Totally A/U, set when the Raydor kids were teenagers...I had this idea this afternoon, so let me know if it's worth exploring. I have been trying to think of story ideas we haven't explored at all.
"Psst, is she around?" Ricky heard from the back door to the house. He looked up to see an impatient Emily trying to sneak back in. He took a quick glance around.
"No, she's in her room. Coast is clear," he nodded. She nodded to him and snuck back in the house and darted up the stairs.
"Thanks," she whispered loudly, as Ricky shook his head. Emily had obviously been out with the boyfriend-short skirt, platform sandals, yeah, no mystery where she'd been. Sharon hadn't heard about the boyfriend yet; Emily had managed to keep things pretty quiet. That wasn't too hard since Sharon did work a lot. She had somewhat normal hours, but just long ones. Emily had started seeing her boyfriend a month or so ago, and she just didn't want to bring it up to her mom. Bringing up a boyfriend meant things got awkward, and she knew her mom would want to ask questions and such. For now, Emily didn't want to answer anything.
A few minutes later, Emily walked back downstairs, this time clad in pajama pants, a loose t-shirt, and her hair up in a messy bun. She was carrying a textbook, and Ricky quietly chuckled; Emily was good. She was playing the "have a lot of studying" card well.
"Mom?" Emily called down the hall toward Sharon's room. "I was just taking a break from studying," she said as she got closer to Sharon's room and knocked on the door.
Sharon's door swung open, and Emily came face to face with Sharon, who was now in her robe with her hair up, wet, from the bathroom, "Hi honey," Sharon smiled, "You've been studying for a long time now. Ready for a break?"
Emily nodded, smiling, "Sure, maybe we could all watch something and make some popcorn? It's Saturday, so we don't have to be at school tomorrow."
Sharon pursed her lips, "No, but we do have church. Okay, popcorn and something short-sitcom or something. We aren't starting a movie this late."
Emily nodded and yelled to Ricky, "Ricky, want some popcorn?"
"Sure, I'll always eat," he replied, and the two ladies giggled at his comment.
As Emily and Sharon walked to the kitchen, Sharon put her arm around Emily, "So, how is all the studying?"
Emily nodded, "It's fine, but it's also annoying. I don't see why I have to be so well rounded with all this math. You know when I graduate in the spring, I just want to dance."
Sharon nodded, "Yes, which you will do at college, where you will take all kinds of classes. You and I both know we aren't having this discussion about a well-rounded education again, Emily," Sharon frowned. "Dancing is great, and I support it fully, but you are also going to have a degree to fall back on one day."
Emily sighed, "I know. I'm just tired of all the math. I get it and all; I just don't like it."
Sharon nodded, "Welcome to life. There are a lot of things you won't like about life, but you have to just get through it."
Once the three had spent some quality family time together, they all decided to turn in for the night. Emily was in her room when Ricky stopped by. The two were really enjoying the split floorplan of their house with Sharon's room downstairs and their rooms upstairs.
"So, what did you do tonight?" Ricky asked, as he leaned up against her doorframe.
Emily shrugged, "We went to the movies. It was cool."
"You like this guy?" Ricky asked, "I mean, you must if you're sneaking around like you are. Mom's going to kill you when she finds out."
Emily sighed and looked to Ricky, "I don't know yet. I mean, I think I like him-well, I do," she smiled. "He's hot too," she grinned.
Ricky made a face, "Please, I don't want to hear any details. Really. Mom won't kill you because he's 'hot' as you say, but she'll kill you for sneaking around with a 21-year-old."
Emily rolled her eyes, "I don't see what the big deal is! So, he's 21. I'm turning 18 in a month. If I was already at college, it wouldn't be a big deal. She should be glad he's not some loser; at least he's in college."
"Well, just be careful," Ricky nodded, "I'm fine covering for you as long as you keep up your end of the bargain to be home at reasonable times and let me use the car. I still think Mom is going to be ticked. The age thing is just one thing she'll hate."
"I know," Emily sighed, "but, I'm not going to stop seeing a guy I like because Mom might get mad. Really? We both know her guy judgement isn't the best. How long has it been since we've seen Dad-two years? I get it that she wants to protect me and all, but she's got to realize that I'm graduating and going to school soon. She has to let go. I'm not interested in dating any of the idiots in my class at school. Nathan's different; he's a lot more mature, and he's not into idiotic high school guy stuff."
"Hey! I resent that," Ricky commented, "I'm a high school guy."
"Exactly my point," Emily grinned. "Seriously, thanks for covering for me."
Ricky nodded, "Yup, and you'll owe me big. When you leave, I won't have anyone to cover for me. Plus, with one of Mama Bear's cubs out of the house, I'm worried she'll go all overprotective of me at home."
Emily nodded, "She probably will. Where is Dad? He needs to float back into town so she can divorce him. Mom needs a life, a better one than dear old dad has given her."
"Agree," Ricky nodded, "because we also both know her IA team isn't exactly the social crowd either."
"Well, some of that is because Mom is the boss, but enough about her. I'm going to go to bed," Emily stated.
Ricky crossed his arms and glared at her, "No you're not. You're going to get into bed and call Nathan aren't you?"
She rolled her eyes, "Okay, fine. I'm going to see if I can sneak out tomorrow again. Nathan is hoping to get out of dinner with his dad. If he can, we're going to meet up. You good with that?"
Ricky shrugged, "Whatever, fine with me. Anytime you sneak out, that just gets me the car to myself for another day," he grinned. "Mom really is dense if she thinks we're just so loving we can share the car so easily."
Emily covered her mouth from laughing out loud, "Yeah, she said something to me the other day, something like, 'It's nice to see you share the car so easily with Ricky. He just got his license, and I know it means a lot to him,' and I just had to keep from laughing. So, you're welcome. If you get the car everyday you cover for me, I'm cool with that. Besides, Nathan has a car-an old one, but a car."
Ricky just nodded, "Well, I am still not sure if I want to be around or I want to hide when Mom finally finds out. Like I said, the age thing is just one thing she'll hate. You know she's going to flip when she discovers you are dating one of her idiot, troublemaker detective's kids."
Emily waved him off, "I'm not worried about that. Nathan Flynn has no relationship with his dad, well, almost none. Mom can't hold that against him."