As he'd hoped, Ben awoke to the heavenly smell of fresh bread wafting through the house. He luxuriated, enjoying his beloved beside him, warm and very much still asleep.

Ben slipped out of bed and got himself ready for the day. He went downstairs and started a pot of coffee and got his bread out of the oven. It smelled heavenly, a great way to start the day. He fried up some bacon, made himself a bacon sandwich and wandered out onto the deck overlooking the river, mug of coffee in hand, to enjoy the early morning.

He was looking forwards to the game and intended to get a swim in before meetings and lunch.

Eventually he went back inside to see if his beloved was awake yet.

  Lu-Ti  came down stairs, she was,Mostly dressed. her   Dragonette Uniform  draped over  a  chair.

they would have  a special   outfit for this game. Dragon Green , that looked like a  one piece Bathing suit.  ither  Black  legs  and Blac  Arms.  White  letters across the chest, outlined in  black that said ' NJD ' Dark Dreen books  that  were Calf  high with  black and white  laces. There was  to sparkles   this time. These   were  No-Nonsense' uniforms, despite the   'V neck cut.

 she Kissed  Ben.This is very Big  day! it  has been decades  since   Jacksonvilie  has entered a Title game..and The Dragons have done it thier first year.

"You look fantastic, beloved. I'll have to be careful to keep my eyes on the ball rather than on you once the game starts."

Ben poured her a coffee.

"What do you want for breakfast? Did you smell the bread? It came out well."

Ben was happily pottering around the kitchen in a hoodie, jeans, barefoot on the tiles.

After the Championship game

Ben and Lu-Ti arrived home.

"How hungry are you?" Ben asked as they went inside.

 Lu-Ti  shrugged,I do not know?  Something  simple and warm..it  got  cold towards the end of the game, and the game lasted  long..and we add alot of time for celebration too..
  a hot shower  would be nice as well..

"We have the rest of the bread and could do some soup and cheese if you are OK with that. As for washing, I fancy a soak in a hot bath."

Ben went into the kitchen and started in on some soup.

"You like egg-drop soup?"

  Lu-Ti   pursed her  lips...somehting Simple? Open a can even? I will take a shower. and we can do the Hot tub after   the soup.

she  went  up stairs   to get her shower.

Musing on the idea of getting a hot tub for the outside decking, Ben indulged himself with some quick soup-making, cut the bread, and found some cheese.

When Lu-Ti came down, everything was ready on the dining room table.

   Lu-Ti  came  down stairs, she  had a bit of a frown as  hs e  tossed he r  phone on the  table  near her purse.

  ahh..see? simple is good ! she  sat  down dipped  a piece of  folded bread with   cheeses into the soup and  took a bite.

"Even damp you look beautiful, beloved," said Ben, getting up to serve her soup.

"Is everything all right?" he asked, noticing the frown and tossed phone.

  Lu-Ti  shook her head,..no..its is nothing, but a Bother. Some one talked to   Adam  and Sage . Thery were..'bad  people' . Adam wisely called    Yuto  to get in touch with
 father Security people that protect  our  factories  and such,,,I do not think they will be a bother , any longer.  I makes me  angry, that some people  think they  may dictate  think they,how  our lives  are to be... They will learn, as others have..

Ben got up and went to put his arms around Lu-Ti.

"Nobody will ever trouble you while there is still breath in my body."

He kept his concerns to himself. Wouldn't it have been better to call the police if a member of the team had been threatened? Lu-Ti sounded more like a mob boss protecting her own with her own. What were the equivalent in Japan? Yakuza, if he remembered aright. What was he getting himself into? Well, the Amotas had adopted Adam, so it was only reasonable that they'd want to protect him. Was he reading too much into this? Probably.

With a final kiss, he sat down and resumed eating.

  Lu-Ti smiles..Thank y9ou, my warriors... But  I am well trained by father.. Yuto cannot beat me,,Adam rarely does, ,,well..except the sword.. Adam   took to that  much better then I. his  fighting skins are..how shall i say it..'tainted ',,he  has street fighting , mixed  with the arts father  taught us.....That is how he beats me at times, he  is...unorthodox, and savage..He does not take dishonor lightly..and strikes at those  who would harm  those he feels are his friends... I could easilt defeat some  poeple.... but  I would not quite  destroy them..

 I was so angry, when you almost got  hurt..I could do nothing... i demanded Adam do something...but he  said he would..it  took some time.. but  it came.

 she  wiggled   her  spoon at him.. Until, we , as a family, as a Franchise, stopped being  attacked  and taken advantage of..  it will be  very harsh at times.. Do not mistake this for  the game you played in College..Millions..Billions are wagered. each team sees thier  bottom line, rise and fall with success..


she leans forward to look  into his eyes...Coach Sims   has  set the table. everyone knows  how we play..why we do it. The people who run betting things..they cannot  grasp this..so they lose  more  and more Money... Loyal fans, regardless of how foolish it if. Believe in us  to  continue to  play the  way we play..and  each week..they get  happy...Betting people  do not like that..That is why 'bounties ' are out on You, Duke, Adam, Mik , Heather  and others...There are enough players out there why will gladly hurt some one , to make extra Money...we are , most lucky, we have  some  who  will not  stand  for that, and  will eliminate the threat..

 she leaned  a bit closer, giving him a kiss.we do not need  Don Quixote  ...we need  The Punisher. We have  both  on the  team..Do not  let people  hurt you, because  you think they will not do it... she  straightens up and smiled...I do like how you blocked the last two game..That is something   our  opponents  did not see in films before

"I intended no disrespect, beloved," Ben said, bowing his head.

"Do you think your father would do me the honour of teaching me the way of the warrior?"

He ate a piece of bread and cheese.

"As for the blocking, it's a side of my game I need to develop. Tight Ends are supposed to both score and enable others to score. I prefer scoring, so neglected the blocking part of my game. Now I am working on that, to make myself a better player."

Bounties? He'd heard rumours of course. Everyone had. But was that real?

"Would you care for a glass of wine?"

 Lu-Ti  smiled...Yes please.. we  could watch  the highlaights on the late  sports show, and see what they  say about Dragns  and SaintsMaybe  we will see  The Commeical  with  Sage, Lindsey and Adam?

 Or..we can go out  and  sit  look at the hannel... look at stars.

Ben got up, cleared the table, and fetched a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.

"Do you want to watch TV?"

Ben thought that sitting out and looking at the river would be more relaxing. He didn't like the concept of that TV ad anyway.

 Lu-Ti  just gave a smile...alright, Let us go outside...perhaps   eniough football for the day...

"Make sure you are wrapped up warm. You don't want to catch a chill having just had a shower and all."

Ben led the way outside where there was a kind of stack of decks, 2 in total, with plenty of seating.

 Lu-Ti got up  , it was close  to  6:00am...I am goign to  Amtoa  med Kids with Dragonetes  and some players... I must be  at  Complex  by 8:00... I am goign to text   Lindsey..about   some  weddign things, the Venue  will be the Estate and the reception there  as well, but we need dresses and some other things... You shopuld   be getting you  suit or Tux, and  Drag Adam, and whomever  esle is  in yor party?,, I have two  Cousins from Japan, that will be in my party along with  Lindsey.. I should  have one more from here?..I will talk with Lindsey.

she sent a Text Lindsey: I will be at Complex  at 8:00 for  dragonettes  and some players to go to  Amota  med  Kids... we should find  time to  do someht6ign for dresses and such?..let me know  when ,,,if not  some time to day..we can figure things out... I have two cousins  from  Japan that will be on my side, as well as you.. I feel i need one more from here?..Text me when you can, or  come to Complex.

 After  a  small breakfast,  Lu-TI got into her  'hospital appropriate ' Uniform,  and   Gave  Ben  a  kiss  and  a hug..

 You may come if you wish, we can never have too many players?..after I must stop at offcie  I have  Much to da, and Hope Lindsey will  contact me, so we get ball rolling for Wedding, other wise.it will be a rather  pedestrian  show?

 she would wait to see if  Ben was comign , then go

 LU-TI to Complex>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Of course I'll come... just let me find some shoes and a more Dragon top..."

Ben ran upstairs for footwear and a Jackie the Dragon t-shirt, then went outside where Lu-Ti was already in the truck.

=> Complex

Later that day

Ben turned up and carried all his stuff into the house. The clothing upstairs to the main bedroom, the rest to be sorted out in the living areas downstairs. He put on a clean shirt to be ready for the evening, then he was back in the truck and driving towards the Dragon Complex in search of his beloved.

  Out in the drive  way, a  Hispanic  looking  man who  had a younger , raven haired  women,, they  had   a cake container and a box container..

  hello, new  neighbor!  we  were waiting for chance to  greet you..and I assume yoru Wife? I am Manny  Mingo, This is  my Wife , Carla.. we  live  two  houses down , in the Light  blue Home... Holding the  Box in his  left hand he extended his right. , The  woman held the cake container   and beamed a bright smile.

   My Family  has  some Mexican  restaurants in the new jack area, that do rather well... I have  here 24  for Homemade  enchiladas  Carla  made... and she  has  a Lemon-vanilla   cake  that is her  specialty?.. we offer them as   house warming...Is Your wife  about?

Ben smiled broadly.

"A pleasure to meet you both. I'm Ben Hope. The lady is actually my fiancé, Lu-Ti Amota, we'll be married in about 3 weeks' time, so I bought the house ready for us to settle in. It's a lovely neighbourhood. Do come in. My beloved may be around later, we have an evening engagement but I'm just about to go and fetch her from work."

He led them inside to the kitchen, where he exclaimed over the food they'd brought.

"Those smell fabulous. You'll have to show me how to make them sometime. I don't know much about Mexican food. The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy, but after then I was planning a cook-out. I'll let you know, if you'd like to come."