.085 She
.085 She
Sydney Alexis
It didn't go down the way that he assumed it would. They way he'd pictured in his head.
They'd been back from Georgia all of two days after his super-extended vacation--a vacation he wouldn't have returned from if she hadn't insisted she wanted to see snow. Of course, he read her bullshit as well as she did his; she knew he was homesick. There wasn't anything huge holding her down in the south. Then again, Elizabeth always was a free spirit which is why Gus assumed her transition into the family would go smoothly. That was until there was unexpected visitors arrived at the door.
"Charlie, I swear to God I'm not going down to Der Waffle Haus to see if Rube is there," Gus said, pushing back in his computer chair, bare feet ticking against the cold wooden floor as he made his way towards the door. "It's a fucking show, man. And don't start with the conspiracy theory bullshit with the post-its because..."
His hand froze on the knob as he caught the amused smirk on his father's face.
"Dad. Pops," Gus said, eyeing the two men waiting on the threshold.
"Gus," Brian started, smirk firmly in place. "Look, Sunshine, he remembers us. All that Southern humidity didn't melt his brain."
"It has, apparently, ruined his manners though," Justin said, pushing passed his son into the apartment.
"If the boy had manners, he would have picked up the phone and called us every once and while," Brian countered, trailing Justin into the apartment.
Gus rolled his eyes, closing the door behind them. "If I'd have croaked, someone would have called you," he reasoned, walking into the kitchen to pour his third cup of coffee.
"Jesus. Not only does he look like you, but he sounds like you," Justin said, setting the box of donuts on the counter.
Gus, eyeing the bakery's name, lifted the lid and started rummaging around.
"So what was it that caught your attention?"
Gus shrugged, shoving half the Bavarian Cream into his mouth.
"Is this hunting expedition purely out of self interest or did the moms send you to play Magnum PI because, frankly, you two suck," he replied, listening to the sounds of the shower running in the other room while his fathers seemed oblivious.
"Your mothers were concerned, yes. Of all the vacation spots..." Brian said, stirring sugar into his coffee
"Not to mention Charlie came back by himself over a month ago," Justin added, stealing a sip of Brian's coffee while being scowled at for doing so.
Gus rolled his eyes. "Something came up."
"Is it always this irritating when I use that line," Brian asked, turning towards Justin who was still drinking his coffee. Justin nodded, clearly amused.
"So who was he?"
And that was when Elizabeth came into the room barefoot, wearing Gus' Columbia t-shirt that barely covered her ass.
"I swear, Gus, if you didn't leave me any coffee, I'll unman you," she said, kissing him good morning.
And, yeah, any denial or back peddling was ruined by that kiss because it was so written on his face.
"Morning," he said, grinning back like a love sick puppy.
The moment Gus pulled back and started making moon eyes at Elizabeth, Brian started clearing his throat.
"You going to introduce us to your new little friend, Sonny Boy?"
Elizabeth's head turned, bright smile covering her face, and both dads had to begrudgingly admit that, if Gus had to go breeder on them, at least he picked someone beautiful.
"You must be Gus' dads. I've heard so much about you," she said, holding out her hand for Brian to shake. "Elizabeth Tapert."
"You mentioned your dads were lookers, but you didn't say how much, Gussy," she said, smiling over her shoulder at the still-casting-moon-eyes Gus.
"I take it you're that 'something' that came up," Brian smirked, watching Gus turn beat red.
"Ah. That I was. Although, I must say we'd intended on you finding out at dinner rather than you spying me in my skivvies in your son's kitchen." A beat. "I suppose I should put something on that's less comfortable...save your eyes from the horror of seeing too much female."
Gus snorted. "You know how many times my dad answered the door naked or nearly there when I had someone coming over?"
"I'd think it'd be a positive," she replied, eyeing Brian appreciatively. "You see how well the father's aged and know how well your intended will."
Brian smirked at her while Justin snorted beside him. Returning their gaze with an easy smile, Elizabeth squeezed Gus' shoulder as she headed towards the bedroom to change. That was when Justin noticed it--the thin, platinum band on her left hand.
"So...when's the date," Justin asked, watching with a broad smile as both Gus and Brian's eyes grew wide in shock and Elizabeth stopped and spun on her heel. It was quickly followed by a chorus of 'what?'
And that's when Brian noticed the band and his eyes grew comically larger.
"You got engaged?"
Gus offered a shy smile to Elizabeth who offered one back in return, and that was the exact moment both dads realized how far gone their son was.
The second time they met Elizabeth was an actual, planned event at Brighton. This time, Elizabeth showed up in a flirty polka dot number fresh out of an old, classic movie and the blonde hair coifed to match.
The moment he opened the door, Justin understood what Gus saw in this girl. People threw around words like radiant and glowing like they were electricians turned poets, but it fit the girl--honey gold skin, vibrant blonde almost white hair, crystal blue eyes, and long legs that went on. She was a fucking pin-up.
"Elizabeth," he said, matching her warm smile as he invited them in.
"Jesus Christ, Gus, I didn't even know you owned a suit," Justin added, laughing as the kid trailed in after.
Gus rolled his eyes. "Like any kid genetically related to my dad could not own a label or two."
"He does hide them pretty well though behind all the ratty jeans and Converse," Elizabeth whispered a little too loud.
Gus rolled his eyes. "You're just jealous because I managed to land one of the few jobs that doesn't require wearing a monkey suit."
"Yes, you sit in your living room tearing breeches into company's computer security looking awfully dashing in Mr. Bubble flannel bottoms."
They sat around the table pecking through salad while talking to one another. Both dads had to admit they were impressed with the girl; she was rough around the edges, but knew enough to hold up her side of the conversation.
The part that confused Elizabeth was that neither one of them seemed to be playing twenty questions about her past. Twirling her fork, she called them on it.
Brian fixed her with an amused stare. "If you wanted us to know, we would."
"Not to mention Mel and Lindsay will probably do all the work for us."
Gus snickered. "They've got a point, El."
"Of course, if you'd like to practice for the impending Inquisition..." Justin said, offering her a smile.
"So tell me about yourself, Elizabeth...what do you do," Brian said, offering a perfect impression of Lindsay which Gus tried valiantly not to laugh at.
"I'm a bartender. A damned good one," she said, eyes challenging them. She'd met far too many people that didn't like her career choice.
"That's how we met," Gus interjected, smiling shyly at Elizabeth before turning to address his father. "She was working at this hole in the wall right off the coast called the Rusty Barnacle."
Elizabeth laughed at the memory. "I was underwhelmed."
"Yeah," Gus said, linking hands with Elizabeth's and offering a small squeeze. "I came on to her and she shot me down."
"I've had my fair share of pitiful come ons," she explained. "And they're not that different regardless of where you're working."
"So where else have you traveled," Justin asked, smirking a little at the easy interaction between his kid and this girl.
Elizabeth laughed. "I suppose the accent's a dead giveaway."
Justin smiled and nodded.
"I traveled around a bit. Landed here in the US. Before the Barnacle, I was down in New Orleans at Coyote Blues. Had me dancing on the bar and serving drinks," she continued, missing the meaningful look that passed between Brian and Justin as they flashed to days of the go-go boys past.
"Got tired of drunk assholes getting grabby," Elizabeth said, pausing as a brilliant smile spread across her face. "Got fired for decking a guy for trying to put his hand down my blouse. Broke his nose I think; he was screaming like a little girl.
"Now, I'm here," she said, shrugging.
"A bartender and a bouncer. Impressive," Brian said, half-laughing with a mixture of pride and shock.
Elizabeth smiled easily at the compliment.
"So. When can you start?"
Elizabeth blinked and looked up at Brian. "What?"
"Surely Gus has mentioned Babylon," he replied in a syrupy sweet voice.
She smirked. "Depends on if you're asking me to work behind the bar or dance on top of it."
Justin snorted and tried to cover his smile with the back of his hand.
"Behind it," Brian said, raising an eyebrow and trying not to laugh.
"Ah. Thought I had the wrong equipment."
"I'll buy you a strap on," he countered.
The smirk on Elizabeth's face spread into a full-fledged smile.
"What makes you think I don't have one already?"
The meaningful look she sent upon Gus and the high color that rose on his cheeks was enough to start both dads laughing.
Later that night as Justin was showing Elizabeth some of his newer works, Brian pulled Gus aside.
"She's alright," he said, quietly.
Gus smiled shyly in return watching her and Justin speak in the distance.
"Yeah. She is," Gus replied knowingly.
The third time they spoke with Elizabeth and the second time they had the happy couple over to Brighton brought a new surprise.
"Sweetie!" Lindsay crooned.
Gus dug in at the doorway, eyes narrowing at Justin's. "I thought you said it was just going to be the four of us?"
"Did I forget to mention I ran into your mothers," Justin replied with a look of faux-innocence.
"Where? The airport?"
Any retort was cut off by Lindsay pulling her kid into a hug.
"Mel and I were so worried. We hadn't heard a word from you in days and..." she said, pausing mid-sentence when she saw Elizabeth standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"And who is this?"
Gus heard that tone. Knew it would mean the fucking Inquisition had started.
"Mom, Mel, this is Elizabeth," he said, holding his hand out to the girl who took it and offered an easy smile as he pulled her into the dining room. "El, this is my mother, Lindsay, Melanie, and you already know my dads."
"Elizabeth," Lindsay repeated before turning that 'I will divine the truth from you' look on Gus. "I didn't realize you were bringing a friend."
"El's more than just a friend, Mom; she's my fiancee."
"So...tell us about yourself, Elizabeth," Lindsay said, carefully cutting her chicken into microscopic pieces.
The tone and inflection was so close to the impression Brian had done a few days before that Elizabeth found herself smiling.
fanfic100: 30/100
Sydney Alexis
It didn't go down the way that he assumed it would. They way he'd pictured in his head.
They'd been back from Georgia all of two days after his super-extended vacation--a vacation he wouldn't have returned from if she hadn't insisted she wanted to see snow. Of course, he read her bullshit as well as she did his; she knew he was homesick. There wasn't anything huge holding her down in the south. Then again, Elizabeth always was a free spirit which is why Gus assumed her transition into the family would go smoothly. That was until there was unexpected visitors arrived at the door.
"Charlie, I swear to God I'm not going down to Der Waffle Haus to see if Rube is there," Gus said, pushing back in his computer chair, bare feet ticking against the cold wooden floor as he made his way towards the door. "It's a fucking show, man. And don't start with the conspiracy theory bullshit with the post-its because..."
His hand froze on the knob as he caught the amused smirk on his father's face.
"Dad. Pops," Gus said, eyeing the two men waiting on the threshold.
"Gus," Brian started, smirk firmly in place. "Look, Sunshine, he remembers us. All that Southern humidity didn't melt his brain."
"It has, apparently, ruined his manners though," Justin said, pushing passed his son into the apartment.
"If the boy had manners, he would have picked up the phone and called us every once and while," Brian countered, trailing Justin into the apartment.
Gus rolled his eyes, closing the door behind them. "If I'd have croaked, someone would have called you," he reasoned, walking into the kitchen to pour his third cup of coffee.
"Jesus. Not only does he look like you, but he sounds like you," Justin said, setting the box of donuts on the counter.
Gus, eyeing the bakery's name, lifted the lid and started rummaging around.
"So what was it that caught your attention?"
Gus shrugged, shoving half the Bavarian Cream into his mouth.
"Is this hunting expedition purely out of self interest or did the moms send you to play Magnum PI because, frankly, you two suck," he replied, listening to the sounds of the shower running in the other room while his fathers seemed oblivious.
"Your mothers were concerned, yes. Of all the vacation spots..." Brian said, stirring sugar into his coffee
"Not to mention Charlie came back by himself over a month ago," Justin added, stealing a sip of Brian's coffee while being scowled at for doing so.
Gus rolled his eyes. "Something came up."
"Is it always this irritating when I use that line," Brian asked, turning towards Justin who was still drinking his coffee. Justin nodded, clearly amused.
"So who was he?"
And that was when Elizabeth came into the room barefoot, wearing Gus' Columbia t-shirt that barely covered her ass.
"I swear, Gus, if you didn't leave me any coffee, I'll unman you," she said, kissing him good morning.
And, yeah, any denial or back peddling was ruined by that kiss because it was so written on his face.
"Morning," he said, grinning back like a love sick puppy.
The moment Gus pulled back and started making moon eyes at Elizabeth, Brian started clearing his throat.
"You going to introduce us to your new little friend, Sonny Boy?"
Elizabeth's head turned, bright smile covering her face, and both dads had to begrudgingly admit that, if Gus had to go breeder on them, at least he picked someone beautiful.
"You must be Gus' dads. I've heard so much about you," she said, holding out her hand for Brian to shake. "Elizabeth Tapert."
"You mentioned your dads were lookers, but you didn't say how much, Gussy," she said, smiling over her shoulder at the still-casting-moon-eyes Gus.
"I take it you're that 'something' that came up," Brian smirked, watching Gus turn beat red.
"Ah. That I was. Although, I must say we'd intended on you finding out at dinner rather than you spying me in my skivvies in your son's kitchen." A beat. "I suppose I should put something on that's less comfortable...save your eyes from the horror of seeing too much female."
Gus snorted. "You know how many times my dad answered the door naked or nearly there when I had someone coming over?"
"I'd think it'd be a positive," she replied, eyeing Brian appreciatively. "You see how well the father's aged and know how well your intended will."
Brian smirked at her while Justin snorted beside him. Returning their gaze with an easy smile, Elizabeth squeezed Gus' shoulder as she headed towards the bedroom to change. That was when Justin noticed it--the thin, platinum band on her left hand.
"So...when's the date," Justin asked, watching with a broad smile as both Gus and Brian's eyes grew wide in shock and Elizabeth stopped and spun on her heel. It was quickly followed by a chorus of 'what?'
And that's when Brian noticed the band and his eyes grew comically larger.
"You got engaged?"
Gus offered a shy smile to Elizabeth who offered one back in return, and that was the exact moment both dads realized how far gone their son was.
The second time they met Elizabeth was an actual, planned event at Brighton. This time, Elizabeth showed up in a flirty polka dot number fresh out of an old, classic movie and the blonde hair coifed to match.
The moment he opened the door, Justin understood what Gus saw in this girl. People threw around words like radiant and glowing like they were electricians turned poets, but it fit the girl--honey gold skin, vibrant blonde almost white hair, crystal blue eyes, and long legs that went on. She was a fucking pin-up.
"Elizabeth," he said, matching her warm smile as he invited them in.
"Jesus Christ, Gus, I didn't even know you owned a suit," Justin added, laughing as the kid trailed in after.
Gus rolled his eyes. "Like any kid genetically related to my dad could not own a label or two."
"He does hide them pretty well though behind all the ratty jeans and Converse," Elizabeth whispered a little too loud.
Gus rolled his eyes. "You're just jealous because I managed to land one of the few jobs that doesn't require wearing a monkey suit."
"Yes, you sit in your living room tearing breeches into company's computer security looking awfully dashing in Mr. Bubble flannel bottoms."
They sat around the table pecking through salad while talking to one another. Both dads had to admit they were impressed with the girl; she was rough around the edges, but knew enough to hold up her side of the conversation.
The part that confused Elizabeth was that neither one of them seemed to be playing twenty questions about her past. Twirling her fork, she called them on it.
Brian fixed her with an amused stare. "If you wanted us to know, we would."
"Not to mention Mel and Lindsay will probably do all the work for us."
Gus snickered. "They've got a point, El."
"Of course, if you'd like to practice for the impending Inquisition..." Justin said, offering her a smile.
"So tell me about yourself, Elizabeth...what do you do," Brian said, offering a perfect impression of Lindsay which Gus tried valiantly not to laugh at.
"I'm a bartender. A damned good one," she said, eyes challenging them. She'd met far too many people that didn't like her career choice.
"That's how we met," Gus interjected, smiling shyly at Elizabeth before turning to address his father. "She was working at this hole in the wall right off the coast called the Rusty Barnacle."
Elizabeth laughed at the memory. "I was underwhelmed."
"Yeah," Gus said, linking hands with Elizabeth's and offering a small squeeze. "I came on to her and she shot me down."
"I've had my fair share of pitiful come ons," she explained. "And they're not that different regardless of where you're working."
"So where else have you traveled," Justin asked, smirking a little at the easy interaction between his kid and this girl.
Elizabeth laughed. "I suppose the accent's a dead giveaway."
Justin smiled and nodded.
"I traveled around a bit. Landed here in the US. Before the Barnacle, I was down in New Orleans at Coyote Blues. Had me dancing on the bar and serving drinks," she continued, missing the meaningful look that passed between Brian and Justin as they flashed to days of the go-go boys past.
"Got tired of drunk assholes getting grabby," Elizabeth said, pausing as a brilliant smile spread across her face. "Got fired for decking a guy for trying to put his hand down my blouse. Broke his nose I think; he was screaming like a little girl.
"Now, I'm here," she said, shrugging.
"A bartender and a bouncer. Impressive," Brian said, half-laughing with a mixture of pride and shock.
Elizabeth smiled easily at the compliment.
"So. When can you start?"
Elizabeth blinked and looked up at Brian. "What?"
"Surely Gus has mentioned Babylon," he replied in a syrupy sweet voice.
She smirked. "Depends on if you're asking me to work behind the bar or dance on top of it."
Justin snorted and tried to cover his smile with the back of his hand.
"Behind it," Brian said, raising an eyebrow and trying not to laugh.
"Ah. Thought I had the wrong equipment."
"I'll buy you a strap on," he countered.
The smirk on Elizabeth's face spread into a full-fledged smile.
"What makes you think I don't have one already?"
The meaningful look she sent upon Gus and the high color that rose on his cheeks was enough to start both dads laughing.
Later that night as Justin was showing Elizabeth some of his newer works, Brian pulled Gus aside.
"She's alright," he said, quietly.
Gus smiled shyly in return watching her and Justin speak in the distance.
"Yeah. She is," Gus replied knowingly.
The third time they spoke with Elizabeth and the second time they had the happy couple over to Brighton brought a new surprise.
"Sweetie!" Lindsay crooned.
Gus dug in at the doorway, eyes narrowing at Justin's. "I thought you said it was just going to be the four of us?"
"Did I forget to mention I ran into your mothers," Justin replied with a look of faux-innocence.
"Where? The airport?"
Any retort was cut off by Lindsay pulling her kid into a hug.
"Mel and I were so worried. We hadn't heard a word from you in days and..." she said, pausing mid-sentence when she saw Elizabeth standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"And who is this?"
Gus heard that tone. Knew it would mean the fucking Inquisition had started.
"Mom, Mel, this is Elizabeth," he said, holding his hand out to the girl who took it and offered an easy smile as he pulled her into the dining room. "El, this is my mother, Lindsay, Melanie, and you already know my dads."
"Elizabeth," Lindsay repeated before turning that 'I will divine the truth from you' look on Gus. "I didn't realize you were bringing a friend."
"El's more than just a friend, Mom; she's my fiancee."
"So...tell us about yourself, Elizabeth," Lindsay said, carefully cutting her chicken into microscopic pieces.
The tone and inflection was so close to the impression Brian had done a few days before that Elizabeth found herself smiling.
fanfic100: 30/100