So, um...Dad. (open to Stark-ish family and Remi)

[soulstealingstark]

The test results weren't changing. The little parasitical organism growing inside Alexa wasn't going away. The hormones were getting worse, as evidenced by Alexa's keen strategy of kicking Remi in the nuts to rescue him from a really bad situation. She had also noticed a slight...bump going on where her stomach was and guessing by Remi's near inability to look up from her chest these days she was pretty sure that her stomach wasn't the only thing that had swollen.

There was no denying it now. Alexa was with Atlantean spawn. Do they make booties for wingy feet?

"Remi?" she peeked in at him. He'd been having a lot of Tank Time since the whole ball-kicking incident.

Comments

[avengeriniron]

"Well, that'll be a simple enough order to place," Tony answered cheerfully. The whole situation was weird and uncomfortable now. There was an undercurrent going on that he didn't understand and was almost positive he didn't want to.

Hormones. Yep, he was going to assume it was all hormones. Especially if she started crying. Then Remi was on his own, because there were all kinds of emergency meetings he could suddenly have to rush out for. "I believe I'll just give my cardiologist a thrill and stick with the Alfredo."

[aqua_gambit]

This was where foolish Atlanteans tred. Mostly because he was getting slightly more confused about how Alexa was acting. Though he was trying hard to keep his calm, placid exterior up.

"Mo pa comprend ou. Alexa, dearest, I get full from three things off the menu. I know our baby is part Atlantean, but isn't the whole left side a bit much?"

[soulstealingstark]

"Nope. And there will be leftovers."

Neither man had any idea just how much Alexa Stark could eat when she was nervous.

[avengeriniron]

Tony had no idea. Tony also didn't want to know. He kept his nose in his menu and made sure to think carefully over his entree choice. Yep. Very carefully.

"The tiramisu sounds delicious..."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi glanced toward Alexa's father. He held in a sigh after seeing it was a Stark trait to hide behind a menu. It was hard enough for the Atlantean to maintain his composure after a sudden l-bomb lobbed in his lap. Though with Alexa refusing to look at either of them, Remi was getting the idea she was ashamed of feeling that way.

He pressed his lips together and withdrew his arm from the back of Alexa's chair. He tried to keep his voice calm and serene. He could freak out when he went and jumped in the Atlantic after this. "Fine. Half the menu, alfredo, tiramisu, my three entrees, and two copies of the menu for hiding behind, and some to-go boxes for leftovers. That sound about right?"

[soulstealingstark]

Alexa folded her menu and sat it down before folding her hands in her lap...though one found it's way to Remi's leg and she clung to him.

"I'm done with the menu, actually. I'm just working on the remembering to breathe bit now."

[avengeriniron]

Oh swell. One with annoying, hormonal mood shifts and one pregnant woman. Tony guessed that was what he got for dropping the death threats. God, this lunch couldn't end soon enough.

He put his menu down and looked at them. "Would you two like me to leave you alone? There's obviously a problem of some kind and I don't know that my presence is helping any."

[aqua_gambit]

Remi glanced down at the hand clinging to his leg. He was glad to not be magically diminished so his strength would cover whatever Alexa could do to him.

"Well, as I have no clue what's going on, it's up to Alexa."

[soulstealingstark]

"This is all just...awkward and I am not handling it particularly well."

[avengeriniron]

"Nobody's killing anyone. I consider that a sign of a meeting going well." Tony answered, not entirely helpfully. Hey, considering how his marriage ended, it was a valid method of measuring success in family interaction.

[aqua_gambit]

"No possessions. No nobody's scrotum being mangled. We're fine, Alexa." The waitress started to come close but Remi signaled for her to wait a moment or two. Once he got the nod of assent, the Atlantean turned back to his girlfriend.

[soulstealingstark]

"You do have a point, Dad. And there have been no weapon-based fights. This is pretty solid progress." Alexa wasn't even referring to the end of her father's marriage. She'd seen her parents fight and that was enough.

"I'm pretty overwhelmed, Remi. And since the adventure with the crazy death queen or whatever she was...I've been unsteady."

[avengeriniron]

"You know, it really seems like the two of you need to talk more than you need me here. Why don't you do that? We can have lunch together another time." Tony put his menu on the table and leaned over to drop a kiss on his daughter's cheek. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'll admit that a baby wasn't what I was expecting, but if you're happy, I'm happy."

He nodded to Remi as he got to his feet. "Congratulations."

[aqua_gambit]

"Queen Medb," he corrected automatically. Remi rubbed his eyebrows for a second then ran his hand through his golden hair.

He nodded back to Alexa's father but stayed quiet outside of royal protocol.

[soulstealingstark]

"She was icky regardless," Alexa grumbles and softens a bit when her father kisses her cheek.

"Thank you, Dad. I'll call you later, okay?"

[avengeriniron]

"Okay. I may be at the office or home, but I'll have my cell on either way." He stepped away from the table and headed for the door. The next few months were going to be... interesting.

[aqua_gambit]

Remi stayed quiet and a little blank. From just getting back emotional and mental equilibrium to this took some adjusting. He pushed at the edge of his menu with a fingertip. His shoulders started to feel a little heavy again.

[soulstealingstark]

Alexa wathced her father leave and then turned her eyes on her boyfriend. It was pretty clear that she had bungled things based on the subtle dip in his energy and the way the light didn't quite meet his eyes. It seemed that not only did she manage to not inherit even an ounce of the Stark Smoothness, but she had managed to pick up some interpersonal clumsiness along the way.

"We can order things to go," she says after a moment, looking down at her own menu.

[aqua_gambit]

He took in a breath. There was a lot to assimilate. Rather than focus on the part that freaked him out slightly, he chose to pay attention to the part he regretted. He was, by his estimation, the reason Alexa was overwhelmed and unstable. His actions and faults lead to it.

"That will take a lot of bags if you're ordering the left side of the menu," he teased quietly. He looked over at her to try to gauge some way of being helpful.

[soulstealingstark]

"Yes. But you're strong. I know this firsthand. And I'm pretty sure the little you within me will loan me some strength if it means he gets pasta," she smiles. "I could give you a shoulder rub to make it up to you?"

She tried to not to look or sound nervous, but he was hard to read sometimes.

[aqua_gambit]

He gave her a small grin. "That's all right, but I don't need one. You, on the other hand, might need one. We'll get our food to go and settle in somewhere where you're comfortable."

He paused a beat. "Even if that means I have to picnic in a lab with experiments."

Not his favorite place to be but sacrifices had to be made.

[soulstealingstark]

"I was thinking more like a comfy chair nearest your tank of relaxation." Sacrifices indeed.

[aqua_gambit]

"That will work." He waved over the waitress and placed their to-go order. He got a slightly baffled look at the order for the left side of the menu, but the order was taken and delivered to the kitchen.

"Now, will you want me in or out of the tank? Easier to eat outside the tank. Food won't float away..."

[soulstealingstark]

"Where will you be most comfortable? We perhaps should consider getting you a flotation device with a tray for food sometime so that you can chill and also enjoy your dinner. Like those drink things in pools."

[aqua_gambit]

He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Mm. I can float around any time. I'd prefer being in a comfy chair with you in my lap. I've got shields to protect you in case I get sloppy."