AN: I changed the title of the prompt to fit the characters better. The original said, "...when you met my parents."


I smile as I greet you at the door. "Hi, Mako-chan."

I can tell you're nervous but you attempt a smile anyway. "Hey." You flash a bouquet of flowers. "For your mom," you explain.

My smile grows as you enter the apartment. You're fidgeting a bit, even as you hang up your jacket and take your shoes off. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know," you reply. "But I want to make a good impression."

"It's not like she hasn't met you before," I whisper. "We're just...coming out...to my mother. As a couple." I can feel the previous anxiety from earlier in the day seeping into me again. Something must have shown on my face because I feel your fingers brushing my bangs back. My eyes focus and I see you smiling gently at me.

"It'll be okay. It's just dinner."

"It's just dinner," I repeat. "It's just-"

"Ami, dear, I'm sorry, but I have to leave." I look up just in time to see Mother brush past us and slip her shoes on.

"Leave," I ask quietly.

"I was just paged and have to go to the hospital," Mother explains. She grabs her jacket and slips it on. "I'm sorry, Ami." Mother finally realizes Mako-chan is here, too. "Please forgive me, Kino-san, I'm sure you understand."

"Oh, sure," you say. I can't tell if you're disappointed or relieved.

Mother smiles, grabs her keys and purse and is out the door, shutting it with a soft click. We both stare at it for moment. Then you turn to me, tapping the bouquet against your thigh. "Well." You chuckle nervously.

I just continue to stare at the door. Literal months of planning, of working myself up over this dinner and finally getting my mother to agree to it and... she just leaves.

I can feel my bottom lip trembling and I bite it to stop it. It only makes my eyes water to the point of my vision blurring and my throat begins to burn. I heave air into my lungs and my chest tightens. I will not cry. I will not cry I will not cry.

I feel your oh so soft hands cup my face and I blink back the tears as I look up at you. Your thumbs brush under my eyes, stopping my tears before they can fall.

"It's okay," you whisper. "It'll be okay."

I take in another breath and it comes out as a sob. "She just left, Mako-chan. She always leaves, and and and-"

You kiss my cheek and hold me close, your arms tight around my arms. You press your face against mine and whisper again, "It's okay, Ami." You pull away just enough to look at me. "It's only dinner and we have time."

"I've taken so long already to tell her," wiping at my eyes with my sleeve.

"It's not a race, Ami," you reply, taking over wiping my tears away. "There's no set time in which you have to come out. To anyone. You can take your time with this."

I look at you for moment before pressing my face into your shoulder. You're right, of course.

You rub my back slowly and I finally bring my arms up to wrap around your waist and push myself closer to you.

"How about we order a pizza, yeah," you ask. I feel you kiss the top of my head. "I can stay the night, if you want."

I nod against your shoulder, my arms tightening around you. "I would like that."