Faolan chuckled lightly at this exchange as he continued eating. [color=a36209]"Maybe if you're lucky,"[/color] he said, [color=a36209]"Aurel will draw it for you."[/color]

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The next five weeks passed and the trio remained intact. Lucien finished the dictation job he had taken in town, and after a couple days to be sure of Aurel's strength, the three of them set off once more. No one ever came looking for Aurel, and after this time had passed Lucien and Faolan considered their heist of him successful. Though, the ever vigilant Irishman took the same precautions everywhere they went, regardless, it was in his nature.

They moved on to the next town, and over time Aurel slowly began to regain strength in his body and his legs. After about a week and a half had passed since they'd found the boy, the symptoms of his withdrawal had slowed and finally ceased completely. By the time a month had passed, he was almost entirely independent and even enjoyed spending some time on his own coloring and drawing, working on his reading and writing, and even taking short walks within line of sight of his protectors. They were all happy together, for the most part, and all fear of being alone with the child had left the Irishman as well. Overall, they made all the trappings of a happy family.

Faolan made off on his monthly "errand" and allowed Lucien to explain. The Nephilim told Aurel that Faolan had something that he had to take care of and that it was very dangerous, which was why he went away to do it. He promised the boy, who was worried about the Irishman, that everything would be explained when he was a little older. Aurel accepted this for now, and felt that much better when Faolan returned unharmed.

They were all sitting together inside the trailer one evening parked in a lot behind the house in which both Lucien and Faolan had taken jobs. The former had been hired as a tutor for the family's young son, and had convinced them that Aurel was his nephew so that he could bring the boy for lessons. Faolan had been taken on as a handyman who was in the process of doing several small but essential repairs around the property. The house itself was a little ways out of town, but they had taken Aurel in for a couple days once they arrived to show him around. Faolan had finished his work for the evening and was sitting in the bed with Lucien. Both were reading, the Irishman with a newspaper and the Frenchman with a book. Absently, Lucien had let himself lean against the warm and sturdy shoulder of his lover as they read. The three had grown quite comfortable together, and while the two men were still careful not to reveal the full extent of their relationship in front of their charge, small looks and light touches had been too easy for them to let slip, especially in the comfort of their own bed. Faolan was still sleeping in the passenger seat, and it had been hard for both of them to be so close and not be able to show their affection. Still, the Irishman was worried about the child's reaction and what he could say to other adults, so he cautioned Lucien against explaining it to him just yet. In this moment, however, Faolan had almost forgotten that Aurel, who was quiet and courteous, was even present.