"No... everything's good," her son finally said, giving the room a once-over. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he glanced over at Devi, knowing that if he was going to catch anyone lying, it would be her. "So... what are you guys doing?"

Devi looked over at Jean and, with a cute tilt of her head, replied sweetly, "Nothing much--just getting to know one another. Telling stories...y'know, stuff like that."

She knew he was trying to find out what they were doing, trying to catch her covering something up. She also knew that she wasn't the most talented one at deception, but she did know a few tricks that would help.

Standing from her seat, she walked over to Jean and looked up with soft, concerned eyes. Devi rested one hand on his arm while she placed the other on his cheek. Blinking a few times, she inquired, "Are you sure you're okay? You look pale."

"Nothing much--just getting to know one another. Telling stories...y'know, stuff like that."

There was some inner voice in Jean's head that told him 'telling stories' was not a good thing, especially if it involved his mother... but then he noticed how positively adorable Devi looked at the moment, and how sweet she sounded, and thought that perhaps he was just being paranoid, and even if his mother was telling embarrassing stories, she wouldn't care... After all, it was fairly obvious that Emilia Havoc was mentally unstable...

"Are you sure you're okay? You look pale."

"It's... probably just the heat," Jean said, smiling warmly at her although he was feeling rather foolish at the moment. He could only imagine what he looked like, bursting into the room without good reason. "I'll just go get a drink of water."

Reaching up, he patted her hand reassuringly before adding, "I probably shouldn't leave the old man out there all alone anyways..."

"It's... probably just the heat," Jean said, smiling warmly at her although he was feeling rather foolish at the moment. He could only imagine what he looked like, bursting into the room without good reason. "I'll just go get a drink of water."

Reaching up, he patted her hand reassuringly before adding, "I probably shouldn't leave the old man out there all alone anyways..."

"Okay, if you say so," she replied hesitantly, giving him an uncertain once-over before smiling warmly and giving him a peck on the cheek. Turning back towards her chair, she glanced over to Emilia, a small smile playing on her lips. She sat and looked back to Jean, folding her hands in her lap.

She sat and looked back to Jean, folding her hands in her lap.

Jean stood there for a second before grinning sheepishly. "Well... have fun..." he finished lamely before turning, a hand raised lazily in farewell, and starting to the kitchen.

Emilia watched her son leave before turning toward Devi, a thin eyebrow raised slightly. "Well, don't you just have him playing in the palm of your hand," she said, sounding mildly impressed.

Emilia watched her son leave before turning toward Devi, a thin eyebrow raised slightly. "Well, don't you just have him playing in the palm of your hand," she said, sounding mildly impressed.

Devi flushed somewhat and scratched the side of her cheek meekly, replying, "Not always. I've just learned that it's the best way to handle situations like that."

"Not always. I've just learned that it's the best way to handle situations like that."

"Hmm." Emilia was silent for a few moments, her brow wrinkling as if something unpleasant had just occurred to her. "So..." she began, glancing up at the younger woman. "How... far have you two gone, exactly?" she asked without a trace of embarrassment.

"Hmm." Emilia was silent for a few moments, her brow wrinkling as if something unpleasant had just occurred to her. "So..." she began, glancing up at the younger woman. "How... far have you two gone, exactly?" she asked without a trace of embarrassment.

Devi looked up at Jean's mother with a blank, confused expression. She tilted her head to the side slightly, something she happened to do whenever she was trying to figure something out, and brightened as the answer came to her. "Well," she began slowly, "we did come from Central. That's a bit far...right?"

"Well," she began slowly, "we did come from Central. That's a bit far...right?"

Emilia gaped at her for a moment before blinking several times, unable to believe that the girl was so... dense. Was she joking? She had to be joking... trying to avoid an awkward question by playing dumb...

Sadly, something told Emilia that Devi was definitely not joking.

"What I meant," she started, hoping to make herself more clear this time, "was, have you two slept together?"

"What I meant," she started, hoping to make herself more clear this time, "was, have you two slept together?"

Furrowing a brow in confusion, Devi paused a moment as she tried to understand just what this woman was getting at. Emilia couldn't possibly be asking what she thought she was...No, of course not.

"Um, I think Jean already mentioned this, but we sleep together every night back in Central," she replied hesitantly.

"Um, I think Jean already mentioned this, but we sleep together every night back in Central," she replied hesitantly.

... She was going to have to just come out and say it, wasn't she? Emilia pinched the bridge of her nose exasperatedly before giving Devi a meaningful look. "But have you done more than just sleep?" she asked, hoping that the girl would understand her meaning now.
---

Jean returned outside with two glasses of water, figuring that his father might want a drink as well, silently wondering at the curious ways of women. Shaking his head a bit, he sat down in the rocking chair, offering one of the glasses to Jack.

"Well... doesn't look like she had them out," he announced. At least, not now. It was only a matter of time before his mother pulled out the bathtub pictures, he just knew it...

... She was going to have to just come out and say it, wasn't she? Emilia pinched the bridge of her nose exasperatedly before giving Devi a meaningful look. "But have you done more than just sleep?" she asked, hoping that the girl would understand her meaning now.

"More than...ohh...." Devi gaped, finally getting the path this conversation was going down. She flushed immediately, her eyes dropping to the floor before glancing sideways at Emilia nervously. "Um...yes. Why? Is that...bad?"

---

"Well... doesn't look like she had them out," he announced. At least, not now. It was only a matter of time before his mother pulled out the bathtub pictures, he just knew it...

"Ha. Of course it wouldn't look that way," Jack scoffed, shaking his head at his son's naivety while taking a glass from his son. He turned and looked at Jean with a sympathetic look before adding, "They're just tricky that way. There's nothing you can do to stop it...." He sighed and tilted his head back before a cheeky grin crossed his features. "Besides, it's not the albums I'd worry about. You know your mother likes to talk--and she isn't shy either."

"Um...yes. Why? Is that...bad?"

"Of course it is!!" Emilia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I can't believe... how could he... don't you know that you're not supposed to do that until after you're married?!" She shook her head, looking at Devi as if she were an object to be pitied. "Now you're tainted. Soiled. Poor dear... surely someone taught you better?"
---

"Besides, it's not the albums I'd worry about. You know your mother likes to talk--and she isn't shy either."

"Maybe we should've locked her in the closet..." Jean muttered, his face pale as he imagined all of the awful things his mother could say... this trip was definitely going to test how much Devi liked him.

"Of course it is!!" Emilia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I can't believe... how could he... don't you know that you're not supposed to do that until after you're married?!" She shook her head, looking at Devi as if she were an object to be pitied. "Now you're tainted. Soiled. Poor dear... surely someone taught you better?"

"No! No one told me anything of the sort! It's wrong? Oh no, what have I done," Devi gasped, completely stunned by the new revelation. Her face drained of all color, the earlier blush all but gone. She held her head in dismay as she whimpered, "B-but he was so sweet and...and he said it was okay. Why didn't he tell me it was wrong?"

---

"Maybe we should've locked her in the closet..." Jean muttered, his face pale as he imagined all of the awful things his mother could say... this trip was definitely going to test how much Devi liked him.

"Now, son...the closet?" Jack inquired, raising an eyebrow. Chuckling, he took a sip of the water and turned to his son, adding, "You know that wouldn't hold her for long. That woman's a force to be feared. You know your girl's a keeper if she can last."

"B-but he was so sweet and...and he said it was okay. Why didn't he tell me it was wrong?"

"Because men will do whatever they can to get what they want," Emilia told the girl, her expression darkening. "They can be so sweet and so kind, but still." Leaning back in her chair, the older woman gave a heavy sigh, rubbing at her temples before continuing, "I'm so disappointed... I can't believe Jean would do something like this."
---

"You know that wouldn't hold her for long. That woman's a force to be feared. You know your girl's a keeper if she can last."

"Yeah," Jean replied, managing a smile before taking a drink from his glass. Resting against the arm of his chair, he grinned at his father before sayi8ng, "All I'm wondering is how you've dealt with Mom and her weird mood swings for so long."

"Because men will do whatever they can to get what they want," Emilia told the girl, her expression darkening. "They can be so sweet and so kind, but still." Leaning back in her chair, the older woman gave a heavy sigh, rubbing at her temples before continuing, "I'm so disappointed... I can't believe Jean would do something like this."

"Is....is it really that bad? I can't possibly see Jean doing something so....wrong..." Devi replied worriedly, fidgeting nervously in her chair.

"Yeah," Jean replied, managing a smile before taking a drink from his glass. Resting against the arm of his chair, he grinned at his father before sayi8ng, "All I'm wondering is how you've dealt with Mom and her weird mood swings for so long."

"I just nod and smile, son. Nod and smile..." Jack replied somewhat grimly, sighing. He tilted his head towards his son and grinned. "Worse comes to worse, I just apologize for something I didn't do or say in the first place. Usually works..."

"Is....is it really that bad? I can't possibly see Jean doing something so....wrong..." Devi replied worriedly, fidgeting nervously in her chair.

"Is it bad? My dear, it is a sin against God," Emilia told her in a low voice, her eyes wide. "If I were you, I would let Jean know that there will be no more of... no more of that until you're married."
---

"Worse comes to worse, I just apologize for something I didn't do or say in the first place. Usually works..."

"Hehe... or tell her she's right even when she isn't. I'm so glad Dev's not like that," Jean said happily.

"Is it bad? My dear, it is a sin against God," Emilia told her in a low voice, her eyes wide. "If I were you, I would let Jean know that there will be no more of... no more of that until you're married."

Devi paused and looked at Emilia in disbelief. "No more...of that. You can't possibly expect him to accept that...can you?" Then she grew silent and somewhat more dismayed as she added, "And what if we're never married? He hasn't really mentioned anything...of that sort..."

"Hehe... or tell her she's right even when she isn't. I'm so glad Dev's not like that," Jean said happily.

Jack looked at Jean somewhat surprised. "She's not? Hell, boy, all women are like that! How in the world did you land yourself one that isn't? Just ain't fair, I tell ya," he grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.

"No more...of that. You can't possibly expect him to accept that...can you?"

"Well... yes. If he cares for you, he will," Emilia replied confidently, sure that she was right.

"And what if we're never married? He hasn't really mentioned anything...of that sort..."

Emilia cast Devi a look of pity. Poor thing, so clueless... "Isn't it obvious? He brought you here to meet his family because he's planning on popping the question soon."
---

"She's not? Hell, boy, all women are like that! How in the world did you land yourself one that isn't? Just ain't fair, I tell ya," he grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.

"I dunno. She seems pretty reasonable," the younger man said, although there was a touch of doubt in his eyes. Would that change as the years passed? He certainly hoped not...

Well... yes. If he cares for you, he will," Emilia replied confidently, sure that she was right.

"Well...if you say so..." Devi replied doubtfully. She knew better, though. Jean cared for her, but there was no deep-rooted connection between his affection and "that".

Emilia cast Devi a look of pity. Poor thing, so clueless... "Isn't it obvious? He brought you here to meet his family because he's planning on popping the question soon.

Devi cocked her head to the side, completely oblivious as she asked, "Obvious? What question?"

---

"I dunno. She seems pretty reasonable," the younger man said, although there was a touch of doubt in his eyes. Would that change as the years passed? He certainly hoped not...

"I've noticed that," Jack replied, a small smile playing on his lips. He snickered as he added, "If she were anything like your mama, she'd have blown a gasket when she found them magazines."

Devi cocked her head to the side, completely oblivious as she asked, "Obvious? What question?"

"... Seriously?" Emilia asked, raising an eyebrow slightly in disbelief.
---

"If she were anything like your mama, she'd have blown a gasket when she found them magazines."

Jean flushed red, still unable to believe that his girlfriend had discovered risque magazines under his mattress... he had taken great care to remove all of the ones in his apartment when she had moved in, yet he had forgotten about the ones back here.

"I guess I'm lucky Mom didn't find them when I was still at home, huh?" he said, grinning deviously.

"... Seriously?" Emilia asked, raising an eyebrow slightly in disbelief.

"Um...is it really something that obvious? I'm sorry, I really don't know," Devi replied, somewhat confused.

---

"I guess I'm lucky Mom didn't find them when I was still at home, huh?" he said, grinning deviously.

"Boy, you wouldn't have made it out of the house alive," Jack laughed. He then realized something and sobered, his brow furrowing in distasted. "Then again, knowing her, she'd probably say it was all my fault..."

"Um...is it really something that obvious? I'm sorry, I really don't know," Devi replied, somewhat confused.

"Oh, dear..." Emilia covered her mouth with both hands, a little giggle escaping her lips. "I mean, he's going to ask you to marry him. That's the only reason a young man would introduce a woman to his family."
---

"Boy, you wouldn't have made it out of the house alive," Jack laughed. He then realized something and sobered, his brow furrowing in distasted. "Then again, knowing her, she'd probably say it was all my fault..."

"Probably," Jean agreed, snickering. "Mom always was blaming other people when I got into trouble."

"Oh, dear..." Emilia covered her mouth with both hands, a little giggle escaping her lips. "I mean, he's going to ask you to marry him. That's the only reason a young man would introduce a woman to his family."

Devi sat up in surprised, her cheeks burning with a bright red flush as she nervously averted her eyes to anywhere else in the room. "Are...are you sure...? I mean...is that really the only reason?"

---

"Probably," Jean agreed, snickering. "Mom always was blaming other people when I got into trouble."

"She sure did. I'd know. I'd get that end of the deal a lot," Jack groaned, remembering the past. "She wasn't nearly as forgiving with me as she was with you."

"Are...are you sure...? I mean...is that really the only reason?"

"Of course!!" Emilia replied gleefully, clasping her hands together in an excited manner as she looked over at the girl. "Oh, he'll probably ask you by the end of the week... maybe sooner... who knows?"
---

"She sure did. I'd know. I'd get that end of the deal a lot," Jack groaned, remembering the past. "She wasn't nearly as forgiving with me as she was with you."

"I'd say sorry, but unlike you, I didn't choose to live with her," Jean told him, grinning.

"Of course!!" Emilia replied gleefully, clasping her hands together in an excited manner as she looked over at the girl. "Oh, he'll probably ask you by the end of the week... maybe sooner... who knows?"

"Really...? Really? Are you...sure...? Oh...wow," Devi replied softly, both stunned and excited. She didn't completely know what marriage entailed, but she knew it showed how much two people cared for one another. But she was also hit with a sense of doubt and anxiety. Why would he choose to be with her? After all, she wasn't exactly...normal...


---

"I'd say sorry, but unlike you, I didn't choose to live with her," Jean told him, grinning.

"Who said I chose?" Jack replied, somewhat joking.