Who: Dan, Elena, Kate, Trixie, Rory What: the kids are meeting Dan and Elena Where: Hinkles When: Sat. lunch Warnings: low Status: closed/g-doc
Dan finished showering and, once he got dressed, made his way to the kitchen to walk over with Trixie. He could hear his daughter in her room, and it sounded like she was getting changed out of her pyjamas. Good. He felt nervous. Somehow this felt more anxiety inducing than when he dated Charlotte. Possibly, because if shit went badly this time, it would prove difficult to avoid people.
“Trixie! Are you almost ready?” Then he noticed Rory in her jacket. “You don’t have to tag along.”
Rory shrugged. Did she have to go? No. But, she wanted to support her sister and ensure shit didn’t go too badly. “I know. But, I think it might help both you and Trixie if I’m there.” Rory recognized this might be difficult for Trixie. And, in her own way, Rory wanted Dan happy, given what happened to him back home.
“Yes, geez, give me a minute,” Trixie called back. She was so close to being a teenager now and that meant she had all the attitude that came with it. Things were going pretty well though, even if she did miss Lucifer. Mare was gone and she was having fun getting to know Rory. She had long ago given up on the notion of her parents getting back together, so she was curious to meet the woman her dad was dating.
She emerged from her room in a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and boots. Her hair was hanging around her shoulders in loose curls and she was wearing a little bit of makeup. Yes, she wanted to make a good impression.
When she spotted Rory in her jacked, she brightened. “You’re coming too? Awesome.” Between Sabrina and Rory she wasn’t interested in any other sisters and hoped that Elena’s daughter wasn’t going to treat her that way.
Dan looked at his daughter for a minute. “You look nice,” was all he said. He didn’t want to make her feel weird for the makeup and recognized she was almost a teen. Even better, it seemed like she knew how to apply it without needing Rory or someone to intervene.
“Put on your jacket. We’re going to be late.”
Rory opened the door and as they walked out she commented, “You look great T.” And then when Trixie got close enough “if you feel uncomfortable at all kick me and I’ll make a stupid excuse for us to leave.” What else were sisters for?
Dan finally ushered the girls out the door and a few minutes later they finally arrived at Hinkles.
Elena looked over at Kate. The two had arrived at Hinkles and were currently seated at a table with a few extra chairs added so that everyone could sit. They didn’t order anything, waiting on the others to show up first. Elena only hoped the meeting wouldn’t be awkward and that the kids would be okay with each other. Obviously, Elena didn’t expect them to all be best friends, but if they managed to simply get along? Elena would be more than okay with it.
Bigger still, Elena hoped that Kate would like Dan. He wasn’t a wolf like the other two men in her life had been, but she hoped that wouldn’t have any bearing on what Kate thought of him. She just desperately hoped that her daughter approved and that the two were able to get along. She was asking for the minimum in a relationship between her daughter and Dan. If that happened, it would be enough for Elena.
Spotting Dan outside, Elena turned towards Kate and gave her a smile. “Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it, Kate.”
Dan entered, along with the girls, and Elena waved them over.
Lucky for Elena, well, more for Dan, Kate had matured greatly during her years in Madison Valley. As long as this Dan guy made her mom happy and treated her well, she saw no reason to interfere in their relationship. If only Clay and Mercy could see her now. They wouldn’t believe it.
“Of course, Mom,” she said. “You deserve to be happy.” And it had been a while since Derek left, so it was definitely time for Elena to start dating again. She glanced over when Elena waved and studied Dan as he made his way over to the table with two girls in tow. Both were faces she recognized from the network, one having been there a lot longer than the other.
Trixie had smirked at Rory when she said that she’d get them out of there if need be. It probably wouldn’t be necessary, unless Elena or her daughter were condescending or rude to her just because she was young. As long as they were nice, she’d be nice.
When Dan noticed Elena and whom he assumed to be her daughter, he headed in that direction with the two in tow. He didn’t think of Rory as a daughter, obviously, but he found himself liking her. She had the good parts of Lucifer, but also the good parts of Chloe. And anyone who took after Chloe? Well they were obviously good people.
“Hey Elena,” he greeted her and kissed her cheek, because he did not need some version of ‘ew’ from Trixie. “This is Trixie and her younger, but older sister Rory.” Dan didn’t add the half part, because in his mind they were family.
Rory held out her hand. “Yeah, somehow I’m older than my big sister, which feels fucked on many levels.” She smiled at the pretty blonde and nodded at whom she assumed to be her daughter, with a smile still on her face. God, smiling this much felt weird to her. She’d rather be getting drunk with her Auntie Maze. But she pushed aside that train of thought. “Should I go get food for us, Trixie?” She knew her sister well enough to order for the both of them. “I can for you as well Dan.”
As Dan approached, Elena squeezed her daughter’s hand briefly under the table before letting go. She offered them all a smile; she did recognize both from the network, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever spoken to them before now.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Elena replied, shaking Rory’s offered hand. She was used to strange after so much time in Madison Valley that hearing Trixie was her big sister even though Rory was clearly older at the moment didn’t really shock Elena. Plus, Chloe and Dan had explained it during their meeting last month.
“This is my daughter Kate,” Elena introduced the young woman beside her.
“I was older than my twin for a while,” Kate said, giving Rory a commiserating look. “That was fucked too.” She missed Logan though and would love to have him around no matter what age he was. “Of course, I also used to be twenty two until the dome sent me home and I returned at sixteen again.” Her life was weird.
Rory seemed cool though and Trixie seemed okay even though she was a little younger. “I’ll go with you to get food,” she offered. “Werewolves eat a lot.”
Trixie gave a wave of acknowledgement to Elena and Kate. It was pretty obvious they were mother and daughter by looking at them, though Elena looked almost too young to have a daughter Kate’s age. Maybe it was like her and Rory though, and there were timeline things going on.
“Are you going to turn my dad into a werewolf?” she asked.
Dan should have anticipated the question, given his daughter. But he hadn’t. Honestly, he knew how Elena was a werewolf, but he never asked how she became one. To Dan, if Elena wanted to talk about it, she could. For all he knew, she received the genes, like the ones which gave her blonde hair.
“I don’t plan on becoming a werewolf.” As he spoke, Dan knew it to be true. Back home he died, but here? Dan just wanted a second chance as a human. But, was it something Elena wanted of him? He hadn’t asked.
Rory could see the wheels turning in Dan’s head and she decided she and Kate should definitely go grab the food. “Sure! Help would be great, Kate.” Rory managed to extricate herself from the booth. She found herself liking Kate.
“I take it your twin isn’t here then? I’m sorry. Yeah, it’s weird to be the older sister.” Plus, it meant, she couldn’t raid Trixie’s computer for good porn, because Trixie was still a few years away from that.
Before Elena could respond, Dan fielded the question. It was a good, honest answer. Elena had no plans to turn Dan into a werewolf. It wasn’t part of them dating or some mating ritual thing. Becoming a wolf was not a choice made lightly and being that Dan was not born with the gene, there was the chance he might not survive the transition anyway. There was no way Elena was going to put him through that kind of suffering or, potentially, another death.
“No, I’m not turning your dad into a werewolf,” Elena added. She didn’t want to add any more details to confuse the girl either. It was best to just keep it simple and state the truth. There would be no biting that led to turning anytime in their relationship.
However, she was pleased to see Kate go with Rory to grab the food. They seemed to be getting on well together so far and Elena was relieved.
Kate had trouble containing her laughter at Trixie’s question. The girl was blunt, something she definitely appreciated, but she was happy to escape the inquisition for a few minutes and go with Rory to get food.
“Not right now, no,” Kate said. “He’s been here a few times over the years. It’s weird being without him, but I manage.” It certainly helped that she was able to be open about what she was here since that made it much easier to maintain friendships.
As the two older girls left, Trixie looked between her dad and Elena, listening to their answers to her question. Satisfied, she sat down at the table. “How many kids do you have?” she asked. “And are you gonna have more? Because I kind of already have enough sisters. A brother wouldn’t be too bad though. Charlie’s pretty cute.”
The best thing about Rory being in town was the fact that it meant Chloe and Lucifer would eventually get their act together at home and be a couple. She didn’t really understand why Rory didn’t like her dad that much though.
Dan laughed at Trixie being her blunt self. “I don’t think we get to choose the gender of children, Monkey. But yes, Charlie is adorable.” To Elena he added, “Charlie is Linda’s son. A friend from back home. Chloe and I both babysit from time to time.”
To Dan, any additional time with his daughter made him happy. He didn’t get this time back home. Something he felt guilty as fuck about.
Rory nodded as Kate answered her questions. “Sorry he isn’t here. I think I would be more lost without Trixie, even if she’s younger here. I am glad you have your mom at least. She seems nice. Dan…deserves nice.” Not least of all because of what Rory did to Dan. But mostly because of Dan’s death back home.
“So what are your interests?” Rory asked after she ordered what she knew she, Dan, and Trixie would eat.
At Trixie’s blunt question, Elena did blush. Technically, this version of Elena had no children. However, in coming here, she had taken on the role of being a mom to Kate and Logan when he was here. As much as it had first intimidated her when she’d come here, she now cherished the role more than anything. She loved them both dearly.
“Uh, well, I have Kate and Logan, but he isn’t here right now,” Elena replied. “That’s all.” And she honestly wasn’t sure if she would have more children with Dan. They were so early in the relationship that the thought of kids hadn’t even really crossed her mind. Apparently Trixie was thinking ahead for the both of them.
“I haven’t really thought about more children,” she added quickly. “But your vote in favor of a boy has been noted for future reference.” No that they could control gender like Dan pointed out, but anything was possible. Fifty-fifty chance and all.
Thanks to werewolf senses, Kate was able to listen to the conversation at the table while she and Rory were ordering food and she did laugh this time when Trixie asked about babies. “Your sister is something else,” she said, clearly amused.
“I like music,” she said. “Every spring I run an art and music festival in the park. “I’m also kind of a history/anthropology nerd. And I’m planning to go pre-med. How about you?”
Trixie smiled at Elena’s answer to her question. The simple fact that she answered them and didn’t get indignant was a huge check in the plus column for her. She’d always been precocious and outspoken and with Mazikeen being her best friend, that only became more obvious.
“I want a shake,” she decided, sliding out of the booth. “I’m gonna go tell Rory. Be right back.” She was savvy enough to figure that her dad and Elena might want a few moments alone.
Dan didn’t think he could like Elena more, but it turned out he could and did. He loved how she took the time to answer Trixie’s questions, without making a big deal out of them. Obviously she had experience when it came to answering kids’ questions.
He nodded as Trixie excused herself to join Kate and Rory. He watched to make sure she got there and then returned his attention to Elena. “This seems to be going well.” Dan commented and then reached to squeeze Elena’s hand.
Rory brightened at the mention of music. “I play guitar and sing, so I look forward to the festival.” She listened to Kate’s plans. “I decided to work at a bar in town, but I think I need to decide what it is I actually want to do.” Back home, she hadn’t needed to worry, since she always had family around. School didn’t hold her interest, but she recognized not everyone felt that way. “What sort of histo…Oh hey Trixie,” Rory greeted her sister. “I just finished ordering and got you a chocolate shake.” Chocolate and Trixie went together like the ocean and sand.
Elena was a little relieved when the girl smiled at her answer. It definitely was a check in the plus column and that pleased Elena. Kate was never one to hold back on what she wanted to say either and Elena admired the outspokenness. She was happy to see that everything between the girls and themselves was going smoothly. Elena watched Trixie head to the counter to join the other girls before turning her attention back to Dan.
“It is. Surprisingly.” She figured Kate might have given Dan a little hell, but so far, she was being polite and friendly. Elena appreciated it though she also knew that when Kate did give anyone hell on her behalf, it was only because she loved her.
“I’m happy to see the girls getting along too.”
“We’ll have to jam sometime,” Kate said. “I play guitar and drums. And sing. And write my own music.” She missed having Avery around to do all those things with. Rory seemed cool though.
She glanced at the younger girl when she joined them. “So are we making this too easy on our parents?” she asked. “Should we like, start a food fight or something?” She was mostly joking.
Trixie beamed when Rory said she ordered her a shake and then laughed at Kate’s question. “Your mom seems okay,” she said. “And I want my dad to be happy.” Unlike a lot of other kids of divorce, she’d never had the whole fantasy about her parents getting back together. Despite her young age, Trixie was a pragmatist and she knew that they were better as friends.
Dan watched the girls and thought it good if Rory made a friend outside of the people from home. She seemed lonely and lost at times, especially after Lucifer got sent home.
“Your daughter reminds me of you in the best possible ways.” He leaned over and kissed Elena softly. “I hope the food shows up soon.” He might not be a werewolf, but he got hungry like anyone else.
Rory smiled. “I’d love to jam with you sometime.” Honestly, she thought Trixie handled things like her parents moving on rather well. “Looks like the food is ready.” She passed along some to Kate, before she handed Trixie her shake, and managed everything else.