Penumbra

The Good Stuff

Summary: Luke meets Birdie's parents, they get engaged, they get married and she might be pregnant. its just... a bunch of cute Luke and Birdie

Warnings: surprisingly no smut

Word Count: 9.2k

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Birdie could tell by the way Luke's hands gripped the steering wheel of the rental car that he was anxious. Knuckles white, eyes a little too focused on the road as he followed every command from the cars built in gps system, it was obvious he was worried.

"Oh, babe, take the turn to the left here." Birdie said.

"The GPS says straight." Luke insisted wearily.

"I grew up here Lu, take the left."

His grip tightened on the wheel, and for a moment, he looked completely distraught but, as Birdie put her hand on his thigh, he turned on his left turn signal, ignoring the gps system as it practically called him out for making a mistake then informed him it was recalibrating, at which point Birdie turned it off.

Her fingers went up to grab at the chain that was no longer around her neck. They'd decided not to bring the gang ring on the flight, just in case it caused problems, and she missed having it secure, having it to play with when she was nervous.

"At the next stoplight, turn right." Birdie said, watching the stores, that were so familiar to her, pass by. It was odd, being there with Luke. She hadn't been home in a long time, the flight always seemed like too much of a hassle, and she'd always fancied herself independent.

Luke had brought it up, suggesting that for her mid term reading break they take a trip out to meet her family. He'd insisted on paying for all of it, as was usual Luke custom, and all her inhibitions had disappeared. She wanted Luke to meet her family, she did.

He was the one.

She knew it deep in her soul.

And the fact that he was there beside her just solidified it. Her heart had been singing since he'd suggested the trip, a smile working its way onto her face every time she looked at him. Which was not uncommon, but there was something more to it now. A happiness that engulfed her like nothing else had in her life.

They'd discussed schematics over the flight. Gregory and Helen Darcy were not the type of people who would have been alright with the realization that their daughter was dating a gang member, and Birdie had made the same choice Luke had almost a year before: to keep it a secret.

Luke would be a bartender, not a notoriously ruthless torture crazy douchebag. He'd be the Luke she'd always known him to be, and she wasn't worried about her family seeing anything else.

"Okay, it's the last house on the right." Birdie said, sitting up a little straighter as her childhood home came into view. Luke slowed the car, getting a good look at the house as he parked. It was two stories high, white, with a wrap around porch, and it even had blue shutters. It was the epitome of a classic house, and Luke suddenly understood why Birdie was the way she was. She'd come from that house.

The car stopped and Birdie turned to Luke, grabbing his face with her hands, "they're going to love you." she promised, kissing him softly, "if you're nervous, just hold my hand okay?"

Luke sighed but nodded, "okay."

With one last kiss, they got out of the car, retrieving their suitcases then starting up the path to the house. Before they could even reach the door, it was thrown open by a happy looking brunette woman in a cooking apron, her arms wide, a smile on her face, "Birdie!"