Snowed In

Epilogue

The trip home was uneventful. We were both so completely exhausted that we slept soundly on the plane and didn't wake until the stewardess gently woke us to deplane. He filed his report with the TSA when we got back to his place. He called his mother and checked in They had a relatively heated discussion. Which he dismissed when I asked him about it. Then he sent the pictures to the two girls that rescued him, to include all of the candids that I took, and wrote them a huge thank you. And laughed at their different responses. The one thing they both told him to do was go to bed. Neither of them mentioned word one about sleeping, 'just be safe'. He showed me briefly before plugging his phone in, setting it on the nightstand, and patting the bed beside him.

He sighed when I snuggled into his side and wrapped his arms around me. "Now that, was an amazing trip. I can't believe I slept so soundly on the plane."

"Me neither. The trip was beyond amazing and much needed. I haven't thanked you for it yet."

"Don't thank me just yet. Besides, I wanna go first on that one. I've never needed anything more than I needed what you gave me this weekend, what you helped me find. I'm glad we had an extra day, though some people aren't exactly happy for that, but never mind that." He paused and smiled, then kissed my forehead and true to form booped my nose.

"You are welcome, my love. I love to give. The extra day was nice. Having a fluid schedule is nice. I have never had anyone treat me to something like that before. It was nice not being planner or arranger for once." I leaned in to place a mostly chaste kiss on his smiling lips.

"My pleasure, trust me, my pleasure." His smile was as devious as hell. "So, um about not thanking me yet, what are you doing tomorrow afternoon?"

"Hmmm...if I had my way, you." I winked at him. "But at the moment nothing scheduled."

"That sounds like something that needs to happen, maybe before lunch?" He smiled at me like he was seriously looking forward to it.

"Perfect. Now that that's settled, what do you have in mind for tomorrow afternoon?"

"Um, I don't know why this makes me nervous, maybe because of the lecture I just got, but would like to meet my mom for lunch tomorrow? Dad is busy so it would be just the three of us. To make matters worse, she wants to come here."

"Lunch with your mom? I would absolutely love that. Should I be nervous? Why is her coming here so bad?"

"Well, She's my mom. I'm her baby. Always will be. If she comes here, then we won't be in public and she can say what she wants to say and doesn't have to employ a filter. And after that lecture I got, it will be interesting to see what she says. She loves me. I love her, but it's rather embarrassing to be as old as I am and still get a lecture about sex and safety and such. As if I don't already know how babies are made. She always means well."

"Gotcha. Is that what that was about? Your mom loves you and is just looking out for you? Could you imagine if we weren't being safe?" After the trip we just had, that thought was an interesting one. "Slightly embarrassing lecture and I will be on stage for judgment. I can handle that. Bring on the mama bear. I will just be myself and she will fall instantly in love with me." Inside I was slightly terrified, but he didn't need to know that.

"Oh, well yeah. We could have been safer, but that would not have been quite as fun and rather expensive, but let's not tell her that, okay?" His eyes were sparkling, "She won't judge you. She's not about that. She's just blunt and sweet as hell all at the same time. We'll probably both cry. Yes! She will absolutely adore you, but she'll ask you about your intentions with me and how you take care of yourself and about your family. She'll do it all gently. Don't worry, she saves the lectures for her children and Darian. He gets them too." He smiled happily and kissed me. "Oh, the things she'll tell you about me. Anyway. Do you want to cook? Never mind, you know what?"

"Definitely not as much fun. I am as ready as I'll ever be to meet your mom. I can't wait for stories. Do you think she'll bring pictures? I can cook if you want me to. Sorry. What?"

"Oh God! I hope not. There are far better things to do in bed than discuss lunch with Mom. Don't worry. It turns out fine." He smiled softly and took the moment to kiss me gently and proceeded to let his hands slip under my shirt as he pulled me closer and rolled me onto my back. He pulled away with a powerfully cunning smile on his face. "Just say the word."