Note: I do NOT own Galactik Football!

'Is everything ok Rocket?' Tia asked her dazed boyfriend a few days later as she planted herself on his lap while they were packing to head back to Akillian later that afternoon. Tia was recovering nicely and had broken down two or three times much to Rocket's relief that she had let it out rather than hold it in. After doing so, she felt much better and relaxed so she continued to focus on convincing Rocket to have sex with her but Rocket still wasn't into the idea. Besides, he was rather enjoying making out with her shirtless, he was happy with what he was getting now. So it was a few days after everything and the new, young couple were preparing to go back to Akillian. However, Rocket wasn't himself and seemed rather distant which Tia left for a while but as the morning went on, she began to worry but she panicked come the early afternoon and noticed him sitting on her bed, staring blankly at nothing when he should've been packing and thought it best to ask at that moment. Rocket snapped his head up, knocking out of his gaze to meet the emerald orbs of his girlfriend looking at him with deep concern.

'I'm just a little worried about going back to Akillian,' he confessed and Tia gave him a confused look before he continued. 'I still don't know how to be around my mum. Since her and Dad are finished 'reuniting' and 'catching up', they'll both be around 24/7. I don't know how to be with her for an hour! I love having her back, I do but...I don't know how to communicate with her so to speak.' Tia couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. She didn't regret what she had done but she was beginning to feel like she should've done something more rather than just showing them each other and leaving them to sought it out. Maybe she could've found some common ground for them and help Rocket along instead of leaving it to him. She knew Rocket well enough to know what he was like, even then. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Tia spoke.

'Give it time. Eventually you'll go to her, just like I said before. These things take time,' she told him promisingly when he spoke again.

'Tia...my Dad was talking to me other day and erm...they want to have dinner with us at my place tomorrow night, to get to know you as my...girlfriend.' Rocket still felt weird about calling her his girlfriend. He never imagined it to be honest. Even when he first met Tia, having her fall for him back seemed like a dream so it being reality was a lot for the young teenage boy to take in. Never in a million years had he expected to date someone as amazing as her. 'If you wouldn't mind that is! You can stay at my place tonight also if you wanted...'

'Rocket! I don't mind, honestly! Of course I would love to, I look forward to it! But Mei asked me to stay at her place tonight if that's ok? Then tomorrow night onwards, I'm all yours!' she promised him reassuringly and he smiled before giving her a light kiss. 'Think you can handle one night with her without me?'

'The thought of you will get me through I'm sure!' he joked before they kissed again and with his mind at ease for now, Rocket relaxed and let himself melt into the passionate kiss...

A while later...

Rocket and Tia were happily sitting next to each other as they waited to land on Akillian. Soon Tia grew quieter and Rocket had no hesitation in asking her what was wrong.

'Nothing, I'm just tired, that's all thanks,' she smiled reassuringly. Her and Rocket had got up quite early that morning and she had only just got used to the new routine and it didn't take much to get her tired on top of everything that had occurred. Taking that into careful consideration, Rocket suddenly slipped on arm around the back of Tia's knees and slid her legs on to his lap so she was now sprawled out and rather comfortable. She was about to protest when Rocket spoke.

'I insist Tia, now go to sleep for a while,' he encouraged and Tia smiled at him before resting her head against the seat and resting her eyes. In no time though, she fell soundlessly asleep. Rocket just sat there and watched her when he suddenly pulled a lock of hair behind her ear and took the chance to leave his hand on her soft, white cheek. He gently caressed it when she suddenly stirred making him snap his hand back but all she did was snuggle deeper into the seat. Rocket then just placed his hand on one of her legs across his lap and leaned back in the seat as he continued to gaze at her when soon, everything over the past week overwhelmed him and he fell asleep...

A loud vibrant noise filled the cabin awakening the young sleepy couple from their nap. Tia stretched then slumped as she tried to wake up and never moved her legs from his lap whilst he was immediately awake and stayed that way where as his girlfriend rested her eyes some more. Rocket smiled when he saw this as he had never seen this side to her until the first night they had slept in the same bed together. It usually took Tia about twenty minutes to open her eyes, never mind get out of bed where as Rocket would be awake and up in a matter off moments but he had grown used to her routine and would often gaze at her lovingly or would sometimes join her. Right now, he went with gazing but a few minutes later, their 'carriage' came to a stop as they landed on Akillian.

'Time to get up Tia...' Rocket whispered into her ear to which Tia let out a loud groan at. 'Come on Tia... Make you a deal: if you get up now, I'll take you to my cave for an hour before you go to Mei's house. It'll be just the two of us...alone...where no one knows about...so no one will find us...' Rocket teased and slowly, Tia opened one eye to meet Rocket's seductive but genuine expression so slowly another eye followed before she sighed and stood up, brushing her way past Rocket teasingly so he would chase her (not that he needed much convincing!) and he soon followed as they walked out into the icy cold Akillian air...

Rocket let the icy cold Akillian air fill his lungs as he cradled his girlfriend for extra warmth. Tia was miraculously now wide awake and after a good make-out session (fully dressed since they were in the open on Akillian!) she had let Rocket hold her close to keep her warm. Well, at least that was his excuse just to hold her!

'You know we have to get going soon, right? I promised my parents I would be home for dinner,' Rocket whispered into her ear despite himself. Ahh, he just wanted to stay where he was and cradle her in his arms forever long. However, his conscience told him they had to get going soon or else they'd never leave. Stupid conscience!

'Five more minutes,' Tia replied cheekily as she moved round and placed her head in his lap. They smiled lovingly at each other as he strokes her hair but Rocket saw a look in Tia's eyes that he was unsure of but she spoke before he could question her.

'Rocket...what if your parents don't like me?' she asked him worriedly and despite the seriousness, Rocket burst out into laughter at her question making Tia and him a glare. 'Rocket! I'm serious!' Tia exclaimed before getting up out of his lap and turning her back to him and folding her arms in a huff. In an instant Rocket had stopped laughing and was now working around getting back into her good books and he knew just how to.

'Come on Tia, don't be mad! They already like you, they adore you. Just be yourself,' he encouraged her, snaking his arms around her neck and kissing her bare neck. She ignored him (or at least she tried) but when he planted a kiss at the base of her neck, she couldn't do it for very much longer.

'Rocket!' she hissed and turned to him which he took advance of and kissed the tip of her nose which made her giggle like a little two year old despite herself. 'Rocket, I'm serious! What if they don't like me?' Tia asked her cheeky boyfriend with deep concern.

'Of course they will Tia! Like I said, they've always liked you! And if I'm anything to go by, they'll love you!' he stated reassuringly, pressing her forehead to his and smiling at her happily.

'Maybe. It's just; I want to make this work you know. I don't want to mess this up,' Tia replied, referring to their relationship.

'It will work Tia. Just believe in yourself and more importantly, be you! They'll love you just for that,' Rocket promised her and kissed her nose again. 'Come on, I have to drop you off at Mei's before heading home!' With that, Rocket stood them up and grabbed her hand before leading her to the snowmobile...

The next day...

Rocket sighed heavily as he sat down on the couch. Tia was set to be comic by in two hours and Rocket was having panic attacks trying to make sure everything was perfect for tonight. He wanted it to work and he wanted it to be special. He had spent the morning cleaning up his room and getting in set for tonight. He didn't want to overdo it but that didn't stop him buying some of her favourite scented candles and placing them everywhere with the light green bed sheets set to shine with her eyes and the bottle of low-alcoholic percentage champagne to help ease their tension should there be any. He had rented out two of her favourite movies and had checked and double checked what his parents were planning to cook to make sure all would be to Tia's satisfactory. He didn't know why he was panicking so, but he knew from movies or books that meeting both sides of the family in a relationship was a big step. So this was another step forward in their blossoming relationship. He wanted to make sure things went right, she was important to him and he wanted to make a good impression. He also wanted to show his parents just how important she was so another reason for panicking was doing that particularly with his long-lost mother back in his life. He just wanted everything to go well.

Getting back to work, Rocket entered the kitchen to see his father who was cooking dinner and wanted to check some other details for the evening.

'Hey Rocket, everything ok?' Norata welcomed his panicky son joyfully. Rocket just nodded as he leaned on the countertop and watched his father cut up the vegetables, making sure he didn't do anything that didn't appeal to his girlfriend's taste.

'Dad, watch it. Tia doesn't like her peppers like that!' Rocket warned him but before Norata had the chance to even realise what it was he was doing 'wrong', his son continued. 'Have you got those roses from the greenhouse yet? The ones to go in my room?'

'Not yet, I'm just finishing this then I will and I'll give them to you. And there's still two hours Rocket, relax,' Norata told his son who paid absolutely no attention.

'Tell me you're at least going to dress up a little tonight Dad. She's a diplomat daughter, her Dad dressed up when I had dinner with them. And do me a favour please and shave!' Rocket exclaimed making his father raise an eyebrow at his son who wouldn't usually act that way. 'What?'

'Since when are you this cheeky?' his Dad questioned his son wonderingly though the answer was obvious.

'I'm not cheeky!' Rocket replied and Norata could see exactly what his son was thinking in his eyes.

'You really care about her, don't you?' his Dad asked Rocket who had no hesitation in replying and nodded.

'She's important, Dad. I just want everything to perfectly,' Rocket informed his Dad truthfully and he nodded, smiling at his love-struck soon gleefully.

'It will Rocket. Now stop worrying and go get yourself ready, I can fix myself up and get everything else done in the meantime! Leave it all to me son,' his Dad smiled to which Rocket smiled back at.

'Thanks Dad,' Rocket said earnestly before leaving Norata to continue his business whilst he went upstairs to get ready as he wondered what the night would be like...