The Walks of Life

Chapter Nineteen

"Delilah!" Haden called after her.

She was about to run outside. He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. She was holding back tears. She ripped her arm from his grip and crossed her arms.

"I don't want to know why I have this stupid power thing!" She said after a few moments of angry silence. "I just-I don't want to know! I don't need to know!"

"Then we won't pursue it further," Haden said gently.

"Really?" She asked in surprise.

"You have powers. There is nothing else we need to know," Haden assured.

Delilah's anger melted away and she smiled sheepishly. He understood! The men in her life never really tried to understand.

"You're very different from all the men I've known," Delilah blurted suddenly.

"How so?"

"You actually care," she said. "I've never met someone who actually cares!"

"You're right," Haden shrugged. "I care about a lot of things."

He looked at her in a way that made her heart flutter. She was so angry at herself for feeling. But this one might not be too bad.

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"Haden is taking a long time," Lloyd grumbled.

"She seemed really upset," Aira said. She sat down next to Lloyd and brushed his wavy strands of hair back into place with her hand. "I remember when you helped me through my heartache. He is just doing the same thing you did."

"He does seem to like her doesn't he," Lloyd shrugged.

"And why shouldn't he find someone?" Aira asked.

"She did try to kill us," Lloyd pointed out. "She almost took my arm off. My shoulder still bothers me sometimes. Plus, I think I'm just getting old. I'm almost fifty."

"Forty-seven is not almost fifty," Aira laughed. "Are you that worried about aging?"

"Well, chronologically, I am only thirty-nine," he said with a twinkle in his eye. She smiled and kissed him lightly. She pulled back and smirked. He closed his eyes and pulled her close again. He kissed her firmly.

"You guys are so gross," Amy said as she walked into the kitchen.

Lloyd and Aira both started to laugh and they had to break their kiss. Amy was definitely Cole's daughter. She was a five year old sass pot.

"I'm going to go see where Haden is," Lloyd stood up and walked from the kitchen.

"He is probably going to regret that Amy," Aira giggled. Amy looked at her innocently and shrugged. She wasn't exactly sure why her Aunt Aira was laughing.

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Lloyd raised an eyebrow. Where on earth could his son be?

"Kai, did you see where Haden went?" Lloyd asked as Kai passed him in the hall.

"I have no clue," Kai shrugged. A loud thump sounded from the closet. Kai's eyes widened and he looked terrified. "I'm leaving! I don't even want to know."

Lloyd rolled his eyes and pulled the closet door open without looking at it. Then he turned and looked at the pair in exasperation. Haden opened his eyes and he looked mortified. He almost dropped Delilah. She had her legs wrapped around his waist and he had her pinned up and against the wall. She yelped and bit Haden's tongue by accident. Haden yelped and pulled his lips from hers.

"Really? The hall closet?" Lloyd asked in annoyance.

"Would you rather we go to his room?" Delilah asked boldly.

"Oh good Ninjago," Lloyd slammed the closet door shut and rolled his eyes. Kai was practically doubled over with laughter.

"You're Dad did the same thing when you and Aira first started dating," Kai wheezed. "It was so funny."

Lloyd smiled at the memory and shrugged. Then Lloyd whispered, "I think I pretend to be more exasperated than I actually am."

"It's a Dad thing," Kai whispered back.

"Grandpa!" Aiden ran down the hall and latched onto Lloyd's leg. "Where dada?"

"Dada is busy," Lloyd tried to remove the toddler from his leg.

"Why?" Aiden asked in his high pitched, adorable toddler voice.

"He is exercising," Kai smirked. Then he coughed and whisper added, "his mouth."

Haden quickly exited the closet and shut it quickly behind him. He was beet red.

"Why dada in closet?" Aiden asked, pointing at his father.

"Erm-" Haden stuttered.

"He had to fix the coat rod-rack-thing," Lloyd covered for Haden.

"What dat?"

"Nevermind, Aiden," Lloyd laughed and swung the boy up into his arms. Aiden giggled as Lloyd carried him down the hall.

"I remember when your parents used to do that," Kai whooped in laughter. "It sure got steamy."

"I seem to remember you using this closet on multiple occasions," Aira retorted from the kitchen doorway.

"And I'll use it again," Kai smirked.

"What was that?" Skylor asked from behind Aira.

"Come here and find out," Kai winked at her. Skylor smirked and walked over to him. He took her hand and led her to the closet.

"Oh, Lord, help us," Haden rolled his eyes.

"Delilah?" Kai asked as he opened the closet door. "Mind if we use the closet?"

"By all means," she said with her accent and stepped out of the closet quickly. "Please do. I wouldn't want to have to see such a scandal."

"She is as sarcastic as you," Skylor teased Kai.

"Ya ya ya," Kai pretended to be peeved but stifled a smile.