Derek chuckled a bit. "That's true. Plants to age better. At least we know you'll live a long, happy life." He saw that as a positive. Xavia had the opportunity to watch her children grow old too. "I'm guessing you're age like fine wine."

"No, honey, don't say that," Derek stood up and quickly wrapped his arms around her. "You don't know what the future holds, Xavia. He could come back...then again he could not, but that's not for you to worry about."

"Holding on and waiting hurts too much." She said. And she had said it before and meant it. So why was it so hard to let go? Possibly the guilty feeling she harbored in having left the way she did. She had a thing about running away when things were getting so comfortable... But last time hadn't been like that on purpose, sher dad was dying and she had been under contract to tour... By the time she was sure she was pregnant, she swore she would call and tell him, but then her dad passed away and everything had been a hot mess!

"I try to move on," she said, "It is lonely waiting for him. Everyt'ing messed up. I just want to feel him hold me and he is gone. And I keep waiting. Soon be five years. And now I feel guilty for wanting to move on..."

Derek had never really felt that kind of love before. He never really had that connection with someone before. He bit the inside of his lip and gently stroked her back to comfort not only his mentor, but his friend.

"Xavia, you shouldn't feel guilty! I'm sure he would understand!" Derek whispered, "...we need to get you back in the wing of things for you to just...relax. How about a day at the spa. My treat and no hot rocks." He grinned and slowly pulled away from her to give the woman her space.

"Never been to spa before." She said truthfully. Girl needed that R&R it seemed. "Okay. No hot oil eit'er." And then she turned around to give her new best friend a hug. This was really weird having close friends... She tended to keep people at arm's length most times.

After ther brief hug, she went to go drink that tepid tea.

Derek returned the hug. "And no hot oil. We don't want to turn you into a fried pickle." He teased before letting her go. Derek followed her into the kitchen again to get her tea and sat down on the barstool. He ate another one of his cookies and sighed.

"I better leave some for Delilah when she wakes up again, huh?" He had a thing for eating things when he had nothing else to do. "Are you comin' back anytime soon? I'm more than capable of bein' a sub."

"I will as soon as my morning sickness isn't all day sickness," she sighed. Mama, having heard Derek talking about the cookies, grabbed the remainder to stash away before sliding black bean brownies toward him. If he ate one, it would be hard to tell these were healthy.

"T'is baby has me feeling horrid. No denying I am pregnant no how much I wish to try." She gave a heavy sigh and rubbed at her stomach. "Delilah didn't make me feel like t'is."

"Deal," Derek turned his head to look at Mama and smiled at her, "thank you," He looked at the brownies before picking on up and took a bite. He didn't even ask what was in them even though he had a peanut allergy. Oh, well. "Mm, this is pretty good." He complimented before turning to look at Xavia.

"Maybe," Derek swallowed, "maybe this one will be a mutant right from birth. Is that how it usually works?"

"Black bean brownies are good." She said and resisted the urge to pick one up. Sugar was sugar and the only sugar she wanted right now was from a certain ginger. But that was besides the point.

"Or maybe it will just be a healt'y normal baby boy. Will you go wit' me to ultrasounds? Doctor offices and labs frighten me..."

She finished sipping her tea out of the dainty China cup with the pink and yellow roses, then moved to put it in the sink to wash later, going to the fridge and grabbing a jar of dill pickles. It was no craving, she just liked pickles whether pregnant or not.

She sat back down and crunched cheerfully at the tangy cucumber. They were home made pickles, too! There were grape leaves at the bottom of the jar to keep them from getting slimy, and there were whole pieces of dill, and sliced onion packed in with the spears.

"T'ese are my favorite."

Derek nodded his head in agreement. "They ar-- hold up," he looked at Xavia with a raised eyebrow, "these are what now?" He didn't know what she said, but he thought he heard "black bean brownies". However, the taste didn't match the name.

"What?!" Derek gasped, "Of course! I'll go with you! It'll be an honor." His heart was warmed by Xavia's invitation. "Uncle Der Der will make sure mommy gets to the ultrasound." He whispered down at Xavia's stomach. And yes, Derek just made himself an uncle.

Derek watched Xavia eat the pickles and chuckled a bit. "Would you like me to get you some ice cream?"

"T'ose are made wit' black beans instead of flour. I got recipe for Mama not long ago. Divine, no?" He probably wouldn't have had a clue had she not said something. "Good protein since I stay away from soy." She did not elaborate, it was no secret she was a bit of a health fanatic... She didn't live for the work out or the diet, however, she just liked to feel good and healthy.

"T'at sounds gross." She said casually as she took another bite of pickle. "I tend to crave tomato and mayo sandwich if I crave."

Derek's eyes turned down to the half eaten brownie square in his hand, then back at Xavia's face. He slowly began chewing again. "It's good, just a lil' shockin'." He chuckled a bit and finished it off with a smile on his face. "You're better than me. I should care more about my health, but I don't." He shrugged his shoulders and grabbed another brownie.

"It is, but pregnant woman around here like that kind of thing," he paused, "or at least that's what I've been told. Don't take my word for it."

"It helps to keep my mind focused," sometimes, she added silently. She took another pickle out of the jar and crunched on it. "I eat t'ese all the time, but not interested in dipping into ice cream. Just sounds so gross." She wrinkled her nose at that thought.

"Besides, not'ing like fresh tomato from garden, cut up and put on pumpernickel bread... Mmmm, mmm!"

"Mm, it does sound nasty," Derek smirked and took a bite out of the brownie and smiled at Xavia. "...I'm sure a certain, hot Scotsman can keep you focused." He teased, wiggling his eyebrows. He was going to forever tease Kimmie about her like for Artair. "I don't blame you, he sure did keep my focused when I met him. Gods, that laugh of his. The next time you see him, call him Mierda for me.


"I've head a tomato sandwich. is it really that good? Just bread and a slice of tomato?" Derek asked with a raised eyebrow. He ran his fingers over the countertop and sighed.

"Have to admit, have been t'inking of him since we met. Kind of... Weird for me. Just t'e way he tried so hard not to hurt me when he took care of my burns. And he didn't try anyt'ing funny." She closed the pickle jar and put it away, then moved to make a few tomato sandwiches... "Here..." She grabbed a tomato off the counter, sliced it, sliced some bread, added some vegan mayo and a tiny bit of dijon mustard.

She put one on a plate for him and one for her, then cleaned up the mess. "I do kind of get weird in tummy around him... Not morning sickness but butterflies. I only felt t'at for Jupiter."

Derek chewed on his bottom lip and studied Xavia. They had a lot in common, the two of them. Both had powers that focused on the natural world, more specially nature. They both longed to be loved by a man and they both carried a lot of baggage.

...And they both liked the same guy.

Now, Derek knew that he should probably keep things professional between him and Artair, but after their first mini mission together, it was hard. No pun intended. In all seriousness, Xavia deserved Artair way more than Derek did. She needed arms around her more than Derek will ever understand.

Derek was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear Xavia when she offered him the sandwich.

"Oh, thank you," Derek quickly snapped out of it and picked up the sandwich, [color="you aren't tryin' to turn me vegan are you?" He asked in a raised eyebrow. Derek looked at the sandwich before taking a healthy bite of it. After a bit of chewing, he swallowed. "Hm, it is pretty good." He smiled at Xavia before putting it down.

He readjusted himself on the barstool and sighed contently. "Maybe this is your sign to go for it." Derek suggested. "There's nothin' really holdin' you back except yourself."

Yep, I need to move on. Plus, there's always Devon. Gods, the supermodel could charm the pants off of anyone... Derek thought to himself.