TA-DA! My 1000-Post Celebration update! I actually have a few updates that I plan on making however in order to fulfill my promise here is update number one. I know it wasn't the update some were hoping for (HF) but I wanted to move this story along. I don't really like this chapter, for several reasons, but I will let my readers and reviewers be the judges. Enjoy!
MEET THE PARENTS II
It nearing the end of Christmas and Bill was contently sitting by the fire looking around the room. He glanced at Karen, who squished between his mother and eldest sister excitedly looking though family photo albums, and could only think of how lucky he was to have found her.
After meeting her family at Thanksgiving Bill was even more anxious for her to meet his. He wanted his family to get to know the woman who had become his entire life in recent months. When she agreed to spend Christmas and New Year's with him in Washington he was relieved. In all honesty Bill didn't think that he could manage nearly two weeks without her.
They had arrived Christmas Eve morning and were immediately thrown into holiday festivities; decorating the tree, the house, baking, and of course the annual Buchanan winter Olympics.
When Karen had gone to call her family in New York to wish them a Merry Christmas Bill took the opportunity to discuss his impending proposal with his family. Unlike Karen's family, his didn't pretend to be subtle; his sisters and brothers-in-law instantly surrounded him with hugs and handshakes, his mother nearly fainted as she thought this day would never come, and his nieces and nephew were so excited they nearly gave it away upon Karen's return to the family room.
Seeing her with his family gave Bill an entirely different perception of Karen. With her family, which consisted mainly of men, she was competitive, driven, and definitely held her own. They talked mostly of politics and sports, her extensive knowledge of football and hockey had surprised him.
But with his family she was different and it seemed to bring out a much more feminine side to Karen. He figured it had something to do with his family being dominated by women but she was playful, flirtatious almost. She blended well with his female family members talking about shopping, mainly of shoes, favourite romantic movies, and whether or not Vince and Jennifer really are a couple.
When he asked her why she never talks about these things at home she just shrugged and replied "You never ask." This baffled him yet enticed him at the same time. Whenever he thought he had her pegged-she surprised him.
And now here they were five days after their arrival, sitting around like she had been part of the family for years. He glanced over and saw a bemused expression on her face and couldn't imagine which embarrassing picture his mother was showing this time. Karen met his gaze and held up a picture of him when he was three in high heels and a hat.
Ah yes, that one. Of course, he thought.
Holding up his hands in defence, he declared "I have THREE older sisters! Who were much bigger than me might I add! I was their real life doll until I was eight."
Karen gave her best naïve look. "I didn't say anything, I think its cute," she added innocently.
Bill rolled his eyes, fully knowing that he was never going to live this one down. She would mock him until the day one of them died. He waited patiently.
"Besides Bill, you should wear this more often. Pink is definitely your colour," she teased.
There it was.
"Ha. Ha," he said, getting up to refill his glass. Leaning down he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and could feel her face immediately flush-he knew she wasn't one for public displays of affection. The 'oohs' and 'aws' he heard coming from the kids made her cheeks redden even more.
Heading into the kitchen he mentally chalked one up for himself and thought, Oh yeah, paybacks definitely a bitch.
