Thirty

"So, are you planning on marrying my son or not?" David asked a nervous Elijah from across the couch.

Elijah was dumbfound by the sudden question. He had not expected Mr. Finnegan to spring such a question on him.

"Dad" Scott said embarrassingly from the kitchen. He was helping Gianna out with dinner and making sure to keep his eyes and ears open towards the living area where Elijah, Maddie and his father was.

Scott had invited Elijah over for dinner which was long overdue. They were much closer than they were before. Happier if possible. Scott felt like he didn't have to worry about anything anymore. He didn't have to worry about Parker. It was a little over three days now and the waves were calm. There was no more letters being left at his front door. He was back with Elijah.

"No, it's fine" Elijah breathed out, turning to send a smile across the room to Scott then looking back at Mr. Finnegan who was awaiting an answer. "I would like to get married to him" Elijah admitted through a nervous voice. Scott who was putting out the dishes almost allowed one to fall to the ground, he was quick to catch it. "If he allowed me to"

"Are you proposing" Gianna said, already getting excited by the exchange. "Are you accepting or not?" Gianna said, forgetting she was attending to dinner and swatted Scott on the back with washcloth.

Scott was lost in his blue eyes that waited for an answer. He knew that this wasn't anything official but it had him on the spot. To spend forever with Elijah sounded elating. Did Scott even need to think about it. A future with Elijah is what he wants, what he needed. There was no mistaking that Elijah was the one. Just like his mother was the one for his father. Scott wanted to build a family like there's. To be together as long as the Hamptons-- even longer. The Hamptons bought about a painful memory to Scott. Then he remembers Elijah's words. None of this wasn't his fault it was Parker's. There was no point playing the blame game now.

"I don't see why not" Scott finally said, receiving claps and cheers around him. At some point Scott had lowered his head, his cheeks red hot. Across the room, Elijah just wanted to rush over and kiss him until the end of time.

"I'll be the ring bearer" Maddie finally spoke up.  "Simon will be the flower boy"

"How about kids, you want any kids?" David threw another question at Elijah. Like a new deck of cards, he could never know what to expect.

"Dad, why are you doing this" Scott said, he felt like his father was that one overprotective dad who was going to scare away the boyfriend. David only responded with a shrug, Maddie and Gianna snickering silently.

"Yes, I do" Elijah said. Scott noticed how quick he was to answer.

Scott loved kids, especially his little nephew Simon. He knew Elijah would make a great dad. As he stared into the living room, watching his father throw question after question at Elijah. Maddie and his mother adding in every now and then. Little Simon who stretched after Elijah so often. He couldn't help but smile. For just a minute, he saw what their life would be like. A small house filled with nothing but happiness. They would laugh, cry and argue with each other. And by the setting of the sun they knew that they would still have each other. Little feet's will be running around the house. Toys scattered about the place. They would go to recital and games. Taking memorable pictures and videos. Life would be great.

"I can see why you like him" Scott's father said, pointing at Elijah for emphasis. "It's about time we get on with dinner"

There was a lot of things Scott liked about Elijah. The little things and the big things. A card of 'fifty things I like about you' wouldn't suffice. Amongst all of it, there was one thing he would always say. Scott liked Elijah because he was Elijah. David was the first to sit around the table, eager to take a bite. Gianna had to swat him on his hand one too many times. Elijah took his seat beside Scott. Pulling his hand into his the moment he sat down. Elijah was dying for some sort of physical contact between the two. Circumstances didn't allow that.

Gianna rested the last item of food on the table then took her seat. Everyone started complimenting Gianna on her well made dinner. It wasn't an everyday thing since everyone knew she was an amazing cook. Today she placed extra effort into it since Elijah was coming over. When Scott called and told her Elijah would be having dinner with them. She rushed out and bought more than necessary.

"I deserve some compliment too" Scott pouted, he helped out too so he deserved some praises too.

"A mother's cooking is always the best. I deserve all the compliments I'm getting" Gianna replied, fanning Scott's words out the window.

"I like what you've done with the mash potatoes" Elijah whispered, giving Scott the compliment he deserved. At least someone acknowledge his cooking skills.

"I'm sure you understand Elijah" Gianna continued, smiling brightly as she did. "There's nothing that could top your mother's cooking"

"Actually there isn't" Elijah said with a laugh. "My mother wasn't the best cook but because it was made by her it was delicious. She was a better baker than cook" Scott had to nod to that. Elijah could bake one hell of a pie and Scott was sure his mother might just be able to top it off.

"I haven't ate her cooking in awhile so I have to say for now yours is the best" Gianna slapped her cheeks, not caring how her fork might just stick her in the eye.

"Elijah, you sweet boy" Gianna cooed, her smile widening each passing moment. "That pie of yours is very delicious. You must take after your mother"

Elijah smiled, "I got the recipe from her"

"Maybe I could get it" Gianna joked, running off into the kitchen and back with a pie that Elijah baked.

"It's not time for dessert yet" Scott reminded her as he watched his mother slip a small piece of pie in her mouth.

"Who says we can't have dessert early tonight"

The only reason they had a full baked pie was because Elijah had baked more than necessary. During his week of pain and sadness, he turned towards the one thing that would make him feel better. So he baked a number of apple pies during that week. Eating it every time he felt too overthrown. Scott had entered his kitchen after they had a long talk. Joking around about Elijah getting a visit from the God of apple pie. Turns out he had a few left and why not bring over for dinner with the Finnegans. Gianna who was beyond obsessed with it.

"You don't talk about your family a lot" David said, munching on his food like it was nothing. Scott noticed it, vaguely recalling Mikey saying something about Elijah's dad.

"My parents are divorced" Elijah replied, his head hung low as he scattered the beans on his plate. "My mom is out traveling the world as for my dad I don't know"

"We're sorry to hear that sweety" Gianna said, stepping on David's foot under the table for making Elijah say that.

"It's fine" Elijah assured her. It really was. He knew his mother was doing well. Elijah still had her, he had Scott and many more amazing and supportive people around him.

"Look at what a mess you made" Maddie said in a childish tone. Wiping the mess from Simon's face that he made with the apple pie. Truthfully she was trying to get rid of the awkwardness that was rising.

"When are you going to tell them" Scott whispered, leaning close enough to Maddie, pretending that he was outreaching to little Simon. Maddie raised a brow wondering what her older brother was getting at, "When are you going to tell them about Mikey?"

"I don't know" she replied, whispering just as Scott was.

"You have to tell them soon enough"

Maddie scoffed, "Aren't you going to tell them about Parker"

Scott paused then said, "I will if you tell them about Mikey being-- you know"

"Fine" Maddie said, cursing under her breath. "Mom, Dad, Scott has something he wants to tell you both" Scott turned his head at an unimaginable speed to look at Maddie.

"What is it? I hope it's more good news before I leave for work again tomorrow" David said, taking his slice of pie from Gianna who was raising a curious brow. Elijah was also looking at him, just as curious as to what Scott had to say.

"Well, that umm...what I have to say is that..." Scott trailed, finding it harder to say it out loud than repeating it in his mind. David was looking at him as if to say get on with it. Elijah squeezed his hand in his, telling him that whatever it was was going to be okay "Parker's in town" the words slipped out of his lips faster than expected.

David almost dropped his pie and Gianna almost coking on hers, "that Parker" she asked for confirmation, making sure her son wasn't talking about another Parker or just pulling her leg. When Scott nodded he could see the flames burning in her eyes, her hold on her fork could almost bend it. David was sending spine shivering chills around the room. His silence was deadly.

"I don't need you anywhere near him" Gianna instructed, her mama bear coming out of hibernation. "If he so much as breath down your neck. I'll snap him myself" it was rare to see the ever friendly and sweet Gianna so hostile and when she was it was a sight to remember.

"There's no need for that" David said. "I'll snap him before he even gets the chance to breath down my son's neck"

Elijah was surprised by the sight before him. That the Finnegan's were so protective of each other. A bit violent but none the less protective. Elijah smiled at the fact that Scott had a great family. His wasn't as golden as one would think and to feel that he was slowly becoming apart of his made Elijah feel special. Behind his feeling of specialty, there was a strong hatred for Parker. Elijah might just join them on snapping the guy who hurt Scott.

"Mikey's Simon father" Maddie slipped in while they were distracted by Parker. Scott glared at her but not for long. Her plan was to tell them while they were distracted so she would get little attention.

"Mikey's what!?" Gianna almost yelled drawing all the attention to her and Maddie. Her plan backfired.

"Simon's father"

Dinner turned into a chaos and the apple pie was not enough to calm Gianna down.

**

"Do you think she'll be alright" Elijah asked as he traced his fingers up and down Scott's arm.

"I'm not sure" Scott replied, burying himself deeper in Elijah's arm.

When Gianna heard that Mikey was Simon's father she blew a fused. She rushed Scott away when he tried to let her understand what was going on. He knew his younger sister was strong but he couldn't help but worry. She knew Scott was on her side and didn't falter when he had to leave the room. Both him and Elijah. They've been at it for the past few minutes. Scott was just about ready to head back downstairs.

"I've never been in your room before" Elijah said, taking in every possible detail.

"That's because you don't come over a lot"

"I do, you just don't let me in" he regretted the words the moment they left his lips. It was meant as a joke.

Scott sat up in his bed, frowning at Elijah. It wasn't long before Scott kissed him. The familiar feeling of being pulled into another world overtook them. The kiss was more fiery and passionate than before. Elijah pulled Scott closer, allowing him to fall on top of him. They didn't break the kiss, Elijah hands slipping just above Scott's waist, slowly exploring what was underneath his shirt. Scott chuckled against Elijah's lips, catching his breath for a second as he felt the pulsing heat against his body.

Scott cupped Elijah's cheeks, bring him in for another kiss. The world fell silent, just the beating of their hearts and their love exiting through every pore as little hearts. "Am I forgiven?"

"Only if you kiss me again" Elijah teased. Immediately frowning when his phone started ringing. Looking to the side he saw that it was the same number Carly had called him on a few days ago. She didn't stop by that night as she promised to.

Elijah answered the phone, muttering a sorry to Scott who smiled weakly. "Elijah where are you?" Carly yelled. "I'm at your apartment"

"I'm out" Elijah said, looking at Scott who was now laying on his lap.

"Can you come back. I really need to give you this"

Elijah wanted to remind her that she was the one who didn't show that night. "Can't you leave it there"

"No!" Carly yelled faster than he could blink. "I need to make sure that you get it in your hands. You promised Elijah"

"Fine" he said before hanging up.

"What's wrong?"

"I kinda promise Carly I would help her out with something. It will only take a few moments"

"Fine" Scott pouted, only to have it kissed away by Elijah.

"I'll be back before you even realise I'm gone"

**

Elijah grumbled under his breath as he opened his apartment door only to find that it was already unlocked. He would get what he needed from Carly then go right back to Scott. He was missing him ever second that goes by. Flicking the lights on he saw an unfamiliar face on his couch, a cigarette hanging from his lips.

"Who are you?"

Whoever it was raised their head that was slung over the couch, opening their eyes to finally look at Elijah, "Didn't your parents teach you to never take something that doesn't belong to you, Elijah?"