In the arms of no one

Land Ahoy (Edited)

Valen's POV 

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After a grand total of fifty hours and thirty minutes, three interconnecting flights (or lay overs as they are commonly called), airplane food, rushed washes and changes of clothes, and surprisingly comfortable seats that turned into equally comfy though slightly small single beds. 

I finally hear the co-pilot advise all passengers to please raise our seats and trays and buckle up in preparation to land at Grand Forks International Airport. While I am raising my tray the co-pilot continues to give the passengers a quick run down of the weather, the cities attractions and also the current date and time...which is 22nd December 10:45 am, then finally thanking the passengers for flying American Airlines. 

I'm buckling my seat belt when I hear a slightly quivering voice say, "Are you ready dear?" 

Looking across the aisle, I smile at the lovely elderly lady that I've had the fortunate honour of sitting next to since leaving Honolulu. She was quick to strike up a conversation with me, proclaiming that travelling is so much easier to deal with when making friends and she just couldn't wait to tell me all about her life. 

Her name is Gladys, she is 73 years old, and she is going to visit her son, daughter in law and their three children, she also made me promise to visit her before she leaves to go back to the Cabana boys waiting for her at the beach back in Honolulu where she migrated to, after her husband passed three years ago. 

I couldn't help but giggle at the naughty stories she shared with me of her experiences in life, making me sincerely hope that I end up being just as vivacious and full of bad ass life when I am her age. I quickly realised that Gladys was absolutely right in her theory, as sharing stories about my own life, something I would never normally do, made the last leg of my trip more bearable. 

I smile at her a little nervous, "As ready as I will ever be Gladys, but I'm nervous. I don't really know these people." I reply. 

"Oh phooey!" She declares with a mock frown, the lines in her kind face becoming notably more visible. 

"We didn't know each other before this flight and look at us? Besides they're your family, and there is nothing more important than family. Even if you sometimes want to gag some of them, tie them up and run a hot poker iron over their skin." My eyes widen in surprise though I really can't help the wide grin that makes its way onto my face...she's a total f*****g bad ass. 

She readily grins back, pats the back of my hand, winks with a twinkle in her eye and says, "Like your mothers!" She cackles loudly while I giggle shaking my head. 

I don't know what it is about Gladys that made me feel so comfortable to speak freely with her, but half an hour into the flight, I was telling her all the sordid details of my pathetically cursed life. While she was sharing my chair, holding me in her arms and whispering words of comfort in my ear. 

And all she asked was, "What about you dear? What exciting adventures have you managed to get up to so far?" 

I look over at her smiling before I cheekily say, "If things don't work out at this new place...how do you feel about adopting me?" 

A broad grin lights up her face as she instantly replies, "Oh, I would love to!" Then she mutters quietly, "And if I don't, I know my grandson will."  I'm not sure if she intended for me to hear her, so I choose to ignore that last bit. 

The plane has finally landed and taxis when I reach over, holding her hand, "Thank you Gladys, for everything." 

She pats my hand and sadly says, "That's what real grandmothers are for, Valen." 

_____________________________________________________ 

I'm standing at the luggage carousel after going through customs with no problems, waiting for my suitcase and duffle bag to make an appearance, when I hear someone call my name loudly. 

I look around to find Gladys ambling her way over to me, one hand waving and a huge smile on her face. Following behind her is a man of about 40 years of age who is obviously her son as he and Gladys share similar features and a younger guy with broad shoulders, brown hair and striking silver green eyes, both men have curious looks on their faces. 

"Valen, this is my son Greg and my grandson River that I was telling you about." she says, while stepping to the side to introduce me, "Greg, Riv...this is Valen, the lovely girl from New Zealand that's just moved here I was telling you about." 

We awkwardly exchange smiles while saying hello, reaching out to shake hands with each other. 

When I place my hand into River's, he squeezes a little firmly compelling me to look up curiously at him, only to realise that he is already staring at me. His clear silver green eyes staring into mine, he says in a deep gruff voice, "Nice to meet you Valen." 

Taking my hand back, I look over at Gladys smiling before I ask, "Is this the bit where you ask for my number and I tell you...let's keep this casual?" 

Barking out a loud but short laugh Greg states, "Mom, you weren't kidding, she's hilarious!" 

Ignoring her sons comment Gladys smirks and says saucily, "No this is the part where I give you my number and remind you that you're the one that wants to be adopted." 

Barking a laugh of my own, I reach over to place my arms around Gladys' shoulders giving her a hug. "I'll be in touch as soon as I can." I whisper in her ear and after kissing her on her cheek I step back. 

I'm about to say something in farewell when I hear yet another voice call my name questioningly.

Looking around to where I heard the voice, which was behind Greg, I see someone who bears a striking resemblance to my birth mother, hesitantly stepping forward. I smile shyly at the new addition to our circle and hesitantly questioned, "Aunty Elizabeth?" 

I watch as the woman's face splits into a full blown grin as she takes the last couple of steps towards me. 

Taking me in her arms she hugs me tightly and declares, "Well, I knew you were beautiful, but I didn't think you would be drop dead gorgeous! Your cousin is going to have so much trouble keeping the others away from you." She pulls away checking me out from head to toe, while I take a step back. 

I'm not going to lie, the blush inducing attention is making me feel uncomfortable, so I shyly looked down at the ground nervously; then I hear a males voice speak up, "Hurricane Storm Stevensen! What's good dude?" 

I look up and see that the speaker is River and he is addressing a very good looking, slightly taller and muscular guy with platinum blonde hair and dark green eyes who is standing a little further behind our group, the Barrett facial traits very evident. This is one of my cousins, I'm guessing. 

"Hey man." My cousin says holding out his closed hand to fist bump River, "Not much, just here with my mom and T to pick up my cousin." 

River looks around expectantly, "Tiernan's here?" River looks over at me with a curious frown, "Damn Val, you didn't say you were important!" 

I don't like that nickname, it brings up too many bad memories for me, "Don't call me Val and I'm about as important as a basketball on a rugby field." The words harshly slipping from my mouth before I can think to stop them. 

I stop myself abruptly before I say something else , closing my eyes I take a deep breath while shaking my head and then open my eyes to look at River apologetically, "I'm sorry if that sounded rude, I really dislike that nickname." 

River simply nods and replies with a smirk, "Hey it's okay, I kinda need to know these things since it looks like we'll be going to the same school." 

Gladys' hand gently rubs my arm to gain my attention, when I look over at her, her eyes are twinkling mischievously, "Exciting adventures Valen, looks like you're going to be basking in them!" I laugh heartily in response then genuinely smile at her, "Thank you again, Gladys." 

Looking at Greg, my Aunty smiles and greets him with familiarity, "Hi Greg, it's good to see you." Greg in turn smiles and replies, "It's good to see you too Elizabeth, I forgot to let Damien and Thomas know that," he pauses and glances at me a little anxiously, "our...uhh, people accept the Christmas day feast invitation. I just haven't been able to get back to them with all the rival business trying to steal our...uhh products." yet another nervous glance thrown my way before he places his full attention to my Aunty. Who simply says in reply, "Of course, we would be honoured." 

Gladys claps her hands quietly in excitement, "Oh Valen, we get to spend Christmas day together, isn't that wonderful?" I tiredly smile and nod my head in agreement. 

Gladys notices that I am dead on my feet and exclaims, "Oh dear, you are exhausted after your long trip, you should head back to your Aunts and rest...jet lag will be settling in soon." 

My tired smile turning into a grateful one, I quietly replied, "I look forward to seeing you again, Gladys." Before she can say anything, her son clears his throat to gain our attention. 

Turning to glance at our group, I notice that my Aunty, cousin and another super model hot boy, who has joined our little circle, are giving Gladys and I strange looks, Greg and River on the other hand are grinning at us like they are watching their favourite comedian who is just about to hit the punch line. "Come on mom, let's get going." 

He takes a step towards me and gives me a hug and whispers in my ear, "My mom really likes you...not very many people understand her personality. So thank you for keeping her company on her trip over, and thank you for making her smile." His voice resuming a normal tone he says, "See you in a few days, Valen. It was a pleasure to meet you." I smile and nod my head. 

River steps forward to take me in his arms for a hug, "Dad's right, not very many people can speak with Gran the way you do, you're something else Valen." he declares. 

I laugh and saucily say, "As long as you mean I'm something good, I'm ok with that." He in turn nods his head, "Definitely! See you Christmas day, beautiful." He then lets go of me, staring straight in the eye and winks at me before he steps back, fist bumps both my cousin and the Calvin Klein model and finally giving a little wave as he turns to leave with his family, through the throngs of people in the airport. 

The uncomfortable feeling of being watched overwhelms me but I chose to ignore it, thinking it was probably my aunty who hasn't really taken her eyes off me since speaking with Greg. 

I finally spot my duffle bag which is sandwiched between a medium sized cardboard box and my suitcase. 

Walking towards it I leaned over to pick them both up and turned around to walk back to where everyone is, only to bump into a warm and firm body, hard enough that I nearly lose my balance. 

A warm hand grasps my arm to steady me and as I look up to apologise to the obvious male before me, my breath catches because it's then that I realise that it's the boy that had joined our circle while I was distracted talking to Gladys. 

He is way more handsome up close than I thought he would be, my eyes roam his face freely before finally looking into the deep, dark blue orbs of his eyes. I feel myself get caught up, my breath catching and then holding, everything else around us falls away into a hazy existence, while I myself feel like I am falling into an open bottomless cavern. 

"Oh...uh sorry." I mutter as I look away from his intense stare, before stepping around the guy, intending to place my bag on the luggage trolley. I don't get any further than 2 steps before my arm is once again taken hostage by the guy and he turns me around. 

I'm about to yell at him to let me go when I take a good look at his face and I once again freeze, my body flaring up in awareness at the closeness of our bodies while his eyes darken, pupils dilating. What the heck is happening here?