Chapter 20: Persuasion

Aiden's mother was careful not to approach him in front of anyone else, but solicited him to help her with some meaner chores before her husband got home from work and while Relena was watching the children.

When she sat down and just looked at him, he caught on to her intentions and sighed. He sat beside her when she motioned for him to, and she asked the question because she doubted he would talk to her if she didn't prompt him. "Why do you insist on staying here? On refusing that sweet girl downstairs?"

He looked out the window for long moments, and pondered briefly if he could manage to throw himself out of it rather than pursue this interrogation. "I'm still just barely getting to know all of you – it's too soon."

"You've been getting to know us for a couple years now, if I remember correctly." She sighed and put an arm around his unhappy form. "Choosing Relena – or any girl, for that matter – doesn't mean that you're rejecting us. You can still call us on the vid phone, visit us on holidays – actually, I'm going to make a demand of that." He smiled and shook his head. "I know it's too soon. It's too soon for us, too. You think we want to lose our eldest son again?" Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned his face toward hers. "But there's one big difference this time. We'll know where you are. We'll know you love us and will come back to us. It's not forever. It's not complete isolation. And . . . well, I just want you to consider something for me. Do you love that girl? Would you be at all happy without her?"

He sighed in response, and she nodded.

"I figured as much."

"I'm afraid for your safety," he offered as argument, but it was moot. His mind was already made up, and they both knew it.

"If we're attacked, we'll talk to you about it and decide what to do. Until then, let's not worry about it." She gave him a warm hug. "We love you, no matter what happens."

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Aiden had been steadily avoiding Rakki while Relena was there – which meant he spent most of his time inside. But when his bags were ready – Kia wrapped around his leg the whole time he was packing – and Relena helped him pile them into the back of his father's car, Rakki appeared beside him.

"Where have you been?" she asked, annoyed that he hadn't called or come over to talk to her. Her entreaties to his mother were met with vague and off-putting phrases, and she was getting just the slightest bit suspicious.

"Oh, hello," Relena said to the girl, eyes wide and innocent as she held out her hand. "It's nice to see you again."

"Hi," Rakki waved slightly and glanced at the bags. "Are you leaving?" she asked Relena hopefully.

"We both are," Relena replied with a guileless smile. "Aiden and I are affianced."

"What?" Rakki asked, and the stunned look on her face was almost enough to crack Relena's cool veneer.

"We're engaged," she clarified.

"But," Rakki turned to Aiden, who was shutting the trunk on their bags. "We went on a date."

Aiden's look was cross, but Relena stepped in for him. Her body was straight in the politician's posture and one fist covered her heart, eyes shining with compassionate understanding. "You have my most dire sympathies. For another woman who understands Aiden's goodness and strength, I admire your valor and grief in this time of loss."

Aiden turned away so that Rakki would not see his smirk. Loss? She spoke as if someone had died, but . . . she was making fun of Rakki! She was absolutely gloating over her victory in front of the other girl's face, and Rakki didn't even know what was going on. He'd never seen this taunting side of the pretty politician before.

He would be sure to explore it when he had the time.

They turned and got Aiden's family, everyone piling haphazardly into the vehicle and driving off to the spaceport. There were tears and hugs and manly socks on the shoulder, but they knew they would see each other again as soon as the wedding date was announced.

So the two boarded their shuttle, and Relena held onto Aiden's hand as if afraid he would run back to his family. He made sure to smile at her reassuringly, and then they were both waving like crazy out the shuttle window to the people on the platform, stopping only when the stewardesses made them sit down for takeoff.