This is a long one to make up for my absence. I won't lie and say I will do better because I probably won't, but I can honestly say I love these stories and the characters and I plan to continue writing them until they come to their natural end. Fav, follow and review!
Christian
Elliot, Ethan, dad, and I excuse ourselves to the corner bar as my mom, Mia, and Kate begin to talk about our yearly Christmas trip.
"I hear Teddy brought a girl home" dad says as I pour our drinks.
"Not just any girl by EJ and Emma's text" Ethan laughs into his drink. "The 'most beautiful' I believe they both said"
"She is alright, I suppose" I say amicably.
"Don't listen to him he is blinded from nearly two decades of staring adoringly at Ana" Elliot jests. I roll my eyes at him. I grit my teeth as I see Teddy enter the living room in a turtle neck.
"Oh, Teddy bear I have missed you" my mother shrieks before flinging herself at him in a fit of kisses and hugs.
"Okay grandma" he says extracting himself from her grip only to be met with Mia engulfing him.
"EJ has been complaining since fall break, you can't stay away that long" she says hugging him tightly.
"I will try" he says diplomatically. "I am just busy with school."
"I understand" she says nodding.
"I have been looking for you" I insert during a break in their conversation. He glances in my direction and shrugs. FUCKING SHRUGS.
"I was around" he offers. I begin to argue, but I am cut short by Emma literally dragging Joni in to the living room.
"G-ma, look at my hair" she says craning her neck to and fro. "Joni did it."
"I am Joni" Joni says standing awkwardly in front of my mother.
"That is really lovely Emma, Joni did a great job" she says indulgently. "It is very nice to meet you Joni."
"You too Dr. Grey" she says waving slightly.
"Please call me Grace" mom offers, always a saint.
"Joni, let me introduce you to my family" Teddy offers moving to her side. He'd been making his way in that direction since she came into the room. By the time they come over to the bar he had his arms wrapped around her waist nuzzling her neck. "These are my Uncles Elliot and Ethan and my grandfather Carrick."
"It is nice to meet all of you, Teddy has told me a lot about you" Joni says shaking their hands.
"Dinner is ready" Anna announces ushering everyone into the dining room. She pulls me aside allowing everyone else to enter before us.
"Why does it seem that Teddy doesn't know about his east coast CPO?" she asks quietly. "You said that you spoke to him about it."
"I did and he was unreasonable" I reason.
"Christian you didn't" she says glaring at me.
"Didn't what?" I ask incredulously. "Protect our son? Yes, Ana, yes I did."
"You know that is not what I was going to say" she hisses. I place my hand on her lower back and guide her into the dining room effectively ending the conversation.
"Wait why is Joni sitting next to Uncle Elliot instead of Teddy?" Emma asks once everyone s seated.
"Oh Gail must have made a mistake" Ana answers.
"No" I interject. "I thought that this would be a good opportunity for everyone to mingle."
"Mingle?" Ana asks skeptically. I nod smiling.
"Besides Elliot also speaks Spanish" I add knowing my brother would jump at the opportunity to converse with someone outside his construction site. Elliot waits until everyone is settled before striking up a conversation with Joni in Spanish. Throughout dinner Teddy's eyes return to Joni and Elliot who are leaning into each other laughing. Teddy's face mirrors Kate's, she is sitting next to him across from the new fast friends, scowling openly. We are nearly through dinner and Teddy has been sulking throughout the whole meal.
Teddy
What could they possibly have to talk about for nearly an hour? Joni has barely spared me a glance, but she has been talking non-stop with Uncle Elliot. I should have learned Spanish instead of French I grumble internally as I watch them lean in closer and closer.
"Teddy… Teddy… TEDDY" grandma Grace all but yells to get my attention.
"Yes, G-ma?" I answer pulling my eyes away from Joni and Elliot. My mom thought the word grandmother was too formal s I have called Grandma Grace G-ma since birth with the younger grandchildren all following suit.
"I asked how school is going" she repeats.
"It's fine G-ma" I answer moving my food around my plate.
"That's nice" she says slowly. "And you Joni?"
"It's quite lovely" she answers still smiling from something Uncle Elliot has said. "I am really enjoying my time in the states."
"That's fantastic" G-ma exclaims.
"What's your favorite part?" Emma asks sitting on Joni's left.
"The people" she says smiling at me. "The people here have been so kind. Once a man bought my mom and me a whole new wardrobe because he liked our accent, but my father made us return everything. He wasn't as honorable as we first thought."
"Wasn't he an adult film maker?" Phoebe asks.
"What's an adult film maker?" EJ asks.
"A person who makes movies that aren't in movie theaters because they are bad and nobody wants to watch them" Joni answers quickly.
"Nice save" Ava snorts.
"Teddy, do you have any suggestions for the Christmas trip?" Aunt Mia asks too enthusiastically even for her.
"I don't know" I say slowly "J" I bark slightly louder than is required. Her eyes snap to mine, but she doesn't turn away from Uncle Elliot. "What do you want to do for Christmas?"
"I am going to Guatemala to help one of my professors record one of their dying languages" she answers before turning her attention back to Uncle Elliot. Her head snaps back towards me a second later. "Did you just kick me under the table?"
"When were you going to tell me about Guatemala?" he asks ignoring her question.
"I told you about it you said, and I quote 'that's great babe" she says around a glaring at me. "'Let's get back to the whole you kicking me thing."
"My foot slipped" I answer. "And I said that about the idea not you actually going." I didn't think she would actually get it, I mean she is a freshman.
"Teddy let's have this discussion later in private" she urges scanning the room.
"No need, you aren't going" I says with finality.
Joni
"Excuse me?" I ask slowly wiping my mouth.
"Joni what will happen to us when you are across the world?" he asks glaring at me.
"There are things such as cell phones and video streaming which has kept relationships alive for decades" I explain.
"What if I find someone in real life while you are off having the time of your life?" he asks harshly. His face falls the moment the words has left his mouth. "I didn't mean…"
"Let's stop here before one of us says something else they will regret" I say slowly sitting up straight in my seat. I am a mixture of livid and heart broken, but right now, in front of his family, neither of those matter.
"Where is the pie?" Phoebe asks breaking the awkward silence that has fallen over the table.
"Who cares about pie when we have a telenovela unfolding in front of us?" Ava asks her eyes darting quickly between Teddy and I.
"No, telenovela here" I say casting a smile in her direction. Everyone at the table begin to talk louder to dissipate the awkwardness in the air.
"My nephew is spoilt, but he means well" Elliot says to me in Spanish. All night he has been telling me stories about Teddy growing up, some embarrassing most endearing. It is nice to hear stories about him as a child, to picture home growing into the man I love.
"He basically said that our relationship isn't strong enough to last a month" I answer him in Spanish, keeping my tone conversational even though my insides feel like molten lava.
"He didn't mean what if he found someone else, he meant what if you found someone else" he says. I cut my eyes to him and raise an eyebrow. "I have been deciphering my brother for over four decades now, my nephew is a piece of cake. He loves you, he told me so."
"I thought he hadn't told anyone about us" I say looking down at my plate.
"He's told me" he says emphatically. "You think he came up with your first date to the Mapparium all by himself?"
"Until now, yes" I say distractedly. Teddy took me to a three-story-tall globe made of stained glass in a library in Boston. It was amazing, we had a picnic on a 30-foot-long bridge that spanned the globe his house keeper made it, but he packed all of my favorite junk foods and even some ginger beer. He'd reserved it or the day so we had it all to our selves. We talked for hours about places we'd been and wanted to go.
"Nope he had a little help from yours truly" he boasts pride fully.
"Why would he say it if he didn't mean it?" I argue.
"Because he, like his father, sucks at this whole relationship thing" he says waving his hand dismissively. "That doesn't make it right and I am not saying you should forgive him right this moment, just give him the opportunity to grovel."
"I will think about it" I sigh. I don't know what makes me confide in him, but there is just something about his laid back personality and the slightly mischievous glint in his green eyes that makes me trust him.
"Don't think about it for too long Teddy looks about ready to self-implode" he says nodding his head in Teddy's direction. I try to look casual glancing over at him, but am met with intense blue eyes. He is blatantly staring at me, I have to look away because it's so intense, but when my eyes make their way back to him he is still staring.
"How about some coffee?" Ana suggests rising to go into the kitchen.
"No, mom" Teddy stops her quickly rising. "You sit, Joni and I will help Gail with the coffee. You have been working hard all day to make this amazing meal it is the least we can do."
Well I can't say no to that, could I? I smile politely at Ana before rising to head to the kitchen. Teddy is on my heels the entire way. When we enter the kitchen he informs Gail that everyone is ready for coffee, but instead of moving to help he grabs my wrist and drags me to their back yard.
"J, I am sorry" he says in a huff running his free hand through his hair.
"You have said that a lot today" I answer monotone shaking off his hand and walking away from him. It felt odd to be walking away and not towards him.
"I know and I am sor…" he cuts himself off. I feel him standing behind me.
"Do not touch me" I demand when he tries to wrap his arm around me.
"Joni don't do that" he urges turning me around, but letting his arms drop as soon as we are face to face.
"Stop telling me what to do" I bite out through gritted teeth.
"Ok" he sighs pulling on his hair. "What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing" I reply trying to walk past him. He holds his arm out, but doesn't touch me. Smart man.
"There has to be something" he urges. "You are mad at me and I don't like it.
"Well you should have thought of that before you said you don't love me enough to wait one month for me to come back" I growl trying again in vain to move around him. "Teddy we are supposed to be helping Gail, 'it's the least we could do' remember" I say mockingly.
"I said that because I was angry" he insists spreading out his arms to keep me from escaping. I could take him down, one swift kick to his shin or downward punch to his groin and he will be incapacitated. "I am…"
"Sorry" I yell interrupting him. "I got it. Just because you are done apologizing doesn't mean I am done hurting."
"Joni…"
"How could you say that?" I ask barely keeping the pain from my voice. "I never once thought that we would not be together, but you just said it so cavalierly, as if you have thought about it before."
"I was hurt because you said you were going to leave me for a whole month and it didn't bother you" he snaps throwing up his arms. "You said it like going weeks without seeing, touching or being with me was perfectly fine for you, but guess what Joni, I am not oh-fucking-kay with it. You belong here beside me, with me. How am I going to hold you when you are in Guatemala? How am I going to take care of you?"
"Teddy I don't need you to take care of me" I whisper. "You knew who I was before we ever stated dating. You know how much I love to travel and experience new things. This is who I am; you knew this, I want to see the world."
"I am not trying to stop that, J, truly I am not" he says stuffing his hands in his pocket looking defeated. "I just thought that when you were seeing the world you would be seeing it with me."
I don't know what to say. He sounds so broken it makes me want to give in and forgive him, but my heart is still hurting. I hear my mother's voice chastising me for being stubborn.
"I want that too" I say after a long silence. He perks up and looks hopeful.
"So where does that leave us?" he asks moving closer. His fingers skim the bottom of my dress.
"Why don't you think we can make it a month without seeing each other?" I ask needing the answer before I can move on.
"To go from seeing you nearly every day to not at all or only when you have good signal that's not enough" he admits timidly. "I want to hold you" he says wrapping his arms around me. "I want to smell you" he buries his face into my hair and breathes deeply. "I don't think I can make it a month without you" he whispers so low I almost miss it.
"But you will find someone else" I throw back at him letting a single tear fall. Just one that's it I vow.
"I was stupid to say that" he groans. He wipes away my tear and kisses the trail its left. "You are one in a million."
"Well there are nearly seven point five billion people of earth so your chances aren't completely shot" I say holding on to the last bit of my anger.
"But there is only one Joni Alina Camila Townes and I love her" he says. "I love her so much that I don't want to go a day without her let alone a month, but if this is truly what you want I will support you."
"That is what you should have said at the dinner table" I mutter relaxing into his chest.
"I was an ass" he admits into my hair.
"Yes, you were" I retort. "We have had our first and second fight in the past twelve hours" I inform him.
"It's usually effortless, but this trip is bringing out the worst in us" he mumbles.
"Or bringing out our true selves" I say dishearteningly. "What if this is who we truly are and we have been fooling ourselves into thinking this could work?"
"We have been fooling ourselves for seven months?" he argues. "J I am a controlling jerk and you are a whimsical fairy we knew this going in we just haven't had to face our relationship around people whose opinions actually matter to us. There isn't a single person at Harvard who can tell me about us, but with my family knowing about you it makes me feel like I have to hold on to you tighter or you might run away."
"Teddy the more you try to control me the more I feel I need to run" I explain. "I want to be your partner not your subordinate.
"You are right" he sighs.
"I am sorry, say that again" I demand cupping my ear.
"You are right" he repeats begrudgingly nipping at my ear. I use both arms to push him away.
"You don't get to be an arse to me and then return to Asgard" I clarify. "You have to earn your home back."
"And how do I do that?" he asks as I walk back towards the house.
"I don't know yet" I tell him. "But it may help I you whisper sweet nothing in her ear" I purr smirking as his eyes go black.
"Joni if you lift your dress I will phone home like ET" he declares making me laugh.
As we walk into the kitchen we are met by every member in his family trying to look casual in the kitchen. At least Ana and Grace had the decency to blush.
"You two love birds made up?" his Uncle asks in Spanish while wagging his eyebrows at us.
"A little" I inform him in English grabbing Teddy's hand.
"A little what?" Teddy asks wrapping his arms around me.
"Oh he is so jealous" Elliot mocks continuing in Spanish. He throws a wink in my direction and I can't help the giggle that erupts.
"He isn't the only one" I say switching to Spanish and eying his wife who is glaring openly at him. When Elliot turns and sees the look on Kate's face his smile drops. He follows quickly after her as she stomps out of the kitchen. Ava looked after them before sighing and returning her interest to her phone.
"I know how she feels" Teddy grumbles into my hair.
"Your Uncle was nice to talk to" I say fully expecting Elliot to avoid me for the rest of the night.
"I am sure he was" Teddy continues to grumble. I look up at him and see that he is in fact hosting a green eyed monster of his own.
"He told me that you were anti-clothes until the age of five" I inform him.
"You guys talked about me" he asks turning an adorable shade of red.
"We sure did; I believe he said something about pictures" I tease trying to expel his wayward thoughts. Why would I wonder from my soulmate?
Elliot
I sigh as I pass Ana and Mia heading towards the bathroom that Kate has decided to lock herself in. I spent the last ten minutes outside of the door doing everything I could to get her to open the door; from pleading with my wife to arguing that I would never be interested in a girl two years older than our daughter, but she never budged. As I enter the great room I see the twins hanging off of every word Joni says like it is a sermon, she even managed to get Ava to put down her phone and I know from experience that that is a miracle in of itself. I scan the room and immediately zero in on my brother.
"Thanks a lot for getting me in trouble" I gripe moving to the bar next to him. "I merely sat you next to her" he retorts. "You are the one who carried on a two hour conversation with her."
"Hey man she is funny, unlike you" I defend. "She is really quick with the come backs. I actually had to think on my feet a few times."
"Just a few?" dad jests.
"Hahaha" I retort. I move to sit down on the couch, but stop when I see how close the only available spot is to Joni.
"Don't tell me you are scared of a little girl?" Christian quips seeing my hesitation.
"I am not scared of her, I am scared of my wife killing me because of her" I explain leaving to go into the kitchen. I want to live another day thank you very much…