"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."

Elbert Hubbard

Emily emerged from the bedroom wearing a pair of Derek's sweats rolled up at the waist and one of her shirts, pulled tight over her belly. Her hair was pulled in a ponytail on the top of her head, her face free of any makeup. And to Derek she was the most gorgeous woman in the world.

"I need more pants." She grumbled staring down at her belly. "I texted JJ and she's going to bring her maternity stuff today for me to try on."

Derek shrugged. "Okay." Walking over, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to her neck. "But you look beautiful."

"I look fat." Emily complained. "I knew that I would have to get maternity clothes...I just didn't think that it would be so SOON."

Derek was ready to say something when the doorbell rang and he opened it, finding Mackenzie at the door. "Let me go get your kid." He said with a light laugh. "He's chilling with my mom."

Mackenzie nodded and toed off her shoes. "Sorry about everything last night. We're usually far more organized than we were yesterday. My interview with my client went longer than I had expected and then with the pile up. Taala just got home." The younger woman rambled and went over where Fran and Noah were sitting. "I apologize that you have to spend your time with my son instead of visiting."

Fran shook her head and smiled down at the boy. "Totally fine. He's a lovely child."

The younger woman laughed softly and rolled her eyes. "Some days." She admitted scooping up her son. "I'll get him out of your hair." She said softly. "We're gonna go see Umi and make her some breakfast because she worked real hard."

Noah nodded and blew kisses at Fran. "Bye Nan!" He called out happy. "Bye Dek! Bye Emmy!"

Mackenzie rolled her eyes and gathered up her son and his bag. "Thanks again." She called.

Once she left, Fran stood up and went to help Derek with breakfast. "They seem sweet." She commented as she started to mix stuff for French Toast.

"They are. Nice to have as neighbours. They're trying to get pregnant. I keep telling Mackenzie to check, but she hasn't yet." Derek shrugged as he fried up some bacon.

Emily rolled her eyes and poured herself a glass of orange juice. "Maybe they don't want you in their business, Derek." She said, eyebrows arching.

"Fair." Derek laughed and piled the breakfast on the table, watching as Emily took two pieces of French toast and a piece of bacon. She took a few tentative bites of the French toast and glanced over at Derek. He gave her a shy smile and focused on his meal though glancing at her plate every once in a while. "Did you take your pills?" He asked, not happy with the lack of food on her plate.

"With my orange juice." She replied, her eyebrow arching, a silent challenge to him to keep up his line of questioning.

His hands rose in a sign of surrender and took another piece of bacon. "Just making sure."

Sighing, Emily put her fork down. "You wouldn't understand." She mumbled. The doorbell rang interrupting what was going to happen. Getting up, Emily opened the door and gave JJ a smile. "Come on in." She said, still shooting glares Derek's way. "We'll go into the bedroom."

Derek looked at Fran who waited until she heard the click of the bedroom door. "She'll be fine, Derek. Pregnancy is hard at the best of times, let alone when your system is flooded with twice the amount of hormones."

Sighing, he looked at the door. "I guess you're right."

"You guess? Boy." Fran shook her head and started to clear the table. "I know I was a hormonal mess when I was pregnant and I only had one baby at a time. I can only imagine how she's feeling. So give her some space, keep telling her that she's gorgeous. Show her that she's gorgeous." She gave her son a stern look.

Shuddering, he looked at his mother. "Please don't talk about sex. The three of us were immaculate conceptions."

"Mmmhmmm." Fran hummed as she started to load the dishwasher.


"What did Derek do?" JJ asked as she opened up the suitcase she had full of maternity clothes.

Emily grumbled and started to look through the clothes. "He's existing." She said angrily. "He's hovering. All the time."

Laughing, JJ pulled out the clothes. "It's his job. You'll be okay, Mama." She smiled and handed Emily some shirts.

Emily stripped off her shirt and started trying different ones on. Thankfully JJ had all sizes, but Emily noted sadly, that the first set of clothes were too tight. JJ seemed to notice Emily's concern.

"Mama, you have twins. Your husband is six-two. Mine is five-eight." The blonde said, shaking her head. "You got two big babies in there."

Silence washed over Emily and she pulled on a shirt, staring at herself in the mirror.

"It looks cute. I have a bunch that size." JJ said, pulling out a pile of shirts all the same size. "Here try on these pants."

Emily pulled off Derek's sweats and pulled on the pair of black maternity pants. Most of them were slim fit, some were work pants, others were more casual, and then there were jeans. Thankfully she and JJ were about the same height, and JJ never went to get any of them hemmed so they fit the slightly taller woman.

JJ watched as Emily pulled on a pair of pants and looked at herself in the mirror. "Emily, you look great." She said softly.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Emily ran her hands over her shirt to smooth it. JJ sat on the bed in silence watching her best friend. "What's wrong?" The blonde asked softly.

There was a long silence before Emily spoke. "I...I guess...I just feel huge compared to other people. Like people are showing off their beautiful baby bumps and I feel like I already have a full blown pregnancy belly."

JJ shook her head and tugged Emily down on the bed by pulling on the back of her shirt. "Emily Prentiss. Emily Morgan. Whatever name you're using...you are beautiful. You have not just one but two babies in there." She waited for Emily to turn and look at her. "I'm not going to lie to you, you're going to be bigger than most women because there are two babies in there. Two placentas. More amniotic fluid." JJ shrugged. "But it's going to keep your babies safe." Her face hardened. "Did Derek say anything?" She asked deeply, prepared to protect her best friend, even against her husband

"No, well he has, but not what you're thinking. He's being super supportive...but…" She shrugged.

JJ nodded and took Emily's hands between hers. "I get it. I was almost twice as big with Michael as I was Henry. Everyone's pregnancy is different. The only thing you need to worry about is enjoying it and keeping those beautiful little babies and yourself healthy, okay? If anyone says anything, it's because they're jealous because you are a badass and you're beautiful."

A few tears rolled down Emily's cheeks. "Jesus, I don't think I've ever cried this month in my life." She muttered, wiping her tears with both her hands.

"It's the hormones." JJ said, throwing herself at her best friend and wrapping her arms around her. "Honestly Em, just enjoy this. It's a beautiful time in your and Derek's lives." Pulling back she gave her friend a smile. "So don't worry about it, okay?"

They finished going through the clothes, leaving the larger sizes with Emily. A little while later they emerged from the bedroom and JJ gave Derek and Fran a wide smile. "We found lots of stuff that fits."

Derek looked up and gave Emily a smile. "Good, I'm glad. Thanks JJ."

The blonde nodded and shouldered her bag. "No problem." She looked at Fran and gave her a smile. "So, excited to be a grandma times two?"

Fran grinned. "So excited." She said looking between Emily and Derek. "They're going to be the most impulsive little things on the planet." She said with a laugh.

"I said that too!" JJ exclaimed, giving her friend's arm a squeeze. "They're probably going to need baby leashes as soon as they start crawling. Like little spiderman babies."

Emily sat down on Derek's lap and pressed a kiss on his neck. "Sorry about earlier." She whispered.

"It's fine." He replied, wrapping his arms around her. "But just so you know, you're beautiful."

Humming softly, Emily leaned against Derek and cuddled into him. "I love you.

"Derek was an early walker. Like he was already walking by 9 months, running by 10. He was climbing just as early." Fran said looking at Derek.

Emily sighed and rubbed her hands over her abdomen. "Great." She mumbled elbowing Derek gently.

"And when Derek started moving, he never stopped. So enjoy the quiet you have now, Emily." Fran said with a light laugh.

Emily's work phone rang and she quickly excused herself heading to the back yard. Quickly she walked back in and looked at JJ. "We've gotta go." She said apologetically. Derek pulled her down for a quick kiss.

"Stay safe, Princess. I love you." He said watching as the two women grabbed their stuff and headed out. Emily walked back and placed a soft gentle kiss on his lips.

"Love you too, Derek." She whispered before giving Fran a nod and heading out.

Fran watched the women leave and then watched her son, his focus on his wife. "Do you worry about her?" She asked softly.

"All the time. I know that we have the best team with her. I'm so proud of her and everything she's done and everything she's gonna do." Derek turned and gave his mother a smile. "But it doesn't make her going out to a case any easier."

Nodding, Fran reached over and took her son's hands in hers. "I understand, I was the same way with your father. "How about we go out and do some baby shopping and then get something nice for Emily?" She suggested. "God knows she needs it after putting up with you." She added with a smirk.

"Ma!"

"It's true. That woman has to be a saint married to you and carrying your two big headed babies in there." Fran said getting to her feet. "And if you haven't noticed, your wife doesn't exactly have the biggest frame to be carrying those babies in."

"Trust me, I've noticed." Derek said softly. "Yeah, let's buy her something nice. Maybe some pyjamas and something to make her feel pretty?"

Fran made a face and clapped her son on the shoulder. "Let's go hit up a few different maternity stores. And we can do some research on some massage therapists that specializes in prenatal massages. And have you looked into different classes? What kind of stuff is Emily into?" She went and grabbed her bag. "We can do some research."

Rolling his eyes, Derek got to his feet. "Sure, let me go put on my shoes." He said with a smile. "Thanks Ma...for everything."

"Anytime, Derek. And I mean it. You two need anything and I'll be here, okay?"

Derek looked at his other and nodded. "Got it, Ma." He said softly before grabbing his phone and wallet and sliding on his shoes. "Let's go."

Fran put on her coat and grabbed her bag. "Well, I guess that answers your sudden need for an SUV." She said with a smirk. "And you know your sisters are never going to leave you and Emily alone now."

A smile crossed his lips. "I know."

"Speaking of Emily, how did this all even happen?" Fran asked as they climbed into the SUV. "I mean, the dating is one thing, but we didn't even know that you two were dating let alone in love with her."

Pulling out of the driveway, Derek couldn't help but smile. "It's a long story, Ma."

Fran turned to her son and gave him a smile. "Well isn't it great that we have all day together, then?" She questioned with a smirk.