chasing demons. ***completed***

#11 home

nervous. his nerves were rushing his body. he felt himself dripping with sweat. today everything became real no longer in their tiny bubble. he would be meeting her father and her three brothers. he felt his stomach knotting up at the thought. he had never met anyone's parents before. it wasn't like he hadn't been with anyone but he really hadn't felt the need to involve anyone in his life long term. it had been a week and from the very first time he looked at her he felt a need to be close to her. he couldn't deny how he was pulled to this one person. she had become his newest everything. he craved her touch and needed to watch her sleep and there was nothing better than hearing her voice in the morning. she slowly took over his mind and threw his senses into a frenzy. in one week he had noticed his nightmares had become less and less frequent. he hadn't had one in a few days. it was a miracle for him. just her touch calmed him and soothed his aching body. just the thought of her sent chills down his spine. now above all his better judgment he was walking into the lions den to meet her family. " relax they are going to hate you at first but they will warm up to you. Xavier will love you right away. I mean you brought your mitt and a baseball. He has been begging for someone to play catch with. he loves baseball." Emma smiled at him from the driver side. she reached over squeezing his hand.

" I never had the opportunity to meet a family before. this is all very new to me. I just want them to like me. especially Xavier. it's really important my girlfriends son likes me." Emma smiled at his words. no matter how many times he said it she was still in awe with the word girlfriend. it meant so much more than just a fling or a let's see where it goes. the word meant it could be more at some point. if she were to be honest she felt more for him than she could express right then. she had thought she was in love with Rory but when he broke her she felt empty but knew she could survive without him. this was something deeper. it was like he had become a part of her being. entwined into the very fabric that made her soul. she couldn't tell him yet but to herself she knew she had fallen in love with this man. she knew she wouldn't survive it if he ever broke her.

" I'm not sure I have ever liked the word girlfriend until now. you know it's only been a week so if this is too much for you I understand. " his heart was beating fast. his stomach in knots. in spite of his fear and nerves he couldn't think of anyone else he would do this for. after only a week Emma had begun piecing him back together one stitch at a time. she was mending his soul he thought was permanently broken. " we are having a huge BBQ and lots of steaks and ribs and every side you could imagine. oh Kevin and Mary will be there also. I thought it could take some heat off of you with the family. "

" do they know I have been with you?"

"in a way. I didn't say directly but they assume. I figured they could learn it at the same time as everyone else." Dan smiled. he was always so impressed with how calm she was knowing everyone was talking about her. she just let it roll off. she was easy going never let the stress of the world take her down. if she were ever upset about it he couldn't tell. she just played it off to small town gossip.

"you impress me. you just do things your way and nothing seems to stop you. I'm so in awe of you. I feel like I have all this baggage that weighs me down and cripples me at times. then I see you and if you struggle I honestly can't tell. you just stay calm."

" I have baggage. for a while it did weigh me down. I struggled to breathe. everything was falling in on me. I just couldn't let it take me away from Xavier. here was this little guy who relied on me. he needed me to be ok. I got better because I had a purpose. when you have a purpose it helps you heal."

Dan could see the ranch looming in front of them. it wasn't a huge sprawling house. it was very simple and quaint. it felt homey. like a family could live happily all their lives together. " wow this place is beautiful. I have never seen anything like this before." the house was made from large logs and a porch wrapped around it shielding its users from the scorching sun. Dan could see why Emma loved it here. he could see everyone gathering on the porch waiting for them to park.

Emma reached over and squeezed his hand. " you will be fine." they climbed out of the truck and it was time for Dan to face his fear. his nerves once again rising through out his body. he felt her grab his hand wrapping her fingers in his. " Come on. everyone is here. trust me. it's going to be a good day. " she went up to the porch climbing the three small steps to her family. he felt a little better seeing Mary and Kevin there. he could see Mary grinning ear to ear. Emma let go of his hand and ran to an older man standing between three younger ones. " daddy!" she wrapped her arms around him as he embraced her into a tight hug.

" baby girl I've missed you." it was then the man's gaze fell on Dan standing there unsure of what to do or say. "introduce me Emma." his voice was stern and deep. Dan could feel his nerves grow.

" daddy this is Dan, Dan this is my father David, my older brother Chris and then these two are my brothers Matt and Jonathan. And this little guy is my son Xavier. everyone this is my boyfriend Dan." everyone's mouths dropped when she introduced him as her boyfriend. he stood there for a moment. he brought himself out of his own head as he brought his hand out to her father first.

" nice to meet you sir. " her father stared down at his extended hand for a brief moment then cleared his head.

" please call me David." he grabbed Dan's hand and pulled him in for a hug. Dan was unsure of what to do so he patted him on the back. once her father finally released him he bent down eye to eye with Xavier.

" I heard you like baseball." Xavier shook his head yes. " I brought my mitt and ball in case you wanted to play some catch." Xavier's face was one of pure excitement.

" I will go grab my mitt can we play now?" he looked so happy Dan probably would have figured out how to give him the moon if he wanted it. dan looked up at Emma.

"Xavier honey go grab your mitt and show Dan where you play catch ok?" he stood up awkwardly waiting for them to say something. Mary and Kevin came over and stood next to him grabbing him into a hug and patting his back. " well did you guys need any help with the BBQ? I'm starving so you better feed me soon. you know how hangry I get. "

her brothers and father looked at her. " gotta feed the beast!" Her older brother Chris said.

" yeah well if you don't hurry up and get cookin you are gonna feel the beast!" Her brother flinched and ran off to start cooking. Xavier came out holding his mitt in his hand and she watched as Dan and Xavier went off throwing the ball back and forth. her father waited for them to be alone. " I know what you are thinking daddy. something is just different about him."

" well baby girl just be careful. I don't want to see you or Xavier hurt. this is the first time you have ever introduced anyone to all of us since Rory." she paused for a moment thinking back to that day. " I don't want to see you like that again. you haven't taken your eyes off him since you introduced him."

"I have too!" Her father shook his head.

" I can tell you are feeling something more than even Rory. " he sighed. " a father can tell when his daughter is in love and you honey. you are definitely in love with him." she stood there for a moment not arguing. maybe she was. maybe that was the feeling she felt that she was so afraid of saying. how could she be this far gone after only a week?

" I need to go help Emily in the kitchen." and like her father never said a word she excused herself into the kitchen. she figured it was safer to retreat than to admit the realization of her own feelings. she was totally and completely in love with this man after only a week.

Dan was throwing the ball back and forth with Xavier. Dan couldn't help but marvel at the kid. he was telling him the story of meeting the girl he was going to marry in kindergarten and going on about a boy in his class who thought he was going to take her away from him. but he already knew that when he got older, Stacey was going to be his wife. Dan watched as David approached slowly as Xavier was telling his story. " sir, did you want to join in?" Dan offered him his mitt and David nodded his head no.

" naw I just came to watch. Xavier you telling Dan here about that girl in your class? I swear that boy tells anyone who will listen. he has been telling us about little Stacey since last year in kindergarten." Dan smiled and threw the ball back to Xavier.

" i don't mind really. it's cute. haven't spent a lot of time with my sisters kid. been deployed most his life."

" so you're a military man. when do you go back?"

" I was army rangers sir and I don't go back. Kevin and I were medically discharged at the same time."

"I see the way you look at my daughter. "

"sir?" Dan was getting nervous again. he wasn't sure what to say or how to respond.

" I can tell by the way you look at her you are in deep when it comes to her. you know it's a package deal? can't love one without loving the other."

Dan stood straight up. he was easily a few inches taller than David and he looked him straight in the eyes. Xavier threw the ball back and he caught it from the corner of his eye. he held the ball in his hand not taking his sight off Emma's dad. " I wouldn't change any of it. I know it's still new." he paused and threw the ball to Xavier.

" so you are in love with her?" Dan was caught off guard just as the ball came in hard hitting him straight in the crotch. Dan hit the ground hard holding himself and rolling back and fourth. " Dan just take deep breaths and try and relax."

he could hear her father holding back a laugh as tears rolled down his face. Dan tried sitting up the pain still shooting through him. he cleared his throat then looked up at him. "sir, I'm not sure I know what love is. I've never been there but I imagine that's exactly how I feel for your daughter. I'm not sure I would know how the breathe without her anymore. somehow she has crept into every thought I have and for the first time in my life I think of a future with her and Xavier in it." Dan took a deep breath as he got back up. Xavier was now over him watching him.

" I'm sorry sir." Dan smiled at him and gave him a hug.

" it's ok kiddo. I'm gonna be just fine." Dan finished standing trying to get his pain to subside.

"Xavier go inside and help your mamma clean you up and get ready to eat ok?" he nodded in compliance to his grandpa. Dan shuffled a little on his feet. " well I guess by now you can tell we are pretty protective of Emma. she has been hurt enough and watching her go through that once was more than any of us could handle. don't break my baby's heart and we won't have a problem." he patted Dan on the back and motioned for him to go wash up.

as they were slowly making their way back to the porch Dan paused a moment turning towards him. " I wouldn't ever hurt her. I think you're right. somehow she has become home to me."