Chapter Text
It wasn’t long after the incident everything settled down, they had been in worse situations before so this one wasn’t even top 10. They were chilling on the couch when Shaw’s phone rang.
“Yes.”
“Is that how you answer your phone? I thought I taught you manners”
“Mother”
“Try again”
“What?”
“I’ll call you again and this time it better be a polite young woman answering the phone”
“What Mo-“
Shaw looked at the screen then up a Root who was trying not to laugh.
RING RING
“Mom”
BEEP BEEP BEEP
“She just hung up, again” Shaw looked somewhere between amused and angry.
RING RING
“Hello Sameen Shaw speaking”
“YES much better Love”
“Right… so what did you want mom?”
“David and I want to invite you to dinner”
“Yes cuz last time went so well”
“Sameen… this time will be different, his sons will be there…a family dinner”
“For me or Root” Shaw joked
“Sameen!”
Before Shaw could reply Root snatched the phone from her hand.
“Atefeh we would love to come, when is it?” Root asked
“Oh that’s wonderful Honey, It’s on Sunday at 18(6pm)”
“Great, see you there!” Root managed to yell as Shaw took the phone back and hung up.
“Root!”
“It’s your mother, Shaw”
“But Dave’s kids are there too…”
“So?”
Shaw shook her head “We have the weirdest family reunions”
Then Root got that look in her eyes, the Machine was talking to her.
“We have to go.” Root said
“Whatever it is I’ll handle it alone or with John” Shaw replied getting ready to stand.
“I would honestly prefer that too sweetie but She say I’m needed for this, you and John are only 76,98% likely to succeed if I don’t come along” Root answered.
“That is good enough for me”
“Yeah I’m sure it is sweetie but this is about mass Child abduction and trafficking.”
“…”
“Yeah that was my reaction as well”
“Root, as much as I’d like to help these kids, ours are more important”
“How can you even say that? 200 kids have been taken so far”
“How can you not? Kids die every day and that is awful but they aren’t our kids, and I’m not going to risk our babies for strangers.” Shaw argued.
“Strangers? They are children Shaw. No one in that ‘shipment’ are more than 10 years old” Root all but yelled. Pregnancy was making her soft.
Shaw got that look now, the dark one that was a final warning.
Shaw stepped closer to Root, as close as the belly allowed her. She then placed one hand on Root’s stomach and with the other she gently tilted Root’s chin down so they were making eye contact, before softly saying.
“Root, I will break both of your legs and drag you to the bed if you don't stand down”
Root had no doubt that Shaw would actually hurt her to keep her and the babies safe. She had to concede this battle.
“Fine, but I want my strong protest noted for the record.” She huffed as she turned to walk into the kitchen.
She just needed to get away.
The mission was longer and more difficult than The Machine had let them know and Root not being there meant more work for both Shaw and John.
In the end they both got hurt, John broke a few ribs and his left arm while Shaw split her eyebrow, broke her ring and middle finger on her right hand… and much to her own embarrassment and Root’s entertainment… she dislocated her hip.
So in the end they ended up at Atefeh’s place with Root pushing a fuming Shaw in a wheelchair.
Root, despite not sleeping well with Shaw gone, looked beautiful. She was wearing a dark green dress.
Where did she even shop? Shaw wondered.
Shaw however, looked like she had been dead for seven days, and David wasted not time telling her.
“You look like you did a crime last night” he said in lieu of a greeting.
“I did” Shaw smirked up at Root from her seat in the wheelchair. “She’s a criminal”
“David” Atefeh said
“Shaw!” Root said at the same time embarrassed… even if it was true.
Someone cleared their throat from behind.
Atefeh and David moved to the side to reveal to tall men.
The first one was a bit shorter than the other, around Root’s height. He had dark curly hair that was placed in a stylish mob on top of his head. He was wearing a soft blue three-piece suit with a blue floral tie and dark brown leather shoes. All in all he was a handsome man Root noted.
The second one was the tallest in the room standing somewhere around 191cm(6.3 Feet) tall. He had less hair than his brother but a thick beard instead he was wearing a black polo shirt and black pants, all in all boring.
“Hey nice to meet you” the second spoke first “My name is James”
Ah Root realized, he was the older brother, which explained so much about his appearance.
“And I’m Peter” the younger one said moving over to give Root a hug, which she carefully accepted.
While eating the made the necessary small talk and Root and Shaw both pretended to be interested. Root did better than Shaw.
Peter was a costume designer, working primarily for HBO. He had a boyfriend Elliot and a Pit-bull named Courage because he was afraid of everything.
James worked for the IRS, yes really, he was some sort of accountant or analyst or something… everyone stopped listing after he said IRS. He was engaged to a woman named Vanessa and they were expecting a baby in 7 months.
Root told them about their jobs… well their fake once anyway.
After diner Shaw wheeled her self out on the patio to enjoy the fresh air for a moment when she heard the door open and close behind her.
“So… we are probably going to be siblings by the end of the summer or something.” Peter said.
Shaw didn't reply.
Then there was some light rustling and the sound of a lighter. She looked over at Peter.
“Oh I’m sorry how rude of me-” He said passing her the joint “You want a hit?”
And just like that Shaw already disliked him less.
“You smoke at family dinners?” She asked taking the joint.
“WHAT are you doing?” they heard a voice behind them.
They were both relieved to see James.
Shaw feared it was Root.
Peter feared it was David.
“Oh get your balls out of your purse and join us.” Peter laughed.
Wow Shaw thought she had now gone from dislike to indifferent in less than ten minutes.
And join them James did.
“You are hard to read you know” James said to Shaw passing her the joint.
“I’m not a book” Shaw replied.
They managed to smoke the whole thing without getting caught when they were finally called into the living room.
“So I’m sure you all know the reason we called you here…” David said “Atefeh and I wanted our closet family gathered to tell you…”
“We are getting married” Atefeh interrupted with a happy smile.
Great both Root and Shaw thought for different reasons.