Unexpected

Chapter 5: Meeting the folks

Ryan wondered if he had time to make a run for it.

He could here the FBI agent from the Oprah show in his head saying, "Never let yourself be taken to a second location!" That was sound advice. He should have thought of it before he got into the cab with Marisol.

For the life of him he couldn't understand what the hell he was doing here? Actually, he didn't even know where here was. She wouldn't tell him. Not even a hint.

That alone scared him.

If there was an opportunity to tease him ... or embarrass him, she would take it.

And there lay the basis of his fear. She wouldn't say a thing. Nada. No 'let's play 20 questions while I laugh every time you're wrong'. She'd just squeezed his arm to reassure him. Reassure him from what?

As the car parked on the driveway of a beautiful house, Ryan took a good look around.
It was a nice neighbourhood. The kind where your neighbours bring you some soup when you're sick or where you would move when you start a family.

Looking back at the house they were parked Ryan took a better look.

It was white 2 story house with, hilariously enough, bright orange shutters. There was a well kept garden and flowers on the porch. It looked like a very nice place to live.

"Why don't you go knock on the door Ry? I'll be right there. Just have to pay the cabdriver. Go." said Marisol while practically shoving him out of the car.

Ryan knew from experience: don't argue.

Silently Ryan made his way to the door. Standing in front of the house, ready to knock, Ryan hesitated. Looking back at Marisol he saw her sign him to knock.
Before he had a chance to, the door opened.

"You have got to be kidding me." were Ryan's first words.
Because the one who opened the door was non other than Eric Delko.

Ryan's outburst amused Eric to no end.

"Hello to you too Wolfe. Where is Marisol ...? Why exactly are you looking at me like that?" asked Eric curiously.

Frowning and a bit annoyed, Ryan asked "Why are you here? Where is here by the way?"

Raising an eyebrow Eric countered "You don't know where here is? Didn't Marisol tell you yet?"

"Noooo... Just a sec."

Ryan had begun to turn with the intention to go back to Marisol and ask her why Eric was here, when a third person stopped him.

"Ah you must be Ryan. It's so nice to finally meet you"

Ryan was rooted to the floor. He couldn't move. All he could do was stare as this middle aged woman came at him with a big smile and her arms wide open, intending to give him a hug.
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Marisol knew it was wrong, evil of her to not tell him where they were going, but she just couldn't tell him. He would have refused to go. So she did the only thing she could do, she didn't tell him.

Technically she didn't do anything wrong. It's not like she lied or anything. She just with held the truth.

Now standing in front of the front door, sharing a amused smile with Eric, she had to admire what was happening in front of her.

Ryan was standing still, his arms trapped against his body while the woman hugged the life out of him. Did she forget to mention the scared rabbit expression on his face?

She really needed to start carrying her camera with her.

"Momma, let Ryan go. He needs to breath."

Her mother backed off but kept her hands firmly on Ryan's shoulders. Looking him up an down her mother said "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Theresa Delko. Marisol told me so much about you. Well she didn't tell me your name, but still... However
she didn't tell me how skinny you were. I'm so glad she invited you."

Turning to Marisol, Theresa said "You really should have brought him sooner. I was starting to think he was some kind of a ghost."

If she hadn't known her mother better, she would have been offended. Fortunately she knew the first rule of motherhood; 'embarrass your children... no mercy!'

While her mother put her arm around Ryan's shoulder to guide him into the house, Marisol took the time to embrase her little brother.

"Hey Eric. Before you ask, no I didn't tell him where we were going."
Better to nip that in the bud.

"I would ask you why you didn't tell him, but looking at his face I think I know why."

"Could we talk later? Right now we ...well, I need to save Ryan."

Quickly she made her way to the living room where the family was gathered.

"Momma let me." Marisol took hold of Ryan and gently took him around the room while introducing everyone.
"This is Carmen my 'Oldest sister."

"Hey! I resent that remark!"

Marisol ignored her "And this is her husband Miguel Sanchez. The 2 kids running around the table are my nephews Daniel and Marisa. Say hi kids."

"Hi!" they chorused

"This is my other sister Rosa and her husband Kevin Martin. These are their 3 kids; the twins Pedro and Lucilia and the youngest Belinda. And that is my father Pavel Delko"

"People this is Ryan Wolfe. Before you ask, yes he is Eric's colleague!"

She hoped the light shaking of her head and the bulging of her eyes would make them drop the questions they obviously were about to ask.

"Ryan why don't we sit here?" Guiding Ryan to the nearest seat available, Marisol pushed the still stunned man in it. Which was next to Eric. Now wasn't THAT a coincidence?
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Ryan still couldn't believe it. She had tricked him into meeting her family? Wait. Take that back; she had tricked him into meeting Eric's family!!
Evil woman!!! How dare she do this to him? She knew how uncomfortable he would feel!

Ryan was still stewing in silence when he felt a pull on his pant legs.
Looking down he saw a cute little girl.
Belinda, if he wasn't mistaken. She was wearing a red dress with a green sweater and pigtails. She had her thumb in her mouth while holding on to some kind of cloth. Her other hand was on his knee and all her attention was focused on him.
Her beautiful brown eyes were looking right into his, as if they were looking for something.

He could feel the others stare, specifically Eric's.

Suddenly the little girl climbed on his lap and made herself comfortable.

Ryan didn't really know what to do. This was a first for him.

Eric's voice cut threw his musings."Looks like she likes you." was Eric's stunned observation.

Eric's voice was weird. Looking at him Ryan saw surprise and curiosity on his face. Actually, on all their faces.

Except Marisol, she was smiling fondly at him.

That was the moment Theresa Delko chose to come out of the kitchen. "We can start eating now. Everybody at the tab...."
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What Theresa saw when she came out of the kitchen stopped her.

There on the couch was her youngest granddaughter sleeping in the arms of Ryan Wolfe.

Belinda, the child who would scream bloody murder if someone she didn't know touched her.

The quite voice of her youngest daughter brought her attention to the matter at hand. "I told you he was special momma."

Carmen must have picked up on Ryan's embarrassment "He has to, to be able to put up with you!"

That seemed to have broken the tension a bit.

Bringing everyone's attention back to her, she said "As I was saying, the food done, we can all proceed to the dining room."

She was about to propose to take Belinda off of him when Eric did.

"Let me help you Wolfe." Gently Eric lifted Belinda off of Ryan, ignoring her quite whimpering.

"Come with me Ryan." said Theresa attracting a blushing Ryan's attention to her.

She led him to a chair next to Marisol. And Eric.

Yes, she saw how her son was looking at Ryan. Actually, she sensed it long before Ryan got here.
Eric talked about Ryan a lot. Well...complained was the more accurate word. 'You wouldn't believe what Wolfe did today...''Wolfe walked in as if.... blah blah. He just can't stop talking about him.
She was seriously about to call this Wolfe person and invite him over so she could see for herself what the problem was.

She was pleasantly surprised to find out that Marisol's friend was the same Ryan Wolfe.

Seeing him made everything clearer. Ryan was a handsome young man. He was shy and obviously not accustomed to this many people. And if she had to go by the way he blushed when Eric touched him, she would say he was interested in her son.
At the same time, there was something in his eyes she couldn't place. No matter, she would ask Marisol later.
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Diner was a lively affair, like it always was.

It was pretty funny to watch her mother coach Ryan into eating more. According to her he was too 'skinny'.

Nobody had asked any awkward questions ...yet.

She had more than one reason to invite Ryan. The first reason was pretty obvious; when Ryan and Eric finally do get together, he would already have met the in-laws.
And the second reason was Christmas.

Marisol was waiting not so patiently for someone to bring up Christmas. And after an hour, her sister Rosa finally did. Marisol had to remember to give her a hug.

"So Ryan, what are your plans for Christmas? Are you going to spend it with your family?"

Crap, she should have told them about his family. This was going to be awkward!!

Honestly Ryan answered "My family passed away. My uncle Ron is the only relative left."

Embarrassed her sister replied "I'm so sorry, I..."

Shrugging his shoulders Ryan told her "It doesn't matter. It was a long time ago."

Trying to fill the silence that had suddenly appeared, Kevin asked "So you're spending it with your uncle?"

Knowing that Ryan was about to lie, Marisol answered for him "No, his uncle won some kind of cruise. Since Ryan has to work, he couldn't go with him."

And then what she hoped would happen did.

"Oh, then you have to come here for Christmas night! I always make enough food for an army. I insist you come spend it with us."

Ryan looked at her for help. She smiled innocently and replied with a sugary voice, "Yes Ry, you should come. Momma is right. What kind of people would we be if we left you all alone on Christmas?!"

He's narrowing his eyes at her and opening his mouth, intending on saying some scathing remark when Eric amused voice interrupted him.

"I'm sure we're going to see more of you from now on so let me give you a little advice Wolfe. When my momma has decided something, you should just not question it, not argue it and not worry your pretty little head."

Marisol and the rest of her family had to hold on their laughter after Eric's little input. Apparently Eric and Ryan had caught on to it as well. They were blushing an impressing shade of red.

Fortunately, for them, the little moment was broken when her mother practically reached across the table to whack Eric over the head.

"Watch what you say young man, you're not too old for me to give you a spanking!" was her mothers mischievous input.

Eric turned red again, the rest just laughed.
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He knew he was hiding. He just needed some time to think.

Ryan Wolfe was here. In his house.
How weird was that?

And all his family liked him; his mother wanted to fatten him up, his father was happy he had found someone who liked to watch hockey, his sisters were exchanging cooking recipes. Who knew Wolfe could cook? His nieces and nephews liked him too.

He wasn't sure what to think.

Sitting on the windowsill in his old room, his musings were interrupted by the voices of Ryan and his sister.
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She had been looking everywhere for him, only to find him sitting on the wooden swing on the back porch.

Siting down next to him, she draped the blanket she had brought with her over both of them.

"Why did you really bring me here?" asked Ryan.

With a small smile on her face she responded "Because it was time for you to experience being part of a family again."

Seeing him frowning she elaborated " It was time for you to meet my family. I knew they would love you! You have been adopted in the Delko-family. You should feel honoured!" She told him with a bright smile.

He chuckled. "Was diner the initiation? Did I pass?"

Teasingly she told him "No. That was just part of the initiation. The other part is finding out your biggest secrets by getting you wasted!"

"Don't you know enough already" asked Ryan groaning.

She kept looking at him. She wondered if now was a good time? Crossing her fingers, she decided to go for it.

"Ry, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"What happened with Eric?"

Frowning Ryan replied "What do you mean? Nothing happened. This is the first time I've seen him since my eye appointment."

"Something did happen, but not tonight. Last month."

Avoiding her eyes, Ryan said, "I don't know what you mean"

"Ryan, talk to me babe!"

She waited patiently for his answer.

Hesitantly Ryan started his relay "About a month ago we had this really awful case. When we closed it, Horatio suggested we go have a drink. So ... we went. I'm not much of a drinker so I drank few, as did Horatio. At the end of the night, Eric and Calleigh were drunk so Horatio drove Calleigh home. H asked if I would mind driving Eric home. So I did."

Biting his bottom lip, Ryan obviously didn't know how to continue.

"Go on"

"I'm not comfortable with telling you this. You might freak out and attack Eric."

Oh nooooooooo. What the hell had he done??

"I'm not going to hurt him.... I promise!" She was lying through her teeth! Depending on what he had said, she would hurt him. She knew his weaknesses. She could go to his apartment and steal all his hair gel, or put all his good clothes into the tub filled with water and leave the most ugly shirt and pants out. On a work day!!!!

"He said some things that clarified his behaviour towards me."

Narrowing her eyes she asked "And what exactly is his behaviour? You never told me."

Turning to her, he gave her a small smile "It doesn't matter. Let's go inside before your mother comes looking for me."

There were the sad eyes again!

Eric' hair gel was gone. And his soap. And hairbrush.
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"You made a mess of things querido."

His mother's voice startled him. He'd been so intent in what he had just heard, that he hadn't sensed his mother coming.

Turning to her he asked "What are you talking about momma?"

Making her way towards him, she took his face between his hands and replied "It's time to face the truth Eric. You like him. No need to shake your head. You have always liked him."

"The timing might have been all wrong, with your friends death and all. But now it's time for you to make amends. You did him wrong. And I know that that is stopping you from going forward. You're afraid he'll reject your offer of friendship or even something more. You shouldn't worry; he's a kind and forgiving young man, if you tell him your reasons for acting the
way you did, he will forgive you."

Taking his hand Theresa guided him to through the hall, down the stairs .

Standing at the bottom of the stairs, his mom whispered her last piece of wisdom, for tonight, in his ear.

"Trust me querido when I say that Ryan will open his arms when you declare your undying love... after you apologize of course."

Turning startled eyes to his mother, he saw her winking at him?

"A mother always knows Eric"
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Poor Ryan. He had fallen asleep on the couch.

Quickly getting her parent's camera, she took a picture of him. He was leaning back, his arms protectively wrapped around Belinda, who had draped herself on his lap as soon as she had woken up.

It was endearing.

Sensing her mother behind her, she turned. She too was watching the sleeping duo with affection.

"Eric why don't you carry Ryan to your room?"

"And where will I sleep???" was Eric's question.

Marisol knew an opening when she saw one, "In your bed. What? You're not going to molest him while he's sleeping, right? So where is the problem?" was Marisol not so innocent reply.

Seeing his expression brought so much satisfaction; open mouth, bugging eyes...

This was priceless.

And this time she did have a camera.

click

TBC