A/N: This is part 6 in my series of stories. This is a crossover with SVU. And I know I'm supposed to be waiting to post after I finish 'Dogs of War', but I got the first two chapters written and felt like we all needed something good right now. Well, as good as a crime story can be, I guess.
Pairing: B/A established relationship
Warnings: The usual bad language, bad decisions, and even worse consequences.
Rating: T (M for selected chapters)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with L&O, but I do own what I've created.
Summary: "Dark was the Night – Cold was the Ground", by Blind Willie Johnson
Part of this chapter is rated M, a soft M.
Central Park
Manhattan
It wasn't hot but it was humid as the sun broke through the cloud coverage. It had looked like it was going to rain since early this morning; so far it had only sprinkled a few times and with the clouds dispersing and the sun shining, he thought it was going to turn into a beautiful spring afternoon. He took a swig of the sports drink as he watched as Alex conversed with a few fellow detectives.
"Hey, Bobby, stop checking out Alex's ass!"
Bobby brought the bottle down from his lips and looked toward the bleachers. Elliot Stabler was sitting with Munch and they were both pointing at one another. Elliot had been recovering from a very serious neck injury for the past three months. He had to have multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and a whole lot of patience- which he didn't have-to fully regain the use and strength of his neck. The man was a fighter, and soon he would be back at SVU with the rest of them.
He smiled at Elliot as he walked up to the fence. "Stop telling me what to do. I'm going to need it now."
"Now? You sure?"
"Yes, now."
Elliot got up from the bleachers and walked over to the gate. He dug into his jeans pocket and pulled it out; reaching his hand to one of the holes in the fence, he held it out for him to take. As he took it, Elliot told him, "Don't screw this up." He smiled and teasingly said, "I'm proud of you."
Bobby shook his head at his friend as he put it into his jeans pocket.
"Nervous?" Elliot asked as he looked over toward the dugout and waved.
Bobby looked over and saw Alex watching them. "Only because her family's here," he answered as he smiled at her. She smiled back. He heard his name being called and waved at Elliot and Munch. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck."
"Break a leg," Munch called out and started laughing.
Bobby glanced at the cop and smirked. He went to the dugout and grabbed his catcher's glove and face mask then headed to the plate where an umpire called out that it was the bottom of the seventh inning. They only played seven innings, not the official nine since this was only for fun and department morale. Taking a look at the other team's dugout, he saw that Alex was second up to bat for the Major Case team. First up was Mike.
Logan picked up a bat and headed over to home plate and gave him a teasing glare. "Your team's going down, Bobby; we only need one run to win and your girlfriend's 3 for 3."
"Huh-huh," he said as he knelt behind the plate as Fin stood on the pitcher's mound. As Fin went to throw the first pitch, Bobby told Mike, "Shoe's untied."
Logan hesitated, nearly looking down, and it was enough hesitation that he couldn't swing in time.
Bobby started laughing as he caught the ball that was called a strike.
"Son-of-a-bitch," Logan said as he glared at him. "Don't do that."
Bobby tossed the ball up toward Fin; it was off its mark by a couple of feet. Fin got under the ball and caught it before taking his spot back on the mound.
He didn't bother Logan again as Fin threw two balls, both of which he didn't swing at. Then, Fin tossed one straight down the middle and Logan hammered it into center field. Bobby got to his feet and stepped in front of home plate in case Mike was able to round third. Benson was on second base and held Mike there as she caught the ball from Garcia who was playing center.
Benson threw it to Fin who pointed at Logan, telling him not to try stealing.
"Why not," Logan yelled out. "Everyone knows Goren can't throw straight to save his life."
Bobby pointed at Logan, telling him, "Try it and see what happens."
"I'll score," Logan said with a laugh as he took a couple of steps from second base.
Pulling his facemask back on, he knelt down behind the plate as Alex came to bat.
"Come on, Alex! Hit it outta the park!" Deakins called out to her. He was the Major Case Squad team's coach.
The Major Case detectives and some of the spectators, including Alex's mom and dad, her oldest siblings, Richard and Angie, and her nieces and nephew all started cheering Alex on.
"Go Aunt Alex!" the twins cheered from behind the fence.
She was wearing her hat backwards and had her shades on. Bobby thought she'd never looked sexier. "You're making me hot."
Alex shook her head, telling him, "You're not going to make me miss the ball, Bobby. Trash talk all you want, I'm winning this game." She tapped the baseball bat on the plate and then brought it up.
Bobby smiled as he watched as Fin wound up and tossed the ball toward the plate. "Marry me."
Alex didn't move as the ball hit his glove.
"Strike!" the umpire called out.
Alex looked down at him. "That's not even funny to joke about."
Bobby looked up at her as he grabbed the ball out of his glove and tossed it toward Fin. "I wasn't joking."
Alex continued to stare down at him. "You...What?"
"Marry me," he asked her again.
Alex held up her hand, calling out, "Time out!" She tossed the bat down and grabbed him up by his face mask. She didn't let go as she pushed him hard back against the fence. Glaring at him, she dropped her voice and said, "You're not joking?"
He shook his head and kept his voice low as he told her, "I would never joke about that."
She stared into his eyes with disbelief. "You said you'll never marry."
"I changed my mind. I'm not saying kids or anything, I just…I want you to be my wife. After everything that has happened…you've stood by me and..." Bobby grabbed her hand that was still clinging to his mask and pulled it away. He lifted the mask off his face and stared into her eyes as he dropped down to his knee. He heard the noise from the crowd stop; everything seemed to stop as he stared up into Alex's eyes that were slowly filling with tears. Pulling the ring Elliot had given him out of his pocket, he said simply, "I love you, Alex. Will you marry me?"
She gapped once, twice, and then gave up speaking as she nodded. Bobby took her left hand and slid the ring on, smiling that it fit perfectly. Then, Alex finally gasped out, "Yes."
Getting up, he brought her up with him in a hug as he kissed her. Then the silence was shattered as everyone around them started cheering once again. A wave of whooping and hollering, a chorus of congratulations filled his ears as he eased Alex back down to the ground. She was shaking and he realized once she stepped back that so was he. Holy shit, he thought, Alex was going to be his wife.
Alex kissed him again and then she suddenly pushed him hard in chest, saying, "How am I supposed to bat now. I'm shaking."
He started laughing as he told her, "You can always get someone to pinch-hit."
"No way," she told him with a huge smile as she picked up the bat. "I'm winning this."
"Then win it," he told her as he pulled the facemask back on.
Fin called out to him, saying, "I can't strike the bride out now, Bobby. Thanks a lot!"
Bobby got down and brought the glove up, signaling to Fin that he was ready.
Alex took a couple of balls and let a high strike go by. He knew she was waiting Fin out. The ball count was 3-2. She'd either get a walk and take a base, or hit it because Bobby knew she wasn't going to strike out.
Fin tossed the ball and it was right down the middle.
Alex hit it hard and solid over the shortstop's head and took off running for first base. Logan rounded third as Bobby got in front of the base. Garcia got to the ball quickly and threw it hard right to him. He caught it as Mike was charging right at him; before he could move out of the way, they collided and went down to the ground. He hit hard and felt the air leave his lungs as Mike landed on top of him before rolling off. Bobby stared up at the umpire who was over him and he felt around in his glove for the ball. It wasn't there.
"Safe!"
"Damn it," he breathed out as he rolled over and got to his feet; feeling his back pull and ache as he straightened.
The Major Case detectives were all cheering as he took off his facemask and tossed it over to the fence. Mike was limping over to him, smiling and laughing.
"You okay?" Logan asked.
"Just great, I'm getting married," Bobby said with a grin as he glanced up.
Logan pulled him into a quick hug, telling him, "Congrats, man. I'm happy for you, and Alex."
Bobby spotted Alex running over to him and he caught her as she literally jumped into his arms; the movement killed his back but he didn't mind it too much as she kissed him again, this time harder and with a purpose. Even though his team had lost the game, he couldn't have been happier.
241 E. 114th Street, Apartment 4C
East Harlem, Manhattan
Their names were Rose and Stanley Mendez. She went by Rosie; he called her that all the time when they would meet. The first time he saw her, he knew she was the one. He knew she was his, and only his; she was his pet. Her husband was nothing. A nobody. Rosie didn't really love Stan. She loved him.
And now she was his forever.
Running his hand over her face, chest, her legs, he pulled out his camera and took her picture. It would join the others. Looking over at Stan, he got up and took out his gun.
"You see now," he said as he knelt down in front of the husband. "You see how she's mine."
Stanley was trembling in the chair; tears streaming down his face as he wailed behind the duct tape in anguish. He was slobbering something; a plea.
They all plead. Standing up, he brought the gun up and fired. Only a whisper of the kill shot was herd in the room. Picking up the ejected bullet casing, he put it in his pocket before putting the gun away.
Ric's Restaurant
Manhattan
There was an after game celebration at Ric's that was across the street from the park. Alex's parents wanted to join them but couldn't; with Emily's decline in health John had to get her back home. John shook his hand and congratulated him. Emily pulled him into a hug and all she could get out was how happy she was; that was all he needed to hear.
The place was packed with cops from both SVU and Major Case along with friends or family members who had been at the game. Since it was a family restaurant with a bar, everyone, including the kids, joined in on the celebration. Within an hour, the rest of the Eames clan arrived, aside from Alex's brother-in-law Terry who had to work. Bobby didn't find out until several weeks ago that Liz and Terry were currently separated.
At a table in the back, John Jr., Alex's younger brother, raised a bottle to him and Alex. "To my sister, Alex, and future bro-in-law, Bobby. Congratulations, and Bobby, if you hurt my sister I'll let Liz kick your ass."
Bobby raised his bottle of Erdinger Weissbier NA, a non-alcoholic beer, as he said, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Junior. You wouldn't be able to take me."
They all laughed and cheered to the toast as glasses and bottles clicked against each other. Bobby even received a Sippy cup toast from Nathan. Through the late afternoon hours, they all talked, laughed, drank, and had a great time. Angie kept going around taking pictures with her new digital camera. She caught him off guard a few times and took a couple photos of him and Alex together.
As he was talking with Elliot about the case he and Benson were working on, Alex nudged him in the side, getting his attention. Leaning down to her, Alex pointed across the room and whispered on his ear, "Liz wants to talk to you."
He looked over and sure enough, Liz was gesturing for him to come over. Excusing himself, he left Alex and Elliot together as he headed over to the table. There was an empty chair beside her where he sat and looked toward the table. Glancing over at her, he saw her eyeing him.
She leaned into him and said, "I never thought you'd do it."
Bobby smirked and nodded, saying, "You and me both...I love her, Liz. And for some reason, she loves me."
"I know," she said as she looked over at her sister who was talking to Fin. "She's been the happiest I've seen her in years since being with you. There've been problems, yeah, but all couples have problems. Nobody's perfect." Liz looked back at him and he saw the sadness in her eyes.
Feeling genuinely concerned, he asked, "How're you doing?"
Liz smiled slightly and shook her head. He could tell she was embarrassed; Alex acted the same way. "I'm good. All I really wanted to say was that, I never thought my sister would be so happy with another man to get married again. I'm glad it's you."
Bobby smiled at that as he gave a nod. Seeing the shed of tears in her eyes, he said, "C'mere" as he gestured for her to come closer.
"Bobby," she lightly protested as he reached his arm over and pulled her into a hug.
"No, no, we're almost family now," he said as he held her a moment.
Liz chuckled a little but she held him back. "You're not such a bad guy. I guess I won't have to kick your ass."
He laughed as they moved away. "I appreciate it." He grabbed his bottle and took a sip.
Liz smiled at him and said, "I like you a lot more since you stopped drinking."
Bobby swallowed the non-alcoholic beer then told her, "I like myself a lot more too." She brought her bottle up and they clicked bottles as Benson walked over and shoved him a little.
She had been shocked that he had proposed but she was more pissed off that he never talked it over with her first. "We've been partnered together for two months and you didn't tell me," she yelled him.
"I didn't tell anyone," he argued back.
"You told Elliot!"
Bobby smiled slightly as he told her, "Only this morning when I gave him the ring to hold onto so I wouldn't lose it." He took another swig and smiled at the roll of her eyes.
Since he returned to Special Victim's, Captain Cragen had put him with Benson because Elliot was on medical leave. When Elliot returned in a few weeks, he would be partnered with a newbie that was transferring from patrol. It would make him the superior officer, something he hadn't been since his days in the Army. He was pretty excited about it.
But, until then, he was still Olivia Benson's partner. They had started off on the wrong foot ever since meeting. He just didn't think they had anything in common and that there was no reason for them to be anything other than colleagues. If she and Alex wanted to be friends, he was happy. Good for them, but he wasn't expecting a friendship.
For two months he had to work with Benson and at first it had been bad. They drove each other crazy and they were always arguing once they returned to the station. It was never ending and most of the time they worked alone until they had to collaborate. And then slowly, they started to laugh at one another. They started talking on stakeouts instead of ignoring each other. Now, he knew that once Elliot got back, he was going to miss her as his partner.
Looking back at Liz, he asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I think I'm going to go. I came right here after I got off shift and I'm exhausted."
"Angie's keeping Nate for the weekend, right?"
"Yep, and don't worry, I only had one," she said as she finished the last of her beer. "I'm going to tell Alex bye then go." Liz smiled down at him as she stood. "And we're not almost family, Bobby, we are family," she told him before walking over to Alex.
Bobby looked over and watched as the two who would do just about anything for each other embrace. Liz's words were still ringing in his ears; they were his family now.
Richard walked up beside him and gave him a pat on his shoulder. "Have you decided on a date yet?"
"It'll be soon," he said as he took a sip of his drink. "With uh, with your mother's health declining, I know Alex will want to do it soon."
Rich smiled as he gave a nod of approval, "Then it's a good thing you're doing it now."
Bobby gave a nod as he looked to the table, feeling a pain in his chest. "It was a long time coming. It should have already happened."
"But now is the best time. You're doing great, Bobby. How long have you been sober?"
He stared at Rich as his back stiffened. Bobby looked around for Alex as he felt a sudden sense of panic.
"She didn't say anything," Rich said as he put his hand on his shoulder. "I may not be a cop, but I'm not an idiot. You've been drinking non-alcoholic beer since we got here."
Bobby relaxed, but slightly. He didn't know what to think, or how to feel, about everyone knowing he's in AA. "Sixty-four days," he said as he glanced up at Alex's oldest brother. "I've been sober for sixty-four days."
Rich smiled and gave a nod. "Good for you. It's time for this, and not only that but it's the right time."
Bobby smiled as he agreed. It was the right time. There wasn't a time before where this would have been or felt right. It did now. He couldn't think of any anything feeling more right than asking Alex to marry him.
"Let's get a group picture! Alex! Where's Alex?!" Angie called out as she searched around the bar.
Bobby still didn't see her anywhere. Setting his bottle down, he got up headed toward the hallway where the restrooms were. Excusing himself around some people, he turned the corner and felt his panic fade as he spotted her talking with Mike down at the end of the hall. What they were saying looked pretty intense and Alex was setting her jaw and looked ready to deck her partner.
Walking toward them, he asked, "Everything all right?"
Logan jerked his head toward him before shaking it. "Yeah, we're just talking."
"About what?" he asked as he stepped in front of Alex and squared off with his friend.
Logan held up his hands and said, "It's nothing, just something to do with a case."
Bobby stared at Logan for a long moment and he knew that he was lying. Instead of confronting him about it though, he said, "Okay. Alex, Angie wants to get some more pictures."
"Great," she said but she no longer sounded happy.
He felt like hitting Mike for that alone; he made his fiancée upset when she should have been glowing. Stepping up to Mike after Alex started down the hall, Bobby told him, "I don't know what that was about, but if you ruined this day for her, Mike, I'll let you know it."
"Oh?"
Leaning into him, he said, "I'll break your face," before walking away, leaving Logan standing speechless.
He found Alex standing with Angie who was messing with her digital camera. Pulling her to him, he kissed her on the lips, making her smile. Whispering into her ear, he asked, "Are you okay? Mike didn't upset you, did he?"
"No, it's fine. I'm fine, really. It was just stupid."
"All right," Angie said, "Let's get a couple of group photos first of all of Bobby and Alex's friends," she said as she waved Elliot, Olivia, Fin, Munch, and the only other detective from Major Case, Mike, over. Deakins and Cragen had both already left. "We'll get family pictures later with all of us."
Alex wrapped her arm around him as they all gathered around for the picture; some held their beer bottles, holding them up as a toast, while others smiled too wide and laughed. Besides Elliot and Munch, they were all still dressed in what they wore for the baseball game: baseballs hats, jerseys that said either Major Case or Special Victim's printed on the front, and dirty pairs of jeans.
After a couple of group photos were taken, Angie said, "Okay, now only the happy couple!"
Bobby held Alex around her waist still, smiling over at her as the camera clicked a few times, blinding him. Then he leaned down and kissed her cheek as the third picture was taken, exciting an "awww" from Benson.
"You two are so fucking cute," she said as she took one more.
Alex had grabbed him by the face and laid on one him; he could do nothing about it but laugh.
"Best picture ever," someone yelled as others cheered them on and made whistling noises.
Bobby couldn't have agreed more as he told Angie, "I want copies of those."
"You'll be the first," she told him as she handed the camera to Alex so she could see them.
Bobby found his warm drink on the table and finished it off. As he started for the bar to get another, Nathan stopped him as he reached up to him from his highchair. Picking the kid up, he headed to the bar as Nathan grabbed the hat from his head to put it on his own. Along with his drink, he also ordered another basket of mozzarella sticks and chicken strips with extra barbecue sauce for him and Nate to share. Unless he was called in, he was going to fully enjoy this day.
It was dark when they finally left the bar. Most everyone else had left hours ago. The only ones who stayed were Elliot, Benson, Fin, and Junior who he had to practically carry to a taxi. Mike had also left hours ago, after the photos were taken.
Bobby knew that he probably was the reason for Logan leaving early, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. Mike had made him mad by making Alex mad. However, that wasn't the only reason. It seemed like for the past couple of months he'd had been in a sour mood, at least where Alex was concerned.
He had noticed the difference between the two partners. There was a tension there that he couldn't place or identify the source of. He thought to ask Alex about it, or Mike, but realized that if it was any of his business they would've told him by now. Well, at least, he thought they would've.
Walking down the brightly lit sidewalk with Alex hanging off his arm, he pulled out his cell and saw he had several missed calls from his mother. He decided to call her back tomorrow; tonight, he was with his fiancée.
Alex leaned into him more as she said, "I can't believe we partied until the sun went down." She went to step up on the curb and stumbled.
Bobby grabbed her by the waist and started laughing at her drunkenness. "I can't believe you drank everyone under the table." He picked her up, causing her to yelp, and carried her.
Alex wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed out, saying, "My husband-to-be, carrying me to his car."
His '67 Mustang was parked two blocks down in a parking garage. It wasn't horribly far, but from the collision with Mike at the game his back had been really hurting. By now, and with how much pain he was in, if he had been drinking real beer with alcohol in it he'd be on the bar floor passed out.
Alex leaned her head on his shoulder and he tilted down to give her a kiss on her head. She sighed in content as they continued along the sidewalk. Reaching the parking garage, he took the elevator up to the third level. There no light in the corner so it made it hard to see if anyone was hanging around the car or not.
Getting to the car, he sat her down gently onto her feet. Alex leaned back against the hood and grabbed him. She pulled him over to her and kissed him, sliding her tongue past his lips and into his mouth. He moaned and pushed her into the side of the car.
Breaking the kiss, Alex asked, "When was the last time you got laid in a car?"
"Uh…" Bobby blinked back as he thought about that. "I can't remember."
"Then," she said with a wicked grin, "let's christen this baby." She patted the hood and he laughed.
"There's no way," he told her, "I'm too tall and my back still hurts."
"Put the top down."
Bobby really didn't know why he was telling her no. The only thing he could think of was getting her home so they could have sex. Just, not in his car. However, he grabbed her by the thigh and lifted her leg up, shifted against her as she wrapped her other leg around him. "How about we do it against my car?"
"Now you're talking," she said as she started kissing over his neck as her hands worked on his belt buckle.
He unbuttoned her jeans and wished she had on damn skirt or something. It would make this so much easier. "Wait, wait," he said as he let her down and then pulled her around to the other side. This way they were on the other side of the car, next to the wall. They were partly shielded and he could see if anyone was coming or not.
Alex started laughing as she told him, "You're so bad. We usually arrest people for stuff like this."
Bobby chuckled as he kissed over her neck; now that they were committed, he was ready to go. "You're the one who suggested it, so that makes you just as bad as me; you're my partner in crime…" Running his hand up her leg, then under her shirt cupping her breast, Alex sighed and arched against the car.
She finished getting his belt undone and pulled his zipper down. The moment she grabbed him he gasped and stilled against her. The way she did that was amazing and it only made him harder and he wanted her so much more. Getting her pants down, he didn't waste time with her panties as he pushed the fabric aside as she guided him to her. Pushing in, he groaned at the tightness as Alex lifted a leg to make it easier. Once fully in he started to move, exciting a lot of breathing and moaning from the love of his life.
It was a little fumbled, sloppy, and he had to readjust a few times but it was well worth it the moment Alex buried her face into his shoulder and groaned out in pleasure as she came. Gripping her thigh harder, he thrust three more times before muffling a sharp gasp and groan as he jerked into her one last time and came.
Breathing deeply into her neck, he eased her leg down as he pulled out but didn't let go of her as his legs felt weak. "How was that?"
Alex started laughing again as she said, "Wonderful."
Bobby started laughing himself as he shook his head. "You're really drunk."
"And properly laid. Help me get my pants back up," she said as she started pulling them up.
Bobby grabbed her pants and jerked them up, making her stumble back slightly and laugh some more. Once they were both looking decent, they got into the car and he started the car. It was time to go home. As he turned onto the street, heading east, he pressed the button to put the top down on the convertible. Turning to Alex, he asked, "Want to go to Rockaway?"
"That's the best thing you've said all night. Besides the 'marry me' part," she said as she turned to him and kissed his cheek. She leaned her head on his shoulder and muffled a yawn.
"Are you going to be awake by the time we get there?"
"Yeah," she mumbled. "Wake me."
He looked down and saw that she was fast asleep. Smiling to himself, he shifted gears as he got on the bridge and headed to Rockaway.
Alex's Apartment
Rockaway, Queens
"Music," she said as she entered the apartment and stumbled over to her record player. Ever since she found a box with her old records in it months ago, she'd been obsessing over playing them whenever she could.
As she searched for one that satisfied her, he pulled off his jersey and tossed it toward the direction of the front door. There was no laundry room or space for a washer/dryer hook up. He would collect their laundry in the morning and take it to the cleaners. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Ah-ha! Found a good one," she exclaimed as she held it up before putting it on.
Hearing the Righteous Brothers 'Unchained Melody', he sighed and closed his eyes. "Great song," he called out as he continued up the steps.
To his immediate right was the bathroom. Leaving the door open, he stripped off the rest of his clothes and started the shower. Getting in, he relished in the hot spray as he leaned his head the wall as he listened to the music drift through the door from downstairs.
The moment she put the record on, and he heard the opening notes to the song, he remembered something he hadn't before. It was a memory from long ago, when he was a child. Shaking his head, and beating back the thought of his dad and the woman he was having an affair with, he picked up the soap and wash cloth.
He heard the song end and then the record was replaced with another and he smiled as he heard Otis Redding sing, "These arms of mine" before the music kicked in.
He loved Alex's taste in music; it matched his own. There was a noise in the bathroom and he slid open the shower door an inch so he could see what Alex was doing. She was slowly taking her clothes off but had gotten her tank top stuck around her arms and he chuckled.
"Bobby!" she screamed and then laughed as he slid the door further open and grabbed her, pulling her over to him. "My arms are stuck," she laughed as he kissed her then proceeded to untangle her arms from the shirt straps.
Alex was able to finish undressing herself after that and then joined him in the shower. They were both too tired to go around two but he didn't mind as he enjoyed just kissing her, holding her, and helping her to clean every inch of her body.
Once showered, Alex dressed in only a pair of her underwear and bra; he had the same in mind as he only slipped on a pair of boxers before leaving the bedroom. Alex was sitting on the floor, flipping through the box of records. He sat next to her and took one at random.
At seeing what it was, he started laughing, "Donny Osmond?"
"In my defense, that belonged to my sister."
"But you have it," he teased before putting it back. Reaching further back in the box, he grabbed another one and pulled it out. "Percy Sledge…Now this is a song." Bobby took the record out of the album sleeve and put it on the player. As the song 'When a Man Loves a Woman' started to play, he took Alex by the hand and pulled her up with him. "Dance with me."
Alex wrapped her arm around him as they started to sway to the music.
"When a man loves a woman, can't keep his mind on nothing else, he'll trade the world for the good thing he's found. If she's bad he can't see it, she can do no wrong, turn his back on his best friend if he put her down."
She let out a deep breath as she muttered into his chest, "I love this song."
"Hmm, it's a great song."
"Most of these records are my dads'," she told him. "When I was a kid, every time we worked on the car together these were all we listened to. He gave them to me when I moved out, said he wanted me to have them."
Bobby wondered if that was why she was obsessing over listening to them. He knew she was worried about both her parents. Not just her mom because of her health, but her dad as well. John was suffering just as much, if not more than everyone else. The man knew he was losing his wife. A pain filled his chest at that thought. He couldn't imagine ever losing Alex. Leaning his head against hers, he closed his eyes and held her a little tighter, closer.
"Well, this man loves a woman, I gave you everything I had, trying to hold on to your precious love. Baby, please don't treat me bad. When a man loves a woman…"
"I remember watching my parents dance to this once. They had this big fight and I remember me and Liz and Junior being scared. We thought, this was it, their marriage is over. My dad left and didn't come back until real late. I was asleep but a noise woke me. It was this song playing. I sat at the top of the stairs and watched the two of them. I learned that night that just because you have a fight, it doesn't mean you stop loving the person you're with." She looked up at him and he saw a gleam of tears in her eyes. Her left hand rubbed over his chest, his heart, as she said, "That you can get past the bad times…"
Bobby leaned down and kissed her, cutting her words off.
"When a man loves a woman, he can do no wrong, he can never own some other girl. Yes when a man loves a woman, I know exactly how he feels, 'cause baby, baby…you're my world."
Ending the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her and held her as she let her tears fall. He wasn't sure if it was for them, from her happiness; or because she was thinking of her parents. It could've been both, and that was okay too.
"Look at me, sorry," she said as she stepped back to rub at her eyes.
"Don't be," he said as he took her hands and held them as he stared down at her. "Whatever you're feeling, or why, you have no reason to be sorry."
Alex shook her head as she said, "I'm crying on you and I'm drunk."
"And I'm not complaining."
"It's just that I've been doing so good with supporting you by not drinking myself, and tonight-"
"You were celebrating," he said as he tilted her head so he could look into her eyes. She kept looking away from him because of her sudden guilt. "Everyone was buying you drinks and I'm not mad at you for drinking them. I never told you not to drink, Alex. You're not the one with the problem."
"I know, but-"
"Stop," Bobby stressed. "No buts. You deserved to let loose and have a good time. We had a great time tonight. The best we've had in a while. Even drunk, you're the most beautiful," he said as he kissed her, "loving," he kissed her again, "and amazing woman in the world."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better," she lightly teased and smiled.
"And it's working," he said as he kissed her again, this time letting it linger; grow deeper.
Alex moaned as she started pushing him backwards until his legs hit the mattress. He dropped down and she straddled his lap and kissed him harder as her hand slipped inside his boxers. She never relented or gave up position as she rode him hard and fast until they reached that moment of ecstasy.
Her hand was running over his chest that was coated with sweat, soothing the muscles that were pulsing with spasms. Her breath was warm against his neck, sending a sense of comfort down his body that he'd been feeling for weeks now.
They held each other for a long time, well after the needle fell off the record. Alex was the first to move as she kissed over his neck and then lips. He watched as she got up and headed into the kitchen after announcing that she wanted something sweet.
Bobby sucked in a deep breath and sat up to join her. Feeling his back pull, he groaned and lain back down. Closing his eyes, he fought off the pain before getting up. Going into the kitchen, he saw Alex picking through a bowl of fruit salad. She held it out and offered him some. Taking a piece of strawberry, he popped it into his mouth as he opened the freezer. The cold air hit him and he hummed in pleasure.
"You know, frozen yogurt would go great with this fruit," Alex said.
Bobby glanced over at her before looking into the freezer. He grabbing the tub of frozen yogurt out and shut the door. Taking two spoons out of a drawer, he sat down and pulled the lid off. Alex didn't even complain about the fact that he was on the floor and leaning up against the refrigerator door. She had accepted his odd behaviors, and this was one of them, a long time ago. She sat down next to him and took the spoon he offered her as he dug in.
They ate in silence for a while as they both enjoyed the fruit and yogurt. Then Alex said, "Memorial Day weekend."
He didn't even have to ask to know what she was talking about. Looking over at her, he smiled as he said, "Yeah?"
Alex smiled back as she leaned in and kissed him. "Yeah."
"Where?"
"How about here."
Bobby gave a nod as he looked around the mostly bare apartment. They still hadn't even gotten furniture for the place. All there was in the living room was a box spring and mattress, a record player, and a box of records; there wasn't even a table. "We're going to need a table."
"We're going to need a lot of things," she said before taking a bite of the yogurt. "Who's going to perform the nuptials?"
"I don't want a priest," he said as he worked his spoon around the edge of the tub. Looking over at her, he said, "That's my only request, Alex, no priest."
Alex considered that for a moment before asking, "How about the Captain? He's certified."
Bobby stared at her as he stuck the spoon in his mouth. Once he swallowed, he asked, "Deakins?"
"Yeah."
"How'd you know he's certified?"
"We talk," she said before smiling wide. "Don't tell me I know something you don't."
Bobby felt the blush heat his face before he shook it off. "Ask him."
"I will," she told him. "Who are you going to invite?"
Bobby shrugged as he said, "Well, there's Lewis and his wife."
"Who else?"
He looked at her and said, "You're wondering about my mother." Alex nodded without saying anything. That wasn't a good sign. She knew he hadn't exactly been on speaking terms with his mom for a while. However, this was huge. He was getting married, and his mother had every right to be there. "I'll bring her."
Alex stared over at him as she asked, "Is that okay?"
"Of course," he said as he took another bite.
"Bobby, I haven't even met her yet. We should do that before, don't you think?"
He felt uneasy with that as he looked over at her. Alex was right; he needed to tell his mother first, and let them meet each other. He would also have to break it to his mom that he was in a relationship. That was going to be fun…Bobby took a breath and said, "She doesn't even know that we're together."
Alex's eyes went wide as she gapped at him. "What? Bobby," she scolded him. "She's your mother. It's been two years."
Bobby dropped his spoon into the tub that was nearly empty as he felt the need to defend himself. "Which is practically a miracle in itself. I wasn't expecting this to last, yet alone to marry you. But, you're right; I should have told her before. It's just that…" he sighed and shook his head. Reaching up, he rubbed at his eyes and neck, before telling her, "She's difficult. She, Alex…my mother has never approved of any woman I've been with. She's hated all of them and she finds ways to..." he stopped as he rethought his explanation. "Once she knows I'm with someone, she'll get more demanding. It's like she can't stand the thought of another woman occupying my life. She says she wants me to be happy, but every time I am, she…destroys it. That's why I stopped letting her know. She hasn't known about a woman I've dated since I worked Narcotics."
Alex let out a breath as she leaned back against the refrigerator. After a moment, she said, "Do what you think is best."
"Hey," he said, getting her attention. Once she turned her head to look at him, he told her, "thank you for understanding."
She smirked and shook her head, telling him, "I don't. I'm just really good at pretending."
Bobby chuckled as he leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Then thanks for pretending. Tired?"
"Exhausted," she said as she finished off the fruit before getting up.
Bobby helped her to clean up the kitchen before they both collapsed onto the mattress. He pulled her close and held her against his chest as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
TBC…
