Alex pursed his lips as he stared at the airplane that was descending.
His father ended up being away for over a week instead of the initial three days that had been planned.
Why, he didn't know.
What Alex did know was that whenever his father had these unexpected delays coming back, he would take the first flight home.
Which meant, not the private plane.
Which meant, his father would be in a slightly weakened condition due to his severe airsickness.
Alex smiled to himself.
Perfect.
He walked back to where his mother and sisters were, as well as Auntie Betty. None of the Johnson kids were around as their rule was either all, or none, due to the sheer number of kids.
While carrying Ariel, Sayuri asked Betty, "How much do you want to bet that Sam's not tired out?"
Betty laughed and shook her head, "Don't try and fool me. The only time you want to bet is when you're sure of the results."
Giving Sayuri a knowing smile, Betty continued, "And from what I've heard, your punishment on Kyle is quite effective."
"Darn," Sayuri replied with a small laugh, "It's hard when you wise up."
"Hey!" Betty admonished, giving Sayuri a slap on the shoulder, "I'm not that bad!"
Sayuri nudged Betty's shoulder with her own, "Of course you aren't bad, Betty. That's the reason why Sam is so smitten with you. That purity and bunny-ness."
Betty's nose twitched and she turned her face away, ponytail swinging along with the swing of her head. Although Betty no longer sported the 'twintails' that she had in school, there were still these little things about her that somehow shouted 'cute bunny'.
Sam had a great weakness of bunnies and Betty - for some reason - seemed to exude this image of a cute 'human' bunny.
When she was younger, she tended to skip rather than walk; and as an adult, her steps seemed to have a slight hop to them. She would twitch her nose when she's embarrassed or shy; and this was something that she still did until now.
It had been love at first sight for Sam and he had been utterly confused at first. As a completely logical and rational person, the concept of 'love at first sight' had been alien to him - plus, he couldn't get over the fact that he associated Betty with 'bunny'.
He felt he was confused.
However, his feelings overcame his rational thought. It didn't matter why, and it didn't matter that it didn't make sense. Once he embraced that, he never let her go. His love for his wife had not waned but instead, grew over the years.
Even if she no longer was as 'bunny' as she was then.
Sayuri could see the excitement that Betty had as they waited.
"Mummy," came the sweet voice of the angel in her arms, breaking her thoughts, "When is Daddy coming out?"
"Soon, Rie," Sayuri said, "Soon."
Ariel pouted and leaned on her mother's shoulder, and said just before she put her thumb in her mouth, "He's taking so long."
"Well, he has to get off the plane, wait for his luggage, go through the checkpoints, and finally can come out to us," Sayuri explained patiently.
With her thumb still inside her mouth, Ariel said, "Heth noth thish late before."
Sayuri laughed and pulled Ariel's thumb out, "No sucking your thumb, Rie. Remember?"
Ariel wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, snuggling in, and sniffed a bit, "It's hard."
"Anything good is always hard," Sayuri said softly, "Just remember what you learned and take it slowly."
Ariel nodded, her eyes never straying away from the doors that would reveal her father coming out.
During the entire time he was away, her mother would take her to this secret place. There were so many kids there but she was the smallest. Even then, no one really made fun of her and she quickly became the class 'mascot'.
It was fun.
It wasn't like a class at all.
She had lots of big brothers and sisters that would help her with things and the teacher was really nice and patient with her. The only thing that was hard was breaking the habit of sucking her thumb because it wasn't a good habit.
What was that rule again?
Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself.
Ariel didn't understand when lessons would start.
She had only been told the rule and two things. One, she could do anything she wanted in the room but she could not do it by herself. She had to ask the others for help. Two, she had to stop sucking her thumb.
Ariel, being the curious person that she was, would often wander around the room and entertain herself. There were a lot of things and toys but all of it was out of her reach. At first, it had been hard to get someone to help her but soon, Ariel discovered that as long as she tried to get it herself at first - then look at the nearest person for help, that person would help.
That person would even stay to play with her for a while.
Everyone was just so nice.
"I really can't tell Daddy about my new friends?" Ariel asked softly.
"No, let it be a surprise," Sayuri said, "When the time is right, you can bring everyone to meet Daddy, okay?"
Ariel nodded, "Okay."
Sayuri held on to Ariel and smiled.
Her instinct had been right.
Ariel was a natural at this.
In just one week, she had completely conquered the kids in the class without much effort. Well, the fact that Ariel was such a cute little girl was part of the reason but then again, wasn't that the point?
To use what you have to get what you want.
Not many people can resist a cute, pure girl like Ariel - more so when she looks at you with those eyes of hers; more so when they were shimmering with unshed tears. One's protective instinct would just rise up and people ended up at her beck and call.
If this is what she's like when she's not even trying, imagine what she would be like once she learned how to harness it and use it to her fullest.
Right now, the only person who can remain strict with Ariel is Kyle. Her 'low-level' skills could not beat the Big Boss. It could defeat the others but not him.
So she really couldn't wait for the day when this little one powered-up.
"Daddy! It's Daddy!!" shouted Ariel excitedly, fidgeting in her mother's arms.
"Behave, Rie," Sayuri admonished her, "Daddy will come out on his own. Be patient."
Although they took a commercial flight, Kyle and Sam came out from a private lane. This VIP lane was not open to the public and helped a lot of the famous figures when arriving in Country Tz.
Especially Kyle.
Just as the doors slid open and Kyle walked out with Sam, both moved their heads.
Kyle, to the left and Sam, to the right.
Sam also had put up his briefcase and his face had a slight frown to it while Kyle had one hand up. Sam took a look at his briefcase, noting the needles in them, and glared at Kyle as he quickly distanced himself.
Kyle smirked, putting down his hand that held some needles in between his fingers as he faced the figure that was fast approaching him.
Well, two figures.
Alex suddenly went on one knee, allowing Aurora to step on his back and use it as a springboard. She reached Kyle's head, her hand up in a chopping motion while Alex was already doing a sweep with his leg to knock at his father's feet.
Kyle reached out both hands to grab his daughter while nimbly side-stepping and lifting his leg to avoid Alex's leg. He twirled around, swinging Aurora and using her legs to attack Alex - who was trying to get up to aim a punch at his father's thigh.
Alex avoided the legs and lost his momentum to punch his father, and then felt a firm grip on his head.
"Game over," Kyle said simply, while hugging Rory.
Alex looked up in grievance, more so when he saw his sister sitting comfortably on his father's other arm with her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Traitor," Alex hissed under his breath at his sister.
Unperturbed, she stuck out her tongue at him, saying, "I surrendered once captured. There is no treachery in that."
Kyle ruffled Alex's hair and put Rory down. Alex jerked his head away, his lips pressed down in a thin line as he clenched his jaw. Kyle took Alex's hand and returned the needles, saying, "You could have hurt someone with these."
"There is no one around," Alex defended himself, "And I do not have the strength to cause real damage even if it hit."
"But it would still hurt," Kyle said, "And need I remind you? Uncle Sam was beside me. Your aim is not good and that is why your weapon is a knife, not these."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
He was not happy.
Not happy indeed.