Part 17

"Why are you so nervous?" John asked Kayo as they approached the restaurant. He looked at her and could tell she was nervous. She was chewing on her lower lip and her face was a little paler than usual. Casper looked past John at her as well.

"You okay Kay?" he asked her and she smiled.

"Yeah I'm fine", she replied. "It's just… I have not seen my father in years."

"I am sure he's missed you as much as you have missed him", John assured. "I can't picture ayah Kyrano not missing his daughter."

"He's had Tin-Tin around…"

"True but she's not you and amen to that", John teased and she slapped him up the head. John just chuckled and felt Casper squeeze his hand slightly. They walked up to the restaurant and Casper hurried forward to open the door for John and Kayo. Kayo smiled at him and walked inside. John followed after giving Casper a quick peck on the cheek as a thank you. Casper beamed and followed. The restaurant was a small one, a Vietnamese restaurant. Something all three of them appreciated. Kayo had wished for Malaysian but there was no one in the area. But Vietnamese would do as well. The trio looked around for Kyrano. John noticed him first and nudged Kayo and she turned and her smile was big. She ran from John's side over to her father.

"Dad!" she called and Kyrano got up and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Daughter", he said as he hugged her close. "It is so good to see you. Are you well?"

"Yes father", she replied and wrapped her arms around his neck and cuddled close. John and Casper stood back a little to give them a minute. They shared a smile. Soon Kayo pulled back and the pair started speaking Malay. John took Casper's hand and they moved over to the pair. When Kyrano saw John he smiled nearly as wide as when he saw Kayo.

"Ayah", John greeted in a teasing tone and Kyrano chuckled and held his arms open. John grinned, let go of Casper's hand and wrapped his arms around the shorter man. Kyrano smiled and hugged him.

"Good to see you young one", Kyrano said and pulled back from the hug. He then noticed Casper, recognizing him but not able to place him. "And who might this be?"

"Casper Shade", Casper introduced himself and held his hand out. Kyrano took it and shook it warmly. He then invited all three of them to sit. Soon the waiter appeared and offered them menus. The group ordered their food and then started talking.

"Daughter how I have missed you", Kyrano said and took Kayo's hands. "Letters are not enough and neither are phone calls. But come now, tell me what your life is like at the moment. Are you still working as an agent?"

"No father… well not that type of agent. I am working alongside John in the GDF. He is the commander of the division I am stationed at." Kayo smiled at John who smiled back.

"That is good to hear, that two of my children are working so closely together. Are you keeping your martial arts skills up to date?"

"I practice everyday father, often with John or other members of our crew. Some gymnastics too."

"Good, good. Everything that can make your mind and body healthier and stronger to ease in taking down criminals is good in my books." Kyrano then turned to John. "And you my boy? How are you feeling? Your grandmother asked me to ask you if you are eating properly, sleeping properly, not working too hard and working out properly." Casper and Kayo laughed while John rolled his eyes.

"Tell her yes on all those points", he said and Casper sniggered. John nudged him with his foot and Casper just wiggled his eyebrows at him.

"Good", Kyrano said and smiled. "And you young man." He turned to Casper.

"Me?" Casper asked.

"How is the family?"

"Fine sir", Casper replied, feeling a little confused. It was no secret his father hated John's father.

"Good, good… Are they aware of your new job for the GDF?"

"Yes", Casper replied. "They have accepted it and as long as I am doing what I love they are happy for me."

"There", Kyrano said and looked at John. "I always tell you boys that Charles Shade is a good man no matter what Mr. Tracy says."

"I've never questioned you on that ayah", John replied and Kyrano smiled. "Now how are you? Not working too hard I hope?"

"I am fine. Tin-Tin keeps an eye on me, not that I really need it but it calms her down."

"How… is Tin-Tin", Kayo asked. John looked at her and saw something that looked like resentment in her eyes. John had not pressured her to talk about her family because she always clamped up as soon as Tin-Tin was mentioned. Which John thought a little strange since Kayo had talked about how Tin-Tin used to write to her. Could Kayo and Tin-Tin have the same type of relationship as he and Alan did?

"She is fine", Kyrano replied. "Working hard with Brains."

"Good on Hiram", Casper whispered but John hushed him.

"And her relationship with young Alan is getting more and more serious."

"Of course it is", Kayo and John said at the same time, even rolling their eyes at the same time. Casper and Kyrano laughed at them. John and Kayo stared at each other before joining into the laughter. Kyrano continued filling them in on the goings on at Tracy Island while the other three informed him of how things were going in their lives. Kyrano was happy that John and Kayo had found each other, he knew Kayo had been lonely since her mother died. Kayo was five years older than Tin-Tin. However Kyrano did not find out about her until she was five years old and her mother had seen a Kyrano's wedding picture on social media. Kyrano's new wife did not accept the little girl at all so Kyrano had to meet her in secret. When Tin-Tin was five her mother died and that left Kyrano alone with her and he could meet Kayo much more often and introduce the sisters to each other. They had been fond of each other quite quickly and had started writing each other often. Then something happened when Tin-Tin became a teenager. She stopped writing as often and stopped calling. John thought he knew what had happened. It was during that time that Tin-Tin had started getting more into fashion and girly stuff. She stopped playing with Gordon and Alan as well. She refused to be looked at as a tomboy. Her older sister was clearly a tomboy and John was sure some of Tin-Tin's "friends" had said not so nice things about Kayo which made Tin-Tin recent her and blame her for things… kind of like Alan with him. Kayo had joined the Air Force and Kyrano had probably expressed his pride in her… something Tin-Tin might not have liked. It sounded so similar to him and Alan that it was kind of spooky. John felt Casper grip his hand underneath the table and squeezed his hand back. Kyrano missed nothing.

"Now my young John", he said and looked sharply at John after desert was finished. "You are keeping things from me."

"What?" John asked confused and looked from Casper to Kyrano. Kayo smirked and leaned back, she would enjoy this.

"This young man here", Kyrano said and looked at Casper. "Not only is he the son of your father's 'archenemy' am I right?"

"Uh… that depends on what you mean", John said. "Cas and I have been friends, best friends even since college. We did everything together and we were partners in crime." The pair smiled at each other. "I don't know where I would be without him." Casper's smile was soft and his hand squeezed John's hand again. Kyrano smiled at both of them.

"Right back at you", Casper replied.

"So how long have you been a couple?" Kyrano asked and sipped the tea. Kayo laughed at the looks on the boys' faces. Kyrano cocked an eyebrow at them. "I'm not blind my son."

"Not long", John replied gently. "A few weeks."

"And you did not tell me or your grandmother? She will be most displeased with you."

"Don't you dare go tattling to her old man", John said, but the threat was said with fondness. Kyrano just smirked.

"Does your family know about this Casper?" Kyrano then asked the other young man.

"They knew before I did", Casper replied. "It took Dex, dad and Ty to finally make me get my ass into gear. Mum and Nana ware a bit… more delicate about it."

"And they accept it?"

"Would be hypocritical if they didn't since Ty is gay."

John spit out his drink at the look on Kyrano's face. It took much to shake the older man and this was apparently one of those things. John knew Kyrano was sure he had the Shade family fully figured out, he was very insightful after all. This did appear to be news to him though. Kayo slapped John up the head and he chuckle even more at that. Kyrano took a moment to gather himself.

"Huh, did not see that coming", he said and sipped his drink. Setting John off again. "Now now my son it is not suitable to laugh at your elders."

"As if you wouldn't laugh if our roles were exchanged", John said.

"Of course I would, but I am older and wiser than you so it is my right to laugh at you younger men."

"But not ours to laugh at you", Casper asked. "What discrimination!"

"It is called: being older." At that they all laughed and sadly… that was also the time the younger ones knew they had to leave. Their shifts would soon start. Kyrano knew this as well and when they got up he gave each of them a hug and a few words. To Kayo he said:

"My beautiful daughter, I am with you always. Keep being you because you are the strongest woman I know. Don't let all those men try to put you in your place because they have no right to. Use what I taught you and what you taught me and soar above them all. Oh and wear a jacket. That uniform of yours looks cold."

To John he said:

"Now my son you need to look after yourself. You are still too pale and too skinny. Don't overwork yourself and make sure you are not doing something too dangerous. My heart can't take too much of the craziness you and Kayo get up too. Oh and make sure to use the right protection."

And lastly to Casper he said:

"Now you look after them and yourself young sir. Make sure you eat and rest properly and drink enough water. Don't do things your father wouldn't do… and don't do some of the things he would do. Protect my children and yourself. Oh and don't let anyone bother you with their stares. Your face tells a story they can only dream of having the luxury to hear. Then again you could always sell the movie-rights one day. These scars that mark you are nothing but scars. They do not matter. It is the person behind the scars that do. John loves you for you and not the little lines on your face. Remind him of that when you are both old and wrinkly."

With that he walked out, leaving the trio behind. They all shared a smile and Casper took John's hand while John wrapped his other arm around Kayo's shoulder.

"I like your dad Kayo", Casper said. "I am pretty sure people underestimate him all the time. Even those he is the closest to."

"If you mean Jeff, Alan and my brothers and Tin-Tin you would be correct", John said and Kayo snorted. "Let's go team. We have a world to save."

TBC