The next morning was Saturday and Lux and Eric woke to Rosie jumping on the bed eager to go out for her walk and be fed. Eric loved having Rosie, sometimes she was the only thing that got him up and out of bed. But on days like today he wished she would have let him and Lux sleep a little longer.
"Ok Rosie go get your leash." Turning over he said good morning to Lux. "Good morning yourself, do you want me to take her for her walk?" she offered.
"No, I will take her out. I wish I could stay like this with you forever though and just block the whole world out." Said Eric.
"I know, but we can't shut our reality this time."
"I know we can't, I know I'm being presumptuous to think that you can even stay here for any real length of time, but I want you to know that the offer is on the table. You can stay here as long as you like." Offered Eric.
"Thank you Eric, that means a lot to me."
Coming back in from walking Rosie. Eric could smell the bacon burning and the eggs frying in the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, I thought I would surprise you with breakfast but it appears I inherited Cates skills for cooking."
Eric grabbed the toast out of the oven before it was totally burned. "It's okay Eeyore, it's not a total loss." Taking the frying pan from Lux and flipping the eggs over. "I think these are edible."
And they were. Eric and Lux sat down and ate the eggs and half burnt toast and talked about what they would do today.
"So have you thought anymore about going to your parents house for diner tonight?" Lux asked.
"Come on Lux we've been over this. I don't want to leave you alone for the night and you don't want to come."
"Actually, I've been thinking, since meeting your mom, she was so nice and I didn't know that they knew about me. Eric it would be really nice to meet your parents and have dinner with them. I mean we don't know, this might be my only opportunity. I must confess, I'm curious as to what the house you grew up in is like. What your parents are like." Lux said.
"Ok, Eeyore if you are sure you want to spend an evening at the Daniels household then I will call my mom and let her know we are coming." Said Eric.
Eric called his mom who was elated that they were coming while Lux went to take a shower and get dressed. Eric asked his parents not to pressure Lux or ask too many questions today.
Lux's cell phone rang while she was in the shower. Eric picked it up off the coffee table and saw it was Cate calling. He took a big breath and he answered it.
"Hi Cate, its Eric."
"Oh Hi Eric, I was just checking in on Lux. We haven't heard from her since yesterday morning and I was getting worried." Cate explained.
"She's fine Cate. She's in the shower now but I can have her call you back. Look Cate I answered because I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to make sure her being here is alright with you." Said Eric.
"It is Eric, I know Baze and I said a lot of things to you when we last spoke but I hope you understand we had to protect our sixteen year old daughter. But we realize she isn't sixteen anymore and she has been through so much since then Eric if you can help her and be there for her in whatever capacity Baze and I are okay with it." Cate stated.
"Thank you Cate. You know I still love her. I've never stopped. I don't know what the future holds given everything she has been through with Jones but I will be here for her, you have my word." Eric said.
Eric told Cate that he would have Lux call her back later.
Eric turned around to see Lux standing in the doorway to the hall.
"Did you mean what you said to Cate? That you still love me." Lux asked.
"Yes, Lux. Geese I thought you knew that I love you, I've never stopped loving you." Eric said while walking over to Lux. "I know you need time right now and space but…" Lux cut him off by kissing him.
"Wow" Eric said
"You know I've never stopped loving you either." Lux said.
They kissed again.
Realizing that Lux was only wearing one of his flannel shirts buttoned up the front Eric said "You know you should probably go get dressed, while I love the outfit, my parents probably not so much."
"Very funny Minnesota, I left my bag in here."
"Oh, right."
"I think I brought a dress that will work to wear to your parents."
"So are you done with the shower?" Eric asked.
"Yes, I just have to get dressed, which I can do in your room."
"Ok, I'm going to go jump in. And call Cate back."
The drive to Eric's parents house took half an hour. Eric said if they arrived early they could watch the game with Eric's dad, Alister. It was his favorite pastime and would be their best bonding opportunity.
It was an old Victorian style house painted blue, with a huge front and back yards. Lux had never seen anything like it. Before going inside Lux and Eric stopped on the front porch.
"I'm a little nervous about this, maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Lux wondered out loud.
"Oh, come on Eeyore, you have to bite the bullet sometime. Look my mother's already met you and that wasn't so bad was it?" Eric asked.
"No" said Lux
"Listen you'll do great but if anytime you want to leave just say the word and we'll go." Offered Eric.
"Okay" Lux agreed.
Opening the front door Eric yelled "Mom, Dad, we're here."