No Longer Alone

Chapter Forty-one

***Damian's POV***

    Nicole headed into the house, looking like she was on a mission, and showing a bit more spunk than she had last night, her daughter Hannah on the other hand, was still out looking at Alex and myself.  She had settled down again, and while she was almost a mirror of her mother, there were some differences, Hannah was a touch taller and wore glasses, unlike her mother.  I finally understood why Alex said she may give me a run for my money one day.  Between her unique speech patterns and the blank face she could give while watching someone, I began to understand to a degree how people felt facing my father or myself.

    "You two are spending a lot of time around my mom."  Hannah c****d her head to the side, as if examining an interesting specimen in a jar.  "Jen mentioned you two before, I am assuming, from the bar.  You were at that dinner last night, and now you are changing plans to spend time around her."

    "You would be correct in your assumptions that it was us, and yes, we were at the dinner last night as well.  I understand that you had your own way that you wanted to deal with that particular piece of fecal matter, which I agree with, but I was more concerned with your mother and figured my parents could deal with the rat-boy."  Hannah suddenly grinned at my description of the thing, nodding as I was speaking.

    "Oh, so those are your parents, I liked them.  It was highly entertaining to watch them verbally annihilate Andrew and his thing.  He always talks down to people and seems to think he is better than others.  I never really liked him too much."  Hannah grinned again.  "He does look a lot like a rat, but I think that's insulting to rats overall since they have a purpose in the world and in the ecosystem and he really is just a waste of oxygen.  You know my mom likes to tell people to stay off her fecal roster.  I don't hear many people say that.  Too many people are lazy and just like using boring words like crap and sh*t." 

    Alex looked between the two of us and chuckled a little, stepping out more, and relaxing some.  I just shrugged and ran a hand through my hair.  This kid was almost as interesting as her mother, and her intelligence and way of looking at things were one of the most fascinating things I had seen in a long time.

    "That is an excellent point, however, rats unchecked and uncontrolled by other predators can cause a massive amount of destruction, so a rat as large as him needs to be kept in check by something or else he may destroy something special.  I would agree with you that people tend to get lazy with their speech, and I personally prefer to be more creative with my words since there are so many interesting ones to choose."

    "He is a malaka."  Hannah says with a grin. "It's Greek for a-hole.  Mom says that she won't get mad at me for cursing out the annoying teenagers in my school as long as I do it in a language the teachers don't understand so I can't get in trouble for it."  

    "You started teaching yourself Greek so you could curse out other kids and not get in trouble?"  Alex is watching Hannah with wide eyes, and she nods unconcerned.  "This was your idea?"

    "No, it was my mom's.  I'm a broken teen, and the kids at school are annoying and stupid.  All they talk about is dating, and kissing, and other stupid stuff.  I'm there to learn and they distract me from it.  I've also started learning insults in Russian in case my teachers catch on to the Greek insults."

    Alex was floored by her response, and I couldn't help but laugh, thinking of the number of times I wished I could call some of the people I had to deal with some choice names, and yet these two had already figured out the best way to deal with things.  It was brilliant as long as you didn't use a language the other person spoke.

    "Oh, I can definitely see your mother saying something like that.  Best thing I have heard in a while, think if we get the chance you can teach me some of what you have learned?"  

    "I don't see why not, you two are actually talking to me like a person, not talking down at me because I of my age.  I guess you two are okay to be around,"  Hannah looks at the two of us, then narrows her eyes at Alex for a moment.  "Just don't try to hook up with my mom.  You aren't her type, and I don't need some wannabe playboy creeper trying to change her mind."  This time I ended up laughing while Alex looked vaguely insulted.

    "Something interesting going on?  Hannah, your bag is by the door if you want to add anything to it.  Grandma knows we are going out when your sisters finish."  Nicole had come out wearing a lightweight jacket, with a bag on her back and two others in her hands that were smaller.  Hannah hugged her mom and headed back in, turning to motion that she was watching Alex before running into the house.

    "Just that your daughter has decided I am a wannabe playboy that isn't your type and told me that I am not allowed to try and hook up with you."  Alex said acting wounded by the words.  Nicole raised a brow, looking at him.

    "You had a new girlfriend almost every week in high school.  I think you made it through over half the girls in your grade before you left school.  She just calls it how she sees it, and she is right, you aren't my type."  Nicole heads to her car, popping the trunk and stowing the bags in there, she seems to be extra careful in putting her own bag in, but before I can ask anything her kids come racing out and start tumbling into seats.

    "Well my friend, you hear that, I'm not her type and have been warned away, but neither of them said anything to you."  Alex muttered to me as we headed back to the rental.  Time to get this show on the road.