Alto Valeur, Fleurdelis, New Corsica

March 3, 2558

"New deal?" Marcus asked as they went inside another clothing boutique. Just another stop in their outdoor mall adventure in Ayunean, one of the holo-boards in the shopping center had an advertisement for a fragrance and Gabrielle was the model, dressed in dark blue lingerie holding a bottle of the product while lying down in a seductive pose with a finger gracing her lips.

"It was for two years," She was just beside him, frowning as she examined several dresses. "Not to mention someone from Blue Dawson had contacted me for a future opportunity. I hope you don't mind I'm eye candy for the public."

"Well good." He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow at the latter, "I'm glad you actually attained your dream of a modeling career."

"And I did it all for my sister. She had always wanted to be one and I feel like I fulfilled it for her,"

Marcus hugged her with one arm, "Gabs, I want you to do whatever you love. Do it because you want to, not because it was an aspiration of your sister because you will be stuck in it regardless if you like it or not. If it's not your thing, then stop modeling. You earn plenty of money with your photography career and I will continue to love and support you no matter if you choose either one or both."

"It's something I want to do," She said, determined, "And I hope you know that I will continue to love and support you as a Spartan." He felt a playful hit on his arm, "Even though you pretty much break my heart every time you leave."

"I promise every time I come back, I'll make it up to you."

"I'm just worried about the time you won't."

Clearly it was a touchy subject for her, so he decided against continuing it and they kept browsing the store. Gabrielle had gotten several different outfits and tried them on, each for several minutes. Austal enjoyed shopping with his wife, but he began to get anxious as standing around and doing nothing didn't sit well with him. Nevertheless, he maintained a patient attitude as best he could.

"That one looks really good on you," He remarked as she had tried on a strapless satin silver dress that went down just below her knees. It sparkled in the light just enough to give off a dazzling appeal.

"I wish they had one in purple," She looked at herself in the mirror and made one final adjustment, undoing the ponytail and letting her auburn hair fall out past her shoulders.

"My favorite is you in purple,"

"Oh really? So I'd look good in Covenant colors?" She teased.

When her husband didn't reply, she turned around to look behind her, seeing that he was looking elsewhere.

Then she spotted what had caught his attention.

There were three of them, probably in their late teens or maybe even twenty, not much younger than either of the Austals. They wore those trendy "fabbed" clothes, nearly uniformed apparel which was typical by entitled college brats.

One of them spotted Gabrielle and had immediately made the connection, seeing the holo-advertisement outside. He leaned over to his cohorts and whispered something, all of them smiling over whatever was said. They began to watch her as she looked over herself in the reflection.

Marcus had been observing them covertly out of the corner of his eyes, first picking up their presence by their obnoxious talking and snickering that could be heard through the entire boutique. He was very protective of his family and friends and took no chances with anybody to put his wife's safety at risk, even if he was just being paranoid. If anything, it was solidified now that she had made her way into the modeling industry and although her confidence had greatly improved; she still would quite uncomfortable without him around.

His guard went up immediately when the trio whispered something else and began to make their way over in their direction when he turned around to face them. He never said a word and gave off a penetrative stare.

He didn't have to say anything either.

All three halted in their tracks when they saw that the man accompanying the model was giving off a clear message; they were not invited any closer. He almost thought that the "leader" was sizing him up for a moment when they briefly locked eyes.

They stood opposite for about five seconds, likely thinking about if getting that autograph, photo or Chatter profile was worth confronting him. Finally, one of them had decided against it and tapped the other two, whispered something and motioned towards the exit. He caught part of it as "Spartan"

The leader quickly agreed and Marcus relaxed his posture when they turned around to hastily leave the store to avoid making a scene. He continued to watch the entrance until the boys had disappeared from sight; one would occasionally glance back at him as they departed to see if he was still watching.

He breathed out a sigh of relief, just realizing he was holding in his breath during the confrontation. Gabrielle had caught the last moments of what had happened and she thanked him with a smile, but at the same time was concerned for him. He was probably on guard as soon as they left their home. She was grateful for his protectiveness but was worried that it would tire him.

They took a run to a supermarket to stock groceries after shopping and were on the highway later that day. This time, the sky was not its usual orange and pink sunset and dark clouds loomed overhead. The moment they had gone onto the highway; fat drops of rain began to pelt the windshield of Marcus' Hog. He hit a button and the open canopy of the vehicle was replaced by windshields, just in time to save both of them from the shower.

"Thanks for what you did back there at the store," Gabrielle tenderly thanked, "Since I'm a public icon, I'm going to get a lot of attention wherever I go."

"I just want you to relax and feel comfortable wherever we go." He assured her.

"Well part of me being that way is if you're comfortable too," She looked back at the road ahead, "Do you think I should change my look? Maybe I won't be recognizable anymore,"

"You'd do that for me?"

"I don't know. I just don't want to lose you over my dream,"

"Gabs look at me," Marcus demanded, "Look at me," He repeated when she didn't respond.

Slowly, he lifted her face up until he gently gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, "You have to stop trying to appease everyone and start thinking about what Gabrielle wants. If you want to change how you look, do it because it's what YOU want."

"This sounds a lot like what you told me in the store,"

"That's because it is. You're still thinking about how everyone is going to look at you in a negative light. I'd fully believe anyone is stupid that doesn't think you're an attractive human being. You don't even have to try to please everyone, this is not the Gabrielle I fell in love with and wanted to marry."

"What about your protectiveness?"

"Gabs I'm a Spartan. Being on my guard is in my nature. It's who I am and it won't change no matter who you are or what your profession is. I've always been very protective of people close to me." He paused, "Is there anything from me that you're not getting?"

"A kiss,"

"Coming right up," He made sure to engage the roadware on autopilot before fulfilling the request just as the rain finally stopped tapping on the glass.

Marcus' heart skipped a beat when he saw a car parked on the side of their driveway. Once again, his guard went up, it didn't look familiar at all. Madeline's own convertible 2558 MLX was in the driveway.

Gabrielle sensed her husband's uneasiness and put a hand over his, "I've never seen that car,"

"Me neither," He parked the Hog right in front of the garage door and opened the glove compartment o reveal a UNSC CQC WS combat knife in a sheath. Tucking it into the side of his pants where he could quickly draw it out while remaining concealed, he stopped at her side, "Stay here."

He was halfway up the front, expecting a hostage standoff when the said girl flung open the door, jumping into his arms with an exited squeal.

"Madeline," He grunted from her crushing bear hug and jerked his head towards the unknown vehicle, "whose car is that?"

"That would be mine, even though it is a rental,"

The voice startled him and he couldn't help but form a smile on his face as he looked up.

"Uncle Richard!" He broke free of her grip and headed right up to greet the person who was the fatherlike figure to him growing up.

Richard Austal was his biological father's younger brother and his looks betrayed his age. Standing five foot eleven, he had the family normality, steel gray eyes and auburn hair neatly trimmed. His jawline was pronounced and while he had been in excellent shape, age was beginning to catch up to him. Even for a man in his mid-fifties, there was only a slight paunch to his figure.

He owned a landscaping business in San Diego for private residences, which was where Marcus was relocated to resume his life once his own parents had died.

Marcus extended his hand, which Richard promptly shook before pulling the Spartan in for a reunion hug and customary clap on the back.

"When I heard you became a Spartan, I knew you were going to be big," He gestured to him as a whole, "Just not this big!"

Another squeal, this time from an older woman came from inside the house. She appeared just moments later and crushed him in another bear hug.

"Aunt Jeanine," He breathed, "You should've told me that you guys were coming."

"Actually, they didn't," Madeline corrected him; "They just showed up saying that they were looking for you, hearing that you got a new house. I immediately saw you inside Mr. Austal here and made the connection."

Richard's wife, Jeanine Austal was five foot ten with long blonde hair and gray eyes. Like her husband, age was starting to take hold and wrinkles had just begin to show themselves, but it was clear that she was still a very striking woman. Similarly, her figure was very trim and in good shape for someone in their mid-fifties.

"Look at you," She playfully squeezed Marcus' arm, "When you become a Spartan, do you eat nails for breakfast?"

"Maybe liquid nails," This made all four of them roar with laughter.

"You have such a beautiful house," She went on, giving a wink to Madeline, "And you found a beautiful girl too,"

"Actually," He jumped in, "I didn't just become a Spartan," Holding up his left hand, he revealed the ring on his finger, "I got married too."

Hurrying back, he opened the Hog's door, "C'mon."

Holding Gabrielle's hand, he came back to the front entrance, "Aunt Jeanine and Uncle Richard, I'd like you to meet my wife, Gabrielle." He gestured to his adoptive "parents", "Gabs, this is my Uncle Richard and Aunt Jeanine. They raised me when my parents died."

Jeanine was the first to approach and she narrowed her eyes as if studying her. Gabrielle tried her best not to recoil from the stare.

Finally after a few moments, she said, "Blue Dawson."

"I…"

"You're on some of the advertisements for Blue Dawson,"

"Yes…" Almost shyly, she extended her hand out, but instead was pulled into a hug.

"No shaking hands here," Jeanine chastised, "You're an Austal, which means you're family."

Everyone laughed at that.

"Speaking of family, where's Von at? Was he able to make it out here?"

"Actually he's actually started a business."

"Wow! Good for him! What kind of a business?"

"He makes his own beer,"

"No way!"

"We brought some of it for you guys to try out and I guarantee that it's going to be very popular here."

"Can't wait."

"And he is not going to believe how big you've gotten!"

"C'mon," Jeanine gestured to the door, "Madeline gave us a tour of the house so let's pop a bottle of champagne and beer and I'll whip up some of my famous salad and garlic bread," She put an arm around Gabrielle and led her inside, "We used to go to a market in San Diego that had extremely cheap and local produce. Marcus and my own son Von LOVED my garlic bread so much that by the time dinner was served, there was hardly any left with them both squabbling over the last piece."

Richard had left to join his wife, leaving Marcus and Madeline outside.

"That went better than I expected," She said after a moment, "I'm glad she's really becoming a part of your family."

He nodded, "They love her already."

"Anyway, they just showed up when the yard guys were leaving and I couldn't exactly go away from the house with them around. Also took a bit of explaining to tell them I wasn't your girlfriend," She wiggled her eyebrows at him, "I think they just wanted to put you through that uncomfortable feeling."

"Then I owe you,"

"Nah," She lightly hit his arm in a playful way, "Why don't you give Gabrielle a good time when your guests leave,"

"If they're not staying here, I bet they were impressed with the entire house, including the guest bedrooms,"

"Yup," She glanced at the Chatter on her wrist, "I better get going."

"Sure you don't want to stay? Like my aunt said, she's cooking and you do not want to miss out on her garlic bread."

"I don't want to feel like a third wheel though,"

"Madeline, this isn't a date, we're just family getting together to enjoy ourselves and catch up. My aunt and uncle will see that you're my wife's best friend and they'll welcome you with open arms. If they didn't they would've kicked you out of the house already. Trust me, Jeanine's an ex-Air Force control."

"If you say so."

"Believe me; you'll be lucky if you manage to have one piece of bread before I devour all of it."

Yup, there are more Austals out there! We finally meet Marcus' adoptive "parents" or rather his aunt and uncle who raised him in San Diego.

Thanks for reading and reviewing as always, you give my writing purpose.