Otis was extremely nervous. Being together for three years and now being engaged, she had figured it was time for him to meet her parents and see where she grew up.

It was a long drive from Texas to Pennsylvania. He drove during the day, and she drove during the night.

She looked at him, slumbering in the seat next to her. She hoped he would be able to enjoy himself and that her parents would like him. She assumed they would. He could be extremely likeable when he wanted to be.

They crossed into Pennsylvania just as the sun was rising that day. He started to stir, grumbling to himself.

"Goodmorning, sunshine." She stroked his back.

"Mmmm...Hey. Want me to drive?"

"Yeah. I'll pull over and I'll nap while you drive."

"Ok. I'll wake you up when I don't know where I'm going."

"Ok." She pulled over and they switched. She fell asleep almost immediately.

She felt him shaking her awake. "Alright, mama you gotta help me."

She sat up, smiling hugely. She knew exactly where she was. She directed him to her house, pulling slowly into the driveway.

"Well, baby. This is where I grew up."

"This is nice." It was a simple two story house with a garage and enclosed porch.

"My parents are gonna come out and greet us, I bet."

Just as she finished, her parents came out the door of the house, waving at them.

"Holy shit you look like your mom."

"I know." They got out of the car and started toward the house. A large yellow lab barreled toward Otis.

"Jesus that's a lot of dog!" He turned sideways so that it wouldn't knock him down.

"That's just Cane. He's nothing but a bull in a China shop and a sweetheart." She knelt down in front of the dog and pet it, kissing it's head.

They continued up to the house to her smiling parents.

"Adi!" Her mother grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. "Now, the man of the hour. Who's this?"

"This is Otis. This is my fiance."

Her mother put her hands on Otis's shoulders. "Thank God! She got a normal looking one, honey!" She pulled Otis in for a hug.

He quirked an eyebrow and looked at Adoria.

"I've dated a lot of guys with a lot of piercings and body modifications."

"Otis, you wouldn't believe what she had brought home! One boy had his tongue split like a snake and so many facial piercings he clinked when he talked!"

Otis could only laugh, looking at the look of frustration on Adoria's face.

"Thanks, mom."

"No problem, sweetie." She grinned. Adoria hugged her mother, squeezing her.

"I missed you."

"Not as much as I missed you, I bet."

Adoria drew back and smiled. She had flown out to visit a few times, leaving Otis back in Texas, but she always missed her family.

"So you're the man making my daughter so happy?" Her father approached him, offering a hand. Otis took his hand to shake, but her father drew him into a hug. She knew it would have scared Otis shitless, but he hid his reactions well. He was probably so nervous it probably didn't even register, she reasoned. "I'm her father."

"Nice to meet you, sir."

"None of that 'sir.' Just call me Dad."

Otis nodded. She could see the hesitation in his eyes. She rested a hand on his chest, pulling his head back from wherever it was going. She grounded him. She always had and always would. "Welcome to Pennsylvania, Baby."

Forgetting the presence of her parents, he leaned down and kissed her. She cupped his cheek. "Thanks, mama."

"You two have really been dating for 3 years?" Her father asked.

"3 years and 4 months." He corrected, clearing his throat. "Sorry..."

"And you still look at each other like that?" Her mother questioned.

They looked at each other suspiciously. "Like what?" Otis replied.

"You're still so in love? You still...You act like you've only been dating for six months..."

Adi squeezed Otis's face in her hand, shaking his head back and forth. "How could you not love a face like this?"

Otis rolled his eyes as her parents laughed. They carried their luggage inside and up to her room. "This is where we're sleeping, babe."

He nodded. "Ah...Are your parents..."

"My mom knows more about my sex life than I do."

"Oookay." He raised his eyebrows and left the room.

"Hey! The pool's all ready for you guys. Why don't you jump in while we go pick up dinner. We ordered out from your favorite place, Adi!"

"Oh, sweet!"

"Uhm...I don't have a suit." Otis looked at her.

"I bought you one and hid it from you."

"Mama-"

"Ah ah ah. Let me buy things for you. Come on, handsome. Get changed."

She had bought him a plain blue pair of swimming trunks. She wore a two-piece that was black and white polka dotted.

She waited for him to change and when he came out of the bathroom, she whistled at him.

"Stop that."

"No. I will never stop thinking you're sexy." God, he looked good. The trunks hugged his waist perfectly; there wasn't really much to look at with the trunks themselves, but the muscles on his torso were more than enough for her to gawk at.

"You don't look so bad yourself there, little mama." He let his hand rest on her waist.

She smiled, blushing. "That comes later. Let's swim!" She trotted out to the pool, diving in.

"You're forgetting one key thing, Adi."

"What?"

"I can't fucking swim!"

"Yes you can. Well enough to stay afloat. It only goes up to 9 feet."

"9 feet?!"

"You didn't drown in my friends. Her's goes to 30."

"Yeah, but I didn't know that." He carefully got in the pool. "Oh, god, this water's warm."

"Feels nice, doesn't it?" She asked as he sat in the shallow end.

"Mm-hmm." He closed his eyes and rested his head on the edge of the pool. He didn't see her exit and dive back in, splashing him in the process. "Ack! Goddammit, Adi!"