After having attempted to keep the news about their aunt to himself for a couple days, Idirian finally caved and realized he needed a second opinion. Not Ainsley’s, because he knew what she would say. So he would ask for Noa's opinion. Unfortunately for Idirian, that meant he was going to need to give Noa a look into his past. The thought made him nervous. He didn’t want to scare her off, not when he was reasonably sure he had found the love of his life.

Just having a girlfriend was something new for him, as odd as that might sound for a 26 year old man. He hadn’t made time for that kind of thing while he was raising his sister, but now that Ainsley was in high school he had the time. And he had found Noa. Or she had found him. And now she was pregnant with their baby. Regardless of how it happened, this was probably the happiest he had ever been.

With the letter in hand, Idri went to go find Noa. As big as her belly was getting (he did feel bad about his genes causing their son to be huge) she was probably relaxing on the couch or in the pool.

It was a rather hot day, and while the house did have AC Noa wanted to be outside in the sun. So she donned her bikini [she needed for her belly to have room and a one piece was so not it], and made her way to the shallow end of the pool and sat there, leaning back on her hands while her head was tilted upwards towards the sun. Snorting at the way her legs moved while she kicked them in the water, Noa relaxed back a bit further into the water, humming a song that she had recently played on the speakers.

She was sure Idri didn't mind how she took over the sound system since moving here, given the fact that he still hasn't turned off her music [they did have almost the same tastes though]. Currently God is a Woman was on repeat and playing full blast through the speakers that were routed to the outside. When it got to the course she started singing, “My sinful confession, you’re my obsession…”

When he didn’t find her in the living room, he wandered outside where he could hear the song she was currently obsessed with. It still amused him that one of the first things she had done upon moving in was take over the sound system. Not that he cared. They liked the same music for the most part, and he could handle listening to the rest.

Before stepping outside, Idri kicked his slides off then made his way to the shallow end of the pool. “Hi, mi reina,” he said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He tugged his pants up and took a couple of steps into the pool before sitting on the dry edge. “How’s Haji treating you today?” he asked, reaching a hand out to run his fingers through her hair. Ever since they met, she made him feel…lighter. Both in terms of darkness and in heart and soul. It was like something in her spoke to something in him and it made him want her close, always. She made him feel like nothing could go wrong enough that they couldn’t find a way to fix it together.

And yet… He was still nervous about bringing up his past with her. It wasn’t pretty, and he had never wanted to burden her with the details, but she would need the context for his aunt’s letter.

Her eyes opened to reveal her green eyes full of happiness. “Yā, itoshī hito~” Noa tilted her head with a small frown, sitting up as much as she could while rubbing her belly, “Haji is usually calmer when I'm in the water. That doesn't mean he didn't use my bladder like a punching bag earlier though.” At the feel of his hands going through her hair, she closed her eyes, feeling very much like a cat of sorts. The next song came into play which was Ghost by Gunship featuring Power Glove. Noa already started singing “Molten bloody Earth…A focused open wound~” It was times like this that she often reminded herself how much she loved Idirian, and their dynamic.

It was scary for her to admit to herself that she was in love [ACTUAL love mind you], but she congratulated herself on the fact that she could actually admit it to herself in the first place. Telling Idri is what scared her the most, and while she was sure he would be okay with it, it's just the fact that he…Just wouldn't be able to love her that way. She was sure it was a ridiculous idea, but that fear of being alone was something she always had to contest with. The thought of Idri leaving her alone caused her eyes to water just slightly, but she held back on tears.

“Something wrong? Whatsup?”

God, those eyes of hers always made his heart race. And when she looked at him like that? Like he was a source of her happiness? Amazing and terrifying all at once, and still one of the best feelings he ever had. He snorted softly as she told him about their son’s antics. “Only a few more months, amor,” he said, smiling as she sang along to the song that was playing. Soon, he would actually have to tell her how he felt about her. Maybe even before Haji was born. If he didn’t, he feared he would just blurt it out in the delivery room after she did all the work. But not now. He should hold onto that until after this conversation at least. It wasn’t that he doubted his own feelings, but he wouldn’t put that on her right before she learned about his past.

He bent down to kiss her cheek, nuzzling her lightly. “Nothing wrong, bunni, not really,” he said with a soft sigh. His fingers continued to play in her hair, like she was his anchor to the present so he wouldn’t get lost in the past. “I had a letter come the other day. I wanted to get your opinion on it before I do anything.” Like burn it, which had been his first instinct. In the back of his mind, he began wondering how much of his past he would need to tell her so she could make an informed opinion. He didn’t want to get too…graphic or anything,

A letter? That was…Ancient. Who sends a letter now-a-days? Either way, she was happy to help in any way she could. She smiled when Idri kissed her cheek, catching his lips before he pulled away. “Mmmmhmmmn, I'd be happy to help. What was the letter about?” Turning to face him a bit more while also getting close, Noa sat with her back against the pool wall, looking up at her boyfriend with curiosity. Hopefully the letter was a good thing and not something that would make him sad. It was rare but Noa loved it whenever Idri smiled, it made her feel bright.

Idri moved a little closer to Noa, letting his legs dangle in the water next to where she leaned against the wall. He took a deep breath before he spoke, letting his leg brush against her arm. “It was from an aunt that I didn’t know I had. She wants to meet, and for me to meet the rest of my…her family.” Now, that didn’t sound bad, right? Now to add the complicated bits.

“It doesn’t sound like a hard decision to make, I know. But, she’s my mother’s younger sister. My mom’s family abandoned her when she was pregnant with me.” Gabriella had never told him all of the details, obviously. He had been so young when she died, and she was probably saving that for when he was older and asking questions. It still pissed him off that she wanted to make amends now, almost thirty years after they had abandoned her. It was too late for them to help his mother, and maybe it was too late for him, too. He’d lived this long without them, right?

Meeting family seemed fun but judging by the tone in his voice, she wasn't so sure right now. Her frown deepened when he mentioned the fact that his mother’s own family abandoned her when she was pregnant with him. “Why…..Why would they do that?” She couldn't imagine her grandparents abandoning her mother just because she was pregnant, it didn't seem like a feasible thing to do to someone that vulnerable. Before he could answer, Noa moved to stand up in the pool, “Just so you know Idri, this…” She opened her arms wide, “Is a safespace. You don't have to say things if you feel uncomfortable. But know I'm here to support you. I don't judge.” She gave him a small kiss on his knee, resting her head on his thigh.

He snorted softly though her words about safe spaces and her support made him relax a bit more. Her kiss did even more to relax him, his fingers lightly scratching at her scalp. She made him feel comfortable. Like there wasn’t anything he could tell her about his past that would change the way she saw him. He only hoped that was true. “They were, are, a wealthy family and apparently my grandfather didn’t approve of my mother’s choice of boyfriends.” Not that Idirian could really blame him, but that was neither here nor there. “And she wasn’t married. Not until after I was born.”

He sighed heavily, feeling like a little weight had been lifted from his shoulders. But there was more still. “So now, twenty six years later, my grandfather is dead and my aunt wants to make amends.” He couldn’t see how. But that was why he needed Noa’s opinion. He needed her light to balance out his darkness.

Well there is usually a reason why boyfriends don't get approved. She didn't think the grandfather would just say no like that…Right? “Well…Why didn't grandfather approve?” Clearly she knew he didn't approve of Idri’s father, who he never spoke about, but that was also something she wasn't going to ask him about if he felt uncomfortable. Personally, she thinks he should give her a shot. If the family is rich then to her that would mean grandfather is the patriarch…Which also meant that whatever he said goes. But she would wait for Idri to explain before saying anything.

“I don’t know all of the details, but I can assume some things. My dad is not a great person,” he said. He wasn’t sure how much detail he wanted to go into with her about Garrett. Honestly, he hoped she never had to meet him. “He’s a charmer when things are going his way, and when they’re not… He’s an entirely different person. My grandfather must have seen that, but my mother was blinded by his charm. And then she wouldn’t have wanted to leave him once she had me.” Talking about his dad made him twitchy, and he tried to hide it by playing with her hair a bit more. He had never realized how much he craved simple, affectionate touches until he met Noa.

“I know that none of that is my aunt’s fault. But I can’t help feeling angry that she waited twenty six years to reach out. She didn’t even try to contact me when my mom died. I get that my grandfather must have been a controlling a*****e, but she couldn’t sneak out a letter? Couldn’t have made a phone call?” His voice rose as he spoke, his anger evident, but he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Sorry,” he murmured. The last thing he wanted to do was take his anger out on someone who didn’t deserve it, like his father had. His fingers had begun to tighten in her hair and he carefully relaxed them.

Ahhhh….That made sense.

Noa continued to rest her head on Idri’s lap, “You know…There could be a good reason as to why she waited. Your grandfather seems like an a*****e, but I think he was trying to protect his daughter? Hell, my father does it with every guy I bring into his house, dating or not.” She gave him a soft smile, “But it was still wrong of him to abandon his daughter when she needed him and his support the most.” Everyone makes bad choices and decisions, it's up to that person as to whether they want to grow and learn from those mistakes that are made.

She didn't even flinch when his voice started to raise, understanding the frustration and confusion, but also cursing her pregnancy hormones when his hand started to tighten in her hair. Geezus she was the problem! Her v****a can wait…This was a very important conversation. She gave him a gentle smile, even as she had lust clouding her eyes slightly. “Baby, you know what I think?” she turned to kiss his thigh, “Give her a chance. She's family on your mother’s side, family that I'm sure your mother would’ve loved for you to meet.” She hoped he wouldn't hold his grandfather’s mistakes over his aunt’s head, “Besides, I'm sure Ains would kill you if you decided to ignore their existence when they tried to reach out to you.”

He loved this woman. If he hadn’t been sure before, then he definitely was now. And yet he still wasn’t ready to tell her that. He supposed that she was right when it came to his grandfather not liking his daughter’s boyfriend. If he had a daughter, he would likely be the same. Hell, he might be the same with Haji, too. Her comment about Ains earned a chuckle out of him, and he fought the urge to smirk when he caught sight of the lust beginning in her eyes. Don’t get distracted. This is an important conversation.

“Yeah, she probably would. Especially when she finds out there are cousins, too.” Suddenly, only having her head on his lap and his hand in her hair wasn’t enough; he needed to be closer to her. With a couple of movements, he was in the pool beside her and uncaring of his now soaking wet clothes. He slid his arms around her and smiled softly. “You’re a much better person than I am,” he murmured and stole a quick kiss. “But you’re right about mom. She would want me to have family, to meet her sister.” He supposed that meant he should call his aunt and set something up. “I guess I just needed to talk it out,” he said and nuzzled her, holding her closer. “Thank you…”

Well, those clothes would need washing later. “I wouldn't say that….You of all people know how I can be~” She’s missing the fact that she can't be Saleeite, but their little boy is totally worth the waiting period. Noa nipped at his lower lip through the kiss, “Of course I'm right~” she gave him her signature gremlin smile, nuzzling him back with a content sigh. “I'm always going to be here for you big guy, anytime you need me~” those three words almost slipped from her mouth, but she was able to hold them in. Just a bit longer, and then she would confess.