A/N: Special thanks to dear Guest, cheliosfan & Joy10 for all wonderful reviews!

And now... Sue's family. Enjoy!

35.

When Jack heard that Sue's parents weren't going to pick them up at the airport, because their car has broken, he sighed with relief. He wasn't very enthusiastic at the thought that he would meet them for the first time in the crowded terminal, as they could differently react to the news that he was their daughter's fiancé, and there could be an unpleasant scene, which he really wanted to avoid. He wanted it not only because of himself, but first of all because of his beloved and their son. Since the fortune seemed to be good for them, the couple decided to rent a car for their stay in Youngstown, to be independent and able to travel around on their own.

During the drive to the Thomas family house, located on the edge of the town, the two adults didn't speak much, silently wondering about the possible scenario of the meeting. Besides, it was Sue, who was driving, as she knew the area and as she found out, her future husband had a serious map- phobia, stubbornly claiming that "real men don't need maps" and insisting that he would drive using only his instinct. So, she took his keys and sat behind the steering wheel herself. Naturally, it automatically made having a conversation with her men impossible, because she couldn't drive and at the same time read their words in the mirror without risking an accident. So she spoke up rarely, usually when they were standing on the red light, and Jack also tried not to bother her. Only Andy babbled for the three of them, repeating all the time how happy he was to see his grandparents and how he was going to tell them about his new grandpa, new grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins, who he just met, and all!

In fact, the boy's chatter was very relaxing for Jack, even if constantly reminded him about the upcoming meeting with his future in-laws. Andrew had so much happiness and excitement inside him, radiated so much, when he spoke about it, that Sparky wasn't able not to smile. The boy's beaming face, his smile and his mom's smile, were recently the remedy for all his worries. They both made him want to live. And he lived! He finally fully lived!

The Thomas' household turned out to be a ranch type house. White, two-level building with steep roof was surrounded by a lot of ground, mostly meadows, where, despite the season, a few horses were grazing. Road of slag led to it, and a couple of trees grew along it. There weren't a lot of it, so the whole area could be looked at with one glance, including the neighbour's houses visible in the distance.

Sue told him, that before the first war the ranch was established by her great-great-grandfather, hence the huge amount of space surrounding it and belonging to the family. In its time, it was the biggest stud in the area, until the big crisis, when it suffered financially and never returned to its greatness. Despite that it lasted for some more time, until Irving Thomas' descendants chose different life paths, eventually getting rid of the rest of the horses and leasing the ground to the local farmers. The house, however, was always full of the family's life, even now when Irving's great-grandson Peter (a retired building inspector) and Carla's (ex-accountant and later full-time mom) children settled down somewhere else. No matter how to look at it, it was their heritage and future inheritance of their children…

One way or another, when they reached their destination, Jack and Sue nervously wiped their sweat hands against their jeans, took deep breaths and got out of the car, letting out also very happy Andy (Levi stayed in D.C., because he didn't like to fly), who ran to his grandparents the moment he saw them standing on the porch, to hug and kiss them, unconsciously giving his parents time to prepare for the confrontation.

Sue really wanted to tell Jack that everything was going to be fine, but knowing her mother, she wasn't certain about it. So, when she felt his hand in hers, she reciprocated the gentle squeeze and smiled weakly, and then wider, when she saw those exact words on his lips. It was like he was reading her mind! She knew, that he was as nervous as she was herself, but when she looked into his eyes, those warm, deep eyes, it was like she got wings and stopped to be afraid, because she knew that he was with her, no matter what. With him at his side she could face anyone, even Carla Thomas!

Saying hello to her parents was somewhat awkward, although not lacking warmth. Still, the host's suspicious gaze and her husband's curious looks didn't make the task easier for the younger couple.

Sue intentionally hid the ring on her finger, until they officially announce their engagement. They didn't really know how to get around to it, because Carla's eyes stubbornly pierced through them, and there was no end to the questions about their life in Washington.

Eventually, it was once again taken care of by Andy, who after a small snack in the kitchen, stormed into the living room, where the adults sat and proudly stated that he just came from his new grandparents, and his new cousin Cole had a bike, and daddy promised the same to him!

"D-Daddy?" Peter uncertainly asked, looking at his daughter and her… friend.

"Umm…" the girl stumbled and in this moment Sparky took the initiative.

"Sir, Madame…" he slowly stated. "I know that it might be a surprise for you, but the truth is that me and Sue are more than friends." he said.

"What do you mean?" inquired Carla, feeling the incoming tic in her left eye, remainder after the accident.

"I mean that I asked for her hand, and Sue accepted my proposal, Ma'am." he explained and the blonde shyly added:

"We're engaged, Mom. We plan to get married and Jack wants to adopt Andrew."

"Excuse me?!" exclaimed the woman. „What do you mean 'engaged'? How long have you known each other? What do you know about each other? You didn't even mention that you date, when we talked on the phone. It's absurd! I don't agree!" she exploded.

„With all due respect, Mrs. Thomas…" Hudson bravely spoke. "What does time has to do with it? What does it matter, when two people want to be together, create a family, give a full house to a child, who needs and deserves it?" he asked, gently and at the same time, insistently.

"What does time has to do with it?! You must be joking, Mr. Hudson!" she spoke indignantly.

"Jack. Call me Jack." he corrected, but she ignored him.

"Marriage is a serious step!" continued Carla. "It requires for the two people to meet well, before they take it! So I ask once again: how long have you known my daughter and why haven't we heard about your relationship?"

"Mom, please!" Sue tried to protest. With no effect…

„No, Susan! I demand answers!" she insisted. "I have a right for them, as your mother and Andrew's grandmother. How can I know that your… fiancé is trustworthy, if we haven't met him before, if we don't know anything about him?" she spoke. "What if he hurts you? If he hurts Andy? What then?" she continued to give remarks forgetting about the fact, that the boy was with them.

"Don't shout at Daddy!" exclaimed the boy and started to cry, getting out of his grandfather's arms and snuggling to Jack.

"Enough, Carla!" Peter finally spoke, seeing the reaction of his grandson, daughter and her companion, who focused on calming down the boy. He was usually quiet, when his wife talked, but now needed to stop it, before it would get out of control. "Enough." he repeated.

"Pete…" she whispered, shocked, but he raised his hand, stopping her once again.

"Carla, My Dear…" he stated in a businesslike voice. "I admit that I'm shocked by the fact, that out little girl is getting married. As you remarked, we had no idea she was dating someone, but the truth is that Sue isn't a teenager and doesn't have to explain her whole life to us. She's a grown-up, independent woman, able to make her own decisions." he spoke. "She's been living on her own for a couple of years, and manages just fine with raising our grandson. Isn't it enough reason to trust her judgement? Do you really think that she would choose someone, who doesn't deserve her, who doesn't treat her son well? I don't know Jack well, yet, but I am ready to give him the credit of trust, because Sue trusts him and I trust her. I suggest you to do the same." he added.

"Mrs. Thomas…" Jack tried again. „I understand your doubts…"

„I don't think so!" she denied. "Do you actually know, what you get into, marrying Susan?"

"Sue, Mom…" the girl corrected her.

"Do you have an idea, what someone like her needs?" she pressed. "Susan isn't a casual woman. As a deaf person, she has special expectations, which can't be met my everyone. What do you know about it, Mr. Hudson, about her world?" she asked.

"You're wrong, Mrs. Thomas, thinking that I'm not aware of Sue's needs." he answered. "I'm not an ignorant. Since the moment we met, I always cared about her well-being and comfort. I don't know everything about her world, yet, but I want to learn, get to know this part of her, which defines her. The fact that Sue can't hear doesn't matter to me. It never did. To me, she's as normal as you or I. She's strong, capable, good, she's an amazing mother and the best friend, who someone can wish for. Every man should be proud to be able to stand at her side. I am…"

"Words. Those are just words." the woman was adamant.

"Really, Mom?" asked annoyed Sue. "So what will you tell about that? What will you say, when you hear that the man, whose value you try to belittle so much, dropped everything the moment he found out, that Andy and I are sick, and spent weeks working at home, so he could take care about us? What will you say knowing, that you owe him my life, because he was the one to take me to the hospital, when I squirmed in pain and stayed at my bedside for hours, before I woke up after the appendix surgery? What will you say about the fact, that he was looking after my son all this time, treating him like his own, even letting Andy to call him dad despite the fact, that they weren't related? Time, you say?" she added. "What time is, Mom? People spend years together, not really knowing each other, and sometimes a while is enough to get to know someone. It's the way it was with us. It doesn't matter, how long we know each other. There is nobody, who I would trust more, not only with my life, but with my son's, who finally has a chance to be like other children. Look at them? What do you see, Mom? Look at Andy and say if he's still as insecure as he used to be. Look him in the eyes, and you'll see a pure happiness and love, which he feels for Jack. Isn't it what you've always wanted for your grandson, such happiness and someone, who would love him as much as Jack does?"

Indeed, when Carla looked at the brunet, holding the boy, at their interaction, she had to admit that she has never seen Andrew cling to someone like that. And the light in Hudson's eyes, when he was looking at the boy…

"Mom…" Miss Thomas sighed. „You know very well, how small my and Andy's chances were for a full family. So why, when someone, who wants to give it to us, who wants us with all the doubtful benefits, appears, you fight it so much? Why don't you believe that we're able to make the right decision, that we can be happy together?" she whispered, touched. "Would you rather us to be alone for the rest of our lives?"

"Susan, Sue… It's not like that!" she moaned.

"And how is that?" the girl asked. "Jack wants to be with us, and we want to be with him. I think it's the most important, isn't it? We'll be a family. Whether you want it or not. The truth is, that it's our life and our choice. I believe that we'll find happiness together, I believe with all my heart and I would want you to be happy along with us. Don't make us choose, Mom, because as much as I love you with all my heart, I tied mine and my son's future with Jack. If you make me do it, you'll lose both of us, Mom, because our place is with him." she gently finished, squeezing her fiancé's hand.

"Mrs. Thomas…" Hudson spoke again. „I understand that you don't trust me, but I hope that it's going to change over time. I want it not only for myself, but first of all, for Sue and Andy, because their happiness is my priority. A man looks for a perfect woman for his whole life. Sometimes he makes a mistake and gets together with the one, who just pretends. It was my case…" he confessed. "I was married before I met Sue…"

"Excuse me?!" exclaimed Carla.

„My Dear, let him speak!" reprimanded Peter and Mrs. Thomas gave up, using a gesture to "allow" him to continue.

"When we were getting married, I was sure it's for the whole life, because I've known Allie practically since I was a child. I was wrong, though…" he sighed. „Every time I mentioned children, she avoided and changed the topic. I really wanted to be a dad…" he added with emotion. "When she finally told me that she's expecting a baby, I was very happy, until I found out that it wasn't mine. My marriage was destroyed and honestly, I didn't think that I'll want to be a husband again. I met Sue, though, and I understood that not all the women are the way my ex-wife was. She and Andy quickly became a very important part of my life, and we didn't even try to make it so. It just happened and now I can't imagine my house without them, my existence without them. I need them like an air, Ma'am. I beg you, give us a chance!" he said quietly, in order not to wake up his son, who, exhausted by crying, fell asleep in his arms.

Carla didn't really know what to think about it all. All those news, which she heard, caused a mess to appear in her head. She knew about Sue's surgery, but she had no idea, that it was Jack, who she owed her daughter's rescue to, that his sacrifice allowed Sue to get back to health. Did she really turn out to be prejudiced towards him? In addition, Sue's insistent attitude… Carla didn't think that her daughter would be able to place a stranger over a family member, over parents. The threat seemed real, though.

"… you'll lose both of us, Mom…" still sounded in her ears.

Mrs. Thomas once again looked at the family, which was just getting created. Sue, Jack and Andy were sitting together, unified, determined to start a life together. It was in this moment, that it reached her, that Sue really wasn't her little girl anymore, that she stopped being that a long time ago, and now found someone, who noticed what a wonderful woman she grew up to be, despite everything she's been through. The fondness in her fiancé's eyes, when he was looking at both, seemed to be honest, so Peter might have been right. Maybe Jack Hudson deserved a credit of trust, to prove that he was worthy of the treasure Sue and Andy were. So, with a resigned sigh, she finally gave up, asking:

"When do you plan to get married?"

"I was thinking about Christmas." the brunet responded and Peter groaned:

"Oi!"

His wife's face expression couldn't mean anything good…

TBC