"Shouldn't you be in bed, puppy?" Dante asked when his husband slumped into his home office. It seemed very unnerving that only a few days ago they had both had a much better experience in that room, yet Dante knew that wasn't Fionn's motive that night.

Fionn was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie that swamped his body. He looked a wreck and his thoughts didn't say otherwise. He was deep in grief. Dante knew there was a part of his husband that blamed himself, and another part that blamed the vampire, though neither reared their heads.

"Can't sleep," Fionn mumbled, his eyes red and a little swollen from his obvious crying. His voice sounded raspy, even his thoughts were broken and weak. If Dante didn't know how strong Fionn was as a person, he would fear that his husband may hurt himself to relieve some pain.

"Come here," Dante shuffled his chair back a little, allowing Fionn to curl up on his lap, their chests pressed together. Warmth flooded Dante from their close contact, a feeling he had grown to rather enjoy. He usually couldn't detect temperature changes, due to his flesh being dead, but could somehow always feel the heat emanating from his husband.

"Nightmares?" Fionn shook his head, his eyes already closed and his head resting in the crook of the vampire's neck.

"Just can't sleep, don't wanna be alone," he murmured into Dante's shirt, clutching onto the silky fabric. Dante wrapped his arms around his grieving husband, wishing he could will away the pain from the wolf. He would do it in a heartbeat, if he had one that was.

"You're never alone, puppy," Dante pressed a gentle kiss to Fionn's dishevelled hair, wondering how to broach the next topic on his mind, "may I ask you a question?"

"Mhmm."

"How would you feel if Arlo and Kastor were to stay with my father for a little while? Just until this Delta problem is taken care of," Fionn sighed deeply, remaining silent for a few moments.

"It sounds like a really good idea," he said quietly, "they'll be safer away from us," Dante had expected an argument with Fionn, though his husband likely didn't have the energy after what had happened earlier that day.

Dante simply held Fionn for the next hour, listening to his husband's gentle breathing. He had fallen asleep rather quickly, clearly exhausted. Fionn wasn't dreaming, Dante could see that, but the darkness he had slipped into was benevolent, rather than malicious.

"Amaris? I wasn't expecting to hear from you, is something the matter?" Isidro's voice crackled down Dante's phone, which he hoped wouldn't wake Fionn.

"Alpheus was found dead this afternoon," Isidro didn't respond for a few seconds, "it was Delta, that much we know. Their sick little Christmas present to Fi."

"How is Fionn?" Isidro's voice didn't express much concern or empathy but Dante knew his father cared. He simply didn't show it, probably why Dante didn't either.

"Not in great shape, though that's to be expected. This murder spree has gone on too long, Delta is getting closer to us, obviously wanting to inflict mental pain before physical," Dante shushed Fionn as he stirred, rubbing the wolf's back.

"What can I do to help?"

"I know it's a lot to ask but could Arlo and Kastor stay with you until we're safe? I fear they're the next that Delta will target," Isidro chuckled lightly and Dante could hear Yareli squealing again in the background, nothing ever stayed secret around vampires for long.

"Of course, Amaris, we would be happy to have them. It's no trouble to us," Dante smiled weakly, turning on his computer, "we're in Hong Kong at the moment, we were going to leave tomorrow but we can stay for a few days."

"Thank you for doing this, father," Dante set about booking the airline tickets for Arlo and Kastor, listening to his father telling him about where they would take his sons. He didn't like the idea of them being so far away but he knew they would be safe with Isidro. At least if they were out of the country Delta wouldn't be able to get to them, he hoped.

"I want you to call me when you get to the airport, when you're boarding the plane and when you land. Then every day, Kas," Dante knew he sounded a little paranoid, he simply didn't care.

"I will, father, I promise," Dante pulled his eldest son into a tight hug, unsure when he would next get to do so.

"Take care of your little brother, make sure Yareli doesn't spoil him too much," Dante murmured into Kastor's shoulder.

"Don't worry about us, father, you just stay safe and keep an eye on Fi. Arlo and I will be fine, grandfather will take good care of us. I have a feeling Arlo will love travelling anyway," Dante let go of Kastor as Fionn walked out with Arlo in his arms.

"Say bye bye to Dante, Arlo, give him a big kiss," Arlo flung his arms around Dante's neck, snuggling into the vampire, clearly not knowing what was happening. Dante could sense Fionn's apprehension, especially with Arlo's lack of control over his shifts, though Kastor had been told what to do in the event his little brother turned.

"I'll miss you, little guy," Dante whispered, kissing Arlo's head as the child ran his fingers down the vampire's scar one last time. Kastor lifted Arlo from Fionn's arms, getting into the car with a final goodbye to his fathers.

"I hope we're making the right decision," Fionn leant into Dante and the vampire slid an arm around his husband's waist.

"They're safer with my father, at least they'll be away from us. Delta can't get to them."

"I'm gonna miss them," Fionn murmured, a tear rolling down his cheek as the cab drove off with their sons.

"They'll be back before we know it. Kastor will have picked up some new language and Arlo will have scared local villagers. We'll be safe and together again soon, puppy," Dante kissed away Fionn's tears, leading the wolf back into the house. It was awfully quiet. Even when Kastor and Arlo hadn't been in the house it had always had that odd warmth. That was gone, and the building simply felt cold.

"How about we go out and do something?" Dante cocked an eyebrow at Fionn's suggestion, "moping about the house isn't doing either of us any good, surely you must have some meetings or something at work."

"Are you sure, puppy?" Dante cupped his husband's cheek, hearing no worrying thoughts from the wolf.

"Yeah, I've barely seen you doing business stuff, at least it'll take my mind off the kids."

Dante quite liked Fionn at work with him, it was nice to keep an eye on his husband and go through some paperwork he had. It also meant Fionn had to wear a suit, which Dante adored on him.

"Fionn, delicately," Dante lifted the painting from Fionn's hands, placing it on his desk and wiping the frame, "this is nearly 3000 years ago."

"She's ugly," Fionn said with a chuckle, "why do they have to be naked? Did women just walk around with it all hanging out back then?" Dante rolled his eyes playfully, wrapped the painting and placing it gently in the bag.

"Keep your smart mouth shut when Mrs Wayland comes in, she's old and won't understand your humour like I do," Dante sat down at his desk, telling Whit to let the client in.

"Old people love me," Fionn mumbled as the old lady entered the room.

"Mrs Wayland, it's lovely to see you again," Dante said with a smile, "please have a seat. This is my husband, Fionn," the old lady shared in Dante's smile, falling into small talk with Fionn, giving the vampire chance to check his phone. Kastor still hadn't contacted him, he should have been at the airport nearly twenty minutes ago.

"The payment has been taken care of so I just need your signature on these," Dante put a small stack of paper on the desk and passed Mrs Wayland a pen.

"He's probably got his hands full with Arlo, don't worry, he'll call," Dante glanced toward Fionn, his nerves increasing with the seconds, "can I come stand with you or is that unprofessional here?"

"Puppy, you're my husband, of course you can," Dante linked his fingers in with Fionn's as his husband moved to stand next to him.

"Oh, aren't you too adorable?" Mrs Wayland gushed, "I remember when my brother and his husband got married, they looked just like you two. So young and full of love," Dante smiled, checking over the paperwork whilst Fionn continued to entertain the woman.

"Everything seems to be in order, Mrs Wayland, would you like Fionn to help you out to your car?" Dante rose to his feet, passing the bag to the elderly lady.

"No, thank you, Mr. Isamar, I will be fine on my own," Dante opened the door, smiling to Mrs Wayland.

"I'm glad I was able to find what you desired, I hope to see you again sometime," Mrs Wayland bid the two men goodbye and Dante closed the door behind her, his smile instantly melting away as he pulled out his phone.

"Dant, you're overreacting."

"Kastor promised he would call me, he's not one to forget. He would make time for it," Dante dialled his son's number, putting the phone on speaker, listening to the achingly slow dial tone.

"They could be on the plane already, he might have turned his phone off."

"He would have at least texted me," Dante called Kastor three more times before the phone was finally answered, "Kas, do you want to give me a fucking heart attack? Why didn't you call me like I asked?"

"Tsk tsk tsk," Dante glanced at Fionn, fear alighting the both of them, "did you really think I would let them leave?"