Lightning stumbled downstairs to the smell of ambrosia, that is to say frying bacon. He'd not eaten a home cooked meal in a very long time. The closest he got to home cooked was a frozen meal or instant mixes from the store. His mouth was watering and he'd almost made it to the bottom stair when the sound of thumping made him turn around.
The lanky form of Cal came rushing down the stairs, his blonde hair sticking up everywhere. He looked every bit the hobo in the morning. Lightning smirked to himself at the rumpled teen, until he tripped halfway down the stairs and rammed into him. The pair went sprawling and landed in a tangled heap at the bottom of the stairs. Hearty laughter startled the two boys out of their dazed state.
"Well, this is a sight to wake up to." Strip stood over the boys with a grin on his face the size of a mountain.
"Uncle Strip?" Cal sheepishly looked up at his uncle from under Lightning.
"Need help boys?"
"Please? He's…heavy." Cal grunted.
"Hey! You're not so light yourself." The teasing words slipped from Lightning before he could stop them.
"What? You're like a ton or something." Cal stuttered.
"Good comeback Cal," Lightning smirked as he untangled himself from the heap and dusted himself off.
"That's not fair." Cal whined and shot a glare at the redhead. "He was standing in the way."
"None of that Cal," Lynda called from the kitchen.
"How did she hear that?" Cal whispered and made a scared face at his uncle.
"She knows everything," Strip mock whispered as he pushed Cal towards the kitchen. "Don't forget it Cal." He ruffled the teen's hair.
"Uncle Striiiiiiiiip," He whined and ducked away from his uncle's hand.
"Your hair can't possibly get worse." Lightning muttered only to receive a glare from Cal.
"You'll have to forgive Cal. He's not a morning person sometimes." Lynda turned from the stove to smile at the boys. "Have a seat."
"Morning Lyn," Strip himself looked a little groggy but he meandered over to his wife and promptly kissed her on the cheek.
"Morning," She pecked him on the cheek before turning back to the bacon frying.
Lighting stood awkwardly in the doorway watching the three Weathers'. It was all so cozy and sweet, he felt out of place. He glanced at the food already on the table and decided that the awkwardness of breakfast wasn't worth the food. Ever so carefully he backed out of the room, he'd almost made it out of the kitchen when Lynda stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going young man?" The Weathers matriarch marched over with a threatening looking egg turner in her hand.
"Um…"
"There's no time for beating around the bush." She waved the turner close to his face.
"Better go, she's a master with that thing." Strip innocently commented before receiving a light glare from his wife. "I love you too Lynda."
"You just hush-up and eat those eggs before they get cold. We have to hit the road soon. Racers have to be some of the slowest eating people I know." She muttered before taking a seat and shooting Lightning a firm look.
There was no escaping the control of Lynda Weathers, so Lightning caved and found a seat beside Cal. He glanced at the teen and smirked, he was shoveling food so fast he was sure he was going to choke. The image reinforced his theory that the Weathers picked the kid up out of a bin…or it might have been a dog shelter, the kid looked a lot like a shaggy puppy. Shaking himself from his imagination he focused on his meal and tried to keep from dreading the trip. He stabbed a sausage as his mind drifted to the thought that his summer couldn't possibly get any worse.
Five hours in a car and he was feeling smothered, Cal had already fallen asleep on him and was using him as a human body pillow. The kid was clinging to him like ugly on Chick Hicks. He'd tried about fifty times to pry him loose but had finally given up. He let his head rest against the window and he watched the scenery zip by at a dizzying speed. A frown was plastered on his face as he pondered as to where their first stop was, the Weathers hadn't given any clue and it was annoying him. Ever so slowly his racing mind began to settle as he let sound of the road beneath the car lull him to sleep.
"He's finally asleep, Strip." Lynda glanced back at the boys with a small smile.
"Ok, so what did you want to tell me Detective?" Strip smirked at the road ahead of him.
"Now don't go ruining my fun," She smacked his arm lightly. "I found some stuff out about baby face in the back."
"Lyn…" His tone was low and concerned.
"I just find it suspicious how practically all his records are sealed. Thankfully I have friends in high places."
"Sometimes there are things in people's pasts that they just don't want dredged up. We should respect that. And how on earth did you get into his personal files?"
"I pulled some favors."
"So that's why you've been feeding me directions little by little? You're taking us on a 'treasure hunt' for information on Lightning. I don't like it Lyn."
"You're worried about him just as much as I am. He needs someone looking out for him."
"And you've volunteered us for the job, right?" Strip sounded amused but not surprised.
"Yes, now make a left and get onto the interstate. We're headed to Georgia."
"Georgia? It's hot there though." He fake whined.
"Toughen up you old coot. A little heat won't hurt ya."
"Lightning isn't going to like our snooping."
"That means we just have to be extra careful."
"You're impossible. If I told people that you like to snoop they would never believe me."
"I don't snoop. I'm just inquisitive and I want to help Lightning. He needs us."
"Lynda… We already are raising Cal and Lightning is a grownup." He could tell she was having motherly longings again. His heart ached at the thought of a child of their own. "Lynda, this is the exit to the nearest hospital."
"Yes, um, sorry this is the wrong turn, we'll only need to take an exit like this in about six months." Her voice was casual.
"Six months?" Strip sounded utterly confused and he glanced over to her. "Are you alright? Are you sick? I can take the exit to the hospital?"
"No you old billy goat. I'm fine, we're going to need that exit in six months… because we're going to be parents."
The tires squealed and the car jerked to the side as Strip swerved the side of the road and promptly parked. It seemed that the Weathers road trip was off to a lurching start filled with discoveries.