Integra had been taking care of things at the warehouse, keeping up on some paper work and making sure no one was gettgetting hurt or messing up on the work they were doing on the cars. She was an extremely quiet person when her brother was around, with eyes like a hawk.

Hearing a knock on her door, Integra glanced up before leaning back in her chair, taking a drink from the glass nearby.

"Come in."

She noticed it was Rebecca who walked in, offering a polite smile Integra greeted the woman. After talking with her for a few minutes, Integra nodded to her, thanking the woman before gathering a coat and her guards before heading out. Only letting Alex know where she would be.

It took some time to arrive at the airport, and getting to the plane itself wasnt too easy, and it took some coaxing that she knew Aurora and wqnted to surprise a friend before being aloud online. Sitting in one of the chairs, facing the entryway, leaning her elbow against an armrest before resting her chin on her palm as she waited. Only when she knew Aurora was boarding would she speak softly. 

"Were you really going to visit and not stop by to say hi or bye to me?"

She hoped she didnt startle the woman too badly.

Oscar, Phil, and Marcus had reached for their guns before it registered the person in front of Aurora was their boss' right-hand, Integra.  Before Aurora could say a word, Oscar was inserting himself, "Billy sent me with her.  I didn't have a choice."

"Hello Integra,"  Aurora said flatly before looking back at the guys.  "Grab something to eat inside the airport gentlemen, I'll send for you before take-off."

She walked then to the seat across from Integra and sat down.  "Were you going to tell me about Billy and his left-hand or did you not know either?"

Integra didn't flinch when the guys reached for their guns, her own guards, Aaron and Jason, blocking her from them until things settled, moving back to her side.  Sapphire eyes stared at her brother's normal guard as if he was not someone she expected to be there. Her orbs narrowing slightly as she found what he said odd, thinking on it for a moment before putting it aside for later. Her own guys leaving with Oscar, Phil, and Marcus to get something to eat at the airport. Except for Aaron, he stayed outside of the plan to make sure the two women would be safe. 

She was about to offer Aurora a smile before she heard the words that came out in a question. Furrowing her brow, Integra sat up a little straighter, looking confused. "What are you talking about. My brother is dating you." She didn't look happy at what she was hearing and kept a side note to ask her Brother what the fuck was going on to have Aurora asking her such a question.

"Not today he wasn't.  Today he was on a romantic picnic with his left-hand-man at Riverwalk Park.  He tried to deny it... but,"  She swallowed the pain that was coming back.  "... she was all dolled up real pretty, they were alone together, she even bought his favorite whiskey and they were playing in the water together with..."

Her chin wrinkled in that ugly way that happens when someone is holding in a sob and she looked away from Integra for a long moment trying to get her composure.

A sigh escaped the older woman as she listened to Integra's words, shaking her head slightly as she glanced at the young Byrne. She could hear that Aurora was hurt from the way she talked about what happened today.  "That might have been what they are doing. I bet you anything, Billy didn't see it that way though. I've seen the way my brother is around you Aurora. Like the world only revolves around you." She glanced up as she noticed that she was trying to get her composure, standing up Integra walked over to place her hand on Aurora's shoulder, her eyes softening as she looked down at the brunette.
  
"Look... I know you probably have to get home, or that you don't want to stay here, but I think we should talk to him. I don't know what has gone on since I last saw you two together... but everything seemed fine when we were all shopping. There has to be something here that's missing."

Aurora buried her face in her hands and she drew a breath, her body shaking but for a long while, there were no words just the sounds of breath inhaled too sharply and exhaled by a broken heart.

"How could I be so stupid?"  She said, not looking up.  "He told me what he wanted.  I knew I wasn't it but I didn't it anyway.  I just wanted what I wanted so badly and I didn't listen to a word he said.  I thought he'd change his mind, but that's not who he is, is it?  He wants children and a family and why shouldn't he?"

She moved her hands to scrub her amber eyes of tears she sucked a ragged breath.

"Maybe she can give him the life he wants... I have to let him have space to think.  I can't trick him or force him into giving up on his dream for a life with me that might not include any of the things he wants.  Not when there are other women who care about him, women who might be able to do for him what I... I don't know that I want."

She buried her face again.

"You should have seen him... playing with the children, out in the water with her.  They looked so happy... like a real family.  Just like he wants."  she shook her head.

Dealing with upset people was not something that Integra was good at. She never really dealt with upset people and to have an upset Aurora in front of her she wasn't really sure as to how she was supposed to comfort this woman. She then realized the first few words that Aurora had told her and she couldn't help but wonder what the missing piece to this puzzle was as she took a step back, both of her hands now on Aurora's shoulders as she looked down at Aurora's face, a scowl on her face.

"Aurora... what do you mean how could you be so stupid. This doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong. If anything it sounds like my brother was being an idiot again. Which is entirely possible. Come on, sit... Tell me what happened."

She attempted to try and guide Aurora over to the chair before trying to get the young woman to sit down.

Aurora settled into the chair.  She swallowed the lump in her throat and met Integra's blue eyes.  She exhaled and found herself saying in a tone so low and quiet that she almost sounded far, far away.  

"We made love."

The short simple sentence hung in the air with a weight that was that of mountains.  It was so much more than admitting they'd shared an intimate moment or done something she'd never done before.  It was admitting a vulnerability she had willingly accepted, a weakness of sorts and now she'd been stabbed straight through that open wound.

"And now..."  her mouth hung open, thought unfinished, pain and anger warring for control of her face.

We made love. 

Those were not the words she had expected to come out of Aurora's mouth, but once they had everything else made perfect sense on why she was so upset at the situation and indeed the missing puzzle piece dropped right into place.

With a sigh and a shake of her head, Integra pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment, thinking on how hard she was going to deck her brother for being such an idiot... for putting himself and Aurora in this place.

Looking up at Aurora, sapphire colored eyes were soft, full of understanding and even a bit of... anger? It was well hidden but there was an edge to her look, though it was not directed at the young woman sitting in front of her.

"I can guarantee you, that my brother is surely not that stupid. To make love to you one day and then willingly go on a date with another woman the next day. I would stake my life on that Aurora. He is however... a bloody idiot to not have realized what Eva had in mind... and I will be having a personal talk with her. Later."

She seemed to think for a moment before looking at Aurora for a bit, speaking softly. "Where do you two stand right now...?"

"I told him not to call me until he gave some thought to what it was he wanted."  She shook her head.  "And I think I meant it... I don't want him to dump me for Eva or any other woman, but if I can't make him happy ..."

She let her chin fall to her chest.

"He seemed upset, but he didn't say anything.  I think I half expected him to ... I don't know ... put up more of a fight.  I was almost relieved when he let me get into my car without making any more of a scene then we already had." 

She shrugged. 

"Maybe he means to first take care of the issue my mom sent me to warn you guys about, and then come talk to me.  Or maybe he just thinks I need to cool off before we talk any more about this... I don't know.  He just sent Oscar with us and let me leave with hardly a word in his own defense.  If he wasn't lying, if he really didn't think of the picnic as a date, I ..."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'm angry with him for being so blind, not just to my feelings but also to that woman's.  I can't imagine how she must have felt, out on a date with this guy she likes and then up walks ... me, a woman she clearly didn't know even existed.  Pissed off and making a scene like that in front of that other family.  And her would-be boyfriend, Billy, shouting at me about how it wasn't a date and how he loved me.  She must have been humiliated."

She rolled her eyes.

"But if it is all a mistake, if he is that blind, why would he let me get into my car?  Why not try to make me see the truth?  I mean, what the hell do I do now?  Go home and wait for him to call with a proper apology?"

Oh she was going to deck him. Listening to Aurora was making Integra's usual calm and cool composure crack as she heard what happened. She couldnt believe her brother, it was as if he was the friendly innocent minded teenage boy who didnt understand why all the ladies were fighting over him, not realizing they all liked him. Hearing Aurora mention an issue she was snet here to warn them about, Integra snapped her attention.

"What issue."

Rubbing the bridge of her nose she looked up Aurora, the fire in her eyes not hidden anymore as she stood up and placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder.

"Look.. give me a few days to talk to him... it'd be nice to have you stay in town if you could." She offered a small, sad smile. "But i understand if you want to head home... just promise me your parents wont come beat down our door to try and beat him... i'm gonna knock his head about plenty." 

She ran a hand through her hair, sighing as she tried to start getting her head on straight and focused on what needed to be done. "I dont why he didnt do what you hoped for him to do.. but my brother has a way of doing the opposite of what we expect him to do. Im sure he has something in mind, i know its not what you want. But im sorry this is happening. I like you, and he is a complete wanker..."

She shook her head again as she watched Aurora, she wondered how she was going to handle this... one thing was for sure... her brother needed some fucking lessons on shit from Alucard or something like that.

"He's not a wanker."  She said sadly.  "Don't call him that.  He's... a good man.  He just might be painfully slow when it comes to relationships and maybe I shouldn't be throwing stones at him from my glass house."

She sighed and scrubbed her eyes again.

"But whatever happened today, I do know that I love him too much not to want him to have the life that makes him most happy - even if that means a life without me.  I just... need to put some space between us or I'm afraid I'll fight for him and I don't lose.  Not when it's this important and winning Billy back might not be what's best.  Not for him at least.  I'm just terrified that ... for him to be happy I have to give up my dreams and for me to be happy, he has to give up on his."

She shakes her head.

"It doesn't feel like something people who love each other can do to one another..."

Integra chuckled softly as she shook her head. Knowing that Aurora did indeed love her brother dearly... and he would have a lot of making up to this woman after she got ahold of him.

"I admire you sticking up for my brother Aurora. But in this instance he is a bloody Wanker. Seeing as he made you feel like there is no compromise on children in the future. So, fight for him and we'll knock some semse into that large knowledge box of his, yeah?"

"You really think it's best I fight for him?"  She arched one of her dark eyebrows over her amber eyes.  "You don't think it's cruel of me to fight for him knowing what his desires are and not being sure of my own?  What if... what if he chooses me and then I decide I don't want to have children.  I don't want to be the good little wife sitting in his kitchen baking every day while he's off having an exciting life?  Isn't that wrong of me?  Don't I, as someone who loves him, owe it to him, to be honest about who I am and what it is I think I want?"

Integra watched the woman in front of her, her face going neutral for a moment as she stood up, her hand sliding off of Aurora's  shoulder as she simply looked down at the woman.

"Aurora Byrne. You are a Byrne, are you not? If what I've heard about your family is correct, do you really think you could just roll over and not fighting? I think you would regret it more than anything else."

She crouched again to look Aurora right in her eyes. "You are a strong woman, Aurora, and you arent going to be the kind of person to stand behind whoever you are with. You'd rather stand next to them on the front lines." She stood again, moving to lean on one of the nearby walls. "Tell me I'm wrong."

"I've always thought that the most important thing you could ever give a person in this life was the truth and their freedom.  It's not easy, but love is important enough to do the hard thing.  I don't like this, I don't want this... but who would I be if I forced my truth on him when I stand ready to tell him that he can't force his on me?"

She shook her head.

"I hear what you're saying though."  she sighed. 

"Maybe I should go find him.  Tell him I... overreacted.  Tell him why I said what I said, you know?  Maybe I should make sure he understands what this is that I've done."

Aurora began to nod as if her mood was changing, as if a better plan was forming.  "He deserves that explanation from a much calmer, cooler head than the one I spoke to him with today.  I should... I should tell him about my vision of our future and give him a chance to decide for himself if what I want even interests him."

She sighed.

"I let the whole thing cold cock me.  I mean, it hurt.  The thought of him wanting someone or something else... but, you're right.  I gave up as easy as him.  Maybe easier."

A determination was slowly replacing the hurt in her eyes.

"I can't be mad at him for not fighting for us when I rolled over at the first sign of trouble." 

She met Integra's eyes.

"I'm gonna see if I can track him down and try to talk to him.  Mom isn't expecting me back until tonight so I got a few hours.  Maybe that's enough time to make things right?"  She stood up.

Integra couldn't hide the slight grin that was forming on her lips as she listened to Aurora talking. She could hear the woman growing surer of herself as if she was deciding that she should indeed fight for Billy. She glanced over her shoulder as she nodded, smiling softly towards Aurora. 

"Hmm, being straight with him about what you want. That sounds like familiar advice." She chuckled softly before heading towards the door to step out of the plane. 

"If you need anything Aurora, you know you can reach me. Right?" She liked the young Byrne, she liked how there were times where they were both similar, maybe that was why she had gotten a bit annoyed at the fact that she had seemingly given up so easily instead of fighting for the man that she loved. Maybe it had something to do with how Integra didn't want Aurora to make the same mistake she had at one point. She hadn't fought for Alucard when she allowed her temper to get the best of her and lost 6 months with the man she cared about.

"It should give you plenty of time to make things right. I know he cares deeply about you."

"Integra,"  She paused trying to put her thoughts in order.  "Thank you.  I ... um, I don't do this friendship thing really well but you make it effortless.  Thank you for not just being Billy's right-hand... thanks for being my friend too."

She smiled and watched the other woman departing.

A smile slid onto Integra's lips as she turned back to Aurora and hugged her. She had never really been the kind of person to hug anyone, she normally kept her distance except from those she was close with. There was just something about Aurora and this situation that made this feel right.

"Anytime. Take care of yourself alright? I'll catch up with you later."

With those words Integra took her leave from the plane to make her way back towards the Warehouse.