Atlanta… It was only May now, but the heat was sweltering already… Well it was to what he was use to now. Back home it was only in the sixties, and there wasn’t much humidity at all. But as Trey stepped out of the terminal of the airport the humidity hit him first, then the heat. Sure it was only in the low eighties, but already the air was sticky.

With a bright grin he turned to Aury, pulling her closer to him.

“You know I love you right? And I’m really glad you decided to come to the reunion… I know you haven’t been feeling well, but it really means a lot for you to come.” He kissed her forehead lightly. “I know they’ll love you.”

He’d make sure she could rest before she was interrogated by everyone else, after all he knew that all of his cousins and whatnot could be a real pain. Apparently he had more family than he ever really knew about. Cousins everywhere from a little older than he was to some as young as three. Being an only child he didn’t have any nephews or nieces, but there were still a lot of people he never knew were related to him.

“Do you want to get some food before we head to my Grandma’s place?” He asked as they made their way to the Car Rental place. After they got the car they’d go get their luggage and head off, but he wanted to get Aury some time to recover from the flight.

During the last hour of their flight, Aury had spent 20 minutes in the small bathroom throwing up what little food she had to begin with, telling Trey when she returned that she only wanted to freshen up before landing. She'd covered the signs of being ill with brushing her teeth, a splash of cool water followed by carefully applied foundation and eye-makeup. The blond hadn't wanted him to be worrying about her when it was supposed to be his time with his family. She'd been sick for almost a week now and figured it would pass soon anyway and that it only got momentarily worse because of the flight. The young woman's slight frame was exhausted but she sucked it up her Trey.

Aside from the typical 'meet the family' anxiety; the woman was extremely excited to meet the famous Grandma. Trey had spoken highly of her from jumpstreet and the prospect of meeting her was almost overwhelming; she loved it. Glancing up at the handsome face of her boyfriend when he'd pulled her close, Aury gave a sigh quickly followed by a smile, "Course you love me. I'm adorable." Her eyes fluttered playfully, trying to push her butterflues and general stomach ache out of her mind, the heat already playing a study role in making her feel alittle worse, "I just hope your family see me that way."

Food. It appeared to be both the enemy and savior. EVen the thought of it making her want cringe but at the same time realizing a tall, cold beer and a balony sammich sounded great. Looking up at Trey, her small frame already screaming to take off the band tee she had on over a dark blue tank top, "Are you hungry, babe? 'Cus I'm sure at this point I'll go to eat, take four bites and be done." Her duffle hung over she shoulder as they reached the rental place, a short portly woman almost knocking it from her hand, "Hey watch it! Crazy old bat."

Instantly she realized she was alittle irritable with anyone aside from her boyfriend it seemed. He could push her over, help her back up and push her over again a million times and she wouldn't be angry. But that woman pushed back Aury and she wanted to rip the fat lady's head right off her stubby body.

"A little." He said with a shrug. But he could also wait until dinner.

As they can to the renal station he paid for the car and someone drove the silver Camry up front. But he had to blink and just watch for a moment as Aury seemed to go off on some lady for bumping into her. She usually wasn't like that, and he didn't know what had made her so cranky. After all, you couldn't get Jet Lag if you didn't pass through any time zones right?

"Aury... Sweetie, come on. Let's get you to my Grandma's house so you can get some rest." He said soothingly, one hand rubbing her shoulder, the other taking the bag. "I know you're not feeling well, but there's no need to start anything." He added, kissing her cheek before turning to put the bag on the back seat along with his carry on.

He opened the passenger door for her, waiting for her to get in.

"We'll swing by somewhere and get you some food on the way, how's that?"

Aury's face had become a grimace when the woman shrugged her off and kept walking away, the urge to hurt her not going away until Trey kissed her cheek; it was like a reminder that she was sick and just needed to chill out. With a short nod, her long blond hair still up in a loose bun, she turned to the door held open for her and smiled her thanks. Once seated and the door was closed, she leaned across the center console and popped open her boyfriend's door for him, planting a kiss on his cheek when Trey sat.

The car wasn't exactly luxury, which was great, so it was more homey and comfortable to sit in. With a sigh she leaned her back against the soft material over the seat and craddled her hands in her lap, her stomach ache going away slowly, "That would be great. Do they have a burger king around here?" Junk food was on her mind and she wanted to indulge, irregardless of how little she thought she might eat, she'd pay for her portion if she could get it passed Trey.

As they pulled away, Aury let her head rest on the seat as she looked over at Trey silently, observing him and inwardly being grateful that she'd not decided to stay in Demaitre. With a smirk she leaned over and rested her chin on his shoulder, "Thank for bringing me, Trey."

"Burger King?" He raised an eyebrow at the rather odd request for her. But well, everyone had their comfort food right? "I'm sure that there's one round here somewhere." He nodded.

"Well pull up to the luggage claim, I'll load the bags and we'll be on our way." He said as they made their way to the right area for their things. Once there he popped the trunk and made his way to grab their bags. They were only a few left from their flight so it wasn't too difficult to locate them, and everything was there.

Once the trunk was closed again he slid back into the driver's seat and smiled at Aury. "What was I going to do baby? Leave you up there alone for the week? I couldn't do that if I tried." Trey chuckled slightly. "Besides, everyone would have given me hell if I showed up without you." He added with a grin.

Within five minutes they'd located a Burger King and after hitting the drive through Aury had her food.

"So, while you're eating, shall I just give you a tour of the few places I know around here? Or should we just head to my Grandma's house?"

Aury sat there with a greasy cheeseburger placed on it's wrapper in her lap, three bites missing from it and her medium rootbeer in the cupholder was already half gone. Sitting there, a smile on her face as she wiped a bit of ketchup from her bottom lip and gazed at Trey, "Thank you, hun. It's great." It was true, her stomach had been messing with her, but she wasn't crampy; which was something she'd been looking for for about a week now. It was frightening to think of what it meant, but there was always the fact that she was stressed out about her father's death and meeting Trey's family, so she pushed it off as her body just 'giving her a break' or something.

When the question came up about whether to go on a site-seeing venture or go right to Grandma's, the woman knew instantly what to say as she finished up a few more bites of her cheeseburger and put it back into the burger king bag between them. "Let's go right over, babe. You haven't seen her for a while, and we'll be here for a bit, no rush to go see something I can see later on." Her blue-green eyes peering over at him with a smile, the straw to her rootbeer between her pearly white teeth, the other hand trapped between her knees.

After a few moments, Aury couldn't take the heat anymore and set her rootbeer back into the center console, and pulled off her band tee. Her tank top went up alittle but not much, her slightly freckled and slender stomach showing itself for but a moment before she threw the band tee into the back adjusted the tank top, a 'phew' escaping her lips.

"Well I was offering the tour so you could finish eating, but nevermind." He chuckled as he looked over to the empty wrapper.

She seemed to be in a better mood, so perhaps it was just the flight here. "Nothing starts until tomorrow, and everyone else in the family lives in town or within driving distance. So it'll just be us staying with her at least, so tonight will be a reprieve and a chance to rest up before everyone else starts to play twenty questions with you."

It was about fifteen minutes of driving before they pulled up in front of a small but well kept house with a large yard just on the outskirts of the city. The burgundy shutters and trim stood out from the cream colored siding, the brick porch leading up to a storm door, with the regular door open.

"Well looks quiet enough huh?" He said with a grin as he opened his door, popping the trunk.

The blond smiled, "A reprieve would be great. I'll sleep like a baby tonight." she smirked. When they came to the drive and pulled up the house, Aury couldn't believe her eyes, it was a simple but wonderful home. It was like none she'd seen before having grown up in the dingy parts of a city; it was a calm place and she was grateful that this was where they'd be staying. In a way, she wouldn't have expected the wonderful Grandma to live anywhere else; it suited the woman and the details Trey had mentioned about her.

"It's wicked." Her tone was halfway between awe and glee, a genuin smile on her face as she got out of the car with her boyfriend and stood there, waiting to take her bags from the trunk. When the trunk was popped, Aury reached in and took out her small torn up suitcase full of clothes, and a small 'bathroom' bag that had her makeup, girl stuff and both their necessaties. Such as toothbrushes and such.

For a moment she expected an explosion of greeting from an animal being let out the front door like in the movies when she remembered her darling Pickles. The old cat was probably fretting up a storm over at the neighbor's house. Darla had said she'd take care of her to the best of her abilities, but being a college student; Aury hoped beyond all hope her cat wasn't forgotten and starving. "Sure hope Pickles is holding out well." She mouthed her concern quietly to Trey.

"Well, after the house in New York, she decided to get a one story thing so she didn't have to deal with stairs. The warmth is also better for her here, arthritis and all." He said with a shrug. "But it was a pain to help her move in though. I never realized how much... stuff she has. Books mostly. And old newspaper articles and magazines in boxes and she refused to get rid of it all."

"Marcellus!" Came a thrilled voice. "Marcellus boy I thought you'd be here hours ago! I've been waitin' on ya to see what to make for dinner." She was thin and almost frail looking, but she was full of energy it seemed, her dark eyes bright and full of delight as she hugged her grandson, pulling away as she caught sight of Aury.

"And so this must be the lovely young lady you're always talking about! Well, welcome Aury, and don't ever be afraid to defend yourself here. Take what you need, don't be polite or else someone'll take it from ya." She said with a chuckle as she moved to embrace Aury as well.

Trey nodded at the words. Wasn't that the truth. Don't ask if you could have the last burger, just take it or someone would snatch it before you could grab a bun.

Aury smiled and bit her lip with a little giggle when she saw the way Grandma greeted her boyfriend, it was very much a gram-type response to seeing the man, the look of them together a perfect picture. Her eyes darted from Grandma to Trey and back, her smile widening when she was embraced, hugging the woman back as best she could with her lugage in hand. She had not really gotten to know her own grandparents and it was nice that Trey's grandma was already so open and nice to her. She could already tell the woman and her would get along just fine. "Nice to meet you."

The comment about simply taking instead of asking wasn't an entirely new concept considering she'd grown up in a city where she had to stick up for herself and cover her own ass. But here, it sounded like a strange idea, one that Aury would need time to grow on. "If you say so." Her smile broad and bright, her stomach ache had gone away but now she had to pee really bad, had since she'd finished the soda just before arriving at Grandma's.

Not wanting to seem needy already, the woman sucked it up and merely stood there, waiting for Trey or grandma to make the indication of getting into the house. Her bladder screaming her pulse at her pelvic bone almost making her want to do that little dance children do when they have to pee.

"Oh, well if you don't think so darlin you just wait until tomorrow night when you're still hungry!" She laughed as she ushered the two in, tugging a small bag from Trey's hands as he pulled it from the trunk.

"Grandma! I've got it alright! Don't be doing nothing to work yourself too hard!" But she was getting away before he could grab the bag back.

Sighing and shaking his head he took the rest of the luggage, ushering Aury inside.

"Same room as last time Grams?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, and Aury can have the room next to it if you don't want to share yet." She answered, but Trey shook his head. "Nah, someone will need it tomorrow before the night's out. We can share."

"Oh, well I was going to make some ribs for dinner if y'all are hungry. You got a while to settle in though, so take yer time."

Trey nodded and lead Aury into the room they'd be sharing for the week and smiled. "Tell you what... I'll make sure we have some alone time if you're feeling better tonight." He growled playfully at her ear as he slipped behind her.

Aury couldn't help but giggle at the hungry comment, it would be like juvy then, but she didn't say anything about having been punished in such a manner. Telling her boyfriend's Grandma about her run-ins with the law at a young age was not something she wanted to use as a first impression. Instead she only nodded her recognition of having to make a point to just take food when she was hungry and smiled, one that broadened when Grandma took the small bag and moved right to the house with it, Trey obviously hadn't seen it coming.

Inside the house was even better than the outside, though Aury was more concerned with where to go exactly once there, she stood just inside the doorway and waited for Trey to be her guide. A worried face came over her pretty features for a split second at the thought of having to be in a room by herself in a new house; though it was a safe place it would have been strange. But her boyfriend squashed out the fear with his excellent point concerning other guests.

Ribs? The blond was still full from what she'd eaten not too long ago, the burger settled in her stomach and causing alittle disturbance, though she ignored it as she gave Grandma a smile and followed Trey to their room.

"Tell you what..." Aury looked at him quizically with a smirk as she set down her own bags in a chair just inside the bedroom doorway, I'll make sure we have some alone time if you're feeling better tonight." The blond couldn't help but smile at the thought, it would be a comforting end to a long day, but then there was the whole 'at Grandma's house' thing.

"Here, babe?" Her blue-green eyes giving a small roll even though she was smiling and quite alright with the prospect other than where they were, "At your Grandma's house?"

With a grin he shut the door quickly and turning, pulled Aury to him and turned to press her against the door.

It had been a while, with her feeling sick and all, so needless to say he was a little more than eager as he kissed her. He pulled away only slightly, to whisper against her lips. "She goes to bed at nine and nothing can wake her up." He said with a grin.

"So... I can have you aaaalll to myself." He said as his hands ran over her hips, continuing to kiss at her, down her neck, against her throat and along her jaw. "You know I love you right?" he said with a smile as he pulled away, brushing her face with his fingers, smiling at her brightly.

"You get some rest okay baby? I've got some catching up to do with Grandma, and I'll wake you for dinner, how's that?" He asked.

Aury giggled and returned the hungry kiss, it seemed like forever since they'd been alone, her ailment always seeming to get in the way lately. "Nothin', huh?" The woman smirked as she let her hands rest on Trey's hard chest, his hands on her hips and kisses along her neck teasing, but she kept her body in check by remembering he needed to spend time with Grandma. Not to mention her headache was all too eager to remind her that she needed wait alittle longer before they really got to have alone time.

Placing a last kiss on his tender lips, she nodded again, "And I love you." Aury's eyes softening as she nodded lightly at his proposition, "A nap would be great." She felt rediculous for saying she needed so much sleep lately, it was like being a sloth, but she tried not to let her worries of her being sick show on her features.

With that she gave him a caring glance, letting her hand trail his chest as she walked to the bed, letting her shoes fall to the floor as she slipped onto the soft matress. As Aury lay down, her form accented by the way she lay there, her long blond hair flowing out on the dark bedding beneath her. "Sounds good, babe." Smiling, she curled one hand to her neck and let the other dangle off the bed alittle, creating a ninety degree angle.

He smiled and gave her a final kiss before turning off the light. She needed some rest after all, and it would give him a chance to catch up with his grandmother without boring Aury.

So that's what he did. After all, her grandmother would probably interrogate her over dinner. Well not interrogate of course but there would be a lot of questions in between the food.

And later, if she was feeling better, they'd get to have a bit of alone time that they needed. He hadn't bothered two weeks ago because she was on her period from his mental calender, and this past week she'd been sick and so even though he wanted to see if he could persuade her to have some fun, he wasn't going to do anything to make her worse.

She seemed a bit better today which was why he had offered, and he was glad that she'd accepted. It meant she was feeling better at least.

It was about four hours later that he was back in the room, sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Aury. Dinner time baby. How ya feeling?"

As Aury lay there, she listened to her own breathing and the comforting but muffled talking she could hear through a heating duct in the corner near the door, she hadn't taken long to doze off. Her dreams were brief and subltly pleasant. Laying naked in a large white tub full to the brim with cool blue water, soft rose petals floating on the surface of the water as the woman lay there in bliss, her boyfriend's scent meeting her nostrils as she felt him walk into the vacinity. Opening her eyes and lifting her head from the back of the tub, she smiled at his handsome features, realizing a moment later that she'd woken up and was actually looking at him Trey.

The smile on her face had been one carried over from REM sleep, something she'd been grateful to have reached and remembered, there was nothing like dreaming so sweetly and waking to the loving features of her boyfriend. Reaching out feebly she let her hand rest on his thigh as she looked at him, nothing meant by the movement but simply to have the contact as she gazed at him, her blue-green eyes puffy with sleep.

"Starved." The blond's tone was tired but lively as she adjusted her head to look more easily at him, the smile not wavering in the least, "Did you have a good talk?"

She looked so precious sleeping... None of the fight or irritation in her...

As she stirred Trey bent over her, kissing her deeply to cut off any more words or questions she might have. One hand had to keep him up on the bed, but the other was free to do as he wished. And with that hand he caressed her throat, let his hand wander down between her breasts and down to her stomach.

Slipping under her shirt he caressed her warm skin, nothing to drastic, just her stomach, her sides up to just beneath her ribs.

"Have I ever told you how absolutely perfect your body is?" He murmured against her neck. "Michaelangelo couldn't have created a masterpiece more beautiful." He said with a grin.

"And I intend to take in every part of this piece of art later tonight." He promised with a grin. He pulled her up close to him.

"But it's dinner time now." He said with a smile, pulling her up to him.

The kiss had served to wake her up as fully as expected from one who'd just woken from a calming nap, their lips meeting a pleasant sensation, reminding her totally that she was no longer sleeping. There was nothing like his kisses in her dreams, the real thing was as good as it got, and his words were as sweet as his contact.

Aury's frame covered almost instantly in goosebumps at the subtle and gentle contact of his hand down her from and to her side, his hand alittle cold but she was used to it. Her own hands were relaxed, one resting on the bed above her head twirling a piece of her own bright hair, the other placed on Trey's cheek as she smirked. "Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, babe." She fully smiled as she listened to his comment, her gaze meeting his for a moment, "I'm just glad it's you who'll get to enjoy the masterpiece forever, no one else."

The comment was a possessive one, but not in a destructive fashion, their separation had proven it was hard to be away from each other. And now, being together as they were, Aury couldn't have been happier. A fact she knew Trey knew well.

"Yeah, food." The idea seemed a great one, feeling like she hadn't eaten in days, though her stomach threatened a gurgle of unpleasantry. But all ideas of the time to come, alone time with her man that she'd yearned for, kept her smiling.

Possessive... Yeah? So what? He was possessive when it came to her as well. When he thought that she'd let him for good... When... When he'd heard her on the phone that night, or... or whoever had pretended to be her... He'd lost it. He'd nearly been fired because he wasn't doing what he was supposed to, he wasn't getting there on time or anything...

He'd struggled through his finals and papers...

He'd thought about giving up everything and just moving here, wanting to walk away from everything that reminded him of her.

And now that he had her back... He wasn't going to let her go. He knew how miserable it would make him if he ever had to go on without her and he knew that it would be almost impossible for him to recover from another blow like that. And he knew that he wouldn't want anyone else.

As Trey lead her in to the kitchen his grandmother smiled. "Well you look like you had a nice rest. You feeling a bit better after that long flight dear?" She asked as she continued to move plates and food to the table. She was delighted to finally have someone to cool for again. It had been a while since she had visitors over for meals and she felt as if her talents were going to waste. "Well you eat right up and I'm sure you'll feel better in no time!"

Mashed potatos, it was an unmistakable scent that Aury hadn't enjoyed in years, having been addicted to junk food. Which she admittedly still was, but the idea of having a home-cooked meal was exciting, a person can only eat hotpockets so many times. Allowing herself to be lead into the kitchen, she rushed over to help Grandma finish setting up the table and getting the food on the table, "Much better, thank you." Her tone light and fresh, she honestly couldn't wait to dig into the green beans and ribs, her blue-green eyes darting over everything on the table with a 'which one first' mentality.

Sitting down she helped serve the food, it was bold of her, but the blond wasn't one to be the quiet mouse forever. In time Trey's whole family would know she was outgoing and fun, and if there was one person she wanted to prove she was great to, it was Grandma. Her respect at the moment was what Aury sought out, being accepted, being thought of as family.

Waiting until all three of them had been served and looking at her plate of food, which had a small serving of green beans, mashed potatos, ribs and a freshly baked roll, Aury looked to the other two. She half expected there to be player, something she resented but would tolerate for eternity if she had to, she didn't want to be rude and start eating if there was a tradition in place for such things.

"Well that's good to hear darling. You go sit down now and- Hey put those down girl!" She snapped as she saw Aury grabbing the plates. But she wasn't quick enough to stop her. "You ain't here to work girl. You go sit down before I tie you to that chair." She said with a rather stern look. But she meant everything with the best of intentions.

Trey could only laugh really at the scene. He'd learned years ago not to even bother trying to help her out. Some people thought it was rude, but well... You don't get in Grandma's way.

Once all the food was out the two began to help themselves to the dishes and didn't waist time with eating.

But Trey noticed Aury hadn't started yet, and he frowned.

"You okay babe?" He asked, looking at her. She said she was feeling better, perhaps with the food in front of her she realized.

Aury looked at Trey and his Grandma, obviously they had no prayer tradition; which was most excellent. With a smirk she gave a short nod, "I'm fine, just didn't know if-", she paused and shook her head with a small grin, "Nevermind." Picking up her fork her first bite would be the smooth mashed potatos; they were perfection on her palait. With a glance at Grandma she nodded and swallowed quickly, "They're awesome!" She wasn't exaggerating or lying, the blond woman was genuinely in love with the meal she bore into after only a few more moments.

As they finished eating, the woman having eaten most of her mashed potatos, green beans and a roll but only half her ribs, she smiled and sat back. Being that full was almost painful, though Aury knew it would subside in a few moments, "That was the best meal ever, Grandma. Thank you." She flashed that perfect smile and her stomach gave a terrible gurgle that made her look down at it, the flatness tensing beneath her shirt at the strange noise, she giggled smartly and poked it. "Shh."

Aury was full, there was no doubt about it, but for some reason her stomach was unsettled with her and still called out for something. Perhaps it was just anxiety about meeting the family, or stress about not feeling well and eating so much that day, there was no way to be sure. Blue-greens moving back to Trey she smiled, "You full?"

"Well you stick around long enough and you can learn to make if your yourself." She said with a smile, an offer of sorts to teach her. "After all, Marcellus can't cook worth beans, and probably not even baked beans!" She said with a laugh.

"Aw gran- you know that's not true! I helped you out in the kitchen all the time!" He said defensively.

But the woman raised an eyebrow and turned her dark brown eyes to Aury. "And has he ever made you a meal to sweep you off your feet baby? Did you even know he could cook if he wanted to or has he kept that little fact all to himself."

Of course she was teasing, just hoping to embarrass him, and of course she was accomplishing that fact. It was only because of his dark skin that the blush wasn't evident, but his face was buried in his hands.

"Granny come on! You don't have to do this you know! I do cook sometimes! Come on Aury, tell her that I can and do!" He said with a pleading smile at her. After all, he might not be able to do much, but he did do what he could for them! Why not? Making food was always cheaper than ordering out or going out all the time. It really helped to save money.

Aury smirked at the woman, "Alright." Her lips curled into a smile as she tucked a locke of hair behind her ear that had escaped the loose bun at the back of her head. But she really smiled and even laughed alittle when Trey went to defend himself against his Grandma's accusations of not being able to cook.

Being the good girlfriend that she was, the blond woman decided she'd stick up for him... alittle. "Yeah, he's made me a few meals here and there." Aury winked at him and smiled toothily, "But it's usually a dual effort." her tone was bright and playful as she expected him to get alittle flustered about her siding with his Grandma. Though, in reality, she knew well enough that the man could cook. After all, he had gotten her to stop eating as much junk food with his awesome home-cooked meals.

"But honestly, Trey's a great cook, and I see where he gets it from." Aury snuck in the compliment once again to the man's Grandma. If there was one person she wanted to spend time with if she got the chance, it would be with Grandma; learning how to cook. Having spent most of her time ditching school to go hang out with her street friends, she'd never really learned how to make a proper meal, so it was something she looked forward to.

"Gee thanks." Trey said with a roll of his eyes. "You're such a supportive girlfriend." He chuckled. And soon... Tomorrow, once everyone was here, she could be his fiance, not his girlfriend.

"Oh yes, I know he's a good cook, and you don't need to be flattering me child, that'll get you no where with me." She said with a laugh. She appreciated the comment, but the girl was already good in her books. Sweet, polite and well, she could see the way they looked at each other.

"Well then Aury, when I'm not keeping you all to me, you'll be in the kitchen helping Grandma cook, this way meals can be a duel effort." He said with a grin, jabbing her lightly, playfully on the shoulder. "I'm tired of cooking for you, and even if I don't believe that's always the woman's place, you should at least do more than dishes." he said with a grin, showing that he was simply teasing like always.

"So Aury. Tell me a bit about yourself. I head about your father recently, and I'm so sorry to hear about that. Have you always lived up there darling? Where did you two meet? Trey refuses to tell me."