Chapter 16 - Cheers

Once they knocked on the door and received permission from within to enter, all were stunned and relieved to see Aubin together with Lunario, who later requested for a talk with Mrs Aileen once the situation had been explained.

This talk turned into a discussion, where he asked for permission to adopt Aubin. At first, everyone was shocked and suspicious as the man had only been with Aubin for a short time, but seeing the interaction between the two Bannings' had their suspicion melting as it was clear that they had grown close in such a short time.

Mr Bannirio later explained that's was in an accident when he was younger but as he was too poor to seek the treatment at the time he was left sterile, according to his last diagnosis it would be impossible for him and his wife to have children. As such he would like to adopt Aubin, but only after his wife met and agreed with his decision.

Mrs Aileen was both happy that Aubin could find a new family yet sad as they had just finished the paperwork which would place Aubin into one of the organisation homes, meaning that she would have more work to do.

They spent some time in the VIP ward, as Mrs Aileen and Lunario started the preliminary paperwork to shorten the time required if his wife agreed, as they waited for Mrs Bannirio to come to the room. During this time Airic was talking to Aubin who looked happy to b adopted by Lunario, and keeping him entertained during the long wait.

At last, Mrs Bannirio stepped into the wardroom, drawing the attention of its occupants. She walked quickly to her husband, fussing as she was unaware that he had gone to the Hospital and assuming that he was involved in an accident, and saw that he looked the same as when he left their home. Puzzled, she turned to the lone doctor in the room for an explanation.

They quickly explained the situation to her, pausing midway once she had an emotional outburst due to the news that her husband has been and will remain sterile. She looked sad to hear the news yet relieved as she had been blaming herself internally for failing to get pregnant after years of marriage and countless snide comments.

Once she heard about adopting Aubin, she walked over to the little boy who was looking at her with large, wet eyes, from behind Airic who he had been talking to before her entrance. She coaxed him to come to her and she picked him up gently before striding back to the bed, where they whispered to each other as the other pretended that they were not there.

Eventually, the decision was set.

Airic asked for permission to keep in contact with Aubin, which was granted with the condition that there would always be an adult nearby, causing both boys joy.

Mrs Bannirio hogged Aubin as the documents were being finalised, refusing to let even her husband time with him, leaving Lunario dumbfounded as he tried to bond with his new son. Airic and the others in the room laughed at his expression as she swept out of the room with Aubin held in her arms as she told him about all the things that she would be getting for him, Lunario trailing behind like an abandoned pup following his owner.

The group followed along as they were leaving. As they left, Lunario asked Airic what he was doing careerwise, as he looked old enough to be a student, yet he was not in a school. Airic used his cover story, given by the Government, to explain his reason for not completing his education which was that he and his traveller parents were trapped in a vortex for years and that they died to give him a chance to live. Including that he also felt self-conscious to be going to school with those several years younger than him.

Shocked Lunario could only ask him what he planned to do, as he did not expect such a tragic story. Airic explained that he wished to be an entertainer, as he explored the known areas of the federation.

Lunario looked at him silently and asked him to call him tomorrow as he got onto his hovercar after both his wife and son entered it, as they exchanged contacts before they left. Airic was confused but agreed nonetheless.

Doctor Andros was on the other side of the car, giving last-minute advice on what Aubin would need to Mrs Bannirio, and finally, they stepped away from the car as it rose into the air and flew away. Both of them waving until it disappeared from view.

After a final goodbye to both the doctor and Mrs Aileen, Airic and a silent B'tlar left the Hospital in their hovercar.

As they went back to their mobile home, Airic posted his video onto the star network, after registering for an account on the creators' page of the entertainment section. His account name was called Aiden Song, in remembrance of his old identity as well as acting as his stage name.

He decided to keep his performers' identity separate from his civilian identity. As he got into the ship and set up the bunk bed, to allow for both himself and B'tlar to sleep in, he thought of his goal to perform in front of millions and fell asleep to the cheers he imagined at the end of his concerts.