Any trace of a smile was gone on Ares’ face as he landed just outside a cemetery at Eliza’s request. When she asked to get flowers, he had a feeling they’d end up there. She didn’t talk much about her personal life, but he felt someone important was left on Earth. He didn’t realize it was two important people.

He didn’t like cemeteries, no one really did, but he promised to take her wherever she wanted. The hatch to his ship was barely opened before Eliza climbed out, holding a bunch of fake lilies carefully in her hand. She was halfway across a section of tombstones by the time Ares’ feet touched the land. He took a breath of the fresh air before following her.

He watched her stop at a medium-size standing tombstone and kneel down in front of it. She finished arranging the new flowers when he reached her. Eliza continued to sit in front of the grave while he watched. “Kane” was carved into the marble neatly with two names under that: Jocelyn and Damion Kane. The date of their death was 2131, the same year the teleporter failed and blew up a part of the moon.

“What were they like?” he asked. He put his hands in his jacket pockets.

“Stubborn, adventurous, caring. I don’t remember them as well as I want to. I was still too young to really understand they were gone for good. I was an idiot for a seven-year-old. I didn’t appreciate them until I lost them.”

“You were a kid. Kids are just that way. I’m sure they’d be proud of how you’ve grown and wouldn’t hold anything against you.”

She shrugged and pressed her palms to the soft grass, enjoying the feeling of the blades between her fingers.

“You know, you’re a lot like them, I mean, from how you described them.” He smiled, “You’re the definition of stubborn.”

“Ha, ha.”

“You also care a lot for Donovan and your doctor friend. You might not show it much, but I can tell. And you’re one of the best bounty hunters out there, so I’d say that’s pretty adventurous for a girl born in the middle of nowhere Nebraska.”

Another shrug. Ares sighed and checked his watch. It was getting late, but he didn’t want to pull her away from her parents yet. He wanted their trip to be for her just as much as it was for him. So, he quietly stood there and let the breeze be the only sound around them.

“I think they would have liked you,” Eliza stated. “As much as I hate it, they would have enjoyed your company.”

“Just like their daughter,” he teased as she stood up.

“Shut up,” she scowled. Her face softened minimally, “I’m done here, so take me wherever you planned.”

“It’ll be a long fly, well, not as long as a commercial plane, but still several hours.”

“Where the hell are you taking me?”

“Australia.”

“Why?”

Ares grinned, “I want you to meet my mom.”

“What? Why?” she said.

“I had a date with her already planned for the weekend and you needed to get away. I took care of two things in one trip.”

“Can’t you just drop me off here and go alone? I don’t think your mom wants another person, a stranger, to stay there.”

“Oh, she knows you’re coming. She’s very excited to meet you. She has a room set up for you and everything.”

Eliza’s eyebrows knitted together when she frowned.

“I’ll let you fly there,” Ares smirked.

Her eyes lit up, “You trust me enough to fly your ship? I think you might be ill.”

He shrugged and started toward his ship. “I guess you’ll miss out,” he called back.

Eliza’s fingers twitched. She glanced at her parents, sent them a silent farewell, and then ran toward the ship. She passed Ares easily and climbed into his seat. Ares smiled and silently climbed into the seat behind her. He watched her work his baby.

Mimicking what she saw earlier, she forced the engine to roar to life. She was nearly shaking as her hand hovered over the controls. So much power was in front of her and she was ready to use it.

“You got it?” Ares said as he leaned over her seat.

“Don’t ask stupid questions. You might want to sit down.”

He chuckled and obeyed. The second his seatbelt clicked, she took off. She couldn’t keep the laugh that bubbled up in her throat from making itself known. Ares watched her with a large grin, relishing in her joy. Bringing her with him was one of his best ideas.

After a quick stop in Hawaii to gas up, Ares took the helm once more, leaving Eliza to watch the clouds float around them. Eliza felt the desire to sleep, but she knew by the time they reached Australia they’d have most of the day ahead of them. She didn’t know what Ares had in mind when they arrived at his mom’s home, but she hoped for a short nap. The last hour and a half of the flight was a good time to rest, but she was curious to see the island continent. She never had the chance when she lived on Earth and she didn’t want to miss it. It was too bad her body chose the nap over the visually stunning view of the Sydney Harbour as it appeared on the horizon.

Ares landed his ship in the hangar just inside his mom’s property, feeling the warmth of being home. The ship powered down and he unbuckled to wake up Eliza. With a gentle touch, he shook her shoulder and whispered her name. She sat up straight instantly and looked at him through bleary eyes. He smiled when her eyes recognized his face. She started looking out the window for their location.

“We’re here,” he laughed. “We have a short walk to my mom’s house, so we can get our bags later, okay?”

She yawned, “We could also carry them now and not worry about it.”

“Now that makes too much sense.”

Eliza unbuckled and squeezed passed Ares to hop out of the cockpit. She stretched, waiting for Ares to follow suit and open the storage compartment. She gladly took her suitcase from him once he pulled it out. He grabbed his bag and led her toward a large farmhouse in the distance. She paused for a moment, taking in the scene. The house, a bright white, stood out against the reds and browns of the Earth and complimented the green trees and bushes surrounding it. Her eyes slid to Ares who kept walking, not realizing she stopped. She pulled out her tablet so fast that she nearly dropped it. She framed the image just how she saw it and took a couple of shots. The picture wasn’t quite how she wanted the camera to capture it, but Eliza liked it all the same. The wind blowing the leaves, Ares’ hair, and his shirt added so much movement to the picture. She felt a little pride.

“What are you doing?”

Eliza looked up, shoving the tablet back where she got it and shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry.” She picked up her pace to reach him and then they continued forward together.

The moment the two of them neared the front porch, a woman with dark red hair rushed out and wrapped Ares in a tight hug. He was a good foot and a half taller than her, but it didn’t keep him from engulfing her in his arms. Eliza awkwardly watched the joy on both of their faces. She felt the desire to have that erupt in her heart. It made her heart ache because she didn’t get that anymore.

“You are even more handsome than the last time I saw you!” the woman grinned, staring up at Ares with so much love in her eyes. For a woman who lived in Australia, she didn’t have much of an accent.

He returned the same stare. “And you are just as beautiful as ever, Mom.”

Ares’ mom stepped away from him, still smiling, and finally looked at Eliza. Her arms were instantly open, willing the bounty hunter to her. Eliza surprised herself when she willingly responded and hugged the woman.

“It is so nice to finally meet you, Eliza. I’m Katie and I expect you to call me that. No, Mrs. Matthews from you, okay?”

Eliza nodded vigorously, still awkwardly in the older woman’s embrace.

“I thought you said she was a talker, Ares?”

He laughed, “She is once she warms up to you. I think she’s a little overwhelmed. You can be a bit much.”

“I resent that.” Katie pointed at her son and let Eliza go. She looked back at the female hunter with another smile, “You certainly are gorgeous though. He didn’t lie about that.”

Eliza’s eyes instantly struck through Ares while he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Katie’s melodic laugh cut through the tension.

“Oh my, that glare is fierce! Oh, please, come in so you can get away from my troublemaker son, dear.” His mom took Eliza’s bag and motioned her to follow.

The hunter did so with a hard stare as she walked passed Ares. She was going to be on a mission to figure out what else he told his mom about her. She suspected his mom was just trying to embarrass him as mom’s do, but Eliza wasn’t comfortable about her looks being discussed no matter how positive.

Ares followed behind Eliza once she was a safe distance away. He didn’t want to get maimed before really getting to enjoy being back, so keeping space between him and the irritated woman in front of him was a priority until she warmed up to him again. The smile he was fighting to hide finally came back when he heard his mom start her stories about the room Eliza would stay in. Once a story about a younger and more immature version of himself was told, he expected Eliza to lighten up. It was only a matter of time with Katelyn Matthews.

“You’re in the old office, sweetheart,” his mom called down to him. She looked at Eliza, “I hope you don’t mind being in Ares’ old room. It’s the biggest one aside from mine. I want you to feel at home and enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you. That’ll be perfect.” Eliza followed Katie into the room and set her suitcase on the end of the bed. It was a big room. Not as big as her room on Mars, but it was nice.

“Now, I know you both had a long flight, so you are more than welcome to rest until dinner, or you can take a trip to Sydney. You get to delegate this trip.”

“I’m not sure you want me to have that much power.”

Ares came to the doorway and leaned against the frame with his arms crossed as his mother chuckled. “I told you she was funny,” he said.

“Sweetie, you are my guest, so have fun and don’t be afraid to suggest ways to make that happen. I may not be your age anymore, but I am still young at heart.” Katie looked at her son, “You make sure she makes some decisions.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Katie kissed his cheek as she walked out of the room. “Dinner happens at 7 p.m., so whatever you do, don’t be late or you miss out on dessert!”

Eliza met Ares’ amused face. “She’s not really going to deny dessert, is she?”

“When she makes a threat, you better believe it’ll come true if you don’t listen to her rules.”

“All right, so maybe we don’t go anywhere?”

“Sounds perfect,” her partner stood up straight. “Are you interested in doing anything while we wait, or do you want to continue your nap?”

She shrugged, “I really don’t know.”

“You can relax here. We’re not going to work while we’re here because you need to get away from all that for now. Just enjoy the next few days, okay?”

“Sure.”

Ares nodded his head toward the staircase and smiled for the hundredth time that day, “Do you like puzzles?”