Stop Believing in the Lie

Christmas Eve was here in a flash and I was close to spending my first Christmas with Alex. We plan on visiting my parents today since I want him all to myself tomorrow.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked walking into his room.

He was looking in the mirror and fixing his hair. How cute.

"Yes...no."

"No?"

"I can't get my hair right."

"Alex, you sound like a woman. It's fine. I love it. Plus, you met my parents already. They love you."

"Not your dad."

"What? Are you crazy?"

"He still doesn't like me."

"Why? Because you're on a team that he hates and that I used to hate? He got over it. He saw how much you cared for me a month ago. That's enough. He likes you because you treat me right."

"Still no like team."

"Since when does that matter?"

"Since I fell in love with you and cared about what your dad thinks."

I've never seen him this vulnerable...not since when that night happened. It's cute. He's cute. I love him this way.

"You are perfect the way you are." I said going on my tiptoes to kiss him.

"нет."("No.")

"Sì."("Yes.")

"No one perfect."

"Shut up. Yes you are...because I say so."

"Я люблю тебя."("I love you.")

"Я тоже тебя люблю."("I love you too.")

He smiled into the kiss.

"You're the best."

"You're the best."

We separated and let out a sigh...a happy one.

"So, you ready to go?"

"Yes."

We grabbed our coats and I grabbed my purse and we made our way out the door. Again, the flight wasn't bad, but I was tired...more tired than I thought I'd be.

"сонный?"("Sleepy?")

I nodded and leaned into him. He wrapped an arm around me and I practically melted into him. When we got to the house, Alex was feeling completely better and confident; not insecure at all.

"You good?" I asked.

"I'm good."

I smiled and kissed him.

"Good."

It was very cold as I expected it be, but that's what you get for being in the Northeast. I loved this weather. I was smiling the second we stepped out of the airport.

"Why you smiling?"

"It's winter. I love this. I loved the cold air against my skin."

"You sound Canadian. Like Sid."

I laughed.

"I do, don't I? But, people from Massachusetts love this weather too."

He nodded and kissed my cheek.

"Does this mean I can't warm you back up?" he whispered into my ear with a smirk.

I smirked and whispered into his ear.

"That's half the fun."

"Fun you wanna have tomorrow?"

"Absolutely. It's a date."

"A naked date."

I couldn't help but laugh. I buried my face in his side.

"I love you, you know that?"

"I love you too." he said kissing me.

The drive went very smoothly and before we knew it, we arrived at my house.

"I'm so excited!" I said jumping up and down.

"Can't believe you're my girlfriend." he said shaking his head.

I smacked him for that.

"Don't be an ass."

"Извините."("Sorry.") he said with a puppy dog look.

"Better be." I said wrapping my arms around his neck kissing him.

"I am."

"Good."

I then rang the doorbell. My mom answered the door within ten seconds and embraced me immediately.

"I missed you too, Mom." I said laughing.

"Sorry. I'm just really happy to see you."

"I oughta tell you what Alex said a couple minutes ago..."

"No, you don't." Alex asked.

"Excuse me?"

"What didja say, Alex?" my mom asked.

"Nothing." he said looking toward the ground.

"I said I was really excited and he said that he couldn't believe I was his girlfriend. I hit him and he said sorry in Russian."

She laughed.

"You're lucky she didn't kick your ass. That must mean she loves you."

"I really do and that's frightening that I can." I said laughing.

He squeezed my hand and smiled at me. I smiled at back.

"Did you think you were gonna get in trouble?" my mom asked.

He nodded.

"You're adorable." I said pinching his cheek.

He blushed.

I then heard my dad rush in from the nearby kitchen.

"Papà!"

"La mia bella figlia!"("My beautiful daughter.")

He hugged me tight and didn't let me go for a few seconds.

"Mi sei mancato. Come stai? Ha forse ti sta trattando bene?"("I missed you. How are you? Is he treating you well?")

"Dad...I'm good and he's treating me right."

"E meglio che sia."("He better be.")

"Dad! Scherzi a parte."("Dad! Seriously.")

"Scusi."

"Don't apologize. Everyone has said that to me today."

"Everyone?"

"Alex and Mom."

"Perché gli dispiaceva?"("Why sorry?")

"Puoi lasciar perdere?"("Can you let it go?")

"No."

"Papà. Smettila." I said begging him.("Dad. Seriously?")

He gave me a look. I gave it right back.

"Fine. Lascio andare."("Fine. I'll let it go.")

"Grazie."

"Prego." he said kissing my cheek.

I turned to see my mom and Alex waiting patiently for us. I stood beside him.

"Mr. Cantioni." Alex said shaking his hand.

"Alex. I assume you've been treating her well."

I shoved my dad for that and gave him the look again.

"Amelia..." I heard my mom say.

"I'm sorry but he's being irritating."

"He's being your father."

I rolled my eyes.

"Yes. I've been treating her very well."

"Good."

"Like there was any doubt." I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" my mom asked.

"Nothing." I said putting on a smile.

My mom gave her own look before letting it go.

"Will you tell me what you said to your father later?" he whispered in my ear.

"Of course."

Alex excused himself to the bathroom an hour later and I told him to meet me in my
room after.

"What did he say?" he asked sitting on the bed beside me.

"He greeted me by saying, 'my beautiful daughter'. Then, he said he missed me, asked how I was and if you were treating me well."

"And you said..."

"That you were treating me right. I didn't like what he said next. He said, 'he better be' and that's when I got an apology after I yelled at him. I mentioned about you and my mom apologizing and of course he asked why."

"He wouldn't let it go."

"But I got him to. That's what matters. He'll probably ask again. Italian fathers are stubborn as any other man on the planet."

"I understand. Russian fathers are same. Maybe worse."

I nodded, leaning into him. I felt him take my hand in his as he pulled me closer.

"I love you." he whispered into my hair.

"I love you too."

Five hours later, we were lying down nearly asleep when I heard my mom call my name.

"Amelia!"

"Yeah?"

"You ready to go out to your grandparents for dinner?"

"Just about! We'll be out in a few minutes, Mom!"

I sighed, burying my face into his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"My grandparents are gonna be all over you. All four of my grandparents." I groaned.

"Why?" he asked confusedly.

"They know how much I love hockey and how I hated you and the Capitals before coming to Washington."

"Oh okay. I understand."

"So, you better be prepared."

"I am."

"You might hear me speak more Italian later."

He smirked.

"I love when you speak Italian."

I smiled and kissed him. Five minutes later, we were out of my room and in the car on the way to my paternal grandparents house where my maternal grandparents had met as well.
I was nervous; I'll admit it.

"Cosa c'è che non va, Amelia?"("What's wrong, Amelia?") my mom asked noticing the look on my face.

"Non so che cosa stanno andando a pensare di Alex."("I don't know what they're gonna think of Alex.")

"Non preoccuparti tanto. Sono sicuro che lo amano."("Don't worry. I'm sure they'll love him.")

I nodded.

"I'll take your word for it."

My mom smiled and hugged me as we reached the front door. I knocked on the door with a huge smile on my face. My maternal grandmother answered the door.

"Amelia!"

"Nonni!"

She wrapped her arms around me.

"How's D.C. treating you? Are you having fun?"

"Amazingly and lots and lots of fun. I'm very happy. The happiest I've been since I started playing hockey."

"E 'meraviglioso! Sono così felice di vedere la mia piccola Amelia così felice!"("It's wonderful, I am so happy to see my little Amelia so happy!")

"Grazie!"

"Oh, sei il benvenuto, caro! Ti amo!"("Oh, you're welcome, dear! I love you!")

"Anch'io ti amo."

"So, who's this handsome young man? He looks familiar."

"This is my boyfriend Alex. He plays for the team I work for."

"Alex Ovechkin?" she whispered into my ear.

I let out a laugh.

"Yes, Nonni. Alex Ovechkin."

I saw Alex smile. Things were going already; thank goodness. Only three more people to impress.

"So, Nonni, Alex. Alex, this is my maternal grandmother, Nonni."

"So glad to meet you." he greeted.

"So glad to meet you too. To meet the man who makes my poco Amelia so happy."

I smiled and blushed. That's when he kissed my cheek; Nonni awwed.

"Ready to meet everyone else?" I asked him.

He nodded.

We walked into the kitchen to find everyone gathered in the kitchen. I took Alex's hand in mine. Whatever was cooking smelled delicious. It smelled like Italy. A tear ran down my face at the sight and the memory of home.

"Amelia?" Alex said turning to face me.

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then, what is it?"

"It smells like home...back in Italy."

"It's a wonderful smell."

"You're gonna enjoy the food even more."

As soon as my other grandparents saw me, I was bombarded with hugs and kisses on my cheeks and questions about how my new life was and who had stolen my heart; it was more than overwhelming, but it was what I expected.

"Ok, ok. Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Alex. He plays for the team I work for."

"Is he the person you hated so much from that team?" my paternal grandfather asked.

"Yes, but I don't anymore. We're in a relationship."

My grandfathers were a little skeptical, but once we sat down for dinner and he got interrogated, they felt better about him. My other grandmother felt in love with him almost as fast as Nonni; it was humorous. Alex handled all this with ease.

"How's dinner?" I asked.

"Выдающаяся."

"What did he say?" Nonni asked.

"Outstanding."

"So, you know Russian too?"

"A little. I'm still learning. It's a hard language to learn."

"Adding a third language is hard in itself. Are you learning Italian, Alex?"

"Yeah. It's hard. I still have trouble learning English. I came here when I was nineteen."

"And that was?"

"Five years ago."

"You're doing well."

"Grazie."

"Prego. I'll say this again, I really like him."

He blushed.

That night went well and we got to bed around midnight. I almost collapsed on the bed.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" I asked.

"I really enjoyed myself. I love your grandparents."

"I love skeptical my grandfathers were. It was hilarious. So glad they turned around."

"Me too." he said kissing my neck.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."