Eugene takes a deep breath as he navigates the long and winding drive to the Greene farm. He still isn't sure how his family ended up invited to Beth's family's Thanksgiving dinner, but here they are, almost there. It will be the first time they've spent the holiday with anyone other than the three of them since the girls' parents died.
"Still got time to turn and run," Kelly teases from the back seat. Eugene just shakes his head, smiling at her antics. She's probably as nervous as he is, meeting these new people that are important to Beth.
He's seen the texts the two exchange, and he knows Beth's invited Kelly to sit in on classes with her to get a feel for college life. Eugene is a little embarrassed he didn't think of that himself, but it'll be more fun with a student to hang around with than someone who has to teach.
Connie arches a brow when she sees his movement. When he just points at Kelly, she laughs. She's been in contact with Beth, too, but he has no idea what they talk about. His best friend only admits to 'girl stuff' when he got curious. He parks the car in a line of other cars, recognizing Beth's Civic and her roommate's little car, but none of the others. There are a lot of cars.
Connie takes his hand and squeezes it before telling him, She loves you. Her family will love you.
She hasn't said, he protests. Neither of them have ventured that level of discussion. While Eugene is mostly sure Beth feels the same way, he doesn't know. Not with the certainty that Connie seems to hold.
Both his sisters snort and roll their eyes. He wonders for a brief moment if it's too late to return them somewhere. Probably need a receipt.
I am deaf, Eugene, not blind, Connie tells him.
Then Beth appears on the porch, waving excitedly. Benjy dances around her feet, and as soon as they get close, the boy hops down the steps to run to Eugene. Picking him up as requested, they reach Beth.
The kiss she gives him in greeting is chaste enough, but draws smirks from his sisters. Beth notices, grins, and kisses him again. Leaving him blushing slightly and still carrying Benjy, she leads the way inside the sprawling old farmhouse. The sense of continuity hits him, along with the remembrance that it's been her family's home for more than a century.
"Mama is in the kitchen with Patricia and Amy. Daddy's entertaining the kids in the living room. I'm fairly sure Maggie and Shawn snuck Tara out to the stables to see the new horse Daddy's boarding."
"Is that everyone?" Kelly asks, eyes wide as she translates for Connie. They've never been to a holiday meal with this many people.
Beth shakes her head. "Otis and Jimmy ran to town for more ice, and several people aren't here yet."
Leading them to the living room, Beth introduces everyone to her father. He offers his hand to Eugene, gaze solemn and assessing, then smiles at the girls. "I would recommend hiding out in here. The kitchen gets a little chaotic on holidays."
Once they've taken his advice, the veterinarian indicates the children. "We tend to host a lot of young ones for the holiday while their parents volunteer at community events or work."
Benjy hasn't made any move to leave Eugene to join the other kids, snuggled close and watching. He recognizes two of the children that he's met at different times at Beth's house, but the other six he doesn't. Two are teenagers, younger than Kelly, but definitely watching her curiously, and he's glad she won't end up in the no man's land of being too old for the small children and too young for the adults.
Beth notices the curious teens and grins. "Kelly, if you like Uno, I'm sure that Ron and Alice will deal you in. Alice is my neighbor, who watches Benjy for me on Friday nights, and Ron's mother works at Daddy's clinic."
Kelly ventures forward after both kids smile brightly and gather up cards to deal again. Eugene spares a moment of empathy for Alice. He's heard enough of Beth's stories to know that particular parent isn't working or volunteering. At least Alice has the Greenes in her corner, much like he had Connie and her family.
Beth points out the rest of the kids. "Sam is Ron's brother, AJ and Becca are one of our local deputies' kids, and Andre's mom is sort of extended family, too. Henry and Jody are Benjy's cousins."
Eugene translates automatically for Connie, which is tricky around Benjy, but something he should get used to. While he's met Henry and Jody, he can't remember if he explained them clearly to Connie before, so he does now.
"There's a special event today?" he asks, once that's done.
Hershel smiles warmly, attention half on the game of Jenga the four older children are playing while Henry and Andre color. "Beth's boss throws a community Thanksgiving for those who don't have anyone to celebrate with or perhaps are experiencing a little bad luck. It is a tradition as old as Jean owning that cafe."
"You didn't need to help?" Eugene asks Beth, curious. She's so attached to Jean and her family that he actually met Merle before he met Maggie, which happened last night at supper at Beth's.
There was a tension between the sisters, but Beth assured him it had nothing to do with him. By the end of the night, Maggie seemed more settled and their shared attendance of the University of Georgia for undergrad work gave her and Eugene common ground. Whatever it is will work itself out, he supposes.
Beth shakes her head. "Thanksgiving is a paid day off for me, since Jean puts all her boys to work today." With five of them, plus Aaron's husband, he supposes they have plenty of help.
The sound of a car pulling up draws Beth away for a minute, and she returns with a uniformed deputy Eugene recognizes from photos. He's carrying an infant seat and a diaper bag. He's officially introduced as Shane and smiles at Eugene's sisters. The look he levels at Eugene is a little more discerning, but considering the tales he's heard, meeting all of Jean's boys is going to be a requirement. Merle was just the first, and he doubts this counts with Shane.
"Got called in for a double, and Carol took my spot at the cafe. Told her you wouldn't mind one bit looking out for Sophia for a few hours."
It's obviously the truth, because Hershel is already beside him as Shane unfastens the baby's straps. The vet waits with a smile as the deputy tickles the baby before passing her over. Hershel uses the baby exchange to hug Shane.
"You be a good girl for Mister Hershel now, Jellybean. Don't make him call me to take you in for being disorderly now." The baby cackles when he pokes her belly. "Yeah, that sounds like someone planning mischief. Maybe you shouldn't hang around Bethie today."
Shane looks reluctant as he turns away from the baby to Beth and passes off the diaper bag. "Got two bags of milk in the little insulated pocket. Carol should be by around three. She said Sophia can have a little taste of sweet potatoes if she's interested."
Beth takes the bag, brushing a kiss across Shane's cheek. "You best go say hi to Mama before you go. And stay safe tonight. Don't want to hear you had to get sewed up again!"
"Of course," Shane drawls, seeming to answer both requests, before kneeling for hugs from Jody and Henry. Nodding in farewell to Eugene and the girls, he disappears.
Eugene nearly chokes on suppressed laughter at Connie's remark about men in uniform. From the grins she and Beth exchange, he doesn't need to translate. It's a blessing, because saying that in Hershel's hearing range is not on his bucket list.
By the time the meal is on the table, three other adults have joined them. Two are parents of the kids already there, Michonne and Jessie. The last is introduced as Beth's future sister-in-law-in-law. It takes a minute for him to puzzle out a translation, until the older woman has pity on him.
"I'm her sister," Andrea says, pointing at Amy, where she's seated next to Beth's brother. "So Beth says them getting married makes me family, too. Michonne and I are law partners."
The dark skinned woman with dreads salutes them with a dinner roll before passing the overladen basket of bread down the table. The table is overloaded with so much food Eugene isn't sure where to start. "I keep telling them we need to issue a who's who guide to King County for newcomers," Michonne remarks.
Connie finds that amusing at least, and they're seated so that he is across from her. Kelly's at the folding table with the kids old enough to feed themselves, and she seems to be communicating just fine. No one seems phased by the pauses required so Eugene can actually eat, generally keeping conversation to Connie's end of the table where she can read lips, too. The food is amazing, and Eugene tells Annette as much.
"I'm glad you think so, honey, because everyone leaves here with leftovers."
The giggles from her daughters should have warned Eugene. When they do leave, there are enough containers of food that he doesn't think they will need to cook for three or four days. There's even an entire pie for them to share, and specifically for Eugene in flavor. He didn't miss Beth quizzing to find out it was strawberry rhubarb earlier this week.
"Are there always this many?" he asks as Beth helps them to the car.
"Every single year. Mama acts like we'll starve to death without her feeding us, and she doesn't get to see Maggie every week for Sunday dinner. Thanksgiving just gives her extra ducklings to feed."
"You said you have the night off?" Eugene steadily ignores the muffled giggles of their audience.
Beth smiles sweetly. "I do. You want to come over? Or maybe me and Benjy come down?"
He considers both options. As much as his natural inclination is for his own space, Benjy has an early bedtime that will definitely be needed after the day's excitement. "Let me drop them off at home, and I'll drive back up." Eugene hesitates, but she's smiling so happily that he takes the plunge. "I don't have to work tomorrow."
As the implications of what he's hinting hit, that pretty smile turns to a sly grin. "So you might bring an overnight bag?"
When Eugene nods, Beth leans in for a kiss that barely qualifies as appropriate for public. He's more than a little glad his back is to the car. But her enthusiasm washes away any current vestiges of hesitation he has about the decision. "Should be back by five."
A car pulls up, with a pretty brunette climbing out. Beth gives him a quick kiss. "Gonna go quiz Carol about how many heads she turned in that new outfit. She looks nice, doesn't she?"
Eugene supposes she does. The gray sweater drapes over a red plaid skirt, and instead of hose, she's wearing leggings and ankle boots. When his memory places her as the baby's mother, he also understands Beth's excitement. "You mean you want to know if a particular deputy noticed her."
The look of mock innocence makes him laugh as she trails after the other woman toward the farmhouse. He gets into the car, only to meet two very amused stares. "Oh, hush, both of you."
That works so well that they both laugh all the way back to the main road. Sisters! Not that he would trade them for anything.
Panic sets in once he's home and facing that overnight bag he's supposed to take. Just when he's about talked himself out of going, Connie comes into his room and drops his travel toiletry kit into the bag. Smirking, she reveals the box in her other hand before adding it, too.
Didn't figure you bought any recently.
More like never, he thinks, staring at the box of condoms. There's probably a shudder factor to a woman he considers his sister giving those to him, but Eugene long since ignores social norms where Connie having his back is concerned.
Thank you.
Staying the night doesn't have to mean sex. I think she would also be happy just to have you stay.
He sighs. I can't let Sarah shadow my life forever.
Good. Connie smiles and reaches out to close the bag. Now get on your way before she starts worrying you changed your mind.
At the front door, she snags his wrist briefly. I meant it. She loves you. Make sure she knows it is mutual.
Nodding mutely, Eugene heads for the car, wishing Beth lived closer for the dozenth time. Most of the time, that is because he's excited to see her. Tonight, it's a mixture of anticipation and fear of change that both war for dominance during the drive.
When his anxious mind stutters through statistics about birth control failure, Eugene is glad he's arriving so he can pull over at last. Taking deep breaths to center himself, he looks up to see Beth on her porch. Benjy's doing the same happy dance as earlier.
The sight settles all the chaos of his mind. It's only been six weeks since his first accidental date with Beth, but it feels like six months with all the time they've spent together. He's met her family, she's met his, and everyone seems quite happy with the idea of them together. Most importantly, Benjy likes him, and he won't hesitate to admit the boy has wiggled right into his heart even faster than his mama.
Eugene is certain there is little incentive that can make him willingly give up either of them at this point. Whatever tonight ends up being, every path to his future leads right to this small house and the beautiful woman waiting for him with her son.
A/N: one last chapter after this one.