Halcyon Halls

Who: The Hecatomb Clan
When: Late afternoon, Early evening
Where: The Accor Thalassa Resort, Biarritz, France
What: Happy Eighteenth Birthday Xael!!!

Biarritz. Far less known than the Riviera destinations, and for that reason alone, a much better choice for the Hecatomb family during this time. Though Biarritz could get busy enough this time of year, Accor Thalassa, the resort they stayed in was situated on a private beach, nestled almost secretly away from the rest of the village. Accommodating of some, this was not however a typical family vacation spot, and the staff was, by now, torn between open adoration and quiet irritation of the large, rambunctious toddler that had made a playground of the restive haven. Likely even those who now gritted their teeth wondering how soon they would be gone would be missing the boy all too soon once they were.

Not that he was ever out of control. No, Aidan was simply being his usual happy self. And when the staff snuck him pastries, candies, and all manner of sweet, well… they were equally accountable for his level of excitement.

Today there would be plenty of all that. It would be another of many meals they’d taken together as a family (in a private dining room that was a part of their lavish suite), but that was not the reason for all the sweets. No, that was for a special occasion. To honor the birthday of their oldest son. The resort chef was one of the most renowned in France.

As such, the food was exemplary and the service second to none. Even if it was a bit frou-frou for Axel. He appreciated it and even knew which fork to use. Though in all honesty, he was well past his hundredth year before gaining that bit of training.

That being the case, the birthday dinner was also at the resort, but this evening they were served on the terrace on a table completely decked out in honor of Xael’s 18th birthday. And imagine that most of the women that worked at the resort, young or old, had managed to come by, whether working or not, just to wish the charming young man a special day.

Jadyn’s pram was at the table and Axel pulled it nearer himself. Roz, he knew, would hardly be able to enjoy the night if she were more worried about the baby. The whole purpose of the trip had been for her to find some means to relax. Axel wasn’t at all sure it worked, though he liked to think it had at least a bit.

Her view now was of the ocean, and the sun nearing the horizon. She and Xael had the primo seats for this spectacular view, which was exactly as Axel had wished it. Aidan wouldn’t really care about such sights for some time now, and of course, the baby was asleep.

When: Late Afternoon – Early Night
Where: Hallways near her office
Who: Rozlyn and James

Rozlyn had been trying to do better. Though a part of her wished to simply leave the island and put space between her and that worry, she knew that it would do nothing in the end. She had to stay, had to force herself to face her fears and move beyond them. A process that was far from easy…and one that had come to affect all of them. Her worries the others could feel…and her presence stirred the youngest demoness. It was as Rozlyn worried, the little girl didn’t know yet how to manage emotions and Rozlyn’s own were too much around her. She tried to keep them contained…tried so hard to ensure that she was calm around the child. But there were times when she had to simply…get that space. To go for a walk, to leave the room, to simply not overwhelm them both. Considering that Rozlyn trusted no one save Xael and Axel around the girl…at times getting away wasn’t always so easy. But both men in her life had gone out of their way to try to be around more. To help. Aidan tried as well but he was still too young to be the real help he wanted to be.

This morning had gone alright, Jadyn slept through most of the day actually and that time of quiet allowed Rozlyn to distract herself with some work for awhile. Mostly picking up the house and seeing to a bit of research, scanning articles and so forth to see if anything struck her as supernatural. The job of a scout wasn’t just traveling around the world looking for supernaturals. But a large part of it was actually simply sitting down and looking for them. In news stories, blogged encounters, whatever the source it was often that which lead scouts to supernaturals in need. Lately, however, Rozlyn simply passed the information off to another scout. She didn’t exactly have the means to go rushing off anywhere right now. But that didn’t still her from wanting to help. Though perhaps it was more a need to. Distraction right now, was a good thing.

It was also something Aidan helped with. That boy could distract anyone at all. He was always eager to get Rozlyn’s attention and he knew that when his little sister was sleeping was the perfect time to get himself just that. That was when Roz wasn’t sleeping, he knew better then to even try to wake her then. Axel told him how Rozlyn needed her rest and how he had to be quiet around those times. Rest was still fitful for Rozlyn but she tried with that as well. Laying there all day at times only to gain an hour or two of rest. But it was better then nothing. Both she and Axel knew that.

Yes the morning had gone smoothly enough…but the afternoon was another story. Something got Goliath barking, very likely a little demon boy, and once he started up Jadyn was awake. Her screams jarred everyone and all too quickly the house erupted into that sort of chaos that only children can manage to make. It was a flurry of feeding and entertaining and cleaning and…at times nothing more then a mess. Especially when Jadyn refused to cease screaming. There were times when her boys cries jarred her but Jaydn…there was simply no comparison.

( Rozlyn was more then grateful for when Axel arrived home )

Rozlyn was fairly certain that a specific little demon had been involved in the library mess the day previous. Of course wide eyed he said that he hadn't knocked them over! But they all knew that didn’t mean he hadn't been there. Aidan wasn't fully admitting it yet but he did have that face. That face Rozlyn knew all too well. That okay I was involved but didn't really make the mess sort of look. The one he got when Goliath knocked over items after running around crazy because Aidan got him worked up. It wasn’t reallllllyyy his fault. At least not in his little kid mind.

Still he'd agreed rather quickly to help with the mess. The problem with that, of course, was that Rozlyn had to go with him to ensure that no bigger messes were caused. Yesterday when she was not in class she was there, helping as much as she could with the clean up. Most of the time that consisted of picking up a book and then dealing with the librarian for an hour huffing and hmming saying Rozlyn shouldn’t help in her pregnant state. If picking up a book was too much work for her then they were in a lot of trouble. Watching Aidan would definitely be out as an option.

Rozlyn of course just shook off the over concern and went back to helping for a bit.

Today however the two weren’t there, mostly because Rozlyn felt more then a bit worn down today. She hadn’t slept well the night before, tossing and turning was far from calming and the rest of the day she’d felt on edge. Aidan could tell. Axel could tell. Both were tip toeing around a bit not wanting to do anything to set the pregnant woman off. It hadn’t taken Aidan long to figure out mom wasn’t near as tolerant of games and pranks right now. That might have had something to do with a long warning talk from Axel. Don’t make mom want to bite your head off…good pep talk, one every male needs to have at some point.

Rozlyn had hopped that after classes and getting a chance to just sit down for awhile she’d start to feel better but unfortunately that wasn’t the case yet. Not even dinner had quite stilled that almost shaky nature that she felt. Just a bit…off…feeling. There was no real better way to describe it.

After dinner Aidan had quickly retreated to his room to watch movies and play with Goliath. Axel was seeing to putting things away and Rozlyn had briefly attempted some work. Briefly as in sitting down, turning on the computer, pulling up a file and staring at it for five minutes before realizing she was reading the same lines over and over again. A look from Axel paired with that fact was enough to make her give up on that task all together for the night.

Tonight the kid was dead set on simply kicking her ass in every way that it could. Thankfully it wasn’t literally doing so yet. Once Aidan could start to kick he just never stopped, Rozlyn had had more restless nights glaring at her stomach with him then she could count. This child wasn’t on that level of activity yet but it was certainly, obviously, draining on her. Some days far more then others…

She’d gone to the couch to try to lie down again but it wasn’t long before Axel came into the room, carrying her to the bed to get buried in blankets again so she could attempt to really sleep again. It didn’t matter that it was hours before Aidan would even go to bed. No he’d see to all of that. Roz just needed to try to get some more sleep.