Good News

[Nicolas Lepage 0]

Note: The events of this log take place prior to the 6/26 sim

 

A joint effort by Drs McKinny & Lepage

 

Coming out of the bathroom, only wearing a pair of sweat pants, Nick saw DJ standing in his tiny kitchen area, cutting up some ingredients for dinner. He sneaked up on her and slipped his arms around her from behind. Before she could turn around he kissed her just below her ear, not caring that he was still a little wet.

 

One minute she was busily preparing their dinner. The next thing she knew, she was wiping droplets off her face and neck as Nick's wet hair dripped all over her. "Hey!" she exclaimed in mock horror. 'You're getting me all wet!" She managed to turn around to face him, slipping her arms around his neck. "Didn't your mother teach you to dry off before coming out of the bathroom."

 

"There are so many things my Ma told me that I've already forgotten. I guess this is just one of them." Nick grinned mischievously as he pulled DJ a little closer and leaned in to kiss her again. When they broke apart he smiled again. "How would you like meeting my family?"

 

Wow, mused DJ silently. That question came out of the blue. Although she was totally unprepared for it, she was determined not to allow her surprise to show. She knew meeting the family was necessary if her relationship with Nick was to progress to the next level. But he had a....humongous family. Nick was one of thirteen children. Who knew how many relatives he had if you included aunts, uncles and cousins.

 

DJ recovered with a moment. "I would love to meet your family," replied DJ with a bright smile. "Are they coming out for a visit?"

 

Nick's mischievous grin widened at DJ's question. "Well, how would you like we both take a leave and go back to Earth to, say, attend a wedding?" The look on DJ's face told him that she'd been completely unprepared for this.

 

So had Nick earlier today when his sister had contacted him and told him she was going to marry her fiancé. Of course it had been a pleasant surprise. Now he was looking forward to go home and spend some time with his family. He also hoped that if DJ did indeed come to Earth with him they'd have time to meet her family while they were there. So now he was looking expectantly at DJ, who still seemed to be thinking of an answer.

 

A wedding? DJ was taken aback and she was pretty sure it showed. "A wedding?" she stammered, leaning back far enough to look Nick in the eye. "Who's getting married? And when?"

 

"My little sister Carole-Anne is getting married. We've got plenty of time to get back home and I'd figured it would make a nice vacation. You know, it'll be just you, and I....and my twelve siblings and all the others who'll be around for the wedding." Nick grinned as he thought of all his aunts, uncles and cousins. Both of his parents had come from large families and both their brothers and sisters, as well as themselves, had decided to honor the family tradition. Only his auntie Noémie had only four children. Disappointing by Lepage standards.

 

"Anyway, apparently Carole-Anne has already made arrangements. We're to stay at my parents'. I guess she wouldn't have accepted no for an answer. But don't worry, if you'd prefer not to come it's ok. I don't want you to feel obliged or anything. I'd understand if you'd rather stay here," Nick added before DJ could say anything. He knew that meeting the parents was always a bit awkward and it had always made him nervous. But facing the prospect of meeting a family like his must be downright alarming.

 

DJ grinned awkwardly at Nick, her thoughts racing. For a moment, she had a vision of herself surrounded by a sea of faces, all staring at her curiously and asking questions in rapid fire. There will probably be six hundred people at this wedding, she mused silently. And 599 of them will be his relatives.

 

"Of course I would love to go," she answered quickly. "I'm really looking forward to meeting your family." Especially the new brother-in-law. I've got to figure out how he handles all the relatives. "Do you think they would mind if Gilbert tagged along?"

 

"I'm sure Harold and Gizmo will love for Gilbert to come along." He pulled DJ a little closer and hugged her tightly. "And don't worry about meeting my family. I told Carole-Anne we'd be arriving a few days early so you'll have time to meet my parents and siblings before the rest of the family invades the house. If at any time you need a break, just let me know and we'll get away fro a while. Have you ever been to Montréal? Oh, and before I forget it, I'd love to meet your family too, if that' ok with you and them. I mean we should take advantage of being back on Earth, right?" Nick didn't even try to keep his eagerness out of his voice. He knew he probably sounded like an excited schoolboy but he didn't care.

 

He looked so happy....happier than she'd seen him in a long time. DJ didn't have the nerve to let on she was positively terrified. "No, I've never been to Montreal," she said with a smile. "And I'm sure I'll get along fine with your family." How in the world will I remember all their names? "I'll contact my family tomorrow...find out if we can get everyone together for a visit."

 

DJ pulled away from Nick but clasped both his hands in her's. "I'd better hurry up with this dinner so I can check my file and figure out how much leave time I have. How long are we going to stay?"

 

"You'll love my family and they'll love you. I'll tell Carole-Anne we're coming so my mother can prepare a room for us. I thought we'd stay a week or two. I'll check out how we'll get there. But right now I'll help you with dinner. Let me finish chopping up the onions." With that he picked up the knife DJ had been using, a wide grin still spread on his face.

 

She had to laugh. Nick was so excited, he looked like a kid at Christmas. On the other hand, DJ's head was already spinning and they hadn't even left the station. There were so many details involved with a trip like this. "I hope they have nice shops in Montreal," she quipped. "I have nothing to wear to a wedding."