"I kinda don't wanna do this," Katie admitted with a sigh, while staring at the window in Azure's bedroom.
Everyone was now home, and they had agreed to go and greet Azure's family before dinner.
Azure had let Katie sleep through lunch, so both girls ate in the late afternoon, when Jean was already gone.
Now Katie was going to meet Azure's brother, mother, and father at the same time.
It wasn't like she was her girlfriend, and Katie was usually outgoing and confident, but the thought of meeting Azure's family made her feel nervous and uncertain. She couldn't help but worry about making a good impression, especially considering how high standard the family seemed to be.
Azure glanced over at Katie, her heart twisting with sympathy at the apprehensive expression on her friend's face. She reached out and wrapped her arm around Katie, squeezing her shoulder gently, and offering her a reassuring smile.
"It's gonna be fine, Katie," Azure said softly, her voice filled with warmth, pulling the girl closer to her. "My family's not that intimidating, I promise. Just be yourself, and they'll love you."
Azure understood Katie's nerves all too well. Even though her family was far from perfect, they could be a bit... overwhelming at times. Her mother was especially judgy over Azure's choice of frequentations, and Azure couldn't help but worry about how Katie would fare under her scrutiny. But she was determined to make sure Katie felt welcome and accepted, no matter what.
"I get it, though," Azure continued, her voice tinged with empathy. "Meeting the family can be nerve-wracking, especially when they're as... opinionated as mine." She chuckled softly, while Katie sighed, laying her head against the taller woman's chest. "But trust me, they'll love you. How could they not?"
Katie managed a weak smile at Azure's attempt to lighten the mood, her nerves slowly starting to ease at the reassurance in her friend's voice. "Alright, if you say so." She mumbled, snuggling closer to Azure for comfort.
"Wanna go now?" Azure asked, pressing a gentle kiss to Katie's forehead.
Katie nodded, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves before pulling away from Azure's embrace. "Yeah, let's get it over with," she replied, her cheeky smile and confident demeanor beginning to return as she straightened up and stood tall.
With a shared grin, Azure and Katie made their way out of the bedroom and down the hallway towards the living room.
In the living room, they found Caleb sitting on the couch with Ethan on his lap.
The little girl's eyes immediately widened at the sight of Azure, her hands opening and closing. "Zu!" She exclaimed, her face breaking into a wide grin as she reached out towards her aunt.
Caleb turned around when she realized her sister had entered the room, frowning when seeing she wasn't alone.
Maybe Azure should have let her family know she had brought someone home with her.
Azure walked to her brother, taking Ethan from his lap and lifting her up, balancing her on her hip. "Hey, Cal." She greeted her brother, smiling softly. "This is Katie, one of my teammates."
Caleb's expression softened at Azure's introduction, his frown giving way to a warm smile as he stood up from the couch to greet Katie properly. "Hey, Katie," he said warmly, extending his hand for her to shake. "Nice to meet you. I'm Caleb, Azure's brother."
Katie returned Caleb's handshake with a friendly grin, feeling a surge of relief at his welcoming demeanor. "Hey, what's up?" she replied, her voice steady despite her lingering nerves.
