This is my first try at Psych fanfiction, so hopefully it isn't too terrible. I really wanted to explore Shawn and Juliet as mom and dad because they'd be terrific parents. Please read and review! This is a one-shot for now, but it could potentially have companions.
"Shawn, I know this is kind of strange and all," Juliet's fingers trembled as she gesticulated anxiously. They were in the middle of one of Santa Barbara's nicest parks. Juliet had actually just pulled Shawn away from a crime scene, much to the displeasure of her partner, Carlton Lassiter. He had bellowed at them to get back, but Juliet had ignored him and continued to pull Shawn away.
"Jules, this is quite attractive and all, you dragging me off in the middle of work," Shawn had blabbed, smiling mischievously. "But you've never walked out in the middle of a case…what's going on?"
"Not here," Juliet had said through gritted teeth. She had wanted to wait as long as possible, prolonging the time until she had to tell him. But now, she was sitting with her legs crossed tightly on a new, clean park bench and he was watching her intently. There was a sharp alertness in his eyes, something Juliet had come to notice was constantly present, even if he was being comical, as he was just then.
"I know why you practically dragged me out here. You want to experience more of my boyish, undeniably attractive charms, don't you, Jules?" Shawn nodded, giving Juliet a very "Blue Steel" smirk. Juliet, however, was not amused. She clenched her fingers around the edges of the bench.
"Shawn, this is important. I really have to tell you something."
Shawn's lips twitched, abashed. In seriousness rare for him, he nodded. Juliet swallowed, glancing down at the trodden leaves on the cobblestone, as if they could help her find her words.
"I wanted to tell you sooner, but we've both just been so busy," she began. "And I shouldn't have just up and left the case, I know that. Lassiter's going to be pissed, but quite frankly, I can't go much longer without saying anything and-"
Shawn covered her hand with his gently.
"Jules," he murmured. "Just talk to me."
Juliet stared into his eyes, feeling hers burn suddenly. She blinked the sensation away. Looking elsewhere, looking anywhere than at him, she whispered, "You'd better sit down."
Shawn frowned, but none the less sat down beside her on the bench. Juliet pursed her lips, focusing hard on remembering to breathe. Shawn took her hands in his.
"What is it, Jules?"
She looked up at his face, so open and serious. A few second ticked by; Juliet took a deep breath.
"I'm…" she started. Her natural instinct was to look down again, but she forced her chin up. "I'm pregnant, Shawn."
Shawn looked as though someone had hit him over the head with a frying pan. He felt, actually, as though someone had. His brain went all fuzzy, so that all he could hear was the rush of his heart beating. He was looking out at the grass without seeing just how green it was, looking at the circular pond in the distance without really seeing the ducks splashing in the water. Juliet was looking at him expectantly, waiting with anxiety for a response. Shawn searched for something to say. He should tell her how he felt. But, how was that, exactly? He didn't know what he was feeling and couldn't think up a response, so he asked the first, most ridiculous question that came to his mind.
"How?" he asked and, though he was not joking in the slightest, Juliet's face fell.
"How do you think?" she countered sharply. When Shawn's blank expression did not change, Juliet sighed. He was clearly shocked. She squeezed his hand tightly and his gaze slowly rose from the sunlit scenery to her eyes. Her eyebrows were pinched together, creating a slight crease at the bridge of her nose. "Shawn?"
Shawn blinked rapidly.
"You're really…?"
"Yes, Shawn," she said softly.
"There's really a little person, right in there?" he asked, reaching a hand out to gently touch Juliet's stomach.
Juliet nodded. Shawn held his breath for a moment and then, suddenly, his face split into a grin. He was going to have a kid! And more importantly, he was having a kid with Juliet. He laughed out loud, causing an elderly couple passing to glance at him reproachfully. Shawn paid them no mind, however, as he leapt forward and gently encased Juliet in his arms.
"God, Jules, this is wonderful!" he exclaimed. Juliet buried her face into his neck. "I can't believe it!"
"Me either," she mumbled, her voice constrict. It took Shawn a few seconds to recognize this and when he did, he pulled away, holding Juliet's elbows at arm's length. Smile fading, he scanned her face and quickly noticed how distinctively not happy she looked.
"What?" he asked, worried. "What is it?" He hesitated. "You do…you do want this…right?"
Juliet winced at how unsure he sounded.
"Yes, Shawn, I want this," she said, truly meaning it. "I really want this and I want it with you. It's just…"
Shawn raised his eyebrows, silently imploring for her to go on. Juliet bit her lip before speaking quickly.
"It's just, we've been through a lot lately, with the whole…" she screwed up her eyebrows, squinted, and put her fingers to her temples, a half-hearted imitation of Shawn. He acknowledged this with a tiny nod and Juliet went on. "And we wanted to take things slow, which we did for a while…up until that night, you know, before Gus came to you covered in dirt, digesting his hate letter to his dead boss, remember? The night when you and I…"
"How could I forget that?" he asked peevishly.
"I don't want you to think I regret it, because I really don't," she continued. "It's just…I'm scared, Shawn, and that fear isn't going away."
Shawn took a deep breath. He absentmindedly twirled one of Juliet's curls around his finger.
"First of all, that was an excellent impression of me," he began. "I think you can put in a little more Brando. Secondly," he went on quickly, knowing that Jules wasn't in much of a joking mood. "What've you got to be afraid of? I know these last few weeks have been rough, to say the least, but sweetheart…you're going to be a great mom."
"But are we ready for this?" Juliet pressed, grasping his forearms. She hesitated before asking, "Are…are you ready for this?"
Shawn looked affronted. "Jules, how could you ask me that?"
"Shawn, you left one of our coffee mugs at a crime scene!" Juliet exclaimed and though she meant it, the ridiculousness of that whole situation caused a laugh to creep into her voice. Shawn swatted the air dismissively.
"That was a coffee mug!" he said in defense. "Do you really think I'd leave our baby in a parking garage?"
Shawn winced the second these words were out of his mouth. What if he did? Juliet, however, let a giggle escape her. Despite her surface insecurity, she knew deep down that she and Shawn would be just fine.
"No, Shawn, I don't think that," she smiled. "I just…I know how you are with responsibility and commitment and I'm worried about you."
Shawn looked deep into her eyes.
"Jules, sweetheart, I know that I've been…" he paused, searching for the right term. "I've been a major d-bag. I've made decisions that aren't the most respectable and have put a lot of people into really bad situations. But I've wanted to change for you and I've been trying to for a while. And this…this is going to change everything."
Juliet stared at him, listening intently, knowing that Shawn would go on.
"You know how things are with my Dad," he said bluntly. "I remember when I was a kid, I always told myself, when I'm a Dad, my kid is going to know every second of every day that I love him or her. There's not going to be a doubt in that kid's mind that Dad's going to do everything he can do to protect and love that little soul." He paused again and rubbed his hand over his face. "I know my Dad taught me a lot and that all he did, he did with my future in mind…but at the time, I never felt like he cared. And my child, Jules, our child, is never going to feel that way."
A tear slipped down Juliet's cheek. Shawn brushed it lightly away with his thumb.
"Don't worry, Jules," he murmured, leaning forward to bump his nose gently against hers. Juliet closed her eyes, a few more drops escaping as she did so. "You and me, we're a team. Everything is going to be just fine, sweets."
Juliet nodded mutely and held the sides of his head. Shawn cupped her face easily in his hands, pressing their foreheads together.
"I love you, Shawn," Juliet whispered, running her fingers up and down along his jaw. He smiled at her before touching his lips against hers.
"I love you, too, Jules," he murmured when they parted. "More than pineapple smoothies and 80's movies combined."
Juliet laughed softly and melted into his embrace. Shawn held her firmly against his chest, kissing her head.
"You're going to be such a wonderful Daddy, Shawn," She said quietly. Shawn felt a slow, warm smile spread across his face. Juliet sat up suddenly.
"Just promise me one thing?"
"What?"
"Whether it's a girl or a boy," she began, "We're not naming our child Starfish."
Shawn clicked his teeth.
"Damn, Jules," he said, grinning. "You're no fun at all,"
Juliet raised her eyebrows, smiling. "Oh, I'm not am I?"
Before Shawn could speak, she crashed her lips upon his and kissed him passionately. Shawn was taken aback for a few seconds, but recovered quickly and responded fully. After several moments, they broke apart. Shawn smiled mischievously at her. Juliet laughed again, feeling considerably lighter than she had ten minutes ago. Her hand subconsciously found its way to her stomach. She pressed her fingers against it lightly, feeling her heartbeat underneath her fingertips and imagining that it was her baby's. Shawn noticed this and he reached up to cover her hand with his. They shared a small, sweet smile.
"Come on," Juliet said after a few minutes of simply sitting there with their hands over Juliet's now slim stomach. "We should get back before Lassiter gives himself a heart attack."
And so, gripping hands once more, they stood together and left the park.
Please review!
