"Being here without you is like I'm waking up to only half a blue sky, kinda there but not quite."

"Theo!" Mai chided, nearly laughing. "I'm Irish. Mum and I moved to London when I was really young, so the accent didn't stick so much. You'll be fine, I promise. At least when it comes to that," she added, not wanting to promise too much when she had no right to.

He went on, and Mai found herself reaching and trying to press her palms against his cheeks and force him to calm down. Of course, she ended up with her hands on his shoulders, trying to stop him verbally instead. "Theo- ... Theo, listen to me," she said more loudly, fixing him with a firm but affectionate look. "I've thought of a more important question for you. Isn't what I think of you more important than what they think, anyway? I know I'm freaking out too, but... This is my family we're dealing with. You don't have to worry, though, I promise. I wouldn't give you up for the world, nonetheless some comments from them."

He looked terrified, but he seemingly pulled himself together, quoting her unintentionally perhaps, and rapidly forcing her into a blush that surprised even Mai with its intensity. Perhaps it came from the memory of what happened when he saw the stockings on Tuesday, or the fact that her parents were, presumably, on their way any minute, and had the chance to hear such things if Maio weren't careful. She found herself wishing her parents were insanely friendly and that she could feel confident in their dinner plans. She might've worn the stockings again just to bother him if that were the case. But she wasn't mad enough to try that around her real folks.

"You, sir, have been misinformed if you believe that's true," Mai replied, her tone serious despite the smile that threatened to take over her features. "If either of us has reason to feel lucky, it's obviously-"

The floo roared to life.

"-Me..."

Mai's eyes widened and she turned to glance over her shoulder as if her parents would just start wandering around the house unbidden. Actually, her father might. Merlin. Looking back to Theo, she whispered an 'I love you' and kissed him firmly before straightening her dress yet again. "Finish up, okay? I'll bring them in here."

She gave his hand a squeeze and started out of the room before realizing that she probably should have let Theodore greet them. She hadn't been brave enough to tell them how far along she was, and the idea of them seeing her made Mai want to run back into the kitchen and hide in one of the cabinets. Not that she would fit, though. She wasn't feeling like much of a Gryffindor as they came into view, but she nearly wanted to cry when she saw them. Brea looked as uptight as ever, but she was supporting a very obviously drunk Merton, and it broke Mai's heart a little to see how the parents she once looked up to had become these strangers in front of her.

"Hi," she greeted cautiously, looking between them until Brea looked up.

"Well I'll be damned," Merton said loudly before Brea could wipe away the obvious outrage plastered on her face. "Look at you!" He staggered forward to hug her, and Mai scrunched up her face in a sort of cringe when his arms came around her.

"I really did try to make him seem presentable," Brea said, clearly bored of the whole ordeal already. "But that has never been easy."

Sometimes, Mai wondered if her mother had ever loved her dad at all. It seemed unlikely, given her general disdain for him, and that made her surprisingly upset. More than she expected, anyway. She didn't enjoy being brought into a so-called family, where neither parent cared. Merton cared occasionally, but that hardly counted. When he stepped back, her hands went directly to her stomach, making a silent promise to her little boy that they would never feel like that.

"Mum, dad," she offered finally. "Theo's got dinner on if you want to come this way."

Leading them in, she hurried her steps just enough to give him a warning look before the other two crossed the threshold. Somehow, her biggest surprise was not her drunk father, but the fact that Brea had not actively taken to insulting her yet. Maybe she was waiting to make a spectacle. Not knowing made Mai want to just shout at her mother to start so that the night could end sooner, but she instead came up beside Theodode and began introductions.

Merton was embarrassing himself, and Mai felt sorrier for him than for Theo when her father gave a ridiculous hug to the real man in her life, just as he had done for her. But then it was Brea's turn, and Mai came to the conclusion that the night would be long and torturous.

"So you wait until you've turned my daughter in a ridiculous balloon before asking to meet us?"

"Mum!"

“I sincerely doubt that,” Theodore began, a smile on his face. He would have continued, too, but when the Floo ignited in the hallway upstairs he found himself anxiously returning to prod at the paella. Irish or not, he didn’t feel any better. Her opinion mattering more or not, it didn’t help. He so badly wanted to make things right with her parents in a way he knew he never could with his own. The paella was more or less done, essentially just keeping warm. The cake was on the side and the wine was poured. They were ready. Whether he was actually ready was a whole different scenario altogether.  

When the door opened upstairs, Theodore turned and smiled when he saw Mai leading the way down into the living area. He tossed the tea towel in his hands onto the countertop and he met her half way, giving her an easy smile and mouthing the ‘I love you’ in return that he’d failed to give her when she’d whisked off to fetch her parents. Then, he got the surprise of his life. Well, one of many. He found himself being dragged into the embrace of Mai’s father and it took him more or less the duration of the hug to gather himself enough to respond and by that time he’d been released, somewhat dazed and confused.

“Uhm, it’s very nice to meet you Merton,” Theodore managed a small smile and he reached out for Mai, curling his arm around her waist more to steady himself than anything else. “Welcome to our home, both of yo—”

Theodore entirely lost his countenance when Brea spoke. His words died in his throat though his mouth remained open for a few seconds. He faintly heard Mai scold her mother and his lady’s voice reminded him to shut his mouth. He squeezed her a little bit closer to him, his brows furrowing in confusion, making him look something like a little puppy. He couldn’t believe it, in truth. But then, he had been well warned of her mother’s prickliness. He had just … well, he thought it had been hyperbole, in truth. He had thought that no one who had raised Mai could be as brusque and as rude as that. But then, considering, Mai probably thought the same about him and Adriana and their parents.

“Actually,” he found his wit finally, half having to remind himself that he was the headmaster of Hogwarts and therefore shouldn’t be floundering for lexis in front of his in-laws. “She’s neither ridiculous nor a balloon. That’s your daughter and your grandchild you’re talking about,” he said, his tone sharpening over every word. “So I suggest you pick some other adjectives to word your next sentence with. I think beautiful, healthy and happy are wonderful words to use. Try them out. Would you like something to drink, Merton?”

Theodore’s lips found Mai’s temple and he unwound his arm from around her before going to fetch the drink of the man’s request.

“And for you, Brea?” He queried over his shoulder. “Something to sooth that forked tongue of yours? It sounds like it’s really quite vicious. I’ve got this wine in the cellar … it’s called ‘Reality Check’ or, better, there’s this ale, a whole case of it. It’s got this absurdly long name. I’m paraphrasing, mind you, but I think it’s something like: ‘If you upset your daughter in her own home you’ll be chucked through the Floo again back where you came from faster than you can say appetisers.’” He whirled around, Merton’s drink in hand and he crossed back to the man, handing it over with a smile, before drawing his arm around Mai once more. “So,” he continued conversationally. “Wine or ale?”

"You can see why I kept putting it off," Mai muttered under her breath, the sentence only just finishing before Theodore spoke. An outraged gasp left Brea's lips as Mai tried to pretend she was only coughing behind her hand.

"Oh my-" she breathed, unable to properly finish her exclamation. She did try to remain subtle when it came to how incredibly amused she actually was. So it was a series of glances back and forth, and then one towards her father when he finally caught on to what was happening and stared dramatically.

"Have y'got a beer?" Merton asked, making his daughter frown. As amusing as he seemed to be while like this, he would only get worse if he kept after it. Theodore didn't seem to catch Mai's look, so she determined that the best plan would be to distract him and switch it out with a glass of water once Theodore stopped chiding Brea. For the time being, though, Mai couldn't help but enjoy herself.

The auburn-haired woman looked up at his question, opening her mouth to request a glass of wine - as she, of course, was far more capable of holding her liquor. The thought died on her lips, though, because Theodore went on and the woman's own daughter choked back a laugh. Brea shot Mairen a disapproving glance, but the lawyer couldn't help it.

When he finished, she bit out the single syllable, "Wine," and basically just glowered at everything simultaneously. Mai had never felt so amused in all of her life. She actually broke off, herself, to pour it, handing it to her mother with a slight smirk.

"Maybe you two would like to sit at the table? We can bring in plates and things," Mai suggested, already ushering her father into the dining area. Brea followed, seeming reluctant, and Mai left them to their own devices and returned to the kitchen. She cast a silencing spell at the area around them before staring at Theodore, open-mouthed.

"Oh my gosh. That was amazing!" she cried, bouncing on her toes a little. "You are amazing!"

A little squeak escaped as she skittered over to him, her hair swinging back and forth as she went. Mai herself couldn't recall ever being quite so excitable, even in front of Theodore, and she had to bite back her amusement and try to calm down before they had to go back in. Reaching to kiss his jaw, she beamed up at him before turning to see what she could help with on the stove.

The retreat to the kitchen was blessed and welcome. Theodore grabbed hold of the counter to steady his shaking hands. Shaking his head, he couldn’t believe the words had come out of his mouth like they had. He’d certainly flummoxed Brea, mind you, so they’d had the desired effect but he suddenly felt a surge of guilt. It certainly wasn’t the way his mother had told him he should speak to his in-laws. But then, that had been years ago now and the in-laws his parents had had in mind were very different.

“Mai I’m sorry I just—” Theo froze, looking at her as though she had two heads. He blinked. He blinked again. “Really?” A grin brought his features back to life and despite himself he picked her up, twirling her around briefly before setting her back on her feet, his lips finding her forehead.

“Okay, right,” he broke away and handed her two tea towels. “Do you want to take the paella and then I’ll bring in the peppers and the salad?” He kissed her again, unable to quite help himself, and grinned before opening the oven and pulling out the peppers.

Following Mai back into the dining room area, Theo set the things down on the table and helped put the paella into place before setting down the plates. He summoned some spoons for each of the bowls and then reached to pull out Mai’s chair for her and tuck her in. Only once he was sure everyone was alright did he take his own seat.

“I hope it’s alright,” Theodore interjected in the clinking of plates and cutlery. “There’s cake for afters, too, so yeah,” he smiled a little and picked up his fork, beginning to put a helping of salad onto his plate. At least they’d made it to the food without incident. Well, without major incident.

Mai didn't really have a good excuse for why she was so thrilled with Theodore's attack (because, really, wasn't that what it was?) on her mother. The only thing she could come up with was the fact that she had always wanted to do the same, but knew better than to actually go ahead and do so. When they left the kitchen, she took down the charm on the kitchen and bit back the smile that brightened her face. She set down the plates he had asked her to carry, deftly switching out her father's drink when he was looking the other way.

Shaking her head a bit, Mai acted like she hadn't noticed Brea's silent approval of her choice to do so. The beer was set further down the table, and although she did feel bad for wasting it, it was better than letting him keep on as he so obviously wanted to do.

Mai glanced over at Theodore with a slightly nervous smile, then decided it might be better to focus on their merits than whatever flaws Brea thought they had. "So, dad, did you know Theo is Headmaster at Hogwarts?"

Merton looked up in that sort of drunken interest he always had exhibited. She couldn't remember a week of her life where she hadn't seen him like that at least once. At least he was a happy drunk, she supposed, and that was better than if he were constantly angry. "That's a good school," her father said almost ridiculously.

Brea rolled her eyes as Mai tried to give her dad a weak smile. "It sounds like you must have moved up in the ranks rather quickly," Brea offered slowly, as though picking her words very carefully. "How strange it must be to live with someone merely interning for the Ministry."

"Mother!" Mai exclaimed, releasing an exasperated sigh. "I'm not an intern anymore. I haven't been for nearly a year now. And besides, it isn't as though I've been there very long."

"Perhaps not," Brea returned with an unconvincing shrug. "But that ex-fiancé of yours certainly had a good few years experience on you without being much older than you. But then, you messed that up quite well, di-"

"Get. Out."

Mai wasn't sure, but she had a feeling that Theodore had never heard her voice carry that much anger. Nothing he had done could have earned it from the redhead, though she figured she had deserved his ire more often than she had actually received it. But the fury in her eyes now was impossibly worse than anything the man beside her might have expected or experienced previously.

Brea looked fully affronted, which just upset Mai even more. Was she not allowed to finally stand up for herself? It wasn't as though she had ever said anything about it before. Pushing herself up from her seat, Mai leaned over the table as best as she could, glaring down at her mother.

"Don't you -- ever mention that in front of me again. You need to leave," she concluded, biting off each word as if it was physically painful for her to say them. In a way, it was, considering she was doing everything in her power to keep from tearing up as the anger threatened to overwhelm her.

Merton looked sufficiently confused, but was wise enough to keep himself quiet. Brea stood and, with a genuinely pained expression on her face, turned to leave the way she had come. Mai turned to watch her go, a hand lifting to cover her mouth. Merton, as dazed as he was, seemed to understand when it was time for him to take off as well. When he made to stand, his daughter blinked, quickly stepping around her chair to take his arm and nodded along at his mumblings that he ought to get home.

"I'm sorry, dad," she murmured ruefully. He assured her that it was fine, but her pulse still thundered even as she glanced, finally, at Theodore. She mouthed a silent apology in his direction as well, stopping to transfigure her father's napkin into a box, which she put the contents of his plate in. Then she sighed, handing the box over and leading Merton to the fireplace to ensure that he went to the proper location.

Once that was accomplished, she deflated, wandering back into the dining area, where she leaned heavily against the door frame. "I'm sorry," she said again. "I just... I couldn't bear to listen to that. Particularly in front of you," she added, her eyes lifting to seek out his.

The opportunity to steer the conversation away from anything controversial came when Mai mentioned Hogwarts. Theodore had been stabbing at his paella but once she spoke he perked up, firstly because she was speaking, but secondarily because it opened up the opportunity for him to talk about something he was passionate about. He wanted to tell them about the wards he and Athena had set up. He wanted to explain what he intended to do with the curriculum for that September coming. He wanted to show them that he was someone worthy of being with their daughter, that he would be well-equipped to be her partner and the father of their grandchild.

Only, it didn’t really pan out quite like that. Not even close. He smiled at Merton before nodding in agreement. It was a good school, indeed. A great school, in fact, and Theo was determined to keep it so. However, when Brea spoke and the vitriol followed, Theo’s hackles rose once more. This time so did Mai’s and when the order rang out in the air, Theo’s eyes flicked to her and then to her parents to see whether her request would be heeded or whether he would have to man-handle her mother through the fireplace.

It all happened so quickly, then, that once the Floo went off for the last time, Theodore was only just getting out of his chair. He moved over to the archway Mai was leaning into and took hold of her hands, drawing them around his middle so that he could wrap her back up in his embrace. His lips found the top of her head and he sighed, letting his eyes close briefly as he enjoyed the feel of her body against his. He couldn’t help but feel that things could have gone better, especially given as he was still worried about the account he had given and would continue to give of himself.

What the former Slytherin also conceded, however, was that even with the untimely mention of Scorpius and the shouting and the non-so-subtle threats he’d given Brea, this dinner would still go down as infinitely better than the one they would have with his family. Brea could learn a thing or two from Thaddeus. She would graduate from disparaging comments about work and ex-fiancés and work, instead, on really twisting the knife in which Thaddeus was famed for doing. Theodore half wished he didn’t have to tell his parents but he owed that much to his mother.

“I’m sorry, love,” he echoed. “Let’s go out,” he continued all of a sudden, pulling away a bit to look at her. “Let’s go somewhere. Let’s go bowling or something and have ice cream after. We should go out and forget about this. Otherwise we’re going to sit here and stew over it for the rest of the evening.”