Chapter 29

Goddess Intervention

Donovan and Greg sat in the office of the new shop they rented just across the street of the newly formed auto club of Regina and Megumi. Greg was laid back in the reclining chair as Donovan sat, pulling drags from his cigarette and forming rings as he blew out the excess smoke. Inside the shop sat the cars that were going to participate in the Street Wars/ Run what you brung drag weekend at the local motor sport track in the next town. Greg and Emilio had recruited a couple of the best technicians from the area to perform all the work to be done to the cars. There was to be a promising turnout for the event in two weeks. They had a lot of work to do to put up the numbers and blow off the competition to gain more people back in their club, and deface the reputation of Will in the process. It surely wasn't going to be an easy task, but they had their plans set in motion already. The planting of two inside "moles" into the Auto Club was only the beginning.

Donovan: "So Greg? What do you think about having a little friendly street race with the locals to test out some of the mods on the cars this weekend? We need to see if things are going the right way huh?"

Greg: "Yeah. I'll see if we can set up some stuff. But the cops will be another thing entirely."

Donovan: "OH! Don't you worry about the cops. I forgot to tell you, I got things under control, trust me."

Emilio: "Under control? What do you mean by that?"

Donovan: "Let's just say everything is taken care of, and leave it at that ok Emilio?"

Emilio: "Well, if you say so then."

Greg: "I guess we have some work to do then before Friday night. It's already Wednesday. So I guess you need to get up with our guys and let them get the word out about this weekend. It usually gets around town pretty quick anyway. So see to it Emilio alright?"

Emilio: "Sure thing Greg. I'll be back in a little while and let you know how it's going."

Donovan: "Make sure they get that so called club of theirs to the street races too. Otherwise we're wasting our time and resources."

Emilio: "Sure thing. See you guys."

Belldandy, Urd and Skuld had just finished putting up the items they brought home from the local market, Kei was relaxing in his favorite chair watching the Speed channel network and the Superbike challenge that was being replayed from the weekend. Soon after Kei went into the kitchen as he heard Bell pulling out pots and pans.

Keiichi and Bell were busy fixing dinner when the phone rang, Kei stepped away to answer it.

Kei: "Hello, Keiichi speaking. Oh hi Regina. Uh-huh. I see……. So you think Will would go for that? I know you said that he wasn't really into street racing much anymore. Yeah I know. Well, if you two would like to, I'm sure Bell would love for you both to come over for dinner and we'll all talk about it. Sure. We'll see you in about an hour then. Ok Regina, Bye bye now."

Bell: "who was it dear?"

Kei: "it was Regina. She said the club had been challenged to a street race this weekend, along with all the other clubs, she accepted."

Bell: "Oh my. That means we have much to do then. I have to get food and drinks ready to take and get together our club t-shirts, and..and"

Kei: "WHOA! Slow down Bell. It's not that big of a deal. But remember Will doesn't like street racing much. So we have to convince him to come and help out at least."

Bell: "Oh I see. I'd forgotten about that. Well, I think we can convince him to at least come and watch. He IS part of the club now. I'm sure he won't be to upset."
Kei: "Well, I hope you're right Bell. I hope you're right."

Earlier that morning at the NStep shop office..the shop intercom crackled to life….

Will: "Taka. Hey Taka!"

Taka: "Yeah boss."

Will: "You get that head off that Camaro yet?"

Taka: "Almost boss."

Will: "I was just wondering. And stop CALLING ME BOSS!"

Taka: "Yessir, Bos..i mean Will!"

Will just laughed at his broken sentence, he didn't want to be viewed as just an employer.

Skuld: "Um, Will? Can I ask you something?"

Will: "Sure sweetie. What is it?"

Skuld paused to blush, she still wasn't used to being the object of attention that Will has been giving to her lately.

Skuld: "Well I was thinking, that maybe we could go to this new restaurant that Kei and Bell went to last week. She said it was very nice and roma..just had really good food."

Will: "Why sure! If you want we can go this Friday night ok? So it's a date right?"

Skuld: "OoH! I mean.. Yeah sure. It's a date then."

Will: "Cool. I'm up for a change in taste. What kind of restaurant is it?"

Skuld: "Um a Japanese restaurant?"

Will: "Hey that sounds really good. Now I can't wait. (laughs)"

Skuld: "Me too, I haven't had any in quite a while. Not that it's been bad what I've been eating."

Will: "Say weren't you supposed to go grocery shopping with Belldandy and Urd?"

Skuld checked the clock on the wall.

Skuld: "Uh-oh. I forgot all about it! I've gotta go Will!"

She ran up and gave Will a hug and a kiss and ran toward the door. But paused as she opened it to go out.

Skuld: "Will, I. I love you."

Will just smiled a big smile.

Will: "I love you too, Skuld. Be careful. I'll see you later."

That afternoon at the grocers market, as Bell and Urd were busy fumbling around in the produce isle looking at the peppers and the green onions, Skuld wandered off through the isle that held the magazines. Many of them were bland and boring, Home improvement, Field and Stream, Hunters mags, and Cosmopolitan. Cosmo? This seemed a little interesting to Skuld. "100 Ways to Wow your man in bed. Hmmm. This is interesting."

Urd: "Whatcha doin' little one?"

Skuld jumped up startled by Urd's voice in her ear.

Skuld: "Urd! Don't DO that! You scared me."

Urd: "Ahhhhh. I see. Need some pointers do you?"
Skuld: "Huh? What? NO! I was..just looking at this magazine. That's all."

Urd: "Maybe you should buy it Skuld. Lot's of women buy that magazine. Lot's of interesting things in there to show you how mortal men tick."

Skuld: "I was only thumbing through it, it had some nice looking outfits in it anyway."

Urd: "Oh stop being such a little wuss and BUY it. Nothing wrong with wanting to read this stuff. I do it all the time."
Urd let out an evil laugh.

Urd: "look if you're that embarrassed to buy a simple magazine, I'll buy it for you."

Skuld: "No I can get it by myself. So Nyaaaaaaa!"

Bell: "Skuld, is something wrong? Is Urd manipulating you again? What's this?"

Bell examined the magazine. Thumbing the pages some.

Bell: "Oh this looks like it has really nice outfits in it. I'll think we'll buy this one."

Urd: "It FIGURES. Only Belldandy would have that notion."

Bell: "What notion?"

Skuld just laughed under her breath, as Urd walked off in total disbelief.

Bell: "Hey! Was it something I said?"

Will and Regina sat at the kitchen table, waiting for Skuld and Urd to come down for dinner. It seemed for a change that Megumi and Sora actually had dinner dates with Taka and a friend. Bell and Kei sat out the plates and utensils and put the rolls and bowl of pasta and sauce and the block of parmesan chesse and a grater nearby.

Will: "Wow Bell. This looks fantastic, and it smells great."

Bell: "Thank you Will."

Will: "So um. What's with the fancy dinner? It must be some awful favor to ask of me huh?"

Bell: 'Oh no Will. It's just dinner really."

Will: "Come on now, I'm not stupid. Heheh. Spit it out already."
Regina: "It's my fault Will. They only agreed for us to come spend time with them for dinner."

Will: "Must be something to do with the club huh?"

Regina: "Well you see it's like this…"

Skuld: "Hey Will!" Skuld plopped down into his lap and kissed his cheek.

Will: "Hey Sweetheart! Um..you were saying Sis?"

Regina: "W-what did you just say?"

Will: "I said.. What were you about to ask me?"

Regina: "No..before that."

Will: "Umm. Oh. Hey Sweetheart?"

Urd: "Oh that's so sweet, it makes my tummy ache."
Bell: "Urd that's not very nice."

Skuld: "She's just jealous. That's all."

Urd: "jealous, riiiight."

Regina: "Well. Anyway, I got the club involved in a street race this Friday night. You see it just kind of happened and.."
Will: "A street race? Riiiiiight…." Will looked over at Urd and laughed.

Regina: "Will, I'm not joking. All the other local clubs are involved too."

Will: "Ok.ok. Let's eat. Enough about street racing. Save it for after dinner."

Regina: "But Will, I just wanted to explain..you see.."

Will gave Regina an eat shit and die look.

Will: 'I SAID let's eat and talk after dinner ok?"

Regina bowed her head and gave in, not wanting to piss him off any further.

Bell: "Ok then everyone enjoy ok!"

Keiichi could not speak for fear of causing any further flaring emotions. His look to Regina was enough to know that this wasn't a good subject for Will. He simply smiled and began to pass around the rolls.

The dinner was somewhat quiet. Only the sporadic talk of business between Will and Kei and the weekly adventures of Bell and Skuld in their adult learning classes.

After a long silence while everyone was recovering from stuffing themselves. Will spoke quietly.

Will: "I'll attend, but I won't race, I leave that to you guys alright."

Regina: "Are you sure you don't mind?"

Will: "keep asking me that and I won't."

Regina: "Ok. I'm sorry."
Will: "You won't get any money out of me for this. You're on your own there."

Kei: "money? For what?"

Will: "Kei. Races around here aren't free. Everybody puts up a wager. Anything from 20 bucks to 10 grand."
Kei: "Ten Thousand dollars? Wow. I didn't know that."

Regina: "we'll use money from the fund in the club if we have too."

Will: "That's fine with me, but you guys better vote on it. I'm out of that part."
Regina: "I guess we need to call an emergency meeting at the club tomorrow nite then. That alright Kei?"

Keiichi: "Sure Regina. I'll see if I can get everyone to come tomorrow night."

Skuld: "Will, what about our date?"

Urd: "DATE? Oh BOY! Skuld's got a REAL DATE!"

Bell: "Oh Skuld that's so nice. Where are you going together?"

Will: "She wants to go to the place you and Kei went to last week."

Bell: "Oh yes! It's so romantic and the food is delicious."

Regina: "Romantic? Will? HAHAHAHA!"

Will: "What? Is there a problem?"

Regina: "No just you? Romantic? Heheh."

Will: "Don't worry Skuld. We're going. The races won't be till late. We'll have plenty of time to eat and maybe catch a movie or whatever you want."
Kei: "I know you'll both enjoy it. It's a very nice place and the food is fantastic. Almost as good as Bell's dinners."

Will: "Definitely has to be good to compare to her cooking."

Skuld: "I hope we have fun."

Bell: "Sure you will, both of you will. And if you both want to have any private time, Kei and I can always leave for a few hours!"

Skuld: "Oh my God Bell! You didn't have to say that!"

Regina: "Oh don't worry. If they wanted to do THAT they can always go to the house. I'll be busy doing other things I'm sure."

Bell: "Did I say something wrong again?"
Urd: "Not Exactly Bell. Come here, let me explain something."

Everyone went to the living area to relax and talk more about the weekend and the upcoming race event in the next town.

Once everyone had settled and left for the evening, Bell and Skuld had a private talk about matters known only to the three sisters and Kei. For the moment that is. Bell was afraid that if Skuld didn't begin to explain to Will about her true origin that the resulting strain would damage what relationship they have now, it was important to see her sister happy and not forego the wishes of the almighty one.

Bell: "Skuld, you should talk to Will this weekend about us. You shouldn't put it off any longer. Understand?"

Skuld : "I know Bell. But how? Every time I think I'm ready, I just can't. I'm afraid he won't understand and think I'm some kind of kook."

Bell: "Well, if need be I'll help you. He's going to have to know about all three of us. You know that."

Skuld: "But, Bell. I just , I don't know when the right moment is?"

Bell: "You'll know. I promise. But in the mean time, you need to think of a way to make him believe you. That's the most important."

Skuld: "Ok Belldandy. I'll try, really I will."

Bell: "No trying to Skuld. You HAVE to."

Skuld hung her head down and headed to her bedroom. Thinking of some way to approach Will about who she really is. She feared their relationship was going to come to a nasty abrupt stop very soon. She climbed into bed, still clothed as Bell looked in on her unnoticed, concerned about her sister's emotions at this moment.

Bell quietly watched her sleeping for a moment, or so she thought. "I'm sorry you have to go through this little sis. We love you and I know if you get through this trial, you'll overcome any obstacle that comes before you." With that she quietly shut the door, not noticing the tears streaming from Skuld's now closed eyes.

Next Chapter

Truth in an Angel's Eyes