by Melanie Ray
"Who says something like Tigeravich will?" Ezra rolled her eyes. "I haven't knocked any names out, but stop it," she said as she stood up. Right before leaving, she left some parting words. "Like Muin said, they aren't your jurisdiction."
Yed picked at his food again. Not my jurisdiction. He bitterly ate his food. To her he may be going overboard, but he had every right to choose too. They were his. He stood up and went to the living room where Ezra was watching TV "What are your highest options then?"
Ezra groaned. "I don't know. Jimbovich or Enigovich I guess."
"You're not even considering Tigeravich?" Yed frowned, "all because of what Xiam said?"
Ezra stared at the TV "I don't know if Tigeravich will fit and I don't think I like it."
"How come?" Yed continued.
"Why won't you drop it?" Ezra groaned. "They aren't yours, they are mine. After they are born you're out of here, I'm the one who will be mothering them."
Oh great, I knew it was coming. Yed ignored it for now. "You didn't answer the question though."
"I don't want to name it Tigeravich because...it will fit." Ezra finally admitted it. "His father was not a pushover, and he even deceived me into thinking he was a Protector. He knew the game, he knew how to prowl, be adventurous and dangerous. I don't want to be reminded of my mistake every time I call his name."
Yed could see the shiny specks of tears she was trying to hold back in her eyes. He looked down at the ground, he couldn't win this one. "You can do better than Jimba or Enig." He finally spoke. "Come up with a list of a hundred names and choose something you want then."
Ezra slowly looked back over at him. "You'll stop pursuing the name then?"
"Sure, I didn't come up with it to make you upset," Yed said softly. "Heck, I wasn't even thinking about the situation, I just..."
"Just what?" Ezra pressed. "Yed?"
Yed took a deep breath. Great, he was stuck. "It's...if I ever had a kid, that's probably what I would name it."
Ezra looked at him in surprise. "If you had one?"
"Most likely I never will,” Yed added with haste. "I mean heck, I'll probably be a Protector until the day I die, but even I'm not immune to thoughts of family or anything."
Ezra slowly began to grin. "I think I understand." She smiled brightly and gave a light chuckle. "Tiger. Carress. Carress. Tiger. You're right, it sounds like a great pairing."
"Huh?" Yed looked over at Ezra. "But I thought-"
"Oh, every time I call his name, I won't think about that anymore." Ezra looked over at Yed. "I'll remember the Protector who helped pull me through instead." She looked down at her hands. "I couldn't imagine having to go through this all alone. You've always been there every step of the way." She rubbed her tummy affectionately. "Having a name you picked will really be helpful when times get rough and you're not here anymore.”
A pang of his conscience hit him again, but he tried to ignore it. "Well, I'm here now so don't fret." He tried to laugh to sound happy but felt even lonelier inside. Having a name he picked out, helpful for the rough times? He couldn’t help but picture a gloomy future he was not a part of.
To tell or not to tell, his time was coming closer...
Chapter 12
CONFESSION
Ezra looked behind herself at the freezing market. She had been hiding out of the public eye more, but she needed provisions as well as frozen dinners at Yed’s insistent requests. Time was passing faster and she was beginning to show. Not being married, but having children, wasn’t something others showed pride in.
She often shopped at the freezing market at the end of her block, but she knew from experience they didn’t have Lasterian brand frozen dinners, so she had to drive to the upper class block’s freezing market.
“Morning. Hey, you’re new to the block.” The owner hunched over her counter.
“No, I’m not from here, but I need something special,” Ezra confessed. “Lasterian frozen dinners?”
“Mmm...” The owner shook her. “Sorry, this block doesn’t carry that. We’ve got nuthinlike’s and poerts. To tell you the truth, I don’t know where you’ll find Lasterians in Fallensworth. I don’t know...” Ezra watched as the owner started to shout beside her at the vegetable marketer. “Martis! Do you know where to find Lasterian frozen dinners?”
Ezra turned around to look at the vegetable marketer but he shook his head. He in turn asked the fruit marketer, and even the meat and dessert marketer.
“Sorry.” The freezing market owner shrugged her shoulders at Ezra.
Ezra nodded to the owner. She should still buy something, maybe he’d try it? If he complained much more about her cooking, he’d have no choice. “I would like a container of-”
“I recognize her, that’s Cattral. She’s not married.”
Ezra stopped as she heard the evil gossip again. Couldn’t warno’s leave her alone already? They wouldn’t be speaking so loud had Yed been there, but he’d studied all night and was still asleep. Besides, it was nice to get away from Yo-yo Yed every once in awhile, even if it meant associating with less understand individuals. Although being ten blocks away, she thought a little less gossip would be heard. Guess she was flat out famous now.
“Ma’am?” the owner asked again.
Ezra snapped out of her thoughts and looked back at the counter lady. “I need twenty poerts.” Ezra watched as the owner set about looking through her frozen containment doors. Yed had better appreciate whatever I buy.
"Here you go.” The clerk brought out a large cooler and shoved the various frozen dinners inside. “Ten wiggles, dear.”
“Ten wiggles?” Ezra blinked. “Could you check that again?”
The owner chuckled, “Be lucky I didn’t have Lasterians, they’re ten wiggles each.”
Ezra sighed as she pulled out her money. Protector taste was damn expensive. She reached for the money to pay when she overheard another rude statement. She pressed on as if she had not heard it, but the clerk had to say something.
"Don't worry your little head about anything.” The clerk took the wiggles from her hand tenderly. “I'm sure you'll find the one soon. For some it takes longer."
Ezra looked at her, slightly puzzled. "What do you mean? I'm not even dating right now."
"You aren't?"
The comment was so loud and abrupt, Ezra had to turn to see who said it.
"Gosh. Well, you better get with the program.” A woman crossed her arms with a sour expression. “If you're having troubles, then go shell out some money and hire a Protector."
"She already has a Protector," one of the women from the back said. “She wanted Lasterians after all.”
Now Ezra was deeply confused. "What do you mean? My Protector doesn't even want me dating after the baby's born." She gave a light chuckle as she thought about Yed. "He'd rather I never date again at all."
"Are you kidding?" An older man came up from behind the line. "Sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." He flashed his former Protector license at her. Expired, but it still proved his experience. "What level is he? Is he confused about what to do when the Protectee is already pregnant?"
"I don't know if my Protector has ever done pregnancy before," Ezra admitted. "He's the highest level."
"The highest level?" The former Protector seemed quite shocked. "This A level Protector of yours knows how it works? Are you sure?" He crossed his arms in a manner that resembled the sour woman beside him. "If you are pushing him off, then that is not helping you."
"I don't understand." Ezra’s patience was starting to dwindle, nobody was making any sense. "What do you mean?"
Ezra watched the way the former Protector stood. Oh great, she’d known Yed long enough as a Protector to know what that stance meant. Here comes a speech that was meant for papers, not people. The much loved ‘and/or’ with run on sentences would most likely be used, depending on its seriousness.
"If you are pregnant,” the former Protector began, “and there is no
father willing to help out and/or known and/or not wanted slash wanting to help, then your Protector should be either helping you find someone through your pregnancy or waiting until after the babies are born to help you find someone with unclouded eyes." The Protector finally finished.
"Unclouded eyes?" Ezra thought about his speech and tried to put it in general terms. Even though the words were, to say the least, a run on term paper, she still couldn’t understand it. Surely Yed knew what he was doing, right?
"Unclouded eyes. Protectors will not find someone by looks and/or charm that females often mistake as good companions. They will judge by a combination of other factors and find someone who is deemed worthy to be with you and your children unconditionally by a written contract."
Ezra looked stunned. She understood that. "Unconditionally? Why?"
"Because no one should raise warno children alone. Even within dens they are a handful." The Protector announced, "I think you should let your Protector know that you are ready. If you are in fact having twins, as the gossip around here is saying, it may not be smart to wait until after the babies are born."
Ezra couldn't believe what she was hearing. Did Yed really know about that? "Well, thank you former Protector. I'm sorry, I missed your name."
"Just call me Syo, I'm not a Protector anymore," He chuckled. "Now go talk to your Protector and work out whatever needs to be worked out."
Ezra nodded, picked up her cooler and went on her way. He is an older warno. Things may have changed since he'd been a Protector, she reasoned. I don't know. Come to think of it, maybe that is why warnos always have two parents? It’s just not spoken of? Ezra bit her lip gently. Besides Marni, I really don't know who else would fit anymore. Having to raise my children unconditionally with him as well? She reached for her phone in her purse. Maybe Muin would know what to do?
YED GROANED AS HE REACHED for his phone. It was still early, the sun barely rising over the horizon out the window. "Hello?"
"Hi there, Yed,” Muin’s voice chirped over the phone. Wake up, you sound sleepy."
Yed pulled himself out of bed. "Muin? Anything wrong?" He headed to his closet and looked at his clothes selection.
Muin’s voice had a higher tilt in it. "Mmmm...nothiiiinnnn’...is there a reason you won't let Ezzy date? Watch what you say, you'll get in trouble."
Yed hid his groan, not this again. "I told you before, okay? She has a lot on her plate."
"So are you going to help her after?" A smile could be heard right through the phone, a bad sign. "'Cause according to Ezra, she talked to a former Protector toda-ay."
Yed was busted. "I don't want to pile anything up on her right now."
"Yeah, but you keep telling her never to date, when you should be the one finding who she should."
"I'm not supposed to find someone for her to date. I'm..." Yed pulled away from the phone a minute then began to talk again. It was too late, they already knew. "I'm going to find her someone who'll take care of her and the babies unconditionally."
"I knew it. Have you been working behind the scenes? What, you're just going to pop it up on her one day?"
Working behind the scenes? Heck, he didn't even want to think about it. "I wanted her to concentrate on the pregnancy. One thing at a time," Yed lied.
"Uh huh, sure, yeah. Let me ask you, Yed? Do you still blush when you play yo-yo with my big sister?"
Yed felt his face burn over the phone. "I've never blushed."
"Eeee-wronnnng. I knew it. That's why you won't find anyone." Chanting could be heard through the other side. "You’re in love with Ez-ra, you're in love with Ez-ra."
"What are you saying?" Yed scoffed, that was ridiculous. "I'm her Protector, I'm not in love with her."
"Yeah, right. Uh huh." Laughter rang out through the phone causing Yed to pull it away from his ear. "Face it fraidy pants. You're her Protector but that's not all you want to be."
"Will you stop this already?" Yed growled, "Look, I'm a Protector and I don't fall in love."
"Uh huh. Sure. So, if you weren't a Protector, where exactly would you fit in with her and her babies?" Muin chuckled through the line. "Face it, you want to be the daddy and the hubby."
Yed rolled his eyes. "Knock this off, Muiny."
"Why? Is the truth hurting?" Muin asked softly. "Yed, if you want to be with her, then be with her. Ezra wants to be with you, trust me."
Yed took a moment to answer back, choosing to go with his official Protector clothes today. "Are you psycho? Ezra wouldn't want me, I'm a Protector."
Muin groaned through his phone. "I thought you were supposed to be really smart."
"You. Don't. Get. It." Yed growled through the phone as he slipped his clothes on. "Fine, alright? I'll start looking for candidates for her. Just don't bug me about this ever again Muinela." He hung up the phone, hard. The nerve. Like I'd be in love with Ezra? I'm a Protector, I don't do that. I'm closer because we spent time together when we were younger. That and she’s carrying my future children. He smacked his phone on his forehead. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"Yed are you okay?" Ezra’s voice sounded from behind his door.
Yed opened his door and saw Ezra. "Oh. Yeah, fine." He turned his phone off and flung it on the bed. "Your sister drives me crazy."
Ezra didn’t even chuckle at the comment. “Mmm, ed? I ran into somebody today."
"I know." Yed pointed to his phone. "I didn't want to start anything serious before the babies were born, and I didn't want to worry you."
"Oh. So, you're going to set me up?" Ezra asked hesitantly. "Do you have to?"
"Unless you have someone else in mind to start with." Yed felt a hard lump in his throat. "Do you have someone else in mind?"
"Well, I..." Ezra rubbed her elbow. "You know, the only warno who'd ever really care to be would be Marni."
Oh, that was freaking great. "Anyone else?" Yed pushed.
Ezra shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. I didn't date that much."
"So?" Yed felt the lump harder, maybe he was coming down with a sore throat. "Is this Marni one of the few you dated?"
"No." Ezra shook her head. "He's always wanted to, and we tried one time, but Yed? Do I have-"
"Well, why not start then?" Yed interrupted. "It's a good place to start, you don't have to do anything until the babies are born, I'll just get to know the...I'll be back."
Yed buttoned his vest and headed down the stairs without so much as a goodbye. Finding someone to take care of his future kids. Yeah, he was not gonna be in a good mood at all.
He reached Vallencio’s and looked inside a moment, making sure Iri was nowhere in sight. He straightened his collar and pushed his way in, ready to get the damn thing over with. He saw the moron cleaning glasses behind the counter and headed toward him.
Marni smiled at him, then recognition dawned in his eyes. Hey, the idiot wasn’t as dumb as he thought. "I didn't touch her, I swear."
Yed reached over the counter, dragged him over it and into the seat. "Sit down," he said gruffly as he sat next to him. "What could you do for Ezraponia Cattral?"
"Uh, I c-could...what?" Marni’s voice squeaked.
Wow what brilliance, Yed thought. "You like Ezraponia Cattral, but why should you take care of her?"
"Oh." Marni coughed. "Well, I work here. I have for some time, it's steady pay."
Yed put his elbow on the bar and his hand to his forehead. "And?"
"And?" Marni sighed with a slight shiver. "I don't know. I’ve always liked her."
"Kids? Babies? Do you know anything about them?" Yed asked in a crisp voice. “Well? I haven’t got all day.”
"Babies and k-kids?” Marni spoke. “Well I've babysitted for my sister before several times.”
"Fine." Yed pulled out some papers. "List your ten worst and best dates, first and last name. List your complete name, your address, percent warno, percent waryes, height, weight, career goals, pets, schooling, everything you can think of. Come back to Ezraponia Cattral'
s house in five hours and have it all filled out." He handed the papers to the idiot. "Mess up on so much as a name and you're application is out."
As the weeks wore on, things settled down. Yed never mentioned much how anything was going on his search for her unconditional. Still, having someone always there would be nice, but without love? She let out a small sigh and continued to clean as one of her favorite songs played on the radio. She couldn't help as she rocked back and forth with it. She was interrupted though when Yed surprised her from behind with a laugh.
"Are you trying to dance because that's not how you do it," Yed teased her.
"You can't say that," Ezra turned around. "You’re a Protector. What do you know about dancing?"
Yed didn’t look so happy with her comment "I take offense," he said as he brought her closer to him and surprisingly started to dance. "I know a lot more than you think I do."
Ezra looked at him in surprise as they began to dance. Step by step, he kept perfect rhythm and never messed up. "Where'd you learn this Protector?"
"I've guarded professional dancers, an actress, and even some singers," Yed said with a chuckle. "You can't help but pick up a trick or two."
Ezra smiled at him gently. "You're very good."
Yed grinned smugly as he spun her away, then brought her back into him. "Eh, you're not too bad yourself."
Ezra could feel her own heart beating rapidly. It felt so right dancing with Yed. Then again, she could sense exactly how wrong it was too. He's a Protector. My Protector even, he can never be with me, even if he wanted to. Still, she couldn't help but wonder. In a different world and a different time? Would they have been together? Would he have liked her back?
Ezra knew she had to get out of the predicament. Why in the world did they start dancing in the first place? I should try to get out of this dance, but the song's almost over.She snuggled a bit closer, not being able to resist.
When the song finally ended, neither one pulled away for a few seconds until an energetic, jazzy song began to play.
Ezra really didn't know what to say. "You were trained pretty well."