Timur- Brother Mine

Belia needs him, but where is Timur going to find his brother before he causes an incident. Timur goes to the guest room his brother is staying in. He finds the door open, and by the sounds from inside, his brother is already making himself at home. Timur walks in.

"Brother!" Stepan yells when he sees Timur. He embraces his brother. "Congratulations! Tell me, if you're marrying that alien, does that mean Ivanna is now a free woman?"

"What are you doing?" Timur asks, annoyed with his brother.

"Wondering if you'll be my wingman, not that I'll need you. Everyone knows I'm more attractive than you, but Ivanna seems more interested in power than looks. Do you think I have a chance with her now?"

"She'd bite your head off," Timur says flatly.

"By the gods! You still can't take a joke," Stepan says with a laugh. "Why would I want to be with that crazy bitch? Frankly, I'm still wondering what you saw in her. Come to help me unpack?"

"Is the room to your satisfaction?" Timur asks.

"Could be a bit bigger, maybe have some cute servants in here too." Timur gives his brother a look. "I'm joking, gods! The room's fine. How are you, Mr. Husband?"

"Waiting for the day you leave, when will that be?"

"I thought I'd stick around for a few weeks after the wedding, help Dad out since you'll be on your honeymoon with soon to be my future sister-in-law. Speaking of her, where is she? Aren't you two attached at the hip or something?"

"No, where did you hear that?"

"Media. All kinds of rumors are floating out there. There's the usual that she's already pregnant, and that's why you're getting married, Father's on the brink of death, you're trying to prove a point about diplomacy, stuff like that. One of my personal favorites is that the Princess is really a man and that's why she's not been seen since the press conference, either that or she's really ugly. So, what does she look like?" Stepan asks and Timur knows if he doesn't answer, he'll just keep pestering him.

"She's average height. Blue skin, blue eyes, white hair."

"Bor-ring!" Stepan says. "You just described every Krystalivan woman on the planet. I want details."

"Fine," Timur huffs. "Her skin is the color of the sky after a rainstorm. Her eyes remind me of crystal clear pools of water after the first frost. Her hair is like the purest white silk ever made, and her figure…" Timur stops as the image of Belia flashes in his mind. His face feels hot.

"Oh ho! My cold-blooded brother is actually attracted to a woman! Plus, how would you know about her figure? Krystalivans are known for covering up, unless. Gasp!" Stepan gives his brother a mischievous grin. "You've already seen her naked. Tell me everything! You've already done it, haven't you? Which really is smart considering you'll have an audience on your wedding night."

"Get your head out of the gutter!" Timur says, getting a little flustered. "None of that has happened."

"Yet," Stepan adds.

"Belia isn't quite as modest as others from her planet," Timur says remembering the dress she wore at the ball, not to mention her nightclothes.

"Can't wait for you to introduce me," Stepan says. "In fact, let's go now!"

"She's resting," Timur says, blocking the door.

"Is everything okay?" Stepan asks, his joking demeanor turning more serious.

"Well, we had to move the wedding date up and the added stress has been weighing on her."

"That sounded like a load of BS," Stepan says. "Well if I can't see your bride-to-be, how about Dad and Ira?" Timur feels a lump in his chest. It was decided no one could know about the attack.

"Father and Mother are busy," Timur says, remembering his mother's warning.

"Then I guess it's just you and me." Stepan elbows his brother and gives him a smile.

"Yay…"

Timur kept an eye on his brother all day and he's exhausted. He flops on his bed after a long day. Keeping his brother out of trouble is more work than he wanted to deal with. Thankfully, most of the arrangements for the wedding are being taken care of by planners and tradition. Timur rolls over so he's on his back. He kicks off his boots and lets his feet dangle off the side of the bed. He knows Belia probably needs to rest; he needs some rest too, but… Timur gets up and goes over to the door to Belia's room.

"Belia?" Timur says softly as he opens the door slightly.

"I'm awake," Belia says. Timur walks in and Belia sits up.

"How are you feeling?" Timur asks.

"Drained," Belia says and Timur's a little surprised with her honesty. "How is your brother?"

"His usual annoying self."

"You didn't tell him about the Emperor or your mother?" Belia asks. Timur sits on the edge of the bed.

"Mother doesn't want anyone knowing. Pretty sure she doesn't want you knowing either, but that can't be helped. She wants me to focus on the wedding and she'll handle Father's affairs. Although, as the next in line, it should be me."

"I should be helping you with the wedding plans," Belia says.

"You need your rest, and to be honest, there's not much to do. Most of it is based in tradition so the palace's event planners are doing most of the work. All I have to do is say yes or no to their ideas." Some of Belia's hair falls in her face. Without much thought, Timur goes to tuck it behind her ear. As he finishes he thinks about his brother's question. Timur lets Belia's silky hair slide through his fingers. Timur focuses on her lips. He remembers how soft they were the last time they kissed. He wants to kiss her now, but Timur knows if they start something, he may not be able to stop himself. Timur turns away as his cheeks begin to burn. He hopes Belia didn't read his mind, but if Belia's as bad as what both she and Kya say, she may have involuntarily. "It's been a long day for both of us and we've got another few long days ahead of us, I should let you go to sleep."

"If you need me, I'll leave my door unlocked," Belia says. Timur gets up and goes back to his side of the room. He's tempted to stay in her room, but that would be wrong, especially this close to the wedding day.