"Meryn, sweetheart, you have to calm down," Aiden pleaded.
"I am calm! But if I don't see something besides our bedroom, your office, or the dining room, I will start to get stabby!" She sat down and crossed her arms over her chest.
Aiden paled and sat down beside her. "Okay baby, let's go to The Jitterbug. You haven't seen Sydney or Justice in a while."
Meryn shook her head. "I want to go see the last Hobbit movie. It won't be in theaters much longer, and I can't miss it. I've seen all the other ones on the big screen. I am not waiting for the DVD to see the ending."
Aiden looked over to where Gavriel sat with Beth and then to Colton and Rheia. Both men's faces were unreadable. Everyone knew this was not a good idea, everyone that is, except Meryn.
Beth laid a hand on Gavriel's shoulder. "I'd like to see it, too. If fear of being attacked keeps us from doing the things we want, then they have already won."
Gavriel closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Darian looked over to Aiden. He also wore a defeated expression.
Darian watched as Keelan looked around the table, his eyes slightly haunted and his face drawn. "We could make this a group outing. I bet some of the guys in the other units would like to see what humans think elves look like." Aiden shot him a grateful smile.
Meryn shook her head. "Only if they stay like, I don't know, fifty feet away at all times. I don't want to walk around with a huge wall of bodies blocking out the daylight. I might as well stay home."
Aiden nodded. "You won't even know they're there," he promised. He looked at Keelan. "You should invite Anne."
Keelan shook his head. "Maybe next time."
Darian caught the questioning and concerned looks Aiden was shooting at Colton. Colton just shrugged. Knowing nothing would be answered if the questions weren't asked, he spoke up. "Keelan, are you okay?"
The women turned in unison to stare at Keelan; he flinched at their scrutiny. "I'm fine."
Frowning, Meryn stood and walked over to his chair. She placed a hand on his forehead and then a hand on her own. "I don't think he has a fever."
Rheia got up. "Maybe I should be the one to check that out." She walked over to Keelan and put her hand next to Meryn's. Keelan eyes darted around the table to the other unit members. Darian could almost sense his desperation.
Rheia frowned, and Meryn began petting Keelan's hair. Darian was willing to bet that in a couple more seconds the witch would bolt.
"Well, Rei?" Meryn asked.
Rheia removed her hand. "No fever that I can tell. Keelan, have you been sleeping?"
Keelan just shrugged.
"Poor baby." Meryn hugged Keelan's head to her chest.
Darian watched and enjoyed a rare moment of amusement. Aiden was growling, and Keelan looked like he was about to piss himself.
After a few seconds, Keelan disengaged from Meryn and looked up at her. "I thought you didn't like me."
She stared at him in shock. "Where did you get that idea?"
The men all looked away, hiding their smiles. They all knew that Keelan was Meryn's favorite lighting rod in the morning. Penny snickered.
Keelan shrugged again.
She ruffled his hair. "Of course I like you. In fact, you're one of the few people in the world I do like. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't talk to you at all."
"I think an outing is a wonderful idea. Meryn needs more fresh air," Ryuu said, walking in from the kitchen. He set a pitcher of orange juice on the table and looked at Rheia. "I would be more than happy to watch Penny for you if you would like to go."
Rheia's eyes brightened before she turned to Colton. "We've never been on a real date," she said softly.
Colton sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Just like that, Darian knew they would all be going to see the Hobbit. He stood and reached for his phone. He knew his commander, and before Aiden even had to tell him, he was already dialing Sascha.
"You got this, Darian?" Aiden asked from the table.
"Yes, sir." Darian headed to the family room. He sat down on the sofa to make security arrangements. After the second ring, he heard Sascha's greeting. "What?"
"And hello to you, too, asshole."
"I'm not awake yet, so it had better be good."
"The ladies want to go see a movie in Madison. Gamma unit has security detail." Darian didn't even try to sugar coat it.
"Motherfucker!" Sascha continued to cuss as Darian heard the man's feet hit the floor.
"I expect they'll try to make the matinee showing at ten a.m. Get the guys ready and meet us in town at the theater."
"We'll be there," Sascha grumbled.
"See you later." Darian hung up the phone and let his hand fall on the cushion at his side. He should have had more fun torturing Sascha, but he couldn't find the energy. Everything seemed so pointless lately.
Darian felt a tugging on his sleeve. When he looked down, he saw that Felix was watching him with a worried look on his face. Forcing his lips to move, he smiled.
"Hey buddy, what's wrong?"
Felix continued to stare.
"I'm okay, really," Darian promised.
Felix's bright green eyes filled with tears. "Go home soon?" he asked in his tiny voice.
"I would if I could." Darian let the smile disappear as his head dropped back to rest on the cushion.