Chapter 6
"...It really wasn't necessary," says Kaja.
"Yes, it was. I let my jealousy rule my actions last night and I shouldn't have. It's not like we're dating and I shouldn't be jealous about relationships you have with others I was rude to your friend and to you. I do hope she enjoys the turian whiskey. I should go, Kaja. I will see you Wednesday morning." Paige gives Kaja a hug then gets into her car, heading to who knows where.
Neena Vakarian arrives in time to see Paige give Kaja a hug then leave and she finds that curious. Everything she knows about Paige and her relationship with Kaja is that they're friends and the human is the family's attorney. By the way Paige hugged Kaja though has Neena wondering if there is something more between them and Kaja hasn't told her about it. If Neena didn't know better, she could have sworn she sensed jealousy from Paige last night.
Kaja sees Neena and it puts a big smile on her face. She walks over to the turian and gives her a hug plus a smooch on the cheek. "I'm so glad to see you." She hugs Neena again.
What doubt Neena has about Kaja washes away with the asari's hugs. Smiling at Kaja, Neena runs her hand over Kaja's arm then squeezes her hand. "You live in a nice neighborhood." Neena looks at the mountains overlooking the backyard. "Oh, how beautiful. Your parents knew a beautiful spot when they saw one. This is nice, Kaja. It beats the Citadel or a ship any day."
Kaja looks at the mountains then back to Neena. "The view is bittersweet though. Even after almost a decade, I still can't look at those mountains and not think about Cass dying up there. I think her death will haunt me forever, Neena. I still have a long life ahead of me." She smirks at the game designer, "I am delighted to see you. Are you ready to meet my sons?"
"Yes, I am," replies the turian. Neena is holding Kaja's hand.
"Be warned, they're not talking to each other and I almost called you to cancel tonight. I expect the unexpected to happen. I'm not sure how Eric is going to react to meeting you. Derek likes you already." Kaja shrugs her shoulders. She's trying to give Neena an out if the turian wants to take it by warning her things inside the house are tense.
Neena squeezes the blue hand she is holding. "Okay." She reaches up and touches Kaja's cheek. "I care about you, Kaja and I know you come with baggage. You've told me what is going on and I have no illusions that things between you and Eric are anything but rocky. I think things will be rough at first but will smooth out over time. I am willing to meet that challenge, Kaja."
Kaja grabs Neena's hand, kisses it, then keeps it close to her heart. She leans to whisper, "Good, cause I'm falling for you and you've been on my mind all day." The Sergeant's instincts take over and she kisses Neena fully on the lips. Neena wraps her arms around Kaja as their kiss lingers and grows..
Eric is watching his momma kiss her turian friend from the living room window. "Urgh, no way is that woman replacing mom," comments Eric to Derek before he storms off heading to his bedroom.
"Why, because she's a turian?" asks Derek.
Eric stops to glare at his brother, "No, because she's not mom. I don't want a step-mom, I want mom." He points his finger at Derek.
"I would love for mom to be with us, Eric, but she's not anymore. When are you going to get over it? I'm glad momma's found someone who makes her happy and if you actually cared about anything, you'd be happy for momma too. Some times I wonder if you actually care about anything, Eric." Derek shakes his head then heads back into the kitchen to check on dinner.
"Fuck you, Derek!" retorts Eric. He slams his bedroom door closed.
Kaja and Neena enter the house in time to hear Eric's door being slammed shut. Both exchange glances and wonder what is going on. Kaja points to the couch then to a chair. " Make yourself comfortable. Let me find out what just happened." First thing Kaja does is grab the bottle Paige gave her. She hands it to Neena. "This is from Paige. Her way of saying she is sorry for how she behaved last night."
Neena takes the package then opens it. "Well, Paige knows good whiskey. Lucky for me, it's my favorite brand. Where do you keep your liquor glasses?" She gets up to get her glass when Kaja waves her off and gets it for her.
Kaja hands Neena a glass and sets the ice bucket on the coffee table. "Here you go. Enjoy. Turn on a vid or something. Make yourself at home. I'll be right back. I'm going to talk to Derek to see what is going on." The asari smiles then heads to the kitchen. Derek is checking the temperature on the dextro-based meat in the oven when Kaja walks in asking, "What's going on, Derek? Why is Eric slamming his bedroom door?" Kaja appreciates Derek attentiveness to details when he cooks something new. Especially tonight with Derek cooking something new and for someone he's never met.
Closing the oven door, Derek answers, "He got upset after watching you kiss Neena outside. Screw him." The older twin waves his hand holding the hot pad in Eric's direction.
Kaja's heart sinks. This is what she was afraid of, Eric taking her dating someone badly. "Are you okay with that?"
"With what? You kissing Neena? Yea, momma, I'm okay with that. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Please, let Eric know. I can't talk to him, momma." Derek gives his momma a smile that reminds Kaja of his mother, Cass. His smile always makes her feel better, but tonight is off to a bad start and they have not even had dinner yet.
Kaja worries about Eric's behavior with each passing second. Can they make it through the night without him blowing up? How does she tell Neena, Eric is upset they were kissing? Which is more important. Eric's happiness or her own? She rubs her neck. "I'll let him know. Derek, thank you."
"For what?" asks a confused teen.
A grin appears on the asari's face. "For you being you. Come with me and you can meet Neena while I talk to Eric."
Derek follows Kaja into the living room. Neena has turned on a biotiball match between two asari teams. She sets her drink on a coaster and stands when Kaja and Derek enter the living room. "I hope you don't mind biotiball. If only I could do that."
"You too?" asks Derek. He offers his hand to Neena. "Hi, I'm Derek. You must be Neena."
Neena and Derek start talking to each other, so Kaja goes to talk to Eric. She knocks on the door before peaking her head inside. Eric is lying on his back, staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. "What's going on, Eric? You're slamming doors and Derek says you're upset because I kissed Neena. I told you both when we were out shopping and getting your haircut, Neena and I were dating. You didn't say anything. If you have a problem with it. Tell me now, Eric."
Eric sits up, looks at his momma and says bluntly, "She's not my mom. Don't ever think she will be my mom. Because she's not."
Kaja isn't sure how she is keeping her composure with Eric, because he keeps saying things that gut her to her core. She's holding it together, but isn't sure how much more she can take from him tonight. With luck, this is his last blow up for the day. "You are right, Eric. Neena is not your mother. Nor does she want to be. She is someone I have grown to care deeply about. What do you want? For me to be alone for the rest of my life? Which I have centuries yet to live."
Eric glares at Kaja. "Just leave me alone."
"Stand up!" demands Kaja through clinched teeth. Kaja steps into Eric's face the second he stands. "I will not, I repeat, I will not just leave you alone. Do you understand me?" She soften her tone when she says, "I still miss your mother, but I've moved on. She's not with us, Eric. When are you going to fully understand that? She's not here. We have to move on. I've thought about having you see Dr. Ott again about your anger issues and your inability to move on, but it didn't help the last time, so I don't see it helping now. I can always chat with your probation officer and have it be a requirement for your probation, Eric."
"Oh, I'm quite aware mom's not here. It doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't have to like your new girlfriend either just because she's with you." retorts the teen with resentment in his tone.
"Fair enough, Eric. Can you at least be civil for one evening and attempt to get to know her?" Kaja hears the kitchen timer buzzing and it tells her dinner is almost ready. "Dinner is about ready. Come and join us for dinner, then you can play your video game with your friends or hang out in your room. Be civil. It's not a request, Eric. It's an order." She puts her nose within a hair from touching Eric's nose.
"Yes, ma'am," says Eric. His tone is condescending.
Kaja clasps her hands behind her back then puts her nose against his. "Say that again, Eric, but without the condescending attitude attached to it. Even though you are grounded, I'm giving you more freedom than maybe you deserve, Eric. I can delete the MMO from the computer at any time and if you cause a scene during dinner, you can kiss it goodbye. I have an account too and I'll stop paying the subscription for everyone. I do have an account. Same as Derek, but I don't think he's playing it much so he won't miss it like you will. Do I make myself clear, Eric James Mitchell?
Eric keeps the glare, but he changes his tone from condescending to a more respectful one, "Yes, ma'am."
"That's better. Eric, I love you," says Kaja when she hugs Eric.
Eric barely hugs Kaja back. "Lets get this over with." He heads to the dining room with Kaja on his six.
Neena is leaning against the kitchen counter watching Derek preparing the plates. Kaja told her more than once how Derek has a passion for cooking, but she thought Kaja was talking like a proud parent and over-exaggerated like most parents do when they talk about their children. Derek does have a passion. She sees it by the way he prepares the plates. It didn't escape her attention that he also marked the pans he used with tape so he could keep her dextro-based food separate from the rest.
"That looks wonderful, Derek. I can't wait to try it," says Neena with sincerity.
Derek beams at the turian. "Thanks. I do hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will. Smells wonderful too," says Neena.
Derek grabs two plates, Neena's and his momma's and takes them to the dining room table. Neena grabs the other plates without being asked and follows Derek. The older twin has already made Neena feel welcome, but she has not met Eric. From the look on his face when Kaja and Eric join them, he's not happy she's having dinner with them. Neena's not walking into this relationship with blinders on. She is fully aware Kaja is having problems with Eric. Her first glance at the younger twin, tells Neena he already has an attitude and it's not a good one.
"Thanks, Neena," says Derek as he takes his and his brother's plates from her grasp. "I put your plate there." He points to plate next to Kaja's left and next to him.
Eric normally sits across from Derek, but tonight he grabs his plate and sits where Cass used to sit across from his momma. Kaja gives him a look which screams of her disapproval, but doesn't say anything. He's keeping quiet and being half way civil. Eric's demeanor is screaming deviance. Kaja knows he wants to say something to Neena. She can see it in his eyes and the way he glances at the turian. Please, can we get through dinner without a major blow-up? The asari sits in her normal spot, looks down at her dinner, then says, "Looks great Derek. Thank you." She looks at her other son, "Eric. This is Neena." Kaja points to Neena. "Neena this is my other son, Eric." She points to Eric.
"Hello, Eric. It's very nice to meet you," says Neena. She moves close to shake his hand, which Eric refuses to do.
"Hi," replies the youth. Eric refuses to even make eye contact with Neena. All he does is start shoveling food into his mouth. He figures the sooner he gets done eating, the sooner he can get away from everyone. Derek included and Eric's glad Derek decided to move his stuff to Karrera's room. It's something he has thought about lately, but is too lazy to move himself.
Neena looks at Kaja, who shrugs her shoulders and mouths the words, 'I'm sorry'. She smiles then sits down. Well, this is going to be an interesting evening. Kaja was right. Expect the unexpected. Eric has a hostile aura about him. He's wound tight and the latch is about to break. My heart goes out to Kaja when it does. I'll be there for her too. Neena takes bite and the meat melts in her mouth. "Who taught you how to cook? This is wonderful, Derek."
"Momma, grandma, grandma Mitchell, plus I like to watch those cooking shows on the extranet. It's where I got this recipe from. I'm glad you like it." Derek smiles at Neena before he starts eating his dinner. He cooked two different roasts. The one for Neena he cooked in the oven and the one for his family he cooked on the stove. He cooked the one thing he found quickly that was easy for him to make. Derek plans on looking for more things to cook if Neena comes over for dinner again. Which he hopes she does.
"Really? No professional mentor or anything?" asks Neena. Her tone is playful and she smiles at the young man. "So, if your momma can cook, why do you do most of the cooking?" Neena winks at Kaja.
Derek puts a finger up to let Neena know to wait until he is done chewing before he answers. "Because I like doing it. Momma cooks breakfast. I cook dinner. I don't do much baking like breads or desserts. I might try making bread bowls one day."
Eric rolls his eyes at Derek. You're such a brown-noser. You suck up to momma and now you're doing it to Neena. Your only doing it because she is momma's new girlfriend. I hope she never moves in while I'm living here. I don't need nor want a step-mom. I could give a shit after I move out, and I won't. Cause I'm never looking back once I do. He finishes his plate. Normally, he gets a second helping, but tonight he asks, "May I be excused?"
Kaja nods, "Yes, you may. Please take your plate to the kitchen."
"Yes, ma'am," replies the younger twin as he gets up from the table and takes his plate to the kitchen. This is a night he wishes he wasn't grounded. That way he could leave for a while to get away from everyone. He's grounded and stuck at home. He goes into the study, brings up the extranet, then logs into Age of Dragons. It's early in the evening and none of his friends are online playing. He decides to use his highest level character and camp out in a low level area and kill every player he sees. Or until they get a big enough group to take him down. Then he will move to a new area and harass those players.
Derek wants to say something about his brother, but decides it is in his best interest to keep his mouth shut after glances over to Kaja. She's doing her best to hide her disappointment with Eric, but Derek knows by the way she moves her hand over her lips, she's upset with him. Damn you, Eric. Why do you have to be such an asshat? I don't get you anymore. I don't. You're mad at momma because momma did her job and didn't let you skate when Ben busted you. Derek turns to look at Neena before breaking the uncomfortable silence by asking, "Are you going to be working on the Age of Dragons MMO? I think that would be cool. It's probably what Eric's playing right now."
Neena wipes her lips with a napkin. "No, I was hired to start a new IP from the ground floor. I start on the first. I am sorry, Derek, I can't say anything else beyond that. It's part of my contract that I keep my lips shut about what I am working on until Elysis Games decides to disclose it. Then we can talk about it all day."
"Well, that sucks. I'll find out when everyone else does," complains the older twin. Derek finishes his plate then gets up to get a second helping. He sees Neena is also done with her dinner. "Would you like more, Neena?"
The turian with blue facial markings says, "No thank you, Derek. It was very good. If I was to tell you early, Derek, would you be able to not tell anyone?"
Derek shakes his head. "Nope, I would tell someone."
Kaja adds, "That is why she's not allowed to talk about it. That is how extranet rumors get started too. Remember all the rumors around the game Arcanic Hearts and how people were upset when some of the things being said about the game ended up not being in the game?"
"Yea and that game sucked. Plot, game play, all of it, sucked," saying Derek as he sits down with his plate full again.
Neena comments, "Yes, even I can admit that was a poorly designed game. However, I didn't work on that game. I only know someone who did. I even tried to fix one of the glitches during my free time at home and the code was so written so poorly, I couldn't even attempt at altering it without making it worse."
As Derek and Neena talk about video games, Kaja sits, listens, then thinks how Eric is missing out on a topic he would love to discuss. Especially with someone like Neena, who designs games. She's unsure if Eric will even attempt to get to know Neena and she feels that is unfair to Neena and to Eric himself. He is missing out on getting to know someone who has similar interests as he does. Neena is someone he can learn from, once he decides she's worth getting to know. How can they be so different? Derek had it in his head that he already liked Neena and they are getting along great. Eric did the exact opposite and Neena's going to need a longer bridge to reach him.
Kaja takes the dirty dishes to the kitchen then turns to watch Neena and Derek talking, getting to know each other. Half the battle is over. Unless something major happens between them, Derek and Neena will get along fine. Getting Eric to even consider talking to Neena is a big hurdle and Kaja hopes it's a hurdle they can get over together. The more she is around the turian, the more Kaja realizes the feelings she feels for Neena match the feelings she had for Cass. Unlike with Cass, this relationship is starting off much slower. Kaja wouldn't have it any other way.
When Derek leaves the dining room, Kaja returns to her chair to ask, "Care to go for a walk around the neighborhood? If you want, you can meet my mom. I'm sure she's home."
"Oh sure. That would be nice. Derek went to get some of his drawings to show me," replies the turian. She is really liking the older twin. She's unsure how to take Eric though. He refused to shake her hand and didn't say anything except to ask to be excused. Neena already has her mind made up about Eric and she is willing to gradually get to know him or at least talk to her. Or attempt to anyway. It's up to Eric if he wants to open up to her or not. Neena is willing to try because she feels Kaja is worth the effort.
Neena is glad Kaja's been up front and open about what is going on with the younger twin. With Kaja's openness about her struggles with Eric, it shows Neena that Kaja is willing to share things about herself and not keep things from her. After meeting Eric, Neena understands fully the struggles Kaja goes through on a daily basis. She wants to give the asari the support she deserves because Kaja shouldn't have to burden with this struggle alone. There were times during their talks over the past year when Neena wishes she lived closer so she could hug and hold Kaja. Now that she is closer she plans on doing both if the asari lets her.
Kaja reaches over to put her hand on Neena's. Neena's response is to put her other hand on top of Kaja's. There is a bond, a connection between them. Both feel it, but neither has said anything about it. Kaja worries about Eric's attitude towards her girlfriend and if the bond she has with Neena is strong enough to withstand Eric's attitude. Knowing how Derek feels makes things easier and that will help when and if they decide to take the next step in their relationship.
Derek returns with three different drawings to show Neena. The first picture he shows the turian is the newest one he finished last night. The moon peaking over the mountains drawing. "This is very good, Derek." She sets the drawing on the table so she can point out a few things to him. "I love the way you shaded around this mountain peak. It makes the moon appear brighter. Taking any art classes? You are very talented, Derek." The second drawing like the first one is done in pencil only.
Derek replies, "Yea, I have an art class. Most of what I know, I've learned by trial and error. The class hasn't helped me much, but it's still a good class to have under my belt. I've been drawing since I can remember. The more I draw, the better I get at it." Derek looks at the last drawing. His plan was to have it framed, so he could give it to his momma for her birthday next month. He rather her not see it now. "Um, momma, please leave. I don't want you seeing this one." He holds the drawing close, so Kaja can't see it.
"Ah, okay. What is it you don't want me to see, Derek?" asks Kaja. She attempts to keep her tone playful and light, but it doesn't come across that way.
"Nothing bad. I promise, momma." Derek looks at his drawing then to his momma. He debates showing it to her. It took him weeks to get it looking how he wants it to look and he rather not show it to her before her birthday.
Kaja smiles at him. "Derek, when your done showing off your drawing, Neena and I are going for a walk around the neighborhood. I'm going to tell Eric that while you show Neena what you don't want me to see. Neena, I'll meet you outside." She smirks at her girlfriend then leaves her alone with Derek.
Derek waits until Kaja is out-of sight-before he shows Neena the drawing. "I still need to get this framed, but I'm giving it to momma for her birthday."
"Oh, this is beautiful, Derek. I think your momma will love this. I know I do," says Neena. The drawing is a portrait of Kaja. It's done in full color and Neena is stunned by the accuracy in the details. "How long did it take you to draw this?"
"About two months. I kept redoing the pencil lines before I colored and shaded it. Please, don't tell her about it. I do want it to be a surprise," pleads the young artist.
Neena pats his shoulder, "Don't worry I won't tell her. Did you draw this from memory or did you copy a picture? She looks likes she is looking at something or someone."
Derek answers with pride, "I took a picture over the summer when she was talking to aunt Liv. Aunt Liv and Tracy were here visiting for a few days. Everyone was outside and I saw the look on momma's face and wanted to capture it. Then I decided to draw it. When I got done with it, I decided to get it framed and give it to her for her birthday." He puts the drawing against his chest when he hears Kaja open a door. He grabs his other drawing to hide the one he wants to give his momma, so she can't see it.
Neena chuckles at Derek. "Derek, it's very well done. Your momma is going to love it. I promise, I won't say anything to her about it." She places her hand on her chest then bows.
"Thanks Neena. I think momma is waiting for you. I'll wrap up the leftovers and you can take them home with you," says Derek. He smiles to his momma's girlfriend then takes his drawings back to his room for safe keeping.
Kaja's description about her sons are very accurate. It's another thing Neena finds so endearing about the asari is her honestly and the details she gives when telling someone about something. The turian isn't sure if Kaja is like that with everyone, but she's been that way with her from the moment Liv introduced them. It's refreshing to find someone like Kaja in a galaxy full of pretenders. To find someone who is sexy and beautiful is easy, finding one who has those things plus more, is like finding a needle in a hay stack. If you find that needle, you feel you're the luckiest person alive.
Neena feels she is very lucky to have found someone like Kaja. Someone who continues to push through life's problems and doesn't shy away from them. Sometimes Neena forgets Kaja's parents are the galaxy's most famous couple. Being a Vakarian, Neena knows all too well the pressure a family name carries at times. She heard plenty about Garrus and his adventures with the great Commander Shepard during her time in the military. That was hard enough to deal with, she can only imagine what Kaja and her sisters went through when they were younger.
Kaja is sitting on the front steps waiting for Neena to join her. She smirks up at the turian when Neena opens the door to step outside. "Which drawing of me did he show you? He has always drawn picture of me. I have most of them in a box for safe keeping. The refrigerator used to be full of his drawings and Eric's when he drew something at school. Derek always drew me and Eric always drew Cass."
Neena sits next to Kaja on the steps. She wraps her arm around the asari's shoulder then whispers, "Not saying."
"It must be a new one then." Kaja stands, offers her hand to Neena, "Will you walk with me?"
Neena takes Kaja's hand then stands. "I'd love to."
Kaja and Neena walk down the street, heading towards the small playground a few streets down. The moon is starting to peak above the mountains. There is a slight breeze blowing, causing a few leaves to blow across the street. "I'm sorry about how rude Eric was to you. I told him to be civil and I guess that is what he think is civil." Kaja hangs her head, her son's actions are starting to wear her down.
Neena replies, "Don't be sorry, Kaja. He isn't going to warm up to me any time soon. I can deal with that."
Kaja looks over to the turian walking with her. Her smirk returns. She has what feels like a millions things to say, but isn't sure where to start. The beginning is usually a good place, but Kaja isn't sure what the beginning is. The small playground has a four-person swing, a few slides, plus a big cube structure for the kids to play on. Kaja sits on a bench with a view of the mountains, Neena sits next to her and holds the asari's hand. "I'd like to say a few things. As you can tell from dinner, things at home are anything but perfect. I've tried to explain that the best I can, so you were prepared. I want what we have to work, Neena. Eric is going to make that very difficult, I fear." Kaja feels like crying, but keeps her emotions in check.
Neena sees the sadness in Kaja's eyes and her torment. "I know he will. Remember T'Soni, I'm a Vakarian, we don't run from obstacles, we run through them. I won't let Eric put a wedge between us, Kaja." She reaches up to cup Kaja's cheek.
"Goddess, Neena, you've come into my life when I need someone the most. I don't know if Eric knows it or not. Maybe it's why he's acting the way he is. He wants me to break down, I'm close to it, Neena. I'm not sure how much more I can take from him. All he has done for most of the day is blame me for Cass' death. I see how much he hates me, how he wishes I died and not Cass." Kaja wipes the few tears forming before they roll down her cheek. "Are you sure you want to continue seeing me, Neena? Things with Eric are going to get worse before they get better."
Neena moves enough to kiss Kaja fully on the lips. "That's your answer, Kaja. I'm here for you and I've been meaning to say this since last night. Well, I've felt this way for the past few months, but wasn't sure on my feelings until I was with you last night and again tonight. I love you, Kaja. Everything you've told me about Derek, Eric, and how things are with them has been accurate. Most people sugarcoat things and you didn't do that. I admire the fact you have put aside your own desires to make sure you've been there for your kids. You said the last time we talked before I moved, how you were starting to need more than just being their parent. How you needed someone to confide in that wasn't your mom or sisters. I'm here for you, Kaja. I'm sure the road will be bumpy. I am prepared for the bumpy ride. I have my safety harness attached." She smiles at Kaja, reassuring her things between them can and will work.
The Shepard smirk reappears on Kaja's face. "Are you sure it's properly attached? This is going to be a very bump ride, Neena. I don't want you getting hurt." Kaja puts her forehead against Neena's then closes her eyes. Feeling the turian's skin against hers has Kaja wanting to take Neena home and meld with her until the sun comes up. She opens her eyes then moves her head so she can look into Neena's eyes. "I have to say this, you remind me so much of Cass. Which is funny considering she was a human and you're a turian. My feelings for you, Neena, match the feelings I had for Cass. I suppose this is my way of saying I love you too. Which I do. Eric's attitude is going to make thing harder than they need to be. I can't stress that enough."
"Yes, I'm sure my safety harness is properly attached." Neena runs her thumb across Kaja's cheek. "I know things are going to get rough, but I'm okay with that. I'm fairly sure I'm strong enough to handle anything your son throws my way, Kaja. Besides, I think I've already won over Derek."
Kaja kisses Neena on the cheek then fully on the lips. They lose themselves in their kiss until a uniform patrolman walks by informing people the park is closing soon. "We should probably get back. You can meet my mom another time."
"It's so beautiful here. So much different from Palaven or the Citadel. I think I'm going to like living here, Kaja. Even though my apartment doesn't have this view." Neena wraps her arm around Kaja's waist as they walk back to the house.
Eric is still playing Age of Dragons and still messing with lower level players with his high level mage, when Derek logs on. Derek sends him a message asking what he is doing and Eric ignores it. He's too focused on killing the small group of players near him. He continues to ignore his brother until Derek sees what Eric is doing then logs off and back on again using his high level mage to battle against Eric. What the younger doesn't know is, Derek is at the factions home base getting a group together of other high level characters to deal with him, so the lower level players can get their quests done without being harassed by Eric.
Derek's group marches towards Eric's character and kill him in less than ten seconds. Eric respawns at a medical station near the area he was camping in and Derek's group shows up to kill him again. This goes on for the next fifteen minutes before Eric has enough and logs off. He storms into the living room where Derek is playing, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Couldn't I ask you the same?" remarks Derek. He tells the group thanks for their help then logs off.
"I was enjoying playing by myself until you showed up. That is what I was doing. What do you want, Derek?" barks Eric.
Derek stands then moves closer to his brother. "What is wrong with you? You've cut me off, why? I move my stuff to Karrera's bedroom and you don't even say anything about it. What is going on? Why can't you talk to me, but you can talk to Karrera?"
Eric glares at his twin. "You kiss momma's ass all the time. I'm glad you moved out. It gives me more space and keeps me from having to move."
"I don't kiss momma's ass. I happen to love our momma even though you obviously don't any more. I don't even understand why you hate her so much. What has she done that is so horrible? She loves us. She always says so and her actions always show it too. I have days I hate things too, but I don't hate momma. Don't you think I didn't notice the glares you gave momma today while we were out shopping and getting our hair cut. You got busted and momma did her job but you are pissed about that. Momma put her life on the line to protect us and our community every day and you think she's going to bend the rules for you! Hell, even I don't think that." Derek shakes his head.
"She got mom killed you dumb ass. Momma messed up and mom paid for it," rages Eric.
The twins are standing toe to toe, staring at each other. "You have a twisted view on what happened to mom. Maybe you don't remember, but I remember the nights where I heard momma crying in her room. She misses mom too. Don't think she doesn't because she does."
"Humph, if momma misses mom so much, why does she have a girlfriend? One that suddenly appeared today." Eric rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
"Because mom's not with us anymore. Damn, Eric, do you really want momma to be alone because mom died? You don't pay attention when momma talks do you? She met Neena when we were with grandma and grandpa Mitchell last summer at the vacation home on Earth. They've been talking to each other since." Derek can't believe the things Eric is saying. Does his brother truly hate their momma so much, he wants her to mourn their mom forever? Derek thinks that's a twisted view and one he doesn't agree with.
"You want to know why I can talk to Karrera and not you because Karrera doesn't judge me like you do. You always take momma's side. Where Karrera lets me talk and she just listens. You always have to justify momma's actions and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of her and I'm sick of you." Eric pushes Derek, then walks to his bedroom and slams the door closed.
Derek is stunned by Eric's comments. Being dumbfounded is an understatement and the older twin stands in the middle of the living room blinking his eyes, trying to figure why his twin is raging like he is. It's not making sense to him. He sits down in a chair then decides to watch a horror vid. He thinks Eric has forgotten he is also grounded and stuck at home.
Kaja holds Neena close as they wait for Neena's taxi to arrive. Both agree it's in everyone's best interest to move their relationship at a snail's pace. Neena is fully aware Eric doesn't like her and probably will never like her, but Neena isn't going to let Kaja's son ruin how she feels about Kaja. She's dated plenty of turians and even another asari before meeting Kaja and no one has warmed her spirits like Shepard's oldest daughter has.
Their plan for the next few months is for Neena to come to the house for dinner a few nights a week and for them going out on dates on the weekends. Kaja's goal is for Neena to join them doing family things like going to the amusement park or taking a vacation or even a weekend away together. Neena doesn't start her new job for several more days, but once she starts working on her new game, she won't have as much free time.
Both know things won't always go as smooth as they want it to and Eric will factor into that. Neither have any idea when or if Eric will ever accepts Neena. However, they're not going to let his disapproval deter them. Kaja needs someone in her life besides family and friends and being around Neena has made her realize how much she misses having an anchor to help keep her grounded. Cass filled a hole that was created when Leia died, Neena is filling the hole left from Cass' death. Kaja feels if they can get through the crap Eric is going to put them through, they will be together for a long time. The asari senses Neena feels the same.
Neena's taxi finally arrives. Kaja gives her a quick kiss then watches her girlfriend leave for the night. As the taxi flies away, a smirk appears on the asari's face. All she can think about is who would have thought a T'Soni and a Vakarian would fall in love. Kaja has fond memories of Garrus growing up. He did teach her how to use a sniper rifle. She shakes her head at the memory of the many sniper contests that went on between her father and Garrus.
The road ahead looks bumpy. Kaja has a renewed determination to try to make her relationships work. Hopefully, Eric will start to turns things around after his court hearing on Wednesday. Maybe he will finally understand he's on the wrong path. Maybe Eric will finally move past losing his mother over nine years ago. There's a lot of maybe in the future, but Kaja feels she has one thing going for her. Neena's love and support.