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Niko pulled up along the curb outside of the McReary household. His hands felt sweaty, and his nerves were sending mixed signals to his brain. Kate had agreed to go to Roman's wedding with him. Had sounded beyond excited and hopeful. If he hadn't spent most of the night recovering from the shootout against Dimitri, he'd probably feel just as excited. His eyes scanned the front door and porch and didn't see her waiting for him. The frown creased his forehead.
'Where is she?'
Silently he put the car in park and yanked his cellphone loose from his suit pants pocket. Typically, she milled around outside waiting for him and he didn't like the uneasy feeling that settled in his stomach. What was taking her so long and why wasn't she outside the home? He found her name in his ever-growing contact list of his phone and dialed her number.
"Hey Niko! Sorry it's taking me a little bit longer to get ready. Do you mind coming in and waiting?" Kate's cheerful voice spoke up when the call connected, and his lips quirked up hearing the same joy that carried her words over the line. She had sounded the same way that morning when he called her to confirm she still wanted to join him for the wedding.
"Uh sure…?" He looked ahead of him to see Packie's car still sloppily parked up on the curb and tried to think of a way to decline coming into the home. He was dressed up. Very dressed up. And there was zero chance her brother wouldn't take one look at him and jump to the conclusion that he was taking Kate out on a date.
"Packie will behave. Don't worry. Ma is keeping him in line today." Kate's teasing tone almost convinced him that nothing would be said or implied. They still hadn't really confirmed what, if anything, was between them. The past couple of weeks had been plentiful with dropped hints, open ended statements, and misconstrued words… If one was to make a snap conclusion. He didn't want to let his thoughts travel down that path, but her eyes were telling him different.
"If, you are sure. I'll be inside in a minute." Niko ended the call and semi-glared up to the red front door. Just what was he going to endure once he got inside the home? Derrick was dead. Francis had left him alone. Gerald was in prison. Patrick had only called him once or twice to hang out in the past month. He figured the fall of Pegorino's organization had kept Packie from having more work. Ray Boccino's demise had also been a rather abrupt end to the McReary's involvement in the organized crime world.
He let out a heavy sigh and turned the car off. He had felt inclined to bring Bernie's gift with him to Roman's wedding. The orange Infernus had been rather flashy and over the top, but today felt like the occasion to drive it around town. Normally he would want to blend in and not stand out, but today was a different situation. His cousin was getting married. The day called for over the top notions.
With a great deal of hesitation, he opened the scissor styled door and hauled himself out into the crisp fall morning air. The city looked bright and cheery, something he hadn't felt since coming into East Hook. It felt surreal. Fake. And nothing like the depressing mood he had been in for the past seven months. Kate had given him glimpses of a way out here and there… So long as they weren't drinking. Diner meals, clubs, pool, darts… It all gave him a night of laughs and jokes. She had this wild, promiscuous, side. One that would drive his desire front and center.
His feet carried him to the front door, and he wasn't sure if he was meant to ring the doorbell or knock. What was the protocol?
The door slowly opened to show Mrs. McReary, her wrinkled smile accentuated the lines even more on her face, "Ah my dear boy, come in- come in! Don't just stand here on the stoop like a stranger!" She weakly grabbed his arm and looped her own delicate arm through his, urging him on.
"Oh, it's not problem. I am used to waiting outside." Niko began before he was waved off by the matriarch of the family.
"Nonsense. Clearly, I never taught my children correctly. You invite someone inside if you are not ready. Offer a drink, meal, snack, whatever. It is just basic hospitality." She softly tugged him into the living room and gestured to the worn-down couch for a seat, "May I offer you a drink? Or anything?"
"No ma'am. I am okay to wait for Kate." Niko felt awkward being led around by the McReary mother and glanced around the room to make sure Patrick or Kate weren't snickering in a corner waiting to capitalize on his humiliation.
"Son. You are under my roof. If I can offer congratulations to your cousin on this momentous day, I will do so, and you will accept. Patrick!" Maureen called out as she turned toward the under-construction dining room, "Bring our guest a drink for the love of God!"
"Ma! It's not even nine!" Packie yelled out from somewhere else in the house, followed by the sound of a cabinet being opened harshly.
"Children. Let me tell you. Unless you are ready to give your entire self up for them, don't go making them!" She let out a difficult sigh and waddled over to the armchair and lowered down into the faded material, "Now tell me- Are you planning on making an honest woman out of my daughter?"
"Ma! Please!" Kate gasped out as she entered into the living room from the foyer, "Niko does not need that level of scrutiny!" She smoothed over her knee length dress and kept her eyes trained on the floor. She had spent the better part of the morning showering, shaving, pampering herself to look her absolute best. She didn't like wearing makeup, but her Ma insisted. She had even bothered to straighten her hair. Which felt strange as it brushed along her shoulders and over her neck.
Carefully she lifted her eyes up from the decrepit hardwoods to take in the sight of her not date/ date for Roman's wedding. Cleaned, polished dress shoes greeted her first, followed by finely pressed dress slacks. The darkest black she had ever seen. The material looked expensive and well taken care of. Her eyes darted up over his waist, trying to ignore the thin leather belt sinched over his… um… package, to see a sharp, ironed white dress shirt under a matching vest and suit jacket. Her mouth went dry at the finished look he sported and suddenly felt completely underdressed.
Niko turned when she spoke up and halted in his movements. A simple, casual, muted forest green dress fell to her knees, it clung to her hips, waist, and chest. The half sleeves hugged her slender arms, and she tugged on the hems of them uncertain of the style of clothing she picked. He noticed her uneasiness as she tucked her head and darted her eyes back to the floor, avoiding his gaze. But that didn't stop him from taking in her hair and… 'Was that makeup on her face…?'
"My Lord, Kate… Tell the man he looks good! Or I will beat you to it!" Ma McReary teased as she chuckled seeing her daughter turn into a shy teenager all over again.
"Right! Forgive me! You look very distinguished and great… Niko." Kate swallowed the sandy texture in her mouth and dared to look up to his face. His eyes took on that edge and smolder she had seen on different nights. Ones that left them drunk, alone, and without a care in the world. Nights where… If she was honest with herself, she wanted to never end. The deeper, darker, thoughts that surfaced during those stolen moments shoved at her to say more- do more. Something to break the thick air that suffocated them all in the living room.
"You look breath taking…" Niko forgot his English and deftly trailed his eyes over the gentle fabric of her dress. The narrow scoop neck dipped down far enough to give him the impression of her chest but hid enough to keep him guessing. The feathery texture of her hair caused his hands to twitch in anticipation of being able to thread through it all. The blush that graced her cheeks had his own smile lifting the edges of his mouth. The long lashes of her eyes blinked several times before she nervously lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.
"You will need to elaborate in English I'm afraid… At least till you teach me some phrases and words." Her small smirk warmed his insides and he had to internally think back in order to understand the words spoken.
"It means speak English dipshit." Packie huffed as he precariously carried in four glasses of Irish whiskey in his hands, "Kate! Jesus would you be of some use!"
"Sorry!" Kate rushed out and hurried over to her brother's side in order to take two of the glasses from his hands.
"Here, Ma." Patrick softened his voice and handed his mother a glass before training his eyes on his sister and friend.
"Niko?" Kate stiffly walked up to him and held out a glass tumbler filled with a dark brown liquid. She had plenty of shots with Patrick earlier and it had helped quiet her reservations and fears. For once her brother had been encouraging and positive with her. They had a decent conversation about what was appropriate and what to expect if she was to… Her cheeks warmed under her thoughts. She had never dreamed she would get to this point with Niko. With all the determination in the world she looked up into his guarded eyes and smiled lovingly.
"Thank you." Niko breathed out the words and brushed his fingers against hers as he grasped the offered glass. Her eyes relaxed as she stared up into his own gaze, causing his own fears to lessen the longer he held her eyes. Her bottom lip disappeared into her mouth as she bit down on it.
"So, home by midnight. Nothing crazy- you hear?" Patrick teased as he held up his glass in a gesture to cheers them all.
"Patrick!" Their mother chastised him, "If Kate wishes to spend the night away from the house, then it is none of our business!" She shifted her eyes to her youngest son and pinned him with an expectant look.
"MA!" Kate groaned and dropped her hand from the glass Niko held, "Please. You and I both know you will need someone here to help you up to your room and into bed."
"And that my sweet, dearest, most wonderful sister is why I am here." Patrick laughed out loud at the affronted look she sent him, "Like I can't look after our Ma." He rolled his eyes and went to lift the glass to his lips before said mother jerked on his shirt.
"We will cheers together son," She scolded him before smiling sincerely at her daughter and her date, "Now then. Who is getting married today?"
"My cousin, Roman, and his fiancé Mallorie." Niko mumbled as he casted his eyes down to his shoes. It had probably been the most ridiculous situation he had found himself in recently. How his own nerves failed to bolster him up baffled him. Robberies, shootouts, out running the cops had nothing on the McReary matriarch. She could make him second guess just about every decision he made when it came to Kate.
"Ah well. Congrats to the soon to be newlyweds. My wedding day was something out of a fairytale. Maybe my own daughter will be able to have the same. Outdoor wedding. Fragrant flowers. Four-piece string band. Irish jig at the end. The reused lace from generations past-"
"Mother!" Kate exasperated out and slapped her own hand to her face to help hide her embarrassment, "This day is about Roman and Mallorie. Not me!"
"Well Kate it could very well be about you if you let it." Patrick cackled out and did nothing to hide his enjoyment of embarrassing his sister and friend.
"I think we should just raise our glass to the soon to be wed couple and let these two be on their way. Wouldn't want them to be late, would we?" Maureen smiled wholesomely and turned to look at her son that had lifted her spirits, raising her glass to regard the toast.
"Yeah sure. To your cousin tying the knot and being stuck with one woman for the rest of his- ow!" Patrick began before their Ma slapped her free hand against his side.
"To the young couple that found love in this hellish city and knowing who to commit themselves to for the rest of their lives. To find someone to be your equal and partner is a special thing and I hope they will be blessed for the years to come with happiness and children." Maureen closed her eyes and sighed heavily. The talk of marriage and unions got her tired mind thinking back to her own wedding day and the three that Gerald had put her through.
"Yes, to Roman and Mallorie." Kate smiled and turned to look up at Niko realizing their height difference now that she wore flats instead of her normal tennis shoes. He could clearly be able to lift her up, move her around, tower over her… The images blurred together, and she felt like clearing her throat. Her eyes drifted down to his lips, and she desperately wondered what it would be like to have him press them to her own. The shifting of his face as he turned to acknowledge her mother and brother jostled her from her fantasies… If you could call them that.
"Thank you. For the kind gesture. Roman would be beyond thankful." Niko tried to bury his goofy smile. He hated the way he smiled, which was probably why he refused to do it ever. But when he was with Kate? Things wanted to surface in him that he felt had long since abandoned him.
"Give our congratulations to them both, and hurry on out the door. The drive alone will take time!" Maureen tilted her glass just enough to give a decent cheers before downing the large shot her son had poured them all.
"Cheers!" Patrick raised his glass before following suit and downing the whole glass. He didn't really care if Niko took his sister out anymore. They had been in and out of the house so many times. And from what Kate had been saying- She was happy, cared for, and felt safe. Which was all that mattered to him. He did, after all, give Niko the okay to take Kate out. In whatever way that fell. Date. Not date. 'Whatever…'
"Cheers." Kate whispered as she turned away from her family and glanced to Niko before closing her eyes and downing the so called 'liquid courage' as Packie named it. The mortification would wear off at some point she supposed. 'Maybe once I get Niko out of the house it won't be so bad…'
"Cheers." Niko didn't like drinking anything before having to drive someplace, but today was a special occasion, and he felt some kind of reassurance that everything was okay. Dimitri was gone. His dealings with the with Commission was done. His revenge had been dealt with. There was nothing else holding him back now from a life he thought was unobtainable.
The burn doused her entire throat, mouth, and soul. While she had plenty of a 'pregame' going in her system, this had clearly been the better whiskey. Patrick had been holding out on her. The stuff they had all been sipping on earlier had nothing on this alcohol content. She licked her lips and glared at her brother. Just what was he up to? Her Ma had been adamant about her doing her hair and makeup. So as a way to help Packie had been bringing her shot after shot since about seven in the morning.
Niko grimaced at the taste. It wasn't his choice of liquor, but he wouldn't offend the kind offer, and he held his hand out for Kate's empty glass to be able to put his and her glass down in the kitchen.
"Oh son. No need. Patrick. Grab their glasses and let them get on their way." Maureen waved Niko off and patted her son's side to get him moving, "You two need to get on the road!"
Kate smiled up to Niko and grabbed his glass and handed it off to Patrick, "Thanks Ma. See you later?"
"Wait!" Maureen lifted herself out of the chair and shuffled over to the fireplace, picking up a large digital camera, "Would you two mind?"
"Maaa…" Kate whined and tried to not let her blush spread over her entire face and neck. This wasn't prom. This wasn't even a real date… Right? Her mind stilled with the thought. Was it a date? Was this considered the start of their relationship? Or non-relationship? At this point so much was up in the air, and she wasn't sure what to believe.
"Kate!" Patrick let out a loud cackle, "If Ma wants a picture, you gonna have to suffer through it!" He kept his belly laughing going as he took all the empty glasses from the room and into the kitchen. He wouldn't admit it, but he would give his friend and sister some time to get the photo taken and bounce out of the house without even more humiliation from him or anyone else. Granted Derrick would've gladly sat on the couch and sent Niko a million awkward questions…
"Okay you two. In front of the fireplace and give this old woman some small amount of thrill for the afternoon." Maureen ushered them over toward the roaring fireplace and slowly moved out of the way in order to take the photo.
Kate tried to contain her excitement as she felt his hand drift over her back and down to her waist. He had never touched her before. At least on purpose. They had drunkenly bumped into one another from time to time. And her blurry, hazy, and fragmented memories of said drunken exploits, led her to believe that maybe once or twice she had given him hugs or kissed his cheek when leaving the bars around town. Maybe. But she also wanted to wish that those had only been her deepest, darkest, dreams and not reality.
Niko tried to keep his touch to a minimum- in a way to be respectful to Kate in front of her mother. But at the same time, Kate had yet to pull back or shift away from his hand. If anything, she leaned into his touch and smiled up to him as he guided her over to the fireplace. The warmth from the fire seeped into this thin dress slacks and warmed his body to the point of being uncomfortable. That was till Kate turned and tucked herself into his body.
Kate smiled up at him as they turned toward her mother to take the photo. She felt bold. Confident. And well… The alcohol was raging, and her spirits were surging. Without much thought or analysis, she moved into Niko's usually heavily guarded personal space and held his body. Her one arm slid up his back and the other wrapped around his waist. She leaned her face into his chest and literally beamed toward her mother for this one rare photo she would get with Niko.
Her body felt welcoming and relaxed against his own. He only froze for a second before he reacted. He returned the hold and placed one hand on her hip and the other on her arm across his waist. He wasn't one to smile often, and it felt awkward to smile in her mother's direction, but something about the moment felt natural and… Dare he say it? Happy? He had never done this before and the longer he thought about it- he couldn't remember the last time he had ever had a photo taken of him. Maybe his army recruitment photo? His ID image?
Kate focused on keeping her breathing even and not too quick to give away her racing heart. Her blood was rushing through her system so fast that she was worried she'd pass out any second. Her mother warmly smiled at them and lifted the camera up to her face and snapped the shutter button a few times before lowering it. The tiny span of time felt like a lifetime. But in reality, had only been between one breath and the next. Hopefully she didn't look too strained or crazy in the image, as there would probably never be another chance to get a photo like this again.
"Alright you two lovebirds. Get going before you hold up the entire wedding." Maureen kindly smiled and waved toward the front door. She had seen the awestruck look her daughter sent Niko when they turned to face her. She had even been witness to the longing glance Niko had sported before schooling his features when Kate turned her way. There was something there beneath the surface and she prayed that they would discover it soon and gift her the blessing of another wedding and possibly grandchildren.
"Come on Niko. Let's get going." Kate didn't feel like talking above a hushed tone. There was something in the air that made her feel calm. She didn't want to disrupt the feeling with exaggerations or cheesy phrases. Without thinking she grabbed his hand and threaded her fingers through his own and lightly tugged on his hand to get him moving to the front door.