Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 132

Zane lets out an evil laugh as Garroth gasps. Aaron shakes his head as he pushes to his feet with Aph still in his arms. "Sadly I can see Zane doing that. Alright, let's go in and start figuring out dinner. Rowan, I know you just got here but would you take him to Hyria?"

Before Rowan can answer, Aph interrupts, "Actually, we'll let him stay until after dinner. There's no need to have Rowan rush off. I'm feeling much calmer now that the shock and surprise are over."

Aaron frowns at her, "Are you sure babe?"

Aph nods and laughs, "I'm sure and you can put me down now if you want."

Aaron smiles as he shakes his head, "I like you just where you are if that's alright."

Katelyn groans from the back of the group, "Get a room you two..or wait, don't."

Aph giggles and looks over at Rowan and Garroth, "Would you please bring Zack inside? You can put him in the spare room upstairs until he wakes up. And stay with him, please?"

Rowan and Garroth nod as they collect Zack from the ground and carry him inside the house and up the stairs. Aph rests her head on Aaron's shoulder as he carries her in the house and over to one of the stools in the kitchen.

After setting her down he bends to kiss her on the cheek just as she turns to face him. Their lips lightly brush and a blush quickly spreads across her cheeks and down her neck. It's one thing to do it in private but quite another to do it in public.

Melissa giggles as she passes them on her way to the kitchen sink. "You two are so adorable!"

Sylvanna sits on one of the stools next to Aph, "Mija, is it really a good idea to let him stay? I have a bad feeling about him being here."

Both Sylvanna and Aaron notice a flicker of something, a thought maybe, in Aph's eyes as she shrugs, "I don't see him as a problem or at least not a long-term problem. So what should we have for dinner? I'm starving."

They both exchange a quick glance. Aph has something planned and isn't sharing which is not like her.

Sylvanna sighs and shakes her head, "Mija, I'm your mother and I know you. If you're planning something you need to tell us. Maybe we can help?"

Aph opens her mouth to deny it but with one look at both Aaron and her mother, she knows they won't believe it. Shame washes through her for even thinking of lying to them. If she had learned anything after the first Cafe fire is that secrets harm more than help. What has gotten into her?

The guilt she's feeling is enough to make her want to cry. "I'm sorry. I was about to lie to both of you and I swore I would never hide anything. Zack will not be a problem because he won't remember us."

Sylvanna flinches, "Mija?"

Aph closes her eyes to keep from seeing the disapproval. "I was able to help Aaron remember. I know I can do the opposite. I believe it's the same thing that had been done to Garroth, Zane, and Zianna. But instead of completely taking his memories away, I'm going to replace them."

Aaron gently covers her hand with one of his. "Aph, speaking from experience, it's horrible knowing you should remember something important but can't. You shouldn't do it."

Sylvanna harrumphs, "The bastard deserves to remember. Taking the memories away would be a blessing and that's too good for him."

Thinking of it that way Aph knows her mother is right and if she had done it she'd be no better than the person who hurt Garroth, Zane, and Zianna. "Alright I won't take them all away but I will change a few things. The main one will be about Aaron being the Ultima. He'll still remember the Ultima but not who it was or the family behind it."

She's initially met by silence and a hint of frustration worms its way into her heart. Aaron was right that completely removing Zack's memories was wrong but it's too dangerous if he remembers what Aaron was. Altering the memory is the best option so why is he still against it? Why are they all against it?

Aaron finally nods, "Alright, but you said a few."

Aph sighs with relief. She's a little troubled when she realizes she was going to do it no matter what they all thought. She's never simply done something so important without the acceptance of her friends and family. So what has changed in her? "My father knows I was human and now I'm not. He can't know the Ultima changed me. I'll just tell him I'm a late bloomer or something."

Melissa shakes her head, "You know that's not how it works, right?"

Aph shrugs, "I'll put the doubt there. How about this, the potion I used in high school triggered a dormant gene? I doubt it works that way either but you never know with potions. The werewolf potion was only supposed to last an hour and it lasted days. Anything's possible."

Aaron sighs, "If you can get him to believe it I'll be shocked and that will prove he's stupid."

Aph feels her stomach growl and hears Aaron chuckle. "Alright, I really am hungry so what's for dinner?"

Sylvanna smiles, "How about tamales?"

Aph smiles and nods, "That would be perfect but I think I need a snack until they're ready."