Bonding was always a wonderful thing. Especially when the man that you had to bond with has been lecturing you for the past hour, and is the father of your girlfriend. It was even better when his mother showed up, out of breath and just as angry as her father. This bonding circle was near completion. All they would need would be the rest of the family and they might be able to sing Kumbaya.

When the doorbell rang, Kat and Patrick thanked the Lord. It lasted for a whole five seconds before his mother walked through the door, and they were both thinking, "Crap."

Ms. Verona's face was just an angry as Dr. Stratford's, yet when she saw them taped to the chairs, she abruptly stopped walking towards them and blinked a couple times, like she really couldn't believe that her son would allow himself to be taped to a chair.

She finally sighed and dropped her bag on the floor, "Mr. Stratford what's going on here?"

Dr. Stratford looked at the women who just stormed through his house, "And you might be..."

"Linda Verona, Patrick's mother," she said tightly.

"Walter Stratford, Kat's father," he awkwardly brought his hand out for a shake. She looked at it for a moment, like she wasn't sure if he was serious or not. Finally she took his hand to shake it. After the formalities, things were brought down to business.

"I found them, making out in my living room! As you may well know, this is not acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated in my household. I have already talked to them about the dangers of having sex. If there is anything that you want to add, please be free to do so while they are unable to make a run for it."

Ms. Verona looked at Dr. Stratford, her eyebrow raised, in a are-you-kidding-me look. Things got uncomfortable for a moment, before Ms. Verona finally asked, "Patrick, were you and Katerina making out in Mr. Stratford's living room?"

"Well, that is not how I would put it. We were kissing each other on the couch though," Patrick answered her pointedly, making sure he made eye contact with his mother, silently pleading her to get him out of this.

"Was any harm done to anything or anyone?"

"No mom."

Ms. Verona turned to Dr. Stratford. She looked tired and annoyed. Calmly, she said, "Then Mr. Stratford, I really don't see what the problem here is."

Walter Stratford was not used to having another person question his word. His daughters were used to it, and his colleges listened to him because he's the boss. He had forgotten what it felt like to be questioned of his authority.

His daughter, of course, was very interested in seeing what her father was going to say. When he paused to think about what Ms. Verona had just said, she knew that he was stuck, and she couldn't hold back a smirk. By now, she knew not to question her father's word unless she knew that she would be able to win. She had to pick her battles, and her father just picked one that he certainly wasn't going to win.

When all was said and done, Kat and Patrick were unbound and allowed up out of their chairs. Their muscles ached, and they stretched while their parents moved to the other room to talk.

"Sorry about him," Kat whispered to him, embarrassed that he had to sit through all of that.

"Anything for you," Patrick whispered back, like it was the most obvious answer in the world.

She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck to bring him closer, burying her head in his neck. He responded as soon as she had started to move towards him. His arms wrapped around her waist, his head lying on hers. They stood there for a while, wrapped up in each other and in their own thoughts. From afar, they looked like any other couple their age- young and in love.

It would be natural for their moment to be ruined. Ms. Verona came marching out of the kitchen, shoving her arms in her jacket sleeves. She called her son's name, beckoning him to come with her. Her son looked at his girlfriend, smiling before giving her a small kiss.

"It was a pleasure to see you Katerina, and to meet your father. I will be seeing you for dinner on Saturday night," Ms. Verona said pleasantly, before grabbing her purse and son, and walking out of the door- into the dark night.

I want to thank everyone who has commented. Thank you for your feedback, it really matters to me!

Sorry this was so short, but it's a set up for the upcoming chapter...

Preview: "Seriously, masterpieces? Can you even cut cucumbers?"