Time Traveler: E198. Off-Guard

Robin and Juliette let Rowan play at a safe distance and returned to the bench.

"How do you get Rowan to obey you, do you have any technique?" she asked; Robin laughed.

"Technique? I don't have any technique; I just ask him for things and that's it."

"No, seriously, how do you do it? It's like you two have your own language, and you said earlier that you and Row 'read each other's minds'."

"Oh, that - that was just a joke."

"Maybe, but still, he's so compliant with you."

"'He's not with you? If he's giving you trouble, I can talk to him."

"Oh, no, that's not necessary," Juliette hurried to answer. "Cause they're not real problems, just little things, like refusing to eat, or to go to sleep. He wants to play all the time, or explore the house, mainly the garden."

"Well, children are curious; Row is no exception, maybe he's going to be a scientist like the rest of the Shens."

"Even scientists need to sleep - what human being doesn't?"

Robin was speechless, what human being doesn't need to sleep or eat? He, for one, since he felt almost no appetite lately, or sleepiness. He just didn't know why, so he didn't mention it.

"Do you think Rowie is sick or about to come down with something?" Juliette continued anxiously.

"I think kids go through stages like that, it's perfectly normal. Just stop worrying and let him play as much as he wants, maybe that way he'll get tired and finally go to sleep," Robin replied, putting his arm around Juliette's shoulders. Without a second thought, she cuddled up next to him.

"So you think his behavior is normal?" She insisted.

"Of course, also, don't forget that he's in his terrible twos."

"Right, that must be it," Juliette said, reassured.

"There, you did it again," she added, turning to look at Robin.

"What did I do?" he asked puzzled.

"You got me to calm down, you did the same with Rowan. It's like you have some magical power."

"I don't have any power," Robin laughed.

"Then why does Rowan obey you like that, and why do I feel so safe here next to you?"

"Do I really make you feel safe?"

"Yes. A while ago I was worried and nervous, then suddenly, with a few words, you've made me feel calm and happy again".

Juliette's words, and her sudden closeness, prompted Robin to move in for a kiss. His gesture took Juliette off guard, so she didn't put up any resistance. Their lips were about to touch when…

"Mommy, Mommy!" Rowan exclaimed coming closer.

The magical moment burst like a soap bubble, forcing Robin and Juliette to quickly pull apart.

"What's the matter, honey, are you hungry already? Do you want to go home now? " Juliette asked, her heart still racing.

"No, I want to play with Daddy," Rowan answered.

Robin didn't know what to say, this time it was him who had been taken off guard.

"Row, we said we were going home in five minutes," Juliette chimed in.

"No! I want to play with Daddy, please!" Rowan insisted; Juliette heaved a sigh.

"Well, at least this time he said please," Robin joked.

Then he left the bench to approach Rowan.

"Hey, Row, what did we say earlier that was important to do?" He asked him.

"Obey Mommy," Rowan replied.

"Exactly, so I'll play with you a little, then we'll go home, and you'll eat your lunch, okay?"

"But I'm not hungry."

"You sure will be by then. Now, what do you want to play?"

"I want to fly again."

"All right, let's fly then," Robin said, taking Rowan in his arms.

Juliette sighed again. It was obvious at this point that neither father nor son wanted to separate, and she understood them well enough because she didn't want to split up either. She was overjoyed to be there with them but confused as well by what had just happened. If not for Rowan's interruption, she and Robin would have kissed, like other times, only to have to continue living apart. How much longer would they have to endure this situation, a week, two, indefinitely?"

Time Traveler: E195. The New Crane Family - Parte 2

Around the same time, at the Aurora Skies City Hall...

Juliette and Robin were already out. It was done, Rowan now carried the Crane family name.

"Well, I promised you two things, I already fulfilled the first one," Robin said stopping for a moment outside City Hall.

"I know, and I appreciate that", Juliette answered. "But now I ask you, are you absolutely sure about what's next?"

"If you are referring to my divorce, the answer is yes, I am sure. That was my second promise, and rest assured I'm going to keep it."

"Really? But your family…"

"My daughters will always have my support, and 'my family', from this moment on, is you and Row."

"Soon enough the three of us will be together, and then nothing will separate us anymore," Robin added, hugging her.

"I hope so."

"Why, you don't believe me?"

"Of course I believe you, but I'm afraid of dreaming too much. I feel as if, at the very last minute, something will come between us."

"Nothing is going to come between us, it's going to be fine, so no sad thoughts, okay? Let's just enjoy the day together like we planned it."

"Okay," Juliette mumbled, trying to ignore the pessimistic little voice in her head telling her that this was only a dream and that at some point she was going to wake up.

"Mommy, Daddy, let's play!" Another 'little voice' next to them said. Rowan was starting to get impatient with their chatter.

Robin had no problem meeting his demands, quickly taking him in his arms and putting him over his shoulder. Juliette's heart skipped a beat, as Rowan laughed, obviously delighted.

"Well, Row, what do you think of your new name? Do you like it?" Robin asked.

"Yes!" Rowan hurried to answer.

"Did you hear, Jul? He likes his new last name."

"Yeah, I doubt he knows what you're talking about," Juliette chuckled.

"Oh, I think he knows, 'cause he and I read each other's minds, don't we, Row?" Robin joked; Rowan burst out laughing again; Juliette shook her head. "Of course he does," she giggled. Then, a little more seriously: "Maybe we should go now, people are starting to arrive."

"What do you say Row, you want to go home now?" Robin asked.

"No, I want to go there!" Rowan exclaimed, pointing towards the small park next to City Hall.

"To the park? Sure, but only if Mommy agrees". 

Although with some reservation, Juliette accepted. She had dreamed of this day so much! She was a bit worried about being in a public place with Robin, given his circumstances, but it was still early and there weren't many people around; nothing kept them from enjoying, if only for a few minutes, this glorious moment as a family, the new, true Crane family.

Time Traveler: E195. The New Crane Family - Part 1

Back at the Shen's house...

"So Robin's parents are alive," Karen said as she read the pages of the document.

"Yep", Dylan answered.

"But if they are, how come in nineteen years they never tried to contact him?"

"No idea. It's weird enough that they didn't take him with them to begin with."

"That was awful, I don't understand how they could leave their son behind and then resign themselves to live without him all these... Oh, my God..."

"Douglas Crane is 40% alien??" Karen exclaimed.

"Now we know where those genes came from," Dylan replied, with a sip of coffee.

"Then there's no doubt anymore, this is not a mutation, but a whole alien lineage!"

"Uh - honey, I think you're overreacting a bit here".

"No, this is serious, Dyl."

"I must call Jul to cancel everything and come home right away," Karen concluded, closing the laptop and standing up. 

"Why on earth would you do that?" Dylan inquired, getting up in turn.

"And you're asking?"

"Robin and his father are aliens, it means Row could be one too, we must take his DNA sample immediately."

"Absolutely not. We agreed we would wait and that's what we will do. We don't gain anything by rushing things."

"Waiting isn't wise either, what if Jul finds out sooner from somewhere else?"

"She won't, no one else knows about this but us,' Dylan replied, as he headed for the kitchen.

"What if Robin already knows and tells her himself? Jul will be horrified and will blame us for not putting her on notice," Karen concluded. Dylan stopped and turned around.

"Jul is a scientist, Karen. She may be shocked, even worried by the news, but believe me, she won't be 'horrified,' much less stop loving Robin because of it."

"I don't know, Dyl, I'm afraid."

"I am not, cause there's nothing to be afraid of. Like I said, I trust Rob, I'm pretty sure Jul and Row are safe with him, and as of today, he's our family, so we must support him. After Dustin's wedding we can tell them all this, but for now, let them enjoy their special day, okay?"

"…"

Robin and Jessica Crane

Robin and Jessica.