ZEDD - END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER BREAK

I can't help but smile as I watch Thomas play with the children in the surf. Both children finished the year at the top of their classes - which was not wholly unexpected. Rather, Thomas and I would have been shocked if it were otherwise. Other than the little hitch at the beginning of the week, I have to say that vacation has started out quite nicely.

I can't help but blush slightly as I recall my jealousy when I thought that Thomas was eyeballing someone else in a less than chaste fashion. As it turned out, not only had he not noticed them, he ended up a bit upset that I had. He was simply lost in thought, contemplating a night of not sleeping in exchange for some rather intense mating. Unfortunately, due to the - mostly on my part - misunderstanding, that had to wait for the second night. And what a night it was, too! I don't know if he picked it up from me or it's his own finally coming to light, but Thomas has quite the kinky streak when he chooses to let it out.

Before I can contemplate the matter further, a shadow falls over me. Mildly annoyed, I look at the person blocking my sun. "Yes?"

"If you have a few minutes, I'd like to discuss some business with you."

I barely keep my tone civil. "Who sent you?"

"Nobody, actually. I've seen you around this week with them and finally decided to approach you."

"I'm on vacation, but go ahead. What do you want?" He begins to outline his proposal and I'm quickly getting the feeling that I need to get Thomas involved in this. In spite of all my time on Earth and dealing with its inhabitants, there is still some confusion and misunderstandings that occur. I hold up my hand, stopping him mid sentence. "Hold on. You need to talk to Thomas." I stand up and flag my husband. "Thomas!"

He says something to the children before heading over to me. "What's up, Zedd?"

"This man has a proposition. You're better at this sort of thing than I am." Thomas knows that this statement is a code for 'you need to deal with Earth stuff' and he nods. I head over to the children while he turns to the stranger.

I take up his place in the game they were playing. I'm not at all worried so I pay very little attention to the bond, idly noting pride, amusement, disgust, irritation, anger. It's only when the anger changes to full blown rage that I give it any mind. Quickly stopping the game, I turn my full attention to my mate. Thomas looks like he's going to attack the idiot any moment. I head over to either stop him or help him, the children close behind.

Thomas isn't yelling, rage having already turned deadly in its intensity causing his voice to become very quiet. "-a child! You have about five seconds to get out of my sight or they will never find enough of you to need more than a shoebox to bury you in!"

The man holds up his hands placatingly. "Okay, buddy. A simple no would have sufficed."

"One."

"There's no need to be so hostile. I didn't know."

"Two. You should have listened the first time."

Whatever has Thomas so angry triggers my protective streak and I glower at the man as well. "Run."

"Three." With one last look at the four of us obviously united, Thomas doesn't even make it to four before he's disappeared from sight, lost in the crowd near the buildings.

"What did he want?" I ask curiously. After all, what I thought I understood shouldn't have made him nearly this angry, although it's not impossible that I stopped him before he got to the part that would have.

Rage still clearly dominant, he turns and starts to speak, but stops himself at the sight of the children. "Later, Zedd."

"All right."

Obviously curious themselves as well, but wisely not even daring to try and ask given how angry Thomas is, both children calmly head back to the water leaving me to help settle him down into a less homocidal state.

Hours later, the children settled into bed, I cautiously bring up the subject once more. "Can we discuss what happened today?"

Angry once more, although not enraged, Thomas exhales heavily as he gets a grip on his temper. "His first proposition was that you should be in movies. Which was fine until he clarified what kind of movies. He wanted you to make porn movies. When I explained that I didn't want my husband in that sort of thing, not to mention how distasteful you would find the suggestion of having sex with strangers for money, he changed gears, suggesting that we could make the movies together. I told him that I have no interest in it either. Then he asked about the young woman with us."

He pauses as he gets himself under control once more. Shocked, I say, "Who? Mara Jane?"

Thomas nods tightly. "I told him that there was absolutely no way we'd allow that and he said that she was obviously old enough to decide for herself. That's when I kind of started to lose it. I said that, in spite of the laws allowing her to do something like that when she's eighteen, she's not yet and he said something about one of his contacts needing 'younger stars'. Then he asked about Jacob. He's clearly not old enough and that's about the point where I almost killed him - in public or not."

"Old enough or not, it's completely improper" I reply, angry myself now. The reasons for his rage are very clear and have triggered my own. "There's so much wrong with all that I don't know where to start - from both our cultures, never mind our personal preferences."

"Along with the tons of broken laws" he adds still obviously upset. "Never mind the whole new panic it gave me as well."

"New panic?"

"As you yourself have pointed out more than once before, Jacob isn't Mara Jane, and while he would have no problem defending himself from sleazy humans, it worries me that he has no added protection should some sleazy nonhuman try and get hold of him."

"He has us, and believe me if I had been present when the proposition was made concerning him that human would not have been able to run. Public setting or not."

"We can't protect him forever, Zedd. Nor would he want us to."

Sighing and knowing I'll very likely regret mentioning this, I however don't want him fretting over Jacob all summer while we visit Eltar. "Didn't Dulcea mention him holding power when older?"

"Yes, but she never really specified how old or even what type of power it would be."

"Well if he has the potential to harness power, then chances are he won't need our protection for much longer. Think of it like Mara Jane, even before we let her power be unlocked she could still tap it, so to speak. I think honestly if push came to shove and it was a matter of life or death, whatever power he's capable of in the future should be at least reachable to a degree now. Especially given he can feel ours."

"Maybe."

"It'll be okay. He's a smart boy, Thomas. He thankfully takes after you in that respect, the same as Mara Jane. Besides everyone on Eltar knows who we are and who our children are, and I highly doubt any are truly so stupid as to tempt our wrath by propositioning us or them in such a manner as that human did today."