38 38- Family Time

They watched some TV until there wasn't too much time left before they had to get ready to go. Scott helped Ryan gather his things after they got dressed, and packed all their breakfast leftovers with an ice pack for Ryan to take home.

Ryan decided to wear one of his new outfits instead of the one he packed, since his new clothes were way nicer. He worked on his hair while Scott shaved. He only tied back the top half, leaving the bottom half to flow free.

"You're so beautiful..." Scott complimented in a dreamy voice. "How did I get so lucky?"

Ryan struck an exaggerated pose, startling a laugh out of Scott, before laughing himself.

"If anything, I'm the lucky one. I'm looking forward to hanging out with your family again." Ryan said as he admired himself in the mirror. He really did look nice in the stuff Scott picked out for him.

"They ask me about you all the time. They got so excited when I told them you were coming today."

"I've been looking forward to challenging your sister to a rematch too. My game skills had to have improved since last time!"

"Don't expect her to go easy on you!" Scott warned.

They finished getting ready and made their way to the car. Scott had again tried to carry all the bags, not that there were many once everything was consolidated, but Ryan took two of them out of his hands, trading them for a kiss on the cheek.

They sang along to the radio on the ride over. Scott was completely tone deaf, but Ryan knew that already. As always, their hands were laced nearly the whole way. Outside, it was well and truly fall now, and the leaves were turning brilliant colors. Ryan realized Scott's birthday would be here soon. He glanced over at his boyfriend, feeling fuzzy inside. He definitely, truly loved this person. Now that he thought about it though, he hadn't a clue as to what to get him. He certainly couldn't afford a new game. Maybe some kind of figurine?

They pulled in to the Kranston family driveway. Scott's mom, Gail, had apparently waiting for them, since she was standing in the doorway and waved at them when they came up. She gave Scott a warm embrace when he got to the door, and gave Ryan an equally warm welcome.

Inside the house, the smell of dinner made Ryan's mouth water. Scott's father, Howard, was finishing up the last little bit of cooking, and his sister, Elizabeth, was setting the table. They arrived just in time. Dinner was pot roast and roasted vegetables. Amazing, as expected. The meat practically fell apart, it was so tender. Ryan made sure to pile on the compliments, and to thank Scott's parents profusely for the blueberry bread from that morning.

Scott then proceeded to brag on Ryan a little, and the great breakfast he made. Ryan tried to downplay that by bragging on Scott and how he helped cook, which Elizabeth didn't believe a word of, because surely her brother was hopeless in the kitchen. Gail and Howard shared knowing looks. It was easy to see that Scott and Ryan were much closer now than during their previous visit.

They'd actually started a secret betting pool for when Scott would announce his intentions. Gail said they'd be mated by Christmas. Howard said his son would make a big speech about bringing Ryan in to the family. And Elizabeth said they'd just show up one day as a pair without asking anyone or telling anybody.

Ryan bring up Scott cooking led the conversation down the path of embarrassing childhood stories. Ryan ate it up, as Scott tried weakly to defend himself. One time, Scott decided he was going to make mac'n'cheese, but forgot the water. Another time, he tried helping with cookies, but confused the sugar and salt. Ryan was laughing, but under the table he held Scott's hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly.

With some of Scott's worst blunders out of the way, Ryan offered up a few stories of his own with a little prompting. He had a few stories about helping his grandma cook, and how he'd stand on a stool and go through her entire spice rack asking if each one was needed for the recipe, and how it probably drove her crazy. He also had a story about not wanting to leave the playground, and not believing his grandma when she told him he was tired and needed a nap. He ended up running to the swings to prove her wrong, and fell off because he was too tired to keep a grip.

These stories Scott ate up. The person who raised Ryan wasn't around anymore. He couldn't hear them from the source, and as far as he was aware, Ryan wasn't close enough with anyone else in his family to get stories from. It did give him a bit of a picture of what kind of person Ryan's grandma was though. He thought he would have liked her.

The conversation inevitably led to picture albums being pulled out over dessert. Ryan cooed and awed at Scott's baby pictures. They had pictures of him in cute outfits, throwing tantrums, first haircut... They even had a picture of him with his pants around his ankles and his shiny little toddler butt, peeing in the backyard, with the funny story to match. Ryan nudged Scott's foot under the table and cocked his eyebrow teasingly. Scott nudged him back and bumped his shoulder.

With the albums exhausted they eventually moved on to video games. They played a tournament style, and Ryan had his chance to challenge Elizabeth again. He ended up placing fourth overall, just barely behind Gail. Elizabeth placed first. Even so, he had a blast.

They were sent off with a large container of leftovers for each of them, and just a little extra dessert to go. There were hugs, and promises to visit again. Ryan made extra sure to convey his gratitude for the wonderful meal, and for getting to see Scott's baby pictures. Gail and Howard both promised more stories for next time, at which point Scott blushed and insisted they really had to leave now.

When they weren't quite out of the neighborhood, Ryan said, "I love your family."

"I can tell you they feel the same about you. My dad pulled me aside to lecture me on how to properly care for an omega. And my mom told me I need to bring you more often. Apparently they're tired of you being the only thing I talk about when I come over."

Out of the corner of Scott's eye, he saw a smile grace Ryan's lips, as the afternoon sun turned his brown eyes golden.

"My Nanna would have loved you too."

Ryan's words hung between them. Scott seized the chance to try and learn just that much more about the person he loved.

"I wouldn't mind going to visit her." Scott tread carefully. "I'll take you to the cemetery if you want to go. We could even bring flowers, if that would be okay."

Ryan's grip on Scott's hand increased immensely. "Really?! That... that would be nice. It's been a while..."

Scott pulled Ryan's hand closer, kissing the back of it. Ryan told him his grandparents were in the mausoleum at the Fairfield Cemetery. Scott decided then and there that their after-dinner plans were going to change. The sex shop could wait until Tuesday. This was a thousand times more important.

A quick Google search showed all the florists were closed already, but there was a craft store still open. Both of them were clueless in such matters, but a helpful employee set them up with everything they'd need for a gravesite flower arrangement, and gave them a basic walkthrough on how to do it.

It seemed simple enough. Styrofoam goes in the container, you cut the flower stems with wire cutters, then you stick the flowers in the styrofoam. Ryan picked some colors he thought his grandparents would have liked, though he tried not to get any that were overly expensive, since Scott insisted on paying.

Supplies in hand, Scott drove them to the cemetery, parking near the large mausoleum wall. The sun was just starting to set. Ryan looked a little apprehensive next to him in the car, holding the supplies tight.

Scott got out and opened the door for him, and they walked side by side to the monument.

"Can I confess something?" Ryan asked.

"Of course."

"I don't remember where they are here... I was only here once, and that was well over three years ago."

Scott leaned over and gave Ryan a reassuring kiss on the cheek. After confirming names, he suggested starting at opposite ends of the wall to look for the marker. It was Scott who found it first. The plaque was nearly eight feet off the ground, its vase was empty. He called Ryan over.

After confirming it was the right one, Ryan let out a discouraged sigh. "Neither of us can reach that."

"Nonsense."

Scott pulled Ryan in front of him, hooked him under the arms, and with a grunt, hoisted him up in the air.

"H-hey! What-!?"

"Get the vase. It's hard to hold you this way."

Ryan retrieved the container and was brought safely back to earth. Together they puzzled out arranging the flowers from the instructions they remembered. It didn't look as good as some of the arrangements on the wall, but it was by no means what you would consider the worst one there. It wasn't bad for a first attempt. After cleaning up their mess, Scott lifted Ryan again to replace the vase, and they stood back to admire their handy work.

"Not too bad," Scott said proudly, wrapping his arm around Ryan's shoulders.

"Yeah... Pretty..."

Scott felt Ryan start to tremble. He looked just in time to see the first tear roll down Ryan cheek. He prepared for this. He'd put some tissues in his pocket ahead of time. He passed one over and rubbed Ryan's arm comfortingly, as he'd made no move to look away from the monument. Scott's eyes stung just a little too, out of sympathy.

"Mr. and Mrs. Neel, thank you for raising Ryan to be the wonderful person he is today." Scott addressed the wall, pulling Ryan just a little closer. "He's such an amazing, hard-working, and strong individual. I love him immensely. I-" he was going to ask then and there for permission to be mated to their grandson, then realized that that wasn't what this moment needed to be about. Instead I finished with, "I hope to live up to his expectations."

Beside him, Ryan wiped his eyes and blew his nose. Softly, he added, "Nanna? Papa? I've found a good one. I think... I think things are going to be okay this time... I love him too."

Ryan's face didn't quite crumple, but he turned to Scott for support, who cradled him firmly against his chest, stroking his hair. "Th... thank.. you..." he said wetly.

There was an edge of chill in the air, but neither could feel it. A bird was singing somewhere nearby, but they didn't notice. The sunset painted the sky in brilliant golds and purples, but to them, the only thing that mattered right now, was the person in their arms.