The day had finally come. After their heartfelt confession, Sam and Sara were ready to face the next chapter of their lives—training for the challenges ahead. But first, they would be returning to Sam's hometown, a place filled with memories and the warmth of family. The idea of bringing Sara, Masha, Alan, and even his sister back to his childhood home felt surreal to Sam, but he knew it was necessary.
The journey to Sam's hometown was filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Sam couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about introducing Sara to his parents, especially after their recent confession. His mother, Sara, would be over the moon, but his father, Ethan… well, that was another story.
As they approached the quaint town where Sam had grown up, the air became thick with nostalgia. The streets were familiar, lined with the same trees and houses he had known all his life. The smell of fresh bread from the local bakery wafted through the air, bringing back memories of early morning walks with his parents.
Finally, they arrived at Sam's family home—a modest, yet cozy house with a neatly kept garden. The sight of it brought a smile to Sam's face, but his heart raced with anticipation.
Before they could even reach the front door, it burst open, and a woman with warm, welcoming eyes and a wide smile rushed out to greet them.
"Sam! My baby, you're home!" Sam's mother, Sara, exclaimed as she enveloped him in a tight hug. Her embrace was filled with love and warmth, the kind only a mother could give.
"Mom, I can't breathe," Sam managed to choke out, though he couldn't hide his grin.
"Oh, stop being so dramatic!" Sara said, releasing him and taking a good look at him. "You've grown taller! And more handsome! But you look so thin! Are they not feeding you enough at that academy?"
Sam chuckled. "I'm fine, Mom. Really."
Sara's eyes then shifted to the group standing behind Sam. Her gaze landed on Sara (his girlfriend), and she immediately sensed something. A knowing smile crept onto her face as she turned back to Sam. "And who might this lovely young lady be?"
Sam rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling like a teenager again under his mother's scrutinizing gaze. "Mom, this is… also Sara. She's… um… she's my girlfriend."
The words hung in the air for a moment before Sara's (his mother) face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Your girlfriend? Oh, Sam! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Come here, dear!" She pulled Sara (his girlfriend) into a warm hug, much to Sara's (his girlfriend) surprise and delight.
Sara (his girlfriend), though a bit flustered, quickly warmed to Sara's (his mother) embrace. "It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Carter."
"Oh, please, call me Sara," Sam's mother said, pulling back to look at her. "You're even prettier than I imagined. And look at you two, you make such a handsome couple!"
Just then, a deep, jovial voice called out from inside the house. "Who's hogging all the attention out there? Let me see my boy!"
Sam's father, Ethan, appeared at the door, a wide grin plastered across his face. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a head of graying hair and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. His easygoing nature was evident in the way he carried himself, as if the world was one big joke he was in on.
"There's my son!" Ethan exclaimed as he wrapped Sam in a bear hug that lifted him off the ground. "How's my boy doing? Been kicking butt at that fancy academy of yours?"
"Trying my best, Dad," Sam replied, laughing as he was set back down.
Ethan's eyes then fell on Sara (his girlfriend), and his grin widened. "Well, well, well! What do we have here? My son's gone and found himself a girlfriend! I knew you had it in you, kid!"
Sara blushed, but Ethan's warm, welcoming energy quickly put her at ease. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter."
"Mr. Carter? Nah, call me Ethan! Mr. Carter is my old man," Ethan said with a wink. He then leaned in, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear, "You know, Sam was always a bit of a late bloomer. I was starting to worry he'd end up with his nose stuck in a book for the rest of his life. Glad to see he's got some sense after all!"
Sam rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but smile at his father's teasing. "Thanks, Dad. Really appreciate the confidence."
Ethan just laughed and clapped Sam on the back. "Come on inside, everyone! Sara's (his mother) been cooking up a storm all morning. We've got enough food to feed an army!"
As they all made their way into the house, Sam couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. His parents, as eccentric and over-the-top as they could be, were exactly what he needed right now. The stress of the past few weeks seemed to melt away in their presence.
Inside, the house was warm and inviting, filled with the mouthwatering aroma of home-cooked meals. The dining table was already set with a feast that could easily rival any banquet. Masha, Alan, and Sam's sister, Emily, were quick to compliment Sara on her culinary skills, earning themselves generous portions in return.
As they all sat down to eat, Ethan couldn't resist a little more teasing. "So, Sara," he began, eyeing her with a playful glint in his eye, "what exactly did my son do to snag a catch like you? Must have been one heck of a sales pitch."
Sara smiled, glancing at Sam, who was giving his father a look that clearly said, Please don't embarrass me. "He's… well, he's just Sam. He didn't need to do anything special. He's always been there for me, and he's got this way of making me feel safe, no matter what's going on around us."
Sam felt his heart swell at her words, but before he could say anything, Ethan let out a mock sigh. "Ah, young love. Reminds me of when I first met Sara (his mother). She couldn't resist my charm either, isn't that right, dear?"
Sara (his mother) shot him a look, though it was clear she was trying not to laugh. "Oh, please, Ethan. You were such a goofball. I was just trying to figure out how someone could be so completely clueless and still manage to make me smile."
The table erupted in laughter, and Sam couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for his family. Despite everything that had happened, they still managed to find joy in the simplest moments.
As the evening wore on, the conversation turned to lighter topics. Ethan regaled them with stories of Sam's childhood, much to Sam's embarrassment. Sara, Masha, and Alan were thoroughly entertained, especially when Ethan pulled out an old photo album filled with pictures of a younger, chubbier Sam.
"Now, this one," Ethan said, pointing to a picture of Sam covered in mud, "was the day Sam decided to 'help' me in the garden. I'm still not sure how he managed to get mud in his hair, but he was so proud of himself."
Sara (his girlfriend) giggled as she looked at the photo. "You were so cute, Sam!"
Sam groaned, his face turning red. "Dad, come on, you're killing me here."
Ethan just laughed. "Hey, it's a parent's job to embarrass their kids. You'll understand when you have your own someday."
The mention of future kids made both Sam and Sara blush furiously, and Sara (his mother) was quick to jump in with a teasing remark of her own. "Well, at this rate, I'm sure we won't have to wait too long, will we?"
"M-Mom!" Sam stammered, nearly choking on his drink.
Sara (his girlfriend), equally flustered, tried to change the subject. "So, um, Emily, how has it been since you joined the academy?"
Emily, who had been quietly observing the teasing, smiled and decided to help out her brother. "It's been great, actually. The classes are challenging, but I'm learning a lot. And it's nice to finally see Sam in action. He's really impressive."
Ethan nodded approvingly. "That's my boy! Always knew you had it in you."
As the night went on, the teasing continued, but it was all in good fun. By the time they were ready to turn in for the night, everyone felt like they were part of one big, happy family.
Sam walked Sara (his girlfriend) to her room, feeling a mix of emotions. "Sorry about my parents. They can be a bit… much."
Sara (his girlfriend) shook her head, smiling. "Don't apologize. I love them. Your family is wonderful, Sam. I can see where you get your kindness from."
Sam's expression softened, and he took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. "I'm really glad you're here, Sara. I can't imagine doing this without you."
Sara blushed, feeling her heart flutter. "I'm glad I'm here too."
There was a moment of silence, where they simply looked at each other, the air between them thick with unspoken feelings. Sam hesitated for a moment before leaning in and pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
"Goodnight, Sara," he whispered, his voice low and tender.
"Goodnight, Sam," she replied, her cheeks tinged with pink as she slipped into her room, her heart racing.
As Sam made his way back to his room, he couldn't help but smile. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with Sara, his friends, and his family by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next.