Kate wakes up in the middle of the night, startled by a loud sound.
"Babe, What's up?" Emaline sat up from her side of the bed.
"First, you know I love it when you call me babe. Secondly, I think I just heard a noise from downstairs."
"Huh?"
They both got out of bed, and walked cautiously down the stairs.
"Hello, is anybody down here?" Kate asks.
"Looks like it's clear, babe." Emaline replies.
"Emaline Jane Addario, if you call me babe one more time..." Kate got interrupted by Emaline giggling softly and kissing her.
Ken and Sherry sat at the dining table, Ken's mouth wide open.
"Sherry?" He whispers. "What?"
She laughs, and patted him on the back.
Kate and Emaline moved away from each other.
"Wanna go back upstairs, maybe continue this?" Kate asked Emaline.
"Uhh, babe...turn around." Her eyes were wide open.
"What?" Kate turned around to see her her Dad, looking shocked, and Sherry smiling.
"You know, I'm not even going to lie this time, we were kissing." Kate says to Ken and Sherry.
"Dad, come with me." Ken could barely stand up as he followed Kate.
Emaline took a seat next to Sherry, looking concerned.
"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine." Sherry reassured her.
"Dad, let's start from the beginning of the year." Kate said when they were alone. "First, that magazine you caught me with in my bedroom, I was actually using for... more traditionally male purposes." Ken choked on his own spit. "Secondly, when Luke took me to that Tori Amos concert, I saw two women, dancing and kissing. It taught me that I don't have to be a freak, I don't have to be the weirdo just because... I'm a lesbian. Love is perfectly normal, and the people who surround me don't get to dictate who I can and can't love. I've spent most of my life denying these feelings, but when I got to know Emaline, the real Emaline for all she is, I just couldn't hold back any more. We had this moment at Dominguez Rocks, and that just sealed the deal. And the movie premiere, you know why I was smiling, why you said I was glowing? Because during the after party she took me on the auditorium stage, turned on music, danced with me and kissed me, all because we couldn't do it in the gym. Because we were afraid to get judged. Because we were afraid to get "dyke" spray painted on our lockers like she did to me earlier. We love each other. I love her. And I really hope you still love me too."
Kate and Ken were both crying, and Ken gave her a big hug.
"Of course I still love you, sweetie. Nothing could ever stop making me love you."
"I love you Dad."
They stopped crying, and Ken wiped up his tears.
"We should get going out there. They're probably wondering what happened to us." Ken says.
Before they step out of the hallway, Ken has a realization.
"Were you two really putting makeup on?"
"In a way, yes."
Ken's face twisted up of embarrassment.
"And her neck-"
"You know what Dad, some things are just better left unsaid."
"I don't even smoke, and I'm going to need a cigarette after tonight."
They both walk out to the dining table, smiling, to see Emaline and Sherry sitting there, Emaline playing with the cuff of her sleeve in nervousness.
"Emaline, do you want to reintroduce yourself?" Kate asked, and Emaline smiled so hard she thought she tore a muscle in her face.
"Hello, Mr. Messner. I'm Emaline, theatre nerd, a former asshole trying to be a better person, and Kate's girlfriend. In a homosexual way." They all laughed.
"Nice to meet you, Emaline. Welcome to the family. If you hurt my daughter you will never see the light of day again."
"I promise I won't." Emaline smiled.
Ken let out a sigh. "All right you two, have a good night. And no funny business."
"Sir Messner, i cannot promise thee anything. Thy face of your daughter is enough to send me into a fever of love."
Ken glared at Emaline.
"Yes, sir." Emaline took Kate's hand, and they walked up the stairs together.
"I think that's the first time I've ever been intimidating."
"Ken, I don't think anybody was intimidated." Sherry replied, and they both giggled.