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((Backtracking x 10. Set around Thanksgiving 2012))

The day had finally come.

At one point Aurora would have given anything at all to have her father come visit her. He rarely ever got away from the ranch, so the very idea of him coming all the way down there to see her was amazing. Especially considering how few and far between her own trips back home were becoming.

But the joy and excitement of being able to see her father (and without the distraction of his wife!) was tempered by the reason behind the meeting. Aurora held no delusions at all that this day would end without tensions. Not when the real reasoning behind the get together wasn't simply for an early Thanksgiving visit and face to face meeting of her boyfriend. On no. It was also to ask/inform him of her intention to move in with said boyfriend. It was not a battle likely to be won by either side. But Aurora could be hopeful that they'd be able to compromise and salvage the long weekend.

Picking up her father at the airport, Aurora and him had enjoyed a cab ride back to her apartment, where they had caught up for awhile and dropped off his stuff. But they couldn't avoid things forever.

Not long before sunset father and daughter had set out walking on their way to Azzo's house, a handful of pre-prepared dishes in her arms. The man seemed far more stoic then he had been before, already seeming weary of the meeting that was to take place. She was his only girl of all his children, quite certainly the one he spoiled and doted on more than the others. The meeting of a first boyfriend and an overprotective father was rarely a pleasant one.

Arriving, Aurora knocked on the door lightly, waiting for Azzo to answer. When he did he'd be met by quite a sight. On one side, his girlfriend, average height and of delicate build, an optimistic smile resting on her face as she quickly tried to push her way into the door with her containers of food. And the other one.. almost as opposite as could be from his daughter except for skin tone. Anyu stood almost 6 and 1/2 foot tall, a large lumbering man built of muscle and land. One would never guess how well off the man was based on his appearance, as he clearly looked like the rancher and farmer that he was. His shoulders were broad, his hands weathered and calloused telling tale of all they'd been through in the years. The lines of work and age on his face were further visable by the unamused expression on his face. He had been dragged here. And he wasn't looking forward to it. In fact he offered little more then a grunt of greeting as he lingered outside the doorway, only finally coming in when Aurora turned around to wave him in, making introductions.

"Papa this is Azzo Crowley. He's been one of my best friends for a long time now. And Azzo, this is my father, Anyu Namid."

The offered hand was stared at for a moment, and if it weren't for Aurora's eager glance from behind Azzo, Anyu might have just kept staring. Like forever.

Azzo was small by no means, but compared to what the rancher was used to.. farm boys with voracious appetites and muscles from pushing around cattle... the young man looked down right scrawny.. especially in.. a sweater and tie.

That said it probably wouldn't have mattered if he was the most wonderful physical specimen ever. Or the most successful bachelor in the all the lands. Anyu would have found something to nitpick. It was what fathers did. Especially when it regarded someone worthy of their one and only daughter.

His grip was firm, his palm rough as he finally exchanged the brief shake, thankful for the distraction of food when it arose.

Another mild grunt in response, though this time atleast some words accompanied it, strangely soft for a man of his size. "I've heard a little about you."

"What is it you do Azzo." Judging. He was definately judging.

For as much as her father was being stoic and Azzo cautiously nervous, Aurora was very much attempting to lighten the mood and keep things positive. By the end of the night she was almost certain her face would ache from the smile she was attempting to keep constantly doned and the near avalanche of reassuring looks she kept trying to send to the two men. It's okay! Really it is. It's not such a big deal what so ever, her face tried to lie to both men. Who knew whether it'd work or not.

"Sure you can help" She piped up immediately, knowing full well the positive effect food had on her boyfriend, and the fact that it could drag them away from all just standing awkwardly at the door.

"I need to reheat and finish cooking some of this stuff, so why don't we all go into the kitchen. It shouldn't take very long at all to finish up."

Theater major? Psychology degree? It was nothing like what he was used to, the kind of men he usually conversed with. Had someone come to his ranch looking for work with that work experience he may very well have laughed them out of the place. But then... Wasn't that the entire reason that he'd splurged on sending Aurora to special schools and eventually to boarding schools?

He'd never wanted his daughter to be a farmer's wife, to work the land or do any of that hard labor. She'd never been allowed to assist in anything around the ranch, other then perhaps pouring food for the dogs and chickens. So wasn't he supposed to be happy then? Why didn't he feel happy?

Filing into the kitchen Anyu found his way to the table in the center of the room, settling into a chair quietly. He wouldn't be much help around the kitchen and there was something calming about the familiarity of waiting for her to finish dinner, even though it had been ages.

"A little farming. But mostly ranching. It's easier to take care of livestock with the short growing seasons." It was hard to think that a place as big and developed as Destiny City, at least what he'd seen of it so far, could have any farmland. But he had no reason to think the boy a liar, so the land must have been somewhere on the outskirts.

Uncertain what else to say to the young man the older man instead addressed his daughter. "And how have things been around here? Are you feeling well?"

It was an increasing common question to hear from her father, the worry always present in his tone. Prior to 'the incident' he'd always asked if she was enjoying herself. If she was happy. But ever since the coma it was how she was feeling. Was she well? Was she safe?

Not that she could blame him. What parent wouldn't be terribly upset find their child in a mysterious coma? She was just happy that he was far enough to hopefully not hear about the other stuff going on in the area. Terrorists. High frequency of property damage. General city crime.

"I'm feeling perfectly fine Papa. Happy and healthy." She cooed as she mixed and arranged things from their bowl into a larger cooking dish with Azzo's help. Reassurance, almost like breathing she'd gotten so used to trying to give it.

Though... this was a good opportunity wasn't it?

"Sometimes I get a little nervous at night, staying in an apartment all alone. I kind of miss having a roommate like back in the Academy." Hopefully that was nonchalant.

"The University is very nice though and it's keeping me busy, so I can't complain." Okay, so it was more her after school activities that kept her busy, but she couldn't tell him that.

Sliding two baking pans into the oven and another bowl in the microwave, she handed some of the silverware off to Azzo to help set the table.

"And no I don't want to move back home." She added before Anyu could suggest it, slinging her arms around his shoulder from behind.