How desperately, desperately long he had waited to hear that very word from Aiden. That singular title meaning perhaps far, far more than Matteo had ever truly allowed himself to acknowledge it meant if only for some effort on his own part to attempt not to replace his sons biological parents entirely. It was, without question, a difficult balance to attempt to fulfil that role in Aiden's life while attempting to reassure the man he was so hardly trying to obliterate the role his birth parents had played, or indeed, to push them from Aiden's memory in any fashion. His birth Mother and Father, after all, would always be his Mother and Father and yet Matteo had, at the very least, hoped Aiden might allow him to share that title with them in a fashion. No matter how many times the man had thrown that very thing within his face. He had surely lost count, over the years, of just how many times in his anger, or hurt or grief that Aiden had sworn up and down that Matteo never was and never would be his Father. That he had no right to tell him anything. That his biological Father had been better then him. Those words had stung. Every time. Matteo so often covering that internal wound as best he was able before assuring the young Aiden that it was...fine to feel that way. The Frenchman returning to that very role Aiden insisted was not his own all the same. After all, there was no one else to fill it. Matteo so staunchly refusing to give up on the boy he had spent some twenty years raising. The near ancient Fae so having come to decide that Aiden might never afford him that title he so coveted and that, if he did not, he would simply have to accept it and go on as he always had.

He should have known, surely, after all this time that Aiden would hardly make an event out of that very bestowment. That singular word. Dad. Offered so simply and so casually the Frenchman was near assured he had misheard. The look of utter shock upon his own features was distinctly clear in those moments before he turned to face his own Father as if to assure himself that very word had truly been uttered. Alexander's own eyes rose upward in a clear affirmation of that very thing. Matteo so momentarily struck near speechless in turn if only for the sheer wealth of emotion that blossomed within his chest. Twenty two years he had waited for tht very thing. Twenty two years he had waited for Aiden to be ready to give it to him. Aiden, it seemed, having fought his way back from that darkness Risque had cast upon him yet again- and with a new resolve. A ready, warm simper easily found its way to Matteo's own lips then. The Frenchman afforded his sons a simple look of affection as he watched them both begin to climb into that car. That very love he felt for them both settling so firmly within him before he returned to Alexander's own side and Sebastian hurried forward to remove that black ribbon from the car before Aiden attempted to drive with it in place.That Dorian so insisted Alexander keep an eye on him was near ludacris! Matteo perhaps not unwilling to admit all the same that he held but sme intention to tease at his son-in-law, if only a little.

That Alexander would prevent him from doing as such however- seemed rather unlikely. Sebastian's own features had shifted into a clear look of worry. The vampire's protectiveness over his husband far more clear then Matte suspected Sebastian was aware. The Frenchman, in a rare act of kindness (perhaps encouraged by his good mood), offered Sebastian that ready promise that no harm would come to Dorian within Aiden's car. Alexander, in turn, insisting that Aiden cared far too much about his cars to let that one get ruined. The Hunter's distinct mention of that car rather then Dorian himself seemed to prompt a near look of concern from Sebastian all over again. Matteo chuckled softly before the roar of that ebony car drowned out the sound. His own silver gaze returned to that vehicle then as it rolled smoothly past. The grin of utter delight on Aiden's features a veritable sight to behold if only for that rarity of it. Aiden, for all his previous state of being so utterly overwhelmed had seemed to find himself once more behind the wheel of the car.

It hardly took a long for the boys to disappear down that street. Dorian having looked equally thrilled by a ride in that car as the rest of their family headed for Alexander's own vehicle. Matteo was aware, distinctly so, of the conversation Aiden and Dorian had been having as they drove away. The pair having mocked their grandfathers slow driving. Aiden having insisted he could beat them to the cafe even if he took that scenic route. Matteo content to insist he should be allowed to drive in turn. Alexander, as he had anticipated, was quick to refuse that very command. Ah, but it was as if Alexander thought him a terrible driver too! Had none of them any faith in him!? Matteo's own head shook as he spun neatly on his heel to walk backwards beside his Hunter companion then. An act Alexander had told him off for countless times. The Hunter having tripped him nearly as often. Matteo offered Alexander a singular, pointed glance that surely gave away the notion he near anticipated the other man to try and trip him before his attention feel firmly upon Sebastian. The Frenchman promptly declaring that Sebastian would rather he drove. Alexander, effortlessly, assisted in attempting to entrap that Engishman in a battle of words. Matteo near curious as to whether or not a fault in that British politeness could be found. Sebastian so hardly seemed to hesitate in his response. The vampire quick to insist he thought them both lovely drivers and that he hardly mind who took that very wheel.

"Vafre." (Clever)

That singular, near ancient word was uttered to Alexander alone. Matteo continued to walk backward those last few strides, his silver gaze lingering upon his sons husband with a renewed curiosity as they reached Alexander's own Bentley.

"Sebastian? Do you truly mean to pretend, Mon Amie, that no one has ever told you I am a terrible driver?"

One eye rose just so once more in a clear hint of disbelief. Matteo, this time, so attempting to call the poor man out on that distinctly well known fact within their own family. The Frenchman near curious as to whether or not Sebastian would offer his agreement upon that very fact. Matteo reached for the passenger side door then before settling himself within. Sebastian afforded the small mercy of having that backseat entirely to himself. The Frenchman, for but a few more moments, allowed his attention to shift to Alexander.

"If you are still planning on coming to France at the beginning of next month, Alex, Giselle and her sister plan to spend a few nights again, they enjoyed the last time. The sister says her husband will be away for nearly a week. It is up to you if you plan to join us."

The Frenchman, it seemed, was so hardly concerned for the addition of Sebastian to that conversation of those very foursomes Alexander and himself had enjoyed on far more than one occasion over the years and yet surely it would be impolite not to include the vampire in those very things. Matteo so momentarily appearing near impish once more as his gaze shifted upward to that rearview mirror to eye his son-in-law as Alexander drove.

"You have lived a long time, Sebastian. You have surely enjoyed more than one woman at a time over the years, no? Although, ah, I am sure they were not married when you spent time with them. That would be very un-Catholic, wouldn't it?"

That singular eye lifted but once more. Matteo, this time, so attempting to ensnare the poor man in that tangle of moral and marital obligation. That British politeness sure to waver. Matteo, so very bluntly hypocritical as he spoke openly off his own actions on that very topic, toyed with that rosary at his own neck if only to further add to that metaphorical minefield he had spread about the vampire. Alexander, in turn, was so hardly Catholic by any measure all the same. A near playful amusement tugging at the Frenchmans features. Ah, but Alexander was surely doing but a terrible job of 'watching' him.

c'est dur d'être un dieu.