Meet The Parents Ch1
"Nikki? Are you home honey?" Stephanie called out on her arrival home.
"In here!" Nikki's voice came from the dining room. Stephanie put her coat in the closet and went to find her girlfriend. "I missed you." Nikki said when Stephanie entered the room, finding Nikki with stationery and an envelope. Nikki looked up for a kiss hello, which was always coming. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah, it was good, just met Paige for coffee. You should have come."
"I just had some things to do. Was it just the two of you?"
"Yeah. Charlotte was invited too, but she didn't answer Paige's text, or mine."
"I don't like this. We haven't heard much from her since we had that game night, and it's been nearly six weeks." Nikki said, with genuine concern.
"I know honey, and it's sweet that you care so much. I do too, but you heard what AJ has said. She was embarrassed at her behaviour that night, getting carried away and insisting we play, especially after what Paige told us all. Plus we all saw her spend the night in the cage. Wouldn't you have felt a little embarrassed too?" Stephanie tried to be reassuring despite not having a lot to back it up.
"Yeah. I'm never going to wish I'd been locked in that thing, it was so small. But it's sweet that you and Paige have really gotten to be friends since then, that's the second time you've met for coffee this week. Should I be jealous?" Nikki meant her words in fun, but she quickly realised it hadn't been taken as such.
"Nicole, you were welcome to come. You said no, that's fine, but I would never, ever do that to you."
Nikki held her hands up. "Steph, honey, I was joking. I know how much you love me. I told you, I think it's great you and her have become friends. It just didn't exactly happen the normal way did it?"
"True. There haven't been many people I can count on in my life. But she proved trustworthy. It's weird having a friend. That's just how much you have helped me. Why you had to come into my life."
Nikki kissed Stephanie again and hugged her, sensing she was still worked up. "Don't sell yourself short. You're amazing, not just to me. You helped her a lot."
"I want you to be proud of me." Stephanie whispered as she held her girl tightly back.
"I am. Not just because of that." Nikki rubbed Stephanie's back, and she let go of the hug.
"Do you want to hear something dirty about Paige and Seth?" She asked, smirking. "Can I tell you? I don't want to keep things from you again, but she told me in private."
Nikki was wide eyed. "Gossip? Gossip's fine. I love gossip. Just not a proper secret. Is this a big deal like Paige's jail time was?"
"No, but it's linked to it."
"I think you're ok, and I won't say anything, I promise you."
"Ok." Stephanie perked up from that. "Turns out Seth was way more into it than we thought. He's found Paige being a former criminal who did time a turn on. He bought a set of handcuffs and asked to roleplay being the cop or the guard with her."
Nikki facepalmed for a moment. "Idiot. Does he want to drive her away?"
"That's just it. I don't know if the game helped, or talking it out, or what, but she does it for him. She said she likes it. I guess it's not so bad when it ends in sex in your own bed."
Nikki was almost struck silent in shock. "Wow. Just wow. I didn't see that coming. We really are rubbing off on our friends aren't we? But hey, we're not in any position to judge what anyone else does in the privacy of their own bedroom right?"
"True." Stephanie got that look in her eye. "What's say we go make them look like prudes?"
Nikki gave her lover a kiss to try and placate her. "Later honey. I gotta go mail this before I do anything else, no matter what I'd rather do."
"What is it?" Stephanie asked, moving to look at what was on the table, but Nikki grabbed it.
"Nothing."
"Nicole." Stephanie's tone changed immediately. Nikki handed over what she was holding. Stephanie read the front of it. "Kathy Bella?"
"My mom." Nikki said quietly.
"You've never told me anything about her, or any of your family for that matter." Stephanie said, thoughts rushing through her head.
"Neither have you." Nikki tried to argue.
"I know, but you're the one sending a card. Is it her birthday?"
Nikki nodded. "Friday. My issue with my family isn't with my mom, and I wanted her to know I was thinking about her."
Stephanie re read the address. "This is about five hours from here. If we left work a little early we could be there in time to deliver the card in person, maybe spend the weekend?"
"Steph, that's sweet, but I don't know." Nikki was trying to find a way out of this, but was struggling. "Mom doesn't have a big house."
"Then we will go to a hotel. Babe, clearly you want to see your mom or you wouldn't have bothered with a card. You didn't for your Dad."
"Actually I did." Nikki looked sheepish.
"So what's the problem? Why don't you talk about them?"
"Steph, please." Nikki was clearly getting upset.
"Ok, I'm sorry. Just look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't want to go visit them this weekend."
Nikki looked away, tear in her eye. "I haven't told them about us."
Stephanie hadn't expected that, and pushed down her disappointment. "Oh, that's why you don't want to go. Well why don't you go on your own. I'd miss you but…"
"No." Nikki said, firmly. "I should have told them by now. I just didn't want to make things more awkward."
"Why is it awkward?"
"It, well it just is. But I need to make it more awkward, at least for a moment. They will be shocked, but I think they'll see what I see in you."
"Oh yeah, what's that?" Stephanie was now smirking.
Nikki put her arms around her girlfriend. "That you love me, that you'd do anything for me, that you make me happier than I ever expected in life. That enough for you?"
"You think they'd see that?" Stephanie asked, unusually insecure and it was easily spotted.
"Steph," Nikki kissed her again. "You ok? This isn't like you."
"Yeah, I just don't want you to regret this, and of course I want my girlfriends parents to like me."
"Will yours like me?" Nikki turned the tables.
"Of course. I love you, and they will too."
"Then let's go see them as well, maybe next weekend?" Nikki made it sound like a question, but they both knew it wasn't.
"Fine." Stephanie's said, feeling like she'd walked into this one. "I'm going to start packing some things, so we can make a quick exit Friday." She went to their bedroom, and let out a breath. Stephanie loved her parents, but didnt like the bad memories going home brought back. Nikki didn't know about it, but it was unlikely they'd get through the trip to her own family without it coming out. She didn't let Nikki see just how nervous she really was, because she had to get past it, as it was a means to an end for her.
The first thing she got out to put in her case was the gold solitaire engagement ring she had arranged to be made custom. Meeting her love's family was something that she had brought up for a reason, the birthday card was a lucky opportunity to do so without raising suspicion. She knew her time to propose was coming, that it was going to be soon, and she wanted it to be perfect, and if the perfect circumstances didn't present themselves, she was going to be a position where Nikki would figure it out. She planned to use this weekend to ask for her Father's blessing, and invite them to watch the proposal, if they wanted to. She didn't need his blessing, and there was nothing in the world he could do to be able to stop her putting that ring on Nikki's finger, but she hoped to be part of every part of Nikki's life, and that included her family. The ring was coming along not because she planned to pop the question then and there, but to show she was genuine in the most important fact, how much she was going to love Nikki for the rest of their lives.
What she didn't know is how they'd take it. Could they accept Nikki being with a woman? If it wasn't possible, the trip was liable to be very short. Could they give their blessing to someone they just met? She was going to put everything she had into making it happen. She was so set on this that she stopped herself before she even packed one roll of tape into the suitcase, knowing they might not have much chance for sex over the weekend. "Don't want to be unprepared though" she said to herself, grabbing a roll and dropping it in with a smirk.
Downstairs, Nikki had spent all this time trying to write one text message. Eventually, she was able to finish it.
Dad. I'm coming to town for the weekend. Would love to stay at the house if it's ok, but can get a hotel if it's better. I'm bringing someone, and I need you to keep an open mind about them. Most importantly, I need you to make sure Brie isn't there, as who I'm bringing doesn't know about her. Thanks, love you. N. Xxx.
A.N.: Thanks for reading.
Obviously, you all know who Brie is, but Stephanie doesn't. How will she feel when she finds out about her? And what is the problem between the two? Let me know that you think