Gwen returned to New York City yesterday morning.
Helen had already prepared a lavish dinner and was waiting at home for the two to return.
But Hawk didn't come back.
So…
Gwen told a lie.
"What?"
"I missed the flight because of diarrhea?"
On the way to Stacy's Apartment with gifts, Hawk glanced at Gwen, sitting in the passenger seat, head down, lips pursed, seemingly trying not to burst out laughing: "Is this what you call a harmless little lie?"
Gwen looked up at Hawk.
"It's better than saying you broke a leg, hey, guess what, you won't need a cast this time."
"I'd rather have a cast."
"This time, I said I wouldn't serve you, you know."
"Then I'd rather you said I broke my leg at the airport."
Hawk shook his head helplessly: "With a cast, I'd only be immobile at most, but saying I missed the flight due to diarrhea, that's social death for me."
Gwen blinked.
"No one will know, Hawk."
"Still, no."
Hawk shook his head, firmly rejecting Gwen's excuse: "Later at home, if anyone asks, just say it was you, but you're too embarrassed."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Gwen glanced at Hawk, whose face was full of resistance to this excuse.
"Would you still disagree if I promised to wear that nurse outfit you bought?"
"… Gulp."
Hawk silently swallowed, looking at Gwen with a charming smile beside him.
Gwen winked at Hawk.
"It's a rare opportunity."
"… You're blackmailing me."
"Yes, Mr. Phoenix, I'm blackmailing you."
"Hiss!"
Hawk parked the car, looked at the apartment across the street, then at his fiancée smiling in the passenger seat, closed his eyes, and all he could see was the image of Gwen in that pink nurse outfit. He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and looked at Gwen: "Now I know why you didn't say anything at home, and why you didn't agree to take a shower with me this afternoon."
Gwen looked at Hawk with a bright smile.
Hawk sighed.
"Add one more."
"What?"
"The policewoman's."
Hawk looked at Gwen with brilliant eyes: "Add a policewoman uniform, and I'll agree to take the blame, or else, I'll tear up the ticket!"
Once again.
He never intended or planned to hide his identity.
Hawk wanted to play a dominating role with overwhelming power, just like in Waterfall Town, directly using the Face Fruit to get Ancestral Vampire Klaus to do him a favor.
But Gwen liked him to play the part of a hidden genius.
So…
Since Gwen wanted him to be low-key, she had to show some sincerity.
One uniform wasn't enough to make him take the blame for missing the flight due to diarrhea?
How can that be allowed?
At least two!
Gwen was initially taken aback but then gave a laugh and extended her right hand.
"Pleasure doing business."
"Pleasure doing business."
After shaking hands with Gwen, Hawk opened the car door and walked to the trunk, watching Gwen getting out of the passenger seat: "You know, if you insisted, I'd have agreed to just one."
Gwen smiled at Hawk: "I know, but my bottom line is three, because you bought three sets of those outfits, didn't you?"
Hawk, opening the trunk, was momentarily stunned upon hearing this and looked at Gwen.
Gwen's smile grew even brighter.
On the top floor of the apartment!
The door opened.
Helen opened the door and, seeing Hawk standing outside with two bags of gifts, beamed and opened her arms to hug Hawk.
"Oh, Hawk, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Helen."
Hawk said with a smile, and after entering, extended his right hand to shake with George, who was already waiting in the living room: "Happy New Year, George."
George, habitually playing the part of the serious patriarch, responded with a concise "Mm."
"Happy New Year."
"Dad."
Gwen, smiling radiantly, followed up on Hawk, hugging George.
George's stern poker face instantly bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
Seeing this, Hawk walked to the side and softly said to his future mother-in-law, Helen: "I've always thought it's remarkably restrained that George didn't shoot me after knowing I dated Gwen."
Helen shook her head, smiling at Hawk.
"No, that's a miracle."
"… I agree."
Hawk thought for a moment, a serious expression affirmed his future mother-in-law's words, then looked at the somewhat empty living room: "Where are Howard and Simon?"
The smile on Helen's face disappeared instantly, and she gave a cold laugh: "In the room, catching up on their homework. School starts tomorrow, and yet neither has finished their assignments."
Public schools with relaxed education naturally have no homework, or very little if any.
But elite private schools have a lot of homework, and it's very competitive.
Hawk was surprised upon hearing this.
"Really?"
"Yes, they're frantically writing in the room. I told them if they don't give me a miracle by tonight, I'll give them a miracle first thing in the morning."
Helen let out a cold snicker.
She was somewhat puzzled as to why Gwen, whom she also gave birth to, never gave her any worries, always winning scholarships year after year.
But when it came to Gwen's two brothers, Howard and Simon...
Goodness.
Helen felt like she was going crazy.
"Hawk."
"Hmm."
"In the future, if you and Gwen have kids, have a daughter."
"No."
Hawk shook his head, looked at Helen, and smiled: "We'll have them all, three pairs. Gwen said at that time she'll leave them all to you, she'll pay, since you have experience anyway."
Helen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, did Gwen say that?"
"Yes, I guarantee, Madam Stacy."
"Very well."
Helen took a deep breath, then looked over at her dear daughter sharing beautiful photos of Waterfall Town on the sofa while holding George's arm, beaming: "Gwen."
Gwen turned her head to look.
"Mom, what's up?"
"Come to the room with me, there's something I want to discuss."
Helen smiled, then walked to the sofa, took the somewhat bewildered Gwen by the right hand, and headed upstairs.
Gwen, being led by her mother, turned her head to look at Hawk.
Hawk gave Gwen a "you're on your own" look.
You cut down my uniform budget.
I can't handle you, but someone else can.
Hawk smiled in thought.
Then...
He realized something. With Gwen, the family lubricant, and Helen both gone to the room, the family entertainment crew, Howard and Simon, were challenging a miracle in their room, leaving just him and George in the living room.
Somehow, it seemed, the atmosphere in the living room suddenly turned cold.
Hawk looked at George sitting on the sofa.
George, donning the aura of the head of the family and future father-in-law, was also looking at Hawk.
Their eyes met.
Hawk was the first to break eye contact, sat on another part of the sofa, coughed, and chose to speak up.
"Gwen said you were busy with a case on Christmas, is the case done now?"
"Not yet."
George was sparing with words.
"Oh."
Hawk had a sudden epiphany, then didn't know what to say.
After all, he had seldom had one-on-one time with George; most of the time, no, 99.9% of the time, Gwen was present.
The reason it wasn't 100% was because Gwen wasn't present now.
Just then.
"Ahem!"
George, sitting on the sofa, also cleared his throat, and looked at Hawk: "Gwen said yesterday at the airport, you missed the flight because of diarrhea, are you okay, did you see a doctor?"
Hawk's mouth twitched subtly.
"I just ate something bad, I'm fine now."
"You should go to the hospital for a checkup."
"Ah."
George looked at Hawk earnestly: "Did you do your health check today?"
Hawk instinctively shook his head, come on, with his physical fitness, does he need a checkup?
As long as the Earth doesn't explode, he won't die.
No, wait!
Even if the Earth exploded, he'd still be perfectly fine.
"No."
"You should get one done."
George, as if prepared in advance, took out a card and handed it to Hawk: "Dr. Mary at New Amsterdam Hospital is a friend of mine, go for a checkup when you have time."
Hawk took the card George handed him, meeting George's serious gaze, and instinctively nodded.
He looked at the card in his hand, then looked at George who, after saying that, refocused on the TV program in front of him, and for some reason, he suddenly felt that George was looking at him with the kind of look that hopes his daughter won't become a young widow.
Yikes!
It's over.
George couldn't really think he was the type that looks strong but is actually weak, scared he couldn't make his daughter happy, so he wants his friend to help check up on him?
As Hawk thought about it, his mouth couldn't help but twitch again.
After dinner, on the way back to Palm Street.
The air was quiet.
Gwen sat in the passenger seat, sulking, arms crossed.
Hawk, driving, glanced over.
"Tonight, I want the cop outfit."
"..."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Gwen broke into a laugh, looking at Hawk: "I'm mad, Hawk, Mom gave me a lecture, when did I say I wanted to have three sons and three daughters and let her help take care of them."
Hawk looked calmly at Gwen, then handed the card for Dr. Mary from his pocket to Gwen.
"This is Dr. Mary's card."
Gwen took it, glanced at the card, a bit curious: "Why are you giving me this card?"
Hawk spoke calmly.
"George gave it to me."
"Dad? Why did he give you Dr. Mary's card?"
"George wants me to see Dr. Mary for a checkup."
"Out of nowhere, why..."
Gwen instinctively frowned, then halfway through, seemed to realize something, suddenly pursing her lips with a quirky expression as she looked at Hawk.
Hawk and Gwen exchanged a look.
"So... Officer Stacy, is it okay?"
"Okay..."
Gwen nodded, lips pursed.
Then...
Gwen looked at Hawk.
"So, when are you going for the checkup?"
"Shut up!"
"..."