Fiona looked out the window as Christophus Zabat walked away and waved. She was dressed properly for the first time in awhile because they had plans, albeit Zoom plans. She had on her cute little turquoise denim bib dress over a little black t-shirt and black leggings. Her feet were bare though and she had taken the time to put on jewelry even including a little beaded black anklet, matching earrings and bracelet on the opposite arm to the ankle. Fiona had even done her makeup, which had been gathering dust in a tupperware container in the bathroom for over a month. She called back to Vincent “Food’s here…” And dashed down to get it.
Quentin was nervously tidying up everything that could be seen from the view of their laptop, creating a Zoom room if you will. Their delivery hadn’t arrived yet. The invite was on Addy’s email so he hadn’t clicked in yet. He was wearing black jeans and a white tshirt with a green Nigerian soccer logo on it and white sports socks on his feet.. He had put on a simple gold chain that he wore often for gigs but then taken it off and pocketed it, but he did keep his usual simple gold hoop sleeper earrings, one in each ear and a very unique old leather wrist watch. Quentin didn’t really need a watch these days but it was a hard formed habit to put it on with everything else. He looked at his watch, and then at the computer clock and then looked around for Addy.
Vincent barely had time to acknowledge Fiona when she was gone. He couldn’t blame her, as he was pretty excited about this date himself. He double checked the connection from his laptop to the television and then double checked the screen that seperated their living room space from their bedroom. The clothes he had chosen were black. Tshirt, jeans and nothing on his feet. Digital dating … when you loved less than a 10 minute walk away … had never crossed his mind. No … it was a reality.
Addy checked herself in the bathroom mirror, which was unusual for her. She was usually a casual dresser regardless, but this was important to her. She’d cried for nearly a day over those emails and she was determined not to bring down this double date. The fun of Quentin, Fiona and Vincent surpassed her own and, she hoped, she could relax and not be so upset.
Peter O’Brian opened the back door when the knock came. It was some pimple faced kid from Zabts, who waved through the glass of the door, turned and left. He opened it and took the two different bags, looking at the tags. Then he brought them in and set one on the table. “Your food’s here, kids.” he called. “I’ll be back around two … two-thirty. Have fun.” and he was gone for a night of virtual bartending. Not a dedicated night .. he and Jack Douglas would basically be shooting the shit and if anyone signed in to drink and talk .. they would drink and talk.
“Thanks Dad. See ya.” she called and looked herself over. She wore a green t-shirt which was the same color Quentin was wearing. Instead of jeans, she’d gone for a pair of dark grey slacks. Her feet were bare and she wore no jewelry but this was a date, not a wedding or funeral. She left her bedroom and got the food ready, plating it and bringing it out to the ‘Zoom corner’ as she was beginning to think of it. She set the plates down and moved to Quentin, offering him a kiss. “Ready?” she asked him, biting her lip and feeling strangely nervous.
Fiona hugged the bag to her just sniffing as she came back in “Oh my god...the Greeks Vincent the Greeks. I mean no offence to the Italians...but just smell it. The Avgolemono, the Mousaka, those little lemon potatoes….Oh Addy click the damned link...I’ll get the plates before I just start ripping through this bag.”
Quentin returned the kiss and nodded “Ready as we’re gonna be Baby. You look gorgeous Addy.” He looked towards where she had been talking to her father a moment before “Bless that man...and bless Christophus Zabat.” He was glad for this day. She had been so upset lately. He knew why but he wanted some light for his love today.
Vincent mock huffs as she gets their plates and silverware ready and ‘sets the table’ which is a coffee table, but .. new normal. “It smells alright, I guess.” but his face shows it smells incredible. “We need this food .. and this date … man … just … need … yea .. Come on Addy, for fucks sake.”
Addy smiles and giggles when he blesses her father even over Christophoros Zabat. “Dad loves you. He may start negotiations with Tony for a trade. My only saving grace right now is that I know more about baseball than you … but once I teach you … “ she mock sniffs. “I’ll miss my Daddy.” and then she smiles, already relaxing a bit. “OK, lets sit and click. I bet Fiona is chomping at the bit by now….” she sits with him, leans forward and joins their room.
Fiona greets Addy and Quentin eagerly “Oh thank fucking god...we could have starved over here…” She teases and then starts unpacking their food “So what did YOU get? We have….” She lists as she removes containers “Beef moussaka, Avgolemono soup, the lemon potatoes…..and Vincent...what’s in this one...I forget what you even asked for…” she laughs.
Quentin grins “Hiya over there. I think we mostly have gyros for Addy. But I have those potatoes with my half chicken and peppers. I hope he put the dividers in….” He pops open the container and sighs happily “Ah bless him, he remembered.” He looks up casually, not explaining why his food would need dividers “So, what have you cats been up to?”
Vincent watches as Fiona catalogues their meal. He can’t help but smirk a bit. “I coulda made all of that, you know.” he protests and then shrugs. “But I also baked a lasagna for John and Colleen. Owen is feeding it to them tomorrow.” he snorts a little bit. “They’re gonna need it.” he braces for a hit from Fiona while he listens to Quentin. He doesn’t get it but it doesn’t matter. “We have been enjoying health and enjoying the blessings of family.” He is still sort of absorbing the news, but the more he does, the happier he is for his new family.
Addy beams as Fiona speaks, followed by Quentin. “There’s other Greek food that isn’t gyros?” she looks confused, but looks at Quentin adoringly hen he mentions dividers. “Of course he remembered. It was on the order …. And I called him up ten minutes ago to remind him AGAIN.” She looks curiously at Vincent. “That sounds like some kind of Greek Wedding Blessing. You two didn’t get married TODAY just to avoid a party, did you?” she looks almost hopeful, as she hates parties and weddings are parties.
Fiona laughs “No...you all still need to wear costumes. And we’ll figure out a Royalle with Cheese for DJ Q over here and gyros for you Addy.” She shoots Vincent a little warning look about bringing up Owen and then tilts her head at Quentin curiously “Why do you need dividers for your food?”
Quentin gives Fiona a thumbs up and then shrugs “I have some issues about things touching and the order I eat things in. Addy’s very patient with me. You should hear my mother complain though.”He head juts at Vincent “You make brownies AND lasagna. Those were kick ass by the way. Are you sucking up to your in-laws through the brother in law?” He jokes “Because I’ve heard the direct route…” He trails off rubbing at his chin sagely.
Vincent arches his brows at Quentin’s issue. “Patient women are hard to come by. I’m lucky I have one who likes my house elfish ways.” He catches Fiona’s warning look and shrugs, cutting his eyes at the screen like ‘Addy’s family too, right?” and then looks at the other couple. “Thank you. Brownies are love.” he replies and then he clears his throat. “When I tried to ask her Dad for her hand in marriage, at first he thought Fiona was pregnant…” and then he realizes what he’s said and winces, giving Fiona an apologetic look.
Addy sees Fiona’s look and is curious. Then she beams at Quentin. “You're worth all of my patience … and everyone knows I hardly have any.” she laughs and leans into his shoulder, because it's his patience that has gotten her through the last couple of days. Then Quentin asks about sucking up to the inlaws, and then Vincent’s reply and she arches her brows. “If anyone is knocking anyone up, I’d look in Shay’s direction.” she jokes.
Fiona looks like she might threaten Vincent with a soup spoon and then sighs “Vincent’s right Addy, you are family. And no Shay didn’t get anyone pregnant...Owen did….and it’s complicated. Vincent is greasing the wheels for him with lasagna because he’s going to tell our parents this week. Best to feed them first. Owen’s had a hell of a year…..”
Quentin had no frame of reference for what Owen’s story was. All he knew was that Owen was Fiona’s brother and in his mind maybe at the end of high school if not just finished? He looked truly distressed for the guy even though he barely knew him. He bowed his head and looked like he might be saying a little prayer and then snaps his gaze to Fiona and Vincent “that is the hardest thing…..one of them…..” He winces and then exhales “How old is Owen? What is his relationship with this girl?” He was oddly insistent for a new friend they just connected with because of his connection with Addy.
Vincent looks almost physically relieved when Fiona speaks. And then Quentin starts to talk and Vincent starts nodding. “He’s 18 and just finished school.” he begins, almost as if he is defending Owen. “And the girl is like … 28 I think he said, so she’s a little older than he is. She’s got a job and she’s willing to move here, he told us. They haven’t known each other long, but Owen is in love.” he blows out a breath. “Owen’s not like Shay .. he doesn’t just .. screw around. He’s … emotional.” he sighs. “I guess I’m kinda rooting for them. My parents were teens when I was born and it was a disaster. I want Owen to be happy.” He's schooched to the front of the couch cushion in his passionate defence and when he’s done, he sits back, almost like a defense lawyer may go back to his seat after he’s made his case to a jury.
Addison’s eyes go big and her mouth opens. “Wh …” she closes it, blinks and tries again. “How …” and again she cuts herself off. She looks at Quentin and places a hand on his arm and rubs at it. Then Vincent begins to speak and she looks at him, almost in a new light. She bites her lip and cants her head. “Our goofy Owen.” she breathes, still sort of absorbing it all.
Fiona looked like she was about to add on to what Vincent was saying, looking at him with love and admiration for how he delivered it.
But Quentin interjected before she could begin “She’s 28? This is wrong. This is so fucking wrong. Please watch over your brother. I have seen this before…...what do you know of this woman aside from what she lets him see?” Quentin was agitated and forceful about his perspective in a way that seemed un characteristic to the usual chill happy DJ they would know. He had been dubbed the King of Chil on the island.
Now Fiona got defensive “Look Quentin. No offense but this is my brother we’re talking about. If he tells me they’re in love, I believe him. This woman...she has all kinds of problems yes….but I don’t think she’s playing him. She’s been played. She just lost her kid to her ex in some awful legal shit show. I appreciate your concern...I really doo…” she broke off. Not wanting to argue with Addy’s new boyfriend but her whole body was tense and she pushed away her soup bowl.
Vincent was smiling back at Fiona when Quenton sort of … went off. Looking at him, Vincent narrows his eyes and cants his head to the side. He believed he was breathing today because he’d learned to be observant at a very young age. Quentin’s reputation was chill, so this had to mean … something. When she pushes her soup bowl aay, Vincent takes her hand. “Hold on, Fi…” he says in a soft voice.
Addy listens to Quentin and knows why he’s going off … or believes she does. Placing her hand on his forearm, she leans in and tells him. “They’ll never understand where you’re coming from if you don’t tell them, Q.” she kisses his cheek. “It’s Ok … They’re OK … And if she’s like …” she doesn't say the name. “Just … trust them Q. Please?”
Fiona squeezes Vincent’s hand a little hard at first and then slowly eases off, focussing her breath. She watches Addy and sees her coaxing the former King of Chill and looks a little humbled. Everyone had their stuff. She stays quiet and waits, hoping he’ll explain.
Quentin shrinks into himself looking embarrassed “”I’m sorry...everyone...Addy…”He shakes his head too ashamed to even look at her but places his hand over hers “This is not my business at all. This is your brother. It just hit some sour notes in my life. You know Tony was born when I was 16? His mother was…..a misguided soul.” He had a look on his face like he was being extremely generous. “And she was older. This is not about me. And I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”
He looked so wounded and earnest Fiona wanted to cry “Of course we forgive you. Everyone has baggage Quentin. I haven’t met this Slaine and I really hope she’s all Owen says she is. I do….”
Vincent feels the pressure of the hand, but when Quentin speaks, he finds himself nodding. “Yea…” he murmurs. “My mom was 16. My dad 17. Shotgun wedding. Nightmare life.”
Anyone looking at Addison when Quenton said that Tony’s mother was misguided would see her jaw tighten. Normally Addy didn’t keep her words in her mouth, for good or ill. She kisses his cheek again and then looks at the screen and her friends. “Let’s just say that Tony and I bonded over our mothers. Remember, Fi?” and she leans her head into Quentins. Again she had not just out and said what was on her mind. That she had speaks volumes about how she feels about Quentin.
Fiona nods at Addy with a look of love and support and then extends it to Quentin. Clearly they were meant for each other. She also reaches for her soup and acknowledges Vincent “I’m sorry to all of you. My parents little mini separation is small potatoes I know, compared to all that. They have given us a lot of stability. I’m hoping it carries my brother through this. I mean they’re apart and she’s pregnant…..how shitty is that if they really are in love?”
Quentin leans into Addy and then smiles “It’s possible to create your own stability too. How long has he known this Slaine?” Quentin casually stabs into a potato and then eats it,
Vincent nods along with all Fiona is saying. “It will.” he speaks with confidence. Then he hears Quentin’s question and winces. “Reinhards fall hard.” he says just before he answers. “They met in Vancouver … when the ferry reopened so … um … yea … she’s six weeks pregnant and .. yea … only takes one time, right?” he doesn’t laugh but .. he sees how many people might think this could never work. Too soon. Too fast. But Vincent had faith in Owen and … with Fi by his side. Love.
Addy reaches for a small plastic container of cucumber sauce on her gyros and freezes when Vincent speaks. Then she snorts and takes some of the gyros from the plate. “Most Reinhardts do. Owen would.” she shrugs. She truly did adore the Reinhardts. They were the family she always wanted and never had.
Fiona has to laugh at Vincent and then asys “It’s true, I’m a morbid romantic. And Owen’s practically a puppy. Honestly I’m glad it’s Slaine….he was so drunk last week and he was all over the place about Slaine...and L coming back. He thought Slaine ghosted him but her legal battle made her lose her phone, internet everything...money sucks right. I was half worried he’d ask L out for the wrong reasons because he was lonely and sentimental...and drunk..I mean I know they were sweet but it would have been because he was sad”
Quentin kept eating potatoes and followed along. He heard L’s name and glanced at addy, knowing she had been very upset by some emails from what was possibly that same person. Now it was his turn to keep quiet. He gave Addy’s back a little rub with his non potato eating hand.
Vincent gives a half a smile. “Practically?” He knows his best friend well. He tightens his own jaw at the mention of L.
Addy closes her eyes. “Yea. L.” but her voice is a growl. “Frankly, I don’t know this Slaine, but she can’t be worse than L.” she is still angry and it shows.
Fiona zeros in on Addy’s face and reactions. She takes a big bite of soup and realizes it’s her last “Ohhh.” She pines and then reaches for the serving spoon “Mousaka time….Addy…” She asks cautiously “Did I miss a memo? I mean the L thing was a bit weird when they just showed up at the ladies night….but…..” She frowns but has to sniff the bechamel….because it is divine creamy essence of life.
Quentin shifts his mouth sideways. He’d heard a lot about this in the last few days. His head slowly swung towards Addy like he was waiting for Pandora’s box to open.
Vincent eats a bit more, but stops at the way Addy says L. he knows, maybe more than most, how Addy had tried to get L to open up not only to Owen but to them all. But she’d lost it when she saw how Owen liked L and how L wouldn’t let him in. he swallows and wonders what Fiona asks aloud. He sees Quentin and is glad he is not the only man who could be afraid of his woman’s temper.
Addy takes in a deep breath and takes out her phone. “I meant to send you this before, but I was so .. mad .. I .. sorta .. tore the living room apart … Quentin stopped me before I could throw my laptop out the window.” she fiddles with her phone. “There. That’s all of it.” and she almost dives head first into her gyros salad, waiting for Fi to read the exchange and reply.
Fiona sat back from her moussaka and took out her phone to read.
https://alexandrarpgstories2020.blogspot.com/2020/04/2020-04-22-23-not-so-surprise-l-and-addy.html?zx=416215342360daab
She read the first few exchanges with a banal expression. They were just shooting the shit. But Addy was a little testy she could tell. Fiona’s expression turned to horror at L’s third email and expresses her reaction out loud “Holy fuck…..OK stuff about Owen aside….they were basically date raped by her band member boyfriend and had a kid that then died? I did know about the baby but when you add that all together... Jesus….” She didn’t wait for replies and kept reading to the next string and then her eyes went wide at Addy’s rant. “Wow...tell L what’s on your mind….” She awkwardly laughs and then holds up her hand “I get it. I think if L and Owen had gotten back together because they’re both trying to anchor onto the memories of simpler times it might have blown up in their faces. I mean they were 14…..it was uncomplicated. Owen was even more of a puppy and just happy go lucky. Sadly we don’t get to keep that as we grow up...especially not with the separation of the island. We all grew up a little faster because we had to.” She scrolls down “Hmm maybe that simple time wasn’t so simple for L…..” Fiona sighs sadly and looks up at Addy “I get why you’re mad...and I get why L’s sad. It’s fucked up. Have you two talked ...since all this?”
Quentin nodded along with Fiona, frowned a few times and sighed and kept rubbing Addy’s back. He was there to be her support.
Vincent effectively read over Fiona’s shoulder, and was rubbing at his temples by the time they’d read it through. He nods along with Fiona’s assessment until she asks if Addy and L have talked since. Then he returns his attention to the last of his food.
Addy has damn near inhaled her meal while Fiona read. Once the does, she sighs deeply, listening to Fiona, whose opinion held a lot of weight. “Maybe that time wasn’t simple. Of course … we never would have known because L has all the communication skills of a hamster.” she sighs again. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? Me and L talking? Really?” She sits back and folds her arms. “I am not unsympathetic to her rape … even though I don’t think L looks at it like that … and I am not so inhuman that I don’t feel sorry her kid died. But L is just ….” She makes a frustrated noise. “A relationship with L is work. A LOT of work. I did it before for you guys .. and for Owen. I’m sure he .. she .. they need friends right now. I’m just not sure I can be one. Yea … Ice Queen Addy.” It was something Joey Piccolo used to call both she and Fiona back in the day. “I don’t know … once all this shit is over and I am walking with your guys and we see L .. I won’t run away. Maybe I’ll just keep my fucking mouth shut … for a change.”
Fiona listens actively as Addy talks. She shudders at the ice queen part because that triggered her own feelings about Joey Piccolo. After shaking that off and offers “And you get to set those boundaries...of course. Time might adjust them...if you decide that. I don’t think any of us are going to be walking in groups for awhile.” she jokes “Unless we join that running club which takes up the entire road now as it goes by.” She gives Quentin a little grin. She sighs “I’ll reach out to L. I’m not sure Owen has enough emotional energy right now to take on all their stuff plus his own but I can handle some. I’m here for my brother and you first Addy...but hell...I got time. My spring break camp counselor job is not happening. I don’t even know how to apply for EI on that because it’s so minimal….stupid forms….anyhow...Addy you know I’m not shooting down anything you said. You’re my person…” she leans sideways and gives Vincent a little half hug “In a different way that he’s my person of course. But you still are. I love you Addy.”
Quentin gives Fiona a casual cheeky little finger point back about her running club comment and then puts his back rubbing arm right around Addy. He smiles at Fiona, glad his love has such solid friends.
Vincent chuckles at the comment about the running club. They were an interesting bunch, both running together and keeping their social distance from one another. He nods at the idea of Fiona reaching out. “I’ll be around for Owen. he knows that.” he bites his lip, but says nothing more on that subject. When Fiona hugs him, he leans into it. “I would hope so.” he grins. “And I love you too, Addy. You know that.”
Addy blows out a breath as Fiona talks. “I should join them running.” she almost jokes. “Instead of doing the back porch stairmaster and boxing with Dad.” she snorts at Fiona’s frustration. “I want to apply for online courses. Nutritionist here I come.” she then chuckles a little bit. “You know our first years of college will be boring as hell for us. Thanks to Zeno I think we’re all where we’d be if we'd started college last year.” she looks at Fiona and Vincent. “I love you, too. Both of you. But … just .. please .. watch out for Owen. who knows, maybe fatherhood will make the puppy grow up.” she considers that. “Never mind. Seamus is the family dog.” she rolls her eyes. Then she gets serious. “I didn’t mean to bring the date down, guys. I’m sorry. Just my usual light shining through.”
Fiona looks at Vincent with adoration and then looks back to Addy as she talks. She also digs into her plate of moussaka and inhales her portion. Moussaka delay resolved. She frowns and shakes her head and still chewing holds up a finger “Mmmm!” she protests. After chewing and swallowing she says “No need to apologize at all. All the feelings are welcome here Addy. God knows it’s been a roller coaster for the whole damned world.and let’s be clear, Shay’s a fuckin horn dog.” she giggles at herself “He must be in withdrawal...although I heard Porn hub is free right now….” she muses and then agrees about the college thing “We’re seriously into our Master’s degrees by now. Zeno should just issue us diplomas for all that.”
Quentin gives Addy a little hug. He was pretty sure she knew she never had to apologize to him. He had finished his potatoes and now systematically ate his peppers one by one. He jovially winced at the comment about Shay and porn hub and then looked approving about the education discussion and commented after swallowing “Keep filling those brains. It’s good.” He was a huge encourager of Addy’s education path.
Vincent shakes his head about Seamus. “Porn Hub will have to … do him for now.” and he laughs at the irony of that sentence. Then he snorted about their education. “I bet he would give us all diplomas. But I don’t want mine to read D’Antoni.” he huffs. “I asked Mike if I could get the fingerprinting done for the name change.” he tells them. “He told me he’d run it by Chief Greene and Dr. McKinney, because they aren’t really doing it because of the closeness of fingerprinting.” he sighs. “But … small island and all.” At last he looks at Quentin and nods.
Addy laughs. “Well, then I don’t have to buy him a subscription for his birthday.” she replies. “Maybe I’ll get him a masturbation sleeve …” she seems to ponder on this until Vincent mentions his hopes to have his name changed. “Oh, I hope they can. I know you can’t have that fuck tard taken off of your birth certificate, but … it WOULD be easier for school if you changed your name before the wedding.” Then she looks at Quentin adoringly. “I plan on it. I just need your strength to help me …” she pauses and looks mischievous. “Hold down Dad so I can force good nutritious food down his throat.” she finishes. Quentin is her strength .. and her sanity. He’s calmed her when others would have had a hard time doing so. Without him and Fiona, her temper would rage far more than it actually does.
Fiona cracks up and then looks hopefully at Vincent “It would be cool if they did that.” When Addy talks about buying her little brother a sleeve she sticks her fingers in her ears “La la la la la…...Ahhhh! The line must be drawn here...this far….no further…” She adopts a Jean Luc Picard accent, British even though he’s supposed to be French.
Quentin shakes his head and laughs and then looks thoughtful about the name change quandary. When Addy mentions buying a sex toy for Shay he turns slowly to look at her and just blinks, looking unsure how to react although he’s thinking she’s kidding. And then he’s distracted and laughing again at Fiona’s sisterly revulsion to the idea and quotes back to Fiona “And I will make them pay for what they’ve done.”
Fiona perks up at the quote back “Oooh Addy...he’s nerdy and hot. I approve of this boyfriend.” Fiona’s parents had watched Star Trek when the kids were little and she’d always found it to be enjoyable. Owen had rejected it for the Jedi path but he was forgiven by the rest of them.
Vincent finds it all amusing. “My mom’ll love you, Quentin … well … as long as you like Janeway. If you don’t like Janeway, she might arrest you .. possibly for exactly that.”
Addy ignores Fiona’s protest. She is kidding .. mostly. She hugs Quentin’s arm. “You better approve. I’m not letting him go. Like .. ever.” and then she blushes and looks away quickly.
Fiona beams “Yes Janeway rocks. I like them all though...for different reasons.”
Quentin nods and then tugs Addy back gently, a hand under her chin and kisses her full on the lips, not caring that her friends are watching. Afterwards he’ll pull back, eyes still closed and just breath out “Not ever….”
Fiona tilts her head at them and gives them exaggerated mushy eyes “Aww you guys…” She mock sniffs “Seriously though, it’s awesome.”
Vincent watches Addy with Quentin and grins. “I’m feeling like we’ve had enough dinner … maybe it’s time to look to dessert... “ and reaching out for Fiona with one hand, he reaches for the lid of the laptop with the other. “Night guys….” he murmurs as he closes it, cutting the connection.
Addy gets into the kiss and once Quentin has broken it and pulled back, she leans in to kiss him again, not caring about her friends. Barely remembering that they are even there. Dessert time, indeed.
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