Resolutions
Chapter Thirteen
Jess was lying on her parents couch fast asleep. It had been a long day. The snow had started before Jess could land but they all landed with no problems. The team stayed busy for the rest of the day. It was close to four o'clock when Jess finally finished up her work. She headed to her parents only to find they were gone into town. Grabbing her mother's favorite afghan from the chair she curled up on the couch and was out before her head hit the pillow.
"Jess?" She heard her name.
"What time is it?" Opening her eyes she saw her dad sitting on the coffee table.
"Almost six. Your brother called. He wants to know if you want to go to the movies with him and Sarah." Shaking her head she stretched.
"I need to get home and pack. Jen and her family will be here tomorrow."
"You can do that in the morning. Why don't you go? Matt and Robin are going." She looked at her dad.
"So I can be the fifth wheel."
"Suck it up Jess. Go have some fun with your brother's." Jess looked at her father.
"I'm sorry I've been a bad daughter lately."
"You need time to sort things out. I could see it coming. When you want to talk about it Jess, just let us know." Jess looked at her father's understanding blue eyes.
"I may never be ready." He touched her cheek.
"Then you never have to mention it again Jess. You have never felt you had to hide your feelings from me and your mother. Don't start now."
"Okay. What movie are you forcing me to see?"
"Some horror fest. Come back for pie afterward. You can sleep in the spare room. My grandbaby doesn't need to be sleeping on those uncomfortable cots." Jess smiled.
"Okay."
"Your brothers will be here in fifteen minutes." He rubbed the top of her head. "You better get rid of your bed head." Jesse smiled and kissed his daughter on her forehead. "Keep your brothers out of trouble."
"Don't I always." She got up and went into the downstairs bathroom and made herself presentable.
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Matt's blazer pulled up ten minutes later. He blew the horn. Jess grabbed her coat and headed out the door. The back door was open and she got in.
"At least you stopped the truck." The truck was silent. Jess looked at Matt in the driver's seat. "What?" She looked next to her to see Derek. "What? I thought you weren't coming home till Tuesday." She hugged him.
"Hotch felt that I was doing him absolutely no good in DC, so he cut me loose." Jess kissed him. "I missed you."
"I missed you to." She looked at Matt and Robin in the front seat. "You two knew about this." Matt smiled.
"I wish I could take credit but we came back from cleaning the cabin he was waiting." Matt put the truck in gear and pulled out of the driveway. "Cody and Sarah are meeting us at Rusty's. By the way I packed a bag and it's in your jeep."
"Thanks. Guess I'm designated driver." She laughed and snuggled close to Derek.
"No drinking for any of us tonight. We all have work to do tomorrow. Just dinner and a movie." Jess felt Derek pull her closer and whispered in her ear.
"I swear I just wanted a quiet night." Jess smiled.
"You really don't know us very well."
"Apparently not. How's my girls?"
"Better every day."
"That's good to here." He kissed the top of her head. "I missed you Jess."
"I missed you to." They pulled into the bar and grill and Matt parked next to Cody's jeep.
"We'll meet you two inside." Robin and Matt got out of the truck.
"They must think we need a few minutes alone." Derek kissed her. "I love you Jess."
"Mmmm I love hearing that." Jess inhaled his scent. "And I love you."
"There is steak with my name on it waiting for us in there. I haven't had time to eat anything other then a sandwich since the Sunday I ate at your parents."
"Then let's get you fed." They got out of the truck and headed inside.
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It was midnight when Derek and Jess finally left her parents house. They walked quietly as the snow fell to Jess's jeep parked in front of the ranger station. She handed Derek the keys as he opened the door for her.
"You know it might not be a good idea for you to wake up with me in the morning?"
"Why?"
"You heard my brother's tonight. I'm not a morning person lately."
"Jess baby you have never been a morning person. I will love you no matter how crappy your morning sickness my get. The reason for your morning sickness is half my fault." He shut the door and went to the other side and got in.
"Believe me I blame you ever chance I get." She leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you for tonight. It was nice. I never went on a date with my brothers along before."
"Not even Cody?"
"Back in college we did the group thing but that's it." Derek pulled out of the driveway and headed to the lodge.
"My sisters were older then me. They wouldn't have been caught dead having little brother tag along any where let alone a date." Jess smiled. "God I missed that."
"You sisters not letting you go anywhere with them?" He laughed.
"No your smile." He reached over and took her hand. "It's funny the things I miss lately." The drove in comfortable silence to the lodge. Derek parked the jeep and got out and opened Jess's door. He grabbed her bag from the back.
"Did Garcia make it though the good byes okay?"
"Better then I expected. But I'm sure she'll call just to hear my voice." Jess laughed.
"You broke her heart Agent Morgan." They walked to the elevator.
"She likes you a lot. I think she'll just miss the hot and heavy banter we've gotten so used to." The elevator door opened.
"What floor sir?"
"Five."
"Oh my they don't give the fifth floor rooms to just anybody now." Jess leaned against the back wall.
"I guess the Hawkes name has some pull in these here mountains. I went to get a room and when I gave my name there was a lot of whispering going on and scrambling. I told them I was a couple of days early and they just smiled and handed me a room key." Jess smiled.
"They've had run INS with the boys and their tempers. I think they dated a couple of the desk clerks. I guess they figured we were getting married here they better be nice or I slack on the tips or send in my brothers." The door opened.
"They took my bags and sent me on my way to find you. I think they were up to something." Derek went to the door and slid the key card through. Jess held her breath as they walked in to room that looked like a Christmas card. The tree and the fireplace the only light in the room.
"Oh my." Was all Jess could say.
"Understatement baby. It looks like the Macy's window in here." The living room was warm and cozy and the bed was covered in a green and red spread. "Someone was busy."
"You arrived early. They've probably been scrambling since you left." There was big red poinsettia on the table behind the couch with a card. Jess took it and opened it. "'Enjoy your time together. Don't bother coming to work till you get back from DC. The room's yours till the thirtieth. Love, Mom, Dad, Matt, Robin, Cody, Sarah, Ava, Ethan and Colton.'" Jess's eyes welled up with tears for the third or forth time today.
"Please tell me those are happy tears?" She looked at them.
"You don't know the difference yet." She leaned over and kissed him. "It's late. We have a long day tomorrow." He held her close.
"Are you saying you want me to take you to bed Ranger Hawkes?" Jess smiled and kissed him.
"Take me to bed Ranger Morgan." Sleep was a long time coming for either of them.
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Jess lay on the couch in front of the fire place. It was barley four a.m. but she couldn't sleep anymore. The fire had drawn her out of bed and on to the sofa. That's where Derek found her a half hour later. He sat at the other end and put his cold feet on her warm legs. She jumped.
"You don't play fair Morgan." She smiled and sipped the tea she had made.
"I recall you playing pretty nasty a few hours ago." He turned around and wedged himself between the back of the couch and Jess pulling her against him.
"You like me that way. You can't deny it." He nuzzled her neck.
"I do. How's your stomach?"
"Unbelievably settled at the moment." Jess looked at the fire. "I love you." She ran her fingers up and down his arm. "Thank you for giving up your life for me."
"I'm not giving up anything Jess. I'm starting a new life with the most incredible woman I've ever know." He pulled her closer. "What's wrong Jess?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just want you…" He put his hand over her mouth.
"I will not have this discussion with you now or again ever. Jess Hawkes, I love you. I want to live my life with you. I want you to have my children and to wake up every morning with you by my side." Derek took his hand off her mouth. "Not another word." He kissed her neck. "About being sure that is. If you have something more pressing to talk about we can do that."
"How do you feel about family portraits?"
"As in your family?"
"Kind of. This is the drama and don't laugh because I smacked Cody when he made me repeat it for Cutler and the both laughed but in the end agreed that is was a reason for drama and I should panic." Jess took a breath.
"Okay." Derek pulled the blanket around them and pulled her as close as he could. "Lay it on me."
"Matt carved a frame for above my parent's fire place in the den. He thought it would be great to get a picture of the family. Matt, Cody and his family and you and me. To be replaced yearly as grandkids come."
"Excellent plan so far."
"Robin's been a little needed lately and Matt thinks if he leaves her out she may think that he thinks that they aren't going to make it as a couple."
"Did I just regress back to seventh grade?"
"Pretty much. So I started thinking that we're all family here. The Hawkes and the Rangers so why not do something that reflects the whole team."
"I see the logic. Have Robin stand by Matt…"
"Maybe her hand on his shoulder so it doesn't look too intimate but enough where if it does work out it'll look great and if it doesn't it still wouldn't matter."
"Gotcha."
"You're hating the drama already."
"Jess please I grew up with three sisters. I worked for the FBI. I eat, sleep and breathe drama." He laughed. "So you worked it out?"
"Yeah. You'll have to borrow one of Matt's uniforms but it'll all work out. They guy who takes our crime photo's will be here at ten on Tuesday."
"Crime scene photographer. You're going all out." Jess smiled.
"He also owns the photo studio in Tahoe. He'll get it ready, in the frame and wrapped all before Christmas Eve."
"Miracles do come true. You have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday too."
"You remembered."
"It's with a real baby doctor, right, not Shep?"
"Why you don't like Shep?"
"I love Shep but is he qualified to do this right?"
"Just because he used to be one of us he's not qualified?" Jess turned and looked at him. He smiled.
"I meant he's a kick ass surgeon but what does he know about birthing babies?" Jess laughed.
"No. He found me a qualified OB/GYN. A woman even. I bet she knows all about birthing babies." Jess turned back to the fire. "I'm glad you're here."
"Not as glad as I am baby." He kissed her bare shoulder. "We should go back to bed." His hand slid down her arm.
"I don't want to move." Jess stretched and ran her hand down Derek's cheek. "Can't we stay here?" She purred. He smiled.
"We don't have to go anywhere." She turned on her back and he moved on top of her and they never made it back to bed.
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The pounding wouldn't stop. Jess felt like a sledge hammer was pounding in her head. Only it wasn't her head. It was the door. Trying to get up she realized she was pinned down by Derek's leg.
"Hold your horses!" She yelled.
"Must you yell?" Derek moaned.
"I wouldn't have to if the jackass on the other side of the door would quit knocking." Derek rolled off her as she got up and took the blanket with her.
"Hey woman it's cold in here." She smiled.
"Get used to it honey." Unlocking the door the pounding started again as she whipped it open. Cody stood in his Sunday best. "Can you be any more annoying?" Cody looked at her.
"Yeah. You want me to go there?" She shook her head. "You better hurry. Church is in and hour and I have a feeling after last night your both going to need it." Jess lifted her arm to punch him but her stomach started to turn and she headed to the bathroom.
"I hate you Cody!" She slammed the door and proceeded to get sick.
"We could meet you there." Cody stood at the door.
"Shut the door Cody or you're going to see way more of your future brother in law then you'll ever want to see." Cody backed out and closed the door.
"See you in church. Third pew from the front. Dad likes to make sure the priest can keep an eye on Jess and me."
"I'm sure he does." Derek got somewhat dressed before he knocked on the bathroom door. "You okay baby?"
"If Cody's gone I'm just ducky."
"Yeah he's gone. You want to take a quick shower." She opened the door. "Jess baby maybe you should go back to bed."
"Thanks. I so needed to hear that from the man I'm marrying in five days." She went to the foot of the bed and got her toothbrush from her bag. "I'll meet you in there in five minutes". Derek headed for the shower and Jess headed for the sink to brush away the last ten minutes out of her mouth.
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The music was just starting as Jess and Derek slid in the third pew. Jess saw the way Father Jonah glared at her. She smiled hopping like always it would buy her a get out of hell free card. He shook his head and grinned. The man still was a sucker for her trouble. She held reached for Derek's hand and held more to keep hers from shaking then anything else. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"Relax Jess. You do this every week."
"Every week I don't spend Saturday night doing things that might be considered illegal in several states including this one. Some days I feel like the man can read my mind." Cody elbowed her. "Owe." She gasped.
"You get us kicked out again Jess dad will kill us."
"It's been a few years since I got us kicked out of anywhere." The music grew louder, the sign they should stand. The rest of the service went fairly well except for when Jess started to turn a quaint shade of green after receiving communion. But she made it without loosing what little she had left in her stomach. When the service ended the Father was at the door wishing his congregation well. He took Jess's hand and smiled.
"I heard the good news Jess. This must be the…lucky man." Father Jonah shook his hand.
"Yes Father Jonah, Derek Morgan.
"Glad to meet the man who finally tamed our Jess." Derek smiled.
"Tame would be boring Father. I love Jess just the way she is." He smiled and took Jess's hand and headed to the jeep. Derek got to the door and opened it. Jess turned and kissed him.
"Thank you." She whispered. "He's talking to my father isn't he?" Derek turned.
"Yeah."
"Crap. You burn a few ants when your seven and he can't get passed it." Cody came up behind her.
"It might have been the time you got caught necking with his nephew when you were fifteen." She turned and looked at her brother.
"You Cody James Hawkes need to shut up before I do it for you." She sat in the truck. "Don't you have a wife and kids to go home to?"
"Can you watch the kids for a couple of hours?" She looked at him.
"I was going to take Bekum up to dads. He needs a good run."
"Can you do it tomorrow? Sarah has some Christmas shopping she needs to finish up and I have to work the next two days." Jess knew her brother's didn't want her running her stallion in her condition. No one would tell her that to her face but she knew. She also knew that Matt was the only other person Bekum would let ride him. Matt was way too busy to do that for her.
"I guess one more day wouldn't hurt." She looked up to see her parents heading their way. "Here comes an ass chewing if ever I saw one." Jesse stood in front of his daughter. "Morning daddy."
"You were late."
"I was throwing up, and how was your breakfast." He frowned. "Sorry. It won't happen again. Is Jonah sending me to hell?" Jesse shook his head.
"One of these days Jess." He looked at Derek. "Could you try to keep your hands off my daughter long enough to make it to Sunday dinner on time Morgan?" Derek cleared his throat.
"Yes sir. We'll be there by three thirty."
"You better be." He looked at his two youngest children. "Either of you make trouble again during mass it's not God you have to worry about, to you hear me?"
"Yes sir." They both said. Jesse turned and headed back to his wife and his truck. Jess punched Cody as hard as she could.
"Stop. Damn it Jess we're not twelve anymore. Stop hitting me." She got in the car.
"The stop acting like you are." She slammed the door. Cody looked at Derek.
"Is she babysitting or not?" Derek shrugged.
"I'll head toward your place and if she tells me to take a left instead of a right I'll let you know."