#mara cerrillo

[lucan-multiverse]

[maisy/isaac]

The jungles of Surkesh were far from her favourite places to be but the joint exercise had been too important for the Alliance not to be a part of. Maisy had returned back to the SSV Liberation with the sense of a job well done – but also with a layer of ooze caked across her armour that was so pungent even her unfaltering stoic husband couldn’t hold back his faint grimace as she exited the decontamination bay and strode up to him. 

The stink wafted around her like a cloud.

“Hi, baby,” she smiled. “Do I get a kiss?”

She leaned in expectantly and chuckling softly against his mouth when he finally bravely pecked her lips. She loved that about him - that she could be so disheveled and drenched in blood and soot and the worst horrors known to humanity and he would still want to touch her.

She had to resist curling her fingers into his hair and smearing his perfectly pressed uniform because even with the stench around her, he tasted like home and she had been away far too long.

“You smell like a Salarian quagmire,” he told her honestly and she laughed, knowing he wasn’t wrong.

“I know. I’ll go shower before I give my report.” She flashed him a coy smile but the effect was probably ruined by the gunk smeared across one cheek and caked into her dark hair. “Join me?”

His lips twitched with amusement as he looked her over again, considering. “How about I give you a head start?”

She laughed again and stepped away, blowing him a kiss over her shoulder and adding an extra sway of her hips for his benefit as she walked off down the hall. “Don’t take too long, Admiral.”

--

The water was soothing on her skin and the plumes of steam and frothy fragrant soap washed away the worst of the Surkesh stink. Her water ration was almost up but she couldn’t bring herself to move from under the spray of the shower. It felt far too good to be home and she was just rinsing out the frothy soap from her long black hair when she sensed she was no longer alone. A warm body pressed against her and she sighed and smiled as a pair of wide palms settled against her hips. Warm lips found her neck.

She shivered as those lips began to nibble. “I missed you,” she sighed. “A week was a long time without your face.”

He hummed against her skin. “I missed you too, baby.”

“I saw the holo message from your mom and the kids,” she said, enjoying the way his strong arms cradled her. With his chest against her back, they rocked gently together in the steamy shower, soaking in the fact they were together again. The video message had been the one thing that had stopped her from immediately diving into the shower – that tiny red light blinking to notify them of a message from the farmhouse on Terra Nova had been too tempting to ignore.

The message itself had been short – typical morning chaos with dark haired twins perched at a rustic kitchen counter, squirting far too much syrup on their freshly cooked pancakes and a laughing, exasperated Mara. Both toddlers had looked healthy and happy and Maisy had loved it. It went a long way to assuaging some of the guilt she carried for being so far away from them.

“Luca looks like he needs another haircut,” she commented, laying her head back against her husband's temple. “I swear the more we cut his hair, the faster it grows.” She turned in his arms and reached for his hair, digging her fingers gently against his scalp and rubbing his short strands. “What aren’t you telling me, Mr Cerrillo? Are there hidden curls here somewhere under this strict military cut?”

His lips twitched at her playfulness but his expression is deeply solemn. “You’ll never know."

She laughed and kissed his perfect nose. “Well, they certainly didn’t come from me. And he has your eyes. He’s you all over, really.”

“Just like Livie is all you.”

“My gorgeous girl,” Maisy sighed contentedly and placed a hand against her heart, her whole being filled with affection. “Did you see her tucking all her toys into their little beds? So sweet.”

She fell silent as familiar doubts crept in and she became suddenly all too eager to find her husband’s mouth and lose herself in his kisses. Isaac obliged, holding the back of her head to deepen the kiss. His tongue sliding against hers made her knees weak and heat pool in her core. Her hands had only just started to claw against his muscled shoulders before he pulled back and she made a small, disappointed noise at the broken contact.

His eyes were dark and soft as he gazed at her. “Are you alright?”

She knew he meant more than just the exercise.

“I am now. I’m with you. I'm home.”

His eyes turned molten at her words and he pulled her close for a punishing kiss. Her breasts flattened against his fuzzy chest as his arms came around her and tightened like a vice. The heat of his half hard cock against her hip made her moan softly into his mouth. “Zac. I love you.”

“I love you too. Maisy. I need to taste you.”

“Yes,” she thrilled at his words and he chuckled as her blunt nails dug into the thick corded muscle of his shoulders. She quickly found herself hanging onto him as he nudged her back. The cold tiles of the cubicle made contact with her feverish skin but it was easy to ignore the mild discomfort as he crowded her against the wall to kiss her deeply. But just when she thought she was going to lose herself completely in his kiss, he drew back.

“Maisy.”

The way he said her name had always made her feel good. There was tenderness threaded through each note and it was matched by the look in his dark eyes. She stroked his face lovingly, noting the faintest stubble under her palm and the way his hair was starting to curl from the moisture in the air. She loved his face, his dark brows, the creases on his forehead when he frowned, his strong nose. She trailed each feature adoringly with her fingertips and he chased her fingers with his lips.

“Oh,” she murmured as he sucked in one digit into his hot mouth and swirled his tongue. She considered briefly just shoving him to his knees so she could experience that talented tongue right where she wanted it most but she knew he would get there eventually.

He held her gaze as he sucked and did the same to her other fingers until they were dripping, then he took her wrist and guided her own hand between them.

She reached for his cock but he surprised her by forcing her own dampened fingers inside of herself.

“Oh,” she said again, eyelashes fluttering as he kissed his way down her torso and settled onto the floor of the shower between her knees. Somewhere along the line, the rainfall of water dissipated to steam and the air was damp and hot and she couldn’t tell if the beads of dampness across her collarbone and dripping between her breasts were sweat or a result of the steam.

He kissed her belly she realized she didn’t care.

“Show me, Maisy,” he said, and his tone carried something new. Something authoritative that wasn’t there before. She knew what he wanted. After that many years and two babies together, they were well versed in each other’s language.

She moved her legs, spreading her stance and bracing her back against the shower wall. She stroked herself with her fingers, dipping them between her own folds, letting him hear the squelch from her rapidly pooling juices. He watched her hungrily and she hummed, pleased to have his whole, entire focus.

She spread her folds with her fingers, letting him glimpse the deepest, most secret parts of her. She almost trembled with anticipation.

“Is this what you want to see?”

[dad-zac]

Isaac couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept so well and he wasn’t sure how much of it could be attributed to the familiar comfort of his childhood bedroom or the woman still asleep in his arms. 

The paladin had been known for being immovable, had been in combat situations that required every bit of his stoic unflinching strength for hours on end. Sometimes the act of wanting was simply just not an option in his line of work. But there had been no special forces training or arguably heroic resolve needed to wrap himself around her and remain that way for the duration of their first night on Terra Nova.

He’d never looked forward to shore leave as much as he had in the months since Maisy Knight first asked him to breakfast. But even the times they’d spent traversing the galaxy since that first date couldn’t stack up to this one. 

Isaac’s dark eyes traced the lines of her face, reveling in the sight and scent and feel of her warm body tucked against him. Maisy had earned every one of her stripes and the captain had been careful to keep his intentions for their long break away from the surface as much as he could manage. She was more than intelligent. She was clever. Curious. Insightful and incredibly hard to fool. All traits he deeply admired but ones that added new levels of strategy to his secret proposal.

A free hand drifted to brush against her belly, thanking whatever creator might possibly exist for the gift of life blooming inside of her, but the movement made her stir. Her delicate hand found his and a small, proud smile fit her full lips as they both held their hands over her growing womb. As inappropriate as his logic might dictate it, his body responded, cock stiffening at her back.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he uttered without thinking and then smiling at her smile widening even before her stunning green eyes fluttered open.

“I love you, Isaac Cerrillo,” she murmured with a certainty untethered by her voice still thick from sleep.

Keeping his hand over the place where his seed was blooming to life inside of her, Isaac adjusted himself, letting his stiffness settle against the curve of her soft, bare ass to press a trail of kisses along shoulder to her exposed neck. “I love you too, my Maisy,” he whispered back. The day’s long travel to Terra Nova had left his stubble prominent and it tickled the shell of her ear when he pressed his nose into her hair to breathe her in, unconsciously tugging her body even closer. “Did you sleep alright?”

“Mmm.” Her pleased hum made his heart sing. “Best I’ve slept in a while.” 

She shifted, just barely, but just enough and his attention shifted too. She must have sensed his inner turmoil because it was her hand that pulled his to cover her exposed breast. He might have felt embarrassed about the sound of the breath that left him when her tightened, darkening nipple brushed his open palm, but his hand flexed instinctively, cupping her soft breast while his mouth fell back to her neck. She smelled like Terra Nova sunshine and he nipped at her skin gently in an attempt to dissuade his baser urges.

“Know what would make it even better?” She teased and a smile flashed through her grey-green eyes.

“Pancakes and bacon but I promise you, Ma is already working on that,” he teased back. Her increasing appetite was no doubt tugging at her after the prior day’s chaos that was interplanetary transportation. They’d gotten in so late that Mara had only pushed them up the stairs, citing the need to get her grandbabies some rest and relaxation so that the family could catch up over breakfast in the morning.

But Maisy’s other appetite was also growing and the way she shifted, again, against Isaac left no doubt about how wet and ready her supple body had already been for his desire. “You’re not leaving this bed just yet, Captain. And that’s an order.”

Isaac’s warm chuckle reverberated through them both and with an ease he’d never felt in his life, his body responded to her, a simple shift of his weight to line his throbbing erection with the soft heat between her legs. 

A memory of their first time flashed through him as her body parted to accept him. He never thought it would actually happen but, still, every fiber of him wanted this. To claim her this way. To tie them together this way. It mattered more than the sparkling vintage band in the bedside drawer but traditionalists do as traditionalists do and it didn’t diminish a damn thing to know that they’d created two new heartbeats from their love.

“I love you so much, Mase,” Isaac told her with a voice raw and dripping with emotion as much as desire.

“I love you too, Zac,” she answered, turning just enough to let him seal their lips before he finally began to move inside of her.

[captain-cerrillo]

Listen. I apologize for the sheer amount of fluff that is about to come out of me for the extended future. 😅

Mara Cerrillo didn’t need to see the face behind the opaque visor to recognize her son. She had been there the day he’d graduated ICT. The Alliance had paid for a week’s long vacation to Brazil for two members of every graduate’s family. The Cerrillo family had been small for a long time, so Mara made sure that she cheered louder than anyone when it was Isaac’s turn to walk across the stage.

The paladin armor was far more weathered than it had been even since the last time she'd seen him without the aid of a dozen comm bouys. She watched him take off his helmet and marveled at the grey taking over his dark hair. She noted the deep lines on his face and the obvious weight on his shoulders and wondered if he had been letting anyone in.

Mara stood next to Major Rose, woven between a gaggle of dazed, terrified, horrified and straight up angry civilians. She watched Isaac file out of the shuttle and tried not to think of a clown car with the sheer number of noticably more-than-humans that piled out in rainbow colored hues. Her breathless chuckle was humorless as a million emotions swirled inside her.

“Go on, Cute Thing.” She swatted at the Slayer playfully, pushing him forward to greet his team. "Hey Major? Thank you."

Archer ground out a small, knowing chuckle. “Recon, then.” He flashed a fanged grin and Mara made a delighted little thrill. "It's been my pleasure, ma'am." He disappeared on a flash of blue only a heartbeat later.

-

Mara had never had the connection to the land that Isaac and his father shared. For the first time in a very long time, she noticed as she watched Isaac peel off a black glove and kneel down, Mara felt that genuine, flowers after a rain storm type of hope.

Isaac knelt to scoop a handful of fertile, dark earth before carefully rubbing it between his fingers. The act coated his wide palms in a thin layer of dirt and he shamelessly brought the hand to his face to smell it.

His bisabuelo always said it was the best way to "be where your feet are" and while he was normally far more inconspicuous about it, the sheer relief of being back, of know that they had a workable game plan and, for now, everyone was safe, had him helpless to sentimental ritual.

A small, bare hand with painted red nails trailed his armored shoulder, running down the N7 stripe to lace her manicured fingers in front of his face with his dirty, calloused hand.

Isaac's eyes squeezed shut and he pressed a kiss to the underside of the blonde woman's exposed wrist - a fury if Mara's memory hadn't failed her. For the first time in a decade, at least, a new hope began to bud again.

And then, he saw her smiling face.

[eva-novakov]

x

So this is what a true mom hug feels like, Eva thought, returning the greeting. She threw Isaac a reasurring smile over the woman's shoulder. It was easy to do. She was reassured. And warm. And safe. That's a mom hug. She swallowed down the emotion of finally feeling what she had been missing out on all of her life before answering.

"Eva Novakov. Es un placer conocer por fin a la mujer de la que tanto he oído hablar."

Mara didn't let go of Eva's arms as she talked and her eyes grew wide with appreciation. "Tu hablas español! Y Novakov...tan ruso también?"

Eva nodded and brushed the golden strand that fell into her face with the motion. "Russian is my native language. I know a few others and quite a few alien communication forms. I've always found linguistics to be fascinating."

"To be fair, she finds everything in life fascinating." Isaac stepped behind his mother and gazed proudly at the woman she still had clasped in her hands.

"That is the only way to live." Mara replied with a few soft pats to Eva's padded shoulder. "Well i know from this one," she jerked a thumb at Isaac, "that the job comes first. But when you are done, please, we must visit." Mara's hand found Eva's cheek. "Debería conocer al que puso tanta luz en los ojos de mi hijo."

-

Es un placer conocer por fin a la mujer de la que tanto he oído hablar." - It's a pleasure to finally meet the woman I've heard so much about.

Tu hablas español! Y Novakov...tan ruso también? -  You speak Spanish! And Novakov... so Russian too?

Debería conocer al que puso tanta luz en los ojos de mi hijo - I should meet the one who put so much light in my son's eyes 

[mason-knight-retired]

silly fluff... thing. idk doesn’t have to be canon just something that was floating around in my head for a while. took a few liberties so feel free to ignore.

--

Post War Terra Nova

The kitchen was the heart of the farmhouse and the heart was beating strong.

Mason grinned at the sight of his husband, immaculately dressed and hair perfectly styled, his head bent close to Mara in deep conversation. Mara held a cup in her hands, empty, but too engrossed in whatever she was discussing with Ethan to notice. Mason suspected it wasn’t so much the subject Ethan was waxing lyrical about, but more the cadence of his voice and the clear, precise tones of his accent. Mason could sympathize – Ethan could spent hours reading out the dreariest Alliance regulations and Mason wouldn’t mind one bit as long as he could lose himself in that voice.

A clatter on the stairs behind him had him turning towards the porch. Luca pushed his way into the kitchen, the screen door banging behind him as he came in. His skin was flushed and sweat beaded along his brow as he ran a hand through his curls. In his white tank top it was easy to see the new muscle forming from the hours of hard labor on the farm.

“Why is it that you’re the super soldiers with crazy strength and incredible stamina, but I’m the one out there with Mason and Isaac digging holes for the fences?” he complained, draping himself dramatically over Ben’s back where Ben sat at the long kitchen table helping Eva shell peas. It was weirdly domestic and a sight Mason wasn’t sure he would ever get used to.

Ethan looked up and smirked. “Because we’re pretty,” he said.

Luca looped his arms around Ben’s neck and perched his chin on his head. Ben exchanged a long suffering glance with Eva but didn’t push the engineer away.

“So pretty,” Luca yawned in agreement, rubbing a cheek against Ben’s hair. “Kalahira, but I’m exhausted. I don’t think I can make it another step.”

“You’d better,” Eva shot him an amused smirk. Then she wrinkled her nose. “You kind of stink.”

“That’s sweat from working so hard, Evie. Very manly, thank you very much.”

“Stinky,” Eva laughed. She nudged Ben. “Go take him to get cleaned up, Ben.”

“Yeah,” Luca brightened. He was all but sliding into Ben’s lap now, a sly smile and a waggle of eyebrows. “Take me to get cleaned up. You have to carry me though. Suddenly my legs don’t work.”

“Bloody hell,” Ethan muttered, glancing away.

Mason laughed and squeezed Ethan’s shoulder. “Hey, Luca worked hard today. I was impressed.”

Ethan didn’t look convinced and pointedly ignored Luca being carted off by Hurricane into the hall. They passed Isaac coming into the kitchen as they went, his hair damp and a towel around his shoulders. Isaac paused by the table, leaning down to give Eva what was supposed to be a quick kiss, except that her fast hands latched onto his neck and held him in place for a kiss that was significantly more than just a peck on the lips.

“Ah, newlyweds,” Mason joked, catching Mara’s eye and winking. “I remember what that was like.”

“Well, here’s hoping for some grandbabies sometime soon,” Mara sniffed. “I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

Isaac and Eva broke their kiss to exclaim together. “Mom!”

“We talked about this,” Isaac added as he straightened up.

“You talked,” Mara dismissed him, but her eyes were bright with mirth. “I still want grandbabies.”

“You have grandbabies,” Eva said pointedly. She nodded at the two dogs curled up in the corner. Gus, sensing attention on him, raised his head and thumped his tail happily against the floorboards, tongue lolling out.

“Not quite the same,” Mara laughed but she was soon distracted from that subject by Mason pressing a fresh mug of tea into her palm. “Oh, Mason, you do know just how to make a lady feel pampered.”

“I get that a lot,” Mason teased, laughing again when Mara’s cheeks stained the faintest pink. He was falling in love with Mara in a whole new way, wishing this woman could have been his mother. Wishing this whole family in the farmhouse could have been his.

Something of his thoughts might have shown in his face because Ethan was suddenly there, curling an arm around his waist.

“Babe,” he protested. “I haven’t showered either. We just came in.”

“I know,” Ethan murmured, running a palm over the dark stubble along Mason’s jaw that was only a few days shy of a beard. “Very manly.”

Mason chuckled but let Ethan kiss him, just as Mara chimed up, “if you’re handing out kisses, Sabre then I’d like one too.”

Ethan drew back, a quirk of his mouth that made Mason struggle not to laugh more. “Well, it seems my work is never done.”

“Mom,” Isaac and Eva groaned again.

--

Later, after a loud, hearty meal and a few too many sips of wine from Nico’s ancient wine cellar, Mason and Isaac poured over the map spread across the table.

“And this trail?” Mason asked, pointing a finger to one section that appeared to be nothing but forest and mountainous terrain. “How many clicks is this one?”

“This one,” Isaac nodded. “This one just might give a phoenix a run for their money. Its rough terrain, and a good eighty clicks to the summit. You’d probably smash it out in a few hours.”

“Less, actually,” Mason mused, running his eyes over the map. It wasn’t a brag, just a fact.

“Will your husband be joining you?”

“Ethan?” Mason snorted. “No, running trails is definitely not his forte. Or running at all. But why don’t you?”

“I’m an old man these days, Huntsman. I doubt I could keep up.”

“I’ll pair it back for you. It’s no fun running the trails alone all the time. And I doubt Luca is going to let Ben out of his sight long enough to join me.”

Isaac chuckled. “You’d be right about that.”

Mason grinned then turned back to the map. Terra Nova was beautiful, wild, and rugged in a way he imagined the Wild West back on Earth might have been once. But it wasn’t without its dangers. And Isaac’s farm, nestled in one of the most fertile and beautiful valleys, was prosperous and thriving in a way that had too many covetous eyes turned towards it.

“You’re not really thinking about the trails, are you?” Isaac said quietly. He was mindful of the activity nearby, his mother perched on Ethan’s knee, giggling over a glass of wine while Luca played one of his melodious love songs he’d written for Ben he had no hope of Ben understanding. Eva was tucked up on the couch, one of the dogs gazing up adoringly at her as she scratched their heads while Ben sprawled on his stomach on the floor at her feet.

Mason gave Isaac a glance. He wasn’t surprised that Isaac had picked up the thread of his thoughts. He was an Alliance admiral after all, trained to protect, trained to be always thinking five steps ahead. Of course he was aware of the dangers.

“Your neighbors. Are they as prosperous as you?”

“No,” Isaac shook his head. “But they don’t have my mother, or a Luca. Even though we share what we have.”

“And the defensive satellites? Are they in orbit yet?”

Isaac’s silence was telling. Mason didn’t need him to say more.

“You need to keep your guard up. The war is over but not everyone got the memo.”

“I know,” Isaac answered, his eyes suddenly hard as he studied the map. “But right now… Well, I don’t need to tell you that I’m glad to have a few phoenix around.”

[flyingblakeryan]

Mara patted the back of Luca’s hand with a knowing smile. “Esto no es una sorpresa para mí querido corazón. My Ryan. He is the sweetest kind of chaos.”

She released Luca only to cup his face between her hands, stroking her weathered thumbs over his smooth cheeks and taking her time to note all of the bands of brown inside his soft eyes. “El amor nunca es la elección equivocada. Do you understand me, Luca?”

Luca could have melted from the way her thick accent rolled the vowels of his name and he fought the urge to hug her again.

“You come back to me, Nieto.” She saw his hesitation and pulled him in for another embrace. One hand pet over his wild curls. “You come back and bring my family. I will show you pictures while you eat.” She pinched his cheek with a wink before she released him with a smile. “Good luck, Lieutenant Moreno. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better when this is all through.”

Esto no es una sorpresa para mí querido corazón -This is no surprise to me dear heart

El amor nunca es la eleccion equivocada -love is never the wrong choice

I miss you so much. It's always there in the background but when it's the quiet moments it just gets so much I feel like it's a hand around my throat.

I'm trying to focus on the good things. Seeing Isaac and his mom together is really fun and sweet though. I've never seen this side of him before.

Does ... Do you think Mara knows about us? She asked Isaac about you by the way.

I can't imagine she would. You could tell her, if you like.

[luca-moreno]

Settle Ry

[ SETTLE ] receiver sits in sender’s lap and proceeds to play with their hair.

The floorboards of the Cerrillo family farmhouse creaked as Luca crossed the room. He went first to the window, peering through the glass to the view of the countryside beyond as Ryan took a seat on the bed and began to pull off his boots.

“So, this is your room?” Luca asked, pulling his gaze away from the rolling hills and peaceful surroundings outside. It was hard to believe that barely a day ago they had been in a warzone.

“Aye,” Ryan said. “At least this was the room I stayed in whenever I followed Isaac home for shore leave. Mara is an angel. She’s no’ changed a single thing since I was last here.”

Luca looked around curiously, trying to imagine a younger version of the man he loved in this space. He could almost picture it. The walls were painted a pale green, like soft mint and there was a mirrored armoire dresser off to one side, a doorway that led to a small bathroom on the other and in the middle, a wide bed decked in plush white linen was positioned with a prime view of the farmlands beyond.

“Is it weird?” Luca asked, peeling himself away from the window. “Being back here, I mean. With… um. Me?”

Ryan shoved his boots aside and looked up at Luca. The pilot’s brows furrowed considering then he shook his head. “Not at all, Luc. And I dinnae bring anyone else here, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Luca flushed, glancing away embarrassed because Ryan had seen right through his curiosity. The thought had occurred to him the moment they walked in, and Luca’s over active mind supplied him with a vision of a much younger Ryan curled around a figure that definitely wasn’t him. The concept burned more than it realistically should. There were a lot of years between them, of course Ryan had had other experiences… and so had Luca.

Luca frowned to himself, faltering. The bout of irrational jealousy made no sense.

Ryan patted the bed beside him and regarded Luca with soft eyes. “Come here, love,” he whispered.

Luca bit his lip, then ignored the bed to climb directly onto Ryan’s lap so that he could straddle him instead. Luca cupped his boyfriend’s handsome face. Ryan was considerably older than Luca, there was no denying that, and his extra years showed in the beloved lines on his face.

But for Luca, it was the shock of silver, just one patch in his dark hair visible even from a distance away, that Luca absolutely adored. He reached out to trail his fingers through his lover’s hair, twining the streak of silver white around a finger and tugging gently. It made Ryan huff out a small laugh.

”I love this,” Luca said as he leaned in to kiss him, He tugged again, just enough so that Ryan knew what he was talking about. “And I love you.”

[sunshine-luca]

talkshow

“We’re here tonight with young popstar Luca Moreno,” the talk show host said, smiling into the camera. Luca tried not to fidget in his place on the sofa as she made her opening spiel. It didn’t matter how many of these interviews he did, he always felt the same flutter of nerves when the blinking red lights of the cameras told him they were filming. The stage lights were too bright to see much of the audience, and he was grateful for that at least.

Grateful, and mildly nervous for the knowledge that his family were just on the other side of the stage watching on.

“Thanks,” he smiled, flashing his trademark grin. “It’s great to be here.”

“You’ve been busy this year, Luca,” the host told him. She was an older woman, dark skin and full lips and her hair was pulled back from her face in an intricate braid. Of all the hosts he’d dealt with over the years, Susanna Wallace was probably the one he was most comfortable with and Luca told himself it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact her accent still held traces of her Scottish lilt. The comfort was a double edged sword – too comfortable and he might let something slip he shouldn’t… too uncomfortable and he might come off standoffish and rude.

It was tricky finding a balance sometimes.

“Yeah,” he laughed as the studio audience let out a small cheer. He raised his hand in a wave and grinned again. “There’s been the new album and the tour and there’s been a lot of other fun projects I’ve been working on.”

“Oh, yes, and the reason you’re here today. You’re going to share one of those projects with us aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” Luca nodded. “I guess the secret is out now so we decided it would be fun to work together.”

“And by the secret, you’re talking about your relationship with the famed Spanish singer Mara Cerrillo, am I right?”

“Yep.”

“For those of you who aren’t in the know,” Susanna addressed the cameras again. “It’s recently come to light that Luca is Mara’s grandson. You’ve been in the music industry for a few years Luca, but you’ve kept that very quiet. Why is that?”

“I wanted my music to be judged on its own merits, not just on who my grandmother is.”

“You come from a very talented family. Your last album featured a duet with your older brother. Will this one feature one with your grandmother?”

Luca wrinkled his nose in a laugh. There was a teasing note to Susanna’s voice. She knew all about the duet, but the audience didn’t.

“You’ll have to wait to find out.”

She laughed and moved on to a few more questions, chatting with Luca as though they were old friends catching up over a cup of coffee but it was a carefully arranged script for the most part. She asked about his childhood, how he had missed the early years with Mara and how he and his siblings hadn’t even known they were part of the Cerrillo family until their mother passed away.

“So you were only six,” Susanna said. “And suddenly you were all alone?”

“Well, I wasn’t alone. I mean, I had my twin sister Olivia and my brother, but it was a rough situation. My dad didn’t even know we existed. He was so young when Mom had us and she didn’t tell him and then suddenly we were placed into his care-“

“That must have been hard for him.”

“Yeah,” Luca said with a small smile. He knew his father was backstage somewhere watching. “But he wasn’t alone so I think that helped.”

“Let me… June, do we have that photo? We were sent one earlier- oh! Here it is.”

Susanna pointed up at the wide screen behind her. A photo appeared, of Luca and Olivia, eight years old and squished between Isaac and Mason, Kio to one side with Isaac’s hand on his shoulder and Mara leaning over and smiling into the camera in front of a birthday cake. Luca didn’t remember the photo but he remembered that birthday.

“Oh, I remember that.”

“That’s your father?”

“Yes,” Luca nodded and grinned again. There were gasps in the audience and a ripple of approval flowed through. “That’s my dad and his husband Mason. They weren’t married, they weren’t even dating for long before they had to take us.”

“My god, I see where you get your good looks from.”

Luca laughed into his hand, picturing his father’s cringe at the compliment but loving it himself. “Yep.”

“So your grandmother is Mara Cerrillo, and your brother is musical too… what about your father and your sister? Any musical abilities too? Any other secret famous relatives you want to share with the world?”

“No, that’s it as far as I know, but maybe check in in a month,” he joked but then he sobered as he started to talk about his sister. “Olivia isn’t a huge fan of the limelight but her work is amazing. So much more than what I do. All I do is show up and sing songs and dance around a bit, but Livy, she does incredible things. She set up a foundation to help underprivileged and orphaned kids, kids who haven’t got support at home or families to love them, or even homes to live in. We were so lucky, we had our dad, but we could have ended up anywhere. And we might even have been separated, except that my dad refused to let that happen-“

“Separated?” Susanna queried.

“Yeah, they tried to take Kiosho away because he was older and technically not a blood relation to my dad so… it was all pretty messy.”

“But it sounds like it worked out in the end. And now you’re giving back, through your sister’s foundation?”

“I help where I can, but its Olivia that’s the brains behind it. Actually, all the sales from my duet with my grandmother will go to Olivia’s charity.”

“Well,” Susanna smiled into the camera again. “You heard that here folks. I think it’s time we brought the lovely Mara Cerrillo. Mara, come on out!”

The studio audience started cheering loudly as Mara stepped out. She flipped her long silver hair over her shoulder as she waved to the crowd and blew kisses. Luca stood up, grinning as he watched his grandmother bask in the crowds adoration. She waved a few more times as the music swelled then she turned to the couch, spotted him, and threw out her hands to pull him into a hug and pinch both of his cheeks as she rained kissed on his face like she hadn’t seen him in months instead of just a few hours ago at breakfast.

Luca knew the drill and he laughed and hugged her back, falling back onto the sofa, her arm tucked closely into his.

“Welcome, Mara,” Susanna said. “We’re so honored to have you on our show.”

Mara smiled kindly but she wasn’t looking at the host. Instead she was gazing at Luca, her eyes soft and her weathered hand clutching his tightly. Luca’s chest suddenly felt tight when it hit him once again that this was his life. Sometimes it still felt like a dream.

“No,” Mara said softly, still looking into his eyes. “The honor is all mine.”

--

Mara’s portion of the interview went quickly. At least it seemed that way to Luca and soon they were getting up from the couch and being handed microphones. Mara took his hand as she led him to the small stage nearby and the strands of the piano notes began to ring out. Their duet was unlike any of Luca’s wild, fun pop music but it contained more heart than anything he had released before. It was a test run for another song he had lingering in the back of his mind, a soulful ballad he’d written for Ryan and planned to play for him when the time was right.

A hush settled over the studio as the music began and Luca settled himself into performance mode. Mara still held his hand and he squeezed it back gratefully, smiling behind the microphone when their eyes caught and Luca saw the pride shining in her gaze.

They sang easily. Purely. Luca closed his eyes and thought about the events that had led him to this moment. It put more power into his voice and Mara’s clear tones joined his. Then, when the last notes faded away and Luca was blinking into the lights, the spell over, the studio audience erupted into wild cheers and claps, whistles and the stomp of feet as people rose to give them a standing ovation.

Mara pulled him into her chest and hugged him tight and if his eyes were damp, neither of them mentioned it.

“That was amazing,” Susanna gushed, coming towards them with bright eyes. She looked thrilled. She grasped Luca’s hand and gushed some more and Luca had to mentally give himself a shake to tune back into reality.

The duet debut wasn’t going to be the most important thing that happened today after all.

He didn’t get a chance to say anything before the rest of his family suddenly appeared. Kiosho was out first, bounding across the stage to throw his arms around Luca in overzealous messy hug before turning to hug Mara. Mase and Isaac walked out next with Olivia close to Isaac’s side. She was unsure as she glanced around the bright lights.

Susanna arranged them all in a small group, still gushing and the crowd watched on avidly.

“Susanna, there’s something else,” Luca called to her. He’d cleared this with her earlier and she hadn’t hesitated at being the one to have the scoop. She was expecting this but she feigned confusion for the audience’s sake.

“Oh? Got something else, Luca?”

“I do,” he grinned and he reached for his sister’s hand and drew her out of the huddle that was their dad’s, their grandmother and Kiosho.

“Olivia,” he said seriously, and she flashed him a mildly panicked look.

“What are you doing?” she hissed under her breath but it was quiet enough he knew the mic he wore wouldn’t pick it up.

“Olivia,” he said, louder this time, taking her hands and solemnly gazing into her eyes. “You know you are the very best sister anyone could ever have. You’ve always been my best friend, my number one cheerleader and the one person I could tell anything to when we were kids. I love you. So much, you’re wonderful and I don’t tell you that nearly enough-“

“You told me that this morning when you asked me for the rest of my milkshake,” she quipped, cutting him off and making the crowd laugh. Luca pretended to scowl.

“Quit it, you’re ruining my moment. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah… so anyway, you’re kind of awesome and I love you and... oh. Who am I kidding? There’s someone here who could sing your praises better than me anyway.”

She glanced around in genuine confusion when he dropped her hands and stepped back. “What? I don’t-“

Her voice dropped away and her mouth parted as Enzo walked out onto the stage, dressed smartly in a deep blue suit and a crisp white shirt that made his golden skin glow. His blonde hair was styled carefully and he was looking more than a little nervous. 

“Ennie?”

The dancer smiled at her shyly, glancing briefly around at the host and the crowd. Murmurs started to ripple but Luca waved his hands to hush them. The studio fell silent once again.

“Olivia,” Enzo reached Olivia and took her hands. She still looked confused, almost frozen in place. Her dark curls flowed over her shoulders and down her back and her lips shone under the lights. Enzo suddenly dropped to one knee and there was an exclamation of oooh from the crowd.

Olivia was already crying.

“Mio bellissima amore,” Enzo started, gazing up at Olivia. Already they had forgotten anyone else was in the room, lost in each other’s eyes. “Ti amo così tanto, tesorino. I love you more than I have every loved anyone. More than I ever thought possible. And I know you love me too. I know we have found each other after a forever searching. I want a universe with you. Olivia, my love. Mi vuoi sposare? Will you marry me?”

It seemed like forever before Olivia could catch her breath long enough to answer but she fell into Enzo’s arms, sobbing as she cried out. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes, oh Ennie. Yes, a thousand times yes!”

The entire studio erupted in applause and cheers and Susanna caught Luca’s eye, giving him a thumbs up. Mara was hugging Kio, Isaac and Mason were exchanging proud tearful hugs, Mason cradling Isaac against his chest. Luca watched Enzo and Olivia embrace, kissing tears off each other’s faces once the sparkling ring had been slipped onto Olivia’s finger.

Luca was experiencing a tiny pang that something was missing when a heavy hand slipped around his waist and warm breath tickled his ear. His heart made a happy flip flop in his chest as it’s beat found it’s match and settled into a familiar rhythm. He leaned back against his boyfriend and as Ryan kissed his temple a small part of Luca wondered if anyone would notice. For once, he didn’t want to take his sister’s limelight.

“I’m proud of you, bonny boy,” Ryan whispered and Luca tilted their heads together, snuggling closed. 

He wasn’t brave enough to ask when it might be their turn.

[arnoldocuellar]

Cuando se llegue a las próximas elecciones intermedias, el PRI de Guanajuato estará cumpliendo treinta años fuera del poder y tres de haber descendido a un auténtico partido de la chiquillada. Hay quienes dicen, sin embargo, que las formas priistas no han muerto y gozan de cabal salud en gobiernos como el panista de Guanajuato y el de Morena a nivel federal.

Sin embargo, más allá de ese triunfo cultural, que también podría ser el del porfirismo o de la vocación mexicana por el caudillismo, lo cierto es que el PRI de Guanajuato y quizá el del país entero, está en vías de extinción y no por otras causas que las de su propia responsabilidad.

Por lo pronto en la entidad, los capitostes que podrían reclamarse como jefes políticos del priismo en desbandada, están literalmente en fuga.

  El último candidato a gobernador, que se hundió como peso muerto en la campaña electoral de 2018, está señalado como uno de los grandes beneficiarios del fraude con recursos públicos destinados a “fundaciones” presuntamente sociales pero manejadas y expoliadas con fines no solo políticos, sino de abierta corrupción.

Gerardo Sánchez, de acuerdo a investigaciones publicadas desde hace más tres años, había desviado cerca de 90 millones de pesos a través de la Fundación Organizados para Servir, presuntamente para realizar proyectos sociales y culturales de los cuales existía una deficiente o nula comprobación.

Más cerca ya de construir su candidatura a gobernador, el entonces senador guanajuatense que encabezaba la comisión de cultura de a Cámara Alta, creo una nueva fundación, Juan José de los Reyes Martínez “El Pípila”, para proyectos culturales, donde siguió el mismo patrón. Hoy sale a la luz una nueva investigación que revela observaciones de la Auditoría Superior de la Federación por otros 10 millones de pesos.

En el transcurso de esos años, Sánchez hizo crecer su patrimonio con inmuebles en su natal Salvatierra, en Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende y en Guanajuato capital, donde adquirió una finca catalogada en plena Plaza de la Paz, en la planeaba hacer un hotel.

Es evidente que ni los sueldos de senador y de líder cenecista juntos podrían amparar un enriquecimiento así. El mal manejo de los fondos públicos a través de asociaciones civiles espurias ha sido uno de los blancos del nuevo gobierno morenista y en casos como el de Sánchez es evidente que la sospecha no solo da en la diana, sino que se queda corta.

Sin embargo, el ex candidato a gobernador priista sigue manejando los restos del naufragio de su partido y está convertido en un obstáculo enorme para que pueda pensarse siquiera en un reinicio, así sea desde cero.

Enfrente, de regreso ya en Guanajuato, está otro protagonista del éxito en que se convirtió ser parte de un partido de derrotas seguras. A la llegada de la 4T, Francisco Arroyo Vieyra debió dejar el muelle exilio político al que se sometió como embajador de México en Uruguay, para regresar a Guanajuato y dedicarse a la administración del extenso patrimonio inmobiliario que acumuló a lo largo de 24 años de legislador, alternadamente local, federal y una curul senatorial.

La adquisición de fincas palaciegas a lo largo y ancho de Guanajuato tampoco podría explicarse con las dietas completas de esos cuatro sexenios, a menos que no hubiera gastado en nada más, lo que no era el caso. Mucho menos podría explicarse la cuenta bancaria de un millón doscientos mil dólares que le fue descubierta en Andorra, un santuario del blanqueo de capitales, por una investigación del periódico El País.

Por cierto el entonces embajador refutó al País en un artículo casi telegráfico en la revista El Mundo del Abogado, lo que constituye una réplica por lo menos peculiar, al responder en una revista ultra especializada y de bajo tiraje a un acreditado diario de presencia global.

Las cosas no quedan ahí, sin embargo. Arroyo ha mantenido un alto perfil en la política municipal en Guanajuato, colocando alfiles en administraciones de distinto signo, usufructuando espacios como el sistema de agua municipal, donde colocó un titular de consejo sin el menor perfil para el cargo; y ahora la dirección de turismo y economía del actual gobierno panista, además de colocar síndicos y regidores a través de diversos partidos.

Así manejó al gobierno del priista Edgar Castro Cerrillo, que concluyó en un auténtico desastre; y así está conduciendo al gobierno del panista Alejandro Navarro, que tampoco levanta cabeza.

Pero Arroyo no se contenta con la influencia política, sino que también ha logrado dividendos al conseguir que las dos administraciones municipales le arrienden algunas de las casonas que incorporó a su patrimonio en estos años.

De 2014 a la fecha, el ex legislador y hoy ex embajador ha obtenido la nada despreciable cantidad de 3.7 millones de pesos por concepto del arrendamiento de las casas ubicadas en Alonso 18 y Alonso 20, las cuales son empleadas para oficinas municipales. Esos contratos han sido refrendados por el nuevo gobierno del PAN.

Así como están ocupados estos próceres del priismo, en temas tan materiales como administrar sus caudales y sus inmuebles, además de defenderse de los embates de la Cuarta Transformación con su moralina y su austeridad, se ve difícil que lo que queda del priismo pueda encontrar en ellos inspiración para despegar con nuevos aires.

Pese a ello, muchos priistas, incapacitados para desprenderse de sus cadenas mentales, siguen viendo a los Sánchez y los Arroyos como venerables personajes cuya opinión debe ser tomada en cuenta. Por eso no hay quien les arriende las ganancias.

Gerardo Sánchez y Francisco Arroyo: vidas paralelas Cuando se llegue a las próximas elecciones intermedias, el PRI de Guanajuato estará cumpliendo treinta años fuera del poder y tres de haber descendido a un auténtico partido de la chiquillada.

[dad-zac]

"I get it now."

Isaac smiled into the sunset from the old farmhouse wrap around porch. "What do you get, Ma?"

"The way you look at him, Mijo." The eldest Cerrillo moved silently but the creaky old door shut with a loud squeak behind her. "I thought it would be the girl. So much like Katie."

Isaac's smile faded, just a bit. He felt awful about the Eva mess but her transfer was ultimately the best thing for everyone. "To be honest, Mama, I did too."

The older woman's soft, small hand settled across the paladin's broad back as she stood to his side and leaned her weight into him. "The heart knows things the mind will never fathom, Mijo. I'm proud of you for being honest. Always."

He embraced her just the same. "Learned from the best, Ma. Thanks for letting us crash for a while. I know this isn't exactly the best timing-"

"Nonsense. You know I love having a house full of beating hearts and hungry tummies again. It's been way too long."

Isaac's warm chuckle was genuine. If there was anything he was sure of it was that nobody might be better suited to a house full of soldiers and super soldiers than Mara. His laughter faded with the evening's sun, finally dark beyond the hilly horizon, and Mara sensed his shift.

"I'm not even sure if he-"

"He does."

The tone of her voice left little room for him to argue but that didn't make her right. Isaac huffed a quiet discontent.

Mara bumped against him with a twisted little smile before she went inside, leaving the captain alone with his thoughts again. It wasn't but a few minutes later that the old screen door squeaked again, this time for Mason.

"Did my mother send you?" Isaac asked with as much amusement as irritation. The woman was nothing if not a thorn when she wanted something done.

Mason looked a little sheepish, fucking his head as he joined Isaac at the railing. "She told me not to tell."

They shared a little laugh before Isaac had enough time to be certain that Mason was watching him just as closely too. "Wanna see my old treehouse?" The older man blurted, gesturing off to the distance in the dark.

"Yeah." Isaac couldn't be sure but Mason sounded… different. "Yeah, I do Zac."

–

He'd upgraded the treehouse in the years since he'd enlisted. Half out of boredom and half from an intense desire to avoid both people and trouble when he was able to find a few weeks of leave away from duty, the modest bones of what he and his father had once built was now a sprawling mid-air structure, stretched around and across a couple of trees in the more densely wooded area.

The main sitting area that was mostly comprised of a large soft couch, a massive screen, and more video games than was reasonable. He cracked a beer open before sliding it to Mason and ducked down to grab a second from the mini fridge. "It's not much but it's cozy."

Isaac breathed a sign of relief as he hoisted himself over the back of the low sofa to settle into the plush cushions, careful not to spill a precious liquid drop. He chuckled at Mason over the top of his can, sipping away at the foam he'd created before tapping his leg against the other man's in what would have been an innocent gesture toward literally anyone else. "Mase. I was kinda hoping that we could talk."

[dad-zac]

Isaac

With the combined delays of military transport and a debriefing that could not have ended fast enough, Isaac bit back a weary sigh as he finally approached the farmhouse. Where he’d normally be skipping two steps at a time just to go hug his mother, he took each one of them slowly, listening to the aged creaking of the old wood. It sounded the way his bones had felt since the day he left Sydney.

The whitewashed front door showed its age, creaking open on ancient hinges as he entered. “Ma. I’m home,” he called out. Another sigh left him at the word home. Home. It felt ridiculous to say it now and all he could think of was the way his own hot tears dripped down his face with the last time that Mason was inside him. That was his home. This place was just where the ever aging solider had grown up.

Too tired to haul his pack up the stairs and afraid he might lay face down on his comic book sheets and decide to stay there indefinitely, the paladin set them on the wooden floor boards, leaning them unceremoniously against the banister to the massive staircase that led to the upper floor. “Ma?” He called again. Though he was pretty sure death itself couldn’t get his hands on Mara Cerrillo, some part of his chest twinged in a whole new way in response to the silence. He’d already lost everything that mattered. It’d be a cruel stroke of fate to lose her too.

“Ma! Ya there?” He called up the stairs, hoping she’d pop her head around the corner and chastise his hollering. But nothing.

He headed, legs aching and feet heavy with combat boots, to the only other place she was likely to be, though he wouldn’t let himself think of how disturbed the twinge in his chest was. “Ma, where in the heck-“

“Hush now, boy. There’s no need to be screaming. I’m not deaf yet.”

Isaac finally cracked a sad smile at her sass before he hugged her. She smelled like butter cookies and herbal tea, just the way he remembered and struggled to meet her eyes when her small, weathered hand reached for his gaunt face. “Don’t look so down, son. A homecoming is supposed to be a happy thing, Mijo.” There was a mischievous twinkle in her dark eyes that Isaac didn’t have the energy to guess at. He only sighed, “yeah.”

“Do me a favor, now, darling. Grab my coffee cup from the kitchen?” She gestured behind her, through the swinging shutters to the farmhouse heart and only smiled when his face twisted to a silent question. She patted him on his wide shoulder, smiling at something he couldn’t understand, though he knew enough to know that she was up to something. “I feel a need for fresh air.”

Mara squeezed her son’s hand, a silent reassurance, before whisking past him to the front door.

He waited, listening to the creak of the old floorboards before all the relief he had drained out of his bones again. Coffee wasn’t the worst idea and the thought made him cross to the doors of the kitchen, only looking for her cup alone on one of the countertops when he finally entered. But the cup was forgotten when brown met steel green. His heart reacted before his mind, fluttering, skipping a beat, then pounding against his rib cage before his thoughts caught up.

“Mason,” he breathed.

[captain-cerrillo]

Will you tell me about your mom?

❤Eva

“Hey,” Eva called from the doorway.

Isaac smiled at his screen, noting his place on the endless document, before leaning back in his chair at the terminal to take her in as she crossed to him. “Hi baby.”

Eva settled into his open arms as naturally as breathing and he wrapped her up, tucking her lithe body into his and settling himself easily around her. She rested her head against the crisp blue shirt on his chest, just above his heart. He kissed her temple and rested his chin on the soft silk of her smooth hair, breathing her in.

“Your message.”

She hummed a quiet acknowledgement.

“Everything I am, I am because of her. What would you like to know?”

“About your mother? Everything.”

-

“This was the last time I saw her.” Isaac twisted enough so that Eva could see the photograph projected between them. “I was supposed to be home three months earlier but. You know the job.” He shrugged.

“I made it in at the end of the harvest season – almost missed the whole festival. This was on our way to Ruby’s orchard. She’s this little white-haired old lady that looks like a strong gust might be able to blow her away but she’s tough. It takes her a bit longer these days but there’s no better tree climber on the whole colony. She has a spotted variety that’s real tart and firm.”

He had to crack a smile. Of course, he was sentimental about apples. “Apparently perfect for pies. Ma likes to go apple picking a couple of days before the big bonfire because she swears up and down that food tastes better under the stars.”

“Mmm apple pie.” Eva’s eyes closed and her mouth twisted into a small smile as she did her best to conjure the smells and taste of a homemade pie. “Does it?”

“I think so. At least for me.” Isaac took Eva’s hand, twining their fingers in her lap. “I miss being under the stars instead of in them. I thought I’d worked through my enlistment guilt but lately I can’t stop wondering if I’m even in the right place anymore.” Isaac sighed, frowning deeper. “That’s not about my mother, is it.”

Eva adjusted on his lap, twisting to face him fully as she released their hands to lace her fingers into his thick hair, forcing his eyes to hers. “Is it?”

His brown eyes broke away from her clear blues to find the floor. “If she’s dead and I’m here. Doing this.” The captain had to clear his throat when it started to sting with emotion. “I understood that this assignment would be unique but I’m starting to wonder why we’re out here.”

“Isaac.” Her soft hands smoothed over the worry lines on his face.

“Don’t you feel ridiculous? Is it just me? The Berlin has more two-legged fire power than half an alliance fleet and we’re floating in pirate space for what? Not when-” Isaac breathed out a shaky breath before his mouth shut.

“Tell me what you need.”

They studied each other for a silent moment before he adjusted his grip on her thighs and spoke again. “I need to get the heavy hitters together so that we can figure out how the hell we’re going to kill a reaper and then I need to go check on my home. My family. My people. And Eva? I need you to be with me.”

[captain-cerrillo]

[captain-cerrillo]

post war fluff

“He’s a mean, old stallion. Hasn’t let anyone near him since Raymond died.” Mara Cerrillo dried an old thick glass jar with a worn kitchen towel and shook her head at the sink.

“You mean that mean old stallion?” Isaac gestured to the kitchen’s wide window behind them. Eva was riding the tall black horse in laps beside the barn. She rode like she was floating and it still took his breath away.

“Well I’ll be damned.” Mara came to stand beside her son, glancing at him with a twisted smile and wrinkled eyes. “She sure is something special, isn’t she.”

Isaac avoided his mother’s all-seeing gaze. His eyes stayed locked to Eva and the way her long blonde hair flew out behind her. She shined like the brightest gold when the sun hit her just right. “Yes,” he responded plainly. “She’s perfect for me.”

His brow furrowed when she smacked his shoulder with the rolled up towel. “Then what are you waiting for.”

“Ma.” Isaac sighed and Mara put her hands on her hips, resting against the wide sink with critical eyes. “We just finished a war.” Her eyes softened as the toll of reality came closer to the surface in his brown eyes. “Been kinda busy till now.” He sighed again, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. “And this is just shore leave.”

“You won’t retire?”

“I don’t think so. Not yet.”

His mother’s silence was sharper than her words and he winced after a drawn out moment. “There’s still a lot of good I can do.” He was emotional, defensive – and she saw it. But he continued. “The galaxy is far from safe. And Eva.” He faltered, letting his expressive hands fall. “Eva doesn’t need me to protect her.”

“I see.”

“Oh don’t do that, Ma.” Isaac felt heavy and turned off the running sink where he’d been helping with dishes to sit down at the long farm table behind them.

“She’s not helpless,” she said knowingly.

“She’s the opposite of helpless. She’s a fucking force of nature and she’s completely blown me away.” Isaac was trying to be descriptive, not poetic. But his mother just smiled at the ground. “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

“Of course she will. And you’ll ask her with this.”

His anxious hands fell into his lap as he first studied the ring in her outstretched hand and then the face of his oldest home. “That’s Great Gran’s. You sure you think she'll say yes?”

“Yes.” Mara plucked the ring between her fingers to let it sparkle in the sunlight. “Mined on Earth by your Great Grandfather before our family got the Alliance settlement contract for the land here. One day we just packed up and left our whole home.” She could remember the day clearly.

Isaac leaned closer, really seeing the way the ring’s facets caught and projected rainbows in the streaming sunlight.

“Take it.” Mara’s voice was softer than her body language.

“But it’s yours.” Isaac’s protest was weak. He wasn’t expecting the swell of emotion at the thought of his family’s oldest heirloom on Eva’s slim finger.

“Now it’s hers.” Her eyes softened as he blinked at her, cracks of the boy slipping through. “Don’t be an idiot, son. You need to ask that woman to marry you.”

[captain-cerrillo]

Your mother is a firecracker, Captain. You should be so proud of her.

One question: should I be concerned she just pinched my ass?

-MK

Ha. I'd apologize but it's exactly zero use. She's still just warming up.

I don't think you have anything to worry about but your husband might.

[captain-cerrillo]

after x and during x

Eva still held Isaac’s dirty hand and she squeezed him silently – a million silent reassurances in one touch. It was enough and he released her, only once he was certain his knees would not give out, to close the short distance between him and the woman with matching eyes. He let a heavy hand pat the Major’s armored shoulder, quiet gratitude that would surely be addressed properly, on his way past as Ben and Gabriel surrounded him.

“Ma.” Isaac could only breathe. He wasn’t even sure if she could hear him but if he got any louder his voice might break. “Ma, I was so worried. They weren’t gonna- This isn’t even-” Isaac sputtered an uncharacteristic frustration, gesturing with wild hands. “The Alliance. They didn’t even want-”

“Hush, mijo.”

“Ma, if anything happened to you-” Isaac’s voice did break when her wrinkled hands reached to hold his face and he couldn’t stop the hot rivers that tickled the crook of his nose and dripped from his chin in big, fat drops.

“Mi hijo. Mi amor. Todo estara bien. I’m so proud of you, Isaac. Look at this! Mira eso! Mira estos regalos que nos has traido. Hey, hey...” The smaller woman pulled his ear to make him look at her, laughing at the way he scowled like he was four years old again. “A month ago, we had no hope. A week ago, your friend arrived. Said you were all on your way. And this day, you are all here. How is that not magic.”

Mara gestured lightly to the people around them, still in varying degrees of discomfort and unease, but with a new rumble of something promising at their feet. “Today, we have hope again.”

Her soft, but critical eyes landed on Eva over Isaac’s shoulder. She patted Isaac’s helmet hair before pushing him off to say hello to their old family friends waiting eagerly by. “Vamos. Quiero hablar con ella.”

“Ma,” Isaac warned in a low voice, clearly hesitant, but Mara only waved a hand in his face.

“Dije vete,” Mara spat. She poked a finger into Isaac’s chest, wedging him out of the way with a mouthful of rolling admonishments. “Has perdido las orejas? No seas egoísta esta es mi hija. Muévete del camino!”

“Hola querida. Ven aquí mi niña.” Eva choked back a giggle at the wide-eyed look on Isaac’s face as his mother pulled her in for the fullest hug. “What is your name, Dorada?”

-

“And these two. You’ll like these two.”

“Uh. Hi. I’m Luca.”

“Kiosho.”

“Hello, boys.” Mara crooned, already reaching to run a hand through Luca’s curls before she cupped a soft, warm hand to Kio’s cheek. “Mira estas caras dulces.”

“You know those grandkids you always wanted?”

Mara looked away from Kiosho’s mismatched eyes only to throw Isaac a look full of questions a moment before the pieces snapped into place with an exaggerated ahhhhh. “Demasiado flaco para ser mis nietos. But we will feed.”

Mara linked an arm around each of the boys, clearly content with her new found family, and they headed to join the main group and meet the others. “I don’t trust those Alliance rations," she told the boys seriously as she walked. "I’ve watched him starve for 25 years on that prepackaged caca. I won't have you eating it too. Not here."

Luca looked over his shoulder at Isaac and Eva, absolutely delighted at the way Mara spat on the ground in disgust.

-

“Alright, line ‘em up.” Isaac nodded toward the assembled force, still mostly gathered around the shuttle, as he spoke to Mara and the other assumed leaders of the small civilian group. “We have our ex-Cerberus operatives: Dragon, Ares, Zeus, Hurricane, Sabre, and their leader Huntsman. Alliance Soldiers: This is Braun, Thurman, and Harris. You’ve already met Lieutenant Moreno and Private Toma as well as. Uh- us.” Isaac gestured between the Major, Eva, and himself.

“A Slayer, a Fury, and a Paladin,” a small boy with curious eyes said as he squeezed out from a gap in the small crowd to get a better look. He went straight to Archer with one sticky, extended finger. The slayer only looked at him with an I dare you face, a heartbeat before Mara intercepted, herding the boy by his shoulders back to his parents off to the side.

“Not now, Nicholas. There’s still some very important work to do, and we all need to do everything we can to help, okay?”

“Okay, Concejala. But they’ll let me see the armor soon? When everything is through?”

Mara scowled over her shoulder at Isaac’s poorly covered snort of amusement. “We will see, amor. Ahora ve.”

Mara translations below. She would not let me just put the english in there so bear w me.

Mijo - son

“Mi hijo. Mi amor. Todo estara bien. I’m so proud of you, Isaac. Look at this! Mira eso! Mira estos regalos que nos has traido. Hey, hey...” - "My son. My love. Everything will be fine. I'm so proud of you, Isaac. Look at this! Check it out! Look at these gifts you have brought us. Hey, hey…”

“Vamos. Quiero hablar con ella.” - "Let's go. I want to talk to her."

“Dije vete,” Mara spat. She poked a finger into Isaac’s chest, wedging him out of the way with a mouthful of rolling admonishments. “Has perdido las orejas? No seas egoísta esta es mi hija. Muévete del camino!”- “I said go,” Mara spat. She poked a finger into Isaac’s chest, wedging him out of the way with a mouthful of rolling admonishments. “Have you lost your ears? Don't be selfish, this is my daughter. Move out of the way!"

“Hola querida. Ven aquí mi niña.” Eva choked back a giggle at the wide-eyed look on Isaac’s face as his mother pulled her in for the fullest hug. “What is your name, Dorada?” – “Hello dear. Come here my girl.” Eva choked back a giggle at the wide-eyed look on Isaac’s face as his mother pulled her in for the fullest hug. “What is your name, Golden?”

“Mira estas caras dulces.” - "Look at these sweet faces."

“Demasiado flaco para ser mis nietos. But we will feed.” - “Too skinny to be my grandchildren. But we will feed.”

We will see, amor. Ahora ve.” - We will see, love. Now go."