Chapter 7

'They seem to have a real bond with each other, don't you think,' Arados tilted his head curiously, as he watched his daughter and nephew chatter away together.

'I think they're intelligent enough to,' Jo pressed her lips together, 'but that doesn't mean they have one.'

'But if they did…?'

'They're cousins,' she shrugged, 'they're allowed to get on, aren't they?'

'Why are you being so prudish,' Arados frowned, 'I wasn't thinking they had a bond like you and C have. More like the one I have with my Ohpayo cousins; I was thinking they'd be best friends, not lovers.'

'Hmm,' she huffed slightly, turning her gaze away from him as she did.

'God Jo, what is your problem,' Arados couldn't help but stare at her. 'All I said was that they were close and you start acting like they're going to turn out exactly like you and Crovell. Do you know something I don't?'

'No,' she shook her head, 'but I do know a certain little someone with a daddy complex,' her eyes narrowed in on her son, 'I just don't want you giving him ideas.'

'I wasn't trying to…' he stopped himself. 'Jo you have no right to be paranoid or hypocritical over this. You're the one who chose to have him the way you did, remember? So you can't stop him if he… turns out like you.'

'Children shouldn't end up like their parents just because they don't know any better,' she pouted. 'And your Princess is responsible for continuing the Lutoni line, which means…'

'I know what it means,' he rolled his eyes, 'and I'm not about to start pressing her onto just anybody, especially not blood. But that doesn't mean you have any right to become prudish when I was just innocently suggesting they had a strong bond of friendship, nothing more.'

'Yeah, well sometimes Ara you imply a lot more than what you mean to,' she suddenly scooped her son up from the blanket and got to her feet. 'Now if you don't mind I have other things to be getting on with.'

'I thought you said you had the whole day free,' he stared up at her.

'Well I just remembered that I don't,' she quickly turned and walked away. 'I'll see you later Ara.'

Almost as soon as they'd left Princess made a disgusted sounding noise of disappointment.

'I know how you feel,' he told her, as he pulled her into his own arms, 'but Una Jo was just being a little over sensitive I think,' he kissed the top of his daughter's head. 'But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the sunshine.'

'I wouldn't be so sure about that,' Lus's voice sounded from behind him, making him jump slightly.

'Don't do that,' he half snapped as he turned round to face him. 'You can't just announce yourself before you finish Jumping in. You know…'

'How paranoid you've been lately,' Lus rolled his eyes, before taking a seat next to Arados on the blanket. 'Hey there little bit,' he cooed over the baby, 'remember me? I'm Niall's dada.'

'Where is Niall anyway,' Arados frowned.

'With Helen,' Lus flicked his gaze up towards Arados. 'And I know you and Princess want to enjoy the sunshine, but I need you to come with me.'

'Come with you where?'

'Well, to Taylor's first. Then up to the Mistresses Chambers, there's someone you need to meet.'

'Who?'

'That's a question best left answered when we get there.'

'Lus,' Arados couldn't help the wary tones in his voice, 'you know I'll never forgive you if you put Princess in danger, right?'

'I'm not, trust me. If I thought anything bad would happen to her I'd tell you to leave her with your parents for a while. But I actually think it would be a good idea for her to come to.'

'Then why haven't you brought Niall?'

'Because Niall's already met him and Helen insisted once was enough for now.'

'In other words she doesn't trust this guy,' he pulled Princess closer into him.

'More like she wanted an excuse to make me do all the work,' he rolled his eyes, 'and having to take care of Niall was her all round perfect excuse.'

'Right…'

'You can ask her if you don't believe me,' Lus remained calm, 'we'll even go there before we go to see Tay, that way you can leave Princess with her if you think it'll be safer.'

At that Princess made a loud noise of protest. Arados wasn't completely sure how he knew, but he got the feeling that she wanted to come to.

'No we can go straight to Tay's,' he sighed heavily, 'I think I've given birth to a little thrill seeker here.'

'Like mother, like daughter,' Lus laughed, before getting to his feet.

'Are you looking for a broken jaw Lus,' Arados glared as he got to his own feet, 'because that's what you're going to get if you keep this up. I've told you a million times…'

'That you've not decided what Princess will call you yet,' Lus cut him off. 'Yeah, yeah, I know. But maybe she's decided for you, did you think of that?'

'I don't know what Mayday means,' he lowered his gaze, 'or why she always refers to me as that in my nightmares. And until I find out I'm not allowing myself to use that term.'

'And nobody else is allowed to use any other term to describe you to her either,' Lus rolled his eyes again, 'because you don't want to influence her into calling you something before you've decided what that something is. But really Ara, shouldn't you have made your mind up about that by now?'

'It's not that easy Lus. It's not like Princess has anyone but me around to call mummy or daddy. I need to be both at the same time and not completely screw her up in the process. That's why getting the name right is so important.'

'Why don't you just ask her what Mayday means,' Lus frowned, 'the next time you have a nightmare I mean.'

'Because I'm afraid of what the answer might be.'

'Why?'

'Wouldn't you be?'

'I don't know,' Lus admitted, 'that depends, doesn't it?'

'On what exactly.'

'On whether or not she loves you.'

'I guess,' he sighed heavily, before kissing Princess's forehead again, 'but anyway, shouldn't we be on our ways to Taylor's now.'

'Roger that,' Lus laughed. 'Let's go.'