Aftermath

"Tyr? What are you doing here?" Rachel asked in shock. She'd only ever met the prince at parties and events. She didn't know that he made house calls.

"I heard that my baby was back in town and thought I'd come to see her," he said sweetly. The economics professor opened the door to admit her unexpected guest.

"I'm afraid that Alandra is not in the mood to entertain. It took all my persuasive talents to convince her to see me today. Apparently, there was an incident in California that she won't tell me about and she got a major dressing down the entire plane ride- did you just say 'baby'?"

Tyr ignored her as he took in the emotionally destroyed woman weeping silently on the couch. She was curled up in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt that was two sizes too big for her. Without a word, he opened his arms to her and smiled in equal parts amusement and sadness when she bolted off the couch and crashed into him. She was trembling and all the Prince of Alibhai wanted was for that to stop.

"Tell me what happened," he commanded softly. She shook her head where she was buried in his chest and gave a shuddering sigh.

"I'm… I swear I'm stronger than this. I've just never seen Mr. Whitmore so angry before. I'm so tired…"

"Then sleep, saghirati almufajia," he chuckled. "I will be here when you wake." (my little surprising one)

The woman slumped in his arms, so he led her back to the couch. He laid out on the couch and had her curl up against him with her head on his chest. A few minutes of listening to his strong heartbeat and she was out like a light.

"What do you think happened?" Rachel asked quietly once she was sure her friend was fully asleep.

I don't know. But I intend to find out," he said with a glint in his eye. The two chatted amicably for a bit before Tyr gave in to the siren's song of sleep. Nick Young and his cousin came home to this charming little vignette.

"Oh no. No, no, no! Alandra and Tyr are not meant to be together," Oliver said, coming over to break up the scene. Tyr grabbed his hand when he went to wake up the exhausted woman.

"My little one is tired from her trip. Do not disturb her."

"Tyr, will you listen to yourself? 'My little one'? You need to take a step back and gain some perspective. Landi is not the right woman for you. You are too different! There's a whole world of women out there! Why must you have this one?" Anasazi thought about it for a long time, hugging the woman close to him as she snuggled up against his body.

"Because… She's the one woman in the world who makes my heart hurt when she isn't around," he answered at last. The three people in the living room blatantly gawked as he breathed in her floral scent and relaxed into the comfy couch to sleep.

… …

Landi woke up disoriented. This was a new experience for the woman. Instead of panicking like she felt she should, she checked her watch, snuggling against her pillow as she tried to remember the last day or so. The trip. She'd been in Los Angeles for the last week. The roofie incident. Whitmore yelling at her… She'd gone to church and got a call from Rachel to confirm tomorrow. But she'd been so upset that her friend had insisted that she come over today…

Oh crap.

As she tensed to sit up, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist. This cleared the last of the cobwebs out of her head. She was being held in her suitor's arms, using his muscular body as a surprisingly comfortable pillow. The thump under her ear was his heartbeat. Most surprising of all, she'd never felt so safe before.

"It's about time you woke up," she heard Oliver say in annoyance from somewhere nearby. "Your boyfriend wouldn't let us move you to the guest room to make you more comfortable."

"I'm very comfortable, Ollie," she said with a yawn. "Sorry I fell asleep on you again," she told her pillow contritely. "This is getting to be a habit." She sighed happily as he traced her forehead to her cheek with a wandering finger.

"I don't mind," he whispered against her ear once he finished his exploration. "What time is your dinner tonight?" He restrained her once again when she tried to sit up.

"I have three hours to get ready. I need to get home, shower, and change. But I was thinking of skipping it. I'm not up for another lecture. I'll call Mr. Joshua from my place and beg off." She moved to put thought to action and was surprised to find herself restrained once more. "Um, Tyr? You can let go now. I have things I've got to do."

"But I like you right where you are, little one," he teased her. She flushed, feeling what he was talking about. Everything of hers was pressed quite firmly against everything of his and some of those parts were beginning to notice. Before she could properly panic about that, the prince released her with a sexy chuckle that made her toes curl and helped her up off of him. Standing, he grinned teasingly at her. "You have quite a firm body, Landi. Do you work out?" Alandra took a moment to ground her raging hormones in the fact that she wasn't getting any tonight and focused on the question instead of the way his mouth formed words.

"Um… Yes! I lift heavy at my 24-hour gym. It keeps me lean and svelte."

"I thought so. Perhaps we can work out together sometime. Maybe spar?"

"I… I work out at weird times, your highness. That may not be-" Her words died in her throat when he leaned in to talk to her.

"Tyr, Alandra. My girlfriend calls me Tyr. And I have nothing to occupy my days. It would be an honor to work out with you."

"… okay, T-Tyr," she answered shyly. She flushed at Rachel's knowing look. "I should get home. I didn't mean to stay here this long."

"That's fine, Landi," Rachel laughed. "We're still playing hooky tomorrow, right?"

"Indubitably. We can hang out in Greenwich Village. There's this crepe place down there. They stuff the wrap full of meat, vegetables and cheese… So, so good," she said dreamily. The two women giggled, already planning their day.

"Girl's day out?" Tyr asked curiously, smiling at her charmingly.

"'Fraid so," she said, feeling her face heating up. "We've been planning this for weeks now."

"Let's get you home, Landi," he responded.

"Oh, I'll just call a cab. And another to Mr. Joshua's home. I-"

"I enjoy spending time with you, Alandra. In fact, I was thinking of inviting myself to your dinner tonight."

"You don't want to do that," Landi said seriously. "Anything they have to say about you will not be complimentary. And you are likely to be the primary subject of conversation tonight." Tyr chuckled indulgently at her, making her feel defensive. "You think I'm lying?"

"No, saghirati althamina. I don't believe you are capable of deceit. It's just amusing to me that you are trying to protect me. I'm a big boy. I can handle their criticism." She looked at him skeptically. "I promise." (my precious little one)

"Don't say I didn't warn you. You think Oliver hates your guts? That's nothing. Mr. Myers and his family tend to go for blood. And they're all up on current events, so they'll go for the throat if they can."

"Just to be clear, I don't hate his guts," Oliver said firmly. "I just think that the two of you don't suit. You are a very pious person and our prince here is a runaround Sue. This relationship is asking for trouble. But some people have to learn the hard way."

"Thank you for caring," Landi said happily, going over to the effeminate man to kiss his cheek sweetly. Afterward, she turned to her suitor to see him looking at her strangely. If she didn't know better, she would think he was jealous. But why? Before she could question him about it, he smiled at her in that slow and sexy way that had her flushing yet again.

"Shall we?" He asked with a smirk.

"See y'all later! Expect me around ten tomorrow, Rachel. Prepare for a day of fun, gossip, and shopping!" The two women laughed as she exited the domicile. She had fun joking with Tyr's bodyguards on the way back to her apartment. Once there, she called her boss.

"I know what you're going to say, Landi, and I still want you to come to dinner tonight."

I'm not up for another lecture, Mr. Josh. Six hours on the plane was more than enough for my sanity. "

"I promise no lectures. Grace would be very upset if you didn't come. And that's to say nothing of my sons and their wives. Even my grandchildren are looking forward to seeing you tonight."

"Speaking of guests, I'm bringing Tyr with me," she pushed on, knowing that she wasn't going to get a better segue than that. "He's my ride tonight."

"Absolutely not."

"Look, if we're not discussing my faux pax, we'll be discussing my choice in men. And Tyr is already well aware that he's going to star in all the talks tonight. He still wants to come."

"Landi, why are you with this man? You know what he is. You know that he's only going to hurt you in the long run."

"I want him. I want him and I will have him. There's this pull towards him I can't deny. I've never felt anything like it in my life. That's the best I can do for answers, Mr. Josh. I'm sorry that I'm disappointing you, but I have to follow where my heart leads me, no matter the consequences."

"Give yourself some time. There are plenty of bright, young men that-"

"Tyr comes or I don't," she said flatly. A silence descended on the line. Landi knew that she was over the line. One did not give ultimatums to the Myers brothers, but this was more important than the man's pride. If she was going to be called out all night for her poor choices in men, the man in question ought to be there to explain himself.

"I'll… I'll have Mrs. Ceeta prepare a little extra for your… guest tonight."

"Mama Ceeta's leftovers are worthy of five-star restaurants, much less her actual food." Joshua couldn't help a chuckle at her enthusiasm.

"I'll be sure to pass on your compliments to the chef. We'll see you in a few hours."

"See ya soon, Mr. Josh. I gotta hop in the shower and get myself ready."

"Are you hopping in the shower alone?" the man asked casually. She was sure he could hear her smirk through the phone.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. I shower alone."

"Good girl. I'll see you tonight."

"Bye!" She sighed in exasperation as she hung up. That he would think that she would sell herself so short! Hmph! Tyr was smooth, but he did not have the ability to charm her out of her clothes!

"Were you able to score me an invite?" Tyr asked from her living room.

'Yet,' her mind chirped smugly. Shaking her head free of such thoughts, she focused on the task at hand. Door locked, check. Water warming up, check. Outfit for the dinner, check. Jewelry to match the outfit, check.

"Landi?"

"Sorry, just checking over my outfit for the night. Yes. You are invited to the dinner. I'm going to shower now. I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Sure you don't need help?" he asked suggestively, trying the bedroom door and laughing when he found it locked.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I won't be long." The woman took the fastest shower of her life. Smoothing lotion on her supple limbs, she pulled on her red linen-blend pants. The wide-legged pants hid her low-heeled sandals. She had a lightweight black cotton sweater tank top under her matching red linen-blend blazer. A pair of medium silver hoops, her silver charm bracelet, and her silver necklace with a butterfly ornament completed her outfit. A swipe of her favorite peach-flavored lip gloss and she was ready to go.

"Tyr, you should invite your bodyguards into the kitchen at least. Mama Ceeta would never let them go hungry and she would love the company." She looked up in time to catch his look of wonder at her complete outfit for the night. The look of gentle awe on his handsome face was enough to bring color to her cheeks despite her skin tone.

"Always thinking of others, aren't you? I want a good, appropriate nickname for you, saghirati althamina," he said firmly. Alandra could only smile awkwardly as she grabbed her black linen purse from the closet, transferring her things to it for the night. There wasn't much and it didn't take long for her to finish her task. (my precious little one)

"Whatever you want to call me is fine, Tyr. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that a bona fide prince is talking to me." The man pressed up against her back as she opened the door.

"You don't act like you're in awe," he whispered against her ear.

"That would o-only boost your ego," she whimpered softly. Clearing her throat, she turned and pushed him off of her. "Do you need to go to the bathroom before we go?" At this, the man really did laugh, to her chagrin.

"Aldubu mama?" he asked with a chuckle. "I haven't been asked that since I was a child. And even then, not often. I can see why you make such a good prosecutor." (Mama bear)

"Thanks, I guess," she griped. "Though a simple 'no' would have sufficed. And I'm a good prosecutor because I studied hard at school. I knew this was my calling, so I worked hard on it. The proof is in the pudding. I have a very comfortable lifestyle and savings should things go downhill. No one can ask more from the Lord." She opened the door and paused when she noticed her suitor taking in her spacious three-bedroom apartment. It was more room than one person needed but somehow fit her personality. "Let's go. I don't want to be late." She breathed a sigh of relief when he complied.

"Have you worked out today?" he asked as they headed for the elevator.

"No. But I knew it was going to be a rough day, so I didn't plan to work out anyway. I'll get in a good one before hanging out with Rachel tomorrow morning." Tyr seemed to contemplate that as the elevator descended.

"Call me on the way to your gym. I'll join you."

"You don't have to…" She was silenced by the look in his eyes as he opened her apartment door for her.

"Call me on the way to your gym. I'll join you," he repeated firmly.

"Okay," she said breathlessly as she made a beeline for the car. It was nice to drive in a car with diplomatic tags. These people could park anywhere they wanted to without repercussions.

"What are you thinking about?" her man asked once they were on the road again, heading to her boss' house through the muggy heat and New York traffic.

"I was just thinking how nice it must be to park anywhere you want in the city. New York is a parking nightmare, but not for you. You've got a golden ticket."

"We still have to be careful where we park and for how long, Landi," Hazma told her as he merged into traffic. "Getting in the way of construction or school zones… They can't ticket us, but we get rude gestures and angry looks. I try to be polite. We're here first and foremost to make friends among the people."

"I guess you can't do that by being jerks on the road," she grinned mischievously before turning to her boyfriend. Her ears started burning at the look of gentle awe and wonder on his handsome face. "What?"

"Your views of the world are so much simpler than mine," Tyr said with a warm smile.

"Would you prefer if I were a jaded bitch like your other conquests?"

"Never," he said firmly, taking her arm and caressing it where his bracelet lay. "I much prefer wondering what is going on in that gorgeous head of yours and being caught off guard by your insights." He lifted her arm to his lips and placed a chaste kiss where her bracelet lay. Landi's blood fired and she resolved then and there that not a single drop of liquor would pass her lips tonight. Then he was talking again and she forced herself to pay attention. He really had an attractive mouth. "I noticed that you don't have much of a social media presence. Why is that?"

"I just don't. For one thing, I don't have time to 'keep up with the Kardashians' and the like with all the hours I work. Two, there's so much nonsense and drama on the net that it's annoying to me and not worth it. And third, I have a bit of a Superman complex. I don't want anything out there that might lead any enemies of mine back to my loved ones." There was that look again. She lowered her head and focused on her wrist where he was still massaging the skin around her bracelet.

"There's that analytical brain of yours. I admire your commitment to those you love. It made me have to dig a little deeper to find out about you," Tyr lifted her head with a wonderfully callused finger under her chin. "I enjoyed the challenge. I still do to be honest. I know more about your friends and family than I do about you at this point." The woman nodded, feeling dazed.

"Like… Like what?" she finally remembered to ask.

"Like your two brothers are an architect/devout Baptist minister and an agnostic neurosurgeon in the most prestigious private sector hospital in the country. Your mom is a hairdresser and your father supported your family by running his own limousine business built from the ground up. Nobody wanted to go into the family business?"

"My dad is a bit… Much to deal with on a daily basis. Growing up he used the business as an incentive not to mess up in life. Like, 'you'd better keep those grades up or you'll end up working next to me in the dirt'. Following in the old man's footsteps was never a palatable option. It encouraged each of us to go out and build something of our own."

"But none of you are entrepreneurs," he said in confusion. "You all work for someone else."

"Ah, but the potential is there. We all have very comfortable lives in the city. And each of us has done something to help out our parents over the years. Considering the number of setbacks we had growing up and the sacrifices we made to keep Daddy's business running, I don't think any of us are interested in the business. I think he wanted it that way. Daddy's always crowing about how he's going to 'cash out' someday and move to the Hamptons with Mom. But he loves working with people too much to ever actually do it. You should hear him some time."

"I plan to," he said firmly. She ducked her head, feeling her face heating up.

"What about you?" she asked to keep the conversation going. "Your dad is king, but what about the rest of your family?"

"Mother never had a profession. She was always perfectly happy to do what needed doing around the castle. First raising her children and now her philanthropic efforts. My younger sister is studying… I think it's art history this semester. She's a professional student. She loves being in college."

"Everybody does," she smiled, biting back what he would surely think was a snap judgment on her part.

"Oh no. I'm not going to let you get away with saying so little, Madam Attorney. What's the matter with my sister being in college for so long?" Landi chose her words carefully.

"I'm not judging, honey. Everyone has their reasons for going to and staying in college. For some, it's the challenge. For some, it's just the next logical step in their life path. But for some, it's a fear of commitment. I mean, as long as you can put 'student' on applications, people will not expect too much of you. Like, you're a chrysalis, waiting to emerge as a butterfly. I loved my time as a student, and given time and enough money, I would have happily stayed there for fifty years. But eventually, you have to get started on your actual life. How can you get started if you're standing around at the starting line?" Tyr looked amazed. Then he laughed. "You're always laughing at me. I'm not sure whether I should be insulted or not."

"No, my love. It's just… No one has ever spoken so freely to me about anything. You are no respecter of persons, are you?" He continued to hold her arm when she tried to snatch it away, something that pissed her off. She wasn't some ditzy, naïve girl! She was a serious-minded woman of the world. One who was used to having her opinions taken seriously!

Tyr, seeming to understand that she was not happy with him at the moment, placed a tender kiss on the inside of her wrist, causing her to shiver. "I'm not laughing at you, I swear. I'm laughing at myself that I lack the articulation to express in six years what you just did in a handful of sentences. Mind if I steal your words, Aldubu mama? Jubilee could benefit from hearing such a bold statement from someone unrelated to her." Landi felt herself blushing and her anger diminishing with his sweet words. (Mama bear)

"Flatterer," she said quietly.

"Every word of it is true," he said, placing yet another kiss on her inner wrist. "Your eyes are dilated, little love. I like it. Tell me about you. How many languages do you speak? Why do you speak so many languages?"

"Languages have been an obsession of mine since I was a little girl. It essentially springs from the fact that I'm newsy. I have always had a deep-seated need to know what people are saying around me. I speak Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Gaelic, Filipino, Punjabi, Hindi, Chinese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Latin, German, Arabic, French, Tagalog, and of course English. I've slowed down in my languages since leaving school. I want to try my hand at Swahili, but I just never have the time." All three men were gawking at her openly.

"You speak eighteen languages?"

"I'm passable in others," she said with an embarrassed shrug. "But those are the only ones I'm fluent in. Like I said, I'm newsy."

"You're your own miniature UN," Omar laughed. "If I might ask, how did you find time to study to be a lawyer with all those languages crammed in your head?"

"Oh, languages are a hobby of mine," she assured him. "As a kid, I was always listening to accents and studying syntax. I made friends with kids just so I could try out my skills on them. That's how I got so good at speaking so many languages. Not to mention some of them are similar and it made them easier to learn. It wasn't all heavy lifting."

"You give yourself too little credit, dear lady," Hazma said. "Most people are hard-pressed to learn two languages. Our entire country is bi-lingual and that's an amazing accomplishment. You… You are practically a universal translator. You have quite a gift." Alandra ducked her head, her face on fire. The men, sensing her extreme embarrassment, dropped the subject and silence permeated the car for the last stretch of the drive.

"He's right, you know, Aldubu mama. There is so much to you. So much to know about you. I'm happy to be your man," he said, kissing her wrist again. She sat forward boldly, feeling aroused and shy at the same time. (Mama bear)

"You c-could just kiss me," she stuttered, suddenly feeling very young. Tyr looked over her trembling form and smiled slyly.

"Nah. I am enjoying myself too much to stop. Your skin is so supple and feels exquisite. Perhaps a small taste before dinner?" At this, he lathed the spot on her wrist that he'd been kissing with his tongue before kissing it thoroughly. Alandra shuddered, bucked against her seatbelt, and tried to pull her arm away, only to once again be denied. He only stopped when he followed her arm with his face until there was barely an inch between their faces. Their breath mingled in front of her shocked face. Her eyelids felt so heavy…

"I very much want to claim your lips, little one. But… We've arrived at our destination," he said regretfully. He kissed her cheek tenderly. "Your body is such a delightful distraction. But Joshua would not appreciate it if he caught us making out in the car like a couple of teenagers. Bodyguards or no bodyguards."

"Who?" she said, having no idea what he was talking about at the moment. His warm, sexy laughter against her ear brought her back to reality. "I… I um…"

"Too much of a distraction, my siren. Let us take the emotional temperature down a bit. Are we okay to park in the front like this?" Landi was still reeling from his devastating sexual onslaught but somehow managed to get herself back together.

"Um…" She cleared her throat, crossing her legs. "The valet will get the car if you just leave it here. Come on. I'll show you to the kitchen." Tyr came to her side of the car and opened the door. He kissed her knuckles as he helped her out of the car, and Landi was suddenly convinced that she was going to burst something important if she got any more embarrassed. Instead of dwelling on her perpetual unease in the presence of her suitor, she led the group to a side door that led straight to the kitchen. She always entered this way and said so to Hazma when he asked.

"Mamá Ceeta? Mamá Ceeta, traje invitados. Huéspedes hambrientos," the woman said happily in Spanish. (Mama Ceeta, I brought guests. Hungry guests.)

"¡Ay, mi pequeña preciosa! Eres una chica tan buena," an older Hispanic woman said sweetly, coming out of the walk-in fridge to kiss her on the cheek. "And who is this strapping young man?" the woman continued, pushing a lock of snowy white hair behind her ear. Most of her hair was still black with a liberal sprinkling of gray, but this was the one spot of white hair on her head. (Oh, my precious little one! You are such a good girl.)

"My name is Tyr Anasazi, crown prince of Alibhai," he explained with an elegant bow to the lady. He seemed surprised when she returned it fluidly. Landi grinned; little did her suitor know, Leticia Armon - known as Ceeta to her friends - used to work for royalty before retiring to this position as head chef ten years ago.

"You are a flatterer, Mr. Anasazi. I will have to warn my little angel about you! And your other friends?"

"This is Hazma and that is Omar. They are Tyr's bodyguards. Unfortunately, they were not invited to dinner, but it seemed rude to make them stay in the car like punished children. Would you mind entertaining them in my stead, Mama Ceeta? They don't need much." Ceeta laughed and hugged the younger woman happily.

"There's my little protectora," the older woman chuckled. "You know that my domain is open to all. Come in and relax, gentlemen. My name is Leticia Armon, but I'm known as Ceeta as of late. I will have something for you in a few minutes. And you, my little protectora," she turned to her young charges, "Joshua will think you dead if you don't turn up soon. All the rest of the family is gathered. Go on. Shoo!" Landi grinned and kissed her cheek again before grabbing her suitor's hand to lead him to the others. Tyr hesitated at the threshold. (Protectress)

"I'm sorry, Ms. Ceeta. But what was that word you used for my little one just now?" She smiled softly at the man.

"Protectora. I call her a protectress because she's always looking out for those around her."

"Alhamia," he tried the word out and found that not only did he like it, but that it suited her. "I think I'm going to use it from now on. Thank you, Ms. Ceeta."

"You'll be calling me 'mama' before long, Mr. Anasazi. Now shoo. Off with you before you get me in trouble with my employer." The two waved a final time before heading down the hall connecting the kitchen to the rest of the grand old mansion.

"Landi! Sometimes I think that you come here for that old lady more than you do for me," a new voice broke into his attempt to start a conversation.

"I come here for the good food and good people," she answered, hugging the older woman without dropping his hand. "How have you been Ms. Grace? Oh, and let me introduce you to my boyfriend, Tyr Anasazi. Tyr, this is Grace Myers. She is the hostess of this little get-together."

"Little, she says," Grace laughed. "It's not often enough that I get to have the whole family over to reconnect. And Landi is practically part of our family, Mr. Anasazi. What are your intentions for our little one?"

"Seriously, Ms. Grace? Right off the bat? You should use that question at dinner. I'm sure everyone is looking for the answer to that question. I would like to introduce my man and say hi to everyone before we start on the hard questions." She was right about one thing; everyone wanted an answer to that one question. No matter how they worded it, that was the question of the night. Landi headed them all off, claiming that he should only have to answer that question once since inquiring minds wanted to know. But that didn't stop her from being annoyed by the constant questioning.

And there you have it. The reason behind the title of the fic! See y'all next Wednesday, my dudes and dudettes :D