A/N: Yay! I've actually got a couple reviews! Thanks so much to beccgallanter and Penguinperson for the feedback.
Chapter Two:
If They Try to Stop Us, Seaweed
"Momma!" Seaweed shouted. "Momma, we're home!" He beckoned to Penny, indicating that they should go into the house. Penny stepped over the threshold and let the kitchen smells envelop her in a fog.
Seaweed inhaled deeply and smiled. "Mmm, fried chicken! Momma, you shouldn't have!"
"Of course I should!" Motormouth Maybelle (or just Ms. Maybelle to Seaweed's friends), co-host of the Corny Collins Show, boomed from the kitchen. "If my baby boy's baby is gonna come to dinner, I want to give her the best!"
Both the baby boy and his baby blushed a little at that one. They smiled awkwardly at each other until the sound of running footsteps caught their attention.
"PENNY!" Inez threw herself at Penny and gave her a bear hug. It had taken some time for the young girl to get used to Penny, but after a while she began to think of the older girl as the sister she never had.
Penny hugged Inez back. "Aww, hi, L'il Inez."
Seaweed suddenly pried the two girls apart. Pretending to be completely serious, he turned to Penny and said, "Y'know, I'm not sure I like sharing you," giving her a long kiss.
"Ew!" Inez hurried into the kitchen to help her mother. The couple separated themselves and smiled knowingly.
"You know, eventually she's going to grow up and we're not going to be able to do that anymore," Penny reminded him.
"I know," Seaweed whispered with a mischievous smile, "but for now, it's the only way to get us some alone time." He laughed and sat down on the sofa, pulling Penny down with him. She laughed softly (having your boyfriend's mother hear you playing around on their couch was not exactly romantic) and let herself be wrapped up in his arms. She laid her head on his chest and inhaled his scent deeply. It was infinitely better than fried chicken.
Just as Seaweed was tilting Penny's head up for a kiss, Ms. Maybelle bellowed from the kitchen. "DINNER!"
Seaweed shook his head and stood up, chivalrously helping Penny up from the sofa. "So close," he murmured into her hair as they entered the kitchen.
"More chicken, Penny?" Ms. Maybelle asked.
"Yes, please." Even though she was full to bursting, Penny knew an "if-you-say-no-I-am-going-to-make-you-feel-very-guilty" tone when she heard one. She took another wing (the smallest part she could find) and bit into it as conversation resumed.
"This man," Ms. Maybelle continued, "is amazing! He's been talking to President Kennedy—one of the best men, black or white, this world has ever heard of—for over a year now; he's trying to get a black man on the Supreme Court, and the president is listening! He's been leading marches and making speeches all over the place. Your Aunt Minnie down in Alabama goes to that Baptist church he preaches at, and she swore every one of his sermons has moved everybody in the sanctuary to tears. I tell you, this Martin Luther King sounds like a mighty fine man."
Seaweed nodded a familiar light in his eyes. Inez looked enchanted; there was simply no other word for it. Penny grinned. "Yes, ma'am, he does."
Ms. Maybelle was about to say something else about the amazing Dr. King when a thoughtful expression came over her face and she looked up at the clock. "Penny, you'd better be getting home. It's late!"
Penny glanced at the clock and nodded. "I should." She stood up from the table and said, "Thank you for dinner. It was delicious!"
Ms. Maybelle beamed. "Thank you, honey." She turned to Seaweed and glared sharply. "Aren't you gonna walk your baby home? It's dark out!"
Seaweed stood up, too. Penny hugged Inez goodbye, waved to Ms. Maybelle, and left with Seaweed's arm around her shoulders.
Penny's house was, truthfully, not that far from Seaweed's; they were standing on her corner in five minutes. Penny could have very easily made the trip herself, but Ms. Maybelle had sensed that she and Seaweed wanted to be alone.
And they did. The couple spent the whole trip cuddling and canoodling and whispering things to each other that Penny would have been mortified by if they were overheard.
They arrived in front of Penny's house as the first evening star was peeking out. Penny closed her eyes and put her arms around Seaweed's neck. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love eating with your family?"
He chuckled and slipped his arms around her waist. "Only about a thousand times."
"Really! It's so much better than eating celery sticks with my mother while she yammers on about what's wrong with the world today."
"Mmm," he said, paying more attention to holding her than to what she was saying. Penny sighed and gave up, leaning further into him and placing her head on his shoulder. She kept her eyes closed for a few moments, then opened them so she could step away… and gasped. She ducked out of Seaweed's embrace and put her hands to her mouth, eyes wide.
"What…" Seaweed asked, shocked and concerned at how she had backed away from him. Penny shook her head rapidly and pointed behind him at her house. He turned around…
And saw the horrible message spray-painted in black on her garage door.
His eyes hardened. He gently but firmly grabbed Penny by the arm and turned her around. "Come on," he ordered. "We're going back to my place."