by R. J. Ross
“Why wouldn’t they? Reaper and the Darlin’s seemed to get along really well,” Taurus says.
“Them, sure, but why is Sunny there? And Diamond Dust? Do you think she came here to try and talk Sandra into going with her?”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” Taurus asks, looking over the menu. He reaches up, tugging on his collar only to curse as it rips like tissue. He’s almost sweating, he’s so nervous, and the huge group of voyeurs in the waiting area isn’t helping. What if she says no? The entire super world would know, starting with the apartments. He really feels like shifting and tossing the group out of the building, but even with as strong as he is, he’s pretty sure he couldn’t take them all on at once. Plus, he lives with some of them. It’d make life really difficult.
“It would break Jeanie’s heart!” she says. “It’s bad enough that Reaper came along and stopped the adoption, but at least he lets her stay near them. If she goes with Diamond Dust, Jeanie and Ken will hardly ever see the girl again.”
“I doubt that’s why she’s here,” he says. The server comes up to them before she can reply, and she reluctantly looks at the menu to choose her drink. It seems like forever before they’re alone at the table again.
“Then why is she here? Is she trying to get back together with Reaper?”
“I really, really doubt that,” Taurus says.
“What would you know?” she asks. “Unless you know why she’s here?”
“I…” He looks everywhere but at her. “Is this really the time to be discussing other people? I thought we were on a date, Liz.”
“You know something, don’t you?” Liz accuses him. “Tell me, Devon, or I’ll make a scene. I’m good at making scenes.”
“I… might have asked her to come here,” he says, not quite looking her in the eyes. “But it had nothing to do with taking Sandra anywhere.”
“You ASKED her to come? What in the world would you do something like that for? What if she sees her daughter and suddenly decides that now that she has an illusion watch, they can try again? And don’t get me wrong, I’d be okay with that, but ONLY if she was to become Central!”
“Liz! It’s got nothing to do with Sandra!”
“Then prove it, Devon, because my best friend adores that girl and I’m not going to just back down—”
“She came here because she made something for me,” he says, groaning and looking around. “This wasn’t the time I was planning to do this, you know?”
“Do what?” she asks, her expression changing.
“Also, you have no say in what happens with Sandra, she’s smart enough to decide what’s best for herself,” he adds, digging into his pocket. He goes still, and his face clearly shows his reluctance. “I… no, I don’t think this is the right time. Forget I said anything.”
She stares at him. “Really?”
“Really,” he says. “You’re in one of your overprotective moods right now. You’ll calm down in a bit, and then we’ll talk.”
“I’m not overprotective!”
He’s the one that stares, this time. “You’re the most overprotective person I know… well, no, your big brother might be a bit more, but not much. And he put a super killing laser wall up around his places.”
“I fully support that wall, you know,” she says as the server comes with their drinks.
“Which just proves my point,” he says as the server pulls out his writing pad. They order their dinner, and then wait for the server to leave, again. “I don’t disagree with you being overprotective, Liz. I love that you care so much about people.”
“But?” she prompts.
“But the kids are growing rapidly into people that can protect themselves. And Jeanie and Ken always could. You have to trust them to work things out in a way that makes everyone happy, hon, they’re really good at that sort of thing.”
She frowns, but she doesn’t say anything, which means he made his point. He’s about to change the subject when she speaks up, again. “So… why is Reaper taking that group out, anyway?”
“That one’s a lot easier,” Taurus says. “Reaper likes women.”
She laughs. “Yeah? Then why is Sunny there?”
“He’s probably making sure Reaper doesn’t get too friendly with his adorable Aunt Skye,” Taurus decides, making her laugh even more.
“He’d better not!” she agrees. “But I doubt he’d get far.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t play a guitar,” Taurus says, hearing someone laugh from the waiting room. He turns, looking in that direction, but there’s no way to see the group. Suddenly he’s almost positive that this conversation is being spied on. Great, he thinks, just great, as if there wasn’t enough pressure to begin with.
“So,” she says, “what did you have her make?”
He looks at her, and sees a tiny little smile playing on her lips. “You…” he says, realizing, “how much of that was just messing with me?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” she says, looking far too innocent. “I really don’t want her to take Sandra away. She’s a good girl. We went shopping together the other day. She’s hysterical.”
“This isn’t the time, yet, though,” he says. “We haven’t even eaten yet.”
“Eh,” she says, “I’m not good at following tradition. Besides, if I wait too long, I might change my mind.”
“If you wait?” he asks. He blinks as she reaches across the table, grabbing his hand.
“Devon,” she says, looking him in the eye.
“Yes?”
“If we’re going to do it, I say we elope. I’m thinking a five minute trip to Las Vegas, a cheesy Elvis impersonator, and a family type honeymoon to the islands. What do you say? We’ll get the girls their own hotel room, of course.”
“Your family would kill us,” he says, after a long second of his jaw hanging open.
“Are you saying no?” she asks.
“I’m saying absolutely, definitely, yes. But we take the girls to Vegas with us, as well.”
“Deal,” she says, holding out her hand, “Now, my ring?”
A round of cheers comes from the waiting room. “I’m going to at least do this part right,” Taurus says, getting out of his chair and pulling the crystal box out of his pocket. He gets on one knee next to her chair and opens it, holding it out to her. “And even if you stole the thunder—”
“Lightning mimic, babe, it’s what I do,” she says, smugly.
“Liz Masters, I love you. Will you do me the honor of hopping a few borders and eloping with me?” he asks.
“I will!” she says, throwing herself into his arms. “But after the parents have gone back home,” she adds, plucking the ring box from his hand. “This ring is perfect.”
“Sunny and Sandra thought you would like it,” he says, still hugging her.
“We’re going to have to bribe that group to keep the secret, aren’t we?”
“Probably,” he agrees.
“Yeah, good luck with that,” they hear Reaper’s voice say as the group is led past them to a table. Taurus laughs as Liz glares at the man.
***
Mom texted me halfway through the meal, asking where I was, and I still haven’t replied. I’m walking up to the apartment building now. I’m going to be grounded for LIFE. But if I even think of telling them why I went out without permission, Aunt Liz will fry me with lightning. Which is, you know, child abuse, but I’m pretty sure it would just be a little bit painful. At least, I hope. I’m actually not sure I want to find out, to tell the truth. So it all comes down to how I want to be punished, really. But I’ve been punished by my parents before, and it hasn’t killed me yet, or even ruined my hairdo (and trust me, I already have the white streak, if I get hit by lightning I might look like the bride of Frankenstein.) So… I think I just decided what’s best, didn’t I? My hair is strange enough as it is. No ‘fro for me! A white boy with an afro would be just wrong, right?
“You are in SO much trouble, Mister,”
Mom says from the stairway. All thoughts of the bride of Frankenstein flee my mind as I see her glowering down at me. “The only reason I’m not having a complete heart attack is because your father assured me that you were alive and safe!”
“We were—” I start out, only to watch the rest of the group abandon me and head downstairs. “THANKS FOR THAT!” I yell at them.
“You were what, Sunny?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the wall. I feel like a mouse caught by a cat right now.
“My, ah, phone died?” I offer.
“Of course it did,” she says. “You’re not getting out of this, young man, so you might as well spill it. Where on earth have you been?”
I bite my bottom lip, looking around. Liz and Taurus will be home any moment. The only reason they aren’t, is because they went to get food for Aubrey and Emily. I head up the steps, grabbing Mom’s hand and tugging her to the nearest empty apartment. “You can’t tell ANYONE, got it? Especially not Grandma, Grandpa, or Marie. Promise?”
“Is it something serious?” she asks, now worried.
“VERY serious,” I say, nodding. “Oh, but it’s not bad serious, it’s just if I tell people I wouldn’t put it past Aunt Liz to shock me, and if I get an afro, I’ll look like the Bride of Frankenstein.”
She turns for a second to compose herself. “Tell me everything,” she orders. I lower my voice to the most silent I possibly can, and spill the beans. Mom listens intently, her expression changing every five seconds, until I’m finished and she has a look on her face that makes me wish I hadn’t told her.
“Oh no she doesn’t,” she says, “If I have to suffer through this, then so does she!”
“But Mom—”
“No ‘buts’ mister! She should at least let us go to the wedding! Or better yet, we’ll dress Ken up as Elvis and have the wedding on the beach!”
I grin, because I’m no longer in trouble and Liz is. That worked out WAY better than I ever dreamed it would!
“And don’t think you’re not in trouble, young man,” she says. “But… I would have followed, as well, so we’ll… discuss your punishment later.”
“But if you yell at her, she’ll know I told!” I say, chasing after her as she heads for the entrance. Just as those words come out of my mouth the door opens and Liz steps through.
“You did what?” Liz demands.
“Um… er…” I say, “Hi, Liz.”
“Did you tell her?” she asks.
“He did,” Mom says, “and I’m so happy for you both!” she says, pulling them both into a hug. I would laugh at the look on Taurus’s face, but Liz is glaring at me. She groans, though, reluctantly hugging Mom back. “Now, show it to me!” Mom says, grabbing Liz’s left hand.
“I’m not wearing it,” Liz says. “But… here.” She digs the box out of her pocket. “It’s not a big deal. We’re just going to—”
“It’s beautiful! And Sunny told me ALL about that idea,” Mom says. “I have some thoughts that you might be willing to consider.”
“Oh no, I’m not going to be poked and prodded for another half a year just so Mom and Marie can play with beads,” Liz says firmly. “A quick flight over to Vegas is good enough—oh, lord, are they here right now? Did they hear?” She looks panicked.
“They went out to dinner,” Mom says. “But I understand how you feel about the beads, which is why I think we should work out a compromise!” She grabs both of them by the hands and tugs them away, leaving me to heave a sigh of relief, at least, until Liz looks back at me and points at her eyes and then at me. I groan. The last place I want to be is where she can fry me.
Reaper’s place it is! Oh, I wonder if I can talk Adanna into coming over!
“You’re still in trouble, Mister!” Mom says. “Don’t even think of it.”
I sigh, shoulders slumping, and head up the stairs to our floor. There goes that idea.
CHAPTER SIX
“Sunny!” I roll over, covering my head with my pillow. I don’t want to wake up. I was having the coolest dream. There was a giant tree that told me that I was going to have to throw a ring into a volcano, but I kept telling him that he was in the wrong story. I mean, I was planning on going to the wizard guy to have a brain implanted in… something. Now that I think about it the details are getting really fuzzy, but somewhere along the way I’m positive we had to get some WD-40 for Jack. There might or might not have been some sort of dancing monkeys. I’m leaning towards yes, though, because who doesn’t like dancing monkeys?
“Sunny! Don’t make me get the blowhorn out,” Dad threatens, tugging my pillow away from me. I refuse to let go, so I get lifted a foot away from the mattress, as well.
“What time is it?” I ask him sleepily. “Ten more minutes.”
“Not happening. Today’s the wedding, remember?”
I wake up and drop to my bed, grunting slightly. I let out a yawn and get to my feet, heading for the bathroom to take a shower. A little while later I’m sitting at the table, staring blankly at a bowl, a box of cereal, and a gallon of milk. Ever since we got Mom back, we haven’t eaten cereal. I can feel Zoe glare at me as I start to say something, so I silently fill my bowl, instead.
“So,” Mom says, sitting at the table with a bagel. “Is everyone ready?”
“Sunny’s not awake, yet,” Zoe says, making her own bowl of cereal, “but he’s gotten really good at pretending to be, so it should be fine, right?”
“I’m awake,” I mutter, my head slowly falling towards my bowl. I jerk back a few centimeters from the full bowl and grab my spoon.
Dad sits down next to me, already wearing the pants and shirt of his tux. He’s fidgeting, I notice with a bit of surprise. He keeps doing and undoing his cuff links. Zoe looks at the links in question, raising an eyebrow before starting to laugh. “Really, Dad?”
“What?” he asks.
“You even modified your cuff links?” she accuses him. “The wedding will take an hour or two, do you really need to have a commlink at your wrist?”
“Better safe than sorry,” Dad says.
“If you interrupt our wedding for something, I don’t think I’m going to appreciate it,” Mom says. “So,” she goes on, changing the subject, “Liz and Devon are engaged, now.”
Dad and Zoe go still, looking a bit surprised. “They are?” Zoe asks, squealing excitedly. “Oh, my gosh! Emily and Aubrey didn’t say a THING! I’m so going to make them regret that!”
“It happened last night,” I say around a mouthful of sugary cardboard. I miss my bacon and eggs, man. I’m not sure I’ll make it through the day on this stuff!
“And YOU knew?” Zoe asks.
“Um, you weren’t here when we got back, so I forgot to tell you?” I offer, yawning again now that I’ve swallowed. “But they’re not getting married today, Mom and Dad are, so it’s not what we should be… you know, focusing on?”
“It’s still a big deal, though! Have they told Grandma and Grandpa?” she asks.
“Don’t do it,” Dad says. “But speaking of them, I need to go set up Marie’s visit with Herold, the last thing we want is for her to be able to break him out.”
“Honey?” Mom says.
“Hmm?”
“At least change out of the tuxedo, first.”
“Ah, yeah, sorry,” he says, heading for his room to change.
“I think he’s nervous,” Zoe says.
“Oh, he’s terrified,” Mom says with a little smile. “He’s perfectly fine with fighting the strongest supers on the planet, but stick him in a church and he’s like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
“But he’s really close friends with Ken,” I say, a bit confused. “It’s not like Ken is any different behind the pulpit.”
“We realize that, and on some level he does, as well, but your father dislikes authority, even the ones he knows,” Mom says. “He’s gotten better, though.”
“So… what did we get up so early for?”
I ask, drinking my orange juice. “The wedding’s not until this afternoon, right?”
“But the picture session is this morning,” Mom says. “Both of you get dressed. We’re meeting the bridesmaids in the school’s greenhouse! Amara was kind enough to find the perfect photographer for the job. And I thought it would be nice to get some pictures of you two together.”
I go and get dressed, knowing for a fact that this is going to be a very, very long day.
***
“Chinaza,” Amara says as the car pulls to a stop in front of the school campus. “We told them no.”
“Yes, I realize that, and we meant it,” Pan says, “but this is an opportunity that I cannot let pass. Besides, it is against the rules for me to enter the school campus. The last time was… extenuating circumstances.”
“You’re one of the groomsmen, though.”
“Well, yes… but I am sure that Nico will understand.”
“Papa,” Adanna says. “Sunny reacted really strangely to them. I’m not sure we should get one.”
“It’s because he reacted so strangely that I want one,” Pan says. “We will see for ourselves exactly what those…” he glances at the two boys in their special seats before going on, “things are.”
“Don’t spend too much, dear,” Amara says.
“I will try not to,” Pan agrees as she and Adanna help the brothers out of their chairs. Oh, sure, both boys know how to get out of a regular car seat, but this is a Technico. It’s impossible to do without the right fingerprints, or in an actual emergency. It’s called the “Kiddy Protocol.” Pan waits until everyone has entered the school and starts to put the car into drive, only to stop as he sees the group from the apartments heading his way. He watches Sunny and Summer, hesitating. This isn’t the time to tell them, is it? They need to concentrate on the wedding. It’s Summer’s big day, and she looks absolutely beautiful. He sighs, waving at them before taking off.
He’s got an auction to go to. Hopefully it’ll be over before the wedding begins.
