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19th January: Huntington Road, York

He was standing in the phone booth shaking like a leaf. It seemed that the weather couldn't quite make up its mind this January, always switching between warm degrees and below zero degrees, producing ice on the river and frost on the grass. He tore his eyes away from the ducks that were waddling across the ice or swimming in the tiny ponds of water and picked up the phone again. He wasn't exactly keen on speaking to his parents but seeing as New Year had come and gone without a single phone call he figured it now as a requirement. His fingers reluctantly dialled the number and he held his breath when the beeping started. The line was busy, they were clearly talking to someone else. He tried twice more and then finally gave up. As long as they weren't too worried...

He hummed and stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets and trudged home. As he walked he went through a list of people his parents could be talking to and stopped when C.C. suddenly popped into his head. Shaking his head amusedly he continued walking. No, C.C. was definitely someone they were talking to. The relationship between her and his parents had never been quite as bad as that of him and her family, but it certainly hadn't been a comfortable one either.

"And you're telling me that now?" she snapped.

He chuckled warmly and circled his arms around her waist. "Yes, I know how you'd stress otherwise." He grinned and kissed her neck.

She whirled around in his arms, almost knocking him over. "As opposed to now where I'm calm?" she raged.

To her annoyance he couldn't hold back another chuckle. "it's just a casual dinner..." he caressed her cheek.

"With you parents!" she almost shrieked.

"I didn't think it was that big a deal." He grinned slyly.

"Yes, you did!" she slapped him firmly "You said you knew I would stress..."

"Come on, C.C., "he kissed her softly "this isn't a formal "meet the family" encounter, this is just a-"

But he never got to finish as the doorbell interrupted them.

"If that's them I swear to God, Niles." She growled and he hurriedly left her grasp, lest she slap him again.

The moment he had opened the door his father had enveloped him in a bear hug and whispered: "Already in trouble with the Missus, son? Haven't I taught you anything?"

He had managed a somewhat nervous chuckle and then turned to greet his mother, while noticing C.C. slipping away and into the bathroom.

She had only emerged again when dinner was ready.

"Nice to meet you, Sir," she had politely greeted his father who had only laughed.

"Do I really look that old, girl?"

"N-no, of course not..." she stammered.

Niles had been leaning in the doorway at that moment, wondering what had happened to his feisty girlfriend.

"Don't worry, dear," Marie had chimed in, clutching C.C.'s hand lovingly between her own "my husband and son are both alike: utterly impossible and childish."

That had at least produced a tiny grin on C.C.'s face.

"Now Marie, that isn't going to convince her to marry our boy," Henry grinned.

"Dad," Niles intersected warningly.

"It's alright, dear, don't worry." Marie had once again spoken up "we see how happy you make our son, there's nothing more we need."

"Yes, no pressure!" Henry reassured as well, winking at her comradely.

Then just after dinner C.C. had appeared in the kitchen, grabbing her emergency pack of cigarettes.

"Come on, love, that's really not necessary." He had tried but she had firmly pushed him out of the way.

He sighed, turned off the water and making some excuse to his parents followed suit. It had only been a matter of time...he rubbed his face. He had closely observed her at dinner, seen how her eyes had grown sadder and sadder and her posture more rigid, as if the love and care-freeness at the table was physically suffocating her. He had known from the beginning that his parents' friendliness would only serve to heighten her insecurities...but not like this...
He found her standing by the backdoor taking quick drags and looking lost. And wordlessly he took the cigarette, put it out and drew her into his arms.