Mason wasn't sure how either of Ana's parents would react. He assumed that they wouldn't act rashly, they were ruling an entire fucking country after all, but he was expecting something.

So to see them just staring was really damn weird.

He had wanted to make a good impression, even if Ana wasn't currently on the best terms with them they were still her parents.

"You know my stance on situations like these, Anastasia," Queen Evelyn began after a long silence.

Mason felt Ana's hand tighten around his own and he sent her what he hoped was a comforting smile. "I know mother. But I don't see myself loving any other man any time in the future, let alone accepting a proposal from one."

He'd read in an interview that she had started receiving offers from men practically the day she turned eighteen. And yet she'd always said that she wasn't planning on getting married for at least another few years. If Mason was being honest, he was a bit relieved when he learned this; while he did want to spend as much time with her as he could get, marriage felt a bit too soon.

Mason straightened his shoulders, "And - I'm sorry - but there's no way I can just let her go now." He was far too in love with her.

King John sighed heavily as he leaned back in his chair. "I will allow it for now. But if I hear that you've done something to her, then you will be gone. Immediately."

Mason could respect that because, "I'd sooner go to Hell than ever do anything to hurt Ana." He didn't believe in Heaven or Hell (he'd never been religious) but if Hell was a place meant to torture and punish, then he'd deal with it. For her.

The king appraised him silently, and Mason could finally see that fatherly love in his gaze.

"We'll hold you to that."

~~~

It was later that same day when Mason brought up the situation with Charleigh. They were laying in Ana's bed, both on their side and facing each other with their legs intertwined as Mason toyed with her fingers of one hand.

He hesitated for a second, worried about her reaction but knowing that he was going to tell her at some point or another. "I told the police about what Charleigh did," he admitted quietly.

He saw her eyes widen before a large grin enveloped her features and he relaxed at her elation. "That's wonderful, Mason." She slid her fingers in between his, her gaze unmoving as she said, "I'm really proud of you."

Warmth blossomed in his chest at her praise and he smothered his own smile into the pillow he was laying on. He felt Ana's hand pull out of his before her fingers began carding through his hair.

But, "There's more."

Her movements paused momentarily before she whispered, "What is it?" Mason turned his head to look at Ana, focusing on her gentle eyes to keep himself calm.

"She-," he choked on his words. "She put a fucking camera in my room." Just saying it out loud made him feel physically sick. "It was in there for months, baby," he squeezed his eyes closed. "She was watching me get changed and- and she was watching us."

"Shit," he muttered as he felt a lone tear trail down his cheek.

He opened his eyes for a brief second to chance a glance at Ana, slightly surprised to see that she looked absolutely fucking pissed. She visibly calmed when she noticed him looking at her and she moved forward as he simultaneously adjusted to rest his face in the crook of her neck.

"Are you okay, my love?" Her voice was so soft and concerned and it made his throat tighten.

He shook his head slightly, "I don't know."

It was easy to say that he was when he was alone, but now that he was in the safety and comfort of his girlfriend's arms, Mason wasn't so sure.

He buried his face deeper into her skin, desperately trying to hide the dampness of his cheeks. "That's okay," he heard her say, "We're going to get through this." He wrapped his arms around her, pressing himself so tightly against her that he could feel her every breath. "She doesn't deserve your tears, right my love?"

Fuck.

Mason swallowed thickly. He didn't want her to know that he was crying; it felt . . . shameful.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled into her neck. "I'm supposed to be protecting you but I can't fucking do anything right." She started pulling away then and Mason resisted the urge to hold her to him, the distance hurt.

He kept his eyes closed but he could practically feel her stare. "Mason, you don't really believe that do you?"

He shook his head, pausing to shrug, before finally nodding. "You always know exactly what to fucking do or say and I can't even talk to you without being a complete baby about it."

He'd noticed it a long time ago, and it was so damn hard to ignore at times.

He felt Ana's hands cup his face, her thumb gently stroking over his cheeks. "No one is perfect, my love. And a relationship should be fifty, fifty. If you let me cry in your arms, then I want you to feel safe enough to cry in mine. It's a little," she hesitated, "Hurtful to think that you don't want to show your real emotions in front of me."

Mason immediately opened his eyes at that, blinking to see past the blur of tears. "That's not what it is at all baby," he tried to explain. "Shit. I just-," he sighed, "I just want to be able to take care of you. But it feels like I'm always the one being taken care of."

"Mason," she rolled her eyes and he couldn't hold back a slight chuckle. "You're probably the only person that really can take care of me. Every single time I've been upset you've been there, always. And I want to be there for you too, especially for stuff like this."

He understood that, really he did. But it would be difficult to change something he'd been trying so hard to keep the same. "I'll try," he finally said.

"That's all I ask for, my love." Ana leaned forward to lightly press her lips on his and he relaxed into the kiss.

He wanted to be what she was to him; he wanted to be her serenity and peace and everything she could ever want or need. And if that meant being more vulnerable in their relationship, then he would try his damned hardest to be so.

~~~

It was a few hours later, and both Mason and Ana were on the verge of sleep when he remembered why he had decided to see her today specifically.

He shifted and Ana hummed sleepily on top of him, her face burrowing into his naked chest. "What are you doing," she asked sluggishly as Mason gently moved her over to lean down and retrieve his pants from the floor.

He dug through his jeans pockets for only a moment before finding what he had been looking for. "Before it's too late," he began as he laid back down and she retook her place on his chest. "Happy birthday, my girl."

Ana abruptly sat up, her eyes widening as she stared down at him. "I totally forgot it was my birthday," she whispered.

"I figured," he lifted his hand to let his gift dangle between them. "But I didn't."

His girlfriend gasped as she grabbed the gold necklace from his hands. "It's beautiful," she held it up in the direction of the window, making the small violin charm catch the moon's light and shine alluringly. "But why a violin?"

Mason sat up, taking the necklace from her hands and gesturing for her to turn around. "Do you remember when I gave you that cheap ass violin?" She nodded as she lifted her hair up so he could slide the jewelry around her neck. "And you hugged me?"

She nodded again, "What about it?"

"I think that was the exact moment I fell for you." He had denied it at the time, but - looking back - there was no way in hell that he didn't at least like her at the time.

Mason finished clasping the chain and he ran his hands over her shoulders to silently let her know that he was done and she turned back around to face him. "Wait- seriously?"

He laughed as he straightened the charm to rest on the center of her chest. "Pretty damn sure."

"But that was so long ago," she trailed off.

He blew out a low breath, "Oh, I know. I've been completely fucking obsessed with you since day one. I just refused to acknowledge it," he winked at her.

She giggled and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, kissing his cheek before resting her forehead on his. "I bewitched you huh?"

"Put a whole ass spell on me," he played along.

She laughed again and it was quiet for a few moments as they just sat there, basking in each other's presence. Then Mason said, "You know, I still haven't heard you play."

She lightly brushed her lips over the tip of his nose and he found himself grinning like a fool at the sensation. "Don't worry, I'll play for you soon. Besides, we have all the time in world right? Considering I'm the love of your life and everything, remember?"

"How could I forget?"

He couldn't.

Ever.

~~~

It was the only the next morning when Mason was woken up from his phone ringing. He groaned, realizing that Ana was already up and being productive somewhere after noticing that he was alone in her bed.

He picked up without looking at the caller ID, a gruff, "Hello," leaving his lips as he rubbed a hand over his face.

"Mason, why does your location say you're in Europe?"

Shit. "Hi, mom."

~~~