"What danger?" Canaan asked hotly.
"How about you just get all cozy," Alphard said with a blank expression, "And I'll see you tomorrow." Suddenly, Alphard disappeared without a trace, leaving an angry Canaan and a confused Rylie behind.
Rylie turned back around toward the house after hearing the front door open. Standing on the porch, in the door way, stood a curious Maria.
"Can I help you?" Maria asked as she stared at Rylie.
"Um…" Rylie said, looking over at Canaan for help.
Maria looked over to the woman who had her back turned to her and slowly looked her over from bottom to top. The woman was wearing black combat boots and army pants. She wore a tight white t-shirt that clung to her curves. And as soon as Maria saw the shoulder length, silver hair she knew.
"Canaan?" Maria asked in shock.
Canaan slowly turned around to face her light, fear over taking her. Her eyes lingered on the ground but she slowly drug them up to meet Maria's eyes. As soon as she made eye contact, she knew she couldn't run away. All of Canaan's will power was drained and she found herself slowly walking over to her distant friend.
"Canaan!" Maria screamed as she ran down the steps and into her lost friend's arms. "I can't believe it!"
Canaan instantly hugged her friend tightly and breathed in her scent deeply. She sighed with content as she clung onto Maria, bringing her as close to her body as she could. She felt Maria do the same and a wave of relief and happiness washed over her. There moment of was soon broken by a little girl with brown pig tails.
"Aunt Maria," marry said curiously as she stood in the door way of the house. "Who are your friends?"
Maria pulled away from Canaan and turned to her niece, smiling encouragingly at the young girl. She waved for her niece to come over and the young girl ran over eagerly.
"Marry," Maria said, "this is my friend Canaan that I've told you about."
Marry smiled big and waved at the woman in front of her. "Nice to meet you," The little girl said.
"It's nice to meet you too," Canaan said, returning the smile.
"And who is this?" Marry asked as she looked over at the tall woman to her left.
"I'm Rylie" Rylie said as she bent over to shake Marry's hand. "I'm Canaan's friend."
Marry shook Rylie's hand and looked up at her Aunt. "You never told me about her," she said.
"That's because I've never met her," Maria said as she took in Rylie.
"Nice to meet you," Rylie said as she offered her hand to Maria.
"I thought you said your Japanese was bad," Canaan said as she eyed Rylie's hand touching Maria's.
"I lied," Rylie said with a laugh.
"Why don't you two come inside," Maria said as she picked up her niece and waited for the two women to start walking.
The group of them walked inside the house, one by one, and sat down in the living room. Once Maria sat down on the couch, next to Canaan, she put her niece down, and she ran off to play with her toys once more. There was an awkward moment of silence for a minute as the two distant friends both struggled to say something.
"Your house is nice," Rylie said as she leaned into the chair she was sitting in.
"Thank you," Maria said with a smile. "So how do you two know each other?"
"We uh, work together," Rylie said as she scratched her head nervously.
"I see," Maria said as she made eye contact with Canaan. "Where have you been these past five years?"
"Eh…" Canaan muttered out as she struggled to find the words to say.
Suddenly, Maria's cell phone rang. The young woman dug around in her jean pocket. Upon finding it, she quickly answered the phone.
"Hello?" Maria said into the phone. "Yun Yun! What's up?" Maria waited patiently for a reply. "Okay, I'll bring her down right now."
Maria hung up her phone and stood up from the couch. She nervously smiled at Canaan, afraid to leave. "I'm going to bring Marry back to her house," she said.
"Yun Yun is her mother?" Canaan asked.
"Yes," Maria said happily. "Her and Minoru are married and have two children."
"Her and… Minoru?" Canaan asked in disbelief.
"Yes…" Maria trailed off. "I'm going to bring Marry back to her house, so… don't go anywhere."
"Oh don't worry, she won't," Rylie said with a reassuring smile. "She'll be here when you get back; even if I have to chain her down."
Maria laughed as she picked up her niece and walked out the door. The two women sat there in silence before Canaan got up.
"Let's go," Canaan said, but before she could move she was pushed back into the couch.
"You're not going anywhere," Rylie said to her friend, standing in front of her to block her way.
"But Rylie," Canaan protested, but it was no use.
"Listen missy," Rylie said, "I know you're madly in love with this woman; which confirms my suspicions."
"What?" Canaan said confused.
"Shh!" Rylie hushed her friend. "And I gave that gorgeous lady my word you would be here when she got back, so I'm going to keep it. Now, if you want to try to run away after she gets back, that's another story."
"But," Canaan protested again.
"No more buts unless you're talking about my sexy thing," Rylie said as she sat back down in her chair. "And don't try to run again, we both know I'm faster."
"You are not!" Canaan said appalled.
"We can race later," Rylie said with a smirk. "But for now, you're going to sit here and explain to me why you haven't been tapping that."
"What?" Canaan asked in shock, her face becoming heated.
"Don't play stupid with me," Rylie said, her smirk turning into a smile. "Every time you talk about that woman, you can see and hear the love radiating off of you."
Canaan sat silently on the couch, her face becoming more heated by the second. It was true she was in love with Maria, and she always had been. She had known it for a long time. She didn't think anyone else did though.
"Here she comes," Rylie said as she shot up from her seat.
Maria entered her house, relieved to see the two women still in her house. She walked over to them and sat back down on the couch, next to Canaan. It wasn't until Maria was sitting that she realized Canaan was standing.
"I just realized that Canaan and I didn't pack a thing besides our guns," Rylie said sheepishly as she made her way to the door. "I'm going to go buy some clothes and hygiene products. You guys have fun." And with that said, Rylie was gone.
Canaan looked over to her right to find Maria already starring at her. She was instantly captivated by the woman. She stared deeply into Maria's eyes, and felt herself being tempted to reach out and touch her.
"Why has so long?" Maria asked, the look on her face causing agony for Canaan. "Why has it taken you so long to come to me?"
"It hasn't been safe," Canaan said seriously.
"It hasn't been safe for a day in five years?" Maria asked, almost annoyed.
"There's been a lot going on Maria," Canaan said as she reached out and grabbed her friend's hand. "There are still people after me; especially since I befriended Rylie."
Maria looked down at the hand that was touching hers. She looked intently on the fingers that were laced together and then noticed the red string around Canaan's wrist. She smiled at the memories of them playing childish games together, not realizing she was moving closer to Canaan.
"I'm sorry," Canaan said as she watched her light. "I wanted to come find you, desperately. But I just didn't want to put you in danger. All I've wanted to do every day for the past five years is to find you and be by your side."
"What brings you here now?" Maria asked as she looked up into her friend's eyes; she was shocked when she did. Canaan's eyes were burning with sorrow, honesty, and what looked like… love.
"I'm not sure," Canaan said, honestly not knowing the exact reason as to why she was requested by Alphard.
"It's almost like you haven't changed," Maria said as she eyes her friend.
It was true. Besides the slightly bigger breasts, the longer hair, and different clothes, Canaan did look the same. Maria found herself blushing when she realized she was staring at her friend's breasts. Her embarrassment soon vanished when she realized she was being admired as well.
Canaan had taken the opportunity to drink in Maria. The tight blue jeans and gray shirt clung to every curve of Maria, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Canaan found herself blushing as well when she realized what she was doing. She looked up to find Maria staring at her, causing her to blush to turn to a dark crimson. Maria smirked at Canaan in a way she never had before; it was almost sexual.
"Are you hot?" Maria asked teasingly, causing Canaan to avoid eye contact with her.
Maria smirked at her friend, finding her embarrassment to be amusing. She swallowed hard as she found another feeling rising up within her, causing her skin to ache and her blood to boil. She let go of Canaan's hand and pulled a red piece of string out of her pocket.
"Have you been practicing?" Maria asked with a warm smile.
"How could I forget?" Canaan said, smiling back.
The two sat on the couch facing each other, playing with that string for what seemed like hours. They laughed and talked, and enjoyed each other's company. When the final tower was made with the string, Maria gave Canaan a curious look.
"What?" Canaan asked.
"So tell me," Maria asked, curiosity shooting through her, "are you and Rylie… a thing?"
"A thing?" Canaan asked, becoming confused.
"You know," Maria said, a slight blush forming on her face. "Are you two… together?"
"Together?" Canaan asked before realizing what she meant. "NO!" She shouted, gaining a laugh from Maria. "What's so funny?"
"You!" Maria laughed harder. And before another moment passed, Maria pulled out her camera and took a quick picture of Canaan's face. "That's one for the scrap book," Maria teased.
"I don't get it," Canaan said, trying to understand what was going on.
"You got so defensive," Maria said, "like you were horrified of the idea of being with another woman." Maria waited for a response, curious to Canaan's answer.
"It's not the idea of being with a woman that horrifies me," Canaan said with a blush, "it's the idea of being with her."
"You're so nice," Rylie said, startling the two on the couch. "Am I really that bad looking?" She said as she put the bags down on the ground. "Because I find myself to be quite sexy."
"You do?" Canaan asked seriously, trying to get a rise out of her friend.
"Sticks and stones," Rylie said with a smile. "I know I'm a looker. You just love me like a sister, that's why the thought repulses you."
"No," Canaan said, "it's just you."
Maria laughed at the two, taking pictures of them all the while. She rose up from the couch before speaking, "How about we make some luch."