Chapter 5: Meeting The Parents

~No One's P.O.V.~

After a week it was already Friday. Xavier has spent every night at her house cuddled up with her watching movies laughing, talking it was actually really great she was loving having to someone to cook for, although he kept complaining she was going to get him fat. It dawned on Xavier that he still ahs not met papa and mama Russo. His mother her self has been on his case about meeting the only woman to grab her sons attention, he wasn't so sure just how much longer he could hold her off. It was only noon but she was calling it an early day, as none of her other papers have come in and so she was at a stand still so Noah suggested they go for a coffee run at a local café down the road. Thinking that would hit the spot, she agreed. Ari tried spending some time with each of the other detectives which was really a chore at some point when they were all together. None of them really cared about the other. Each one not trusting the other. Seem everyone is always thinking someone is working for someone else. She rolled her eyes.

Walking in the café Noah got a phone call. Looking up and taking a step back to answer it only to return with a sad face. "Hey hate to bail but I just got a set up to go ask a witness some questions right now while they got time before they get to work. Can I catch you next time?" Noah asked with a sad face. "Yeah go ahead and go make sure you get what you get what you need I'll see you Monday." She waved him off. Waiting in line when the man in front of her turned and bumped into her spilling his clod sweet tea on her front. "Oh geez I'm so sorry. Ariah?" She heard as the mans voice turned from concern to wonder in moments. Looking at him in shock trying to grab napkins quickly so do the man in front of her trying to dry her. "MR. MORETTI!" She snapped loud enough for him to finally hear her. "I'm good here if you would mind." She told him as he was close to drying off her busty chest.

'RIGHT! Sorry lost in the moment of guilt and oh crap I guess. Can I please buy you a drink as an apology. I can get your shirt cleaned for you." He was rushing out in a nice way. No, it's fine I am perfectly capable of working my washer at home. No harm no foul. Luckily it was a cold brew right?" She joked to him making him smile. "Look accidents happen were good." "What did I tell you to call me." He glared at her. "Really Nix I am fine. Thank you though. His phone went off. "Well great all that was for nothing." He mumbled loud enough for her to barely hear. "I'm sorry?" She asked him confused. "My meeting I was rushing off to which lead to me slamming into you in a rush for was just canceled." He sighed heavily. "I am so sorry Ariah. You know if your not in such a rush would you like to keep me company for a spill?" He asked scratching the back of his neck looking curious and guilty. "Uh you aren't going to let this go are you?" "Not a chance." "Than I loved to keep you company. I do have some time to spare before my reservation anyway." She said as she walked back up to the counter and placed her order for a regular sweet tea and a piece of turtle cheesecake. Nix sliding money to the cashier ordering the same thing. "Not a word from you either this is an apology. Besides you wouldn't let me pay for dinner last time and that was a thank you. Just bite the bullet and accept my apology. Please." "Fine. Just this once." She mumbled as they took their order and found a table.

"So tell me something about yourself Ariah?" "Like what?" She asked curiously. "Like anything. Oh how about twenty questions but if it's too deep we can pass." He smiled to her taking a bite and being impressed by the taste. "Alright you go first." "What do you do for fun?" He smiled to her. "I'm actually pretty boring. Honestly I like to read and go jogging. I spend time with friends and whatever craziness they plan, and I like to be lazy with my boyfriend who also has some fun crazy things planned once in awhile. Other than that I'm pretty boring." She waved off. "I don't think that sounds boring at all. I think it sounds great." He responded honestly because anytime with her sounded like something he wanted to do. "What do you do in your spare time?" She asked back.

"Actually I don't get a whole of spare time, so I like to go to the gym or run like you or read. My friends drag me out every now and then with their shenanigans. Other than that I'm pretty boring as well. It's hard to really do things when people are so demanding of your time in my line of work, it's even harder to find good friends to want to spend that precious time with." He shrugged milking sympathy as much as he can with his honest answer. "Well that doesn't sound like a good way to be living life at all." "No but when your able to give back and help people in return like community and stuff it's actually worth it." "That's a good out look I like that. All about Pro's and Cons'." He nodded to her in agreement. "I bet you would know all about that in your line of work detective I can only imagine some of the Con's you have to face that would probably haunt grown men dreams for decades." "You are right." She nodded drinking her tea humming at the great taste.

The game went on for a good hour, time just zooming by. "Well as lovely as this has been I have another engagement." She told hi after gathering their trash and throwing it out. "Boyfriend got big plans for you tonight?" He teased. "No, I am having dinner with my basically parents." He nodded after learning she lost hers already. Something they had in common. His mom died in a shoot out, and his dad died in a fight with another leader. "That sounds fun, and you say your boring. You know this was fun. I had a really great time talking with you being laid back. I don't get many people I can do this with. Just be you know normal. It's like refreshing, getting that breath of air you didn't even know you needed or were holding in. Ariah do you think maybe we can keep in touch? I know you got a man and all and I'm not stepping over any lines that way. It's just it's so easy talking to you and good friends are so hard to come by. I think a friend like you would be good for me." He looked at her like he wanted to cry a little. She knew how hard this must have been for him, seeing as they both struggled in this way together.

"Just friends?" "Just friends. I won't disrespect you or your man I swear." Putting his hands up in surrender. "This was nice. It was really easy talking to you which in itself was weird. Oh what the hell. Give me your phone." She texted herself and saved him as Nix. His heart was soaring as phase one of his plan was working so smoothly. All he had to do now was just have Noah keep him informed with the moves she makes. "See you around, maybe." She went to leave. "Now that your dating a billionaire you most likely will see more then you think same charities and such." He said with a wink holding the door open for her to leave. Walking the other way with a huge smile on his face his hands in his pockets his driver holding the door open for him. "Did it go well sir?" "It went as perfect as she is." Smirking again getting in his car and driving away.

~Xavier~

Ariah was having dinner with her boss tonight, which was fine since I have work anyway can't get to far behind now. Can't let this little punk as gangs think we slippin'. Everything went smooth tonight everyone had their money, had their products, and had the right equipment. Shipments were picked up no tampering with. That's the odd thing there's always a calm before the storm. We even caught some people crossing our territory trying their luck, can't have that now. Monday was going to be long week at the office seeing as I was dealing with underground shit all this week. Once in awhile the 9to 5 feels nice. I'm getting in so late, not wanting to wake my Angel I told her I would see her tomorrow night where I plan on making dinner for her at my place she has been there twice and her reaction is always humorous to me she's so mesmerized by everything. She grew up in a low middle class as her dad owned his own construction company and worked hard not only for his family but for his workers. She said they mainly struggled so her dad could create a medical package for his employees and still did everything he could out of pocket to help them out. He sounded like a great man. Wonder what he would think of his little girl being with a beast like me?

"Hello" "She just got home and is settling in boss." "Anything happen today?" The line was silent for a moment. Tobias if you or Knox don't start talking I will make sure to take your tongues myself." "She went to catch a treat at the café with Noah, but he ended up taking off for some case. So she ended up having her treat with the man who bumped into her instead. No matter how many times she brushed him off and tried to move past him he was a persistent little shit, they stayed for an hour and she even go this digits. He made her honestly believe he just wanted to be friends and nothing else. Mother fucker was slick boss." Tobias answered with a disgust in his mouth.

"Who was it?" "Phoenix Moretti." "FUCKING GUNNER! Is he just trying to get her in his back pocket?" Xavier growled out. "Nope boss. Source says he's just genuinely interested in her… like romantically." Knox coughed out the last part. "Look Reaper we couldn't exactly go in there breaking a simple snack between friends up without having t explain why it's a bad idea without questions getting raised. We followed her and stayed on top of her, but you need to see this as a win. Once again the Queen has helped us greatly." Tobias said laughing and smiling deeply.

"How the hell is that?" Xavier asked pist off like he wanted to slit his throat over the phone. "Think about it Reaper she has his phone number. All Keith got to it is get it and call him once for thirty seconds not only do we track him and his location, we get to hack into his phone for all his phone calls. Travis has that thing he send in a virus link that can make it to where a cheap burner phone can receive everything that his phone does. Every call every text it will be like the clone phone." Knox said happily knowing that this was a huge win for them. Just another advantage against them, that wouldn't even know was coming." "Alright fine, have Jared come over and he can sneak it all out of her phone tomorrow. Make sure you got men out of sight on her. No one can be seen or make their presence known they are to call down the phone tree starting with myself." Xavier hung up quickly anger flowing through him in waves.

Fucking Moretti thinks he can come fucking stepping up to what's mine he got another things coming. Heading down to the cells and warehouse he needed to let out some much needed steam. Luckily for him the night was young and his imagination was vivid and running wild. After a few hours and being elbow deep in blood even his own men were scared of the sight in front of them. Xavier had taken three grown men the size of 6'8 or so and ripped their parts off of their body. The worse was watching him yank their jaw from their face. He took another man who was deemed the leader and gave him a mummification process as he was still alive. Pulling his brain out through his nose. "Well at least we know how that actually works now. You know I've always been curious about the whole process." Ryder said as they all downed clean clothes.

"Yeah it was interesting I'd like to go through one last time I feel like we missed da step." Axel told them scratching his head. "Probably it was hard to read with the damn bitches screaming." Enzo said as they all stepped outside and went to their cars. "I talked to Leah by the way. She had a fun conversation with Ari about her new friend. Seems like she really thinks he just needs a friend. However she does not see him in a romantic sense at all. She made it very clear when Ellie, Chloe and Leah asked her tonight she will happily walk his ass back to the friend zone where he belongs should he cross any lines and most likely walk away from him completely because she is so far into you and would never do anything to make you uncomfortable or do anything to ruin what she has with you because and I quote 'for the first time since I can remember I'm honestly happy with someone I can trust who loves me." Axel said to him making the guys smile and tease him. Xavier couldn't hide his smile even if he wanted to.

"She is sinking further for you man have you thought about how you going to tell her? It'll be time before you know it." Hunter said looking at him getting his badge in his jacket. "Couldn't just let him have ethe moment huh Cujo?" Enzo sighed. "This is not just about him anymore. She's family. We are all invested in her as well, hell me more than any of you. Except well you." Hunter said pointing at Xavier. "If this gets messed up again she's not just walking out on Reaper she's walking out on all of us. Now I know how fucked we going to be but you two will have not only guilt but two brides sobbing their hearts out on losing a bridesmaid and friend, and you with your girlfriend just how long do you really think Chloe is going to stay with the people who broke her best friends heart. I already talked to little sweet Chloe and just because she is on board with us being in the mafia doesn't mean she'll stick around if Ariah won't." Hunter said telling them all plainly as their mouths dropped at all the truth he threw out on the table.

Thinking back on how Chloe found out walking by the Alley way were Enzo and Xavier were pounding into two men Axel and Ryder were holding who owed money as she watched Axel and Ryder shoot the men right after. Enzo had to chase her down lock her in his room and Xavier's house so they could all explain things to her. She didn't bat an eye seeing as most her past boyfriends were involved in gangs anyway and she just could never bring herself to tell Ari. She agreed to let them take their time as long as she didn't tell her she knew, she would cross that bridge when they come to it. "I'll figure it out. We still have time right now we have other pressing measures like this new shadow pests that keep popping up and annoying the hell out of me. I'm sure Gunner must be getting even more aggravated since they are mostly form his side but If they keep coming over spilling on ours take them out. I already warned them once and that it's self is more than fair." "Sure thing Reaper." "If anyone finds their leader I want him. It's time for them to disband." Xavier said waving them all off and going home.

~No One's P.O.V~

A week later on Friday Nix has been in contact with Ari the whole week just a few texts and bumping into her at the coffee place twice. Xavier had made sure to spend every night at her place. The temptation from not taking anything to a more physical level for the last three months with him as hit her limit hell everyone's got needs and he was more than patient with her seeing as being physical was an iffy subject thanks to the abuse of her last boyfriend. She is now fully over it as of last week and can't wait to see his surprise when she springs it on him. Walking into her house he looked nervous. "Babe you alright?" "Yeah great how are you how was work?" Trying to ease her into a better mood before he laid down the news.

"It was alright long day couldn't wait for this night to end. It's like this day will never end." She laughed standing up to hug him close to her. "The only things that pulled me through was knowing I was going to be seeing you." Kissing him deeply. "Yeeahhh hang on to that thought." He said turning his head in guilt to the side. "What's going on Xav you're being shady." Taking a step back but he grabbed her hands and pulling her back to him. "There's two things I want and need to ask from you." He took his fingers and lifted her chin. "Then ask." She said making eye contact. "First I want you to spend the weekend with me, at my place. I know I always invite myself over here, but I want you to come to mine and stay with me." "All this tension over that." She laughed. "Of course, that's no problem tell you what you play your cards right we can make it a three day weekend." She purred to him making him need to adjust himself. Groaning to himself knowing he needed to wait until she was ready which for him was fine in his head they were going to be together for the rest of their lives anyway no need to rush. Never having any contact with woman before her he was already cool off it anyways.

"Hold that thought. I got a call today, and need you to come to dinner with me tonight." "Alright, no problem do I need to get fancy or anything because it's like already four thirty babe." She told him looking at the wall why was he so nervous. "No, honey you can where whatever makes you comfortable. It's just a simple laid back dinner… with my parents… in an hour." Both of them taking a deep breath. "You got a call today your parents are in town and they want to meet me?" "They've been wanting to meet you since the day after I first met you. They can't believe I actually have a girlfriend they starting to think you're a myth." "Is this what you want? Are you ready for this?" She stuttered looking at him. "What do you mean is this what I want of course it is. I love you Ari, why wouldn't I want you to mee them.. The real question is are you ready for this. I mean you're going to have to meet them sometime I mean I know we only been together two months or three by math." He winked to her. "But I mean this is gotta happen at some point. Do you need me to cancel?" He asked putting a stray hair behind her ear. "No I can do this. I am ready. I was just making sure you still wanted to me to meet them. Some days I look at you and wonder how you could still be with me. I mean you can have anyone you want, hell anything you want. I just kind of wondered why you settled on something so… plain, simple. I mean do you think they'll be disappointed you went to simple." She said with a shrug.

"There is nothing plain or simple about you Ari. You are the most incredible amazing woman I ever met. Hell you're the top best detective in not only or town but the FBI you ranked top damn ten nation wide Ari you're a bad ass, you're truly fearless. You got the biggest damn heart I ever seen. MY parents are going to love you. Hell their already proud of you. It's not just me who speaks of you to them, the whole family does. There is nothing you are going to say or do to them that they wont either understand or love. I just need to warn you my dad's personality is like mine we are only soft for our woman and hard on everything else. My mama is an open book heart on her sleeve, sweet personality like Ellie, but when she's mad she's like the Hulk on steroids. She already loves you. I know you will any way but you really don't need to stress over this, you just got to be you. Go ahead and do what you got to do we leave in twenty minutes it's a forty minute drive out to their place." She just nodded so she can go over think all of this in her room .

Grabbing the tray of cookies she made before because she was stuck on the idea of needing to bring something with no time to stop. After the maid answered the door and let them into the mansion into the dining room His mother was quick out the kitchen to greet them. "OH MY BABY IS FINALLY HOME! I missed you son." She held his face in her hands smiling at him kissing all over his cheeks, no matter how old he got he would always be here baby and he just let his mother continue on for a moment because he could never see her sad or tell her no. "You must be Ariah. I am so happy to finally meet you." She said hugging Ariah tight and close to her. Looking deeper in her eyes. "I'm sorry for asking dear but do I know you? I swear I know these eyes." Madelyn asked her holding her chin still. "No, I'm sorry I can't say we do, or if I remember. It is nice to meet you Mrs. Medina." "None of that you can call me ether Maddie, or mama Maddie like every one else." "Ok thank you." Walking in the door he was looking down at his phone for a moment was a tall man who looked like a clone copy with some facial differences of Xavier. "Awe right on time love. Honey this Xavier's dad Angelo Medina. My love this." "ARI? Ariah Alderman? As I live and breath, it is you." Taking a deep breath of shock as it seemed realization hit mama Maddie too both taking a step back to look at her shock still flowing through their bodies. Xavier looking at his parents to the love of his life with only one thought. What the hell is happening?