Meet the Roccograndis

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca was glad to have a few moments alone. She wasn't used to so many people talking around her, and though they were nice she felt out of place. Their small conversations didn't include her, which she was grateful for mostly because it meant she had the opportunity to be quiet, but it also meant she couldn't talk even if she wanted to. Well, she could.. but that wasn't Rebecca. She had never been good at including herself in chit chat. That was Maxi's thing.

Rebecca did her business and then washed her hands, looking at herself in the mirror for a long time. She had done her hair and makeup today, something she didn't often do. She had made herself presentable for these people, and they seemed to like her. Why, though? Why had she done this? Changed herself for Jack.. Because she cared about him. She knew it was the only reason she could do this, her fear of losing him. When had she turned into that pathetic girl who changed herself for her boyfriend? It didn't sit well with her. She didn't like how attached she had grown to him, but the thought of ending it because of that frightened her. She'd broken up with him before, only to revoke her decision the next day when he made amends for whatever had upset her so much, and often it wasn't even his fault. She gazed into her own eyes wondering what it was he saw in her that made him want to introduce her to his family? She had vowed earlier to be kinder, to try, but she hadn't done so yet. It was a mystery for her to solve another time. As it was she'd wasted enough time looking at herself, and decided it was time to face the music. Again.

The group welcomed her back which felt strange to her. She'd only just run to the bathroom, and when her eyes landed on Jack he only smiled at her, as if to tell her everything was okay. They'd talked about her, that much she knew, but she supposed it was all good. She eased back into the flow of lunch and she ate her dessert heartily, adding into conversation when she was expected to, but little else. The group backed off some, which she was grateful for, glad to not be answering so many questions about herself. Before she knew it lunch was over and they were heading to the front of the hotel. Everyone hugged her farewell and she did her best to relax into their affections, offering her own in return. “It was so nice to meet you, dear.” Jack's mom said softly in her ear and she felt the hair at the nape of her neck rise. It was a hug only a mother could deliver, and it comforted her and made her uneasy all at the same time. "You too." She said back gently, giving a nervous smile when the woman pulled back.

As they walked back to the car Jack reached for her hand, and her first instinct was to tug it away, but she stopped herself and allowed him to hold it. “So what did you think of them?” He asked and she bit her bottom lip, rolling her shoulders. "They were nice." She said, not really in the mood to be probed after the last hour and a half. "I felt like I was on a confession stand, though." She admitted, looking at him nervously. "They ask a lot of questions." They got to her car and she unlocked it, moving to the drivers side and breaking their hands apart. She looked around before getting in, checking for witnesses to their affections, but when she was sure no one of importance had saw, she slipped in. "Did you have fun, uncle Jack?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Rebecca rolled her shoulders in response to his question, but she knew that answer wouldn’t satisfy Jack. “They were nice. I felt like I was on a confession stand, though.” He grinned and shook his head at her exaggeration. A few well meant questions left her feeling like she was fessing up to her crimes…she was so paranoid sometimes. “They ask a lot of questions.” He supposed it was a lot of questions, but Jack had the distinct feeling she had played the number of questions up in her head, too. But instead of being peeved by it, he found it rather endearing. It was Rebecca’s way to avoid answering questions and she had done a remarkable job answering them today, despite her reluctance to do so. Jack climbed into the passenger’s seat, releasing Rebecca’s hand in order to do so. He didn’t see her wary look around the area, but he knew she still wasn’t comfortable with those public displays of affection. It would take time and Jack was a patient man.

When Rebecca climbed in the car, he watched her get set behind the wheel. “Did you have fun, Uncle Jack?” Now he grinned from ear to ear at Rebecca, looking out the windshield as he slipped his seatbelt into place. “Yeah…I can’t believe Izzy’s pregnant. I can’t believe I’m going to have a niece or nephew.” He imagined Izzy holding a newborn baby, the motherly glow that would be in her smile as she rocked her child slowly. It only made him grin wider, his heart swelling slightly. He wondered if he’d ever feel the happiness of holding a newborn son or daughter. Would Rebecca want children? They hadn’t been together long enough for Rebecca to answer such a question, but he silently mulled it over. “She’ll be a good mom. And her husband is great. I have a feeling this is just the first of many nieces and nephews I’m going to have.” Jack smiled at Rebecca again as she backed up and heading away from the Remington.

He could see her relaxing a little now and he reached out to take her hand again. Bringing it to his lips, he looked over her fingers at her. “You did a good job. They loved you. Andy and my mom were raving about you when you went to the bathroom. Izzy is quiet on her opinions of people, but I could tell she really liked you too.” He kissed her fingers again, his scratchy beard tickling her fingers as he did so before he let their hands lower to the console between them, their fingers laced. “So how should I thank you for braving my very scrutinizing family? Beer? Pizza? Foot rub?” His thumb swept over her knuckles playfully. “Something else?”he asked coyly, a grin spreading across his face.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

“Yeah…I can’t believe Izzy’s pregnant. I can’t believe I’m going to have a niece or nephew.” Rebecca wished she could relate with that thought, but she'd known for a long time she would never be an aunt. Unless, of course, through marriage. Even then it wouldn't feel like hers, it would feel like a child that could be taken away from hr if she were to separate from her significant other. Rebecca peaked over at Jack as the thought of Izzy having a baby. Would that kid maybe one day call her aunt Becky? The thought made her feel flush all over, thinking about Jack as her husband. The thought had crossed her mind before, but their relationship still seemed so young even considering how long they'd known each other. It had been a little over a year ago that they'd partnered up on that Montgomery case. "She’ll be a good mom. And her husband is great. I have a feeling this is just the first of many nieces and nephews I’m going to have.” Jack smiled at Rebecca and she offered a weak grin in return, trying to show how happy she was for him, if not maybe a little jealous. Plus her feelings were confusing at the moment. "Well, with two kid sisters, you probably will end up with a few." She said not really knowing what else to say.

Rebecca drove out of the parking lot, feeling Jack's hand slip into hers. She didn't look at him, but allowed his digits to wrap around hers, slowly, shutting her hand around his. She gulped, the sensation of Jack's lips grazing the soft flesh making her stomach twist in that delicious way that only Jack was capable of. “You did a good job. They loved you. Andy and my mom were raving about you when you went to the bathroom. " She briefly looked at him from the corner of her eye. Only her mom and Andy? "Izzy is quiet on her opinions of people, but I could tell she really liked you too.” His beard tickled her hand, and again she felt lost for words. Did she care about their approval? A huge part of her wanted to scoff and say of course not, but she could only lie to herself for so long. She cared. She wanted them to like her, she wanted to be accepted. It was stupid, because Rebecca hadn't cared about people accepting her since middle school, unless you counted her career. She wanted people to accept her there, but only based on her intelligence and skills. Still, a part of her was warmed knowing that she had passed this stupid test that every girlfriend needed to pass, a test that Jack was fortunate enough not to ever have to endure, not while dating her anyway. "Well, I guess that's good news." She said feeling strange about the whole thing. Her thoughts were mixed up and conflicting, hating that she needed their approval, not wanting to care, but relieved they liked her.

“So how should I thank you for braving my very scrutinizing family? Beer? Pizza? Foot rub?” This was the part she'd been waiting for; payback. The smile crept up her lips a little as she nodded slowly. “Something else?” he asked coyly, and she actually peered over at him. "D: all the above." She answered wickedly, turning back to the road as her cheeks flushed pink. "You don't have to be interrogated by my family, so you getting off easy means you have to pay severely." She teased, "And I intend to get whats due to me." And with that she felt her stomach squirm again, knowing full well that Jack would take care of her in any way she wanted.

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