24

"Have you told your family about us?" Emily asks as she and Derek are sitting on his couch watching TV.

"I told my mom."
"What did she say?"
"She was a little overwhelmed at first. I explained everything and tolder that I plan on raising the baby like she's my own."
"Who does she feel about it?"
"She wants me to make it legal that way if anything happens between us or god forbid something was to happen to you, I wouldn't have to worry about people saying she's not mine." Emily nods. "She also wants to come down and meet you." Emily bites her bottom lip. They just started dating two month ago even though it seems like a lot longer. "You don't want to meet her?" Derek ask when he sees her reaction.
"I do, but isn't it a little soon?"
"No, I want you to meet her, and given the circumstances, sooner is better."

"When's she coming?"
"Then end of the month."

"What do your sisters think?"
"I haven't told them."
"Are you going to?"
"Eventually, they aren't going to be as understanding as mom." She nods.

"I want to be there when you tell them." She wasn't about to let Derek take the heat from his sisters because of her. She met his sisters and they are very protective of Derek. They are probably going to lecture Derek for a good while.

"Okay." Derek says.

Two week later Derek is making his way inside the airport. The team is gone on a case, but Derek took a week off to spend with his mom. He sees her coming, dragging her rolling suitcase with a duffel bag thrown over her shoulder. He makes his way toward her and she smiles when she sees him. "Hey baby." She sets the duffel bag and hugs her son.

"Hey ma, how was your flight?" He asks grabbing the bag off the ground.

"It was alright, nothing special." She used to never visit Derek he'd always visit her, but ever since the ordeal with Buford she visited at least twice a year and Derek would go out to Chicago for her birthday, Christmas, and Thanksgiving when he wasn't on a case. "Where's Emily?"

"She got called in for a case two days ago." He goes to grab her rolling suitcase, but she stops him.

"I've got it."
"Alright." They start making their way out of the airport.

"Do you know when she'll be back?"
"No, but cases usually only last a few days."
"Good."
"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"It's your life. Do I wish it were different? Of course, but as long as you are happy, I'm happy." Derek drives them to his house and he gets his mom set up in the guest room.

"How do you think Sarah and Des are going to react?" He asks as they sit on the guest bed.

"You're their little brother and they want you to be happy, but they are probably not going to like this. Only because they don't want you to get attached and then Emily leave."
"I know, I don't them to hate Emily. She didn't ask for this and she wanted to wait until after the baby was born, but I didn't. I love her ma."
"I know baby, it's just going to take some getting used to."
They are cooking dinner when his phone vibrates with a text from Emily saying she's on her way from the BAU. "She's on her way." Derek says setting his phone down after saying ok. They continue cooking dinner until Emily gets there.

Emily gets out of her car and walks up to Derek's front door. She is nervous, if Fran doesn't like her then things with her and Derek aren't going to go anywhere. He said in one of their many conversations before they began dating that if a girl doesn't get along with his Mom it was a deal breaker. She opens the door and Clooney runs up to her and begins to bark. "Hey boy." She sets her go bag down and scratches the dog behind his ears after closing the door. Derek sticks his head out of the kitchen.

"We're in here." He walks out of the kitchen and up to Emily. "I missed you." he places a quick kiss to her lips.

"I missed you, too."
"You're nervous aren't you?" He asks with a smile on his face.

"Of course I am."
"It's not going to be that bad." He takes her hand and they walk into the kitchen. "Ma, you remember Emily right?" He asks.

"I sure do." She turns the stove off and walks over to the couple. "How are you Emily?"
"Nervous." Fran smiles.

"Don't be nervous." She places a comforting hand on Emily's shoulder. "Derek's told me a lot about you."
"He's told me a lot about you too."
"I'm going to let you two talk while I finish dinner." Derek says going over to stove leaving the two women standing in kitchen entrance.

"Do you want to go talk in the living room?" Fran asks.

"Sounds good." Emily follows her into the living room and the sit on the couch.

"So why Derek?"
"I'm not going to lie, when I first met Derek I never thought I'd be dating him. He was player and definitely not ready to settle down, but as I got to know him I started to wonder what it would be like to pursue a relationship with him. I was scared to tell him how I felt because I didn't know if he'd feel the same way, so I never did. Not until recently. I love your son, I have for a while now."
"And the father of your baby?" Emily bites her lower lip. "I'm not going to judge you Emily."
"I met him at a coffee shop. I was coming in as he was going out and I guess he didn't see me because he ran right into me and spilt his coffee down the front of my white shirt. He apologized bought me a cup of coffee and gave me the money for my new shirt. I thought he was nice so I gave him my phone number. We talked for a couple of months before we went on our first date and we continued dating for a couple of months. I found out I was pregnant after he left me. He told me that his wife had found out and told him that he could either leave me or she'd never let him see his kids again. I didn't even know he was married."
"I'm sorry. Does he know about the baby?"
"Yeah, he doesn't want anything to do with her." Emily rubs her hand over her bump.

"You're having a girl?"
"Yeah." She smiles at her. "I know you're probably mortified at the idea of Derek getting wrapped up in all of this. I am too. I'm afraid I'm never going to be good enough for him, because he deserves a good woman."
"You are a good woman." Derek's voice startles the two woman. "Dinner is ready."
"I'm going to wash up." Fran says heading down the hall to the bathroom.

"You're already good enough." Derek kisses her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too." They sit down for dinner a few minutes later after everyone washes their hands. They finish dinner and go back into the living room.
"About what you said earlier Emily. You're good enough. I know my son loves you and it's going to be scary, but you two will figure it out as you go. That's how Danny and I did it. We were so scared when we found out I was pregnant with Des, but once she got here everything felt right and I think she turned out pretty good." She looks at Derek and back to Emily, "But this one on the other hand." She points at Derek and they laugh.

"Hey." Derek folds his arms over his chest.

"I'm kidding, I'm very proud of how he's turned out. And it's about time he's giving me some grandbabies."