Day Six: New to the Family
Raven knows that Dexter's nervous about meeting her family. She knows the feeling is unwarranted, but still can't help sharing it in scattered moments leading up to their introduction. It's easy to tell herself that it will be fine, that her dad and Cook will be able to see the good she loves in him and will welcome him with open arms. Pie and Butternut might take a bit more convincing to accept the shift, but she's hoping that Dexter's easy humor will win them over sooner rather than later.
But her mother's shadow has left Raven's family small, tight knit, and wary. Knowing it will be okay is much easier than feeling it.
It does end up going well at least, the relief at how easily Dexter slots into her family bouying her mood for their entire visit, to the point where explaining her mother's place in her life is only a blip on the radar. Dexter will definitely not be meeting her mother if Raven has anything to say about it.
The process of meeting the Charmings, however, is a different tale.
Raven meets Daring and Darling before she even starts dating Dexter, and the air she gets from both of them is distrust. Daring is fairly open about it, avoiding her when he can and telling his siblings to do the same. Dexter doesn't really talk about it, but she knows that Daring has met their friendship with disapproval. It takes a long time, but eventually his opinion of her softens, and Raven's glad to have even that.
But on the other hand, after the first hug Raven discovers that Darling's reticence hides quiet fondness rather than the disdain Raven had feared. Under her outer armor, Darling proves to be a steadfast and loyal friend.
In the end Dexter's parents are the only ones Raven has to worry about. His father's disdain at their relationship and his mother's silence sting, sure, but honestly she's not surprised at the reaction. When Dexter defends her, defends his love for her to the people he's spent his whole life trying to please, Raven is proud. That bravery is something she already knew he had, but seeing it laid out in front of her leaves a warm feeling in her chest even through the coldness of his parents' actions.
But the true surprise is Daring. When the Charmings try to talk Dexter out of this, Daring's the one who steps forward to defend both of them, calling Raven a sister he'd be proud to have.
At the end of the night, Raven and Dexter walk out with his siblings in tow, off to find somewhere where they're all welcome. And though it takes a while, Raven comes to realize that Daring's affection comes in quiet actions, quiet acceptance. She only hopes that she can return the favor.
The next day, Raven realizes that she has two more people to introduce to her family.
She wouldn't give up that feeling for the world.