Dinner: Part 1

Characters/Pairing: PruCan, FrUK
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Human AU, Gender Bending, Humor, Fluff

Friday

"Hey sis, where ya going? Home's the other way, duh!"

Maddie found herself coming to a gradual halt as she turned her attention to her approaching sister. Once Abby had caught up with her, she began to walk again, proceeding at a more leisurely pace. "I know," she answered quietly, "but I just wanted to head over to Gilbert's house and tell him about... dinner."

Never had that single word been spoken with more dread (not even on the rare and much fretful nights when their father had gotten in one of his "helpful" moods and decided to commandeer the kitchen). It had only been a day since the incident (or "Thong Gate" as Abby called it) where Dad had stumbled upon the panties she had secretly purchased from Victoria's Secret and Maddie was still filled with a painful concoction of emotions: worry, embarrassment, and fear.

Admittedly it was all her fault, a combination of stupidity and forgetfulness had snow balled into the unwanted discovery, and as she looked back on the past twenty four hours she saw all the things that could have been done to prevent it. She could have kept the thong out of her laundry bin and opted to wash it herself, because that was the most sensible thing to do when in possession of a secret article of clothing. She could have never bought it in the first place, because even as she had gone to the cash register, thong in hand, she had been having nothing but doubts. She could have never mentioned Gilbert Beilschmidt's name to her sister, because she had known since pre-school that Abby couldn't keep a secret.

None of that mattered now, because the secret was out and now she had to invite Gilbert over to dinner this Sunday to meet her family and earn her father's approval. Her stomach went cold at the very thought. She could see the disaster that would be their Sunday evening over the horizon like the sun rising on a black day, but could do nothing to avoid it.

"Oh yeah, that," Abby said, understanding dawning on her. "Well, why are you going all the way to his place?"

"He's still expelled remember?" she sighed. The afternoon sun was beating down on her, causing her already flushed and fatigued body to dread every step she took towards the Beilschmidt residence all the more. "And I figured it'd be better to tell him face to face instead of over the phone."

"Yeah right! You just want an excuse to spend time with your boyfriend!" Abby teased. As usual, her voice was far too loud for Maddie's liking. She could tell from the looks that passersby and fellow students gave them that the whole block could hear Abby. "Look at you! You're turning red. You're crushing so hard. It's adorable!"

"I am not," she snipped, knowing full and well that the heat was only one of the reasons that her face was turning pink and that the notebook tucked away in her book bag had the name "Gilbert Beilschmidt" written in its pages a hundred different times in a hundred different ways (with loops and stars and hearts and smiling faces to boot). "I just thought it would be the polite thing to do, that's all."

"Yeah, whatever," Abby said knowingly. "Just make sure to tell Gilbert to be on his best behavior come Sunday."

"Why do you care? It's not like you have anything to worry about."

"That's where you're wrong, sis. You see, I may be a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man to define her, but I am still a hot young woman with a rockin' body. Sooner or later I am going to meet somebody who is just as hardcore and awesome as I am and whether or not I'll be able to show him my high beams or let him splash around in my water park without Dad coming down on us like a ton of bricks depends on your little dinner. If Gilbert proves to Dad that he's nothing more than a douche bag tool then we're both screwed, cause he'll just assume all the guys we'll go after are douche bag tools, get it?"

Maddie fought to swallow the long suffering groan bubbling in her throat. Wonderful. Now she had added pressure from Abby weighing down on her. Not that Maddie hadn't considered all of this before, it was just that hearing it out loud, and from her sister no less, made the burden that much heavier. She felt her shoulders slump as if the responsibility hanging over her were a tangible thing. "I'll keep that in mind," she mumbled miserably.

"You better keep in mind that Daddy gets home at five today, so don't stay out too long."

"You won't cover for me?"

Abby shrugged. "I can try, but now that Dad knows you have a BF chances are he'll automatically assume whatever I say is a lie."

That was true and even though this situation was partly Abby's fault (she just had to mention Gilbert's name in front of Dad, didn't she?), Maddie was thankful to have her sister by her side at that moment.  "Well, if I'm not home by four thirty, text me, okay?"

"Sure thing sis!" Abby chirped as she gave Maddie's back an affectionate pat. "I'll see you at home. Tell Gilbert I said 'hi', 'kay?"

Maddie barely had time to wave goodbye as Abby turned and started towards home, leaving her to face the long walk by herself. Well, admittedly it wasn't really that long, but after seven hours in six classes and being met by the scorching mid-afternoon sun, even two steps felt too long.

It was five to three by the time she reached the Beilschmidt home, yet she could see that most of the blinds had been shut giving off an unwelcoming feel to the small one story house. She pushed aside the thought as she walked up to the door and rang the bell, hoping that either Gilbert or his brother would answer.

To her surprise when the door swung open, it was an auburn haired young woman who greeted her, instead of either of the Beilschmidt boys. "Ve, Abby what are you doing here?" Felicia Vargas asked, her words bubbly and bright with just the faintest sprinkling of confusion. "You told me that you would be going straight home today!"

Maddie gritted her teeth as her face grew darker at Felicia's mistake. It was still startling how people constantly confused her with Abby. The two may have been twins, but they were hardly identical. After all, Abigail's hair was short and barely brushed her shoulders, while Madeleine's hair hung loosely down her back. Madeleine wore glasses, while Abigail did not. Abigail's eyes were a powder blue hue, while Madeleine's were a bit darker. It was disheartening to know that Abby's exuberant personality was still easily overshadowing her own timid nature even after all these years.

"Felicia that is not Abigail Kirkland," Ludwig corrected appearing from somewhere within the darkened house to stand over Felicia's shoulder. "That is her twin sister," he supplied, although Maddie could tell from the way his words stumbled to a sudden halt that he could not recall her name.

"Oooh, sister~" Felicia chirped, seemingly unperturbed by this new information. "I always forget that Abby has a twin. Kinda like my own sister only she's not a twin since she's so much older than me. Do you know my sister, Abby's sister?"

Maddie nodded, because she did remember Lovina Vargas who had been their former babysitter and was currently in a bizarre and barely legal relationship with her mother's friend Antonio. A relationship that caused her father to sputter and turn red and say things such as "this is exactly what I'm talking about!" whenever it was brought up.

"Well it's nice that you came over Abby's sister, because Ludwig and I were just about to go into his room and study, which is really code for 'make out' since we never do very much studying-"

"Felicia!" Ludwig barked, placing his large hand on his girlfriend's small shoulder, a silent reminder that they should not speak of such things in front of others. Ludwig then proceeded to cough and clear his throat in order to cover up the blush spreading across his cheeks in. "You must be here to see Gilbert, right?" he asked by way of changing the subject. "Well he is in the living room, watching television."

"Right," Maddie nodded, muttering a quick "thank you" as Ludwig stepped aside and allowed her to pass into the house.

As she entered she saw that the only blinds that had been shut were the ones in the living area, causing the only light in the room to be produced by the television. She saw Gilbert's form illuminated by the faint glow of the screen sprawled out on the couch, red eyes fixed on the screen, volume loud enough to cover up her approaching footsteps.

"Gilbert?" she began, voice just loud enough to gain his attention. He turned towards her, eyes widening in surprise, before softening into a pleased expression. "Sorry, your brother let me in and-"

"Maddie!" he greeted. Gilbert shifted on the couch, adjusting himself and clearing away the nest of blankets and junk food wrappers to allow room for Maddie. "Hey babe. How was school?"

"Fine, I guess," she sighed as she set her backpack down on the ground. Gilbert motioned for Maddie to sit on his lap -- patting his knee and smiling suggestively -- but she chose instead to sit on the empty couch cushion beside him. "How was... uh, how was your day?"

"Awesome!" was his automatic response. "I get to sit at home and watch TV all day, and laugh at West for being stuck at school."

"Have you found a new school yet?"

"Nah, I'm too awesome for that."

"Gilbert this is serious!" Maddie chided. "You can't just drop out of school. Don't you want to graduate and get your diploma?"

Gilbert snorted, waving off Maddie's question with a dismissive hand. "Who needs that noise? I'll just start my own motorcycle gang and cruise around the country being awesome."

"That's not very realistic," Maddie pouted. This wasn't something she wanted to hear, not with Sunday dinner hanging over her head. Not with her already judgmental father's disapproving frown so prominent in her mind. "At the very least you could try and get your GED."

"You're so cute when you care," Gilbert said, cupping Maddie's chin and lifting it towards him. She knew that this was just a ploy to change the subject, but as he smiled down at her -- red eyes full of fond affection and his thumb gently caressing along her jaw -- she found it so hard to care. "So cute."

The gentle press of his warm lips against her own and the secure arm wrapped around her waist made her body tingle and flush. It was moments like this that she remembered why she was with him. Moments like this when he called her "cute" and lavished her with all the attention she found it so frustratingly hard to get. Moments when he looked at her with warm red eyes that said he could easily pick her out of a crowd of hundreds, thousands, and held her with hands that promised to touch her and only her in ways that would make her shudder and moan.

And as she closed her eyes and mouthed silent promises against Gilbert's lips, she knew that he was with her because Maddie saw him as more than just a punk kid who liked pulling pranks and adding the word "awesome" to every other sentence. Maddie knew that Gilbert loved her, because she never laughed at him when he talked about his baby birds or read her exerts from his "awesome diary."

A soft sigh escaped her as Gilbert pulled away, his hands traveling from the small of her back, up to her shoulder, before gliding downward once more. "What's wrong Maddie?" he asked, his face crumbling in concern. "You feel stiffer than usual."

Maddie flushed, shifting in his embrace. "Sorry, it's just... I came here to tell you something."

Gilbert gave out a surprisingly thoughtful hum as he adjusted himself and Maddie until her legs were draped across his lap and her head resting on his shoulder. "Alright," he began, running a hand through her loose hair. "Spill."

She sighed, settling in against him. Her heart was thrumming in her chest as she ordered her thoughts. Thoughts of backing out and skipping over this conversation filled her mind. She didn't want to tell him and risk ruining this moment, but she knew that avoiding the issue wouldn't help anything. "Well, my Dad found out about us," she said reluctantly. "And now he wants to have you over for dinner on Sunday so he can decide whether or not you're good enough for me."

"No problem." Maddie frowned up at Gilbert's too calm remark only to find a smug smile gracing his features. "Your dad will love me 'cause I'm awesome. So what's your mom making? I hear she's a great cook... and hot."

Maddie's frown deepened as she punched Gilbert in the chest. "This isn't funny!" she chided as he rubbed his chest, laughing as if the blow hadn't hurt (although Maddie knew it did). "My Dad... he's really protective of me and... and if you don't make a good impression on him, then he'll forbid me from seeing you and I don't want us to have to break up."

"We don't have to break up just because your dad doesn't like me."

"Yes we do," Maddie sniffed, because she knew in her heart that even though she loved Gilbert and being his girlfriend she didn't have it in her to disobey her father. If he didn't approve of her seeing Gilbert, then she would simply have to swallow the feelings that filled her and suppress them deep down inside and live the rest of her life without his tender touch, his warm red eyes, or his confident smile. "Please be good, Gilbert. It's really really important to me."

"Hey, don't worry about it." She felt the arm around her waist tighten as the hand that had been caressing her hair hand stilled to cradle the back of her skull. Gilbert's cheek pressed against the top of her head and Maddie could feel and hear the smile on his lips as she buried her face against his neck. "If it's important to you, then it's important to me."

She smiled. "Thank you."

-

"Ve, Abby's sister? Are you awake?"

A soft sigh tumbled from Maddie's lips as she slowly floated back into consciousness at the gentle pressure on her shoulder. She couldn't remember falling asleep, but as she lay there -- curled up and warm under the blanket that Gilbert had no doubt wrapped her in -- all she wanted to do was drift away once more.

"Geez, Feli, she has a name," she heard Gilbert say as his hand adjusted the blanket draped across her. She shifted, nuzzling herself further into the warmth of Gilbert's side. "It's Maddie."

"Oh, that's a pretty cute name," Felicia chirped, attention momentarily diverted. "Well Abby's sister Maddie, I was just about to go because my Grandpa doesn't like me staying out too late and I have to go and cook the pasta for dinner anyway when I remembered that you were here too and that your father has those really scary eyebrows and crazy eyes, so I was wondering if you needed a ride home."

Maddie yawned, reluctantly pushing herself away from Gilbert so that she could rub the sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Four fifty-five," Gilbert answered.

"What?" All traces of sleep suddenly disappeared as she sat up and took in this new information. Why didn't Abby text me? Reaching into her pocket, Maddie dug out her cell phone only to discover that it had still been set to silent. She groaned as she flipped through her phone and discovered that she had in fact missed several calls and text messages from Abby. "Great, I have to be home by five. I'll never make it in time."

"I can take you there!" Felicia assured her.

"That's nice of you to offer, Felicia, but my house is at least ten minutes away."

"And Feli can get you there in four," Gilbert told her.

"Eh?"

"One question," Ludwig put in as he entered the room, holding Felicia's car keys just out of reach. "Are your breaks in working order?"

"Sure they are," she answered, her smile growing wider as Ludwig dropped the keys into her waiting palm. "They were working real good when I almost hit that birdbath today. Although I did scare all the birdies away."

Ludwig frowned and then turned to Maddie. "Your family does have insurance, yeah?"

Maddie's sputtering was cut off by Felicia wrapping a friendly hand around her arm and dragging her to her feet. "Ve, Ludwig you're so funny~" she giggled.  "Come on Abby's sister Maddie. I have to hurry and get you home so I can make some pasta~"

-

Maddie found that, come dinner time, her hands were still shaking. Felicia had indeed succeeded in getting Maddie home with time to spare -- getting her back in two minutes instead of four -- but at the cost of scaring at least a year out of Maddie's life. By the time she had pulled up to the curb of the house, Maddie's legs were wobbling so badly that she literally could not make it out of the car without falling flat on her face. Now, more than an hour after arriving safely home, Maddie was still having some trouble holding her fork steady in her hand.

"Oh, I know that tremble," Abby snickered. "You were out cruising with Felicia, weren't you?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it 'cruising,'" Maddie whispered bitterly as she stabbed at her fish, the tender white meat coming apart in odd flakes. "More like a wide awake nightmare. I've never seen someone go seventy while backing out of a drive way."

Abby giggled, picking away at her own dinner with a steady hand. "Yeah, I know. You should see her on the highway."

"Girls, that's enough chatter," Dad interrupted, pinning both the twins with a disapproving frown. "You know that it's not nice to talk about someone behind their back. And if this girl really is such a terrible driver, then I suggest you not get in a car with her."

"Well how are they supposed to get around, hm?" Maman put in. "After all, you won't let them get their own driver's licenses."

"They're too young to drive!" Dad argued.

"They're sixteen years old!"

"That doesn't mean they're ready! Last time I let Abigail behind the wheel she almost ran over a turtle!"

"Hey, leave Mr. Speedy out of this!" Abby cried. Her turtle always was a sore subject.

Dad took in a deep breath before gradually letting it out as a long, slow sigh. "I'm sorry Abigail, dearest, that was uncalled for." His calm expression morphed into a slight frown as his eyes landed on Maddie's plate. "Princess are you really having that much trouble today? Why don't you just let Daddy cut your food?"

Maddie felt her face burn red as she reluctantly handed her plate over to Dad. Suddenly she felt as if she were six years old again.

"So how was everyone's day?" Maman asked, relenting now that she knew she wouldn't be getting much of a fight out of Dad. She laughed, running her hand through her loose hair. "Mine was fabulous of course, but that is to be expected."

"My day totally rocked, as per usual," Abby boasted between mouthfuls of fish. "Kiku and I got an A on our science project because we make a totally badass team."

"Don't talk with your mouthful Abigail," Dad chided. "And I do hope that when you say 'we' you mean that you actually did your fair share of work instead of leaving it all for Kiku."

"No way. Kiku and I were equal partners. She did all the boring research and I made the model. Well, I bought all the materials at least-"

"Abigail!"

"Oh Arthur, do not be so hard on her. Look at that lovely face, that beautiful body! That is not a girl who will be needing science in her future. Besides, an A is an A so dear Abigail did succeed in improving her grade at least."

"Dammit Francoise! Would it kill you to set a better example for once?"

Maman didn't bother to respond, choosing instead to let out her unique laugh as she happily sliced away at her vegetables.

Dad muttered something about frustrating Frenchies, before deciding to focus his attention on something else. Unfortunately, that something else was Maddie. "So, Maddie, did you talk to your little friend about dinner this Sunday?"

A nervous tittered escaped from Maddie's lips as her blue eyes took in the way her father's brows twitched, his green eyes suddenly being overtaken by that wild gleam that must have been what Felicia was referring to when she'd used the term "crazy eyes." Guilt settled into the pit of her stomach at the sight. "I sure did Daddy," she told him, watching as he didn't so much slice her fish, but tear it to confetti with his utensils.

"Good, that's good," he answered, his voice straining to remain pleasantly calm. "I'm really looking forward to it."

-

Madeleine never eavesdropped intentionally. It was merely a side effect of her naturally quiet and reserved personality that she occasionally wandered in and out of other people's conversations without being detected. Most of the time when she found herself in a situation where she might overhear information that she knew to be private, she would excuse herself or – in those rare occasions when escape was either difficult or simply not an option – tune the conversation out before anything vital slipped out.

Tonight, however, was different, because when she tipped toed from the bathroom and back to her own bed, Maddie found herself drawn to the discussion coming from within her parents' bedroom. It was wrong to listen, she knew that well enough, but with the door opened just a crack and the darkened hallway hiding her from sight, it was an opportunity she couldn't pass up, especially given the dinner that was looming just over the horizon.

"Arthur, put that thing away and come to bed!"

"Soon. I just… I need to finish."

Maddie heard the pillow being thrown and making contact, but she didn't even bother to attempt to see inside the room, because even if she was being her usual quiet self, she didn't want to take any risks that may lead to her being seen by either of her parents.

Dad let out an indignant curse before throwing the pillow himself (no doubt back at Maman). "I said give me a minute!" he barked.

"As usual, you are being absolutely ridiculous." There was a pause as Maman's soft feet padded across the room and Maddie could only guess that she was going over to inspect whatever it was that Dad was so focused on. "What exactly is it that you plan to do with all this?"

"I don't know… something." There was a long, weary sigh that filled the room and created a firm knot in the pit of Maddie's stomach. "Everything's changing so quickly, Francoise, and I don't feel at all prepared for it. I just… I have to do something."

"And how does this help?"

"It makes me feel better. Takes me back to a simpler time."

Maman chuckled, soft and sweet and nothing like her usual laugh. "You sound like an old man."

There's another sigh, followed by the soft scrape of fabric against fabric. "Why did Maddie have to get a boyfriend? Why couldn't she just stay innocent forever?"

"Is that what you're worrying about? That Madeleine may no longer be 'innocent'?"

A long, heavy silence dragged its feet through the room and Maddie felt her face turn redder and redder for each second it went on. "Well, she is young and impressionable," he answered finally. "And that Beilschmidt boy has such a horrible reputation..."

The knot in her stomach tightened as her cheeks continued to burn. So this was what her father thought of her? He assumed that she was just some naive little girl who would blindly allow herself to be led astray. Maddie bit down on her bottom lip, chewing vigorously. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't thought about being with Gilbert -- because she loved him and trusted him, in spite of what everyone else thought -- but even then she knew that such a level of intimacy was just too much to wrap her head around right now. Maddie knew deep down that she wasn't ready, probably wouldn't be for some time now, and she was grateful that Gilbert was being nothing but patient.

Maddie wished that she could communicate these thoughts to her father, but she knew it would be impossible. How could she start the conversation without making it obvious that she had eavesdropped? How could she have such a discussion without dying from embarrassment?

"If you are so concerned why don't you just ask her yourself?"

"And how the bloody hell am I supposed to do that!?" Dad snapped, his flustered words reflecting Maddie's own concerns. "Just walk up to her and ask if she's still a virgin? I'd never be able to look her in the eye after that."

Maman clucked her tongue and Maddie could almost see her weary frown and the shake of her head. "Silly man," she sighed. "As usual, you must leave things up to me, it seems."

"What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry; I will take care of it." There was a gentle hum coupled with the soft sound of fabric rustling.  "Now come to bed and I will help you to forget about all of your troubles."

Maddie had to fight to suppress a shudder as she gently tipped toed down the hall and towards her own bedroom. She heard the door to the master bedroom creak close just as she slipped inside her room. As Maddie crawled into her bed and settled down between the sheets, she couldn't shake the feeling that something worse than an awkward dinner was now waiting for her.