The quiet of the park lingered in Meg's mind as she walked back home. Riley's words still echoed in her heart, stirring something unfamiliar—hope. But that hope came with fear, like the edges of a fragile glass ready to shatter. As Meg pushed the front door open, the smell of dinner—likely something burnt, judging by the faint smoke—hit her immediately.
"Meg! You're just in time for dinner!" Peter's voice boomed from the kitchen, followed by a loud clang and Stewie's panicked shriek.
"Oh my God, the oven is on fire again!" Stewie yelled. "Why do we let this oaf cook?"
Lois rushed in, grabbing a fire extinguisher. "For the last time, Peter, you can't microwave steak!"
Meg stood frozen in the doorway, watching as her family devolved into chaos. For a moment, the absurdity of it all made her want to laugh. But her heart was heavy, the emotions from her conversation with Riley still weighing her down. She didn't have the energy to deal with them right now.
As Lois extinguished the small fire, she caught sight of Meg standing quietly. "Hey, sweetie," she said softly, wiping her hands on her apron. "How was your evening?"
Peter, oblivious, dropped what remained of the charred steak onto the table. "I think it's still good. Meg, you're not picky, right?"
Meg forced a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Mom. Just tired."
Lois noticed the strain in Meg's voice but didn't press her, instead offering a quiet nod. "If you're hungry, I can make you something else."
Meg shook her head and started to leave the room, but before she could escape, Stewie waddled up to her, holding out a suspicious-looking dish.
"I've concocted something far superior to whatever Dad was attempting," Stewie said proudly, presenting a mushy pile of who-knows-what. "A delicacy, if you will. Care for a taste?"
Meg glanced at the plate, her stomach turning slightly. "Um... I think I'll pass. Thanks, Stewie."
Peter, grinning, picked up a piece of the unidentifiable dish and shoved it in his mouth. "Mmm! Is this cheese?"
"Dear God, that's modeling clay!" Stewie shrieked, slapping the plate out of Peter's hands. "What is wrong with you?!"
The commotion would've been funny if Meg wasn't already so drained. She quickly slipped past them and headed upstairs to her room, the lightness from the park fading as the familiar weight of her loneliness returned.
---
As Meg closed her bedroom door, she leaned against it, sighing deeply. She could still hear the muffled sounds of her family downstairs, but it felt like they were a world away. For a moment, she wondered if Riley was thinking about her too, or if everything they shared that night would just fade away like all the other brief moments of connection in her life.
She flopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed beside her—it was a message from Riley.
**Riley**: Just wanted to say I'm thinking about you. I hope you're okay. Let me know if you need anything.
Meg's throat tightened as she read the message. Riley really was different. She wasn't like everyone else. And yet, Meg couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't deserve this kind of kindness. She lay there, torn between wanting to believe in this budding relationship and fearing it would fall apart just like everything else in her life.
There was a knock at her door, and Meg quickly wiped her eyes as Lois stepped inside. "Meg?" Lois asked quietly, her voice softer than usual. "Do you want to talk?"
Meg sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. "I don't know if I can... Not right now."
Lois looked hesitant but didn't push. "I understand. I just wanted to make sure you're okay." She paused, glancing down at her hands. "Meg, I've been thinking a lot... about how I can be a better mother. I know I have a lot to make up for."
Meg stayed quiet, her mind racing. She didn't want to talk about this again. Not now. Not after everything.
Lois moved closer, her expression softening. "I'm proud of you, you know. You've been through so much, and you're still standing. That's something."
Meg's eyes widened slightly at the words. "You... you're proud of me?" The disbelief was evident in her voice. She couldn't remember the last time Lois had ever said anything like that to her.
Lois nodded, her own eyes welling up. "Yes, I am. And I'm sorry it took me so long to say that."
The words hung in the air, both of them unsure how to move forward. Meg felt a lump forming in her throat, but before she could respond, the moment was interrupted by Peter's voice booming up the stairs.
"Lois! The fire alarm's going off again!"
Lois sighed heavily, giving Meg a weak smile. "I'll be back. Just... take your time, okay?"
As Lois left, Meg let out a shaky breath. She didn't know how to feel. Part of her was moved by her mom's words, but another part felt like it wasn't enough. It couldn't be enough—not after everything.
She glanced back at her phone, Riley's message still waiting for a reply. Taking a deep breath, Meg began to type.
**Meg**: I'm okay. Thanks for thinking of me. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?
As soon as she hit send, she felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. She didn't know what the future held, but for once, she felt like she wasn't completely alone.
---
Downstairs, chaos reigned as the family gathered around the smoking stove. Stewie stood atop the counter, barking orders at Brian, who half-heartedly waved a dish towel at the fire alarm. Peter, unfazed, was attempting to salvage what remained of the dinner, while Chris looked on with a mix of confusion and hunger.
Lois ran back into the kitchen, grabbing the extinguisher again. "Peter, why can't we have just *one* night without a disaster?!"
Peter, grinning, shrugged. "Hey, at least it wasn't the microwave this time!"
The family erupted into a frenzy once more, but through the chaos, there was a strange sense of normalcy—a kind of dysfunctional harmony that somehow worked for them. And upstairs, Meg lay in bed, her heart a little lighter, knowing that even in the mess of it all, she was starting to find her place.
YOU ARE READING
Target of Affection
Fanfiction"Target of Affection" is about the cut scene or whatever you went to call it with Lois Griffin, and that target employee who got marked by target but her name for the story will be "Naomi"
