Faith in her Timing

Chapter 3: Candy apples

"Explain it to me again." Timothy stated, a worried frown on his face. Rio rolled her eyes and sighed in fond exasperation.

"Halloween, you know what Halloween is, right? Well, we'll have a party here tonight. Karaoke set and all. And we'll watch scary movies together and stuff. In costume, of course." She explained to him with a shrug.

"I have heard of it, but never celebrated it myself. It is...a kid's holiday, if I understand correctly...a pagan one, at that..." Timothy retorted and a hint of disapproval in his tone of voice.

Rio rolled her eyes again, with less fondness now. "Yeah, yeah, heathens in disguise and all that jazz. You don't have to be there, I can..." The girl started to say while sounding disappointed, but the priest smiled at her and captured her lips with his own in a tender kiss.

"If it makes you happy, then I wouldn't miss it for the world." He stated once he broke the kiss and Rio smiled at him. "I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself, we have so much fun each year. And captain America will be there, you like him!" She pointed out but Timothy seemed less sure of himself now.

"Will he bring the brute?"

Rio chuckled. "The brute? You mean Bucky? Yeah, probably, but don't worry about him. You know I'm into holy guys, not bad boys." She said with a grin and tickled his sides.

"Hey!" Timothy protested with a chuckle and in that moment, Pepper entered the living room with tray of coffee. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the four of them had coffee together, to bond and discuss the day. It was Pepper's idea, since this used to be a tradition in Timothy's time.

"Hey you love birds, I see you're having fun. Want some coffee?" She asked them as she sat down and began to set up the cups.

"Thank you, miss Potts." Timothy stated but gave a shy smile as Pepper gave him a look. "I mean...Pepper. Which I have to admit, is a bit of a strange name for a lady. If you do not mind me being so forward."

"It's not her real name, her real name is Virginia." Rio explained with a giggle. "Tony gave her that nickname. He calls me Dexter. Yeah, hard to explain."

"No it's not. See, Dexter is a little cartoon scientist, on the Cartoon Network channel. Ha, coffee. Nice." Tony interjected as he entered the room and sat with them to have a drink.

"So you are fond of nicknames?" Timothy asked and Tony grinned at him. "Sure am, padre."

A weak smile appeared on Timothy's face at hearing the nickname Tony gave him, which he was sure would be one of many. It reminded him of his time in at Briarcliff, where he and Rio met and she called him that. Part of him missed it, part of him was relieved they were here now. His mind went to his new church and Roman. What would he say about Timothy's behaviour? Engaging in carnal activities with Rio, attending a heathen party...living with...with...unbelievers...He took a sip from his coffee and didn't even notice he forgot to put cream in it.

"So eh..." Rio started, since the room had gotten awkwardly silent once Timothy got lost in thoughts. "So the party. That will be fun." She finally managed to get out.

"Yeah, lots of fun. If Capsicle will let us watch anything R-rated." Tony murmured and Pepper playfully slapped his shoulder.

"He will, Tony, he just got a little worried last year, when Rio hid behind her pillow during The Exorcist. "

"Eh, okay...I did not hide, I was just inspecting the... nit work..?" Rio said as if it was the most normal thing to do.

"What is The Exorcist?" Timothy asked and the three of them looked at him as if he was from outer space.