Jonas stepped out of the car and felt his dress shoes crunch against the wet gravel. He had changed at the airport into something more presentable. Even though he was coming from America, his aunt and grandmother would not forgive Jonas looking so…average. They were tough women. They had grown up during the war and accepted nothing less than perfection in all things. It was getting darker and the smell of earth more pungent. Jonas had an impeccable suit tailor fitted for him from one of the many textile factories that his family owned. He gazed towards the mansion and breathed deeply waiting for Cat to get out of the car. It sure is nice to be home he thought and felt a small pang of trepidation in his throat. He grabbed Cat’s arm and walked slowly forward to the large oak doors that guarded the entrance to Akerlund Manor. The one thing Jonas had forgotten completely about was the armed guards posted at every entrance and exit to the manor. They were members of the elite Livgardet. The Life Guards assigned to protect the royal family.  Jonas recalled finding it strange that the military also guarded his family. He remembered being told that many generations ago, his family held the monarchy. He looked at Cat. “Nothing to worry about Cat, my grandfather and the King were schoolmates, who knows you may even get to meet his royal highness at some point.”<br/><br/>The other thing Jonas noticed was that the closer he got to the mansion, the more his powers felt subdued. He wasn’t sure why, but what he found scary was the thought of wooing Cat without his powers. He would have to rely on his charm while at home. He wasn’t used to this.<br/><br/>“Hey Smartass! You come home and can’t even spare a moment for your old friend Anders?!” a voice called out in the distance. Jonas looked up and saw a figure wearing a dress uniform coming towards him. He let go of Cat and ran towards the young man and embraced him firmly. “Anders you old dog, you’re a major now?? How did you manage that?” he said laughing from his belly. “Elbow grease and hard work, not like you know what any of that is eh Jonas?” The other soldiers looked uncomfortable at this informal exchange between their commanding officer and the son of their employer. What they didn’t realize was that Jonas and Anders had been placed together by their respective families when they were young. They had grown up together and been best friends even when Jonas was sent to America years earlier. “Better than sleeping your way through a barracks eh Anders” Jonas retorted. He snapped out of it and remembered that Cat was there. “How rude of me. Anders this is Cat.” Jonas struggled unsure exactly of how to classify their relationship. Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? Or were they just friends. He was pretty sure this was going to be an issue for Cat, but he said, “She’s a friend from Alaska.”<br/><br/>“Nice to meet you Cat, I’m Anders, Jonas’ best friend and Major in the Livgardet, the king’s guards. You’ll be safe here. Perhaps we can grab a fika sometime during your visit when I’m not on duty” Jonas nodded adding that it’d be really nice to reconnect and intended for Anders to get to know Cat. Something he’d not done with the other women he brought home. Anders saluted and directed them towards the house. As they approached, the doors opened and gave way to a beautiful foyer. The floors were black and white marble with dark red oak wall paneling’s. Paintings of obscure Swedes adorned the walls and in front to the left and right were oak staircases with carved dragonheads at the foot of the staircases. The house was indeed labyrinthine. As Jonas led Cat into the house, a butler and maidservant immediately greeted them. “Master Jonas, welcome home” Jonas smiled and looked at Cat. To him she seemed nervous if scared even. “Don’t worry our luggage arrived hours ago and if I’m a betting man, they’ve already hung the clothes and prepared you a bath.<br/><br/>One of the maid servants approached Cat and motioned for her to follow. Jonas looked at Cat and beckoned that she follow “Don’t worry she just wants to show you to your room. Go, have a shower, and relax. There are like 70 different soaps and shampoos, I’m sure you’ll love it.” Jonas smiled at her as the butler took his overcoat and led him into the study where his grandmother Birgitte was waiting for him.<br/><br/>The study was a drastic departure from the regal elegance of the foyer. The study resembled a pool hall with green carpet and oak bookshelves with a massive oak desk in the back of the room. Birgitte smiled and embraced Jonas firmly immediately knowing what he was thinking. “I like her Jonas even if she isn’t Swedish, a fun dalliance to be sure, but there will be nothing further than that. Her words came out authoritative. After all, she was the matriarch of the family and what she said went even if the others protested, she would not give in. There was no sense arguing with Birgitte. He would get nowhere. He was happy that Cat was upstairs and didn’t hear what Birgitte said. If there was one thing he knew, it was that he had to get her to warm up to Cat. Something that he would endeavor to do throughout the trip. Cat was an amazing young woman and Jonas wanted her. Though he was fairly sure there was going to be a discussion at some point between Cat and himself about the status of their relationship. He was sure he probably hurt her feelings by introducing her as a “friend” but after all, they hadn’t spoken about being in a relationship, so he hoped she wasn’t too mad at him.