Welcome To The Family

**Nik's POV**

Valary is supposed to find out who the baby's father is today and to be honest, I'm not thrilled about either possibility. It's not that either of the guys have screwed up since that night...it's just the whole situation in general is messed up.

"They are here" Debbie says while looking out the window and I grit my teeth...I guess we should get this over with. Matt walks in holding Michelle's hand and Val waddles in with her arm linked with Brian's. Everyone is smiling and happy and I was almost positive someone was going to be sobbing at this point.

"So?" I say and quirk an eyebrow at them.

"Val's baby is mine" Brian says with a huge grin and she leans over and kisses his cheek.

'Huh, that's a weird way to say who the dad is...why would he need to say Val's baby like there might be another person present currently... with child' I think to myself but shake it off and congratulate the two of them.

I look over at Michelle and Matt and they looked beyond happy and that worries me...something is up and I have a feeling a bombshell is going to be dropped any minute.

Matt taps me on the shoulder and asks if he can speak to me alone for a minute.

..this should be interesting.

**Matt's POV**

I whisper to Michelle that I would like to talk to her dad alone and she gives me a bewildered look. "Are you going to tell him about the baby?" she whispers into my ear and I shake my head no.

I tap Nik on the shoulder and say with as much courage as I can muster, "Hey Nik, do you mind if I speak to you alone for a minute?"

He kisses both his baby girls and motions to Debbie that we will be in the kitchen. When we enter the kitchen and he offers me a beer....my stomach is in my throat but I accept the liquid courage with a smile.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Nik asks in a stern voice, completely void of any humor...shit, maybe this was a bad idea.

I take a huge gulp of beer and gather every ounce of courage I have left in my body before I dare to speak to this intimidating man... who more than likely, hates my guts.

"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry... I know I never really got the chance to say it before for fear of being beaten to death but trust me when I say...I never meant to hurt anyone." I breath out and his expression softens slightly.

"Look Matt.." he begins but I'm not finished.

"No, please let me finish.." I beg and he motions for me to continue. "I know I can never take back all the pain that I have caused your family but I want to assure you that I never plan on doing it again. I love Michelle...and she loves me....and if you would even entertain the idea, I would like to ask your permission to marry her." I say and watch his mouth form a hard line.

Shit...he's mad!

**Nik's POV**

Is Matt fucking joking?! I already gave him my permission with Valary and look how that turned out...NO, NO WAY...NOT AGAIN!

"No!" I spit through gritted teeth and he looks genuinely hurt. Good... maybe now he can feel 1/10th the pain that he put me through.

"But.." he tries and I give him a 'don't dare and challenge me' look and he snaps his mouth shut. I quickly down the rest of my beer and push past him and head back into the living room.

I'm done with this conversation.

**Matt's POV**

Ugh, I'm so frustrated....he won't even hear me out! I wonder if I was in his shoes if I would though...probably not.

I finish the rest of my beer and renter the living room a few moments after Nik. Michelle looks at me and I can help but frown... I want to give her everything she's ever dreamed of and more, but I won't go behind her dad's back to do it...contrary to popular belief, I really don't have a death wish.

Val notices my frown immediately and glares at her father. I had told her early that I was going to ask her dad's permission.. again, and she jokingly wished me good luck because I was going to need it...the not so funny thing is...I really did need a miracle.

"What's going on? Why did everyone go from laughter and smiles to glares and frowns?" Debbie asks and I can see the worry in Michelle's expression.

"It's nothing...right Matt" Nik says with a dangerous undertone that sends a shiver down my spine.

"Yeah, I'm ok..." I reply half heartily because I can't muster any enthusiasm at this moment.

"Knock it off Dad!" Val shouts, "Why are you being a control freak again?!"

"I'm not being a control freak! I'm being a father!!" he screams back and Brian stands between the two of them temporally taking the pressure off me.

"Please don't yell at her like that" Brian says and Nik just scoffs.

"You know...I tried...I really tried to forgive and forget, but I just can't!" Nik growls, "Brian, I watched you screw over Michelle time and time again without even a hint of remorse and now...NOW, you think you are worthy to tell me how I can talk to my daughter?! The only reason I allow you near Valary is because your the father of my grandchild...make no mistake...I do NOT like you.." he says and shifts his eyes towards me, "..either of you! You both are on thin ice and act like we are all on the same page for what we want for my daughters futures..here's a news flash...we are not even close! I'm less than trilled that Val is having your baby Brian... and Matt you're fucking insane for asking me what you did in the kitchen!! If I had my say, I would erase you both from existence and smile because of it!!!" Nik screams and we all stand there slack jawed.

Val walks up and slaps her dad across the face and growls, "Tell us how you really feel, Dad!" and Brian grasps onto her arms gently and pulls her back towards his chest. "You can forget about being a part of your grandchild's life....both of them!!" she shouts and Michelle and I stir uncomfortably...this is not how we wanted to tell her parents.

"Both?" Debbie squeaks out with a confused expression.

I hold my breath in anticipation of the next blow but Michelle cuts in before Val has a chance to drop that bombshell, "I'm pregnant too...about 5 weeks" she says and Debbie gasps while Nik looks like he's going to blow a gasket any minute.

"Get out! ALL OF YOU...get the fuck out!!" Nik exclaims forcefully and I can see the hurt in both Val and Michelle's eyes at his dismissal.

I wrap my arm around Michelle and Brian mirrors my action to Val and we make our way outside as Debbie sobs in the doorway pleading with Nik to be reasonable... but her pleas fall on deaf ears.

I open the car door for Michelle before turning her towards me and placing a gentle kiss on her lips. She slides in the passenger's side and I do the same on the driver's side and start the engine. She reaches over and kills the ignition and I look at her with a puzzled expression.

"What did you say to my dad that set him off?" she asks sadly as tears fill her eyes.

"I asked for his permission to marry you" I say while tilting her chin to face me. She gasps loudly and I lean over and place my lips over hers.

When I pull away she looks like a mix of emotions...joy, shock, hurt, sorrow, excitement, and love.

"I'm guessing he said no" she replies sadly and I nod my head. Tears spill from her eyes and it breaks my heart to see her cry.

"I love you Michelle...you know that there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you so please tell me what I can do to make you happy." I beg as I kiss the tears away from her cheeks.

She sniffles back her tears and softly caress her thumb across my lower lip. "I just want to be with you...forever. You don't understand what it means to me that to were willing to face my dad just to follow tradition.. but Matt...I don't care about tradition...I care about you and our baby. So, if my dad wants to be like that then I say...screw his feeling and let's do whatever we want to do." Michelle says confidently and I tangle my hand in her hair and pull her lips to mine.

"In that case..you know what I want to ask you, right?" I mumble out into the kiss and feel her lips quirk into a smile.

She breaks the kiss and stares deeply into my hazel eyes and says, "I do"

My heartbeat quickens when those two words cross her lips, and I know without a doubt that I've never wanted anything more than to hear her repeat them at the alter.

I smile back at her, "Well then...future Mrs. Sanders....I know for a fact that Vegas is nice this time of year" and watch the utter look of excitement and joy cross her flawless face. I can't help but be overwhelmed by my love for her so I tease, "Are you ready to repeat those two words one more time?"

"I've never been more ready for anything in my life!" she beams.

Vegas here we come!

Notes

SHOTGUN WEDDING!!!!

What did you think of Nik's reaction?
Do you think Matt and Michelle will tell anyone their plans or just drive straight there and tell them afterwards?
How do you think Val and Brian are going to react?
If they aren't too traumatized.... anyone wishing for a double wedding in Vegas? ;)

LET ME KNOW!