A/N: First off, I apologize for how long this took me to update. School just got super crazy and I didn't have any time to type this up! Second, it just wouldn't end! So, it's not been broken up into three parts, and the third part will hopefully not take nearly as long but I can't make any promises. I really hope there aren't too many mistakes here, I typed this up pretty quick and didn't proof read it. Thanks for all the support you've given me so far, I hope you enjoy this installment!
"Perfect timing!" Foggy commented. They had literally just finished shoving Matt's crap in his duffel when a few brave rays of sun broke through the cloud cover.
"The snow stopped?" Matt guessed.
Foggy nodded, "Mmhmm. Fricking finally. There's still a lot on the ground but I can't imagine the busses will delay too much longer."
"Shall we venture then?"
"We shall!" Foggy extended his arm and after slinging his bag over his shoulder, Matt gripped it and followed his friend out the door.
The walk to the bus station wasn't long, but it was impeded by snow so their progress was slow-going. Eventually though, the duo made it, cheeks red and feet soaked, to the surprisingly abandoned station.
"Why isn't there anyone around?" Foggy questioned, his voice bouncing loudly off the walls.
"There is one person in the men's bathroom, and two in the ladies. Plus the handful of people near the ticket window." Matt pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Oh my goodness!" Foggy released an exasperated hug then amended his original statement. "Why is there hardly anyone around?"
"Gave up on the idea of going home?" Matt shrugged, "How should I know?"
"You are absolutely no help."
"I do try. Where is your bag?"
"Over there." Foggy pointed towards a cluster of empty seats to the right, dragging Matt's arm along with him.
"Well you go grab you bag and I'll go buy a bus ticket."
"No Matt, I can totally spot you the ticket."
"Foggy," Matt cut his friend off, "While I appreciate the offer, I am already a last minute guest. I can't let you pay for my bus fare as well."
"Alright, your loss. I'll be right back."
Matt smiled softly as he listened to Foggy's retreat, then turned and tapped his way to the ticket window.
"Afternoon." He said with a nod to the lady behind to counter.
"Where to Hun?" She asked him. Matt could smell her flower scented perfume and the hazelnut coffee she'd drank with breakfast. Surprisingly the two aromas blended rather well together, giving the lady a very warm and welcome aura.
"One to Monroe please."
"Christmas plans with the family?" The lady asked conversationally.
"Something like that." Matt responded with a smile.
"Here you are Hun."
Matt held out a searching hand and a moment later felt the thick paper of a ticket resting on his palm. He closed his hand around the ticket and flashed the lady one last smile. "Thank you."
"Have a merry Christmas!" She called in response.
"You too." Matt replied, but he really wasn't paying much attention. He was worrying about the holiday, he really didn't want to be a burden to Foggy's family. Maybe he shouldn't have bought the ticket.
"Hey." Foggy's call broke through the veil of worry that had been steadily consuming Matt's mind. "What, she ask you the meaning of life? Why the melancholy thinking face?"
Matt just sighed deeply, his worry showing through. "Are you absolutely sure that I won't cause any problems for your family?"
"I am one hundred percent positive my friend. My mom always makes too much food anyway, and my cousins will enjoy the new meat- I mean face."
Matt bit his lip in nervous uncertainty, "I just really don't want to be a burden Foggy."
"And you won't! Knowing you, you'll find a way to weasel into the kitchen and try to help with supper." Foggy slung an arm around Matt's shoulders and steered them both toward the waiting platform. "Also it's forty-two, the meaning of life. In case you were interested."
"I really wasn't, but thanks anyway."
"You are most welcome."
The bus ride was amazingly not awful. It probably helped that aside form Matt and Foggy there were only three other passengers. Although every one of them protested greatly when Foggy began to sing along obnoxiously to the holiday tunes playing on the radio.
Soon enough the ride was over, a fact for which Matt was eternally grateful. His cheeks were burning red, and not with embarrassment for himself.
"Foggy, I'm fairly certain they are going to ban you from ever using this bus line again. They will have your picture posted and you will be escorted out with prejudice if you ever return."
Foggy laughed, gripping Matt's arm tightly. "I would not be surprised. I'm pretty sure I caught a death glare from the driver."
"That's because you can't sing!"
"No." Foggy countered. 'That is because no one recognizes my creative genius. Oh hey, there they are!"
Matt could only assume Foggy was referring to his aunt and uncle who had graciously volunteered to pick him up from the bus station.
"Hi Aunt Josie, Uncle Mark!" Foggy called to the waiting pair.
His two relatives stood and waved their hellos, and when Foggy was close enough they engaged in the obligatory hugs.
"Uh guys, this is my friend Matt from school. Matt, Aunt Josie and Uncle Mark."
Matt extended his hand and shook both of Foggy's relatives' hands in turn. "Pleasure to meet both of you." He said with a smile, the epitome of charm.
"You as well." Aunt Josie said with a smile, passing a coy look to her husband that went unnoticed by both college students.
"Well the car is outside if you'd like to follow us." Uncle Mark stated, returning Josie's smile with a wink of his own.
The couple own a small but sensible car, with enough room for both boy's bags and spacious back seating so they weren't cramped. With a speed he rarely used Foggy grabbed both their duffels and unceremoniously shoved them into the trunk, then dove into the back seat of the car to escape from the wind. Matt had been a little perturbed after his bag was savagely ripped from his shoulder but he quickly got over it and also sought cover from the fierce winter wind in the warmth of the car.
"So Matt," Josie piped up from the passenger seat as Mark started the car and got the heat blasting. "What is it you're majoring in?"
"Criminal justice, I'm pre-law."
Josie smiled again, "Oh the same as Franklin, how wonderful!"
"Have you given any thought to graduate school yet?" Mark questioned, slowly pulling out of the bus station parking lot.
"Not too much, no. Probably wherever Franklin will let me drag him."
Josie and Mark exchanged another knowing smirk, but Foggy was glancing at the snow outside in dismay and missed it once again.
"You know, it is so nice that Franklin has finally found someone who can put up with him."
"Aunt Josie!" Foggy whined. "You make it sound like I've never had friends before."
"Well how many friends do you have now?" Mark countered.
Matt snorted but quickly covered it up with a cough, he didn't try to hide his amused grin from Foggy though.
Foggy's cheeks burned red and he hung his head in defeat, his shoulders falling. "Just him really." He admitted quietly.
Mark laughed softly, showing amusement but not judgment in the way only family could. "And how much time do you two spend together?"
"Enough." Matt responded at the same time Foggy replied, "Too much."
Josie nodded her head softly, "And what of your roommate Franklin, does he mind when Matt is around?"
"Well actually, Matt is my roommate."
"Oh, that must make things much easier for the two of you."
Foggy's eyebrows dove in confusion, "Make what easier?" He questioned slowly, this time catching the sly smile passed between his relatives. "Wait, you don't think that we're- Matt's not my- I'm not gay!"
"Well," Matt countered, "When we first met you did call me very attractive."
Foggy turned wide eyes to his friend in shocked disbelief. "In a completely manly, bro to bro sort of way! Matt, you are not helping my case right now!"
Matt simply grinned in a way that suggested he'd known what was going on the whole time.
"Unbelievable, all three of you. Un-be-lievable."
Foggy's aunt and uncle fumbled for a moment, Mark settling on an uncomfortable cough while Josie attempted to find the words to form an apology. Matt could picture the pink tint to her cheeks, the nervous fidgeting of her hands.
"I am so sorry. We just, well we saw you and-"
"And just assumed we were a couple!" Foggy interrupted. Matt knew Foggy's voice well enough to know that he wasn't actually that upset, more taken by surprise than anything, but it was apparent that his relatives were less fortunate. "Why is your first assumption upon meeting my friend that we are together?"
"You were walking pretty close together." Mark responded.
Foggy groaned, remembering slinging his arm over Matt's shoulders and how that must have looked.
"Not to mention you introduced him as your friend," Josie said with a smile.
"Foggy," Matt began, "Do you know how gay we look when we walk around practically holding hands?"
"Do you?" Foggy immediately shot back.
Matt heard Josie gasp from the front seat but paid her no mind. "It was an understandable assumption to make and you know it." He finished with an amused grin.
Foggy remained silent for a moment, arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrowed. He saw both his relatives glancing at him nervously through the rear-view mirror. Matt's eyebrow was raised expectantly and his entire face screamed at Foggy to cut the bullshit. Foggy wasn't sure how he felt about his blind roommate being able to see through him better than his own family but Matt was incredibly smart and they did spend more time together than Foggy did with any of his distant relatives. "Alright fine. I suppose I'll forgive you."
"That's very big of you Franklin." Matt stated with a full-fledged grin, although Josie and Mark seemed physically relieved.
Slowly the car pulled to a stop alongside the curb and Mark cut the engine. "Here we are." He called, happy to have something to take their minds off the awkwardness of the previous conversation.
Foggy couldn't help but smile up at his house. It'd been a while since he'd seen it and he found he was very happy to be home.
The doors to the car opened and everyone shivered, the biting cold air a sharp contrast to the heated interior.
The four hustled towards the door and the promise of warmth, protecting their exposed faces and hands as much as possible.
Upon entering Foggy pulled Matt off the side, away from where his aunt and uncle were saying their hellos. "Okay so, I'm gonna run and talk to my mom quick. You can make yourself comfy, don't be afraid to mingle."
Matt nodded, "Alright."
Foggy turned to leave but paused and spun back around. "I'd also like to sincerely apologize on behalf of my ancestors for what happened in the car. And I'd love to say the rest of my family wasn't that bad, but it'd be a lie. A vicious, vicious lie." Then after offering Matt a soft pat on the shoulder Foggy was gone, lost in the fray of sounds and smells.
Matt could almost make out where the living room was, but he always had a hard time navigating in new places, especially new crowded places. So he just ended up standing awkwardly where Foggy had left him, attempting not to draw too much attention to himself.
He could hear a bunch of different conversations going on, one person complementing another, a couple children discussing what they hoped Santa would bring them. One hushed conversation in particular, however, grabbed Matt's attention.
"I don't know, he came in with Foggy." A feminine voice whispered to a group of three other people, two more girls and one boy.
"You don't think they're together do you? Like, together together?" A different girl asked, but was immediately shot down by the third girl.
"Foggy's not gay Chelsey. They're probably just really good friends from school."
"But he's blind right?" The male spoke up slowly.
"No shit Sherlock, what gave it away, the glasses or the cane?" The third girl retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hey, I didn't wanna assume anything Tristen."
"It's a pretty safe assumption to make Josh." The second girl, Chelsey, laughed.
"Hey." Foggy's voice pulled Matt away from the conversation he'd been eavesdropping on. "I said to make yourself at home and you're just standing here awkwardly."
Matt shrugged sheepishly, "I didn't really know where to go."
"Oh man, I totally didn't even think about that! I'll have to give you the grand tour eventually, but that can wait. Right now, my mom wants to meet you!"
"Lead the way." Matt stated confidently, but his heart rate had just elevated slightly.
Foggy and Matt made their way through the throng of people all stuffed in Foggy's house. The smell of food grew stronger the further into the house they walked and Matt figured their destination was the kitchen.
There was a lot of food cooking, but given the size of Foggy's family, Matt shouldn't have been surprised. Still, he counted three different meats, four veggies, two fruits, and a giant bowl of gravy. Not to mention the desserts, Matt counted at least five different flavors of cookie.
"Wow." He hadn't meant for it to sound rude, he was just taken by surprise and didn't know what else to say.
"I know, it's a ton of food. But I've got a pack of wild animals to feed so, it's necessary. My name's Rosalind, it's nice to finally meet you."
Matt heard Rosalind slap her hands against her legs and inhaled flour a moment later. "Matt," He responded. "It's lovely to meet you as well." He reached his hand out and a moment later felt the firm grasp of a petit hand still covered in flour. "I apologize for coming on such short notice, I hope it's not a problem."
"Oh not at all." Rosalind said as she turned back to the counter. "Foggy explained how you didn't have somewhere to stay and I've got more than enough room. It's my pleasure, really."
"Yeah, free food, what could be better?" Foggy piped up. "Mind you, we won't have any presents for you."
"Oh nonsense Frankie, we'll give 'im your presents."
"Mom!" Foggy cried, but whether it was in protest to the use of an obviously outdated nickname or the threat of a loss of presents Matt wasn't sure. It was probably a combination of the two.
"Now get outta here, I've got food to cook." Rosalind fondly smacked at her son with her kitchen rag, spreading even more flour in the already messy kitchen.
"Abuse! This is abuse! Matt are you seeing this?"
"No." Matt stated blandly, his face completely serious.
Foggy sighed in dismay. "I walked right into that one."
"Yeah you did." Rosalind and Matt replied simultaneously.
Foggy's eyes widened in terror. "Oh dear lord, you two are more alike than I originally thought. What have I done?"
"Franklin, show this fine young gentleman to your room. And where are your bags?"
Foggy released a large sigh that morphed into a fake sob. "Still in the car."
"Well go bring them inside!"
"Alright Matt, let's go."
"Oh no," Rosalind interrupted before Matt could even open his mouth to protest. "You can manage the bags on your own. I want Matt's candid opinion on the taste of my fudge."
"Why not my opinion? Your loving son?"
"Are you kidding? I don't trust you. Now get a move on, those bags won't carry themselves in."
"This is what I've had to put up with my entire life." Foggy complained.
"My dear friend, however did you survive such hardship?" Matt shot back.
"Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy."
Rosalind turned back to her son, hands on her hips, eyebrows raised expectantly.
"I know, I know, bags. I'm going ya harpie."
Matt couldn't see the look Rosalind gave her son after that comment, but it must have been terrifying because it had Foggy running out of the kitchen faster than a jack-rabbit being chased by wolves.
"That boy," Rosalind grumbled, but Matt could tell there was no real malice in it.
Matt smiled and shook his head, "So, I'm tasting fudge?"
"Yes. Here it is, it's pretty fresh too." Rosalind placed a small square of warm chocolate in Matt's open palm then waited expectantly as he took a small bite.
The flavor was astounding, and the texture was smooth and creamy. Matt couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten something so good, it he'd ever eaten anything as delicious as the fudge in his mouth. "This is absolutely amazing Mrs. Nelson."
"Do you really think so?" She sounded hopeful and excited, the tone of her voice glowed yellow and almost pink.
"Yes, I really do."
"Oh thank goodness." Rosalind heaved a sigh of relief. "I was afraid I'd ruined it, I accidentally poured in too much vanilla."
"Well I couldn't tell at all."
Their conversation was interrupted by the loud bang of the front door and Foggy's grunts of effort as he dragged both bags inside.
"I wouldn't have sent him alone if I'd known the bags were so heavy." Rosalind said in sympathy.
"Oh don't worry, I'm sure ninety-five percent of that is acting. Plus his bag is the heaviest, he totally deserves it. Thank you for the fudge Mrs. Nelson." Matt said with a smile, gripping his cane and tapping his way to the front door, where Foggy was bent over, hands on his knees and heaving gusts of air to try and catch his breath.
"Don't be such a drama queen, they aren't that heavy."
"You weren't the one that had to carry them through the snow and the wind!"
"Let me guess, uphill both ways?"
"You've got it my friend."
Matt couldn't help but smirk. "Well, would you like me to carry them to your room?"
"And admit defeat?" Foggy sounded affronted. "Absolutely not! This is a challenge now and I shall prevail! And when I do, it will only make tonight's celebratory meal all the more satisfactory! Now follow me upstairs to my humble abode. I mean, I know you can't see me but-"
"Foggy, the noise of your struggles will guide me."
"Ha ha, that would almost sound sweet were I not slowly dying."
"Last I checked no one has died from carrying a couple heavy bags up a flight of stairs."
"Hey, there's a first time for everything." Foggy stated optimistically, bending and groaning with effort as he hefted the bags over his shoulders once more.
Matt easily navigated through the unfamiliar territory, but he assumed the path Foggy was forging with the sheer girth of the bags made his life a lot easier. He paused for a moment when his cane tapped against the bottom stair but he'd already known from the shift in air currents around Foggy that the staircase was there.
"Okay." Foggy called from ahead of him, voice muffled through a wall. "So here's my room. We can set up another bed on the floor, I'm pretty sure we still have that extra mattress."
Foggy continued talking, softly and in the unobtrusive way he sometimes did when Matt was studying, allowing Matt to devote a little more energy to taking in his surroundings.
Foggy's room was fairly small, with one window on the far wall. His bed sat beneath it, the covers adorning it smelled used, but in a loved way.
There was an old lamp that Foggy had just turned on sitting atop a worn night stand, sucking electricity greedily from the socket.
Foggy's dresser stood against the back wall, towards the interior of the house. It was long and stout and covered with all sorts of knick-knacks; the polar opposite of Matt's own dresser back at school.
Matt could even hear the slight rustle of posters on the wall, but as to what was on the posters, well that was a complete mystery. If he had to hazard a guess, he'd say either nerdy movie, or very hot girl, possibly some combination of the two.
"I like it." Matt said at last.
"What's to like?" Foggy questioned, genuinely curious. "It's just a room."
"Yeah but it's- I don't know how to describe it. I guess it just feels homey."
"Huh." Foggy paused and glanced around his room, trying to take it all in and see what Matt was seeing. "It's just my room man." He finally gave up with a laugh.
"Yeah." Matt agreed softly, but the feeling of content didn't go away.
"Alright, we should probably go mingle. It is Christmas after all. One of the few times my whole family is actually together."
"Okay." Matt nodded his head nervously.
"Mingling Matthew, it's not that hard. It's just small talk."
"Small talk, right. You can do this." Matt whispered to himself, following Foggy out of the room and into the noise of the downstairs.