Liam

"Okay, Bea. Which one looks better?"

I showed her both the ties in either hand as she stood on the edge of the bed in front of me, trying to help me decide.

It was quite an important night tonight and I needed to look my best.

Bea tilted her head to the side, closing one of her eyes, seemingly assessing both options with real attention. She clearly understood that this was a big decision, even if she had no real idea why.

"Umm," she continued to hum the word until she stopped and straightened herself. "That one," she pointed to the right, at the dark red tie in my hand.

"Sure?" I asked.

Bea nodded with enthusiasm and smiled. "Sure, sure," she gave me a thumbs up.

"Perfect," I said and began to tie it.

I knew it was a biased decision, she loved red.

"Where are we going?" Bea asked.

"We are going to have dinner with grandma and grandpa," I told her.

"Really?" She asked, excitedly. I adored the way her eyes lit up, she really loved her grandparents.

I nodded. "Yup. And also Rena's parents."

Bea's head tilted to the side a little, her little brows furrowed together, as a confused look came over her face.

"Oh. Why?" She asked, curiously.

I walked towards her, standing in front of her, whilst she still stood on my bed.

"You know how I love Rena?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah."

"I want her to be a part of our world," I said, holding Bea's hands. "Her world includes her parents so, I think it will be nice to have dinner with them. Are you okay with that?"

Rena's parents had been quite accepting of us, with both of them encouraging me to run after her that day. However, I wanted them to also know that this wasn't just a fluke and I really loved their daughter.

We were still dating, I guess. Or I was courting her? I was definitely trying to earn her.

Either way, if this were a normal progression of a relationship, this would probably be the stage where I'd been meeting her parents for the first time. That wouldn't really happen with us, especially since her parents had known me for a long time.

But I still wanted Rena to feel that security, that we were going through all the stages as a normal couple would. We weren't going to skip any steps.

"Can I call them granny and grandad?" Bea asked.

I smiled at her. "You can ask them?"

She then held onto my tie, playing with it a little nervously.

"Will they like me?" She asked, her head lowered down.

I lifted her chin up. "They'll love you. They already do. Remember, you met them at Christmas?"

"But will they let Serena stay with us forever?" She asked.

And here I thought I was the only one that was nervous.

"If we're lucky," I grinned and kissed her cheek.

She giggled and kissed my cheek as well.

I turned her around and fixed her hair, making it the princess way that she liked, clipping on the Bee clip that Rena had bought for her.

"Remember, best behaviour. I want them to like us both," I told Bea, picked her off the bed.

"Do they not like you?" She asked.

"To be honest, Bea. I'm honestly not entirely sure," I said.

I think they did, but I think they also knew our history and whilst I was more certain Mrs Hastings like me, I felt Mr Hastings may want to punch me.

Bea tugged my hand and when I looked at her, she motioned for me to come closer.

"What?" I asked her.

She used her hands to move the corner of my lips upwards.

"Smile, daddy. It makes everything better," she said.

I grinned and then hugged her, swaying her about as she giggled. "You are so cute."

Her giggles made everything better.

Bea and I drove to pick up my parents first before we headed towards Rena's parents. She was staying with them this weekend and I couldn't wait to see her.

However, my mother seemed to think my appearance could still she some fixing.

"Mum, stop," I tried to move her hands away.

Ever since I had parked the car and began to make our way to Rena's parents house, she would not stop fussing over my appearance. I didn't think I looked particularly scruffy, until she started making comments or fixing me.

"I'm fixing your tie," she said, trying to reach forward again.

I leaned back, away from her.

"I know and please stop. My tie is fine."

"But-"

"Please, Emma." My Dad jumped in, holding Bea in his arms. "It's embarrassing...for me."

I looked at my Dad who just smirked and then I faced my mother again.

"Don't make this is a big thing, please," I asked her, knowing in her mind she is probably incredibly excited. "It's just dinner with Rena's parents."

I try to emphasis that it was not a big deal, even if internally I knew it was, I just didn't want my Mum to make me more nervous than I was. Or embarrass or make Rena uncomfortable in any way.

Meeting the parents is a big step, and even with both knew each other parents, we didn't know them like this. Like the parents of the person we were dating. This was a different dynamic and I just wanted it to go smoothly as possible.

"Oh, but it's not like the usual dinners. You are both together now," Mum smiled widely and clapped her hands.

"Sort of," I corrected her. "Rena still needs time and I'm willing to give her all the time in the world."

"Good lad. Don't mess this up," Dad looked at me and I nodded. That was what I hoped for.

I took a deep breath as we stood at the front door. I wanted a second to compose myself, but of course I didn't get that, since Bea rang the doorbell herself.

A few seconds later and Rena opened the door.

She smiled brightly seeing all of us and I couldn't even take my eyes off of her, not that I wanted to. She wore a blue dress and her hair was all out curls, in its own elements. How I wanted to run my hands through her hair and pull her close, but I had to remind myself of the family around us.

Think pure thoughts, Liam.

"Hi, thank you for coming," Rena greeted my parents, hugging them.

"Of course," Mum smiled, as Rena let them in.

Rena's eyes then fell on her little bumblebee. "Hi, Bea," she grinned, kissing her cheeks.

"Hi," Bea said, hugging her, after which my Dad then took her inside.

Then, it was just us.

"Hi," she smiled at me, but there was something different about her.

When I didn't respond to her greeting and pretty much stared at her, she frowned. Her head tilted to the side and a little crease formed in between her brows.

"What?" She asked.

"What's wrong?" I replied. I don't know what it was, but I could tell there was something off about her right now. She wasn't herself.

Rena shook her head. "Nothing."

Again, when I didn't say anything and instead raised my brows at her, she sighed.

"It's really nothing. I'm okay," she said.

The way I heard it, it wasn't actually nothing and she wasn't okay.

"Rena," I said and she smiled, but it wasn't one that reached her eyes. The corner of her lips moved upwards, but it wasn't her smile.

"I'm okay," she responded, before holding my hand and tugging into the living room where everyone else was.

I didn't believe that at all.

This wasn't awkward.

I was more than surprised. Well, at least I wasn't feeling awkward.

Although, Mr Hastings was giving me a stern look that made me feel like at some point I was going to be attacked. It hadn't happened yet, but a part of me wanted to flinch when he moved.

The fact that I knew he was a cop and probably had weapons here, did not pass me by either.

Bea was enjoying her time here as well. She had asked and it was decided she would call Rena's parents, Nana and Pop, respectively. The latter being Mr Hasting's idea. He really did not want to be called Grandpa.

I hadn't been grilled as much as I thought I would...yet. My Dad was helping immensely by mocking me. He doesn't understand how I managed to be with Rena and to be honest, neither did I.

There was still a moment before dinner was going to be served. I could still see the way Rena seemed a little glum, not completely but it was as if she was holding back how she really felt.

She wouldn't tell me what the matter was but I had an inkling someone else could.

I walked into the dining room, just as Rena's Mum brought in a plate of food.

"Mrs Hastings?" I called out to her.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Oh, please don't call me that. Zara is fine."

"Um..." I paused. It felt weird after all this time to use her real name, she'd always been Rena's Mum or Mrs Hastings.

She seemed to have sense that I wasn't exactly comfortable using her name and then chuckled.

"Mrs Hastings then if you'd like," she said, before giving me a questioning look. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just...does Rena seem a little upset to you?" I asked her. "Well, not upset but she doesn't seem herself. Was she okay before?"

Mrs Hastings let out a sigh, gently shaking her head. "This is my fault," she said.

"Sorry?" I looked at her, confused at how this could possibly be her fault.

"We had lunch together and a few of the ladies from work joined us. One of them could be quite direct with her opinions," she said.

That definitely peaked my attention. "What did she say?"

"She asked Rena some personal questions including her age and relationship status," Mrs Hastings informed me.

"Oh," I replied, starting to understand where this conversation may have lead to.

Mrs Hastings nodded. "I ended the conversation but I think some of the things she'd said must have gotten to Rena. I was hoping she didn't take anything to heart."

"Like what? What was said?" I asked, wanting to know specifics.

As far as I knew Rena, she wouldn't just get upset at some words. Something more specific must have gotten to her and I just wanted to know what it was.

"About how Rena was thirty and still single. When I mentioned you, Rena said how you weren't exactly officially together, to which my colleague said it wasn't wise to just keep you waiting. Rena wasn't getting any younger, neither are you and how it was unfair to keep you just guessing like that," Mrs Hastings revealed.

Well, that was unnecessarily mean.

"I know. She's a pill," Mrs Hastings said, shaking her head. "I'll talk to Rena and let her know to not dwell on the words of that woman."

Just as she stepped to the side, I stopped her. "Is it okay if I do? Maybe it's better if she hears it from me."

"Okay," Mrs Hastings smiled and nodded. She then reached up and placed a hand on my cheek. "You're a good man, Liam. I'm happy you both are together or on your way to be together."

I held her hand and gently squeezed it.

"Thank you," I replied, because that really did mean a lot to me.

I had a feeling that something had happened for Rena to lose her usual smile, but now that I knew it was because of a comment a stranger made, I didn't know whether to feel relieved it wasn't serious or bang my head against the wall that she took that to heart.

I didn't care for anyone's comments on our relationship or how we were going about things. We were happy with how things were proceeding and that's all that mattered to me.

But I understand that it may be different for Rena. I only wished that she'd let me in on any doubts or insecurities she had, even if they were about me.

The way I saw it, we were in it for the long haul and for that, we needed to talk and communicate with one another. I wasn't going to lose her over some doubts.

On my way to find Rena, I turned a corner and bumped into someone whom I was quite worried to talk to alone.

"Sorry, Mr Hastings," I apologised.

"That's okay," he nodded.

Then he just stared at me. That intimidating kind of look, as if were deciding whether my head would look the best exhibited on his front lawn or back garden.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, cautiously.

"Let's have a chat, Liam," he said.

Words that caused a chill through my bones.

"Oh, um. Sure," I said, forcing a smile.

As we headed to his study, I heard my Dad's voice from the living room.

"Don't go easy on him, Mark," he yelled. Why couldn't he be on my side for once?

"Oh, I won't," Mr Hastings replied, staring right at me.

I followed him into the study, where he sat on the other side of the desk from me. His medals and baton were proudly displayed and I did not miss the fact that it was within reaching distance.

We had been sitting in silence for a moment, with Mr Hastings just watching me, as if he were studying my movements. There wasn't much sound, apart from the panting of Daisy, the family dog.

I don't think I was doing that good of a job to keep calm, since I felt a little too fidgety under his stern gaze.

As the silence began to suffocate me, I spoke up.

"Are you going to hit me?" I asked the burning question.

"I want to," he replied, a little more honest than I thought he would be.

I just nodded in return, hoping I wouldn't say or do anything for him to follow through with that.

"But I won't," he added and I tried to not make my relief too obvious. "Both my girls wouldn't be too happy about that."

Again, I nodded. Thankfully, both Rena and Mrs Hastings liked me.

"You are an idiot, son," Mr Hastings said.

Was that the anthem of the Hastings family?

Suddenly, I heard a bark.

Did the dog just bark in agreement?

"Good girl," Mr Hastings praised her, before he faced me again. "Son, look, I don't beat around the bush."

"Okay?" I said.

"I have concerns about you," he told me.

"Anything that I can help resolve?" I asked. This was what I came here for.

"To put it quite plainly, I'm worried my little girl is going to get her heart broken," Mr Hastings said. "I've seen her crying and it's not a sight I ever want to see again."

"I understand," I told him.

"I have a feeling you do," he replied, folding his hands and placing them on the table. "You're a father and I know you'll do everything in your power to keep your daughter happy. My daughters' happiness seemingly lies in you, I need to know it'll stay like that."

From the stern tone of his voice, to the way he squeezed his hands today, I could tell how serious he was, but so was I. This was what I wanted and I would fight tooth and nail to keep Rena's happiness sky high.

"It will. I love her, Mr Hastings. I'm just saying the words I truly mean it," I assured him. "I've known Rena as a neighbour, friend, teacher, home and now as my life. I love her immensely and I would never do anything to jeopardise that."

Mr Hasting nodded, leaning back in his chair, but his eyes still fixed on me. "I remember the day I put up a sale sign on our old house and I saw your reaction. It was if the rug had been pulled from underneath you."

"She was leaving. I didn't think that would happen," I said.

I remember that day as well. The first time she left me. I was so mad at her for not telling me earlier, only to apologise to Rena later, when she stormed into my room demanding that I stop being mad.

"I'll be honest, I thought you loved her then. But I realised, you did just in a different way and that's not so bad," Mr Hastings said, much to my surprise.

"I-I didn't know..." I stuttered.

"It's so easy to notice when someone comes into your life, but harder to notice the one who's always been there," he replied.

In all honesty, I had no real excuse for not seeing or noticing the way Rena felt about me before. I always thought of her as a friend, it was only when my heart began to tug towards her, did those feelings change.

From what I had come to understand, it was out of our control. How we behave after we fall for someone, that is then in our hands.

"I'm going to be brutally honest here, Liam. I need to know you don't hold a candle to your first love," Mr Hastings said and my eyes widened.

I think he could sense my shock and confusion at his words, to which he leaned forward.

"Don't misunderstand me, the hurt you went through was awful, but I don't want my Rena to be with someone who is not truly with her in this," he began to tell me.

"She will never say it. Hell, she'd just smile and say she understands, but I want to be reassured that you truly want to be with Rena. That this isn't just a way to get over the missing piece of your life. I won't have my daughter share you with your guilt and grief of what could have been."

I smiled at it words, understanding the worry and concern behind them.

"I won't lie to you, Sir. Julie will always hold a place in my heart, being someone I loved and mother of my child. However, that's all she will be. I am in love with your daughter. She isn't a replacement. She's not someone I'm using to replace my past. She's my future. Rena is the one I want. To give her the kind of forever she deserves."

With all the honesty and confidence I had, I tried to convey those in my words. I meant it all.

Mr Hasting looked at me for a moment, his penetrating gaze stuck on me, as if he were trying to peer into my soul. However, this time I wasn't worried. My soul would reflect my words, it was only her.

Then, he nodded.

He stood up from his chair, as did I, after which he held out his hand towards me.

"Good man. I trust you to keep to your words?" He asked.

I shook his hand. "Definitely."

His grip then grew firmer. "In case you forget them, remember that I still have my gun."

I smiled. "You won't need it."

"We'll see," he said, letting my hand go. I tried not to wince.

Instead, I walked out of the study triumphantly.

After we had dinner, I made it a priority to talk to Rena. I didn't want to mention anything in front of family. If our talk didn't go the way I planned it in my head, then I didn't want to make her uncomfortable before the dinner.

I was quite happy that I had my talk with Mr Hastings earlier, since he seemed to be less threatening towards me. He even offered me some food. I took that as a sign of acceptance.

After I helped Mrs Hastings clean up - my attempt to earn some extra brownie points from her - I went in search of Rena.

I found her with Bea and Daisy, in the living room. They were colouring together, whilst Daisy just rested in between them.

"Hi," I said, walking into the room, alerting them to my presence.

All three then turned their attention towards me, smiles on their face. Well, I think that was a smile from Daisy, I still don't think I've managed to win her over.

Bea stood up and skipped towards me. "Daddy, look," she said, showing me a family picture she'd drawn, including all of us.

I crouched down and looked closer at the picture, recognising all of us. She'd included Rena's parents in this family portrait and Daisy. It was a touching gesture from her side.

"That's beautiful, darling," I praised her. "Why don't you show your grandparents?"

Bea nodded, a grin on her face. "Okay," she said, and skipped out the room and Daisy trailed after her.

"Subtle way to make her leave the room," Rena chuckled, standing up.