Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive

By Rikku Minouke

Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Target for that matter

AN: Sorry, there is probably gonna be a lot more dialogue than normal in this chapter. Less description, because this is the dinner and the conversation is more important. Introducing the parents. They'll show up periodically

Chapter sixteen

My childhood set me up for success for a lot of things. If not most importantly, what a good relationship is supposed to be like, it also showed me most days what a bad parent is like. Through my pregnancy I thought a lot about the do's and don'ts and I realized that the don'ts were so engraved in my mind that I knew this child would have such a better childhood then I could have even dreamt of.

"Stop fidgeting," Kurama scolded me as we got out of the car. "Everything is going to be just fine." I looked at him in his nice white button down and kakis. How is it he makes anything look amazing?

"You're just saying that because you don't know what to expect," I rolled my eyes and tugged lightly on the hem of my grey crocheted sweater. "Maybe I should have worn a different top. This one I think shows too much."

"No," Kurama met me at the front of the car. "You look beautiful. Your sweater looks great. No one will know what's going on unless you tell them."

"We aren't telling them." I almost stopped dead in my tracks at the implied meaning of his comment.

"Then no ones the wiser," he shrugged and took a hold of my hand as we walked up the cement path to their house. When we got to their door, I didn't even stop to knock. Stepping inside, I could smell the aroma of the spaghetti cooking. It was one of my favorites. I hope they aren't trying to bribe me or something.

"Botan?" my mother called from the living room.

"Hey ma," I let go of his hand to kick off my black boots as Kurama did the same with his shoes. We both made our way into the living room. Growing up I used to call this the brown room because everything was a shade of brown. The walls were a beige color and the leather couches were a deep coffee brown. Even the desk in the corner, as well as the low table, were a hard ebony. The carpet also looked like it would be considered the color of brown sugar. Some days I think they had too much fun decorating this room.

"I'm so glad you could make it!" My mother excitedly ran over and gave me a hug before examining the red headed man next me. I had asked Kurama to leave his hair down because I knew the pony tail would somehow be worse for my father. "You must be Kurama. It is so wonderful to finally meet you."

"Thank you so much for inviting me," Kurama gave her a warm smile and I could tell by mom's facial expression that he'd won her over. Well that's the easy part.

"We didn't invite you over," my dad entered the room. He was my height with dark hair, balding in the back. "Botan insisted that you come with."

Kurama didn't miss a beat, however, "Either way, sir, I am very grateful for you letting me join tonight."

"He's so polite," my mother whispered to and I tried not to laugh. "Come on, everyone, let's go sit down and have a drink before dinner."

Following my parents into the brown room, Kurama and I sat together on the couch while my dad took up the leather chair next to Kurama and my mom sat next to me on a fancy wooden recliner. "How is the living situation going?" my dad asked and I knew he was fishing.

"Good," I nodded. Short, simple, and to the point was my way of getting through conversations with him.

"Expenses are being paid for?" he asked and I forced myself not to sigh in frustration.

"Yes," I nodded. "Koenma has me working full time so I'm not too worried."

"That's awesome honey," my mother smiled at me.

"You should make everyone a drink," my dad said to her and she quickly stood up and headed to the adjoining kitchen. "What do you do for a living Kurama?" he asked and almost let my eyes roll. This was definitely an interrogation.

"Honey," my mom called to me and I looked to see her in the entryway. "What would you guys like to drink?"

"Kurama, do you want a beer or something?" I leaned over before he answered my dad's question.

"Hmm?" he gave me a weird look. I knew he didn't anymore. He had stopped drinking alcohol to make it easier for me. It's nicer when you have someone quitting with you.

"I'll have a water mom," I told her.

"Water?" my dad asked and acted like I'd slapped him in the face. I knew the two of them couldn't go more than a few hours without a drink; it was something I'd never agreed with.

"Yes, water."

"Would you like ice with that?" my mother asked. She still had a smile on her face. I'm sure it was because I hadn't run out the door pissed off yet.

"No thanks," I tried giving her a warm smile.

"Don't get her water," my dad chided me. "We have Mikes, drink one of those."

"She can't, because she's driving," Kurama told them. "But I'll have one of those Mikes." My dad didn't say anything to that surprisingly. And I felt my muscles relax slightly at this small victory. Kurama took one for the team, so proud of him right now.

"You were about to tell me where you work," my dad reminded him as my mom came back with my water and Kurama's drink.

"I'll just freshen this up," my mom grabbed the large blue Las Vegas glass she and my dad shared. Turning around, she headed back into the kitchen. I leaned my back against the plush brown leather. It had a little more padding than Kurama's couch.

"I actually work for Target," Kurama told him.

"That's a good company, lots of room for growth," he nodded. "What do you do there?"

"I work overnights in the produce section," Kurama said. "I'm one of their overnight managers. They are actually trying to get me to be one of the lead overnighters."

"I didn't know that," I looked at him with a little shock on my face.

"They told me this morning that I should apply," he smiled at me from over his shoulder. Kurama was leaning forward as he talked to my dad. I watched him pick up the black cherry bottle and take a sip. Taking a deep breath, I imaged what it would taste like. But quickly I sat up straight and glanced around my parent's living room momentarily.

"That should be a nice pay increase," my dad told him. "Don't you need to have a degree for that position?"

So subtle, dad…

"Yes, but any degree," Kurama explained. "I have two degrees, in business and finance. Eventually, I want to work on doing the books for a company. Maybe not one as large as Target."

"Stay with Target," my dad told him. "It's a great company."

"Dinner is ready, guys," my mom called and we all stood up slowly and made our way into the kitchen.

I stopped Kurama before we entered with my hand flat on his chest. "I so owe you for tonight."

He chuckled lightly. "I've handled worse," he whispered before smiling down at me and wrapping his free hand around the one on his chest. "Let's go eat."

Turning around, we entered the kitchen. Kurama dropped my hand as we set our drinks on the table. He followed me to where we dished up and my mom handed us both plates. From there, she put noodles on our plates with sauce. "How about a little more?" she asked me and I shook my head.

"This is plenty mom, thank you," I smiled at her before heading to the table where my dad was already sitting with his food. Begrudgingly I sat next to him. Not that any of the other two seats were better. Soon Kurama sat down on the other side of me.

"I see Kurama is putting you on a diet," my dad eyed my half empty plate. "It's about time someone did. It looks like you've gained quite a bit of weight since I last saw you. Have you started exercising too?"

"Not really," I told him, my voice a bit quiet.

"You should," my dad said before taking a big bite of pasta.

"I don't think you need to," Kurama told me.

"No, she does," he said after swallowing. That time I couldn't help the sigh leave my mouth.

"Would you stop," my mom sat down at the table, looking sternly at my dad. He raised his eyebrows at her, calling her bluff and she looked down at her plate.

The night dragged on like this for a few more hours before Kurama politely gave up and said that we should get going.

"Thank you so much for coming," my mother looked at the two of us with an apology clearly in her eyes. "I'll call you tomorrow, ok Botan?"

"Sounds good ma," I gave her a hug. "It was nice to see you again, dad." But I didn't move to give him a hug. Instead I bent to put on my boots. Kurama slipped his shoes on and gave my dad a sturdy hand shake and my mother a hug.

The ride home was eerily silent but at the same time, I was perfectly alright with not speaking. Even when we got home, the two of us barely spoke. Instead, we went our separate ways and off to bed. Dealing with my dad always drained me out. Not to mention I was already exhausted from being pregnant. I'm sure we'd talk about this tomorrow when both of us will able to process things more clearly.