Sorry for the wait. This story is moving along more slowly than my others. Anyway, here is Chapter 2. It's mostly fluffy stuff. The next chapter will get into the case.


On the way to dinner, Shawn filled Juliet in on exactly how he planned to tell his mother about the baby, or at least the few pieces of the plan he had come up with. Juliet couldn't help but notice a very obvious gap, though.

"Shawn, I still don't understand how you are going to hide this…," she indicated with both palms on her abdomen, "…from your mother until you tell her."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Shawn confidently. Juliet rolled her eyes.

Shawn and Juliet arrived at the restaurant before Henry and Maddie, and Shawn was thanking his lucky stars because he really wasn't sure how he planned to get Juliet into the restaurant and to the table without his mother seeing her bulging stomach. After announcing their reservation to the hostess, they were led to an empty table. Luckily, Juliet hadn't gained any weight anywhere besides her stomach and when she was sitting in her seat any signs of pregnancy were unseen behind the table.

"Good," said Shawn. "Now, just don't stand up until I tell her."

"Seriously? How long is that going to be? What if I have to go to the bathroom?"

"Jules, I know you are potty trained. I think you can hold it."

"Shawn! I have another human being sitting on my bladder. When I have to go, I have to go!"

"Ok. Ok. I'll do the reveal the first moment I get."

Moments later Henry and Maddie approached the table. "Goose! You are looking so handsome in that suit!" Shawn stood up to hug his mother.

"Mom! I missed you! And might I say you look stunning tonight….um…who's that bald guy with you?"

"Shawn!" said Henry impatiently. Henry was also looking handsome in a black suit and tie.

"Oh, Dad! It's you! Sorry, I didn't recognize you without your usual rainbow of colors."

"My normal day wear does not resemble a package of Skittles, Shawn."

"Dad, I said rainbow of colors, not a rainbow of flavors. Get it right."

"Juliet, it's so great to see you again!" said Maddie as she started around the table with the intention of hugging her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, but Shawn put a hand firmly on Juliet's shoulder to keep her from standing. Shawn distracted his mother by gushing over her beauty and managed to shuffle her to the opposite side of the table and pull out her chair for her. She sat, accepting that the moment for the hug she sought was past.

"Juliet!" said Maddie. "You don't know how happy I am that you and Shawn found each other. I've never seen my boy so happy before."

"Thanks Mrs. Spencer," said Juliet blushing and smiling at Shawn, while taking his hand in hers.

"Oh, Juliet, I've told you so many times before to call me Maddie. Oh! By the way, do you mind if I take a look at that ring?!"

"Of course not," said Juliet holding out her hand. Maddie took her hand and gaped at the sparkling diamond. She was obviously impressed with the quality and looked at her son in astonishment.

"Yup, that awesome dude at Jared's says it has two cabbages," said Shawn proudly. Maddie scrunched her eyebrows.

"He means carats," corrected Juliet.

"Two carats!" exclaimed Maddie. "How did you…?"

"That was the ring Shawn picked out to replace my Mom's ring," pointed out Henry.

"Oh, yeah," said Maddie. "I still can't believe that all that time we've had a priceless piece of history sitting in our own home."

The waiter came and asked to take their drink orders and Maddie insisted on treating her family to an expensive bottle of wine. "What would you all say to a glass of Chardonnay? My treat. In honor of our growing family. Juliet?"

"I….uh…," mumbled Juliet.

"It's growing alright," whispered Henry to his son, giving him a coaxing look.

Shawn kicked him under the table. "Unlike your hair!" Shawn whispered through gritted teeth. Maddie didn't notice the exchange.

"So tell me Shawnie," said Maddie. "What do you have planned for after the big day? A romantic honeymoon I hope!"

"Uh, Mom, nothing yet…"

Juliet cut in. "We are going to plan something for the spring. We've just been…busy lately…and it's not really a good time to travel…we've barely had time to plan the wedding." She elbowed Shawn and coughed. Shawn took that as his cue.

"So, Mom, we uh…we have a gift for you." He took a small rectangular package from inside his suit jacket and handed it to Maddie. It was wrapped in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer paper and embellished with a red ribbon.

"What's this?" she said "A Christmas gift? Shouldn't I wait until Christmas?"

"No, Mom. You'll really want to open it now."

"Ok. Goose." She shrugged and started to unwrap the package. "Now I feel a little bad though because I didn't bring anything for you…" She had the paper removed and immediately upon looking at the item in her hand her voice and breath caught in her throat. She held a framed sonogram with the name 'Margaret Madeline Spencer' written across the bottom and a speech bubble drawn next the image of the fetus that said 'Hello Grandma'.

"Oh my God!" she said with tears beginning to fill her eyes. When she looked up at her son, she saw that both he and Juliet were standing. One of Shawn's arms was wrapped around his fiancé and the other was resting firmly on her large stomach.

"Oh, my God!" said Maddie again. "You're having a baby! I'm going to be a grandma…and soon, apparently."

"I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you," apologized Shawn, wanting to dispel any negative feelings his mother might have when seeing how far along Juliet was. "I just wanted to tell you in person."

"Oh Shawnie! It's ok!" she said standing up and hugging both Shawn and Juliet, her happy tears now spilling from her eyes. "I'm going to be a Grandma!" she exclaimed. "A little girl," she said looking back at the photo and touching the image softly with her fingers. "My granddaughter."

"I'm due January 21st," added Juliet.

"I'm sure our little Maggie can't wait to meet her Grandma," said Shawn.

Henry smiled and gave his son a look of approval. After everyone took their seats again and the meal began, their conversation never left the topic of either the baby or the wedding. Maddie was dissatisfied to hear that their wedding was barely planned with being only a week away and promised to step in and take charge of the planning. She insisted that the happy couple keep the stress to the minimum and she would make sure that their special day was exactly what they deserved.

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It was simple but elegant. It was impressive what Maddie and the rest of their friends and family could put together in less than a week. Because venues were limited this time of year and pretty much impossible to procure on such short notice, Chief Vick had graciously offered up the SBPD. The usual bustling office had been completely transformed overnight. Though a section of the department was still bustling with officers hard at work, the central hall had been cleared out. Desks were pushed aside and were replaced with rows of wooden chairs that were now filled with friends and family. Flowers and garlands hung from the ceiling in a theme of Holiday red and gold.

Gus approached his best friend who stood at the end of the aisle facing towards the platform where the happy couple would be standing shortly. "Gus! What are you doing? Its bad luck for the groom to see the best man before the ceremony!"

"No Shawn, its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony."

"I've heard it both ways."

"No you haven't."

A moment of quiet passed as both men took in the scenery.

"Well, here I am Gus," said Shawn anxiously. "My wedding day. Whoever thought I'd be getting married before you?"

"Technically, I was married first," said Gus.

"Maannn! Mira doesn't count and you know it."

"Yeah, you're right," Gus admitted. Another moment passed.

"Dude, this is so Father of the Bride!" exclaimed Shawn.

"Uh…no its not," said Gus. "Where are you getting that idea?"

"Wasn't the bride pregnant in that movie?" asked Shawn.

"No, she was pregnant in the sequel. Father of the Bride 2."

"There was a sequel?!"

"Yes, Shawn."

"Then that's us. We're the sequel."

"No. Nobody got married in the sequel, Shawn!"

"Then why is it called Father of the Bride 2, Gus?!"

"How should I know? Ask the idiot who named it!" argued Gus in exasperation. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you guys can't compare to any movie. This situation is totally unique."

"That's how we Spencers do it! Unique-style," said Shawn.

"Only you would end up getting married in a police department," said Gus.

"Yeah, well, it was either this or my Dad's and I'm pretty sure its bad luck to get married in a room with taxidermied fish on the walls."

"That's not true. Stop making stuff up, Shawn."

"Oh, you know… I think I'm thinking of that rhymy-thingy…old fish, new fish, borrowed fish, blue fish."

"That's 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue'," corrected Gus.

"Hmm..maybe not then," admitted Shawn, "…but still, who would want to say their 'I dos' with a ten-pound mackerel giving them the evil eye?"

Gus considered Shawn's argument, "Ugh…I hear that!" He shook his head, "Taxidermy. What an awful act…"

"On the bright side, the benefit to having a wedding in a police department is that the party favors are handcuffs and tazers." Gus agreed with a nod.

Just then, a violin rendition of James Taylor's Only One started playing through the loudspeakers and Buzz McNab took his place on the platform, book in hand and wide cheesy grin on his face. Shawn took that as his cue to take his position on the platform.

"You ready, man?" said Gus.

"As ready as I'll ever be," said Shawn. "Oh, and Gus, I left you some Kleenex and caramels in your pocket. You're going to need them." Shawn turned and sprinted up the aisle to the platform.

Gus reached into his pocket and found the items, then smiled and nodded.

The next ten or fifteen minutes were a blur. All Shawn could remember were a procession of groomsmen and bridesmaids clad in red dresses, first was Lassiter and Marlowe, followed by a smiling Woody and a nauseated-looking Chief Vick, then Gus and Rachael. Next, there was an explosion of rose petals filling the aisle as Iris and Maximus fought over the gold basket that was holding them – Maximus continued up the aisle with the basket upside down on his head – and then she entered. His beautiful Juliet processed up the aisle in her white gown and was given away by her step-father Lloyd. Shawn could see nothing but her gorgeous blue eyes, glassy with tears, as she stepped onto the platform and faced him. In the next several minutes there were vows and rings exchanged, but all of it was a whirlwind of fleeting moments that seemed to surround himself and the woman he couldn't take his eyes off of. Finally, Buzz's voice gave Shawn permission to kiss his bride and his lips immediately crashed onto hers. Cheers erupted around them which echoed in the hall and made it feel like fireworks were going off in the room. After an eternity, their lips parted and Shawn said to his wife, "It's official, Mrs. Juliet Spencer."

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Soon the station was transformed again into a ballroom, complete with sparkling lights, candle-adorned dining tables and a small dance floor. The lights were turned low and Kool and the Gang's Celebrate played through the speakers.

"I've got to hand it to your Mom, Shawn. She did a great job. Today was perfect," said Juliet snuggling into her husband at the end of the evening. "Well, almost perfect."

"Look, Jules, my Mom tried really hard, but it was just impossible to find a Scottish bagpiper that can cover Huey Lewis and the News."

"That's not what I mean…" she laughed.

"I'm sorry your Dad didn't come, Jules."

"Well…I'm not…I guess. I mean, a man doesn't return any of his daughter's phone calls for over a year, he doesn't deserve to give her away. Lloyd raised me. He's my Dad. He deserved the honor."

"Well said, Jules…who needs Frank?"

"It's not just that, though. Ewan…I always thought my favorite big brother would be there for my wedding day…"

"I'm really sorry…" said Shawn compassionately playing with Juliet's hair.

"Thanks, sweetheart…but seriously, tonight has been the happiest night of my life and not even my con-man father or felon brother can ruin it." She kissed Shawn softly on the lips. "I love you, Mr. Spencer."

Shawn kissed her back. "And I love you, Mrs. Spencer." He kissed her one more time, then kissed his hand and placed it on her stomach. "And I love you baby Maggie." Juliet smiled broadly and leaned back into her husband, burrowing her head under Shawn's chin.

"Look, I'm going to go refill my glass," said Shawn. "Can I get some more sparkling grape juice for you and Maggie."

"Yes, please...I'm sure I'm the only one drinking grape juice tonight she said while looking to see the party going on the dance floor. Woody was in the middle of a Russian dance and had Juliet's bouquet – which he caught earlier – tied to his head.

"Oh…I don't know about that," said Shawn.

Juliet's head whipped around and her eyebrows scrunched up. "What are you talking about, Shawn?"

"I think you might want to ask a certain seductive blonde ex-con who for some unknown reason has the hots for your partner."

"Marlowe? What do you know, Shawn?" she inquired suspiciously.

"Nothing. Only just that she's been drinking grape juice all night," he said nodding toward the glass in her hand filled with the yellow colored liquid.

"It's probably just because she and Carlton have been trying. She doesn't want to take any chances…" reasoned Juliet.

"Yeah…probably…," said Shawn, his tone conveying that he wasn't convinced. He left Juliet looking dumbfounded with a soft peck on her cheek before heading to the bar. On his way there, he stopped to check in on his Dad. "Hey Papa Monkey!"

"Son!" Henry surprised Shawn by pulling into a tight hug. He was clearly more than a little tipsy.

"Geez Dad, you've got the grip of a WWE wrestler, loosen it up a bit…wheeze…seriously Dad my airways are closing up."

Henry ended the hug and patted Shawn so hard on the back that he almost landed face forward into a half-eaten piece of cake. "You did good, son. I'm proud of you. You found yourself a really great one!"

"Are you talking about my wife or a lusciously ripe pineapple?"

"Ha!," laughed Henry. "You said wife. I can't believe my son has a wife." Now he appeared to be talking to an invisible someone hanging above his head. "I have a daughter-in-law. And pretty soon, I'll have a granddaughter." He started to get teary -eyed.

"I'm glad you approve Dad. Now, I'm going to let you get back to your…" He looked closely at the drink in Henry's hand. "…Sex on the Beach, before you say something truly awkward." Before Shawn walked away, he patted his Dad on the back and said "I love you, Dad." Henry seemed not to notice as he was already beginning to do the electric slide.

"Lassie? McNab? What's the deal bros?" said Shawn curiously when he saw the two officers fly by him, loading and stowing their weapons into their holsters.

"Not now, Spencer!" stated Lassiter. "And I am not your 'bro'!

"Another suicide," answered McNab. "A Robert Bundy. I'll be your bro if you want Shawn." They stormed out of the station.

"Thanks, bro…Robert Bundy? " said Shawn to himself, standing still as a statue. His vexed eyes met Juliet's from across the station.