The service wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He could go through the motions still without really thinking about it. It was the brunch afterward that gave him trouble. They were all gathered at a breakfast place before his mother and sisters left for their plane.
Lexi brought a grainy black and white photo to give to them. They cooed and awed over it and Derek was relived he was almost home free.
"Did you get to hear the heartbeat?" Sarah asked, inspecting the photo closer.
"Nope." He said honestly. He didn't even know when Lexi had gone to her doctor or obstetrician or whoever.
"Why not? Didn't you go to the appointment."
His hesitation gave him away. His mother almost through her fork at him. Every angry thought she must have had since he had told her nearly came out. But his mother was never one to make a scene. Thankfully before his mother gave him a large piece of her mind; Lexi saved him.
"Derek was working that day; it's no big deal." She shrugged.
"I did not raise my son to be such a moronic idiot." She stabbed her eggs. An awkward silence filled the table.
"So when is your next appointment?" His mother changed the subject.
"Ah...middle of august I think."
"And you'll both be going?"
"Of course mama." She accepted that well enough. "You'll call and give me all the updates?"
The both nodded. "You'll name the baby after me?" Derek choked on his coffee. He hadn't even thought of names. Lexi gave a polite laugh.
He drove them to the airport. It was sort of a teary goodbye. Desi told him quietly that Lexi had 'passed' their test or whatever. It's not like she could possibly fail. The baby was gonna come one way or the other.
He was kissing his mother goodbye when she grabbed his hand and put something in it. He could tell by the feel what it was.
"Think about it." She simply said as she walked to the gate. He didn't dare open his hand in front of Lexi. He just let it burn in his pocket.
"So I suppose since I met your family, that you should met mine."
"Mmm." He murmured as they got into his car. "At least I don't have any brothers or sisters to sic on you."
"Hey now. That I didn't know about. Besides they could have been worse."
"I suppose."
"I'm surprised your father hasn't come up and shot me." He was only half joking. Sometimes he envisioned opening up with door with an angry Greek man screaming obscenities at him.
"Oh he's harmless. I don't even think they own a gun anyways. They're a bit different." She said vaguely.
"So have you told everyone?"
"Yeah pretty much. Deanna's little speech pretty much did it for me." He grimaced at that memory.
"You?" She asked. He hadn't worked it into a conversation at work, or his friends. His colleauges would be professional and even supportive (he could just picture Garcia flipping out). His friends would rib him about it. They would obviously know he hadn't planned it. They would count themselves lucky and tell him 'your screwed for th next 18 years'.
Not that he believed he was screwed; he just didn't want to think about marriage. That would not solve anything.
"Well?" Lexi brought him back to reality.
"Sure."
"Sure what?" She asked confused.
"Meeting your parents?" He forgot the question.
"Oh. Yeah, well they live in Richmond so I guess you could meet them anytime."
"Cool."
"What day is good for you?" He thought about this carefully. He did not want another 'lets go to church weekends". Yet he could not see himself being let out of work early. But then if he told Hotch what was going on he might be a little more lenient.
"How about Friday?"
She said it was fine. After he dropped her off at her apartment he took out the engagement ring out of his pocket. It was the one his father gave to his mother. He fiddled with it as he drove home, trying not to imagine purposing to Lexi.
*~*
Derek stood in front of his mirror trying to decide what the shirt he was wearing said about himself. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone, but meeting the girls parents (especially when you got them pregnant) was highly important. But then, seeing as how he had pretty much damn himself already, it didn't matter. In 9 months there would be a child born whether they liked him or not.
Seriously, sometimes it didn't even feel real. Just some type of messed up dream.
He tossed the shirt back into his closet and grabbed another random one. This time Lexi was driving down. He had offered but Lexi new the way better. He fed Clooney and gave him fresh water. Lex would be here any moment. Sure enough just as he was locking his down a car honked.
"So I told everyone at work today." He stated. She wrinkled her brow.
"I thought you already had? Em knows anyways doesn't she?" Derek laughed, thinking about how surprised Emily had reacted (along with everyone else) when he mentioned it in passing. Garcia and Reid were properly shocked. He caught the small smirk on Rossi's face, like he had somehow expected it. Emily and JJ were very diplomatic and Hotch was his usual stoic self.
"Does that mean I won't be your babygirl anymore?" Garcia pouted, following him around like a lost puppy that day. "I didn't even know you were dating anyone." And he didn't want anyone to know he wasn't dating Lex. "Well it's not like I exactly planned it Pen. It just kinda happened." and he left it at that.
He said they took it fine as Lexi drove down the I 95. They mostly drove down in silence. There was still a little tension between them. Lexi was definetly holding herself back and he wasn't ready to cross that bride yet. The thought of the engagement ring sitting in his sock drawer still freaked him out a bit.
All too soon she was pulling up into a gravel driveway. He let Lexi lead the way. Today she wore a very colorful dress. That was something that made Lexi different. He had yet to see her wear jeans. She said it wasn't because she was a prude or overtly modest; it was more comfortable. And he liked looking at her legs. They were sexy.
"Lexi! Your back!" He assumed the plump woman sticking her head out of the front door was Lexi's mother. She had skin that was like dark chocolate. She grabbed him into a strong hug. She was fairly short so he had to stoop. "Hello, hello! You must be Derek." She smiled tenderly. Not the reaction he expected. She had a very thick accent and pronouced his name with a high 'Dar-eek'. He saw Lexi roll her eyes.
"Come in, come in." Her mother pulled him into the house with more strength then he guessed she had. She brought him into the living room, where Mr. Chellos was. Derek shook his hand firmly. "Nice to meet you Mr. Chellos." He sounded so corny.
Mr. Chellos just nodded. But Derek soon figured out thats just how the man was. He hardly spoke and when he did he really seemed to think about his words. The strangest thing was that they (or rather her mother since she seemed the driving force in the room) were thrilled.
"Ve always thought Lexi would never settle down." Penha, as he learned her name, gushed at him.
"Mom." Lexi warned, bringing some appetizers from the kitchen. Derek quite liked this scenario. It was much better then the one he had been thinking/dreaming about. Those dreams usually didn't end well for him. No one was mad at him in this house. When Lexi ran out of the room (because for some reason she decided to serve all the food) Penha leant over and told him "She is very stubborn. Very, very stubborn. Jus' give it a vhile. She vill get over it." He shifted uncomfortable. How much had Lexi told her parents?
They asked him where he was from, what he did for a living. All the usual questions. Her father, Gregory, looked mildly impressed at his success in the BAU.
"I simply can not vait for a grandchild." Penha was still beaming a few hours later.
"Yes well, I suppose we better get going. It's going to take at least 2 hours to drive back. That'll mean we won't be back in Washington till past midnight." Lexi announced.
While he got their jackets, Penha hugged him one last time. It was so surreal. "You vill come again, yes?" He promised he would.
He drove the way back, because Lexi was to tired. He figured it was from her pregnancy. "Have you bought any of those 'what to expect when your expecting' books?" He kept the conversation going.
"Yeah. Mom bought me a few. I haven't really had time to read them." She yawned. It was late, and all her defenses seem to be down. He slowly grasped her hand and squeezed it. He was pleased when she didn't remove her hand. Instead she gave a long hard sigh.
"So I guess there's no going back is there?"
"No I guess not." and yet he was still thinking of what was currently in his sock drawer.
*~*
So I know I haven't updated in a couple days, but I'm hoping by this weekend I can get ahead in this story. Please review and tell me what you like and what I can work on. Also any suggestion would always be welcome. I really like reader participation.
Have a good weekend everyone