Zariah glanced out of his brother-in-law's window. He was supposed to meet and have lunch with Muin's side of the family, but he wasn't looking forward to it. Xiam and Zella were great, but the Guardian would be no picnic. It was strange how they all acted like having him there was an average thing, when it was far from that. To afford a Guardian of such a high class for only a month, he would have to sell his car.
Speaking of cars. Zaria stared at the strange car that was parked beside Zella's house. He had noticed it some time ago, but hadn't said a word. It was the latest year, the newest brand, and the cost was more than his house. It obviously belonged to the Guard. He stepped away from the window towards the table and smiled kindly at his wife as he sat down. Once lunch began, how would it turn out? Experience had given Zaria a narrow view of what they did.
Kick guys' butts when they tangled with women. He knew that, he had his share of pain when he was younger.
"Hi," Xiam greeted as he answered the door. "Come on in, we're having mnui."
Zaria bit into a small piece of mnui as he watched Xiam at the door. It wouldn't be the easiest dinner, but he had to try and make the most of it. His wife Muin insisted vehemently that he and the Guard needed to get along. It wasn't going to be easy, that fact was apparent, as the Guard and his sister-in-law came through the door.
Zaria watch as Zella took her fingers and put them on the sides of the Guard's mouth to make him look like he was smiling. As Zella took her fingers away from him it was apparent he wasn't.
Zaria watched Xiam stroll over to the new arrivals, most likely providing some damage control. At least he better be, if Zaria had anything on his body broken during the meal, Muin could forget them ever becoming buddies. He took another bite of his mnui as he watched the Guard pull out a chair for his sister-in-law, and then for himself.
Zaria smiled. It was as good a starting point as any. "You're very gentlemanly Guardian Zephyr." He was trying to start things off on the right foot.
"Guardian Zephyr Smilliat," was the gruff response.
Zaria continued to grin politely. It was very different talking to a Guard in such a manner, but Muin had been close to this guy when she was just a kid. How, he didn't know. How could someone be so close to a Guard? By their very nature they never bonded. They were to be respected, not to be friends. How was he going to do this? He saw the Guard's hands squeezing the table hard in front of him. He looks like he's ready to snap me in two right over the table.
Zella nudged Zeph. "Couldn't you loosen up a bit on your name? How about Guard Zeph?"
Zaria watched the Guard sigh through his nose. Maybe dinner out with his brother-in-law wasn't such a good idea. Living would be a nicer way to pass the time.
"Guard Zeph?" Zella smiled at the Guard. "Please?"
Zaria watched the gentle moment that seemed to take place between Zella and the Guard. If he hadn't known who the guy was, he would have assumed the two had an extra close connection. The Guard stopped squeezing the table and seemed more relaxed from the words of his sister-in-law.
"Alright," The Guard had agreed, "He can call me Guard Zephyr, but he has to remember Zephyr. Happy?"
"Here is your mnui." Xiam set out the food for the Guard and Zella, then sat beside his wife Iri.
"Oh, Zella?" Iri began. "I almost forgot to tell you, there was something else I remember about your mystery guy. He-"
"So Zaria," Guardian Zephyr interrupted, "how exactly did you steal-uh-I mean meet Muin?"
Zaria felt his wife's eyes on him. He glanced over and saw Muin, her eyes overjoyed at the opportunity. He looked back at the Guard. "I met her in an alley."
"Alley?" The Guard groaned at Muin. "What were you doing in an alley, of all places?"
Zaria just watched his wife smile and gesture toward Zella.
"Same reason she was there," Muin said smiling.
Zaria noticed the Guard practically glared at Zella. Why was he so much madder at Zella than his wife?
"Zellaponia Cattral, what we're you doing in an alley?"
Zella poked at her food. "We did not willingly go there."
The Guard's expressions changed from a look of anger, puzzlement and finally to shock. "What do you mean?"
"There were some guys who followed us around. We kept telling them no and they didn't like no," Muin answered for her sister. "So one day while we we're out, they took a chance and knocked us out and dragged us away. Who knows what would have happened?" She hugged Zaria's shoulder. "Zaria had heard the commotion and he rushed right over to us! He'd taken a real beating to help keep them away. Then by the time we woke up, the law enforcers were there, trying to help him up." She nestled his arm. "He's been my one and only ever since."
The Guard stared at the last of the mnui on his plate. Okay, maybe Zaria had a thin chance of surviving after all?
Xiam smiled at the Guard, an extra boost from his brother-in-law couldn't hurt. "More mnui?"
The Guard nodded and took another bite of mnui before he looked back at Zaria. "Good job. For not being a Guardian, you did well. You just messed up on one thing."
Zaria looked confused. What could he have messed up on?
"You're not supposed to take the gratitude of the female and turn it into-Ow!"
"Turn it into ow?" Muin chuckled. "Trust me, Zeph, he didn't turn my gratitude into ow."
Zaria gave a light smile as he continued to eat his food. He knew his sister-in-law did something so the moment wouldn't be spoiled. "So, how goes your naming, sis?"
"Oh, good I guess," Zella admitted. "If it's a girl I might name her Carressela. If it's a boy, I'm not quite sure. Zeph threw out the name Tigyr though."
The Guard half-smiled. "Actually, Tigyr would be a great fit."
"Tigyr?" Xiam picked at the last of his mnui. "That's not very fitting. Zella is more mellow, I'm sure the kid will be mellow too. It should end in elle, ia or maybe ovich, but not yr and it shouldn't begin with a T. It's too hard for the kid's personality."
For some reason, the Guard looked offended. "How do you know what the kid will be like? It might take after the dad more."
That thought didn't sit comfortably with anyone at the table.
"How could you even bring that up right now?" Xiam wasn't pleased at all, Zaria could tell.
Iri touched Xiam's shoulder gently. "He is right though, Xiam. It'll have some of the dad in him. You can't just pretend Zella conceived it by itself."
Zaria tried not to smile as he saw Xiam's eyes grow wide in an expression of 'why not?'
"Well for what it's worth, I think Tigyr is a great name," Zaria said to Zella. "Besides, if he's raised around here, he's bound to have some spirit in him."
"Spirit?" his sister-in-law asked apparently confused.
"Well yeah, Guard Zephyr sure has spirit." Zaria couldn't help it, he'd use the Guard's allowing of Guardian as long as he could. Maybe it would bring them closer so Muin would stop bugging him. Oh, and Zephyr wouldn't want to kill him if they were close. Big bonus.
Muin laughed at him. "You silly. Zeph's probably going to be here for just a year. He'll see them when their babies but then he'll probably have to leave again. Right, Zeph?"
"I don't really know. I haven't been given a specific time of departure." The Guard had spoken softer than usual.
"Yeah, but usually it's a year," Xiam agreed with Muin. "Still, it's nice to spend a whole year together again."
"Zeph?" Zella spoke to her Guard. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," The Guard's reply was soft but gruff.
"Is something wrong with that one?" Xiam asked as he pointed to the Guard's food.
"No, I just don't feel that hungry anymore." The Guard still spoke softly as he stood up. "You did a great job on the meal, Xiam."
"Thanks!" Xiam beamed. "You'll have to stop by the restaurant sometime so you can try more."
Zella got up as well. "That was delicious, Xiam, I just couldn't eat that much."
"That's alright, I understand," Xiam said, chuckling. "Muin didn't have that problem though."
Muin was eating her third plate. "I was one of the lucky few. No nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite for me."
Zaria swore he heard a light growl come from Zella after his wife said that.
"Yes, you are," Zella said curtly. "I'm ready to go, Zeph, are you coming too?" She headed to the door ahead of her Guard.
"Bye, see you tonight." Xiam waved as the Guard and Zella left. "Well that went well."
"Could have been worse," Zaria said, chuckling, finally being able to loosen up. "I thought something might happen and I don't have the money for the hospital right now. Speaking of money, is that Guardian guarding on discount?"
"Oh no, he was appointed by the King," Xiam said, "We don't pay a cent and besides, even if the King didn't appoint him, he'd never try and charge us. Zeph's family. I can't believe Zella got Zeph to allow you to call him Guard instead of Guardian. It's like she used magic, but I guess it's a good sign. You two might even be friends in the future. Maybe you'll even be able to call him Guard Zeph one day too."
"If you say so." Zaria stood up with his wife, their plates now empty. He couldn't believe that a Guard would not get paid for their services. Not only that, but the guy would physically have to suffer from Zella's cooking. She was a nice sister-in-law, but there was a reason they gathered at Xiam's for a family dinner. "We'll see you around, Xiam."
"Yeah. Stop by later because we need to go shopping for cute little clothes," Muin squeaked.
Zaria looked back at his wife. She wasn't even far enough to be showing yet, but he wouldn't protest.
"You're not even showing," Xiam informed his sister.
"So? There's no rule." Muin humphed and grabbed Zaria's arm as they left.