The door to the Woodruff house was propped open with a big boot, filled with soil and stone with a flower growing out the top. It was only mid day but that meant everyone was awake and busy, a few inside and a few out, including Rick who sat with his back to the wall, a small little Kestrel resting on his single leather bracer, running his finger along the fluffy grey chest.
Bietrix nudges the door open, careful not to overturn the boot and smiling a bit as she notices the flower. She timidly leans around it, calling quietly, "Rick?"
Rick turned his head as he heard the faint mention of his name, thinking it just a member of his family though a smile broke his lips as he saw Bietrix. "Bee!" He raised up as quick as he could, the kestrel still remaining on his arm despite as he wandered over towards her properly, arm stretching out in her direction while the other moved the bird away a bit.
Bee pushes past the door and the flowerpot boot, quickly wrapping him up in a warm hug and eyeing the bird cautiously. "Who's this on your arm?" She smiles.
Rick returned the hug to her with one arm, still keeping his arm half around her as he presented the fluffy little bird to her. "This is Fletch, my hunting companion! Don't worry, he won't peck you or claw you." He smiled warmly to her. Just behind him, Seline Woodruff his mother, came sweeping along with her broom getting rid of the hay and ash brought in, her hair tied back with a bit of cloth and letting out a long sigh, though upon noting company she straightened and tried to tidy herself up a bit.
Bee looks past the bird and catches sight of Rick's mother, quickly pulling away an fussing with her appearance. She glances back at Rick.
Rick glances over his shoulder a moment, catching sight of his mother with a smile. He raises his arm up, the bird flapping off and landing on a shelf. He turned his body after catching Bee's glance, "Bee.. this is my ma, Seline. Ma, this is Bietrix, my sweetheart I told you about."
Bee blushes, and offers her hand out to the other woman. "It's--it's good to meet you, properly!" She manages, nervously.
Seline smiles widely and puts the broom aside, her voice clear and bright, and it was as if all the signs of age in her face disappeared in joy. "Bee! Finally! I've been wondering when Rick will bring you around.. you are even more beautiful than he said!" A hand took hers and gave it a shake, as Rick squeezed Bee slightly with a smile
"You're too kind!" Bee exclaims modestly, leaning a bit against Rick. "I'm sorry if we've interrupted anything."
Seline shook her head a few times swiftly, a greying strand falling loose. "No, no! Please, come on in!" She got about quickly wiping down the table and chairs, despite having already been cleaned. Rick chuckled softly with a shrug as he just stayed where he was with Bee against him, while his mother disappeared for a moment.. only to return a moment later followed by an older looking man. His dark hair was greying, and he was walking on a crutch, an arm cut at the elbow and his body seared by flames and wrapped in bandages, though a smile broke his lips and a croaky voice spoke out. "So this is the one my son has fallen in love with, eh? The name is Ives."
Bee ducks her head politely. "Bietrix Wheeler," she introduces with twice her usual meekness. She glances at Rick and whispers, "It seems you've spoken lots about me."
Ives nods in return, but he chuckles softly as he goes to sit on a chair. "Come and sit down, and no need to be so stiff. You're practically part of the family if you are with my boy." Rick simply smiled and shrugged, whispering back. "Father said it himself.. I've fallen in love with you."
"Oh hush I'm turning redder the more you say that," Bee chides affectionately. She waits for him to lead her further into the house, still afraid of intruding.
The house was not much, but it was cluttered to say the least, he slid his hand down her arm and linked fingers with her before leading her over to the table and sitting down upon one of the chairs with one close by. "How is your uncle, Bietrix?" Seline asked as she came and sat next to her husband.
"He is... well. He's not been on patrol much lately--not since the sellswords came, really. We're thankful to have him close, but I see the loss of it affecting him."
Ives nods as he takes a sip of water left in a cup on the table, glancing to the doorway with a little frown. Rick remained quiet, just holding Bee's hands. "And what are your plans for the future you two?", his parents asked out of the blue.
Bee freezes, and coughs a little bit. "I-well, um... As I suppose you know, my sister and I, well, our family is still in Kingsfell so--" she nudges Rick for help.
"We will take each day as it comes and go from there!", Rick chimes in with a smile as he glances to Bee, leaning in closer to her. His father nodded, "Good, good." His mother smiled as she looked at them both, but remained quiet. "So Ma, any news on whether Uncle Beecher found his saw?" Rick asked, trying to move the conversation away.
Seline rolls her eyes as she wipes some sweat from her brow with a rag she held, "Indeed he did! Searched the whole place up and down, even had Elsie out there looking too.. when he went home.. on top of his bed, of all places!"
Ives sighed as he shook his head with a small smile at the mundane yet amusing story. He looked then to Bee, and offered a warm smile despite his face scarred, though he said no words.
Bee smiles, perhaps a bit awkwardly, and tucks another stray curl behind her ear. "You have a lovely home," she offers, terrified of letting silence fall for too long.
Ives nods his head as he run his one hand through his hair, though his voice was bitter for a moment. "Used to be much bigger... when our home was still across the road, and not burnt down and all of us crammed in here."
Seline sighed slightly, "And there's an empty space here now..", she took a slow breath, "but still too cramped."
Rick then chimed in as squeezing Bee's hand, "And Elsie still won't move out.."
Bee looks at him for a moment, as if making note of something in her head, before turning her attention back to his parents. "I'm... I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Woodruff. All of yours, I mean, it... I can't imagine what you must be going through."
Seline smiled sadly but shook her head, rising up from her seat to go wipe the top of the small fires mantle piece. "There is no point in looking at loss when we can look to the good to come." Ives then points at them both, "Like you two."
The smile slowly returns to Bee's expression. "I am very lucky to have found your son," she confesses fondly. "Or, that he found me."
Rick chuckles softly as he lifts her hand to kiss it, mumbling against her hand. "Love you."
Seline caught the kiss and couldn't help but smile, whereas Ives spoke, "Part of the family you are now, so if you ever need anything, don't be a stranger."
Bee finds herself blushing. "You're too kind!"
Rick simply smiles as he holds her hand, looking at Fletch as he hops around. Seline shakes her head, "Nonsense! Our door is always open for our Rick's sweetheart!" Ives nodded in agreement, "Indeed it is!"
"Then--well, if there's ever anything you need of me, please do not hesitate to ask," Bee replies, remaining rather flustered.
Seline wanders past, reaching to pinch Rick's cheek which made him scrunch down and wave an arm after her, she laughed slightly and kept on her way, calling out. "As long as you keep care of him, that is all we could ask!"
Bee gazes up at him fondly, leaning her head against him. "I shall try my very best."
Rick smiled as he leaned back against her, "And you've been making me happiest I've been in a long time."
Ives then asked out as he rose up with his crutch, "Staying for dinner, Bietrix? Or is Rick treating you out?" He gave his son a suggesting look. "I think we could go to the serving area, aye..", Rick says as he looks down toward Bee after having caught the glimpse.
Bee adjusts a hairpin, and glances up at Rick. "Oh, I was actually planning to invite you to dinner tonight, if you'd wish to join us..."
"I think that sounds good! As long as you have enough food to spare for me and not go starving yourself!" Rick insisted as he leaned down towards her.
Bee smiles sweetly, avoiding the question of food. "Oh hush, we love having you over."
"As long as there is room for me." Rick murmurs as he kissed her cheek, mushing his nose against the side of her head as he did with a grin. Ives chuckled, "Also frees up room here." Seline raises a brow, asking out as innocently as she could, a glint of hope in her voice at the thought of more free room in the house. "And will you be sleeping over too?" Rick glances up towards his mother, giving her a slight glare before he smiles sweetly to Bee. "Depends what Bee and her uncle say.
Bee's blush deepens. "I--it's--it's up to my uncle," she stammers.
Rick nodded at this, "Indeed it is up to her uncle! " He glared back to his mother who simply chuckled and brushed the mantle piece again. His father shook his head slightly with a smile, "Well you best not be too late if you are not allowed to stay, I'm sure one of your brothers will be quick to jump in your bed for extra space."
Bee smiles amiably. "We'd best head over soon," she tells him softly.
With those words, Rick goes to stand up slowly still holding her hand. "Then we will see you after!" He smiled at his parents and made for the door, eager to be gone.
Both Ives and Seline turned and smiled at them, waving and calling out after her. "Don't forget to come around whenever you want to, Bietrix!"
Bee nods. "Of course!" she calls back, grinning. "It was lovely meeting you!"
"And you!", they call out after her.
