Alaska for the the New Year

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Alex convinced Lorna to go to Alaska for New Years.  It's apparent that he has a secondary mutation of woobieness.  Lorna meets the Summers grandparents and finally quits moping.



Alex was practically bouncing up and down, looking over heads to watch the people coming out from security. He was looking for a head of either Emerald Green or Autumn Fawn, not sure what Lorna would feel comfortable traveling as. He’d been unable to sit still since Lorna had agreed to spend New Years in Alaska with him and the Summers, and he could hear Deborah's muffled laughter behind him at his antics.

For her part, Lorna was thinking uncharitable thoughts about the enormous man in front of her.  He was dragging two carry-ons and a child, all of which were approximately the size of whales and bore no resemblance at all to something you could shove in an overhead bin.  Which was a pity since the child hadn’t ceased its (his, Lorna was nearly sure but wouldn’t have put money on it) shrieking since they got on the plane.  Finally the man moved slightly to one side and Lorna took the opportunity to squeeze past him and escape.  She adjusted the knit cap covering her hair and paused to search for Alex.  Let’s see…blond, gorgeous and heh, bouncing like Miles on pixie stix.  Bingo.  “Alex!”

 

Beaming, Alex pushed his way through the crowd and away from his grandparents toward Lorna. Once he got to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and swung her around, laughing. "You're here!"

 

She laughed as well, holding on to him as he spun them. “Yeah, I had to come to the frozen tundra to spend the holidays with my boyfriend after he totally missed Christmas.”  She mock-pouted at him, mimicking the very real pout she’d sustained for much of the visit to the Madroxes. 

 

He answered with a mock-pout of his own. "I missed Christmas for a very good reason thank you very much. but you’re here now and that's all that matters." With his grin quickly returning, Alex grabbed Lorna's hand and pulled her in the direction of his family. "Come on, you have to meet them!"

 

Lorna was obligingly pulled for a couple of steps before tugging him back to her side and lacing her fingers with his.  She managed to keep them to a more dignified, if rapid, walk.  She did her best to hide exactly how nervous she was.  Meeting family was always nerve wracking.  Grandparents counted double and she thought that lost-long grandparents probably squared or cubed or some other insane mathematical calculation.

 

Alex had barely noticed, just squeezed her hand as Deborah and Phillip came into view. He paused a few paces away to wrap an arm around her waist and whisper in her ear, "Don't worry, they'll love you!" With a quick peck on the cheek, he led her up to the older couple. "Grandma, Grandfather, this is Lorna Dane, the love of my life."

 

Lorna offered them her free hand, “It’s good to meet you.  Alex was so excited when Scott told him about you.” She smiled and pretended like she didn’t notice the quick once over they gave her. 

 

Deborah immediately moved in to place her hands on Lorna's shoulders to look her over, a small smile on her face. "It's pleasure to have you here Lorna, Alex has been just as excited since you said you would come." Then she gave Lorna a knowing smile. "Of course, I'm sure we both know how excited he can get about just about anything..." Alex opened his mouth to protest but just resolved to blush and cross his arms over his chest when he heard Philip laughing softly.

 

Lorna giggled, instantly at ease. She gave Alex a fond sideways glance then grinned at Deborah.  “Alex doesn’t actually seem to have an off-mode.  Makes it hard to stay mad at him.  Even when he abandons me at Christmas.”

 

Smiling now at her offended grandson, Deborah laughed. "Oh Alex, I like her! Where ever did you find such a lovely girl?" She wrapped Lorna into a hug before releasing her, a hand still comfortably on her shoulder. "Alex didn't properly introduce us. I'm Deborah and this is my husband Philip," the elder man reached out a hand, a fond grin on his face, "please no formals. You are family as much as Alex."

 

“Deborah and Phillip it is then.”  She gripped Phillip’s hand warmly, more then just the polite handshake she’d offered before.  “Thank you both so much for letting me come visit.  I’ll try to pretend that I’m not appalled by the snow and ice if you’ll agree to ignore it when I utterly fail.”

 

"Please!" Philip exclaimed good naturedly, "You can't be any worse then our island loving grandson." Alex again had a look of indignation but he just stayed silent. "It's a pleasure to welcome you to our home. Now let's get your bags and get back to the house while we still can."

 

Alex now reclaimed Lorna with an arm around her waist after Deborah gave her another hug, giving her kiss to let his grandparents walk a bit ahead of them. "So? What do you think?"

 

“They’re wonderful. I can see the resemblance.” She hugged him and rested her head against his shoulder.  “Did you have a good Christmas?”

 

"It was wonderful...though missing something incredibly important..." He trailed off wistfully, looking away to hide his grin.

 

“Next Christmas,” she told him with a mock-stern voice, “you are staying with me the entire time.  This is the second Christmas we’ve missed.”  She was only somewhat joking. 

 

"Yes but this time was for a very good reason, not me being incredibly stupid." Alex turned back to her, nuzzling her nose. "Next Christmas I'm all yours."

 

“That’s all the gift I need.” She gave him a quick kiss.  “By the way, what did your grandfather mean by getting home while we still can?” She sounded faintly alarmed.

 

Alex couldn't help the giggle as he took her bags from her and gave her a quick peck on the nose before following his grandparents. "Snow, ice, that sort of thing...did I mention the lack of sun yet?" He threw over his shoulder.

 

Lorna made a face at his back. “No, you neglected to mention that,” she said then raced to catch up with him.  She tweaked his nose, “Luckily, I already knew I was coming to the ninth circle of hell and that there was no sun.  The things I do for you.”