Criminal Minds Series Rewrite: Season Four

Memoriam: Part Three

You open the driver's door when you see Derek's reflection in the window jogging to catch up with you.

"Was this Spencer's idea?" you roll your eyes.

"No. I've never met your parents. I want to go with you."

"Okay, fine. Hop in." You two get into the car, and you head to your parent's house. "You know, I'm perfectly fine going to lunch with my mom and dad alone."

"I know. As I said, I've never met them before."

"You know I can tell when you're lying, right?" you ask just as you pull into the long driveway.

There are some children outside mowing the lawn and raking the leaves, but they don't look up to greet you. Like before, you see their yellow aura darken a bit at your arrival.

"He's just worried. You can't blame him."

"Spencer is mixing his own emotions for his dad with my parents," you say and park the car.

"Then nothing should be wrong. Why are there kids here? Aren't your parents past the age of having kids?"

"They're foster parents. Kids come in and stay for a few weeks before getting adopted. They've been doing this all my life. I'm their only blood child."

You and Derek get out of the car, and you bring him inside the house where your parents are cooking in the kitchen. They hear you come in, and your dad is about to pull you into a hug when he sees Derek. He hesitates for a split second, but then he hugs you anyway without taking his eyes off Derek.

"Who is this? Another boyfriend?" your dad jokes.

"No. He's my coworker and a really good friend. Derek, meet my parents, Julie and Joey. Mom and Dad, meet Derek Morgan."

"It's nice to meet you two." Your mom sets four plates of food on the table, and you sit down to enjoy her delicious cooking. Derek takes a bite of his food, and his eyes widen in shock. "This is really good."

"Thank you. I do the cooking and cleaning, and my husband does everything else," she chuckles.

"She puts me to work but her cooking makes it worth it." Your dad watches you with a careful eye, and he switches between looking at you and at Derek. "You know, I do miss having you around here, honey. There's no chance you'd change your mind?"

"You already know the answer to that," you sigh and set your fork down.

"I know. I'm just saying. What if you and Spencer move out here?"

"My job is in Virginia."

Your dad bites his tongue from saying something bad, and your mom can see him holding back. Tension sets in, and you can't find it in yourself to look at Derek. This isn't how you want him to remember them, but if they are going to act like this, then you're going to stop coming over. Your dad opens his mouth to say something, but your mom kicks him underneath the table. She shakes her head, and Derek watches this silent conversation.

"Spencer isn't good enough for you," your dad blurts.

And just like that, lunch is ruined.

"Daddy, I love him." Derek is the only one who sees your dad clench his fists from underneath the table. Spencer is right, something weird is going on here. "He takes care of me and loves me for me. I'm having the best time with him, and if you could just get used to him, that would take so much off my shoulders. I see myself marrying him."

"Get out."

"What?"

Why is he behaving like this? He's always been overprotective of you, but he's never been like this before. He's just being unreasonable.