"I just don't know how you can feel safe in a house with a gun in it, sweetie."

"She keeps it in a safe," Christie sighed. "Let's not talk about this."

Her mother picked up the plate with the corn on the cob and pulled it over to her side of the table and Christie looked over at her girlfriend. Diana looked back ruefully.

"So," her father broke the silence. "Christie tells me you just transferred here from New York."

"That's right," Diana said with a blithe, false smile.

He gave his daughter's new girlfriend an apologetic look. "Have you ever been in D.C. for the fourth of July? It's really something special."

"No." She put a hand on Christie's. "I mean, my family's from the area, but I didn't spend a lot of time in America as a kid."

"Military family?" Christie's mother asked, ot bothering to hide her frosty tone.

"Diplomat's kid," Diana said, fighting to stay polite. At that, Christie's mother's demeanor softened.

Christie kicked her mother under the table.

~*~

"I warned you." Christie let herself slump against the wall of Diana's apartment. "I told you they're a pair of old hippies."

Diana cupped her cheek and kissed her. "It wasn't that bad."

"Thanks," Christie whispered. "It means a lot that you're willing to go through that."

"It's alright. I know how family can be."

Christie grimaced. "Still."

"Come on." Diana put an arm around her waist. "Stay here tonight. You can make it up to me tomorrow."