Page 13 of Dark Princess Ascending

Almost an hour later, she finally appeared, pushing a cart loaded with two massive suitcases, a carry-on, and a duffle bag.

Peter tossed his empty cup into the trash binand rushed to embrace her, wrapping her in a bear hug that had her laughing.

"So, you missed me after all." She pushed out of his arms.

"Of course. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together on the cruise." He kept the accusation out of his voice as he took control of the cart and started pushing it toward the exit.

She'd been busy hanging out with all her American cousins, but if he said that, she would accuse him of spending all his time with Marina.

Peter really didn't want to play the blame game with his mother.

He also needed to remember not to address her as Mother in public because she looked younger than him.

His mother threaded her arm through his. "We are going to spend as much time together as you can spare. Congratulations again on the promotion."

"Thank you." He looked at the mountain of luggage piled on the cart. "That's a lot of stuff for one week."

"Actually, darling, I've decided to stay a little longer, or much longer, depending on how I like it in the village."

Peter nearly lost his grip on the cart. "What?"

"Well, with your new position as head of the Avengers division and everything else going on..."she patted his arm, "I think you need my support. What kind of a mother would I be if I didn't rise to the occasion, right?"

He was speechless.

Marina was going to flip. She was nervous enough about having his mother stay with them for a week. Now, she'd never have a moment's peace, especially if his mother expected to stay in their house.

He loved his mother, but he could only tolerate being with her in small doses. He had been very glad to have an ocean separating them.

"You've said time and again that you have no intention of leaving Scotland and even refused to get an American passport. What's made you change your mind?"

His mother turned to him, reaching up to cup his cheek in a gesture that had comforted him countless times in his youth, but he was a man now, and it felt condescending rather than loving.

"You will need me once this blows up in your face. I'm here for you."

Her words felt like a slap.

Rage surged through Peter so quickly that his vision blurred red, and his hands tightened on the cart handle until the metal groaned in protest. He forced himself to remain silent, though, waiting for the anger to subside before he said something he couldn't take back.

The walk to his car passed in tense silence. He opened the passenger door for her, then loaded her luggage into the trunk, and by the time he settled into the driver's seat, the rage had receded just enough for him to be able to speak calmly.

"Explain to me why you think this is going to 'blow up in my face.'"

His mother sighed as if he were being deliberately obtuse. "You know I only want what's best for you. But Marina is human. Her lifespan is a blink of an eye to us." She reached for his hand, but he pulled away. "And if you have children, they'll be born human too. Can you imagine how devastating it will be to watch them grow old and die?"

"There are solutions?—"

"Theoretical solutions," she cut in. "Possibilities and maybes. But the reality is that you're setting yourself up for heartbreak. That's why I decided to move here and strengthen our relationship. When the time comes, you'll need someone to lean on. I don't want you to have to deal with the pain alone."

Peter's hands clenched on the steering wheel. She wasn't wrong, and he could understand where she was coming from, but she shouldn't have dumped all that on his head the day before his wedding.

Then again, his mother had never been good at thinking things through and realizing the impact of her words.

"You could have waited a few days before dumping ice on my head."

She shrugged. "Hiding from reality is not going to do you any favors, and wishing for miracles will just bring you disappointment. You must have angered the Fates for them to saddle you with a human." She said 'human' like it was a slur. "You're blinded by love right now, but?—"

"Stop." Peter's voice cracked like a whip. "Just...stop."