I came home to a laughing Batou. He was on the floor. I thought I might summon a medic. After a few minutes I said, "Need a medic?" He calmed, "Uncle from another family. You are original Sasha. He was in shock. He couldn't get two words straight." I huffed, "I don't want to marry him. I like what I feel with Jasper. I want someone who will make me feel that or better. I don't imagine Link in that position so please tell him to stop harassing me." Batou gave me his infamous crooked smile, "You have my word. I will tell my friend Link to stop courting you." I yelled, "Gross. Yuck. I want to puke" I complained the entire time I was in elevator.
I reached my room and jumped in bed and stayed there till Batou came with good news. Miranda spread the news of me declaring Link as an uncle figure so any hopes he has marrying me is now dashed. The council called to confirm and I said yes. I heard a person call out in despair 'Noooo'. The council accepted my view of the Emperor and called it a day. Batou asked what Link's expression was when I said from here on he is my uncle. Immediately Roland said his facial muscles will be destroyed if he tried to imitate the expression. Oleg and Igor happily tried. But in the end their faces hurt really bad from trying.
Batou calmed himself down as he called Link asking how he was holding up. Link looked like he wanted to kill someone. He just need directions. He asked what he can do to win me over. He had sincere feelings for me. He was upset that I chose Jasper. He believe that his accent was a winning factor. I interrupted, "His British accent is nice. His smile, his laugh, his intensity of love and his inability to keep secrets from me was the greatest reason I was with him." Link said, "I can be anything you want." I smiled, "I don't want people to change for me. I want to like people for who they are as they are. If I don't gravitate towards them then I am sorry but move on." Link growled, "So you rather spend time with Oleg? He is a...."
I said in defiance, "I rather marry Oleg than you. At least he has a sense of humor and much better company than you. You make me feel uncomfortable while he tries to be more understanding. I am not saying I am going to marry him but if I had a choice between you and him I choose him. If I wanted someone who loves me I would pick Aaron. At least he has the decency to wait till I have cleared my mental fog" Link was curious, "Who is Aaron? Is he another one of your guards?" I simply nod my head. Link growled, "I am passing a law that forbids guards from marrying their charges" I retorted,"Jasper was a member of my guards before we were together"
Unknown them both I had covertly called the council and they rejected his idea. They passed a law that allowed guards to marry their charges increase their safety. Link was protesting as the law was passed. More than half the vampire families and werewolf married their guards. They send their best wishes for making their dreams come true. They said that they will arrange my wedding personally when I have found the right person.
Link and I were on opposite sides from now on. He banned Batou from coming to Central as long as he was Emperor. He couldn't do anything about Soren. But Link made it his business to keep me occupied so I will not be going on any sort of date. A week later during a conference call with him and the council he made it clear that he will keep me busy as long as he is emperor. I happily said, "I have another eight seven years than I will be Empress. Then I will have all the time in the world to get married to whomever I want." The council concured. This news carved a permanent scowl on his face. There was no life in his eyes. His voice was colder than frost.
I told him that he is better off with the one he chose as a wolf. That's the one who can heal him in his darkest days. He wouldn't listen. He said, "I will make you my bride one way or the other." I retorted, "But..." he screamed, "ENOUGH!" He couldn't bare it when I call him uncle. I waited a moment before I said, "Uncle" he screamed his frustration. I made it clear his honesty is why I wanted him to be emperor. But that doesn't mean I want to be his wife. He is a friend of Batou. The man helped raise me. So any friend of his is like an uncle to me. I want some peace so I move on from Jasper. Maybe with some clarity I can chose someone worthwhile.
Link tilted his head, "Batou raised you? I thought he was a just some random guy you are friends with. I thought you two became friends because you two were made cops" I growled at him, "My mother forbid me to friends with random people. I have known Batou since I was born. He used to babysit me or help mom take me to and from hospital. He is the oldest family friend. He is a reminder of my mother which is why he is in a shelf out of reach. You can evict him from this palace now. But when I am empress he will have an entire floor to himself." He looked like he was slapped.
The next day as I was about to leave Batou arrived. I turned around and followed him. When Link turned around he saw my angry face. He took a deep breath, "I said that I will send the additional help to Excalibur as soon as I find the idiot who snuck in here. Nothing was stolen obviously but still it is possible the person is still in the building..."
I interrupted him, "What possessed you to bring Batou here after you banned him? Whatever nonsense you are planning better stop now or I will put my foot down. Do you hear me?" He grinned at me, "Batou is here with my royal pardon. I need his help" I replied, "Batou is not going to help you win me over. He knows how I feel about you so I am not going anywhere till Batou leaves."
Link reminded me, "Umbrella fortress needs you Sasha. Are you saying you rather stay here for his safety than the safety of the entire Tsar?" I didn't hesitate, "Yes. He is more valuable than everyone in the planet" he considered what I said before he said that Batou is officially pardoned. He allowed us to leave for Umbrella fortress. I asked Batou to severe ties with him. Batou said yes. Link asked at Batou, "What I can do to earn her good side?" I turned him, "Take care of your wife and let us live our life without you nosing in. Then you earn my good side. At least that would be a start" Link's expression hardened, "You know I love you and yet nothing I do is good enough for you" I blurted it out, "I don't love you. I still love MY SPOUSE. You are not him. You will never take his place because he had some sense of decency to show remorse for his actions. He was man enough to apologize" he gave me an empty look and walked away.
Batou looked back and said, "He is staring at you." I growled, "If he expects me to turn around he better hold his breath till judgement day because what he wants isn't going to happen." Batou asked, "For clarity's sake I am on your side and will support you till death. Do you have any feelings for Link?" I froze for a moment to assess my feelings, "I have no feelings for Link whatsoever. The only reason I even mentioned him was because after the whole Abe incident. I needed someone honest. And you told me he an honest man. Otherwise he wouldn't have appeared my mind even in my imagination. So no I have no feelings for him. I am doing my best to prove that I don't want to marry him. He kicked you out thinking you were making fun him. He pardoned you because he realized having you as friend might be a way to convince me to marry him of all people" Batou promised that he will help me in fight to not marry Link forever. He will help me find inner peace so I can marry either Oleg or Aaron. I gave him a round of applause.