A/N OK, so I know this chapter is kind of short, but I needed to tie up a few loose ends before I dive into the crazy mayhem that is Ellie Manning. I hope it doesn't disappoint, because one VERY important question is answered, and another (if you're paying attention) is brought up again...ta da!

Disclaimer: Yawn. Stretch. Miaow. Nope. Nothin' new to report.


Knowing that there was a good chance he had found her surprise by now, Lilly felt the butterflies going crazy. Glancing sideways at her, Jeffries chuckled and shook his head, watching her fiddle anxiously with her hands.

"Will you relax? What's going on with you today?"

Lilly smiled slightly, looking up at the slow-changing numbers indicating what level they were on.

"You'll find out."

"Something to do with that present you left in the break room before we left?" he teased. She narrowed her eyes in his direction.

The elevator finally came to a stop on their level, and Lilly breathed a sigh of relief. Walking as fast as Peanut would allow, she headed towards her desk, her eyes searching for her partner. Holding her phone to her ear, Miller glanced at Lilly, tilting her head in the direction of the break room. Lilly smiled in appreciation, and her colleague nodded, grinning.

Lilly moved silently to the break room, casually leaning against the doorframe. Scotty was still sitting at the table, tears lingering on his cheeks. A smile was permanently painted around his lips, his eyes fixed on the gift in his hands.

"Whatcha lookin' at, Detective?" she said softly. He spun around, leaping out of the seat to wrap her in a tight hug.

"I love you," he said into her hair. Lilly giggled, throwing her arms around his neck.

"I love you too."

"So…" She giggled again.

"Uh huh."

The team appeared in the doorway, all wearing matching looks of confusion.

"Rush, what the hell is goin' on?" Vera asked. Scotty hastily wiped his eyes, picking up the present that had been discarded on the table.

"I'm gonna be a dad," he said in a choked voice.

The couple exchange glances, and Scotty let the tiny onesie unfold, holding it up against his chest. Miller gasped, laughing in astonishment as the male detective hugged Lilly towards him. The three men grinned proudly. Even Manning allowed a tiny smile to tug at the corner of her lips.

The pink lettering read 'Daddy's Little Girl'.

A sudden ringing interrupted the cheerful silence, and all eyes turned to Manning. She blushed bright pink, turning away to answer.

"Not now, Dean...no, I...whatever."

Lilly took a step towards her, frowning in concern.

"Ellie?" she said gently. The younger woman shook her head.

"Sorry. Boss, can I take an early lunch?" she asked quickly, her cheeks flaming. Stillman studied her for a moment, before nodding. Manning was gone before anyone else could say anything. Vera scoffed disparagingly.

"What's up with her now? She's been actin' weird for weeks," he muttered. Miller punched his arms.

"Remember that little talk we had about how you were gonna try and be nicer to her?"

Shaking his head at the argument breaking out between his colleagues, Scotty leant back so that he could look down at his partner.

"So it's a girl?" he confirmed again. Lilly laughed.

"Yes!" A look of sudden concern appeared on her face, her smile rapidly disappearing. "Is that OK?"

Her partner grinned, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"That's more than OK. You do know that no boy is touchin' her until she's 35, right?"


It hadn't taken long for word to spread that Baby Valens/Rush was in fact Baby Girl Valens/Rush. In fact, Vera and Jeffries took it upon themselves to make sure everyone had heard...and that everyone who wasn't already joined in the bid for birth date. Since the announcement, pools had been closed, money collected (Scotty was horrified to learn that his own partner had put money in the gender pool- "It's cheatin' when you already know, Lil!") and new bets placed.

That evening, as the city finally started to wind down for the day, Lilly heard the doorbell ring. She moved as quickly as possible to the front door, resting her hands at the small of her back. She opened the door, a broad smile spreading across her face at the sight of Scotty's parents on the doorstep.

"Hey!" she said, standing aside to let them in. Maria and Ben Valens chuckled, each stopping to plant a quick kiss to her cheek.

"You're looking great, Lilly. Did you eat all that food I made for you?" the older woman asked. Lilly nodded.

"Yes."

"Good. You need to be strong and healthy to deliver mi nieto. How are you feeling?"

"Better. Ticking off the days on my calendar, though," Lilly replied. Ben laughed, wrapping her in a one-armed embrace.

"You're doing great."

"Hey, Lil? Do you know where my...?"

Scotty's voice trailed off as he stepped into the living room, staring across at his parents in surprise. Lilly moved to the centre of the room, her eyes flicking uncertainly between them. Maria suddenly left her husband's side, rushing across to pull her son into a tight hug.

"Dios mío, niño, ¡mirarte! ¿Qué paso, muchacho? ¡Ay, yo estaba tan preocupada por ti!"

She held him at arm's length, her brow furrowing in concern at the bruises that had yet to fade. Lilly watched all this anxiously, and feeling the tension crackling through the air between the parents-to-be, Ben Valens cleared his throat.

"Maria, help me put this food in the freezer," he hinted. Watching them leave, Lilly folded her arms, nervously tugging her lower lip between her teeth.

"I'm sorry, Scotty," she said quietly, "I should have told you they were coming."

Seeing the genuine distress on her face, Scotty moved towards her, resting his hands in the small of her back.

"It's OK."

"No, it's not! I should have told you that your parents have been coming over."

"As in on a regular basis?"

Lilly let her eyes flick to the floor.

"As in twice a week since..."

"Since I left," Scotty finished, barely managing to speak around the lump in his throat. She nodded slowly, moving her hands to his chest. A voice cleared its throat from the kitchen doorway, and the couple turned. Ben Valens shrugged.

"Couldn't help but overhear. We can leave if you want."

"No!" Scotty said with a fierce shake of his head, "No, I was just surprised."

His mother smiled broadly.

"Good. Now, Scotty, you come help me prepare dinner," she chirped. He groaned, the familiarity of once again being reunited with his parents returning with each second.

"But, Mom!" he whined. Lilly laughed, nudging him in the side.

"Come on. I'll help too."

Ben caught her elbow, pulling her gently towards the sofa.

"No, you will not. You're going to sit here and keep an old man company."

The blonde detective rolled her eyes.

"You're as bad as Scotty," she complained. He chuckled.

"I should think so."

Her face brightened suddenly, and she looked over the back of the sofa into the kitchen.

"Scotty?" she called. He looked towards her, smiling.

"What's up?"

"You want to tell them, or shall I?"

Maria gasped.

"Don't tell me. You're finally getting married!" she exclaimed. Scotty laughed, shaking his head.

"No, Ma. We ain't gettin' married," he said, glancing towards his girlfriend. Not yet, anyway... His father winked at Lilly.

"See? I told you, madre. You owe me $20," he called teasingly.

"Hush your mouth, Benito!"

Scotty exchanged an amused glance with Lilly, and when she nodded encouragingly, he cleared his throat.

"Well, we just wanted to let you know..." His parents were watching him expectantly, and he heard Lilly giggled. "That you're gettin' another granddaughter."

Lilly broke out into laughter at the excited Spanish that followed from the kitchen. Ben leant over to kiss her cheek, and then his new nieta.

"Get a move on, baby girl," he murmured, "because there's a whole group of people waiting to meet you."

Sitting up on the stool that stood beside the kitchen counter, Maria Valens studied her youngest son carefully.

"Talk to me, child," she said quietly, recognizing the look in his eyes. Scotty shook his head.

"I'm OK, ma. Really."

Maria reached over and took her son's hand, holding it tight between her own.

"I know you are, Scotty. But listen to me, mi valiente. You can't be born as a man, Scotty. You were born as a blank canvas, ready to be painted, until you finally get the wonderful masterpiece that is being a man. Fathers, like mothers, are just not born. You can't just expect to wake up one morning and be a father. It's something you learn. Men grow into fathers, and fathering is a very important stage in their development."

Scotty chuckled in embarrassment, a pink stain creeping up into his cheeks.

"You been readin' Lena's psychology books again, Ma?"


Meh. That'll do. So, coming up next: a little (figuratively and...not figuratively...) part of Manning's story, girl talk, the reappearance of two characters, and some more fluff! YAY! Anyhoo...please may I have a review because I asked so nicely? I even gave you hints to the next chapter! :)