Chapter 17: Date

"Aiden," his mother called him into the kitchen. She was washing her hands in front of the dark window, about to sit down to skin some potatoes, a pot of water beside her and the empty trash can in front of her. "Help me make dinner, dear."

He nodded and pulled another chair up to the trash can as she handed him a potato-peeler. They sat silently for a few minutes, the soothing shuck shuck of their work calming nerves on both sides.

"Honey," his mother said softly. Aiden looked up and met her eyes in question. "You really need to get out and do more. I hate seeing you stuck in the house all the time, it's eating you up."

He stopped his work and sighed, tossing the potato into the water, and put a hand over hers. "Mom, I love it here. Ever since I can remember, I've been out and 'doing things' and I hated it. This is the first time in my life I've been able to do what I want to, and I want to stay here."

His mother sighed. "I'm not saying you should leave, dear. I just want you to get away from the house a little more, away from your brother and sister and stodgy old parents." She smiled. "Go to a movie, or a baseball game."

Aiden laughed lightly, pleased that she was worried about him. "I'm fine, mom."

"Really?" she sounded doubtful. "You know, there's this really nice girl next door about your age. I met her yesterday and she might be interesting to hang out with."

I already know an interesting girl. Aiden felt a pang at the thought, but pushed it back, deep down into his gut so that his mother wouldn't see how much it was really upsetting him.

"Maybe," his mother broached carefully, "I could set you up. It might help."

He looked up at her, disoriented. From the tone of her voice – she knew.

She was concerned about how much his trip back to earth had affected him, and wanted him to feel better. They were all concerned, but he had been too preoccupied to notice. Well, he would just have to hide it better.

"Okay," he gave an unconvincing smile and continued peeling potatoes.

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Rakki licked cherry filling off of her slim, tanned fingers. Tilting her head, she observed the pie she had just put into the oven, its pale crust ready to brown. She smiled to herself and, leaning against the counter and gazing out the window, daydreamed of her new neighbor. Tall, lean body, strong shoulders, burning blue eyes . . .

Rakki frowned at two strangers walking around the side of her neighbor's house. Who were they?

A handsome young blonde man was looking around uncertainly, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the house. The woman following him had a cap on, shadowing her features. Long light brown hair fell from under the cap and the woman watched the young man, biting her bottom lip and clasping her hands.

Rakki checked the time on her pie swiftly and went outside.

"Excuse me," she called to the pair, and they came over. "What are you doing?" she frowned and crossed her arms.

"We're looking for the family. No one answered when we knocked."

Rakki gave them an unfriendly look. "No, they're out. What do you want?"

"We're here to see Aiden," the young woman replied, looking up from under the brim of her cap. Rakki felt like she'd seen the woman before, but couldn't place where.

"Why?" she demanded instead, expression hard and uninviting. No matter who the woman was, if she had something to do with Aiden, she was competition.

The pair shared a look, and the young man answered. "We're some old friends of his."

"Well, I'm his girlfriend and he's not home. No one is, so if you'll please leave," she saw the young woman pale and turn away, and the young man sent her a swift, concerned look.

Yep. Competition.

"I'll tell him you came by, though," she told them smoothly and the young man took the woman's arm gently.

"Thank you, miss," the young man gave her a wan smile and looked again at the woman, whose posture was stiff and unnatural. He spoke to her softly, but Rakki could hear him. "Come on, Relena. We'll come back later."

The woman didn't answer and they walked away.

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"Relena," Quatre told her as they drove their rented car back to the hotel, "don't worry about it. He's probably just–"

"Quatre," she broke in, turning to him for the first time since they had started driving. Her eyes were worn and nose slightly red, but she attempted to give him a small, brave smile. "I'm okay." She turned away and was horribly silent until they pulled into the hotel parking lot. Here, she turned to him with terrible thoughtfulness. "She was lying, wasn't she?"

Quatre nodded. "I think so, but I'm not sure. Relena," he turned the wheel and shifted to park, speaking an uncomfortable warning, "he may actually have gotten on with his life."

She got out of the car, her gaze far off. "I know."

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Later that day, Rakki brought the pie to her neighbors, dressed and ready for her date with Aiden. He met her at the door – his mother gratefully took the pie – and led her silently to his motorcycle, tossing her a helmet.

She slid on behind him, he waved shortly to his mother, and they were off.

He frowned at a blue car that passed them, but couldn't catch more than a glimpse of short, pale blonde hair behind the steering wheel, since his helmet was very dark.

In the car, Quatre was talking softly to Relena.

"We're his friends, no matter what he says. He can't just throw us out."

"I suppose," she murmured, looking out the window. Her voice rose a notch in certainty, "His mother wouldn't let him, anyhow."

They pulled into the driveway and, as they walked to the house, found Kia on the front steps with a little dark boy, playing with Pretty Pink Gundams. She glanced up and stared at them, mouth opening and closing in an attempt to speak.

"Quatre," she breathed. "Miss Relena. . . ."

"Kia," Relena said happily and swooped down, snatching the little girl up in her arms. She swung the laughing, shrieking child around.

"What are you doing here, Miss Relena?" Kia asked when she was set down, then introduced her friend absent-mindedly. "This is Taru. He lives next door."

"We came for a little visit," Relena replied airily as Kia grabbed her hand and dragged her inside, the little boy following after them.

Aiden was not home, but his family was thrilled to see them both. His mother insisted that they stay for dinner and, when she heard of their hotel arrangements, that they bring their things to sleep there too.

"I will not have friends of my son staying at a hotel when we have room to spare," she said when Relena protested, and that was the end of that.