*****
(Ally said)

"Mom wants to meet you for lunch," I blurted out when Stevie and I were cuddling in bed on a lazy Saturday morning. I brought her breakfast and planned hanging out.

My mother has been bugging me to introduce my girlfriend to her. I have not told my mom about Stevie--Mom just knew I have someone special.

Stevie broke away from my arms. "Did she say she wants to meet me? As far as I know, she does not know I exist."

"Well she told me to bring her the one who puts this smile on my face." I gave her a smile as I underlined my face with my hands.

"And now I am nervous."

"You are the only person who took on Rachel--you are invincible!"

"No, I am not. Who will be there?"

"My mom and dad, of course, who are really nice people. My mom talks a lot but my dad is a man of few words. Then Kimber and Hera will be there. Oh... And I almost forgot Danny."

"What if they don't like me?" She pouted, which was really cute. Stevie is a confident woman but I like how she expresses her small insecurities like this.

I opened my arms to invite her in again. Stevie crawled onto my chest as I locked her in my embrace.

"They are Hills's and Danny is practically one too--our DNA is sequenced to like you. Ha-ha."

"When and where will this be?"

"In two hours at Public School."

Just when I said that, Stevie got up without snoozing her alarm--it was a miracle!

*****
(Stevie said)

"What should I wear?" I asked Ally after I took a quick shower. She was petting Ziggy, one of my cats.

"Anything you like. You will look beautiful with whatever," Ally answered patiently.

"Should we at least bring wine?"

"Babe, we are having lunch in a restaurant, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Gosh, I am panicking!"

"This is not a big deal, Stevie. Relax."

"Meeting your parents is a big deal, Ally. I love you and that is why I want this to go smoothly."

"Awww... I fell more in love with you for that." Ally gave me a hug from the back and kissed me on the cheek then down to my neck while I was brushing my teeth. She does things that make my knees weak.

*****
(Ally said)

We arrived earlier than everyone else. I held Stevie's hand the whole time. She was still freaking out.

"Hi Stevie," Kimber said as she gave Stevie a hug. "I am so sorry we had to pull out Hera from the daycare. You know there was an emergency."

"I totally understand. How's the new daycare?" Stevie responded.

"The teacher is very Umbridge-like! It is horrible! We just need to finish the month then Hera will be back." I was guessing Kimber made a Harry Potter reference as Stevie seemed to get it. "Hera, would you like to see Teacher Stevie again?"

"Yes!" Hera answered. Stevie smiled for the first time in two hours.

Danny arrived shortly. He was followed by Mom and Dad as all of us stood up and greeted each other.

"Mom, Dad, this is Stevie," I said. "Stevie, meet the Hills."

"Hi dear!" Mom exclaimed.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Hills. I am Stevie," Stevie answered.

Stevie was going for a formal handshake but Mom pulled her to a hug.

"And call me Helen." Mom got Stevie's original seat next to Hera and she gestured Stevie to sit beside  her. I took the other sit beside Stevie that Dad had to sit beside me. "The handsome guy over there is David."

I tried joining Mom and Stevie's conversation but Dad was pulling me out of it to talk about the businesses. When the food was served, we all settled and ate. 

"How did you two meet?" Dad suddenly asked.

"We met at a Shania Twain concert." Stevie said. "Ally was with Storm and I bumped at them in the restroom."

"I took Mel's tickets that night," I butted in. Stevie looked at me with assurance that she would not say she caught Storm and I making out.

"And they met again at the daycare when I asked Ally to pick Hera up. I am essentially their cupid," Kimber added--which was partly true except for the fact that we met a couple of times before that because of Mel. I did not correct her. It was better than telling them Stevie was Mel's girlfriend.

"Oh yeah. That was the time Kimber was stuck in traffic," Danny added. "Ally was mesmerized when she saw Stevie again."

"I did not understand why my business partner and best friend, Moonshine, was creating a fuss about Ally at the daycare until Moonshine told me Ally is a successful indie artist," Stevie said.

"But my fame did not catch Stevie's attention. It was really my good looks. Am I right, Dad?" I said as Dad and I shared a high five.

"Ha-ha. It was because you were really persistent and sweet," Stevie rectified.

"I am not sure if Ally told you about her twin sister, Mel," Mom said. "It was only Mel who could convince Ally  to persevere."

"I already got the better face so I let Mel go first in everything else," I said. "And then I just followed her lead."

"At least she has you now, Stevie," Mom replied. "And we could not thank you enough for giving the idea of the insurance to Ally to escape Rachel, and of course for turning her life around."

"I am happy to be in Ally's life," Stevie answered. "And that part about the insurance, it was all Mel. She mentioned it a couple of times."

"What do you mean? Do you know Mel?" Kimber asked, looking puzzled.

"She meant Mel told me about it before a couple of times. I just forgot about it and Stevie reminded me," I lied. I looked at Stevie's reaction but she maintained a smiling face.

"Nevertheless, thank you," Mom answered and held Stevie's hand.

The conversation continued over dessert and shifted from one topic to the other. After another hour, Dad had to rush to the office so we called it a day.

"It has been a lovely night. Thank you for having me here, Mrs.--I mean Helen," Stevie said, bidding goodbye.

"And we are just happy that we finally met you," Mom responded.

"At least this time it was Ally who came in first over Mel in introducing a fine addition to the family," Dad said.

"Mel did not have the time to find her guy because she worked so much for the family business," Kimber said. Danny and I looked at each other. It was the matter we did not plan talking about.

*****
(Stevie said)

I was very much disappointed that Ally lied about me that I confronted her when we got into the car.

"Ally, what was that all about?" I asked. 

"They still do not know about you and Mel and about Mel being gay so Danny and I decided not to tell all the details," Ally answered.

"I know you are trying to respect Mel but your decision was at my expense. How can we build a strong foundation for our relationship if we started with lying to your family? Besides, Mel told me she would come out to her family on the day of our date."

"The point is your date did not happen. I could not just tell my family that Mel died because she was meeting you."

"Do you think they would blame me for Mel's passing? For heaven's sake, it was an accident! Or is it because you always go second to Mel and now you are way enjoying the attention of your family?"

"That is not true."

"Then what is?" I waited for a minute but she was silent. "Talk to me when you grow up."

I walked out of the car as fast as I could and Ally did not follow.