Houdini's Return: Nero/Skye

[findingnemo]

Nero stood in the line at starbucks just waiting for people to get their orders out of their mouths. He was still thinking about Ana and all of those little siblings of hers. And the butest of them all, Alek. He couldn't wait to see her again. He ran a hand through his colorful hair which he dyed blue and red last night... yeah he wzs bored of the other colors already. He wore a pair of black swimming trunks that had zebra and leopard print in the pockets and in random other places and a white wife beater. Ok so he was a bit eccentric but who didn't like that about him? He stood in line and waited... and waited... and waited...

"You'd think that with that many people behind the damn counter...someone would be able to at least take an order." Pipe up a voice from behind Nero. A petite blond clad in jeans and a slim fitted turtlenexk, her rms folded under her chest. skye had just moved back into the area as her father managed to snag himself some new job.

Nero turned quickly as he was snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah right?" he replied before turning to actually look at the blonde standing behind him. When he noticed her he recognized her in some way, shape or form. He knew her but... from where..?? He lifted a brow.

"Long time no see Moore." Skye smirked slightly. It had been just about 2 years since she had seen the colorful boy that stood in front of her. She had moved away from town in her spphmore year, anking her away from the smal bit of security that she had.

Nero's eyes lit up. "Oh my God it is you!" he almost yelped as he pulled her into a hug lifting her off the ground. The small girl was once a love interest of his... and still sort of was... he missed her a lot and thought of her from time to time. He never ever thought it was possible that he was going to see her again... but here she was! "Oh my God how are you?" he asked after putting her back down on the ground.

Skye managed to hide a paine expression as Nero pulled her up into his arms and then off the ground. "Hi to you to." She laughed, hugging him back. "Glad to see that I wasn't forgotten."

"Of course you weren't!" Nero exclaimed as he found himself running his hands through his hair again. "Holy Hell I've missed the hell outta you! Where did you go?"

She smiled. "Brian lost his job...again..and pulled us out to move up to Reno till he lost that one...now back again...I just hope its perm this time.." What she really hoped was that it was the last move tilll she turne 18, and she could get the hell away from him.

Nero nodded. "Ah... gotcha.. that always seems to put a damper on things." he said. "I really hope you get to stay this time... I missed having you around!"

"I missed being here...I enroll back in Gould tomorrow by the way...how have you been?" Skye asked, neither of them noticing that Nero was finally next in line.

Nero smiled as he heard that she would be going to school with him. "Great!" he smiled. "I've been doing alright... not too much going on but... I'm living." he smiled.

"Living is good...you look...really good." the blond dancer said, ushing on him to get him to turn and face the counter.

Nero faced the counter after getting the hint and ordered what he wanted. "And whatever she wants." he said motioning to Skye. "You look good... you look better than good! Skye you look amazing! Where have you been all my life!" he joked with her like old times.

Skye gave the counter girl her order, unable to stop smiling at nero and his antics. "Screwball."

"Space cadet." he fired back at her. She had always been his little space cadet... always somewhere else and never right there... where she was standing. Her mind wandered a lot and he knew why... he always disliked her father for what he did to her but he wondered if he had stopped. She looked good. No bruises... that he could see. He was always so protective over her... another thing to add to his little crush on her.

Skye smiled. "Its been too long since someone called me that." They stepped off to the side to wait for their order to be done. "So what are you up to today?" She ased.

Nero shrugged a little. "Nothing planned til later... wanna chill?? Catch up?" he asked her.

"Ifyou wanna come over and keep me company while I unpack the new place?" She asked. If it had not been Nero, Skye wouldn't have invited him over. She did not live in the best area of town and the house theyhad now was not as nice as some others, but it was home.

Nero nodded. "I'll help you." he told her. Nero the helper to the rescue again.

"you sure you dont ave plans? No girlfriend that you have to go pay attention to?" She asked him with a grin.

Nero laughed a little. "No plans til later, little girl." he repeated.

Skye blanched and gave him a look. *Little Girl* was a term her father used almost every time he got wasted and wanted to get slap happy. "Good deal."

Nero smiled at her. "Ok... did you wanna go now or stay and eat the breakfast here?" he asked her.

"I only grabbed coffee remember...I couldn't eat anything here...the calorie content in my drink is high enough." She replied. "i can stay with you while you eat though."

Nero shrugged. It was a muffin. "I can just eat it later." he told her. "And calorie content? You're a twig..."

"I'm a dancer." Came the immediate reply from the petite blond.

Nero laughed a little. "And always have been..." he said. "But still I think a couple of calories wouldn't hurt." he joked as he walked toward the door and pulled it open for her.

"I have stuff at home....I think." that is..if Brian remembered to buy food this week. Sye was glad that Brandon and ty had not moved back with them...stupid brothers being over 18 and all. "You can eat now Nero.."

Nero shrugged. "Well no... I'll just eat it later." he said looking at her. "So uh... which way is your place?" he asked.

Skye kinda looked at him for a moment and then away, making it look like she was reading something on one of the posters on the wall. "I'm over in the compton area now."

Nero nodded. "ok." he said but knew that was the "bad" part of town. "Then... lead the way." he didn't judge.

Skye smiled sligtly, heading up and getting their order when it was called. The pair headed outside and started walking. "So what are you doing in school these days?" She asked

Nero shrugged. "Painting the walls." he laughed a little.

Skye snorted. "Smartass."

He laughed. "No seriously." he said. "Been painting murals... the principal asked me too." he said. "Gets me out of a lot of classes." he laughed.

"Oh.." Ok so now she felt like an ass. "Im kinda looking forward to being back...I missed being here."

Nero laughed a little and shrugged. "You didn't know." he said shrugging again. "It's not bad..." he said.

[anaromano]

Finally. Ana could go run some errands. Maxim was watching the kids and her Aunt had returned home for a few days. So all the kids had someone to watch them. Ana took Alek with her. He was the one kid...her kid that she would take with her. Besides she could use some bonding time with her son.

Ana grabbed the diaper bag, stroller and headed to the car. Alek had already been given his medicine. He was a good kid for 2years old. Sure there he had his days, but what kid did not. Ana could not stop smiling. Everyone liked Nero. Even Maxim agreed. Maxim approved of her getting to know Nero better. Ana had to admit after seeing him with the kids yesterday, she was excited. it was nice to find a guy good with kids.

Ana decided to grab a coffee and a croissant before going to the park and to run errands. She parked and got out the stroller. She got Alek out of the care she got from her Aunt and put him in the stroller. Ana gave him a juice cup and then pushed the stroller toward the door. She had not seen anyone in the door but as she opened it the stroller connected with the foot of someone. "Oh...so sorry....please forgive me. I was not paying attention." Ana said in her Russian accent.

Ana looked up and saw Nero. She smiled, but then she saw him standing next to a gorgeous woman and her smile slowly disappeared. She felt jealous. Did she have it wrong. Or was America different. Ana could have sworn dating mean he saw no one else but her...then again she could be a friend of his. Ana did not want to jump to conclusions. "Nice to see you Nero. I was looking forward to tonight." She smiled trying not to let the sight get to her.

[findingnemo]

Nero jumped a little when the door hit his foot.

"Oops!" he said as he then turned to see who exactly was hitting him with the door he was walking out. "Well well well, what a beauty... long time no... bump." he said greeting her with a hug and a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Yeah... they were dating now... so then there were certain things he had to do to make it seem that way. They haven't had their first kiss yet so it would be a little awkward kissing her on the lips right now.

"I was looking forward to seeing you, tonight, too." he told her. "But it seems my night has come a little early." he joked a little. "Hey! It's my little man!" he said with a smile toward Alek.

He then looked to Skye and then shook his head as if snapping himself out of thought.

"Oh... silly me... my manners have escaped me." he said shaking his head again. "Ana... this is Skye... my friend who moved... somewhere else... but is now back." he smiled. "Skye this is Ana... my..." he looked to her for permission to use the label. "...Girlfriend." he smiled crookedly. "And her adorable son, Alek." he smiled.

He loved that little kid and he only knew him for 24 hours.

[findingnemo]

Skye was about to walk out of the door when some random girl walked in and greeted nero after apologizing. Nero gave this new girl a kiss on the cheek and finally managed to get his foot out of his mouth long enough to introduce her to said girl. girlfriend?! He had a girlfriend. Lovely. Not sure why she didnt expect it, she should have. "Nice to meet you..." She said, managing to get a smile for the new comers. "So..this is what you are doing later on...you could have just said so..then again..how awkward would it be to tell your old girlfriend about your new one.."

Nero froze a little. Whoa... she pulled that card. "Ok well I apologize for not saying exactly what it was I had planned for later... I wasn't so sure you cared?" he said and shook his head. "Sorry." he repeated. "Ana... Skye and I were headed to her house so I could help her unpack and catch up... you don't mind do you?"

Ana smiled and blushed when Nero call her his girlfriend. She was glad he said it. it made that sick, jealous feeling go away. She sighed and smiled at Skye, "Nice meet you. " She said to Sky. Then she heard old girlfriend. Okay this was a tad awkward, but Ana kept the smile on her face, "No tis fine. You are so sweet for wanting to help."

Nero gave a slight smile. Sort of sheepish. He didn't know how that even sounded to Ana. He was going to help an ex and catch up. Well what else was he supposed to say? Or do? Lie to her?

Skye shrugged. "We are friends, of course i care...in fact, I care so much..I'm gonna give you an out. Im gonna bail, take care of my stuff and you can go spend time with Ana and her son." skye pulled a few bills out of her pocket and handed them to Nero. "For the coffee...see you at school tomorrow. I wanna get the house unpakced before brian comes home and gives me hell for it not being done."

Nero lifted a brow. "Skye..." was all he could really manage before handing the money back. "Don't be silly."

Ana shifted on her feet and watched, "its okay if he helps you. I can see him when he is done. Just give me a call. I actually have the house to myself for once. its only going to be me and Alek. The other kids, my siblings, are going with My Aunt for the night." Which was true. she was going to use it as a way to get to know Nero better. Not in a sexual way of course, but more like a talking way.

Nero kept quiet... he wasn't sure how to take this... one girl was telling him to go with the other and the other girl was telling him to go with the other one... he was confused.

"no...I should get it taken care of..somehow don't think brian will take too well to a boy in the house...he didn't the last time."

Nero huffed a little. "Well... what were you going to do before you found out I have a girlfriend?" he asked sort of snappishly. Everything was fine and then bam... she was being distant. What did she think? "Skye... I thought you were never coming back... I found Ana..." he said shaking his head feeling sort of bad for having a girlfriend if that was possible. But he shouldn't. "But I'm not going to leave her because of it." he put his foot down. "Now it's either we are friends or nothing." he said, you could tell he was hurt by his tone and his face.

Ana did not know what to do. She was not use to what ever was going on. This did not happen in Russia. Then again in Russia, if you did not have a love match by the age of 18, then it was arranmged for you. Talk about being old fashioned. She kept quiet for now, but she was smiling because Nero was defending them. She felt like an idiot for getting jealous.

"I said nothing of the sort, I just remembered that Brian wouldn't take well to you being in the house...if you remember the last time?" She gave him a LOOK. "And if youre going to give me the choice of being friends or nothing...then I guess we have nothing left to say...a real friend wouldn't force that...so have a good day with your girlfriend nero...Ana..it was nice to meet you and your son...see ya" Skye said as she walked out the door.

"What if I go too? This Brian guy cannot complain if there is a man and a woman...and a kid..can he?" She offered. She felt bad. Although Ana had no idea how things seemed to change between them, but she did not want to see their firendship end over this.

"No...absolutely not..I do not want your son around my father." skye said firmly. God only knew what brian would do. "I sorry...Ill see you guys later."

Nero huffed and rolled his eyes a little. He held his finger up to motion to Ana that he would be right back and to stay put and he ran after Skye. "Skye..." he began gently grabbing her hand to stop her from going any further. "I didn't mean anything by that... i want to be friends... I just... You... You seemed to sort of just drop everything I had to do with at all today once you found out I was dating Ana..." he said shaking his head. "I feel like an asshole."

"I dont care if you are dating the queen of england Nero...I wil not take you away from that...enjoy yor day ok? I gotta go...you know ho he gets when hes angry." skye reminded him.

Nero nodded. He hugged her tightly. "I don't want to lose you again, Skye... please just... forget the whole thing happened." he said slipping the money for the coffee back in her pocket without her knowing it. He kissed her cheek gently. "Call me, please... my number hasnt changed." he said.

Ana nodded as Nero held his finger up. She moved out of the way and bent down to play with Alek why they talked. Although she was curious about what was going on. Russia was less complicated, but America was so much nicer.

Okay when Ana saw the hug she had to admit that made the jealousy came back, but Nero was a nice guy. So Ana had nothing to worry about. They were friends. Guys could be friends with girls and have girlfriends...right?

"yeah sure." skye said, pulling away from him. She needed to get outof there before th tears came. The ONLy reason she had not fought Brian harder about moving again was that she had hoped there might be a chance for them to get back together. "See ya." kye told him, turning and quickly walking away.

Nero looked down at the ground, pushing his hands through his hair and then into his pockets. He felt like a dick but at the same time he wasn't going to just stop what was going on with Ana to reignite some flame her father put out for them by moving her away. He walked back over to Ana. "I'm... sorry about that." he said shaking his head. "I... Dont know what happened... Skye's not usually like that."

Ana quickly looked away so she would not get caught staring. Instead she went back to playing with Alek. Ana slowly stood up as Nero came back. "Don't be sorry. Tis okay. Really. I am sure she will come around. Maybe she is just not having a good day." Ana said trying to support him.

Nero looked into her eyes and took her hand in his... A sign that he still had it in his mind that she was his girl and nothing could change that.

Ana smiled at him, "Girlfriend, huh...i like the sound of that...max will be proud...he and Lena had a bet about just when you would call me that." She said with a little laugh.

Nero laughed. "Oh yeah? Who won?"

"Max. He gave you a day. Lena gave you a week." Ana said with a laugh. "I think they all like you. But they are away for the night. My Aunt took them to San Diego for the night." Ana admitted.

Nero nodded. "Well sounds like fun... is there something you had planned?" he asked. "I could totally go for anything."

"I was going to cook for you. A nice Russian dish called пельмени. Or in english Pelmeni. I hope you like meat. i assure you it is very good to eat." Ana hoped he enjoyed cooking. it was probably one of the only things she really knew how to do.\

Nero's eyes lit up and he smiled. "Oh yes! I would love to try your cooking!"

Ana had never seen someone so excited, but that made her heart skip a beat. "I hope tis not intimading coming to my home." She wanted to make sure he was not uncomfortable in anyway. "i really am sorry about your friend."

Nero shrugged. "I just hope she'll come around..." he said shaking his head. "I've known her forever and then she went away and now she's back and it's like... I don't know what to do to make her not uncomfortable to be around me."

Ana wrapped an arm around Nero and kissed his cheek. "I think she will. If you been friend for long...she will. She just needs time..to become unmad." Although Ana had no idea why she was so angry.

Nero nodded as he pushed his hand through his hair again and just looked at Ana giving her a smile. "Come on... let me help you with your errands... I wanna spend time with you now... I think it'll make me happier than I am now." he smiled.

Ana was thankful for the help. "did you drive here...or walk...I have a car...." She told him, "I wanted coffee before errands. There are not many. I just said I would do them while she and the kids packed up."

Nero nodded. "Ok... I walked." he told her. "But... we can go back in... I could use another coffee.. and maybe I will eat my muffin." he laughed a little.

Ana smiled and pushed the stroller inside. "My treat this time...no saying no." She threatened but the tone was very playful.

"No." Nero smiled and made a goofy face at her.

Ana gave him a look and poked him in the chest. "I said you could not say that...you not nice..." she smiled.

Nero winked at her. "Uh huh but you didn't say or else." he laughed.

"Is America always so literal?" Ana said with a smile and she looped her arm thorough his arm and pushed the stroller. "I am glad to be girlfriend to you."

Nero smiled. "Yes... we are." he laughed. "And I am glad you are glad and... am glad myself." he said. Ok so he was goofy.

Ana laughed some more, "Thats a lot of 'glads' in one sentence." Ana kissed Nero on the cheek. "Not everyday I can find a guy who enjoys the company of me and my son. I am happy I found such a guy."

Nero smiled at her. "Like I said.. I love kids." he said.

"I think i will like America. Besides I do not see me being deported any time soon, which is good." Ana told Nero. She knew she had to wait until she turned 18. "Well Alek does not need to worry for he is american citizen. its me who is not, but I shall become one...once I turn 18."

Nero nodded. "And that's good.. I'm glad you will be staying for a long time." he smiled at her. He put his arms around her when tey got into the line. "I'll enjoy it." he smiled.

Ana smiled back at him. She was all smiles this whole weekend. "Me too. I already have papers and everything. When most people stay its due to marriage, but i plan to get my greencard." she never, ever wanted to force someone into a marriage they did not want.

Nero lifted a brow. "Well yeah that's a good idea. I mean marriage is great and all but what if they broke up?? Then what would happen?" he asked. "I mean... not that I would break up with you but... still... what would THEY do in that instance?"

"Depends on how long they have been married. For someone to be able to be an american citizen they have to be married for at least five years and there is an investigation during that five years. Besides when i marry i want it to be for love...I believe in finding true love before you marry."

Nero nodded. "Me too." Soul mate? Check. "I want one of those big fairtale weddings."

"Really....for some reason i pictured small wedding with you. How much family do you have?" Ana hada huge family...so if he wanted a big wedding she could give him that.

"I have a lot... I'm southern." he laughed. "I have cousins and aunts and uncles I don't even know!" he laughed jokingly.

"I have alot too. My parents both have many siblings...not to mention all the cousins those siblings have. And I know them all. family gathering were hard."

Nero laughed a little at that. "Yeah I would imagine!" he said. "I've never had nor have I been to a family event where it was more than just my immediate family and my grandparents." he said shaking his head.

Ana knew about that. usually not all her fmaily could make it, but there was always alot. She could iamgine them all coming, They would buy out a whole plane almost. "Well i would love to meet them sometimes in the future...you met mine..the ones who live here anyway."

Nero smiled. "Well... my father is the one I really have near me... the rest of my family is in North Carolina. But I was planning on taking a road trip soon... so I could arrange for you to come, too." he smiled.

"Could Alek come?" She was not sure if it was a pointless question but she hoped he would agree. She had no reason to think he would not. True they had just started dating but Ana really liked him. "I think road trip could be fun."

Nero made a funny face at her. "No Alek has to stay home..." he said then broke into a laugh. "Of course he can come! Figured that would have been implied."