Chapter Text
Maekar drives down a familiar road in Sonoma, he turns to enter a private road and watches the scenery change from main road to lush vines of chardonnay grapes. He checks the rearview and sees that Rhae had fallen asleep in her car seat while Aemon, Egg and Daella are on their respective iPads.
In the bucket seat he has Aerion who has his headphones on, not interested on the nig band music that his father has on the radio.
“I don't understand why we have to go today, we could have just gone to the city. There is a concert today.” Aerion grumbled. He sank further in the seat as he pulled on the hood of his sweater to cover his face.
“You don't have to understand, you just have to go.” Maekar says even if he knows that his son isn't listening.
They approach a Romanesque mansion, complete with palisades and massive columns. Maekar parks his Range Rover in one of the available slots in front of his childhood home. Turning to his left he sees Baelor's car – same model just different color – he immediately feels a pang in his chest.
Jena didn't want to keep the car so she drove it all the way to stay in Myriah's house. Sometimes, Maekar knows that his mom drives the car, just to feel close to Baelor.
Maekar goes down and tells the children to go straight inside the house. He glares at Aerion but it is futile as his son has already left him to go in the house. Maekar stares at his baby daughter still in the car seat. “It's just you and me, kid.”
“Maekar, how are you?” Myriah is old but poised and very beautiful with contrasting features. Beautiful tan skin, light brown hair and hazel eyes that were more greenish than brown. “Give me her so you can relax after the long drive. There's some tapas and fruit there.”
Maekr hands over a happy Rhae, who immediately asks for milk once she sees her Granmama. He hands Myriah the baby bottle.
“Kids! Come down here and snack!”
Of course, none of them reply because they're all in the den where they usually play or watch movies. Aerion is probably in the second floor in the guest room, sleeping, because a freshman in college is usually tired and stressed and disinterested with everyone else's boring life.
“Where is Deedee?” Myriah asks about Daerron her grandchild.
Maekar fills a small plate with cold cuts, cheese and nuts. “He's at school. He said he had some more studying to do this weekend. I can't be sure for what subject since all his grades took a dip this semester.”
“Why? The grades, I mean.” Myriah asked as she fed Rhae who was once more falling asleep in her arms.
“I could not say, Mom. You know him – he goes through highs and lows with his academics.” He leans back in his bar stool and sips some bubbly water in a can. “I went with him to his last therapy session and it's most likely because he misses Dyanna. You know how close he is to his Mom. Right now I am the chosen enemy.”
“You have to try harder to be there for your children, Maekar. Please.”
“What do you think I'm doing, Ma?”
“Working less at the office is not the answer when at home you're just in your room. The kids miss having a parent.”
“Well they have to meet me half-way because right now I am all they've got. I mean. This is it.”
He feels a gentle hand on his nape, pressed at the point of his spine and a kiss to his hair. Myriah is a very strong woman but she has no problem showing affection.
“I'll be in my room so Rhae and I can take a nap. Aerys is coming late, just in time for the caterers to arrive with our dinner. Rhaegel said to pick him up from the train station later. He'll call.”
Maekar finds himself in the grand living room watching some show on an 95 inch television. He finds it odd that they have need such a big screen but realizes that it was Baelor that wanted this so they could watch the football or basketball games here on Sundays. That it was his brother's request and now he isn't even here to see his request reallized.
“Dad, can we have some pizza?” Egg comes up the stairs from the den and he plops next to Maekar and leans on him.
“Where's Daella and Aemon?”
“They're asleep in the den.”
“Okay we'll call in some pizza.”
Maekar stands up to get his phone and Egg walks after him wanting to be carried so he obliges him and carries him around as he calls in their order. They also go up the stairs to check on Aerion who Maekar finds fast asleep in Baelor's old room.
He remembers when Myriah wanted to redecorate and asked her children who wanted to give up their room so she could make it into a viewing room for starry evenings. Baelor had volunteered his room immediately. Maybe he was being generous or maybe he knew that he wouldn't be around long enough to enjoy that viewing room.
Maekar walks to Aerion with Egg on his hip – he reached out and ruffled the hair of his son. “Aerion, we ordered some pizza. Get up, son. Come down and eat.”
The kids are gathered around the massive counter in the open kitchen and even Aerion is enjoying a few slices as he watches some videos on his phone. Myriah is laughing at something Aemon says and she looks on when Maekar stands up.
“I'm picking up Uncle Rhaegel at the train station, who wants to keep me company?
Aerion volunteers and Myriah is nonplussed and is happy to watch over the younger children.
“Can I go with my friends to Corpus Christi? They're going deep sea fishing off the coast. I haven't been out of California for a while and..”
“Of course. Just be sure to finish all your coursework before you go. Show them to me. I'll give you some pocket money and if you need to fly there can you contact my assistant for arrangements.”
“We wanted to make it a road trip.”
“Who's driving?”
“We'll take turns.”
“I don't know if I am onboard with that. I mean, I don't know if your friends drive safe.”
“Well, they've been my friends forever and I've ridden in their cars countless times without you even checking so what difference does this make?”
“It's a long drive son.”
Aerion takes pause at the endearment and sighs quietly in his seat. It's been a while since Maekar has called him son and it's daunting and irritating and he missed it. He remains quiet.
“Okay. How about this – go to Corpus Christi. Do that road trip but you call me every two hours. Is that okay? If you can't reach me because I am at a meeting then my assistant or Uncles? Can you do that?”
Aerion almosts smiles but he nods instead. “Okay. I can do that. I'll set an alarm on my phone and I'll call. Though it's not my fault if we hit a dead spot on the road.”
Maekar frowns - “Then use the satellite phone we have at home. The one we use for camping.”
“Okay then I'll call every two hours. Thanks.”
“You're welcome.”
They are at the train station parking lot, both Aerion and Maekar outside the car. Aerion is leaning against the Rover while Maekar is cleaning out the car of the packets of crackers and juice boxes that the kids finished during the trip and throwing them in the garbage bin. He only looks up when he hears Aerion move and call out.
“Uncle!!”
Rhaegel is wearing his usual hiking pants, shirt and Merrel shoes. He always has his little backpack and sun hat. And he opens his arms to his nephew and gives him a big kiss on the hair.
“My boy. How is everything? How's Stanford?”
Aerion shrugs - “Hard and easy as it should be.”
Rhaegel grins and nods, holding his nephew close. He is proud of Aerion for getting into the school. Amongst the siblings Rhaegel is the only one to finishe in Stanford while the rest of his siblings opted for a European collegiate education. He has a lot of fond memories in Stanford but he does not overwhelm Aerion with them and lets his nephew own his experience.
Maekar walked and hugged his brother tight and rubbed his back.
“Sorry for troubling you, brother. I am not allowed to drive anymore according to my lovely wife and I wanted to support our local station instead of getting an Uber.”
It was obvious that Rhaegel is a resident of Sonoma just like their mother. He opted for a nearer estate, closer to their childhood home. He loves this place, loves exploring the local haunts and tending to his micro backyard vineyard. He looks every bit the local, the down to earth yet old money kind or person that was very common in the Napa, Sonoma area.
“It's no trouble, the station is near. Did you want to stop by somewhere before we head home? There's pizza and rolls and Mother had a barbecue catered for tonight when Aerys comes.”
“I'm good. As long as there are vegetables or a salad then I'll be able to eat.”
“I'm sure there is. Mother never forgets you are a vegetarian.”
Aerion just listens to the brothers banter and he sits in the backseat and puts on his seatbelt. Rhaegel then settles telling stories of Aelor and Aelora who were both off to college in the East Coast. Then of little Daenora who was starting her K-pop journey.
It makes Maekar chuckle hearing about his nieces and nephew.
“I mean I let her. She's into a couple of girl groups and boy groups and I have to admit some of the music is real good. I think I bought a couple of CDs myself.” Rhaegel shares which makes Aerion laugh but also admire his uncle and his means of bonding with his children.
Aerion is about to speak when his phone rings.
It's a common friend of his and Daeron that studies in Berkeley.
Maekar hears the call so he lowers the radio and Rhaegel also stops talking out of courtesy.
“Hey, what's up?”
The friend speaks and Aerion's brow furrows deep, upset and almost angry.
“Okay. Where is he? We're on our way.”
Maekar cautiously parks at the side of the road with his hazard lights on.
'What's going on?”
“Dad, Daeron is okay, he's stable.”
“Okay? Why did that friend call? What the fuck is going on?”
“He tried to take his life but they got him to urgent care and he's stable but they're moving him to Alta Bates Medical. They said he took too many pills and they're not sure if its because he was drunk or he just...anyway his vitals are stable...”
Aerion could say no more as his father slammed his shaking hands on the steering wheel and just let out a gut wrenching cry.
“FUCK!!!'
When Maekar exhales, Rhaegel places a hand on his arm.
“I'll drive. Let's go to Alta Bates. Check your email as UC Berkeley might have sent you an update. Aerion call your grandmother and Uncle Aerys tell them about Daeron and that we have it covered.”