Disclaimer: I do not own any of the CSI NY characters, but Zoey is all mine!
A/N: Sorry for the posting delay. School really gets in the way! I'll try to write as often as I can, but it looks like I'm going to actually have to pay attention in class this semester…imagine that! Thanks for the reviews guys, makes me smile when I read them!
Miss Higher Power – I came thisclose to wanting to make her pregnant, but figured I'd tuck that little storyline away for a rainy day
Chili-peppers – I would love to see daddy Flack in action…how cute would that be?
Wingsofabutterfly86 – could Flack ever be anything but sweet? ;)
Princess of Peas – Thanks!
Demolished-soul – Glad you liked it. 'Bring your kids to work day' used to be my favourite when I was in elementary school. I got to go to work with my dad and play hangman on his office whiteboard all day…
Smiliee – I'm glad I've got you addicted ;) I could imagine the look on Danny's face if he thought Lindsay was pregnant…mwha mwha mwah
The Little Conrinthian – I'll fight you for Flack, just name you date and time…I'll be there ;) I live out in the country, and the cops are always at the donut shop. I know on quiet days they will run the sirens to get there…
Trixie7 – Danny's panic face look is my favourite I think, so had to fit it in here.
Snowbear96 – Yes, the dreaded daddy question, hopefully she'll give him a good answer
PenguinGoddess – Here is more for you. Glad you're waiting patiently
Katy – Glad you think being daddy like suits Flack, I agree!
Chapter 8
"Official 3 month anniversary…big deal for you Flack." Danny smirked.
"Ya, you paved the way for me Messer, dating the same girl for, what, eight month now?" Flack shot back.
"Nine actually…" Danny said dismissively. "What are your plans for tonight?"
"It is a schoolnight, so I was thinking dinner at Fratelli's."
"Woah, goin' all out, eh man?" Danny laughed. "She'll love it."
"That's the idea." Flack replied happily.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"She's running late." Lindsay smiled as she opened the door to reveal a very well dressed Flack. "Wow, you even know how to dress up a suit. I'm impressed!"
"You'd be surprised, Monroe." He winked back. "Where's Ryan?"
"At a friend's place for dinner. He'll be home by 8, don't worry."
"I just haven't seen him in awhile." Flack defended.
"I know. A whole three days. How did you survive?" she teased.
"Sorry! Sorry! I'm coming!" Zoey called as she saw Flack in the doorway. "The meeting went long, and now they are telling me I need to go to this conference. Ugh! What a day!"
"I told you not to worry about it. You've got a week to figure it out. Just go and enjoy your night!" Lindsay said pushing her out the door.
"What conference?" Flack asked in the elevator.
"Oh, 'Teaching Physical Education at Inner City Schools'." Zoey said with a small laugh. "How to use PE as an intervention and all that jazz."
"They want you to go?"
"They want me to be a speaker!" She laughed. "Isn't that crazy? What kind of expertise do I have?"
"Well, you teach in one of the roughest areas of one of the biggest cities Zo, of course you have expertise." Flack smiled.
She sighed. "I suppose, but it's in a week, and I have Ryan. I can't just get up and leave for 5 days."
"Where is it?"
"LA. I would have to leave on a Monday, back on Friday. It's unrealistic, I'm going to tell them tomorrow that I can't go."
"It's a great opportunity for you! We can figure something out." Flack smiled.
"Lindsay got to work, and I can't just pawn my child off on her." Zoey replied seriously.
"Between Lindsay and me, we can figure it out. You go." He urged. Zoey stopped walking and looked at him.
"You and Lindsay?" she raised an eyebrow.
Flack blushed once he realized what he'd said. It was a huge deal for him to offer to watch Ryan. "Ya, makes sense. Lindsay and I can work out a schedule. Hazel would probably be able to help us out too, right?"
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." She said smiling, her eyes starting to water.
Flack chuckled and pulled her into a hug. "Zoey, don't cry. We still gotta make sure Ryan is okay with it."
"Are you kidding? He'll be so happy! A whole five straight days with you and Lindsay…" she laughed.
"I'll check my schedule tomorrow morning, and we can figure it all out then?" He said releasing her from his arms.
"Ok, I'll ask Lindsay tonight, see what hers is like." Zoey smiled. "Oh my God, I might be going to LA!"
Flack laughed and took her hand. "Let's get going, or we'll miss our reservations."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Nervous?" Zoey laughed as Lindsay scurried from the bathroom to the bedroom. Lindsay shot her an evil look.
"Of course I'm nervous! I'm meeting his parents for the first time!" Lindsay growled.
"Jeez, easy now. It's Sunday brunch, nice, casual, they've just come from church, they'll be inspired." Zoey giggled.
"You better be nice to me lady! I'm watching your kid while you go basking in the California sunshine. I can have him completely brainwashed by the time you get back." She called from the bedroom.
Zoey laughed. "And you know how thankful I am."
"To be honest, I'm doing it for Flack. He would have done anything for 5 days with Ryan." Lindsay laughed.
Zoey's brow furrowed. "I thought you were taking him to school, and Don was picking him up and watching him until you got home?"
Lindsay poked her head out into the hallway. "Oh. Ya. That's right. Silly me."
"Lindsay. Spill it." Zoey commanded.
"Don't be mad, ok?" she said stepping out into the hallway.
"Just tell me."
"Flack is taking modified duty for the 5 days that you're gone. He'll be on desk duty while Ryan's at school, and he'll stay here with him when he's not at school. Zoey, he's so excited about it. He wants to do this." She explained. "I'll be at Danny's, and ready to help if he needs it."
Zoey sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't go, it's putting everyone out."
"Don't even start with that crap Zo. Flack and Ryan are so excited about it." Lindsay smiled. "They're even going to take Danny out for some 'male bonding' stuff. It's cute. Just let them have it!"
"Ok, ok. You'd better hurry. You'll be late." Zoey sighed in defeat.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"Are you sure this is ok?" Zoey asked worriedly looking from Flack to Ryan and back again.
"Zoey, we'll be fine. Don't worry. Really." Flack smiled. "He's going to be late for school if you keep stalling like this."
"Right, Ok." She knelt down in front of Ryan. "Be good for Don, ok? Remember to be polite when you meet his parent's tonight. I love you, and I'm gonna miss you!" She sniffled a bit as she gave him a hug.
"Don't cry mom. I'll be here when you come home. It's going to be fun. It'll be just like having a dad!" Ryan smiled excitedly. Zoey looked up at Flack. He looked just as surprised as her.
"We'll be fine." Flack reassured her with a hug. "Call us when you get there."
"Ok. Enjoy yourselves." She smiled and kissed Flack, then Ryan, then Flack again. "Be good. Both of you!"
They both waved as Zoey went past security. Once she was out of sight Flack turned to Ryan. "Ok buddy, let's get you to school?"
"Do I have to?" he whined.
Flack laughed. "Nice try Ry. It's not gonna work. We'd get in big trouble if mom or Aunt Lindsay found out."
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"Are you ready to go Ryan?" Flack called down the hall.
"Just a second!" he called back. Five minutes later, Ryan came out of his room dressed in his 'meet the parents' outfit.
"Lookin good man. Your mom pick that out?" Flack smiled.
"We did it together." Ryan smiled as he walked towards Flack. "But I can't do this up." He pointed to his belt.
"Ok, I'll help you." Flack motioned for him to come over. "Are you excited to go to dinner?"
"Ya! I've never been to a fancy restaurant where everyone dresses up." He smiled. "What am I supposed to call them?"
"Who?"
"Your mom and dad." He replied as Flack finished tucking in Ryan's shirt and doing up his belt.
"I don't know. We'll have to ask them." Flack smiled.
"Mom said that you have the same name as your dad!" he said obviously finding it very intriguing.
"I do, but he calls me Junior."
"Junior!" Ryan exclaimed before bursting into a fit of laughter.
"Oh, thanks man. That's nice." Flack chuckled.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"Donald! They're here!" Flack's mother exclaimed when she saw Flack and Ryan crossing the street to get to the restaurant.
"I think you're more excited about this meeting than all the rest of us combined, Katherine. Just because he's taken to the kid, doesn't mean he's going to marry the girl next week and give you the 5 grandchildren you're lobbying for." Donald replied with a smile.
"I'll settle for one right now." She said standing up and going to the door where Flack and Ryan had just entered.
"Donnie! Hi sweetheart." Katherine said with a smile and gave Flack a kiss and a hug. "Who is this handsome young man?" she asked.
"I'm Ryan." He smiled shyly.
"It's nice to meet you Ryan. I'm Donnie's mom, Katherine. You can call me Nana." She said as she hugged him.
"Ma…" Flack said with a warning tone. He knew was she was up to.
"Oh hush Donnie. Come on, your father is at our table." She said taking Ryan's hand.
"I've never had a Nana before." Ryan said happily. "I have a Grampy, but not a Nana."
"Well, now you have a Nana, a Grampy, and you can all him Poppa." Katherine said pointing towards Donald.
"Mom!" Flack said sharply. "You don't think you're going a bit overboard?"
"Donnie, let us get to know each other." She smiled helping Ryan onto his chair.
"Just give it up, Junior." Donald smiled. "She's too far gone now."
Flack sighed as he sat down. This was not good. Yet, it was. He was glad his mother accepted Ryan, and Zoey, even though she'd only met her once. It was not good because now that she had the taste of grandchildren in her mouth, she'd be hounding him for more. She'd probably start on Zoey too. He smiled as he watched his mom help Ryan read the prices on the menu. His smile faded as a thought flitted through his head. She wouldn't pull Ryan in on her little plan, would she? The two of them together, lobbying for Flack and Zoey to have kids. 'Definitely not a good idea to introduce Ryan to mom... bad, bad, bad idea…'