Another day and another trans-Atlantic flight later, you and Dave were finally at the end of your journey to DC and were waiting at baggage claim, waiting for your large amounts of luggage from your respective six months abroad each.
After surviving a long-term travel experience you two were easily acting as though the past six years hadn't happened.
You weren't exactly sure what your relationship was right now, as you hadn't exactly defined it and didn't really want to. All you knew was that you two were having a lot of fun not living in denial of how you felt anymore.
"Do you have a ride home?" He asks as you watch the luggage carousel go round for the hundredth time.
"Yeah, I just have to call my mom and tell her I'm here, she'll leave then its not like we're very far" You say, motioning to the pay phone a few feet away.
"Don't worry about it! My mom's already on the way and if your mom won't mind my mom can just give you a ride, she'd be more than happy to" He says enthusiastically and you smile.
"Are you sure? I haven't really seen her in a million years—she never even really knew me well" You say nervously.
"Listen she never forgets a face, and even if you were a complete and total stranger she'd still drive you" He says and when you raise your eyebrows in suspicion he tries to reassure you, "Plus I can confidently say she will remember you"
"How can you be so confident?" You ask curiously and he smirks guiltily.
"Well I sort of called my mom while you were taking a shower, when we were still in Iceland, and may have told her that I'd seen you and let on that we'd reconnected" He says and you're shocked.
"Wait you already told your mom about us?" You ask, still slightly surprised.
"Kind of...is that a bad thing?" He asks, looking uncharacteristically nervous all of a sudden.
"No, I just didn't realize we had anything specific to tell. We don't really know what we are yet." You say and he nods, looking lost in thought for a moment.
"Well I didn't tell her any specifics" He says, "I just told her we'd run into each other and had been spending a lot of time together and we'd been having fun like the old days"
"Well you were at least very accurate" You giggle, leaning into him and he ruffles your hair.
"You're sure your mom won't mind if we drive you, maybe even feed you? I know its been a while since she's seen you too" He asks and you shake your head.
"Well she came to Europe for thanksgiving which was only a couple weeks ago so I've seen her pretty recently. Plus she's got a lot going on right now, she just got remarried and her husband travels a lot so she goes with him and when she's home she has a lot to take care of" You explain and Dave nods.
"You didn't tell me she was remarried. What's your new stepdad like?" He asks and you crinkle your nose.
"Well first of all, he is not my stepdad—I'm over 18 he's considered just my mom's husband now." You say and Dave laughs and murmurs an apology before you continue,
"Hank is fine. I don't know him that well if and I'm being totally honest he seems a little boring...but he makes my mom happy and I know for a fact that he's a stable which is something she really needs. My dad was stable the majority of my life, he kept the drinking under control enough to be responsible most of the time, but towards the end he was a mess and that really took a toll on my mom. Its good she has someone trust worthy now" You state with a shrug.
"How do you not know him well, you live in the same city as them?" Dave asks in a confused tone.
"I don't go home very often. My mom and I have never really clicked, you know that. She's great and I love her and she took really good care of me but I feel like once I got old enough to be more independent I ran with it and she sort of created her own little world." You explain, "I don't think my mother really suffered from empty nest syndrome when I moved out. I think she just created a new life for herself and it wasn't really one she made me a central part of"
"I'm sorry about that" Dave responds with a frown.
Just then from across the room you hear someone shout, "David!"
You turn to see Virginia Grohl, Dave's mother, and a younger woman who you recognize from photos as Dave's sister Lisa.
Dave immediately rushes over to Virginia and wraps her up in a giant bear hug. She laughs and swats at his back until he lets go finally and the poor woman can breathe again.
Next he moves on to hug Lisa and he's just finishing up greetings by the time you get over.
"Julia! Its great to see you again honey, its been way too long" Says Virginia with an genuinely excited smile, hugging you tightly and kissing you on the cheek, "You look beautiful with your shorter hair, I love it!"
"Thank you so much Ms. Grohl—" You begin but she cuts you off.
"Virginia or even Ginny if you're feeling wild! None of this 'Ms. Grohl' stuff, that's my work name, you know me from the real world now!" She says and you laugh and nod.
"You're right, you always told me to preferred that, my apologies. Thank you again Virginia" You say and she smiles widely.
"Jules this is my sister Lisa, I don't think you two ever met" Dave says, pulling you over to Lisa and you hold out your hand.
She moves your hand out of the way and immediately goes in for a hug which takes you by surprise.
"I'm so glad I actually get to meet you!" She says enthusiastically, "I heard a lot about you from Dave here and even from Jimmy and I honestly thought I would never get a chance to meet you"
Even though you're slightly taken aback you try not to show it, "I'm glad to meet you too! Dave always talks about you—literally non-stop. Your little brother definitely loves you" You say, trying to match her enthusiasm and he she laughs.
"He fucking better" She teases, turning to Dave and he rolls his eyes before breaking and wrapping her in a giant hug again for good measure.
"I missed you Lisa" He says and she blows a raspberry in his face.
"Alright, are you ready to get out of here?" Asks Virginia.
You all nod and begin walking towards the parking lot. You all pile into her small car, with you and Dave being shoved together in the miniscule back seat.
"Are you kids awake enough for a bite tonight, I'd love to buy you two your first American meal!" Ginny says excitedly and you can't stop yourself from smiling.
"I'm game" You reply with a shrug, looking over at Dave.
"Me too! I'm fucking starved" He says enthusiastically.
After you drive for a couple minutes Ginny pulls up to a diner and you all rush in, you hadn't realized how starving you were until the smell of grease met your nostrils.
You all make a beeline for a booth right by the window and when you slide in Dave follows behind you and wraps his arm around your shoulder, causing you to blush.
Even though it was a very subtle public display of affection it still felt weird to do in front of his family who still had no idea what the deal was between you two.
"So Julia what are you studying?" Asks Ginny after you ordered your food.
"I'm pre-law. I do go to Georgetown and its something in the air there, it seems like everyone is either getting into government or law" You reply.
"Have you looked at any law schools yet?" Asks Lisa and you shake your head.
"Barely—I obviously know I'm going to apply to Georgetown but that's it. I haven't looked at all, I was saving all of it for this semester so I didn't stress about it while I was abroad but the more I look back on that the worse of an idea it sounds. The LSATs are coming up pretty soon" You explain and they nod in sympathy.
"You'll do fine smarty pants, I'm sure any school would be happy to have you." Dave says and you roll your eyes at him, causing Virginia and Lisa to laugh.
"He's probably right though honey, you seem like a very dedicated young woman. I'm sure things will turn out just fine" Ginny reassures you with a warm smile.
"I hope so" You say as your food arrives.
"Tell us about the tour David! How was Europe this time around?" Asks Virginia and Dave's eyes light up.
"Mom, you would love it I'm telling you—the summer festival tour was completely different than anything I'd ever done before, its such a different type of situation." He says between mouthfuls of pancakes and eggs, "I'm gonna try to bring you guys with me next time"
"That would be so great Dave, do you think you could do that?" Asks Lisa excitedly.
"Shit if Nirvana is doing as well as all my managers say it is we could take off for a year around the world" He replies and Virginia reprimands him for bragging.
You sit around and talk with them until its time for them to drive you back home.
"I'll walk you in" Dave says when his mom pulls up to your house.
"It was nice talking to you honey! Don't be a stranger" Virginia says with a wink as you go to unbuckle your seatbelt.
"I won't, I promise! Thank you so much for dinner and the ride, I had such a good time with all of you" You say and her and Lisa both flash you enthusiastic grins as Dave walks around to your side of the car to open the door for you.
He grabs your duffel from the trunk and together you walk up the snowy sidewalk to your front door.
"This house hasn't changed" He says as you arrive at the front stoop.
"Yeah except for Hank's car in the driveway" You observe, nodding towards the Cadillac to your left.
"I think I'd really like to see you again before I leave town again. I leave the 26th so we have like a week or so" He says, "Would you be ok with that?"
"Yes I think so" You say and he grins at you.
"I'll call you" He says giving you a kiss on the cheek.
"Alright, tell your family I had fun" You say as you walk through the door. He waves goodnight and you wave back and smile to yourself as you call to your mom that you're finally home.
