"Don't ask, don't tell."

[Ria Graziano]

One, two, three, four.

Maria performed each of the kicks in time with the music flawlessly. When she thought Ria wasn't looking (which was often), she balanced well on both feet, despite what she had told her sister-in-law the night before. One, two, three, four. Combinations flowed; perhaps a little slower and more carefully than normal, but with every movement she caught sight of the beads on her wrist and was reminded of the need for caution and care.

* * *

Ria watched the woman covertly, chuckling inwardly as Maria executed the moves without wasted motion or any apparent pain. Perhaps it was because she was a mother, but she felt more mature than she had ever been. She'd known Maria was lying last night and had guesses as to what was the cause, but her sister-in-law had to have (at least in her mind) a good reason for the lies. So she'd let it go. That didn't mean she wasn't going to watch her carefully, and do everything she could to protect her.

Ria went through the motions of the workout, hoping she'd get more concrete answers when they went out shopping. All around her, the Crew duelers were working on the various machines of the gym, or in Maria's case, forms on the mats. Tony, of course, was doing as little as he could get away with (damnit, it's too early he'd say), and Kheld was pushing him harder. Bode was looking at himself in the mirror wall (is he flexing, she'd thought with amusement), but she'd noticed he'd kept his eye on the same person she was watching. It might have seemed odd that the normally carefree (and former alcoholic?) man would be so concerned about Maria, but Ria knew he really loved her and was as good to Maria as Chris was to her. Chris probably knew it too, finally. It'd taken long enough.

Only a half hour more, she thought.

* * *

Ria rubbed the wet hair vigorously with her towel before shaking out the now-shoulder length auburn locks. The shower'd felt good after the long morning, and she was looking forward to getting ready for Thanksgiving. She had a plan, this year. Two wonderful prepared dinners, two disasters. Besides, she needed new clothes again. Nothing fit anymore, and she felt disgusted with the slight bit of stomach left from her second pregnancy. It'd get taken care of in time, but hell, she needed something to wear now.

She looked over to the tall Italian woman. "Ready, sis?" There'd been problems in the past, of course. Major problems, if she were being honest. Things still had a habit of being uneasy, but never to the degree they used to be. It'd taken a while, but Ria really felt comfortable calling Maria her sister. Having the kids probably had a lot to do with it, but with Maria's failed pregnancies, there was still a bit of a strain. Sometimes she had the worry that Maria felt she was too damn perfect and hated her for it. But that was Maria's problem.

Maria looked up from her locker and gave an uneasy smile, eyes flicking to the beads at her wrist. "Yah. Yah. Just gimme a second." Ria nodded, turning to her own locker to pull out her overflowing purse. Chris had the kids for the afternoon - okay, he didn't have a choice in that. Ria'd just said "Ya're takin' 'em" and left it at that. Grumble though he may, he was a great father and she loved him to death. Even when he was being stupid and doing things like running into walls with Nova's speedy shoes.

* * *

Things collected, they headed out of Kitsune Stadium and toward the more sensible four-door Ria had traded the sports car for. A wry smile crossed her lips as she looked at it (as it always did when she remembered the sports car), and she looked at Maria. "Bein' adult sucks." Maria chuckled a bit, but it sounded a bit flat. "I guess so." Her eyes moved from one spot to another, almost as if looking for trouble.

As they settled into the car and buckled their seat belts, Ria snuck a glance at her sister-in-law. Caution was probably the best route to go with her. Keep things at safe, light topics. Yeah. She nodded to herself a little, and then spoke as she started the car and pulled out, taking them on their way. "I've got an idea fo' this Thanksgivin'. I'm sicka somethin' happenin' every year." Maria immediately relaxed, a little, and chuckled again. "What's that," she asked, turning her head toward Ria, who just grinned over to the other woman. "Ya'll see when we get there." Maria nodded, lapsing into silence for the moment.

* * *

Things had gotten remarkably better over the course of the day, Maria relaxing even more and coming so far as to joke with the "adopted" Graziano. She'd giggled over Ria's Thanksgiving idea, encouraging her to certain choices over others. Ria had been careful to keep conversation far from topics of the previous evening, and the day had gone well. They both had new clothes (and though it seemed Maria was choosing a much different style than she'd normally pick, Ria decided it was more prudent not to comment). They'd even stopped at RhyDin Toyz! to start looking at gift ideas for the children in their lives ("Like Chris an' Tony," Ria'd jokingly commented). At the plush animals, Maria'd greedily snatched up a large floppy dog and said "For the ba-"(a pause)"baby! Alicia, I mean. It's so adorable." Ria chuckled, taking a similar animal herself. "Yah, an' TJ better get one too, else he's gonna be cranky." Maria grinned guiltily and nodded a bit eagerly at Ria's comment.

* * *

After a late lunch, Ria drove her sister-in-law home. Ria waited outside until she saw Maria go inside, and then took herself off for home and to give Chris a little relief (and it looked like Chris wouldn't be the only one relieved about something involving her, if the look on Maria's face meant anything).

Her guess might just be right, and she'd gotten more information by avoiding the topic altogether than if she'd grilled the woman about the lies.

When Ria went home, she was grinning.