Is this destiny?

When Aiden and Jeff joined the others outside, they grabbed food and sat with Sarah and JoAnna to eat. Master Hollow joined them at the table as well.

"Is it always this lively?", Master Hollow asked Sarah.

"They are happy that we are back and excited about new faces. This is not an everyday thing, but we like celebrations. Sometimes the kids will perform or compete in various games, and sometimes we have sparring matches. Later this month, we plan to go to another property where we will spend a few days. It's a remodeled house in Texas and it's by the lake. It will be fun. You are welcome to join…"

Master Hollow listened to Sarah talking about water activities and how the girls from the Beach house will join as well and he said that he will think about it. Life in the mountain was much more… quiet.

Sarah assured him that whenever he wants peace, he can go to his room. "It's soundproof and no one will disturb you. Or if you want more quiet space outdoors, you are welcome to stay at the Beach house. After Anna says that your wounds healed."

Master Hollow looked at Bo, Souta, and Wind and spoke to Sarah. "I hope that you can show my boys how life is here. But please, don't show them only the good stuff. I wish that they get to see the other side as well."

"This is how the life here is.", JoAnna interjected. "Unless outsiders cause trouble, the biggest problem these kids have is their homework which Sarah piles upon them."

"He is worried that his three kids will decide to leave him, and go their ways.", Sarah explained.

JoAnna didn't get what the big deal is. "Isn't that what all the kids do? The four of us left our parents and are living our own lives." JoAnna gestured toward herself, Sarah, Aiden, and Jeff, and then looked at Master Hollow. "I am sure that you decided to pursue your dreams at some point as well. That does not mean that you abandoned your family."

"I am not against them following their path. I only hope that they are aware of the dangers.", Master Hollow said. "They grew up in the mountain and the life there has its challenges, but I am afraid that I didn't do a good job of preparing them for civilization."

"No one can prepare you for what comes ahead. The best we can do is surround ourselves with people we love and trust, so that we can go through those dangers together." JoAnna ended her talk while leaning on Jeff who cradled her in his arms.

Sarah smiled at JoAnna's words. It is exactly what they are doing.

Master Hollow didn't respond. He knows that JoAnna is right. Master Hollow remembered that at a certain point he had ten kids on that mountain with him and one by one they left. He was concerned about each of them, but as time passed, his concerns grew. He wondered if that has anything to do with age. Is it possible that now he is getting older and he needs people around him? He also noticed that the more time passes, the more he is thinking about his daughter, Tashi. He wondered if Sarah and Aiden can help him find more recent information related to her.

After dinner, Sarah and Aiden went to their room.

Sarah saw that Aiden is holding the crate with three pups sleeping in it, and he is looking around, obviously searching for a good spot to keep the crate.

"They are sleeping with us?", Sarah asked while her eyes darted from Aiden to the sleeping pups.

Aiden subconsciously clenched the crate. "Do you have a better spot? They are small and will cry if they wake up and we are not there."

Sarah stifled a laugh. "You had no problems kicking Kitty out."

"That is a cat. They are different."

"She was a cub.", Sarah reminded him.

Aiden exhaled. "What do you suggest?"

"We have a room for Kitty which she is not using. We will put them there."

Sarah saw that Aiden is about to object, so she added: "We need to train them now. If they get used to sleeping with us, in six months you will end up with three large dogs in your bed and it will be impossible to get them out."

Aiden nodded with difficulty.

"If they wake up and cry, Eve will let us know.", Sarah assured him.

After finding a good spot for pups, they returned to their bedroom and started preparing for the night.

In the shower, Sarah saw that Aiden is absentminded.

"Are you thinking about your talk with Jeff?"

Aiden looked at Sarah. "How do you know?"

Sarah hugged him. "What did you talk about?"

Aiden wrapped his arms around Sarah and enjoyed the feeling of her body pressing on his, and the warm rainfall-like drops which caressed their bodies. "He feels guilty about the possibility that mom and dad raised him to be close to them, while raising me to leave."

Sarah didn't know if that possibility is the correct one or not, so she didn't want to comment on it. "And you? What thought is weighing on your mind?"

Aiden tightened his hold on Sarah and lowered his head over her shoulder. He took a deep breath before answering: "That I am a puppet. That my life was controlled by people I never noticed so far, and that my parents knew about it and allowed it to happen. And I don't want to think about the possibility that they were active participants…"

"Do you love me?", Sarah asked when she confirmed that he is done talking.

Aiden raised his head and looked into her warm green eyes which made him feel like she can see his soul. "More than life itself."

"Do you trust me?", she continued probing.

"Do you even need to ask?"

"That is all we need, my love. You are not alone. We will work on this together and find out the truth. And if we don't like what we find out, we will change it. If someone is pulling the strings and thinks that you are a puppet, let's cut off those strings. We will burn them all and make them regret thinking that they can use you. Or me. We will create our truth."

"You are determined.", Aiden voiced his thoughts while his loving gaze didn't leave her eyes.

"I only need to know that you love me and trust me, and that is fueling my resolve to protect what we have. People who know about our circumstances told us that it's impossible, that our opponents are too strong and that they will not allow us to be together. And look at us, crazy in love and happily married, with a house full of kids and pets. The only difference between impossible and possible is determination. And I am determined to grow old with you, Mr. White."

Aiden smiled. Sarah's words came out easy and sounded natural; like that is the way it's supposed to be, and he worried for no reason. And somehow, under that shower, he realized that the only thing that matters is the two of them, and everything else is background noise that he can tune out. And he will fight for his right to grow old next to her as well, with everything he's got.

"I love you, Mrs. White.", he murmured into her lips before claiming them with his.

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