10 more days until I won't have to send my mom into the liquor store to buy rum for me. (Why is the rum always gone?)
That's all I have to say. *laugh*
Here's Spencer meeting Fran. :)
"We're here."
Spencer glanced up at the brick building, wondering if one of the windows belonged to the apartment Derek had grown up in.
Derek pulled up to the curb, parking the car. Spencer's brow furrowed as Derek glanced out the car windows, his eyes wary.
"What is it?" asked Spencer.
"Just checking," was the vague response.
"Checking what?" Spencer glanced around nervously.
Derek grasped his hand reassuringly. "Sometimes these streets are not the safest," he said quietly.
Spencer stared out at the surroundings again.
"Come on, it's okay." Derek opened his door and climbed out, pulling open the back door.
Spencer exited the car, grabbing his own suitcase out of the back. As Derek came around the car, he tried to take it from him, but Spencer held it away from his reach.
Derek chuckled. "Alright. This way."
He led them into the building and up a flight of stairs. Walking past a few doors, he finally stopped at one without peeling paint. Hefting his duffel bag onto his shoulder, Derek reached up and knocked.
"Coming," called a pleasant voice from inside.
Spencer nervously shifted his feet as he heard the sound of the lock being undone. The door flung open to reveal kind looking woman, her brown curls pulled away from her face in a high ponytail.
"Derek," she cried, engulfing him in a tight hug.
"Hey, Mama," he said, hugging her back just as tightly.
She let him go, leaning up and kissing him on the cheek. As she stepped back, her eyes fell on Spencer.
"Oh, my dear, you must be Spencer," she cried, pulling him into a hug as well. "Derek's told me a lot about you. It's nice to finally be meeting you."
Spencer awkwardly patted her on the back. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Morgan," he said.
She pulled back, chuckling slightly. "Please, dear, call me Fran."
"O-Okay, Fran," he replied quietly.
Fran smiled widely at him, and Spencer realized Derek had gotten his smile from her. "Oh, where are my manners," she gasped, backing into the apartment. "Come in. Come in."
Derek smiled at Spencer before leading him into the apartment. He dropped his duffel by the door and motioned for Spencer to set down his suitcase.
Fran eyed Spencer up and down as he took off his coat, tutting. "You're so thin," she mused, taking his coat and hanging it in the closet behind the door.
Derek sent Spencer an I-told-you-so look over his mother's shoulder, and Spencer resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at him, settling instead for a glare.
Derek chuckled, tapping his mother on the shoulder. "Uh, Mama."
"Yes?"
"Mama, I uh…" He glanced at Spencer. "Well, we need to talk to you."
Fran frowned at him, confused, and Spencer stared at him, frantic.
"Can we go into the living room?" asked Derek, motioning to the other room.
Fran nodded, walking over and sitting down.
"Derek," whispered Spencer, grabbing his jacket sleeve. "I-I-" He gulped nervously. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
Derek turned, squeezing Spencer's shoulder reassuringly. "Spencer, I have to tell her now. I can't keep something like this from her." He stared pleadingly at him. "Please, I know you're not comfortable with this, but please, for me?"
Spencer gnawed on his bottom lip, nodding slowly.
"Thank you," whispered Derek, rubbing his thumb across Spencer's cheek. Entwining their hands, he led them past the armchair Fran was seated in and sat on the couch. Spencer began to tremble and Derek shot him a, what he hoped was, comforting smile.
"Derek," said Fran quietly, eyeing him, concerned. "Is everything alright?"
Derek swallowed, trying to figure out how to best approach this. "Mama, do you remember… Daniel and Ron? And their son, Jace?"
Fran smiled fondly at the mention of her friends. "Yes, I remember them. But, what…?"
"Mama…" Derek floundered, the words not coming.
"I'm pregnant."
Derek and Fran's gaze both snapped to Spencer, who squirmed in his seat.
"Oh," gasped Fran. She blinked a few times.
"Mama," cut in Derek, drawing her attention again. "I'm… the other father."
Fran stared between the two of them, her mouth gaping. When Spencer's breathing began to quicken, Derek grasped his knee.
"Oh," repeated Fran. "Oh, honey!" She jumped out of her seat, rushing past Derek and yanking Spencer into a hug. "Oh, congratulations, that's so wonderful," she cried. She pulled back, holding Spencer's face in her hands. Glancing over at Derek, she scowled. "And you made him carry his own luggage in?"
Derek's eyes widened as he held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I offered to carry it, but he wouldn't let me."
Fran shook her head at him, turning back to Spencer. She smiled at him, glancing down at his stomach. "So you are carrying my grandbaby," she mused.
Spencer nodded. "But, I'm, uh-" He glanced at Derek for support.
"Mama, he doesn't know if he's going to keep the baby or not," he said gently.
Fran's smile never wavered as she stared up at Spencer again. "It doesn't matter. For now I have my grandbaby," she said, gently patting his stomach. "The rest we'll deal with as it comes."
Relief flooded Spencer and he returned Fran's smile, leaning into Derek as he wrapped an arm around him.
Fran cooed at the two of them and stood up. "I'm going to make a nice, big dinner. You two can set up in Derek's old room." She began to walk away, but spun back around. "This may be a bit late, but behave," she added, an eyebrow raised.
Derek laughed as Spencer blushed deeply.
….
Derek lay on his back, Spencer tucked up against his side, his head resting on his chest. The curtains were tied open, a nearby streetlamp illuminating the room in a soft orange glow.
"Your mom's a really good cook," muttered Spencer, shivering slightly as Derek ran his fingers through his hair.
Derek smiled. "Yeah. That's where I learned it from."
"You can cook?" asked Spencer skeptically.
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm a damn good cook," he said indignantly.
"Guess you'll have to prove that to me," replied Spencer, glancing up at him teasingly.
Derek chuckled, running his hand down Spencer's back. "You bet I will."
Laughing, Spencer scooted closer to him, draping his arm across Derek's stomach. He stared around the surrounding room, pondering something. "Derek?"
"Hmm?"
"W-Where's your dad?" He leaned up as he felt Derek flinch. "Derek?"
Derek stared at the ceiling, sighing. "My, uh…" He cleared his throat. "My dad died. When I was ten."
Spencer felt his eyes sting at the amount of sadness on Derek's face. He laid his head back down on his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around him. He felt Derek shudder and knew he was holding back tears.
"He… he was shot," continued Derek, his voice thick. "Right in front of me."
Spencer ran his hand up and down his side, kissing the soft skin of his chest. He couldn't think of anything appropriate to say, even "I'm sorry" didn't sound right. So he simply held him.
"He was a really good man," whispered Derek. "I know if," he emphasized the word, rubbing Spencer's back, "if I am going to be a father and raise a child, my dad was a good example of how to be a great father."
Spencer frowned. "Mine only showed me how to be an awful father," he muttered. "He was weak. He gave up and abandoned us."
Derek engulfed him in a tight embrace.
"I'm scared if I keep this baby, I'll end up being like him," Spencer whispered.
"You're not like him," said Derek firmly.
"But-"
"No." Derek squeezed him tighter. "I know it, Spencer. You are not like him."
Spencer sniffed as the tears he had felt earlier ran down his cheeks. He wiped at them. "Stupid hormones," he said shakily.
Derek laughed slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "It'll all be alright," he said quietly. "I'm sure this is a bit scary for you, I know it certainly is for me." He paused to wipe the last stray tear from Spencer's face. "But we'll figure it all out."
Spencer nodded, tucking his head up under Derek's chin. "I'm glad you're not leaving me," he whispered.
"I'll never leave," said Derek.
"Promise?" asked Spencer, his voice small.
He felt Derek nod. "Promise."
Aww. They're so cute.
Reviews are love. :)