HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

The last couple years actually flew by between classes, work and the addition of now prowling the streets taking care of those people who would dare to attack mutants within the Oxford area. Between Mason, Adder, Ashton, and even help from Tiffany they were able to find out who had been behind the disappearances of the young female mutants. Sadly they had not been able to save the lives of three of the eight girls taken. But they were able to return the other five to their families. Sure they couldn’t take any credit for what they’d done. Given some of the extremes they had to go in order to stop these men and find where they were taking the girls it was probably best no authorities knew of their involvement. Because saving people was good but leaving casualties in their wake would be frowned upon. And Adder already had a sordid past with police so Mason wasn’t keen on her getting in any additional trouble with them. Now that Ashton and he were graduating they would have all new responsibilities to take on. Their general team dynamic seemed a bit up in the air. Ashton was going to be moving to Manchester to run Wilson Industrial and the plan was that at their graduation party Ashton was going to propose to Tiffany. Mason was due to go to London and take over Templeton Enterprises while his father was going to resign and focus more on his political career. Adder felt a bit odd person out since she didn’t have some great job to move on to and without Ashton and Mason she obviously wouldn’t be able to afford the flat and with the under the table job she’d been holding she couldn’t even afford studio flat for herself. But she didn’t want to discuss it too much with the guys, as she didn’t want to be a downer with them about to celebrate their graduation.
Mason had planned to stay in Oxford for the summer before moving to London so she at least knew she had a roof over her head for another three months. But still the future was unclear for her, sure she could easily go back to street life. Living at the flat hadn’t turned her soft to where she couldn’t survive outside. She just well she would miss Mason, heck she might even miss Ashton. She tried to keep her fears to herself as she drove with Mason to York for the graduation party. It was the first time she was being brought to an event that included his parents and younger sister Gabrielle. She wasn’t sure she should even be coming. She was afraid of meeting Quentin, Emma and Gabrielle Templeton. Adder wasn’t sure if they were like Mason who would not even think twice about her past or if they would be true to the stigma of high society and look down upon her and her friendship with Mason. Worse yet she knew that his mother Emma had telepathy and she wondered if she let her thoughts go unguarded around the woman would see that Adder’s devotion to Mason wasn’t just fueled by friendship and hadn’t been for the last couple years. The only person Adder had even spoken to about her attraction to him was Tiffany was still insistent that she just tell Mason. But Adder couldn’t bring herself to tell him, he saw her as a friend and she didn’t want to risk losing that. And then there was Elizabeth, a girl Mason had started to see. Mason never referred to Elizabeth as his girlfriend however they had gone out a number of times in the last three months and at least twice Elizabeth had stayed the night at the flat.
Adder tried to not think about it as she looked to Mason as they drove. “So um...w’y didn’t ya bring yer bird Elizabet’ ta yer party?”, Adder asked. Mason glanced over keeping his focus mostly on the road and smiled. “She’s not my girlfriend, just someone I see and on the occasion sleep with. That’s not exactly someone I’d introduce to my parents.”, he explained. Adder snorted shaking her head. “And Ah’m the sort of person to introduce them to. We’ve known each ot’er fer four years and in all t’at time Ah’ve never meet t’em. W’y bring me along t’is time?”, Adder asked. She knew that this party she was going to feel out of place amongst all of his and Ashton’s family and friends. The only people she would know already were of course Mason, Ashton and Tiffany but also Oliver and Andy. “You’re one of my closest friends Adder. Figured it was about time you meet my family. Especially given circumstances…”, Mason explained. Adder raised an eyebrow. “Circumstances? W’at ya talkin’?”, she questioned. “Well couple things. One Ashton plans to propose to Tiffany today. You’re their friend too so you should be there for that moment. The other, well I was going to wait till later to discuss with you...about our future”, he started to elaborate. “Well Ah know he gonna pop the question. Tiffany even knows, t’oug’ she ain’t supposed ta. But Ashton just too easy fer her to read. Our future?”, she questioned holding her breath at all the possibilities the words ‘our future’ could hold. She hoped that maybe this was him trying to say he cared about her as more than a friend too. But she was still doubtful. “Yeah Ashton’s not good at keeping things secret I guess. And you know end of summer I move to London to take over the company from my dad. And Ashton is already moving out to go to Manchester taking over for his dad.”, he started. Adder nodded. “Well when I got to London I want you to come too.”, he explained.
Adder blinked. “Go wit’ ya to London?”, she asked her heart skipping a beat as the idea this really did mean he wanted more than to be friends. “Yeah. Lord knows I’ll get myself into trouble on the streets of London. And taking over the company means I get to fill certain key positions. And one of those is the head of security, my personal security guard. And who else could I trust to have my back than you.”, he explained. Adder gulped back the tiny bit of joy she’d felt for a moment mentally kicking herself for thinking even for that moment someone like Mason would want her that way. She nodded a little. “So ya offerin’ me a job?”, she asked. “Yeah. A legitimate, legal and respectable job. One where you still stick close to me. My dad’s company is high profile and when I take his job I stop just being the son of Quentin Templeton and step into the public eye fully as Mason Templeton. I inherit my dad’s business enemies. And in the past he’s had death threats. Which I’m sure I will get the same treatment. So if I’m to have a body guard, even a group of guards I don’t want those who worked for my father. I want people I trust. And so I want to fill that head position with someone who in the last two years I’ve fought alongside, and who has saved my ass a couple times in that span. So I want you to be head of my security, you would choose who else is hired for the rest of the security team. What do you say mate? Come to London and continue to fight alongside me and watch my back?”, he asked looking over to her with a smile. Adder had pushed back her hurt that he hadn’t wanted her to come as more than a friend but smiled because at least she’d still be with him. “Sure mate. Ya need somebody ta keep ya in line. One small issue…”, she answered. “What’s the issue?”, he asked. “Ah ain’t got any legal paperwork to work a legitimate job. Ah just a street rat remembah.”, she pointed out.
Mason nodded. “I thought of that. We can find out that information and obtain all the papers you need for the job. Like a little mission. Do you know much about your early life? Like where you are from?”, he questioned. They hadn’t discussed much of her life before she’d met him and Ashton four years ago. She had left it with that she’d been on the streets as long as she could remember, not even knowing her name and having called herself Adder after the type of venomous snake. Adder pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow her copper eyes narrowing as she tried to remember back. “Crawley”, she said softly. “I remember Crawley. It’s vague and fuzzy but Ah remember an abbey. But t'e details are hazy. Ah remember being taunted fer my eyes, forked tongue and the scales. Ah remember running away t'en it was all streets and always moving to avoid getting snatched by t'e police. Didn't want ta get taken back.", she explained. Mason nodded. "Crawley and an abbey. That's a place to start. It's only about an hour from London. Can check into it next weekend when apartment hunting on London.", he smiled glancing over as they were pulling up to his family's home. Adder blinked looking at the large home set back on a decent size lot. The London house his family owned was nice and this felt like pulling up to Buckingham palace compared.
There were already lots of expensive looking cars parked and she could see people walking around to the back where she figured the party was. And she suddenly felt self conscious. She'd just thrown on a pain of her skinny jeans which had distressed areas from her acid like venom and a dark green cowl neck sleeveless open back top and her heeled leather ankle boots. She looked down at herself then back to the guests she saw in their nice dresses. Mason was dressed up, but that was normal to see him in slacks and dress shirt with tie. "Ah gunna stand out like a sore thumb. W'y didn't ya tell me Ah was underdressed?", she grumbled as she got out of the car and sighed. Mason chuckled a little getting out and walking around to her side of the car. "Deep breaths, pet. You look fine.", he assured rubbing her upper arms and kissed her forehead. Adder sighed he made this just friends thing so hard when he was nice and affectionate like this. “If ya say so…”, she murmured. Mason smiled. “I do. So relax and let’s go enjoy my party.”, he said putting an arm around her shoulders and heading to the back yard. Adder shook her head a little as they walked to the yard. There was a number of white canvas tents with lots of people. Adder tried to not let how out of place felt show through. Especially since now people had started to notice her walking with Mason.
Three people in particular took notice of their arrival; an older man with blonde hair with a few slight grays dressed in a rather nice suit, an older woman with ebony hair a streak of grey visible in her updo hair wearing a yellow midi pencil dress with a purple floral print, and then a younger girl about Adder’s age with the same kind of dark brown hair as Mason wearing a fit and flare style floral print dress. “MASON!”, the younger girl shouted racing away from the others at Mason but stopped a little short seeing Mason’s arm around Adder. She blinked her blue eyes looking at Adder. Gabrielle looked adder over from toe to head. She did like the boots, the jeans weren’t really her style as she didn't like rips in her clothes, the top she liked even if it wasn’t appropriate for the event, she noticed the subtle scales but thought nothing of them, then the copper snake eyes again nothing to be bothered by, and then the short pixie cut blonde. She noticed her brother’s hand on the girl’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow looking to him. Mason chuckled a little at his sister. “Hi Gabby. Congratulations on graduating high school.”, he said taking his arm from Adder and hugging his sister. “Thank you Mason. Congratulations on finishing college. Sooooo you going to tell me who yer bird is? Didn’t realize you had a girlfriend.”, Gabrielle inquired. Mason shook his head letting his sister go. “Gabrielle this is Adder. She’s one of my friends I met in Oxford. Adder this is my little sister Gabrielle.”, Mason introduce. “We ain’t dating. Just good mates. Nice ta meet ya. Yer brot’er talks fondly of ya.”, Adder smiled trying to put her best foot forward being introduced to his sister and offered her hand. Gabrielle raised an eyebrow and tucked her hair behind her ear. Gabrielle looked between them and shrugged.
“Nice to meet you. Adder that’s a rather peculiar name is it your last name perhaps?”, Gabrielle questioned shaking Adder’s hand. Quentin and Emma walked up curious themselves. Quentin looked at Adder questioningly then to his son. “Er...well Ah don’t t’ink it is. It’s just mah name.”, Adder shrugged then gulped a tiny bit looking to Gabrielle’s right seeing Mason’s parents. She recognized them from pictures he had. “Mum, dad this is my friend Adder I met while at Oxford. Adder these are my parents Quentin and Emma.”, Mason introduced looking to change the subject a little. “Adder has agreed to be my head of security when I take over the company at the end of summer.”, Mason explained. Quentin raised an eyebrow looking at Adder who was rather small in frame so he was skeptical why his son was choosing to hire this young girl as his head of security. Mason noticed the look on his father’s face and shook his head. “Father….don’t judge books by their covers. Adder is a rather skilled fighter. In the four years I’ve known her she’s proven that. And I trust her with my life.”, Mason explained. Emma lightly placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “I recall you once didn’t think I would fair well in a fight Quentin….”, she taunted. Adder forced herself to keep her polite smile. “It a pleasure ta meet ya Mister and Misses Templeton. And Ah know t’at Ah don’t look like muc’ but as Mason said Ah’m a good fighter. Ah wouldn’t let anyone ‘arm Mason.”, Adder said. She was trying her best to keep her thoughts to herself knowing that Mason’s mother is a telepath. Emma smiled and offered her hand to Adder. “I’m certain you will do just fine. I’ve found that Templeton men tend to require a woman keeping them in line and out of trouble.”, Emma smiled.
Quentin rolled his eyes a little while Mason smirked. “Fer as many times Ah’ve kept t’is one out of trouble he’s kept me out some too. Ya raised a very fine man Misses Templeton. He’s bout t’e nicest Ah’ve ever met.”, Adder smiled. “Well thank you, I tried. Now I’m sure you two have mingling to do. Ashton is over there pacing, Tiffany hasn’t arrived yet and he’s fretting.”, Emma sighed pointing to Ashton. Adder and Mason looked over seeing Ashton pacing and shook their heads. “Come on Adder, let’s see to Ashton’s nerves.”, Mason said putting an arm around Adder’s shoulders. Adder chuckled. “Yea. Tiff better s’ow soon or he mig’t lose it completely.”, Adder said walking with Mason to Ashton. “Whoa Ashton. What’s with the pacing? You are going to leave a path in the lawn you keep that up.”, Mason teased. "I've been here for an hour now. My parents and little brother are here, heck her parents and younger brother are here. But no word from her.", Ashton said exasperated. "Silly question but did anyone call her?", Adder questioned. Ashton narrowed his eyes. "Of course I called her, and her parents called her. Her phone is going straight to voicemail.", Ashton answered. "Alright just relax mate. Did you check the GPS on her phone?", Mason asked. Ashton raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I had GPS tracking turned on all our phones. Given mutants were getting taken and having the GPS on made getting to any of us that much easier if we needed backup.", Mason explained. "Well I didn't know that, so no.", Ashton said. Mason nodded taking his phone out and pulling up the app. He checked the location of Tiffany's phone. "She's moving. Looks like she's fifteen minutes away. So now breath and pull yourself together mate.", Mason assured. Ashton let out a sigh of relief. "She ain't gunna miss ya poppin' t'e question mate.", Adder smiled. Ashton nodded reaching in his pocket pulling out the black box. He'd looked through a lot of shops wanting the right ring for Tiffany.
Tiffany had been running late as she couldn’t decide what outfit she wanted to wear given she knew that Ashton was going to propose. And then she was driving from London to York so wasn’t paying attention to her phone she she didn’t realize that her parents and Ashton were calling her. She knew she was late and lord she hated being late. Finallys he arrived at the Templeton house in York. Getting out of her car she did a quick adjustment to the hem of her royal blue chiffon dress. She’s liked how the dress sat just above her knee and the gathered bust and the little embellishment of the waistband. She figured with her black pumps she was dressed up enough not just for a graduation party but also for an engagement without being over dressed. She grabbed her purse and the gifts from the back seat before heading to the back of the house. She looked around at all the people and suddenly felt a bit self conscious and worried about the idea of Ashton asking her in front of all these people. No one seemed to be looking at her that she could tell but she felt eyes on her. She kept scanning the crowd and there she found a set of eyes locked in on her. She smiled a little seeing a rather worried Ashton starting across the yard at her. Ashton smiled seeing her arrive. He took a deep breath and looked to Mason and Adder. “Wish me luck mates.”, he smiled putting the ring box back into his pocket walking in the direction of Tiffany.
Mason chuckled a little smiling as he watched his best friend walk nervously across the yard with the intentions of proposing. “Ya know he doesn’t need luck. He could say it backwards or stammer and she is still going to say yes.”, Adder chuckled. Mason nodded. “Yeah. Being Misses Mason has kind of been Tiffany’s dream since grade 10. Some people just know from the start when they meet their match. Just doesn’t always work that both realize it at the same time.”, he agreed glancing to Adder with a smile. Adder smiled tucking the longer side of her blonde pixie cut behind her ear. She sighed a little wishing that maybe some day he’d realize she was there the way Ashton had realized Tiffany was there four years ago. She kicked herself mentally for thinking about it reminding herself there would never been a chance that Mason would see her as more than his friend no matter how much time passed or how much she wished he would. The pair instead watched as Ashton approached Tiffany. “Hey Tiff. Was getting worried about you. You weren't answering your phone and you are never late.”, Ashton greeted giving her a kiss. “Yeah I’m sorry. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to wear and ended up running late. And my phone has been in my purse so I didn’t hear it ringing. Sorry to have worried you.”, she smiled. “But I did remember yours and Mason’s gifts.”, she said holding up the two boxes. Ashton smiled taking the boxes and setting them aside. “We’ll open them later. Come with me for a minute first.”, Ashton insisted taking her hand. “Alright..”, Tiffany nodded.
Ashton lead her away from the party to a private area of the yard near the koi pond and to a little bench under some trees. Tiffany smiled a little relieved he wasn't going to do the asking in front of everyone. “Take a seat please..”, Ashton said motioning to the bench. “Alright...so what’s going on?”, she asked sitting down. She was doing her best to pretend she didn’t know it was coming. Ashton took a deep breath and looked at her his hand in his pocket holding the box. “Do you love me?”, Ashton asked a little nervous. “Yes of course.”, she answered. “Will you do something for me then?”, he asked. “Anything.”, she smiled. “Will you marry me”, Ashton asked taking the ring box from his pocket getting to one knee as he popped the box open. Tiffany smiled, she wasn’t surprised by the engagement but as the box opened she was surprised by the ring itself. She hadn’t been sure what the ring would look like. She stared at the ring for a moment, it’s rose gold band with a swirl around a yellow sapphire with a dozen diamonds accenting it shining in the sunlight that cascaded through the tree branches, then her eyes moved up to look at him and smiled nodding. “Yes, of course yes.”, she agreed holding out her left hand. Ashton smiled taking the ring out of the box slipping it on her finger before kissing her. “I love you.”, he whispered pulling back from the kiss. Tiffany smiled lightly touching the side of his face with her left hand which had the new weight of the engagement ring. “I love you too Ashton.”, she laughed a little. “So I know the proposal itself wasn’t a surprise. Did I at least shock with the ring?”, Ashton asked sitting onto the bench next to her. Tiffany laughed a little and looked at the ring. “Yeah sorry the proposal surprise wasn’t a surprise. But you aren’t really good at secrets. Going through my jewelry box looking for rings, quadruple checking what time I was planning to arrive, oh and inviting my whole family to your graduation party. Big indicators babe. But the ring...good God I didn’t expect this. It’s gorgeous Ashton.”, she said with a sigh looking at the ring. “Good I’m glad I at least could surprise you with that. Come on then I’m pretty sure our parents and friends will want to congratulate us.”, he said standing up and offering her his hand. Tiffany nodded taking his hand to head back to the party.
The party itself turned slowly from congratulating Mason and Ashton on graduating to congratulating Tiffany and Ashton on their engagement. Mason made his rounds of the party as there was a number of business associates invited and people on the board from his company. Adder of course felt rather out of place but walked around the party generally with Mason each time being introduced to this person or that as his ‘friend’ or ‘head of security’. Which yes they were accurate titles but neither were the title she wanted. One particular woman, who had a rather round face and well rounded body frame grabbed Mason’s hand as he was walking but arm on Adder’s shoulder as they were navigating the crowd. “Mason Quentin Templeton! You get bigger and more handsome every time I see you.”, she greeted in a loud a slightly shrilled voice. Adder winced a little at the sound of the woman’s voice. Mason put on his polite smile to greet the woman. “Hello Aunt Wilhelmina. And given last time you saw me I was eleven I’m sure I’ve changed. Thank you so much for coming.”, Mason greeted being polite and kind to the woman. Her eyes moved to Adder with speculation at Mason’s arm around Adder’s shoulders, but set higher than you’d think for a man walking with his date, and then Adder’s choice of clothing for the event. Her eyes fluttered back to Mason smiling. “So I hear that young Ashton has gotten engaged today. And when might we start hearing wedding bells for you nephew? After all the Templeton name does need to be carried on and as the only boy that falls to you. perhaps you and...um… your young lady will soon..”, she hazarded a guess though didn’t think Adder would be a proper fit for the Templeton name.
“OH no you have the wrong idea Aunt Wilhelmina. This is my good friend Adder, she’s going to be head of my security when I take over the company. We aren’t… aren’t together like that.”, Mason quickly explained. “Adder this is my Aunt Wilhelmina Templeton Braddock.”, he introduced. Wilhelmina seemed relieved that he wasn’t romantically involved with Adder. “Oh I see. My mistake. Nice to meet you young lady. Now I need to go find that darling little sister of yours.”, she said giving him a kiss on the cheek leaving a lipstick stain before pushing her way through the crowd. Adder watched her eyes narrowed, she’d seen the look his aunt gave her and heard the relief in her voice when Mason said they weren’t together. “She’s….pleasant…”, Adder hissed a little. Mason chuckled and hugged her a little around her shoulders. “Ignore Wilhelmina. I do. She’s one of those stuck in the past where breeding, title, and social status is all that really matters in not just who you date or marry but even those you keep around you as friends. If she had her way I would have been betrothed to Lord Sumpton’s daughter Teresa. “, he said with a shudder thinking of Teresa Sumpton. Adder laughed a little seeing him shudder before taking his small handkerchief from his jacket pocket and reaching up wiping the lipstick stain from his cheek. “Well at least ya ain’t like t’at mate.”, she smiled. Mason smiled taking the handkerchief back and folding it neatly to hide the lipstick putting it back. “Thanks. And I’m glad I’m not like that either. My mother wouldn’t allow it. She never cared for the idea of social status and taught me it should never be a reason for me to treat someone else different or not give them the same chance I’d give someone of my only status.”, he shrugged. “Well Ah t’ankfull fer t’at lesson. Else Ah’d never know ya.”, she smiled.
Mason smiled but then groaned as a group of men in suits spotted him. “Alright this might take awhile, pet. It’s the board. And they will bore you as much as they do me. I’ll deal with them and you can go enjoy the party. Go chat with Tiffany if you can get through the crowd of girls around her trying to catch a glimpse of her engagement ring.”, he chuckled. Adder nodded glancing from the men in suits and the gaggle of women around Tiffany. “Yea’. Ah’ll catc’ up wit’ ya later.”, she said heading away from him. She considered going to see Tiffany but she didn’t want the weird looks or to push through the crowd just to reach her fellow snake. So instead she grabbed a glass of champagne that was being carried around on silver trays and ducked inside the house for some quiet. She sipped the glass making a little face. Champagne was just not her taste. She heard a laugh from close by and looked around. “W’o t’ere?”, she questioned. “Just me Adder. Sorry came inside to use the looe and snag a beer from the kitchen. Was heading outside and saw you sipping the champagne and the look on your face. Apparently it doesn’t appeal to your taste buds.”, Ollie chuckled holding the neck of two beers in one hand and tucked some of his blonde curls behind his ear with the other. Adder blinked it’d been awhile since she’d seen Ollie, he’d grown a beard. The facial hair suited him. “‘Ello Ollie. And yea’ apparently it too sophisticated fer me.”, she chuckled a little in greeting.
“Here you have have one of these. Andy will have to just suffer I’ll tell him there was only one left and I drank it.”, Ollie said offering one of the bottles. “T’anks mate.”, she said taking the beer and twisting off the top taking a long sip. It’d been a long afternoon of getting introduced to this person and that. All of them judging her being on Mason’s arm and always she was introduced hias his friend and head of security. “Long day?”, Ollie asked taking the cap off his and taking a sip. “Ya could say t’at. Been walking round out t’ere wit’ Mason getting intorduced to t’is person and t’at. Ah can’t remember ‘alf t’eir names. T’ey all of course judging me because of w’at Ah’m wearing and t’at Ah walking wit’ Mason.”, she grumbled. Ollie nodded looking out the glass patio doors seeing Mason with the board of the company. “Yeah sadly there are a number of people here that think social status is everything. I’m not sure an upper crust house either. I sometimes still get those judgmental looks when I’m hanging out with Ashton, Mason and Andy since their all blue bloods. Um Adder can I ask you something..”, Ollie said his eyes returning back to her. “Ya just did mate.”, Adder teased but nodded .”Go a’ead.”, she stated.
“Um..well I know you drove up with Mason. But also kind of figure you like me have had enough of the party where Mason is kind of obligated to stay longer. So wanted to know if you’d like to drive back with me and maybe get dinner between here and Oxford?”, he said sounding a bit nervous. “Um if you don’t think going all the way to Oxford is out of the way since you’d be going to London. I’d also need to check with Mason.”, she said looking out to the yard at Mason with a sigh. She wondered if he’d really care if it would register with him that Ollie was asking her on a date, or at least she thought he was since he specifically mentioned dinner. “Right...yeah you should check with Mason.”, Ollie sighed. He saw the way Adder always looked at Mason. But he figured if Mason wasn’t smart enough to see it he could give a try. “Ah’ll be right back.”, she said taking the beer with her and headed back outside to find Mason. He was at least easy to find in the crowd and ass he got closer she was thankful it looked like he was down to just one of the men in suits talking to him. “Excuse me, Mason?”, Adder interrupted tapping Mason’s shoulder.
Mason smiled turning a little to greet her and noticed the beer in her hand. “Hey mate.”, he said taking the beer and grabbing a quick sip before handing it back. “Sorry all they are passing around is champagne and you know me…”, he said handing the beer back. Adder shook her head but smiled taking a sip from the beer. She liked how there was always that sense of familiarity between them that sharing a drink or food was never even thought about. The gentlemen who was speaking with Mason raised an eyebrow looking from Mason to Adder and back before coughing a little as a reminder he was there. Mason smiled turning back to the man. “Sorry about that Ron. Ron this is my friend Adder she’s going to be taking on the role of head of security for me. Adder this is Ronald Marsden the chair of the board of directors of the company.”, Mason introduced. Adder sighed inwardly of course being introduced as friend and head of security yet again. Adder smiled extending a hand. “Nice to meet ya Mister Marsden.”, Adder greeted. “Oh… um alright. Well it’s nice to meet you as well Miss Adder. Young Mason here must have a large amount in confidence in you to place you in charge of keeping him safe. In his father's time there were numbers of death threats and even attempts on Quentin’s life because he held his ground on his morals in the business world. And now there are those who’d like to see the company just go public, especially competitors that want to buy us out.”, Ronald said shaking her hand. “Ah will do my best ta keep Mason safe sir.”, she said letting his hand go.
Mason smiled. “Only person I’d trust as much with my life with Ashton Ron and well he’s not exactly available to be my bodyguard.”, he stated. Ronald nodded smiling. “Um Mason came over for a reason.”, Adder said trying to get back on track. “Right of course. What’s going on pet?”, he questioned slipping and calling her ‘pet’ in front of someone. He’d managed to go the whole party not calling her pet since they parked the car. Ron raised an eyebrow at the term of affection. Adder smiled a little at the slip. She hated when Ashton would call her things like Mason’s pet or stray and such over the years, but when Mason called her pet it was different. It was a term of endearment and she enjoyed hearing it. “Bout ‘ow much longer ya plan on staying?”, she asked. “Um I hadn’t really thought about it.”, he said pulling out his pocket watch that four years ago Adder had tried to steal from him. “I’ve still got other people I need to greet and such. So it might be nightfall or later when we’d leave. Why did you want to get back sooner?”, he asked closing the pocket watch and pulling it away. “Well Ah figured ya would be ‘ere late. Ollie offered ta drive me back to Oxford.”, she explained kind of hoping that her saying Ollie wanted to take her to drive her would stir some kind of emotions. “Ollie?”, he questioned looking around and spotting Ollie standing by the patio doors. “Um. Well if you wanted to go back before dark, go ahead. I’ll see you back the flat then.”, Mason said pushing down any thoughts or emotions he had on the situation. Adder sighed a little but nodded. “Alright. Guess Ah’ll see ya back ‘ome. Enjoy yer party Mason.”, she smiled giving him a hug and heading back through the crowd to Ollie.
Mason gulped back his concern, Ollie was a good friend too. She’d be safe driving back to Oxford. Ollie wouldn’t do anything stupid, he knows well enough that he’d kill him if he hurt Adder. “Might not be my place Mason, but why didn’t you just leave with the girl if that’s where you’d rather have gone?”, Ron asked. Mason laughed a little kind of forced turning back to the older man. “I believe you have misinterpreted Ron. Adder is just a friend and has been for the last four years.”, Mason explained. “Have I? Pretty young lady comes over, you drink from her open container of alcohol, she’s asking how much longer you are staying, you said ‘we’d leave’, you said you’d see her at the flat, she said she’d see you at home. Other than why you are letting her leave with Oliver Rogers it all added up to you and her are an item.”, Ron explained. Mason shook his head. “Sharing a beer doesn’t exactly mean anything Ron. I share beers with Gabby and she’s my kid sister. We drove here together and we live together but as roommates. She has a bedroom, Ashton has a bedroom and I have a bedroom at our flat in Oxford. No, you have read too far into it is all Ron. Adder and I are not romantically or physically involved. And Ollie is just going to drive her home. He’s a good mate.”, Mason stated.
“Alrig’t Mason didn’t plan to leave till near dark. So dinner w’ere ya t’inking?”, Adder asked reaching Ollie. Oliver smiled. “Well on the way back we go past my home town of Nottingham and there's this great place called The Bells Inn. Known for good ales, food and live music. Ther beef and ale pie is the best I’ve ever had.”, Oliver explained putting an arm lightly around Adder for them to head to his car. Adder smiled and glanced over her shoulder one final time at Mason and sighed a little walking away with Oliver. It wasn’t anything against Oliver she was sure he was a nice guy, he always seemed so. But she had really wanted Mason to show some sign that he cared as more than her friend. She looked back forward so she missed Mason looking over to see Oliver’s hand on her back where the top was open in the back. So she didn’t see the slightly clench of his jaw that he quickly shook off. Ron shook his head. “Well I’m sure you have more people to speak with.”, Ron said taking his leave of Mason. Mason nodded and continued to make his rounds of the party greeting more people.
Oliver may not have been who she wanted to leave with, but he was a nice enough guy. And he did sincerely seem like he wanted to get to know her better. They had a nice chat during the drive to Nottingham and while eating dinner. He was kind of a funny guy and sweet. They talked even more on the drive to Oxford, mostly he talked and she commented or asked a question. She didn’t really have a life story to tell or a childhood to discuss. Or at least one she wanted to go into great detail with him. Mason and Ashton knew her about her childhood living on the streets but that was about it for people she’d gone into details with. Oliver seemed okay with just being told the minimum that she didn't’ remember much of her early life, like her family or her given name just remembered living on the streets till she met Mason and Ashton. Any time she mentioned Mason she noticed a small reaction from Oliver, like he was annoyed with how she talked about Mason. That was the kind of reaction she’d wanted from Mason when she said she was going to be leaving with Ollie.
Oliver had her laughing as they walked up the stairs to the flat telling a story about him, Andy, Ashton and Mason back in their private school. Adder’s laugh cut short as they reached her floor and there was a blonde sitting on the ground in a black and yellow color block dress leaning against the door. Oliver raised an eyebrow looking at the girl and looked at Adder. “Do we know her?”, he asked in a soft whisper. “Ah don’t know…”, Adder whispered back before coughing. “Can we ‘elp ya?”, Adder questioned with an arched eyebrow. Elizabeth quickly got to her feet and dusted off the skirt of her dress. “Um maybe…”, she said eyeing Adder and Oliver. “I am looking for my boyfriend. He hasn’t answered his phone all day. So I had decided to stop by his flat, but he’s not home either.”, Elizabeth explained her voice a tad high pitched with a tone of aristocratic upbringing. Adder looked at the girl confused. “Yer boyfriend? Um and he ya say he lives in t’at flat?”, Adder said pointing to her door. “Yes this is his flat. At least that’s what the student directory at the university had listed.”, Elizabeth answered with a nod. “T’at’s interesting. cause one of my flatmates Ashton is as of today engaged. And my ot’er flatmate Mason doesn’t ‘ave a steady.”, Adder explained taking out her keys and moving around the girl to unlock the door.
Elizabeth blinked. “What? Wait...Mason my Mason has a female flatmate? And I’ve been seeing Mason Templeton for nearly three months.”, she said shaking her head glaring at Adder. Ollie moved to put a hand up between the girl and Adder. “Look bird I don’t know what is or isn’t going on between my mate Mason. But you don’t need to be looking at Adder that way.”, Oliver said. Adder opened the door rolling her eyes and she turned and looked at the girl. “You must be Elizabet’ t’en. Ah ‘ate ta inform ya but ya aren’t his girlfriend. ya a girl he sees occasionally. Ya’ve been on w’at maybe twenty dates in t’ree mont’s? He ain’t even broug’t ya by t’e flat. And if ya were really his girl ya’d been at his graduation party wit’ him today like Ah was. Ah’ll let him know ya stopped by. Ollie ya wanna come in?”, Adder said turning her attention to Ollie. Elizabeth looked appalled. Ollie chuckled a little at how Adder was turning the crazy bird away and stepped inside. “Have a good night Miss Elizabeth.”, he said closing the door. “THAT’S LADY ELIZABETH TO YOU!” , she shouted from outside the door before storming off. Ollie watched through the spyhole to ensure she left. “Whoa not even officially his bodyguard and already protecting our Mason from those who’d harm him.”, Ollie chuckled. “Ah good at my job.”, she smiled with a shrug.
“So was I invited in for a reason or just to wait for crazy to leave?”, Ollie asked. “Mostly just for her to leave. Wouldn't want ta leave ya out t’ere wit’ her.”, Adder chuckled. Ollie nodded. “Alright. Well she’s gone so I should probably get going still have to drive to London. I had a lot of fun tonight Adder. Maybe we could do this again? Say a movie next time?”, he offered. Adder smiled he wanted a second ‘date’ well a real first date. “Sure. Ah’d like t’at Ollie. T’anks fer dinner and the ride.”, she smiled. “My pleasure Adder.”, he said standing a bit closer to her than he had a few moments ago. Adder had an idea of what he was possibly thinking and it was confirmed in a second as he kissed her. It was just a light kiss, nothing to write home about. But it was still a kiss. He pulled back smiling. “Night Adder.”, he said back up to the door. “Night Ollie.”, she smiled watching him walk out and quickly shut the door leaning on it. “Alright so a bloke apparently is interested in ya. Not a big deal. Let’s just see w’ere t’is goes.”, she spoke to herself before locking the door and heading to her bedroom to get some sleep. Mason got home rather late between how long he’d stayed at his parents and then the long drive. He quietly crept into the apartment locking the door behind him. He glanced over to Adder’s bedroom seeing it was slightly ajar. He went over and carefully pushed the door further open to make sure she made it home alright. He smiled a little as she lay in her bed her hair a mess sound asleep. “Night pet.”, he whispered before closing her door and heading to his own room to get some sleep.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

The last couple years actually flew by between classes, work and the addition of now prowling the streets taking care of those people who would dare to attack mutants within the Oxford area. Between Mason, Adder, Ashton, and even help from Tiffany they were able to find out who had been behind the disappearances of the young female mutants. Sadly they had not been able to save the lives of three of the eight girls taken. But they were able to return the other five to their families. Sure they couldn’t take any credit for what they’d done. Given some of the extremes they had to go in order to stop these men and find where they were taking the girls it was probably best no authorities knew of their involvement. Because saving people was good but leaving casualties in their wake would be frowned upon. And Adder already had a sordid past with police so Mason wasn’t keen on her getting in any additional trouble with them. Now that Ashton and he were graduating they would have all new responsibilities to take on. Their general team dynamic seemed a bit up in the air. Ashton was going to be moving to Manchester to run Wilson Industrial and the plan was that at their graduation party Ashton was going to propose to Tiffany. Mason was due to go to London and take over Templeton Enterprises while his father was going to resign and focus more on his political career. Adder felt a bit odd person out since she didn’t have some great job to move on to and without Ashton and Mason she obviously wouldn’t be able to afford the flat and with the under the table job she’d been holding she couldn’t even afford studio flat for herself. But she didn’t want to discuss it too much with the guys, as she didn’t want to be a downer with them about to celebrate their graduation.
Mason had planned to stay in Oxford for the summer before moving to London so she at least knew she had a roof over her head for another three months. But still the future was unclear for her, sure she could easily go back to street life. Living at the flat hadn’t turned her soft to where she couldn’t survive outside. She just well she would miss Mason, heck she might even miss Ashton. She tried to keep her fears to herself as she drove with Mason to York for the graduation party. It was the first time she was being brought to an event that included his parents and younger sister Gabrielle. She wasn’t sure she should even be coming. She was afraid of meeting Quentin, Emma and Gabrielle Templeton. Adder wasn’t sure if they were like Mason who would not even think twice about her past or if they would be true to the stigma of high society and look down upon her and her friendship with Mason. Worse yet she knew that his mother Emma had telepathy and she wondered if she let her thoughts go unguarded around the woman would see that Adder’s devotion to Mason wasn’t just fueled by friendship and hadn’t been for the last couple years. The only person Adder had even spoken to about her attraction to him was Tiffany was still insistent that she just tell Mason. But Adder couldn’t bring herself to tell him, he saw her as a friend and she didn’t want to risk losing that. And then there was Elizabeth, a girl Mason had started to see. Mason never referred to Elizabeth as his girlfriend however they had gone out a number of times in the last three months and at least twice Elizabeth had stayed the night at the flat.
Adder tried to not think about it as she looked to Mason as they drove. “So um...w’y didn’t ya bring yer bird Elizabet’ ta yer party?”, Adder asked. Mason glanced over keeping his focus mostly on the road and smiled. “She’s not my girlfriend, just someone I see and on the occasion sleep with. That’s not exactly someone I’d introduce to my parents.”, he explained. Adder snorted shaking her head. “And Ah’m the sort of person to introduce them to. We’ve known each ot’er fer four years and in all t’at time Ah’ve never meet t’em. W’y bring me along t’is time?”, Adder asked. She knew that this party she was going to feel out of place amongst all of his and Ashton’s family and friends. The only people she would know already were of course Mason, Ashton and Tiffany but also Oliver and Andy. “You’re one of my closest friends Adder. Figured it was about time you meet my family. Especially given circumstances…”, Mason explained. Adder raised an eyebrow. “Circumstances? W’at ya talkin’?”, she questioned. “Well couple things. One Ashton plans to propose to Tiffany today. You’re their friend too so you should be there for that moment. The other, well I was going to wait till later to discuss with you...about our future”, he started to elaborate. “Well Ah know he gonna pop the question. Tiffany even knows, t’oug’ she ain’t supposed ta. But Ashton just too easy fer her to read. Our future?”, she questioned holding her breath at all the possibilities the words ‘our future’ could hold. She hoped that maybe this was him trying to say he cared about her as more than a friend too. But she was still doubtful. “Yeah Ashton’s not good at keeping things secret I guess. And you know end of summer I move to London to take over the company from my dad. And Ashton is already moving out to go to Manchester taking over for his dad.”, he started. Adder nodded. “Well when I got to London I want you to come too.”, he explained.
Adder blinked. “Go wit’ ya to London?”, she asked her heart skipping a beat as the idea this really did mean he wanted more than to be friends. “Yeah. Lord knows I’ll get myself into trouble on the streets of London. And taking over the company means I get to fill certain key positions. And one of those is the head of security, my personal security guard. And who else could I trust to have my back than you.”, he explained. Adder gulped back the tiny bit of joy she’d felt for a moment mentally kicking herself for thinking even for that moment someone like Mason would want her that way. She nodded a little. “So ya offerin’ me a job?”, she asked. “Yeah. A legitimate, legal and respectable job. One where you still stick close to me. My dad’s company is high profile and when I take his job I stop just being the son of Quentin Templeton and step into the public eye fully as Mason Templeton. I inherit my dad’s business enemies. And in the past he’s had death threats. Which I’m sure I will get the same treatment. So if I’m to have a body guard, even a group of guards I don’t want those who worked for my father. I want people I trust. And so I want to fill that head position with someone who in the last two years I’ve fought alongside, and who has saved my ass a couple times in that span. So I want you to be head of my security, you would choose who else is hired for the rest of the security team. What do you say mate? Come to London and continue to fight alongside me and watch my back?”, he asked looking over to her with a smile. Adder had pushed back her hurt that he hadn’t wanted her to come as more than a friend but smiled because at least she’d still be with him. “Sure mate. Ya need somebody ta keep ya in line. One small issue…”, she answered. “What’s the issue?”, he asked. “Ah ain’t got any legal paperwork to work a legitimate job. Ah just a street rat remembah.”, she pointed out.
Mason nodded. “I thought of that. We can find out that information and obtain all the papers you need for the job. Like a little mission. Do you know much about your early life? Like where you are from?”, he questioned. They hadn’t discussed much of her life before she’d met him and Ashton four years ago. She had left it with that she’d been on the streets as long as she could remember, not even knowing her name and having called herself Adder after the type of venomous snake. Adder pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow her copper eyes narrowing as she tried to remember back. “Crawley”, she said softly. “I remember Crawley. It’s vague and fuzzy but Ah remember an abbey. But t'e details are hazy. Ah remember being taunted fer my eyes, forked tongue and the scales. Ah remember running away t'en it was all streets and always moving to avoid getting snatched by t'e police. Didn't want ta get taken back.", she explained. Mason nodded. "Crawley and an abbey. That's a place to start. It's only about an hour from London. Can check into it next weekend when apartment hunting on London.", he smiled glancing over as they were pulling up to his family's home. Adder blinked looking at the large home set back on a decent size lot. The London house his family owned was nice and this felt like pulling up to Buckingham palace compared.
There were already lots of expensive looking cars parked and she could see people walking around to the back where she figured the party was. And she suddenly felt self conscious. She'd just thrown on a pain of her skinny jeans which had distressed areas from her acid like venom and a dark green cowl neck sleeveless open back top and her heeled leather ankle boots. She looked down at herself then back to the guests she saw in their nice dresses. Mason was dressed up, but that was normal to see him in slacks and dress shirt with tie. "Ah gunna stand out like a sore thumb. W'y didn't ya tell me Ah was underdressed?", she grumbled as she got out of the car and sighed. Mason chuckled a little getting out and walking around to her side of the car. "Deep breaths, pet. You look fine.", he assured rubbing her upper arms and kissed her forehead. Adder sighed he made this just friends thing so hard when he was nice and affectionate like this. “If ya say so…”, she murmured. Mason smiled. “I do. So relax and let’s go enjoy my party.”, he said putting an arm around her shoulders and heading to the back yard. Adder shook her head a little as they walked to the yard. There was a number of white canvas tents with lots of people. Adder tried to not let how out of place felt show through. Especially since now people had started to notice her walking with Mason.
Three people in particular took notice of their arrival; an older man with blonde hair with a few slight grays dressed in a rather nice suit, an older woman with ebony hair a streak of grey visible in her updo hair wearing a yellow midi pencil dress with a purple floral print, and then a younger girl about Adder’s age with the same kind of dark brown hair as Mason wearing a fit and flare style floral print dress. “MASON!”, the younger girl shouted racing away from the others at Mason but stopped a little short seeing Mason’s arm around Adder. She blinked her blue eyes looking at Adder. Gabrielle looked adder over from toe to head. She did like the boots, the jeans weren’t really her style as she didn't like rips in her clothes, the top she liked even if it wasn’t appropriate for the event, she noticed the subtle scales but thought nothing of them, then the copper snake eyes again nothing to be bothered by, and then the short pixie cut blonde. She noticed her brother’s hand on the girl’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow looking to him. Mason chuckled a little at his sister. “Hi Gabby. Congratulations on graduating high school.”, he said taking his arm from Adder and hugging his sister. “Thank you Mason. Congratulations on finishing college. Sooooo you going to tell me who yer bird is? Didn’t realize you had a girlfriend.”, Gabrielle inquired. Mason shook his head letting his sister go. “Gabrielle this is Adder. She’s one of my friends I met in Oxford. Adder this is my little sister Gabrielle.”, Mason introduce. “We ain’t dating. Just good mates. Nice ta meet ya. Yer brot’er talks fondly of ya.”, Adder smiled trying to put her best foot forward being introduced to his sister and offered her hand. Gabrielle raised an eyebrow and tucked her hair behind her ear. Gabrielle looked between them and shrugged.
“Nice to meet you. Adder that’s a rather peculiar name is it your last name perhaps?”, Gabrielle questioned shaking Adder’s hand. Quentin and Emma walked up curious themselves. Quentin looked at Adder questioningly then to his son. “Er...well Ah don’t t’ink it is. It’s just mah name.”, Adder shrugged then gulped a tiny bit looking to Gabrielle’s right seeing Mason’s parents. She recognized them from pictures he had. “Mum, dad this is my friend Adder I met while at Oxford. Adder these are my parents Quentin and Emma.”, Mason introduced looking to change the subject a little. “Adder has agreed to be my head of security when I take over the company at the end of summer.”, Mason explained. Quentin raised an eyebrow looking at Adder who was rather small in frame so he was skeptical why his son was choosing to hire this young girl as his head of security. Mason noticed the look on his father’s face and shook his head. “Father….don’t judge books by their covers. Adder is a rather skilled fighter. In the four years I’ve known her she’s proven that. And I trust her with my life.”, Mason explained. Emma lightly placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “I recall you once didn’t think I would fair well in a fight Quentin….”, she taunted. Adder forced herself to keep her polite smile. “It a pleasure ta meet ya Mister and Misses Templeton. And Ah know t’at Ah don’t look like muc’ but as Mason said Ah’m a good fighter. Ah wouldn’t let anyone ‘arm Mason.”, Adder said. She was trying her best to keep her thoughts to herself knowing that Mason’s mother is a telepath. Emma smiled and offered her hand to Adder. “I’m certain you will do just fine. I’ve found that Templeton men tend to require a woman keeping them in line and out of trouble.”, Emma smiled.
Quentin rolled his eyes a little while Mason smirked. “Fer as many times Ah’ve kept t’is one out of trouble he’s kept me out some too. Ya raised a very fine man Misses Templeton. He’s bout t’e nicest Ah’ve ever met.”, Adder smiled. “Well thank you, I tried. Now I’m sure you two have mingling to do. Ashton is over there pacing, Tiffany hasn’t arrived yet and he’s fretting.”, Emma sighed pointing to Ashton. Adder and Mason looked over seeing Ashton pacing and shook their heads. “Come on Adder, let’s see to Ashton’s nerves.”, Mason said putting an arm around Adder’s shoulders. Adder chuckled. “Yea. Tiff better s’ow soon or he mig’t lose it completely.”, Adder said walking with Mason to Ashton. “Whoa Ashton. What’s with the pacing? You are going to leave a path in the lawn you keep that up.”, Mason teased. "I've been here for an hour now. My parents and little brother are here, heck her parents and younger brother are here. But no word from her.", Ashton said exasperated. "Silly question but did anyone call her?", Adder questioned. Ashton narrowed his eyes. "Of course I called her, and her parents called her. Her phone is going straight to voicemail.", Ashton answered. "Alright just relax mate. Did you check the GPS on her phone?", Mason asked. Ashton raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I had GPS tracking turned on all our phones. Given mutants were getting taken and having the GPS on made getting to any of us that much easier if we needed backup.", Mason explained. "Well I didn't know that, so no.", Ashton said. Mason nodded taking his phone out and pulling up the app. He checked the location of Tiffany's phone. "She's moving. Looks like she's fifteen minutes away. So now breath and pull yourself together mate.", Mason assured. Ashton let out a sigh of relief. "She ain't gunna miss ya poppin' t'e question mate.", Adder smiled. Ashton nodded reaching in his pocket pulling out the black box. He'd looked through a lot of shops wanting the right ring for Tiffany.
Tiffany had been running late as she couldn’t decide what outfit she wanted to wear given she knew that Ashton was going to propose. And then she was driving from London to York so wasn’t paying attention to her phone she she didn’t realize that her parents and Ashton were calling her. She knew she was late and lord she hated being late. Finallys he arrived at the Templeton house in York. Getting out of her car she did a quick adjustment to the hem of her royal blue chiffon dress. She’s liked how the dress sat just above her knee and the gathered bust and the little embellishment of the waistband. She figured with her black pumps she was dressed up enough not just for a graduation party but also for an engagement without being over dressed. She grabbed her purse and the gifts from the back seat before heading to the back of the house. She looked around at all the people and suddenly felt a bit self conscious and worried about the idea of Ashton asking her in front of all these people. No one seemed to be looking at her that she could tell but she felt eyes on her. She kept scanning the crowd and there she found a set of eyes locked in on her. She smiled a little seeing a rather worried Ashton starting across the yard at her. Ashton smiled seeing her arrive. He took a deep breath and looked to Mason and Adder. “Wish me luck mates.”, he smiled putting the ring box back into his pocket walking in the direction of Tiffany.
Mason chuckled a little smiling as he watched his best friend walk nervously across the yard with the intentions of proposing. “Ya know he doesn’t need luck. He could say it backwards or stammer and she is still going to say yes.”, Adder chuckled. Mason nodded. “Yeah. Being Misses Mason has kind of been Tiffany’s dream since grade 10. Some people just know from the start when they meet their match. Just doesn’t always work that both realize it at the same time.”, he agreed glancing to Adder with a smile. Adder smiled tucking the longer side of her blonde pixie cut behind her ear. She sighed a little wishing that maybe some day he’d realize she was there the way Ashton had realized Tiffany was there four years ago. She kicked herself mentally for thinking about it reminding herself there would never been a chance that Mason would see her as more than his friend no matter how much time passed or how much she wished he would. The pair instead watched as Ashton approached Tiffany. “Hey Tiff. Was getting worried about you. You weren't answering your phone and you are never late.”, Ashton greeted giving her a kiss. “Yeah I’m sorry. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to wear and ended up running late. And my phone has been in my purse so I didn’t hear it ringing. Sorry to have worried you.”, she smiled. “But I did remember yours and Mason’s gifts.”, she said holding up the two boxes. Ashton smiled taking the boxes and setting them aside. “We’ll open them later. Come with me for a minute first.”, Ashton insisted taking her hand. “Alright..”, Tiffany nodded.
Ashton lead her away from the party to a private area of the yard near the koi pond and to a little bench under some trees. Tiffany smiled a little relieved he wasn't going to do the asking in front of everyone. “Take a seat please..”, Ashton said motioning to the bench. “Alright...so what’s going on?”, she asked sitting down. She was doing her best to pretend she didn’t know it was coming. Ashton took a deep breath and looked at her his hand in his pocket holding the box. “Do you love me?”, Ashton asked a little nervous. “Yes of course.”, she answered. “Will you do something for me then?”, he asked. “Anything.”, she smiled. “Will you marry me”, Ashton asked taking the ring box from his pocket getting to one knee as he popped the box open. Tiffany smiled, she wasn’t surprised by the engagement but as the box opened she was surprised by the ring itself. She hadn’t been sure what the ring would look like. She stared at the ring for a moment, it’s rose gold band with a swirl around a yellow sapphire with a dozen diamonds accenting it shining in the sunlight that cascaded through the tree branches, then her eyes moved up to look at him and smiled nodding. “Yes, of course yes.”, she agreed holding out her left hand. Ashton smiled taking the ring out of the box slipping it on her finger before kissing her. “I love you.”, he whispered pulling back from the kiss. Tiffany smiled lightly touching the side of his face with her left hand which had the new weight of the engagement ring. “I love you too Ashton.”, she laughed a little. “So I know the proposal itself wasn’t a surprise. Did I at least shock with the ring?”, Ashton asked sitting onto the bench next to her. Tiffany laughed a little and looked at the ring. “Yeah sorry the proposal surprise wasn’t a surprise. But you aren’t really good at secrets. Going through my jewelry box looking for rings, quadruple checking what time I was planning to arrive, oh and inviting my whole family to your graduation party. Big indicators babe. But the ring...good God I didn’t expect this. It’s gorgeous Ashton.”, she said with a sigh looking at the ring. “Good I’m glad I at least could surprise you with that. Come on then I’m pretty sure our parents and friends will want to congratulate us.”, he said standing up and offering her his hand. Tiffany nodded taking his hand to head back to the party.
The party itself turned slowly from congratulating Mason and Ashton on graduating to congratulating Tiffany and Ashton on their engagement. Mason made his rounds of the party as there was a number of business associates invited and people on the board from his company. Adder of course felt rather out of place but walked around the party generally with Mason each time being introduced to this person or that as his ‘friend’ or ‘head of security’. Which yes they were accurate titles but neither were the title she wanted. One particular woman, who had a rather round face and well rounded body frame grabbed Mason’s hand as he was walking but arm on Adder’s shoulder as they were navigating the crowd. “Mason Quentin Templeton! You get bigger and more handsome every time I see you.”, she greeted in a loud a slightly shrilled voice. Adder winced a little at the sound of the woman’s voice. Mason put on his polite smile to greet the woman. “Hello Aunt Wilhelmina. And given last time you saw me I was eleven I’m sure I’ve changed. Thank you so much for coming.”, Mason greeted being polite and kind to the woman. Her eyes moved to Adder with speculation at Mason’s arm around Adder’s shoulders, but set higher than you’d think for a man walking with his date, and then Adder’s choice of clothing for the event. Her eyes fluttered back to Mason smiling. “So I hear that young Ashton has gotten engaged today. And when might we start hearing wedding bells for you nephew? After all the Templeton name does need to be carried on and as the only boy that falls to you. perhaps you and...um… your young lady will soon..”, she hazarded a guess though didn’t think Adder would be a proper fit for the Templeton name.
“OH no you have the wrong idea Aunt Wilhelmina. This is my good friend Adder, she’s going to be head of my security when I take over the company. We aren’t… aren’t together like that.”, Mason quickly explained. “Adder this is my Aunt Wilhelmina Templeton Braddock.”, he introduced. Wilhelmina seemed relieved that he wasn’t romantically involved with Adder. “Oh I see. My mistake. Nice to meet you young lady. Now I need to go find that darling little sister of yours.”, she said giving him a kiss on the cheek leaving a lipstick stain before pushing her way through the crowd. Adder watched her eyes narrowed, she’d seen the look his aunt gave her and heard the relief in her voice when Mason said they weren’t together. “She’s….pleasant…”, Adder hissed a little. Mason chuckled and hugged her a little around her shoulders. “Ignore Wilhelmina. I do. She’s one of those stuck in the past where breeding, title, and social status is all that really matters in not just who you date or marry but even those you keep around you as friends. If she had her way I would have been betrothed to Lord Sumpton’s daughter Teresa. “, he said with a shudder thinking of Teresa Sumpton. Adder laughed a little seeing him shudder before taking his small handkerchief from his jacket pocket and reaching up wiping the lipstick stain from his cheek. “Well at least ya ain’t like t’at mate.”, she smiled. Mason smiled taking the handkerchief back and folding it neatly to hide the lipstick putting it back. “Thanks. And I’m glad I’m not like that either. My mother wouldn’t allow it. She never cared for the idea of social status and taught me it should never be a reason for me to treat someone else different or not give them the same chance I’d give someone of my only status.”, he shrugged. “Well Ah t’ankfull fer t’at lesson. Else Ah’d never know ya.”, she smiled.
Mason smiled but then groaned as a group of men in suits spotted him. “Alright this might take awhile, pet. It’s the board. And they will bore you as much as they do me. I’ll deal with them and you can go enjoy the party. Go chat with Tiffany if you can get through the crowd of girls around her trying to catch a glimpse of her engagement ring.”, he chuckled. Adder nodded glancing from the men in suits and the gaggle of women around Tiffany. “Yea’. Ah’ll catc’ up wit’ ya later.”, she said heading away from him. She considered going to see Tiffany but she didn’t want the weird looks or to push through the crowd just to reach her fellow snake. So instead she grabbed a glass of champagne that was being carried around on silver trays and ducked inside the house for some quiet. She sipped the glass making a little face. Champagne was just not her taste. She heard a laugh from close by and looked around. “W’o t’ere?”, she questioned. “Just me Adder. Sorry came inside to use the looe and snag a beer from the kitchen. Was heading outside and saw you sipping the champagne and the look on your face. Apparently it doesn’t appeal to your taste buds.”, Ollie chuckled holding the neck of two beers in one hand and tucked some of his blonde curls behind his ear with the other. Adder blinked it’d been awhile since she’d seen Ollie, he’d grown a beard. The facial hair suited him. “‘Ello Ollie. And yea’ apparently it too sophisticated fer me.”, she chuckled a little in greeting.
“Here you have have one of these. Andy will have to just suffer I’ll tell him there was only one left and I drank it.”, Ollie said offering one of the bottles. “T’anks mate.”, she said taking the beer and twisting off the top taking a long sip. It’d been a long afternoon of getting introduced to this person and that. All of them judging her being on Mason’s arm and always she was introduced hias his friend and head of security. “Long day?”, Ollie asked taking the cap off his and taking a sip. “Ya could say t’at. Been walking round out t’ere wit’ Mason getting intorduced to t’is person and t’at. Ah can’t remember ‘alf t’eir names. T’ey all of course judging me because of w’at Ah’m wearing and t’at Ah walking wit’ Mason.”, she grumbled. Ollie nodded looking out the glass patio doors seeing Mason with the board of the company. “Yeah sadly there are a number of people here that think social status is everything. I’m not sure an upper crust house either. I sometimes still get those judgmental looks when I’m hanging out with Ashton, Mason and Andy since their all blue bloods. Um Adder can I ask you something..”, Ollie said his eyes returning back to her. “Ya just did mate.”, Adder teased but nodded .”Go a’ead.”, she stated.
“Um..well I know you drove up with Mason. But also kind of figure you like me have had enough of the party where Mason is kind of obligated to stay longer. So wanted to know if you’d like to drive back with me and maybe get dinner between here and Oxford?”, he said sounding a bit nervous. “Um if you don’t think going all the way to Oxford is out of the way since you’d be going to London. I’d also need to check with Mason.”, she said looking out to the yard at Mason with a sigh. She wondered if he’d really care if it would register with him that Ollie was asking her on a date, or at least she thought he was since he specifically mentioned dinner. “Right...yeah you should check with Mason.”, Ollie sighed. He saw the way Adder always looked at Mason. But he figured if Mason wasn’t smart enough to see it he could give a try. “Ah’ll be right back.”, she said taking the beer with her and headed back outside to find Mason. He was at least easy to find in the crowd and ass he got closer she was thankful it looked like he was down to just one of the men in suits talking to him. “Excuse me, Mason?”, Adder interrupted tapping Mason’s shoulder.
Mason smiled turning a little to greet her and noticed the beer in her hand. “Hey mate.”, he said taking the beer and grabbing a quick sip before handing it back. “Sorry all they are passing around is champagne and you know me…”, he said handing the beer back. Adder shook her head but smiled taking a sip from the beer. She liked how there was always that sense of familiarity between them that sharing a drink or food was never even thought about. The gentlemen who was speaking with Mason raised an eyebrow looking from Mason to Adder and back before coughing a little as a reminder he was there. Mason smiled turning back to the man. “Sorry about that Ron. Ron this is my friend Adder she’s going to be taking on the role of head of security for me. Adder this is Ronald Marsden the chair of the board of directors of the company.”, Mason introduced. Adder sighed inwardly of course being introduced as friend and head of security yet again. Adder smiled extending a hand. “Nice to meet ya Mister Marsden.”, Adder greeted. “Oh… um alright. Well it’s nice to meet you as well Miss Adder. Young Mason here must have a large amount in confidence in you to place you in charge of keeping him safe. In his father's time there were numbers of death threats and even attempts on Quentin’s life because he held his ground on his morals in the business world. And now there are those who’d like to see the company just go public, especially competitors that want to buy us out.”, Ronald said shaking her hand. “Ah will do my best ta keep Mason safe sir.”, she said letting his hand go.
Mason smiled. “Only person I’d trust as much with my life with Ashton Ron and well he’s not exactly available to be my bodyguard.”, he stated. Ronald nodded smiling. “Um Mason came over for a reason.”, Adder said trying to get back on track. “Right of course. What’s going on pet?”, he questioned slipping and calling her ‘pet’ in front of someone. He’d managed to go the whole party not calling her pet since they parked the car. Ron raised an eyebrow at the term of affection. Adder smiled a little at the slip. She hated when Ashton would call her things like Mason’s pet or stray and such over the years, but when Mason called her pet it was different. It was a term of endearment and she enjoyed hearing it. “Bout ‘ow much longer ya plan on staying?”, she asked. “Um I hadn’t really thought about it.”, he said pulling out his pocket watch that four years ago Adder had tried to steal from him. “I’ve still got other people I need to greet and such. So it might be nightfall or later when we’d leave. Why did you want to get back sooner?”, he asked closing the pocket watch and pulling it away. “Well Ah figured ya would be ‘ere late. Ollie offered ta drive me back to Oxford.”, she explained kind of hoping that her saying Ollie wanted to take her to drive her would stir some kind of emotions. “Ollie?”, he questioned looking around and spotting Ollie standing by the patio doors. “Um. Well if you wanted to go back before dark, go ahead. I’ll see you back the flat then.”, Mason said pushing down any thoughts or emotions he had on the situation. Adder sighed a little but nodded. “Alright. Guess Ah’ll see ya back ‘ome. Enjoy yer party Mason.”, she smiled giving him a hug and heading back through the crowd to Ollie.
Mason gulped back his concern, Ollie was a good friend too. She’d be safe driving back to Oxford. Ollie wouldn’t do anything stupid, he knows well enough that he’d kill him if he hurt Adder. “Might not be my place Mason, but why didn’t you just leave with the girl if that’s where you’d rather have gone?”, Ron asked. Mason laughed a little kind of forced turning back to the older man. “I believe you have misinterpreted Ron. Adder is just a friend and has been for the last four years.”, Mason explained. “Have I? Pretty young lady comes over, you drink from her open container of alcohol, she’s asking how much longer you are staying, you said ‘we’d leave’, you said you’d see her at the flat, she said she’d see you at home. Other than why you are letting her leave with Oliver Rogers it all added up to you and her are an item.”, Ron explained. Mason shook his head. “Sharing a beer doesn’t exactly mean anything Ron. I share beers with Gabby and she’s my kid sister. We drove here together and we live together but as roommates. She has a bedroom, Ashton has a bedroom and I have a bedroom at our flat in Oxford. No, you have read too far into it is all Ron. Adder and I are not romantically or physically involved. And Ollie is just going to drive her home. He’s a good mate.”, Mason stated.
“Alrig’t Mason didn’t plan to leave till near dark. So dinner w’ere ya t’inking?”, Adder asked reaching Ollie. Oliver smiled. “Well on the way back we go past my home town of Nottingham and there's this great place called The Bells Inn. Known for good ales, food and live music. Ther beef and ale pie is the best I’ve ever had.”, Oliver explained putting an arm lightly around Adder for them to head to his car. Adder smiled and glanced over her shoulder one final time at Mason and sighed a little walking away with Oliver. It wasn’t anything against Oliver she was sure he was a nice guy, he always seemed so. But she had really wanted Mason to show some sign that he cared as more than her friend. She looked back forward so she missed Mason looking over to see Oliver’s hand on her back where the top was open in the back. So she didn’t see the slightly clench of his jaw that he quickly shook off. Ron shook his head. “Well I’m sure you have more people to speak with.”, Ron said taking his leave of Mason. Mason nodded and continued to make his rounds of the party greeting more people.
Oliver may not have been who she wanted to leave with, but he was a nice enough guy. And he did sincerely seem like he wanted to get to know her better. They had a nice chat during the drive to Nottingham and while eating dinner. He was kind of a funny guy and sweet. They talked even more on the drive to Oxford, mostly he talked and she commented or asked a question. She didn’t really have a life story to tell or a childhood to discuss. Or at least one she wanted to go into great detail with him. Mason and Ashton knew her about her childhood living on the streets but that was about it for people she’d gone into details with. Oliver seemed okay with just being told the minimum that she didn't’ remember much of her early life, like her family or her given name just remembered living on the streets till she met Mason and Ashton. Any time she mentioned Mason she noticed a small reaction from Oliver, like he was annoyed with how she talked about Mason. That was the kind of reaction she’d wanted from Mason when she said she was going to be leaving with Ollie.
Oliver had her laughing as they walked up the stairs to the flat telling a story about him, Andy, Ashton and Mason back in their private school. Adder’s laugh cut short as they reached her floor and there was a blonde sitting on the ground in a black and yellow color block dress leaning against the door. Oliver raised an eyebrow looking at the girl and looked at Adder. “Do we know her?”, he asked in a soft whisper. “Ah don’t know…”, Adder whispered back before coughing. “Can we ‘elp ya?”, Adder questioned with an arched eyebrow. Elizabeth quickly got to her feet and dusted off the skirt of her dress. “Um maybe…”, she said eyeing Adder and Oliver. “I am looking for my boyfriend. He hasn’t answered his phone all day. So I had decided to stop by his flat, but he’s not home either.”, Elizabeth explained her voice a tad high pitched with a tone of aristocratic upbringing. Adder looked at the girl confused. “Yer boyfriend? Um and he ya say he lives in t’at flat?”, Adder said pointing to her door. “Yes this is his flat. At least that’s what the student directory at the university had listed.”, Elizabeth answered with a nod. “T’at’s interesting. cause one of my flatmates Ashton is as of today engaged. And my ot’er flatmate Mason doesn’t ‘ave a steady.”, Adder explained taking out her keys and moving around the girl to unlock the door.
Elizabeth blinked. “What? Wait...Mason my Mason has a female flatmate? And I’ve been seeing Mason Templeton for nearly three months.”, she said shaking her head glaring at Adder. Ollie moved to put a hand up between the girl and Adder. “Look bird I don’t know what is or isn’t going on between my mate Mason. But you don’t need to be looking at Adder that way.”, Oliver said. Adder opened the door rolling her eyes and she turned and looked at the girl. “You must be Elizabet’ t’en. Ah ‘ate ta inform ya but ya aren’t his girlfriend. ya a girl he sees occasionally. Ya’ve been on w’at maybe twenty dates in t’ree mont’s? He ain’t even broug’t ya by t’e flat. And if ya were really his girl ya’d been at his graduation party wit’ him today like Ah was. Ah’ll let him know ya stopped by. Ollie ya wanna come in?”, Adder said turning her attention to Ollie. Elizabeth looked appalled. Ollie chuckled a little at how Adder was turning the crazy bird away and stepped inside. “Have a good night Miss Elizabeth.”, he said closing the door. “THAT’S LADY ELIZABETH TO YOU!” , she shouted from outside the door before storming off. Ollie watched through the spyhole to ensure she left. “Whoa not even officially his bodyguard and already protecting our Mason from those who’d harm him.”, Ollie chuckled. “Ah good at my job.”, she smiled with a shrug.
“So was I invited in for a reason or just to wait for crazy to leave?”, Ollie asked. “Mostly just for her to leave. Wouldn't want ta leave ya out t’ere wit’ her.”, Adder chuckled. Ollie nodded. “Alright. Well she’s gone so I should probably get going still have to drive to London. I had a lot of fun tonight Adder. Maybe we could do this again? Say a movie next time?”, he offered. Adder smiled he wanted a second ‘date’ well a real first date. “Sure. Ah’d like t’at Ollie. T’anks fer dinner and the ride.”, she smiled. “My pleasure Adder.”, he said standing a bit closer to her than he had a few moments ago. Adder had an idea of what he was possibly thinking and it was confirmed in a second as he kissed her. It was just a light kiss, nothing to write home about. But it was still a kiss. He pulled back smiling. “Night Adder.”, he said back up to the door. “Night Ollie.”, she smiled watching him walk out and quickly shut the door leaning on it. “Alright so a bloke apparently is interested in ya. Not a big deal. Let’s just see w’ere t’is goes.”, she spoke to herself before locking the door and heading to her bedroom to get some sleep. Mason got home rather late between how long he’d stayed at his parents and then the long drive. He quietly crept into the apartment locking the door behind him. He glanced over to Adder’s bedroom seeing it was slightly ajar. He went over and carefully pushed the door further open to make sure she made it home alright. He smiled a little as she lay in her bed her hair a mess sound asleep. “Night pet.”, he whispered before closing her door and heading to his own room to get some sleep.