79 – This Gift, This Curse

 

Kevin shot straight up in bed when he heard someone knocking on the apartment door. It took him a second to realize he wasn't alone.

 

Mick grinned up at him. "You going to answer that or should I?"

 

"We both can. We know who it is. But"—he looked at Mick, all of him, since the covers were pushed back—"first, we get dressed."

 

"No kidding," Mick replied. "But not until…" He kissed Kevin quickly. "Now, we can get dressed."

 

They did and then went out to open the door. Will and Mira stood there, smiling.

 

"You have to learn to dress faster," Will said, chuckling. "And jeans would have sufficed."

 

"May we come in?" Mira asked.

 

Kevin and Mick quickly stepped back so they could.

 

"We're going out for breakfast, to celebrate," Will told them, looking quite serious now.

 

"Celebrate what?" Kevin asked.

 

Mira grinned. "We're getting married, finally."

 

"Holy shit," Mick exclaimed. "Damn. Congratulations!"

 

Kevin was a little more restrained, only saying, "It's about time." Then he hugged both his mother and Will enthusiastically.

 

"What do you mean, about time? Just consider it a very long engagement," Will told him.

 

"Uh-huh. Right. So when is this happening?"

 

"That's a good question. First your mother and I have to go have a talk with the captain."

 

"You're getting married on a ship?" Mick asked with a straight face. That earned him chuckles from everyone else, and a whispered, 'That was bad,' from Kevin.

 

"Actually," Mira said thoughtfully, "that could be fun."

 

Mick shook his head. "I get seasick."

 

"And who said you'd be coming along?" Will asked with an arched eyebrow.

 

"Oh, well, yeah," Mick replied, looking crestfallen.

 

"Will, honestly." Mira shook a finger at him before giving Mick a hug. "Of course you'll be at the wedding, no matter where we have it."

 

Mick immediately perked up. "Why are you seeing Captain Newsome, if that's who you meant?"

 

"It is. We're going to see if he needs us."

 

Kevin cocked his head in question. "You're moving out here, Mom?" Then he said, "Well duh, I guess."

 

"Yeah, 'duh'. Like your father said, a long-distance marriage isn't really a good idea. The commuting costs would be prohibitive."

 

"Well, in that case, get moving and go see the captain. Or, wait, breakfast first, so we can celebrate."

 

"Only if the two of you put on shoes and socks," Will pointed out. "It's a bit cold for bare feet. Oh, and Kevin, you might want to put on a turtle-neck if you have one," he added with a grin.

 

Mick looked at Kevin's neck and laughed. "Yeah, you should."

 

Kevin turned bright red as he hurried to the bedroom to change shirts, with Mick trailing behind him, still chuckling.