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wardenparker · 2 years ago

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Starting Over - Chapter 7

Marcus Pike x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

Recently arrived in Texas and only slightly removed from his divorce, Marcus finds himself smitten with the women at the housewares store that is helping him furnish his new Austin condo. It becomes a more complicated situation than he could have expected, but Marcus has never been one to shy away from a challenge when love is on the line. ✨This fic takes place *before* the events of The Mentalist.✨

Rating: Mature Word Count: 8.4k Warnings: *Blanket warnings for this fic will include divorce, past abusive relationships, deceased mothers, father issues/family trauma, unplanned pregnancy.* Cursing and food mentions, unplanned pregnancy, pregnant reader, just a giant continuation of the fluff machine. Summary: After such a successful bit of engagement ring shopping, looking for things for the Pike-ette is slightly more dramatic... Notes: Introducing some long talked-about characters this chapter, because we love a best friend support system!

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2 ~ Ch 3 ~ Ch 4 ~ Ch 5 ~ Ch 6

“Soon.” You nod, knowing he wishes that this barrier didn’t exist. The last thing you want him to feel today is sad or guilty, so you smile encouragingly instead. “We’ll have her out as soon as we can.”

The drive to the next stop on your day out is only a few minutes, but the enormous building at one end of the strip mall promises endless amounts of time wandering around inside. "Yes we will, and we will throw a party." Marcus promises you. Parking and picking up your hand, he kisses the back of it. He wants to coo over onesies with you. This is something he can indulge in, and he wants to. He's going to be a father. Have a child with the most wonderful woman he's ever known.

“Alright, Babies ‘R’ Us. Time to meet the Pikes.” The grin you absolutely beam at him as you climb out of the car is blinding, and you all but drag him inside, just as giddy as he is to ‘ooo’ and ‘ahh’ over all the adorable things you’ll want and need for the first baby to join your family.

There’s so much. Marcus’s eyes widen as he enters the store. He can’t even take it all in. “I— wow.” He breathes out, immediately softening when he sees the little outfits. “I want one that says Daddy’s Little Special Agent.” He decides immediately when he notices the cute little wording on some of them.

“If I have to get it specially made, I promise it will happen.” You squeeze his hand in yours, looking at every little saying and graphic with the softest expression you’ve ever had in your life. You genuinely might cry just looking at all these cute little clothes. “Honey, look at this one.” The nearest rack sports a Superman-style ‘S’ and reads Mommy’s Little Superhero underneath. “It’s all so cute.”

“Oh my god.” Marcus chokes out, reaching for the little outfit and pulling it off the rack. “We’re having a baby.” He murmurs in awe, as if it’s just really hit him.

“We’re having a baby.” All you can do is nod along with him, tucked into his side and sniffling away the emotions that immediately bubble to the surface when you say the words. “A little mini us.”

“A Pike-ette.” Marcus can’t help but put the little outfit back so he can caress your stomach. “God baby, I love you.”

“I love you, too.” This store must see so many moments like this. Moments of tenderness and appreciation dotted around its aisles constantly over the years. Gentle touches and excited murmurs. “I’m really glad my tea screwed up my birth control,” you laugh, a few tears escaping despite your best efforts.

"I am too." He might hate that he was not free to do things as he wants to right now, but he will never regret his first child with you. His own eyes are misty, and he bites his lip to keep from outright crying already.

“Hey, hey, hey.” A soft chuckle passes your lips, and you press a kiss to each of his cheeks. “We just walked in, we can’t both of us lose it immediately. There’s a whole lot of browsing left to do.”

"I might not make to the cribs." He confesses with a laugh. "I just can't believe that - this is our life. You – you've given me so much."

“We’re going to have to get everything personalized,” you hum, lacing your fingers through his so you can start to stroll around the store together. “Pike-ette on everything. So all the kids can use all the things one after the other.”

"So we need to make sure it's gender neutral colors." He agrees. "Although, I want them each to have their own baby blanket. One that has their initials sewn into it." His eyes mist up again just thinking about it. "Running around with their thumbs in their mouths and their blanket in their arms.

“I can immediately agree to both of those things.” Squeezing Marcus’s hand again, you bring it up to your lips to press a kiss to the back of his hand as you walk. “Each one a different color or pattern, so the kids can tell them apart well before they learn their own initials.”

"I don't know what happened to my baby stuff." Marcus admits quietly, looking over at the different variations of rattles that are on a display rack. "I know my mom kept them, but after..." He gives a small shrug, as if it didn't matter.

“I’m sorry, honey.” Marcus’s mother was more precious to him than anything, and you hate that he lost those memories. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t have anything of mine, either. My mother donated all my baby things once I was old enough. So we’ll start from scratch together.”

"Yeah, I'm sure Andrew got rid of all that." Marcus rubs your back, choosing to focus on you rather than deal with the Pandora's box that was his relationship with his father. "We will choose what we want for our family."

“You don’t have twins in your family, do you?” Not that it would be an issue, but you do raise one eyebrow in curiosity, wondering if you should be worrying about pushing two giant Pike-ettes out of your body instead of one.

“Not that I know of.” Marcus gives a small, apologetic smile. “I never knew my grandparents on my mom’s side and with my father….” He just trails off, not willing to bring down the mood. “If we have twins, I will make sure that I pamper the hell out of you.” He promises.

“I don’t think there’s any in my family, so I think we’re safe.” Bright and sunny is the way to go, and you look up at home with a smile. “You’re going to be such an amazing dad.”

“I hope so.” He doesn’t voice the worry that the only thing he knows is what not to do. You don’t need that burden.

“I’m positive.” On a small rack nearby are skinny notebooks with storks or rattles or little pink and blue balloons depending on the pattern, and you scoop up one with little flying storks delivering baby bundles. “First purchase.” A pen is out of your purse in a flash, and you giggle evilly. “So, how do we feel about Marcus Jr?” You ask, flipping open the notebook to start collecting name ideas.

“Ugh.” Marcus makes a retching noise and shakes his head. “No, absolutely not.” He sticks his aquiline nose up in the air. “The second, maybe. But never a Junior.” He adopts a snooty tone just to make you grin.

“Alright, no juniors.” You’re giggling manically in one of the aisles and a snooty looking couple across the way huffs at you, only making you giggle more. “I bet they’re having a junior,” you whisper to Marcus, giggling the whole time.

“Probably.” Marcus snickers and shakes his head. “We could go with Alex? Alexander for a boy, Alexandra for a girl?”

“Ooh, I like that.” Alexander/Alexandra goes on the top of the list and you hum, trying not to get teary at the very first baby names you’ve ever considered together. “What do you think about Charlie? For Charles or Charlotte?”

“I love that.” He nods eagerly. Reaching out to rub your back again. “I really think we are going to have problems narrowing names down.”

“They can all have two middle names.” You joke, adding Charles/Charlotte on the second line. “Their birth certificates will take forever to fill out.”

Marcus laughs and nods. “That would work.” He agrees easily. “They can have four names.”

“I was probably like sixty percent joking, but you’re locked in now.” It’s a relief to see the shadows leave Marcus’s face and watch him light up with excitement again, and you’re going to hang on to that light with him as tightly as you can. “Most kids worry when they hear their middle name getting yelled, our kids are going to get an extra level if they ever hear both middle names.”

Marcus laughs and shakes his head. “I have a feeling you will being doing the yelling. I will the one that is disappointed and gives them a look that breaks their hearts.”

“You’re not mad, you’re disappointed.” You quote, knowing all upset parents use the line at least a few times in their kids’ lives. “Besides, yelling is the only way I’m gonna be heard with four kids running around.”

“I can imagine.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ll buy you a bullhorn.” He promises. “Whistles to get their attention.”

“I’m gonna need it.” But still it makes you laugh, imagining the beautiful chaos of having a bunch of Pike-ettes running around and Marcus coming home from the office each day to endless hugs. “I really can’t wait.”

“It’s starting sooner than you think.” He reminds you with a grin, sliding his hand down over your stomach again.

“Seven more months.” Sniffing back the emotion of that little fact, you bury your face in Marcus’s chest and sigh happily. “I apologize in advance for any and all cursing you out during labor.”

“Any and all curses are completely valid.” He wraps his arms around you soothingly. “I won’t even think of being upset about that.”

“You’ve already had one screaming wife.” The way you roll your eyes dramatically and grin reminds him that you’re not worried. That she’ll be out of the picture soon enough, and the two of you will be free to have the life you dream of without her complications. “You don’t need a second.”

“At least this one will be screaming for a very worthy reason.” He teases, leaning in and kisses your nose. “But as I have a penis, and will not be pushing a watermelon out of a hole the size of a watermelon seed, the choice to be drugged is completely up to you.”

“I’ll be talking it over with the doctor, believe me.” As much as you want to say you’ll brave a natural childbirth, your stubbornness isn’t the only factor at hand, and you never know what can happen once labor has started.

"I completely concur and only want you to be as comfortable as you possibly can be." He ducks his head and nuzzles his nose against your neck. "I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Marcus." And what a freeing, full filling feeling that is to be able to say freely after weeks of keeping it inside.

Marcus made a mistake this morning, the mistake of not leaving his phone at home. He couldn't because of work, but he should have. The buzzing in his pocket makes him groan, pulling away and sighing as he reaches for it. "Sorry." He murmurs as he fishes it out of his jeans pocket, tensing up and freezing for a second, his jaw immediately clenching when he sees the name flashed on the screen. "Shit. What the fuck does he want?"

“Who is it?” Your eyebrows furrow with concern at his reaction.

"My father." He tells you before he hits the small button on his phone to talk and puts it up to his ear. "Special Agent Marcus Pike." He uses a professional tone, acting like he doesn't know who is on the other end of the line.

“Marcus.” Andrew Packard’s deep baritone tumbles on the other end of the phone. It isn’t harsh though, no militant or any like you expected. Not from what you can hear anyway. “I just got a very interesting call from Amanda.”

Marcus groans quietly, glancing up at the ceiling as if he’s begging a higher power for patience. “What in earth did she call you about?” He asks shortly.

“Well, to be honest, that’s the exact same question I asked her.” He laughs, still hoping after more than thirty years that he might elicit some kind of sympathetic chuckle from his son, but it doesn’t happen. “And then she told me some cockamamie story about you and her reconciling and now you’ve gotten your mistress pregnant?” This time it isn’t a laugh, but a choked sound of confusion. Andrew Packard is well aware of the things his only son despises about him so this can’t possibly be true. “I thought I should call.”

“We have not reconciled. I would never get back together with someone who was cheating on me.” Marcus is seething, rocking his jaw in anger. “She withdrew the divorce papers without my knowledge and the lawyers are trying to fix their fuck up but she’s being difficult.” It was more information than his father had in months from him, maybe even a year. He spoke to the man as little as possible. “Showed up in Texas with the intention of pushing back into my life.”

“I see.” The sound of papers being shoved around can be heard in the background and your hand softly soothes small circles into Marcus’s back while he talks. “So is the pregnancy a lie too, then?” His father asks after a pause.

There is an equally long pause, Marcus trying to find the words and swallowing harshly. "No, that's true." He sighs. "I started seeing a woman here in Austin, believing I was single." He makes sure to add that portion, believing it to be of the upmost importance. "We— the night after we— uh," Marcus blushes furiously, never having talked to his father about these types of things and feeling like a kid in the principal’s office. "Amanda showed up the next morning and she - my fiancée - she is pregnant."

“Congratulations.” Andrew clears his throat, like the word was either difficult for him to say or to cover a bit of thickness in his voice. “I take it you had no intentional of telling me?”

"We just found out ourselves." He is sounding defensive because he is defensive. Even if he didn't have any intention of doing more than sending his father a sparsely worded email at Christmas like normal. "The only reason Amanda knows is because I had hoped it would convince her to go away."

“She said she was in your house, is that true?” It’s more like a low-key interrogation than a conversation, and Andrew makes a displeased sound in the back of his throat. “Has she threatened you at all? Amanda, I mean. You or your new fiancée?”

Marcus snorts, blowing out an exasperated breath. "The lawyers said that it would be better if I show that I am trying to be accommodating." He rolls his head around his shoulders. "Amanda is...precise with her words."

“That’s not an answer, son. Has she threatened you or your fiancée at any time?” Now the sound is obvious - pen on paper - he’s writing things down.

He stiffens slightly, annoyed at the tone his voice, the fact that he's writing shit down. That he doesn't trust his offspring, who is a federal agent to handle his soon-to-be ex-wife. "She wants the trust." He spits the word out as if it's offensive. "But I will handle it, Andrew. Thank you for your concern."

“I—" Andrew sighs when his son calls him by his first name, knowing that that usually signals another six months at least of not speaking. Although that won’t be the case this time, regardless of whether or not Marcus is happy about it. “Am I allowed to know the name of the woman carrying my grandchild, at least? I won’t even ask to say hello, I know that’s asking too much.”

His voice catches in his throat, wordless handing you the phone. Unable to say anything else because the only thing that was coming to mind was that his child, his children would not be Andrew Packard's grandchildren. He had never been Marcus's father, so he would not step in for the fun of being a grandfather.

“Hello?” You’re shocked when Marcus actually lets you talk to his father, but your arm wraps around his waist tightly to keep him beside you.

"Hello." Andrew is shocked when he hears a woman's voice, halfway anticipating a dial tone. "I— this is Andrew, Marcus's father. To whom do I have to pleasure of speaking to?"

“Marcus’s fiancée.” You give him your first name, limiting it to that as you continue to rub his back gently.

Andrew repeats your name, nodding to himself and writing it down on his notepad. "How are you feeling? Do you need anything? I'm sure my son is taking good care of you."

"We have everything we could possibly need." You won't give him any details but stay polite, not wanting Marcus to be too upset even though he is the one who handed you the phone. "Thank you for asking."

"I know he won't reach out, but if you need anything..." Andrew pauses, knowing that it could very possibly upset his son even more, but he wants to make sure you know that he will be there. "Just send me a message and I will do everything I can." He's sure that Marcus has told you what a horrible man he is, detailing all his faults, or maybe not even mentioning him at all. He swallows harshly and waits for your answer.

"That's kind of you, but we have everything under control." Glancing up just in time to see Marcus roll his eyes at your choice of words, and you know you'll have to dignify them later by telling him that you were just being polite to not make more waves. Which is the truth. "It was good of you to call, but really. Marcus and I can handle everything."

Andrew senses the conversation is over, and he gives a small sigh. "Very well. It was nice to speak with you. I won't bother to ask to speak to Marcus again, please have a good day." He murmurs, looking down at the information he had managed to gather from his only son during the six-minute conversation

"Goodbye." Tapping Marcus's phone to end the call, you put the electronic back in his hand and reach up to hug him tight. "Well, that was unexpected."

Marcus shakes his head, closing his eyes as simultaneously wraps his arms around you and stiffens in your hold. Conflicting emotions warring inside him and threatening to spill out in a shout or hysterics, he hasn't quite decided which would be more appropriate.

"Do you want to go home, baby?" From your place in his arms, you look up to find his eyes closed and his full lips drawn in a deep frown. "Or back to my old place?"

"I— I don't know." He doesn't need to see Amanda right now. He knows that. He shakes his head, prying his eyes open and blinking before he focuses on you. "She fucking called him. Told him I knocked up my mistress." He hisses bitterly.

Regardless of the fact that that is technically true, you're not about to point any sort of pedantics. "Do you think she's trying to get his sympathy? Like that would make a difference somehow?"

"It's a fucking mind game." It only took him about thirty seconds after answering the call to figure that out. "She knows my feelings on my father and decided that it was the best way to torment me. Shove the proverbial mirror in my face. 'Look how much like him you are'." He scoffs but there is a slight edge of panic to his tone.

"She's grasping at straws, love." Both of your hands soothe down his arms and you look around with a sigh. "Why don't I pay for the notebook I picked up and we can go back to my old place and sit for a while? Madison usually comes over on Saturday nights when Naomi isn't working. It might be good for you to see an old friend again."

Marcus shakes his head, hating that the outing had been tainted. "No, no I'm not letting her ruin this." He decides, rolling his shoulders back and trying to push away the onslaught of emotions that always seem to come with dealing with his father. "Let's keep looking."

"How about stuffed animals?" You suggest, wanting to move away from anything that might loudly pronounce the word Daddy right now.

"Are you a zoo animals motif type person or sea creatures?" He asks, desperate to recapture the previously high spirit of the outing.

"Typically I would say zoo animals, but I could be persuaded for a cute otter or a dolphin." Taking his hand, you head for the next portion of the store down, where stuffed animals of all shapes, sizes, and colours can be seen lines shelves and walls.

"We could do a mixture of both?" He smiles, the first time since that damn phone rang. "Maybe have someone paint a wildlife mural on one wall and an underwater one on another?"

"We could do that. The nursery will be used over a couple of years so I'm sure we'll change things here and there." On one shelf, eye level with you, are a whole family of puppies made by the same company. Soft cotton corduroy in different colors with their little pink or red tongues hanging out. "I'm going to want to get all of them," you laugh, picking up a brown and white spotted one. "I can just tell."

Marcus hums, picking up another one and holding it up. "We should." He suggests. "Get all of them. They might not be making them by the time all the Pike-ettes are born and then how will all the kiddos have matching puppies that are different enough that they tell them apart?"

"I dunno, babe." But you grin just to hear the soft happiness in his voice. "There's six of these little guys. We're gonna have to pick out the four cutest. They can each come home from the hospital with their own puppy."

"Two for back up." He decides, unable to decide between the colors. "Just in case one puppy gets ruined. They can take mommy or daddy's puppy to keep safe."

"Okay, so which one is Daddy's?" A few feet away, there is a station of shopping baskets, and you scurry over to grab one and bring it back for Marcus to load the little stuffed puppies into.

Marcus chuckles and picks up a puppy that has soft purple fabric. "This one."

"Nice choice." It's the same color as a favorite sweater of his and you file away the information in the back of your head that purple is a comfort color for Marcus. From the other end of the shelf, you pick up one maybe of light gray-blue fabric with a black spot on his back and over one eye. "I think this one is Mommy's."

“That’s a good choice.” Marcus approves, taking it and setting it by his in the basket.

"And the other four will be gummed on, drooled over, slept with, played with, and generally carried everywhere by the Pike-ettes." One by one the other puppies are added to the cart and you chuckle. "It makes them sound like a little band. Or your little back-up singers. You could be Marcus and the Pike-ettes."

“Well, I was in a band.” Marcus teases playfully. He feels a little better, reminding himself that you are building a life together. A completely different situation from his father.

"You should take it up again." He still has his bass; you saw it hanging safely on his - your - bedroom wall last night where it stays locked away out of Amanda's grasp every day.

“I think those days are far behind me.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “Can’t help you out with the babies if I’m practicing or playing.”

"But you were so sexy the time we went to that karaoke bar." It was about a month ago now, and you cringe to think that you had been out drinking while having no idea that you were pregnant. Marcus though? He brought down the house that night with an amazing rendition of "Where is My Mind?"

He can’t help but grin, wide and proud that you like the fact that he can sing and play an instrument. “Maybe when it’s just the two of us.” He says finally. “I’ll get a guitar and play for the baby.”

“That would be very sweet.” You shoot him a happy little grin, almost victorious but mostly just soft and full of love.

"So we will have a pack of kids carrying around puppies and blankets." Marcus hums, looking into the basket of the cart with a grin before he looks back at you. "Anything else?"

“Let’s wander back toward the front and see if anything catches our eye on the way out.” He’s smiling and light again, and you’re so grateful to see that the phone call from his father isn’t going to ruin day for him.

Marcus takes point at the cart, steering it for the two of you. Not because you can't push it with six stuffed puppies in it, but because he wants to leave you free to wander when something catches your eyes. "Let’s do it."

He really should not have left you free to roam, because the second you zero in on the silly Dad and Mom t-shirt section, your eyes light up with glee at all the bad puns. “Look!” You practically cackle, holding up a t-shirt that says Nacho Average Dad on it along with the image of a large sombrero. “It’s terrible and it’s perfect.”

“Oh my God.” Marcus groans to hide the chuckle and shakes his head. “It’s horrible. Put it in the basket.” He looks around, wanting to find some cute maternity shirts for you. Maybe a ‘bun in the oven’ one. He’s always thought those are funny.

“You should wear it when we go back to the Outpost while we’re in DC.” The more you think about it, the more it feels like the perfect first trip to take with him. Back to the place you should have met all those years ago.

“Yeah?” He grins at you. “You want to go back to that shitty little bar?”

“For old time’s sake.” You tell him with a grin. “Do you want to pick out a shirt for me to wear?”

Marcus nods quickly, moving over to the racks. “Call me crazy, but I really want one of those ‘What’s cooking?’ t-shirts with a picture of a bun in the oven.” He admits. “Corny, I know.”

“Corny but cute.” That is exactly the kind of choice you would expect from him, and part of why you offered to let him pick something in the first place.

He searches through the selections and holds up a shirt. It’s not exactly what he was looking for but it’s adorable. “What do you think?”

“Awwwe!” The purple maternity t-shirt in his hands has a little cartoon dinosaur eating a taco where it will sit over your growing bump, and reads Preggosaurus Tex-Mex over the chest, and you can’t help but laugh. “They even match!”

Marcus grins. “So that’s a yes.” He nods happily and shoves it in the cart to add to his. “We will definitely have to wear them together.”

“Absolutely.” Leaning into his arms is the easiest and most natural thing in the world, and the two of you push the cart full of stuffed animals and cheesy t-shirts to the front of the store with wistful smiles on your faces. “Ya know,” you hum, looking up at him as you stand in line at the cash register. “We actually should have dinner with Naomi and Madison tonight. If only to give them the news.”

“It might be a good thing.” Marcus admits, glancing at you before he looks down at the items in the cart. “I might hurt Amanda’s feelings too much if I see her right now.”

“For once, I wasn’t even thinking of her.” Although it might be a good idea to store the baby things at your old place at first. “I was just thinking we might want to share our happy news with our closest friends, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry.” Marcus immediately apologizes, feeling bad for bringing her up. “I shouldn’t have— you’re right.” He nods. “We should tell them.”

“No need to be sorry.” You promise him, picking up his hand in yours to leave a kiss on it. “She’s an unfortunate fact of our lives. Like having a mouse in the house. I just thought it would be nice to ignore the mouse for tonight.”

“What mouse?” He responses with a small smile. “No mouse here.” He sighs and rubs his hand over your stomach. “Just a peanut.”

“Ooooo, peanuts.” It wasn’t meant as a snack suggestion, you know that. But you’re still nearly salivating at the thought. “Honey roasted peanuts sound amazing.”

He snickers and leans in, pressing his lips to your neck. “Hungry huh?” He teases. “We will have to make sure we get some if they don’t have any at the register.”

“I have been on a Reese’s kick lately, and I had a couple of peanut butter sandwiches last week.” The realization makes you light up, almost giddy in a way. “I think we have our first official craving. Peanuts for the peanut.”

“Interesting.” He can’t even stop the wide grin. “Our little one likes peanuts.”

“I feel a childhood nickname coming on.” Chuckling, you push your cart up to the registers as the couple before you departs, and Marcus starts to unload the little family of stuffed animals onto the counter. “Oo, score!” You spot a little rack of snacks at one end of the counter, with a few tubes of peanuts in amongst the chocolate. “Baby, will you grab two?” You ask, batting your eyelashes at Marcus with a grin.

Chuckling, he grabs four, wanting to tuck a couple of packs into his car for an emergency snack for you. “Just in case.” He tells you when he holds up the packets. “Don’t want a hangry momma-to-be.”

“Smart.” Chuckles the cashier as she starts to swipe the puppies through the register and bag them. “These guys are so cute. I can’t believe they’re getting discontinued,” she comments, shrugging her shoulders.

“Oh, they are?” Marcus raises his brows at you, happy that he insisted that all of them be bought now. “How sad, they are cute.”

“I guess you were right about grabbing all of them, then.” You grin at Marcus, nose wrinkling with how wide the smile grows.

“I was right.” He looks back over at the cashier. “It will probably be the only time I’m ever right. So I’m going to savor this moment.” He jokes. “She’s the one with the instincts.”

“Moms usually are.” The girl smiles. Barely a few minutes later you’re out in the car again, your head leaning on Marcus’s shoulder while you wait for the AC to kick in and text Naomi.

To Naomi: Double date tonight? Our treat. 🍽🍾✨

It only takes a few moments for the typing bubble to appear and there is a response.

From Naomi: 🍾? What are we celebrating? Did the Wicked Witch pack up her broom and fly back to Portland?

To Naomi: We wish. It’s not that, but we do have news! Madam Mam’s at 6?

“I…may have suggested Thai tonight,” you admit sheepishly, tearing into the first packet of peanuts.

Marcus throws his head back and laughs. “Of course it’s fine. Pad Thai sounds great. And I’ll let you have all the peanut sauce with the spring rolls.”

From Naomi: Sounds great! We’ll see you then!

“Agent Pike, you are a handsome and considerate man.” And the goddamn love of your life. You really are the luckiest girl in the world.

“I guess the real question is if you prefer smooth or chunky peanut butter?” Marcus reaches over and caresses your knee. “So I know what to buy when you have a craving and we run out.”

“Chunky.” The nod you give him is full of authority, considering you’ve practically inhaled half the tube of peanuts already.

“Chunky it is.” Marcus grins, thinking that you look absolutely adorable and reaches forward to start the car.

******

A few hours later, you’re fidgeting in place waiting for your watch to hit six and your friends to arrive at the restaurant you suggested. It’s a gorgeous night and you decided to wait for Naomi and Madison just outside the front doors, but the anticipation is killing you now. “I’m just scared she’s going to be upset,” you mumble into Marcus’s arms, even though you know it’s ridiculous. “It’s not like we thought we were going to live together forever; I just don’t want my best friend to be sad.”

“I don’t think that she will be sad.” Marcus thinks that her and Madison are more serious than she’s let on, and maybe now that you are going through so many changes, she will take the next step with him.

“You don’t?” You probably sound like a blubbering idiot right now, but Marcus is stalwart and calm with his arms around you.

“No, I think she will be happy for you.” Marcus tightens his grip on you. “Maybe a little pissed at me, because of the circumstances. But she knows I’m not screwing you around.” He hopes. Naomi’s opinion meant the world to you, which means it means the world to him too.

“Naomi adores you.”

“Yeah, I’d be intimidated if I couldn’t bench more than you.” Madison appears around the corner with Naomi under his arm, jovial as always and already talking smack. That usually meant the night was sure to be upbeat.

“Hey.” Marcus turns in his seat and greets the two of them, standing up and moving to give Naomi a hug and slapping Madison on the shoulder. “You should worry, I’m gonna be lifting more than you soon.” Completely bullshit of course, he hates lifting.

“Only if it’s to drop a house on the Wicked Witch,” Madison jokes, leaning over to give you a hug before he heads into the restaurant between Marcus and Naomi.

“As a federal agent, I shouldn’t be making pre-meditated jokes.” Marcus huffs with a grin before he stands. “I’ll let them know our party is all ready.”

“Did you guys have a nice day?” You reach over to squeeze Naomi’s hand and feel an army of nervous butterflies erupt in your belly. Or maybe that’s the baby. You really can’t be sure.

“We always do.” Naomi smiles and searches your face, seeing your nervousness. “Hon, what’s wrong? Do I need to beat her ass? Because I will.”

“No, it’s not like that.” The trouble with saying yes to Naomi is she’ll actually do it, even if you’re just being sarcastic or overdramatic. So you shake your head and grab her hand to follow Marcus when he signals that you’re ready to be seated. “Everything’s okay. There’s just a lot going on.”

“Ummhmmm.” She obviously thinks there’s more going on, but she’s not going to push you. “Good thing you called me out to get drunk tonight then.”

“Yeah, totally.” You hum, knowing full well that you’ll be drinking ginger ale with your dinner and not a cocktail.

Naomi doesn’t catch that, too busy perusing the menu after you’ve been sat down to decide what she is going to eat. “God everything looks so good.” She gushes happily. “What are you having?”

“I’m debating between pad Thai and the Masman curry.” You glance at Marcus and try not to grin, knowing he’ll zero in on the fact that the curry in question also features peanuts. “We could always just get a bunch of stuff to share?”

Marcus hums and nods his approval. “That sounds like a good idea. Spring rolls sounds good? Extra peanut sauce?” He asks, smirking at you.

“Yes please.” The giant grin on your face is goofy enough you have to bite your lip to not laugh and Madison points one finger between you and Marcus with a furrow in his brow. “What’s going on?” He insists, knowing that something is going on. “Peanut sauce just isn’t that funny.”

Marcus decided to fuck with his friend. “I licked peanut sauce off her last night.” He jokes, winking at you playfully.

Naomi almost chokes on her water, knowing full well that you and Marcus haven’t been intimate since your first date. She is agonizingly aware, mostly because of how hard you try not to pout about her and Madison being cute together. “Is that what we’re celebrating?” She asks, perking up in her seat. “Are you guys fucking again?”

Marcus gives a small pout, frowning slightly. “Not exactly.” He admits, knowing that he still has some issues with total intimacy.

"So what are we celebrating?" Naomi sits back in her chair and casually reaches for Madison's hand, lacing their fingers together in an unconsciously intimate movement.

Marcus bites his lip, mirroring the same movement with you, picking up your hand and kissing the back of it. “We have a lot of things to celebrate.” He tells them with a small smile.

"Ooooooh, oh my god." The excitement in Naomi's demeanor hits near giddiness, and she tugs on Madison's hand with glee. "I told you! I knew they weren't going to let the Wicked Witch stop them!" She turns her gaze on you almost dreamily. "You finally told him, didn't you?"

"That's one thing." You nod, impossibly wide smile growing even more just before the waiter walks up to take your drink orders. "I did finally put on my big girl panties and tell Marcus that I love him."

All of you order, Marcus insisting that the two of you wanted to wait for heavier drinks and ordered a water for himself while you ordered one of the specialty boba teas. “We’ve also decided something else.” He announces after the waiter walks away. “She’s moving in with me.”

"In with you, like in with you?" Naomi nearly bounces out of her chair, but the confusion is written on her face. "Even with the Wicked Witch there?"

"Yeah. Even with her there." You half-chuckle, shrugging your shoulders and squeezing Marcus's hand. "It's more important to us to be together and not let her spoil things. But, if it's okay with you, we were hoping I could leave a few pieces of furniture in my old room until either she's gone, or we can put them in storage."

“Of course.” Naomi frowns slightly and leans forward, wondering why you are in a rush to live together. She knows it will cause more drama. “Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, hopefully this is over in a year.”

"Hopefully." Though you can definitely agree with that sentiment, there's more at stake that you can't just wait out. "We're not prepared to let her hijack more of our relationship, though."

“Okaaaaay.” She looks suspicious but she nods. “I agree with that. Although it might have been more peaceful to just have Marcus move in with us.”

"That could be misconstrued as giving her the condo." And giving in to any of her inane demands in the lowest possibility in the world right now.

“True.” She’ll concede that point. “So I guess that makes our choice easier.” Naomi shrugs and looks over at Madison. “You’ll move in with me.”

"You were right." That beaming smile of yours is turned back on Marcus while your friends share a kiss, and you lean your head on his shoulder for a moment. "Twice in one day. Very impressive of you, baby."

"A man in love can always recognize another man in the same situation." He quips and winks at Madison and Naomi before looking down at you and kissing your forehead.

“Which is how I know you’re not done announcing shit,” Madison points out, only pausing in teasing when the waiter returns with your drinks and takes the food order for the table.

Marcus grins when you order everything with peanuts on the menu, rubbing your back and humming happily. Once the waiter leaves again, he looks over at you. “Do you want to tell them, baby?” He asks softly.

You want to tell them everything - be in a world where you can be excited with your best friends about the very best parts of your life getting so much better - and you nod before taking Marcus’s hand under the table again. “We, um—l” The thickness in your voice is disbelief at all that happiness, and when you clear your throat you have to blink back those joyful tears that have been brimming all day long. “We decided we want to get married.” You tell your friends, beaming with happiness and love and pride in the man beside you. “As soon as the Wicked Witch is gone. Otherwise, I love him so much I might have dragged him up to City Hall today for the license.”

Naomi gasps, nearly choking even though she hadn’t had anything to drink yet. “What?” Her eyes dart between the two of you. “That’s— that’s great!”

“I hope it goes without saying that I need my ride-or-die maid of honour?” Reaching for Naomi’s other hand on the table, you give it a quick squeeze before needing your own hand back to wipe away a tear that managed to spill.

“Without saying.” Naomi promises, flashing you a brilliant smile and choking back a happy sob. “I can’t believe it!” She lifts a brow at Madison and grins. “You have been shown up.” She teases playfully.

“With Pike, I’m used to it.” He grumbles good-naturedly. Not that he hadn’t been carefully rooting through his girlfriend’s jewelry box and browsing jewelry store websites for a month now. He’s not going to let someone as amazing as Naomi slip away.

“That’s right.” Marcus tosses his old friend a smug grin. “Beat your ass at the Academy too.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Madison rolls his eyes dramatically and takes a sip from his beer bottle. “You’ll get married first, fine. We’ll just have to have our first kid first.” A conversation about having a family a month ago was what precipitated the ring browsing, but they hadn’t said anything to their friends yet. You and Marcus having such a precarious situation had made them not want to flaunt their happiness – apparently they shouldn’t have worried.

Marcus shifts in his seat, unable to hold back the proud smile from creasing his faces. He quickly glances over at you to make sure it’s okay that he announces it. “About that…” he starts teasingly. “It’s a good thing you aren’t in a betting pool on those odds.”

“Are you seriously trying?” Naomi practically jumps forward in her seat, eyes wide with that level of excitement that really only comes from seeing the people you love truly being happy. “Oh my god you’re going to be the best mom I can’t fucking stand it.” As much as she jumped forward, she’s now out of her chair and hugging you in a flash.

“It’s uh…it’s not so much that we’re trying,” you laugh, letting go of Marcus’s hand and hugging her back tightly. “I am pregnant.”

“You are preg—” Naomi’s eyes widen dramatically and she leans back from her hug. “That one time?” She demands, looking over at Marcus. “No offense, but that’s – wow.”

“That was kind of our reaction.” Having it out in the open - enjoying the chance to tell your best friends - is the perfect end to what has really been a perfect day aside from the five-minute intrusion by Andrew Packard this afternoon. “We’re really excited though.”

“Are you okay?” Madison leans forward, a concerned frown on his face directed towards Marcus. He had learned a bit about his friend’s past, although it wasn’t well known. Marcus liked keeping his family history in the past.

Marcus nods and you can’t help but be grateful that he already had a friend in Austin when he moved here. You can’t imagine if he had had to deal with all of this without a friend nearby to confide in. “The situation isn’t perfect.” That is the understatement of the year, but you have to shrug it off. “But it’s all what we wanted for our relationship further down the line, anyway.”

“Does she know?” Naomi asks, brow raised curiously.

“Yeah, she knows.” You shake your head, knowing how impossible the situation really is. “It’s a completely tangled web. But at least when everything finally gets untangled, we’ll have our family.”

Huffing, Naomi hugs you tightly one last time before she moves to hug Marcus in a quick, but fierce hug. “I know you will, but you better take care of my girl.”

Marcus laughs, hugging your best friend back. “Don’t worry about that. We’ve already figured out the little peanut likes peanuts.” He jokes, winking at you over her shoulder. “First cravings apparently.”

“Hence the Thai food?” Madison guesses with a laugh.

“Hence the Thai food,” you agree, one hand floating softly to your so-far unchanged belly.

Sitting back down, Naomi has a proud look on her face. “I’m going to be an Auntie!” She squeals happily, knowing that she will be in this kid’s life in some capacity. “We just need to make sure momma’s okay while all this…” she waves her hand in irritation, “drama plays out.”

“You’re going to be the best auntie.” Naomi’s capacity for love is probably only surpassed by Marcus’s, and you know without hesitation that this baby is going to be spoiled for love right from the start. “And Madi is going to be the uncle we all have to keep an eye on, or he’ll get them into trouble.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Madison tries to act offended, but the grin spreading across his face gives him away. “I would never be so bold.”

“Bold is your middle name, baby.” Naomi teases. “And I love you for it.”

“So now you see we had so much news, that we needed a night with our friends.” Marcus tells them, reaching for your hand again. “It’s going to be rough if Amanda wants it to be, but I’m determined to get things taken care of so we can focus on our future.”

“She’s going to try to make it hell, but we’ll be ready.” Madison is sure of that, but he raises his drink toward the middle of the table in salute. “Congratulations, guys. Here’s to you.”

“To our little Pike-ette and my amazing fiancée.” Marcus adds, taking a sip of his water after Madison.

“Pike-ette?” Naomi coos, taking a sip of her cocktail. “That’s so cute I could die, you guys.”

“How much does Naomi know?” Marcus asks, looking over at you. The trust hasn’t been officially mentioned by him, just that Amanda wasn’t happy with the original divorce settlement.

“The basics,” you murmur back. It’s his story to tell not yours, and you had stuck with just telling Naomi that Amanda was after more money instead of divulging all the complex details of Marcus’s life to her. He’s guarded about it to begin with, the last thing you wanted was to make him feel like you couldn’t be trusted.

“She might as well know.” Marcus rubs the back of your hand with his thumb. “Especially because it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” He gives Naomi a bland smile and a slight shrug. “I’m the illegitimate son - the bastard - of Andrew Packard, and because of that, I have a trust fund that Amanda wants to get her hands on.”

Naomi’s face goes from blank to confused to recognition in about five seconds. “Andrew Packard the multimillionaire computer guy?” She lowers her voice, obviously understanding that it isn’t something he flaunts. Before today all she knew was that he was raised by a single mom.

“Yeah, that’s the one.” He blows out a breath, figuring it was better to tell her himself rather than whatever Amanda could come up with to try to damage his reputation with your friend. Madison grimaces, knowing how much Marcus hates to talk about his father. “My mother was his mistress for twenty years, until her death when I was in high school.” He knows it doesn’t make his mother look very good, but she had made peace with what she was and what she had done.

“And Amanda knew?” It doesn’t take much for Naomi to guess that.

“She was my wife.” Marcus reminds her. “I didn’t think I needed to keep that a secret, but the trust never came up because it wasn’t mine. It still isn’t mine.” He rolls his eyes. “It doesn’t belong to me until I turn forty or upon the birth of my first child.”

“Which is in…” the quick math only takes her a split second. “Seven months. Fuck, you guys. She is going to get so much worse.”

“Yep.” Marcus sighs and leans back, moving to throw his arm around your shoulder, rubbing it gently. “But I’m not giving her a dime.”

“By the time they’re old enough for college, tuition will probably take up the entire thing anyway,” you joke, trying to lighten the mood as best you can. “Right now we just want to be happy thinking about our future. That’s all. Happy daydreams and plans that can’t be spoiled no matter how hard she tries.”

“Oh, she’s going to try.” Marcus huffs. “She called my father.”

“Shit.” Madison drops backward in his chair and groans. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“Nope, dear old dad called me today,” Marcus scowls at that. “Poking his nose where it doesn’t belong because Amanda told him I followed in his footsteps.”

“Which is obviously ridiculous.” Naomi has no problem jumping on that comparison, even not knowing the entire situation. “You’re supposed to be divorced. You are divorced, as far as any of us are concerned. She’s the crazy woman who can’t let shit go.”

“She told him what she told our lawyers. That we ‘reconciled’.” He rolls his eyes and blows out a frustrated breath. “So I got to be interrogated better than the fucking FBI, and I am the FBI.”

“Look on the bright side,” Madison offers, rolling his eyes. “Since you’ve already talked to him this calendar year, you can skip the courtesy Christmas call.”

Marcus snorts, nodding his head in agreement. “I guess that is a silver lining.” He huffs, looking over at you and twisting his body so he can caress your stomach.

“The Pike-ette is the ultimate silver lining.” You’ve decided, and lay your hand on top of Marcus’s.

“God you two are adorable.” Naomi rolls her eyes and grins happily. “There better be a t-shirt with Pike-ette on it in the near future.”

“We got really cheesy t-shirts at the baby store today.” The arrival of the spring rolls has you groaning happily and digging in almost immediately. “I have a feeling cheesy parent t-shirts is going to become a thing for us.”

Marcus pushes his own little cup of peanut sauce towards you. “Of course. We’re cheesy.” He grins and lean in to kiss your cheek since there is already a little dabble of peanut sauce on the side of your mouth. “We deserve to be cheesy.”

______

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#Pedro Pascal #Pedro Pascal character fanfiction #Pedro Pascal fanfic #Marcus Pike #Marcus Pike x reader #Marcus Pike x you #Marcus Pike x female reader #The Mentalist #The Mentalist fanfic #tw divorce #tw unplanned pregnancy #pregnant reader

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