As Kevin drank at the bar, Ralph and Paula were sitting on a set of couches in the ranch house. They decided to wait a few minutes to let Aidan gather her composure before trying to go and talk about what happened.
Paula looked up from glancing at her watch, and noticed Ralph was deep in thought. "Ralph, I'm sorry that I had to tell Kevin to leave, but it wasn't good for you or Aidan to deal with his anger," she said softly.
"Mom, I understand why you did it, and I'm not upset. It's just…" Ralph said as leaned forward on his knees. "It's just, Aidan's been a regular part of Pam's and my lives for 19 years now. He knows that, so why did he have to be so rude and say what he did to her?"
Paula nodded sadly, "My guess is he's never gotten over many things that happened when you and Alicia divorced. While even I know it was for the best, given what a witch she was, it's still pretty difficult for an 8-year-old to process what's going on, especially with how bitter it got," she said. "I'm sure that Alicia only exacerbated those hurt feelings when Aidan's parents died and she moved into your home."
Ralph sighed softly. "Yeah, but just because she said those things doesn't mean that he could say that to Aidan," he said. "I love Kevin, but he just won't get over Aidan being part of our lives on a regular basis. Then calling her fall a stunt and saying I mollycoddle her. I don't baby her, but I do love her as well."
"I know you don't baby Aidan, or even really treat her with kid gloves for the most part, but remember the last time Kevin saw you she did faint and you almost missed one of the biggest turning points in his life."
"True, but he wouldn't listen to me when I said that she was having problems with her inner ear at the time," said Ralph, glancing out the window. "Listen, she's been out there long enough. I'd better get her to come in before she gets dunked in the lake again like last year."
"Just don't decide to hit her with another trout," Paula chuckled as she patted Ralph's hand. Standing, Ralph went to the ranch house door and walked out. He started over to the lake, only to notice that Aidan was actually at the children's playground. Ralph got a chuckle when he noticed that Aidan was sitting on the middle level of a set of chin-up bars. It had always been her favorite thing to do when she starting thinking about things at the ranch.
"Still a monkey, huh Ade?" he said, laughing as he walked over to the playground. "Guess the shoulder's better."
"It is, like I said, it was a bit bruised from the landing," said Aidan chuckling as she grabbed the bar and did a simple flip off the bar to the ground. She then walked over to a set of swings and sat in one.
"Decided to not go fishing though. Knowing my luck today, I'd fall and hit my shoulder on one of the guard rails. Still stings from when Tony and I went chasing that car."
Ralph joined her, sitting in another swing and looked out across the lake. "You doing all right... I mean outside of the fall?" he asked softly.
Aidan took a deep breath and let it out, trying to keep her composure. "Yeah… but why did Kevin have to be such a jerk? Everything he said was uncalled for."
"I have to agree with you there, especially with the comment about your dad…"
"Kevin acts as though it's my fault he and Mom are dead," said Aidan. "That's bad enough, but to say it today when it's been 19 years since we were last all together? It's been hard enough to keep my composure today."
"I know sweetheart, but you've done a good job. We figured you'd need some time to let it out when you ran out of the house."
"Then, saying that you and Pam baby me…"
"Well, he's right there at times…."
"Yes, when I've been injured, but the rest of the time you guys treat me like a normal person. But, what really gets me is that he doesn't even accept me as family. If I didn't know the truth, I'd almost say he was an Onyxsard."
"Aidan Micah, you know better than to say that…" scolded Ralph. Though for some it wouldn't make any sense, Ralph knew that if Aidan called someone an Onyxsard, her birth name, she was making an insult.
"Sorry Ralph, but he does have some of their traits. He acted like I was worse than dirt when he arrived, and then when I fall down, he goes on and not only puts you guys down, but acts as though I'm a replacement," she said softly.
"Replacement?"
"For him and the baby Pam lost," she said remembering that day. The same year her parents died, Pam had become pregnant. About eight months before the reunion, Pam went into premature labor and lost the baby. A few days after the miscarriage, the doctors tested her and found out she couldn't safely have children. The news was devastating for the couple at the time, not knowing that they would end up having Aidan live with them a little over eight months later.
Wiping away a tear at the memory, Aidan continued. "Then, saying that I fell down as a stunt to attract attention. I wouldn't and don't do that."
"We know it, but he doesn't. I think he hasn't quite forgiven me for having to dash out of his graduation with you so you could recover," he said. "Thing is, that was nearly 8 years ago, and he still lets those feelings fester."
Aidan looked out across the lake, and sighed. "I know how that feels at times. Had the same feelings with Dylan when he arrived at the school to try and reconcile with me. Sure, I was right since he tried to kill me for my inheritance from Misha, but this is so much different. I see good in Kevin, but he just is closed to it."
""I see it too Ade, but I think part of it's me and everything that happened during the custody case. If I didn't have the suit that day and didn't have to take Bill to the hospital, I think the judge would've let me get full custody of Kevin. I would've been a great dad to him, despite what Kevin says."
"The curse of the suit," Aidan muttered, knowing too well that the suit did have cons as well as having many powers. "Tell you what, I do disagree with him on one thing. You're in a way my dad… maybe my Godpop, but you're just as real of a dad to me as my real Dad."
Ralph smiled. "I feel the same way Aidan," he said and looked at the lake again.
Aidan caught the glint in his eye when he saw the canoes. "Do you want to go canoeing?" she asked, smiling at the welcome change in topic.
"Yeah… but it's been a long day and I think we're probably both tired. I know I'm getting tired."
"Well, we can still do it," said Aidan. "It'll just be a quick trip."
"Aidan, it can't be quick unless we both paddle. What happens if one of us gets tired?"
The young woman smiled and lifted up the hem of her shirt. Ralph noticed a very familiar grey belt and buckle. "Ade, you've had the suit on and morphed all this time? That means you cheated… you owe Pam, Mom and me $1.70."
"No I don't, because I went over to the bunkhouse earlier and put it on in case there was a fight. Besides, I even if I had it on I wouldn't cheat for two reasons: The powers don't work if the suit's morphed and…"
"And?"
"I don't want to have a dream of some strange person wearing the suit because I used it to win any money, even if it's enough for a soda."
Ralph chuckled, and the two got out of the swings and headed over to the canoes.