Title: The Gift
Author: lyricalpeach
Summary: Follow-up to Bless the Broken Road, future speculation. No ER action.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Without Prejudice. All the ER characters are property of NBC. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are used here without permission. Please don't sue me. The other words are my own. Please don't steal.
Notation: Ray's thoughts 'Neela's thoughts' Abby's thoughts
Chapter 1
It had taken nearly three years of knowing each other to become a couple…
Ray and Neela had been together nearly two years and married for six of those months. Life was sweet and pleasant. Every day, they woke up in each other's arms and fell asleep curled up together. Time in the ER was hard work as always, but ever since they'd become a couple, it had been intertwined with moments of fun and passion. They were in love in a way that every morning was new and full of promise. Even before their engagement, they'd talked at length about having children and needing a bigger place. They'd been very fortunate to find this place through friendly connections before the wedding, although it would be months before they could move in.
Their new place was a completely remodeled condo in a historic low-rise building. It was exactly what they'd been looking for. Within walking distance to the Fullerton L station on the blue line in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, not only was it full of young professionals and young families, it was more convenient than they could ever have asked for. This condo was a lot more expensive than they'd planned for, at the top of their budget, but it was an investment. They had agreed since their engagement to save up their resources for the new place. Of course, that included very low-key living for a year, learning to cook, a simple wedding, postponing a honeymoon and moving everything themselves… with Brett and Nick's help. Fortunately Ray's buddies worked for food and a chance to hang out in their new place, although Ray and Neela had decided that duplicate keys were definitely not going to be an option.
It had started to get really cold in the middle of October. For three months they'd waited to move into the new apartment, expecting to be there for the holidays, only to have the move date re-scheduled two months later for early January. "We're REALLY going to freeze on moving day!"
They had no energy to really decorate and celebrate the holidays properly this year, anyway. Holidays were spent working, relaxing as if it were any other day off, and partying elsewhere – the apartment was in more-than-half-packed state of mess and wasn't fit for guests. They wouldn't have been able to move if it hadn't been for Neela's parents. They had agreed to chip in with a loan and even more importantly, had given them some tough financial lessons on investing. With Ray now a practicing physician in his second year post-residency and Neela on her way up in the OR ranks, they were finally able to close the deal. Neela was so thankful for her parents' help, and amazed, she said, "We're going to own our own home. Can you imagine?"
Grinning widely, Ray pulled her close and circled his arms around her to answer, "Yes, I can," and covered her face with tender kisses.
Laughing, Neela said, "I know what you're thinking about," but before she could say more, Ray's eyes reminded her how deep his love for her was, and she stopped laughing. Instead, she tiptoed up to kiss him softly. "I love you," she whispered.
000
Thump, thump, thump, thump. Thunk! Stupid broken elevator. Ray not-so-gently put the last box into the moving van. "I can't believe we moved all that stuff." Their stuff had been strewn everywhere in the apartment. They'd been packing for a month… and yet everything only filled one little moving van. Together they closed the van door, locked it, and trudged back up the stairs for the last time, to take a look at the now empty rooms.
"Can you believe it? We're finally moved out of here…" Ray's voice trailed as he remembered all that had happened there. All his memories of everything he'd been through with Neela were attached to this place, this apartment, in his mind. But now, all the confusion, the struggles, were gone. All he could think of were the beautiful moments he'd remember from after Neela really came home for good. Long talks, intimate moments, passion and tenderness, all wrapped up within these walls. Getting engaged, coming home married. But as part of that, they'd decided starting a family needed a new place, a bigger one with a clean slate. And they'd found one. Life was perfect, they just had to say goodbye to the place where they'd spent the beginning of their life together.
Neela was silent… this place had been their home for a long time... since their Roomie days. Her mind pushed away memories she'd rather forget, to focus on where they were headed.
Ray pulled her in close. "I know," he said softly, "and I know how to say goodbye to this place." He kissed her deeply, then pulled back to smile mischievously. Neela grinned ear to ear, and they resumed saying goodbye to each room with a kiss, ending up where a warm rug used to be… Good thing we turned off the heat only this morning or this would be damn near impossible…
000
Clomp, clomp, thud. Clomp, thud. Clomp, thud. Finally, Ray's head appeared from the stairwell. More stair climbing on moving day? For what we're paying for this place, the elevator should always work! At least we're only on the third floor…
"Neela," Ray called up, "Could you come help me with this one?"
"Coming," Neela called back. She looked around – the boxes were everywhere. They were stacked like a wall not far from the door, blocking the lovely view out the living room window from the front doorway almost completely. And uh-oh, their furniture was actually last to come in. Where were they going to put it all? Maybe they'd better move the boxes to one of the bedrooms. She propped the door open and headed to the stop of the stairs to help Ray. "What happened to Brett and Nick?"
"They needed a break," Ray smiled, "so I let them go get us some lunch." They carried the box into the apartment with some effort.
"Good idea," Neela smiled back, and then gave Ray a mischievous look, "so, when will they be back?" as they put the box down on the top of the box-wall.
"Hmm, they'll be gone long enough for THAT!" Ray grinned and pulled Neela to him with one arm as he shut the door and turned the lock with the other. "Anyway, we need a break, too..."
"I just unpacked our rug…" Neela began, but before she could say anything further, Ray had covered her lips completely with his and was backing her in the direction of the rug on the living room floor.
000
"Shhh..." Brett whispered to Nick as they neared the door. Ray had given Brett the building code, but not the keys, as he and Neela had agreed, so Brett and Nick had brought lunch upstairs not finding Ray at the moving van. Hearing soft murmuring coming from inside, he dragged Nick silently back about ten paces to give them fair warning, clomping toward the door.
"Crap!" Ray muttered as they pulled on their clothes haphazardly. Ray was ready first and ran over to the door, waiting for Neela to finish. Running his hands through his hair quickly, he looked over to where Neela was still scrambling. 'Ready?' he signaled over, and thinking he got a 'Yes' opened the door to Brett and Nick with their take-out lunch.
Neela's head popped up from behind the box-wall, looking a bit disheveled and rosy. The look on her face told Ray he'd opened the door just a bit too soon.
Brett and Nick stifled their laughing. They knew what to expect the moment Ray and Neela were left alone. Sure, they were still newlyweds, but it was certain they'd be this way far beyond their newlywed status.
"Thanks for getting lunch, guys," Ray smiled, only slightly embarrassed. "Baby, come and eat," he coaxed. Neela came out from behind the box-wall with a smile at the corner of her mouth, one eyebrow raised. He pulled her in for a quick hug, and led her to sit on one of the sturdy boxes, saying "Here."
"Well, we'll have our table and chairs before dinner," Neela commented. She looked at Brett and Nick standing there, just struck again observing Ray's soft side for Neela, and said, "Well, grab a sturdy box to sit on, furniture's next."
000
"Thanks, guys, for all your help." Ray and Neela spoke in unison, and Brett and Nick raised eyebrows and then laughed out loud.
"Can you believe it? They've completely merged into a single voice," Brett managed to get out between guffaws.
"Awww, let 'em be," said Nick, "that's what we all dream about!"
Ray and Neela blushed. Neela recovered first, saying "Nick's getting invited back here and Brett's going to have to beg to be let in!"
Ray was speechless. He gave each a handshake and a quick hug. "Thanks, really, for helping us move into our home."
"No problem," Brett said, "what are buddies for?" He paused, and said "Of course, we'll come to visit you frequently…"
Ray grinned, "Sure…. but call ahead if it's not an emergency, ok?" Ray remembered Brett had the door code and said "or at least ring us before coming up."
"Oh, right…" Brett smirked, "I promise to clomp loudly before knocking on the door."
Wide-eyed, Ray and Neela turned beet red this time. "Okay, okay... see you guys later. Thanks again," Ray ushered them out before they were dished out any more embarrassing jabs.
000
