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"Oh," she chuckled as she nuzzled her nose against his. Lips just mere centimeters away from his, she whispered. "That's big talk from the man that almost got us caught in a dressing room once." A smirk on her lips at the thought of that memory so many years ago.
There was nothing that could have ever prepared her for the turn her life took when Wally came into her life and turned it all upside down. Settling back underneath him, she rolled her eyes at him before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hay is for horses, mist-" the quip died as his teeth grazed her skin, only for it to be followed by the soft tender touch of his lips. A sensation that was all too familiar but still new every time it happened. She would never tire of her husband and the way they came together. Her body involuntarily arched towards him wanting more even as a giggle escaped her at his statement. "And you do such a great job at it."
A small mewl came from her, as her fingers tangled into his hair and her nails gently scrapped at his scalp as he bit her. He knew how much that got to her. How much she liked looking in a mirror for days at the small marks he'd leave on her during their lovemaking. The smile that would spread on her face when she would catch a glimpse of one and the memory of how it came to be would surface. Little purple, blue, and red blooms made her feel like a kind of painting. A canvas that a painter had finally decided to make beautiful with a splattering of flowers.
"Unwinding was how the twins happened." The rebuttal was a tease, knowing all too well that she wanted nothing more than to spend all day in bed with him. "Only if they don't have anything going on," she sighed. "The last thing I would want to do is inconvenience any of them just because we wanted to unwind. Especially with all the rain." Though she had grown up hating the rain, there was something about being able to enjoy the sound of it pattering against the windows in their home these days.
With his face so close to hers, an idea crept in. Lips ticked up in a smirk as her arms stayed wrapped around his neck, her legs wrapped around his, and in a swift movement flipped them over so that she was on top. Knees on either side of his hips, hands on either side of his head, she smiled down at him. Her eyes drank in the image of him, how much they had grown together in the last couple of years, how much he had changed her life, everything he had given her without ever asking, without ever wanting anything back in return. There was nothing in the world that could ever be as worth as much as he meant to her but she knew three words she, unfortunately, didn't say often but tried, would have to do. "I love you." A small sigh as one of her hands came up to cup his cheek, leaning down she placed a small passionate kiss upon his lips hoping it would fill in all the other things she could never be able to surmise in words or gestures.
His eyes said oh yeah but his body felt a rush of warmth course through him. It wasn't often they weren't on the same page with each other but this amused him. Emeralds turned a darker hue as they drank his wife in. There would never be enough words in the English language to accurately describe the love he felt for his wife. Though now his mind was thoroughly occupied with very unholy things he'd like to do with and to his wife. Being told to be quiet he had to chuckle. "I don't have that issue like someone else does,"
"Not nearly enough," he kissed her back and sighed as his hands quickly worked up a steady pace going up and down her sides. He let out a content sigh as her hands tangled in his hair and felt her kisses strike up a match within him. She knew exactly what she was doing and he had zero complaints. Maybe except when she began to move from under him.
"Hey, hey," he murmured softly as his hands traced up her elbow preventing her from getting up and pulled her back down. Essentially boxing her in with his upper body. He moved from her face to her neck to her ear as he left little nibbled bites along the stretch of her warm skin. "As much as I love muffins, there's no way they top you." As he said that he chuckled against her neck and whispered. "That's my job."
He bit hard enough between her neck and her earlobe began and sucked, smirking slightly loving the moments where he could mark her up. "We should totally call in the babysitting club and we can take a few minutes and turn them into a few hours. You don't really have to anything on the agenda," he went up to her ear and seductively whispered it. "Can take a few hours to unwind can you?" Something so satisfying came from teasing his wife in newfound ways."
"You know what," she tapped the girls nose. "You are correct. How can I walk around without some of your work of arts adorning me." Though at the moment she didn't have much real estate on her arms for the properties that Annie wanted to place on her. She'd have to start rotating bracelets around so she could wear them all. "When I get back we can make the new one types with letters to spell things out and make cute little shapes, okay." Since learning the new technique she had already thought up of making the kids all their own bracelets with their names or nicknames, something cute.
The emotions that the girl seemed to be going through made Elizabeth just as emotional. Always intelligent for her age, she seemed to understand what a big deal this meant for her as well. Then her mouth opened in surprise at what Annie brought up before she laughed. "What can I say, Annie? You're just too smart for me. Should've listened more closely, huh?" Making sure she had enough warm clothes for the climate of the land of birth, she looked at the hoodie and then back at the girl. "Yeah, your uncle gave it to me a while back. It was cold and he let me borrow it but let me have it, it's my favorite color."
She didn't know if it was the mention of that night, or because of what she had planned for this trip, but as she finished packing she found herself smiling to herself. The thought of that night at the lighthouse all that time ago ran through her head. Annie had been right, hell, everyone had seen it but her. But she didn't want to think about the what if's and regret of not coming to see what was right in front of her sooner. What mattered now was that she had arrived here and was now about to do something she thought she never would in a million years.
"Thank you, sobrinita." She smiled as she zipped up her luggage. "Antares is going to love seeing you. Between you and me, I think you're his favorite human out of all of us." Smiling, she waved at the girl as Wally took her back home. She felt like a madwoman standing there with a grin on her face as she thought about this trip, an excitement that she hadn't felt since she was a child filled her. One that she was sure he could feel when she took the hand he held out for her, and she hoped that he didn't notice.
"Red eye flights aren't as bad as people think they are." Elizabeth began. "It's usually less crowded, you get to actually rest. More chances of the seat next to you being empty and stretching out." It was something she had come to know from all her travels, especially when she had to leave at a moment's notice. "Yeah, yeah," she giggled as she settled into the car. "You, as usual, are right, mon amour."
Trying to contain her excitement but also making sure that they did as much as they could, she began to scroll through her phone to make reservations and buy tickets for anything he might have wanted to see. "I know you have always wanted to see the Northern lights but is there anything else you've also wanted to do? Blue Lagoon? The Golden Circle? There's also museums in Reykjavík."
"I'll need to write that down. That is very clever." Annie smiled and nodded her head committing that to memory in the meanwhile since she didn't have pen and paper with her. She giggled watching Liz's reaction and clapped. "Yes! Your ears! Can't be walking around without being covered with bracelets!" To be honest her uncle was well on his way to being covered head to toe.
The girl nodded fully understanding, crystal blue eyes shined as they blinked back tears. Emotions had overcome her at the thought of liz committing herself to her uncle. Then laughed when she remembered something from a long while back. "Remember when you thought he was just a friend. I knew it then." Another round of giggles were heard as she saw her pack it up with the hoodie. That hoodie made her smile. "You're the one who took it." Her eyes looked at the hoodie so Liz knew what she meant. "Soft isn't it? I'm glad you've had it."
She hurriedly covered any visible part of her luggage and nodded. "Yes please. I promise to come feed Antares when you're not here. She will be fine." She gave a scouts honor sign and smiled. "I think a movie marathon and homemade popcorn! Maybe the museum if it is not super hot." She turned to look at her uncle and waved at him. Getting the sign to hop on she shimmied right off the bed onto his back.
She wished Liz good luck and gave her a thumbs up. "Tio express!" They had Dolly at the door waiting for Liz to come join and kept wagging her tail. She'd seen the collar come out which meant she wasn't staying behind. Wally nodded and grabbed the bag on the side. "So ready. Let's go get our adventure on.' He winked in her direction and grabbed the blanket off the sofa. He closed all the doors and gave Annie the spare key telling her to give this one her moms and keep it in a different spot than the other keys. "I'm gonna drop her off real quick."
As promised he took less than two minutes to drop her off and hugged his sisters before heading back. Slightly out of breath he smiled at Liz. Holding out his hand out for her. "I'm very excited for our trip even though we're on a red eye flight." He had a bounce in his step as he grinned. "Told you that one day you'd totally take me."
@clubsmarties
Some part of her thought he would be upset that she was planning to leave, that it had always been the plan. Things had changed since that plan had been drawn up. "Yeah," came from her softly. "Very different." The thoughts of where she could have been right now had she not decided to take this road seemed like a fantasy that belonged to someone else right now because....how could she ever chose to be anywhere else but right here right now? A thought that scared her, as much as it made her happy, excited even about what this would mean. What it could become.
There was no quip to give as he said the obvious, she did like it when he ran his finger through her hair. A simple gesture that somehow just meant the world to her. "Easy?" There was a hint of a giggle in her tone, she knew all too well she never made anything easy when it came to her. Not because she didn't want to but because she just couldn't. It was a survival skill. One that he patiently waited out. "There's a book?" Her brows furrowed, confused about an adventure book, though it was forgotten for a moment when he brought up moments from what felt like a lifetime ago. She recalled that feeling now as she looked into his eyes. It had unsettled her then, she didn't understand what it was about his gaze that made her look away, sometimes it felt like shame. "Maybe, I don't recall not being able to do that." She teased.
A couple of months back when she began to realize what she felt for him, it dawned on her the real reason why she couldn't meet his gaze as much as she liked to stare into his eyes. It was because he had seen her. Had always seen her. He had seen her for a long time and didn't leave or hold anything against her and it unsettled her for many reasons. But that was long ago, now she liked it. Made her feel seen, known, cared for, made her know that she wasn't someone hard to love, someone that was unlovable. She was capable of being more than just the shell of a girl living on habits forced upon her. She was more than what she had been raised to be.
Making her way carefully back to the kitchen to look through the cabinet she kept treats and food for Antares, she called out over her shoulder. "Food and a game?" Leave it to Wally to always keep her on her toes. Grabbing the bag with the snacks that the cat had seemed to like, she continued her train of thought as she began to head downstairs. "This better not be one of those dinner movie mystery theater things." Reaching the back door, she stuck her tongue out a little bit of childish disgust . "I don't like those." Stepping into the back alley, she shook the bag once before the ball of orange fur made itself known. Smiling, Elizabeth squatted down carefully and fed her one treat before petting her and giving her another and picking her up. "You are taking a ride with me today. You might hate me after but I'm willing to accept that. And you get to see your favorite person today, so its not going to be all bad."
Stepping back into the office with the cat in her arms, she locked the door and scratched behind the cats ear as it purred in her arms. Feeding it another treat for being so well behaved, she began to decide that perhaps she had been overfeeding the poor thing. She began to doubt taking her to the vet would be the right move, but it was more of her own fears of medical professionals and hospital settings that were creeping in. She needed to make sure that Antares would be okay and this was the only way. "Alright," she sighed. "We're ready when you are."
If he wasn't so focused on the very real fact that this would have had a different ending, he'd have a quip ready to spit out but instead he sat in thought. How different life would be if she'd actually taken herself up on leaving. "But you fell in love." It wasn't an quip more a statement. A fact. "Honestly can't believe it. Life would be so different. For both of us."
The reassurance she gave him was enough to shelve that worry to the back for the time being. Though he still would be keeping an eye on her regardless. Wally was always concerned when it came to her. The funny thing about running his fingers through her hair was the flashback he'd get each and every time he did so. "I knew you liked it." His whispered tone broke through briefly as he chuckled amused. "Who knew it was this easy....now to get you to agree to a date." It was the smallest things that got pulled into focus. Like how she traced the inside of his palms. His fingers moving minutely against hers.
His facetious nature pulled to the front as he couldn't help but notice the vast differences between then and now. "Putting this under the wallaby and lila adventure book." The hand that was currently free went up to caress her cheek and smiled as he locked eyes. "Remember when you wouldn't meet my gaze."
Though his teasing tone dropped the moment he followed her movements. Hands ready to steady her if need be. His eyes narrowed as they zeroed in on her injury. Rather her side. Educated guess was a knife. Pesky little things were always a wildcard.
Getting sidetracked he shook his head as he let out a chuckle. One of those that showed off his baby teeth grin. "Leave it to you to still leave me flabbergasted. No, don't change. I was thinking about dinner because food is always fun and a game. Like a legit game. I didn't want to go without you it seemed weird and odd and not as fun."
For a moment she thought she might have been found out, that he had in his way figured something was up. But she relaxed as his hand reached over for hers when she realized what he had meant and shook her head with a small chuckle as she continued to scroll through her phone. "You trying to get us banned from flying aren't you?" The idea of doing exactly what her boyfriend had in mind had crossed hers once or twice, but the thought of them getting kicked off before even making it because of it was also something she didn't want to happen. If it was something he had always wanted to do, she'd find a way to make it happen, happily. It wasn't their first nor would, she knew, it be their last foray into doing things in public that they probably shouldn't have.
Taking a moment to wave at his family as they passed them by before she continued to scroll on her phone for what activities to do. It was mostly to calm her nerves for what she had in store but it was also exciting to know that this time she was going back with someone. Something she thought she would never do. "Ha! I would never!" A giggle came at her denial. "Who said that? Was not I. Never have I ever and never will I ever." Her fingers threaded between his and gave his hand a small squeeze letting him know that she was just being bratty, before her the tip of her thumb began to caress small little circles on the back of his hand.
As he began to list off all the things he wanted to see, her hazel eyes studied his profile for a moment as he drove. The curve of his jaw, the slope of his nose, the way his green eyes always seemed to shine when he was happy or excited about something. With every excited word he said, the smile on his face, it took everything in her from just having him stopping then and there to tell him what she wanted to say. What she needed to say. God, she loved him.
Smiling at him, she let a small chuckle out at the memory. She should have known then when he held her hand the entire time as they trotted on the back of those horses that she loved him, that he loved her. That was neither here nor there, she didn't want to live regretting not coming to the realization sooner rather than later. "Nope, just excited to see it all with you. They all sound good, ástin mín but I don't think we'll be able to cram so many things in at once on a short weekend getaway. We can definitely do the whale watching but that would take a big chunk of time." As she scrolled, she began to throw ideas out. "How about we whale watch first, see the city for a bit, maybe a museum. Then head east to Thingvellir. When we get tired, we head back and stay at the domes outside of of Reykjavik to see the lights. Best place, trust me. Then in the morning we can continue east to the Blue Lagoon. What do you think?"
"Red eye flights, this one in particular isn't that bad. It has you. I don't think we'll be getting much sleep though," he chuckled and grabbed her hand over the gearshift. There was mischief in his smile and truthfully in his words. Really, all things she was used to by now. The proper man that was seen at work or the fun uncle at home was nowhere to be seen here with his girlfriend. Like his sisters, he too had a streak of the gutter mind. "Is that what you're hoping for? To stretch out? You know my lap is always available to you." He squeezed her hand and smiled as he pulled out of the garage, honked once to wave at his sister in the window on the other side. Annie was on her dad's shoulders waving to them. "I'll have to record you saying that for when I piss you off. I'll have proof you actually said I was right."
Effortlessly he got onto the road to get to the highway. This would be easier at this time of night since the streets weren't filled with traffic so he'd get there faster. This trip gave him a renowned excitement. Sleep was furthest from his mind as he thought over the options Liz had given him. He looked over his shoulder to make that left turn into the highway and took a small glance over at her scrolling through her phone. "The blue lagoon for sure. The black lava rock, caught my attention immediately. The Golden circle but also can we also do whale watching? I feel like Annie won't let me live it down if we don't do it. I need to get her a Keychain for her collection. We have to do the museums. We should also go horseback riding." The memory causing him to smile as his eyes remained on the road. "Oh! Thingvellir National Park. A must." When Wally nerded out he really nerded out.
Okay maybe his excitement was a little more than obvious but this was something he had always wanted to go do, it had become something he'd wanted to experience with her even when they were just friends. Sure, if she'd taken him back then he'd still felt excited even if they were just friends. But this added an extra layer. Without saying a word to her he brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles. He always showed loved through actions, even as miniscule as a knuckle kiss. No one was left wondering if they were loved or not. "Was there something you really wanted to go back to?" His voice broke through the small silence as his thoughts dispersed and took a quick glance over to her.
"Ah," a wide smile on her face. " The quiet technique. I recall that technique failing you last week when you decided to accompany me on my shopping trip. I think they have our picture back there from now on to keep us from being in there together now." Oh, a dare. An eyebrow quirked, glance shot his way, if it was a challenge he wanted, it was a challenge she'd be up to. Many ideas of how to make him let that cute little sound she liked to hear out of him so she won first. Well, by then they both would win but that was neither here nor there.
"Hmm." She agreed as she put her phone down in her lap, not letting go of his hand in her other one. Grabbing his phone, she did as he asked. Talking as she wrote a quick text back to his mom. "I don't think it's a nightmare." She knew what his mother's goal was with the events and she admired not just the action but the person that the actions were coming from. She had come to love his mother. His family. "I can help you with it if you like. However I can, I know you don't like doing them much." The fact that his mother had included her had slipped past her until he pointed it out. It made her sit up a little bit more straight, made her feel more cared about than she ever had before. "Me too," she said softly before putting his phone back down and picking hers back up.
She felt happy tears well up in her eyes at his statement and began to blink them away before nodding. He had been right, again. As long as it was him that she was sharing this adventure with it would be perfect. They could always come back another time to do anything they missed. "Yes," the excitement began to build up again. "A hotel in Reykjavík. We'll rest, and recharge for an hour or so." Thankfully they were traveling light so they wouldn't have to hassle with much. "Then we can see the city for a bit, grab something to eat, and do the whale-watching tour. It's about three hours long, there's also a whale museum we can visit after and where we can get plenty of souvenirs." With that, she put her phone back into her pocket and excitedly waited for him to park so they could begin their adventure. The excited energy began to feed into a nervous one as they got a step closer to her plan with every second. "Do you know that there are over twenty different species of whales in the waters? A lot of people call them the singers of the sea."
"Me?" Wally chuckled as he made a turn on the left lane. "We can't be banned if we operate on the quiet technique. Maybe bite a shirt or something. We're really good at stealth. As I recall you're the queen of stealth. You're just being a scaredy cat. Never thought I'd see the day," he murmured giving her a hard time. Honestly, he could come up with ways to lean into naughty ways without even getting up from their seats.
"Oh, sorry it must have been my other hazel eyed princess, Lila who had said that." Amusement danced in his voice as he shook his head. He squeezed back as he hadn't looked over at her. "I bet I could coax out my bratty babe to misbehave on the plane. Hmm," he pretended to think about it and smirked. He would never deny that whenever she let her bratty side out he enjoyed it.
He could feel her eyes on him but couldn't really turn to ask what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers. Keeping his focus on the road as they boarded the ramp to get to the next exit which was the airport. He heard the ding of his phone which Liz had on her side he took a quick glance over and read the first part from his mom. Winter ball and bring Ellie. She had taken to giving Liz her own nickname wanting to break apart from the pack and smiled as he shook his head. "Worst nightmare. Winter ball. Could you text her back and tell her we will talk later." He had forgotten about the end of year festivities since he wasn't in charge and usually Lu was. But this year she was not in the best state of mind so he was the next up. Meli was already handling behind the scenes that left him to be the face. Moments like this he actually thought about taking up more cases to keep from having to do this. "I love that she automatically includes you."
"No matter how much we get to do, as long as we get to do it together, I'll think this was the best trip ever. I promise you. It sounds perfect because it'll be with you. Also do you know where we're headed as soon as we land?"
She was never the type to consider that things happened for a reason or that something out there had predetermined everything that happened to someone because that's how they had wanted it to go. It meant accepting that something had seen everything that she would have to go through and still decided that she would go through it instead of changing it. That everything bad in the world was easily fixable but something decided it shouldn't be. There was something to be said that while she didn't believe in that, she was beginning to believe in big concidences, that maybe some people were meant to come into your life at just the right time. So far the few that she had, had come into her life at times where she could call 'the right time' now. "Oh," she laughed. "You're one to talk. All those times you thought I didn't know you were staring at me when I wasn't looking. Maybe you had something on your face and I just didn't know how to tell you."
Even if it had been a dinner murder mystery thing, she would have still gone. Anything now that she had him in front of her again. "I've missed you too." The words were soft, not afraid to admit it, and ready to apologize again for the time apart. Something she didn't want to do again now. Smiling at his assumption about psychos being dinner mystery fans, silly things like these were one of the reasons she liked being around him. One of the reasons. "I think I read that study," she teased. "I think the leading dentist on that also said that their favorite brand of toothpaste was crest, so now I know who to avoid once I look in their bathrooms." That should have been her first sign all those months ago, when he was silly and it only made her want to be silly back.
Something brought back a moment in time with Orion and she couldn't help but echo back those words as he called her cute. "I'm not cute, I'm fucking adorable."
Antares for her part perked up and purred louder, it was one from deep down as Wally caressed her. "See, told you, she likes you better." Cradling her in one arm, she held out the other to take his. Something she had done countless times before, another sign that she had ignored. The warmth of his hand always radiated within her in a way that nothing else had ever before. A sun thawing out her winter-chilled bones. "Nope, didn't know that." She let him lead them out as she glanced down at the cat in her arm, feeling a little guilty about where they were taking her. "A playground for pets? For dogs? I mean what kind of playground is there for cats or birds? Wait, do the kids and the pets play on it together?" She wondered then if Antares was friendly with other pets or kids. Perhaps she should have gotten her a collar as well, even if Antares didn't come in for long periods at least it would keep her from being taken to a pound if she was ever picked up. "No, did they have to get the fight fighters to cut them open with the jaws of life. How did they even get their head stuck in the first place?"
He nodded and hummed. "Very different. Like I'd taken that transfer job if I hadn't met you. Though that was mostly a no because I couldn't leave my sisters." Not to mention when they had their losses right as he was deciding what department to choose. "Okay, maybe I should say easier than before. I mean now, the mention of date doesn't give you the shudders." Wally teased softly knowing how it had been before but never really pushing her to get over whatever inner obstacle that she had. "Sure you don't." His mouth twisted into a sly smile knowing how she was lying in the moment. Though that didn't stop him from teasing. "Okay, so what was that at the lighthouse when you couldn't keep your stare? Or that time when we were looking over files and you dropped your gaze like a hot potato. Don't think I didn't see you those times that you stared while I wasn't looking at you." he grinned as if to prove a point.
As she left the room his eyes couldn't help but follow her. In that quiet manner they always did when they were soaking her in, basking in her energy. She was like his force field, wherever she went his eyes went with her. "Yeah," he chuckled thinking she was being silly. "Food and a game. Two in one. It's my way to tell you I've missed you. Possibly a little more than normal." But that only made him pull his finger against his lips and make a shh sound like it was some secret. He laughed and rolled his eyes as his head leaned back into the cushion. "We both do that for work, that's not my idea of fun. This is actually fun by all accounts. It's dinner first then a game. Separate not together. Also people who do those turn out to be psychos." Were they? No. But he went off the data from work. Not like anyone would call him out on it.
"I may also have an issues with that dude. So, no. Not a dinner movie mystery theater thing." The laugh came out as amusement. "You know that you're cute?" he asked as he could hear her fussing with Antares. Wally checked his phone for a brief moment to see if he had gotten an email back or a text. Work week always had him on edge. He didn't know when would his next travel was going be and that threw him off especially after recovering. He smiled hearing her voice but didn't say anything and put his phone away as she came back into view.
Getting up he went over to lightly rub over Antares other ear and smiled as he glanced up to lock his gaze with hers. Holding out his free hand he nodded. "I'm ready." Just for good measure knowing that vet visits weren't always fun for animal or human, history he knew a little too well with his own sister in law. He remembered something fun. "Did you two know that there's a playground on the premises? There's a jungle gym for fur babies and actual kids. If you want to check it out?" The question was aimed at Liz as he smiled knowingly at himself. "Heard the story of that kid who got his head stuck on the bars?"
"Funny story that," Elizabeth laughed remembering the day Charlie and Anna met Wally. "My best friend thought the same about Wally when my godson went back home and told them he had a new friend. When they meet Wally, they were surprised, to say the least. They also were also glad that he didn't turn out to be some creeper. So you guys share that in common."
She held up two fingers on her right hand, "That's all I ever do, be brutally honest at times. Scouts honor." Making a mental note about learning a good peach cobbler pie recipe, she moved and nodded as to let him know that she was listening to what he was saying only to be met with another wave of emotions that she didn't know how to react. One moment they had been talking about Dolly, the next it was about how Wally's life had changed that day they met. A small piece of her felt guilty, knowing that he had always known what had taken her a long time to figure out. The statement also had her think over just how much she had changed too. Wally had changed her life in a way she didn't think possible. "I think we both changed each other, I know he changed me for the better. I hope I didn't change him for the worse."
She was taking in everything Jim was saying, glad to be able to talk to someone freely about how she felt about everything. With Charlie and Anna it was easy, she left and came like the breeze whenever she felt like it, no need to stick around when she wasn't needed. This was different. She wanted to be here. She wanted to get to know them all, but there would always be that piece of her that told her she didn't deserve it. That she didn't fit in and that they all deserved better but listening to him talk about what he had seen between the two of them, just made her happy. There was a time where being read so well by someone would be a death sentence to her, a grave mistake, but this observation just made her glad that everyone could see how much she did care.
"When did you two realize there was something more between you?" As always, she would never miss out in hearing a good story especially about her boyfriends family who never disappointed with a good one. "At least I'm in good company in this pond." Nodding in agreement, she followed his lead, getting up to purchase the couple of items she had her mind on. "Which one?" She asked generally curious about which book he had seen in her hand. In the last couple of weeks she had began to carry two books around when she had her bag with her. One that her therapist had suggested and a fiction novel for when she needed a break from all the real world things that were occurring. "You a big reader?"
He appreciated the kindness Liz showed him and his family. "I am not going to lie but I felt a little uneasy when Annie came back and said she had met her new friend. I was thinking a child but come to find it was an adult. But I am glad that you didn't turn out to be a creeper." A small little joke to ease any lingering nerves.
"I can't have sugary treats. They make my teeth hurt and you're right. Things are too sweet for the sake of being too sweet are usually covering up for something. Usually how bad they really are. Peach cobbler here is really good. Just the right amount but you need to promise you will tell me your thoughts afterwards."
"He can be slightly overprotective sometimes. A trait he shares with his sisters actually. Which when you think about it is funny since he's the most easy going of the lot. But, yeah" he nodded as the time was remembered. Wally had been the baby of the family and he got to see him grow up and go through all his awkward phases just like he did his own brothers. "He really did make us work for it. You'd think being godfather to our children helped our cause but it did not." Jim chuckled thinking he was so silly. "I remember he had a week assignment on the mainland and he nearly missed his flight because he didn't want to let us dogsit. Suffice to say Meli wrestled him down until he relented. It was purely separation anxiety. Which I get. But when he gets stubborn he gets stubborn. Though, I don't know if you believe in it or not but fate would be that it was the trip he met you." Story details were a little fuzzy still but he knew the fact that Wally had come back a changed man after that encounter. "He denies this but you changed him that day."
Jim laughed knowing how daunting that could be. "I understand how that could trigger some sort of anxiety but everyone's journey is different. It took me a while to realize that too. I think either you have figured or Wally has told you that I am a half sibling. But I was never treated like one. Not for the lack of similar looks, everyone thinks we're all fully related, but coming to terms with not being the outsider looking in takes time. And maybe that is why you and I got along better because there is an understanding here that no one else can really relate to. You met your one when it was the time it needed to happen. I met my wife as an awkward seven year old but we didn't date until years later. We kept being pushed together because we had two weddings back to back for our siblings to attend to. So, you know, we didn't really make it easy on ourselves. It's easy to let yourself get drowned with the what ifs but you and Wally just go. I turn into a creeper when I see you two interacting and it is just easy to see. The love is there. The playfulness of friendship dancing between you is obvious. Watching you with him, I just get it. It's not in your face but it's there. You'd do anything for him and he'd do the same for you. He's always been affectionate because that's how he is but with you, there's a deeper level to it." Jim chuckled and nodded, stretching his legs to get up. "Guess that makes us the odd ducks of the family. We should really finish up and get to that ice cream shop before I melt into this sofa cushion. Maybe you can tell me more about that book I saw you carrying around the other day."
"Oh, you have no idea what I am capable of. " She laughed in response mostly because it was true. He didn't know her, not really. "I'd hold off just to prove a point. Keep pushing it and I might just change my number while you're gone." She wouldn't, neither would she ignore the messages or calls at any hour, she had come to look forward to the talks of cases and questions. They helped her not be stuck in her mind for long, the messages always seemed to come when she needed them the most. Shrugging, she simply said. "Don't get used to it, pal. Admitting things is not in my repertoire, this is a one-time thing only, just because you brought me here."
As she listened to his story, she couldn't help but smile. He always had the best stories and she liked to soak them up like a sponge. Greedily taking in his stories about his family and adventures. After all that talk back in the restaurant she had assumed, as he said, that Hawaii would be his answer and glad that she had been wrong, chuckling at his stupidly rich kid comment.
Peeling her eyes away from the night sky before them that began to blur in the distance into the ocean, to watch his face as he told her this memory. Something about it felt like a moment in time that would not be forgotten, one that meant a lot to him. There were many times that Wally had mentioned the matriarch of his family, a woman that made an ache in Elizabeth open but at the same time made her envious. "That sounds nice." The words were soft and almost carried away with the wind.
"Oh, there you go again." She shook her head turning her attention back out to the view before them. "First caves, then horses. What's next? You going to waterboard me into liking storms?" The soft motions of his fingers on her hand was so foreign but calming for some reason, a little voice in the back of her head told her to put her hand back in her pocket, to stop, but there was a need for the warmth his hand gave her that couldn't be denied. "I'll do the horse thing but I'll have to think about the cave thing."
The fact that he had to pull his phone out for this list of qualities that the person he was looking for made her laugh. "There's a literal list." Pulling away from him a bit to sit up against the wall while he read it off, she began to commit those things to mind as well. Maybe finding him someone to date would give her break from him. While she liked spending time with him and having a friend while she was around, the possibility of becoming attached to a new friend was also something she did not want to do. "Wow," the last statement threw her for a loop. "That's," she tried to find the right words. In all her time listening to what people wanted this was very different from what she would usually hear. "Interesting. Broken person? Do you think you're broken?"
Her eyebrow quirked up at the blank after, something was there but seeing as he always seemed to share willingly without being asked, she wasn't going to pry to one thing he seemed to want to keep to himself. "Ah, so I should lay blame your job and your niece for sticking you into my life then, not fate. No such thing."
"Well, I don't know if you know but," she sighed. "Its more of a personal thing. I know you know about my dad, Orion told me what you guys talked about at the center during Easter. Thanks by the way, for what you said, it helped him, he asks to go see the tall trees all the time now, much to my friends annoyance. He doesn't quite understand that he can't just get on a plane anytime he wants to go from coast to coast." It made her chuckle. "I just like to go during my birthday because that's where I was born and he grew up and I don't know it just feels like a personal thing. I don't like to go any other time. It's a ritual of sorts I guess. I go there and then to India for Diwali and then," she stopped short of saying home because she didn't have one. She usually just went back to New York because that was were her friends were. And as much as she liked being there, it wasn't home. "Back to New York."
Over her shoulder as she made her way down she called back in a sing song like tone. "There better not be!" At the promise of no caves. As much as she would put up a front, the thought of a week of new things to do was exciting. The fact that it would be with Wally added to it, he was nice and there was no rouse, she wasn't someone else she just was, which was nice. "I don't need patience, I just need to be left alone." She argued, but not angrily, just said matter of factly. "I don't like people, which I get is weird since I am one and have to deal with them everyone. But even on most days I don't like myself either, so its neither here nor there. Everyone is too complicated and have so many motives and most days I don't even have the patience for the toaster to toast my bread." Nor did she want to open up, she refused. She'd rather die first than open up the wounds that she hid from people. "Hallo hunt? What's that?"
As he opened the door, she stopped a couple of feet short and crossed her arms. "You're lying, right?" Her eyebrows were quirked in skepticism. "I mentioned I like maroon before, haven't I? That's how you knew to give me this one. You're just yanking my chain, right? This isn't your favorite color too." Closing the distance, she stood just between the door and seat, waiting for him to tell her that it was a lie, that he was just playing around and knew that she liked that color. Rolling her eyes, she added. "Don't argue with me. Just take the bed. You can sleep in late a bit, I'll sleep in the living room on the couch. Like I said, they're going to be in early, that way I don't wake you on my way down. It's not a big day, I've done this before a lot, I know how the Holden's work and what they need, so I'll be fine. I'll make coffee too before I head down so when you wake up you can have some before heading out. " She sat down and smiled at him. "You're welcome, and thank you for bringing me here. And dinner! That was nice."
A slight smirk covered his features as he began to chew on his bottom lip. "Your curiosity is gonna get the better of you. You can't hold off reading the texts until morning." He of course was not one to talk since he could barely contain himself from texting back while in the middle of work. It was a momentary glance that had him stare at her funnily wondering what could have possibly had her want to hide her face. "Hardly," he mused as a laugh escaped him. "Getting you to admit anything let alone that you like my anything is not gonna make me shut up about it. It's a big deal."
"Baton Rouge." It was the fastest answer he had ever given. "Don't get me wrong I love Hawaii and love the life I lead there but Louisiana more specifically Baton Rouge is a different world. The people, the history, the atmosphere. It is a place where everyone knows you and your business but beside that, that's where I can just be me. Just Wally not an Agent or someone they feel the need to fear. I mean, yes, there I'm still the stupidly rich kid but people know the values behind the money." He always missed his hometown. He hadn't been as old as his eldest but he still remembered being free to be whoever he wanted to be. In those moments where he wasn't fearing for his mother's life or his sisters. "But, it also comes with its downsides. I'm happy where I am now as an adult."
He laughed as he remembered another thing. "I do miss the Spinning Arrow, it was a bar, we didn't go there to drink, but the atmosphere they had old school karaoke nights. Sometimes an open mic night. We went on our last night before we officially graduated college. It was my sisters, brothers in law, di and Ma. She told us we were becoming who were supposed to be. Not to be sad or cry. She'd see us soon." His eyes took on an unfocused glare as he remembered the night. "I remember that night like it was yesterday. I had gotten into Quantico so Ma asked Billy Dean to put up a banner for me," he laughed. "It said something silly that took the place of congratulations and you know, she never missed an event for any of us. We were kept apart for most of our childhood but when it counted she was there." Never would he understand how she did the things she did.
"We should go see one. You can look from a safe distance. My brother in law has a ranch and they have ponies. You know that they respect you when you respect them in return. They're not as scary as they seem. Some people just don't know how to act appropriately around them. Which is when you get the horror stories."
He chuckled. "Don't threaten me with a good time. Going overboard with you? Not a bad way to go." Even as she looked up at him his fingers still tangled in her hair, making small motions with his digits. "I wouldn't be mean and take you to face your fear. I'm not like that, just it's called a cave but it's not. Something we can explore from the outside. Safely outside." Feeling her fingers uncurl against his he smiled. His thumb started to play against her knuckles and hummed softly. Turned out what his sister had said was right. Holding hands did feel right when it was with the right person. "Someone who is loyal, sorry just as loyal as I am. A risk taker though she never says what she means by that. I know there's more," he took out his phone and scrolled through the text he had received from her mother. He read off the usual things, loving and caring and funny and then he went into the paragraph, "someone who doesn't mind the quiet, that they don't hide behind the don't want to talk and push you away someone who understands that sometimes it's just about being there. Sitting and holding your hand through it. Someone who joins in on your dreams and doesn't tell you you're insane. Someone with a past who isn't ashamed of their journey to strength. Someone who will love you as you are. A broken puzzle piece to fit together with another broken puzzle piece." Wally finished and sighed. "She says she doesn't want someone with a clean slate. Those are boring and don't know about pain. If someone doesn't know about pain then they don't know how to help a broken person. They don't see how they're still very capable of love then just need more patience."
"Sorry, afraid you can't unsign up. You're stuck." The funny thing about fate was that it could come in a million different ways. "In a way yes it was. It could also have been coincidence but I'm less inclined to believe it was coincidence. It was my first week back to work after," he didn't want to get into that right now so didn't stay on that too long. "The first assignment that landed on desk after three people had declined to take it. They said it was a blocked case. Meaning that it was going to go nowhere. So, I took it and it lead me to you. Originally I wasn't going to take it but and you'll never believe this but Annie said to take it. I wasn't going to travel anywhere so she liked that." He hummed at the question. "They do freak me out. It's the whole mumbo jumbo that I don't like. As a kid I bumped into one that was dressed as a psychic for Halloween and it just freaked me the fuck out. Of course I could have also been agitated from trying to work my way out of a maze."
Wally looked at her in an attempt to convince her he'd change it up. "If I can do it then so can you. I guess we're both lame. I'm actually okay with that. No one else I'd rather be lame with." He narrowed his eyes at her as if to say he didn't believe her but sighed. "Well, I don't know if you know this but you can just go, don't need a reason to take the trip. I can't believe you don't want to take me. That's cold."
He crossed his heart and made a scouts honor. "Promise no caves just a week full of fun and adventure. A week of work not being at the forefront." The smile couldn't be helped as the thought of having an adventure week with her was something he truly was looking forward to. As she stood up he couldn't help but stare at her for a moment. How she made something as mundane as taking off heels so beautiful was so beyond him. He was in trouble he just knew it. Luckily he hadn't been obvious to her which he wondered if she'd ever catch on. This was going to be hard to hide from his niece. The small detective that nothing went over her head when it came to crushes.
Following suit he got up and wiped his pants as he made his way down with her. "I'm not lying. I truly don't think you're an ass. Having a hard shell isn't a bad thing. Some people just don't have enough patience to sit and wait and figure out a way to work with you not against you to open up. No," he made a face. "We don't celebrate fourth of July. It's the harvest or start of actually. Lighthouses are closed but you can come up and do the hallo hunt near the area. They don't shoot them off from here. That's dangerous. It's over by the horizon. Honolulu does it but its seen over on this island. It's a pretty display of colors. It is the start of our horror movies week. There's corn mazes and whatever else the committee deems fun for adults and kids. Down there," he pointed down as they descended. "Is the picnic area. I've only missed the start once and that was when Annie was two weeks old. Work sucked and had me travel but since then not missed one."
Wally nodded his head acknowledging her gratitude. "You're welcome. It's yours. You can keep it. It looks better on you anyway." He wasn't going to take a no, the sweater had Liz's name all over it. "I promise I don't mind. It's one of my favorite colors so glad it's going to a new home." Reaching the car he waited for her to get in before closing the door. "I'd appreciate that. I don't think I can make it home right now." Not that he had coffee but he also knew traffic to get to the other island was going to take forever. So this was a safer choice. "Let me take the couch this time. You've had me take the bed all the other times. I don't want to put you out especially since you've got a big day tomorrow. Also as a thank you for coming with me tonight and dealing with people. Please?"
"Oh, no. No shame here either." She giggled, she was never ashamed of anything that had to do with her husband. Slightly embarrassed when it was brought up, maybe, but never ashamed. "Just reminiscing about a moment in time that you caught me by surprise is all." Her giggle was quickly replaced by small moans as he continued to bite and kiss her. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to stay quiet, as her teeth sunk into her bottom lip to keep from stirring the kids awake.
"Not a problem," she managed to choke out in a breathy sigh. "Love trying." As she kissed one of his dimples, the words then seemed to register in her mind. " Are you saying you want to try again?" If there was one thing that could be said for their life now, it was that for as much as she had teased him plenty of times for not being able to say no to others, it also didn't seem to be in her vocabulary either whenever he needed or wanted something. The thought of their family growing again did make her smile. Maybe they could have one more boy to round out the kids evenly. From history it would take a couple of tries but like he said, trying was half the fun.
"Hmm," she moaned into the kiss as she felt his fingers thread through her hair and then trace a trail down the side of her face. "Screw it." Was declared suddenly as she pulled back. "You're right. You call and see who's available. I'll go get the kids ready." Before she got up, she leaned down and kissed him again, nibbling softly on his lower lip before pulling back. "Oh, that reminds me," a devious grin coming to her face as she pulled off of him. "I had something I was saving for our anniversary but today feels as good as any to show it to you," Standing up she began to make her way to the door. "But once the kids are gone."
Wally couldn't help the breathy laugh that escaped him. That day and memory vividly making its presence known in his mind. Nothing really compared to the real thing in having her and holding her but that memory was top of the list. A mischievous grin overtook his features for a millisecond and he knew she could read him like a book. "Ah but we didn't get caught. Our quick thinking saved us that day. Though, if you're looking for shame. I can't help you there. It was the first time I got a reaction like that from you when I went right below your ear." That cocky grin showed as his eyes shimmered. "I also wasn't above flashing the badge." He wouldn't have and was happy when he didn't have to use it when he was out and about and not in a suit.
Feeling her body arch into him gave him such a boost of confidence that he could still hit those spots for her that'd make her body writhe against his. He licked over his bite mark he had left and held a satisfactory grin in doing so. Not wanting the other side to be left out he went over and started to sink his teeth into her soft skin. "Mmm," he murmured, leaving a hot trail of kisses down her neck to her collarbone.
She elicited a choked out moan from him as her fingers tangled in his hair. He truly enjoyed when she'd do that and would often never miss an opportunity to let her know. He chuckled as he pulled away and smirked at her. "You're saying that like that's a problem." Having kids under the age of five close together wasn't something most people would find fun but they weren't by any means conventional. "You said it, trying is half the fun." There was his dimpled grin showing off for her the way it did when he wanted her to bend.
"They owe us," he nipped at her neck as the words escaped between bites. How many nights had they'd been put on babysitting duty or been cockblocked by his brother in law's work call in the middle of the night all because they were the closest. "Can't complain about babysitting when they never really ask us. They just assume we're ready." What surprised him if only momentarily was the way she flipped them so she was now on top. Taking the opportunity his fingers glided down her sides and made a path down her thighs. Eyes staring at her like she was the moon. He knew that smile his wife had just provided him. It was one of those that had her thinking, possibly reminiscing. It didn't have a twinge of sadness so he knew it wasn't of her life prior to this but of theirs. Their tangled lives ending up together. Never would the words she had just come out with, not have the intended effect on him. His smile grew a little wider as he leaned into her hand and nuzzled her wedding band. "As I love you," he kissed her back with the same fervor she showed and brought one of his hands up to thread his fingers through her hair making a pit stop at her jaw and rubbed a digit against it.
"Maybe you should have the tech department send you the evidence." A satisfied grin came to her face at that memory, the fact that she had elicited such a response from him made her a bit prideful. The more he challenged her, the more made it her goal to be the one to 'win', already thinking about the best way to do so.
"I dunno, maybe saying the word 'no'," she teased. "Of course I'm sure. I'd love to help you." With how busy things were, how his family all had things of their own to worry about and how work always seemed to stress him, her helping him with the one thing she could would be something she wouldn't hesitate to do. "Were you trying to convince me to say no, because that made me want to say yes even more. The only person that I would want to find me hot is you so that's another reason to say yes now." She'd be lying if she said that it didn't mean a lot to her that his mother liked her, even came to love her. "I love her too and you know she loves you more, don't be silly You're her son. Oh, let's send her a postcard, does she like those? Orion is starting a collection so I'm going to send him one. Think Annie would like one too?"
Hearing the way he said recharge made her laugh, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Which honestly, they always seemed to be on the same page about that. "As long as recharging doesn't take up all our time or we'll miss the whale cruise, mon amor." Exiting the car and following him she indulged in his request. "Well, they all do look very different so there's that. It can be quite easy to tell which whale you're looking at once you know what you're looking for and which ones are in the water." Reaching over, she grabbed one her bags, so he could have a free hand, not wanting to walk through the airport not holding his hand. There were very few moments in which they would be together and her not want her hand in his like it was where it had always belonged. "Its the way they communicate. The little melodic sounds they make, its to mate, find food, talk to each other. So they nickname the singers of the ocean. The museum has some recordings up for listening, it's really nice when you take the time to listen to it. Pretty beautiful."
As they made their way to check in for their flight, she took a second to think it over scrunching her mouth to the side trying to decide what to tell him next. "Well I don't want to give it all away, I want you to see a lot of it for yourself. But I'll give you one more, the humpback whale migrate from Iceland which is their typical feeding grounds to breeding grounds all the way out in tropical places like Mexico. And that's all you're going to get from me. No more spoilers." A big excited smile as she looked back at him as she waited for him to check them in. The fact that he would be seeing these places that she had seen so many times on her own for the first time made her excited about his reactions.
"Only failed because you did that combination of your mouth and hand and that wasn't fair." Would he really put this under a huge complaint, no. He was thoroughly satisfied. "So, that wasn't my fault." Giving a shrug he chuckled. "Can have tech department wipe that evidence." Wally had a solution for everything so he could very well bounce things from whatever she came out with. "Don't be such a scaredy cat." he tsked knowing that if he challenged her this would make her lean one way.
He gave a single head shake but smiled. There was an upside to being in the mix of it but he did distest the small talk. No one really had a handbook to handle being stupidly rich but some of these that came truly didn't know the meaning of humility. The ones that did usually got bullied into becoming selfish assholes. A soft sigh escaped him as she offered to help and that made him squeeze her hand in return. This was after all for his mother and he'd always do right by her and continue on her legacy that crushed the notion that wealthy people didn't know the meaning of humanity. "Now, how could I ever say no to your help? Might even be fun this time around with your magic touch. But are you sure?" Wally knew this could be a lot to handle being the one who put them on so he wanted to make sure she didn't feel pressured. "You get to boss rich people around. Crack the whip. Not gonna lie it's pretty hot when you think about it. You know she loves you. I might even be jealous on how much," he teased knowing his mom really did think of Liz as a third daughter or one she hoped to welcome into her family as one if Wally ever got it together as she'd say.
"Recharge for an hour?" Now his mind was right back to that gutter he liked to call home. "Sounds like we've got our schedule down for day one." As he parked he put the sticker he always did when he'd leave the car in the parking lot, thanks to work he was part of the airport. Always flying in and out. Before she could take her hand back, he pulled her over and grabbed her face to give her a kiss. "Come on." There was something in the way she'd pluck a topic to talk about whenever she didn't want quiet. This time he noticed it and smiled. He wasn't the only one who'd do that it seemed. That in itself made him chuckle softly. "Over twenty species of whales? Well, how do you tell them apart?" Getting out of the car he quickly went around and grabbed her door before getting her bags. "Singers of the sea, hmm how'd they get the name bestowed on them?" Whales to him sounded like you were underwater hearing some type of sonar. "Got anymore whale facts? I feel like we're ahead of the game before we even arrive."
Skyler Gisondo
