Lover's Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
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Ch9: A Southern Gent

Mandy was upstairs drinking some coffee just taking a moment to think. She didn't know if she could handle another dramatic pregnancy. With all the stuff that happened with her and Nick the first time, she thought several times that she was going to lose Lily. She was blessed that she hadn't, but she didn't know if she could do it again… she didn't know if she could be strong again.

"How are you doing?" Luann asked, she made Mandy think or nineties blonde with her hand slightly teased. Luann smiled at a slightly depressed Mandy.

"I'm alright…"

"How's Nick?" Luann asked trying to pick apart Mandy's brain.

"He's alright, he's down stairs sleeping." Mandy said sipping her coffee. Just then Nick and Lily came up from downstairs, modeling their sleepy sleepwear.

"Good morning, mama." Lily said climbing on Mandy's lap cuddling against her mother's chest.

"Good morning, baby girl. How'd you sleep?" Mandy asked but Lily just groaned and nestled against her mom.

"How'd you sleep?" Nick asked kissing Mandy's forehead.

"Eh… how about you?" Mandy said.

"I slept alright…" Nick said as he prepared a bowl of cereal for Lily.

"Why don't you sit down, I can do that?" Mandy said putting Lily in her chair standing to help Nick.

"Babe, I got it." Nick said smiling at her. Nick handed Lily a bowl of her cereal as Mandy left and went outside to get some fresh air. Nick watched her leave confused. He thought they were alright but by her demeanor he wasn't sure. She looked upset. "Luann, can you watch her for me?" Nick said leaving following Mandy out. Nick went outside seeing Mandy sitting on the steps wiping her eyes.

"I'm alright…" she said hearing him shut the door.

"Babe, what's going on? I thought we were alright. If you want me to be honest with you, you have to be honest with me." Nick said grimacing as he sat down.

"I'm scared." Mandy said looking at him as she wiped his eyes.

"Why?! I'm alright, you're alright, and Lily is alright…"

"No, Nick, you are not! You heard that doctor, Nick… another surgery? I don't know if I can make it through another close call… another surgery." Mandy said crying as she poured her heart out to him. Nick was taken back because he didn't realize how much last night had scared her.

"That's only one opinion..."

"That's not the point, Nick!" she yelled as a tear fell from her face. Nick didn't react by yelling or arguing like they had been before but he reached out and held her hand tight before bringing it to his mouth kissing it. "I'm scared…" Mandy whispered almost ashamed, but Nick only smiled at her.

"Darling' we are going to be alright. You and Lily and this little guy are the most important thing in my life, I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon." Nick said wiping a tear from her face as his own eyes got glassy.

"Promise?" Mandy asked almost childlike causing him to smile.

"Promise." Nick said smiling.

"We should probably go back inside? Damn these hormonal changes." Mandy said and Nick smiled and kissed her forehead and reached a hand out to help Mandy up.

They walk back inside as Mama Stokes started to cook breakfast while talking about the plans for today. The rehearsal dinner was tonight and there was plenty to do. Dresses, suits, jewelry, cufflinks, and family members still had to be picked up and the final decorations still had to be set up but the venue was just about set.

"Nicky and Matthew, are you two going to play nice for tonight?" Mama asked.

"Yes, mama." Both the boys said in unison looking at their plates of food.

"Good… Mandy, the rest of the girls and I are getting our nails done, you and Lily should come with us." Mama Stokes said rather than asked, Mama Stokes usually got her way with most things and expected nothing less.

"Sure, thank you." Mandy said getting a reassuring rub on her back.

"Just wait until you see Lily in her little flower dress." Mama Stokes said with excitement, causing Nick and Mandy both to smile.

"Matthew, why don't you and Hank go pick up the suits so Tucker can watch Nick?" Mama Stokes said, and Matthew nodded.

"Mama, I'm fine. I don't need a babysitter." Nick argued but earned a heated glare.

"Nicholas, I just want you to rest please." Mama said trying not to alert Lily that anything was wrong or had been wrong. This time Mandy gave Nick a reassuring pat, with a smile.

Afterwards Nick followed Mandy back downstairs as she started to get ready to go out. She began to lay out an outfit for herself and Lily as Nick sat on the bed and watched. Nick's plan was just too probably sleep knowing he couldn't really do anything without catching the third degree from his mother or Mandy.

"Nick, my butt is on fire." Mandy said catching Nick staring at her bottom. Nick blushed a little looking up at her with a smirk on his face. Nick laid back.

"Babe, you know I love your butt." Nick said rubbing his face catching a whiff of his shirt and grimaced, causing Mandy to laugh. "I must have been real sweaty last night." Nick grimaced as he took off his shirt throwing it to the side listening to her laugh at him. Nick shot up from the bed and engulfed her in an embrace kissing her neck.

"Nick, stop I have to get ready." Mandy said wiggly in his grasp but didn't pull away. Nick kissed her shoulder and squeezed her bottom while growling in her ear. "Nick…" Mandy said trying to keep her focus on what she was doing.

"Umm… daddy, you need to keep your hands to yourself." Lily said with her little hands on her hips. Nick and Mandy pulled away from each other, and Nick quickly sat back on the bed.

"Thank you, Lily. Daddy, was being naughty." Mandy teased winking at Nick.

"He sure was… Mama, can I wear the purple dress?" Lily asked already on to the next thing.

"Sure baby." Mandy said.

Once everyone left, Nick felt stir crazy. There was nothing to do inside the house, he had no case files, no kid to chase around, and he was totally bored. Nick wandered around the house aimlessly as his mind too wandered and the next thing he knew he was staring at his phone. It was a picture of Mandy and Lily when they all went to Lake Tahoe. His phone vibrated as a picture message came through, his little girl in her flower girl dress. It was a little white satin gown with netting on the skirt with purple flower pedals inside, it literally took his breath away.

Isn't she the cutest? Mandy texted to him. In this picture she looked just like Mandy while maintaining her own identity. Lily had brown wavy hair as it rested on her shoulders, because she hated having it up. She had Mandy's cheeks for sure with one lonely dimple, but Nick's brown eyes with full eyelashes.

She's beautiful! Was the only thing Nick could manage to text. He felt his heart get warm seeing his little girl happy as can be in the dress and almost feeling Mandy's excitement through the text. Nick scrolled through his contacts until he found the one he was looking for. He took a couple deep breaths and made the call.

"Hello…" Nick said unsure, he never could read Mandy's mom. She was a pleasant woman but was a little gruff. He could tell he was on speaker phone because he could here both her mother and step father.

"What's wrong?" her mom asked.

"What? Nothing…"

"How's my grand baby?" her step father asked proudly. Her stepfather was equally gruff, he was an old biker guy with a scruff, a pony tail, sleeves of ink, and a Harley to match. However when he was with little Lily he was the greatest grandfather, or her papa. And from what Nick has gathered her stepfather was more of a father then her biological one would ever be and had been there since she was seven.

"She's good." Nick said relaxing a little.

"And my daughter?" her mother asked taking the phone, while it was still on speaking.

"She's good."

"Well, alright then… what's going on?" her mother asked, starting to grow curious. It was a little strange that Nick was calling out of the blue.

"Umm… well, I would like…" Nick said stopping trying to gather his thoughts. "I want to… I want to marry your daughter, and would like your blessing?" Nick asked breaking out into a nervous sweat.

"Yay! It's about time." Mandy's mom said, as she laughed and squealed in excitement.

"Good luck!" her stepfather said excited even though Nick wouldn't need it.

I'm thinking of a third story to add to the series to show you Mandy's family, but only if you guys want on. What did you think of Mandy and Nick's talk in the beginning? What about Nick's phone call? Is there finally wedding bells in there future or not? Please Review!