everything in his life lately. "Logan's scared and still grieving for himself. Who knows how long that will last? I wish what happened with Austin hadnae. I really do. It set him back. But at the same time, maybe he needed something to slam the brakes on. Dinnae get me wrong. I hate that it was Austin and that Austin's really hurt by that. I wouldnae want anyone hurting my wee brother for anything. But Logan was reckless and determined before. I just cannae shake the feeling he would have gone oot there and gotten hurt. Understanding the fear of what he is capable of... I think that's going to be a positive thing for him in the long wrong. Something that he will use to grow, nay use to drown. It's just because it was Austin that is the difficult part. That's where the self-loathing and self-punishment is coming into it. He needs to deal with that to move on. The thing with Mathieu is a little odd and random for me, but still... they are of similar age, and Mathieu had the brain death thing before he was Embraced. He probably understands it well. They might become close. Maybe that's what Logan needs."

Aidan cleared his throat before he just nodded, watching Rory carefully. Children had never been on the cards for him, especially not since he'd been Embraced. He had, in his human life, been engaged but there was no love there. He was using the woman to bring himself up in social standings. He had been bisexual even back then, but still leaning more towards men. The idea of a family had only crossed his mind in a purely keeping up appearances sake. Since then he hadn't even thought about it. Now, watching Rory stare at the baby clothing he wondered if perhaps he'd missed out on something. "Are you sure Austin will be all right? Do you think... do you think that Austin will want to see Logan again? He's hurting because he thinks he's hurt his brother too much for it to be fixed. I don't think he'll cope if he knows that his little brother's scared of him. He's confused, he's trying to cope with the memory blanks but hurting Austin is something he'll always remember." Aidan wet his lips. "With Mathieu it is about the feeding. If he gets a friend out of it, so much the better."

Rory started putting some of the more essential baby items into the basket as they passed, knowing what to get just coming naturally to him. "Austin will probably need to see a psychologist, which the Army will provide. He'll know enough not to start spouting Kindred secrets all over the place, though, no matter how much doctor-patient confidentiality he'll have. I think he'll need to be treated with medication. I know, because I've been there. I spent months and months on antidepressants before I just took myself off them. I had to when I started getting involved with Kindred. The medication left me open to you all attacking my mind," he said with a small smirk. "It dulls reactions, interacts with the chemical balance of the emotional responses. Leaves you open for Kindred to sense weaknesses because the basic emotion receptors are blocked with the medication. But Austin needs them. I am not sure how he is going to cope towards Logan anymore. I really dinnae. The attack was... quite horrific. Austin's hand was crushed from the force of Logan trying to restrain him. When Austin started to reflexively fight him off, Logan just clamped down harder to dominate him. It was terrible."

Aidan pressed his lips together as he looked sadly at the boxes on the shelf down one of the aisles they were walking down. He stopped as something made him frown, and picked a box up before he started to open it to look at what was actually inside. For a long moment he just looked both horrified and fascinated. "A breast pump? Women actually... use these?" He turned to look at Rory before he shook his head and tried to put the torture device away. "We're not interested in attacking his mind. Or yours. You tell us he will be on medication and we will respect that. I don't need to know what you're feeling. I know that you must assume most Kindred are used to just reading a human, but there are times I understand the need for privacy. And I like the idea of us actually getting to know each other so that you could talk to me too if you needed to. It works both ways, yeah? I just... Logan afterwards was broken. There's no other word for it. It was worse than watching him on his deathbed."

Rory looked at Aidan with amusement. "Why nay? You expect the mother to have the bairn permanently attached to ber boob? Us fathers like to get a wee look in sometimes too, you know. Plus, and if you want to get to the gory details, breasts are really painful if they get too full of milk. It's uncomfortable. They need to relieve that. The bairn doesnae suck her dry. That thing is actually a lifesaver. At least, so I'm told." He took the box off Aidan and put it back. He would bring Buffy shopping on her own for those sort of things so she understood it a little better herself. Right now, he just wanted to get something so they were prepared. "You might nay be, but this place is full of Kindred, all over the place. My brother was just turned by their Prince. It's better to nay leave ourselves open for random emotion-thievery. You cannae trust anyone. I learnt that the hard way, and I'm connected closely to Kindred. That opens me up for a lot of risk. Austin, on the other hand I expect to want to lay low for awhile. You all will be the only Kindred he interacts with as he recuperates. It is not going to matter if you are privvy to how he is feeling." He paused, sighing as he contemplated how to go with his next comment. "How would you feel if you did something to Logan... say, caused him to be near fatally wounded? Stop and think on that for a moment, and you'll have how Logan is feeling as to Austin. It's going to take time."

Aidan merely looked at Rory. "You expect me to know anything about how much milk a woman would have in her breast at a time like this? I'm old, but I'm not wise about everything. Alright, alright... I get it. Still, such an odd contraption. You'd think they'd have designed something a little more... discreet by now. Are you getting excited?" Aidan asked, tilting his head as he watched for Rory's reaction. "It can't be too long now, and the arrival of a child seems as if it should be a happy occasion. I know the timing is not exactly ideal, that a lot of pain has been happening around it, but this is something that should bring some light. Can you not teach Austin how to shield himself?" Aidan did stop as he contemplated Rory's question, his face twisting with pain even at the hypothetical situation. "I would want to kill myself..." he admitted softly.

Rory gave a small snort of a laugh. "There's nothing discreet about breastfeeding, laddie. But it's one of the most amazing things in the world. Especially for the mother. Sometimes you have to forgo looking all neat and tidy and perfect for a bairn. In fact, trust me, you have to basically forgo it completely. Isnae anything glamorous aboot being a parent to a newborn. They're messy. They crap, they pee, they puke all over you, they drool, they cry. You name it. Excited? I dinnae mind... nervous and a little hopeful, sure. I'm just apprehensive. It's going to change everything..." He piled up a few more essentials into the basket, not even caring about most of it being blue or green or boyish colours. They had Blaise and Kindred voodoo, there was no doubt Buffy was carrying a son. "I could, but I willnae. Nay yet. He needs a healthy mind for it. And aye... of course you would. It would be one of the worst feelings you ever feeling. That's what Logan is dealing with. That's why I dinnae want anyone trying to push him to deal with this too quickly."

Aidan smiled a little before he rubbed his hand against Rory's shoulder. "Logan was always right about you. You were meant to be a father. I know a lot of bad happened with your first child, with your wife... I just want you to know that I think it's an amazing thing that you're getting another shot. Even if you're not excited and its the nervousness overriding all that... It's special. It sounds messy, and something that I'm not sure I would ever be able to help with, but congratulations all the same." Aidan reached out to pick up another object, almost scared to ask what it was for. "I know you don't, and I can appreciate that. Only I don't want him to take his life. None of us do. If we can prevent that, we will. If Mathieu can get him to feed, it'll at least help him to think more clearly. Hopefully."

"Relax. It's a bottle warmer," Rory murmured with a faint flicker of a smirk on his lips. "Of course I dinnae want Logan to take his life, but if this is something he cannae work through, he might just do it. We cannae stop him. Logan's one of the most stubborn people I know when he is intent on something he believes in. You're his partner, you would know. He's like a dog with a bone. And right now, as strange as it probably seems, he is seeing himself as two different people. The Kindred, and the human. They are completely separate in his mind and he doesnae know how to breach the gap. If he wants to blow the brains oot his Kindred side because he cannae handle it, nay a single thing we can do aboot it. At the same time, we need to trust him to make the choice for him. Because at the end of the day, and the thing we all forget too easily, he is actually still capable of making his own choices and perhaps that's some of the problem. Finding the line between guiding him or forcing him. It's very fine. I personally feel that Logan needs to experience and feel his way through becoming a Kindred rather than just being told everything. He has always been like that. Forever pulling shit apart to see how it worked, putting it back together differently so it worked better. But aye, he's dangerous, and it's probably a risk to let him loose. That's Ros' call. I think if Logan had gone in to see Austin very soon after he woke up, this wouldnae have happened. I dinnae think even instinctually, he would have agreed to let himself feed from Austin in the early days. But hindsight... fecking sucks."

Aidan set down the bottle warmer with a cock of his eyebrow as he gave Rory a sceptical look and then just shook his head. "Bottle warmer... right. Looks suspiciously like something I've seen in a sex shop. Sure it's not something to help give the father a look in either? I don't think letting loose Logan is the issue anymore. I think Ros is ready to, even Juliette has put up her hand to take him out, but if he is battling with his Kindred side right now, how can we be sure it'll help? I might be his partner, but this wasn't something I'd anticipated. This Kindred side of Logan? I wasn't ready for it. And I can't apologise for that enough because I feel as if I've let him down, and I've let you down. He hated me for not being the one to Embrace him, but I don't know that that would have yielded different results. For all we know it could have fucked him up in the head even more." He scrubbed his hand over his face before his head snapped to the side, his nostrils flaring as he noticed another couple that had entered the store. The man's blood was threatening to make him change, and he turned his gaze back to Rory as he clenched his jaw. "Even the best of us still lose control now and again. Logan still needs to learn that it's going to be part of Kindred life whether he likes it or not. I don't want him to keep thinking he has to be two different people. He doesn't."

"Whatever floats your boat, but I wouldnae be sticking my cock in it," Rory responded with a shrug. "There's letting him loose and there's letting him loose. Logan's nay the sort to just go oot on the prowl. Even when we were growing up in our teens, he would come oot for pints with mates, but he wasnae one to go oot on the pull. He sort of just had people give him attention by default. Probably that natural Toreador shit coming oot. He never had to chase for some cock or pussy, it just found him. I dinnae think he's just going to go out and start randomly fanging into people. He'll more likely deal better in situations where it's put in front of him to have his choosing. Like the maid. She came into his line of sight, and it piqued his interest. Same is going to happen with Mathieu. I think taking him oot is just going to get him on the defense to perform as the perfect wee Kindred again. He'll feel like everyone is watching and waiting for him to get it right. It's like trying to piss with an audience, like... nay that you would know what that is like. You cannae deny everyone is watching him. Poor bastard is probably paranoid, and what happens when paranoia kicks in? You get on the defense. If you had Embraced him, he would have been different again. Very Ventrue, reserved, ambitious. Probably a bigger bitch, who knows? It just would have been different inate qualities that were emphasised. Hey, chill alright? They probably just need shit for their kid. They're no threat. Keep your Kindred knickers on. And also? Stop trying to rush your mate. That's what this all boils down to. It's hardly been weeks since he died. Give him time, he's still healing."

Aidan smirked a little at Rory's comment. "It's not the threat I'm reacting to. The man has had a near death experience. He's exactly to my taste, even more so than you which is saying something. It's hunger, not me trying to be a bodyguard. Logan... You know what? You're right. It was the same when we worked together. I'm pretty sure I was also the one that was trying to throw my cock at him, not the other way around. It had been a new experience. Worth it, though. If it's not to take him out, then what are you suggesting with letting him loose? We just pick up a bunch of random people and drive them up to the manor?" He tucked his hands back into his pocket and shifted to the other side of Rory so that the couple was out of his line of sight. "We're not watching him on purpose. He's actually been exposed to more people than most Childers would in their early days. I spent mine locked in a room with only Thomas."

Rory gave a snort of a laugh. "Come on. Didnae you have a feed before we left? Or were you too busy getting your dick in a knot about Logan with Mathieu? I'm nay suggesting that at all. I'm suggesting that he should try to get as normal a life back as he can. Get a place to live, get oot there into the normal life, do things like this." He waved his hand around the shop. "Go oot to the movies, to dinner... and I know, I know. Food. But he will need to learn to eat to keep up appearance, too. He needs integrating. He needs to feel more of the normal bloke feeling than of the powerful new Kindred on the block. He just needs to do normal things. Hang oot, watch Simpsons re-runs. I dinnae mind. But look at all you lot who are established in your skin. You all do normal things. I mean, fuck. Blaise was working oot in the gym the other day. Come on. Put Logan back in situations of things he loves. He'll start coming back to himself. Right now, he's like a caged puppy. Get him oot there being normal and he will start picking and choosing what he wants all on his own. And aye, sure, there are risks he'll fuck it all up. But there is just as much chance us humans could walk oot and get hit by a car or mugged as there is for a Kindred to hit a frenzy out of the blue in public. Something always instigates it. It doesnae just happen. It's aboot being aware."

"My dick isn't quite in a knot, but it would have gotten there if you hadn't pulled me out for a 'pint'," Aidan revealed with a slight apologetic shrug. "I didn't realise I was going to be leaving the house, so I hadn't eaten yet. Are you going to want Logan to live with you, or do you think he and I can look for a place? I'm really not arguing with anything you say. It certainly makes sense to me, but returning to the MI6 isn't an option for either of us. I think Ros wants him for something else, but the rest of the normality we can deal with."

Rory shrugged. "That's up to you, mate. I'm happy for you guys to live with us, but we'll have the bairn. Like I said, that's nay for the faint-hearted, but maybe it might be soothing for Logan. I just want him to find some peace, wherever he can find it. I dinnae think he's naturally dangerous. I think he can be extremely fucking dangerous when he wants to be, and I think he'll tear your throat out if provoked enough, but Logan's natural personality is calm and laid-back. He takes life as it comes. His professional side, determined bad cop who will do anything to nab the case. That is what is all coming oot in his Kindred side, and it's that bad cop side that is being nurtured the most now by keeping him away and trying to tell him all what to do left and right. He's going to keep fighting back. He needs peace and quiet. Hell, maybe he just wants to chill with a movie marathon and veg oot on the sofa for awhile."

Aidan nodded slowly. "Sure, well, I can't pretend to know how I'll deal with being in a house with a baby, but I'll try anything for Logan. Have you actually found anywhere yet? Will there be enough space? I know you're independent, but if I can help with money towards it, or furniture... more elephants, let me know?" Aidan looked nervous for a moment before he just smiled at Rory. "Do you know how much I would actually give just to have a movie marathon and veg out on the sofa with him? I'll talk to him about moving out. Let Ros know as well. She'll just have to pull up her big Sire panties."

"Nay, I'll just have to get a rental for the time being. Buying houses in Scotland is actually a long and pain in the ass process. A few months at least before anything would be finalised, and I havenae seen anything I really liked yet. I'm picky. I love Edinburgh, but I have certain areas I'd want to live in, especially with a bairn. Have to think aboot things like schools and transport convenience, how close to hospitals, what non-bairn friendly businesses are aroond. It's nay something I'm willing to rush into. You can pick up a rental easy enough. Just need to figure oot how big and shit. I have money. It's nay bother. I might nay look it, but I'm quite well off. You just need to figure oot with Logan where he's willing to stand," Rory told him.

Aidan nodded as he spotted another stuffed elephant but didn't pick it up. Instead, he picked up a stuffed Nessie and threw that in Rory's basket. "I know it doesn't look it, but the toy shopping I'm having fun with," he revealed with a grin. "Don't worry about being picky, I get it. I'm Ventrue, remember? I'd be the same. We'll just find a large rental for now. I'm assuming you and Buffy won't be sharing a bedroom so we'll need at least four. One for us, you, Buffy and the child. I'll talk to Logan once we return. If he's done with Mathieu."

Rory was amused at the fact Aidan was getting into the shopping. He had hoped it would help on some level. He had learnt that to take a Kindred out of their comfort zone tended to subdue them a little. They stayed reserved and more open to you because they were on the alert. He didn't want Aidan on the alert, he just wanted him to be open to chilling about Logan for a moment and baby things was an unexpected distraction. "I guessed that," he responded with a smirk. "There are actually some beautiful houses around for rent. If there is anything Edinburgh has, it's large houses. I doubt it. We'd kill each other. Seriously, she would probably end up suffocating me with a pillow in my sleep. The bairn will be in with one of us for quite a few months. Convenience and all that. You're jealous. It's amusing."

Aidan snorted before he caught another whiff of the shopping husband, his jaw tightening again. He really was going to have to eat soon, but it wasn't going to be here. "I'm glad someone finds my jealousy so amusing. Alright, so still four rooms. Just the baby sharing between the two of you. I do need to get in touch with MI6, try and get things tidied up there. After that, I'll look for some new work. I might go back to local PD. It'll at least stop me getting my dick in a knot."

"I'm thinking a split scenario or duplex, actually..." Rory admitted, trailing off as he looked at Aidan for a moment. "Maybe one of those larger houses renovated to be split into two residences. One for us... one for Austin and Eddie." It was out there, now. He couldn't deny that was what his plan had been all along. To breach the gap between his brothers, he needed there to be less of a physical gap. If they lived close, it would be easier. "What was the story there? Are you just going to tell them Logan died? Or did that already happen? Aye. Logan might want to join you, you realise. He was an awesome copper when he first joined the force."

Aidan blinked before he just nodded slowly, running his hand over his ponytail. "Right, yes. Of course. Of course you'd want Austin and Eddie to live with you. It makes sense. It would also help Logan no doubt. Is Austin going to be alright with me being a part of it?" Aidan ran his tongue over his lips before he nodded again, this one more sure. "Yes, they know. The brain tumour was of course a true story. I've made sure it's kept confidential, and that the appropriate notices were given. Including a coroner's note. Logan is welcome to join me, but I don't know how that works in with the plans for him being Primogen. Then again, maybe he just needs a normal job for a while before he can even wrap his head around that responsibility. Ros will just need to be patient."

Rory chewed on the corner of his lips. "It's weird," he murmured, more to himself but when he realised he said it out loud, he glanced at Aidan. "Coroner's note. It sounds so final... I still cannae get my head aroond it. Still have images in my head of him lying there dead. He actually died. It's..." He shook his head, trailing off when his heart started to hurt again. "Austin will have to be alright with it. He just needs over this initial shock. I need to talk to him. Havenae had the chance. It's all been so hard. And aye, but just aboot every Kindred I've seen in an elevated position has a normal job for the appearance of the Masquerade. Logan can still be a copper and Primogen. In fact, it might be an awesome way for him to keep his finger on the City pulse AS Primogen. Despite all, cannae deny he's a fucking amazing copper."

"If you want me to do anything to give you the time to talk to Austin, just let me know," Aidan offered with a small smile. "And I know... I actually felt ill when I posted it off, but it had to be done. Logan's human life is over. At least that human life. Now he can create a new one, but we'll have to be careful. There will still be MI6 operatives in Scotland that could recognise him. It might just take them a wee bit longer after his transformation. Being a cop might hide him for a little while, but not if he happens to be assigned to a case that might spark government interest on a higher level. I would also never dream of denying the fact he's a fantastic copper. He's one of the best I've ever seen. Better than me and I've been doing it for over a century."

Rory shook his head. "It's nay that. He's just... Logan draining him basically exhausted him. I spoke to Eddie and Austin has just been sleeping most of the time since the funeral. The body shutting down to try and restock the blood levels or something. He needs treatment. Once the penny drops and he gets his arse to a hospital, it should be good. Well, better at least. Well, aye, they could think they recognise him, but to be honest, Logan has changed enough to create that element of doubt in anyone who does see him. If he integrates back oot into the real world, he can always just change his change, nay bother. Isnae like he is foreign to undercover and stuff. He was actually undercover when my family went missing. He had to come back when he heard what had happened. I just think he needs some normalcy and he's born for that sort of work."

Aidan gazed at an overgrown teddy bear, wondering who in their right mind would actually by a stuffed toy that could fall on top of the kid. Then he seriously considered buying it because surely it would mean Rory Junior had the greatest teddy bear on Earth. He frowned at where his train of thought had taken him, and shook his head to try and get it back on track. "Normalcy... Of course. And he'll get there. Now that things are starting to calm, now that the rest of us are starting to get our heads back on straight, it's easier to think about."

Rory was watching Aidan curiously, seeing that something was going through his head. "What the hell are you fecking thinking? You've got a strange look on your face. Sort of like you might need a pee and contemplating taking a wiz on the rosebush of someone you hate. All... satisfied or something. I dinnae mind. Nay like I'm an emotional sensor like you lot. I think Logan's just going to go aboot his, uh, Kindreding different to everyone else. That's why you're all thrown. You're trying to teach him, but he's getting urges to do things differently. Nay one's screwed up. He's just set off a domino effect of confusion and that's impacted. Let him dip his toes further into the pool. He'll latch onto something he understands eventually... just hopefully nay our wee brother again."

Aidan turned his gaze back to Rory, only the teddy bear was still calling to him out of the corner of his eye and he picked up the little card customers were apparently supposed to take if they wished to purchase the giant animal. He was pleased to note there was only one card. That really did mean no one else was going to get another one any time soon. "Only the best and the biggest for my nephew," was all he gave Rory by way of reply. "I really don't think he'll try and feed from Austin again. The damage is done there. Now that we know to expect the unexpected, us old fuddy duddies will start to guide him as it's needed."

Rory looked back at the bear. It was massive. "So, maybe we'll need five bedrooms..." was his response, though there was a flicker of a smile on his lips. He wouldn't labor the point in case Aidan got embarrassed or irked about the fact his feelings had been picked up on. It was a huge thing, Rory understood that. It just showed him how important his brother was to the guy, though. He was willing to step up into the family because of Logan. "They can mend those rifts. Logan doesnae need Austin's blood. Austin's very fragile, he's also very blinkered is his views. Very military. We just need to understand than in trying to get him to understand your world. It was different for me to learn and understand. I had a purpose. For Austin, he always just thought his awareness was enough. He never expected to be pulled into things like this."

Aidan nodded, seriously considering it before he found himself grinning a little. "Or I could just buy it a playhouse. It could live in it in the back garden." His brow crinkled as he went back to listening to Rory, considering what the younger man was saying. "Did he never know about you and Juliette? And I do not mean to bring that up to be a prick. Just, if there was ever an inkling that she could have been someone to stick around, he would have had to have dealt with it eventually. And then... me with Logan. Although I suppose that would have been us entering his world, not him entering ours. Such a mess..."

Rory waved his hand. "Wait a few years, aye. Laddie willnae even know he has eyeballs or feet for a wee while. Takes a few months before they do much more than sleep, crap, cry and puke. Did Logan know? I cannae tell you, like. He was so sick, I cannae be sure what he knew or remembered. I only met her a few months ago through Buffy, so he didnae know her before. Oh, you mean did Austin know? Nay, he didnae know. By the time he came to Paris, it was all aboot Logan and there was nothing going on with Juliette and me. I didnae tell him she was the reason I got hurt, or he would have lost it. Austin seems placid, but he's still a soldier. He can be lethal when he needs to be. He would have Logan oot of the whole situation quicker than we could say a thing. He was Logan's Next of Kin. As far as I know, you were the only Kindred he had anything to do with. And that other solider dude."

"Lawson," Aidan replied before he just tucked the card into the pocket of his waistcoat. He would definitely get the teddy when the baby would notice it. "A few months of nothing but that? God... This is one of those times I really wish I didn't have enhanced senses. And yes, I meant Austin. I would never hurt your brother. Either of them. I really would rather kill myself. As for Lawson, I think he's genuinely protective of Austin, but apparently he knows something we don't. There could be a reason he's never tried to bite him, apart from the fact that he wouldn't without permission."

Rory gave a small laugh. "Austin has never invited the biting for one. Ventrue dinnae just stick their fangs into anything. There is also the fact Blaise told Lawson nay to. Didnae you know? Lawson and Blaise go way back. Wayyyyyyyyyy back. Like, to Blaise's mortal days. Blaise is the reason Lawson is with Austin. As soon as he knew I apparently had a brother in the forces in Afghanistan, he pulled strings... strings which happened to be Lawson. It was just sheer coincidence Lawson knew who Austin was. I dinnae mind what Lawson's taste is, but it isnae Austin. I think the thing Lawson knows is simply that he suspected Austin had a Kindred link. Which would be you and Logan."

Aidan's eyebrows went up slightly, the only change in his expression that reflected his surprise. "Thomas is my only link to my mortal days. He was my best friend. He'd been Kindred that whole time, and... I didn't care. I couldn't have imagined my mortal life without him, and in the end he saved me. Maybe not in the conventional way, and perhaps not in the nicest of ways, but he still saved me. Yes, I love this life, but I did learn to embrace it. Pun intended," he admitted with a smirk. "Logan will learn, and when he's comfortable... Austin will be."

"I dinnae know the full story there. For all we know, Blaise is the dude's Sire. He was one of his Gentlemen, like... the blokes who tend to royalty. When Blaise was a Prince, Lawson was in his service. Maybe Blaise went to him after he was Embraced. I dinnae mind the story at all, I just know they're connected. Somehow that has played a part in this whole thing because Lawson came with Austin from Afghanistan when he got the news Logan was sick. I mean, that whole time is still a wee bit hazy for me even because I was recovering. I mean, I had that whole period there where I wasnae myself and I dinnae mind a whole lot of it. I have just come to learn to take nothing for granted... Especially around Blaise. He... has eyes and ears everywhere," Rory murmured. "Even here in Scotland. See, I dinnae mind if Austin will be, I just hope he can be, with the right help. If he isnae, Logan's never going to be the same again. He will probably turn into a very angry and vindictive Kindred."

"Only because their Prince allows it," Aidan guessed, referring to Ros and Blaise's close link. He couldn't imagine many Princes putting up with spies unless they'd approved it. "Or take his life. Which puts us right back to square one. None of us want that. No matter what happens. I don't want to see him turn into that sort of a Kindred either. I just wish there really was something we could do, but I think it's just time. And I think this is your ground. And Ros'. I'll just be here for Logan when he wants it. I'll work on organising the normal side of his life."

Rory shrugged. "Dinnae be too sure. At the end of the day, a Prince's City is his or her one true love. They will do whatever to protect it. If Blaise wanted spies here for whatever reason, he would find a way. Kindred act for their own. They're very much like pack animals. It's just the way it is. Fortunately, they have enough of a rapport together that those things dinnae seem an issue. Blaise is actually Prince of a few other smaller European countries also. It is in everyone's favour that their home turfs arenae warring or feuding. At the end of the day, that's why they even exist. And trying to do more with Logan might just get you into more trouble. He isnae stupid. Far from it. You have to remember that every action, word, response you are all having to him, he is logging away in his memory bank and drawing his own conclusions on things the whole time. If it's all coming together in a messy jumble, of course he's going to get pissed off and frustrated."

Aidan furrowed his brow as he listened. He was starting to doubt more and more how much he truly knew Logan, but he knew it was just because of everything being tipped upside down. Logan had been his partner in more ways than one. He knew him. And Logan as Kindred was someone that he could get to know all over again, not just because he was his mate. He made a mental note to see if there was a place that sold decent roses on the way back to the manor, or at least steal one out of some little old lady's garden. Then his eyes fell on a stuffed Count from Sesame Street. The odd little purple vampire, and he smirked faintly before he picked it up and slipped it into Rory's basket with a cheeky glint in his eye. "If he's logging it all away, I just know that's going to come back and bite us all in the arse."