masquerade【janiel】

Families Who Bowl Together, Roll Together

Joey woke up next to a snoozing Daniel, as usual, and swiftly checked his phone. He had a text from his mother. It read:

At the airport about to board will be in LA at about 1PM can't wait to see you sweetie!! xx

Oh, shit...

Joey had completely forgotten he made plans for both his parents, plus Nicole and Jett, to come and stay with him for a week here. He hurriedly checked the time - 8:47am - still enough time to sort everything before they arrive.

He looked back at his snoring companion and realised that they had no idea that he had a boyfriend - or even that he was gay. This should be a family visit to remember. He awoke Daniel softly.

"No, Mom, I don't want to go to school today." He joked sleepily.
"Very funny, but I need to tell you something important."
"What is it?"
"So, my family are coming to stay for a week..."
"Cool, what day will they be here."
Joey paused for a second. "In about... 4 hours?"
Daniel's eyes opened widely. "What?"
"I know it's sudden, but I completely forgot about it. You don't have to meet them if you don't want to, I mean that would be fine, I jus-"
"Joey!" Daniel interrupted. "We've been going out for 4 months now, it's time I met your parents."
"Great! Just get dressed, 'kay?"

They arrived at LAX just after 1 in the afternoon. Joey picked them up alone and left Daniel at home, as a surprise. Jett sprinted towards Joey at the first sight of him and Joey gave him a big hug and picked him in the air. The rest were greeted with a casual hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, so guys, I kind of have a surprise for you all at home."
"Is it a good surprise or bad surprise?" Nicole asked.
"Well... That's a matter of opinion. But I think it's a great surprise and quite frankly I don't care if you don't think it's a bad surprise."
"Well, then I'm sure we'll think it's a good surprise as well." Added Joey's mom.

The closer they got to Joey's house, the more nervous Joey got. But they arrived shortly and all where asking the same question: "so where is this surprise then?"

Taking that as his cue, Daniel walked out of the living room and said "hello".
Joey walked around his family and stood next to Daniel, holding his hand, he announced "guys, meet Daniel ... my boyfriend."
"Oh my God, Joey, that's fantastic!" Joey's mom exclaimed whilst walking up to her son to give him a big hug. "He's quite the looker, isn't he?
Joey laughed. "He really is."
Joey then walked up to his Dad who was smiling proudly at him. "You okay?"
"Son, listen to me carefully because I want you to always remember this, if you are happy then I'm happy."
"Thanks Dad!" He hugged his dad lovingly.
Nicole, however, took this time to being giving Daniel 'the talk' about what would happen if Daniel were to hurt Joey, which Joey swiftly ended after Nicole had made her point. She then hugged her brother in congratulation.

Whilst his family were unpacking, Joey leaned into Daniel who put his arm round him. Joey couldn't help but smile right now, everything just seemed to be working out perfectly.

Later on in the evening they all went out to a bowling alley and had dinner out. Joey watched all his family members getting along with Daniel - especially Jett, which really warmed his heart. Daniel was helping Jett bowl one round and Joey thought about the idea of Daniel being a father as him and Jett celebrated Jett getting a strike.

Joey couldn't wait until he and Daniel had kids of their own. That thought kept a smile on Joey's face for the rest of the night.