Kenton, of course, spread his joy to James even though the other just barely paid attention. Still, James was pleased to see Kenton again and the other stopped by several times before James was finally alright. Alastair stopped by even more often though he was gone for two days due to a mission. Eventually, a week and a half passed and James was declared fit for duty. Alastair had left for one mission at one point or another but eventually both were at HQ again. At the same time, Alastair told James of an event that had been stuck on his mind.

They were casually sitting in the monitoring room, keeping an eye on one of Harry's missions as they both sipped at their tea.

"My mother is hosting a luncheon," Alastair murmured, eyes staring intently at the screens. "Father, Roxy, and Kenton will be there as well. She wants me to come."

James gave a slow nod even though Alastair couldn't see it as he mulled this information over in his head. "Are you going to go?"

"I was…thinking of seeing if you'd come with me," replied Alastair hesitantly.

"You know that's probably going to send your mother into a tirade right?"

Alastair gave a small shrug. "That is somewhat the plan."

"Wait! Seriously? You mean it?"

"Yes, and I have been meaning to tell Roxy of our relationship anyways."

"So this is you, honestly asking me, if I want to go with you for lunch and sit with your family for however long it takes before your mother explodes. Right?" asked James with a raised eyebrow.

Glancing back at him, Alastair nodded. "Yes. I know she want except this but I might as well give her the chance and I'd like to see how my father reacts to the entire matter as well."

"Fair enough. When is it?"

AN: WARNING: Brief horrible homophobic slur in this chapter!

Now, on to thank you guys as always. This particular chapter has been trapped in my head for a very long time and I've just been dying to write! Hope you enjoy!

"Tomorrow at eleven thirty," Alastair replied. "I've actually already told her I was coming. Mainly just to get her off the phone quicker and with less yelling. It should be at least somewhat amusing to see how she reacts to the entire thing. You will come?"

"Of course! What should I wear?"

"Do you really think it matters? I doubt we'll be there long. Or maybe she'll leave. That would certainly be a better option."

"Whatever, just tell if it's like fancy dress or casual or what."

"Casual formal would be my best bet. It's rather high-end but not out of this world in any way," said Alastair.

Though slightly worried how this might play out, James was mostly pleased that Alastair had taken such a huge step. With a grin he replied, "Sounds like a plan."

Surprisingly, it wasn't until they were standing outside the establishment that Alastair started to freeze up. His back was stiff, jaw firmly set, and the uncertainty that hadn't been there before had quickly appeared full force.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea," he murmured.

James gave an encouraging smile and then took Alastair's hand to give it a quick squeeze before letting go. "Hey, this was your idea so if you want to back out it is your choice, but I personally think we should go in. It may be painful, difficult, but I feel that ultimately you'll feel better afterwards. Okay?"

Alastair nodded and for several seconds, James was almost positive the other would ask to turn around but instead, he reached out and grabbed James' hand, holding on tight like a lifeline. "I've had to walk across deserts, stay in one position for hours in the hopes of getting the right shot, and I've been forced to stay in more than one overnight mission with Harry. I think I can do this."

"That's the spirit," James replied with a smile. He then made to release their hands, thinking Alastair would prefer it, but instead the other clenched his hand tighter.

James looked at him, a wordless question on his face, but Alastair simply nodded and led him by the hand into the restaurant. His face steely, the only inclination that James had now that Alastair was unsure was the way his lips moved, counting out the prime numbers like in all his other times of distress.

When the host saw them, his eyes immediately rested on and recognized Alastair as he said, "Mr. Morton, if you would follow me, your family is already here. I'll have an extra chair brought in for your…uh…friend."

"Thank you Winston," Alastair said with a respectful nod of his head before following.

James leaned in a bit and asked, "You know the host by name?"

"This has always been a rather common place for my family to gather when family is in town," responded Alastair right as they came upon their table.

The table was round like all the others with a currently unlit candle in the center and a vase. A chair was pushed in between Roxy's and the empty one but before either could sit down, the mother was already standing up. Thankfully the host had already turned and left.

"What is he doing here!?" she whispered, rage dripping from her voice.

"It's a family outing isn't it? I figured that included partners," Alastair replied evenly. The only sign that he was afraid was the shaking in his hands but thankfully she didn't see that and James stilled one by gripping it harder. "Father, brother, sister, lovely to see you all again."

Both pulled out their chairs and sat down but the mother remained standing for a moment longer, simply glaring at the two until very slowly, sitting down.

To James left sat Roxy who quickly ignored the uncomfortable air and grabbed James sleeve to get his attention. "So Uncle James, are you and brother now like married people?"

Kenton snorted in his glass of wine as a large grin overcame his face while their mother yelled out, "Roxanne! How dare you speak like that! Don't say such horrible things again!"

"I don't think it's horrible," Roxy replied stubbornly. "Who wouldn't want to marry James?"

Kenton and Alastair let out a snort and James grinned as he leaned over and said, "Ah, why thank you Roxy." The father actually seemed amused as well though when the mother glanced at him he immediately stilled.

Turning to look at Alastair again, his mother growled out, "You can't be with him. Not if you want to be with your family! You have to choose!"

"Yes," Alastair agreed slowly, "but the choice has to be between my or you."

"You really think that!?" she screeched, her angry whispering now growing into full out yelling. "Ever since you were born you've been nothing but trouble! You've only caused problems for me and this family despite the fact that I have tried to make everything as perfect as possible! Do you understand that!? And if you don't denounce James then I will disown you because there is no room in my family for a fucking faggot!"

There was no dramatic pause, no stunned silence that gave people enough time to glance at each face like a movie. Instead, three events happened at the same time. Roxy and James had their hand on the table and were standing up in seconds, ready to fight with their words or their fists if necessary. Alastair and his father both leaned back in their chairs, head going down with the only sign of how the words had affected them being the clenching of their fists.

The last event that occurred almost at the exact same time as the other two was much simpler and smaller in comparison though. Kenton, with a simple flick of his wrist, took his wine glass off the table and spilled every last drop over his mother's face and dress.

It was only then that everyone seemed to dramatically freeze except for Kenton who shook his glass a little to make sure that all of the liquid was out before putting it down on the table and continued to look at the menu.

"How—how dare—"

"You know, that's really getting tiresome mother," Kenton responded, not even glancing up as he went over the lunch specials. "Can you come up with nothing else but 'how dare you' because I swear I've had it tattooed on my forehead since before I was six."

"How—I mean—but—"

"And now you're at a loss for words which is perfect because I have a few to say of my own," Kenton interrupted as he switched to the deserts. "The fact that Alastair is actually happy and being himself instead of trying to conform to your twisted version of him should be something celebrated because basically, you're a bitch. Also, before you try to say 'how dare you' again because I know you can't think up anything original, I might as well inform you that I'm engaged and no, she's not from royalty, she's an American, the land of self made money. And I do apologize for dragging the attention off of your brother but I figured that you wouldn't mind."

"Not at all," mumbled Alastair as he continued to look on shocked. "Not at all."

For a moment, the mother simply remained frozen until she finally spun to her husband and got out, "Are you going to stand this kind of treatment from our own children!?"

"I think it's only you that these words are really aimed at," he said slowly, "and to be perfectly honest, if our middle child, the one who has never seemed to find his own joy in this world finally has, I truthfully don't see any problem with it."

"You mean you're fine with this!?"

"Yes, I am."

"It's exactly like I said," Alastair suddenly put in as he straightened his back just a bit more. "My choice is between you and my family. It shouldn't come as to much of a shock that I choose my family."

A garble of unintelligible words escaped her mouth before finally she turned and left in a huff, wine still dripping from her hair as the rest of the patrons watched her go.

Kenton broke the silence that followed with, "Well I don't know about you lot but I'm famished. You ready to order?"

Alastair turned to look at him with wide eyes, at first in shock, but then rather quickly he had to cover his mouth as a chuckle slipped out and then another and another. Finally, he rested his head against the table and covered his head though the giggles continued to leave his body.

"Anybody a doctor here?" asked Kenton as he looked around. "I think he's dying."

"Oh shut up," gasped Alastair as he kicked his brother under the table sat up straight.

James looked on rather amused as he asked, "You alright?"

"Surprisingly yes. More…more than alright in fact." Turning to Kenton he suddenly asked, "Are you really getting married?"

"Not until next winter but we are engaged," Kenton replied. "Her name is Nnenna. Her family was actually originally from Nigeria but she was born and raised in America."

"When can I meet her?" asked Roxy happily.

"Soon I hope," Kenton responded with a grin. "Now, like I said before, are we all ready to order?"

As if on cue, Kenton's stomach rumbled and the entire table quickly fell into hysterics. Talk moved on to lighter subjects and soon a feeling of closeness and joy surrounded the table, all hatred and malice having left with the mother.