This chapter's a doozy, have fun, or cry I don't know. 

-1 week later-

There was loud crashing heard from the kitchen as Garroth groggily woke up to see Laurance wasn't beside him. Was he in the kitchen? He threw the covers off of him, grabbing a pair of gray sweatpants from the dresser drawers before walking down the hallway towards the kitchen. As he rubbed his face to try and wake up some more, he noticed the kitchen was a disaster with pancake mix and egg remains littering the counters, while pots and pans were strewn across the hardwood floor. His cerulean eyes focused on the brunette crouched in the midst of the pots and pans wearing an old Broncos T-shirt and black sweatpants with his hair tossed about on his head. 

"Uhm...Laur...what are you doing?" The brunette quickly snapped his head around with a look of panic etched on his face. His blue eyes were wide as he abruptly stood up, snatching Garroth's phone from the charger and shoving it in Garroth's hands before beginning to shove him towards the door. "Laurance?!" His pale hands shoved him away, standing to face in front of him now with a scared and confused expression. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Laurance sighed, his body visibly shaking before he began to speak, refusing to look at Garroth. 

"Remember I told you my parents are coming? Well, it's today. I also told you how my father is a homophobe...and I don't want anything bad to happen to you." He took a deep breath before continuing. "That's why you have to go to Travis and Dante's, Aph's or even Cad's because she'll be over here. As for the kitchen, I'm trying to make breakfast for them." Garroth's heart was pounding rapidly, beating against his chest while he felt as if his stomach just churned. He completely forgot about his parents' visit, especially his father. 

"Laur-" Suddenly, the front door flew open, Cadenza strolling in with a nice white sweater and leggings while she wore black high heel boots with a key in her hand and a smile on her face. However, when she saw Garroth standing there, she stopped and glanced between the two. 

"Huh. So you're going to actually be a big man, after all, Laurance and tell dad?" A look of seriousness swept her features as she rested her small bag on the top of the couch, leaning back against it while crossing her arms. 

"No, I was just leaving." Garroth looked back at his boyfriend with one last pained glance while taking his jacket off the coat rack and swiftly putting it on, beginning to walk out the door and facing the bitter cold. He tugged his jacket closer to himself, fighting back the humiliating tears while staring at the cement floor when he bumped into someone or something. His eyes trained up to see an older couple, probably in their 50's. "Oh, s-sorry," He muttered. The woman smiled gently, her bright blue eyes resembling Laurance's. 

"It's fine, don't worry about it. We're in no rush. Wait, were you just walking out of room 476?" Garroth's heart dropped to his stomach, realizing it had to be Laurance's parents. Were they going to figure it out? He took a glance at Laurance's father noticing his neatly combed brown hair slowly turning gray and bold brown eyes with bags beneath them. He was fairly tall and tan, with a great posture and masculine appearance. Yep, could probably beat my ass within a minute, thought Garroth. 

"Uh...y-yes..." The woman smiled brightly, while the man's eyes squinted with confusion. 

"That's our son Laurance's apartment! Are you a friend of his?" Wow, she acted just like Cadenza but looked nothing like her. Garroth nodded numbly, knowing he'd be dead if he said he was actually his boyfriend. 

"I-I was just l-leaving...he told m-me you w-w-were coming...didn't w-want to bother y-you." Dammit, stuttering. The woman shook her head, urging Garroth back the way he came. 

"A friend of Laurance's is a friend of ours, right Hayden? Just come with us, we don't mind." The man, Hayden, nodded in agreement, reaching a hand out to Garroth. Garroth took it, noticing Hayden's strong grip before shaking it firmly. 

"Hayden."

"Garroth." He nodded in understanding before the woman reached her hand out as well, Garroth taking the gentler grip and giving a firm shake with his own hand.

"I'm Emilia, nice to meet you Garroth!" She had sleek, dark brown hair reaching to her shoulders and sunkissed skin to compliment her blue eyes. A striking resemblance to Laurance. Laurance is going to kill me, Garroth mumbled in his mind. Emilia knocked on the wooden door, holding her black fur coat closer to herself and holding onto Hayden's brown leather jacket. "It's really gotten cold lately." The door opened, revealing Laurance in a nicer outfit of black slacks and a maroon button up while his hair was fixed and he had a fake smile on his face, hiding his panic. However, that changed when he saw Garroth standing between his parents with Emilia holding his shoulders, causing his breath to hitch. He could see the absolute fear cross Laurance's face as he straightened the collar of his shirt and inviting them inside. 

"Hey Mom, Dad. It's nice to see you again." He embraced both of his parents, them hugging back while some tears caught in Emilia's eyes. 

"You've grown so much, oh my Irene." Garroth smiled at their family moment, shuffling his feet in the background before his shoulder was roughly grasped, noticing Laurance in front of him with his panic face again and Cadenza greeting her parents in the background. 

"Why are you here?! Garroth my dad, he'll disown me if he finds out! I can't...I just..." Laurance whisper yelled. Garroth could tell he was breaking down, but he couldn't kiss him without his parents noticing so he sighed, twiddling his thumbs.

"I know...I know...I bumped into them by accident while walking out and they started talking to me and there was nothing I could do. They think I'm just your friend." Garroth shed his eyes away to look at the nearby wall, feeling the guilt rising in him. Laurance sighed, looking back to his parents to see they were still distracted with Cadenza giving a thumbs up by her side as if saying 'don't worry I'll distract them'.  He turned his attention back to the nervous looking blonde in front of him, giving him a small reassuring peck on the lips and looking into his entrancing cerulean eyes once again. 

"I'm sorry Love...I'm just a bit...nervous-"

"No, you're scared...I am too." Laurance shakily sighed, only wanting to hug the blonde but he knew he couldn't so he turned away back to his parents, Garroth trailing behind him.

"So, who wants some breakfast?" His family nodded, placing their coats on the coat rack and placing their suitcases by the door before sitting on the counter stools where Cadenza had placed the plates of pancakes from before. Garroth realized he was still in sweatpants and had no shirt with only his jacket covering him and quickly felt embarrassed. How could he make a good first impression when looking like a total slob? He didn't even get a chance to brush his teeth or fix his hair! This should be fun...

As they all ate, Emilia, Hayden, and Cadenza sitting on the stools while Laurance and Garroth stood eating in the kitchen, Emilia spoke up.

"So, do you like your new job, Cariño?" Laurance's cheeks dusted pink at the childhood nickname he was given from his mom but he nodded, wiping his lips as he placed his plate in the kitchen, taking Garroth's as well because he was finished. 

"Yeah, it pays the bills and that's all that matters to me. How's life back home?" 

"Great, we just got six more chicks and a new bull for the farm. We also got some new help and they're not doing too bad." Hayden answered and Laurance nodded with a small smile when Cadenza spoke up. 

"Let's play a game!" The family chuckled, clearly used to Cadenza's nature as Laurance took the rest of their plates and put them in the sink before heading to the game closet to pick a board game while Garroth stood around in the kitchen before Cadenza came up to him with a worried look. Emilia and Hayden were sitting on the couch now and Garroth blushed a little. I seriously hope he got around to cleaning that, he thought. "Sorry about Laurance. You know he's just terrified, right?" Garroth meekly nodded, running a hand through his messy hair. "Maybe you could tell them, you know? At the right time, but I think it'd be best for both of you. You're adults and you shouldn't fear my dad's judgment. If it's getting bad, I got your backs, okay? Now, knowing my dad, he'll probably be silent instead of lashing out then will need time to think. Don't stress because you're like a brother to me and I care about you." Eyes welling up with tears, Garroth took Cadenza in a small hug, thanking her for her comforting words before she pulled away and motioned them to get back to the group. 

"Alright, how about some good old fashioned Monopoly?"

-

The game was almost over, Garroth clearly winning by owning so many lots scattered with hotels, especially the Boardwalk and Park Place. Cadenza sighed, realizing her doomed bankruptcy as she landed on Boardwalk and facepalmed.

"Dammit, Garroth! How the hell did you do that?!" 

"He works with money Cad, he's an expert at this stuff," Laurance answered with a shrug, not surprised at the blonde's quick win. He began setting up the game again while Garroth shyly smiled but there was a pat on his back and he realized it was Hayden. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. 

"So, Cariño, anything new in your love life~?" Laurance froze up quickly, panic quickly reaching his face once again, the same for Garroth. He could feel all eyes on him as he was putting the twenties in a pile, trying to ignore his mother's question. "Laurance...? Are you okay?" Speak up. Come on. Do what Cadenza told you. 

"He's in a relationship," Garroth answered too quickly to comprehend what he had just said before he was already beating himself up mentally. What now?! Emilia turned to look at Garroth with a large smile and Hayden also looked at Garroth with a small smile. 

"Oh?! What's her name?! And where is she?!" Garroth's heart dropped to his stomach once again. He couldn't do this. He couldn't. He can't. Laurance's fear quickly turned to worry when he noticed Garroth's heavy breathing and his eyes drawn wide. The sound of paper money and metal pieces falling rang throughout the room as well as rapid shuffling. Black. White. Black. White. Black. White. No, not again. Please, no. Black. White. Black. White. 

It's all your fault, Garroth! 

Why would you tell him?!

Now, he hates me! 

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Black. White. Black. White. I didn't mean to. His vision was blurring, his hands holding his body to try and control himself but his heavy breathing was getting to him, but he heard a voice. 

"Hey, Gar, Love? It's okay, baby, it's okay. I'm here. It's okay. You're okay." Black. Green. White. Green. Black. The colors were flashing in his vision in a pattern, but the green was a comforting change. "Love, you're okay. I'm here and I won't leave you." Laurance was holding him tightly, rubbing his back soothingly to try and slow his breathing while Garroth could hazily tell he was crying now. 

Our father hates me now because of you!

It's all your damn fault! 

I knew I could never trust you! 

Please, stop. Black. White. Black. White. "Love, shh...it's okay. Please, calm down...it's okay. I love you...please." Black. Green. Green. White. Green. Green. Green. The colors slowly began to fade away at the comforting words surrounding him and the tight embrace. Garroth's vision slowly began to clear, seeing a frightened Laurance who was visibly shaking kneeling in front of him and holding Garroth's shoulders. "Love, are you okay?" His tone was shaky now, his trembling fingers barely holding onto the blonde. The blonde nodded, trying to slow his breathing to a normal rate while holding onto the brunette once again and holding him close. They forgot about everyone else in the room because Laurance was too fearful to care. 

"Thank you, Laurance..." They pulled away, Garroth wiping away at his stained cheeks then turning to look at the family who's eyes were still wide, clearly afraid. 

"Garroth, honey, are you sure you're okay...?" Emilia asked carefully, clearly worried for him. 

"Yeah, son, we were all worried sick for you." Garroth nodded, Laurance, noticing that he didn't want to speak right now. He sighed before speaking for his boyfriend.

"This happens to him sometimes, though it hasn't happened for awhile. They're like panic attacks or something...I don't know. Come on, let's get you to bed, okay?" The blonde numbly nodded, scared to stand, but Laurance picked him up before he had a chance, tucking him into their bed. "Jeez...don't scare me like that." Laurance soothingly ran his hand through his champagne locks, crouching beside him by the bed. "I'll get you some water and if you need anything else tell me." Garroth nodded once again, feeling like he couldn't speak because if he did he would just be screamed at once again. He knew who it was, yelling at him, preventing him from speaking before and it made him sick to his stomach. Laurance came back with a cup of water, handing it to the blonde who drank some of it down before resting it on the nightstand. "I'm going to explain to them...I have no choice now." Garroth shook his head, throwing the covers and trying to stand up but Laurance gently pushed him back down. "No, I don't know if you're okay yet." 

Garroth found his voice, wanting to make sure that he was there when he confronted them. Who cares about what just happened? He'll be fine. "I'm fine. You're not telling them by yourself." 

"Gar-"

"No." Laurance sighed, reluctantly nodding his head as they walked out of the bedroom, noticing Cadenza talking to her parents as if she were explaining something. They approached them, Laurance's fear rising once again with Garroth standing next to him who apparently was confident enough to speak. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Zvahl," He paused to stretch his hand out towards the two. "I'm Laurance's boyfriend and it's nice to meet you." They didn't seem as shocked since before Laurance had been calling him 'love' and 'baby' but still, Hayden's face seemed unchanging while Emilia smiled broadly, taking his hand and giving it a shake. However, he didn't move it and just left it outstretched towards Hayden with a determined expression. "I know you don't approve of same-sex relationships because it has been scaring Laurance for the past week and I'm sorry that I'm the one he's chosen to be with, but he seems to be happy with me and I've never been happier in my life. So, I ask of you, please don't think of your son any differently because he's perfect as he is and I don't change that." Emilia and Cadenza were stunned, though were smiling hopefully when they noticed Hayden's expression falter and tears stinging at the corners of his eyes. Instead of shaking Garroth's hand, he pulled him in for a hug which Garroth hugged back, breathing out a sigh of relief. 

"You're a good man, son, and to work up courage like that to approach me after what you just went through, you have my respect." They pulled away, Garroth nodding thankfully when he turned back to Laurance who was practically sobbing, covering his face when Cadenza screamed happily.

"Finally~! Good job Garroth! Now, get some sleep because I'm worried you might fall at any second." He nodded, but pulled Laurance's hands away and looked him in the eyes. 

"It's okay, Prince. We're okay." Then he pulled him into a kiss while both of their eyes fluttered close. 

Wooo a lot happened in that chapter. Thanks for sticking around to read it. Sorry if anything sounds weird or it's cringy. I never know if it sounds good when I write it or if it's logical. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed, please let me know if you did and if you have any suggestions I'd really appreciate it. I got the Garroth telling Laurance's parents as an idea from what of you...dammit which one of you...sorry whoever it is but thank you for that! As you can tell, I try to make things happy in this story so not a lot of angst...yet. Thanks for reading~!

~UHW<3