+Author's note
Requested by AussieMedic!

"Care to get some drinks sheila?"

You giggled as the blonde Aussie gave a playful wink as he leaned on his car, waiting for it to be filled with gas.

"Oh I would, it's just that-"

"OI! Whaddya think ya doin' with my girl?!"

Barely holding back a grin, you saw Mick fuming towards you, while the blonde Austraillian gave a look of surprise.

"-I don't think my boyfriend would appreciate that"

Sniper grabbed the man by the shirt growling darkly as he held him up against the pillar of the gas station.

"Stay away from my girl! Ya hear me?!" He snarled.

The man nodded frantically, and ran off towards his car.

Unable to keep it in any longer, you started laughing; which earned a glare from your boyfriend.

"C'mon (Y/n!) We're leavin!"

Your giggles didn't stop as Mick grabbed you by the wrist and practically dragged you towards his van.

Now strapped up and ready to go, Mick started his van and went out the road, his beloved mobile home coughing up dust as it rolled out into the harsh sun of the outback.

Enjoying the scenery, you hung your arm by the open window, feeling the warm breeze run through your hair.

Through the corner of your eye, you saw Sniper was still sulking by the look of his strained jaw.

"You're still upset?"

Mick only growled incoherent words under his breath. You caught the occassional words, "No good", "piker", and "My own sheila".

"Aww.. c'mon! You can't still be upset! I can't help that I'm attractive!"

"You started flirting with the bloke!"
Barked Mick.

You grinned.

"You know I only did it to make you jealous. I can't help how cute you are when you're like that!"

Mick only glared ahead while you leaned closer, and purred into his ear.

"Aw babe! don't be like that! You know I was just teasing. And you wouldn't want your parents to see you with a face like that!"

Kissing the side of his face, Mick didn't bother to look at you, but his face certainly did look a lot less angrier.

+++

Pulling in front of an old wooden house, you saw an elderly woman who you presumed to be Sniper's mom, waiting outside the door gleefully.

You jumped out of the van while Sniper went back to get some luggages out from the back.

The old woman gave a squeal and ran out, throwing her arms out to hug you.

"Ohhh!! You must be (Y/n)! It's so good to finally meet you in person!!"

Sniper came back with some luggages hauled onto him like a pack mule, you reached out to help but he insisted as usual.

"OH!! Micky my little joey! So ya finally came back home my little roo!"

She ran into Sniper in a tight embrace, almost knocking him back from all the things he was carrying.

He turned red as he saw how you giggled at his mother smothering him.

"Uh, y-yeah sure mum! Where's dad?"

"Oh speaking of- JERRY THEY'RE HERE!"

An old man with a scowl came walking towards the small group, eyeing everyone with a look that could curdle cheese.

"So, ya finally decide to come back after ya got nowhere to go?"

"Jerry-"

"Dad, no, we got 2 weeks of vacation and decided to spend the first week with you both. (Y/n) here said she wanted to meet the two of ya"

Jerry shot a glare at you, which you raised an eyebrow at.

He started looking up and down at your clothes, and gave a snort.

"So, you're some kind of crazy ax woman?"

"Dad!"

With a hint of concealed sarcasm, you gave a sweet smile and chuckled.

"You could say that"

Sniper's mother soon pushed Jerry out of the way and dragged you into the house.

"C'mon dears, it isn't good to stay out in the sun for too long!"

+++

Throughout the afternoon Sniper's mother, Linda showed you around the small countryside house; pulling out old albums of embarrassing but sweet moments of Sniper's childhood, and other mementos left around the house.

Mick became too flustered to stay any longer and excused himself to tend to the luggage and the rest of the housework, and Jerry went out to tend his farm.

+++

Dinner was served, and all 4 people gathered around the old wooden table, saying grace as you all started your meals.

You looked around the small dining room, and smiled to yourself. The house was homely and comforting. The scent of home cooked food was welcoming and you couldn't help but feel as if you had lived here your entire life.

Seeing your smile, Jerry scowled.

"What're ya smilin' 'bout?"

Despite the worried glances from Linda, you didn't falter at his harsh tone of words, your smile still present on your face.

"I couldn't help but admire your home Mr. Mundy. You have such a nice house"

Jerry gave a rude bark of laughter.

"Better than that rusty old van moi son lives"

"Dad! Leave moi van outta this!"

Linda chirped into the conversation, all too used to the constant bickering between her husband and son.

"Speaking of, you are going to stay the night right Micky?"

"Yeah, me and (Y/n) are gonna sleep in me campe-"

"Oh heavens no Micky! That's no place for a woman, why don't you both sleep in Micky's old room? I made sure there are extra sheets and pillows!"

Sniper held his head in his hands, earning a stifled laughter from you.

Linda continued cheerfully.

"It's about time I got some grandchildren anyways"

"MUM!"

+++

The day finally came to an end. Filled with complaints from Jerry, pampering from Linda, and one flustered Sniper, you giggled from all the craziness from the day.

Lying in Sniper's old bed, you ran your fingers through Sniper's chest hair as he gave a tired groan.

"Hmm..? What's wrong sweetie?"

Sniper covered his tired eyes with an arm and sighed.

"Sorry about moi parents.. they can be a little.."

"Interesting?"

"Not the word Oi was looking for, but yeah"

You giggled again and cupped your lover's face into your hand.

"They're a little.. distracting but they seem like good people Mick. I'm glad we came here, I really mean it"

Sniper gave a chuckle and held you close.

"Thanks for understandin' sheila"

+++

It was past 1 in the morning, and both Sniper's snores and the hard pillow you were using woke you up.

"Ugh.."

Not only did the jet lag affect you, but you were extremely tired with no hope for sleep.

So you decided to get a glass of water, and headed downstairs.

You passed the old wooden hall, filled with pictures of happy times, an occasional mount of antlers decorating the long narrow space.

Using the moonlight to guide you, you crept through the empty rooms to get to the kitchen.

Soon you found the kitchen and starting heading back towards Sniper's room when you saw a dark figure perched outside the porch.

Your killer instincts kicked in. Pupils widened, you crept sliently towards the door, which was strangely.. opened?

Just when you were about to kill the figure with your hands, you saw that it was Jerry, and quickly held back.

"So you were a crazy ax woman after all"

Jerry scoffed, not even bothering to turn around as he smoked his pipe.

A sheepish grin spread on your face.

"Well.. I wouldn't say ax woman.."

"Well yer crazy"

"Point taken"

You leaned against the doorframe, and crossed your arms.

"Isn't it a little too late for you to be up Mr. Mundy?"

Jerry took a puff of his pipe and used it to point it up at the sky.

"Can ya sleep on a night like this?"

Looking up, you saw starlights spread across the sky, shining through blue clouds in the night, while the moon sat above a small mountain in the distance, luminating softly.

You marveled at the sight, and stood there next to Jerry.

Barely able to take your sights off the beautiful landscape, you noticed Jerry was holding a very old photograph.

"What's that..?"

You leaned in and saw a child with a lean frame and a familar crooked smile, being held in his parents arms.

A family photo.

Taking a closer look, you saw that the photograph was worn and dusty, with creases from the years and weather, and saw how old it was.

Jerry gave another puff of his smoke and looked down at the picture.

"Moi son's a bit of a no hope dreamer, thinking he can live on by hunting alone"

You frowned.

"He's a lean strip of jerky that doesn't have a bit of austraillian blood in him, a lazy dolt, and to top it all off, he's fanatic obsessed with piss in jars"

Jerry sighed and held the photo in his hands gently.

"Oi'm still proud of him. He's crazy Oi'll give you that.. but ya know.."

Jerry gave a smile and looked up at the sky.

"He's a good boy..."

Jerry faltered.

"He's my boy"

You laid a hand on his shoulder, and saw a tear roll down his face.

"Jerry.."

The old man hurriedly wiped his tears away and gruffly waved his hand away in a tough demeanor.

"Oi ain't gettin' any younger. And every toime Mick comes over, Oi think it may be the last Oi'll see him.. it kills me everytoime"

He sniffed.

"But.. Oi just.. Oi wished he would know how proud of him Oi am.."

"Even if he's a crazy gunman?"

You and Jerry both gave stifled laughs, trying not to wake the others.

"Look.. (Y/n).. Oi.. need ya to tell Mick, let him know how proud-"

You smiled and nodded knowingly.

"I will"

Jerry gave a toothy grin, and you both smiled at each other when your stomach growled.

Jerry raised an eyebrow.

"There's some pie Linda put in the fridge.."

"Let's go"

+++

The days passed quickly, and soon it was time for you and Sniper to head off.

Linda looked heart broken, but still managed to hide it with a smile, watching her son pack up.

You hugged Linda and tried to soothe her before you went. She was such a sweetheart, and it tore your heart to leave her like this.

"Make sure you all get plenty of sleep and have plenty of snacks-"

Sniper chuckled.

"We know mum-"

"And don't forget to change your und-"

"Oooookay gimme a hug before we go mum!"

Sniper hugged his mom tightly, and was about to hug his father, only to be waved off.

Giving a shrug, Sniper went to the van, while you finished your last goodbyes.

"Well, we'll be sure to visit again soon, thank you for having us!"

Jerry scowled.

"Don't come too soon, you all make such a ruckus!"

Linda gave a worried gaze between you and her husband, and to her surprise, you laughed.

"Don't worry about it sir"

+++

Watching the van roar out into the distance, Linda and Jerry stood there together.

"A fine girl that (Y/n)... Jerry.. do you think-"

Jerry held Linda close.

"Oi've got a good feelin' 'bout those two Linda. They'll be foine.."

And the van ran out into the distance, a cloud of orange dust flying up into the deep blue sky of the outback.