Blinking against the sunlight that filtered through her window, Fawn sat up, setting her feet on the floor. The sun was just barely breaking over the horizon while Fawn packed her bag. She and Garth planned on getting an early start toward Section 5, wanting to get to Garth's home before noon. He lived outside Omaha, Nebraska, an hour and thirty-three minutes flight from Indy. She was a little nervous about meeting Garth's family, despite his reassurance that they were going to like her. Walking downstairs, she grabbed the small plate of bacon and eggs her servants had made for her. A few minutes later she heard the creak of Garth's feet on the floorboards. Warm lips pressed against the side of her cheek.
"Good morning," Garth whispered sweetly in her ear. Fawn smiled and then swatted his hand as he reached for her food.
"Get your own!" She said playfully. Chuckling, Garth headed into the kitchen to get his plate before joining Fawn at the table. Garth forked some of his egg.
"How are you feeling?" He asked Fawn. Fawn chewed thoughtfully.
"Apprehensive." She answered. Garth smiled at her.
"Don't worry, Fawn. They'll love you." The rest of their meal was eaten in silence. Fawn double-checked her bags before taking them to her car afterward. Garth piled his things in the trunk with hers. They were going to ride to the airport and take a small four passenger plane to Omaha. Fawn threw her keys to her driver, but they got snatched out of the air by a sneaky hand. Garth smiled and ran to the driver's side of the car with a cheeky grin. Fawn shook her head and climbed in the passenger seat. Garth jumped into his seat, since the convertible hood was down. He put a pair of shades on, wiggling his eyebrows playfully as he handed Fawn a pair. Garth revved the engine and Fawn slipped the sunglasses on with a laugh. The Camaro lurched forward when Garth put it into gear and they began rolling down the road. The sunlight grew stronger as they travelled and the wind whipped through Fawn's hair. It would be a nasty brown mess when the ride was over, but Fawn didn't care. Tilting her head back, she let out a shout of laughter. Garth shouted too, the wind ripped at his clothes. Fawn inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh morning air. Garth reached over and turned up the radio, throwing his head back with a victorious howl as the song grew in volume. Fawn couldn't help but laugh. She had never seen this side of him before and she loved it. Suddenly she didn't want this car ride to end, but of course, it did.
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"Wow, it's gorgeous here." Fawn said gazing out the plane window. Garth nodded and she could see the pride for his section in his eyes. The sweeping land soon gave way to the city of Omaha. The pilot brought the plane down to a small private airport where guards waited to escort the overseers to Garth's home. Fawn hoped they wouldn't hang around like they had done at her house. Garth helped her out of the plane and they got into a red mustang. Garth drove behind the guards while they traveled to Garth's house. Fawn wrung her hands together, her palms were growing sweaty. Garth saw her and grabbed one of her hands, sending her a reassuring smile. As they walked towards the house Fawn was surprised at its simplicity. It was a log cabin with two floors, not an overseers home, but a personal home. It looked welcoming. Fawn's footsteps had barely touched the porch when a women thrust open the door. She was small, but had the eyes of Garth, which were now filled with delight.
"Oh Garth, she's beautiful!" The women exclaimed, reaching forward and heartily embracing Fawn. Fawn staggered with surprise, unable to speak.
"Mother, please." Garth chuckled, prying his mother away from Fawn. Fawn's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The women straightened, smoothing her skirt.
"I'm sorry. It's just, I've heard so much about you!" Garth's mother said happily. Fawn glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw Garth rub his neck uncomfortably before grabbing Fawn's hand.
"Fawn, my mother Cassie. Mother, Fawn." He introduced them.
"Nice to meet you." Fawn said nicely to Garth's mother. She smiled fondly at her son.
"Let me go get your father, he will be delighted to see you." She turned and walked into the house yelling.
"Nelson! Your son's home, and he's brought our daughter-in-law too!" Fawn's eyes bulged and she wheeled toward Garth. He blushed, something she hadn't seen before. He grabbed her hand again and led her to the car to get their luggage.
"Ignore my mom. She's just excited to have another girl around the house again." He said softly. Fawn could hear the tenderness in his voice when he talked about his mother. Fawn grabbed her suitcase.
"You told them about me?" She asked, peering out of the corner of her eye once again. Garth lifted his luggage.
"I told them a few things." He paused.
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"Like how beautiful you are." He smiled and kissed Fawn's cheek, which was burning with blush. She and Garth were halfway to the door when his father came tumbling out the doorway.
"Son!" His father yelled in a deep voice. Garth set down his luggage and embraced his father.
"It's good to have you home." Nelson said to Garth. He turned to look at Fawn. Fawn could see where Garth got his looks from. He looked exactly like his father, save his mother's eyes.
"And you must be the young lady my wife tells me about." He said, turning to Fawn. Fawn nodded.
"Nice to meet you." She said with a smile. Garth's father returned the greeting.
"Garth!" He exclaimed as he grabbed Fawn's luggage.
"How dare you make her carry all these things. Someone would have thought I raised you in a barn..." His father grumbled taking Fawn's luggage to the house. Turning to Garth, Fawn burst out in laughter. He was pointing an exasperated stare at his father's back. He threw his hands up, showing the two suitcases he was already carrying, before looking at Fawn and shaking his head. Fawn followed Garth in the house, suppressing her laughter for Garth's sake. He showed her to the upstairs where there was a room with two beds in it. Fawn looked at the bed's before raising an eyebrow and looking at Garth.
"You have got to be kidding me." He moaned, setting down their bags. Fawn glanced at him.
"I told them to just let me sleep on the couch and have you sleep up here." He sighed. Fawn showed a sympathetic smile for him.
"It's fine, Garth." Even though her pulse quivered a little at the thought of them sleeping in the same room. Garth wasn't happy, even with her reassurance.
"You two okay up there?" Garth's mother shouted up the stairs.
"Be down in a second!" Fawn shouted before Garth could complain. Garth did one more lookover of his room before he headed for the stairs, Fawn following him. They were greeted at the bottom of the stairs by Cassie.
"So, do you like volleyball?" Garth's mother asked. Fawn saw Garth smile out of the corner of her eye.
"I like it, I'm not too good at it." Fawn responded slowly. Nelson came into the hallway.
"We'll change that by the end of the day." He said as he bounced a volleyball off the floor.
"We will meet you two at the courts." Cassie quipped before turning and heading out the door with Nelson. Fawn looked at Garth, a little confused.
"They do this every time we have guests, my family loves sports, especially volleyball." Fawn nodded in understanding. Garth started up the stairs, but paused.
"Do you have a swimsuit?" He asked. Fawn's brow furrowed.
"Yes..."
"Good, you'll need it in the sand." He smiled and bolted the rest of the way up the stairs. Fawn followed after him, watching him grab a pair of swim shorts from his dresser and walk down the hallway to a bathroom. Fawn grabbed her bikini that she had wore at the palace, before shutting Garth's bedroom door and locking it. She changed into the blue bikini as fast as she could, feeling a little edgy for some reason. She heard Garth exit the bathroom just as she finished tying the neck straps. Hearing the floorboards creak, Fawn pulled on her clothes over the swimsuit, knowing Garth was waiting for her. She pulled open the door and saw him leaning against the hallway wall.
"Ready?" He asked. He was wearing the same shirt as earlier over the shorts. Fawn nodded and Garth turned, plodding down the stairs. Fawn followed at his heels. They hopped into his car and headed to the volleyball courts. It didn't take too long to get there and Fawn looked around while they pulled into the parking lot. There were sand courts and indoor courts. Fawn assumed they would be playing on one of the outside courts. Garth came over to her side of the vehicle and helped her out. Cassie and Nelson waited for them by a picnic table. Garth grabbed Fawn's hand and brought her over to them. She felt a small blush creep up her cheeks, she and Garth normally didn't display affection in front of others. Fawn noticed the table had been set with some sandwiches and fruit.
"I figured you two would be hungry from your trip." Garth's mother said. Fawn had to admit, she was pretty hungry. She sat down on the wooden bench beside Garth. She felt his hand rest on her knee and an instant warm pulsed through her skin. She rested her left hand on his arm for a couple seconds.
"Here." Nelson said and handed them both plates. Fawn smiled and began grabbing what food was there. Garth did the same thing beside her.
"So Fawn," Cassie started after they had eaten for a couple seconds, "I understand you and Garth are in very high standings for the competition." Fawn nodded slowly.
"We are both in second place." Garth said for Fawn. Cassie nodded.
"That's good news." Fawn swallowed her food. She wasn't sure if it was, but then again, Willow or Sean should easily secure the crown.
"If you and Garth ever get married. Would you consider moving?" Cassie asked. Fawn saw Garth's eyes dart over to his father.
"Of course." Fawn said before Garth complained about the question.
"Wherever Garth chooses to go, I will go with him." Fawn felt Garth intertwine his fingers with hers under the table. Cassie smiled.
"Speaking of marriage, what does your family think of all this?" Cassie asked. Fawn's fingers went limp in Garth's and he cleared his throat.
"Fawn's family disowned her after her career choice. She no longer associates with them." Cassie frowned, but then her countenance cheered up.
"Well, nothing wrong with having a daughter-in-law all to myself." Nelson let out a chuckle which made Fawn feel better about the awkward situation.
"Alright one more question." Cassie said.
"Mother..." Garth groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Cassie ignored him.
"When can I expect some grandbabies?"