Is this destiny?

Mike got in the living room with his suitcase and found Ryan and Sean talking lively with Emma and Charlie. The twins were telling them about their weekend adventure, and based on the level of excitement, Mike understood that they had a good time. He is sure that he will hear all about it on the ride back home.

"Allen and Julius will teach us to fight.", Ryan told Emma. "We will join them for trainings over the weekend to learn moves, and then we will practice during weekdays on our own."

"And soon, we will be able to protect you.", Sean told Emma confidently.

"But don\'t worry…", Ryan interrupted Emma\'s protest. "We already discussed. Allen and Julius will help us come up with a plan to study online, and for any courses which need in-person training, we will take them from one of the educational institutions in Los Angeles."

Sean nodded. "Like this, our education will not be neglected, and we will be by your side."

"You are happy that we picked Los Angeles for the college, right? And it will be convenient for our internships at Smithsonite corp.", Ryan grinned.

Mike heard this and he wondered if they are talking about them or him because that will be convenient for him also.

Emma looked at Charlie helplessly.

Charlie shrugged. "What they said makes sense. That is what kids at the Cliffside Villa are doing. They train and work toward their degrees. And it\'s working great. How much I know, each of those kids is doing great in their chosen field of studies. As for trainings... I don\'t know what mystical skills Sarah and Aiden have, but any of their kids can overpower my men in hand to hand combat, that is why I\'m taking them there to improve. And do you know that my personal bodyguards are taking marksmanship lessons from a twelve years-old girl?"

"But I don\'t want them to fight and shoot guns!", Emma protested.

Charlie does not want to provoke Emma further. He can see how protective she is of her brothers. But he still needs to speak his mind: "They don\'t have to. But it can\'t hurt if they know how to defend themselves."

"You will not be my bodyguards.", Emma told Ryan and Sean with a frown.

"Don\'t take away their motivation.", Charlie said while patting Emma\'s hand. "How about this… if they do good in school and can defeat my men, then we will consider it."

Ryan and Sean grinned.

Emma puffed her cheeks in frustration. This is getting out of control. They came for a visit, a visit! And she allowed them to stay with Sarah and her kids to have fun, not to come back with ideas that they will be bodyguards! She will talk with Sarah about this!

Emma looked at Mike for help, and Ryan and Sean used this opportunity to give thumbs-up to Charlie.

To Emma\'s horror, she saw that Mike asked Ryan and Sean with a smile: "When do you start?"

"We already started.", Ryan responded.

"So, when you said that you will have trainings every weekend…?", Mike\'s eyes darted between Ryan and Sean.

Ryan and Sean had troubled expressions and Sean responded: "The plane ticket is a problem, but other than that…"

"Don\'t worry about that.", Charlie interrupted Sean. "If you guys are serious, you can come anytime you want, just let me know and I will arrange it. I know that Emma enjoys having you nearby."

Emma was about to object, but that last sentence hit a nerve. She does like to have her brothers nearby. She is missing them. And there is nothing more she would like than if they can come more often. Maybe even move to Los Angeles permanently.

"Does that include me as well?", Mike asked Charlie.

"Of course."

Mike thanked Charlie with a big smile. With his salary, after the bills and everything… he can afford to come once in two months (if he gets one of those bargain flights), but if Charlie takes care of the travel expenses, he can come every weekend! Yup, he will mooch from his brother-in-law (until he earns his degree and then he will pay Charlie back).

Suddenly, everything fell into place. He will come here over weekends and be with Tiffany and study and everything will be alright. Maybe he finds a job here and then he does not need to travel and the two of them can move into an apartment together! At the prospect of being with Tiffany, Mike didn\'t see his mother\'s stubbornness as a problem. What is the worst that can happen? She will ignore him for few months, how she ignored Emma? Mike does not care about his mother\'s disapproval, as long as he can be with Tiffany. Tiffany, right!

"How much time we have?", Mike asked.

"The car is ready to take you to the airport." Emma looked at her phone. "You guys should leave in ten minutes."

"I will be back in five.", Mike said while dashing down the hallway.

…

Mike got inside Tiffany\'s room and found her on the chair, in front of the computer.

He lifted her up and gave her a smacking kiss on the lips.

 "Tiffany…", Mike called. "I really enjoyed my time with you, and I have no intention to allow it to become a one-time thing. I know that it sounds crazy but starting today, my plans for the future involve you. I don\'t expect you to believe me, not right now, but I expect you to keep an open mind. I will be back next weekend. Wait for me."

Tiffany smiled and buried her face in his neck. "OK." She whispered.

…

They got a driver to drop off Mike, Ryan and Sean to the airport.

"Why are you encouraging their reckless behavior?", Emma asked Charlie when they returned into the living room.

"Which part is reckless? The one where they want to protect their sister? Wouldn\'t you want to protect them if you have a chance?"

Emma pursed her lips. "They are my baby brothers. I want them to have their own lives and not tie themselves for me."

"They are not babies. If you want them to have their own lives, you should let them choose what they want to do. And as I said, let them train… it can\'t hurt. At the same time, if they study here you can keep an eye on them. What would you do if instead of Los Angeles they decide to go to New York? If they are set on learning fighting techniques, they can join a club or hire a trainer. Don\'t scold them and push them away because of that. Use it as a motivation. Tell them that they need a certain GPA and number of courses completed before they can accompany you as bodyguards and with that it will take them a year or two before they can fulfill those conditions…"

Charlie saw that Emma softened up and he changed the topic by asking about the rehabilitation center.

Charlie didn\'t tell Emma that he would be delighted if Ryan and Sean gain enough skills to be her bodyguards. As bodyguards, the most important is loyalty, and no one will ever be more loyal to Emma than her brothers who are doting on her. Charlie is confident that if they end up in danger, Sean and Ryan will protect Emma with their lives on the line and someday… that might be needed.

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