My Way To You

"Don"t worry they"re on their way down so you won"t miss them this time but... What are you two up to?" Xander asked as he looked at Lobo then Ariana. "I"m her new big brother." Lobo said as he wrapped an arm around Ariana"s shoulders. "Excuse me?" Xander asked as his gla.s.ses slid down the bridge of his nose. "It"s recent! He"s not my mate! We are not in a mating relationship, we see eachother as family and now he"s... He"s being overly protective." Ariana finished saying with complete dread.

"That"s not nice to say to your amazing big brother." Lobo said as he reached out and pinched Ariana"s cheek. It was just her luck that it had to be the same cheek her mother just pinched a few moments ago. "No more! I surrender! I will listen to my big brother." Ariana cried as her cheek got stretched out. "Good! Little sisters should always listen to their older siblings. We know what"s best." Lobo said as he released Ariana"s cheek. Xander became dumbfounded. He was completely speechless as he looked at the two.

Xander coughed as he readjusted his gla.s.ses. It was as if the small act would have cleared the awkwardness he felt but it failed. "Lobo, don"t you need to go now and work on your homework?" Xander asked as he tried to regain his cool and aloof self. "Nope." Lobo said as he dropped the arm that was around Ariana. "Lobo, please don"t stray from your responsibilities." Xander said a little more normally but Ariana could still hear a bit of shakiness in Xander"s voice. "No I"m good. Finished it a while ago." Lobo said as he shoved his hands into his pant pockets and rocked on the heels of his feet.

Xander was at a loss for words again. Lobo was not one to go against the plan and he couldn"t risk saying too much in front of Ariana. Xander went for plan B instead. "I was trying to be subtle but you left me no choice. Your familiar is furious. You promised her the day off but the babies returned to her sooner then expected." Xander said with a triumphant smile. Lobo stopped rocking and looked at Xander. "She can find me easily." Lobo said and shuffled a little closer to Ariana. "I"m not leaving my little sister." Lobo said firmly. Ariana broke out into a cold sweat as she watched sparks fly in between the two young men.

"Oh look it"s Edlyn!" Ariana shouted happily as she rushed over to the Abela family. "Ariana?!" Lobo shouted but he couldn"t chase after her. Xander blocked Lobo"s path and stared him down. "Talk." Xander demanded as he locked eyes with Lobo. 

Ariana rushed as fast as she could towards the Abelas and threw herself on to Edlyn the moment she was close enough. "I"m so sorry I didn"t mean to forget!" Ariana shouted as she hugged Edlyn tightly. "Where have you been?!" Edlyn said with a strained voice. "With the Dabneys. Mrs. Dabney had her baby and I got side tracked." Ariana said with an apologetic tone. "As long as you"re fine." Edlyn said just as Ariana eased up on her hug.

Suddenly Ariana was trapped in between two strong arms. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Mr. Abela cried as he embraced both girls. "What?!" Ariana shouted as she tried to look at Edlyn but was unable to move within Mr. Abela"s bear hug. "Sorry honey, Mr. Abela is a little emotional that"s all." Mrs. Abela said with a sigh. "Thank you!" Mr. Abela cried again. "You"re welcome?" Ariana said as his embrace got tighter. "Dad-I-can"t-breathe!" Edlyn said in one strained breath. "Sorry, I"m so sorry." Mr. Abela cried as he let go of the girls. Edlyn took a dramatic breath in and gave Ariana an awkward smile. 

"He hasn"t stopped crying." Edlyn explained as she tapped her hand against her chest, trying to catch her breath. "Oh! Ya Edlyn is having a great time at school. She has more friends now, super social and Ooooooh! She even met a boy." Ariana said as she gave Edlyn a thumbs up. However Edlyn paled. "What?!" Mr. & Mrs. Abela shouted in unison. "Who? We haven"t met him yet!" Mrs. Abela shouted excitedly while Mr. Abela broke down into a harder sob. "My little girl, my little girl is leaving me!"

Edlyn gave Ariana betrayed look. "Sorry." Ariana signed as the Abela"s started to fuss. "Help me!" Eldyn signed back. Ariana gave Edlyn a small nod then cleared her throat. "Mr. & Mrs. Abela, the boy in question is the one over there. With my new big brother." Ariana shouted as she pointed towards the two boys who were talking furiously. Noooooooo! Edlyn"s eyes screamed as she looked at Ariana. "Oh but maybe next time you can talk to him. It looks like your carriage has been a.s.sembled." Ariana said happily as she walked over to their carriage. 

"Oh, yes! You should not dawdle. Too bad our time was so short but please come again next family day. I miss you, I love you, bye bye." Edlyn said as she herded her parents into the carriage. "But sweet pea, there"s no one waiting behind us. I think a few minutes talking with the young man is fine." Mrs. Abela said as she was practically shoved into the carriage. "Nope." Ariana and Edlyn said in unison as Edlyn closed the door. "Okay maybe next time." Mrs. Abela said awkwardly as she stuck her head out of the opened window. "Love you. Safe travels. Bye bye." Edlyn said in a high pitched voice as she waved. 

"My baby found a husband! She"s leaving me!" Mr. Abela cried loudly. Edlyn turned a crimson red. Her father"s cries caused Xander and Lobo to look in their direction. "Oh they both are so handsome." Mrs. Abela giggled as she locked eyes with the young men. "BYE I LOVE YOU!" Edlyn shouted desperately. Ariana turned and whacked the closest horse"s behind. The horse neighed signalling that they were on the move. "Bye honey!" Mrs. Abela shouted as she waved goodbye. 

Edlyn let out a sigh of relief and waved back to her mother. However to her horror, Mrs. Abela turned to Xander and Lobo. "Welcome to the family!" She shouted as the carriage pa.s.sed by.