I Do's and Don'ts
Disclaimer: Don't own CSI.

Please Review! Sorry, for the wait. I just started school again and I already got sick! But enough excuses, please enjoy.


Compromise


Nick and Mandy went to her mom and stepfather's for a small barbecue dinner. There was still a quite a bit of tension between Nick and Mandy, especially now that they could see their children interact with her parents. Hearing them call out for their papa solidified Nick's stance justifying his anger and Mandy felt like a dumb kid.

She couldn't believe that she got so swept up in this fairytale, while everyone was shouting at her to come back down to reality. However it was her kids' shouts that were heard. Hearing the joy in their voice as they called out for their papa was like an epiphany. She looked over at Nick and could almost feel his anger and disappointment, she felt like a loser.

The twins were being held by her mother as Lily talked with her papa trying to convince him to push her on the tire swing. Watching her mother turn into a soft ball of mush when it came to her grandkids made Mandy's heart warm. Frank brought the kids over to the sandbox that Nick and Junior built a few weeks ago.

"Hey, ma. Can I talk to you?" Mandy said with a nervous smile.

"Sure." Patricia said following her inside. Frank followed for a brief second stopping at the fridge and then quickly went away back out to Nick who was stuck in deep thought.

"You look like you could use one of these?" Frank said handing Nick a beer.

"You trying to put me in the dog house?" Nick said taking the beer. Mandy didn't like it when Nick drank, he could already hear her yelling at him for drinking two days in a roll.

"I'm trying to grease up the gears in your brain, your blowing smoke out your ears, son." Frank chuckled sitting down next to Nick as he sipped his own drink.

"Uh…" Nick sighed as he rubbed his face before taking a sip of his drink.

"This whole business with Liam, is stressing you two out?" Frank said and Nick nodded.

"How are you not infuriated?!" Nick said excited. Frank had always had an intimidating appearance but was really a calm guy, Mandy often called him her big scary teddy bear.

"Nick, I spent a lot of my youth being angry. I'm not going to preach to you from some soapbox. As far as I'm concerned you guys' are already married, you been together long enough."

"She wanted Liam to walk her down the aisle?" Nick said unsure what Frank was talking about.

"Nick, Mandy is stuck in this idea, this fantasy. All the questions she had when her father first left are back now. She still calls me dad, she knows that I'm always going to be here for her and you guys." Frank said he did seem disappointed but not too worried. "I was took off her training wheels, I read to her, I did homework, I watch her go to prom, I saw her graduate high school, and get into the college of her dreams, I saw her become the best at what she does even if I don't really understand it, I saw her meet you, it was a little rocky, I love my grandkids, I got to be there for Lily's first day of school, little Beau was named after me, what has Liam seen or been a part of? I'm not worried." Frank said smiling.

"I guess you're right."

"Mandy is stubborn just like her mother." Frank said shrugging his shoulders. Frank studied Nick who didn't seem too convinced. "What's bothering you?"

"I called the PI that Liam used. He happened to be an old college buddy." Nick said quietly studying his beer.

"What did he say?"

"Liam lied." Nick said frustrated,


Meanwhile… Mandy stood in front of her mother feeling very uneasy. Mandy already knew that her mom was pleased with her, with all this drama about just an idea Mandy had that got twisted around. Her mother was gruff and all this stress had her mom particularly edgy.

"What do you want to talk about?" Patricia asked.

"Did we leave or did Liam?" Mandy said blunt knowing that that would be the only way to get anywhere with her mother.

"Liam left. Why what did he tell you?" Patricia asked defensive.

"He said that we left."

"What would I have to gain taking you away from your father? He made all the money, he did everything. I was naïve and love struck and then he left…"

"I remember moving, though."

"We moved because I couldn't pay the bills. The best job I could get was waiting on tables. I had to raise you alone, pay all the bills, and I was heartbroken. I didn't know anyone around us; I needed help that's why we moved. I needed to be near my family, I think you understand." Patricia said upset.

"I do… I'm sorry, mom. I had to ask." Mandy said hugging her mother. "This is a lot. I'm confused, and stressed."

"I know. This is stressing everyone." Patricia said consoling her daughter.

"I know… Nick and I are fighting about silly stuff. Were stressed."

"You guys' don't deserve this stress. You've earned this wedding and no stress for a long, long time. Tread carefully." Patricia said, Mandy sighed. Patricia smirked at her and wiped her eyes. "You need to talk to Nick. I know that he doesn't like seeing you stressed, just let him know that you're alright. I need to go love my grandchildren. I love you Mandy." Patricia said hugging her again.

"I love you, too, mom." Mandy said following her mother back out.

"Nana!" Mason said excited as he showed her the buckets they were using to build the best sand castle. Mandy smiled and walked over to Nick. Nick smiled up at her.

"How's your ma?" Nick asked.

"She's good." Mandy said moving to sit on Nick's lap. Nick immediately readjusted and put his hand on the small of Mandy's back.

"That's good." Nick said turning his head to get a better look at Mandy.

"I'm sorry about earlier." Mandy said touching Nick's chest. "I guess, I just got wrapped up in… in whatever we should call this. I will not forget all the things that Frank has done… I just have a lot of things running through my head."

"I understand. I just want you to talk to me… I feel like we've changed places. I'm supposed to be the stubborn one." Nick chuckled and Mandy smiled, causing Nick to smile.

"I doubt i'll ever be as stubborn as you." Mandy joked, Nick smiled.

"Good." Nick chuckled.

"I want you to come with me tomorrow." Mandy said and she immediately felt Nick tense back up.

Liam had invited them to a social at his house, which was really just a party. Nick didn't want to go; he had expressed that earlier to Mandy without actually saying the words. Nick made a face and then smiled.

"Yes." Nick said.

Nick had remembered something that his father told him when he was a teenager. That the secret of a happy successful marriage was compromise. Nick's father was a hermit, as was Nick, however his mother a social butterfly awaiting every moment to flock her wings. Roger would go to all her events with her, and be her darling husband. While the last Sunday of every month was the family day and Roger could hide in his den.

Nick realized now why his father did all those things that he needed but made his mother happy, because as much as he didn't want to go or even Mandy to go, seeing her face light caused him smile.

After realizing that they really were in a good standing they decided to leave Mandy's mom. Mandy still thought a little something was bothering Nick but he was always a thinker and for once she couldn't really read him. He didn't seem angry with her so she felt relieved. They loved there dinner trips over to her parents' because the car ride back always put the kids to sleep buying Nick and Mandy some well earned alone time.

Afterwards parenthood called again and little Beau was crying. Nick opted to console him thinking that he could make it quick, but Beau couldn't make it that easy on his father. Beau was a light sleeper but Mason was a champion, a tornado couldn't wake that boy. Nick finally got him to sleep and returned to their bedroom and saw the light on.

"Mandy…" Nick said seeing Mandy sitting on the bed in just her underwear with papers scattered across their bed. Nick didn't know where to look or what to do. "Whatcha doing babe?"

"I was looking at some photos for the slide show for our wedding!" Mandy quietly sand joyfully. "Then I found a copy of our invitation. It's exciting can you believe it? We are getting married?" Mandy said excited. Nick smiled at her.

"I can't wait."


What do you think? I took this chapter in a different direction then I had originally planned. Please Review!