Atlas walked towards the doorpost of Meredith's home and knocked slowly. His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for a response from someone, anyone inside.
Please, let them be around. He wished in his heart as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other. After what seemed like an eternity, the door swung open, revealing Meredith, clad in a sundress that revealed much of her supple skin. Atlas gulped at the sight of her.
"Seeing you after a long time, feels a lot like love at first sight, except I know who I'm looking at." He whispered to her hearing alone. She giggled at his poetic words, closing her palm over her mouth to prevent herself from being heard.
"Come here," He growled and pulled her towards himself. He crushed his lips on hers, pushing his tongue against hers, twisting and twirling hungrily. Each time, he let out a muffled groan that drowned in her depths, arousing her pleasure in their daring situation.
"Meredith dear, who is that?" They broke apart forcefully, one pushing against the other as they readjusted themselves. Gwen's footsteps became more audible as she walked towards the door.
"Oh, Atlas," She exclaimed as she stared him down. "What brings you here this evening?"
"Atlas, is that you buddy?" Lucious yelled from within.
"Buddy?!" Meredith mouthed in his direction; he shrugged his shoulders dramatically, expressing his genuine confusion about the intimate greeting from her father. After a moment, he was at the door as well. Meredith sighed tiredly.
"Good evening, sir." The words came out of his mouth almost in a whisper. Lucious let out a hysteric laughter, and then he spoke. "Look at him being all calm and innocent.
This here, is a talking machine, he always has something to say. But he never runs out of ideas though." He nudged Atlas's shoulder with his fist and beckoned for him to come inside, but he refused, preferring to relay his message at the door. They complied.
"I want to take Meredith out on a date, and I need your consent." He said the words with his heart in his throat. He didn't feel comfortable, but there was no reason for him to feel that way. Her parents were nice and sweet, so what was the reason for feeling so? The person he least expected to decline spoke on their behalf.
"Oh, Atlas, I'm really sorry, but I still gotta catch up. There's a lot of things to –" Meredith was still talking when Gwen interrupted.
"A lot of what, young woman? I'll personally see to it that you go. We've got a date of our own, and you are in our way, you being away will only give us more chance to do the catching up between ourselves. Come on in, Atlas." Gwen said to her as she took hold of their wrists and pulled them inside.
"Make yourself at home okay, I can bring you some cookies and tea, will that be fine?" She asked again as she used her leg to shut the door.
"Oh no, ma'am, I – need to save some space for the dinner." Atlas replied timidly rubbing his stomach as he spoke, and then he took his seat at the dining table. Lucious stood smiling at the entire display.
"Alright, alright, mom, I'll go and get myself ready, is that okay. You can let go now," Meredith replied with a laugh as she tugged her wrist free from her mom's grasp and headed towards the stairs.
"You better not take your time young lady, I also have to take a shower and get dressed." Gwen added as she walked over to Lucious. He circled his arm around her waist and pulled her close as they watched Meredith climb up the stairs.
"Alright, my lady, now that we are about to have our daughter out of the way," Lucious began and then he took a flower from a nearby vase and went on one knee before Gwen. "Would you do me the honor of going out on a date, with this old man?"
"Oh Lucious," Gwen said as she giggled and smacked his shoulder playfully, "Of course I'll go out with you. But you look nothing like an old man to me. You're still that daring, hardheaded, handsome young man I knew as a girl." She added as she wrapped her arms around him, leaning her weight on him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her abdomen.
"Mmm, baby, you've still got so much life, you can't believe how happy I was when I first walked in and saw you hale and hearty. It warmed my heart, but I was more excited, you know where?" Lucious rose his head and smiled at her mischievously.
"Lucious!" She exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "Alright, I have to go prepare as well, you know, look good for you." She said with a wink, and then she headed up the stairs.
Atlas sat back, watching the entire scene with light in his gaze. He never imagined so much love and romance would exist between old couples, but here they were, proving him very wrong. The anticipation in his spirit was rekindled after everything he'd seen happen before him.
"You know, we are both lucky men," Lucious said as he turned to face Atlas who was now smiling up at him.
"Oh I couldn't agree with you less," He replied with a laugh.
"We still got it good if we're still able to ask them out and they accept." Lucious continued, settling more comfortably into his seat.
Atlas shifted uneasily in his seat, and then he turned to face Lucious, his expression turning serious. "Thank you, Lucious, for giving me your blessings concerning taking your daughter as my wife." He said in a low tone filled with gratitude.
"Oh young man, I'd never hesitate another second if you asked in the next world. You risked your life not only for my daughter, but for my Gwen as well.
You are even more capable than I imagined. It's only plausible that I give my daughter to someone as capable as you. And what better choice than the person that sets the goal for a man of capability?"
He answered and placed his hand on his shoulder. Atlas smiled back at him, as the possibility of a beautiful future with Meredith posed before him.