Okay, so I was originally going to make this chapter the end of the 'Emma meeting Noah's family for the first time' arc, but then it was WAY too ridiculously long. So, I decided to split them up to make it less of a mess. This chapter picks up right after Emma's conversation with Noah's dad. Enjoy!

(Emma's POV)

After Noah's dad told me he'd put my desk organizer (that I still can't believe he made for me basically just because I'm dating Noah) in the room I'll be staying in later so I could make my way back to Noah.

Even though I was trying to figure out which way to go with the least people in it.

Eventually I was able to squeeze through the 'mass of humanity' as Noah described in the kitchen somehow.

Once I got into a room that looked more like a parlor, I felt myself get tripped up by what I only assumed were a couple of Noah's older nephews that I recognized from when they ripped Noah away from his computer when we video chatted one time.

I immediately ran into someone and I was about to reflexively say sorry when I realized who I ran into.

Shoulder length black hair, brown eyes, dark denim jeans, black button up blouse with the sleeves cuffed slightly (showing a couple tattoos on her forearms), a black stud in each ear, an industrial piercing going through the top of her left ear, and septum piercing.

Luke's fiancé.

I seriously had no idea what her name was or even did anything to interact with her at all yet since all 4 of us were collectively swarmed by the family once we walked in.

At first I had no idea what to do until she said, smiling a little and sounding very laid back in contrast with the chaos going on around us, "Emma, right? Noah's girlfriend? What's up, I'm Sage. Sage Lopez."

She held out her hand to me. Just trying to keep up pleasantries, and still trying to figure out whatever the hell was happening still, I shook her hand and responded, "Emma Park. And not gonna lie… yeah, feeling pretty freaked out right now." She laughed slightly before saying, leaning in so I could hear her, "No worries. I remember the first time Luke introduced me to the family 4 years ago. But, honestly, you get used to it. You just gotta find your 'chill spot' in the chaos."

"Auntie Sage?" Both of us looked down and saw this little girl about 5 or 6 tugging on Sage's shirt and pointing up to the serving table. I looked over and saw she was pointing to the cups on the counter where there were soda, juice, and alcohol.

Sage just smirked and asked, "Juice, Syl?"

The girl just nodded, clearly on a one track mind to get a glass of juice that she needed help reaching.

Sage just laughed and smirked as she poured her a cup and gave it to her as she said, "Here, kiddo." N

earby I saw Noah's sister Sarah say, "Sylvia, what do you say?" "Thanks Auntie Sage." Sylvia answered, now seeming content with her juice. Sage just kept smiling as she gave Sarah a smirk and nod.

At first I was going to say something as I felt an arm go around my shoulders as I heard a familiar slightly deep voice say, "Hey guys, I just have one question… do you want to see Jesus?"

Umm… what?

I glanced over and saw Noah's brother Luke standing between us with a serious look on his face. Although I saw Sage just smirking and shaking her head, making me even more confused. And then I got even more confused when Luke took his arm that was around Sage off her and ripped open the top of his button up shirt to reveal what looked like part of one of his many tattoos on his chest that to me looked like the top part of a religious painting as he grinned at me before just laughing and saying, "Heh! Sorry about that. That's just my go to conversation starter. Didn't mean to weird you out. I can see why Noah likes you. You seem pretty serious like him too. But, he's always been like that."

Sage just looked over at him as she playfully shook her head and smirked before saying, "Hun, I'm glad you like and want to show off my art, but maybe take it down a notch?"

Luke just smirked back and said, "Why not though? Look at all the detail? It deserves a gallery display, honestly. Considering I've trusted you permanently putting art on me for the past 6 years."

I tilted my head as I started, "Art?"

Sage smirked and shrugged before saying, "Yeah, I'm a tattoo artist. And Luke was technically my first professional customer. That's how we met."

"Luke!" I looked behind me and saw Noah fighting his way to get over to me as he took Luke's arm off me and said, seeming very annoyed, "Dude, seriously? Do you have to find some way to start stripping every 5 seconds?"

Luke just smiled and practically put Noah into a bear hug as he said, sounding very relaxed, "Noah, c'mon man, it's Christmas! Lighten up a little bro! Besides I'm just saying hi to your girlfriend. What's wrong with that?"

Noah just gave him an unimpressed look once he let him out of the hug and responded sarcastically, "Do you really want me to answer that honestly?"

Luke just smiled and hugged Noah again as he said, "C'mon! Don't be like that. Hey, maybe you and your girlfriend can come to our next show if you guys are staying here for a bit? We're starting to get talent scouted now! The band's been getting venue offers like no other. It's crazy!"

"Band?" I cut in, not believing that was the first thing I said this whole time.

"Oh yeah! Me and some friends started a band when we were in high school. Slightly Unstable. We're a Punk/Alternative rock band. Sage joined in a couple years ago when my friend Ryan moved and we needed a new bassist. I'm a drummer and my friend Pat does guitar, and then both me and Sage are vocals. Here, we even have our site if you want to check us out? We'd really like it if you guys could come out and see us." Luke handed me what looked like a business card with the band name, logo, web address, and a phone number.

I looked up and saw something I had zero idea what to do with.

Both of them, well mostly Luke, were just smiling and Luke especially was giving Noah an almost genuinely 'hopeful' look. But when I glanced over at Noah, all I saw was his usual bored/annoyed opaque expression.

Then before any of us could do anything, Noah's mom immediately came out of nowhere and started, smoothing her hand over Noah's head, "Oh sweetie, let me fix your hair! You've got a cow lick again."

Noah immediately side stepped her, pursing his lips as he put a hand on his head and directed, "Mom… If I wanted someone to spit on their hand and put it in my hair, then I'd just ask a monkey to do it."

His mom gave him a look as she said, putting her hands on her hips, "Noah James, is that any way to talk? Or do you not want to look well kept with your girlfriend present?"

Even though I just kept looking at Noah's hair and didn't get what she was talking about? I love his hair and how it…

No, don't even start Emma. DON'T or you'll end up going into a 'Noah Daze' again. Ugh, where's my kid sister to slap me when I need her?

"Well hey, he called me a monkey. So maybe, I can spit in his hair?" I heard and looked over to see his brother Ben laughing.

Noah just narrowed his eyes and sarcastically retorted, "If I recall, I called you an 'Gorilla'. Which maybe you'd understand the difference if you bothered to read a book about it. Then again, you don't read anything without pictures or more than 5 words per page so maybe I should see if Prof. Zeiss has any kids books about it?"

Then I saw another one of Noah's brothers next to him let out a sharp laugh as he commented, sounding definitely not the age he looked despite his deep voice, "Ha! You got spanked!"

Ben just glared and said through his teeth in annoyance… and clearly trying to 'censor himself' with all the little kids in the room, "Stick it, Adam."

Adam smirked and just shrugged from he was across the room with his arm around who I was assuming was his wife. "Just saying, Benji. Besides, the way our Mole Man brother over there is going, Noah's gotten pretty metal lately. After he chewed and spit Chris McLean back out on TV and black listed himself… Gotta hand it to you, little bro, that's ballsy. How does it feel to finally be cool for once rather than getting snubbed early on for a change?"

My eyes went wide as I took all that in and looked over to see Noah just cross his arms as he looked at Adam and quirked up an eyebrow before responding in his usual dry tone, "Depends? Who's definition of 'cool' are we using, third string goalie in high school? Oh, or does that still 'sting' a little too much for you, bro?"

After that, I thought the sound barrier broke for a moment as all of Noah's brothers and even his brother-in-law Paul (that I'm surprised I even remembered after all the people I've met today) erupt into what I could only describe as an insane 'frenzy'.

All of them were laughing and swarming Adam.

Even Luke was laughing and put one of his arms around Noah's shoulders until he had him in a slight headlock as he said while laughing, "Nice one!"

All I saw was just him looking over at me from Luke's grasp with an annoyed, fed up, and irritated expression as he said, "Well, there goes my neck."

After continuing to be confused, I heard a bunch of little kids start almost gleefully screaming and heard one of them call out, "AWW! CASPER!"

Casper? Who's that?

Right then, a big golden retriever bounded into view and almost froze up and immediately made eye contact with me…. And I felt like I was doing the exact same thing back at the dog.

Listen, I have nothing against dogs, but I have hardly ever had any experience with pets in general.

When Kitty was 11, she kept begging mom and dad for a pet. But mom and dad always said no and wouldn't give in… well, until Kitty found a stray cat that someone released near the community center in town and eventually gave in after she wouldn't give up begging to keep it.

But, Mimzy's fine and she's completely Kitty's pet anyway and hardly ever wanted anything to do with me.

Dogs though?

No clue.

Now that I recall, I remembered Noah's sisters mentioning Casper was their 'family dog' and that (along with me) was all Noah cared about besides his computer.

Sure, I have no idea what to do, but what's the worst that can happen, right?

If Noah likes Casper, maybe I can give dogs a shot?

All of a sudden Casper started wagging his tail before bounding toward me faster than I could think. I was about to smile and say 'something' until I was completely caught off guard when Casper completely tackled me to the ground.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any more embarrassing being taken down by a dog in front of Noah's entire family… my eyes went wide and I froze up as my face felt like it was on fire in total embarrassment and mortified shock at what I realized next.

I was being humped by Noah's dog in front of the whole family. And I knew this was confirmed when I heard laughing and someone (probably Ben), call out while sounding like he was dying laughing, "Think Casper's gotten further than you have bro!"

But all I saw and heard was Noah trying to pull Casper off me as he reprimanded, mostly also sounding completely mortified about this happening, "CASPER! NO! OFF! Bad boy!"

I just kept laying there having a near existential crisis of trying to figure out how this could possibly get any more humiliating.

Well… Merry Christmas...

Oh C'MON! You know it wouldn't have been complete if something ridiculously awkward and embarrassing happened to Noah and Emma when Emma was meeting his entire family! It just wouldn't be Nemma without something painfully awkward happening like Noah's family dog humping Emma in front of everyone after tackling her to the ground. Hey, as a person who has a dog that literally humps the leg of any guest I have over to my house… I know this is just too real, and therefore also way too stupidly hilarious for me not to make that happen in this fanfic. But, even more unfortunately for Emma, Casper isn't like my 20 pound cockapoo and is instead a 70 pound golden retriever with enough momentum and not knowing his own strength to make that whole situation ten times worse. But, on the bright side, Casper seems to approve of Emma! Lol. XD Anyway, moving on, I wanted to give more of a view on how 'different' Noah really is from most of his older brothers. Mainly, that despite being grown married men in their 30's with children of their own, they are nothing but a bunch of overgrown, immature guys with total 'frat boy' energy. And just like in the show, Noah doesn't seem to take any crap from anyone and has no problem back sassing his brothers when they are trying to jab at or embarrass him, despite them being a bunch of 'meat heads'. And then from this, we meet Noah's only brother who doesn't completely fall into the mold like Noah. And that is Luke Mathai. Now when I was making Luke's character and wanted to make him this alternative style rocker. But, unlike Rock and Spud, Luke is the real deal. Even though he is only at the start of his musical career by finally getting noticed with his band. Honestly when I was making Luke, I wanted to make his style as a musician and person a lot like John Cooper from Skillet from 2009 and 2010. Weirdly specific but that's only because 2021 John Cooper looks NOTHING like 2009 John Cooper. Haha. Anyway, Luke is basically a carpenter by day with his dad's company to pay the bills, but a Rockstar by night and on the weekends doing gigs and writing music with Sage and his friend Pat in their band 'Slightly Unstable'. And to me I imagine their band to be something like a mixture between Green Day, MCR, and Skillet with Alternative and Punk rock style. Look, I'm an old lady. These bands were big when I was in my teens. Lol. XD They're still pretty unknown but slowly starting to get noticed at this point. At this point though, Luke isn't quitting his day job and neither is his long time girlfriend and now fiancé, Sage, as a tattoo artist. However, apart from wanting to become a professional musician, Luke also just wants to have more of a 'brotherly bond' with Noah as the two youngest boys and respective outcasts among their 'jock stereotype' older brothers. But, unfortunately for Luke, Noah just isn't interested. Not because he 'hates' Luke or anything, but… Noah's just Noah and he's kind of a loner who already kind of has the 'odd couple' friendship in his life with Owen and it's kind of amazing they are even that close despite how opposite they are to begin with. Although it seems Emma's gotten curious and taken in all this new found information. What will happen next in the final part of the Mathai family visit? Stay tuned all! As always, thanks for reading and constructive feedback is always appreciated.

Stay classy, healthy, and safe all!

Dexter1995