Aralyn

She sat at the table, trying her hardest to relax. She took a drink of her coffee and began to tap lightly on the table. Call him. Call him. He'll understand. She bit her lower lip then picked up her cell phone and dialed Nadeem's number. When he answered, she said softly Nadeem. Can you meet me down at the cafe? I need to ask you for a favor... She didn't elaborate, merely set the phone down and waited for him.

Nadeem Tarak

"Aralyn, what's up?..." He'd instantly agreed to meet her there, of course, and followed it up with a worried question - but she had put the phone down already. Understandably alarmed, the young man had wasted no time putting away his research papers and hopping into his truck. He may not have the slightest clue what had gone on with Ben, Michael, and the shady deal with Conan, but ever since Aralyn's last pregnancy, he had a good reason to be concerned over her wellbeing.

A good ten minutes later, the dark, curly-haired Nadeem was swinging open the door of the café and pausing just long enough to scan over the occupants of the small diner. As soon as he saw Aralyn, he crossed the floor in a few quick strides, and pulled a chair out to sit beside her at the table, "Aralyn..." The softness in his dark eyes couldn't entirely blot out the worry, but if anything, the look was the perfect mixture of care and concern that the girl needed, after so many other men had betrayed her in her life. "...what's going on?"

Aralyn

How do you say something like this? She gave a faint smile to Nadeem. Nadeem, I'm going to ask you something, and this is something huge. Ben can't find out about this. I've already caused enough trouble in his life. The gun sat warm and ready in the back of her jeans. Just having it there made her feel safer. I was raped by a man, a russian, that I believe lives here in the valley. I'm pregnant with his child, but as I said... Ben can't find out. I was.. Wondering if you would help cover for me, and say that your the father, Nadeem. At least until I can get rid of the real father. She didn't know how exactly she was going to get rid of the russian, but she had some good ideas. Her eyes were pleading with him. She needed help, and he was the only person she could turn to now.

Nadeem Tarak

The darkened complexion of his face seemed to go a little ashen, mostly in response to the news she revealed. Someone had hurt his Aralyn, and he hadn't been there to help her. This above all brought a sharp knot to his gut, and a frustrating wave of helplessness in the young man, and a notion of fury that anyone could have such a cold heart as to do this to her. Without thinking, Nadeem reached a hand forward to place over one of her own, in an act of consolation, "If that's what you want, I will do it. I don't think it's the wisest move to lie to him... but I will do it."

The young man sighed quickly and hunched his brows together in troubled thought, "Do you know who this man is? Do you recognize him at all? I've got Mr. Sohmers on speed dial, and I know he'll do everything in his power to find the guy and bring him to justice." Needless to say, it bothered Nadeem to hear Aralyn talking about 'getting rid of' her attacker - he couldn't blame her, not by any means, but the last thing he wanted was for her to go vigilante after some dangerous stranger. He and Conan had found out just how quickly things could turn bad when you got tangled up with the wrong crowds in Atroe.

Aralyn

She smiled at him, and it was easy to see in that moment why someone would want to make her their own. Her smile came easy, even through all the pain, and her eyes seemed to light up and brighten. We'll tell him the truth, once he's taken care of. She said softly. At the offer of help from Sohmers, she bit her lower lip. I don't know who he is. He's russian. I think he's a bit unstable, likes to control. Brown hair, tall, muscular. Not much to go on, but it was a start. Now she just had to pray that the baby would look like her so that Ben wouldn't get suspicous.

Nadeem Tarak

The pure, innocent smile that she had was one of the reasons he was first drawn to her, aside from their mutual interest in animals. It made him want to protect her all the more, and to realize bitterly that he simply couldn't shield her from all the bad that the world had to offer. "Is there anything I can do to help with it? I... I really don't want you going off by yourself. Especially not after this man." Nadeem wasn't at all an assertive fellow, so as much as he wanted to put his foot down and tell Aralyn not to go, all he could muster was a suggestion.

Aralyn

God, he cared for her. That hurt. She was always afraid that she was going to hurt Nadeem in some way, and that was something she could never live with. Aralyn wasn't the most innocent person in the world, but it wasn't like she was one of the worst. I don't know. I need to go talk to a man by the name of Griffen and his friend Malachai. They're supposedly out to help the valley, of sorts. Righting wrongs and such. They've stayed pretty quiet. They hadn't been quiet when they had first shown up. Both boys had been hellions, but as things had started unfolding in the valley, the brothers had retreated to sit back and watch. Well, now she needed their help and they were going to give it to her, whether they liked it or not. You could go with me if you'd like. She said softly. Being around unknown men wasn't something she was completely comfortable with at the moment, and having Nadeem there would make her feel a bit better. A little safer, a little calmer.

Nadeem Tarak

The names were mostly unfamiliar to him, though he swore he'd come across them at some point or another. In either case, he was reluctant to start arguing with Aralyn about this, which left him with only one other option - go along with her and make sure she stayed safe. "If you think they can help, I don't see the harm in talking with them." Well, maybe he was a little too naive for his own good. A smile surface, contrasting pleasantly with the slightly darkened skin of his face, "Of course I'd want to go with you. Do you need a lift there?"