You are all so kind, wishing me to get better. Seriously, I could not love you more!

Anyway, this was prompted by 'teamcullen4eva' and 'myaddictionanubis' and 'LizzyKat2'

You all have pretty similar minds guys…

Meet the Jaffray's

Beginning

"Why don't I hire an actor, who will pretend to be me, and he'll meet your parents," Jerome suggested pleadingly.

"Or you could meet them," Mara nodded, brushing her hair

"Yeah….or you could tell them I'm terribly ill and can't see anyone, but I'd love to reschedule this for some other time?"

"Or you could meet them," Mara repeated

"Mmhm, I hear that." Jerome nodded "But how about, we cancel on them, and say that they can't come over due to severe snow warnings-"

"Jerome-"

"-No, okay, fine, where do we get all the snow? How about a flood? We could get the fire hose-"

"Jerome-"

"And totally drench this place, or better yet buy a-"

"Jerome-"

"Giant turkey which Alfie could eat, he could catch a bug, we all catch a bug, and they can't come over, or they'll be sick. So, I think we should go for that plan, how about it Mara?" he looked up at her, and Mara rolled her eyes

"Is this you nervous?" she whispered, placing her hands on his chest as he looked down at her "You need to relax. They're not expecting much of you."

"What if I fail to meet even those requirements?"

"You won't." she promised, tiptoeing and kissing him softly "Now come on, the Taxi's gonna be here any minute."

Jerome watched her walk out of his room and he sighed. This was it. Now or never.

He decided to follow her.

Line Break

"So Jerome, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Mr Jaffray asked him as they sat around the table. Jerome swallowed, and turned to look down at Mara, who smiled at him, seeming perfectly at ease.

"Well Sir…I really haven't given it that much thought."

Mr Jaffray frowned "So do you have any idea what you'd like to do at University?"

"Well, I was actually thinking about not going to University, probably just starting work experience somewhere," Jerome admitted, wincing at Mr Jaffray's expression of pure horror.

"No university?" he all but screamed "But, how will you get any qualifications? A degree-"

"Calm down, Frank," Mrs Jaffray, tutted at her husband, gaining Jerome's attention "Don't worry dear, he's just a little over protective. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself now?"

"Uh…" Jerome blew air our through his cheeks "I'm in a swimming club, I play the piano, that sort of thing?" he asked nervously

"Oh Mara!" Mrs Jaffray gushed "You never told me he played the piano! How wonderful!"

"Yeah," Mara smiled "Jerome has a lot of talents," she nudged him happily, and Jerome let out a sigh of relief.

"So, when will we get to meet your parents, Jerome?" Mr Jaffray asked, and Jerome stiffened, as did Mara. The table fell silent. Mara swallowed, eyes flickering to Jerome, wondering if she should speak, or if he was about to say something. He looked sad, and hollow, staring at his plate, cheeks burning, with anger, shame, and something she couldn't quite place. She cleared her throat

"I think we may have stumbled into a dangerous topic here, Dad," Mara smiled at her father, who nodded apologetically, wondering what had happened to this poor boys parents.

"Were they in some kind of accident?"

"No, D-" Mara began, but she was cut off

"No." Jerome stated, shaking his head "They're both fine. My father…is in prison. And my mother is who knows where, with some strange man, getting drunk every night and forgetting everything's she's left behind. Not that she cares though, it's not as if she ever loved us enough to remember. And the moments she does remember us are pure hell, she'd do anything to make our lives a living misery, including blocking all contact from our dad. The only person who actually wants to see us happy."

"Oh." Mrs Jaffray coughed awkwardly, before setting a warm smile on her face "Jerome dear, just know that we'll always be here for you, from now on, you're a part of this family,"

Jerome swallowed, looking her in the eyes, glistening with hope, "Really?"

"Of course," her and Mara cried in unison.

"There will always be a place for you," Mara whispered.

Jerome's mind was racing, his heart thumping, feeling something he had never felt before in his entire life.

Warmth.

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