The first thing Auggie did when he got to Langley in the morning, was check his email. It wasn't uncommon for Annie to email him when she got bored, they were best friends, after all. So an email from Annie didn't really surprise him. What did surprise him - surprise being the understatement of the year - this particular morning, was the email itself. "I'm pregnant." it read. Auggie choked on his coffee, for a solid minute before recovering.
"ANNE CATHERINE WALKER, GET YOU ASS IN MY OFFICE NOW!"
The entire DPD, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, turned to look at Annie, whose face was bright red as she got up and sheepishly walked into Auggie's office, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Is this some sort of sick joke?"
"No, it's definitely real," Annie said.
"And you thought it would be a good idea to tell me with an email?! He was met with resounding silence. "Come on, let's go." he said, dragging her out of the DPD while simultaneously calling his car service.
"Where are we going?" Annie asked him, thoroughly confused.
"To get a marriage license. My mother would kill me if I wasn't married to the mother of my child, and I'll be damned if my kid grows up without a father."
"But Auggie, we're not even dating," Annie started to protest, but after being met with a glare, she simply let it go and allowed him to drag her all the way down to the court house.
(A SQUARED)
"What the hell was that all about?"
"I don't know ma'am, he demanded she come into his office, and five minutes later he was dragging her out the door. Do you want me to tail them?"
"No," replied Joan coolly. "I'll find out sooner or later." And with that, she began the paperwork stating that they had left after she had given them time off.
(A SQUARED)
"Okay, we have an appointment on Tuesday, with the Justice of Peace."
"What about work?"
"Don't worry about work, I'll take care of that. It's not like you'll be going out in the field for at least a year."
"But -"
"No buts Annie, you're on desk duty and that's final."
(A SQUARED)
"Annie and I need some time off to head out to Glencoe."
"For what?"
"Damage control."
"What the hell is going on with you two? Has your family ever even met Annie?"
"It's complicated Joan, but trust me. It's necessary."
"Fine. But you're only getting a week."
(A SQUARED)
"What if she hates me?"
"My mother is not going to hate you, now stop being nervous and just let me do the talking."
"One cannot simply sop being nervous, August. Do they even know we're coming?"
"No, I thought it would be easier if we showed up unannounced."
"Seriously, Auggie?"
(A SQUARED)
"Mom, this is Annie, Annie, this is my mother, Amanda."
"It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Anderson."
"And you Annie, dear. And please, call me Amanda. I hope you'll both be staying for dinner, we're having lasagna."
Annie felt her stomach roll at the mere mention of lasagna, and clutched Auggie's bicep like it was her lifeline. "Bathroom," she whispered in his ear. the second he told her where it was, she gone.
"Is she okay?" asked Amanda.
"She'll be fine."
(A SQUARED)
"Annie dear, you haven't even touched your lasagna."
"Really, I'm fine Amanda. The salad was plenty." Just the scent of the lasagna was making Annie extremely nauseous.
"Would you like some wine then?"
"No, thank you, water is fine."
Amanda held back a smile as she looked knowingly down at her plate.
(A SQUARED)
"Why is he here? He never just 'drops by'."
"The girl is pregnant, dear," Amanda explained to her husband.
"What? How do you know?"
"I'm a woman. Women know these things, John."