A/N: 11/20/2021

Hello, all! Back again! Elisa has decided to tell her parents the truth about her and Goliath!

Family Bonds – Part 3

Elisa knew she needed to tell her parents about her and Goliath. That much was absolutely clear. It was only right, it was only fair. How she would go about it was the issue. Elisa finally made the decision that there was no easy way to do it. She needed to face this head-on, and whatever happened would happen.

Elisa called her parents, asking them if she could come over. As Elisa expected when she arrived, her mother had cooked dinner for her. After they ate dinner and sat around making small talk for a while, Elisa could sense that her parents suspected there was more to this visit.

Elisa took a sip of coffee then set the cup down. "You both know that I know that you know I have to talk to you about something. Right?"

"We figured you did," Diane admitted. "You very seldom call ahead for no reason."

"What's going on, Elisa?" Peter asked.

"I won't lie," Elisa began. "It's… big. Really big."

"Big how?"

"Big good. But big scary."

"You got a promotion?" Diane asked, excitedly.

"Uhhh, no," Elisa said, nervously. "It's big… in my personal life."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Are you seeing someone?"

"Yeah."

"He's not a cop, is he?"

"Nope. He absolutely isn't."

"Elisa?" Diane asked. "What's going on?"

Elisa took one more deep breath. "Well… it's Goliath."

Peter and Diane froze in their seats, regarding Elisa with blank expressions as their minds raced to comprehend that. They were frozen so long Elisa started to become concerned.

"Mom?" Elisa asked. "Dad. Umm… are you okay?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Diane shook her head. "You mean the… winged gargoyle, right?"

"That's him!" Elisa feigned a nervous smile.

Peter groaned and rubbed his eyes, "Elisa…"

"I know!" Elisa said, exasperatedly. "But we're talking about the problems we'll have to deal with all the time. We know we have a lot to consider and a lot of issues to deal with!"

"It's not just that, Elisa," Diane proclaimed. "He… deals with so much danger."

"I'm a cop in New York, Mom."

"And that doesn't ease my nerves in any way. But he's…" Diane stopped herself. "It's just…"

"I can pretty much figure out everything you're trying not to say," Elisa pointed out.

"I don't want to offend you. Or him."

"No matter what you say, I'm sure he's heard it before."

"But I don't want to offend him," Diane repeated. "He's… actually very kind."

Elisa smiled. "Very."

"You really do seem to be affectionate toward him," Peter noted.

Elisa just shrugged.

Peter sighed. "Alright, I've got nothing against him either. He's… actually not bad. But… I just… need to know. Can you just tell us why, Elisa. Why him? I know you're not entirely for dating to begin with. You've always been so focused on your career. So, why the change? What is it about him?"

Elisa exhaled. "It's… just… him. He's… been there for me, through everything. I learned to trust him. I learned he was trustworthy. He became a friend. And… every single night… he became more and more." She stared at her parents. "I love him."

Peter and Diane jerked their heads back. They expected a lot of things. That wasn't one of them. The Maza parents looked at each other then back at Elisa.

"You know this road is bordering on impossible," Peter pointed out.

"I know," Elisa admitted. "But… I'm too scared to lose him. That fear absolutely outweighs the fear of what could happen if we're not together. We have so much to work through. But we want to and we're going to. Together. I would love it if you both could support me on this. But… honestly… I understand if you don't. Or can't yet. I don't mean any disrespect… but whether you do or don't… it's not going to stop us. We're going to do this. And see it through until the end."

Peter and Diane stared into Elisa's eyes and could see it.

She was serious.

Diane chuckled. "Gonna be hard to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner."

"We'll make it work," Elisa laughed.

"I don't understand all of this," Peter admitted. "But… you've always known the right thing to do, Elisa. I'm still not sure. It's my job to worry. But if this is what you want, you've got my support."

"Thanks, Dad." Elisa looked at her mother, "And you, Mom. Me and Goliath want this, just… we know it'll be insanely difficult."

"I won't lie," Peter said, "I'm terrified for you, Elisa."

"I know. I am, too."

"But you honestly believe it's worth it?" Diane asked.

"With every bit of my heart," Elisa declared.

Peter shrugged, "Then what can we do to stop you? We love you, Elisa. If this is what you want, we'll be with you."

"If we can help at all, Elisa," Diane said, "please, let us know."

"And keep us in the loop. I get you can't tell us everything but… try and tell us as much as possible."

"I will," Elisa said. "I promise." She smiled. "And thank you."