DECEMBER 23RD 9: AM
BRENDA& DAVID'S LIVING ROOM
David was reading the paper. Brenda was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for whole crew. She was still mad at her father and Brothers. Nick deserved all their support. She was startled when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to see Greg. "Whatcha deep in thought about?" He asked.
"Just thinking. Nick up?" She asked.
He nodded. 'Showering. We're gonna go sight seeing. Then thought you and David could come have lunch with us." Greg said. She smiled she knew why Nick loved this guy. He was smart sweet and cute.
"Sure. Frank went over to one of his friends houses. Nate is with Sally's kids. That only leaves Nicole. But I think I can persuade one of my ignorant siblings to watch her." Brenda said.
Greg smirked. "I think Nicole is cute. Nick would like for her to come with us. To lunch. He wants to get some practice." Greg said.
Brenda smirked. "He don't need practice." She said.
"Ok I need practice." Greg said sitting at the island. He studied the woman's face for a moment when he realized that she was trying not to cry. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"I'm just so mad at my family. Nick didn't deserve what he got yesterday. Neither did you." She said. "I mean what is so disgraceful about Nick. He was on the football team in high school. He was an honor student. And because he chooses to date men he's a disgrace to the family." She said angrily. Greg just sat and listened. Not knowing what to say he was thinking the exact same thing.
"Brenda calm down." Nick said from the doorway startling both her and Greg.
"How long have you been listening?" Brenda asked.
"Long enough to know that you're mad as a hornet." He said walking fully into the kitchen and stopping just in front of Brenda.
"How can you be so calm about this?" She asked.
Nick hugged her and looked her dead in the eye. 'Cause I have a whole bunch of people on my side back in Vegas. And I have you and David along with probably mom here. Dad Jonas and Robert have said they don't like what I am. So therefore if they want to see me they will have to come to Vegas and see me and Greg." Nick said stepping back a little and feeling Greg take his hand.
"But what about the baby. Don't you think they'd want to know about it?" Brenda asked.
Nick looked at her amused. "Oh please like I will tell them I'm pregnant. Brenda you heard em at dinner. They think it's ludacris." Nick said almost angry.
"I see your point. Sorry." She said sighing.
"Look if they make an amends we'll bring the baby to see em sometime. But I won't subject my our kid to that bigotry." Nick said.
"Ok. So where are you taking Greg today?" She asked smiling.
"I thought I would show him the high school where I went. Along with A&M." Nick said.
"You should let him meet Chase." She said.
"Who's Chase?" Greg asked.
"Chase and Nick were best buddies in high school. When Nick was outed in school Chase tried to help him as much as he could." Brenda said.
David came in with his uniform on. "Hey guys. Brenda I'm sorry but I gotta go in. There was a lead on one of the cases that McCalister has and he wants me to come in and follow up." He said hugging her.
"Alright. Be careful. You think you'll get off in time to have lunch with Nick and Greg somewhere?" She asked.
"I don't know I'll call you when I know what my afternoon looks like. Have fun guys." He said leaving the kitchen.
Brenda sighed. "Oh how I hate being a cops wife." She said. Nick and Greg just laughed.
"Alright we best get going. I'll call when we know what time we can meet you." Nick said.
"Ok. Have fun." She said kissing Nick's cheek watching them leave her kitchen.
NOON
Brenda was sitting at her kitchen counter wrapping the kids Christmas gifts while Nicole slept. When she heard the doorbell she got up and went to answer it surprised to see her mother standing on the doorstep. "Mom what are you doing here?" She asked cooly.
"I was hoping to see Nick." Meredith said.
Brenda stepped back and let Meredith in. "Him and Greg went sight seeing about 9." She said shutting the door and walking back into the kitchen.
"Ok." Meredith said playing her hands.
"Mom what did you want with Nick?" Brenda asked.
"I wanted to see if he would come back to house and have dinner with me and your father." Meredith said.
"Why would he possibly want to go back there. After what happened yesterday I'm surprised he hasn't decided to fly back to Vegas." Brenda said.
"Your father had a perfectly good reason to be upset with Nick Brenda. He's thinking of the family." Meredith said.
"Well that's just fine. But don't forget Nick is apart of this family. Whether he's gay or straight." Brenda said.
"How can you accept what he is doing?" Meredith asked.
"How can you not accept him. When we were growing up you told us you supported us in what we wanted to do. Where did we stop getting your support in who we wanted to see?" Brenda asked.
"When my son brought another man home." Meredith said.
"Well I have to agree with Nick then. Come Christmas morning me and David along with kids won't be over at the house."Brenda said.
"Why pray tell not?" Meredith asked.
"Cause I don't want my kids around bigots like my father and other 2 brothers. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get Nicole and me ready. We're having lunch with Nick and Greg." Brenda said standing up.
"You might want to come and meet Greg. And make your own opinion on him before you automatically take Dad's side." Brenda said. "Lock the door on your way out please." She said leaving the kitchen leaving Meredith to think of what she said.
1:30 PM
DALLAS EATERY.
Nick and Greg were sitting at a table when 2 figures showed up. "Mind if we join you?" Brenda asked smirking. Nick looked up and smiled at his sister.
"Nicole why don't you sit down here next to Uncle Nick." Brenda said placing Nicole in a booster seat Nick had gotten when him and Greg had gotten the table.
"K." Nicky said.
"David couldn't make it. But I brought someone else." Brenda said motioning for the person she had brought.
Nick just about spit out his water when his mother stepped up next to Brenda. "Mom!" Nick said shocked.
"Hi. I went by to see if I could convince you to come to the house for dinner but Brenda said that you were going sight seeing. And said I should come have lunch with you." Meredith said sitting across from Nick.
"Well I'm glad you came." Nick said a little uneasy. The waiter came and took the orders.
"I just wanna say that I agree with your dad. And I think he has every reason to be upset. You just kinda through this at us." Meredith said.
"Well Mom how was I supposed to tell you. Call you up and say mom stop trying to fix me up I'm gay. I thought you deserved to hear face to face. And I thought meeting Greg would help a little bit." Nick said.
"I see the point and logic. But why now?" Meredith asked.
"Cause I thought it was time. I've fought to keep my identity secret for so long I didn't think I could tell you. But I had a little help in that area." Nick said laying his hand on his abdomen under the table cloth.
"Greg your a DNA specialist?" Meredith asked.
"Yes Ma'am. I've worked at the Crime lab for about 4 years now." Greg said.
"We've been friends since he started. And we started going out about 2 years ago." Nick said.
Meredith nodded. "I see. And I supposed the next thing you're gonna tell me is you're living together?" She asked a little shocked at some of this knowledge.
Nick nodded. "We've been living together about 8 months." He said.
"I see. Have you told your parents Greg?" Meredith asked. She desperately wanted her son to be happy. And she could see that him and this man beside him were happy. But she needed to know more.
"No ma'am. My parents live in San Francisco. They're coming to Vegas for New years and I planned on telling them then." Greg said.
"Does your co workers know?" Meredith asked.
"Yes mom they do. In fact Warrick Brown helped us move into the house we live in. Catherine and Him are living not far from us." Nick said.
Brenda sat quietly when she spoke she said softly. "Mom. See Nick is happy. Dad can be wrong sometimes." Brenda said.
"Yes. But do you know what your father has gone through to make sure you kids were put through a good college." Meredith said.
"Mom listen to me. If you want to agree with dad go ahead. But nothing will change what I am. Or who I love. I'm sorry that it has to end like this." Nick said. "Excuse me I need to visit the little boys room." Nick said standing and making his way to men's room.
Meredith took the opportunity to question Greg. "Greg do you love my son?" Meredith asked. "Yes Ma'am. I've loved your son since I seen him the first time." Greg said.
"Why wait 2 years?" She asked.
"Cause. I wanted to know Nick was ready to be out of the closet. Everyone suspected I was Gay. But Nick portrayed the ladies man. He went out with the girls. And he didn't dress like he was gay. But when I mentioned that he might be he just accepted it. Mrs. Stokes Nick never wanted to disappoint you or your family. Your important to him. But he needs you to support him now. Not only is Nick's family important to him but so is his identity." Greg said.
"He's everything to me. I would do anything to see the disappointment off his face right now. Cause he deserves to be happy." Greg said. Nick came back and tickled Nicole's cheek getting a giggle from her. The waiter came with the food and everything was ate in silence. Nick watching nervously between Meredith and Greg. Brenda watching the trio. Greg just trying to keep his eye on Nick for any sign of wanting to depart this lunch. Meredith however watched the couple. The way Greg had reached over and squeezed Nick's hand. And how Nick just smiled his own thanks. She knew she had some convincing to do. But Caleb needed to see that Greg and Nick were happy. Her daughter and Son was right. Her husband was a pig headed jackass most of the time. And now was one of the.
4: PM
STOKES MANOR
Meredith was sitting in her study looking at a picture album of all the kids. She was amazed at how Brenda and Nick had stuck by each other through high school. And how all the others thought he was a nuances. But Nick never let it faze him. When Melanie was born he took her under his wing like the good Big brother and protected her. To the point of suspension from high school. Caleb came in and sat down in front of her. "What are you looking at?" He asked.
"Just a photo album of the kids." She said.
"Oh." He said.
"I had lunch with Brenda Nick and Greg today." She said. She looked up to see her husband's jaw clench at the name of Greg.
"Oh? How is Brenda doing?" Caleb asked.
"Fine. David had to work. I had a good time." She said.
"Good to know. I have a case to look at." He said getting up.
"They're happy." She said. He turned and looked at her confused and angry.
"Nick and Greg. They're happy. Greg is our son's world. And there is nothing any one can do to prevent that." Meredith said.
"Wanna bet?" He asked.
"No. Cause if you try to destroy that boys life. I'll file for a separation. How would that look to your precious public." Meredith said.
"You're so worried what the damn public will think if you actually have a gay son that you don't see cause of your idiocy we may lose our son." Meredith said standing up and facing her husband dead on.
"We lost him when he moved to Vegas Meredith." Caleb said.
"Did it ever occur to you he was scared to tell us. He was so tired of the questions I was asking at lunch he went to the mens room. Our opinion is important to him. We could have one of those kids who could care less about our opinion." Meredith said.
"That boy can't be gay. We didn't raise him that way." Caleb said.
"No we raised em all to do what was in their hearts. We raised them to follow their hearts. Well guess what Nicholas's heart lead him to a nice young man. Who from what I heard and saw at lunch loves him with everything he has. And Nick returns that." Meredith said.
"I can't accept that. Nick is supposed to get married and give us grandchildren by a nice girl." Caleb said.
"Well guess what Caleb we don't get what we want. I want to go to Paris and live there but I didn't get that. I moved here to Dallas and made a life here. And our son moved to Las Vegas and made a life there with a nice young man." Meredith said. Caleb stood there contemplating the conversation he was having with his wife of close to 40 years.
"Brenda filled me in on you and our other sons' plans to help Nick decided what team he swings for. You do it and like I said before I will serve you separation papers." Meredith said.
"And noon on Christmas morning I will be going to Brenda's to spend half of Christmas with Nick and Brenda along with their significant others. Cause even tho we didn't choose this for him. He needs us to support him. And that's what I intend to do." Meredith said turning back to her work indicating their discussion was over.
6: PM
BRENDA AND DAVID'S
Greg and Nick were laying on the bed listening to the hustle and bustle of the house. Nick looked over and smiled. "Can you believe in 6 months that'll be us?" Nick said.
"I can't wait." Greg said lacing his fingers through Nick's and rolling over and laying listening with his lover.
TBC