Unlikely Meetings

Chapter 16 - ULTIMATUM

The three friends sat at the small cafe where the confrontation began. Coffee sat cooling on their table as they stayed silent in the nearly empty cafe, tension high as they waited for Ian's mother and father to arrive. The hot beverages left untouched as they simply waited and prepared in their own ways. Max checked his weathered pistol in his lap before re-holstering and recalling where his nearest stash of medical supplies was. Ian seemed to be meditating with deep breaths and closed eyes and Eli simply warmed her hands around the ceramic mug flicking her tongue to take in the flavor from the air.

The staff and other patrons knew what was coming when their small group stepped in. Scabbed over wounds and hushed voices spoke to their desire to not be disturbed after the coffee was brought to their table. Max's furrowed brow stayed locked onto the glass pane door as he waited for the new party to join them in their small alcove. Hushed whispers were shared between the few other patrons before they quickly left. "Bet they'll be spreading more rumors about this little 'get together'. Hopefully it won't be as bad as the last ones." Max was dejected as he leaned back in his chair crossing his arms, starting to feel the days of stress and sleepless nights bearing down on him.

"Are you alright? You're looking a bit worn down." Eli tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder that he leaned into. Her recently warmed hand radiating some of that heat back into him. His shoulders slumped as his brow relaxed and looked back to her with a light smile.

"Just a bit antsy is all...well, I am tired, but I'll get over it." Max rubbed his burning eyes before focusing back on the door. "We can't slow down just yet. If we can solve this here then we'll finally get some breathing room to relax."

Ian chuckled as his eyes opened, looking over to his friends. "If this goes well, and everything is settled, I'm going on vacation. Had enough stress and excitement in just one night I feel like I need a week."

"Hell if this goes well, I'll take us all on vacation for a month. Finances be damned, I think we've all earned it." Max leaned forward as Eli leaned in to give his cheek a light kiss.

"It doesn't matter to me if we stay or go. I'm just happy we're alright as of now." Eli leaned into his shoulder just to absorb a bit more of his body heat. "Although the beach sounds divine right about now. I like the snow but I can only stay cooped up for so long without the sun."

"If this gets settled here I'll take us all on vacation to the Bahamas. Hell, I'll get Noah, Chel and the kids in on it too. It'll even be pretty cheap with all of the flight time I've put in." Leaning back into her, Eli took a moment to process what he said.

"I thought you said you'd never go to Florida." Max chuckled as he looked back at her with a light smile. "What changed?"

"I'll never move there. Vacations are fine, especially when it's seeing family, but as of now no, I'm not moving there." The three laughed as they continued to wait, their coffee now cold and forgotten on the table as the large white SUV pulled in front of the cafe.

The light chatter behind the counter dies down entirely. She rose from the driver's seat in a smooth motion. Silver rimmed sunglasses sat across her eyes as her towering form loomed over a few pedestrians that quickly shuffled past her. Her husband quickly moved to the entrance from the passenger side of the vehicle before opening for her. A few whispered words and a loving chaste kiss between the two was had before she entered and was followed closely by Destin.

She towered over the group standing easily above six and a half feet. Simple clothing of long jeans and plain shoes for her digitigrade legs were accented by the black leather jacket that was taut across her shoulders and arms. Her covered eyes looked over the individuals before settling on Ian. "My sweet boy!" She pulled him from his seat and wrapped him in a tight hug, feet dangling above the ground as she embraced her son. "Thank god you're okay, I was so worried when you didn't call!"