A/N: See intro for disclaimers. Since Santa didn't put Flack in my stocking (wouldn't that have surprised my husband!), he's not mine. Don't sue.

Thank you to all who read and reviewed and sent good wishes. CharmedMummy: you are so sweet. And persistant too. Wow. I am so tickled. Really. Paly: Things will get better. No, Don doesn't deserve the trouble, but smooth sailing would get very boring. At least in a story. In RL, I'm all for smooth sailing all the way.

Hope everyone enjoys. Thanks!

Tess sat on the couch knitting with her Ipod plugged into her ears. She was hunched over ignoring everything else. Peter looked up from the cookies he was decorating and elbowed Bette. They broke into a silent argument over whether or not Bette was going to bug Tess. Tess could see them out corner of her eye, but studiously ignored them. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and squinted at her knitting. Knit two, purl two. Bette finally came over and stood in front of her. Tess slowly looked up over her glasses. She set her knitting in her lap and pulled her earbuds out.

"Yes?" Bette didn't answer her. "If you're just going to stare at me, then don't you have cookies to work on?"

"Did you try calling…"

Tess shook her head hard. "My business, not yours." She started to plug the earbuds back in.

"Ya know, I've shown a lot of restraint since you told me about being pregnant."

"Thank you." Tess went back to knitting.

Bette rolled her eyes. "Well, you've been doing a great job of beating yourself up over it. Besides, it ain't gonna help things."

"I hear a 'but' entering this conversation, so let's jump to that," said Tess getting annoyed. She dropped her knitting back in her lap and folded her hands over it.

"When did you talk to Don last?"

"That's totally my business."

"Come on, Tess. You are rational enough to know you're being ridiculous."

"Am I? I don't feel very rational right now. Must be the hormones." She picked up the knitting again determined to ignore Bette.

"Don't give me any of that bull crap, Tess. You can't tell a guy he's going to be a daddy and then just blow off for a week. That just isn't right." Bette stood there a minute. "Just what are you knitting?"

"A hat."

"A hat. And this is so important why?"

"Because it is. It's helping me think. I need time to think."

"No, don't even start that, either. You've had plenty of thinkin' time. Now, is the time to start talkin' and makin' plans. I have a tin of cookies all made up. You take them and haul your ass over to Don's apartment and you two start working on what you're gonna do." Tess started to protest. "Get up, stop feeling sorry for yourself and avoiding the issue and go and get things straight with Don. Now!" Bette reached out and started tugging on Tess' arm. "Come on, I mean it. I don't want to see you back here tonight." She pushed Tess to the closet. "Get your coat on. Get your shoes on. Take your knitting, if you have to. Peter, give Tess that tin of cookies." Peter handed Tess the cookies. "Out the door with you. I'm calling Don."

"No. Don't do that…"

"Yes, I am. I want him to be expectin' you. I'm gonna tell him to call me if you don't show up. He'd better not call me, or I will find your pregnant self and I will give you a tongue-lashing you won't soon forget. I'd kick your ass, but I don't want to hurt the baby." Bette pushed Tess out the door. "Now, git. See you tomorrow, at the earliest." She shut the door on Tess. Tess stood there for a minute the cookies hanging from one limp hand, her knitting bag hanging from the other. Bette opened the door. "I said git. Go on now." Bette shut the door again. Tess turned and slowly went on her way.

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Don's mood alternated between wanting to shake Tess very hard and wanting to tie her up so she could never leave the apartment. It seemed forever before the knock finally sounded on his door. He stood right behind door and waited. Another knock sounded. Don slowly opened the door and crossed his arms. He raised one eyebrow. Tess held up the tin of cookies.

"Bette and Peter sent these over."

"An' you with 'em." Don took the cookies.

"Um. Yeah." Tess stood still for a moment. Don made no move to let her inside. "Can I come in?"

Don stepped to the side. "I suppose. Are ya sure ya want ta?"

Tess looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry."

"Pardon? I'm not sure I heard that."

Tess looked up. "I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say."

"I guess it's a start. Come on in." Don gestured for to pass him. "Things are kind of a mess. I haven't really felt like cleaning much." Tess paused and looked around. Don usually kept his apartment immaculately for a guy. Clothes were draped over most of the furniture. There was a pile of dishes in the sink. Tess bit her lip. Don picked some things off the couch. He motioned for Tess to sit down. "Ya know, I have Bette on speed dial now." Tess just nodded and sat down on the couch. Don perched on the edge of the coffee table opposite her. "She said yer not eating much."

"I cook stuff, but then don't really feel like eating it."

"Can I find something ya might want to eat?" Don held up the tin of cookies. "Cookie?"

"That's okay. I'm really not hungry."

"Tess, ya really…" Don stopped. He looked down and then back up into Tess' eyes. "I promised myself I wouldn't push. If ya just came by, I wouldn't push. I just wish I knew what I could say, what I could do ta convince ya."

Tess gave him a sad smile. She reached out and traced her fingers along his chin. "Don, it's not you. It's me. I'm the one with a problem."

"The baby isn't a problem."

Tess sighed and dropped her hand into her lap. "I'm not talking about the baby. I'm talking about me running away. And then not talking to you. It's not you. It's me."

"This sounds like the start of a break-up speech." Don stood up. "If ya just came by to break…"

Tess sighed in frustration. "I'm not breaking up with you. Just listen a minute." Tess tugged at his hand. Don sat back down. "I'm the one with a problem. I need some time to sort things through."

"And I was just supposed to cool my jets while ya made all sorts of decisions without me? Just hang around until ya decided ya'd have me."

"Did I say that?"

"Actions, Tess." Don picked up Tess' hand. He ran his thumb roughly over her knuckles. "You don't get ta decide everything all by yourself. Ya don't have the right."

"I know." Tess tugged her hand away. She looked up at the ceiling and blinked slowly. "I just…I just don't want you waking up one morning regretting what you tied yourself into."

"Regretting what? Waking up every morning next ta a woman I'm in love with?"

"But what if…"

Don smiled at her. He reached out and fingered her braid. "Tess, sweetheart, I can't even give ya any guarantees that I'll even come home from work every night." Tess winced. Don touched her cheek. "Sorry to put it that way, but I know that's the truth."

Tess gave him a twisted smile. "And that's supposed to be a selling point?"

"No, I just want ta show ya that there are no guarantees. We just gotta do the best we can." Don took Tess' hands and held them loosely in his own. "Let me do the best I can, Tess. Please."

"You say that even knowing how crazy I can get?"

"I'll take ya any way I can get ya." Don placed a kiss on both of Tess' palms and folded her fingers over them. "I love you, Tess. That isn't something I'm saying just because." Tess nodded. "I want ya ta be here with me. I want ta get ya crackers and 7-up when yer stomach isn't right. I don't want to have to call someone else ta find out how yer doin'. I want ta see it with my own eyes." Tess nodded again. "I know this wasn't something we planned. And who knows if we would have stuck if it hadn't happened, but we can't turn things back now."

A small smile started to tease Tess' lips. "How long did you practice that speech?"

Don gave her a small grin. "Too much?"

"Were you trolling Hallmark specials or something?"

"Nooo. I came up wit' that all on my own. Ya hurt me, Tess." Don pulled her hand to his heart. "Right here, Sweetheart."

Tess smiled and shook her head. "You're certifiable, you know."

Don shook his head and grinned. "Nope. Had to pass a psych exam to join the force." He looked intently at Tess. "I hope this means that I'm not gonna have to keep bugging Bette."

"You won't have to keep bugging Bette." Tess stood up and shed her coat. "In fact you're stuck with me for the entire night. Bette told me not to come back."

"I know. She told me the same thing."

Tess looked down. "I mean is that okay?"

"If I had my choice, ya' be just going back to yer apartment to pack yer stuff ta bring here."

"You've said that."

"And ya still haven't given me an answer ta that."

Tess picked up Don's hands. "Donald Flack, Jr., if you'll still have me, I'll move in with you."

Don grinned. He pulled Tess down to the couch. "I'll have ya." He slid off the coffee table and down to one knee. Tess started to protest. Don put a finger over her lips. "Jus' hear me out. I'm jus' putting it on the table. Ya don't have ta answer. Not right now. Just think about it as long as ya need. I want to marry ya, Sweetheart."

"Don…," Tess started to protest.

"Shh. I said, jus' hear me out." Don rubbed his thumb back and forth over Tess' knuckles. "No, I wouldn't be askin' ya now, if…if…, well you know." Tess gave him appointed look. Don just smiled. "I've thought about it once or twice though. Before." Don stopped and watched Tess for a bit. Tess looked away.

"I don't know what to say."

"Ya don't have to say anything, right now. I'm jus' happy yer gonna move in wit' me."

"You say that now. Just wait until you're tripping over my stuff. Or when you have to get ready for work and I'm hogging the bathroom puking my gut out."

Don grinned at her. "I'll jus' step over ya."

Tess rolled her eyes. "Oh, fine attitude to have, Mr. Flack. And me pregnant with your kid and all."

Don just grinned again. "Yep." He slid up onto the couch next to Tess and pulled her close so she nestled against his side. "So, yer off for Christmas?" Tess nodded. "Then ya can pack and we can work on getting' yer stuff over here."

"Pretty much." Tess groaned. "Except for when we head up to Boston for First Night."

"With yer brother," Don sounded less than thrilled with the prospect.

"And my sister." Tess sat up and rubbed her temples. "Adam is not going to be thrilled. God, and my parents."

"They're comin' ta Boston."

Tess shook her head hard. "No! Thank God, no. But they are not exactly going to rejoice when I tell them I'm moving in with my boyfriend." Tess stood up and started to pace.

"And the baby."

"I can't tell them about the baby."

"Ya can't exactly keep it a secret for long, Sweetheart."

"Well, no, but, I've got to figure out a good way to tell them." Tess fiddled with the end of her braid. "Like there's a good way to tell your parents, you're not married and pregnant." Don started to say something. Tess shook her head. "Please don't even." Tess stopped, closed her eyes and played with her braid. "I'm not going to say anything to Adam or Stephanie."

"Yer parents?"

"I don't know yet, or when." Tess stopped and looked at Don. "Have you said anything?"

"Ta anyone besides Danny the night ya told me?" Don shook his head and looked at the floor. "Like ya said, there's not a good way ta tell yer parents news like that. Doesn't matter how old ya are. In fact when yer almost thirty, I think it's a little tougher. Ya should know better."

Tess smiled wryly and shook her head. "Fine pair we are." She looked at Don a little sadly. "What kind of parents are going to make. We're acting like people half our age."

Don patted the couch next to him. Tess plopped back down. Don pulled her close. "We will jus' do the best we can. No one is asking us to be perfect." They sat there in silence for a moment.

Tess tilted her head to look up at Don. "Are you going to expect me to quit working?"

Don reached over and cupped the side of Tess' face. "Ya can if ya want ta, but I haven't really thought much about it, ta tell the truth."

"Your mom stayed at home?" Don nodded. "So did mine. It was nice. But I really love teaching."

"Then keep teaching. We can find someone."

"But is that fair to the baby?" Tess started to play with her braid again.

Don, pulled Tess closer, kissed her hair and took her hand. "Tess sweetheart, we don't have ta decide everything tonight."

"Mm-hmm." Tess sighed. "I know." She looked up at Don again. "You're just happy I've decided to move in with you."

Don grinned. "Yep." Tess just rolled her eyes and gave him a kiss.

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