Preparing for the Parents
Sunday, November 21st, 2004
Preparing for the Parents
A Billy/Dom Chat
Dom: *I adjust the laundry basket against my side, trudging upstairs and being careful to keep all of the clean towels from spilling out onto the floor. I enter down the hallway, shove some overhanging shirts back into the pile, and then pause at the sound of a small thump coming from the guest bedroom. Curiously, I begin to smile, and make my way toward the room and the sounds of Billy scurrying about inside. I nudge open the door with my foot, bracing the laundry basket at my side contentedly when I see Billy busying himself with an adorable nervous energy.* I did laundry, are you proud of me? *I announce, walking toward the bed where he is working.*
Billy: *I glance up as Dom walks in, quickly reverting my eyes to tucking the end of the sheet under the mattress.* I am very proud. Did you remember all the proper settings for all the different loads? Whites? Colors? Delicates? *I smile, busying myself with folding the corners under the mattress. If I don’t do it properly, I’ll do it again. It wouldn’t be the first time. I can’t help it, but I’m determined to have an impeccable house for when Dom’s parents arrive. Which is soon. Two days, actually.*
Dom: *I watch him tuck in the sheets, then smooth them out on the mattress, and tuck them again, getting the urge to laugh just a little, but I hold back, setting the laundry basket on the bed instead.* Yes, I remembered this time, thank you. *I absently pull at different corners of cloth amid the pile, checking for any pink spots on white or vice versa. Satisfied, I finally look up with a broad smile.* Thought I'd fold these where I could see you. …But it looks like my folding surface is getting new linens at the moment. *I grin and run a hand in the clean towels, not wanting to take my eyes off of Billy; I'm sure if he thought of it, he'd be leveling the edge of the sheets with a metre stick.*
Billy: I should be finished in a minute. Just let me finish and I’ll give you a hand with those. *But for the moment I wish he’d just move the basket so I can continue to smooth out the sheets. I eye him for a moment and then move it myself, setting it down on the floor and circling around the bed, making sure the edges of the sheet are even. It does no good to remind myself that by the time they fall into bed on Tuesday, they won’t notice anything about the bed at all other than it’s there. Those type of thoughts don’t compute at the moment in my mind.*
Dom: *Laughter escapes from my mouth when he takes the basket, my hand darting back from its contents as he sets it on the floor and continues around the bed. I forget Billy's offer and watch him again smooth out the other side of the sheets three or four times.* Billy, my parents aren't going to rate the quality of their stay on bed sheets. I'm happy that you want things to look nice, sweetheart, but I'm afraid you're going to wear yourself out. Already. *I step around the bed toward him and just begin to sneak my arm around his waist as he turns and hurries away again.* We haven't even started making Thanksgiving dinner yet. *I laugh, not sure if I sensed a little worry in my own tone or not.*
Billy: I just want everything to look nice... *I heft the blanket up onto the bed and begin smoothing out that layer, folding the top of the sheet over the blanket.* And dinner shouldn’t even be mentioned. I’m afraid to start thinking about it. *I am, too. Suddenly and violently terrified. It’s one thing for the bed to have a few wrinkles. But what if the food is disgusting? What if I don’t cook the turkey long enough and we all get food poisoning? Stop. Stop that line of thought right there.*
Dom: Billy, I'm sure that as long as you don't give them raw turkey on a plate, they'll be just fine. *I grin and grab the other corner of the blanket across the bed, pulling it up and turning over the edge of the sheets, trying to follow Billy's example as close as possible. I smooth the blanket down again just in case.* Don't worry about dinner, love. I'll be there to help. I'll test the food as many times as you want me to. *I grin.* And if I die afterwards, you'll know to get take-out instead.
Billy: Dom! *I look up at him, but I have to laugh, feeling a slight bit of that tension ease off. Just a bit. I reach over and pull a miniscule fleck of fuzz off the blanket before reaching for the duvet.* I’ve never attempted a meal this big before... I know how hard it’s going to be to orchestrate it all, and I want everything to be perfect. *I lean over the bed, pushing the duvet into place, and smile up at him.* I don’t want them to think that you’re living off takeout and tv dinners. I want them to know you’re being well-fed.
Dom: If my mum wants to know that, she pinches me. *I say through a smile, taking the corner of the duvet as he tosses it to my side of the bed. I tug it up and run a hand under the edge pull out the places that were folded under.* You're good with meals, anyway, Bill. If it weren't for you, I would be living off takeout and TV dinners.
Billy: Not meals like this. Not ones with more than three dishes. *I shake my head, eyeing the top of the duvet to make sure it lines up with the top of the mattress. I turn around, looking for the pillows, and pull them all onto the bed, reaching for the pillowcases.* I’ve never had anyone I wanted to impress as much as your parents. *I chuckle a bit nervously.*
Dom: *My laughter echoes his softly, wanting to blush when I feel my heart skip. I still can hardly believe this is happening. Being engaged and everything... I think I'm starting to feel a little of Billy's anxiousness. I busy myself with a pillow, taking up a pillow case and beginning to stuff it.* How do you suppose we should tell them? *I ask, changing the subject without really thinking about it. I shake my pillow case, forcing the pillow inside, and I glance to Billy, trying to clarify.* About, you know. About us.
Billy: *I slip another pillow into a case, settling it down carefully at the head of the bed and fluffing it. Carefully, would be my first instinct. But...* I don’t know... how do you think your parents are going to take it? You know them better than I do.
Dom: *I laugh a little, but I feel that it's more of a nervous impulse than anything.* I've never told them that I was getting married before... *I speak softly, putting my pillow up at the head of the bed. I try to smile, an attempt to be light-hearted about all of this, but I really have no idea how my parents will take it. When I think about Mum, I get the feeling that she'd approve - I know she'll love Billy, anyway, and I think she'd be proud of any definite decision I were to make on my own. Dad, on the other hand... Well he usually agrees with Mum, doesn't he? I don't know... I try to ease the perplexed expression off of my face before glancing back to Billy.* I, uh. I think they'll be all right. You know. *I run a hand over the surface of the pillow, then reach for another one to cover.* They know I love you. *Tucking the pillow under my chin, I look at Billy with a sudden, small grin.* We've lived together this long without killing each other, yeah? They should know that this is bound to work out.
Billy: I know, but... *No guarantee that they’ll like me, though. I mean, his mother was friendly towards me on the phone, but there’s no guarantee that when she gets here she’ll like the life we’re living together. I feel very old suddenly, so much older than Dom, and I wonder if that will make a difference to his parents. I suppose, until I meet them at least, I’ve just got to trust Dom’s judgment. He knows best in this situation.* I suppose we should wait until they’ve settled in a bit. We don’t want to spring it on them when they’re tired from traveling. *I smile softly, pulling the other pillow over to me and sliding it into the case.*
Dom: *I shake my pillow again and smile a little more broadly when I see the corners of Billy's mouth rise just that little bit.* Yeah... *My brow rises suddenly with an idea.* And hey, maybe we won't have to tell them after all. They might figure it out on their own. Pretty obvious with the way I'm always stealing glances at you and acting like I'm hiding something. And Mum could always tell when I was keeping secrets from her... *I smile cheekily.* Clever, mum's are; they know everything.
Billy: Hah, I suppose they are. *I reply, placing the pillow on top of the other one and spreading the pillow cover over the two.* Well, if that’s the case then there’s no need to worry. But if they don’t guess... I suppose we could formally announce it over dinner? When everyone’s nice and full. *Soften the blow, I almost add, but I’ve got to remind myself that Dom’s parents will be seeing our engagement as a good thing... hopefully. So Dom says.*
Dom: *I smile and pull my side of the pillow cover up.* All right. After dinner, you tap your glass with your spoon and then I'll announce it to them. *I grin at him and step around to the end of the bed, finally picking my laundry basket back up and placing it on the duvet.* Am I allowed to fold clothes now? You won't have to remake the bed, will you?
Billy: Only if you’re not careful. Does folding clothes drive you into a frenzy, Dom? *I raise an eyebrow and grin at him, pulling out a towel and folding it.* And I’m not tapping my glass. That’s the sort of thing people do when they’re wearing tuxedos, and we are not dressing up that much for Thanksgiving. Tell you what, I’ll do it at the wedding.
Dom: What, dress up or tap your glass? *I grin at him again, picking out one of his shirts and folding back the sleeves.* Or will I get lucky and have both? *I lay the folded shirt down on the bed and look happily at Billy as I reach for a towel.*
Billy: Well, I was planning on jeans and a t-shirt for the wedding, but if you insist... *I grin and begin pulling socks out of the basket, matching them with their mates.* We can tell them over dessert, when they’re full and happy that they’re about to get the best part of the meal. Nothing ever goes wrong over dessert.
Dom: Yeh... *My voice slides out with a chuckle and I lay my towel aside.* I seem to remember a lot of very good things happening over desserts in this house... Come to think of it, maybe we shouldn't even have dessert on Thanksgiving. *I give Billy a laughing smile and pull out some more towels to make room.*
Billy: *I grin knowingly and continue with the socks, searching for a missing black one in the pile with the rest.* I think I can control myself... can you? *I give Dom a sneaky grin and find the missing sock, pairing it off.*
Dom: *I fold a towel close to my chest and then look at Billy with a smile. My smile widens and I lean in for a kiss at the cheek.* No. *I speak low near his skin and then pull away to finish with the towel.* But I'll pretend that I can. *I set the towel down and reach for the next one.* I think one surprise would be enough for my parents this time.
Billy: I think that’s one surprise we never need to show them first hand, wouldn’t you agree? *I smile and push aside the socks, pulling out a pair of boxers and folding them.* So you’ll just have to behave at the dinner table, or else you’ll have to sit at the kid’s table.
Dom: *I bite my tongue against my giggles and fold the last of the towels, pressing down on the stack to make sure they don't topple over and unfold themselves again.* It's a shame that my mum would probably support you in that punishment. I think Dad would rather send me to bed without dinner. I'm glad you aren't so hard on me. *I grin at him fondly while matching a couple socks.*
Billy: Naw, that’d be as much punishment for me as for you. I’d probably just follow you up soon after, anyway. *I smile and yank out a few shirts, folding them deftly.* And what sort of an example would that be setting?
Dom: Terrible... *I shake my head with a smile, reaching into the laundry basket and stepping closer.* I'd never learn my lesson... *I fold another pair of boxers, standing near to him, smile growing the more that I think about it. How close we are. I can't believe we're folding laundry together. It's almost like we're... married.* I called my mum again today, by the way. *I change the subject as soon as I begin to feel my skin growing warm.* She wanted me to remind you that she wants absolutely no vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner, and that she looks forward to seeing you very much... Oh, and that she doesn't want even a speck of lint on her bed when she arrives.
Billy: See? I told you so. *I thwap him lightly and grin, folding a pair of pyjamas and setting them aside, pleased to see that we are almost finished with the folding. How quickly it goes by when you have company.* I hope pumpkin pie doesn’t count as a vegetable.
Dom: *I chuckle lightly, dodging his retort and then biting my tongue again as I pick out some more socks.* Nah, pumpkins are more like fruits, I think. And if you mean pumpkin pie like the kind of pumpkin pie you gave MS last year, I don't think she'd mind, even if it was a vegetable.
Billy: Oh, alright, good. What about squash? *I grin a bit at the mention of MS, reminded suddenly that this time last year I was head over heels in love with a mystery man. And I still am.*
Dom: *I catch his smile in the corner of my eye and look up, beaming back.* Squash is fine too. Anything that has seeds, really. Except the potatoes. Hah, well, it's flummoxed. But you know what I mean anyway. *I grin and move a little closer to him, loving his smile so much.* Also. Mum said they'd show up around four o'clock on Tuesday. Figure we can just ride from the school.
Billy: Perfect. That works out well then. *Right after school? Am I going to be ready to go right after school? Am I going to be fully prepared to have the dreaded meeting of the parents? It’s not terribly dreaded in this instance, not really. But I still am a bit worried. It’s never been so important to make a favorable impression before. I’m the reason that Dom doesn’t go home to England, and I don’t want them meeting me and wondering what the big deal is. I offer Dom a quick, nervous smile and begin setting the folded clothes and towels into the empty basket, ready to take them back into our room.*
Dom: *I place my stack of towels in the basket, noticing Billy's expression. My brow slightly bends.* Hey... Billy. *I beckon his attention. And when he looks at me, those uncertain eyes turning up to mine, I softly begin to smile, just gazing at him in all of his worry, until I simply lean in and kiss his cheek.* They are going to love you. So much. *I bring my fingers up to his chin gently, still smiling.* And I'll be with you the whole time, anyway. Don't worry, love.
Billy: *I smile at him again, still uncertainly, but more happily at least.* I’m trying not to. *I murmur sincerely.* And I trust you when you say that they’ll like me. But it’s just jitters, you know? I just... I want them to know how much I love you, and that I’ll do everything in my power to take care of you.
Dom: *My smile bends in adoration. Lifting my hand, I trace around his cheek and turn my fingers on his skin.* Billy, my mum could take one look at me and see everything that you do for me. I don't want you to have to impress anybody; I just want you to be my Billy and to love me all the time. Those are two of the biggest reasons I'm getting married to you anyway. *My smile grows to comfort him, but also because I just can't help it with thoughts like these. I begin to blush again, and I lean back, biting my lip a bit and turning to put the rest of the clothes in the laundry basket.*
Billy: *I move to stand behind him, looping my arms around his waist and placing a kiss at the base of his neck.* Thank you. *I murmur, smoothing my cheek against his shoulder.* For making this easier. And I really am looking forward to meeting your parents.
Dom: *My heart skips when I feel him behind me, and as his lips touch my skin, my whole body begins to ease once again. A warm place grows on my shoulder where his head is resting, and my smile slowly reappears.* Good... *Carefully, I pick up the laundry basket from the bed, turning from Billy's arms to face him, letting him see my smile, only a little disappointed that we can't be holding each other with this basket between us.* Now, how would you like to follow me to our room? Or do you need to disinfect the bed?
Billy: *I look seriously down at the bed, pausing to pretend to consider his words.* It couldn’t hurt... *I pinch him lightly and grin.* C’mon then. *I lead us out of the room and into ours, ready to hurry and finish our chores for the day.*
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