Meet the McCoys
It was one week before the wedding would finally take place, and San Francisco was filling up with all their family driving and flying in from just about everywhere. Most of Leonard's family was flying in from Georgia. And they would be the first of the out of town guests to arrive. They were heading to the shuttle station to pick up Len's parents and his baby sister. The whole family was making the trip for the station, including Jamie, who'd never met his dad's family before. He was practically bouncing up and down in the back seat of the car.
"So Daddy, do you have a big family like Mommy?"
"No little man, my family is pretty small, but you'll get to meet most of them these next few weeks."
For the most part Elle had remained uncharacteristically quiet, until Leonard had noticed her twisting her hands in her lap and occasionally biting her lip.
"Darlin' are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah sure. I'm just dandy."
"Elle are you nervous about seeing my family again? Honey, you know they love you. Hell I'm half convinced they like you better than me sometimes…"
"Of course I'm nervous Len. The last time I was actually in the same room as your family I was in college, and just your girlfriend. Now, now, I'm the girl who kept you from your son, and them from their grandson."
Tears threatened to spill over, and Elle quickly pulled a hanky from her purse and dabbed away like there was no tomorrow. Leonard understood her anxiety, but he also knew that his parents and his baby sister, mostly blamed him for leaving Elle, and robbing them of their grandson. They pretty much hated Jocelyn, and she was never accepted by any of his family. The McCoy's were a blunt family, and they didn't exactly hide their disdain for Leonard's ex-wife.
"Sweetheart, trust me if anyone is getting a ribbing from my family it'll be me. They absolutely adore you."
Elle did her best to calm herself down, as they finally parked and headed inside the shuttle station to meet with the family. Elle held on tight to Jamie's hand as they weaved through the crowd, and tightened her hold as soon as Leonard called out,
"Pop! Mama! Phinny!"
Three people broke away from the crowd, the first a young woman of about 24 years with jet black hair and laughing hazel eyes. Her petite body launched into Leonard's open arms, as they both laughed.
"How's my illustrious big brother, the big bad CMO of the Enterprise!"
"Jus' fine thanks! Did you just leave Mom and Pop behind Phinny! Girl, you've got the same amount of patience as Jamie."
At the mention of her nephew Josephine McCoy squealed and skipped right over to Elle and Jamie, and without any preamble she enveloped Elle into a big hug.
"Ah'm so excited that you're going to be my sister." She whispered into Elle's ear. At this Elle couldn't fight the tears, and just smiled and laughed at the absurdity of it all.
"So am I! By the way I would like to finally introduce you to your nephew, this is James Nicholas McCoy. Jamie this is your Aunt Josephine."
"Hey now, only my parents call me Josephine when Ah'm in some kahnd of trouble. You can call me Aunt Phinny."
"Hi Aunt Phinny, you look a lot like Daddy, but prettier! Can I hug you?"
"Can you? Ah'm countin' on it buddy!"
Leonard's heart warmed at the sight of his son, his soon to be wife, and his sister all talking and laughing. His attention was called when two more people broke away from the crowd. The first an older man of about 55, who looked a lot like Leonard, with salt and pepper hair and a sturdier build, with warm brown eyes, and by his side was a woman of about 50 with deep black hair that was lightly streaked with grey hairs here and there, with hazel eyes.
"Young man, get over here and give yer old man a hug!" Charles McCoy bellowed to his son.
Elizabeth McCoy just shook her head and waved over to her son, and called out,
"Come to mama suger!"
Leonard walked up to his parents and hugged them. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed the warmth his parents radiated. His thoughts were cut short by the not so light smack he received upside the head. He grunted and rubbed the back of his head as his mother began to berate him.
"Boy, whay haven't you brought your family to come and see us? Hmm? Where's my grandson? You never should have let that girl go, all those years ago. Hmph, a mama knows honey. When you brought her around the first time, I knew she was it. I swear, when I heard that you'd decided to break up with her I jus wanted to about wrang your neck. Where is she? Oh there she is. Elle! Darlin' how are you? You're just as beautiful as Ah remember you, come 'ere suger!"
She walked over to Elle and Jamie and just about forgot about her husband and son. Charles just looked at Leonard with a she's your mama, what are you gonna do? Face, and slung his arm around his son saying,
"Now yer mama has a point, where's my grandson?"
The two McCoy men walked over to join the rest of the family and they got to talkin' about the trip and everyone was finally introduced properly, Elizabeth began to cry as she hugged Jamie and told him how much he looked like his daddy when he was a boy. Charles took his grandson in for a big bear hug and slung him right on his shoulders as Jamie giggled. The family made their way to the baggage claim and then headed for the car.
"Now that we've got all your things, would you like to meet the rest of our extended family?"
Len went on to explain that every Sunday night they had a big "family" dinner at their place, and his family was only too excited to meet the rest of their "family" from the Enterprise.
"Well why don't you boys set up for a nice dinner outdoors, then. Elle, sweetie if you don't mind, me and Phinny would like to make a nice southern home cooked meal? Would you like to help?"
"That sounds fantastic, wow. You are more than welcome to my kitchen! I'd love to learn how to make some authentic southern comfort food"
They began planning out the dinner for that night. All of Elle's fears were allayed as the conversation in the car flowed freely, as did the laughter. Her soon to be husband was right, she had nothing to worry about.