Chapter 3
Neena Vakarian is someone who Kaja hasn't heard from in weeks. They met last year through Liv and Tracy when Kaja and the twins were on vacation. She had dropped the twins off at the vacation home, so they could spend some time with their human grandparents. She has made it a policy to let her in-laws spend time with their grandsons without being present, so she goes to either the Citadel to visit Liv or spends time with Gaia on Earth or she does both. Neena's a video game designer, so Kaja thinks the turian got a job with Elysis Games. Which she knows Neena was trying to do when they met last year.
Seeing the message from Neena puts a smile on the asari's face. Since they live light-years apart, they've only seen each other twice while Kaja was on the Citadel, but they have kept in contact with each other since. Maybe this is why Neena hasn't contacted me in a few weeks? Makes sense if she wanted to surprise me and from her message. I think that's what she was wanting to do. Too bad for you, Neena, I know it's you before I knock on the door. Kaja puts the data pad in her pocket then decides to call it a day. It's after 1800 and she's been at work since before 0800. A few reports aren't done, but they can and will wait until Monday.
If she needs to, she'll log the afternoon as personal time if her CO complains about a few reports not getting done. Kaja grabs her jacket hanging from the coat rack in the corner closest to the door then goes downstairs to get Eric from the holding cell he's been sitting in for the past thirty plus minutes. She shakes her head at the things the adults are saying to her son. They did what she thought they would do, be vulgar. However, she hopes by making him sit in a cell even for a short time, makes him realize this isn't the path he wants to walk down.
"All right you guys, stow it. Leave the kid alone," says Kaja as she opens the holding cell for Eric. "Come on, Eric, let's go home." She pats him on the shoulder when he leaves the cell.
"Ah, isn't that sweet, the asari is taking the human boy home, " says a human criminal with snark written all over every word. His comment caused the other inmates in the cell to laugh and snicker.
Kaja whispers to Eric to wait while she walks over to the holding cell and gets in the human's face. "I said to stow it. It would take me a whole five minutes if that long to add to your arrest report how uncooperative you're being. The judge and ADA will take that in to consideration during your arraignment. So, are you going to shut up now, or do I go and amend the report?"
The human puts his hands up to show defeat then walks way from Kaja to sit on the bench. "That's what I thought," says Kaja before she turns her attention back to her son. "Let's go home." She puts her arm around his back and rest her left hand on his left shoulder as they leave the police station. The taller the twins get, the harder it is for Kaja to put her left arm around their shoulder.
Eric waits until they're in the car before he says anything. "Momma, I don't want to be like them."
"I know you don't, Eric. But that's where you're headed if you don't stop doing the things you've been doing. I want you to look at this while we head home." Kaja transfers over a file to his omnit-tool for him to read. She downloaded it to her omni-tool when Eric started getting into trouble at school. She had hoped she would never have to give it to him, but again, her gut instinct was right. She does need to give Eric Jimmy Nichols' juvenile record, so he will see the things he is doing now, Jimmy was also doing at his age.
Kaja is trying anything she can think to get Eric to turn his behavior around. Maybe this shoplifting charge will do it. All she can do is hope something she does or says to him will finally sink in and Eric starts to turn things around. She starts the car and heads home while Eric reads over Jimmy Nichols' file.
The youth doesn't like what he is reading. Knowing this is the record of the man who killed his mother, makes Eric sick to his stomach. He is reading things he has been doing for a while now. Skipping school, getting into fights. First arrest was for petty theft. He turns off his omni-tool after reading the first arrest offense then stares out the car window. Eric wonders if his momma doctored the file to make it seem like he is following the same path as his mother's murderer or if the record is real and that is what Nichols did when he was still a minor. He knows what type of person Jimmy turned into as an adult.
It doesn't go unnoticed by Kaja that Eric has turned off his omni-tool, but hasn't said anything. Good, maybe he is finally thinking about things. Goddess, let this be the lesson he needs to turn it around. If not, I don't know what to do next. She's content if he is actually thinking about things and not brooding. Kaja and Eric don't speak another word until she parks the skycar in the driveway. She turns her head to look at Eric. She reaches over with her right arm to put it on his shoulder. "Eric, if you think I enjoyed what you forced me to do today, I didn't. I love you. I don't ever want to have to arrest you or anyone else I care about."
Eric exits the car then heads into the house. Kaja isn't sure what to think about his silence. Is it from him thinking about things or is he brooding? It's hard for her to tell with Eric what he is thinking or if he is thinking about anything at all. The asari goes into the house, heads to her bedroom to shower and change clothes. Her plan is to let Eric think more about what he did with Randy today before having another talk with him. Plus it gives her time to distance herself from it and to think about his punishment with a clearer head. Dealing with a situation with a clouded head usually means bad things happen. Things with Eric are on the cliff's edge and Kaja needs to tread carefully to pull him back in. If she doesn't, she's afraid he'll fall off then she's going to lose him.
While Kaja is in the shower, Derek comes home and his grandmother is with him. Liara sits in a living room chair, waiting for Kaja to get done with her shower. Derek heads to the kitchen so he can start making their late dinner. He doesn't know what is going on with his brother, but he knows something is amiss. Eric didn't come home after school and comes home with momma. The older twin thinks Eric got into trouble with Randy again. What type of trouble Eric got himself into, Derek isn't sure yet. There are several things Eric and Randy are capable of doing when it comes to getting into trouble.
Eric walks through the living room, headed towards the kitchen. He sees his grandmother sitting in a chair. She doesn't say anything to him, but he can tell from the look on her face. She knows. Shit, she knows. Grandma always knows. I'm sure momma couldn't wait to tell her too. Eric attempts to put a smile on his face when he says, "Hi, grandma."
"Hi, Eric. How was your day?" asks Liara.
"It could have been better, grandma," responds Eric.
Liara nods to her wayward grandson. "Want to talk about it?"
Shaking his head, no, Eric walks into the kitchen to get something to drink. "What are you making tonight?" ask Eric as he pours himself a glass of iced tea. He downs the entire glass then refills it.
"I don't know yet. Is there anything particular you want?" ask Derek. He glances over his shoulder to look at his brother.
"Cook something momma likes. Like you did the other day," responds Eric as he drinks his tea.
Derek rolls his eyes. "That didn't keep me from getting grounded and what ever you did, I doubt a gourmet steak dinner with everything momma loves would help you. I don't know what you did, Eric. But I know you've done something bad."
Eric sits at the kitchen table, scratches his head, then asks, "What makes you say that, Derek?"
"Really, Eric, you just asked me that? The aura in the house is radiating tension. I wonder why? Momma calls grandma and grandma has been upset since, but hasn't said anything to me about it. So, what did you and Randy do today beside play football like we do every Friday. I'm now wishing I was with you, maybe you'd stayed out of trouble." Derek goes back to look at the terminal with the recipes. He's getting annoyed with Eric which is causing him to rethink about what to make for dinner.
"I messed up, Derek. That's what I did and I'm going to pay for it for a long time too." Eric grabs his glass then leaves the kitchen to head back to his bedroom. He isn't in the mood to talk about it even with his brother. His mind is racing a million miles a second and his thoughts are in several different directions. Many of his thoughts are conflicting with each other. He hates his momma for arresting him even though he knows it's her job to arrest criminals.
Eric isn't sure who he is more angry with. Himself for letting Randy talk him into taking the water or Randy for coming up with the idea or his momma for doing her job. He hates that his momma made him wait for her in a jail cell instead of letting him sit in her office. The youth is sure she did it as a lesson, but he feels it's a lesson she didn't need to teach. He already said to her, he didn't want to go to jail. He sits on the bed, thinking about what the adults in the other cell said to him.
Shivering as he thinks about what the batarian said to him about being fresh meat, Eric lies back and stares at the ceiling. I have an idea what the fresh meat comment means and that s the last thing I want. To be passed around like a toy to be played with. He kicks off his shoes then lies flat on the bed with his hands behind his head thinking more about his future. How am I suppose to know what I want to do in the future? Why do adults always say we need to think about what we are going to do as adults? I don't have any idea what I want to do. I'd love to get paid to play video games, but I'm not that good. I hate math and computers are nothing but math. Nothing else interests me. Derek seems to know what he wants and Karrera is away attending college and I've got nothing.
There is a knock at the door, Eric turns his attention to door when he says, "Come in."
Kaja enters wearing a full-length dark purple dress with red and blue accents along the hips and chest. She grins the best she can considering how upset she is with him "Eric, I'm going out with some friends tonight. We will have another discussion about this tomorrow. I need to clear my head and I want your punishment to be fair, Eric. I'm disappointed and angry with you, but that doesn't mean I don't still love you. You've put me in a bad spot, Eric. I hope you realize that."
Eric looks at Kaja in wonderment. He'll never understand how she remains so calm when she says she is angry. He knows she's angry with him. She always says so, but she rarely shows it. She always radiates disappointment more than anger. It's the same thing with his grandmother too. He wonders if it's an asari trait or a family trait. Eric looks away from his momma. He's too ashamed to look at her. Why can't she just yell and scream at me? How does she always remain so calm when she says so she's angry? She never looks it or sounds like it. Eric decides to ask her, "Why don't you ever yell at me? You always say you're angry, but you never sound or act like it."
Kaja furrows her brow. She closes the gap between them in two steps then gets into Eric's face and stares at him with her arms clasped behind her back. Kaja still doesn't yell, but her tone is more serious and dangerous sounding. "Is this what you want from me, Eric James Mitchell? You want me in your face and up your ass twenty-four hours a day? Is it? I don't yell because I don't see a point to yelling. Parents who yell, can't calmly talk to their children and be rational with them." She pokes him in the chest with her fore and middle fingers. "I can treat you as if you are in boot camp, Eric. I have gone through a military boot camp. Is that is what you want? You'll address me as ma'am always. Everything will be yes ma'am, no ma'am. I'll do that, ma'am. You'll stop questioning me and you'll say please and thank you more often. Is this more of what you want?" She puts her nose against his and glares into his brown eyes.
Eric would back away if he could, but he's on the bed with no place to go. "No, momma, I don't want that. I'm sorry." He puts his hands up in defeat. She's made her point and he realizes it. She can make his life rougher than she does already.
"No, what?" replies Kaja as she leans forward causing him to use his arms to keep him from lying on the bed.
"No, ma'am," says Eric. For the first time in his life, he actually feels his momma's anger and he doesn't like it. It does give him a new perspective. He now understands how much self-control his momma has over her emotions. Seeing her anger is something he doesn't want to see again.
Kaja steps back, "That's better. Think about everything you've done this afternoon and my reaction to it and we'll talk more tomorrow. I love you." She offers her hand to Eric, which he accepts and pulls him in close for a hug.
He hugs his momma back. "Yes, ma'am. I will."
Kaja grins at Eric while she pats him on the shoulder then leaves Eric alone in his room. She hopes for his sake, he really does think about what he did today and realizes that isn't what he wants for his future. She walks over to Liara and gives her mother a hug. "Thanks for coming over. Do me a huge favor, please. I need to get away for the night and blow off some steam. Paige invited me to join her and her friends then I got an interesting message to meet someone at their apartment. The boys are old enough to be left alone, but I would appreciate it if you would stay and watch them as part of their punishment."
Liara rubs Kaja's upper arms. "I'd be happy to, Kaja. You look nice, by the way. Who sent you the message?"
A tiny smirk appears on Kaja's face, "Neena Vakarian."
Liara lifts her right eyebrow. Curious, she thinks, but seeing even a hint of a smirk, brightens Liara's day. "Did Neena move here?"
"I got sent a message to go to an apartment on Illyria Blvd. When I looked the address up, Neena's name appeared, so I'm assuming she has moved here, mom. It will be nice to see her again. I have not heard from her in a few weeks," says Kaja. The smirk grows then disappears when Kaja walks away to find Derek.
Kaja finds him in the kitchen making a simple meat and tomato sauce to go with the frozen cheese ravioli he forgot he bought a few weeks ago. Derek puts a lid on the pot, turns the temperature down, and sets a thirty minute timer. "Hi, momma. How was your day?" asks Derek when he turns from the stove to see his momma entering the kitchen.
Smiling at her son, Kaja says, "Hi Derek. I've had better days. What are you making?"
"Sauce for the cheese ravioli I forgot we had." Derek doubts he's going to get any clue to what Eric did today. She's dressed up and ready for a night out, so he thinks she's not staying for dinner. "You look nice, momma. Are you going out tonight?"
"Yes, I am. I'm not staying for dinner. Your grandmother is staying with you and Eric. Only because your both are grounded and I don't want either of you in the house alone or leaving." Kaja hugs Derek. "Okay?"
"Okay. What did Eric do, momma?" Dereks asks the questions, but he doubts she'll answer it. He knows he it never hurts to ask or try something. It's within reason and wanting to know what his twin did today doesn't seem unreasonable to Derek.
Kaja wants Eric to tell him because she feels it's a good lesson for Eric. It forces him to tell others what he did. Besides, Eric's been far too quiet and it seems he hasn't said much to his brother about it yet. "I want Eric to tell you."
"Why?" asks Derek. He knows he might have pushed things with his momma, but he doesn't like being kept in the dark about what is going on. Eric didn't tell him much and he wants to know more.
Kaja is going to give her son the answer she hated receiving as a kid. "Because I said so, that's why. Derek, know this, Eric is in a lot of trouble and when he is ready to tell you about it, he will. What is going on is between me and Eric and it doesn't involve you."
"Well, grandma knows," says Derek as he points to the living room.
Kaja smacks her hand on the counter, "Enough, Derek! This has nothing to do with you and I am NOT discussing it with you. Do I make myself clear?" Kaja steps closer to give Derek the same glare she gave Eric a few minutes ago.
Derek sees the anger in his momma face and he doesn't like what he sees. What ever Eric did, it's serious. "Yes, ma'am. I won't ask again."
The look on Kaja's face softens, she places her hand on Derek's shoulder. "I'm not mad at you, Derek, but you are pushing it. Yes, your grandmother does know. Only because I need her to know, so she can help me by watching you and Eric tonight. I'll see you in the morning." Kaja give Derek a hug then leaves the house without saying anything to her mother.
Liara follows Kaja out the front door, "Kaja, wait. When will you be back?"
The younger asari looks at her mother with the car door open. "Don't expect me home until late mom. I have a son, who is turning into a criminal and I need to get away and think about what I can do about that, mom."
"Okay, be careful. Maybe I can talk to him and get something out of him, but he isn't saying much," comments Liara.
"Thanks mom. Don't bother with Eric. Just make sure he stays home. I know he likes to sneak out some times when he grounded. If he does, call it in and let him sit. I'm sorry, mom, but I'm not dealing with anymore of his bullshit tonight. I'll see you when I get home." Kaja gets into her car and drives away, heading toward Neena's apartment. Neena is a welcome surprise and the turian's timing couldn't have been more perfect. Kaja hopes Neena is hungry because she knows a nice restaurant with a good dextro-based menu to take her to.
Kaja is tempted to stop by the cemetery to talk to either Cass' grave or her father's, but doesn't want to take the time. It's already past 1900 and for all Kaja knows, Neena might have already left to explore the city by the time she gets there. She parks her car in a public lot, then walks across the street to Neena's apartment building. Before she enters the building, Kaja pushes the days events out of her mind and focuses on enjoying her evening.
Liara furrows her brow in frustration as Kaja drives away. She'll do as her daughter asks, but she gets a sense Eric won't leave his room much tonight, let alone leave the house. The elder asari enters the house to check on Eric then Derek. Eric is lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He looks deep in thought so, she leaves him alone. Eric says when Liara starts to leave, "You don't have anything to say to me, grandma? No big lecture?"
"Eric, I asked if you wanted to talk about it and you shook your head and walked away. I'm not sure what you were thinking this afternoon, but it's clear to me you weren't thinking at all. No, I'm not going to lecture you. That's between you and your momma. I don't know if you even care about anything anymore, Eric. All you have been doing since the school term started is getting into trouble more and more and now it's legal trouble. What's going on, Eric?" ask Liara. She keeps her tone soft and caring, but like Kaja, she's disappointed and angry with him.
Eric sits up then looks out the window and stares at the city's skyline. It's dark and many building are lit up with different color neon lights. The youth shrugs his shoulders at Liara, but he still doesn't look at her, "I don't know, grandma. I messed up. I don't know why I did it." He turns to look at his grandmother. He wants to ask about the file on Jimmy Nichols and if it's really his juvenile record or if his momma made the document to scare him. He doesn't believe the man who murdered his mother did the same things he is doing. Jimmy was pure evil and Eric doesn't see himself that way.
Liara steps closer and rubs on Eric's back. "You did mess up. I don't think I have to tell you how disappointed I am. I think you already know that. Eric, you need to figure out what is wrong and fix it. You don't seem happy and I wish you were."
"I'm tired of everyone telling me I need to figure things out! You want to know what would make me happy, grandma? My mother coming back! That would make me happy!" yells Eric as he leaves his bedroom, leaving his grandmother with a dumbfounded look on her face caused by his outburst then heads to the basement to punch on the punching bag.
Liara shakes the shock of Eric's comment from her mind then goes after him. She hopes he didn't leave the house because she rather not call the station to get a warrant to have him picked up. Kaja made it perfectly clear, she's not dealing with him tonight and is spending the evening with her friend, Neena. Relief washes over Liara when she sees the basement door open and the sound of fists hitting a punching bag. A grin appears when she peaks in on Eric, watching him punch on the bag. It reminds Liara of Leia who passed the activity to Kaja who in turn has passed it to Eric.
Better for Eric or Derek to work out their frustrations on a punching bag than getting into a fight with someone. Derek seems to channel his frustrations in his art than through physical activities like Eric and Kaja both do. While watching Eric, Liara sees a little James Vega in Eric. Eric does not have the thick muscles like Vega, but the way he punches the bag reminds her of the tattooed marine. She knows Vega had a troubled childhood with a bad parent and Vega joined the Alliance to have a better life.
Eric's life is troubled, but it's not from having a bad parent. It's from losing a parent. Liara lives with that guilt as much as her daughter does. She'll always regret not giving Kaja the info about Jimmy's alias earlier. She wanted to make sure the info was accurate and because of that delay, Jimmy was able to kidnap and murder her daughter-in-law. Liara, like Kaja, is unsure what to do or say to get Eric to turn his life around before it's too late. Maybe getting caught for shoplifting is it, Liara isn't so sure. The asari watches Eric throw a few more punches before heading back upstairs to work until Derek is done making dinner.
Kaja stands next to apartment 105, she hears someone inside moving things around. Kaja's grins widens to a smile then she knocks on the door. Her stomach is knotting up from her sudden nervousness. She's unsure why she is suddenly so nervous. She's known Neena for over a year, but this is only the third time they've been together and first time without Liv and Tracy with them. The asari leans against the door jamb with a big grin on her face and her arms folded across her chest waiting for Neena to open it. Or she hopes it's Neena.
The turian female inside the apartment stops moving a living room chair when she hears someone at the door. She hopes it's Kaja. A friendly neighbor welcoming her to the building is nice too. She's already had the human couple across the hall welcome her to the building. Neena Vakarian wasn't sure how she would be treated in a human colony even one as diverse as Elysium, but to her surprise, she's been treated like she's used to on the Citadel.
Neena opens the door to see a grinning asari. "Hello, Kaja. I am so happy to see you. Please, come in." She stands to the side to allow Kaja to enter. "You must forgive the mess, I'm not done unpacking."
"When did you move in, Neena?" asks Kaja as she enters the apartment. She looks around, notices the layout is for a one-bedroom. It looks to Kaja like there are more boxes than space in the room, but she's sure Neena will find a place for everything. Once inside, Kaja gives Neena a warm hug. "It's nice to see you again, Neena. I do hope things have been well with you."
The turian with blue marking down her nose and acrossher lower jaw hugs Kaja back, "I got everything moved in about this time yesterday, but I didn't unpack or arrange anything until today and as you can see, I'm not remotely close to being done." Neena points to the boxes stacked against a wall. "I'm glad you came, Kaja. I wasn't sure if you would or not. Liv wasn't too keen on the idea of surprising you. If you hadn't come over tonight, I was going to call tomorrow and let you know I moved to toen. I did get the job with Elysis Games. I start in two weeks and it might take me that long to get my apartment unpacked."
Neena moves the lone box sitting on a chair and places it on the floor behind the chair before she sits in it. She motions for Kaja to sit on the couch next to the chair. "Tell Liv she's wrong. Your timing couldn't have been better, Neena. Plus, you've brightened my day." Kaja pats Neena's arm after she sits on the couch. "So, you got your dream job. What's it like?" She teases her friend with her question. Neena's desire to work for Elysis Games was high and Kaja is happy for Neena because they hired her.
Neena laughs at Kaja's question, "I'll let you know when I start in two weeks. How are things with you, Kaja? I know we've not talked in a while." Neena's tone shows concern. She noticed from their hug how tense Kaja is. Which tells her something is wrong and she thinks it happened earlier today.
"I'm okay, just dealing with family stuff" Kaja debates if she wants to discuss what's wrong or not. She''ll probably feel better if she does talk, but doesn't want to burden Neena with her problems the first time they're alone together. She wants to put Eric's legal issues on the back burner for a few hours and enjoy the night with her friend.
"Are you sure?" asks Neena.
Kaja pats Neena's arm again. "Yea, I'm sure. I'd rather not worry about it right now and I'd like to enjoy an evening with you. Unless you asked me to help you unpack. Then, I don't know." Kaja gives Neena a cheeky grin to go with her soft chuckle.
"No, I didn't ask you over to help me unpack. I'll get it done before the weekend is over. Or I hope to." Neena is a little nervous. She admires Kaja a lot. Neena's well aware the asari are known for raising their daughters alone, but she's never heard of an asari raising human children alone. Neena has yet to meet Kaja's sons or her daughter, but she's sure she will soon enough. "Do you mind showing this turian around the city you so proudly protect?" She points to herself then to a window.
"Sure, I think I can manage that. Any thing in particular you want to see or do, Neena?" asks Kaja. She stands up then offers her hand to Neena.
Neena takes Kaja's hand as she gets up from her chair. She give the blue hand a tender squeeze. "I've not had anything to eat since an early lunch, soooooo, Kaja, know any good turian restaurants? Or am I going to starve?"
Kaja gives Neena a sideways look, "Nah, you're starving. I only know of good human restaurants." A cheeky grin appears on the asari's face.
The turian covers her mouth in fake shock, "I'm starving, oh no. What am I going to do now? I just moved here." She covers her face to mimic crying.
Kaja starts laughing at Neena. The more time she spends with the turian, the more she is enjoys their time together. She puts her arm around Neena to comfort her, going along with Neena's acting. "There, there, Neena, I won't let you starve. I'll import some food for you from Palaven." She strokes Neena's arm then takes a step back, "Nah, I'm kidding. I know a place I think you will like."
"What are we waiting for then, Kaja? Oh and by the way, you're paying, T'Soni." Neena grabs a few things before heading towards the door.
Kaja says as she follows the turian out the door, "Wait, I'm paying? Keep it cheap, Vakarian, I have two boys who can out eat me, you, Liv, and Tracy combined and a daughter in college. I'm a broke asari."
Neena winks at Kaja when she looks over her shoulder. "Well, not sure if I can have a broke friend. You'll mooch all the time. Then the next think I know I'm broke too," comments Neena in a playful tone. She bats her eyelashes for good measure, teasing Kaja.
Kaja loves Neena's playfulness. She did it both times when they met on the Citadel and she's still doing it. This is exactly what the asari needs tonight. A night away from the problems she is having with her sons, Eric in particular. There is something about the turian the makes Kaja feel at easy even though she was nervous before Neena opened the door. As they walk towards Kaja's skycar, she starts to realize there is something more between them besides friendship. Kaja worries if this is a good time to attempt to have something more with the turian. Since Cass' death, her focus as been to put her children and their happiness before her own.
With Kaja taking that approach, she for the most part as been content. However, her contentment has waned over the past several months with Eric getting into more and more trouble. She's starting to think she needs more to her life than just her kids. Kaja does have friends she goes out with from time to time. Most weekend nights, she stays home in case she's needed at a moments notice. She doesn't want to give people the impression she's a party animal with two teenage sons. It doesn't give a good impression nor set a very good example. For tonight, Kaja is going to enjoy herself with Neena and take the turian to a few places she thinks Neena will like.
A/N: Happy Memorial Day to my American readers and a good Monday to the rest of you. I do hope everyone is enjoy the ride. Not to sound like a broken record, but this story does have it's up and down and at times things don't look good. To me, that is what family is about. Things are not perfect and this isn't the "Cosby Show" :)
Thank you to every one who likes, takes the time to review, or just reads my stories. Thank you. You people rock. See you next week.