A Painful Monday (Monday after beach party)

[Cres]

Dan had not really been worried about her reaction, but the smile and the idea of eagerness he got from her still warmed him. Despite everything, Dan was a family man, and that would never change. Even if he would have done anything to change certain aspects of his family.

"Soon, but... after Halloween, I think," he said. "Let mom and dad get over the shock of Sweetheart announcing she's officially dating Teddy first." He smirked a little. "Though I'm sure they'll love you."

Truth be told, he couldn't be sure, but he didn't want to say so to Bp. The way he saw it, his father had best be happy that he'd found someone. So she wasn't Italian, she wasn't from any of the Families and she was most certainly not Catholic, but at least she was a woman and he had for once brought her home and was obviously serious with her. That should have been plenty. He knew his mother would be happy, of course, in any case. She'd be likely to start planning the wedding at once. That thought made Dan shiver visibly and he grimaced a little.

"Though I have to warn you... my mother can be quite... overbearing and fussy at times."


[[Oh and incidentally - I made a post in Sweet's journal. It's not much of a post but oh well.]]

[Sharise]

The comment toward Teddy made her frown for a split second. "He's not that bad, Dan." Detangling herself from the older man, Bp sat up and hugged a pillow to her chest and stomach, her legs stretched out straight in front of her. "He's not bad at all, really..." The last comment was mumbled to herself as an after thought, more than anything.

Before she had a chance to think about the boy, her mind was brought back to Dan as he continued to speak. Another smile graced her lips. "I can't wait."

[Cres]

Dan wasn't totally blind - he saw he'd managed to touch something there with his comment about Teddy. He felt a hot surge of jealousy at once, but did his best to quench it. She had just pledged to be with him, exclusively. And Teddy was with Sweetheart. He really shouldn't be jealous.

Still, he wasn't going to just ignore what she had said about Teddy. He felt he needed to explain her some things - owed it to her.

"Look, Bp..." He corrected his own position on the bed, sitting up against the backboard of the bed, he put his arm around her shoulders. "There's... some things you should understand, things you should know about our family. Things Teddy should probably know too, but Sweetheart wouldn't tell him, because she doesn't understand. She lives in her own world sometimes, where everything works out just because of love. Everything doesn't always work out just because of that, I should know."

His voice had grown a little bitter, though he tried to hide it. He rushed to move on, before she could have the chance to catch him on it.

"Look, my family... we... stick together. Watch out for one another. It's all very sweet and nice on the outside... but you know, if you're on the outside, it's very hard to see in. Or get in. What I'm trying to say..." He scratched his neck a little. He wasn't going to tell her everything, he had promised himself that, but still he was talking. "My dad's always wanted me to marry some nice Italian girl. Someone he's chosen, preferrably. Be married by 25, get kids by 30, and most importantly..." He looked at her intently. "Do it with a Catholic girl. It's the same with Sweetheart, or maybe even worse, because she's our baby. That's why... you know, it's nothing personal against Teddy. He looks like a good kid," he smirked a bit, "underneath it all, but you know how it's never good enough for your little sister, or your little girl. My dad... he doesn't care about love and such shit. He cares that things go right, the way he thinks they should be. I don't think it's fair you come to meet my folks without that warning."

[Sharise]

Bp wasn't a dunce, either. As Dan continued to speak, she found herself putting two and two together. They were full blooded Italians.... they "watched out" for one another. That sounded a bit like the Mafia to her.

Looking up at Dan, she gave a very dry smile. What in the hell was she getting herself into? She wasn't exactly a good Catholic girl, and Teddy wasn't much of a saint either. Truth be told, they were extremely far from it.

"Well.." She looked down at the pillow, her fingers absently playing with the fabric. "Neither of us are much into religion, and we aren't exactly classy or proper." Blue eyes looked up to Dan. The expression on her face was completely unreadable, but the tone in her voice said it all. "We will never be up to your family's standards. We can pretend, but one day they will see us for who we really are, Dan. And that's not Rosacci material."

[Cres]

Dan smiled faintly.

“The thing is…” he said darkly, “I’m not Rosacci material either. Sure, I go to church with the folks, but that’s about far as my devotion goes. I don’t believe in God. I lost that faith a long time ago, if I ever really had it in the first place. And truth be told, I’m far from classy or proper. That’s why dad sent me to the boarding school in the first place, to learn to be a little more proper. And I guess part of the reason I’ve been so worried about Teddy and Sweetheart is because I see something of myself in Teddy.” He rested his head back and let his eyes wander around the ceiling. “Dad tries to control my life, but you know, I’ve never been good with authorities.” He shrugged and looked at Bp, taking hold of her chin and turning her head gently to be able to meet her eyes. “The point is… I love you. I’ve never said that to a girl before, and meant it. And I wouldn’t love you if you were proper, and classy, and I never want you to pretend anything, not for me and not for my family. I love you because of your spirit. And that, I can tell you, is Rosacci material.”

It was the deepest he’d spoken more or less openly in a long time. It felt strange, and he wondered what in Bp was causing it. He’d never talked like this with Chip. He turned his eyes away.

“I don’t know how far love and spirit will take us, but for what it’s worth, I’m willing to give it a shot, if you are.” He gave a lopsided smile and looked at her with a shrug of one shoulder. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to marry me or anything. I’m just saying… I don’t want my family to get in the way.”

[Sharise]

As she listened, Bp could feel herself slowly smile. Judging by what she had heard of the man, and what she had seen so far, Bp realized that Dan wasn't exactly the type of man to pour his heart out to anyone. But right now... he was. To her. And nothing could compare to the feeling that gave her.

"I think we'll do just fine." With a soft smile, she leaned in and kissed the redhead gently. As she pulled back, a thought came to her.

Dan had said she had the spirit of a Rosacci, and although she tried not to get too excited over it, she had. No one had ever said anything remotely close to that. It made her feel as if she was being welcomed into the family, even if she really wasn’t. It warmed something inside of her, regardless. Perhaps this would be one of the smartest things she had ever done for herself.

[Cres]

Dan smiled a little, though it looked a little forced since he was rather touched and was trying to keep his face normal. He kissed her back, and then leaned back, sighing a little. Maybe it'd all go all right.

"Now you'll have to reserve a dance for me at the Halloween party," he noted, his mind returning to practical matters. His face grew a little more serious again. "I'll have to tell Chip when I get the chance... I mean, I... we haven't been doing so well since, well, the other night."

[Sharise]

Bp smirked. "I must warn you... I am quite the dancer." The smirk slowly turned into a grin as the girl looked down at the pillow on her lap. She really was a great dancer... one of her favorite past times was dancing, especially with Ace. Most of the men she had met couldn't keep up with her on the dance floor, but Ace always could. Then again, the blonde was amazing on the floor.


As Dan continued to speak, the smile on the teen's face faded. Looking back up at the redhead, she shook her head. "Dan... you really ought to try and patch things up with him. From what it sounds like, he really loves you.... I mean, okay, so tempers might have flared and strange feelings might have arose, but that's it. No serious damage done. I mean, the two of you have been friends forever. A single drunken, one night stand shouldn't get in the way of what the two of you share." She smiled a little. "But I'm sure you already know that."

[Cres]

Dan shrugged with one shoulder, looking down as one finger traced figures absent-mindedly on Bp's arm.

"I just don't get his problem, is all," he said. "I mean, I've brought home girls more times than I can count, and he's found them not only in my bed but all over the apartment, and he's never got like that before. He's the one who always keeps saying that it's no different to be into guys than girls, so what is his problem all of a sudden?"

It felt good to talk with someone, for once.

[Sharise]

As Dan spoke, Bp found herself slipping off of the bed and dressing. Once all of her clothing was on, she sat on the edge of the bed, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Maybe he wanted to be the one you experimented with." She hadn't meant to say it really, but it was too late to take it back. Blue eyes turned to the older man. "But what do I know?" A small smile broke onto her face.

By this point, it was impossible to tell what was going on in the young girl's mind. Not that she really knew, either.

[Cres]

The shock of the thought Bp had brought up made Dan go all white - well, whiter - and nearly choke on his tongue. He stared at Bp in utter shock for a few moments, then shook his head, slowly at first and then more quickly, shrugging as though to shake the very idea of it away.

"No," he said quickly - perhaps a little too quickly. "I don't... no, me and Chip, we're like brothers. I don't think anything like that would even enter his head."

But even as he spoke, he had to survey the idea closer, and there was no denying that there was more idea in it than he would have wanted to admit. There were so many things speaking for the idea... but Dan couldn't believe it. Didn't want to believe it. He knew their relationship would never be the same afterwards. He tossed the entire idea aside as violently as he could, turning his full attention on Bp instead. Not bothering to get dressed yet, he inched over to the edge of the bed and grabbed the girl, pulling her against himself while on his knees on the bed.

"So, what's the plan for Halloween? Shall I pick you up for the party or are you going with Teddy?"

[Sharise]

Bp couldn't help but to grin. Dan's response said it all... he knew there was a very real chance that Chip did harbor some sort of romantic feelings. However, before she had a chance to tease him about it, she was cut off by another question.

Sighing in a rather overly dramatic fashion, Bp draped her arms around her boyfriend's shoulders. She'd have to poke fun at him later. "I'm sorry my dear, but Teddy and I must make our entrance together. I mean really...having Two Face and the Joker enter at different times just wouldn't work. Us villains must stick together." There was a playful expression on the girl's face.

[Cres]

Dan smirked - successful, as always, in pushing off thoughts he rather didn't let loose.

"Yes, and then, I must make appearance with my brother-in-arms," he said with a grin. "Me and Chip are doing Samurai warriors, I don't know if I've mentioned that. Was all his idea anyway, but he likes it flashy. So, I guess I'll just have to sneak up on you in the party, huh?" He paused for a moment as a thought came to him. "Uh, do you know, should I escort Sweetheart or is she coming with you and Teddy?"

[Sharise]

"Flashy, huh?" Bp smirked. "Well then, I suppose that's why he and Ace get along so well... " A soft chuckle snook through the teen's lips, but was soon replaced by a baffled expression.

"Actually.." Her head tilted. "I'm not sure. Teddy probably hasn't even talked to her about it yet... She knows that the two of us are going as a duo basically, but I highly doubt they've discussed anything in further detail."

[Cres]

Dan nodded and shrugged with one shoulder.

"Well, I guess we'll worry about that later, then," he said. Then he looked up at her. "So... you staying for... breakfast," he grinned a little; it was still technically late morning, "or you want a lift somewhere?"


[[I'm beginning to be all out of anything interesting that might happen to them before they part... you?]]