Once inside the kitchen, Howie pulled Cait into his arms, giving her a long, leisurely kiss. They finally pulled apart and Howie smiled happily down at her.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked, gently tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"No." Cait admitted, smiling up at him. "I was just letting myself get freaked out by the idea of meeting your family."
"You didn't have to worry. They love you." He kissed her softly on the forehead. "I knew they would."
Cait looked up at him, her feelings for him plain in her eyes. "I love you." She whispered, sliding her arms around his neck, her fingers gently playing with the silky curls at the nape of his neck.
"I love you, too." He said softly, pulling her close, his lips meeting hers in a sweet, tender kiss.
"Ahem." The sound of Howie's father clearing his throat brought them back to earth. They pulled apart, both blushing. Howie's parents and Polly were standing in the doorway.
"Howard, I said it in the airport, and I'm going to say it again. You two are so cute." Polly said with an amused grin.
Cait blushed again and poked Howie lightly in the stomach. "Hey sweetie, I thought you said you were hungry." She reminded him.
At that moment Howie's stomach let out a loud growl. "Does that answer your question?" He asked, blushing a little.
Cait giggled and turned to Howie's mother. "What do you think, Paula? Do you think we should feed him?" She asked, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement. Howie's mother's eyes shone with silent laughter.
"I guess we better." Polly chipped in. "Can't let the big pop star starve, I suppose." She shrugged complacently, a small smirk on her face.
Howie's dad laughed out loud when a small pout appeared on Howie's face.
"Oh, Howie." Cait groaned. "Don't do that. You look like Nick when you do."
Howie grinned. "I know. That's exactly why I did it."
"You're a brat, ya know that?" Cait remarked, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"Yep." Howie gave her a cheeky grin, then pulled her to him, kissing her softly, not caring that his parents and sister were still in the room. Before anyone could interrupt them, Howie's stomach emitted another growl, this time louder than before. They pulled apart, both laughing.
"Howard, come sit and eat." Howie's mother told him, gesturing to the table, where she and Howie's father were already sitting. Howie took Cait hand and led her to the table, pulling out a chair and motioning her to sit down. Once she was seated he took a seat next to her. Polly sat down on her other side.
"So, Cait. How old are you? Howard told me once, but I forget." Polly asked, turning towards her as they sat around the table talking after dinner.
"I'm 21." Cait replied, blushing as Howie clasped her hand in his.
"M'ijo, have you set a date yet?" Howie's mother wanted to know.
"We were thinking about July 14th." He told her. "That should give us plenty of time to plan everything."
"What do your parents think of your getting married, Cait?" Howie's father asked.
"Um, my parents don't actually know yet. I haven't seen them since I joined the tour and I don't get many chances to call them." Cait explained. "But they won't have any problems with it. My dad'll do the overprotective father bit for a few minutes, but it won't last." Cait snickered remembering her father's reaction to some of her sister's boyfriends. "Being the only man in the house he doesn't win too many arguments." Howie's father chuckled.
"Cait and I are going to go see her parents in a couple of weeks." Howie added. "We don't want to tell them over the phone."
"Where are you guys going to get married?" Polly asked.
"We're going to get married here." Howie informed his family.
"My immediate family's not very big. And I barely know a lot of my extended family..." Cait began.
"So we figured it would be easier for Cait's family to get here, than for all of our family to get to B.C.." Howie finished.
They continued discussing wedding plans until late at night, when Howie and Cait excused themselves to go to bed, both exhausted from the tour and jet lag.
