WHO: Lauren Foxhill & Danny Lynch WHEN: 1999. Mid day? WHERE: Laur's parent's house. SUMMARY: She wants to share good news, which ends up bringing bad news. WARNINGS: :(
“They’ll come around. Today is the day. I know it.”
Those exact words had passed her lips a hundred times - nearly every time she tried to bring Danny over, actually. This time, her parents would love him. Today was the day they would pull their heads out of their asses. Finally they would accept their relationship with open arms. With the support Lauren had begged. Their hearts would open for her relationship and the hostility would end. They would no longer tear her apart.
A ring meant more than words and her confidence was through the roof today. Hand tight in Danny’s as she lead the way into her house without an announcement-knock. Abigail in the kitchen, Wesley reading his paper in the living room oblivious as ever. She turned to him in the foyer with her eyes trained on his as she took in a deep breath. Let out a deep breath. The moment before the moment of truth. “No matter what, I love you. I’m with you. Forever. Okay?”
"No shit, sugar," he said quietly so as not to be overheard by her parents, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Even being in hostile territory couldn't diminish the she-said-yes glow. The forever thing was a done deal. Danny had not a single doubt about that. He wrapped his arms around her, gave her a tight squeeze, and a planted a kiss atop her head. The whole thing about her parents coming around, though...well, he had doubts about that. Huge doubts. Never-gonna-happen sized doubts. Their opinion of him didn't matter as far as he was concerned, they were just two more people who hated him in a town full of people who hated him, but it mattered to her which was enough to make him go through this repeated rejection without protest.
Maybe they'd chase him out with a broom as soon as they heard the now-nineteen year old suspected murderer put a ring on their girl's finger and they could hit Mitzi's. No, he chided himself, they could head out of town. He could do better than Mitzi's every once in a while.
He released his hold and took her hand again, "Ready when you are."
A pause to gather herself and she replied with a nod, fingers laced in his before leading the way deeper into her sometimes-residence. The doorway of the kitchen would be their first stop. “Hey, ma?” “Oh, Lauren, finally you’re back!” The sound of joy filled the kitchen as Abigail paused her doting on dinner preparation and turning to face her daughter - all of the warmth being sucked out of the room as she laid her eyes on Danny. E That happened every single time. “Can we please talk to you in the living room with Dad?” Hesitation, but her mother characteristically listened the first time - eyes trained on Danny as she brushed past Lauren, across the hall and into the living room.
Another reassuring squeeze to Danny’s hand. This was it.
Ever the cheerful one in her younger years Lauren smiled brightly in retort to her father’s deeply worn scowl upon approach. A tall glance back to her now-fiancè as she stepped in front of him stalled the situation for a moment, all the time it took her to get her words back aligned. “So, guys, today is a big day!” Building up excitement was met with absolutely nothing. Hit ‘em harder, girl. “We’re getting married!” The happiest words she had ever spoken, followed by a display of the best ring ever, and her father’s response was to move onto his feet. Lauren beamed. It was happening. Here was the hug that would welcome Danny to the family and the past would remain water under the bridge - except it wasn’t.
“Get out.” She froze. “Get out of our house. Don’t come back until you come to your senses and wise up about this boy, Lauren.” Excitement fell. “No daughter of ours is gonna marry a murderer - not on my watch.” She dared a step forward, though her hand was clutching Danny’s tight enough to hurt them both. “But, Daddy,” “This has gone far enough. You’re no longer welcome in our house. Not while this is happening. We won’t support you or this relationship any longer.” “But-” “No more. Get out, Lauren.”
She had always been an arguer - had to have the last word - needed to finished fleshing out any and all pieces of conversation before she could move on. But not today, and never again. A small nod as she turned, leading the way back out of no-longer-her-house gave enough time to free her house key from it’s captive ring. It was shoved into the lock as soon as the front door shut behind them; left on display to be found. “Hungry?” Tears would wait. Conversation about that shit show would wait. It was distraction time.
Well, shit. Danny didn’t expect things to go much better than they had but he didn’t expect them to kick her out. Truth be told, he thought for sure her dad was going to come at him swinging. With a last glance at her key left in the lock, he turned from the door and sighed, draping an arm over her shoulder. Danny couldn't say he was worth losing her relationship with her parents over but it wasn't as if he bullied her into the decision. She was twenty three, they'd been together a year, he asked and she answered. He slipped a previously rolled cigarette from behind his ear and stuck it between his lips.
"Constantly," came his muffled response, fishing in his jacket pocket for a lighter as they took the steps with her under his arm. Mitzi's would be fine. Something familiar would be good. And then, well, they'd talk to his parents about moving Lauren into the farmhouse. It wouldn't be a problem. They liked her better than they liked him and shit, they still let him live there. Nearing his truck, the gears in his head began turning over and over - he needed to figure out a way to boost his income and get them out on their own before this thing was official.
He lit his cigarette. He already had an idea.
Danny opened the driver's side door and stepped aside for her to hop in first (one of the many great things about bench seats) and gave her ass a sharp slap when she made to pull herself up into the lifted cab, "Don't worry about nothing, shit'll work out."