"Okay, the first thing we need to do is come up with your background. My mom is going to ask you a lot of questions, so we need to make sure your backstory is solid." stated Stephen, rubbing his hands together.
"Sounds simple enough," giggled Grace. It was early morning the next day, and Stephen had been awake for quite some time trying to collect his thoughts. If he was going to introduce Grace to his mother, he wanted to make sure it was in the best possible light, for both of their sakes.
For her part, Grace was showing a surprising amount of nerves for an all powerful companion genie. He could tell she was nervous for the right reasons, as she wanted to make a good impression, and show that he was in good hands.
"Let's get started then. Name?"
She smiled, and said, "That's easy. Grace!"
"Grace what? What's your last name?"
She blinked, "I don't know, Stephen. You haven't given me one yet."
"Hmm," he thought, tapping his chin. "We'll come back to that. Age?"
"Same age as you. Twenty one."
"Good, my mom will like that I'm seeing someone my own age," he mused. "Where are you from?"
"Why, Arabia of course. Deep in the desert, near a-," Grace began, before being interrupted by a chuckle.
"No, no, we can't use that. You look nothing like modern Arabs and that would stand out like a sore thumb. You should at least be American, but maybe not from around here," Stephen thought.
"Okay," replied, Grace, thinking about it a little more. "How about this? Why don't we say I grew up here, but spent the last ten years in Chicago with my aunt, who has recently deceased, making me want to come back to my roots? It would also explain why I don't have any other regional accents."
"That's... really good. Did you just think about that on your own?"
Grace nodded excitedly.
"Okay, I like it! What was the name of your aunt?"
"How about... Aunt Sarah?"
"Okay good. What about your parents?"
"We'll say that I never knew my own father. We can even use that as a commonality on why we bonded so quickly. And my mother passed away from cancer which is why I went to live with Aunt Sarah."
Stephen thought about it for a moment, "Yes, that's good!"
Grace beamed with a smile.
"Umm, what did you do in Chicago?"
"Tried a few semesters at a small college there, but it wasn't for me. I'm looking to attend a local school here, and there's options I'm exploring now."
"I like it! Where do you live here in Kansas?"
"How about just twenty minutes from here? Small apartment complex. I have a feeling your mom won't ask too many questions about that."
"Good, and you're probably right. What's your interests for a major?"
"Psychology and history, double major," she giggled.
"Really?" chuckled Stephen.
"Don't you think it's fitting for a twenty five hundred year old companion genie?" snickered Grace.
"Well, when you put it that way," laughed Stephen. "Okay, how did we meet?"
"Hmm," thought Grace. "How about I popped into your grocery store to grab something to eat, and you helped me find something in the store. And from the moment I saw your handsome good looks, and sexy hazel eyes, I was a goner," she laughed, reaching out to squeeze his hand.
Stephen cracked up in a laugh as well, "That should work for my mom. She just loves the sappy stuff like that."
"Do you think I'm ready?" Grace held her breath for his final appraisal.
"I think we have a lot of the basics covered but I'm sure my mom will think of something that we forgot, so can I wish for you to fill in any details as they come up on your own? Without my input?"
"Of course!"
"Okay, good. Hopefully that will help with thinking on your feet," smiled Stephen.
"Although we still need a last name for me," she reminded.
"Yeah, a last name. Hmm. What would sound good with the name Grace?" Stephen thought to himself for a moment.
"How about Grace... Willow?" She offered, beaming with her mischievous smile.
"Nice try," grinned Stephen. "But we would have to get married first before you take my last name."
"Shucks. It was worth a shot," she pouted.
"All in due time," he said, playfully comforting her hand.
Did I really just say that?
"Maybe we should just keep the last name simple then. Something common," she offered.
"Grace.. Johnson?"
She winced, "Maybe not that common."
"Grace.. Smith?"
Grace faked retching sounds to express her disinterest, then shook her head.
"I got it! Grace Martin?"
She thought about it for a few moments. "That could work," she said finally. "Grace Martin. Martin. Ms. Grace Martin."
Stephen grinned, "How's it sound?"
"Well, I still think Grace Willow sounds better, but I'll take Grace Martin for now," she winked.
"Okay, it's settled then. You're Grace Martin, twenty one years old. Recently moved from Chicago, double major in Psychology and History. And we've been dating for three days."
"This is going to be so much fun! I feel like a real human being now!" She jumped up and down excitedly.
"We might need to take it a step further, just to make it look completely legitimate," thought Stephen. "Can you come up with a drivers license, maybe a college ID card? You know, stuff like that?"
"You mean, like this?" Grace asked, giving a cheeky smile, and pulling an Illinois driver's license out of thin air. Her picture on it was perfect, as well as having her new name, Grace Martin.
"Perfect!" Stephen remarked, checking out the ID. "Although, I think 5'3" is wishful thinking."
She stuck her tongue out at him, playfully.
"This is great, though! Mom should be home from work early afternoon today, and we'll just introduce you then. This should be a breeze," said Stephen, thinking out loud.
"I hope she likes me," said Grace, with a tiny quiver in her voice. "What if she doesn't?"
Stephen chuckled at her small insecurity, "Grace, I'm sure she'll love you."
"You really think so?"
"Of course. Besides, if she doesn't, I can always wish it so that she does," he smirked.
"Stephen! I want her to like me without magic," Grace pouted. "I want her to think that I'm a good match for you and that we belong together." She lowered her head, her genuine nerves at the approaching situation shining through.
"Grace, come here," gestured Stephen.
Wordlessly, she lifted herself from the chair in his room and came to the bed, where he was casually laying. Stephen helped her get back in, straddling his hips, and pressing her down against him in a full body laying hug. He gently stroked her back, and then whispered, "She'll love you. I just know that. How could she not?"
He slowly moved her head to align with his own, gazing into her eyes, "You're a perfect fit for me in every way."
Grace sniffled almost immediately, as her fingers rushed to each eye to wipe away the forming tears. "I love you, Stephen."
Stephen smiled softly, hearing her words and feeling like his heart could explode at any moment. His own feelings matched hers, well beyond the realm of just 'like' or simple lust. The truth of the matter was that he was also in love with Grace, even after only three days with her. There was just no denying that fact any longer. Yet, he had never told someone other than family that he had loved them. He opened his mouth, yet the words would just not form.
"I... I...," he began, struggling for the courage to tell Grace what she truly meant to him.
Her eyes blazed like bright blue beacons. "Yes?" She whispered.
"I... I'm excited," he finished, chickening out, and avoiding eye contact with her for the moment. "I'm excited for what will happen today."
Grace gave him a small smile, as if knowing the entire transaction that just occurred internally.
In due time
, she thought.