Discussions on groundings
Who: Justice (yes, again...:P) and Lucas When: Thursday evening What: Relaxing the rules Where: Hunter residence Warning: A smidge of language
Justice’s attention-span was practically non-existant at work for the rest of the day. She’d had an easy shift, thank God - patrolling with another cop she didn’t hate, one who even managed to not make any comments about her little PDA in the precinct that morning. Her lunch with Naya had been a nice respite, but the rest of the day she’d been in the car, with nothing else to do but think about Jason, and about Lucas.
Lucas was a good kid, at heart. She’d calmed down a little about the pregnancy, now that she’d had a chance to vent, and think. She still wasn’t completely happy with the idea, but there wasn’t much she could do, other than be there if he needed her. She was adult enough to realise that her grounding of Lucas wasn’t entirely in reaction to his getting into a fight, either. When she got home, she’d have to swallow her pride and admit that maybe, just maybe, she’d overreacted.
Hoping that bringing Lucas pizza would distract him from having that epiphany, she’d grabbed a large pepperoni pizza and some garlic bread on the way home, nudging her car door shut with her hip as she fumbled for her keys, heading towards the door.
“Lucas?” She called as she managed to get the door open without dropping the pizza. “Honey, I’m home, I got dinner...”
Lucas had gone back to school that morning after his suspension and had thankfully not been in any trouble the whole day. He wanted to invite Alanna over after school, or sneak out to her place, but he's behave himself. He thought it best not to piss his mother off any more and he'd just have to suck it up and deal with his grounding if he wanted to go to homecoming and he knew that homecoming was going to be important to Alanna. She was a girl, girls liked dances and getting all pretty and formal and going out. He knew that prom would be too close to her due date for her to really get to have a good time so if he fucked up homecoming, he'd feel like a douche.
So he'd dealt with only seeing her at school and told her he'd try and call her later. After he'd gotten home, it was off to doing homework to make up for all the crap he'd missed during the week. He was just wrapping up with it when his mother called out from the front entrance that she had dinner. Hopping up from the kitchen table, he tossed his pencil on top his algebra book and headed out to help her with the box of food. "How was work?" he asked her, taking the pizza box from his mother and heading towards the kitchen with it. "God, I'm starved, you're awesome."
“Surprisingly, not awful,” Justice grinned at Lucas, shrugging off her jacket and tossing it down at the bottom of the stairs. She’d hang it in her closet later. Maybe. Heading through to the kitchen, she grabbed plates and glasses for them, filling her own with water.
“I spoke to Jason,” she said, trying to act offhand about it all. “He’s asked us over to his on Saturday for a barbeque. Alanna, too.” She smiled softly, sitting down. “I think he’s trying to get all the awkward meetings over at the same time. His daughter’s new boyfriend’s been invited too.” Grabbing a slice of pizza, she dug in, waiting to hear Lucas’ reaction before they moved on to talking about him, and being grounded.
Grabbing the pitcher of tea from the fridge, he poured his own glass with the liquid and put the pitcher back before grabbing his glass and sitting down at the table with his mother. He'd picked up his slice of pizza and was nearly halfway through it when she commented about the barbeque and Jason inviting Alanna over too. Okay, the guy was apparently serious enough about his mother to have her meet the kids. That was a good sign.
The fact that he invited Alanna over too was nice. "Cool," he told her. He didn't mind hanging out with a bunch of strangers if that was what his mom wanted. And if he got to spend time with Alanna because if it, that was just fine by him. And Jason didn't seem like that bad of a guy at least this far into the relationship.
“You’re not obligated to come,” she said softly. “I’d like you to be there, but if you don’t want to,” she smiled a little wryly, “or you’re not comfortable bringing Alanna into the middle of a pride of lions, I’ll understand.” She was sure it would be fine...ok, she was hoping it would be fine. She wouldn’t blame Lucas for being reluctant, though. Of course, if Lucas had problems with Jason, this relationship wasn’t likely to last. She put her son above everyone else, even herself nine times out of ten.
Dropping his pizza onto his plate and letting out a little sigh, he shook his head. "I said it was cool, mom," he told her. "I mean now that you mention it, bringing Alanna into the middle of a bunch of lions isn't my idea of the bestest time in the world, but I'll do it because I know you like this guy and I'm pretty sure he won't eat her." He doubted anyone would eat Alanna, they weren't savages after all. "I don't mind going to a barbeque for a couple of hours so that everyone can play meet and greet and you two can go on about your business. He makes you happy, I'll do whatever, it's not a big deal."
“Thank you,” Justice reached across the table and squeezed Lucas’ hand. “Sorry, I’m just...” She sighed. “I really like him. And I want this to work.” She smiled wryly. “I’m definitely out of practice at relationships.” She picked up her glass, taking a sip of water.
“I wanted to talk to you about being grounded, too,” she said, steeling herself. God, she hated admitting she was wrong. “I may have overreacted a little.” Justice was the master of understatements sometimes.
"I'm about to be eighteen, and a dad as much as that reality freaks me out," he told her. "And I know that you've spent my entire life putting me first. It's about time you get something you want, right? If it's the form of some big, scary werelion cop, good. At least I know you'll be looked after if I go off to college." That was something he was worrying about more than he wanted to admit. He worried about her more than he did about himself. She was his mother and he was the man of the house and leaving her wasn't something he wanted to do.
He arched a brow at her when she brought up him being grounded and commented that she may have overreacted. Her saying she was wrong, in any form, wasn't a frequent occurrence.
“When you go off to college,” Justice answered on reflex. If she had her way, there was no ‘if’ about it. Baby or no, he’d be going to college. But she was just stalling for time, now. Taking a deep breath, she continued.
“I was angry about the baby. And I overreacted. I’m still not happy you got into a fight, and the few days you’ve been stuck at home were punishment for that. But...” She smiled, just a little. “You’re a good kid, and you’ve earnt your freedom. You can go to Homecoming, and you’re officially un-grounded.” Hopefully he wouldn’t make her regret admitting she was wrong, and lifting his punishment.
He was surprised that she'd ungrounded him, to say the least. "Mom, I'm sorry that I disappointed you," he told her firstly. "With the whole baby thing. I mean, I know that you wanted better for me and you didn't want me to make your mistakes and I get that, but I didn't go out and do it on purpose. It just happened and I know that's a stupid excuse, but it's the truth. I just," he sighed and brushed his hand through his hair. Trying to get all his feelings out wasn't exactly his strong point and it really never had been. "I really don't want to admit what I'm about to admit, but I was a virgin before Alanna," he sighed. "It's not like I was out slutting about town knocking up girls without a second thought. I love her."
Justice smiled sadly. Ah, young love. Not that she was much better, the way she’d been mooning over Jason...but she liked to pretend she had the benefit of experience.
“I know,” she murmured. “You’re a good kid, Lucas. And you know I love you, no matter what.” She reached across the table, laying her hand on his arm. “We’ll get through this together, ok? Just like we always do. You and Alanna need anything at all, let me know.” She sat back in her chair, half-eaten slice of pizza sitting forgotten on her plate.
“Which reminds me - do her parents know yet? Or are they still away?” She was going to take Jason’s advice, and ask Alanna if she wanted Justice there when she told her parents. It would maybe help things if there was another grown-up there to keep the peace.
"I just need my mom," he told her honestly. "And someone to tell me that I'm not gonna be a fuck up dad." That was what he was worried about the most and it was clear on his face that his biggest fear was being his father. "She's got money and plenty of opportunities that she could have taken advantage of and I feel like I messed it all up for her and now I can't even provide for her because she's the one with the money." Which was great because at least they'd be able to take care of the baby, but it certainly made him feel like less of a man. Men were supposed to provide for their families.
"No, her parents have pretty much been in and out of the country for her whole life. I haven't even met them yet and I doubt they're going to take kindly to me. I'm just some poor guy from the wrong side of the tracks," he reminded his mother. "What would you think if you were them?"
“Honestly?” She sighed, looking at him. “I think they’re going to blame you. And they’re likely going to hate both of us.” She likely wasn’t much better in their eyes - a single, young, unmarried mother who hadn’t raised her son well. They’d probably blame Lucas for ‘taking advantage’ of Alanna.
“But you are not a fuck-up, Lucas. You’re my son, and I know that might make me biased,” she admitted, knowing there was no ‘might’ about it, “but you’re going to be a wonderful father. I won’t lie and say it’s going to be easy, but you have me. And,” she hesitated, just for a moment. “I know you don’t know Jason, but he was in your shoes seventeen years ago. I’m sure he’d listen, if you wanted to talk to someone with y’know, a penis.” She was acutely aware of how little male influence Lucas had had in his life; she couldn’t help but feel a little bad about that.
Lucas sighed and looked down at his partial slice of pizza. Picking off a piece of pepperoni, he popped it into his mouth and tried not to think about anything for a moment. He felt pretty much helpless as far as the whole situation was concerned. Like his life was zooming by and he was just watching it go without any ability to stop it.
"Do you think he'd really talk to me about that?" he asked his mother, not wanting to make her feel like he didn't want to talk to her. Her perspective was different, however, being the one carrying the baby wasn't the same as being on the outside looking in. She might be a great example for Alanna, but he wouldn't mind a guy to talk to about the whole thing. "I don't want to muck things up for you by tossing my problems at him. He's not my dad and I don't need to make him feel obligated to treat me like his son."
“You won’t mess anything up,” Justice assured him, smiling. “And yeah, I do. We talked a little about things the other night - I needed to vent to someone, so we went for coffee after work.” And well, Lucas already knew how that night had turned out...
“If you want, I can ask him if he’s free sometime to talk to you, without me or Alanna there getting in the way.” She could make herself scarce easily enough. And it might be a good chance to bond with Alanna, get to know her a little better. “And trust me, you can’t force Jason to do anything. If he’s talking to you about this, it’s because he wants to.” She looked down at her plate, picking at the crust of her pizza. “I’m sorry you’ve never had a guy around to talk to, Lucas,” she said softly, after a moment. “I do feel bad about that.”
"Okay," he said with a nod of agreement. "But tell him he doesn't have to or anything, it's not that big a deal." Only it sort of was and he wished that they would be able to talk. He wanted a guy's perspective on the whole situation.
"That's not your fault, mom," Lucas said, shaking his head. "Kevin was a dick and I wouldn't have wanted him around anyways. I liked it better being just the two of us." That was something he was sure about. Sure, not having guy talk sucked, but Lucas loved his mother regardless and was plenty happy with the way he'd turned out. "Don't be sorry for being an awesome mom. I'm not sorry."
She couldn’t help but grin. No matter how bad she felt, Lucas always cheered her up. Unless he was the one causing the bad mood in the first place. “Thanks, kiddo,” she murmured, tearing chunks off the crust of her pizza, more playing with her food now than eating it.
“I’ll call Jason later, and ask if he’s free before Saturday to talk to you,” she promised. “Do you want to just speak on the phone? Or d’you want me to see if he’ll come over here after school tomorrow?” She was hoping, selfishly, that Lucas wanted to talk in person. That way, she at least got to see Jason briefly.
"I'd rather talk to him in person," he admitted. "Seems shitty to just call him up asking for advice. The least I can do is get him a drink while he pours his history out on the table for me." He appreciated not only Jason if he'd actually talk to him, but his mother for suggesting it. "Thanks, by the way." Shaking his head a little he began ripping up his own pizza crust much in the way his mother was doing the same; like mother like son. "For ungrounding me and for letting me go to homecoming. I know by the time prom comes around, Alanna's gonna be like very pregnant and I doubt she'd have much fun at it. If I messed up homecoming for her, that'd suck."
Justice shrugged, popping a piece of pizza crust into her mouth.
“Don’t mention it,” she murmured. “Like I said - four days grounding is enough punishment for punching a kid who probably deserved it.” In his situation, she’d likely have done the same, if not worse; their temperaments were far too similar sometimes.
“And yeah, I kind of figured they wouldn’t let Alanna go to prom if she’s showing,” Justice murmured, feeling bad for her. “And I missed my homecoming because I was grounded so...” she shrugged, grinning. “I thought I should probably stop it becoming a tradition.”
He smiled a little at that last bit. "Now if I could just figure out what the hell I'm supposed to wear to homecoming," he commented. He hadn't exactly bothered with it before because he hadn't had a girlfriend to care about when the dance came around any other year. "Am I supposed to do a tux or just a suit? What if I look like an idiot? Girls are way too complicated sometimes."
Justice laughed softly.
“If you think choosing between a suit and a tux is the most complicated decision you have to make because of a girl, you’re in for a rude awakening, kiddo,” she drawled, taking another big bite of her pizza, washing it down with the rest of her glass of water before pouring a glass of iced tea.
“Ask Alanna. Find out what color dress she’s wearing, and coordinate with it if you can. She’ll appreciate it.” Justice hadn’t really bothered about homecoming; she’d never been a girly girl, and she wasn’t going to start now. But she knew a little, at least.
He could coordinate colors. That didn't sound too bad. "So um, since I'm not grounded anymore, can I go see her?" he asked as he popped the last bit of his pizza into his mouth. "I've spent four days without more than just school meetings and lunches and I think I'm going to die or shoot someone," he admitted.
Letting out a soft snort of laughter, Justice reached for a slice of garlic bread, nodding. “If you’ve got your homework under control, then yeah, sure.” It’d do him good to get out the house, and she could use some peace and quiet for a couple of hours. Maybe she’d even phone Rand - he was a grandfather, he’d understand how terrifying finding that out could be.
“Take your phone with you, and don’t stay out too late.” Simple rules, and ones which he’d always been good at following. She’d been lucky with Lucas, and hearing more about Jason’s kids were making her realise that. Boys were so much easier to deal with; and one was certainly less hassle than three.
He grinned broadly at his mother before hopping out of his chair and nearly pouncing her but managing to just tone it down to a almost strangling hug. "Thank god, I might have gone on a rampage if I couldn't," he admitted with a little laugh. Four days was ridiculously difficult and he wasn't sure what he'd have done had she said no. Thankfully she hadn't. "Maybe you should call up Jason," he teased as he released his mother and grabbed another slice of pizza, biting off some of it and then using his free hand to start closing his books. "Got all my homework done that I missed and I'm caught up so no bad grades, promise."
Rolling her eyes, she hugged Lucas back, laughing softly at him.
“Maybe I will,” she teased back. If she did speak to Jason, she’d be sure to ask him if he’d talk to Lucas. Hopefully before the weekend. “And good.” She nodded to the table. “Take another couple slices if you want. Just don’t eat and drive.” He never seemed to eat enough for her liking; but then both of them tended to pick slowly at food rather than wolf down massive platefuls all at once.
Setting the other half of his second slice of pizza down on the plate on the table, he finished putting his books together and tucked them in his bag. "I'll just put it in the fridge for when I come home," he told her. He never really ate a whole lot, even when his human side was wanting to scarf food down. His owl half liked to pick at things and always had. "Thanks again, mom." he said as he put his backpack over his shoulder. Bending, he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Love you," he murmured. "I'll text you when I get there, okay?"
Justice smiled, watching as he packed up his things.
“Text me when you’re on your way home too, ok?” She asked. She knew she worried; it was hard not to, especially with a murderer on the loose. It wasn’t much to ask for though, and she wondered how she would have coped if Lucas had been a teenager before cellphones were so prolific. It certainly explained some of her mother’s seeming over-reactions. Justice probably would have gone mad, in the same situation. “Love you too, kiddo.”
"I will," he promised her. "I'll clean up the food and grab my keys from upstairs," he said to his mother as he went about putting the pizza and bread into some tupperware containers so he could put them in the fridge. "Thanks again for dinner," he added as he tucked them away. "See you later," he told her, heading up the stairs and collecting his keys and wallet and cell phone. Bounding down the stairs, two at a time, he headed out the door and to his car, more than ready for some time with his girlfriend.