A/N: Okay, so here's chapter ten :) Enjoy! Once again there's a poll on my profile. I'll be closing it on Friday so go vote for the next fic I post!

Happy Reading!

angellwings

Chapter Ten: Brunch

The next morning Ella got up early to start cooking, and Nate found her flipping through her recipes when he joined her in the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her neck lightly. She hummed happily and turned to face him.

"Good morning," She said brightly.

He smiled at her. "Good morning to you."

"Okay, I have a question for you, and I need an honest answer…"

"Oh boy," Nate said worriedly. "Usually after you say that I end up in trouble."

She chuckled. "I don't think you'll get yourself in trouble with this one."

She stepped away from him and took off her apron. "How do I look? Do you think your grandmother will approve?" She asked as she twirled slowly in front of him. She was wearing a black floral print dress with small cap sleeves and lace around the collar. There was a black band that ran just above her waist with a small gold bow in the middle. The dress stopped just a few inches above her knee, and he followed the line of her legs down to a pair of black lace up Mary Jane heels. His gaze lingered back up the length of her and he absently licked his lips and smiled.

"Yes, I think she will. You look gorgeous," He said as he reached out and pulled her close again. "As always."

She smiled at him. "See? You answered that perfectly. No sign of trouble."

He chuckled and kissed her lips quickly. "I have to go get dressed and find something to do. Dad and Jason told me I'm not allowed to be anywhere near this brunch."

Ella's eyebrows flew upward. "I don't like the sound of that. What does that mean?"

He leaned down and kissed her again, slowly this time. Her hands moved up to wrap around his neck as he deepened the kiss. When he pulled away he smiled at her. "Stop worrying, Ella. She's going to love you. Trust me."

She blinked and nodded with a blissful and dazed look on her face. She was still trying to recover from that kiss. She really wanted to pull his lips back down to hers, and she almost did…until the oven beeped. She shook herself a little and pulled out of his arms. She turned and quickly stuck the quiche in the oven before looking back at him. "You really shouldn't kiss me like that before trying to talk to me. I can't form words when you do that."

Nate laughed softly. "That's why I do that. When I pull that move I know you'll listen to my words afterward."

She narrowed her eyes on him playfully. "You're evil."

"Takes one to know one, babe," He said with a smirk.

"Okay, so what are you going to do today, then?" She asked as she set the oven timer.

"I don't know. Probably put some extra work in at the studio. Might as well get something done," He told her as he leaned against the counter.

"I'll call you when we're done," She said as she leaned against the counter beside of him and snuggled into his side. "It can't take too long because we all have to get ready for the party tonight. That my mom is actually coming to, by the way."

"Yeah?" He asked brightly. "Do you think she's coming around?"

"I think…" Ella said with a sigh. "I think she's making an effort. Which is good. It's a step forward."

"Okay," Nate said as he kissed the top of her head. "I'm going to go shower and change. I have about an hour and a half before I have to be out of here. Don't stress yourself out while you're cooking. Accidents happen when you do that."

She smiled affectionately at him before she leaned up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "I'll be careful. I promise."

He reluctantly pulled away from her and went upstairs to get ready. Ella opened the refrigerator and checked on her punch and the fruit salad, and then got to work getting the coffee cake ready to be put in the oven after the quiche. She mixed the batter together and then set aside a half cup of it for the topping. She poured the rest into a cake pan. She mixed the topping ingredients into the reserved batter and set it aside. She had nothing else to do until the quiche was done in another half hour.

She sat down in Nate's living room and turned on the television. She flipped through until she landed on a marathon of some kind. She didn't really know what it was. She just wanted noise in the background. This house was huge. She glanced around the room and was once again shocked at how few personal touches Nate had added to the place in the two years he'd been here. The walls were beige, and his couch was grey. All the other pieces of furniture were cold and boxy and left the room feeling very drab. Maybe she should start redecorating now. Little by little so she didn't have to do it all at one time. She could, she thought, gradually move her things into Nate's house. That way it wouldn't be like she completely lived with him and it would make things easier in May when she actually had to move out.

She walked around the room and tried to imagine which of her furniture would go best in the room. She had a few antiqued pieces that would work really well and warm the space. She smiled as she spotted several pictures of the two of them around the room, and there was one photo of just her. It was sort of touching that the only personal things he'd added to his house were pictures…of them. She knew there were family photos on the walls in the dining room and upstairs in some of the other rooms. But photos seem to be the extent of what he'd done.

Nate came back down the stairs. He was dressed and ready to go. He smiled when he saw her thoughtful face.

"What are you thinking about over there?" He asked as he approached.

"I'm thinking…that we could start moving my stuff in. Little by little. That way it won't be so difficult in May," She told him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "What do you think?"

"You want to girly up my house, don't you?" He asked suspiciously.

She laughed and nodded. "Just a little bit. So this place feels more homey. I mean it's big and empty enough, but I think the more inviting and personal it looks the less huge it will seem."

He smiled and nodded. "I agree. I think that sounds like a great idea. And this way you can live with me without actually living with me. It's sneaky."

She smirked at him. "Yes, it is."

"Also, I've been thinking…I have two guest rooms. I don't really even need one guest room so I was thinking you could use the other one," He told her.

She tilted her head to the side. "Use it for what?"

"A work room or an office? You could put a desk in there and have a place where you can work here if you need to. I know that sometimes you have fashion emergencies," He said with a smirk. "And every time you complain about not having room to just take it home with you. Well, if you have a home office here then you'll have space for when those things happen. I mean, you don't have to use it if you don't want, but I thought it would be a good idea."

She smiled brightly at him. "Nate! I love that idea! But are you sure? I mean what about you? Do you need an office or…"

He smiled warmly. "I have a studio downstairs. That's my office. I want you to take one of those rooms. Really. I think it would make this feel like our space. You know?"

She kissed him quickly before she pulled back to look at him. "Thank you. I will totally take you up on that offer."

"Good, and decorate it however you want. That's your room to be as girly as you want in," He told her with a laugh. "Let it all out in one of those rooms."

She rolled her eyes at him and grinned. "Basically, you're saying that's the only room I'm allowed to paint pink?"

He nodded and smiled. "Yes, that's what I'm saying."

She laughed at him. "Deal. I will keep the pink contained to my office."

The oven timer went off and Ella pulled away from him to pull out the quiche and then changed the oven temperature to the temperature needed for the coffee cake. He peered over her shoulder at the quiche.

"Do you think any of that will be left when I get back?" He asked.

She laughed and turned to face him. "Maybe. I make no promises though."

The oven beeped again and Ella put the coffee cake in and set the timer.

"But, how about, if it is gone when you get back…I make one just for us?" she asked as she reached up and patted his cheek. "Does that sound good?"

"That sounds great," He said as he turned his head to kiss her palm quickly. "Okay, I'm going to go now. There's 45 minutes left till they get here—"

"You're leaving?" she asked sadly. "I'll be here all alone for 45 minutes."

He smirked at her. "It's just 45 minutes, Ella."

"Yes, but this house is really big and empty and kind of spooky. I've never been here alone before," She told him. "I mean how will I know if someone breaks in?"

"The gate is locked, Ells, and there's a guard at the front gate of the development. You're safe," He told her with an amused smile.

"Still, I don't like it."

He chuckled and cupped her chin, "Okay, what if I stay here and work in the downstairs studio during the brunch? How does that sound?"

"That sounds much better. I really hope I get used to this place fairly quickly because I'm going to be here by myself when you're on tour," She said with a sigh. "I'm just not used to being in a big space like this. My apartment is small and cozy."

He kissed her forehead quickly. "I would say you should just drop everything and come on tour with me, but you can't do that. You have work."

She smiled warmly at him. "I would love to do that if I could though. Maybe I could find a way to work and go on tour with you. Yes, I'll have to look into that."

He laughed quietly. "Maybe we should get a dog or a pet of some kind to keep us company in our big, empty, spooky house."

Her eyes brightened. "Something that could protect me when you're not here?"

"Yes, a big comforting dog that could protect you."

"I like that idea."

"Me too, actually," Nate told her as he wrapped his arms around her. "So how long until that coffee cake is ready?"

"I have to put the topping on in twenty minutes, and then it has to bake for 15 more minutes."

"Wanna make out while we wait?" He asked as his eyebrows rose suggestively.

She threw her head back and laughed before looking at him. "Sure, why not?"

Twenty minutes later the oven timer dinged and Ella hesitantly stood from the couch. She straightened her dress and reached down to wipe her lipstick off of Nate's lips. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back down to the couch. She gave him a stern yet amused look.

"Nate, let me go."

He whined. "Why?"

She laughed. "Because if you don't my coffee cake is going to burn."

"Eh. You have quiche and fruit salad. You don't really need the coffee cake. Let it burn."

She smiled and shook her head and tugged her hand from his. "You're a mess."

She walked into the kitchen and finished the coffee cake. She put on the topping and then stuck it back in the oven.

"Nate?" She asked as she walked into the living room. He sat up on the couch and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Can you watch the coffee cake for me? I'm gonna go upstairs and straighten up a little. I think my hair has fallen down and I need to reapply my lip stick," She told him with a knowing grin.

He sighed. "I guess that means no more making out, huh?"

She laughed. "Not until after the brunch, no."

"Okay, go reapply things. I'll keep an eye on the cake," Nate said with a small huff.

She smiled sweetly at him and kissed his cheek as she headed for the stairs. "Thank you, love you."

"Love you too," He said with a chuckle as he watched her go.

The doorbell rang twenty five minutes later and Nate immediately kissed Ella's cheek before retreating down the stairs to his studio. "Come and get me when it's over."

She chuckled and nodded. "Will do."

She waited until he closed the door that led downstairs behind him before she walked toward the front door. She answered the door to see Mrs. Gray and a petite stern looking grey haired woman. A woman Ella just barely recognized as Nate's grandmother.

"Ella," Mrs. Gray said brightly. "You look beautiful dear!"

Ella smiled. "Thank you, Mrs—"

"Ella…"

"Right, Vicky. Sorry. I keep forgetting."

"And this is Nate's grandmother," Vicky said as she motioned to the other woman. "Esther Gray."

Ella reached out and shook the woman's hand.

"Call me Mrs. Gray," She said as she looked Ella up and down. "You're as pretty as I remember you from the last time we met."

"Oh," Ella said happily. "Well, thank you, Mrs. Gray."

"You have very small hips," Mrs. Gray told her suddenly.

Vicky gave her a tired look. "You said the same about Caitlyn."

"It's not good for child bearing," The woman said stubbornly.

Ella's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. "I—I'm sorry?"

"Small hips make child bearing harder on the mother," Esther repeated.

"I—um…Why don't you both come in, please. Let me take your jackets," Ella said as she eagerly changed the subject. She had no idea what to say to that. Ella took their jackets and hung them up in the closet by the door.

"I see you haven't really added much to the house yet," Esther said observantly.

Ella glanced around worriedly. "Oh, I haven't moved in here yet." She cleared her throat and smiled. "I've already told Nate I'll be redecorating a little bit once I do actually move in. It will be much cozier after that."

Vicky smiled warmly at her. "I'm sure it will. You have lovely taste from what I've seen."

"Thank you. If you'd like we can take this to the dining room table. It's all set, I just have to set out the food," Ella told them as she led them to Nate's dining room.

"Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea. I need to taste this cooking," Esther said with a small nod. Ella bit her lip. She was suddenly very nervous. "What are we having at this brunch?"

Ella cleared her throat anxiously. "I have Quiche Lorraine, fruit salad with plums, coffee cake, and a coffee liqueur punch. I've also got a pot of Earl Grey prepared in case you would like something else."

"And you made all of that yourself?" Esther asked suspiciously.

Ella nodded. "Yes, I certainly did. The Quiche Lorraine recipe was actually my mother's."

Esther's eyebrows rose slightly. "Impressive. Even more impressive if it's good."

Vicky gave Ella an apologetic look and smiled thinly. "You know what, dear. I'll help you. It must be more than you can carry."

Once they reached the kitchen Ella turned to her. "What is going on here?"

Vicky chuckled slightly. "She does this with every woman who tries to marry into the family. She did this to her sister-in-law, to me, to Caitlyn—"

"She did this to Caitlyn? And she's still alive?"

Vicky laughed. "It was touch and go for a while. Luckily Caitlyn managed to keep her anger in check."

Ella sighed. "Great, just great."

Vicky squeezed her arm lightly. "You have nothing to worry about. You're doing great. Better than I did."

"Why? What did you do?" Ella asked.

"I burnt the toast and apparently made coffee that was far too strong, and after a few quips from her I snapped at her just a little. We had a rough go of it for the first few years," Vicky told her with a small smile.

"How did Caitlyn do?" Ella asked hesitantly.

"With the exception of buying sweet biscuits from a local bakery, she passed with flying colors."

Ella chuckled and nodded. "Ah, that explains her phone call then. She called me and told me to make sure everything was home made."

Vicky took a quick look over what Ella had prepared. "Well, you certainly did that. This looks very impressive. And I'm sure it's delicious." She handed Ella the quiche and then she picked up the bowl of fruit salad. "Let's get this out there before she gets impatient."

"Here you go, Mrs. Grey," Ella said as she set the quiche down on the table and then placed a slice on her plate for her. Vicky set the fruit salad down and then spooned out a bit on everyone's plates. "Would you like some tea or some of the punch?"

"Tea, please. Two sugars, no cream."

Ella nodded and smiled warmly. "I'll be right back."

Ella nervously poured the tea and glanced at the chilled pitcher of punch. So much for that, she thought. Vicky entered the kitchen again and smiled.

"I think I'll have some of that punch. It's got alcohol in it, yes? I think we're both going to need it. Would you like some too?" Vicky asked as she pulled a glass down from Nate's cabinets.

Ella nodded. "Yes, please."

Ella brought Esther her tea and then sat down on one side of her. She picked up her fork and started to take a bite.

"So, Ella. What do you do again?" Esther asked. Ella lowered her fork and answered as Esther took a bite of quiche.

"I'm a freelance stylist. I help people decide what to wear," Ella told her brightly.

"People like who?"

"Well, the guys, for one. Nate, Shane, and Jason were my first real clients. I also dress Mitchie Torres—"

"Yes, Shane's girlfriend that he still hasn't married yet. I know her," Esther said with a sigh.

"Yes, her," Ella said awkwardly. "Most of my clients are actors and musicians. Brown is one of my clients as well, whenever he attends an event, that is."

"Caitlyn said you made her an outfit out of two swimsuit cover ups and a belt?" Vicky asked with a grin.

Ella laughed. "Yes, for a fashion emergency in Hawaii. She'd gotten something on the outfit she brought with her."

Ella picked up her fork and prepared to take a bite once again—

"That's a career? They pay people to dress other people?" Esther asked with a quirked brow.

Vicky winced and Ella's grip on her fork tightened. She forced a smile before she spoke. "Yes, they do."

"Is there schooling for that? Or did you skate by without that?"

Ella glanced at Nate's grandmother in disbelief for a moment before she bit down on her bottom lip and counted backwards from five. She cleared her throat. "I have a degree in Fashion Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA."

Esther's eyes widened. "Oh, well, that's very impressive, then."

"Thank you," Ella said stiffly.

She looked up at Vicky apprehensively. Vicky gave her a discrete thumbs up and smiled proudly. Vicky turned to Esther. "Ella's very talented. She designs the boys' tour wardrobes as well. They just rave about her every time they get ready for a tour."

Ella blushed. "I don't do much really. I just alter a few things for quick changes. That's all."

"Oh, please, you're being modest," Vicky told her with a wink.

Finally, Ella got to take a bite of her quiche and was relieved to find that it tasted exactly how it should. She took a quick bite of the fruit salad as well before Esther could ask her another question.

"What do your parents do, Ella?"

Ella swallowed before she spoke. "My mother is runs a marketing firm, and my father is the lead singer of Headline. They're a rock band."

Esther's brow furrowed and she chuckled lightly. "They sound like an odd pair. They must have a strange marriage."

Ella bit her bottom lip. "Well, actually, they divorced just before I was born. They were a little too odd of a pair."

"Your mother raised you, then?" Esther asked.

Ella nodded. "For the most part. Dad didn't really start to get involved until I started middle school. He's gotten better at the whole father thing, though. Or…well he was getting better."

"Esther," Vicky said slowly. "Let's talk about something else."

"No, no," Esther said curiously. "Let's talk about this. What do you mean was?"

"I haven't spoken to him in a few weeks," Ella told her as she swallowed thickly. "Well, he hasn't spoken to me. I try to call him once a week. He just never answers."

"And why is that? What happened?" Esther pried.

Ella pushed around the fruit salad on her plate. "He doesn't exactly approve of Nate, and he didn't take the news of the engagement very well. So, he's not speaking to me at the moment."

Esther's eyes narrowed. "He doesn't approve of Nate? My Nate?"

Ella smirked at Esther, and then looked down at her plate as she spoke. "I know, crazy right? My dad has this crazy idea that Nate's going to turn into him, but there's no way that's going to happen. Nate is wonderful. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that he can care about me as much as he does. And I hate that my father doesn't see that. Nate deserves to, at least, have his respect. I love him, and I think my father should too. Is that too much to ask?"

Esther smiled softly at her and reached out to squeeze her hand. "No, that's not too much. That's not too much at all, dear."

Ella looked up at Nate's grandmother and smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mrs. Gray."

Esther patted her hand and her stern expression fell away completely. "You're welcome, sweetheart. You're going to have to give me the recipe for this fruit salad. It's delicious. And Ella?"

"Yes, Mrs. Gray?"

"Call me Grandma. I insist," She told her with smile and a wink.

Ella let out a relieved sigh as she shut the door behind Mrs. Gray and Nate's grandmother. That went fairly well. She'd passed apparently. She jogged down the stairs to the studio and quietly entered. Nate was in the booth. She sat down in front of the panel and turned on the microphones. She watched him as he played his guitar and smiled warmly. He finally noticed her presence and leaned into the microphone.

"Did they leave?" He asked.

She nodded, and he quickly exited the booth. He sat down across from her gave her a curious glance.

"How did it go?"

"Pretty well," Ella told him happily. "And there's even food left for you."

"See? I told you that you were worrying for nothing."

Ella smirked secretively. "Yeah, absolutely nothing."