Every New Beginning... (Chris Evans AU)

.71.

"There's my beautiful girl!" Lisa exclaims as Opal and Chris walk into Egg Harbor behind Pops.

"Ya know, I swear they like you more than me," he admits aloud for everyone to hear.

"She just hasn't given me grey hairs like you and Scotty here," Lisa laughs out, standing from her chair to pull Opal into a hug.

"Give it time," Chris mutters under his breath, causing Opal to narrow her eyes at him.

"Agreed, Officer," Pops chimes in having heard the not so subtle comment. He slaps Chris on the back and gives his shoulder a little shake with his hand. The interaction not going unnoticed by the rest of the party.

Opal hugs Lisa before pulling away to introduce her to her grandfather. "You must be the famous Pops I've heard so much about," she gushes as Pops holds his hand out to shake hers. She playfully pushes that away before tossing her arms around him, catching Pops a bit off guard but he hugs her back with a little pat on her back. Chris' dad and brother follow suit but with a handshake, keeping things manly with the older gentleman.

The two families mingle amongst each other, all of them as though they've spent years together rather than days or in this case even just minutes. Robert and Pops get along well as Robert asks him about his time in the military.

Lisa listens in as well for a bit before turning her attention towards the others. "So Chris, what is the plan for today and tomorrow?"

Chris sits back a bit in the booth, moving his arm to rest along the back behind Opal. "Today is kind of in the air with whatever you all want to do. I didn't make any plans for us."

"I'd like to take a nap this afternoon if possible," Pops pipes in with his wishes. "And, that'll give you two time to get that kissy face mess out of the way." He gestures between Chris and Opal, who both blush, while Lisa and Scott burst out laughing. "Don't get me wrong, I was young once and your Granny and I were deep in love through her last breath. But, I'm old and don't wanna see all that."

Opal hides her face behind her hand as Chris' head drops with a chuckle. He moves his hand from the booth to rest on Opal's thigh "I saw that little love pat you gave her in the middle of the airport," Pops shakes his finger at Chris where he sits across the table from him.

"Christopher!" Lisa scolds her son.

"I'm suddenly regretting this entire get together," Chris whispers against Opal's ear.

"I taught him better than that, Pops," Lisa tells him.

"Apparently not," Scott chirps with a wide grin. "Does this mean I get the good son trophy now?" He's obviously teasing, egging on the fact that Chris was caught with his hand in the cookie jar by none other than his girlfriend's grandfather.

Opal can tell Chris wants to quip back with a sarcastic comment but doesn't want to encourage it since this is the first time everyone is all together. Instead as an attempt to diffuse the situation she leans her head over on Chris' shoulder, snuggling a bit closer. Apparently though all it does is encourage him. "It's not my fault her butt looks great in jeans," he says aloud, straight faced to the table, as if that justifies what Pops saw. Opal now shoves her face into his bicep, attempting to cover up the much darker shade of red that has covered her cheeks.

Opal feels Chris' chest vibrate as he chuckles. "They're just messing with you, Ope," he assures her, trying to peel her face out of his shoulder.

"That's true, Opal. You were just an unknowing participant," Scott blurts out as the rest of the table laughs. "This is all pointed at Mr. Grabby Hands over there." He pauses. "In fact...Hand check!"