Hey guys, once again apologies for the super late and super short update. I'll try and get more up soon but I am going back to uni next week so it'll get hard again. But I'll try.

Enjoy!

Chapter 32

Charlie's POV

I was insanely nervous for dinner. I hadn't introduced my parents to a girl this soon since well, ever. And it wasn't often that I invited girls over for dinner. And what would they say? We only just got together and I'm already inviting her for dinner.

Oh shut up Charlie, its Alexis for Merlin's sake. You have known her for years, as has everyone else in the family. Like anyone is going to object to you bringing her to dinner.

But what if they object to me bringing her to dinner as my girlfriend? Hmm, I like the way that sounds. My girlfriend, Alexis Fuller. Alexis Fuller is my girlfriend.

THEY WON'T OBJECT TO YOU BRINGING HER TO DINNER AS YOUR GIRLFRIEND! THERE WILL BE NO OBJECTIONS TO ALEXIS BEING PRESENT! Merlin your daft Charlie. So very, very daft.

How do you know there will be no objections?

Because I am you and you know your family so I know your family so you and I both know that no one will object to Alexis coming to dinner, either as your girlfriend or otherwise.

Oh, okay. You're pretty smart Charlie.

I had left Alexis's place and was back at mum's, trying to act normal. I didn't want to leave Lex but it would have been hard to explain disappearing for hours. I had owled Vali, quickly filling him in on the day's events and was now pacing around the living room.

"Charlie dear, what is the matter? You've been pacing since almost the moment you got home."

So much for normal.

"It's all good mum. Everything is fine. Everything is normal. Everything is good."

"Charlie, do you really think I'm going to believe that?"
"No," I responded meekly.

"Well what is it then?"
"Just stressing out about the dragons," I lied, "I'm just worried that something will happen and I won't be there to fix it and then they'll die and I'll come back to my dragons being dead. I don't want dead dragons."

"Charlie, they'll be fine. They are always fine. There are umpteen other people there that will look after them while you're here."

"Yeah but I still worry about them. What time is dinner?"

"7."

I glanced at my watch, still an hour and a half to go. Damn you time, go faster.

"Alright, that works out well. I've still got a few things to do so I'll be back in time for dinner."

I apparated from the living room to the closest apparating point to Alexis's place.

Alexis's POV

Later that night.

I was waiting at home for Charlie to come back and get Lucas and I.

I paced around the room impatiently for a few minutes before he apparated in front of me.

"They're all there; they didn't see me so they have no idea."

He took my arm and I held Lucas while he apparated us to his parents' house. We stopped outside the front door and he kissed my forehead.

"I'll be back in a minute."

He went inside, leaving the door open slightly so I could hear what was going on.

"Hey everyone, sorry I'm late, I had a few errands to run. Mum, I hope you'll excuse the short notice but I invited someone to dinner."

"That's fine Charlie dear, we can organise another chair. Who is it?"

"Is it a girl Charlie?" Fred asked.

I smiled; we had anticipated that one of the twins would be the first to ask that.

"Why, yes it is Fred. My girlfriend actually. I'll just go and get her, just be nice please everyone. I don't want you to scare her off."

He soon appeared at the door grinning, "Are you ready?"

"Never been so ready in my life," I replied, returning the grin.