Chapter 10: Relativity
Summary: Blood may be thicker than water, but up against beer?

Sara sat down beside LJ, dangling her legs over the side.

"Beer?" she asked, offering him the one in her right hand.

"I am a minor, you know."

"Last I looked, this isn't the States, you aren't driving, and you're surrounded by adults. Well, technically. It's all relative..."

He grinned and raised the bottle. "Salud, pesetas y amor!"(1)

"Guess I must be a lucky girl - I've got all three!" She leant back on one hand. "So, tell me about your Uncle Mike..."

"Uncle Mike?" he repeated, coolly.

And there it was... The family trait - strongest in Michael, but present in all. The Smirks.

"Yeah, you know - tall, dark and brainy? Handsome, even-tempered martyr? Oh, god," she groaned, lying back, "I wake up every morning next to him, and he still ends up sounding like a figment of my imagination."

"You forgot patient and kind."

"Shut up, you - leave me some dignity- "

"Can't run for crap, not the first you'd pick to fight, stubborn as hell, kinda nerdy, analyses everything... "

"Aw, thank you, brat!" she laughed. "Yeah, that one. I'm not asking you to dish the dirt- "

He snorted.

"I'm not!" she reassured, indignantly, sitting up. "It's just that...you know a different Michael to everybody else. You're his only- " She stopped, and looked at him questioningly.

"Far as I know!"

"I think you know a side to him that nobody else does. And, well, I don't have anybody else to ask about him."

"Hello? Lincoln? My dad, his brother?"

She sighed. "No. I wouldn't put him - either of them - in that position. There's too much going on there. And he's very defensive... protective of Michael."

"Maybe, he has reason to be."

"I'm sure he does. And, actually, I love that he is. I just have to understand it'll be a while before your dad accepts that he doesn't have to be that way with me."

LJ looked at her consideringly, before returning his gaze to the night sky. "So, you're curious about Uncle Mike... Can I ask you something?" At her nod, he continued, "Who is he going to ask about you?"

She looked at him, startled. "Smart boy. You're definitely your uncle's nephew..." God, with everything they'd all been through, it was so easy to forget just how young he was. The things he'd seen... Been through. Lost. She felt a rush of affection for him, and quickly leant over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

He smiled sheepishly. "What- "

"Felt like it." Grinning, she stood up and headed to the ranch slider.

"Hey, you and Uncle Mike? Any wedding on the horizon?"

"Maybe. More than likely. One day... Why do you want to know?"

"Just wondering."

"Right... 'Night, LJ."

She was at the door, when he called out. "Sara, his others? The few that were serious? I'd always ask Uncle Mike why not... All he'd ever say was it wasn't real."

"Oh... Okay." She hitched in a breath. "Don't forget to clear up those bottles hiding under the deck!"

He laughed. "Night. Aunt Sara..." And dodged a flying beer cap.

Looking upwards, he searched for Venus and Saturn - they were supposed to be in alignment, but he was pretty sure that he'd missed it, by now. Next time, maybe. Wouldn't be the same, but then second chances never were. Sometimes, they were better.

"You did good, LJ," he said, softy, and raised his bottle. "And here's to you, Uncle Mike - your secrets are still safe with me. And I'm glad this one is real."

(1)"Health, wealth and love!"