Something I've seen for awhile and finally got around to writing it. Again it was one of those moments I was interested in seeing how Carter and Donovan acted as parents.

Enjoy! 😊

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The apartment was quiet. It was a quiet that said Kennedy's parents weren't home but right then that wasn't an issue that bothered her. She glanced at the boy next to her. He looked back, the edge of his mouth curling into a half-smile that said they were sharing a secret. When he shifted closer on the couch, his leg pressed against hers. Heat rushed through Kennedy, but she managed to keep her cool, aloof expression.

"Can you help me with this next problem?" Connor asked.

"Of course."

Kennedy leaned over, pointing to the problem and breaking down the logic behind it. As she twisted her head to make sure he understood, she found that their faces were closer than expected. For a breath, they hovered there, savoring the anticipation. Inside her chest, Kennedy felt her heart beating erratically.

Then Connor kissed her.

There was no wavering in the kiss, he knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted. Kennedy was startled by the certainty of it but found all her thoughts flying out of her head. The textbook clattered to the floor as Connor twisted, his hands reaching for her. Blood thundered in Kennedy's ears differently than on the training course.

As Connor pulled her towards him, she buried her hands in his hair. His hands moved around her waist slipping under the edge of her shirt. Every sensation was electrifying Kennedy, wiping out the world around them. All she knew right then was Connor.

It was for this reason that she didn't hear the door open.

Didn't register the two figures that walked in.

What she did hear was the door slamming closed.

She broke away from Connor with a start, heart pounding. When she looked across the way, her heartbeat was kicked up a notch. Her parents were staring at the tangled pair on the couch.

Where her mother was calm, almost to the point of indifference, her father was vibrating with anger. Kennedy put some distance between her and Connor. Beside her, Connor was surprised, but not regretful. An emotion that was soon to be all he felt.

Donovan crossed the living room in measured steps and yanked Connor off the couch. The boy yelped as Donovan gripped the back of his neck. As her father whispered something in the boy's ear, Kennedy watched as Connor's legs buckled. If it weren't for Donovan's hold, he would have collapsed. Finished, Donovan shoved Connor away. He stumbled, righted himself and bolted for the door, escaping.

Kennedy sank deeper into the cushions wishing she could do the same at the look in her father's eyes. Before Donovan could say anything, Carter stepped over to him. She carelessly ran a hand through his hair.

"Why don't you go punch something?" she said. "Preferably not the wall, we just had it painted." 

Even though Donovan left, Kennedy still felt like she could feel his anger. When she looked up at her mother, she was met with a controlled expression. It was worse than her father's anger. She wished her mother was furious, it would be easier to react to.

Carter sat down on the couch and kicked off her shoes and crossed her legs like this was an average day. Kennedy bit her lip, waiting for the rebuke, the disappointment. Instead, Carter leaned her elbow on the back of the couch and rested her head in her hand.

"Did you know, Cadet, that I was a surprise baby?" she asked.

This was not at all what Kennedy had expected her mother to say. And the information was something she couldn't have imagined. The bond between her grandfather and her mother was too strong.

"I didn't," she said.

Carter nodded. "Yup, I came a couple of months after my parents had been dating. And the thing is I know they took all the precautions so it wouldn't happen, but still, here I am." Her eyes landed on Kennedy, warm with affection. "So even with all the things out there to protect you, you never know what might happen. Some mistakes can't be unmade."

"But there is always abo-"

Carter raised a challenging eyebrow. "If they had taken that path I wouldn't be here. Which means you wouldn't be here." She tapped her daughter's nose. "I can't imagine a world without you in it, can you?"

Despite all the trouble, she knew she was in, Kennedy managed a weak smile. Carter's eyes softened.

"Sometimes being so smart means you believe there is always a way out of a bad situation but that isn't always true."

Kennedy felt her defenses rising, encouraged by the lack of anger in her mother's voice.

"But it just kinda happened," she said.

A flick of steel sparked in her mother's eyes and Kennedy caved into herself. But no outburst came.

"No, Kennedy, it did not just happen." She breathed out. "Let's look at it from a tactical standpoint. What was your environment? Who was the target? What was the target's mindset? Go."

Carter crossed her arms, waiting for her daughter's response. Kennedy let out a breath.

"Environment: an empty-" she swallowed, "apartment." She waited for her mother's pointed look, but Carter's manner was clinical, she gave nothing away. "The target: Connor, a teenage guy. Mindset: studying. Which has been known as his MO to get with girls."

After a pause, in which Carter let the facts sink in, she nodded.

"So tell me, Cadet, did this just happen?"

Kennedy knotted her fingers together. "No. It didn't."

"I know that a lot of people believe that things just happen, that there's no one to blame. But I know from years of working at the FBI that that isn't always the truth. A lot of situations could be avoided if people listened to their instincts and were more aware of what they were walking into. I don't want you to be the same way. Now, how could you have done this differently?"

Scrunching up her shoulders, Kennedy made a face. "I guess I could have asked Harrison to join so we wouldn't be alone."

Carter beamed on her daughter and in turn, Kennedy felt a knot in her stomach, wishing she hadn't even put herself in the current spot.

"Smart thinking. A good solution that only took a minimal change. Now let's go see how your father is doing."

Kennedy felt a sinking feeling in her gut, her father's anger still too fresh. As she rose, she stopped her mother.

"When did you..." She waved her hand vaguely. "You know."

Carter smiled, her eyes shifting away from her daughter.

"After your father said 'I do'," she said.

Kennedy's mouth fell open. "You can't be serious? You waited that long?"

Carter smirked at Kennedy's shock. "There is more to a relationship than just the physical. Besides, I grew up with a mother who always had one foot out the door. I knew I never wanted any kid of mine to feel that way, so I waited until I knew that if a kid was to come earlier than planned I wouldn't be alone." She shrugged. "After the first time, I woke up and Donovan was still in the bed beside me. Tell me how many teenage boys would still be there in the morning?"

Kennedy flushed, not having to think real hard about the answer. Chuckling, Carter wrapped her arm around Kennedy.

"Come on, let's go see if your father has broken a hole through the punching bag."

It was only due to her mother's arm around her that Kennedy managed to move forward. She didn't want to face her father. Somehow his anger would be worse than anything else she could face.

When they walked into her parent's bedroom, her father had removed his suit jacket, collared shirt and was in a white undershirt, slamming his fists into the bag. Kennedy bit her lip, feeling each blow.

"Donovan," Carter said.

Donovan stopped but didn't face them.

"Kennedy, do you know why I'm so angry?" he asked, methodically undoing the straps to his boxing gloves.

Kennedy tried to move closer to her mother, but Carter nudged her forward, this was her mess.

"Cause I put myself in a compromising situation without thinking over the consequences?"

Donovan made no reaction as if he hadn't even heard her.

"It's because I don't know the name of the punk kid whose life I just threatened," he said.

Kennedy winced, knowing Connor was never going to look twice at her again. Donovan tossed his boxing gloves onto the bed and faced his daughter. He crossed his arms over his chest, the anger from before gone.

"Okay," Kennedy said. "But you don't know all the names of the guy's I've-"

"The first was Aaron," Donovan said. "A little geeky, but genuine. The next was Dev, I liked him. Brilliant. But unfortunately, he graduated and went to MIT. There was Derek who didn't last long. Then Micah. Smart but kinda pretty." Donovan frowned. "What happened with him?"

Kennedy rolled her eyes. "He was aware of how pretty he was too."

Donovan nodded. "The point is, I have known all the guys you have ever chosen to invest time with. So imagine my shock and anger when I come home and some guy I have never heard about has his tongue shoved down my daughter's throat and his hands up her shirt." 

Kennedy flushed so deeply she thought she just might melt into a puddle of humiliation. Seeing it from the point of view somehow managed to make it ten times worse.

"That is my first reaction, my second is sadness."

Kennedy was brought back from the brink of spontaneous combustion with the statement. There were a lot of things she imagined her father felt, but that was not one of them.

"I was sad because it showed me you didn't respect yourself."

Startled, Kennedy opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"Cadet, all the guys you dated before have come to know you and your amazing mind. This guy was going after one thing and it wasn't your intellect. You deserve someone who will not only see you for the beautiful girl you are but for the brilliant girl you are."

Kennedy crossed her arms, unable to meet her father's caring gaze. Shame was gnawing at her insides and she didn't know how to counteract it.

"The second day I knew your mother I wanted to kiss her," Donovan said.

This snapped Kennedy's attention to him. "You did?"

"Of course, she was beautiful and strong." Beside her, Kennedy saw her mother roll her eyes even as she smiled. "But I didn't. It wasn't until I had spent months getting to know how smart, stubborn." Carter snorted. "Determined, fierce, loving, protective she was that I kissed her. I admired her for more than just her appearance." He rested a hand on Kennedy's shoulder. "I want that for you. I want a guy to be as in love with your brains as he is with your body."

Kennedy blushed again but didn't feel like melting into absurdity.

"So the next time a guy kisses you and more, make sure he knows that smart kid we raised."

Overwhelmed, Kennedy hid her face in her hands.

"Why can't you be like normal parents and ground me?" she muttered.

Donovan laughed and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. Carter stepped over and rubbed Kennedy's arms.

"It's cause we know sometimes we can't always be here and instead of doing something that will only make you resent us, we are trying to give you the tools to make the wise decisions."

Kennedy looked up between both her parents. Carter grinned.

"Besides we were never going to be normal."

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Take that! *throws a lemon at you* And that! *throws another lemon*

Let's see what you make of that! HA!

Alright! Before I jump into something witty, smart, blasé about how this chapter came about I want to know your reaction to it. It was on the more basic side and slightly boring so I want to hear your thoughts. 💬🗯💭

Now for my oh so witty, smart and blasé history...

Wow would you look at that I don't have one. Haha! I guess this came about cause someone asked how Donovan would react to a guy hitting on Kennedy and I've always wondered how Carter would deal with the issue of sex with her daughter. So I guess it was the combination of the two.

Also sidenote: I made a mistake. Originally, I had Carter and Donovan getting married when she was 24 and they were both with the FBI. That is incorrect. They got married right after she graduated college, when she was 21 and he was 25. But It's too late to go change the Engagement party chapter (as well as all the others) but at least you know the truth.

If you have any desire to do so then vote, comment, follow!

If you have any desire to see Carter published then follow me on Twitter: _Joymoment_

(For the reason why go read the A/N in Sneaking Out)