Title:Facing The Parents
Fandom: Due South
Rating:
Length: 1219
Content notes: written for Challenge 75 Question
Author notes:
Summary: Ben and Ray face questions from the Kowalski's



Ray Kowalski hung up the phone looking very confused. So much so that his partner, Ray Vecchio, asked, “Is everything OK?”

Scratching his jaw Ray looked at his friend. “I’m not sure. That was my mum on the phone. She wants me and my ‘Mountie Friend’ to come to Sunday dinner; she said that we needed to talk.”

Leaning forward Ray asked, “Why does that make you think that something is wrong?”

Running his fingers through his blond spikes Ray replied, “The tone she used and the fact that I could hear my dad in the background saying, ‘Make sure he brings the Mountie’. Do you think that they know about us?”

Shrugging his shoulders Ray answered, “Maybe. Parents seem to know things when we think that they don’t and then they question us on it.”

Laying his head on the table Ray spoke, “I’m scared. I’m in my late thirties and I am scared of facing my parents.”

“No matter what age you are your parents can make you feel six years old,” laughed Ray patting his friend on the back.

Raising his head from the table Ray now laughed too. “True. Now I just gotta tell Ben and prepare him for a Kowalski family dinner.”

Still with a hand on his friend’s shoulder, Ray said with confidence, “Don’t worry, Benny will turn on the Mountie charm and all will be OK.”

That got a chuckle out of the nervous Ray. “I hope so.”

Ben and Ray both got home at the same time and began preparing their dinner.

While watching the pork chops cook Ray spoke as Ben placed the fries in the oven. “Mum called me at work today.”

“Is everything alright?” Ben asked.

Ray nodded and flipped the chops before answering. “Ya everything is fine. It’s just that she asked us to come to Sunday dinner. My dad said out loud in the background for me to bring you. My mum said that we needed to talk.”

“Why is something wrong?” Ben asked, frowning and wondering why Ray’s parents had done that.

Ray sighed and shook his head. “Not sure. I think they might know about us and want to question us or something. You never know with my parents, Ben.”

Ben’s voice was nervous as he spoke. “How did they sound to you? Do you think they are happy, or upset?”

“They sounded OK. Actually they sounded calm, which is making me nervous,” Ray replied, scratching his jaw.

Giving Ray a curious look Ben asked, “Why would your parents sounding calm make you nervous?”

Laughing now Ray responded, “I don’t know? There I am a grown man and a Detective for a long time and I am shitting it going to my parents after they said they needed to talk.”

Chuckling Ben came around the counter to face Ray and placed his hand on his shoulders. “Your parents love you. Everything will be fine, I am sure about that.”

Standing in front of his parents’ trailer Ray looked at Ben. “OK, let’s go do this thing,” he said, blowing out a breath.

Ray knocked on the door and tapped his foot nervously waiting for the door to open. Ben held the potted plant of daisies he’d picked up knowing how much Mrs Kowalski loved them.

Ray’s mum opened the door and beamed on seeing them. “Stanley! Constable Fraser! I’m so glad that you could make it. Come in, come in.”

Ray kissed his mother on the cheek and smiled. “Hi Mum.”

Ben handed her the pot of daisies. “I got you these. I hope that you like them and please, call me Ben.”

Taking the flower pot she smiled. “They are my favourite flowers. Thank you, Ben,” she said, going on her tip toes to kiss Ben on the cheek.

Ushering them to sit, she said, “Your dad will be here soon. I forgot the milk, I know that you love milk don’t you, Ben?”

Ben nodded, wondering how she knew that. “Yes ma’am, I do. You didn’t have to go out of your way for me,” he said.

Waving a hand she set her flowers down. “Nonsense, guests get treated right in the Kowalski house. Now if you’ll excuse me I will just check on the roast.”

Once she’d left Ben asked Ray, “How did your mother know that I loved milk?”

Ray scratched his head and spoke with blush creeping up his face. “I think I mentioned it once or twice about you loving milk; I can’t believe that she remembered.”

Hearing a car pull up they knew that Ray’s dad was home and that was when Ray’s leg started bouncing with nerves.

Mr Kowalski greeted them, “Raymond, Constable, it’s good to see you. The car is looking good, son.”

Smiling at his dad Ray replied, “Thanks Dad. Just got it cleaned…and call him Ben, Mum does now.”

Mr Kowalski nodded and put the milk in the fridge. “Well they did a good job and Ben it is. I don’t know about you, but I am starved and dinner smells great.”

They were soon all sitting around the table. There was enough food to feed an army. It held all of their favourites; Ray thought something was definitely fishy here.

Ben sighed with contentment as he ate the meat, swallowing before speaking. “Mrs Kowalski, this is the best roast I have ever had. You must show me how you cooked it?”

Blushing at the praise Mrs Kowalski replied, “Thank you Ben and please call me Barbara.”

The talk happened after they had dessert and it was Ray’s dad that started it. “Ray, do you have something to confess?”

Biting his lip Ray said, “Ya, am, it was me who toilet papered the Principle’s house on Halloween when I blamed James.”

Laughing, his dad shook his head. “I know son. Now try again.”

Thinking for a moment Ray said, “I was the one who gave the dog the punk haircut.”

Ray’s dad chuckled and tried again. “I know son. Do you want to tell us what you are hiding now?”

Seeing Ray struggle, Ben took over. “I think what Ray is trying to tell you, Sir, is that he and I are a couple and have been for some time and that I love him very much.”

Ray’s mum clapped her hands. “It’s about time you told us. Why hide it? You do know that this is a modern world. Now I can put out the photos,” she said.

Frowning, Ray asked, “What photos? And hang on…you’re not angry?”

Ray’s dad leaned forward. “Why would we be angry? Ray, you have never been happier. Honestly we are not prudes.”

Turning to Ben, Mr Kowalski said, “Now you call me Damian and you’d better look after my boy.”

Ben nodded and replied, “You have my word that I will, Damien.”

Ray watched his mum put out photos of he and Ben together taken at parties and some others that he didn’t even know had been taken. They showed the love that was clear between them.

Ray had been scared for nothing. This would be a day that he would remember forever and he would never question his parents again. They loved him and they loved Ben. It was the best day ever.

The end