Is this destiny?

Thursday

8:29 AM

In a private jet, above Arizona…

They are on their way to San Antonio, on track to land shortly after 11 AM local time.

Sarah is smiling and shaking her head at the sight of Haru and Nala who are sleeping in their seats while holding hands. "I told them to get rest…"

"And I told you that they will be too excited to get any.", Aiden said and pulled Sarah to sit next to him. "Come and see options I picked for their makeover…" he handed her a laptop.

Sarah looked at the website of a salon in San Antonio which provides full-styling services.

"Haru will be super-handsome." Sarah approved. "Add request to take pictures and to send them to our email. Individual and couple\'s photos."

Her smile faded at the sight of options for Nala. "That dress is too short! How about… This one?"

Aiden objected. "There is nothing wrong with my pick. It\'s perfect for a nightclub."

"Yeah, your pick is perfect for a twenty-something girl who is looking for a hookup. Our Nala is sixteen and THIS dress is just fine…"

"That is too long, looks like grandma-style…" He saw that Sarah frowned and quickly clarified: "OK. Not grandma. I wanted to say that your pick is good for a formal occasion. This is a nightclub…"

Sarah and Aiden compromised on a sleeveless skater dress which ends just above knees and does not expose cleavage.

Ah, parenting is hard…

…

Four of them had lunch and then headed to a hotel to check-in Haru and Nala.

They got two connected suites.

Sarah looked at the interior and nodded in approval.

The lobby boasts massive crystal chandeliers and numerous sitting areas facing either one of the five fireplaces or huge windows overlooking the private garden owned by the hotel. From the entrance, you can see massive marble columns and decor that says how this hotel caters to upper class customers. The hotel offers a 24 hour room service, gym, spa, indoor swimming pool, five restaurants, and enclosed lounging area with a full bar which turns into a club during evening hours. 

Room interiors are vintage-inspired and have modern spa-like bathrooms. Each of the two suites they got has a spacious sitting area with a wet bar.

This hotel is owned by Morgan family, and it will be one of five that Penny will own after Jeff does his magic.

They went through the plan for Haru and Nala one more time before Sarah and Aiden headed back to the airport. Their mission for tonight is in Dallas.

"Take care of each other. Safety first…", Sarah was giving last minute advices like a concerned mother while Aiden almost dragged her toward the exit.

"Our current estimate is that we will be back at 3 AM. We will be in touch and let you know if we are delayed.", Aiden said as the last reminder before closing the door.

Sarah wanted to go back in and give few more reminders, but Aiden stopped her. He held her firmly around her waist, to prevent her from bolting back.

"Do you have anything new to say?"

Sarah shrugged. "No. But can additional reminders hurt?"

"No. But they can annoy. They heard it all. You will be a difficult mother to our kids…" Aiden squinted when he realized that he said too much. And he didn\'t mean it. She is not annoying or difficult and she will be a wonderful mother.

Sarah pressed her lips into a thin line while her heart grew heavy. She wants them to stay safe and he called her annoying and difficult. For some reason, that hurt more than it should and she knows that he didn\'t mean it for real. Maybe because he mentioned their kids… She told herself that she can\'t be so touchy, she should be stronger than this.

Aiden noticed the change in Sarah, and he could see that her expression shifted to a dispirited one, but it was only for a second before it became neutral. Cold.

He cursed himself internally when he realized that he hurt her feelings, and she is putting on a mask to conceal it.

Aiden stopped walking and pulled Sarah into his embrace. "I\'m sorry. Please don\'t do this…"

"Do what?"

He sighed when he heard the coldness in her voice.

"This… don\'t hide that I hurt you."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Anything other than bottling it up. Pinch me, hit me, scold me… tell me that I\'m despicable for talking without thinking and for hurting your feelings."

"What is the point in me telling you things you already know? It will just be annoying…" She pushed him away and got out of his hug. "Let\'s go. We have a mission…"

Two steps later, Sarah felt Aiden\'s arms around her.

He held her firmly from the back, preventing her from making another step.

"Sarah, love… I know that this is how you survived while I was not by your side. But I am here now. Don\'t hold it in, and don\'t hold back. If you are angry, or sad, or anything… let it out." Aiden walked around Sarah, to face her, and cupped her cheeks in his palms.

"I am here now… I am here…", he chanted between kisses.

Sarah relaxed and let him kiss her until he had enough and then he hugged her again.

Aiden moved away and looked at Sarah and his heart cracked when he realized that she allowed him to hold her only so that he feels better. Because her smile was unable to hide lack of emotions in her eyes.

He leaned toward her and rested his forehead on hers.

"I\'m sorry for being stupid.", he said. "I promised to take care of you and to make it up to you and to make everything better, but I don\'t know how and it\'s killing me from the inside."

Sarah heard his words and they reached deep into her soul. She asked herself, what is she doing? She went through all the hardships and survived days while he was nonresponsive with a hope that he will come back and hold her and that they can be together again. And now that he is holding her, she is acting like it doesn\'t matter. Sarah is aware that she built a wall so that all the ugly stuff stays out, but that same wall is keeping Aiden out as well.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. "I\'m sorry for keeping you out. I want to let you in, but sometimes… I don\'t know how."

Aiden held her tightly, happy that she spoke to him. Since he woke up, this is the first time that she acknowledged that she is keeping things bottled up. He observed that she is sharing her happiness and all the good things, but when she is sad or hurt, she keeps those parts to herself. Aiden fears that if he does not break through and gets Sarah to share her burden, she will lock herself in just how she did when they were in the cabin in Canada when she could not take it anymore (after he told her that they should split up and she saw those photos of him with random women). He does not want Sarah to go through that again.

Aiden got an idea…"How about we go to where everything began?"

Sarah looked at him and blinked. "Your apartment in Fairfield?"

He nodded and looked at her hopefully.

Sarah smiled. "I would love that… After this weekend?"

Aiden wants to go right away, but they have this mission going on, and then a weekend in Austin for Jeff and JoAnna to become Master and Madam officially, so her suggestion is reasonable. "Sounds like a plan."

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