The Walks of Life

Chapter Twenty

Aira jumped and spun mid-air. She brought her leg around and kicked Lloyd square in the jaw. He was thrown momentarily off balance. He recovered quickly and knocked her down with a roundhouse punch.

"Your parents sure don't hold back when they are sparing," Delilah observed. She, Haden, and Aiden were all sitting on a nearby platform watching the pair. Aiden was playing with Delilah's necklace.

"They know how not to hurt each other," Haden shrugged. "All of the original ninja and their spouses are masters at sparing without injuring except for Pixal. She doesn't fight. Oh, and Kai. He isn't very good at not injuring people either. Us younger ninjas aren't the best at it. I've had my fair share of scrapes."

"It makes me wonder what your parents are like in bed," Delilah eyed Haden for his reaction. She had said that purposefully because he was so funny when he got upset.

"Ewww!!" Haden freaked out. "Gross!"

She smirked and he raised his eyebrow at her. She turned and walked away. The look in her eye made him curious. He followed her into the hallway but she was nowhere to be seen. He scratched his head.

"She went upstairs," Kai said as he walked by.

"Oh thanks!" Haden bounded up the stairs two at a time and walked towards his bedroom door. It was cracked open slightly. Delilah was sitting cross legged on Haden's bed, twisting her hair.

Haden got what she was implying and he couldn't deny that it was very tempting. He looked at her closely. She bit her lip but more in a nervous way than a seductive way. Haden came over and sat down next to her.

"Delilah, you're nervous. You don't have to offer yourself like this," Haden said gently.

Delilah's eyes widened in surprise, "Don't you...want to?"

"I do....but I don't want you to think you have to or are expected to," Haden said carefully. "Don't feel pressured. You are pretty good at hiding your past pain, but I can tell you've had past trauma. I want to make love to you not just have sex. So if that means waiting until you're completely read, then that's what we will do."

Delilah's mouth parted to say something but she had no words. She was beyond touched and she felt something she had never felt before...cherished and safe.

She didn't have to say anything for Haden to know what was going through her head. He kissed her gently on the forehead and left her to her thoughts.

*********************************

"Are you going to go talk to Karloff?" Jacqueline asked Haden softly. They were sitting on the roof of the monastary.

"I need to," Haden sighed. "I just feel so awful."

"It's not your fault she left," Jacqueline said harshly. Haden looked a little startled. Jacqueline was one of the quietest and meekest of the family.

"Wow, Sis, why so harsh?" Haden asked a bit taken aback.

"Because you do just what Dad does," she sniffed. "He is always blaming himself for things out of his control and it makes me really sad to see."

"But I was the one who got Veronica pregnant."

"If you hadn't, somebody else would've," Jacqueline said bluntly.

Haden felt the heat rising in his cheeks. He had never been angry at Jacqueline but he was starting to get upset. 

"I know it sounds harsh, Haden, and you can be upset at me...but I think you know it's true," Jacqueline said kindly. She wrapped her arms around her brother.

Haden's anger faded and he returned his sister's embrace. He knew she was right.

"Aiden is the best thing that ever happened to me, Jackie," Haden said.

"Then let Karloff experience some joy out of the sadness," Jacqueline said wisely. 

Haden drew in his breath slowly and nodded. Again, she was right.

"I'll go tomorrow," Haden said.

"Alone?"

"I need to do it that way. I'm sure I'll be fine. He only turns to metal," Haden grinned. "I could totally take him with my wind."

Jacqueline burst out laughing at the thought.