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"her brother was not just mean, he was evil- killing people and hurting them because he could. He had to be stopped." It had been the right thing to do, despite his past life's lingering regrets.

Petting the bouncy blond hair, Castor wasn't sure he was doing any good.
Parenting was hard- how the hell did Jada do this?

"I hope so Pincipessa. You deserve a prince who will cherish you and adore you. Just remember to fight for it, because nothing is ever free and all things must be earned." He smiled.
"But kindness- kindness should always be free. That is what I think anyway." Life lessons from your older brother who was pretending to be a magic prince sent to protect you. What had Castor's life come to.

Giulia did have about about Marlo being dumb.
"He's less dumb, and more just emotionally constipated. Very bad and showing or saying how he feels. Marlo I mean. He'll warm up to you and Aidan in time."

As she explained her view on well, himself, a tiny part of him felt guilty. He and Jada were stopping her from knowing her real father. But- no matter his guilt it was for the better.
"I think he'd be your daddy if you want him to be. He care about you and your brother a lot. I... don't think he will give you a new mommy though. Not right now anyway." Even if Ofelia was was all but his steady girlfriend and he'd entertained the thought on a few nights.

"I'm sorry my story didn't have a happy ending. Shall I tell you one that does?"

Castor tired very hard to choke back the small laughter that threatened to bubble up at Giulia's question.
"Let's just say he tried to get things out, but it gets stuck and causes him pain. Sort of like a bad fart." He smiled at her, knowing the 'boy humor' would only make her scoff or call him gross.
"But you are right- it's far past your bed time and I have kept you from your beauty rest long enough. Let's go." Getting up, he bent down and lifted her with ease, tucking wings close to his back as to keep them from hitting a few scattered objects.

Behind his smile and gentle rocking of Giulia as he made his way to her temporary bed, Castor reflected on what the little girl had said. Jada had been maimed years ago, and it had been.. well. Marlo had told him one night in a bout of regret drinking. Jada's damage had been deep, and scars did not always fade with time. Not even with senshi healing.

To be reminded that you had lost the chance at a child, that you might never-
A bitterness washed into his throat, memories of his own loss and the daughter who had nearly been killed by his own hands in a bid for power.

No doubt Jada felt something the same. She had always been so family focused after all.
"I'm sure she is just sad because she wishes your mother were still here with her. Losing someone you love, losing family is hard." Granted Jada's mother had been a right piece of work, but, kin was kin. Hell, loath as he was to admit it, a small speck of him still acknowledged Giovanni as his father despite all other logic.
Setting Giulia on her bed, Castor worked to lift and pull up the covers, asking her softly if she was comfortable.

"Are you read for my last story Pincipessa?"

Tucking her in, he gave a few small hums of thought as Castor went through the motions.
"All princesses start cute, eventually becoming beautiful. Besides, you can be both. But neither will happen if you don't get to bed on time." Said the man who'd kept her up with a tragic story of his past.

Making sure that Giulia had her stuffed seal and the nightlight was still running, Castor sat at the foot of her bed, taking a moment to relish the fact he was able to just take care of her.
Like family.
Like he really was her father.

"When I was young, and lived in the castle of my ancestors, they called me Laurentius. I was the son of the king, one day to inherit his name. The name of Castor." The senshi's wings fanned out a bit covering the bed in dark navy feathers.
"I was small, not much older than you when he fell in battle, and I was crowned Prince Castor. For many years I did my best to serve my people. Fighting battles, recusing damsels," mostly as a young man, that had involved doing more than just rescuing, "and fighting off invasions. Yet I felt loneliness on my world, and often looked to the stars, wondering if I worthy of my title, or my rank. If I was truly worthy of my name, Castor."

It was a simpler lifetime, an easier one.

"Yet one day, I saw a streak of light cross the sky followed by a crash. When I ventured forth to see what it had been, do you know what I found?" He didn't let Giulia answer.
"A princess. She was not like a princess of fairy tales. She was a warrior. A leader. And she rose from the place which she landed and challenged me to fight. For days I battled with her, our swords clashing as neither of us would yield. Yet one night, when we had both retreated to rest, I heard a cry coming from where she'd gone. I feared for her you see, for even as we fought, she was a brilliant warrior, and the thought of some ill fate befalling her troubled me.

When I arrived, I saw her tending to her leg. She'd fallen down a patch of ice, twisting her ankle. She heard me and as we locked eye? I bowed to her, and asked to be given leave to see to her wound. She had fought me tooth and nail, and to take an unspoken victory by luck was a fool's merit. She agreed, and as I tended to her, we spoke of her arrival, of why she wished to fight me. She had come to test her strength, and I was said to be the strongest. She returned to my castle with me as she healed, and for a time, we came close. Yet when her leg had healed proper, she took up her blade once more and we dueled. This time, I lost."

He grinned.
"She had proven herself stronger, and it was her right to ask a boon of me. Yet what she asked for was not mine to give." Moving, he kissed Giulia on her forehead.

"She asked for my heart, but by then, she'd already stolen it away." It was as good an ending as any. "Good night Pincipessa. I must go now, but remember, I will be watching over you. Sleep well."