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You see Nicole's mother, Sophia, rush down the driveway yelling at the two of you. Nicole grabs on to you while you wrap your arm around her waist and protectively pull her closer to you.

"Where the hell have you been! It's almost 1 o'clock. Do you know how worried we've been all night? What happened to you two last night. I'm really disappointed in you John. How can you bring her home so late I... OH MY GOD!" She gasps and stops in her tracks.

"OH my God!" Nicole's mother repeats in a whisper has she covers her mouth. "Oh my God!" she rushed at you, tears streaming out of her eyes. She throws her arms around you and Nicole while she cries and sobs. She buries her head between you and Nicole. "Thank God!" she says amid her sobs. You are completely surprised by her sudden change from a furious Mamma Bear to a grown woman crying in your arms. You hug her back afraid she might collapse right then and there, you look at Nicole and she is also completely taken by surprise. She kisses Nicole's forehead and your cheeks back and forth. "Welcome to the family." she whispers. You and Nicole tighten your embrace around Sophia has you realize these are tears of joy coming from her.

She finally breaks the embrace and takes a step back from you, wiping the tears from her face. Her cheeks turn red and she looks embarrassed by the display of emotions. "Now don't just stand there come on in." her voice falters a bit with the emotions, "You two must be starving, go wash up, I have some leftovers I'll warm up for you."

The two of you sit next to each other for a lunch of leftovers made by Sophia. Has you eat, George and Sophia, Nicole's parents, sit down across from you. Sophia has a smile that goes from ear to ear, it's clear that she is not upset that you took Nicole's virginity last night, it almost seems as if this is something he has been waiting to happen for some time. George on the other hand, keeps his stoic face on. He's doesn't look upset but neither does he show any of the exuberant joy of his wife. Sophia finally asks you the question you knew was coming but didn't know how to answer. She leaned forward in anticipation "So, how did it you two get together?"

Nicole took up the challenge and started weaving a tale for her parents. "Well, you know we were at the party at Sarah's house. There were really a lot of people there, so I had to sit on John's lap. They were playing video's on Sarah's big screen while we were drinking. And then they played this great song from Taylor Swift - 'You Belong to Me', and I just started singing along to it and looking at John. So, then John asked me if I really believed it and I was like really embarrassed but I said 'yes'. And John said that he liked me too and... and then he kissed me!" you smile has both women squeal and laugh. You smile and look on has Nicole briefly tells how I kissed her, and then that I danced with her all night and then took her to a spot by the river to look at the stars and where we supposedly spent the night but without going into any details. And has she told the tale I memorized every single word she said.

[ref. link to Taylor Swift song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw ]

When we finished lunch, George invited me to his den "C'mon John, let’s have a drink while the girls clean up the dishes and make us some coffee." Has you follow him to the den you feel like you’re walking into the principal’s office knowing you’re going to get detention and extra homework. 'This is it' you think. This is the real test. Sitting down he pours some brandy, you notice it's his favorite brand _'so, maybe he won't kill me' _you think hopefully.

"Well, John." he says in his typical level voice. "What really happened last night? And don't give me that sappy love story Nicole told."

You take in a deep breath. For a moment you want to go with Nicole's story, or make up your own but... if he saw right through her bullshit story there was no way you could fool him. but you also don't want to say exactly what happened. You look down at the drink and then at him before you empty the glass in one go hoping to get some courage from it.

"Well we were at Sarah's party last night." you start. "And we started play... a game." you pause.

"Spin the bottle?" he asks.

"It wasn't that but... something like that... it was... it was that type of game" you say hesitantly. "A fucking stupid game... what a stupid fucking game." you mutter. You extend your glass and George pours a little more that you immediately down.

"And?" he prods you to continue. You can’t read his emotion, but when you continue, it feels like your confessing your sins to him. You feel that you need to get the weight of your shame off your shoulder, like you need to be judged and maybe forgiven, that he forgives you for what you did to his daughter, or more exactly what you let happen to her.

"And… and I got... I got distracted with this other girl." You take another deep breath; your voice falters a bit, but the words start to flow. "When I looked over to check on Nicole, I saw she was getting into trouble. I mean she wasn't in IN trouble, I mean nothing had happened, but I knew she was going to BE IN trouble." You see George nod in understanding. "And... and I pulled her out. I… I couldn't let it happen."

"Why" he asked.

"Because she's precious!" you keep talking, not holding back your words anymore. "She's precious to me. She's like this part of me, like I'm nothing without her." you gesture to your chest "We've been together like forever and I never knew it, and when I saw her there, I knew. I almost failed her last night. I almost lost her. I love her and I can't let anything happen to her. She's mine and I won't be without her ever again."

"You take another deep breath. "Sir. I love her. I made love to her last night. You already know that but I have to tell you. She's going to be with me. And I'm not going to fail her ever again. If she says that soap opera story is how I opened my eyes to her, how I realized how I was too stupid to know that I always loved her then that is how it happened. That's what happened and I'll call bullshit on anyone who says otherwise." There you said it. You got it off your chest.

He nods and takes a sip from his drink. You see his expression ease and a tension you hadn't noticed leaves his shoulders. "Fair enough, that’s how it happened. And now? Now what?" has asks.

"I... I don't know how I'll do it, but we'll be together. I guess for starts, I'll have to get another apartment for the two of us, I won't share a place with Nicole and anyone else and I know other things will come up but, but I can do it with Nicole." You feel a little better but still feel the anguish inside, you sense that you’re still waiting, waiting for something.

George looks at you has he finishes his drink and smiles at you "Here, have another drink John." he pours some more in your glass. "Don't worry John, I think you'll do okay... Welcome to the family son."

You feel relief wash all over you. You exhale a breath you hadn't notice you've been holding. He forgave you, you've been forgiven and you finally feel the weight taken from your shoulder.

You spend the rest of the afternoon with Nicole watching TV, playing video games, cuddling, kissing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. That night Nicole made your favorite dish for dinner with her mother's help.

About an hour after dinner Sophia comes in with a tote bag like the one Nicole usually takes on a picnic trip. "John, I saw you're missing some things in the fridge and your mom asked me to stock you up with some things. There all here, Nicole make sure it all gets put away, will you dear."

"Sure mom." Nicole answers.

"Better hurry up" George add standing up from his chair, "It's time to go to bed."

"Okay, I'll get the guest room ready for John when we get back." Nicole says has she gets up from your lap.

"I don't think so. It's better if he stays at his house." George stops her.

Nicole looks at her father and says. "But he's stayed over a lot of times? Why can't he stay? Just be-"

"-It's not... seeming for him to stay here tonight." He interrupts her.

"It's okay Nicole." you say to her taking her hand in yours. Your heart sinks again in your chest. "Don't worry, let's take these over." and you lead her out the door.

"Oh, and one more thing." George adds. "Your Mom and I are going to bed right now. We are really tired after worrying about you two last night, so we'll probably fall asleep has soon as we hit the pillow. Try not to make too much noise when you return."

"And this time don't be late for lunch. I won't have any more leftovers for you." Sophia adds.

Has you close the door behind you turn to Nicole a little confused, "Did your mom just tell us not to be late for lunch? Did they just let you stay over with me?"

Before Nicole can answer you hear the dead bolts lock the door behind you. You look at each other, smile and run across the yard. You got the whole night to spend together, alone, and not a minute to lose.

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Behind the door, George locks the dead bolts and turns the key to lock the door.

"That was a little cruel don't you think?" Sophia smiles at her husband while they watch John and Nicole run across the yard. "Telling him he can't stay here."

"just for tonight. They need some extra time alone." he answers.

"I don't believe that story Nicole made up." Sophia said.

"It was bullshit but it's going to be their story." George says has he embraces his wife. "They're going to have to grow up really fast now, but I think they'll be ok. John finally started to grow up."

The End.