It's in the little things: One-shots x2

Home and Away (Part two)

Dianne's POV:

"Dot! Look! There's a KANGAROO!!!!! Oh my god I forgot how amazing Oz could be, I've never even been this far out of town I guess, Dot I love you, this is amazing and I love you." He rambled excitedly, bouncing around the back of the car as we head out of Perth and towards my home town, where mum and dad waited to greet us. Offering him a soft smile, I take his hand in mine and run my thumb over his roughened knuckles, "I love you too, you idiot. I can't believe I've been in Australia this long without seeing my Mum! I'm excited to see her but I think she is actually more excited to see YOU Joseph. I do want a good heart-to-heart with my Dad though, our little morning coffee dates have been our thing since I was a teenager." Meeting Andrew's gaze in the rear view mirror, the familiar glint in his eyes warns me that he is about to tell an embarrassing childhood story, " Yeah, Dad and his coffee dates are the only thing that can calm our darling, psychopathic Dotty down when she decides to fire BALLROOM SHOES at my head. All because I didn't want to train for nationals at 8am in the morning. Honestly, Joe, you deserve a medal for training, competing and living with her all at once, I don't know how you do it." He winks, avoiding my death stare by suddenly becoming very focused on the road as Mel chuckles quietly beside him. Knowing my brother, this is only the beginning of the childhood stories and once he joins the ranks of Brendon? I just know that I will never hear the end of it and by the end of the trip, Joseph will have plenty of ammunition to use against me when I piss him off.

As we turn down the well known road, leading to my parents house, I feel a overwhelming sense of nerves wash over me and the seriousness of what i'm about to do fills me. I'm bringing a boyfriend home for the first time, to spend Christmas in my family setting and share in our traditions on the other side of the world from his own family. My leg is subconsciously bouncing, my hands tugging on each other and my stomach in knots as we park up and Joe bounds out of sight; I know i'm being irrational but I cannot shake this feeling...like I've done something wrong and i'm going to get told off for it. "Earth to Dotty Suggwell? I think your mum might combust if you leave her waiting on the doorstep anymore, lets get shimmying towards the door and then ill come back for the bags little one. Take my hand, lets start our family Christmas together!" He mumbles, pressing his lips to my forehead as he lifts me to me feet and leads me to my patiently waiting parents, pausing only to shout back to Andrew, who was attempting to lift our suitcases out of the car. Before I know what is even happening, I'm surrounded by my mums scent, my head bowed into her shoulder as she rocks me, like every time I've needed her to before- I guess the whole "mum sense" is a thing, no matter how old I get. "Dot, what ever it is you are anxious over? Let it go for now, come inside and have some coffee, we can nip out for a chat later, or your dad can." She whispers against my cheek, slipping out of mu desperate grasp to go and fuss over Joseph, who had been chatting to dad and Andrew. Mum suitably distracted, I wander over to my Dad and curl up in his open arms, burying myself in his chest and settling against his heartbeat; I've always had a brilliant relationship with both my parents but i'm definitely what you could call a Daddy's little girl and probably always will be. "Hey...I miss you Dad. Can we have one of our chats later on? And some coffee? In the bottom garden like when I was a kid, just you and me?" Pulling me in tighter, he nods towards mum and gently guides me towards the gardens while she starts feeding Joseph and asking a million and one questions.

Joe's POV:

As we approached Mark and Rina's, I could tell that Dianne was nervous again, probably reliving her mini panic that I didn't want to be there, that she had forced me to join her, bless her. Guiding her towards her parents, I exchange pleasantries with Mark as Dot has a cuddle from her mum and we quickly swap places, Rina pulling me in for a hug as she sets about bringing us in and preparing a feast. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mark nod in our direction before leading Dotty off to the gardens and disappearing from sight. "She seems quiet Joseph, has she been okay?" Rina asks softly, drawing me from my red coloured trance. "Um yeah. She has been feeling sort of rough since our flight and I think that's partly my fault. I managed to get the cold once I finished up with Waitress and Strictly and I might have passed it on, coupled with the bugs on the plane so her throat and head are definitely worse for wear. She's been battling with her head a lot, over thinking and stressing over a few little things, so I think she just needed a chat with her dad." I finish, running a hand through my hair, slightly rougher than I anticipated. "Oh Joseph, you care so much for her, don't you? Oh bless you, sit down, have some tea while we wait for Brendan to join us. How are YOU feeling? It's not always easy helping our Dot out when she gets herself in a tizzy and that is hard on you too. Actually, hold that thought and be a dear, just run this tray out to Dot and Dad and then we can continue this chat." She grins, handing me the tray and pointing me in the direction of their garden. From the very first time we met, the first thing I noticed about Rina is her motherly warmth and that has only grown as we really got to know each other. "Knock Knock Dot, Mark- I come bearing coffee and biscuits, courtesy of Rina." I bow, setting the tray on the table between them and kissing Dot's head as I left, allowing my hand to linger just a second longer than needed on her shoulder. Sometimes, its in the little things I guess.

"So Joseph, how are you? Don't take this the wrong way but you look rough son. Jet lag still got you?" Her soft, mothering tone slips through and her use of the term "son" melts my heart a little. Never in my life did I think i'd be sat, in Australia with my future mother in law, discussing life and being called son. Sighing and resting my head on my hand, I let myself sag a bit and open up for once. "Yeah, Jet lag has been awful but it's slightly worse because I was ill before we came and I've been worried about Dianne. Don't tell her that! I noticed she hasn't been sleeping well lately so I've been trying to keep an eye on her without her realising if you get me. On er...on our way over, just before we left in fact, she ehm...oh God Rina, she had a bit of a meltdown, having convinced herself that I didn't want to go and that she was forcing me. I must have said something, done something to make her feel that way, to make her feel so unwanted. Rina, i'm so sorry, I never, ever meant to hurt her like that and its been on my mind from that very moment." I'm not sure whether it was the softness in her voice or the compassion in her eyes but the tears began to fall without shame and it wasn't until I felt the gentle pressure of her arms around me that I could even find the strength to lift my head and with one look from her, I relaxed into her hug and allowed my feelings to flood through my body.

"Now Joseph, you listen to me and you listen well. Our Dot, she is so strong, all the time. But my god, she feels things heavily, especially because she tends to bottle these powerful emotions up. She would kill me for telling you this but i'm going to anyway, because im her mama and that's how I work. In the past, Dot has been in quite a few relationships and these guys she picks, they haven't always been the best for her, which means her walls are built sky high. But you? You broke those walls down by week two of your friendship and continue to do that, brick by brick as this relationship grows. But god Joe, had you seen her in the midst of her first anxiety period, where we struggled with food, with exercise and with self-confidence, she is a completely different human now, almost unrecognisable because you have made her so happy! Last week, she was talking about how she has gained four pounds this year, how she is really enjoying cooking with you and now she loves every single curve and spot on her body, you really have brought out the best in my only daughter. I really can't thank you enough. So this little blip? That isn't your fault and I promise, you will have done nothing to contribute to it, it is just that anxiety raising its ugly head so hold her close, show her the affection you feel inside and don't worry about what anyone else here thinks. I know you aren't big on PDA, especially round family, Dot told me all about it at chewton glen but you do what you think feels right. We are family here Joe, you are family." she finishes, wiping away the last of my tears and taking my hand in hers, welcoming me into my home from away.

Wrapping her arms around me from behind, Dianne presses a series of kisses along my face and rests her chin on my head. "Hey mum? I love this man and he is here to stay. You're amazing Joseph and I love you." She smirks, kissing my cheek and disappearing off again, leaving me with Rina, a light blush on my cheeks and a blinding smile on my face.

My first Christmas with my Dot and its gonna be a good'un, I just know it.