AN 1: This is my very first crossover fic! I'm so excited and I hope you'll love it as much as I do. And don't forget to let me know what you think of it.

AN 2: This fic was supposed to be ArwenLalaith's birthday gift but I couldn't finished it without her help. I know, it's kinda like asking the birthday girl to wrap her own presents but if it wasn't for her, this fic wouldn't have been finished so quickly. So, thanks a lot buddy! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D I'm really glad you liked it.

...

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!"

"Bye! Be careful, honey!"

Derek and Emily stood by the window in the front room, looking out, watching their sixteen year old daughter leave for the mall with her friends to search for the perfect prom dress. It seemed like only yesterday that they'd first brought her home and, all of a sudden, she was all grown up and ready to fly. Emily had always known that sooner or later they were going to have to let her go, but she couldn't help hoping that time would pass a little slower so she could have more time with her daughters.

As if reading her mind, Derek wrapped his arms around her from behind and spoke up, "It's amazing how fast they grow up, huh?"

"Yeah," she smiled softly, leaning against him. "It seems just like yesterday when we set up the nursery for her..."

"I know," he smiled, "Sometimes when I look at her, I can still see that little girl who is small enough to stand on my feet during the daddy-daughter dances."

"The house is so quiet without them..." Emily commented, after standing in the same spot in silence for several moments.

"Mm-hmm," he murmured, pressing soft kisses along the column of her throat.

"What are you doing?" She turned around in his arms, giving him a pointed look. "The girls could come home any time."

"No, they won't," Derek argued, "Lux just left, Jodi is at a friend's birthday party, it'll hours before they come home. Remember the things we used to do around the house before we had them?" he asked in the low, sexy voice that always made her blush.

"You'd think by now, I'd get use to that sexy voice."

"I'm glad you didn't..."

...

"Help me tie up the back?" Lux asked, reaching in vain for the strings hanging down the back of the dress.

Tasha threaded the strings in a zig-zag down her spine. "I like it," she said definitively.

Lux hummed consideringly. "I don't know..." she said eventually. She twirled in front of the full-length mirror, the bright lights glinting off the beaded decorations of the pale pink dress.

Tasha sighed dramatically. "Come on, Lux, you must've tried on a hundred dresses already. We've been to every store in this mall. How do you not know? It looks gorgeous."

"It just doesn't feel right." She cocked her head to the side and frowned. "I just think when it's the right one, I'll know."

"Get over yourself," Tasha scoffed good-naturedly, "It's not like it's your wedding dress." She punctuated the statement with an exaggerated eye roll.

"I saw that." With one last twirl, she sighed, "Do you know which one you're getting?"

"I think the green one, but my mom wants to give the okay on any final decision." She quickly changed the subject, demanding, "Try on the purple one."

Lux shut herself in the change-room and attempted to wriggle out of the dress she had on.

Through the door, Tasha called, "Your parents are really just going to let you pick out your dress without even seeing it first?"

She nodded, her mouth covered by the mass of purple fabric pressed against her face as she pulled the new dress over her head. "Yeah," she added when she realized her nod couldn't be seen through the door.

"Your parents are so cool... You're so lucky."

Lux smiled. "Yeah, they're pretty awesome."

...

With a little persuasion, Tasha finally managed to convince Lux that the pink dress was perfect, though it took a further half-hour of consideration before she ultimately decided to buy the dress. By that time, though, Tasha was a little exasperated, antsy to get home before her parents got annoyed.

"We're never getting out of here," Tasha grumbled as they meandered through the throngs of families, couples, strollers, and single shoppers that clogged the mall, attempting to get to the parking lot.

"You're so dramatic," Lux smiled slightly, nudging her friend.

"It's not drama if it's true," Tasha argued.

"Quit being such a princess," Lux scoffed.

They were so embroiled in their conversation that they didn't see the woman, overladen with shopping bags, headed straight for them.

"Lux, look..." Tasha started to warn, but her cautioning came a second too late as Lux ran right into the woman. "...out," she finished lamely.

Lux stumbled backwards, barely avoiding falling. The woman also lost her balance, her shopping bags tumbling to the ground, spilling their contents. "Oh my gosh," Lux exclaimed, "I'm so sorry!" She quickly pulled the lady up and began helping her pick up her things from the ground.

"No worries," the woman smiled, collecting her posessions, "I wasn't being very careful myself." Then, she did a double-take, staring at Lux for a few moments, studying her features.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable under the woman's intense stare, Lux asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No," she shook her head, "I just thought you looked familiar, like someone I might know..." She smiled her thanks, taking her things from Lux, then extending a hand. "I'm Cate, by the way."

"Lux."

"Lux?" Cate frowned. "Interesting name. Your parents must be pretty cool."

"They are," the young girl smiled.

"Lux, my mom is gonna flip out if we don't get home soon," Tasha interrupted. "Can we go?"

"We have to go," Lux smiled, "Nice to meet you." She got to her feet, bounding after her friend who was already half-way down the hall. With one last backward glance towards where the woman was still standing where she'd stumbled, watching Lux's retreating figure, Lux flashed a smile, silently wondering why the woman was so focused on her.

...

It was late in the afternoon, Emily and Derek were in bed and he spooned behind her, holding her tightly, enjoying the afterglow of their love making. He gently kissed the nape of her neck. "Is everything okay, baby?" he asked when he heard her sigh.

She turned in his arms and smiled softly. "Everything is perfect." She kissed him gently, trailing her fingers up and down his biceps. "I think you just tired me out," she murmured, "I must be getting old."

"Old? You?" he laughed, "Never. We're just that awesome together. Remember the first time we made love?"

"How could I forget?" she smiled, burying her face in his chest. Then, she sighed again.

"There is something else, isn't there?"

"You read me like a book," she commented; then, she continued, "I was just wondering if we should tell Lux the truth now..."

"I thought we agreed to tell her when she turns eighteen."

"We did, but lately I've just had a feeling that we maybe should let her know sooner. Would she hate us if she knew she isn't our own?" she asked, fear and worry swirling in her eyes. "What if when she knows she doesn't want to have anything to do with us? What should we do? Will Jodi hate us too?"

"Sweetheart," he breathed, "Stop. You're going to drive yourself crazy with all these questions. I don't know the answers either, but everything is gonna be fine. Lux knows we love her; even if we didn't make her, she is still our baby."

"You're right," Emily smiled, "I'm just being paranoid, I guess."

"I know how I can make you feel better..." Derek grinned and leaned in to kiss her hungrily.

She let herself indulge for a moment and melt into his kiss. Then, with all her discipline, she pushed him away, earning a disappointed groan from him. "The girls will be home soon. I have to make dinner." She giggled softly, kissing him lightly. "Maybe tonight? After the girls go to bed?"

"Then you better prepare something hearty because we're going to need the strength..." he quipped, causing her to laugh warmly.