give your immortality to me, I'll set you up against the stars

[mister_hart]

It had been several weeks since the prophecy child's, my niece, brother whom I suppose is also my nephew had his little vision and took Liliana away from the firm. He and Angel's son plaguing her mind with evil thoughts of Wolfram and Hart, the project, and well, myself. Of course the project they were perfectly honest in telling the girl she was

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[osborn_heiress]

Hmmm. I guess he did have a point. They slay vampires cause they have to, so Uncle Aidan killed people to make sure Wolfram and Hart kept going. It's the same except different, and now I confused myself again. Oh well. I shrugged as I set the empty glass back down. Champagne was pretty good, but it didn't make me feel warm like the other stuff had.

"Am I the special project your overseeing now?" I asked him point blankly because he was at the hotel, which was weird. Was he coming to see my mother? Angel? It seemed strange that he pulled up just as I sneaked out. He did say enough about him but I can't help it, I'm always full of questions. Could you blame me? I'm only a few months old and I'm trying to act like a sixteen year old. If that's even how old I was supposed to be. I think I could totally be eighteen.

"There's nothing to really tell." I admitted as I sat back in the seat and stared idly at the seat across from me, not at Aidan but just the seat. "I was born on an island and poof a few months later here I am, all grown up. I miss the island sometimes, but you have things here like ice cream and shopping which is cool. My parents don't ever let me go out alone you know. Are you going to tell them that I did?"

[mister_hart]

"Of course not," I answered honestly. Even when it came to her relationship with James, she was never just a simple project. "I take family ties very seriously. I'd never call you a project."

She began to tell about herself and I smiled. "I'm sure you're much more interesting than just that, Alexia. I can't do much about the island, but I can help with the shopping and ice cream. I'd be happy to take you out sometime or I'm sure your aunt Dominique would be thrilled to go as well. She's my favorite shopping partner."

Tell her parents? "No, I'm not going to tell either of your parents you're here with me. That's your decision, not mine. I think you're old enough now to decide on your own, don't you?"

The limousine came to a stop and I glanced out the window to see that the office was just outside. "Do you still want that tour? Or I can have the driver turn back around and head back to the hotel instead if you'd like to go back."

[osborn_heiress]

I am way more interesting than that, but it's not like I'm just going to tell this guy everything. I won't even tell Tyler about some of the stuff I think about, or dream about. It's not like anyone's going to understand it, and I think it's just better that I keep it to myself anyways.

"I'm old enough to make my own decisions." I repeated back to him when he told me I was. I wish someone would tell my parents that but they probably wouldn't listen anyways. Why am I thinking about them right now anyways? I'm out, on my own, making my own decisions. I don't need them right now.

We pulled up in front of a big building that I remember from when I was a kid. Nobody ever let Tyler and I play in the jungle when we were kids, just like they wouldn't let us go outside by ourselves now. Maybe someone should remind everyone that if we hadn't played in the jungle we would have never found that portal and then they'd still be stuck on that island.

Sometimes I wish that we'd never found that portal. I liked it on the island.

"I'll take the tour." I finally said, figuring that I might as well see what everyone's so upset about all of the time. What could really be the big deal about a lawfirm. Aidan held the door open for me and I got out of the limo and looked around.

I followed Aidan into the lobby and looked around, it was mostly empty and dark in here. "This is where you live?" There was something about this building....I didn't know what.

[mister_hart]

Once she agreed to come inside for a while, I led her into the lobby and I smiled as she looked around. "Sort of," I answered. "I do spend the majority of my time here, but not far from the office there is a group of buildings we own with several apartments and I live in one of those. Although sleeping here at the firm has happened more than once."

Nodding forward, I led her through the building and introduced her to several people as they approached us. I made sure to avoid Angel's office since who knows if he decided to show up for work or spend time back at his little hotel worrying over what to do next.

We walked up the stairs to continue and I pointed out the lab to her as we passed by, but decided to go ahead and move on. No doubt that Norman would have loved to meet his granddaughter, but I had no interest in introducing her to him.

Coming to the end of a hall, I led her inside an elevator and I pressed the button for the floor with the three of our offices. "Would you like to see if your grandfather or aunt are available?"

[osborn_heiress]

I wasn't wrong, this place is really boring. Maybe that's why Angel hangs out here so much. Aidan introduced me to a few people and I shook hands and said hello the way that I should but I was bored. The lab was even more boring. Aidan was a little impressive but I didn't really know what to make of him. Why is my family fucking insane?

"Sure." I shrugged when he offered to see if my other family members were lurking around. My mother was going to kill me. No, really. She probably would if she ever found out about this. Daddy wouldn't be happy about it either but I hadn't heard anything about Norman so I guess he'd probably take my side.

We got into the elevator and I looked around before turning back to look up at Aidan. He was really handsome, and there was just something about him. He wasn't human, I knew that much at least. I don't really know much else though.

"You're supposed to be my great uncle, right? Shouldn't you be old? You don't look that much older than my parents do." Which I guess wasn't that strange. My parents didn't look much older than I am. Maybe everyone grows up really fast on this side of the family. I don't know.

[mister_hart]

The elevator opened to the floor with all of our offices. James would be happy to see his granddaughter I'm sure. Well. Probably either a little jealous that I was the one who managed to bring her here myself or impressed. Perhaps a little of both.

I smiled in her direction again when she asked if I should be old. I nodded. "You're a smart girl, Alexia. Yes, I am old. Very old, in fact. You've probably figured out by now that I'm not entirely human. I'm not a vampire, but the idea is the same. My appearance doesn't age just like your father and Angel don't appear to get any older."

The truth was that I could make myself appear any age that I wished, but I liked this form. The human body has its advantages, that's for sure.

We stepped out of the elevator and I led her down the hallway to James' office. Knocking lightly, I waited a second or two before opening the door. A broad smile appeared on my face when I looked at James sitting behind his desk and Lexi walked into the office beside me.

"James, I believe there is someone who'd like to meet you." Well, properly this time. The Thanksgiving dinner was anything but a proper introduction from what I'd heard.

[mr_lupus]

I looked up from a series of paperwork when a knock resounded on my door and soon followed by Aidan letting himself in with a petite girl in tow. Alexia. I narrowed my eyes at Aidan for only a moment before turning to look back at the girl. I'd yet to make contact myself save for when she was only a small child. I wasn't entirely sure whether to be aggravated or pleased with my brother.

"Alexia." I said, covering up what could possibly have been a dangerous display with a smile as I stood up from my desk and walked around it to shake her small warm hand. "I'm so pleased to meet you. No doubt you've probably forgotten most of Thanksgiving already. We seldom hang onto childhood memories. Even the most significant of ones." I smiled at her warmly as Aidan led her further into the office.

"I remember everything." She replied smartly, before turning to look around the office with some wonder. How very much like both of her parents she seemed as she glanced around.

"My apologies then." I amended as I walked over to my desk and quickly called over to Dom's office to inform her that she should immediately come to my office and see her niece.

"Aidan, how is that you had the good fortune of running into Alexia?" I asked him, smiling at him but the intention was behind my eyes anyways and my brother knew me well enough to read that much.

[ms_aries]

Yay! My niece was in the building. I couldn't wait to properly get to meet her. Oh she was a beautiful girl, and we had so much in common. I was curious as to how she managed to find her way to the law firm, but mostly I wanted to bring her a present.

Luckily I'd just returned from my afternoon shopping trip and had plenty of things that I could share with the beautiful teenager. Looking through my bags, I found the perfect Prada purse for the Osborn heiress. If there was one thing I approved of it was her father's influence on her sense of fashion.

Making my way through the halls, I knocked lightly on the door before stepping into the office with a warm smile. "Alexia, baby, it's so good to see you again." Without giving her a moment to register who I was, I wrapped her in my arms for a quick hug and kissed her cheek before stepping back. "As luck would have it, I just came back from shopping so I have a present for you. Really, we should make a date to do shopping, lunch and a trip to the spa. You should see the new herbal soaks and massages they have now. It's fantastic for the skin, and nothing takes away the aches of dealing with life quite like spending money and being pampered." I held out the purse for her. I had no doubt that a daughter raised by Harry Osborn would appreciate the quality of the handbag.

I looked at my brothers and quickly realized who was responsible for this family reunion. Oh I was beaming with pride. Aidan had brought the girl home to her family. James would have to get over his annoyance and jealousy and give the boy a pat on the head and a treat later. He had exceeded expectations had he not?

[osborn_heiress]

I didn't know what to think about James and there was no way in hell I was calling him Grandpa or something. He probably wouldn't like that anyways, he doesn't look a thing like a grandfather. In fact, he looked like everybody else in the family. Except those eyes, he had the same eyes as my Aunt Gracie. That made me like him a little more, although I couldn't exactly see him baking cookies.

Suddenly the door flew open and I had a pair of arms wrapped tightly around me. My eyes got a little bigger and I took a step back as I realized that this must be my aunt. The one that my parents really didn't like very much at all. She seemed nice though, and she bought me Prada! I looked it and instantly saw that it was genuine and a smile lit up my face as I looked at her. She was WAY better than James and Aidan. They were nice too, but not fun like she was.

"Thank you." I said politely as I slung the purse over my shoulder and couldn't help but think how it complimented the rest of my outfit. It was like she just knew how to accessorize, just like Daddy.

"Shopping sounds like fun, it's not always so easy for me to get out of the hotel though." I explained to her with a frown which totally sucked! I wanted to go to the spa and shopping with her. She was so pretty, I liked her hair. Everybody in our family has really good hair.

"I'm sure your mother just needs some time to come around." James smiled at me.

"Have you met her?" I asked him with an eyebrow arched in his direction. "She's not going to come around. She even sends bodyguards to follow me around at school."

[mister_hart]

"At the Hyperion, of course," I told my brother with the same smile he shot at me. You'd think he'd get over any aggravation he was feeling since at least the girl was here. All he and Dominique had done at Thanksgiving was cause more trouble with Faith and everyone else.

Just then Dominique came into the room all smiles and carrying a wonderful purse with her that she immediately gave to Alexia.

Dom shot me a smile and I straightened up a bit. At least someone appreciated what I went through to get Alexia here inside the building.

Yes, her mother would be upset the second she found out where her daughter was.

"I'm sure she only thinks of it like she's protecting you and your brother," I said casually. Protect her from what? Us? Frankly, the girl needed more protection from those she was living with than the three of us.

[mr_lupus]

I watched carefully as Alexia almost seemed to glow beneath Dominique's words. Promises of spas and shopping, I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. Yet, if that's what appeals to the girl it would only be made more easy to win her over. I felt as though that approach should work just as well on Grace, but that girl was a tornado of torment. Alexia, was the bright shining sun.

Clearly, a shopping and spa date would have to be arranged, whether Faith and Grace liked it or not.

So was this a kidnapping or had Aidan simply snatched upon an opportunity already in progress. I had the feeling the latter was the truth as I didn't have a barrage of anti-heroes barging through my door.

"A great many mistakes were made at your parents' expense, Alexia. It's no real wonder why they're cautious concerning you and your brother. You are of course blossoming into an adult, it's always hard to see your children grow up." I mused as I leaned against my desk, appreciation directed at Aidan in forcing the hand of this impromptu family reunion.

"Hmm." Alexia only shrugged and started walking around my office looking at everything and sometimes reaching out to touch something. Picking up things and looking at them before setting them down. "I like your office," She said to me. "This is where the portal to the island is, isn't it? In this building."

[ms_aries]

Aidan was finally beaming now that he had approval from both myself and James. Oh it meant more when it came to James of course. He was a bit of a daddy's boy when it came down to it.

"It is. I didn't bring candy with me this time, but you would think your parents would remember it was your brother and you that found a way off the island. Do you miss it, sweetie?"

I had a feeling she did. It was her home once upon a time. I walked over to her and took her hand in my own. She was a beautiful girl and I finally had a bit of estrogen to help balance out this family full of testosterone.

"We could go back sometime if you want. Of course your parents wouldn't approve, but then they really can't chastise about running off to beaches, right? Granted, the island is no Bora Bora, but it has it's charm. You must miss it very much because it was your first home."

[osborn_heiress]

I smiled at her when she reminded me that she'd been the one to give Tyler and I candy before we raced off into the jungle. We found the stupid portal in that jungle, all because we'd run off to play. I looked up at her when she took my hand in her's.

"I do miss it. Nobody likes the beach anymore except Aunt Cordy. I love it there though." I turned towards her. Would she really bring me back there? "I wanna go there. Can you take me?"

"You want to go there right now?" James asked curiously from behind me and I looked up a little bit.

"Yeah. Can we? What's the big deal. Who knows when I'll be left alone long enough again to go out like this. They'd never let me go back there."

I looked up at Dom and she seemed like she wanted to be agreeable. It wasn't spas and shopping which was fun too, but it was what I wanted. I wish Tyler were here too.