Can't Sleep... Love? (Mavi)

Night Forty-Four

I arrive in Visalia later than I had usually planned, the reason being mainly traffic but also a few more breaks I had to take. I'm just not used to driving such long distances anymore. Oh and I am nervous. Beyond nervous.

My heart is racing when I pull up in front of Avi's childhood home and park my car next to Esther's. I only take my Celine and walk up to the porch. After taking a deep breath, I ring the doorbell, kind of hoping that either Esther, Darien or Avi would open the door.

To my relief it is Esther who smiles at me kindly.

"You made it" she says and pulls me into a tight hug directly.

"Hey, Mum" I return. "Is he at home?"

"No. Actually he's still with Dad. They've been at home to get their hiking equipment but that was when Mum and I were in the city" Esther explains. "But they'll certainly be home before dinner in an hour."

I nod. "So he doesn't know?"

"That you're coming? No. I would've told him but I didn't see him" she returns. "Anyway, why don't we get your stuff and I show you Avi's bedroom. You could take a short break before dinner."

Together we take my suitcase and the garment bag and she leads me up the stairs to what must be Avi's childhood bedroom.

"Here we are, Mitch. Avi's bedroom. Just take some time to settle in, unpack if you want to. If you need to go to the bathroom, it's the door right across the hallway. I'll get you once dinner is ready but I think Avi will be here before. If you need something or want company, I'll be downstairs in the kitchen helping Mum" Esther explains.

I listen to her, of course, but I'm a little bit distracted by the fact that I'm standing in my boyfriend's childhood bedroom.

Esther leaves me alone and I immediately flop down on the bed and breath in Avi's scent. I just stay like that for a while until I really have to go to the toilet. I finish my business there and take another few minutes to brush my teeth, splash some water into my face, just the basic things. When I walk back into Avi's room I hear voices from downstairs. It's a man, maybe Mr Kaplan and... Avi.

"He's here? Where is he?" I hear Avi's deep voice rumbling.

"Upstairs in your room. Wanted to tell you but you left your phone behind baby bro" Esther answers.

I then hear someone running up the stairs and am faced with my man.

He looks a little bit sweaty and tired from the hiking tour, confused but overall glad. And hot.

"Hey, Babe. Surprise, I think" I manage to say before he presses his lips on mine with force while hugging me tight.

"I didn't know... How are you here?" He asks once we've parted and looks at me with a huge smile on his face.

"Esther called this morning and told me you came out to your parents. Your Mum actually asked if I would come over and well... here I am, ready to meet your parents" I explain and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

Avi smiles. "There's no need to be nervous. Dad is happy for us and Mum invited you so she must be, too. Just be yourself, they'll love you!" He looks deep into my eyes as he says that and the combination of his eyes that manage to look right into my sould and his calm voice makes my knees go weak.

"Okay" I return. He could've asked me to jump out of the window, in this situation I would've done anything he wanted me to.

He lays an arm around me. "We should go downstairs now, it's time for dinner. Are you ready?"

I smile at him. "Yeah..." I say hesitantly and nod up at him. "Let's go."

Avi lets his hand glide down and takes my hand instead effectively leading me down the stairs and into the dining room where Darien is already setting the table.

"Mitch, hey." Darien greets me with a short hug.

"Hey Darien" I return and smile.

He looks at me searchingly. "Don't worry. I've been there, too. They're lovely" he says and winks at me.

"And that comes from the man who stole their only girl" Avi jokes before he turns to me. "See, Mitchie?"

"Mitch?" I hear a familiar female voice and turn around to see Mrs Kaplan standing in the door. "I'm glad you made time for us." She approaches me and directly leans in to hug me.

I'm a little bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of heartiness she radiates. "Of course Mrs Kaplan. I just couldn't deny the invitation" I return.

"Oh dear, call me Shelley, please" she says with a smile. "Michael will join us in a minute, he's just changing real quick. I'll just help Esther carrying the stuff and then we can have dinner." With these words she disappears towards the kitchen.

"See? Wasn't that bad, was it?" Avi comments with a smirk.

The sassy reply is already on the tip of my tongue when I hear a strong voice behind me:

"Mitch Grassi!"

I jump and turn myself to the source of the loud noise. Avi's Dad just entered the dining room. "Hello, Mr Kaplan" I say politely and walk up to him to shake his hand.

"I'm Michael" he directly corrects me. "Great to see you again. Although I was hoping that the circumstances would be different."

I smile at him sympathetically. "Me too. And I'm very sorry for your loss."

Michael smiles back at me. "Thank you very much, Mitch. It really means a lot."

"Dinner is ready!" Esther and Shelley carry various steaming bowls into the room and set them down on the table.

"The small one is gluten free for you, Mitch" Esther explains and puts the smallest bowl directly next to my plate.

It's pasta. Amazing!

"Dig in everyone!" Shelley prompts as soon as we all sit down at the round table, me next to both Avi and Esther.

Dinner is really good. Pasta with a sauce full of vegetables. Avi's Mum is such a good cook. We also talk a lot and of course Avi and I are asked to share the story of our relationship once again.

"That really is the cutest lovestory ever!" Shelley concludes and Michael, too, seems to be moved.

~

We go to bed rather early that night. I am still tired from the long drive plus we all need to get up pretty early tomorrow because of the funeral.

Again, Avi and I cram ourselves in a small bed and just enjoy a moment of silence with each other.

"Thank you for coming over" Avi says after a while.

I look up at him. "I told you I would if you'd want me to. I mean... Esther asked but still I somehow knew that you'd be glad, because I am." I kiss him softly.

"I am, too" he returns and then turns the bedside lamp off. "We should sleep. Tomorrow is going to be long and exhausting."

"Mmhm we should" I mumble.

I hear Avi chuckle softly. "Good Night, Queen."

"Night, Big Daddy."

~~~~~~

A/N: Another chapter from my friends' sofa in Cologne. I didn't run a spell check and I typed it on my phone. I hope autocorrect didn't mess up. If you notice mistakes, please point them out!

I just had the most amazing concert experience of my life. Sunrise Avenue together with the Wonderland orchestra. And we had seats in the seventh row of an arena with 35,000 people. They played 150 min straight! I'm still buzzing and so happy. I literally can't right now but I wanted to finish this part.