For disclaimer, please see chapter one.
Walking into the flat, Helen could hear the ending of a conversation Nikki was having on the phone in the kitchen. "I'm sure Mum. You shouldn't have to stay away from your parents during the holidays just because they don't approve of me." It's quiet as she awaits the response. "I'll find something to do, don't worry about it…I love you too mum. Tell Dad I said hi." And with that she hung up the phone and sighed. Helen took that as her queue to enter the kitchen.
"Hiya, Nikki." Helen greeted.
"Hey Helen. How was lunch with Claire?" Nikki asked.
"It was good. She was telling me that she got an interview for an internship at a law firm. She is really excited about it."
"That's fantastic. Remind me to congratulate her the next time I see her."
"Sure thing," Helen responded. "Nikki, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?" She asked, trying not to give away that she heard her conversation.
"Well, as I'm sure you already heard," Nikki smiled at her roommate, who in turn blushed a little, "I was going to go home, but my grandparents invited my family over for the holiday."
"I'm guessing your grandparents don't like the fact that you're gay?" Helen questioned.
"Not at all. They haven't spoken to me since I told them, but my parents shouldn't have to not see them just because of me."
"What are your plans now?" Helen asked.
"Not quite sure. Any suggestions?"
"Sure, come home with me." Helen stated.
"Are you sure about that, Helen? I don't want to impose."
"Of course I'm sure. My Aunts and Uncles are going to their partners' families this year and you know I don't have any brother and sisters so the house will be empty. My mum always makes too much food, which she would insist on me taking some back here with me, so you end up eating it anyway. Why not eat it while it's fresh?"
"Ok, but where would I sleep?" Nikki asked.
"We have a guest room that is always ready for company. It really wouldn't be a hassle to have you at all. Please say you'll come?"
"Alright, you've sold me. When were you planning on leaving?"
"Tomorrow after my last class. It's my late day so we should get done around the same time."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Great. If you want to pack, I'll call home and let them know that you will be joining us."
As Nikki left the room to do as Helen suggested, Helen picked up the phone and called home. Her mother picked up after the third ring.
"Stewart residence."
"Hiya, mum." Helen greeted cheerfully.
"Hi sweetheart. How is everything? How's Nikki? When are you going to let us meet her anyway so we can get to know her?" Sharon rapidly questioned.
Helen laughed at her mother's antics. "Calm down mum. First, everything is fine. Second, Nikki is doing well. Third, what more do you need to know? I have told you everything about her."
"I know that dear. It would just be nice to meet the person my daughter had been living with for the last couple of months. That's all." Sharon stated apologetically.
"Don't worry about it mum. That is actually the reason that I am calling. How would you like an extra person at the table for Thanksgiving?" Helen asked.
"Is Nikki coming with you?" Sharon asked excitedly.
"Yeah if it is ok with you."
"Helen, that's fantastic. Does this change your plans for the drive up here?"
"Not really. We are still leaving after my last class. We might even get in earlier because one of us can drive if the other one gets tired."
"Great. I guess your father and I will see you tomorrow then."
"Alright, bye mum." With that Helen hung up the phone and left the kitchen to finish her preparations for the upcoming trip.
Classes were over for the holidays and the girls set out on their journey to Scotland. They decided it would be easier for Nikki to drive first because it was mostly all motorway driving. Half-way through they would switch and Helen would drive on to her parents' home.
"Helen this countryside is beautiful." Nikki exclaimed, as they were approaching Helen's hometown.
"After nearly 18 years you kind of get used to it," Helen stated. "Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but I was honestly more excited to see London than I am to come back and see all this again."
"There's just something about the city that has an effect on people." Nikki said.
As Nikki was still starring out the passenger side window, Helen took an unnoticed glance towards her. "Trust me, it has definitely had an effect."
By this time they had pulled into the driveway. Helen turned to look at Nikki. "Just to warn," she started, "My mother is very excited to finally get to meet you. She will ask you a ton of questions, so don't let her scare you."
Nikki had an amused expression on her face. "Actually I am more afraid that I will be the one to scare her."
"Why is that?" Helen asked genuinely confused.
"Do your parents know I'm a lesbian, Helen?"
"Of course. I told you before they don't care who a person dates. And besides, you're one of my best friends. If they weren't ok with it, I would still tell them because I am not ashamed of you."
With that heartfelt statement, Nikki felt like she might just cry. "Thank you, Helen. That really means a lot to me."
Seeing that Nikki was trying to contain how emotional Helen's statement actually made her, Helen decided to move on from the topic. "Alright, you've been warned. Now it's into the lion's den with you." With that, Helen started to exit the car. Nikki laughed, thankful for the change in subject, and followed suit.
Upon first entering the house, Nikki was convinced that Helen had been exaggerating her mother's reaction. She was therefore thoroughly surprised when she enveloped in a hug, much the same as Helen had been only moments before. Seeing the shock on Nikki's face, Helen could only smile and mouthed "I told you so."
After the hug Sharon launched into her attack of questions. She wanted to know everything that Helen hadn't told her yet and she even asked about a few things that Helen had mentioned. Nikki was very surprised with how comfortable she was talking with Helen's mother and how comfortable she felt in Helen's home in general.
Nikki was also very excited about Thanksgiving dinner. She loved to see how different families celebrated the holidays. Just as Helen had said, there was far too much food to be consumed by four people. Nikki was amused that yet another one of Helen's predictions had come true. Sharon had indeed promised to send some of it back to London with them.
Apart from the holiday meal, both girls had enjoyed the time away from the city. Nikki loved being able to meet Helen's family, and Helen was ecstatic about showing Nikki around the area she grew up in. Both of them were too interested in getting acquainted or reacquainted with the area to notice anything else. Sharon on the other hand was a different story entirely.
She had noticed how Nikki looked at her daughter while she thought no one was looking and Helen wouldn't notice. She also saw how Helen returned those looks under the same circumstances. Sharon also found it amusing how Helen always seemed to be hovering in the background whenever either James or she started to ask Nikki questions, as if she was ready to jump in and save her at a moment's notice. Sharon was convinced that there was something going on between the two of them. Either that or there very soon would be.
That thought alone made her very happy. Sharon had always had her suspicions about Helen. She never really seemed to connect with any of the boys she grew up with on that level. From the amount of time that she and Claire had spent together after Claire had moved there during High School, both James and Sharon thought that she would have something to tell them, especially after Claire came out to them. That is actually what prompted the acceptance speech to begin with. Imagine the shock that went through both adults when Claire introduced the adult Stewarts to her girlfriend. Sharon made sure to gauge Helen's reaction at that time, but Helen seemed genuinely happy for her friend, making Sharon think that they may have been mistaken. But now, seeing her with Nikki? There was no mistaking the feelings between the two girls, even if they couldn't see it themselves. Nikki was a wonderful girl and Sharon only hoped that Helen realized what she was feeling sooner rather than later. However, she wouldn't push or pry into the situation. She would let Helen come to the realization and come to her in her own time.
A/N: It was brought to my attention that they don't actually celebrate Thanksgiving in Great Britain, but I couldn't think of another holiday that they would celebrate instead so I left it in because I am the writer and I can do that.