Title taken from: “First impressions are the most lasting,” a proverb. 

Bellingham, Washington, USA

 Leaving Death & Co turned out to be surprisingly easier than she thought.  Raul, Camilla, and the rest of the staff[1] had everything under control.  Dorsey was going to manage day to day, Raul was going to handle the ordering and scheduling, and Camilla would keep up with the books as always.  Normally, she wouldn’t have given much thought to leaving work behind, but Death & Co was her baby at this point: a rather successful business in its own right and she wanted to keep it that way.  Thankfully, her older siblings felt the same (because their money had gone into purchasing it) and were picking up the reigns in her absence.

It wasn’t every day you got to visit America, after all!  Margo had been a lot of places, but North America was not one of them.  So, when Nate asked if she wanted to go… well, Margo didn’t hesitate. She was always up for an adventure. 

Turned out this was a bigger adventure than she ever anticipated.  Perry and Molly were great hosts, even if the cabin was very small and Margo had never been quite so close to any family ever… even her own.  But, Bellingham, Washington reminded her a lot of Romania – well, as far as forests and trees and weather… plus, the likelihood she was going to run into someone she’d shagged also seemed oddly high for a country she’d never actually visited.  (Seeing Nick for the first time since the reserve, on the arm of his brother no less, would have been weird for anyone else, but not Margo). 

It was at least fortuitous that he didn’t live with Perry and Molly! As it turned out, Nick lived with their cousin – Ash – in a ritzy condo by the water.  She’d yet to meet Ash yet though.  That was all going to be happening soon. 

Despite the fact that she was achy (like an old woman whose joints hurt every time it was going to rain) and still a little crabby from the time change, there’d been a big family get together planned and she had to drag her arse out of her comfortable clothes and actually try.  She wasn’t going to admit it, but she was a tad bit anxious about it.  Normally, she wouldn’t care how her shirt rode a little high over her mid-drift, but as they had approached the Bigfoot Bay Brewing Company, she couldn’t help but notice that she was trying to tug it down… more than once.  Luckily, she could make excuses about not taking off her jacket (wet weather be damned). 

She was just glad Nate’s family picked somewhere that emphasized drinking.  Given Nate’s particularities about beer, she was excited to see what he always seemed to be going on about.  Settled in between Nate and Callie, she eyed the beer selection curiously before leaning over to Nate, trying to be as discreet as her usually loud voice would allow.  “How many do you think I can get before everyone arrives?”  Not for nerves, obviously.  Of course not.

1.	Staff page

His entire father's side of the family lived in or around Whatcom county. His parents had been absolutely delighted to hear that he was in a position to go on a trip. Bellingham was the first stop-- but after that, Callie would be staying with his parents while he took Margo around the country. They were going to end in Vegas, because Vegas seemed exactly like Margo's kind of place.

Bigfoot Bay Brewing Company was a wizarding brewery that also served plenty of food. Of course, it was kid friendly before 8:00 PM, and all the food was from local farms. They sat at a large table, big enough to fit his father's side of the family.

1. His mother, Molly
2. His father, Peregrin
3. His brother, Pheonix
4. Peregrin's twin brother, Griffin (Nate's uncle)
5. Griffin's wife, Cherish
6. Griffin and Cherish's children, Ash and Mandy

While Nate grew up in more humble circumstances (due to the choices of his hippie parents). Ash and Mandy grew up in simlar circumstances... Until Griffin and Cherish became Apple Millionaires. They transformed from lovely, laid back, stoner hippie parents into stoic, rich as fuck, baby boomers. Baby boomers who regretted naming their children Ashwinder and Mandrake. Nate was not looking forward to visiting with them, though he liked his cousins.

"Uh," Nate had already ordered a beer-- an oatmeal stout. Callie was sipping on a root beer happily, and rambling about how she wanted mac and cheese. She wasn't talking to anybody in particular. "Well my aunt and uncle are usually early. My parents run late. They're arriving together soooo...."

As if on cue, they arrived. Molly greeted Margo with an awkward hug in which she stuffed Margo's face into her boobs. The aunt and uncle waved awkwardly and exchanged polite greetings.

"I heard you have slept with both my sons!" She said with a laugh before bopping Nate on the nose. "So you two are real brothers and eskimo brothers."

"Jesus christ, mom." Nate mumbled, "Not this again."

Margo’s first beer arrived only momentarily before Nate’s family – or at least some of them.  She supposed that answered her question.  Going off description (and alcohol content) alone, she’d elected for an IPA from the menu.  She had just enough time to take a sip (whoa!) before she was swept up into a hug from Molly.

The last time they’d seen one another – well, not the last time, really, but the first time, she supposed it was only appropriate that she was all up in her goodies and not her son’s this time.  It was impressive really, how strong Molly Hawke was (and how ample her bossom).  Margo’s face emerged slightly redder than it had gone in and she was glad she wasn’t a fan of makeup.

It surely would have been all over Molly’s top – and smeared over her face – if she did.  It wouldn’t exactly be the cleanest motorboat incident recorded in wizarding history.   That crisis was averted, however, and Margo could not be happier.  Especially when she took another sip of beer. 

She did her best to not dribble beer down her chin as she declared to the whole table that she’d slept with Nate and Phoenix (a true coincidence).  Margo wasn’t entirely sure if his aunt and uncle made a disgusted sound at the fact that she wiped the little bit of beer from her mouth with the back of her hand or the announcement.

Either way, Margo managed to clumsily introduce herself to them after that whole thing and definitely made sure she kept an uncomfortable level of eye contact with both of them.  Perceiving judgment was one thing: Margo made a sport of accepting it with open arms.  “Let your mum have her fun,” she lightly tapped Nate on the shoulder, entering entertainer-Margo mode, not necessarily the nervous-meeting-family version of herself. 

She was like a chameleon – always blending in.  Or maybe a lobster: turning bright red in hot water and sticking out like a sore thumb.  Worked for her, either way.  “Besides, what’s the truth between family,” she winked at Molly – Perry laughed.  Callie interjected about getting bacon on her mac and cheese. 

For extra show, Margo put her arm around Nate and made a very loud lip smacking sound as she kissed him on the cheek.  “Just take another sip of that beer, Nate,” she patted his shoulder and grinned, “you’ll be happier in a minute.”  She did the very thing she suggested, just to make a point.

Margo adjusted to his family quickly. The jury was still out on whether or not it was a good thing. If Nate thought about it too hard, he would convince himself that it probably wasn't for the best. Jillian had never really adjusted to the Hawkes, though they liked each other well enough.

The fact that he made this comparison brought a tightness to his stomach. Nate didn't like to think about the nature of his relationship with Margo... But he had to. She was meeting his family, Callie was getting attached to her. When you had a child in the picture, things were different. The relationships he had with other people would impact his daughter, no matter what. Margo didn't seem scared away by Callie, in fact they got along almost too well.

"My mom has too much fun." He muttered to Margo, though he couldn't resist a smile. He took her advice and took a sip (or rather, a giant gulp) of beer.

Aunt Cherish's lips were pursed-- directing her veritable case of cat butt face at Margo. Clearly, his aunt and uncle didn't approve. They had very little tolerance for nonsense.

"So, Margo." Uncle Griffin interjected, "What is it that you do..?"

"--Besides my sons!" Perry laughed. Nate groaned.

As if on cue,  Pheonix, Ash, and Mandy came through the door and immediately took the remaining seats.

Margo feigned a look at shock and then turned her face toward Molly, “Too much fun?! Impossible!” she replied cheekily and grinned, wide like a hyena bearing teeth.   If there was one thing Margo liked better than making Nate uncomfortable, it was making relatives who were virtual strangers uncomfortable. 

Perry and Molly were a riot, and at this point, Margo had even met them more than once!  After the initial shock of their meeting it was easy to get on with them.  Perhaps Aunt Cat-Butt and her husband would join the fold and try to make Nate uncomfortable with them by the end of the evening?  At least Perry was in for the ride – Margo was especially fond of him. 

It was perhaps wishful thinking, but Margo was good at that.  Sunny optimism (or joyful nihilism, as she had heard it termed once) in almost all situations could only come from losing one’s hand and one’s foot in near death experiences.  A person couldn’t think too far ahead when they were dodging death every day, after all.  Now that she was a pub keeper, all that adventure seemed so far off. 

When his Uncle asked what she did, she had to stop for a moment and rethink her answer.  Rubbing her chin (as if she had some imaginary cool lady beard), Margo laughed a little. “Well uh… up until December I worked with dragons,” it was too long of a story to go into the whole Romanian hospital deal… all of that.

“But now, I have a bar with two of my siblings,” she grinned, resting her elbow on the table, because Margo had perfect table manners, after all.  “Death & Co – if you ever get around to visiting London, that is,” she looked at Nate with a big smile.  “Gonna introduce me to the rest of your family?”

Callie broke in now, pointing with her crayon, “That’s Phoenix – like the bird – him and dad like to argue,” Callie looked at Margo raising her eyebrows as if this was the biggest source of strife in her life and she wanted Margo to share in that moment with her, “but they always make up.  Sometimes, when we play, I get hurt and then he gives me stuff to not tell Dad,” she added with a big grin.  Margo had to cover her mouth to avoid snorting.  “And Mandy,” her crayon shifted to the girl in the group, “gives the best presents,” this was a hushed whisper – reverent. 

Her voice fell flat as she regarded the last of them, “And that’s Ash.”  No anecdote or hint of information about him though.  He must have pissed her off once upon a time.  Margo’s eyes ran over them once more – Phoenix, Mandy, and Ash.  “Good to meet you all!” she beamed, “I’m Margo.”

Ash looked visibly hurt by Callie's introdcution, and dramatically clutched his chest as if she had driven a stake through his heart.

Uncle Griffin did not seem pleased that Margo was no longer a dragon handler, and now owned a bar. His cat butt face mirrored his wife's. He hadn't exactly proved of Jillian... Or anyone Nate had ever brought to meet the family, come to think of it. Nate could feel the judgement radiating off his aunt and uncle, and decided now was the time and the place to, well... Put them in their place.

"Fun fact, Margo." Nate took a smug sip of beer. "Mandy and Ash are short for-- wait for it--" He gave his uncle the side-eye, "Mandrake and Ashwinder."

Mandy let out a bark of laughter and quickly shoved bread in her mouth. Ash didn't hold back his laughter. Phoenix, like Callie, didn't give a shit. Phoenix focused his attention on his parents, talking about their community garden and the local co-op.

Ooooh. 

They did not like her. 

This was simultaneously delightful and awful.  She didn’t see what was so bad about owning a bar – it wasn’t like she just hung out there all day.  Well, she sort of did… but that wasn’t the point.  She was the boss.  That was an accomplishment! 

Didn’t seem like they cared all that much about that though, which meant Margo was going to be terrible.  And Nate, well, he was fantastic.  Because he was clearly going to do the same thing.  Looking over at him, Margo raised her eyebrows, “I love fun facts!” she replied, feigning complete innocence.  Whatever he was going to do, it was probably going to be mortifying for several people involved – hopefully for the two that looked like they had sucked on a lemon. 

And, of course, he did not disappoint.  A wide grin broke out over her face and Margo, as lady-like and delicate as she was, snorted.  “That is bloody fantastic,” she looked at the two children who appeared to find it as amusing as she did, “Why bother going by Mandy and Ash?  Way less cool,” she assessed and then turned her eyes back to Nate’s aunt and uncle, again, feigning innocence with a wide grin.  “Those names are so creative!  Where did you come up with them?” 

This time, it was Perry’s turn to interject, “Well… actually… it’s a funny story, isn’t it, Griff?” he nudged him in the side and Uncle Griffin looked like he was going to sink into the Earth.  Margo could not wait to hear the rest of it. 

“Do tell!” Margo urged, looking between all of the ‘real’ adults.