Sorry for the delay. I was taking a break and updating my fanfics. :)
*.*.*
A few days passed in the Land of Dragons.
Anabeth watched Aslan return with news about Maxin. It seemed that the pilot had left the planet Zafna on his own. It seemed his father let him go without following him. How could that be true?
Maybe Parker had truly changed.
She wondered about Maxin. Who was he? Would she get to meet him someday? Was there a chance she might find the right man? She didn't want to think that as of right now, not when she hadn't met him yet, but there always hope.
At last, she joined Aslan in the hangar, watching a disc-like ship descend into the docking bay. The moment the ship docked, Anabeth looked in awe at the lone man walking out of the ship. Blond hair, blue eyes, a striking, rugged appearance. Given his expression, this man looked like he'd been through a sandstorm. He hesitated upon meeting Aslan and her.
"Who is this? Who are you?" The young man said, cautiously.
"Maxin, meet Anabeth. Anabeth's mother Janet is recovering in the hospital wing. Your mother has been to see her, Maxin. They are good friends now," Aslan said, curtly. He nodded, telling them, "I'll leave you two alone." He whispered to Anabeth, "He's a good man. He's been through a rough time. Give him all the time he needs to recover."
"Yes, Aslan," Anabeth said, watching the Lion go, leaving Maxin and her alone. She asked the young man, curious, "Do you want to go talk somewhere? Maybe we could go to a restaurant. Talk there."
Maxin's vision shifted, reminding him of his time with Melena and how she coaxed him to join her to find the planet Zafna. Maxin's expression changed to show fear, anger, rage, and cowardice. He grabbed Anabeth and moved her up against a wall, unsure why he was doing this.
He remembered his parents' story, how Parker did the exact same thing to his mother Eliza, the day they first met. He couldn't believe it! History was repeating itself! He released Anabeth, telling her while gulping, "I'm sorry, miss. I don't know what's happening to me."
Anabeth smiled.
"Please forgive me. I'm not myself," Maxin said, softly.
"It's all right. We don't have to go to a restaurant. We can go someplace else," Anabeth said, encouraging him and comforting him.
"No," Maxin shook his head, "let's go to a restaurant. I've got to face my fears." He grinned, realizing where they could go. "I know the perfect spot. It's the same restaurant where I met Melena. We might as well try that."
"We don't have to go there. We can go somewhere else," Anabeth said, calmly. "Hey, I get it. You want to face your fears. But if you're not ready, then we don't have to go there. Just ease into it, before you decide you're ready."
"You think I should?" Maxin asked, calmly.
"I think it would be a good idea," Anabeth said, reasoning with him.
Maxin nodded. "Right. Good point. So, where do you want to go?"
"I think I know the perfect spot, too. Come on!" Anabeth said, taking his hand and leading him out of the docking bay. Their journey led them to an outdoor restaurant, close to the river. She smiled, watching the stunned expression on his face. "What do you think?"
"I don't think I've ever eaten here before!" Maxin said with a warm smile. He looked at Anabeth, feeling youthful and alive again. "Thank you!"
"Let's go!" Anabeth said, leading Maxin over to the window to place their orders. She smiled, watching Maxin behave like a child. In a way, she was glad to lighten his mood. She had this feeling he wasn't always so strict, so serious, that there was something innocent about him. Still, she didn't want to pressure him, not after what he went through. And yet, she wanted to know what was wrong, if he was willing to talk to her.
"So, do you like it here? The Land of Dragons, I mean," Anabeth said, seeing the smile fade from Maxin's face, his expression returning to the hot-headed, reluctant young man she saw when they first met.
"I wasn't born here. I was born on the same world as my mother," Maxin said, curtly. "I only have bits and pieces of my home world, before my parents and I moved to this world. Now, I only wish I could travel to a world that wasn't already governed by my father. He may be the Emperor of the Shadow Empire, but the man, the dragonoid, I once knew isn't there. It's like his whole demeanor has changed. He's kinder than I knew him to be. Before, there was a darkness to him. Now, that darkness is nearly hidden, and yet it's still present."
He shook his head. "He's changed. Parker Dooley's changed, Anabeth! I knew it, the moment I saw him."
"All people change." Anabeth shrugged. "Even dragonoids." She admitted, timidly, "Of course, I don't know your father that well, but I guess he had the same freaked out expression you did when you moved me up against that wall in the hangar minutes ago."
"He did that to my mother when they first met," Maxin said, chuckling. "I still can't believe how much of my father is in me. It's unbelievable."
"You've just got to do what's best for you," Anabeth said, shyly. "My mother and I have squabbles nearly each and every day. But she's my mother and I love her. I wouldn't abandon her."
"My father abandoned my mother and me when he became Maranguan," Maxin said, pained. "I don't think I'll forgive him for that."
"Do you want me to help you out with this?" Anabeth asked, curious.
"No. You've done enough," Maxin said, curtly, smiling as well.
"You're welcome," Anabeth said, as their food was brought to them from the window. She nodded, telling Maxin, "I'll see you later." She walked away, right as Maxin said the exact same thing to her in a kind manner. She smiled, grateful, for once, things were turning out okay between them.
