"You should meet my parents."

I nearly choked on my eggs and I dropped my fork on the plate. A loud clang echoed through the kitchen. My head began pounding from the sound. I groaned and put my hands on my head. Since the concussion, I was sensitive to headaches. Shawn said I'd get over them or have to learn how to live with them, but he gave me pain medication to keep me balanced.

"Or not," Delaney said before taking a bite of her toast. I thought she was going to drop it right there, but of course she didn't. When she got finished swallowing her food, she opened her mouth again. "I just think it's the best time for you to meet them. You have a lot of free time right now and they're always asking me if I'm seeing anyone. I want them to meet you. Maybe we can stay there for a couple of days and you can get to know them."

I had been back at my place for three days. It was nothing but peaceful. Delaney stayed over and all we did was joke around, play video games and watch Netflix. I've gotten so accustomed to the lazy life that I wanted the rest of my break to go as easy. But now, Delaney wanted me to meet her parents. Not only was that time consuming, but it was also stressful. I was the type of person that you never brought home to your parents. My lifestyle was just too dangerous and I knew her parents wouldn't approve of me unless I lied about nearly every detail about myself.

I remained quiet, hoping that Delaney would move on to another subject or talk herself out of her foolish idea. "Actually, I told them I was seeing someone last night over the phone. They want to meet you and I want you to meet them. I know I may talk sh-t about them sometimes but they're really not that bad."

I continued being mute and picked up my fork. As I played with my scrambled eggs, I made sure not to look up at Delaney. I knew she was staring at me. I could feel her eyes piercing into my face. "Babe, come on! I met your parents. Why don't you want to meet mine?"

Realizing silence wasn't going to get me out of this predicament, I finally spoke up with a shrug of my shoulders, "I don't know. It's different, darlin'. My parents are way more laid back. They're not strict on who I date. They just talk a lot of sh-t if they don't like them. Your parents, on the other hand, they're doctors. They're civil f-cking people. I'm not used to normal people like that. And I know they're not used to people like me. Do you really think they'll be okay with my tattoos? How do you think they'll react when they find out I'm in a gang?"

"They don't need to know all of that. They don't care about a few tattoos. If they ask what you do for a living, I'm not asking you to lie but be vague. Just tell them you have your own business and leave it at that. I just want you to meet them. I haven't seen them in a while, so I was thinking we should stay over a night or two. Or if that's too much for you then we won't. As long as you meet them then fine."

"You miss your parents so let's go see them, darlin'. As long as you want," I gave in. Rafael, Leo and Lin were going to get a kick out of this when I told them I was meeting Delaney's parents in the group chat. I only met one of my ex's parents and that was my fiancée and that ended in a complete disaster.

"I knew you would give in! I got you wrapped right around my finger," Delaney exclaimed as she did a cute dance in her chair. She took another bite from her toast as I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, keep thinking that."

-

Delaney was originally from San Francisco. It's where she spent most of her childhood and where most of her family and closest friends lived. Getting to San Francisco from Santa Monica was nearly a six hour drive and though, I told Delaney I could pull some strings and get us a private jet there, she insisted that she drove. I was all down for a road trip, especially since I wasn't the one driving.

But two hours into our trip, Delaney became less talkative. The first two hours flew because we were talking so much about anything and everything but then she just zoned out. I took it as she was tired of talking and decided to recline back in the passenger seat for a short nap. Right when I closed my eyes, Delaney began talking again. Her words came out urgently as if she had to get them out then and there.

"I haven't told anyone, but I got this big opportunity. It came from Shawn. He's willing to teach me everything he knows and he's basically like a real doctor. You know how good he is at what he does. He's better than most professionals. He told me that I could be his assistant in training and that I could get an advantage when I got to medical school or I could possibly do what he does. I could be a doctor under the Family and I really don't know what I should do. Because I know my parents wouldn't approve and I can't lie to them about my career forever. I don't know. I need some advice."

I brought my seat back up slowly and looked over to Delaney. She was nervously drumming her thumbs against the steering wheel. Her chest was nearly touching the steering wheel as she sat in a rigid, straight position. Although, she was asking me for advice I didn't know what to say. I honestly didn't think it was a good or terrible idea. It was her choice, but I knew one option was safer than the other.

"Okay, first off, calm down a little. Relax your shoulders and take a deep breath, darlin'. You're right. You have an amazing opportunity. Shawn's the best and youngest doctor that I know and I always trust him to operate on me and my friends. But, I don't think it's a good idea for you to become a doctor under the Family. It's not all milk and cookies. We've had opposing gangs come by and shoot up plenty of our places where our doctors were located. Sure, it hasn't happened recently, but there's going to be a time where a gang tries to f-ck with us and our doctors are going to be the first people they go after. I don't want you getting hurt because of gang violence. I know you can protect yourself but there isn't much you can do when someone attacks your place with hundreds of bullets."

Delaney relaxed a little bit but she was still tense. I reached over to her and put my hand on her thigh to comfort her. "But, if you have a passion, and if you want to be a doctor under the Family then I'm all here for it. Only if that's what you want to do and you're not doing it just to take the easy route and skip medical school. I think you should shadow Shawn for few months, and then you can be sure if you want to do what he does."

"So, you don't think it's a terrible idea if I actually become a doctor under the Family?"

"Of course not. It's your decision and I'll support you through whatever process you chose. Whether it's training under Shawn or medical school, I'm here for you all the way and I know you can easily accomplish either one."

A smile spread across Delaney's face and she finally chilled out. I smiled as well, happy to see her less stressed and see those adorable dimples form. I leaned over and kissed her cheek and she quickly turned to catch my lips. "Thank you," she said before facing the road once again.

"For what?"

"Not calling me stupid or telling me it was a horrible decision. Just thanks for supporting me."

As we got closer and closer to Delaney's parents' home. My stomach began to turn. They weren't going to like me. What parents in their right mind would like me? When the GPS stated we were thirty minutes away, I sunk down in my chair and groaned. Delaney giggled. "What's wrong with you?"

I couldn't let her know I was nervous. She'd pick on me for being afraid to meet her parents. I could actively be in shootouts, kill people, chat with the most notorious gangsters on Earth but be scared to meet my girlfriend's parents. That's just crazy. So instead of confessing how I was about to sh-t my pants, I decided to make the situation light.

"Yeah. Just promise me one thing," I told her as I looked at her seriously.

She gave me a glare just as serious. "What?"

"When we have dinner together, don't say 'Daddy, pass the salt.'"

"Why not?" She squinted her eyes with confusion and even laughed a little at how irrelevant my statement seemed.

"Because me and your dad might reach for the salt at the same time and then it's gonna get really awkward. Also, I don't want to kick your dad's ass but if he puts a finger on me, darlin', I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands."

Delaney laughed aloud. She even banged her hand on the steering wheel as her body shook with laughter. "You're so funny, did you know that?"

I sat there with a straight face and didn't even think to blink as I stared towards Delaney. "I'm serious," I said even though I obviously wasn't.

"Andy, I have never called you 'daddy' and I never will. Therefore, I doubt there will be any confusion," Delaney stated properly through small laughs here and there.

I broke the act and laughed myself. "True. I don't want to be called daddy anyways. I think 'papi' suits me."

"Oh my god! Shut up! I will never call you papi either," she exclaimed. She looked over to me to see if I was actually being serious or joking around.

I smirked and shrugged my shoulders. "We'll see about that."

"Why are you always so nasty?" Her eyes met the road again but she kept glancing over to me as if she was disgusted, but I knew she wasn't. She never got disgusted by me. I kissed her after she vomited, if she didn't get grossed out then, then I'm not sure what it would take.

"You bring it out of me, mami."

"Ay dios mio! Don't call me that, fool!" Delaney was laughing once again but this time she reached out to hit me in my shoulder.

"Just call me papi once. I want to hear it come from your mouth."

"No, why do you want me to call you that so bad?"

"Please."

Delaney groaned. " Okay, but I'm only saying it so you can stop annoying me while I'm trying to drive. I'm doing it for the sake of us not crashing because you keep distracting me."

"Alright then, so are you going to say it?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. I was trying to hold in my laughter as I slyly turned on the recorder on my phone.

Delaney grimaced and took a deep breath. "Yes, papi." I ended up cackling just as I stopped recording. Delaney rolled her eyes at me. "You're so childish and aggravating sometimes."

"I know, darlin', but thanks for the ringtone." I held my phone up and began playing the recording over and over again for a few times. Delaney gasped and she tried to grab my phone as she had her eyes on the road. She swerved and I chuckled. "Stop playing around before you kill us both, dumbass!"

"Testa di cazzo."

"Okay, now just one more, I need you to say 'Yes, daddy'."

"How about you get one of me saying, 'F-ck off.'"

"Baby, just say it once and I'll leave it alone," I nearly begged.

"Why do you have so many requests of me saying stuff?"

"Because your voice is sexy and I just want to hear you say it." This time I had to get this on Snapchat so I could send it to Leo, Lin and Rafael. They wouldn't believe I got her to say it otherwise. When Delaney exhaled, I started the recording.

"No, daddy."

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"I said, no, daddy."

"Guys, she just called me daddy, did you hear that?"

"Are you f-cking snapchatting me?" I began cackling as I quickly sent the snap to my three friends before Delaney could get my phone.

"Keep your hands on the steering wheel! It's just going to Leo, Lin and Rafael."

"You're probably the most annoying person I know. I hope you know that."

"You liked calling me daddy and papi, didn't you," I asked, changing the subject.

"No, I'd rather just call you ugly," she muttered.

"Oooo, burn." I acted as if she had actually hurt me and put my hand on my heart.

"Yeah, put some ice on that, loser."

We got to Delaney's house a little bit delayed. Since I kept messing with her, she kept slowing down and swerving which added a couple minutes on our arrival time. I felt much better about meeting her parents now. I was in a much happier and playful mood so my nervousness was diminishing.

Just as I expected, Delaney's parents lived in a luxury home. It was contemporary and modern right by the bay. From a distance you could make out the San Francisco bridge, and even though they were some neighboring houses of it's caliber, the home seemed isolated. It looked like a great vacation home and I was kind of looking forward to possibly relaxing there for the next two days.

Delaney's parents were waiting outside for us. Though, they were doctors, they took two days off to get to know me and spend time with their daughter. When we pulled up, Delaney laughed. "Dad's wearing his cap backwards. The old man needs to give it up." I laughed as well as I stared at her parents. They both looked really excited. The mom was nearly jogging in place waiting for us to pull up in front of the house.

Her dad looked as bright as ever. He was wearing a light pink polo shirt and green shorts with a backwards white cap and to top it off, he had on Sketchers. The outfit was horrendous but somehow, he made it work. He looked pretty good for his age and so did Delaney's mother who was wearing a white visor, a matching pink shirt as her husband and pretty tight jeans. So far, I didn't know what to expect from them. They looked goofy but somehow cool.

When the car was parked, Delaney instantly ran out and gave her parents a hug. Her mother held onto her and asked her a million questions about her health for like five minutes as I got our luggage from the trunk. Her father walked over with his hands in his pockets. "Hi, I'm Michael." He reached his hand out to me and I took it. He squeezed it tightly as he looked deep into my eyes. I could tell he wasn't trying to seem threatening but he was just naturally firm. No man in a pink shirt and green pants could scare me anyways.

"I'm Andy, sir. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, young man." I snickered but tried to keep my composure. Sometimes people misshaped me for the opposite sex but I really didn't care. It didn't really make a difference to me. I grew up with my father calling me 'son' so gender-based terms went right over my head.

Before I could say anything else, Delaney's mother ran over to me and gave me a greeting hug. Her hug was just as tight as her husband's handshake. "Hi, honey, I'm Natalie."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am. I'm Andy."

"Whoa, he's so handsome," I heard Natalie whisper to Delaney.

Delaney gasped as I wiggled my eyebrows at her. She laughed softly and put both of her arms around her parents' shoulders. "I know she's really handsome, Mom. She's my girlfriend."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I just thought-" Her mother was blushing something serious and so was her father. I laughed it off because honestly it was hilarious. Delaney was even laughing herself.

"It's fine. I'm pretty gender neutral with names. I don't mind."

A sigh of relief came from her mother before she pointed towards their home. "Well, why don't you guys get settled in and I'll check on dinner. It'll be ready within a few moments."

-

How do you feel about Andy being supportive of Delaney's decision?

Do you think Delaney's parents are going to like Andy?