@Wick

---

Elias decided not to speak during the entire process, allowing Alexis to talk unhindered. The magical dome around them altered gradients, providing a soothing aura that brought a small bit of peace to his mind.

For a long moment, Elias said nothing as Alexis trailed away into silence, giving way to the soft glowing aura of the orb around tehm as the only noise in the room. Finally, Elias took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "Alexis, listen... I'm not mad... Hell, yes I am."

Running his hand through his hair, Elias turned around and faced the magical wall. There was a deep rumble in his chest, from anger or frustration or exasperation, he didn't know. He considered punching the wall, but Elias had no idea if that would end well or anyone. "This changes everything, Alexis. We're bound now. Once and forever, no turning back"

Turning back around to face her, he searching for something in her eyes, an answer, anything. "Do you get that? Do you understand what you've done?"

Alexis locked eyes with Elias. "We were already bound to each other through the Grim oath that we took. This would bind us legally and protects me from Nathan." Sadly she looked away, pain clear in her eyes. "We don't have to change anything else in our lives if we don't want to."

Alexis turned away from him so he wouldn't see the tears she was fighting back. After a minute she successfully stopped them and she grabbed a bag and started packing. She was pretty certain that she had ruined everything. How could she not have? In her mind she had destroyed their relationship with her spontaneous outburst. Somewhere a part of her had hoped that he would realize that he loved her, but now she was sure now that he mustn't really love her that much. She concentrated on packing her bag and when she was finished she looked back at him and her eyes automatically took in his expression and posture trying to read him. Her eyes got stuck at his lips. She smiled slightly at how kissable they were.

"Okay, I'm ready to go if you want me to." Alexis dropped her eyes and tried not to let him see how deeply it hurt her to think about leaving him let alone actually do it. She had to be strong. If she wasn't then she wouldn't make it out there on her own. Once the supernatural world was informed about her hunting on her own it would put her in danger. Her magic started to jump and move in it's dome. It was a sign that she was upset. It was taking all of her emotional strength to keep her magic under control.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias watched her pack her things, shaking his head as he exhaled sharply through his nose. Calloused hands ran through dark brown hair as he growled in frustration, glaring at the blackness of his closed eyelids. Yes, she had changed everything without even bothering to ask his consent. But given her situation, did he really blame her? It was either proclaim marriage to Elias, or suffer through the rest of her life kept away under the vindictive thumb of an abusive child in a man's body.

Letting his hands drop from his head, Elias opened his eyes to see her nervously standing before him.

"Okay, I'm ready to go if you want me to."

Shaking his head, Elias reached out and grasped the back, chucking it to the side. An odd, deep bubbly sound resounded from the barrier as it blocked the projectile, sending a shockwave throughout the dynamic dome of magic. "Even when you irritate me, I don't want you gone, Alexis."

Stepping forwards, the larger man wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head as he felt her rest against his own chest. Taking a deep breath, he gave her something to match her own breathing with to calm her down. "I'm with you until the end, my love."

"I'm with you until the end, my love."

Alexis looked up at him as he pulled her into his arms and held her. She felt some of her tension leave her body in relief. She buried her face into his chest and breathed in deeply. Taking in his scent she felt comforted and protected. The dome fluctuation stopped and the magic softened at the change in her mood. She spoke quietly.

"Thank you. I'm so sorry, I wouldn't ever hurt you on purpose. Please forgive me. On the up side, we will have nearly unlimited money. Aunt Jean said the fortune is massive. I know we will need to discuss the details of what we expect from each other with this whole marriage thing. We don't have to do that right this minute unless you wanted to but...I can tell you that I do want kids someday."

Alexis sat back down on the edge of the bed and waited for him to say something else. Realizing that he would soon be her husband made her wonder if he was still going to sleep around with all of the women he felt like. She knew if he did it would shame her to no end but she also knew that he was changing his life for her safety. All of the thoughts and worries that were pouring into her mind were making her feel tired and heavy. The magical drain on her was taxing her too.

"Elias, are you really okay with all of this?" Suddenly the weight of the enormity of her words was sitting on her shoulders and she realized what a disaster it could be if they weren't totally honest with each other about what they wanted.

@December

@Wick

---

"Elias, are you really okay with all of this?"

Her words gave the Grimm pause, letting silence fill the room as he considered it. "Okay" was certainly not the word he would choose to describe his current situation and his feelings on it. In many ways, Alexis had robbed him of many freedoms and opportunities in his life. In others, she had opened new doors and provided an entire host of unique scenarios for him to explore. It was all a large amount to process, and it overwhelmed the man.

It had taken away his freedoms and liberties to do as he pleased when it came to combat, politics, social encounters, and even his sexuality. He would abstain, but it still troubled him. Would she be expecting him to engage in intercourse immediately upon marriage? He had decided to be patient with that, as Alexis' reputation had been at stake, and he truly wanted their relationship to work. And what about his hunting? Now he had a future wife and family to consider. If he got injured or killed while in combat, however unlikely he thought that outcome to be, it would have massive ramifications for the ones he loved.

As for his rage? How would he control that around a family? He was no man to raise a child, much less multiple, as Alexis had inferred. Would that affect his relationship with his wife? How would it all turn out?

Lastly, and perhaps most important, Elias felt a great sadness within himself. However unrealistic it seemed, Elias had always hoped that perhaps, one day, he would marry a man. Now that was never going to happen.

After a few minutes of silence, Elias sighed. "We must return to their company. I'm sure they're waiting for us.."

Walking back to Elias, Alexis took his hand in hers and looked him in the eye. "They can wait. I need you to realize that we can still hunt and do whatever we want til we are ready to settle down with a family. This isn't a trap for us. It's letting us be freer than we are right now. We will have the money to do whatever we want and the authority to do it since we will not have to answer to anyone but each other. I don't want to give up hunting, do you?"

She couldn't help but see resentment in his eyes in the future and it scared her. What if he grew to hate her? Could she let him go, down the line? The thought struck a painful chord in her. If at some point he wanted out then she would have to let him no matter the scandal that would go with it.

Alexis wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged herself to him. "Why does it feel more like I am losing you than gaining your protection?"

There was a knock at the door and Alexis broke the magical dome. "Yes?"

A servant opened the door a little bit. "Miss Alexis you and Mr. Elias are being requested to return downstairs."

Sighing she nodded, "Thank you. We'll be down in a moment." Alexis walked over to her mirror and looked at her eyes. They looked like normal eyes again. "After this is over I'll need a stiff drink. What about you?" She turned to him and allowed him to take her arm formally to lead her downstairs.

@December

@Wick

---

Elias stayed silent through her ramblings. Perhaps if he had been more perceptive and less involved in his own thoughts, he would have seen that she needed comfort just as much, if not more, than he did. However, he was stoic and self involved, allowing both Grimms to go without each other's comfort.

At her comment of drinking, Elias grunted in agreement, wishing beyond all else that he could drink his problems away, ameliorating them in a single night with wild dancing with the drink.

At her behest, the hunter offered his arm and took her formally, walking down the stairs in pace with his now fianceè.

The downstairs was quite, except for the sound of Nathan's quiet bickering to himself and the hard sound of boot on plank as the raging man paced back and forth in front of the empty fire place, his body language further betraying his poorly concealed hatred.

As the pair entered the room, Elias locked eyes with Nathan, having a silent battle of mettle for a long moment. Nathan refused to back down, so Elias eventually broke eye contact, looking over at Marcus. ”You requested out presence?”

Marcus drew a long sigh, resting his hands on his knees in an attempt to stabilize himself. For a moment, Elias could see the toll old age had taken on the man. His form was thin, his knuckles bony, and his hands shook as if he was stuck with fear. His eyes were sunken, and wrinkles covered his face, bunching up around the corners of his eyes. In all, the plague of decrepitness had seemed to have suddenly ravaged Marcus' body. Perhaps it was the drama, perhaps it was Nathan running his mouth, perhaps it was the journey here, or the sudden announcement of Alexis and Elias' engagement, or a combination of them all.

Elias wondered how this had effected his plans, however, his thoughts were interrupted as the man spoke.