Meeting The Fockers, or Rather The Burrows Who: Alexius and Nolan Where: Alexius' home, then... well, you'll see When: Thursday, December 9th
Unfortunately, the last few months for Nolan Burrows had been something of a whirlwind. He'd taken up several contracts, even going so far as to take up work on a job personally (at a comic book store, no less... and he tried very hard not to think about why the two women who owned it would want a secret room), but he was finally free for the rest of the year. Officially on holiday until January forth. Which meant? He finally had time to take Alexius out on their first official date. They'd talked over the phone for the last few months and barely saw each other at all, but now, thankfully... he was able to take the first step.
He'd called Alexius on Sunday and arranged to pick her up tonight, which was why he was at her front door, dressed in boots, jeans and a nice light blue dress shirt (to match his eyes) tucked in at the waist, holding a small pot plant with... a cactus of all things in it. He wasn't really sure if she was a flower person, and cacti only needed to be watered once a year, right? He cleared his throat awkwardly before knocking on the front door, hoping that she'd like what he had planned for tonight, even if the idea of it still made him nervous.
"I got it!" Alexius' voice definitely heard through the door as the blond hurried to it before either of her siblings could answer the knock ahead of her. She didn't want to put Nolan through that, at least not before their first "official" date happened.
"Hi." She said breathily when the door swung open. Alexius was wearing a pair of black jeans, a gray tank over, which was worn a black jacket, a black beret and pair of black leather knee high boots. "I'd invite you in, but family's home and you know.. " The blond rambled stepping out and closing the door behind her.
Nolan blinked as Alexius hurried out, "I guess you can... take this in later," he murmured, indicating the cactus that he'd brought, setting it down on the railing of the porch. The whole 'the family's home' gave him pause for thought, but then again... he'd already told mom that he'd be bringing a girl home, so... "Shall we, then?" He smiled, offering her an elbow to escort her to his car.
"A plant? I've never owned a plant before." The blond smiled taking up the planter the cactus was in off the railing. "They need water, right?" She questioned shifting the plant to one hand while she moved to take Nolan's offered arm. Alexius wasn't about to leave such a gift sitting out where anyone might come by and claim it. Not that that would actually happen in a small town as this one.
"Not often, as far as I'm aware of," Nolan assured her as he nervously led her to his car, opening the passenger door for her. How was it possible that he was more nervous around her now, despite the fact that he spoke to her more often? It boggled his mind. Once certain that she was settled, he rounded the car to the driver's side and took a seat, making sure to buckle in. He chuckled. "...You remember the part where you you said the family's home?"
"Yeah, kind of sorry about that, just didn't want you suffering through a Moreau interrogation." Alexius apologized in her own special way. Not that her brother and sister would actually put Nolan through a long series of questions and inquiries, she just didn't want the man to get scared off before the night had actually begun.
"...Right. Well, I might have inadvertently led you to your own interrogation, and by 'inadvertently', I mean 'planned'..." He blushed profusely as he started the car, taking his time with driving at first. "My parents are great folks don't get me wrong... I just... figured that since they were a big part of my life that you should meet 'em. Was... is that bad?"
"That's your idea of a first date?" She wasn't doubting that Nolan's parents were good people, it was just that when she went out with a guy for the first time it wasn't to meet the parents. And then there was the fact that she, Alexius, wasn't exactly the girl next door type. In her mind the evening could fail big time.
"Well... n-not exactly," he admitted. "But they're important to me and I figured that at the very least, you could meet 'em." He took a minute to breathe, hating how nervous he was in this moment. "My family's important to me and I wanted you to see that. Afterwards we can do whatever you want. Even if it entails you never seeing me again." Which, sadly enough, he fully expected, still thinking that she was too good enough for him.
"Hah." Alexius sounded breathily. "Like I'm that easily gotten rid of." The blond turned toward the driver with a grin. She might be feeling uneasy about meeting Nolan's family, but that in no way would be enough to scare her off a guy she was interested in getting to know better. Besides. Nolan didn't seem to mind her quirkiness all that much.
That... actually surprised Nolan, but only when they were at a stop sign did he turn to look at her. "Okay. … My folks are good people. My brothers and sisters on the other hand, are a whole different kettle of fish." Yes, he had many siblings. "Luckily you won't have to meet them tonight," he assured her, actually giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I didn't want to scare you off too quickly," he chuckled.
"Told you that'd be hard for you to do." The blond grinned back to him as her hand caught and held his then. "Besides, doubt anyone could compare to my brother and sister." Who Nolan might not have actually met, but knew from his visit to the Wild Coyote.
Nolan had certainly seen Alexius' siblings on his occasional visit at the Wild Coyote, but beyond asking for a beer, he hadn't really spoken to them. Alexius' sister seemed a lot like her, if he was being honest, although her brother made him a little weary. Anyway... he pulled his car to a stop, finally at their destination, parked and hopped out, rounding the car to open the passenger-side door, "Sorry if you're not used to this... I was raised to treat a lady a certain way..."
When Nolan pulled up in front of his parents home, Alex instinctively reached for the handle to open the door when she suddenly stopped short at the sight of the man walking lively around the front of the car to her side. "I wasn't about to offer you any complaints." The blond voiced as she emerged slowly from the vehicle. That little trait he had was one she found adorable and Alex would never chide him for his gentlemanly ways.
He smiled charmingly and shut the car door before looping one of her arms around his, leading her to the front door of his childhood home. Before he even had a CHANCE to knock, his mother, Mary, opened the front door. She was a short plump woman with dyed red hair and a brilliant smile. "I was beginning to wonder when you two would show up. Then again, Nolan has a better sense of time than his brother's." She smiled and stood to one side, "Come in, come in. You must be Alexius. I'm Mary, Nolan's VERY overbearing mother." The older woman said with a raspy laugh.
"Your mother is sooooooo adorable." Alexius said almost giddily with a smile to match as the pair left Nolan's parents home. "And the stories your father tell? Well, I could have listen to them all night long." Where most women might have been offended by the zillion questions that seemed to have sprung from Mary Burrows lips, Alexius took in stride finding most of them amusing and didn't mind answering them, but then Alex wasn't like most women and found amusement in things most didn't.
Nolan chuckled and brushed a hand through his hair. Obviously Alexius meant a lot to him for him to introduce her to his parents, since he rarely, if ever, brought a woman home to meet the folks. "I'm glad that you liked 'em," he admitted, knowing that they could be a little different than most people were used to. "I just figured that... well, they mean a lot to me, and you do too. So it was only fair that you met them."
"Wow, you really do like me." Alexius blurted out as they stepped down from the house to begin the short walk to the man's car. Hearing what Nolan had just said made Alex feel all special inside. This had been the first time a man told her she was almost as important to him as his family was. "I like you too, Nolan." She said slipping her arm through his as they walked.
His smile widened, hearing that, as he rounded to the passenger-side of the car and opened the door for her, placing a gentle kiss to her cheek before helping her to her seat. "I'd hoped that you'd say that," he admitted. As sad as it sounded. She really was the first woman in a long time that he'd had any kind of romantic feelings for. "Is there anywhere else that you'd like to go, or shall I take you home?" He asked with an infectious grin.
"The night is still young." She responded vaguely to leave the decision of what would happen next to the man. As good as the evening seemed to have gone, Alexius wasn't quite ready to retire for the night. The blond enjoyed Nolan's company as much as he enjoyed hers.
He seemed to consider that for a moment. As much as he'd like to spend the night with her, at the very least, he'd like to get to know her more. "D'you like ice cream?" He asked with a smile. It wasn't too late. "Or, desert, at least?"
"The pie and cake your mother served after dinner wasn't enough for you." Alexius said with a soft, breezy laugh when Nolan settled himself into the vehicle. "And in answer to your question. Yes, I like ice cream. Especially with the little colorful sprinkles on top."
Nolan chuckled. "I'm a glutton, I suppose. ...And any excuse to spend more time with you," he admitted with a faint blush, before buckling in and starting the car. "I like sprinkles, too," he admitted. "I just wonder about propriety and such."