The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 36

Up's face went pale. 'She had a baby? She's way too young to-'

'She's 23, Up. That's three years older than you.' Amanda butted in.

'Yeah but I didn't have a kid! How- how old is...' He couldn't gather his thoughts, but she knew what he was trying to say.

'Five. And oddly enough, he looks a lot like you. And Lucy, I suppose. You two could have passed for twins as kids. I think you tried it a few times, actually...'

Up didn't know whether to be angry, or excited. Thousands of emotions swirled around his head, but finally he picked one. A large smile crept across his face and he hugged his aunt. 'Where is he?'

'He stays with his dad most of the time, but his dad's goin' on a mission, so he's stayin' here for the next few months.' She was grateful Up wasn't mad, but then she realised she had given away his Ranger status.

'A Ranger, huh? Is he a good one?'

Amanda was surprised at the question. She nodded, and Up shrugged. 'What can I say, the kid's gonna have good genes.'

She smiled, and they sat back down. She fought back tears of laughter as Up explained the "adventures" he and Lucy had gone on, occasionally dragging Ally along too. Amanda asked him about her, but he still had trouble believing that February was his little sister.

She looked so different- and since when was she interested in Sciencey stuff? For the next few hours, Amanda told Up about Charlie, but finally got to the question she had been dying to ask.

'Alright, Michael enough playin'. Are you seein' that lieutenant o' yours?'

Up froze in the middle of a laugh. 'Are you bein' serious, Aunty?'

She nodded sternly. 'And don't you give me no bullshit about the regulations, boy. Lucy looked up a few loopholes.'

'There are loopholes?' Up asked weakly, trying to mask his happiness.

'O' course there are, dumbass! And don't get me wrong, you two are like two peas in a pod.' Amanda smiled slyly.

Up grabbed at words, finally managing a sentence. 'Are you sayin' that you want me to... date... Taz?'

'Well NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!'

'Aunty Mandy! You still swear like a sailor!' Up laughed.

'Answer the question, Michael.' She was starting to get tired of his games. 'Are you seein' that lieutenant?'

He tried extremely hard, he really did- but the second before he could answer, the front door swung open and Taz fell through the doorway.

'Hijo de putas! Mierda!' She cursed crudely, pulling herself up.

Up rushed to the doorway, trying not to laugh as he caught her elbow before she could fall again. She sat on one of the dining chairs (with help from Up) and rolled up her pants.

'Great. Injured by a doorway. De Academy sure is lucky to have me.' Taz rolled her eyes arrogantly.

'They are Taz now shut it.' Up pushed on her knee to check it wasn't anything serious.

'Ow! Jou piece a-' Taz looked towards the kitchen to see Amanda smiling kindly.

'Oh don't cover up your language in this house. Your Commander only does that out of respect.'

Up shot his aunt a look- Why did she say Commander like dat? What de hell is going on? Taz squinted her eyes and tensed her chin, closing her lips together tightly.

Her sneer made Up snort, but Amanda just stood with a smile. 'I guess I was wrong, Up. You aren't two peas in a pod- you're the same pea!'

With that, she practically collapsed to the floor laughing, her dark brown hair falling loose from it's bun at the back of her head. Amanda wiped away a tear, and looked up to see Taz looking extremely confused with Up beside her, looking extremely annoyed.

Up narrowed his eyes at her, not wanting to say anything too harsh. 'Aunty Mandy I swear to Dead God you say anythin' to Taz and I'll-'

Before he could say anything, Amanda let out a snort and nodded. 'No use elaboratin' your threats, Michael.'

As Amanda stood up, Taz heard a strange, metallic rumbling coming from outside. She froze, her blood running cold. Before she could snag up her zapper, Up put his hand on her shoulder.

'It's just a car, Taz.' He quickly whispered, sensing her tensed form.

Taz had already started sweating, and Up quickly bent down beside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hiding her face in his shoulder. 'I... I thought it was...'

'I know, Taz. Me too.'

Amanda quickly walked over, and Up whispered into her ear. 'She isn't used to cars, and she thought it was a damn robot.'

The doorbell sounded, and Amanda ran to the door, still confused as to what just happened. She saw terror in Taz's eyes, but she hadn't hesitated for a second when snatching up her zapper. Boy, I'd hate to be on her bad side.

Up still held on to Taz. He slowly pulled her back, and her shield was back up. 'I'm fine Up. But, uh... who is here?'

Up grinned, then realised that he hadn't had time to explain Charlie to Taz yet. He'd only just found out himself. 'Well, apparently Lucy had a kid.'

Taz seemed shocked, but Lucy was extremely pretty. 'How old?'

'About five. Aunty Mandy said he looks a little like me.' Up grinned to himself.

'Well, if he's anything like jou Up, I feel sorry for Amanda.' Taz's giggling stopped abruptly as she received a hard punch to the arm.

She muttered something under her breath in Spanish, Up only catching the last few words. 'You swear like that around the boy and I'll unscrew your head, Taz.'

She smiled innocently. 'And den what? Jou'll make a wish?' Taz laughed again, and barely managed the last sentence. 'My head is so full of water, it's like, umm... like a...'

'Wishin' well?' Up finished, causing Taz to erupt into laughter.

'SÍ! A wishing well! De kind jou drop de pennies down!' She was still laughing, and had practically fallen off her seat.

Up shook his head for the zillionth time, and pushed Taz off his lap and onto the chair.