In The Army

daddy's little girl & road trips

Song: misery business by Paramore

Am I the only one who really wants laura to go on tour with r5 and for laura to do a cover of this song in front of shitney and ross....omg that would be amazing and hilarious all in once 😂

They remained outside until Laura was sure the color in her cheeks faded before leading Ross along the fence and down the front walkway to her parents' porch. Stepping inside she called out.

"Mom? Dad?"

"We're in the kitchen, honey," Ellen answered, waiting for the young pair to enter before asking, "Since you were just outside, did either of you see anything out there? Your father and I heard the strangest noise."

"Strange... noise?" No. There was no way they heard what she was thinking... had they?

"Yes." She nodded, a look of worry on her face. "It sounded like a... like a wounded animal."

Laura instantly turned scarlet, but before she could even stutter her way through some form of explanation, Ross diverted her parents' attention.

His sudden coughing fit had everyone staring at him. He was trying to cover up his laughter as best he could. His girl had turned a lovely shade of red and all he could think was oh, it was an animal alright, but far from wounded!

"Are you alright, Ross?" Ellen immediately went to get him a glass of water.

"'M, AHEM, fine. AHHHHEM." He pounded his fist against his chest a couple of times. Thank you." He took the glass of water she offered and gulped down a mouthful.

Laura turned away to get her blushing under control and asked as nonchalantly as she could manage, "A wounded animal?"

"Sort of. It was more of a... howling. Like the sound a cat makes when it goes into heat."

Ross came up behind Laura to help her out of her jacket and leaned in to whisper, "Mee-oooow." His kitten was certainly in heat these days, not that he was complaining.

She gave his ribs a sharp jab with her elbow as a means of telling him to 'shut it'. "Nope. We didn't see or hear a thing. Maybe it was a neighbor's cat?"

"You're probably right. I forgot about that elderly lady down the street. She's always leaving food on her porch for the strays around here."

Laura walked over to where her father was sitting at the kitchen island while Ross went to lean against the sink next to her mother.

"Dad?" She needed a favor from him plus it was the perfect time to change the subject. "Any chance I could borrow your car tomorrow?" He cast a wary eye on her. "Please?"

Ross watched Laura put on her 'innocent' face and charm her father with large pleading eyes and a pouty lip. He chuckled, causing Ross to glance sideways at him though he never noticed. Laura did that with him whenever she wanted something and it always worked. He could refuse her nothing when she looked at him like that, it was too adorable.

"Where do you plan on going?" Ellen asked, glancing back and forth between the blonde and her daughter.

"Ross and I want to go hiking at the state park while you're both at work. I promise we'll be back for dinner." She looked back at her father. "Or we could pick you up from work? Pleeeeeeeease, daddy?"

Damiano sighed heavily with a look on his face that made it clear to Ross 'daddy's little girl' still had him wrapped around her little finger.

"Alright, alright. You can stop batting your eyelashes, sweetheart. You win."

"Thank you, daddy." She kissed his cheek and smiled brightly with her hand held out as he stood and reached inside his pocket for his keys. But instead of him handing them over, he quickly tossed them towards Ross who shot out his hand to catch them in time. "I'd feel safer knowing Ross was behind the wheel. You forget I know your driving skills."

"Uhh! This is so unfair," she muttered to herself. "My driving has so improved sinc-" Oh who was she kidding. She knew she was a terrible driver.

Ross interrupted her. "No worries, Damiano. I'll get us there and back in one piece."

He nodded then announced, "Well, I'm heading for the den. I have some paperwork to catch up on for work. And don't worry, I'll have Ellen pick me up from work. You two go have fun."

Ellen waited until he left the kitchen before retrieving her purse, setting it on the island between herself and Laura and rummaged through it. "Here's a hundred dollars." She placed the money in front of her.

"Did you need us to pick something up for you, mom?"

"No. It's for you two." She winked.

"Okaaaay, not trying to sound ungrateful here, but Ross and I do make our own money. You don't have to do that." Her mother shook her head, picked up the wad of folded bills and turned around to shove it into a reluctant Ross's hands.

"It's for a hotel." She rolled her eyes. "Hiking indeed!"

"Mom," she cried in a hushed tone. "We wouldn't... that's not why I asked-"

"Laura. I'm your mother... not ignorant. I was young once too you know and remember EXACTLY what was on my mind. Besides." She shrugged. "What I'm giving you is less than what your father would wind up spending on getting any accidental... spills out of the cushions of his seats."

"Oh my GOD!" She covered her face with both hands. "I so did NOT hear my own mother just say that."

"Before I married your father, we used to borrow his mother's car on the weekends and-"

"Blocking it out now, la-la-la-la-la." The unbidden image her mind was conjuring was of the seriously disturbing variety... her parents, getting it on... ewwwww!

"-probably when you were conceived."

Laura had her fingers in her ears with her eyes screwed shut while Ross just stood there and smirked. He would have managed a blush, but it didn't bother him in the least like it did his girl. Ellen was cool in his book.

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~be aesthetic ♡