A smell slowly woke Aaron from his deep slumber; at some point, after tossing and turning for a good potion of the night, he had finally fallen into a dreamless sleep around one or two o'clock in the morning. The smell made his stomach growl with hunger…
He opened one eye then the other, he looked up over the back of the couch smelling the air, Aaron distinctly smelt pancakes…He climbed over the back of the couch and darted past the fish...
Running to the kitchen he was surprised that he wasn't losing his mind…there was Connor at the stove, flipping pancakes.
"Ah…I was hoping the smell would wake you up," Connor said with a grin, Aaron leaned on the counter returning the grin, Connor was wearing an apron and looked ridicules and it was all Aaron could do not to laugh. "And I really hope you like pancakes 'cause if you don't than your going to have to fend for yourself for breakfast." Aaron nodded and his stomach began growling hungrily.
"That smells really good Connor," he said seriously "I thought you said that you couldn't cook…" Connor looked down at him with a grin
"No…you just assumed because you can't cook and your father apparently can't cook that I cant…I happen to a very talented chef. Lack of cooking skills does not come with a Clan name."
"Um…toast doesn't make one a talented chef." Connor waved the spatula at Aaron accusingly and all of a sudden Aaron pictured Mema, waving the spatula with Connor's head on her body…He snorted and coughed trying desperately not to laugh. Connor gave him a confused look and all Aaron could do was shrug.
"Your father's right you have become quite a smart ass,"
"I try." Aaron retorted with a grin "it's one of my greatest strengths," he took the bowl with the batter in it and stuck his finger in.
"Hey, hey, you mooch get outta there,"
"These are chocolate chip pancakes?!" Aaron exclaimed with a grin "all right!"
"Dear god I hope so," Connor replied taking the bowl from him and stirring the contents around "if not we're-" Aaron put his hand up
"Don't even go there…" he said knowing where Connor was going with his statement, Connor grinned wide and held up the package that had once contained the chocolate chips.
After Connor finished the rest of the pancakes he filled two plates with the pancakes and handed one to Aaron, who got the milk bottle out of the fridge, he was also happy to find a bottle of syrup as well. The two of them took their breakfast over to the couch.
Apparently Rachel was running late, she had called early that morning to let Connor know they'd have to take a rain check on breakfast; so Connor invited her out to dinner at a very high class restaurant, at which apparently he had made reservations for himself, Aaron, and Rachel.
When Aaron joined him on the couch to eat, he had turned the TV on. Being use to fighting his father for the remote, Aaron was surprised when Connor handed it to him the second he sat down.
"See what you can find," he simply. Aaron put his milk down on the coffee table and began flipping through the channels absent mindedly, until a news station caught Connor's attention and he pushed the remote down to get Aaron to stop clicking.
"What?" Aaron asked,
"Shh for a second," Connor said watching the news, a young female reporter, sat behind a desk, and behind her were the words 'local muggings escalate to murder.
"Authorities are still looking for leads in the shooting death of a young boy late last night. The boy, who has not been identified was mugged in an alleyway just off of Hudson street, at the moment police are holding four young men they believe to be involved in the killing, their identities are not being released as of right now though it is believed that there is a fifth member of the gang, however lead investigator Detective Philip Mulrany had this to say this morning to reporters:" The screen changed to a police station, where an officer was standing with different microphones shoved towards his face.
"For the past few weeks our streets have been plagued with muggers identified only as five teenage males lurking around…in alleyways. We believe that the four teenagers we apprehended early this morning are not only reasonable for over fifty muggings, but are also reasonable for the murder of young boy innocently walking home…from the grocery store. However, the boy has still not been identified and anyone with information that may lead to identifying the boy is asked to come forward. Thank you." That image shut off and returned to the studio
"Detective Mulrany would not comment on details regarding the murder, police are hoping to find the boy's family before releasing any information to the public." The reporter looked up at the camera and smiled "now onto sports, the Yankee's face-" Connor shut the TV off and looked over at Aaron who was completely pale
"Connor…what if someone recognizes me?" he said softly "I am beyond screwed!" Connor took a deep breath and turned to Aaron
"Actually you don't have anything to worry about,"
"Your kiddin' right…"
"I went to the morgue to identify your body, a cop found my business card in your pocket; it was the only lead they had. I told the officer that I had seen a bunch of kids hanging around the store, one them had asked me for a job and I had given him my card,"
"So the cop thought I was that kid,"
"Not entirely I went to the morgue and told them that you weren't that kid, it threw them off of my case and made them focus on another lead."
"What if the cop comes lookin' again…and he sees me, he's gonna recognize me!" Connor chuckled and took a bite of his pancake
"Not really, the cop that I talked to…and went to the morgue with, was apparently in charge of determining your identify. From what he told me he was a rookie and his partner had sent him to handle that part of the case. Apparently the officer has this thing with dead bodies; he's never seen one and is apparently afraid of them." Aaron's face contorted into one of understanding
"So he never saw me, he has no idea what I look like!"
"Exactly, and if he does come back, he already knows I have a nephew staying with me, all you need to do is act like you were at the movies last night with some friends." Aaron grinned
"And what movie did I see?" Connor rolled his eyes
"Whatever your little heart desires, just keep it PG 13 or lower,"
"I'll just say I saw Star Wars, saw that the other day in Paris,"
"Perfect,"
"Hey…one question" Aaron said thoughtfully chewing on his fork
"And that would be?"
"Well even though they have no idea who I am…aren't they gonna wonder why there's no longer a body in the morgue?" Connor thought this over and grinned wide
"You know morgues…they loose everything…belongings, files…bodies…" Aaron started chuckling; he picked up the remote and turned the TV back on;
As if some deity in love with irony was planning their every move, the news station was still on, the same reporter was shaking her head with a report in her hand. Aaron turned the volume up, curious as to what was going on
"This is an update to our report a few moments ago, police are baffled as to how the body of the young John Doe turned up missing from Bellevue's morgue. Medical Examiner Dr. Gavin English arrived early this morning to begin the autopsy and was shocked to discover the body missing. It is unclear whether there was a misinterpretation of paperwork or if the gang of muggers had anything to do with the disappearance, we will bring you more information as it becomes available." Now Aaron and Connor exchanged a look and Aaron turned the TV off hurriedly
"That was creepy…"
"Gotta love fate," Connor replied with a grin Aaron rolled his eyes
"I'd prefer to just ignore it,"
"Aaron…we're immortal…fate rules our lives and our lives are the definition of cruel irony, ignoring it is like ignoring who you are." Aaron took a deep breath and sighed
"Good point, but you can't nark me for trying, 'sides…isn't that gonna cause some problems? Like I said before…body being missing? Now missing and on the news?" Connor reached over and ruffled his hair,
"Don't worry too much about it…we've all at some point given the police another cold case it comes with the territory."
"Have you?" Aaron asked his mouth full of pancake
"A few times, and I know your father has too, not to mention plenty of others, like I said it comes with the territory." Aaron nodded thinking this over
"Hey Connor…"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course,"
"Your first teacher…was a guy called…Ramare?
"Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez," Aaron's eyes went wide
"That's a helluv a name" he said in shock causing Connor to laugh
"Yes…yes it was, what about him?"
"How old was he? When you met him?" Connor thought this over for a minute
"He was old, over two thousand, and don't forget Aaron that was back in the 16th centaury."
"Where was he from?" now Connor laughed
"Well I referred to him as the Spanish Peacock," Aaron raised an eyebrow "how he was dressed when I met him, very well to do; he definitely stood out especially in the nearby village, he attracted quite some stares. Also referred to him as the overdressed haggis, he was amused by that…" Connor explained "until he learned what haggis was…anyways he was originally from Egypt." Now Connor looked at Aaron "why all the questions about Ramirez?"
"Just curious…I mean…he taught you, you technically taught dad, who taught me…I was just curious as to the origins of our fighting techniques."
"I think what you're getting at is our origins personally right?"
"Your words not mine,"
"Well you don't have to worry about that pal…"
"So Ramirez didn't tell you anything 'bout our kind?"
"Why all the questions all of a sudden? I mean do you bug your dad like this?" Aaron shrugged
"No…and it's just curiosity, I mean I thought maybe he told you something…being that old and stuff,"
"Did you ask Darius? I think he'd be a better person to ask than me."
"You ask Darius stuff like that and he just launches into religious stuff, I think he's avoiding the question, though I've gotten used to that, like when I ask if we can skip school work? He just ignores the question. I don't think it's that he doesn't know anything, but I think he just doesn't want to tell me…"
"Maybe he's waiting until you're a little older," Connor replied with a grin
"Older like you or older?"
"Maybe it's something we can't understand till we're at least a thousand, because I personally have no idea." Aaron made a face
"Aw man…that's a long time,"
"I'll tell you what, if I make it to a thousand, you're the first person I'll tell all the secrets of life to, deal?" Aaron chuckled
"If I'm still alive by the time you hit a thousand? I'll personally throw you a party, expenses and all."
"What's that's supposed to mean kid?" Connor asked putting his plate down on the coffee table "what do you mean if you're still alive?"
"Connor, me making it to a thousand is just as funny as me winning the Game."
"Why is it so funny? You have just as much chance of winning as any of us…"
"I don't want to win though," Aaron said softly "I just want to survive" he paused "I mean…I've seen a lot in just three hundred years, just think what I'll see in the next three hundred, all the changes, the technology I mean…I can remember hearing Neil Armstrong talking about walking on the moon in 1969 something unheard of even twenty years prior, I can remember when the first Model T was produced by Ford…that's a lot changes to see, and to see what is gonna be invented in the future? Man that'll be great…that's enough for me," Connor looked at him and rolled his eyes,
"Aaron," he said holding out his hand "gimme your plate," very confused, Aaron handed him his plate, nearly empty of his breakfast, Connor put the plate on the table next to his own and Aaron stared at him, his confusion growing
"What I do?" Shaking his head, Connor smacked him on the back of the head, not hard, but hard enough that it hurt "Ow! Connor what the bloody hell was that for!" Aaron shouted rubbing the back of his head, still stinging from the smack
"Never settle Aaron you got it? I never want to hear you say that you're content, you have just as much right to live and win the game…."
"So you smack me?"
"Yeah…because it is apparently the ONLY way to get you to listen to a word I say…" Now Connor chuckled; still rubbing the back of his head, Aaron looked at him
"Pray tell…what is so bloody funny?" he grumbled
"How much you and your father as alike, it's uncanny. I don't just mean how much you look like him, but you both are two of the most stubborn people I have ever met, and it's also amazing that with both of you it takes a good slap offside the head to get you to listen."
"Whatcha mean?" Aaron asked confused
"When I first found your father, getting him to realize that he had a lot to learn was not easy. He was convinced that because he was a Chieftain's son, he already knew everything a warrior needed to know, it took a lot of convincing to get him to one, admit that he was wrong and two, accept my help." Connor shook his head grinning "and that was only after a good sucker punch," now Aaron's eyes widened
"You punched my dad?" he said in shock, at first Connor didn't reply "Connor?" laughing quietly he held up his hand, his pointer and thumb fingers held just a bit apart
"a little bit?" he said softly
"How many times?"
"Once…" Aaron raised his eyebrow at Connor, not believing the older immortal "twice," Connor paused once again shaking his head at Aaron "all right a few times, enough times for him to finally shut up and listen to me." Now Aaron grinned "what?"
"How hard you hit him?"
"Hard enough that the final punch knocked him out for a good few hours."
"Bet dad was pissed when he woke up,"
"Actually I didn't give him a chance to be, I told him like it or not I was older and knew more about the Game than he did." Aaron picked up his glass and took a sip of milk, before looking back at Connor and wincing
"That one smack was it right…for me? I mean I'm not as bad as dad right?" Connor laughed loudly and threw an arm around Aaron's thin shoulders
"No Aaron your not, you may be as stubborn as your father, but your not completely him, you've got enough of your mother in you to offset your father. Not a whole lot, but enough" Aaron's face once again contorted in confusion
"Wait…you met my mom...when?" Connor shook his head
"Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure, but Duncan told me enough about her that I felt as if I did, and I've known you long enough that I get to know her very well. It's just unfortunate that you never got the chance." Connor paused "your father's told you about Heather right?"
"A little bit, I know you and her were married not long after you were banished and I know you stayed with her till she died, and you loved her very much…" Connor smiled sadly and nodded "but that's pretty much it, why?"
"Before Heather died, I promised her that I would light a candle every year on her birthday, and every year I've continued to do so," he paused "her birthday was last month, if I remember right…your mother's is this month, she was a May baby." Now Aaron looked at Connor curiously
"What are you getting at?"
"Well…I was thinking about us touring the city a bit, so how about you and I during out walk, take a walk down to St. Patrick's and we can light a candle for her," Aaron shrugged and preoccupied himself with finishing his breakfast, pretending he was fascinated with it "I mean if you don't want to that's fine, but the alterative is my putting you to work down in the shop, it could use some sweeping." Quickly, Aaron looked up at Connor with a grin
"It's a nice day…I like the walk idea, 'sides you said it yourself, I technically haven't been to New York City in almost a hundred years…just driving around it I can see how much it's changed, how 'bout a tour?"
"Well I was just thinking you seeing Saint Pats…but I suppose we can go for a long walk as long as your up to it…"
"Connor…Dad made me run almost 10 miles the other day I think I'm up for a little walk," Aaron replied standing up, he looked down at his feet, remembering that he didn't have any sneakers, "uh…one question though?" Connor, who was walking towards the kitchen turned to look at him
"What?"
"I don't suppose we could stop for new sneakers by any chance?" Connor burst out laughing, obviously forgetting that Aaron was shoeless,
"I suppose we could, I mean it might be a good thing if you have shoes,"
"Gee, you think?" Aaron said walking towards the kitchen with his plate and glass.
After buying Aaron a new pair of sneakers, the two walked down Fifth Avenue towards Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The cathedral had been built in 1879 so it had been built a few years after Aaron had headed back to Europe after the Civil War. He had been back to New York in 1912, but never left the docks, as he was on the first ship back to Liverpool after the sinking of the Titanic, that being the last time he had been in the city.
Connor couldn't help but laugh as Aaron hurried to keep up with his long strides and still tried to take in the sights around him. Like Boston, New York was very different than it had been with his first experience; but what Aaron noticed most, was the smell, not just the exhaust from the cars and busses, but the heat and smoke coming from the vents on the sidewalks just added to the stink.
Noticing that Aaron was starting to lag behind a bit, Connor slowed down so the boy could catch up.
"Really that different huh?" he asked
"It's changed…" Aaron said softly staring up at the buildings towering above him "talk 'bout feelin' small."
"Well Aaron MacLeod," Connor said with a grin "size matters not," Aaron looked at Connor in shock "what? Do you think you're the only one in the world who's a Star Wars fan?"
Aaron was about to reply when he heard the clang of bells signifying noon, he looked around trying to find the source, Connor turned him facing him down the street, facing him towards Saint Patrick's.
They walked through the large doors and Aaron was blown away by the sight; the cathedral was so large that he couldn't see the front of the church; it just went on for what seemed like miles. Rows of long pews lined the aisle while off to the ends of the pews were stations with candles already lit, different figures on the wall, and people kneeling in front of them. The cathedral was crowded, most of the people looked like tourists, taking pictures of beautiful stain glass windows, and the large stage for mass. When he turned to glance behind him, Aaron caught sight of a beautiful blue stain glass window at the top of the cathedral.
"It's so beautiful in here," he breathed completely memorized by the cathedral.
"It is isn't it?" Connor said putting an arm around Aaron's shoulders, leading him through the crowd, "did you know there's a Saint Aaron?" Aaron looked up at Connor quickly, he wasn't much for Catholicism, he had been exposed to it briefly in the late 1800s, but wasn't thrilled with it at all.
But it had it's usefulness, like Connor had said he did for Heather; on his own birthday, Aaron would light a candle for his mother, it was the only time he would enter a catholic church, except now.
"Your joking right?" he asked
"No…I'm not, he's not really heard of, but there is a Saint Aaron,"
"Cool,"
"Very cool," Connor paused "so any preference on which Saint you want to light the candle at?"
"Well, who do you use for Heather?" Aaron asked
"Usually Saint Francis, she loved animals and was so gentle while tending them it seemed fitting."
"Who should I use for my mother?"
"That has to be up to you Aaron,"
"Connor, I know next to nothing 'bout this stuff, whenever I light a candle on my birthday for her…I just walk in, put money in a box and light the candle…at least give me a clue…" Connor took a deep breath and looked around
"Well…how about this idea…start walking, and when you find something that feels right, then where you should go."
Aaron nodded and did as Connor suggested, he started walking, the cathedral was very crowded and it was difficult to get to the different sections of the saints, the first one he saw was Saint Francis, followed by other Saints that Aaron didn't recognize.
But it was in a far corner, that Aaron found a small statue, with very few lit candles in front of it, he walked over to it and looked it over. The statue was that of a young girl, with a lamb at her feet; one or two candles were lit but that was it. Connor came up behind him and Aaron looked at him
"Do you know who this is?" he asked Connor looked the statue over for a moment,
"I think it's Saint Agnes, but I'm not sure,"
"What's she the Saint of?"
"Girls I think,"
"Childhood?" Aaron asked
"No, well not really, maybe innocents I suppose." Aaron nodded
"Perfect," he said, reaching into his pocket and extracting a quarter, which he dropped into the box. Connor ruffled his hair
"I'll wait for you outside ok? Then…we'll hike around the city, grab a hotdog, and see what trouble we can stir up." Aaron looked back at Connor grinning wide
"You and me? Get into trouble, that's unheard of!" he said
"Aaron…you and I both have the same middle name…your father ever tell you that?"
"No…what is it?" Connor returned his grin
"Trouble," he said simply and walked away, Aaron rolled his eyes and chuckled, before turning back to lighting the candle.