[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/TYng1XPP/e870a975f3d4ab67ec34b2957d80018e.png[/img] [img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/efd7a7cc9f763ac032a92f9e7fdbc555/tumblr_inline_nm9688hDeR1sccn28.gif[/img][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/8a6c449b58ea48ca5850649ac19c602e/tumblr_inline_p7kjktVwBB1rzrex6_540.gif[/img][/center] [hr][hr] Carlisle had as best he could, kept his end of the deal and stayed away from the coven household for the majority of the day. He had considered asking Miles or Lilith if they wanted to hang out, but given what they all knew about today, he doubted the last thing they would want to do is hang around with Carlisle. Everyone had to make their own preparations. Carlisle himself had decided to be a little mischievous. He knew his mother had a permanent reservation at that classy restaurant on the High Street. So he decided to have lunch there. He didn't bother holding back either, he treated himself to the nicest things on the menu. For dessert he went out of his way to order the largest chocolate sundae he could find. At the end he simply put it all in his mother's rolling tab for the end of the month. Heading back to the household, Carlisle took a moment to sit on a bench in the High Street and observe life going up and down the paths and roads as people milled about their business. It had been a crazy few months, and Carlisle had just wished things would calm down somewhat. Most of his relationships had been strained heavily and it was all down to both Carlisle’s action and inaction in certain regards. He had just wanted to do a good job, but Carlisle was starting to come to terms that sometimes his best wasn't quite good enough. And that maybe there are some things in life that you were better off not interfering in. He would be lying if he was ashamed of how everything had played out with Lilith. It had gone from a nice and relaxing summer together to them pretty much becoming estranged. All of it was a result of Carlisle's actions, and he wasn't going to say otherwise. There was hopefully a path where they could at least reconnect and maybe rebuild the foundation of their friendship. Then there was the Werewolf problem. Carlisle, in between everything else, had been hunting for the pack pretty much solo. He didn't want to inconvenience people by asking for help. But his investigations turned up nothing. He was fairly certain they were still here in Tanner somewhere. And he wasn't happy that they had the advantage. Maybe he needed to trust in his fellow coven mates a bit more and ask for some assistance. There were a fair few people he could drop on to help him with his tasks. As for his mother and legacy. Well. He was about to deal with that problem tonight. He always knew that the Aston line was going to die out eventually, he just maybe had thought there would be a couple more generations left. Maybe he and Willow would kick it off proper and have kids? Carlisle had grown quite in love with Willow over the past couple of months. He had never had anyone swoon over him before, so it was a change of pace in his life for sure. He just wondered if he would end up pushing her away like everyone else in his life? Maybe he was more his mother's son than he would have liked to admit. That was a jarring thought. He had knew that Carlisle had shared several traits with his mother. And Carlisle was actively trying to get better, which is more than what Amanda ever did. But he didn't wanna go down in history as just another Aston, who like his ancestors gorged on power and abused the living heck out of it. He actually wouldn't have minded in retrospect handing over power to Lilith, but given what she had going on in her life, Coven responsibilities was the last thing she needed right now. And perhaps that was where Carlisle could actually be useful, by giving Lilith the space to have her children and focus on being a mother while Carlisle picked up the majority of the council responsibilities. He could ask Serena for help, but he wasn't sure if she would help or just laugh in his face. By the time he had finished thinking and pondering about life in general he had found himself outside the coven household. It appeared he had day dreamed the entire trip back. He pulled his phone out and saw that the time was 5.30pm. It was most likely safe to go inside now. How long had he been pondering the world for? And why can't he remember any of it? Shaking his head Carlisle made his way up to the double doors that marked the entrance to the household, only to see that several balloons decorated the doorway. His first reaction was to roll his eyes, was he turning 24 or 14? However taking a second look he was thankful that they had taken the time to decorate the place. Walking inside the household the party had been setup pretty much the same as it had been on the welcome party Carlisle had set up way back in September. The big difference now being that there were balloons and streamers, as well as a better selection of food, snacks and drinks. There was even some selections of hot food which was far better than what Carlisle could have ever done. He looked over at the selection of Alcohol, and debated having a drink. However he decided against it. He needed to be at the peak of his abilities. He had an hour until the party started, so he took a moment, to cast a few ritual wards around the coven household. It wasn't quite a barrier like he was used to, but it was a an alarm ward that would at least warn him if his mother entered the ward. Once he finished the ward he moved back into the dining room, picking up a plate and stuffing some chips onto it before taking a bite. All he had to do now was wait for people to turn up. This was going to be an interesting party for many reasons.