When We Fall: Meeting The Parents
"So this David person is a medical student?" Rose's dad Pete said confused as he struggled with his tie. Rose smirked helping him. "No, dad, David's still in high school he's just taking courses for an internship.
"He sounds like a poopy head." Her three year-old brother Tony grumbled. Rose shot him a glare. "Watch it." He stuck his tongue out at her as he stomped to the living room.
"Knock it off, you two." Jackie replied briefly checking her image in the hall mirror. Rose leaned back against the wall and sighed wondering if she had a huge mistake inviting him over. Just then the door knocked. "Could someone get that, please?" Jackie called from the kitchen.
"I will!" Tony exclaimed. "Oh, no, you don't!" Rose panicked running after him but Tony made to the door first and saw David standing there. "Hi, I'm David is this the Tyler residence?"
The three year-old scowled. "You're a giant!" He shouted slamming the door. "Tony!" Rose hissed moving him aside opening it again. "Hi!" She said as nonchalant as she could. "Hi, I take it that's Tony?" He replied glancing at the little blond haired boy being scolded by Pete.
She nodded. "Yeah, he's a bit of a pest." "I heard that!" He yelled. David smirked walking inside. "No, problem I have a little sister."
Rose smiled and introduced him to her parents. "Mum, dad this is David." "Nice to meet you both." He smiled. Pete grinned and shook his hand but Jackie eyed him up and down in his jeans and leather jacket skeptically before shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you, too. Dinner will be ready soon." Jackie said and left with Pete to the kitchen.
Rose heard them both muttering making her worried but David seemed unfazed. "Lovely place you have here." He said looking around the posh room and peering at the exotic house plants.
"Thanks, it's our summer home." Rose replied semi-worried. He noticed she seemed bothered. "You alright?"
She sighed. "A bit worried." "Ah, everything will turn out. The night is still young, right?" He replied as they walked into the living room. Rose nodded but didn't feel very optimistic. They found Tony playing with his toy car. David slowly approached him attempting to win him over. "Hi, you must Tony."
He looked up at him frowning. "I don't like Doctors!" "You think I'm a Doctor?" He asked. "Yes and Doctors have cooties!" Tony snapped. Rose wanted to hide but David knelt on the floor and gasped. "I look like a Doctor? Oh, dear! I need to fix that." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clown nose and stuck it on. "There any better?" David asked grinning.
Tony giggled. "You look daft." "Better to look silly than look like a Doctor, right?" He replied simply. Tony just shrugged his shoulder. He nudged his arm. "You know, I don't like Doctors either."
He looked at him like he had two heads. "You don't?" David shook his head. "Nah can't stand them." "So why do you want to be one?" He asked. David shrugged. "Don't know maybe I want to be the kind of Doctor that people want to go to… and between you and me I stink at basketball." He smirked making Tony smile.
"Listen, I got you a clown nose." David said.
"Yeah?" He smiled. "Yeah just let me get it." David said reaching into his pockets pulling out small random toys. "Hang on a minute." He assured Tony who was grinning even Rose suppressed from laughing as he pulled out toy cars, a small rag doll, a couple of marbles. "Where did all that come from?" Rose asked.
He shrugged. "I told you I have a little sister." David took out a small slinky before pulling out a clown nose and placing it on Tony's nose.
"There told you I find it!" He announced happily. "Do you have something for me?" Rose asked shyly. He shrugged. "Yeah, I might something but I'll have to pull it out of thin air." She smirked. "Well, this I have to see."
David wiggled his eyebrows and did a motion with his hand before pulling out a flower from behind his ear. "Here, it's not a clown nose but it'll have to do for now." He smiled handing it to her. Rose blushed. "Thanks." She smiled.
"Dinner's ready!" Jackie called. They all went to the dining room. After sitting down at the white table cloth covered table with candles and square plates Rose leaned over to David and whispered. "Hope you're ready for this." "What do you mean?" He asked. "Mum's not exactly the best cook." She warned.
He waved his hand. "Ah, I'm sure it'll be fine." "Wanna bet?" She scoffed. "Hope you're hungry!" Jackie said walking in with a casserole dish. "What are we having Mrs. Tyler?" David smiled. "Well, when Rose told me you were Scottish I looked through every cookbook and I made you a Haggis dish!" She said proudly unveiling the dish.
David swallowed and his eyes widen at a lumpy textured green and beige mess. "Eat up!" Jackie smiled serving everyone. He gave her a weak smile. "Told ya'." Rose remarked. "Clever clogs." He grunted. After debating whether to pick up a spoon or a fork it dawned on him he actually had to eat this.
Jackie noticed his hesitancy. "Something wrong, David?" He shook his head. "No, mam it looks delicious." "Then why aren't you eating it?" She asked sounding suspicious.
David smiled nervously. He didn't want to hurt Jackie's feeling s so sighing heavily he quickly swallowed a bite full. He forced a smile despite the stuff tasting like orange rinds and crusted meat. "It's really good, Mrs. Tyler." Jackie grinned. "Really?" He gave a reluctant nod and swallowed. "Yes and I would love the recipe."
Pete turned his head suppressing a smirk. Jackie smiled. "You see, somebody loves my cooking."
David gave a queasy smile before Rose leaned over and said softly in his ear. "You're wonderful, you know that?" He looked at her and she smiled at him easing his stomach.
After dinner David and Rose walked to the playground for some fresh air. "How's your stomach?" She asked as they sat on the swing set. David shrugged. "It'll be alright." Rose held his hand. "You made her very happy." "Well, that's something, isn't it?" He smiled.
"But you're going to have to do it every time you stop by." Rose pointed out. David closed his eyes groaning. "Oh, great!" "Aw, poor baby." She lightly teased.
He sighed. "I swear the things that I do to be with you…" Rose smiled and silenced him with a soft kiss while caressing the side of his face. "Are completely worth it." He finished after the kiss. He smiled gently rubbing her chin.
After a few minutes she asked."How about we get some chips?" He nodded. "Yeah, I'm starving!" He exclaimed making her giggle. They held hands and walked to the nearest chip shop.