Derek woke up before she did, his head jerking up as the sound of crunching leaves reached him.

"Hey, calm down there big wolf," Isaac said, holding his hands up to show him he was not a threat. He was already dressed even with how early it was in the morning, a book bag slung over his left shoulder as he held a tray of coffees with a bag of what smelled like pastries. "Erica and I made a food run- I brought you back some donuts and a cinnamon roll for Maia. Your clothes are in this backpack."

The Alpha male sat up and groaned as he stretched his sore muscles, taking a black coffee from Isaac. "What time is it," Derek questioned, moving to stroke Maia's hair before chugging the drink.

"About seven. We should get back to the house before the in-laws get there."

"Shit…"

Isaac set down the bag and looked at Maia before walking off back through the woods to where the truck was, Derek leaning down to brush his lips against his wife's ear. "Honey," he murmured, feeling her stir as she lengthened her body underneath him. "What? Let me sleep…" Derek sighed and looked at her naked form, seeing how she curled around her belly. "I wish I could but we have to get back to the house and get things ready for your parents. Come on babe, time to get up."

Maia was decidedly irritable when she finally roused, Derek helping her to her feet before pulling one of his tee shirts over her head. He looked down at her and kissed her forehead, remembering the events of last night fondly.

"I would carry you, but my back still hurts- you dug your claws in to the bone, Mai."

She took his hand and she fluffed her hair over her shoulder, walking towards the campgrounds they had left previously in order to shift and phase away from prying eyes. "Don't I always," she asked with a smirk, leaning against his shoulders.

"Unfortunately," Derek said, sighing contentedly. "You do."

Maia smoothed down her hair as she stood in front of her mirror, letting out a quiet exhale. She could feel her nerves mounting the closer the arrival of her parents got, knowing that her house was about to be full of tension for the next few days.

"Derek, please decided on a shirt and come on-"

She turned to see him in a soft cotton tee shirt, the gray material stretching tightly over his arms, "Yeah, not that shirt."

"I like this shirt," Derek replied flatly, tightening his belt around his hips. Maia kept her eyes on him trying not to salivate at the look of him. "So do I which is why you can't wear it. That shirt is the reason I ended up pregnant, remember?"

"No, that red dress you wore to that charity gala or whatever is how you ended up pregnant. I'm wearing the shirt."

Erica knocked on the door before stepping into the room and twirling in a floral sundress, waiting for her approval. "Very nice- are the others dressed yet," Maia asked, smoothing down her own mint tank top over olive skinny jeans. Her fledgling nodded and the young woman braced her hands against the small of her back, looking out of the window.

"Then we might as well get on with it then: they're almost here…"

The family moved downstairs, the teens congregating in the kitchen as Maia moved to tidy up the house. "Maia, sit down. You've cleaned the house top to bottom three times- its not gonna get any cleaner," Derek said as he sat down on the couch, propping his feet up on the table. He reached over for the bottle of gin that sat on the end table, pouring himself a glass and knocking it back. "Have a taste and cap the booze before my mom walks in, will you?" They all turned to stare at the door as the gates at the end of the drive opened, hearing the car coming up to the house slowly as to give them time to prepare themselves. "They're here- Derek."

He put the top on the gin and threw his hands up in the air, settling back into his seat, "Its fucking done, just open the goddamn door."

She flung open the door before they had a chance to knock, throwing her arms around her father's neck, "Dad!" Maia was grinning from ear to ear as he kissed her forehead before stepping back, her mother moving to touch her stomach. "Oh honey, you are bumping along nice, aren't you? I've missed you so much," the older woman said, smiling at the daughter who was her spitting image.

"Come in, come in: Ennis will grab your bags," Maia said, stepping aside to let them in.

Her parents looked around the house, seeming impressed by what they saw, her mother turning to look at her daughter again. "Speaking of your driver, he's a man of very few words, isn't he?" Her daughter smiled and nodded, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ears, "Yes, but he is more astute than most."

Derek looked up as her parents moved into the living room, standing from his seat and putting down his glass. "Henrik, Olivia, its so nice to see you," he said cordially, seeing her eyes drift towards the glass on the coffee table. "Drinking so early in the day, Derek?" He chuckled humorlessly, seeing her father's eyes narrow, "Unfortunately, you drive me to it Liv."

"Hey, let me introduce you to the kids," Maia said, stepping in between the three of them. Her father looked towards the kitchen where he could hear them, seeming to acknowledge them for the first time. "Yes, you did mention your foster children." She steered them towards the kitchen before throwing a glare towards her husband, whispering furiously for him to be quiet as he attempted to defend his comment.

Isaac looked at Maia as she walked into the room, unable to keep his eyes from roving over her. Erica was leaning against Boyd, standing beside his stool with her arm around her waist. They all looked at her parents, taking in the strangers for the first time.

Her mother was petite, but with a powerful presence that rivaled Maia's own, not looking that much older than her. Olivia had perfectly coiffed, shiny black hair that framed her face, hazel eyes careful and guarded. Her dark skin was highlighted by her pink top and cream cardigan, the nude heels peeking out from her wide-leg flares looking more expensive than anything either Erica or Maia owned. Henrik was a tall and elegant looking bearded man, his salt and peppered hair tousled artfully. He too was well dressed, his light blue button down and jeans combo seeming to be of designer origins.

"Mom, dad, these are the newest members to our little family: I'd like you to meet Boyd, Erica and Isaac. Kids, met my parents, Henrik and Olivia Wyndham," Maia said, introducing them to each other and smiling as the young wolves moved forward to greet their pseudo-grandparents.

"So you're all foster children?"

Maia cleared her throat and looked at her mother, "Mom, I don't think-"

"My dad's dead," Isaac replied bluntly, Olivia seeming startled. "He was murdered by a kid we went to school with- he's dead too. But Boyd and Erica just ran away from home, bad seeds those two."

There was a quiet moment of discomfort before Henrik cleared his throat and looked at everyone, "So how does lunch sound?"

The family took the Wyndham's to the most upscale restaurant Beacon Hills had to offer, the staff there going out of their way to accommodate the Mayor.

Maia and Derek sat close together, the female sitting between her husband and Isaac as her parents sat across from her. "So," Olivia said after she put down her menu, folding her hands before her. "I would like to be the first to say congratulations on how well you have done for yourself. After the events of the last three years, I'm proud that you have gotten things back on track with your career and your marriage and the baby. Though, I am confused as to how you've done so- and done so this quickly- especially when you up and disappeared for eight months after you decided you were divorcing Derek-" Maia cleared her throat and looked at her mother, eyes narrowed, "Well, after the miscarriage, I needed time and my space. That is when I made that… immature admission to you that my mind was on leaving him. Obviously, however, that is not the case."

"I believe what your mother is attempting to say, is that you have grown up a lot and we are glad things are looking up," Henrik replied with a forced smile, pouring himself a glass of wine.

Isaac watched how tense Maia had gotten, reaching out underneath the table to press his hand against hers. She visibly relaxed, letting out a quiet breath before tucking her hair behind her ears again. "So what are you doing now, Derek? Maia said that you were working with troubled youth here in town," her father asked, the young man chuckling once at her ingenuity. "Yes, that's right. Just mentoring and helping them through the changes that life is throwing at them- I mean, it's a very… rewarding position to be in. It affords for a relatively comfortable life," Derek replied as he skimmed the truth, the young wolves trying not to laugh at how well he lied.

"We're very happy," Maia said before switching over to her father's native German tongue. "Even if others in our life don't feel the same way for us. What is your wife's problem?"

Henrik sighed and knew that the others could not understand him, Olivia never having wanted to learn German, "She worries about you Maia, and you know that. And after what you put us through with your disappearance, she has the right to be worried. You are the only surviving child we have-"

"She has. The only surviving child my mother has, you meant to say."

Maia set her jaw as he went silent, moving to rest her hand on her stomach- she was sure that one day soon she would have bruises if the kicking continued like this. "Regardless of the past dad, I am happy and I am with Derek and I plan on keeping it that way. Can you respect that," she questioned, still speaking so that the others were in the dark about what she was saying.

"If you believe it to be best."

"Now if we can get back to polite conversation, how was your stay in Mexico? I'm sure that everyone here is interested in hearing about it…"

Maia saw the look in her husband's eyes and her hands flew to her stomach, everyone around the table alarmed by how she came up out of her seat quickly. "Ooh! Well… well that was one hell of a kick. I think I need some air-" Derek stood as she did, pressing one of his hands to the small of her back and the other to her stomach. They moved outside where Maia let out a breath and flipped her hair, flashing her husband a smile. "Thank God I got you out of there: you were looking at my mom like she was going to be your next meal," the young woman said, Derek glaring at her.

"I thought that something was actually wrong," he replied almost angrily, reaching out to place his hand back on her rounding stomach. "Try not to scare me again… but thanks for getting me away from your mother."

They shared a laugh and Maia leaned into his side, her head on his shoulder, "She really is awful, isn't she?"

"You're just like her."

"Oh God have mercy on us all!"