Tessa.

"It has been awhile since I have been in this neighbourhood so do you recommend any good places for lunch?" Marlissa asked.

"Oh, I know a lovely little place on Amsterdam Avenue," Catherine suggested. "Do you like Mediterranean cuisine?"

"Yes!" Marlissa chirped.

"I guess we can leave now?" Ryan's father asked. Everyone nodded.

"Should we walk there?" Catherine asked, eyeing her husband.

"I don't want to walk, it's ten blocks!" he complained. "We should take a cab!"

"It would be good for your health to walk, Edward," his wife retorted.

"Dad, if Sam can walk there in her high heels then you can walk there in your loafers!" Ryan chucked.

"It will allow us to get to know each other more, dad!" Marlissa smiled.

"Fine..." Edward grumbled.

It was a nice day for a walk, at least in New York City standards -- the streets and sidewalks were congested as normal but people made way for Marlissa as she walked with her new mother-in-law while Ryan and his father were a few steps behind. New Yorkers used to seeing famous actors, musicians, and models, nonetheless stopped and gawked at the unearthly beauty of the disguised succubus strolling by like a model on a catwalk.

Catherine knew better than to ask personal questions in public, wanting to save the inquiry of her new daughter-in-law until they sat down at a table at the restaurant, so she asked and answered more mundane questions. She and Marlissa chitchatted about the neighborhood, its architecture, restaurants, and shops.

Meanwhile, Ryan and his father talked about the only thing they shared in common: Dungeons & Dragons. It was Edward sharing his passion for the role-playing game with his son that it was not only okay to be a nerd but open his imagination to different and exotic worlds. The fascination with fictional cultures led Ryan to be interested in ancient real world civilizations, which in turn led to his career as an archeologist, much to chagrin of his mother.

"Are you going to be in town long enough to play with your old man?" Edward asked his son.

"Yeah, I think so," Ryan replied, looking at his wife, who was enjoying chatting with his mother. "I'm going to drop by the office on Monday."

"So you have no plans this weekend?"

"That's up to Sam..."

"Welcome to being married, son," his father chuckled.

"So far it's not too bad."

"You're still in your honeymoon phase. Wait until you're married for thirty-five years!"

"I heard that, Edward!" Catherine shouted back.

"See what I mean!" Edward laughed. "Speaking of honeymoon, have you two gone on yours yet?"

"Um, no..."

"I understand with your eclectic schedule."

"Maybe Paris, the next time I have to go to the Louvre..."

"That's a great city for a model like your wife... Your mother and I went to Paris a few times for conferences... It was at one conference that I met Dr. Cooper..."

Ryan led his father ramble on from tangent to tangent until their stroll ended at the restaurant. Tessa was a modern Mediterranean restaurant located in the heart of the Upper West Side -- not far from the Beacon Theater, the Lincoln Center, the Museum of Natural History, and Central Park, which was went Catherine enjoyed going there for brunch.

"Ah, welcome, Dr. Carter!" the hostess greeted Ryan's mother with a beaming smile but unable to avoid stealing glances at Marlissa.

"Hello, Anna. How are you?" Catherine asked, returning the smile.

"Much better that you are here," the hostess chuckled. "I see that you managed to drag your husband with you."

"Dr. Carter," Edward corrected.

"...and my son with his new wife," Catherine added.

"Dr. Carter as well," Ryan laughed.

"Please follow me to your table," Anna suggested. As they followed the hostess, Ryan's parents were oblivious to the restaurant patrons and staff gawking at their daughter-in-law.

Ryan and his father held the chairs for their wives and once everyone sat down, Anna handed them menus. "Stephanie will be your waitress and she'll be here soon to take your drink orders."

"Thank you, dear," Catherine smiled.

The young blonde waitress appeared moments later, smiling at the table. "Hi, I'm Stephanie and I'll be your waitress today. Can I start you off with some drinks before taking your orders?"

"I will have a mimosa, dear," Catherine replied.

"And you, miss?" Stephanie asked Marlissa.

"I will have one as well," Marlissa smiled.

"And you, sir?"

"I'll just have an Earl Grey," Edward answered without looking up from his menu.

"And you, sir?"

"Is it too early to have a beer?" Ryan wondered out loud to himself, causing his mother to roll her eyes. "What do you have on tap?"

Stephanie listed off the various types of beers, from European pilsners and lagers to American microbrewery stouts.

"I'll try the Radeberger," Ryan answered.

"Great! I'll be back with your drinks," the waitress said, only to turn back to ask Marlissa a question. "Excuse me, miss, but I swear I've seen you in a fashion magazine. Are you a model?"

"Yes," Marlissa blushed.

"You are gorgeous!" Stephanie giggled before composing herself. "I'm sorry, I'll your drinks now!"

"So where did you two meet?" Edward asked matter-of-factly without taking his eyes off of his menu.

"Paris," Ryan lied.

"It's a beautiful city..." Edward started to say but was cut off by his wife.

"Edward and I met at Cambridge," she revealed, looking back at her husband. "He was very handsome."

"I still am!" Edward protested, looking up from his menu.

"Yes, you are, dear." Catherine gave her husband a smile

"Where did you two get married?" Edward asked.

"A small church..." Ryan stuttered, looking at Marlissa for help since he did not flesh out all the details of the lies he would have to tell his parents about his new demonic wife.

"A church wedding? You were never religious, dear," his mother noted.

"You didn't invite us..." his father interrupted.

"We eloped with a small civil ceremony," Marlissa answered with her green eyes subtly glowing.

Ryan's parents nodded and before they could probe further the waitress came back with their drinks. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, dear," Catherine replied. "I will have the rabbit cavatelli."

"And you, miss?" Stephanie asked Marlissa.

"I will like to have the avocado toast."

"And you, sir?"

"I'll get the croque madame," Edward answered.

"The hanger steak and eggs for me," Ryan replied.

The waitress smiled and took their menus.

"So are you two going to have a baby?" Edward wondered.

Ryan almost spat out his beer.