In which Monroe's parents meet the Calverts...

After the dragging of the days until Rosalee was released from the hospital, suddenly Nick was left wondering where the hell time was going; seemed like he fell asleep Friday night and woke up Wednesday morning. Today was a big deal, as Monroe's parents were coming in and meeting Gloria and DeEtta for the first time to prevent too much awkwardness at the rehearsal dinner on Friday. Nick and Sean had been invited to dinner to serve as referees just in case.

Nick and Sean arrived early, and were pleased to see Rosalee's color was finally back to normal; whatever she and her mother had concocted had done the trick, as she said she felt okay... at least, as okay as she could with the prospect of her future in-laws meeting her mom and sister looming. Nick watched as Gloria put a soft hand on Rosalee's good shoulder and woged. Rosalee woged back, and the two rubbed cheeks, purring.

"It'll be fine, Rosie," the older Fuchsbau whispered.

"I hope so... Bart's a lot like DeEtta, so I just don't want the two of them to get into it..."
"If they do, Nick will take care of it. Right, Nick?" Gloria smiled up at Nick. She had been the quickest to warm up to the Grimm after hearing of how he helped after Freddy's murder and how he brought Rosalee and Monroe together. She was the one to suggest Nick join them for dinner after hearing about Bart and Alice's less-than-cordial meetings with Rosalee and Nick.

"Of course," Nick said with a smile. Rosalee smiled back.

"Thanks." Nick heard Monroe's phone ringing in the kitchen as the Blutbad was putting the finishing touches on dinner with DeEtta and Sean's help. He wandered out into the living room, wiping his hand on their blue apron.

"Yeah, no, thanks for giving us the heads up. We'll see you soon." He hung up, pocketed his phone, exhaled, and planted a kiss on the crown of Rosalee's head. "They're on their way." Rosalee wrapped her good arm around his waist and he gently embraced her. "I told them you were in the hospital, but I didn't tell them why. Just in case it comes up."

"It probably will," Rosalee muttered. "I should be able to feed myself, but if you could do my a favor and cut my food up for me, that'd be great... " She sighed deeply, burrowing slightly into Monroe's chest. He cocked his head with a slight smile.

"Well, on the bright side, they know everybody's Fuchsbau..." Rosalee laughed a little and shook her head.

"And Sean's our ace in the hole, right?"

"Yep." A clatter was heard from the kitchen, followed by an exclamation from DeEtta. Monroe's head fell back. "I should probably see what that was..." Rosalee nodded, and he kissed her cheek before one more disappearing into the kitchen.

About half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Monroe answered the door, only to be pounced on by his mother. Alice hugged her much-taller son around the waist before turning to Rosalee. Both women smiled before Alice gently hugged her future daughter-in-law. Bart and Monroe awkwardly hugged, and then Bart also hugged Rosalee as if she were made of glass. The Blutbaden seemed resigned to the fact their only son was marrying outside the species. Rosalee then introduced them to her mother and sister. As Nick watched, all of the Blutbaden and Fuchsbau woged and went through some sort of ritual, rubbing cheeks. Monroe and Rosalee participated as well.

"What are they doing?" Nick whispered to Sean.

"Vertrautheiten. It's a familiarity ritual. It's partly a trust thing, partly memorizing scents. Especially because Blutbaden used to hunt unfamiliar Wesen. Especially Fuchsbau." The room filled with the sound of six Wesen purring, and ended with Monroe and Rosalee sharing a kiss in their true forms as their families watched. Alice and Gloria both smiled broadly; Bart seemed much less enthused.

"Can we eat? I smell bratwurst."

"Oh, before we forget," Monroe turned to Nick and Sean.

"May I present Sean Renard. He's Nick's boss, the Captain of the Portland Police Department..."

"Renard?" Bart asked suspiciously, "Like the Royal family of Austria Renard?"

"Yeah, like that," Sean muttered as he shook Bart and Alice's hands. Bart's face changed slightly.

"And you're here because..."

"I'm a groomsman." Renard answered, almost daring Bart to make a comment. Bart nodded.

"Oh," the elder Blutbad said simply before turning toward the dinner table.

XxXxX

Everybody was served and sat down to eat. Monroe cut Rosalee's food up for her before he even touched his own plate. Rosalee smiled and batted her eyes at him; he smiled back. Nick noticed Bart watching them as he speared huge chunks of bratwurst on his fork.

"So, what happened to you, Rosalee? Pull something in the bedroom?" Everybody at the table stopped and looked up.

"Bart, PLEASE!" Alice whispered, putting her palm to her forehead. Rosalee looked to Monroe for guidance.

"Ummm... no," he began simply, clearly at a loss for how to continue.

"It's just that Blutbaden men can get very excitable, and I wasn't sure if you could handle..."

"OH MY GOD, DAD!" Monroe's ears were turning red, but the fierce blush was invading his cheeks as well. Gloria and Alice looked horrified; DeEtta's shoulders were shaking in silent laughter.

"What's so funny?" Bart asked. DeEtta let herself laugh loudly.

"Clearly you are unfamiliar with how Fuchsbau vixens operate. We get very excitable as well... I mean, you should have seen the stunt these two pulled in..." DeEtta stopped when she realized that Monroe, Rosalee, Nick, and Sean were glaring at her while Gloria and Alice looked confused. DeEtta cleared her throat. "Anyway, we like to get down, and we go hard or go home. Whether or not Rosie will admit it, I'm sure she can handle your son just fine." She grabbed her wine and took a big gulp. Bart sized DeEtta up once more.

"Clearly I am unfamiliar..." he turned to Rosalee and smiled, "Your sister's a pistol... I like her."

"Of course you do," his son muttered, shaking his head. Gloria and Alice smiled at one another.

"So we're taking our chances with reproducing, are we?" Bart continued gruffly, shoving another large chunk of bratwurst into his mouth.

"Well, umm, if kids happen, kids happen. We'll welcome them, and love them..." Rosalee said quietly. Monroe took her hand in his and brought it to his lips to kiss it. Bart shrugged and went back to his food.

"Well, as weird as this mixing thing still is to me, it's good to know you're not a queer. I would have ripped your cocksucking ladyboy throat out. Damn homos." Nick felt his blood run cold, and Sean's hand gently squeezed his under the table. All three Calverts and Monroe were staring at Bart, who was engrossed in his food. Alice once again covered her face, mortified, before attempting to turn the conversation around.

"So how did you hurt yourself, Rosalee?" she asked with forced levity. Rosalee sighed.

"Somebody shot me." Bart looked up, but the look in his eyes was different.

"You took a bullet?" She nodded.

"Robbery?"

"Jealous ex." Nick now recognized the look. Respect. And lots of it. Bart didn't let her finish.

"Angelina? You stood up to Angelina? WOW! I never thought I would meet ANYONE who would be able to stand up to that piece of work! And she shot you and you survived? Color me impressed!" Nick's jaw dropped; Sean and Monroe's did as well. Rosalee regarded Bart coolly, apparently deciding that was as good a story as any. Bart turned to Alice. "Maybe I've been wrong this entire time. I mean, she loves him enough to take a bullet for him..." Nick saw Monroe smiling and nodding, taking Rosalee's hand once more.

"Yup. She's a badass. And she's all mine!" Bart looked at his son, his future daughter-in-law, and her sister before turning to his wife.

"You know, this may not be so bad after all."