“There were five letters sent to three of our different offices in the last week, not to mention another four to a hotel you frequent in the city. The only reason they aren’t showing up on your doorstep is because you don’t stay in one place.” Home had become pretty impossible with the release tour, the signing appearances, the international travel. This was ridiculous, he’d just wanted to write a book for people to enjoy, and now he hadn’t been to his home in three months and he was itching to write on his home computer, not on the laptop that didn’t have all his research materials in easy reach, or the view of the forest beyond. How was he supposed to plot his next murder mystery if he never had a moment to think? “And you think having someone around to actually stalk me will scare away the one that only sends letters. I believe you have a poor understanding of how such mentality plays out. I believe the police would be…” “The police won’t do much while you’re travelling. The police aren’t going to help much when you change jurisdictions so much. Hell, even Maine here can’t…” Lord help him, Delta knew this was supposed to be a serious conversation, but he had to giggle at the word. “His name is Maine?” “No.” For the first time the man spoke, and it was in a rumble that made Delta almost want to groan because of how good his voice sounded. How had she picked out someone so perfectly attractive for this? Was she trying to get him into doing what she thought was best by using a hot piece of flesh? It wasn’t fair. And it wasn’t right. Delta quashed the thought and turned his attention to the bodyguard that was meant to be attached to him. “My name doesn’t matter. Maine is what you will call me. There is no point in growing otherwise attached. I’m here to keep you safe, whether you like it or not. You’re in no way my boss or client. You’re just the assignment.” The thought made Delta smile. He had to write this man into a book. Except to do so he would have to be around the man. Not that it seemed like he was to be given a choice. “Delta… Daniel,” the woman sighed at last, shaking her head. “If nothing else, I want you to survive this signing tour. Not because of bad publicity or loss of revenue or anything else. But because I love your books. If not that much at least give me the chance to see the story through to the end. And if the way to do that is to shackle you to this man, then I will.” A pleasing thought. And when Delta cast his gaze toward the intended bodyguard, watched him shuffle from foot to foot, he had to smile. Seemed like the suggestion made the man react more than anything else had. Which was… more interesting than getting killed, he had to admit that. Damn. “Fine. I’ll take it. The shackles too, provided they are padded.” The way the man, Maine, made a nearly choking sound… That was lovely.

Everything was perfect, Delta had to say, because for the first time in his life his family was well and truly prepared for their futures. With the twins college bound (even if they were living in the house), his own responsibilities for holding them together would be completed. Together with Omega, he had finally lived up to the promise they had given to the eldest members of the Ai family back before they knew just what the promise would mean. So why, then, did <i>he</i> have to show up? There were few people that Delta had ever met who managed to tower over the scant group outside of the family that Delta knew well. North was just too tall for anyone’s good, and Iota had possessed the gall to grow taller than even Omega, so really they were the common benchmarks that frequented the house. Neither of them quite held a candle to the specific way that <i>he</i> was tall. They lacked the broadness of shoulder and chest--or of the smile but he dared not think of that--the increased presence leant to that size by daring to wear so much white, or even the way that the EVA style helmet that was tucked under the man’s arm provided unexpected bulk. Of course neither of them represented what he did either, and maybe the size of the mistake added to the size of the man. “You know what, I think we could all use some of those bottled waters over there, let me just…” A hand settled on his shoulder, Tex’s, and there was a squeezing that kept him in place. Of course he couldn’t go, not on their big day. Not with a twin under each of Maine’s arms, smiling up at a man who they had considered something like an uncle since Delta had brought him into their home, and who they had retained even when Delta hadn’t. “Their day, their friends, their family. Deal with it,” Tex said, voice low and seriously. The only one even close enough to hear it seeing as Theta and Omega were moving forward to greet the big man, was Church, and it wasn’t like he had come back into their lives until after the fallout. But she was right, because of course she was. Gentle too, because Omega would have just smacked him upside the head where everyone could see. “What in the world is…?” Church started to ask, and Delta just shook his head. “We dated once.” That shut him up. A simple term for something so far from simple. But today wasn’t the day for that. There was probably never a day for the fond reminiscing. Hadn’t he taught the twins that you reaped what you sowed? Get to it, he reminded himself, because this was harvest coming in, and he had to get working if he wasn’t going to ruin the day. “There’s the graduates,” Theta was cheering at his younger siblings as Delta reached the group that was forming around Maine and the younger Ai twins. “You know, you two were probably the smartest, most talented people up there.” “You know, I don’t think you’re supposed to butter them up like that,” Omega chuckled. Delta caught his older brother shooting a hard look out of the corner of his eye as he came to a rest beside the man. “I think you’re supposed to give them gifts and help them move to college so you can get a bigger room.” “As if we were ever a standard sort of family,” Delta answered dryly. He held his arms open to the twins and almost immediately the two were moving forward for a hug, one that moved quickly through the assembling family. Before he knew it there wasn’t even a chance to acknowledge the elephant--joke intended--in the room. No, there were too many congratulations and hugs and pictures to be taken. Promises and playful ribbings to pursue. And then too many people to herd toward too few vehicles. They were almost to the door before anyone bothered to do the math. “Wait, shoot. Uh… I think we’re a seat or two short,” Theta grumbled before they could bother to pull their helmets on. Delta watched silently as his brother did the math, his finger bobbing in the air as he counted out his siblings. “Yeah… uh…” “We all got here, how is that possible?” Church asked, a touch of annoyance edging his voice. Even after all these years he still seemed on edge when they gathered en mass. And the mass was bigger with Sigma available and markedly lacking a vehicle. “Well, in case you forgot, Theta dropped the twins off and came back for us,” Delta sighed, his own count coming to the same conclusion. “Add in the fact that we’ve got to get Sigma back when someone wrangled him in from the spaceport…” “I can take Church on the back of my bike,” Tex offered, clear amusement in her voice. Everyone knew the oldest of their strange group was not big on the idea of a motorcycle. Even less of a fan of how his twin drove one. Normally Theta would be the one to hop on with her, but with one of the few family vehicles being under his name, he was going to drive. “Still leaves one,” Gamma noted. “Shall I call a cab?” “If no one minds me tagging along for the party, I can offer someone a lift.” Somehow Delta had almost forgotten he was there, perhaps he had willfully chosen to ignore the large man that had somehow ended up right at his elbow, without either of them sharing so much as a greeting. But Maine was still present, opening his mouth, extending a request and offer that Delta wished he wouldn’t. He smiled though and nodded. “Omega needs to finish a few things in the oven and fetch out the presents,” he let himself say, because he knew there was only one way he was going to get through the rest of this. Already he could see his older brother turning to look at him, turning to protest. And rather than letting him, Delta plowed on. “And I need to pick up the cake. If Maine doesn’t mind a little trip out of the way…” The twins were too young to remember so they didn’t give him a weird look. Just nodded in agreement. Theta frowned because those few months were something he got, he remembered, but he said nothing. The looks he got from Texas and Sigma, though… “I don’t mind,” Maine spoke, his words sealing the arrangements. “I’ll even carry the cake.” “Then we’re set. See you at home shortly.” No one dared to speak. Instead they said their brief goodbyes and within moments they were alone. As alone as a pair of people can be in a still busy lobby, but alone. “Been a while,” Maine observed softly, but there was a warmth there in his voice. One Delta hadn’t heard in far too long. “I suppose it has. I admit I haven’t kept up on Omega’s gossip about your work together. How…?” “Do you really want to talk about it?” No. But what else was he supposed to say? Sorry was too late and too pointless. “I suppose not. Still have the jeep?” He doesn’t know why, but the question makes the big man chuckle, a noise he always adored. It was rich and deep, showed just how much mirth the man always possessed. In the end his answer came with a nod and a helmet on his head. “Not a lot has changed.” Only the important things, and that was long ago. But Delta smiled and nodded, donning his own helmet because that was what he was supposed to do. Forward. No point looking back. “Hey…” A hand settled on his back and when Delta looked he saw a familiar tilt to Maine’s head and he actually spared a real smile inside of his helmet. “Relax,” Maine suggested. “I think it’s been long enough for us to both do that. Besides, we’re two friends going to celebrate with your siblings. Nothing big.” Friends. They hadn’t been that in so long. The very thought made Delta giddy. And hopeful like he hadn’t been in so long. He could stand to have a friend like Maine again. He really could. 

And that was what we came up with while I was at work.

WOW D, that is totally ballsy. I like.

slkdhtjerhge you two just totally want to smile at each other and only each other. Love that.

I wonder why he smells like orange blossoms... color me intrigued.