#and though you'd think marty would be that parent he's like 'my kids!!!' and worries

[doctorbrown]

DOCTOBER '23 ⸺ 「 29 / 31 * 2023 」

June 27, 2023

❝Anything you've gotta say, Ellie, you can say it. I promise your old man can handle it,❞ Marty says, giving his daughter the very same look he's given Doc time-and-time again when he was absolutely serious.

Ellie rolls her eyes. ❝All I said, Dad, was that you should probably sit down. Not that you'd have a heart attack or something. I've got news, that's all.❞

Marty's expression immediately sours as his mind leaps to worst-case scenarios. Trouble, he thinks, my baby girl's gotten herself into trouble, hasn't she? He can't help the way he worries and Ellie, upon catching sight of the shift in her father's expression, immediately frowns.

❝I didn't even tell you the news yet! At least wait before you start making faces like that!❞

Marty waves a hand. ❝Sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just afraid you're about to tell me you're about to join some gang and you've already gotten bionic implants you haven't told me about.❞

Jen snickers at his side and Marty sputters. ❝Hey, it's not funny, Jen! You've seen what those things can do.❞

❝Oh Marty, relax.❞ Jen puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. ❝At least let her tell us the news before you start overreacting.❞

He huffs but says nothing else as Ellie mouths a silent thank you to her mother.

❝Now Dad, you remember Dan, right?❞

How could he forget?

He still remembers the day when Ellie, nineteen, brought him home for dinner and introduced him as her boyfriend, much to his dismay. Sure, he and Jen were high school sweethearts, deeply in love and already envisioning a future together at that age, but it was different with his daughter.

Daniel Locarno, a software engineer, with his hazel eyes, kind face, and short blonde hair, always looking at Ellie with that look in his eye, like she was the only person in the entire room.

He was a nice boy, all things considered. Never did anything to prove otherwise. Jen certainly liked him. Marty had no real issues with him.

❝I'm not senile yet, y'know.❞ Jen doesn't even try and hide her grin, nor does Ellie. ❝Of course I remember Dan; what's this got to do with him?❞

Ellie and Jen share a look that makes Marty deeply suspicious and he starts to suspect he should have heeded her warning and taken a seat when he had the chance.

❝Well❞—it's only now Marty notices that she's standing with her hands clasped behind her back like she's hiding something—❝I told you that we were going on holiday for about a week and a half.❞

To Denmark. He remembers.

Marty nods slowly, unsure if he really wants to hear the end of this story.

Ellie's eyes sparkle and dread drops a boulder in his stomach that could crush him. ❝Dad, Dan proposed! He asked me to marry him and I said yes. We're engaged!❞

She finally pulls her hands from her back to show off her ring and the diamond doesn't hold a candle to the size of the rock currently weighing Marty down. He tries to smile, but all he can feel are his eyes threatening to fall out of his head as he stares.

Jen beams, clasping her hands together in a show of excitement. ❝Honey, it's beautiful! And about time, too. You've been dating for six years now. Your father didn't work up the nerve to propose until '89, but when he did, oh, it was so romantic.❞

Marty waves his hands. ❝Wait, wait, wait! He didn't even ask me! Your dad gave me hell when I asked him for his blessing!❞

❝My dad was convinced I was making a mistake dating a musician whose music probably wasn't going to go anywhere. Don't you remember the look on his face when your band announced they were going on tour?❞

❝Yeah I remember, but that's not the point and you know it.❞

Jen clicks her tongue. ❝You know things are different now. It's been almost forty years since then.❞

Marty narrows his eyes as alarm bells blare in his mind. ❝You knew, didn't you?❞ Jen shrugs, but the unapologetic smile on her face gives her away. ❝And you didn't tell me! How long did you know this was happening?❞

❝Oh, probably since the end of last month.❞ Marty has to remind himself how to breathe. ❝You were out at the studio when Dan came by; he told me everything. I gave him our blessing.❞

I think I need to sit down after all.

❝So, have you decided a date yet?❞