The Grahams, as they were now to be known to the world, were early risers as a general rule, but the blue light leaking into their bedroom was a surprise and unwelcomed sight. Bethany was curled within his loose grasp, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy at the ease in which she slept. He had awoken her a half an hour into slumber as she had requested and waited in spurts of tense awareness for another four alarm fire. Just when he had trusted that she was content, and let himself relax, it felt like the sun was tainting his usual morning disposition. In other words, Beckett was grumpy. He flipped the light blue sheets back on the rumpled side of his bed and took a glance over at her cascade of dark amber hair flowing over her pillow. She looked so peaceful. He did his very best to keep her that way by creeping like a thief into the adjoining bathroom. A huge yawn and a shuffling of hands through his hair helped wake him a bit. He had to grab a set of clothes from the nearby closet. The mirror wasn't very kind, especially in the semi-darkness. The shadows under his eyes looked like wells. He began the process of brushing his teeth. The shower may awaken the sensitive ears in the next room. Afterward, he slipped out of the bathroom, when he heard her stir.

"Hey," she mumbled, stretching like a cat. "Don't go," she held out her hand to him. Beckett came closer to her.

"I'll be back. I've got to take Dougal out," he explained. Bets held onto his fingers sweetly and pouted her lips with closed eyes.

"We can go together," she began to push herself up even while her body silently protested. She had no idea how she captivated him. He squeezed her hand and held her still.

"I'll be right back, you rest." he whispered. "I'll bring some coffee. We've got a bit of time before you have to go into work." she slumped back into the pillow still watching him through her partially closed eyes.

"You'll hurry back?" she asked sweetly.

"You won't even notice I'm gone," he replied, gently opening the bedroom door to almost trip over a lump of Dougal right as he propelled forward. "Oof," Dougal scrambled out of the way and rushed to his leash and the door.

Bethany was a Visual Merchandiser for H&M, and even though she had been with the company for a healthy eight years, her income was still about $55k. She had started to freelance online for a bit of fun, and found she was actually quite good at it. Bethany shined wherever she went. She had paid off all of her student loans, didn't have a car payment and was a thrifty saver. He didn't worry about anything financially. He was the owner of several well established restaurants in Detroit, and had a wealth of people willing to capitalize on his knowledge base and his good looks in the world of television. Beckett had friends from all over the world in all aspects of life. Their union was fairly close to perfect with the exception of the whole Exorcist event last night. That was not for the faint hearted! He began whistling contentedly as he led Dougal back homeward.

It was so nice to know that she would be there when he came home. When the two gents came up the three steps to the door, and walked inside, he heard Bets call out to him. He went to greet her after unleashing the dog.

"I don't really want coffee," she said lazily from the bed. He came over to her side and she turned toward him.

"What do you want? I don't have much..." he replied looking down at her.

"Just...like fiftee, twenty minutes, " she leaned up and let the sheet fall off of her body as she kissed him, drawing him down into the bed. He was kissing her back and drawing her closer, nuzzling her collarbone, when he felt Dougal jump up onto the other side of the bed and lie down. "Shower," she sighed with an airy giggle.." a fifteen to twenty minute shower," she kissed him again. He lifted her out of the bed and into the bathroom shutting the door with his foot. With stealthy fingers, she was pulling his shirt off and pushing off his jeans. Hormones were a scary thing. She found herself wanting a baby in a way that she never thought she'd want anything, and not just any baby, Beckett's baby. The water splashed on and in a haphazard way, they both fumbled into the shower. Bethany looked up at him in a sense of awe and reached up to brush the water from his face.

"What's wrong," he asked with concern. She shook her head.

"I want a baby," she whispered with a small but genuine smile. She could tell she had surprised him.

"A baby?? You're sure??" he asked with a delicate drawl. She was always convicted. He knew this as sure as he knew himself. She nodded without hesitation. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Okay," he leaned down and sealed the decision with a kiss. "In five, four....three," Bethany started laughing as he kissed her again on a mission.

Dougal hadn't moved from his spot on Beckett's side of the bed. Bethany had forgotten that she didn't bring any business clothes with her, so had to improvise with one of Beckett's white dress shirts tucked into a pair of light blue dress pants that she'd left in his closet after a dinner date with one of his television producers three months prior. And....she didn't have her car. He didn't forget this, and was already prepared to drive her.

Work was only a fifteen minute drive from Beckett's. There were bonuses she hadn't even thought of to this whole marriage arrangement. He pulled up to the entrance of the Woodward store and she quickly leaned over to kiss him goodbye.

"Six?" he asked. She nodded before stepping out of the car and giving him a backward wave as she fast walked through the front doors.

He headed to the grocery store to gather some much needed sustenance and a refilling of the larders. He was supposed to meet with a few executives of his upcoming show, but that wouldn't be until later. It was time enough to shop and drop the things at home, and give Dougal some one-on- one. He considered having a talk about boundaries during their afternoon walk, not that it would actually make a difference. Dougal was pretty single minded. Beckett sighed. He also had to make sure that his mother would be able to watch the dog again for their experience weekend.

 This was actually a two-fer for him. The network told him that he could use some of the footage from their interactive food experience in one of the episodes of the show that they were filming. He figured that no one would be upset about being on television for a few moments.

The evening would be there before they all knew it. He pulled into the grocery store parking lot...and mentally prepared the meal he planned for the evening when everyone was together again. No doubt everyone would be unwilling to cook, be hungry, and probably a bit crabby. No one liked to pack, especially when it came to moving.

He picked up all the regular staples, some special treats for the dog, Mai and Re'em, and some special touches for the meal. Becks knew he only had so much time, and it was running out. Looked like Dougal was going to be a disappointed pooch again. He spent most of that time in line, and packing up the car before he continued on out of the parking lot and headed down the road for the return trip home. So many construction cones, so little construction work actually happening. Welcome to Michigan.

Beckett quickly pulled into his parking spot and took the lazy man's load of groceries out of the car. No one liked multiple trips. If they said they did, they were lying. Record ten bags on each arm. Champion! He raced up the walk, threw open the door, and, ordered, "Dougal, back up!" to which Big Red knew to do and quickly. Becks put all the groceries away and Dougal was waiting by his leash. They both finished their afternoon walk with earnest, and without much talking. By the time that he got back home, it was already time for him to head to the meeting. 

By the time that his meeting was over, it would be time to pick up Bethany and head over to her apartment. He shook his head. There was a certain level of satisfaction to a schedule staying on track. It was also quite restraining. 

He wanted a nap. He really felt that deep in his soul.