Disclaimer: I don't own The Covenant.

Co-Author: SkyyRyder

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Fear not, there's plenty of drama to come! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Fallen Now is Babylon the Great

Chapter 18: Thanksgiving Part II

-Babylon's POV-

"Why are you nervous? My parents aren't going to be there. And even if they were they'd worship the ground you walk on. You're a parent's wet dream B." Reid had the stereo playing lightly in his car as we drove down the road towards the Danvers' home. I was a little more than nervous. Adults have always liked me, but I've never had a boyfriend before, which means I've never been introduced to a boyfriend's family. And I know Reid says his parents aren't going to be there, but the other Sons' parents are like his family, so it's practically the same thing.

"They're still people you consider family." I stopped looking at my fidgeting hands on my lap and glanced over at Reid. "What happens if they don't like me?"

Reid snorted and rolled his eyes. "Do you know what a wet dream is Babs? I know you're sheltered but—" He cut off when I gave him a stern look and then that ever-present smirk returned to his lips. "Of course you know what it is. Besides knowing everything, I'm sure you've had tons of them starring yours truly."

"Really Reid, your perversion is simply too charming," I said sarcastically, trying not to let him see the smile fighting at my lips. I don't want him getting any ideas. Any more than what is already in his head anyway.

He glanced over at me again and snatched my hand in his. "Listen, everyone's going to love you, okay? It's only gonna be our parents and Sarah and Kate. Not a whole lot of people, I promise. Extended family only shows up around Christmas." I pursed my lips and nodded when Reid squeezed my hand reassuringly.

About five minutes later, Reid pulled into the gated driveway I remembered the bus picking the four Sons up in front of through elementary and junior high school. Reid put the vehicle in park and cut the engine, stopping me when I went to pull the handle on my door open.

I stopped and waited for Reid to... gather himself I suppose. He now looked a little unnerved. Well, that's just perfect.

The heels of his gloved palms pressed against the steering wheel before he flipped the center console up and slid to his side so he faced me better. "Listen, I've never brought a girl around my family before..."

My brows shot up and my mouth gaped slightly. He's never introduced any girls to his family before? Ever? I mean, Reid can be linked to nearly half the females in Spenser somehow. Not one of them has ever come home to meet his family, or those he considered family?

I have to admit; I'm a little touched at the idea of being his first something.

"I know they'll all like you but... I can see them teasing me about you being the first girl I've brought home and the way I... used to be with girls. Just, don't let it get to you if they do, okay?"

Spontaneously, I threw myself forward, causing Reid to fall back into the driver's side door. I was overwhelmed by the idea of being the first girl he'd ever introduced to the people he cared about more than anything in this world that I smashed my lips against his, and not in the timid, inexperienced way I usually kissed him.

I inhaled as my tongue aggressively pushed past his lips and I moved so I sat on my knees. My fingers pulled through his blonde hair and stayed there when I pulled back from him, my large, adoring eyes staring into his shocked ones.

"What the fuck was that?" Normally, I'd scold him for his cursing, but I was too happy to even bother this time. A cheeky, kid-on-Christmas-morning grin was on his face as he looked at me bewildered.

My shyness still MIA, I leapt at him again, this time receiving a more prepared and eager reaction. Reid took control easily, pulling me half into his lap by my waist. For once, I didn't pull away when he got handsy and he gripped my rear. I'm getting extremely comfortable with the idea of possibly taking things to the next level in time. Not the top of the pyramid, but maybe a step further.

His hands crept up the skin of my thighs and underneath my skirt, kneading the top of my muscled legs. This might be going too far... especially in a car outside of the house where everyone close to him was waiting for us.

I suppose Reid realized this because he turned his head away from me with a groan. "We have to go in. They heard us pull in and I definitely don't want this to be their first impression of you." I nodded, sliding back to my seat and using the mirror on the visor to neaten my hair.

I saw him staring from the corner of my eye and I turned to look at him, feeling suddenly sheepish. I'm not sure what on earth just came over me. For some reason though, the fact that I'm the first girl he's ever brought around his family made me feel as though he really did care, no matter the doubts I might've had at one point. Proof, I suppose.

"Man, I really don't want to get out of this car right now," he muttered, shaking his head and grinning at me. Blushing, I pressed my lips together tightly, fighting off my embarrassed smile. "Seriously Baby, where did that come from?"

"Stop Reid. Let's just go in," I pleaded, trying to hide my face as I pushed the car door open and stepped outside into the frigid November air. I heard him laugh as he got out and jogged over to me, pocketing his keys before pecking my cheek. His hand rest lightly on the small of my back as he led me up the front steps and rang the extremely loud doorbell.

The massive door opened and a woman around my mother's age answered. "Reid? Since when do you ring the bell?" Then she looked at me, her mouth forming an 'o' shape as she looked back to Reid "Caleb told me you were bringing a guest for a change. Who's this lovely young lady?"

"Evelyn, this is Babylon Arnardottir. This is Caleb's mom Evelyn," he introduced. I offered my hand gracefully but instead she pulled me into a warm hug.

"This is Babylon? Oh my, I know your parents. I remember you were just a tiny thing last time I saw you!" I wasn't shocked to hear Evelyn knew my parents. Our family used to be on the same level as Ipswich's finest before my father decided he didn't want us anymore and left. My mother certainly didn't have time to keep up with her former social life. I'm sure it'd been years since they'd seen each other.

Evelyn pulled me at arms length and looked at me. "How is your mother darling?" she asked softly, knowing it was a sensitive subject.

"She's surviving. We all are," I replied sadly. I felt Reid's hand rub a soothing pattern at the small of my back with his knuckles.

Evelyn's lips pursed and her eyes filled with pity, but she quickly covered it with a smile. "We don't need to talk about things like that today, do we? Here, let me take your coat sweetheart," she offered. Reid slid the coat from my shoulders and handed both to Evelyn. "Go show her off Reid," she teased before disappearing to put the coats away.

"You okay?" he whispered, his nose nuzzling my cheek. I nodded and sighed, trying not to think of my poor mother dealing with all those people suffering from heart attacks after filling their faces with salt-covered turkey, and especially trying not to think about the reason she has to be there on a holiday.

Reid placed his arm around my waist and walked me down a decorated hallway and into a lavish sitting room. There sat the obvious families of Tyler and Pogue, each boy looking strikingly like their father. The three boys were gathered on a long couch, Sarah and Kate seated on the floor between their respective boyfriend's knees. I spotted Kate's mother and father easily as well, seeing Kate's mom was just as gorgeous as Kate. Confusion struck me as I spotted two couples, each with one member blonde. Which was Sarah's? And who were the other couple.

"Mom? Dad?" Reid was completely shocked and so was I when the words left his mouth.

-Reid's POV-

What the fuck? I didn't see that one coming. Meredith made it pretty clear over the phone that they weren't going to be here for the holiday. It's a fucking Thanksgiving miracle...

"Reid! Sweetheart! Surprise!" Oh god, my mom is so fucking embarrassing. She came running up to me, kissing me sloppily on the cheek.

Everyone's attention was on me.

I know I said I love attention but...

I don't really know what to think right now.

I felt a smooth hand caress the bare skin of my forearm and I glanced to the side to see Baby looking at me all concerned. I inhaled deeply and turned back to Meredith.

"Hi Mom. What are you doing here?" I asked, not trying to sound like a dick. I don't know if it worked.

"Your father and I wanted to surprise you honey." I glanced behind her, seeing my father nod his head in my direction from where he stood behind her. I cleared my throat and looked back at my mother. "Who is this?" she asked enthusiastically, already taking Babylon's hands in her own. That didn't take much. Looks like Meredith's already enthralled.

"This is my um... girlfriend Mom," I told her, hesitating at the word. Here comes the gushing. "Babylon, these are my parents, Meredith and Joseph." I scratched the back of my neck, a nervous habit I picked up... ironically enough from my father.

Meredith's eyes glowed and I braced myself. "A girlfriend? Reid, you didn't tell me you had a girlfriend!" I saw Babylon's face fall a little but she doesn't get it. My family isn't like hers. We're not all close and loving, though Meredith likes to pretend we are. They're hardly ever around. I've spoken to my parents like six times since school started. I board there for a reason. Tyler only does to keep me company. Well, besides the fact that it's fucking fun. "She's just stunning, isn't she Joseph?"

"Classically beautiful," Joseph complimented, nodding his head and sipping his flute of champagne.

"Like some movie star from the forties," my mother breathed, looking at Babylon as if she were in love. Meredith guided her in a spin, looking her over like some rare artifact or something. Oh fuck, I could see it in her face; my mom could see her future grandkid with my hair and her eyes, Power flowing through his veins.

I wondered if Babylon felt like a trophy yet.

Funny thing, isn't it? That's what she was supposed to be in the first place.

I couldn't read her expression.

"Your name is so familiar darling..." God, please don't mention her father. I really don't need to see her cry again. "I can't put my finger on it." Meredith tapped her chin, something I'd picked up form her.

"She's Jóhanna's daughter Meredith," Tyler's mom, Rosalind cleared up. A look of recognition crossed my mother's face and she nodded.

"Of course! Arnardottir! I remember seeing your name in the paper all the time when they posted Spenser's honor roll! Highest honors every year correct?"

"Yes Mrs. Garwin," Babylon finally got a word in.

"One of Spenser's finest," my father added approvingly, giving me, for once, an expression of pride.

"Come, come. Sit and talk with us before dinner starts. I want to hear all about your plans for college." My mother dragged Babylon over to a set of unoccupied couches and I followed behind grudgingly, getting a pat on the shoulder from my father.

Despite having to listen to my parents interrogate Babylon for the next half hour before dinner was ready, I felt... good. Like I finally did something right. That look my dad gave me; I haven't gotten that look since I made the swim team freshman year. Even the scholarships and breaking my recent record hadn't made him flinch. And this stupid fucking girl that was not supposed to be this… perfect.

A lump suddenly formed in my throat. They love her. And I made that stupid, goddamn bet.

I hate myself right now.

I excused myself before I could let my disgruntled feelings reach my face. Babylon was getting way too good at reading me, and I couldn't let her see that I was upset with myself, because then she'd start asking questions.

Questions that I wasn't prepared to answer without letting myself fall apart at the seams.

I rushed upstairs to the guest bathroom that was only two doors down from Caleb's room and shut the door. I stared at my reflection; I was repulsed.

How could I do this? How could I finish this bet?

I turned the water on and hunched over the sink. This was one of the most unintelligible things I have ever done. Ever.

It's karma. The girl I plan on screwing over worse than any other girl I've fucked over ends up being the one worth keeping around.

I splashed the cold water on my face, hoping that it would wake me up out of my stupor. Grabbing a hand towel I dried my face. This was going to be a long ass night if I kept this up.

I honestly could get sick from the way I feel. If there was an award for the Biggest Douchebag of the Year, it would not go to Aaron Abbot, oh no my friend… it would be handed to me, no contest. I'm an idiot, and I didn't know what else I could do about it.

I had to finish the bet; I couldn'tlet Aaron Abbot beat me.

That's right, I'll just finish the bet, and Babylon will never have to know about it.

I can do that.

Or at least that was exactly what I kept telling myself, staring absently in to the mirror in front of me.

The knock on the bathroom door brought me out of my daze and I sighed. I knew exactly who it would be; Babylon was being ambushed by my fucking parents. Yes, my fucking parents for Christ's sake. Where the hell did they even come from? So, it had to be Tyler on the other side of the door; he was the only one who saw me make my great escape.

I opened the door and Tyler closed it behind him, slapping a hand down on my shoulder.

"You alright man?"

I sighed and nodded my head even though I felt like shit. I slipped down to the ground and leaned against the porcelain tub, resting my head back on it staring up at my best friend. I wish there was some way that Tyler could make it all better, but I knew he couldn't, and he would probably get great pleasure from seeing me fail miserably in this case.

Crash and burn.

"What's going on?"

"I feel like shit…" I muttered angrily at myself. "I am the biggest douche that has ever walked this planet."

Tyler chuckled and sat down next to me. "C'mon man, you're being too hard on yourself."

Lie; I could see it all over his face. He probably thought I should writhe in eternal pain for what I was planning to do, what my bet entitled me to do with Babylon. Ugh, I hate myself and right now I hate my best friend for being right.

"Look, Reid," Tyler rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry about before, you know, me trying to get Babylon's attention. It wasn't right." He cleared his throat and I glanced over at him.

"It's cool man," I sighed resting my forearms on my knees. This day was not getting any easier for me.

"I just want to know," I was half expecting him to yell at me when he first came in, but here we are; two best friends leaning against a tub in someone else's house, like a bad outtake from one of those stupid teen movies. "Do you reallylike her?"

I was a bit baffled by his question, but I didn't falter when I answered. "Yeah, I do." I wasn't going to bother lying. He would know if I was.

Tyler smiled, but it sort of looked like a grimace. Part of me thinks that I don't deserve her, that Babylon would be so much better suited with someone like Tyler. Someone who was good for her, someone smart, that could keep up with her on a more intellectual level.

I have half a mind to step aside and let Tyler take her. I thought about that for a second, the kisses we shared in the truck before coming in here shaking my senses. Okay, I did say half a mind.

Tyler slapped a hand on my shoulder and smirked at me. I gave him a small smile back and hoped that my girlfriend was surviving my parents wrath.

The two of us sat like that until Caleb stuck his head into the bathroom. "There you are. We were wondering where the two of you ran off to together." He gave a short grin. "I think Babylon was getting jealous."

I laughed standing up, helping my best friend off of his ass. "I'm assuming dinners ready?"

"You assume correctly," Caleb grinned, leaving the door open as we followed him down to the formal dining room.

When I walked into the room I was half expecting what I saw, but it was still a bit of a shock to me. Babylon sat perfectly next to Meredith, just chatting away. Or more accurately, listening as Meredith chatted away. I guess I never really noticed that she liked to talk this much.

I noticed the empty chair next to Babylon and then Joseph on the other side of it. He looked up to meet my gaze and the look in his eyes was something that I hadn't really seen in a long time. He looked somewhat happy, along with a little touch of proud.

As soon as I sat down, Joseph clapped his hand on my shoulder and pulled me into a conversation. I felt an unfamiliar weight on my left thigh and glanced down. I saw a pale, delicate hand sitting atop my thigh giving it a light, reassuring squeeze.

I smiled and placed my hand on top of B's, giving it a gentle squeeze back. I looked up to meet my father's gaze and smiled. The conversation flowed so evenly' so natural.

It was the first time in a long time that I didn't feel awkward around my own parents.

-Babylon's POV-

Dinner was better than anything that I could have thrown together. I'm really surprised Reid brought up the subject of my cooking during the main course. It made me blush beyond belief, as if the attention I was getting from his mother, and even his father, wasn't enough.

We were all reconvened in the main living room, coffee, tea and champagne sorted out amongst us. I felt like I did back when my father was still around, part of the elite. Able to do things like this. But more importantly it was nice to be here with Reid's friends, or our friends. I finally felt like I had friends for the first time in my life, realfriends.

I took a sip from my teacup and glanced over my shoulder to see the four guys standing across the room chatting like they normally did. I wonder if they ever run out of things to talk about? I noticed Tyler looking over at us and flashed him a small grin. He returned it and turned back to the group, a new conversation breaking out amongst them. I guess that answered my question.

Sarah and Kate plopped down next to me. The fireplace was enormous, and on top of that, absolutely gorgeous. I don't think I've seen a nicer looking house in my entire life. The Danvers family really knew how to live. The warm fire was cozy and brought in a strange warmth to the overly large house.

"I can't believe how much Reid's mom likes you Babylon…" Kate gushed pulling her legs underneath her. I raised an eyebrow in surprise. Why wouldn't his mother like me? "She's usually really snooty." She lifted her shoulders. "That is, if they even show up for the holidays."

I looked at her and then back to Reid. My gaze shifted to the parents who were broken up in to groups, all sipping from champagne flutes. Talk about high society. I felt it looked like one of those scenes from a teen soap or something.

I could see his mother pretending to laugh at something Tyler's father, Glenn, was saying. She did seem awfully fake at times, but I would guess she was just a generally nice person who'd just been raised a certain way. I could see Reid's frustration when we first came in, and I honestly felt terrible for him. He didn't look enthusiastic at all; instead he looked horrified.

It made me appreciate the fact that my family was always there for the holidays, even if my mother had to leave early to go to work. My boyfriend's own parents didn't even bother to stick around.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear Sarah and Kate talking amongst themselves. I sat, staring into the fire, a bit angry at Reid's parents for not paying enough attention to him. Maybe they were the reason that he was the way he was, before he started dating me at least. It wouldn't be the first time that parents negligence lead to such behavior.

"Oh my god," Kate grabbed my arm in her free hand.

I looked at her and so did Sarah. "What?"

Kate couldn't move her eyes; she looked almost awe-stricken. The blonde followed her best friend's gaze and covered her mouth.

"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day!" Sarah grinned from ear-to-ear.

I was seriously confused, what the heck were they talking about? I went to turn around when Kate spoke, stopping me.

"No, don't look! Reid is totally giving you to patented Son of Ipswich 'I-would-die-for-you' stare!" Her voice was a loud whisper, hoping that the boys didn't hear her.

Sarah nodded her head vigorously, turning back around so that she wouldn't get caught staring back at them. I couldn't really understand what the girls were talking about, so I had to see for myself.

I turned in my seat, discretely hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible. I bit down on the corner of my mouth hoping that I wasn't going to be disappointed when I didn't see this 'look' or 'stare' they were speaking of. Maybe they were just messing with me.

That's exactly what I was thinking until I saw it for myself.

My mouth fell open, my heart pounded aggressively in my chest. I felt like a fish out of water because I didn't know how to react to this.

They were right.

There were no other words for what this was. Reid Garwin was staring at me; he was staring at me the same way that Caleb and Pogue mindlessly stared at Kate and Sarah. He was staring at me like he would jump in front of a bullet for me.

Wow. I never, ever thought that Reid Garwin could look at someone like that. Ever. It made the flesh on my arms rise with not fear, but excitement. Reid caught me looking at him and he gave me that charming grin.

I blushed and turned back around, Kate and Sarah both moving in closer to giggle along with me. I took a steady sip from my teacup and tried to remain as calm as possible.

I couldn't believe that he was looking at me like that, though. Out of all of the girls in Ipswich, any girl he could have and he chose me to be the first one to meet his family, and coincidentally his parents. Out of all of these girls, he chose to give methat look, that stare. The stare so many girls from school tried desperately to get from him.

Out of all of these girls, he picked me.