A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Ten}

"Olivia if we don't leave right now we're going to be late, " Dominick sighed, trying his girlfriend's locked bedroom door again.

"I'll be out soon. Trust me, my parents are not expecting me to be early or on time, I'm almost always late, " Olivia giggled pulling on a pair of jeans and a tee.

Opening her bedroom door she came face to face with her tall boyfriend she bit her lip and slipped past him. He followed her to the door and pulled on his shoes as did she and they both stopped.

"Don't be nervous okay? They are going to love you, I promise, " she smiled brightly and kissed his cheek.

"Let's go, before we're late, beautiful, " he spoke gently pushing her out the door.

The drive to Queens was very uneventful and nerve-racking for Dominick. Olivia, on the other hand, jammed out on the passenger side and talked a mile a minute about her family. Dominick quickly noticed that Olivia, once she's comfortable, is a wild child that's only ever quiet when she sleeps. A month of dating and he had already learned so much about her, she doesn't like eggs unless they're scrambled, she won't watch scary movies unless he stays the night, and she can talk for hours about anything and everything.

"Is this it?" Dom questioned, his GPS telling him to pull in on the left.

"Yes, this is it, " Olivia smiled.

Dominick tried to hide his shock at the gorgeous home. The front yard fence whiter than the snow around it and the gorgeous stone home with what looked to be a double garage. The home was gorgeous and he truly was shocked, not at the fact it was beautiful, but that Olivia didn't brag about having some type of money in the family. Dominick got out and opened his girlfriend's door to help her out. Olivia led him inside and they both stripped their shoes.

"Just be respectful and you'll win hearts over in no time, " Olivia spoke leading him down a hallway.

"Olivia, how big is this house?"

"I'm not sure, you can ask my dad, they built it just before my brother was born and they've lived here ever since, so almost twenty-five years, " Olivia hummed as they entered the main living space.

Serena had recognized her daughter's voice from the door, but had decided to let her bring her boyfriend into the home before mauling her daughter, "Hey baby girl, how was the drive up?"

"Really good, momma, " Olivia beamed giving her mom a hug, "Dominick, this is my mother, Serena. Momma this is Dominick."

"Hi Mrs. Benson, it's a pleasure to meet you, " Dominick spoke outstretching his hand.

"The pleasure is all mine, " Serena replied with a handshake and a comforting smile, "and Dominick, please call me Serena."

"Sure." He replied quietly afraid he'd been offensive.

He was nervous until he felt Olivia's arm wrap around his waist and give him a small squeeze. To be honest, it wasn't Olivia's mom Dominick was nervous to meet or her sister, it was her dad and brother he was intimidated by. Both of them already scared him and he hadn't even been face to face with them yet.

"Momma, where's Dad?" Olivia questioned after silently calming Dominick's nerves.

"He's outside with Robbie firing up the grill because he insists that is the proper and only way to cook burgers and you know him, arguing about food is already a lost battle."

"What's always a lost battle, " Robert spoke closing the sliding glass door.

Olivia spun on her heel and her curls whipped around as she briskly walked to hug her father and brother. Dominick stood a little straighter and took a shallow breath. He watched Olivia hug both of the tall and quite muscular men.

"Hi pumpkin, " Robert spoke as his daughter let go.

"Hi dad, " she sighed, kissing his cheek before moving back to Dominick's side, "ease up, love, he's a gentle giant as long as you never break my heart, " she whispered as her father approached.

"Robert Benson and you are?" Olivia's dad spoke outstretching his hand to the scared kid.

"Dominick Carisi, sir, it's a pleasure to meet you and thank you for having me, " Dominick spoke shaking his hand.

"Its good to finally meet you as well, Dominick, " Robert smiled, "You've already met Serena, this is my son Robbie and that's Lola, " he spoke pointing out his other two children.

Lola waved and Robbie shook Dominick's hand and everything seemed to be going okay. For now, Dominick was off the hook while Olivia carried on a conversation with her family. He was following the conversation carefully should at any point he get dragged into it, but for now, he was out of the woods.

"You okay?" Olivia questioned halfway through dinner, "you're usually more talkative than this."

"Yeah, I'm okay, just nervous still I guess, " Dominick sighed.

"So Dominick, you're in college?" Robert asked taking a bite of his burger.

"I am. I graduate in May with my bachelor's in political science in preparation for law school in the fall, " Dominick spit out not breathing.

"Very nice, " Serena spoke trying to take some stress off of the young man sitting beside her daughter.

"Do you know what law schools you're applying to?" Robert asked watching Dominick fidget at the back to back questions.

"I've already applied to Cornell in Ithica, Harvard in Cambridge, and Brooklyn Law School."

Robert nodded his head in approval of the young man who looked to be paling slowly next to Olivia. Lola and Robbie hadn't really said a word all night and Serena was trying to help rather than hurt the situation. Olivia noticed Dominick's hand under the table become hot and clammy.

"Dominick, you okay?" Olivia asked getting nervous he was going to faint on her.

"Yep, " his breathing was laboring and she was starting to panic.

"Dom, baby, look at me, " she looked as if she'd start crying any minute.

Dom blinked, "did you -- use pineapple --, " Dominick asked trying not to freak out his girlfriend.

"I grilled some this morning, " Robbie spoke moving his napkin to the table.

"I'm -- allergic, " Dominick choked out trying to breathe.

"Dom, do you keep an epi-pen on you?" Olivia questioned feeling herself start to panic.

"Glovebox, " he squeaked out.

××××

It was a long night after Dominick's allergic reaction they had ended up in the emergency room. He had to have a second dose of epinephrine at the hospital and they had to keep him under observation for six hours after the reaction. Olivia had vigorously washed her hands multiple times and brushed her teeth with two disposable toothbrushes so she wouldn't cause him more pain. They were now finally heading home a little after midnight.

"I'm so sorry, baby, " Olivia said for the millionth time that night.

"Once again it's not anyone's fault but my own. I should've told you about my allergy and told you I always have a spare Epi in the car and in my apartment, " he spoke kissing the back of her hand.

"My mom says she loves you and says she's glad you're okay. My dad apologizes for how the night ended and you're welcome back anytime."

"It all worked out, huh?"

"I knew they'd love you because I love you, " she kissed his cheek and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Don't fall asleep on me, we're almost back to your place."

"I won't, " she yawned, "will you stay tonight?"

"Of course, love."

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Elliot_Michael