Overland Park, KS, Sunday Afternoon (Late July)

[vanillajello]

It was the last day of July, and a sunny Sunday afternoon in Overland Park. Tara had wanted to throw a party in the Gregsons' backyard for the end of summer and the return of her daughter and every good thing she could think of, and so it had come to pass. There was food, and people (some neighbors, some friends from a little further off, and Bod who'd already shown up last night), and a karaoke machine set up under the arch that had been prettying up the back yard ever since Charmaine had failed to get married, earlier in the year.

Everything was pretty perfect. All that was missing was the hostess, though, because no one actually knew where Tara was, but... They were sadly used to that. So, Max was grilling, Charmaine and her belly were off to the side having a Diet Coke she shouldn't have been drinking, Ted was mingling with some people, and Lionel was filming Kate and Marshall.

And the aforementioned Gregson siblings? Were singing their hearts out, doing an enthusiastic karaoke version of Mmmbop. They looked to be enjoying themselves.

It was looking to be a good day on Oak Avenue.

[ooc: NFB, and for the boooy up there in the narrative, and myself in various guises. Bits and pieces taken from United States of Tara S03E01, '...youwillnotwin...'.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

"Hullo, sir," Bod greeted after he'd picked up two plates for he and Kate. "It smells quite good. Thank you for letting me come to your party."

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"Like we could keep you away," Max replied with something of a smile. This day was good, all around, it seemed. "We wouldn't hear the end of it from Kate, for one thing. What can I get ya, buddy?"

[therewaslife]

When Max smiled, Bod smiled and relaxed just a touch. "Kate wanted me to get her a cheeseburger. I'll probably have the same so two cheeseburgers, please?"

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

"Coming right up," Max replied as he got to work on assembling two cheeseburgers. While he was doing that, he spared an idle glance Bod's way. "So, you and Kate are doing the long-distance thing, huh?"

[therewaslife]

"We are, yes sir," he said, nodding. "I didn't want to end things because she was leaving and she felt the same. She's my favorite person in the world."

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

Max didn't quite smile at Bod for that, but he did smile a bit. A man liked hearing someone thought that way about his daughter, especially when it was someone he'd come to see as a dependable, good kid.

"That why she got that... pretty little ring on her finger?"

Tara had filled him in, of course.

[therewaslife]

Bod blushed at that and looked down. "Yes, sir. I just wanted to give her something to let her know that I'm serious and I'm not looking for anyone else. I don't want anyone else."

He was glad he didn't sound flustered or paranoid when those words came out. He was very, very glad.

[thegregsons.livejournal.com]

Max was pretty glad of that too. He just sounded like a kid in love, and Max remembered what that was like.

"Well, I've gotten the impression it's mutual," he noted, adding the cheese to the burgers. "So I don't think you have anything to worry about for the time being."

[therewaslife]

"Thank you, sir," Bod said, nodding and giving Mr. Gregson a light smile. "I'm not worried. I'm happy. She makes me happy."

[vanillajello]

Max didn't say anything to that, though it was nice to hear. He just put the burgers on the plates. "There you go, buddy. Two cheeseburgers, fresh from the grill."

[therewaslife]

"Thank you, sir," Bod said again, nodding his thanks before turning and heading back over towards Kate. That had gone better than expected so he didn't look like a deer caught in the headlights when he made he handed Kate her plate.

"One cheeseburger," he said, holding out her plate. "It smells quite good so I bet it tastes the same too."

[vanillajello]

"Duh, I told you," Kate replied, reaching out greedily to take her plate. "Moosh makes a lot of good food, but Dad's burgers are the best."

[therewaslife]

"Your dad asked me about your ring," he shared, looking over at her. "He thinks it's pretty."

[vanillajello]

"He does?" That was a pleasant surprise, and she couldn't help glancing down at her hand. "Well, why wouldn't he? It's a pretty ring."

[therewaslife]

"It is," he agreed with a laugh. "It's very pretty. I just didn't expect your dad to say that. I'm glad he did though. I thought he'd be a little more...curious about my intentions."

[vanillajello]

"To be honest, I think he's kinda give up on trying to run my life like that," kate admitted. "I mean, he knows you already. He probably thinks you're such a sensible young Englishman that you'd never intend to, like, marry me straight out of high school or anything."

[therewaslife]

"Well, I am a sensible young Englishman," Bod said, taking a bite of his cheeseburger and smiling. "Oh wow."

His attention was momentarily take away from Kate and onto the cheeseburger. "This is amazing. Wow. That's quite good."

[vanillajello]

"Told you," Kate told him, smugly. She took a bite of her own burger. "The. Best."

[therewaslife]

"Very good," Bod agreed with a nod. "Very, very good. I'm having to be careful not to inhale this and ask for another. That'd be quite rude and ruin that whole sensible young Englishman thing."

[vanillajello]

"You know, I'm pretty sure I saw him practically throwing these at people, eralier, 'cause there's so much food," Kate pointed out. "So, no, it wouldn't be rude. In fcat, it'd be a favor."

[therewaslife]

"I should finish this one before anything," Bod decided, laughing. "I wouldn't want to make myself sick. Don't worry, I'll get some more so your family doesn't have too many leftovers. This is fun. I'm enjoying myself, Kate."

[vanillajello]

"I am too," Kate replied, smiling at him. "Seems to be one of those times things just go right, you know? I'd be pretty happy just eating and talking to you and letting a little time pass before the next important canon bit for a while. 'Cause you know I've missed you even though you were just here like a couple of days ago."

[therewaslife]

"We can do that," Bod said, offering her his arm so they could walk and talk and eat and enjoy each other. "Shall we, then?"

[vanillajello]

"We shall," Kate replied with a smile, taking his arm. And so, they went, and it was excellent. There was some light mingling, but mostly just plenty of time to talk to each other.

Eventually, though, they ended up in the very back of the backyard, sitting and socializing with Charmaine and Kate's parents. It was nice enough, up to a point.

And that point was college. Specifically, Tara stating her wishes that Kate reconsider her decision to not go. "You might end up regretting it, honey," she said. "Think of all the opportunities you could miss by not having a degree."

Kate gave Bod a 'not this again' look.

[therewaslife]

"Not going to college doesn't mean she won't have many opportunities though," Bod interjected, unsure if he should but unable to stop himself. "Kate's intelligent and talented so college isn't necessarily needed. She's got a good head on her shoulders."