As they entered the kitchen, Aoife's eyes widened slightly, taking in the sight of Damon walking alongside the beautiful Svetlana.
She beamed with excitement, but quickly contained it, not wanting to make a scene. "Oh, and who's this young lady?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity, looking at Damon expectantly.
Damon felt a surge of nervousness, his mind racing with thoughts of how to introduce Svetlana.
'Why am I freaking out about this? She just a friend, yeah, just a friend'
And his nerves settled. "Mom, this is Svetlana. She's... uhh... my friend," he said, finally sounding certain.
Aoife titled her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, are you sure?" she teased, her voice light.
Damon chuckled nervously, feeling a bit defensive. "Of course, Mom, I know who my friends are."
Svetlana smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with kindness. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cross," she said, her voice husky.
Damon excused himself, "Okay, let me go put on a shirt while you guys get to know each other." He smiled, then walked towards his room, leaving Svetlana and Aoife alone in the kitchen.
As Damon walked away, Svetlana couldn't help but glance at his back, her eyes catching sight of a scar running from his shoulder to lower back.
She had been curious about it before but never asked, knowing that everyone has their secrets.
Aoife smiled warmly, "Well, Svetlana, please, feel at home. Mind helping me dish?" She gestured to the stew simmering on the stove.
Svetlana nodded, her long hair swaying slightly as she moved. "Of course, not Mrs. Cross," she said respectfully, her eyes scanning the kitchen as she took in the cozy atmosphere.
The aroma of stew filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly baked bread, making Svetlana's stomach growl with anticipation.
She smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort in the Cross' kitchen.
...
..
As they sat down at the table, Damon couldn't help but notice the way Svetlana's eyes sparkled in the light.
His mother, Aoife, smiled warmly at her, asking, "So Svetlana, you're such a beautiful young lady, tell me about yourself?"
Svetlana's cheeks flushed slightly as she began to talk, her voice husky and confident.
..
..
In Damon's Room.
Damon walked into his room, expecting to see his usual messy space, but instead, he found his mother, Aoife, standing by his bed, his bag already packed and ready to go.
He paused, a smile spreading across his face. "Mom, thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Aoife walked towards him, her eyes shining with warmth, and enveloped him in a tight hug.
Damon hugged her back, feeling a sense of comfort and security in her embrace.
The hug was long, and for a moment, they just held each other.
As they broke apart, Damon was about to take a step back when Aoife held his hand, her grip gentle but firm. "Damon, that young woman out there," she said, her voice low and serious.
Damon was about to interrupt her, but she held up her hand, and he stopped.
"She's wonderful, and I'm sure you're not blind to see she likes you, and you like her as well," Aoife continued, her eyes locked onto his. Damon felt a flush rise to his cheeks, but he didn't look away.
"Of course, I don't want to intrude too much and tell you what to do with your love life," Aoife said, her voice softening. "But... she seems to have been through a lot." She trailed off, her eyes filled with concern.
Damon nodded, as he thought of Svetlana and her mysterious past.
Even with their closeness, they both hadn't revealed the dark parts of their pasts, while he knew about her being from a wartorn country, he didn't know the details.
Aoife continued, her voice filled with warmth. "And so have you, so be there for her, just as she can be there for you."
Damon's eyes widened as Aoife said, "What do you young kids say? I saw this online... oh, don't fumble a ten."
Damon paused, a laugh escaping his lips. "That's a bit cringe coming from you, Mom," he teased.
'Let's hope she doesn't get more brainrot'
But then, his expression turned serious, and he hugged Aoife again. "Thank you, Mom," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
Aoife hugged him back, her eyes shining with tears. "I just want you to be happy, Damon," she whispered back.