Katherine listened carefully as Eivind responded to her questions, trying her best to understand the man handing her dishes. Thankfully, Eivind didn't make it difficult. The man was much more easygoing and forthright than she had expected, easily offering answers to counter all of her potential concerns. After taking a moment to absorb Eivind's words, she smiled. To know that someone was dedicated to her son, that someone loved him just as he was without wishing to change him, it was an almost comforting feeling.<br/><br/>"Knowing my son, I can see now why he loves you," she said, almost playfully. "Blue has always struggled underneath my husband's parenting methods. I've done my best to gently ease Blue along, but getting between two stubborn men can be extremely tiring. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but you seem to have a 'go with the flow' kind of demeanor. Blue would like that. I always sort of thought of Blue like a river, twisting in every which direction but always moving forward. He needs someone who just allows him to go where he likes and doesn't try to restrict him like his father does."<br/><br/>There wasn't necessarily a "right" answer Katherine wanted to hear, but she found herself pleased with Eivind's response nonetheless. The man reiterated that he had zero desire to dictate the direction of Blue's life, he only wanted Blue happy. Katherine got the distinct impression that if Blue decided he wanted to up and leave that night, Eivind would fight him on it, not because he didn't care about Blue, but because he cared so deeply he'd be willing to sacrifice his happiness for Blue's. Years of learning how to decode Louis' stoic words and Blue's complex emotions had given her experience in deciphering potential subtext. Eivind wasn't flowery or dramatic with his words. They were simple, concise and to the point, but Katherine suspected they hinted at deeper, more passionate emotions that Eivind perhaps didn't know how to explain. He loved her son and that seemed to be the only thing that mattered.<br/><br/>She was placing a dish on a drying rack when the topic of marriage sprung up. She faltered slightly. This she<i>was</i>surprised to hear from Eivind, especially as the two men had been together for only a few months time. Despite her mild apprehension, she gave Eivind her honest opinion, not wishing to deter the man from dedicating himself to Blue if that's truly what he wanted. "If Blue said he would be willing to marry you, then I think you have nothing to worry about in that regard. You said it yourself: Blue doesn't say things he doesn't mean. He's never spoken to me about wanting to get married, but perhaps his sisters would know. Blue has always been very close with them.<br/><br/>"If I had to guess, I'd imagine he wouldn't want something extravagant. He used to panic at the idea of having large birthday parties as a child, so we only ever did small things for him. He prefers intimacy. Receiving a lot of attention always made him uncomfortable, so a few close friends and family might make him happy. Outside would be nice. Blue has always loved the outdoors."<br/><br/>She paused, looking down into the sink before turning to face Eivind directly. "If this is a route you're genuinely interested in, Eivind, I think you should talk to Blue's father. The two have their issues, but I don't think Blue would ever forgive Louis if he didn't come to his wedding, and despite his attitude, Louis does want to be a part of Blue's life. It would break my heart if they couldn't set aside their differences and resentments and Blue wasn't able to really enjoy his own wedding. I realize you don't truly need our permission to marry our son, but reaching out to Louis would at least show good faith on your part."<br/><br/>Katherine still worried that Blue wasn't mature enough to make this kind of decision, but she silently realized her opinion mattered very little anymore. She and Louis had gotten married when she was Blue's age, and to label him unfit for marriage seemed not only hypocritical but somewhat cruel as well. Blue was exceeding her expectations with his artwork. The website was an excellent step even if it had been Eivind's idea. The fact that Blue had been willing to do the work necessary to market himself and to give back to Eivind was encouraging. Something about Blue had changed since he had been with Eivind, and she wondered if maybe (despite her fears) the change was actually for the better.