A/N: See the intro for the standard stuff. Lookie, lookie twice in one week. Dearest Perdita is in a writing mood. Hopefully, she'll stick around for a while. After all, it's summer and no new stuff on TV.

Thank you all for the kind reviews. Good to see some familiar names coming up. Welcome to new readers too. I hope you enjoy. Please R/R. It's easy and it's fun!

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Tess was picking up her tote bag as Don came into the apartment. Don looked from her to the tote. Tess caught the look in his eyes and set down her bag. Don silently hung up his coat. Tess dropped down on the couch and waited for him to finish his coming home routine. He went into the bedroom, changed and locked up his gun. He came back into the living room and sat down next to Tess. He pulled her close and kissed her head. Her sighed and took a deeper breath. Tess smelled of oranges and vanilla ice scream. Don held her just slowly breathing in her scent. His hand slid down and gently rested on her belly. Just the faintest bit of roundness, if you knew it was there.

"Bad day?" prompted Tess.

"People suck." stated Don flatly. "Not you, Sweetheart. Not me, most of the time. Just people in general."

"So. I take that as a 'yes.'" Tess reached up and started to rub the back of Don's neck. He groaned and turned to give her better access. Tess smiled and shook her head at his silent plea. She started to work on his neck and shoulders with both hands. Don sat still letting Tess work the tension out of his body. Tess sighed a little. She stopped and stood up. She motioned for Don to stand up too. He flashed a thankful smile. Tess just shook her head. She tugged his t-shirt up over his head and dropped it on the couch. Tess nudged the coffee table over a little. "Lay down," she said, indicating the floor. Don did, lying on his back, face up. Tess rolled her eyes. "Turn over." Don waggled his eyebrows, but did what she asked. Tess sat on Don's rear with a leg bent next to each of his hips. She started to massage his shoulders again. Don moaned.

"So good," he mumbled into the carpet.

"Don't get too used to it. Pretty soon, I'll be too big and heavy to do this." Tess slowly worked her way down Don's back trying to ease the knots out of his muscles. She paused and ran a feathery touch over the scars on his side. "So people suck. Fine attitude for someone bringing a kid into this world." Don growled a little and started to push off the floor. Tess slid off his legs and sat down behind him. She crossed her legs and waited expectantly. Don grabbed his shirt and pulled it back on. He leaned his back against the couch and stretched his legs under the table. He stared forward for a few moments. Then he looked over at Tess.

"Ya really want to hear about it?"

Tess gave him an annoyed look. "Um. Yeah. Or I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Ya don't get tired of me bitchin' about the people I run into?"

"You listen to me babble about my students."

"Yer students aren't the scum of the earth."

"Neither is everyone you run into." Don gave Tess a doubtful look. Tess rolled her eyes at him. "You know I'm not afraid to tell you to shut up. So…until you hear me say that, go on."

"We wrapped up the transvestite case today."

Tess nodded. "Good. Was it Garth?"

Don looked up at the ceiling. "Actually, no. The congressman was just a rapist, not a murderer."

"There's a good campaign slogan," quipped Tess.

Don's lips twitched a little. He picked up Tess' hand and kissed her hard on the knuckles. He shook his head and frowned again. "No, the brain trust that held Misty's head in the toilet did it because he wasn't a she. His buddies razzed him about it."

"So he killed her?" Tess was still fazed by how cruel people could be.

Don grimaced. "Wanna know the kicker? The perp actually though he did the world a favor." Tess stared open mouthed at him. Don shook his head. "Not kidding." Don looked around and spotted Tess' bag again. "Yer goin' out?"

"It's 6:30."

"Yeah?"

"It's Sunday."

Don just stared at Tess. Suddenly, it dawned on him. "Fencing." He frowned. "Yer not planning on…"

Tess crossed her arms over her chest. "I wasn't, but I still need to coach. And I have been cleared by my doctor to fence. For a while at least." Tess spoke very slowly, annunciating every word carefully. She looked down at her lap and then back up at Don. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't get snappy." Tess took his hand in both of hers and rubbed it. She looked into his eyes. "I love that you are so protective and want to take care of me and the baby, but if you keep treating me like I'm made of glass, it's going to be a very long six and a half months."

"I can't help it, Sweetheart."

Tess smiled. "I know. It really is sweet, annoying sometimes, but really, really sweet." Tess looked down at her lap. "There's no Rangers or Knicks game on. You wouldn't want too…"

"I don't want to smother ya."

"Oh, I see. Now you plan to pout. I though I was supposed to be the moody one."

"Sympathetic symptoms." Tess whacked Don in the arm. "Hey! That hurt."

Tess stood up. "Well, I do have to go. Do you want to come or not?"

"Do you want me to?"

Tess sighed. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. I've missed you."

"If yer sure." Tess nodded. Don boosted himself off the floor. "Lemme grab a sandwich." Don quickly fixed himself something to eat on the run. "Have ya told Misha he's gonna need someone else to help this fall?"

"Not yet." Don flashed her an annoyed look. "Have you let anyone know? Besides Danny, I mean."

Don dropped his head. "No." He looked over at Tess tried to gauge her mood that instant. "We gotta start tellin' people, Tess. At least our folks."

Tess tugged her braid. She started to pace. "I know. I know." She stopped in front of Don. "I run the conversation through my mind a thousand times a day." Tess shook her head. "There is no scenario in which I don't come off as being either very stupid or very naive."

Don sighed and set down the mustard. He tugged Tess close. "Ya don't think that I don't feel the same way? But we gotta quit putting it off. It's not gonna get any easier. And wit' yer sister knowin'... It's gonna slip sometime Tess."

"I know. It's just…" Tess looked up at Don. Tess could read hurt in his eyes and a bit of anger. She could also see love. Tess closed her eyes and laid her head on Don's chest. "Do you want to talk to your parents by yourself or together?"

Don took deep breath. "I dunno. My sisters are gonna be thrilled. After the shock wears off. They love ya. My mom too. But she's gonna be a little more hurt. Especially since we ain't married yet. My old man is gonna rant. He might say some stuff."

"About you or about me?"

"Both," Don answered honestly. "That's the conversation that I keep playin' in my mind." Don tilted Tess' face up. "I don't want ya hearin' things that we both know ain't true."

"I've got a pretty thick skin." Tess smiled a little. "Besides. Maybe if he manages to reduce me to tears, he might feel bad and be less hard on you."

A hint of a smile echoed on Don's face. "Ya'd like ta think that, wouldn't ya?" Don shook his head. "I don't wanna see ya reduced to tears. Let me break it to my folks by myself."

Tess nodded. "I'd say the same thing about mine. Not the ranting part. The wanting to talk to them alone first. My parents haven't even met you."

"Can ya give Misha a call? Tell him yer not gonna make it tonight? We should do this now. Before we chicken out."

Tess nodded slowly. "I guess. Are you going to call your parents, or go and see them?"

"I should probably go over there. Then you can call yer folks and talk while I'm gone."

Tess nodded again. "That sounds good."

Don glanced at the clock. "I guess this sandwich is still to go." He kissed Tess' cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can be. Make sure ya call yer folks." Tess nodded. Don went in the bedroom and grabbed his wallet and stuff. He picked up his sandwich and kissed Tess quickly. "Call yer folks," he reminded as he went out the door.

Tess stood still, staring at the door. She looked longingly at her tote bag and seriously contemplated picking it up and going out. She sighed, pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and sat down on the couch. She opened it and stared at it. Tess held down the speed dial number for her parents. Before it could ring, she snapped the phone shut. She closed her eyes, grimaced and opened the phone again. She took a deep breath and held down the key. Tess put the phone slowly up to her ear. It rang several times. Tess thought it was going to go to voice mail. I can't leave a message like that on voice mail. Someone picked up. Damn.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mama?"

"Hi, Tessie. Listen. Can I call you back? I'm driving home and don't want to talk on the phone while I'm driving."

Good idea considering, thought Tess. "Okay. I'll talk to you later then."

"Okay. Everything alright, Tess?"

"Fine, Mama." Tess crossed her fingers. "I'll talk to you later."

"Later, Tessie. Love you."

"I love you too, Mama." Tess snapped the phone shut and tossed it on the table. Well, that was that. Tess stared at the phone, wondering when it would ring. After a few minutes, she got up and paced the apartment. She fiddled with this and that, keeping an ear out. Tess folded and put away laundry. She got everything ready in her messenger bag for school in the morning. She dug out her lap top and checked for last minute messages from student begging for home work help. She re-packed her laptop and sat back on the couch staring at the phone again. That's where Don found her.

"Did you talk with your folks?"

Tess shook her head. "Mom was out. She said she'd call back." Tess glanced at the phone and back at Don again. "How did it go?"

Don shrugged. ""Bout how I expected. Mom cried. Dad yelled. We swore at each other. Mom got mad at us for yelling and swearing. Really, not as bad as I thought it would be." Don dropped down on the couch next to Tess. "They wanted to know when we were getting' married."

Tess looked away. "Oh."

"I said we were still workin' that one out. That led to more yelling and swearing."

"I'm sorry. Maybe I should have come along."

Don shook his head. "No, it wouldn't have made it any better. But we do have a command dinner appearance next Sunday."

"Terrific," said Tess flatly.

"How come ya haven't tried callin' yer folks back?"

"I just hadn't." answered Tess. She started to reach for the phone when it rang. Tess jumped back. She let it ring twice.

"Ya should probably git that. Do ya want me to go?" Tess shook her head and wove the fingers of one hand tightly into Don's. She took a deep breath. With the other hand she picked up her phone and flipped it open.

"Hello? Mama?"

"No, Teresa."

Tess frowned at the use of her full name. "Daddy? What's wrong?" There was a little silence at the other end. "I was waiting for Mama to call me back."

"You talked to her tonight?" There was a slight crack in her father's voice.

"Yes," she answered slowly. "She was driving and didn't want to talk. She said she would call me."

"The roads are icy."

Tess could hear her father's accent. She felt a rising panic. Don said nothing as she gripped his hand harder. "Daddy? Daddy? What's wrong?" Don rubbed his thumb slowly up and down her hand.

"The roads are icy," Tess' father repeated this time in Hungarian.

Tess dropped into Hungarian. "Daddy. You said that already. Did something happen?"

"Veronika…"

"Yes, what about Mama?"

"She's at St. Vincent's."

"Oh God." Tess dropped Don's hand and started tugging hard on her braid. "Daddy. Daddy, listen. How is she?"

"I do not know. Surgery."

Tess' eyes started to water. "Have you talked to Adam or Stephanie?"

"No answer."

Tess took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay. You don't worry about them. I'll call them. I'm going to catch the first flight I can."

"You have school."

"Daddy, don't worry about that. That is why we have subs. You're not alone, are you?"

"Eva."

And she's not the one calling, why? "Okay. Daddy, can I talk to Auntie Eva?" Tess heard the phone being passed over. Tess took several deep breaths to keep from yelling at her aunt. "Eva?" Tess went back to English. "I'm on my way out. I will call you when I know what my flight is. I will try to call Adam and Steph."

"Your father…"

"Please just let him relax. I will be there soon. Just have Adam or Steph call me. Please. Don't make him talk on the phone again." Tess stood up and headed for the bedroom. "I won't be able to call when we're taking off or landing, but the rest of the time my phone will be on. I don't know what kind of reception I'll get. Just don't make Daddy talk on the phone. Am I clear?"

"You don't have to get rude, Teresa." Eva sounded quite miffed.

"I don't have the time to argue. I could call Uncle Stash to sit with Daddy."

"I will call Stash later. I can't stay here all night."

"Okay. Thank you, Eva. I'm sorry for being snappy. Tell Daddy I love him."

"Bye, Teresa." Tess snapped her phone shut. She sat down on the edge of the bed and stared. Don came and crouched in front of her. She raised watery eyes to meet his.

"I've got to go to Toledo."

"So I gathered. Yer mom?"

"I don't know. I guess there was an accident. Daddy just kept saying the roads are icy. She's in surgery at St. Vincent's Mercy." Tess looked at her hands. "I need to get a flight. It would be easier to get to Detroit…"

"And drive to Toledo? I don't think so, Sweetheart. You pack. I'll find ya a plane. You'll fly into to Toledo and take a cab from the airport. Do you understand me?"

"A cab…"

"Come on Tess. I know they got cabs in Toledo." Don took Tess' phone from her hand and called Bette. He quickly explained the situation and got Bette to agree to arrange everything with school. He looked back at Tess. She hadn't moved. He crouched back down in front of her. "Tess Sweetheart. You've gotta pack. Ya don't want me doin' it for ya." Tess nodded and slowly started moving around the room. She found a suitcase and started shoving things into it.

Don made sure Tess was doing okay and then left her to find her computer. He logged in and started to look for a flight to Toledo. While the web site searched, Don tried to dial Adam and Stephanie. The results came up and Don swore. Toledo, why'd Tess have to come from Toledo? Why couldn't she be from Detroit or Chicago? Easy to get a flight there. Tess' cell phone rang. Don glanced at the number and flipped it open.

"Adam?"

"Hey, Don. Is Tess okay?"

"Tess? Fine. Well, kind of. Have ya talked ta yer Dad?"

"No. He didn't answer his phone. I saw he had called."

"Right. Just a minute. Tess! Adam's on the phone!"

Tess came out and claimed her phone. She talked in low tones with Adam. Don could follow her end of the conversation, she kept it in English. When she was done, she handed the phone back to Don.

"Christine wants to talk to you."

"Hello?"

"Don? Let me make flight arrangements. I do this all the time. We'll meet Tess in Detroit. Don't bother with a flight to Toledo. It's impossible to make any decent time."

"No kiddin'. I'm not sure I want anyone drivin' though."

"It will be okay. We're going to need the extra car anyway. Tell Tess we'll keep trying Stephanie too. I'll call back with the flight info."

"Okay. We'll sit tight." Don flipped the phone shut. He logged off the laptop and put it back in Tess' bag. He went back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Tess finished packing and sat down next to him. Don shifted, lay down and pulled Tess along his side. He rubbed slow circled on her back.

Tess suddenly sat up. "I didn't think…. I didn't ask…" Tess tugged at the end of her braid. Don sat back up and took her hands.

"What, Sweetheart?"

"I didn't ask if you were coming with me. I just assumed…"

"It's okay, Sweetheart." Don pulled her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her. "Do you want me to go with ya? I could call and see if…"

"I don't want to cause trouble."

"It's not causin' trouble. Well, it is, but that's not the point."

"Maybe later, if…" Tess took a shuddering breath.

"Shhh." Don kissed her temple. "Howabout if you go ta Toledo and call me if ya need me?"

"I'm gonna need ya," whispered Tess.

Don smiled into her hair. He gave Tess a small squeeze. "You've been hangin' around me too long, English teacher. Yer grammar is slippin'." Tess looked at him in surprise. She could see such love in his eyes that tears started spilling out of hers. Don's look turned to concern. "I wasn't tryin' ta make ya cry, Sweetheart."

Tess shook her head. "Not very hard right now."

Don pulled her close again. "Shhh. I know. If ya call me, I'll be in Toledo as fast as humanly possible. Okay?" Tess nodded. Don buried his face in her hair. "I'm gonna miss yer smell."

"I could leave the bottle. It's Orange Cream Pop."

"That's not the same and you know it." Tess nodded and burrowed closer to Don. He held her comforting her.

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