The Edges of the Lake (Northside)

((New timeline... ))

Nicolas ran down the grounds and ran where ever his legs took him. Where they took him was the lake.

He looked, panting, at the sparking blue water. An angry look etched to his face. He didn't know what to do, what to feel. His uncle was alive, that should have made him happy but... his anger overcame him. He didn't even know what he was upset about.

He grabbed a stone and threw it at the lake. He watched it furiously, as if willing it to explode.

He needed to calm himself, he thought concisiously. Nothing good could come out with him being angry.

Calista paused, noticing Nick by the lake.
Just as Diana had expected.
She glanced at Armando, wondering what to do. She felt suddenly awkward.
"Um..."

"Nicolas," Armando yelled as Calista noticed him.

Nicolas didn't answer.

"Nicolas." Armando said again.

"What do you want?" Nicolas replied not looking at him.

"To talk to you." Calista walked a bit nearer.
"Um...Preferably in english." She smiled weakly, trying to encourage even the hint of a smile.

"I don't mean to be rude..." Nicolas said. "Oh wait, I do. Go away. I'm dropping Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes."

Calista sighed. "Look, I can understand you being angry with me...but Armando is your uncle! Aren't you even happy that he's alive again?"

"You weren't even going to tell me!" Nicolas shouted at Armando. "How should I be happy when I didn't even know you were alive, and the Vaights know. You didn't fail to tell them did you? No, your with her now, you're practically a Vaight now."

"And what's wrong with that?" Armando said. "Nicolas, the feud, it's ridiculus. They aren't any different from us..."

But that was the wrong thing to say as Nicolas grew livid. "You're spitting on our ancestors graves by saying that. What their family have done to ours, how could you even consider being with her!? And she's pregnant already! How the heck do you know the bastard is really yours?"

"You do not talk to her like that, Nicolas!" Armando had been reasonably calm compared to Nicolas however at his mention of Calista, Armando raised his voice to match his. Something Nicolas had never seen him do before.

Nicolas turned to Calista. "My uncle isn't alive. He's dead."

And with that he turned into his leopard form and ran towards the Forbidden Forest.

Calista sighed and closed her eyes.
"I should've stayed and babysat those two in the office. I've made everything worse."
She opened her eyes and glanced at Armando.
"He's only angry because of me..." She whispered, feeling ridiculously guilty.

"No Calista," Armando said taking her into his arms. "It was my fault, keeping it from him only fueled his anger."

Calista hugged him back, just being near Armando making her feel better.
"And for the record, the little one is most definately yours."

Armando pulled away a little bit so that he could cup her cheek. "I never doubted it." He said confidently.

Calista laughed. "Yes, because you've seen my dating record for the past three years...Only you."

Armando chuckled and kissed her. "It's not only that Calista... I trust you, completely and utterly and entirely. I think it comes with the love."

Calista smiled. "I trust you too...Completely and forever. And you are ridiculously sweet, as I've told you before."

Armando smiled. "Not as sweet as you." And he kissed her again.

Calista kissed him back, then broke away.
"What are we going to do about Nick?"

Armando sighed. "I really don't know to be honest. I hope it just needs time for it to sink in..."

"I hope it doesn't take too long." Calista sighed. "And I hope he doesn't do anything we'll regret..."

Armando nodded. Then he remembered something. "Wait a minute... we left those two in my office?"

Calista smiled slightly. "Yes, yes we did...Were you particularly fond of any part of your office?"

"Yeah, I happened to like my desk... uncontaminated!" Armando said.

"Uncontaminated...How so?" Calista bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"Not used as a make-shift table by naughty adolescents!" Armando said dramatically.

This was enough to send Calista into waves of hysteria.

"We must return and save my desk!" Armando said herotically. "It's in grave danger!"