Disclaimer: All original characters and storyline belong to E. L. James. No copyright infringement intended.
I wake a few hours later to soft kisses being planted all over my face, and Cavin's voice saying, "Wake up sleepy head."
I let out a soft groan and reply, "Do I have to?" As I snuggle closer to him.
"Well your stomach would certainly think so. It's been rumbling for the last half hour. I figured I would wake you so you can eat something. I made, well I guess you could call it brunch. Come on we'll go eat."
I walk out to the kitchen, half asleep still, to find a huge spread of food on the table. "Cavin this is too much! There's no way we can eat all of it!"
"I know, but I wasn't sure what you would want, and I didn't want to wake you until I had it finished, so I just made a little bit of everything."
"Thank you baby, it looks delicious." I say before digging in. I take a little bit of everything, and of course it's all amazing.
"Where did you learn to cook like that?" I ask as we are doing the dishes.
"Back home one of my chores growing up was to help my mom out in the kitchen. She taught me everything she knew. I always help her out with meals when I go back for a visit."
"I think I would like to meet your mom, and have her teach me a thing or two." I say jokingly, but once the words are out of my mouth I realize that gravity of the words.
After a few moments pause Cavin says, "Would you really? Like to meet my parents I mean?" He doesn't sound horrified at the idea, which I take as a good sign.
"Do you want me to meet them?" I ask, shyly.
"Yes." He answers immediately, and it makes my heart skip a beat. I don't know how to respond, so I keep quiet.
"I know that it's scary, especially after how your parents responded to the two of us being together, but I promise my parents will love you. They grew up completely different from your parents, and I'm not saying that makes them better, but I think it did make them more understanding of situations such as ours. They understand that love is love, and we can't always choose who it's with. Although we probably should leave out the part about us being together while you were still my student."
"I don't know Cavin, it just seems like it might be too soon. Maybe when I'm older…" I say trailing off, beginning to think about how hopeless our situation is.
"Phoebe." Cavin says gently, coaxing my eyes to his and then pulls me closer to him. "My father is 7 years older than my mother. They met when she was 16, and knew immediately that they loved each other, and would spend the rest of their lives together.
"When she told my grandparents, of course they hated the idea, but they could see that what my parents had was true, and they weren't going to keep them apart. My parents were married the next summer, and have been happily married for the last 30 years.
"Yes, our situation might not be what our parents pictured when they imagined us finding the person we would spend the rest of our lives with. But my parents, and yours for that matter eventually, will accept that we love each other with all our hearts." He kisses my forehead gently, and it's all the coaxing I need.
"Alright, I'll meet your parents." I tell him.
The smile on his face is magnificent, and I can't help but smile as well. Even though I am nervous, his reassuring words have excited me as well. It will be nice to know that one set of our parents will approve of the two of us being together.
"I'm planning on going to see them over the next long weekend. Do you want to come with me then?" He asks.
"That's only a few weeks from now." I say, and the panic creeps back up.
"Hey relax; you don't have to go this time if you don't want to. We can plan a special trip out there…"
"No." I say cutting him off. "I'll go."
"Really?" He seems shocked.
"Yeah." I tell him, and even though my voice is shaking with nerves I know that I will do this for him.
"Alright, I'll book your ticket." He says, and pulls me in close for a hug, then runs to get his laptop.
I sit shakily in a chair, this certainly wasn't what I was expecting coming over here today. In fact I wasn't expecting this to happen for a few months, maybe even years.
I can't deny that I'm vaguely excited though. The fact that he wants me to meet his parents at all is proof that he really is serious about me. Guy's don't introduce you to their parents unless they can see your relationship lasting for a while.
"Alright, well they didn't have any regular seats left for the flight I booked, so I just upgraded us to first class, and before you even think about it you are not paying for your own ticket. This is my treat." Cavin says coming back into the room a few minutes later.
"Cavin, no way! I'm paying you back for that ticket!" I exclaim, knowing that last minute first class tickets aren't cheap by any means.
"You can try, but you won't succeed. I want to do this for you Phoebe please."
"Fine." I say reluctantly, but begin thinking of something I can do to pay him back, even if it's not handing him the money directly.
"So what do you want to do today?" Cavin asks, probably knowing exactly what I'm thinking, and trying to distract me.
"It actually looks like it's going to be kinda nasty out today." I tell him, looking out his kitchen window at dark gray clouds churning slightly in a sunless sky. "Why don't we just hang out inside, watch movies, cuddle, that sort of thing."
"Sounds good to me. But if we're going to do that we're going to have to run to the store. I have been living off of takeout lately, and I'm kind of sick of it frankly."
"Alright! But as a sort of pay back for the ticket please let me cook the rest of the meals today." I beg, giving him the puppy dog look that never fails.
"Fine, but I still get to purchase the groceries." It's obvious he's putting the proverbial foot down on this one so I don't argue.
Shopping with Cavin feels as natural as breathing, like we were meant to be together, and doing such domestic things with one another. We both enjoy the same type of food, so neither of us objects to what the other has picked out. It's nice to walk up and down the grocery store isles, holding hands and not have to worry about anyone catching us. We get through the trip quickly, and I don't think I've ever enjoyed shopping for food so much.
"Well I'd say my fridge is sufficiently stocked." Cavin laughs, as we finish putting our purchases away.
"What would you ever do without me?" I laugh.
"I would probably die of a takeout induced heart attack at the ripe old age of 40. That's gonna be one nice thing about goin' home. Momma always makes sure I've had my fill of food before I've left."
"Are you hungry already? I can make us a snack really quick." I tell him, because honestly I could go for some food right about now also. I guess I'm not quite used to spending the night with Cavin anymore.
"I could eat." He says with a shrug.
"Alright, you go in and pick out a movie. I'll make something for us really quick."
He heads into the front room to do as I've asked, and I begin slicing up the block of cheese that we got, to make a cheese and cracker plate. I slice up a little bit of fresh fruit to go with it, and bring it in to him.
"My DVD collection is still dismal, is there anything in particular you would like to watch?"
I glance at his selection, and smile widely. "You have the new "Pride and Prejudice"?" I ask.
His blush is obvious, but he says. "Yes, I knew you liked it, so I picked it up right before graduation just in case."
"Do you mind if we watch that?" I ask excitedly, it's one of my favorite movies. He just laughs and puts it in.
While he's doing so I take another quick glance at the movies he has and noticed that he's also added "The Notebook" to his collection, among others I have said I liked. I smile at his thoughtfulness, and settle in for the movie.
Throughout the movie I catch Cavin watching me more than a few times. "What?" I finally ask when it starts to embarrass me.
"Nothing, it's just more interesting to watch you than it is the movie. You're facial expressions when something interesting happens are a joy to behold. You're beautiful."
I know what he's talking about of course, anytime something even remotely
romantic happens between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, I can't help but smile. "I can't help it, there love is just so obvious, and yet no one can see it!" I say, a little defensively.
"Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not making fun of you. On the contrary actually I could watch you all day and never get bored. You truly are stunning Phoebe Grey." And to prove he means what he's saying, Cavin leans in and kisses me with passion.
Just like that my movie is forgotten, and there's nothing that can distract me from the beautiful man whose body is currently glued to mine. Well…nothing except an incoming call from my mother, whose ringtone is currently playing in the background.
I groan, but pull away from Cavin and hop up to answer my phone. Really she has impeccable timing, and not for the first time I wonder if she has some type of mom senses that go off when I'm doing something I'm not supposed to be.
"Hello?" I answer, and a little bit of my annoyance seeps into my tone.
"Oh, hi honey. I'm sorry was I interrupting something. You sound a little aggravated."
"No sorry, I was just doing some homework." I say cringing at the lie.
"Oh okay, well then I won't keep you for too long. I just wanted to check in to see how you were doing."
"I'm doing well. Still maintaining a 4.0, not really much else to report."
"Well that's good sweetie. We're proud of you." My mom says, the evidence of her statement swelling in her voice.
"Thanks mom." I say with a smile.
"Well I actually wanted to call to remind you that your brother's birthday is next weekend, and I know he would love it if you made an appearance. Also I believe Leslie wants to talk with you about the wedding."
"Oh crap I completely forgot about the wedding!" I exclaim, it's this summer, and I have barely done anything for it except send in my measurements for the bridesmaid dress.
"Which is precisely why I called to remind you, obviously she will be here next weekend, so if you come you can just talk to her then."
"Alright sounds good, I'll be there." I tell her.
"Great! See you next weekend honey. I love you."
"Love you too mom, tell dad I say the same to him too."
"Will do! Bye sweetheart."
"Bye." I say, and press the end button, sighing out loud as I do.
"What's up?" Cavin asks, picking up on my frustration.
"I hate lying to my parents, but they're so hard headed that I can't tell them the truth. Why can't they just accept whatever it is that makes me happy? I'm not even asking them to like it, just accept that I can make my own choices." I didn't realize that I was holding on to this much resentment still.
"I know sweetheart. I wish that I wasn't putting you in this position, and I'm sorry for that."
"Cavin you have nothing to be sorry for. You've done nothing but put a smile on my face, and love in my life since you came into it. You were there for me during my hardest moments, and you've supported ever decision I've made.
"I hate to say it, but my parents are the ones at fault here. God knows I love them, but they're too protective, and they don't even realize that they've driven this wedge between us.
"I used to be able to tell them anything, and they always trusted that I would make the right choices for myself. They just need time to see that you are the right choice." I tell him.
"I love you." He tells me, with all the sincerity in the world.
"I love you too Cavin. And I will find a way to convince my parents that you are the one I'm meant to be with."
"I know baby." He says, as he envelopes me in his embrace.
I smile as I lay my head against his chest, fitting perfectly in his warm arms. There's no doubt in my mind that this is exactly where I belong, and it doesn't matter what my parents say; Cavin and I will be together.