Disclaimer: I do not own Lie to Me or any of the characters, places, themes, etc. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Written while listening to Christmas carols endlessly:) It's perfectly acceptable now that Thanksgiving has passed. So, this may become a Christmas one shot series, but I'm not sure.
Diamond Teardrop
Eli Loker confidently strode through the halls of the Lightman Group, all smiles for his fellow employees and radiating joy.
"Merry Christmas, Dr. Foster!" he called.
"You're a week early, Loker," she replied, but she couldn't help but smile at Eli's idiotic happiness.
He took her hand unexpectedly and spun her in a circle before winking at her and merrily continuing on his way. Gillian shook her head fondly at his innocence, turning her head to watch him saunter away.
"Eli?" Torres asked, spotting him and his naïve grin as he turned the corner. "What are you on?"
"Christmas spirit! C'mon Ria, smile!"
And she did, chuckling at his infectious joy.
"I have something for you," Eli said, pulling a rectangular blue box out of his pocket. "And you better like it; it was hard for me to afford with my salary."
"What salary?" Torres laughed, accepting the box.
"Open it," he prompted, shoving his hands in his pockets and beginning to whistle "Jingle Bells."
Seriousness slowly replaced joviality on Torres' face. "Eli, you didn't have to-"
"I wanted to." At her hesitation, he added, "I'm not getting any younger here."
For a brief, meaningful moment, Torres looked into his eyes. There wasn't a single hint of doubt or uncertainty in them, none that she and all her training could recognize. She dropped her eyes to the box, lightly tracing the ribbon with the tip of her finger. Then, she was decided. The lid came off, revealing the treasure that lay inside.
It was a necklace. The thin chain was silver, the pendant was teardrop shaped. A small, oval diamond hung in the center of it.
Torres' lips parted. She glanced up at Eli, knowing all too well what the necklace meant, all that it symbolized. He gave a small half shrug, reaching forward to gently lift it from the box. Obediently, Torres turned her back to him. Eli swept her thick black hair away from her neck, feeling the chill that swept through her as his fingers brushed the nape of her neck. The silver chain wrapped around her neck, and he fastened it carefully.
Torres turned to face him again, thumb rubbing the pendant
"There," Eli murmured.
She smiled hesitantly.
"Listen, Ria, I know you don't-"
"I love it."
He blinked.
"Thank you," she continued.
"Well, you're very welcome."
She took a step closer to him, her soft eyes probing his twinkling ones. Eli's breath caught as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"God, I want to kiss you," he breathed.
Torres smiled at his Radical Honesty. "Then do it," she dared.
Eli slid his hands down her sides, eyes never waving from hers.
And he kissed her.