GN'R One Shots (slashfic)

(Sluff) Welcome To The Family

(Inspired by a dream and xylinara's chapter in TFJ when Slash meets Duff's family... ugh, such perfection.)

They were out the back sat around the table with Duff's family, sipping on steaming mugs of coffee and talking softly. Slash and Duff's hands were connected, their fingers lazily intertwined together under the table. Slash was sat a bit forward, nodding his head politely and trying to answer the questions some of Duff's family had for him, those little butterflies still flapping around his stomach. He was so nervous to meet the McKagan Clan, but so far everything had went well. Him and Duff had arrived in Seattle the night before, half of the family already asleep due to the late hour, and they only stayed up for a half hour before they all went to bed, which Slash was grateful for-- the flight had been long and he was exhausted, not to mention what the stress of meeting the family had done to him. It was mentally draining.

Now it was the next day, the air crisp and damp because it was still early in the morning, around seven thirty. Slash woke up early, his mind racing a mile a minute, unable to fall back to sleep. He was still so nervous. Duff slept like the dead, and he didn't want to wake him, so when he heard the faint chattering of Duff's family down in the kitchen, he forced himself to get out of bed, get dressed and go down there alone. It felt easy, he didn't have to force conversation, and for that he was so thankful. And they genuinely seemed to like him, too.

Coffee was made and they rugged up and sat out the back to enjoy the fresh air, even if it was so cold Slash's cheeks turned red under his naturally tanned skin. A half hour passed before Duff stumbled through the sliding door, his bed hair impressive. He had a cup of coffee in his hand, and he gave Slash a warm smile as he gently slid the door closed behind him.

"Morning," he said in his raspy morning voice, leaning down to peck Slash on the cheek. "Was almost afraid you'd caught the next plane back to L.A," he said to Slash, sitting down beside him.

"No, he's being the perfect gentlemen," Alice chimed in, winking at Slash over the frames of her glasses.

So here they were, all sat together simply enjoying each others company, but Slash was still so nervous because he had something he needed to get off his chest, and he thought it would be the best time to tell it to Duff when they were all here, in his childhood home surrounded by his family. And also because he'd been putting off telling Duff for over a week now, so scared it would send the older man running for the hills never to look back. But now he really, really had to do it before too much time passed, and he had a small feeling Duff would be happy at the news... maybe.

He had zoned out a little as he dwelled on his thoughts, but was gently brought back by the squeeze of Duff's fingers around his. He looked up to see everyone's eyes on him, and he flushed slightly under the unwarranted attention, shifting a little in his chair.

"We just wanted to say we're really happy you came here, Slash," Alice said warmly, giving him a soft smile. "I don't want to speak too soon, but I have a great feeling about you two, I have since Duff first started speaking about you," Duff's cheeks tinted pink slightly, "And I think you're really good for my son. I'm so happy to welcome you to our family."

Slash breathed in sharply, the smile on his face almost reaching ear-to-ear, but he couldn't help it. He was honestly so afraid Duff's family would immediately hate him and not accept him into their home, and he was so thankful the complete opposite of what he feared had happened. He looked around the table at Duff's smiling family members, feeling almost like he was in a dream.

This was it, he realised. He had to say it, now or never. This was the perfect time.

"I... thank you," he choked out, laughing softly. He looked over at Duff to see his green eyes sparkling with happiness, and squeezed his hand even tighter. "I'm really glad you guys don't hate me... that would've been bad," they all chucked softly, "And I, um... Duff makes me really happy... and I love him," he said nervously, his voice shaking just a little bit. He looked over at Duff again, seeing those green eyes he loved so much glistening just a little. "I do, I love you," he whispered, his own eyes getting a little wet, "And I have something I want to tell you... all of you," he said, swallowing thickly.

There was a long moment of suspenseful silence before Slash cleared his throat and croaked out those two words that had been circling around in his head ever since Steven had made him take that test.

"I'm pregnant."

He didn't look up, he stared down into his coffee, avoiding the eyes he could feel on him. Fuck, fuck, fuck... what did their expressions look like? Should he look? But he didn't want to, because they might look angry, or disappointed, or even disgusted... Why wasn't anyone talking? How long had it been since he said it? Did they all just get up and leave? What if they locked him out? All his stuff was upstairs in Duff's room--

He yelped when he felt strong hands on him, pulling him up out of his seat, knocking his coffee to the ground. He was lifted into the air and spun around, and it took him too long to figure out Duff was clutching him to his chest, his arms so tight around him it made his ribs cry out.

"Oh my god, baby, really?! Are you serious?!" Duff gasped into his hair, and he had finally stopped spinning them around but he still had Slash in his death grip, his feet high off the ground. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he heard Duff mumbling over and over, and he gripped him back just as tightly.

"I love you so much," Duff whispered shakily, pressing his face into the crook of Slash's neck and sniffling loudly, then a single sob broke free. "I love you so fucking much, Slash."

"Don't hog him, Michael," Alice said, and her own voice sounded strained. Duff reluctantly lowered him to his feet, wiping quickly at his eyes, then he just stared down at Slash in shock. He leaned down and pressed a wet kiss to Slash's mouth, his hands clutching the sides of his face, and Slash could feel them shaking, then he pulled away.

"Come here, hun," Alice said and then pulled him into a hug, her grip just as tight as her youngest sons. "I think you've broken my son," she whispered jokingly into his ear, making Slash laugh wetly. When they parted he looked over to Duff to see him crouched on the ground, his head in his hands as he silently cried into them. He shot a concerned look to Alice, who smiled warmly and rubbed his arm gently. "Happy tears, hun. You've made my son one happy man."

Once the shock wore off and everyone had calmed down they all sat back down again, except this time Duff tugged Slash onto his lap and refused to let him go, his arms wrapped around his waist and both hands resting on his stomach. Duff hadn't said much, just clutched Slash to his body and gripped him tight, his face still showing the shock he felt. It was more than Slash could have ever asked for and he was so overwhelmed with how happy he was right at that moment. He couldn't get the smile off his face for the life of him.

"When did you find out?" Alice asked.

"A little over a week ago," he said sheepishly, "I've been trying to figure out the best time to say it," he said shyly, looking down at Duff's hands on his stomach.

Duff finally spoke up. "That's why you haven't been drinking," he said, his voice awed with realisation.

"Or smoking," Slash said regretfully. "Went cold turkey as soon as I had the pregnancy confirmed, but my God, I've been craving a cigarette."

"I'll quit with you," Duff said, holding him even tighter, resting his chin on his shoulder. "We're in this together."

"Now that's love," Matt said, laughing.