———————————————————- Another separate lunch conversation that takes place in Mami's office. The contract that Mami is talking about has to do with the bridge from Avalon to Arcadia and some repairs that need to be made and if the crew that built the bridge is also the crew that has to fix the mistakes. ————————————————————————— —————————————

"I jist need ta know if they will come and fix it, or if I gotta send an entirely different crew out ta clean it up." Aja was saying not looking at either Mami or Anya. "It was yer project, Mams."

Mami leaned back in her chair and contemplated Aja for a moment, watching Aja prowl around the office, picking up random items. Anya just watched with amusement as she was used to Aja not being able to sit still for long.

"Alright, Aja. My assistant Kevin is still here. If I have him pull the contract, read it over looking for language on exclusivity of repairs for the bridge, will you have a serious conversation about Rico and his dating life?"

Aja glanced at Mami then at Anya who shrugged then looked back to Mami. "What's serious?" she asked perching on the edge of a table near the door. "You have to listen while I speak." Mami said with a smile, Aja pretended to think it over then Anya saw the smirk that Aja was trying to contain. "Hmm. No. This I cannot do." "Call your assistant." Anya said interrupting before Mami threw something at Aja for being a smart alec, which she had seen Mami do before. Aja had a way of getting Mami's dander up enough to forget for a moment that she was a regal lady with manners befitting any royalty. It was a talent of Aja's that Anya wasn't a hundred percent sure that Aja was completely aware of having. "Fine." Aja said as she got up, wandered over and flopped into a chair near Anya then watched Mami on the phone. "What did he say about our lunch?" Mami said while she was hanging up the phone. "We're not there yet." Aja said glancing out the door. "You're talking I'm listening. Two minutes." "I'm the boss in this scenario." Mami said indignantly. "I think I'll take as much time as I want." Aja pointed towards the door. "I'm watching Phyllia listening to that guy that is hitting on her, I was talking to Anya...cause in two minutes, Phyllia is going to bean that man with a clipboard." Aja grinned. "I was placing a bet." Mami glanced over her shoulder towards Phyllia then back to Aja. "We've got a couple too many things going on at once." "You've got our undivided attention." Anya tried for diplomacy then while Aja had gone back to watching Phyllia with the man. "Not one of those cheerleaders out there would be interested in going out with that man after Phyllia beans him with the clipboard." Aja said idly looking out into the lobby. "Aja?" Anya scolded lightly. "Yeah, I'm here." Aja looked back towards Mami and Anya with a smile. "Now," Mami started, straightening her jacket. "if Rico is going to see any of his children grow up, he's running out of time to start a fam..." "Oh! Oh!" Aja suddenly exclaimed, jumping making Mami sigh. "And she shoots! She scores!" Aja gave Phyllia a thumbs up through the windowed door, both Mami and Anya pinched the bridge of their noses while Aja started to giggle intensely at the man as he tried to get up off the floor. "Aja DaMaris Bird.." Mami started in that mother tone making Aja turn to look at her. "Whoa there, Nugget. There's no call ta get all hostile with the name there." Aja grinned at Mami sweetly.

"Aja." Mami said slowly and calmly. "I'm about to lose my patience with you."

"About to?" Aja grinned. "Seems like yer already there."

"I want to discuss Rico now."

"You." Aja started with a grin. "Want to get nosy about his love life." She sat up a little straighter in her chair then. "And I get it, yer his mother and are totally baby crazy." she looked at Mami evenly. "While I can appreciate your need to make the most of your...Uh...." Aja rolled her hand. "golden years."

"Are you calling Mami old?" Anya asked with a small smile. She wasn't above messing with Aja on occasion.

"No. No. No." Aja said to Anya then half smirked. "Little bit."

"For shame, Aja. Mami is not old. She's mature." Anya paused for a moment. "Moreso than someone else I know, not naming names, Aja Bird." Aja huffed slightly, but ended up giggling anyway. "Fine, fine." Aja calmed down and looked at Mami. "Sorry. But seriously, Rico's love life is no one's business but his own." "I'm his mother." Mami protested. "I never said otherwise, Mami." Aja leaned forward looking at Mami evenly. "But, he's a grown man. Has been for a while. Aside from one side venture with Shay.." she saw Mami lean forward with interest about that subject and Aja pointed at her for a second, "which I am not telling you about." Aja saw Mami deflate some. "He's always been a complete gentleman with dating. He's a private guy and I have come to appreciate that about him. We have respect for each other enough to let each other figure things out." Aja got up then and glanced out to the lobby then back. "If he needs advice, he'll ask. But if you keep pushing him....." Aja took a deep breath. "Ya seen what can happen..." She looked at Mami seriously. "Richard did that and he ended up hating the man." "It was more than that, Aja." Mami said solemnly. Aja glanced over to Anya, who had recently been let in on part of the "more than that' world of Richard Tharadon. Anya shook her head slightly. Aja knew she would never tell Mami anything. If anything, Anya was the bank vault of secret keeping. Aja still never knew what all was carried in that mysterious satchel of hers. She then looked back to Mami. "I know." Aja held her hand out. "I know. But it certainly didn't help. You've always let him make his own choices. You raised a good man, Mami. He always considers what you will say or think about what he does." "I'm worried about him being alone his whole life." "You never have to be worried about him, is what I'm saying." Aja gave her a smile then and went over to kiss her cheek. "Besides, you setting up Rikki with dates, is going to get me an earful of whining from JiJi and if that happens, they won't find yer body, Mams." Aja quickly scampered away in case Mami swatted her. "Aja, you are not, repeat, not using the pig pens on the Palazzo for that! I like Mami too much, and I respect her opinions." Anya paused, lips pursed in thought. "Besides, I'd like at least one Director of Administration to stick around for more than a few months at a stretch." She too leaned back, in case Mami decided to swat her with one of the file folders at hand.

Aja grinned then snapped her fingers.

"Damn. On to plan B then." she was trying to lighten the mood, cause even with what they said, she could see Mami wasn't quite ready to let the subject go completely. She retook her chair near Anya, glancing out to Phyllia and company to see if that man had gotten the message or not and had left the receptionist alone.

"I know you two are very close to Rico." Mami smiled warmly at the ladies she had come to think of as daughters. "I love that you are looking after him in your own way, however, I worry that this relationship he has going with Ajia is just another one that will not result in a lasting marriage." Aja looked over at Anya and made a face that plainly said "OY' before putting her hand to her face. Anya shook her head with a smile. "Rico is very good with the twins, which is good practice for when he becomes a father." She held up her right diamond and star sapphire rings adorned hand when she saw Mami about to speak. "In his own good time, Mami. Forcing him to settle down just so you can have grandchildren to spoil, well, that isn't fair to Rico. He's not a stallion that you can set out to the paddock to breed, forgive my bluntness." Aja was so glad she had her hand over her face cause the comment about horse breeding would've normally made her say "Dirty' and giggle a lot. Which would not be at all helpful in convincing Mami to back down on the "Hunt for Rico's bride" quest she wanted to do.

Mami sat quietly considering their words. She knew they were most likely right about all of it. It was hard for her as a mother to sit back and watch her son seemingly wasting time on finding a life partner.

She also watched Aja for signs of irritation when it came to the subject of Rico dating her sister and indications that she had or was getting upset at the notion that Ajia wasn't exactly what Mami had in mind for her son. To date, Aja's only objection seemed to be more about Ajia complaining about it, than the relationship ending. She knew Aja was one to let things happen of their own accord and not meddle in them. Aja had always been able to accept things as fate and roll along with them rather than put up a fuss of any kind. She was like that with her children as well. Mami knew that Aja never tried to tell Trevor or Mara who they may or may not see.

Rico would always confide in the pair of women that sat before her first before he would tell Mami anything. That, she knew for sure. Neither woman though, would betray him by telling her what he said to them. No matter how much she would pry about it. He had their loyalty and their love, which Mami admired and was grateful he had until it came to finding out just what her son was thinking in terms of plans for his life.

Aja had, with great difficulty, managed not to crack up with what Anya said and took her hand off her face to look between them. She smiled warmly and leaned back in her chair, deciding to change the subject or at least attempting to.

"So. We're not scolding Phyllia fer beanin that dude with the clipboard are we?" she thumb jerked towards the door with a grin. "Cause that was seriously entertaining."

"Nyet, we are not, I am not, you are not, and Mami is not. I trust Phyllia to handle situations like that in the most efficient and diplomatic way possible." Anya's ring bearing hands steepled together before her, and she rested her chin on the steeple. There was a mischievous twinkle in her hazel eyes. "That's why I requisitioned a metal clipboard for her in the first place."

Aja chuckled and tilted her head sideways to peek through the blinds at the security detail handing the man. Her attention swung back to Mami then, giving the woman a soft smile.

"I know you don't always understand." she said after a moment. "Why he does what he does. I don't either for that matter." she grinned then. "But Rico's always been a rock solid guy. I'd have died or gone insane without him by now. He's family though. So I let him make the choices he needs to make. And I'm ready and able to catch him if he falls." she motioned to Anya then. "So is she."

"Da. We truly care about Rico." Anya said warmly making Mami smile.

"You jist gotta have faith in him. The same as us." Aja was serious for the moment. "I know that's not always easy, but it's what?s required here."

"I know you are right." Mami conceded making Aja nod. "I want so much for my son."

"We do as well, Mami." Anya interjected warmly.

"Alright." Mami finally said.

"Does this mean we can go have lunch now?" Aja started getting up. "I already got a floor show." she motioned out to the lobby.

"Yes. We can go to lunch now." Mami shook her head very slightly amused with Aja as she often was.

"Cool. Then Anya can tell me how often Phyllia has ta defend herself with dat clipboard o doom.?