"So, what are you now, like, owner?" Lisa called to Jackson as she stood in her closet picking out some clothes.

"Kind of, yeah," he called back from the bathroom. "Bit more complicated, though." His voice grew closer as he joined Lisa in the walk-in. He pulled a sweater from a hanger and held it out to her.

"Wear this one," he offered innocently. "You look so pretty in blue."

"Why, thank you," Lisa rewarded him with a peck on the lips. "But I'm still not letting you bring your knife."

"Li-sa," he whined. "I'm seriously afraid your dad's going to pull a Kill Bill on me. The guy hates me. I need to be prepared."

"Jackson, you can't slash my dad," Lisa laughed."If he hits you you're just going to have to deal with it. But you guys have something huge in common you should get along great."

"And what's that?" Jackson pressed indignantly.

"Me," Lisa smiled innocently at him.

"Exactly," Jackson argued. "These meetings are hard anyway. But when your dad finds out that he's handing over his baby girl to a man who threatened both of their lives before he's going to want to hurt me."

"Yeah, well," Lisa shrugged. "You didn't have to threaten me on that plane." Jackson laughed and grabbed her by her waist, kissing her passionately.

She broke away for a split second to say, "Now, you didn't have to do that, either, but I must admit I'm glad you did."

They pulled up in front of Joe's house an hour later. Lisa pulled the keys from the ignition and looked at Jackson.

"Please, Jackson-"

"I know, Lisa."

"I mean it-"

"Jesus, Lisa, I'll be a good boy," he snapped, climbing out of the car. They apprehensively rang the doorbell and waited. Joe answered it a few moments later. He looked angry, but as if he were trying to stay calm.

"Hi, Daddy!" Lisa cried cheerfully, hugging him and pecking him on the cheek. "Thanks for having us!"

"Hmph," Joe said in acknowledgement, glaring at Jackson. Jackson awkwardly shoved his hands into his pockets.

"You said you had something to tell me," Joe said irritably. "You said he'd be coming with you. Now what I want to know is, what the hell is going on and should I call the cops."

"Daddy, calm down," Lisa replied sweetly. "Now, are you going to let us in or do we need to discuss this in front of the entire neighborhood?"

Joe shot another begrudging look at Jackson but let them in.

"Something-uh, smells good," Jackson said gruffly as they walked inside. Lisa smiled broadly at him.

"What are you cooking, Dad?" Lisa asked, taking off her jacket.

"Lasagna," he informed them. Lisa fought back a laugh and looked up at Jackson. His eyes were filled with mirth.

"What?" Joe snapped. Lisa snapped her gaze back to her father.

"Nothing."

"Let's sit in the living room, have some drinks before we eat," Joe sighed, trying to be polite.

Jackson gingerly sat on the couch in the spacious living room and looked around. Lisa sat next to him and he took her hand. Upon seeing the angry look Joe shot him, he dropped it.

"Your house is...very nice, Mr. Reisert," Jackson said politely. Suck up, Lisa thought humorously.

"Especially considering I nearly killed you on the floor of it when you were last here," Joe said coldly.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Lisa bit her lip and cleared her throat.

"Well...um...Dad...I...I have something to tell you," Lisa said quickly, nervously glancing at Jackson. "And...you're not going to like it, but...you need to realize that I'm an adult and am capable of making my own decisions."

"What, Lisa?"

"Well, I...I'm...getting married," she stuttered. Joe looked shocked, and then confused, and finally scandalized.

"To him? Lisa, what the hell? How long has this been going on?" Joe yelled, standing up. Lisa rose quickly and Jackson took her arm.

"A...a year," she muttered, feeling ashamed. Joe fell quiet and incredulously searched her face.

"A year," he shook his head. "You dated the man who nearly killed both of us for a year and you couldn't find the time to tell your father."

"Dad, I'm sorry," Lisa said sincerely. "I knew you'd take it this way, and...I have to admit, I was a bit...afraid."

"Why, Lisa? Did he threaten to kill me if you didn't sleep with him? Is that it?" Joe snapped. Jackson took an angry step forward.

"Excuse me, Joe, but as Lisa said, she is fully capable of making her own decisions," Jackson said loudly.

"Well, if you're forcing her into this by threatening the life of someone she cares about she's obviously going to comply!" Joe yelled.

"Dad, come on, it's not like that!" Lisa cried. "Why don't you trust me? I love him."

"You don't know what love is, Lisa," Joe responded. There was a moment of silence as Lisa angrily stared her father in the eye. Then she took Jackson's arm.

"Come on, Jackson, we're leaving," Lisa snapped, leaving the room. "Until my father decides that I'm adult enough to judge what I do with the rest of my life."

Lisa didn't say another word to her father as they left the house.

"Lisa!" he called. "Lisa, come on..."

She ignored him as they got in the car. The short drive home was silent, and it wasn't until they'd pulled up outside Lisa's apartment until Jackson spoke again.

"Next time can I bring my knife?"