Is this destiny?

Corey and Merve entered the study room to find Sarah and Aiden waiting for them.

Aiden gave Corey an envelope and spoke to both Corey and Merve: "Pack things for two nights and one day. You are leaving in half an hour."

Corey was utterly confused. "Where are we going?"

It\'s after 10 PM, and they were about to call it a night because Sophia told them that they are done for today. Since they arrived here, everyone worked late so a day that ended at 10 PM was a treat. Corey and Merve planned to shower and cuddle until they sleep off, but now it seems they have a mission on their hands.

Aiden gestured to the envelope. "St. Petersburg. Hotel information is in there."

"Why are we going?", Merve asked.

"Vacation.", Sarah said and when she saw that Corey and Merve are staring at her in disbelief, she explained: "Corey said to his mom that he is going to Europe with everyone. If he returns like this, he will have a lot of explaining to do. St. Petersburg is a great city. In the envelope you will find a few places I recommend for you to visit. Have fun, take photos, and be back day after tomorrow by lunchtime."

Corey was surprised that Sarah and Aiden remembered that detail. He didn\'t think about it, but they are right. If he shows up home after a month of \'traveling through Europe\' without photos to prove it, his mother would be suspicious. While they stayed in the Ceresc Solutions, they went on a day trip to Bucharest, so he has a few photos from there, and with St. Petersburg added, his mom will not ask much.

"Is Sophia OK with us leaving?", Merve asked.

Corey and Merve are working as Sophia\'s assistants and she does not want to appear they ditched work because she knows that there is a lot of work pending.

"Sophia knows and she will survive one day without you.", Sarah said. "Helicopter is expecting you in no more than half an hour, so… why are you still standing here?"

Corey and Merve mumbled thanks and left the study as their minds wrapped about the news that they are having an unexpected mini-vacation! And it will be just the two of them!

Sarah looked at the door after Corey and Merve left and smiled.

"Anything else?", Aiden asked Sarah.

"No. We have our schedule for tomorrow set, so I think we are done with responsibilities for today.", Sarah said.

Michael and Oni are in charge of sorting out things that they swiped from the Voronin family. That effort is still ongoing, and Michael and Oni said that they will alert Sarah and Aiden if they find anything unusual. Other than that, the full report should be ready by tomorrow evening.

"Do you want to check on Vasily before we call it a night?", Aiden suggested.

Sarah wanted to go, but a yawn reminded her that it was a long day and that she should rest. "Eve is watching him, so if there are any changes, we will know. Let\'s say goodnight to our fur-babies." 

Aiden went to the kitchen to get snacks for dogs and leopards and the two of them gathered their six fur-babies in the garden who were happy to spend some time with their human-parents who seemed to be awfully busy lately.

"I think that everyone is excited about vacation.", Aiden said while giving a piece of bacon to Luna.

"Aren\'t you?", Sarah asked as she flicked the ball for Hero and Bella to chase.

Dogs are interested in snacks and play, while leopards were mostly focused on the raw beef that Aiden brought.

Kitty, Atlas, and Vega each got a chunk of meat and they sat around Sarah. Since she got pregnant, leopards are extra-protective of their human mommy.

"I look forward to a non-eventful routine.", Aiden responded.

"Did we ever have something like that?"

"A man can hope."

Aiden\'s words made Sarah laugh.

Sarah had a few things on her mind that they should do. "Let\'s plan for a few days in Fairfield, and then we can afford a long weekend at the White Rock Lake, and for a mystery location… I was thinking that we go to an island for a week. And we should go to Chicago to meet Amber. She is already one and a half months old, and we didn\'t visit. Ah, and Emma will have her baby soon!"

Aiden hummed when Sarah finished listing places they should visit. He does not care where they will go. As long as they don\'t need to fight baddies, he will be fine. He noticed one point… "I was hoping for a non-eventful routine, yet you listed four trips for the month of August that are outside of the city limits of Los Angeles. How is that non-eventful?"

Sarah smiled. "It will be fun to see friendly faces and to relax. In two days we will find out if our sprout is a boy or a girl. Are you ready for it?"

Aiden shrugged. "I am as ready as I will ever be. I only care that you and the baby are doing fine, nothing else matters."

"You will be a wonderful father."

"Yup. I\'ve got Jeff and Felix to learn from, and I have a few tricks of my own.", Aiden said confidently even though on the inside he was full of doubts.

"By the time we return home, we will know the gender, so we can start decorating the nursery. Ah, we should also start looking for a nanny."

Aiden frowned. "No nannies. We have a house full of kids, and all of them are responsible young adults who know much more than first aid and CPR. I don\'t want outsiders around my baby. I am confident that we can get a few candidates who are willing to babysit. Three-or-four of them can take turns so that we get twenty-four hours coverage, and baby will not be exposed to strangers."

Sarah agreed. There is nothing better than family members to watch over a baby. However, she does not want to force them. None of their kids needs money, and they are all over-qualified to be nannies. "We can ask them. If someone is interested, we can enroll them in a course for taking care of infants."

"Is there such a course? I should take it also.", Aiden mused.

Sarah and Aiden chatted about the baby-care when Corey and Merve walked out of the villa with one carry on that was rolling behind Corey.

"Ready?", Sarah asked.

Corey and Merve grinned in response. They were visibly excited.

"Thanks for this!", Corey exclaimed and waved the envelope he was holding onto.

Other than the information on the hotel they will be staying at and sight-seeing places, the envelope had two credit cards. One for Corey and one for Merve, so that they can buy whatever they want without worrying about money.

"Don\'t overthink it.", Aiden responded while waving his hand. "Have fun and stay out of trouble. But if trouble comes your way, remember that you are not weaklings. No one can bully you. Always wear at least one communication device so that you can reach out to us in case of an emergency. Don\'t try to be heroes and always put safety first."

"They are going for a vacation, not to battle.", Sarah reminded Aiden.

Aiden shrugged. "You can never be too careful."

"It would be a nice gesture if you buy a souvenir for your mother.", Sarah reminded Corey to which Corey nodded.

Corey and Merve waved goodbye and dashed toward the helicopter.

"What are you thinking?", Aiden asked Sarah when he noticed that her gaze is lingering in the direction where Corey and Merve left.

"I hope that Corey does not hurt Merve."

"He is a good kid."

"I know, but… all our kids share many experiences and bonds that run deep. That is why even though there are many crushes, they are careful when they get into a relationship, and they are not playing. Corey is an outsider and as much as he loves Merve now, I don\'t know what the future brings."

"That is why I recommend that they go on this vacation.", Aiden said. "It is an experience they will share."

Sarah\'s eyes flashed. "You are a wise man, Mr. White."

Aiden smiled smugly. Sarah praising him never gets old.

Aiden gave the last bits of bacon and steak to their fur-babies and stood up.

"Let\'s go to our room. If we stay longer, you will get sleepy and I will not get my evening treat. Our pets got their meat for the night, and I can\'t wait to sink my teeth into yours.", Aiden said with a straight face and licked his lips slowly.

Sarah looked at his hand which was extended toward her and blinked when he wiggled his fingers.

"Mrs. White, do you dare to leave me hanging?", Aiden asked with a warning in his voice, making Sarah smile.

"I was a bad girl, and you need to punish me."

Aiden tilted his head and poked his left cheek with his tongue. He tried to prevent his poker face from cracking, but his eyes showed that her words aroused him. He loved that his playful wife was back, and his insides brimmed at all the possibilities that stirred inside his mind.

He wiggled his fingers again, reminding her to take his hand.

Sarah\'s smile widened and she put her hand in his.

Aiden tugged her toward him, and their fingers interlaced.

"You have no idea what you are doing to me, woman…", Aiden murmured while his hungry eyes scanned hers.

"I don\'t. But I look forward to what you are going to do to me.", Sarah responded breathily, and she felt the heat creep up her neck as her heart rate increased.

They walked to their bedroom while holding hands in silence as the air around them became heady.

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