"Nervous, beautiful?"

Was it that obvious? Then again, these days Sam could read her like a book.

They'd been dating for over a year now; the science and the history major. At this stage in their relationship, Callie didn't need to speak a single word for him to pick up on her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried to conceal her feelings.

It was the day of her graduation and the butterflies in her stomach were making breakfast hard to keep down. She managed a weak smile in his direction.

"Yeah. I'm not sure why though."

Sam's blue gaze fixed her quietly from over his mug of coffee. "Is it about your dad?" He tried gently. Despite their resemblance to icy shards, his eyes held warmth as they searched her features.

Callie swallowed. As usual, Sam's judgement was spot on.

"Maybe..." was her uttered response. She ran her hands through her long, matcha coloured hair. This time last year, her only concern was how she was going to style it for Sam and Touya's graduation. Today, loose curls or up-do's were the last thing on her mind.

It had been just over a month since her father had called her out of the blue. It had been the first time in years that Callie had heard his voice and the first time in almost a decade since she'd heard him actually sound sober. He'd sounded timid and apologetic. Apparently, he had been working on his sobriety and trying to get his life back together. Part of this process included reaching out to his estranged daughter and trying to make amends.

"You'll be graduating soon right, Callie bear?" He'd asked her. She hadn't heard him call her by that nickname since she was a child. "Maybe I could come along? Cheer you on?"

The suggestion had caught her off-guard and she'd verbally stalled. The hesitation was enough to make him back-peddle.

"But I'd understand if you weren't comfortable with the idea. Maybe we could just meet up for a coffee afterwards, hey?"

In the end, Callie had agreed to letting him attend the ceremony. But immediately after putting the phone down, anxiety had struck her down and she had spent the next half an hour crying into Russ' shirt; Sam was studying late that night, his masters degree was pretty taxing on him. It seemed those dark circles she had grown so accustom to seeing under his light eyes would never leave.

Russ had managed to soothe and reassure her that things would be fine and that he and Sam would always support her if things became too uncomfortable. She had wiped her eyes and recomposed herself. Clearly, she was just overthinking things. Right? She had never let her rocky relationship with her alcoholic father get in the way of her life before. How come, now that he was all of a sudden sober, did she find the idea of facing him so daunting? Had she really grown more comfortable with seeing him drunk? Or rather, not seeing him at all...

Russ had made dinner that night and Callie remembered comfort-eating her way through three bowls of pasta. Sam had later asked her what was bothering her and he and Callie had talked late into the night about her concerns. Like Russ, the older Gaster brother had tried to be positive.

"He's clearly making an effort. Give him a chance and just see how it goes." He'd stroked her face and kissed her eyes shortly after. Over the months they'd been dating, his deft, scientist's hands had grown so familiar with her body; which places to touch to elicit which response. A gentle caress here to sooth, a secret squeeze there to excite...

His kisses had chased away any further worries that night.

Now the big day was here, Callie wished she'd had found the time to meet up with her dad on a few occasions beforehand so as to ease into the new dynamic. But alas, she had found excuses to avoid doing so and now regretted it immensely.

"The last time I saw him, he was throwing furniture at the wall and ranting about his sister." Callie mumbled, pushing her, now cold, breakfast around her plate.

Sam gave a sympathetic smile and took her hand from across the table.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Everything's gonna be fine. You'll see."

But when a timid knock sounded at the door that very moment, Callie found little comfort in his words.

"Want me to get it?" Sam asked, glancing from her anxious face to the door.

The question seemed to cast a bolt of electricity through her. She jumped to her feet.

"No!" She exclaimed suddenly, hands fussing to straighten her skirt and her hair. "I'll get it." And she scurried off before Sam could make another sound.

Her dad didn't even know she was dating anyone. In fact, her dad didn't really know anything about her these days.

These thoughts plagued her all the way to the door where she paused to stare blankly at its handle. On the other side of the wood, her dad stood. She gulped a breath and reached out...

"Hey, Callie bear," he greeted quietly.

Callie eyes peered quietly at the tall man before her. From his groomed hair, shaven face and tailored suit, Callie barely recognised him. Where was the greasy fringe, the unkept stubble, the food stained vest?

"Hey, dad." She replied, her mouth suddenly dry.

The man had colour in his cheeks and a brightness to his eyes. He smelt like aftershave.

Where was that familiar scent of stale cigarettes and whiskey that she so strongly associated to her teenage years?

"You look well," she declared through an awkward smile. He really did.

"Thank you. And you look stunning. So much like your mother..."

Another awkward smile, this time shared and followed by a heavy silence.

The only thing Callie had inherited form her father was his high cheekbones and olive skin. Her matcha-coloured hair, her serpentine eyes and her shapely lips came from her late mother.

"Oh, erm. C-come in!" She managed, after finding her voice again. Her hand was almost shaking when she pulled open the door and gestured for him to enter.

"How was your trip?" She chimed brightly, hoping her attempt at small talk didn't sound as forced as it actually was.

"Oh, it was alright. The place wasn't too hard to find. You're directions were spot on." He replied, his polite voice sounding equally strained as he followed her into the lounge.

Once they reached the centre of the room, Callie cleared her throat as she shuffled her feet. Sam had just turned to face them from across the breakfast bar.

"Hello, Mr Chloros," he greeted easily, casting him a smile and holding out a hand.

Callie watched as her dad and Sam shook hands, her own wringing nervously in front of her.

"Oh hello there-?" Mr Chloros replied questioningly.

"Sam Gaster," he responded, flashing him another smile, forever the picture of ease.

"Nice to meet you, Sam." And in the silence that followed, Callie knew that both men were handing her the floor space to carry on the introductions.

She had already decided that she wasn't going to keep her relationship with Sam a secret from her dad. After all, she was 22 years old. However, as the silence dragged on into the realm of discomfort, Callie wondered whether she'd ever be able to get out the words. She had no idea why her brain was making such a big deal of it. Perhaps it was because she never had a relationship with her parents and therefore didn't really know how kids were supposed to talk to them. Wasn't it a known thing for dad's to, by nature, hate any boys who went near their daughters? Would he react aggressively? She had seen him lose his temper more than any other form of expressed emotion. It wasn't pretty. She really didn't want any drama.

Oh...but the silence was starting to make her ears hurt now...

Sam was watching her, hands quietly setting out 3 tea cups. Her dad was fiddling with the hem of his blazer, eyes flitting from the floor to the window.

"Sam is my roommate," she said quickly, breaking the silence before it cascaded into sheer agony. She turned to her father who's face looked thankful for the return of conversation. "We've erm-we're ah..."

Her nervous eyes leapt from Sam's subtle smirk to her dad's raised brows.

"Dating." She finished, heaving a sigh through her nose.

"Oh!" Mr Chloros exclaimed. And his smile looked genuine. "I see. Well, I'm happy for you both. Are you taking the same class?"

And as Callie continued to answer his questions while Sam made tea, she found it more and more easy to keep the conversation flowing.

Soon enough, Russ was home from the gym and both Gaster brothers kept her father entertained while she went to get ready for her graduation.

Being from a different school, Russ' graduation had been a separate ceremony. It had taken place a week ago and they had celebrated by going to dinner with Professor Gaster. It had been an overall pleasant experience, although the brothers' dad had made dessert rather awkward by asking when Sam and Callie were going to get married and if Russ had found a partner yet.

As Callie finished applying the last of her makeup, she hoped she hadn't taken too long. She didn't want Sam or Russ to feel as though she was deliberately taking her time. Then again, she kind of was.

Steeling herself with a determined sigh, she rose to her feet and smoothed out the fabric of her olive green, satin dress. Flicking her long, sleek ponytail behind her, she re-emerged from her bedroom to find her father sat alone by the window.

"The boys went to get ready, too." He informed her, smiling.

Was she ever going to get used to seeing the that expression on his face? She was so used to seeing it scowling.

"You look lovely by the way, Callie."

"Thank you." She replied curtly, checking the contents of her handbag. She found it hard to look at him for long periods of time.

"They're good guys, those two." He continued. From the corner of her eye she saw him jerk his head in the direction of the brothers' bedrooms. "I can see why you like Sam. Funny guy."

Callie couldn't help but smile and pondered what jokes Sam may have cracked to make her dad make such a comment.

"Yeah, he's great." And she said the next bit without thinking. "You should come see one of his stand-up performances."

As soon as the words left her lips, she internally cringed. Sam performed his shows at Grillby's- a bar...with alcohol...

Mr Chloros smiled brightly at his daughter's suggestion, oblivious to her suppressed discomfort. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Before they could make any headway on the plans though, the brothers rejoined them in the lounge, both suited and booted and looking very smart.

"Ready to go, beautiful?" Sam asked, casting his light eyes her way.

She flushed a little at the use of his nickname for her in the presence of her father. But neither man seemed phased.

"I think so," she sighed, fingers still fussing with the contents of her handbag.

Okay. It was time to get this over with.

After having attended the Science School's graduation last year, Callie was already familiar with the routine. All that really differed were the speeches and the faces present on stage.

As Callie stood facing the audience with her diploma and her fellow graduates, her eyes scanned the crowd. It didn't take long for her to spot Sam, Russ and her father's smiling faces. Sam winked an eye and she blew him a kiss. She really did love that man...

Russ' loud clap and playful whistles only made her laugh. He was such a goof.

And her father. Well, she was actually so thankful he came along. In fact, she felt the most pride when she saw him wipe a tear from his eye and mouth a congratulations to her.

Once the ceremony was over, the History graduates gathered outside for photographs and hugs. Callie took some with her father and he held her waist with a timid hand as Russ clicked away at the shutter.

Not long after the photo shoot, after checking his watch, her father heaved a heavy sigh and told Callie it was time for him to catch his train.

"It was good to see you again, Callie bear," he uttered as he embraced her.

And surprisingly, she meant the next words she spoke; "you too, Dad."

They bid each other goodbye by the History School gates. Sam and Russ shook his hand in turn.

"It was nice to meet you, boys," Mr Chloros smiled. "Thank you for taking such good care of Callie."

The brothers both laughed.

"She's the one who takes good care of us, sir." Russ replied politely.

"You know what? I don't doubt it."

Another hug and her father was gone. And it really was as simple as that.

"See, Callie?" Sam smiled, pulling her into him after Russ left them to grab coffees, "everything went okay, right?"

He kissed her before she could answer. She hummed contently against his lips instead. Even after two years of sharing practically every day together, Callie still found it hard to control herself every time their bodies met. Sam gave a low chuckle when her teeth gave a swift nip at his bottom lip...

"Shit, you two still an item?"

That voice.

That sly, boyish voice.

They both turned their startled faces towards it.

That silhouette.

That lanky, looming silhouette.

Sure enough, there, stood next to a beaming Russ was a tall, tanned Touya.

Callie had been the first to react. She tore out of Sam's shock-slackened embrace and bounded towards her friend's open arms. Shrieking his name happily, she threw her arms around his slender neck and peppered his cheek with kisses.

"Hello, Callie!" He laughed, his arms going around her to lift her off her feet. "Ah! It's good to see you!"

When he placed her back down after swaying her suspended body to and fro for a moment, Callie took the time to take a good look at him.

She placed her hands either side of his smiling face. Travel had done him wonders. His burn scars had faded considerably and he had gained a little weight. He was still as lanky as ever, but he felt softer beneath her hands than she remembered. Oh, but she had forgotten just how handsome he was!

"Oh, Touya! It's good to see you too!" And she pulled him into her again as he congratulated her on her graduation. He still smelt like cigarettes and cologne, but with a hint of sunshine.

Behind her, she heard Sam's low chuckle.

"Well, well..." he drawled.

Callie pulled away to see Sam step towards them. When Touya's arms left her body, he immediately wrapped them around his best friend's instead. Sam too was lifted off his feet as the bear hug choked a laugh out of him. "You sly son of a bitch!"

When his shoes returned to the ground, Sam took a step back to study his friend.

"Adventure looks good on you, buddy!" He declared, positively beaming at the return of his old lab partner.

Touya twitched a lop-sided smile. "Yeah. But it feels good to be back."

To be continued...