"Well, we are armed with knowledge and care for each other. We will enter knowing few will be with us in this engagement, but it is necessary. May we find peace with your brother in this family."
Reuben stood listening to Dottie gear herself towards dealing with his prejudiced parental figures.
"I suppose you are ready?" he commented.
"Oh, yes, sorry. One of my favorite stories has this slightly crazy old man on the block that gives speeches like that when he comes in contact with the main character, I don't remember what his name was. It works, though it is rather... different in approach, " replied Dottie.
Reuben nodded his response. He wasn't going to say what he thought when she first showed up like that.
"I have little doubt most if not all the family will approve of you joining our family, even if they do not approve of me."
"I don't know how they would separate the two things, but okay."
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"Hello, Reuben. Hello, Miss."
The woman's unfriendly tone was quickly read. It caused both Reuben and Dottie to straighten up as they entered the house.
"Hello, Mother. This is Dorothy."
"Hello, Ma'am," quietly greeted Dottie.
The woman nodded her head with her lips tightly shut. She left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Dottie, feeling the hurt as a complete stranger, was sure that that snub hurt Reuben worse than it did her. She squeezed his hand and rubbed her thumb on the back of it. She felt Reuben relax slightly with the gesture.
"Thanks," he said, "Here, this is where we'll put our stuff. I'll show you where to go."
"Thank you," Dottie agreed with a nervous laugh, "I have no idea where anything is here. I knew we were walking into a place not exactly friendly towards us, but actually doing it is making me nervous."
"We're both in the same boat. We don't have to stay long if they make things to awkward."
"Right."
After putting their stuff in the closet that Reuben showed Dottie, he led her towards the living room where the rest of the family was.
"Hello."
"Get in here, boy, and sit down," snapped the man on the couch.
"Yes, Father," answered Rueben. He led Dottie further into the room and sat down on the chair beside his brother, directing her to sit in the one beside him.
What followed was a very tense half hour. Dottie was introduced, but only Reuben's brother tried to make conversation happen out of the three that lived there. Reuben's father stared moodily at the three of them and didn't attempt conversation, only speaking up again when it was time for lunch.
Lunch was equally stilted. However, it ended on a positive note for the three younger adults. They were told to do the clean up, but it also meant that they could talk without the parental figures around.
"So, you enjoy being with Reuben?"
"Oh, yes, thanks, Wilfred."
"I'm glad. I love my brother, and that hasn't changed with the whole werewolf thing."
"No?"
"No. We help each other with the troubles of having our parents as parents. Not everyone has a happy childhood coming from a normal family."
"No. I am pretty sure that my family life is extraordinary. I've got lots of siblings, and though I know that we upset our parents at times, we know we're lucky."
"You know, how?" asked Reuben, who had until been quiet as his brother had chattered away with Dottie.
"Classmates," she replied. "One I was really close to came to the realization that one of her parents was neglectful one year. She hadn't seen it, but when she did..."
Wilfred nodded. "I know. I had to come to that same conclusion myself, it's hard when it's all you've known in your household growing up though. It's all you know. You know its wrong, but suddenly you understand why its wrong and the feeling of betrayal... I'm really thankful for you, Reuben."
Reuben suddenly pulled his younger brother into a hug from behind as he washed the dishes.
"I've not forgotten you, you know," he said.
"I know," sniffed Wilfred, "but it's so hard. I miss you so much."
"You're almost done school now, right?"
"Yeah."
"We can still move you out once you graduate."
"That's going to make Mother and Father so mad..."
"You're going to be fine."
"You haven't been here listening to them rant about you and the werewolf, how you're no longer human, and that you should be put down like the dog you are, on top of everything else."
"You know that Mom and Dad forced me to move out, and when you graduate, we'll make sure you're provided for," reassured Reuben, getting a nod from Dottie.
"We can set you up in Reuben's place before the wedding, and into my old place after."
"That will require talking to the landlord, right?"
"It'll be fine. Right a cover letter, and Reuben and I can serve as references. He'll probably be good with that, but have a third reference who knows your character on hand just in case. The standard is three references if they require them."
"Okay. You really don't have to do that. I mean, they've not been ignoring me lately."
"Are they doing it to get something from you once you graduate, like you agreeing to stay with them or something else?" asked Reuben.
"Is it positive attention they're giving you?" asked Dottie.
"I don't know."
Wilfred sucked in one corner of his mouth. He stopped when he heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen.
"So, Dottie, what's it like having so many siblings?"
"It can be fun."
"Like in what way?"
"Oh, you have no idea. We can play baseball with just us, roughly. Just split the group into teams, no matter that they're no where near the size of a typical baseball team. Of course playing in-field and out-field is interesting when you're also watching three bases between the two of you, and one of the other team members is getting the ball after the batter has fouled."
"Sounds fun."
The rest of the afternoon passed amicably. Wilfred, Reuben's brother, pulled the two of them into his room once dishes were done, and they enjoyed talking and playing games he had in there. When they got up to leave, Reuben gave his brother a hug before leaving the room.
"Meet us at the Golden Arches for lunch next week?"
"Sure."
As the two left, they had to go by the entrance of the living room.
"Are you two leaving yet?"
"Yes, Mother, we're about to go."
"It was nice to let us see who you're marrying."
"Yes, Mother."
"Fred, make sure your girl is nice like her."
"Yes, Mother," replied Wilfred from behind the other two.
"Good bye, now."
"Good bye."
Both boys looked sad at that, but they shared one last hug.
"Remember, I love you, brother."
"I love you too, brother."
Reuben and Dottie got ready, pulled their stuff together, and left.