To Grandmother's (and father's) House We Go

[vicioussweetie]

Ali has never brought a man home to visit her grandparents, and so she is very very nervous indeed. Nervous with a capital "N"...and a capital "ER"...and let's throw "VOUS" in there so it doesn't feel left out. It was a hopeful kind of nervous, to be sure, but one very well informed of her past failures and in no mood to let her forget them. In

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[hammerofhell]

Fortunately, Hans has no intention of keeping her waiting for very long. He'd had to do a quick pick up for a gift--he wanted to be a good guest, after all--but now he was ready.

He quickly made his appearance, looking as at ease with himself as a man about to meet his girlfriend's parents can.

There will, of course, be kisses for Ali.

"Hello, my love, hello, children. How are you all today?"

[vicioussweetie]

Ali smiled in relief when she saw Hans, leaning over the flocking goslings to return the kisses. And Alured, from his vantage point in Ali's arms, decides to play mimic and gives Hans a great big wet smooch on his cheek.

"We're all well, and glad to see you," Ali answers quickly, before the children get too anxious to have their turn to talk. They want to brag to Hans about their successes in classes and sports, and also want to know how he has been. But all that's a bit hard to make out when they all talk at once.

"Children, calm down, there will be plenty of time to tell Hans and Gram and Gran. And that time will come sooner if we leave sooner."

And so reminded, the goslings go and get their luggage, and even Mommy's too, and then look expectant.

[hammerofhell]

Hans smiles happily at the children, and even gives Alured a little kiss when he has a free moment in the tussle.

He carefully adjusts his own load of items, and looks to the luggage. "What may I carry?"

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's default response would be "nothing," but she catches herself before that comes out and offers him one of her suitcases (one of the lighter ones). "Thank you love."

And once all the luggage is dealt with, and everyone's clustered together, it's a quick PINpointing to their destination. No scary dangerous woods necessary (which is good, since none of them are bakers, giant-slayers, or wearing red hoods).

[hammerofhell]

"You are welcome," he returns.

Hans chuckles happily at the PINpointing. "Ah, what a way to travel."

[one_moore_time]

Castle Moore began its life as a fortified keep, although it has long since been expanded and renovated into something more homelike, the original edifice almost lost amid newer wings. These, in turn, rise above the cozy garden into which the group arrives, a garden which was not quite empty before their coming.

Waiting for them are a tall, aged man with keen, penetrating eyes and a graceful, smiling woman who throws open her arms to the children the moment they arrive. "Welcome home," she greets the group, before singling out Hans with a smile, "and welcome to Castle Moore. We've been looking forward to meeting you."

The man steps forward to offer Ali a quick hug before putting his hand out for Hans to shake. "Aye, welcome to Castle Moore."

[vicioussweetie]

"Gram, Gran!" The couple are greeted happily by all the children, and Ali too. There are lots of hugs to go around, and if Gran isn't careful she's going to find herself buried in a sea of goslings all wanting to hug her at the same time. The charge is led by Alured, who jumps out of Ali's arms to get to his Gran first.

Meanwhile, Ali moves to Hans' side, resting a hand on his arm. Don't worry Hans, she isn't going to abandon you now! "Gram, Gran, this is Hans. Hans, my grandfather, Graham Moore, Earl of Thomond; and my grandmother, Brigit Moore."

[hammerofhell]

Hans marvels at the castle, finding it even more impressive than his own.

Hans returns both the smile and handshake. "Thank-you," he says. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."

[one_moore_time]

Graham's handshake is firm without quite being crushing. "We've been looking forward to meeting you. Now, what are your intentions toward my granddaughter?"

"Oh, you've all grown so much!" Gran exclaims, greeting the children and scooping Alured up. "And look at you! Such a big boy!" Understandably, it takes her a moment to get to Hans. "Hans, it's a pleasure. You must call me Gran."

[vicioussweetie]

Face, meet palm. "Gram, can we please do that part when the children aren't around?"

Fortunately the children haven't noticed. They're too busy swarming Gram now, 'cause he needs hugs too. Except Alured, he's cuddling his Gran in a very "i has a snuggle! is mine!" sort of way.

[hammerofhell]

Hans breathes a small sigh of relief. Not that he was unprepared to answer, but simply because he had been caught off guard. On the other hand, he respects directness and he raises his estimation of Graham a notch or two.

"Purely honorable, I can assure you, Sir," he says in reply, also quickly exchanging a look with Ali, hopefully communicating that he does not mind too terribly much.

[one_moore_time]

Gran is quite content to keep hold of Alured, bouncing him a little on her hip. "Time enough for that later, dear," she admonishes her husband fondly. "Shall we go inside?"

Graham, meanwhile, has goslings to wrangle and hugs to exchange.

[vicioussweetie]

"Yes please, let's go inside."

Ali will leave the gosling-wrangling to Gram for a few minutes (punishment for embarrassing her, perhaps), and since Gran's got Alured under control it falls to Ali to pick up all the things the goslings have dropped in their need for hugs and carry them inside. With any luck, she can keep Gram and Hans apart until the children are otherwise engaged; Ali has no delusions that she can keep Gram from asking more of those sorts of questions.

[hammerofhell]

Hans, naturally enough, helps with the things as best as he's able. Amazing to think that not all that long ago, he would have simply let them be, for others to deal with. He's come quite a ways down off his high, baronial horse in the six months since he's known Ali.

"Your home is very impressive," he remarks.

[one_moore_time]

Thank you," Gran replies, "we've just finished some work on the roof. I'm sure Graham can show you around later, if you'd like."

The house's interior is everything a Irish manor should be, full of wood paneling, furniture heavy with the feeling of years, and beautiful tapestries. There may even be a suit of armor or two standing on display. "Are you hungry, after your trip?"

[vicioussweetie]

Oh, even Ali's pretty happy to let the servants take care of the luggage once they're inside. Let them sort out what goes where, it's easier than having the goslings bicker about which room they want.

"It looks wonderful," Ali comments, "as always. And I never say no to the wonderful food here."