Casey sighed "goodness... not this... please no" she pleaded to no one in particular. Casey's father chuckled "you're on. Tomorrow morning, bright and early. If you're lucky I won't have many requests" he said. "Dad, don't do this, you've been doing that since you were 10" Casey protested. "Don't believe your man can do it?" her father asked. Casey sighed "it's not that, I just--" she was cut off by her father "then it's settled. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, meet me in the forgery, I'll put you to work" he said, looking at Theo at the end.

Casey simply sighed in response. "Cheer up, Casey, you can bring them lunch tomorrow" she said. Casey rose her eyebrow "but you always do that, you never let anyone else do that" she pointed out. Her mother winked "for good reason too" she finished before turning to Theo "you'll do fine, dear" she encouraged.

Theo chuckled at Casey and her father's little arguement. Then nodded confidentely to him and smiled at Casey. "I don't see what the problem is. Just a friendly bet." Then he smiled to her mother. "Thank you." He then happily started eating, using one hand to take Casey's under the table and give it a light squeeze.

Casey smiled as she ate and laced her fingers through his. Casey's mother smiled and winked at Casey again. Casey rolled her eyes "mother, it's just lunch!" she protested. "That's what you think" was the response. Casey turned to Theo "can you believe her? She's crazy! Sheesh, and to think you were nervous about meeting them!" she said with an exasperated sigh.

Theo chuckled softly at her mother's teasing of her daughter. "I might have been, but you don't really know what to expect." He smiled slightly and gave her a soft kiss on the nose. "I'm actually looking forward to seeing you tomorrow at lunch, is that enough motivation?"

Casey smiled and placed a chaste kiss on his lips "it's more than enough motivation. I'm just annoyed at all the teasing. If I'd know this was going to happen, I wouldn't have come back home" she told him "I'll have none of that at the dinner table. Your mother and I never did when you were growing up, I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from it as well" her father chimed. Casey chuckled and wrapped her foot around Theo's ankle.

Theo smiled at her, moving his hand to rest on her thigh with and funny chuckle. "Alright, no PDA at the table."

"Don't think that doesn't include the stuff you two are doing under the table" Casey's father quipped. "Oh don't even start, dad, you and mom did that all the time, you just thought I couldn't see" Casey shot back "we did not!" her father argued "you did, don't deny it" Casey argued "no argueing at the table" her mother intervened and turned to Theo "Theo, dear, would you like some more?" she asked with a smile.

Casey's mother smiled brightly and added some more food "I'm very glad you like it, Theo. By the way, thank you so much for taking care of our little girl. You don't know how scared I get whenever she goes into the forest. I'm glad that the one time she met someone, it was someone that would take care of her. I always worry that she'll get kidnapped or something" she said. Casey immidiately started to choke on her food.

Theo nodded slightl and listened to her, then looked at Casey in alarm. "Casey?" He swiftly stood up and wrapped his arms around her and was about to give her the hiemlick manuver.

Casey put up her hand as she gulped down some water "no... I'm... I'm fine. Some... some chicken... just... just went down... the wrong way" she responded as she coughed to clear her lungs. "I'm really alright" she said. She cleared her throat and drank some more water.

Theo released her and looked down at her, then after he made sure she was alright, he sat down. He gently took her hand again, squeezing it slightly. She'd scared him, more a sort of shook him up.

Casey smiled and squeezed his hand reassuringly. She sent a wink and a smile his way before she returned to her meal. "Are you sure you're ok?" her father asked. Casey smiled and nodded "I was just surprised by what mom said" she said. Uh-oh... I need to change the topic before they catch the scent... but to what? she thought to herself as a little red flag went up "um... mom, did you ever end up making that pie you were planning on?" she asked, hoping it wasn't too sudden a subject change. "Why, yes, I made it this morning, in fact. I was planning on having it for dessert tonight" her mother responded and turned to Theo "Theo, dear, do you like apple pie?" she asked.

Theo looked at her and smiled, glad she was ok, but wondering what the wink was for. As soon was she mentioned pie, Theo looked like a dog that perked its ears up. Pie? When her mother asked him if he liked apple pie, he was practically drooling. "I love apple pie. I haven't had pie in years. I may be a good cook, if I do say so myself, but I'm a terrible baker."

Casey giggled "then it's a good thing you have me around. My mom taught me everything she knows about baking, and there's no one that bakes better than my mom... and apple pie is her specialty" she bragged "oh dear, quit bragging. You know that I'm not the best" her mother argued "yeah... like grandma... you're still the best" Casey defended. "She's right, dear, your apple pie is the best I've ever tasted, you're in for a real treat boy, she only makes apple pie about once or twice a year" Casey's father said, directing his words at Theo at the end.

Theo looked more excited as they talked about it. He then looked at her mother after a moment. "Umm...is there a special occasion that you make the pie for?"

Casey's mother looked thoughtful for a moment "no... not really. I normally make it during apple season at some point. Because of that I only make it once a year. We have our own apple trees, see, so when we have a really good harvest I'll make one and then save the rest to make for the holidays. Sometimes a special occasion falls during the time I normally make it and I'll make it then, relitatives comeing or the like, but it's more like when Casey wants pie enough to pick the apples" her mother explained, sending a wink Casey's way.

Theo listened then smiled at Casey. "You're pretty lucky, you know that?" Then he leaned back slightly and scratched his cheek with his finger. "Hmm...maybe I could plant an apple tree..."

Casey raised an eyebrow "why? My specialty lies in cherry pies, I leave the apple to my mother" she replied, massaging the back of his hand with her thumb.

Casey chuckled and kissed the corner of Theo's mouth. "Why don't we bring the pie out now, mom?" she suggested. "A wonderful idea, you clear dinner and I'll get the pie" her mother instructed. Casey nodded and stood up. A few minutes later, everything was set up and Casey's mother brought out a warm apple pie.

Casey's mother cut the pie and handed it out to everyone, serving Theo first since he was the guest. "Eat up and enjoy" she invited, even though it came out as more of a command. Casey chuckled lightly and speared an apple slice with her fork. She placed it in her mouth and she smiled "I don't know what was better... the soup of the pie" she mumbled. "But... I suppose that comparing apples to oranges, huh?" she commented to Theo.

Casey smiled at Theo's reaction "told you her pie was the best around. I've never tasted a better apple pie" she told him "I could probably just eat the filling straight and be perfectly happy" she muttered as she turned her chair so she could put her feet up on Theo's lap. "So, Theo, I have a question. I thought the cabin belonged to your friend. Where do you live, then?" she asked before placing her fork into her mouth.