There was a certain tranquility to be had in that early morning when the sun filtered into the room and the world was quiet. Some sound persisted of course. Matteo aware of those dairy cows as they wandered from the milking shed and back to the pasture and too, the mares and foals being led up from the evening field to the day yards. The spring rains this year had been good. Those pastures a near picturesque pea green. The Frenchman having near forgotten just how terribly peaceful his home could be in moments such as this. He was so very rarely ever here to enjoy it. So much of his time spent instead travelling between countries and continents and time zones that he rarely returned to Chambord for anything other then to sleep. Perhaps he should make an effort more often to simply be home. Perhaps after this week he would. Perhaps after this week he might have a reason too. One long limb folded over the other as Matteo lent further back into that comfortable lounge, another page flicked easily aside with his finger. How the world raved about this book and its credentials! How they talked of its intrigue and mystery and clandestine romance and yet how utterly boring a book it was. Matteo near assured the hype that surrounded it was not at all worth it. The Frenchman near assured the very love that book professed to ignite was little more than the tale of two people finding some delusion of comfort in one another within war-torn Russia. He had been there, once, on those very Russian streets. He did not remember that war with the romanticised view this author seemed inclined to shade it with. Still, the story had a vague hope of proving itself a decent tale of adventure.

Matteo, as he was want to do, held little true idea of how much time passed in those moments that followed his attempts to engage in that story. The Frenchman was vaguely aware of Gregory wandering in and out of that lounge room and his housekeeper bustling to that side door to collect the days milk and eggs run up by the errand boy. The near ancient fae assured he had even dozed for several moments in turn after that. It had been a rather long time since he had flown on any sort of commercial flight, let alone one that long. That very jet lagg having a habit of tugging at him in turn even if he had so far proven distinctly more immune then his companion. Aiden, it seemed, determined to grip every possible ounce of sleep he was capable off and yet Matteo hardly blamed him in any sense. Even despite his adopted sons lack of outward enthusiasm for that very trip he knew the journey had been taxing on him all the same. The Werepanther had never been on a plane let alone through the streets of Paris or to a home quite like this, those very experiences decidedly new and requiring more energy then it might outwardly appear.

It was not until just after eleven in the morning, just as he had foreseen, that the sound of feet on those marble floors drew his attention away from the pages of the novel. His silver gaze fell easily onto Aiden then as the man wandered into the room only to collapse onto that nearby couch, as if the very effort off rising from bed to walk down a flight of stairs had been taxing enough to prompt rest once more. That amusement at the very idea of it hinted at the Frenchmans features and yet whatever he might have said upon it was halted by that sudden query of what sort of dog had nestled itself against him. Matteo very near having forgotten Herbert altogether. That book was easily closed and rested upon his chest, the Fae sitting himself more upright only to reach one hand towards the tan coloured creature once more, his fingers stroking its fur. That touch seeming to rouse him. Herbert's pointed ears flicked upward, the dog only now seeming to realise he was no longer alone with just his master in the room as his brown eyes fell upon the sight of Aiden sprawled in the chair nearby.

"Good Morning, Aidun. I suppose you ought to meet Herbert, he is a Corgi and potentially the most useless guard dog I have ever owned as you will dully witness."

Herbert was quick to rise to his decidedly small legs and jump from that couch, his paws skidding upon the marble floor as he did, his entire body waddling as only a Corgi was capable off as he hurried towards Aiden then. That utter lack of a tail so resulted in Herbert's rear end wiggling in excitement as he hurried toward this unanticipated guest, the dog standing upon his hind legs in a desperate effort to climb onto Aiden's sofa, his efforts utterly fruitless. That drawn out sigh fell easily from the Frenchman then, his silver eyes rolling as he rose easily from his own sofa to cross that small space and lift the dog up onto the couch before returning to his own. Herbert, satisfied with his assisted achievement, proceeded to promptly place his rear end in Aiden's lap, his head angled backward to eye the panther with that Corgi-grin and clear anticipation he might be pet. Matteo content to watch the animal dubiously all the same.

"See? Utterly vicious. It's a surprise my home is not broken into on a regular basis."

Even despite his clear teasing of the animal he supposed he had something of a fondness for him. Herbert was a constant companion and one whom was eternally thrilled to see him home even if the dog lacked any skill as a guard animal at all. Matteo's gaze lifted easily from the dog on Aiden's lap then and back to Aiden himself, the mans dark hair still displaying those signs of sleep in its tousled, jumbled appearance. In all the years he had known him he was near assured he had never seen Aiden take a comb to his hair even once. Some things did not change with age.

"Did you sleep well, Mon Amie?"

Those accented lyrics inquired readily, Matteo largely suspecting he had and yet it hardly hurt to inquire all the same. How pleasant it was, after all this time, to finally have a glimpse at that life he had so wanted for them both. How nice it would have been to have had twenty years of mornings such as this. How sweet it was to even imagine, for just a moment, that life they might have had. The Frenchman was quick to push aside such wistful nostalgia lest those emotions find his features in any sense. Matteo content to appear that picture of near impish pleasantness he so often portrayed as he regarded his companion readily. The ancient fae wholly determined to exude every bit of excited eagerness for that day he near anticipated Aiden might struggle to muster if only because he was near assured the boy did not know how to be anything other than almost wary of any exciting event lest it be somehow turned back upon him.

"Have you given any thought to anything you might like to do this week? I know you are not one for the crowds so we can avoid most of those tourist spots unless you desire to see those sights? I have worked out how to improve your teleportation too, though I think today is not a day for lessons, tomorrow perhaps. Of course, if you would merely like to find some sun to lie in for the day you are welcome to it. That is how vacations work you see, you can do as you please."

That warm simper found his lips readily then. If Aiden truly desired to do little more than relish in that feeling of safety, in being away from her and so entirely outside her reach and merely rest then Matteo held no intention of demanding otherwise. He had always been decidedly determined to afford Aiden that very choice in all things that Risque had robbed him off. Still, he very near anticipated he might achieve little from his companion other then a shrug when it came to so deciding what he might like to do. Matteo determined to have Aiden forget Risque, that past, even his pack and those responsibilities if only for a week. The Frenchman having several ideas should Aiden prove unsure.

"For today, if you want, I thought I might show you several things here I think you will like before we wander into town at a very leisurely pace. Today Ii think should be quite delassant, that is, how you say- relaxing. I do however require one thing from you, I fear...."

That easy grin found his features once more, Matteo allowing one eye to arch neatly upward in that clear air of expectation he had so effortlessly created. The Fae near enjoying that look of dubiousness his companion provided him with in those moments that followed. A ready chuckle humming softly from him then.

"You need not look so worried, Mon Amie! All I require from you is the small amount of physical exertion rising from the sofa and walking for the day will take. Taxing though it will be."

Those words were nothing short of teasing. Matteo abruptly disappearing from his place on that sofa to reappear upon his feet within the hall, the Fae heading for that kitchen at the end of it. His head near abruptly reappearing around that corner once more as he looked back into that lounge room.

"Do not think I did not just see you roll your eyes at me. Ah, the boy forgets who he is dealing with! Come on, let's go. The day is young yet!"

His hands tucked easily into his jeans pockets then, Matteo content to lead the way down that hall and towards the front door with Aiden behind, that hidden smile finding his lips all the same. How good it was to have one of his sons home. That house had been quiet far to long. It needed that life, no matter how moodily it followed behind him.


m a t t e o
it's tough to be a god