Author's Note: This took longer to write since I had initially started an Emily Michelle Brewer fic, but had decided to change it to a different character instead. So instead I decided to write David Michael first. Since he still lives in Stoneybrook I figured I could put references so some of the other kids that he's friends with easier. Yes, Ohdner is a real character from the books, it was more in passing and we never see the girls sit for them so I thought it was an opportunity to take. The Brewer house doesn't have a widow's walk as far as I know but I thought it would fit with the mansion aesthetic.
Happy reading!
David Michael Thomas, or just David now, felt the tug on the leash to walk faster. His Australian shepherd named Shadow sniffing the street at every possible angle. Around them the leaves had turned golden and red. He yawned remembering that he had to be home by a certain time tonight. Across the street he waved to Charlotte Pike walking her dog and Alan Gray with his. It was awesome that he knew everyone just within walking distance.
"Hey," said a voice from behind him.
The leash ended up pulling him forward before he could turn to look.
"Meg!" he said finally turning around to see her and kissed her.
She kissed him back and giggled as her dog met with his. Together they continued their walk past Bradford Court and back to his house on Slate Street. His girlfriend Megan lived not that much farther away on Elm Street.
"So what should I wear tonight?" asked Meg.
Her real name was Megan Ohdner. His sister Kristy and her friends used to baby-sit sometimes for the family. Megan and her sister Amber once had the measles leaving Mallory Pike to sit for them. Aside from that David didn't really know them much growing up. Megan was two grades younger than him and Amber a grade ahead of him.
David had shrugged.
"I don't care, you're meeting my family maybe something comfy. It's also a goodbye party for my sister too."
"Come on, I just want to look nice. Would a dress be too much? Or keep it casual with jeans? Or something in-between?"
Great, something he didn't know but smiled anyway.
"You look good in anything, just maybe in-between."
Meg just elbowed him lightly and nodded understanding that. He walked her to her front door on Elm walking past his house. After talking some he kissed her goodbye once more and walked Shadow back home. David let him run around the house and looked around himself. One day he and Meg were going to be sharing this house.
He had plans to propose later in the month. David and Meg had talked about it and had some idea of what to do. The only thing he had to do was ask and show her the ring. Tonight, was the night she would meet his full family. Charlie and Sam had never met her before while everyone else had. Just in time before Emily left for Vietnam.
David hummed to himself and got ready to leave for work. Today his veterinary practice (the perks of majoring in business and veterinary school) was opened for about five hours, which usually went by quickly. Which thankfully it did again today. He didn't have many people coming in anyone. Mrs. Kilbourne brought in her cat, Mackie Lowell brought in his parakeet, and Kristy with her dog reminding him that she was going to be there tonight.
Oh boy, he thought, looking at his closet before pulling out a new pair of jeans. Then a vertical white and gray button down top. That looked fine, he thought, and gave Shadow a few pats before leaving Hope Felder to pet sit.
"Ready?" he asked with Megan in the seat next to him.
"As I'll ever be," she said with a small nod.
Then he drove up to the mansion as she was staring out the window. In a way it was kind of sad to be driving to this side of down. The Papadakis family gone, the Hsu's scattered, and the Stevenson home empty once again. The only people who remained was the Kormans and he wasn't that close to Bill. He grabbed the going away present from the backseat. Then made sure that the ring box was in his pocket.
"You'll like my brothers," he said seeing their cars in the open garage.
"Sam and Charlie, right?"
"Yep, Charlie is married to Lauren. Their kids are Elliot, Owen, and Brooke. Sam is married to Allie and she's pregnant. There's going to be a big party at the end of the month for them. Then you remember Kristy, Karen, Andrew, and Emily."
"Oh, geez I feel like this is a quiz," she added teasingly. "Karen is married to Jackie, no kids. Kristy is married to Lucas and they have four kids. Andrew and Emily are single."
"You're lucky that you just have a sister."
Meg rolled her eyes and opened her side of the car door. David was just lucky that his family was getting together anyway. Emily was going to be leaving to spend her last semester in Vietnam and this was her sendoff party. So, this was the perfect opportunity to bring Megan.
He opened the front door to see the kids running around the house. Toys were strewn about. Kylie on her phone texting someone as she waved. Just general chaos as Megan took it in stride.
"Uncle Davey!" shouted Molly running to catch up to him.
David had hugged her tightly and listened as she talked about her friends Wendy Gray and Harper Bruno.
He stuck close to Megan and laughed at her joke that she had told Sam. Complimented Charlie on his cookies that he had brought. Kristy locked her in a heated debate over school lunches for some reason. Karen also locking her into conversations.
"I'm going to miss you guys," wailed Emily hugging both.
"Oh, I'm going to miss you too Emily," said Megan hugging her. "You'll have lots of fun of Vietnam and send us letters and call and…"
"I will thanks!" she said going over to Skylar and a few of her friends.
David had taken his girlfriends hands and lead her to the stairwell. They could hear everyone talking and the party in full swing. The giant banner that read Good Luck Emily hung above their heads. Quietly he took her up another flight of steps to the third-floor landing. Everything bright and cheery after years of it just being storage space.
There were rooms set up for Charlie and Sam to stay in when they came over. Then an empty one for anyone else.
"Take a look at that," he said showing her the top of the fourth floor.
The attic was small but also brightly colored and beautiful. Then through another small set of steps until they were standing on the widows walk. Nobody ever really came up here, but it was nice and quiet. A chill in the air biting at them.
"Wow, you can see the whole neighborhood from up here," said Meg.
David Michael Thomas felt that now was the moment. When they were away from the crowds. Everyone knew her and liked her. It was going to be a surprise now or at least it would catch her off guard if she hadn't caught on. Above them stars were coming out and the moon in a crescent shape.
"Hey Megan."
She had turned her attention to him, her black hair twirling slightly in the breeze. He had already gotten on his knee and holding the ring. Her face had dropped slightly and eyes wide.
"Will you marry me?"
There was pause and he could make her crying as she nodded and through her arms around him.
This felt good and right. Now they had another thing to celebrate tonight.
