Homecoming

The car ride home from Sonny's was quiet. Dante was lost in thought about what could have happened at the warehouse and what his brother might be hiding about it. Lulu was silently panicking about their first time alone, at home, with no interruptions since the shooting rocked their world and changed everything. It had been six weeks since that night she waited for Dante to come home so she could accept his proposal. Six weeks since her dream of a happy life married to the man she loves was shattered. She had successfully avoided that difficult conversation until now but it couldn't be avoided any longer.

Dante broke the silence "Thanks for coming to Sonny's tonight, I know he isn't your favorite person".

"Of course" Lulu shrugged "Kristina wanted her oldest brother there and going off to college is a big deal"

"I'm so proud of her for getting into an Ivy League school like Yale" beamed Dante.

"It is a huge accomplishment" Lulu agreed "Don't you think it is a little odd that they accepted her off of the waiting list in the middle of the semester though?"

Dante shrugged "She said she has to take a winter course to make up the time"

Lulu suspected Sonny had something to do with Kristina's surprise acceptance but decided to drop it as she pulled her car into the parking lot at Dante's building. That last thing they needed was a fight about Sonny.

"Home sweet home" sighed Dante "I can't wait to take a real shower and cuddle up with you in our comfortable bed. No nurses coming in to poke at me, no machines beeping, no unwanted guests, just us."

Lulu just nodded in agreement as she got his bag out of the trunk. Dante reached for it but she insisted on carrying it up to the loft "You are still recovering!"

They got into the elevator and Lulu closed the door and pressed the button. As they rose to Dante's floor Lulu confessed "I wasn't expecting you to be released so soon, I would have cleaned up and stocked the fridge. I promise I will go out and get all your favorites tomorrow so you can be comfortable while you stay home to rest and recover".

"Baby don't be silly! I'm just happy to be out of the hospital and home with you so we can get on with our lives" Dante assured her.

The elevator arrived at Dante's floor and the door opened. Dante walked out first and noticed the big red curtain and the chandelier Lulu had set up for her surprise proposal acceptance. He felt a pang of sadness realizing just what a special night they had missed because he had decided to go off on his own and check on Sonny's warehouses with no back-up. If only he had just come home instead they wouldn't have missed out on these last six weeks as a happily engaged couple and Lulu wouldn't be having doubts about marrying a cop. He hoped if he could quickly solve the case that Lulu would relax a little about the dangers of his job. Lulu noticed him staring at the set-up "I'm sorry, I should have taken that stuff down. It has just been so busy with you in the hospital and helping Maxie out at Crimson".

"No, I'm happy I got to see all of the work you put in. I'm just sorry that night was ruined after you went to all of that trouble to set up such a special evening for us" Dante replied.

"Dante it doesn't matter. What matters is that you lived and are back home where you belong." Lulu quickly changed the subject "Why don't you go take a nice hot shower while I clean up a little and put fresh sheets on the bed?"

"A hot shower sounds nice but it would sound even nicer if you joined me." Dante flirted.

"Dante you know that's not a good idea. You are still recovering from major surgery." Lulu admonished "Now go on while I pick up out here"

Dante sighed dejectedly and gave her a guilty grin "Yes mam"

She watched him shuffle off to the bathroom and then started to clean up the loft. She stripped the sheets off of the bed and put on fresh ones. She picked up all of the clothes laying around and tossed them in the hamper. Next she got out the vacuum and vacuumed up all of the dust bunnies that had collected. Once the loft looked reasonably presentable again, she changed out of her dress and tights into a pair of black yoga pants and a pink tank top. She grabbed a bottle of wine out of the fridge and two glasses off of the shelf. She settled on the couch and poured them both a glass while she waited for Dante to finish showering. She nervously gulped down her wine and poured herself another glass. Now there was nothing left to do but wait.

Minutes later Dante came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of black sweatpants with a towel draped around his neck. His hair was wet and tousled and her heart leapt at how handsome and full of life he looked. He tossed the towel in the hamper and came to join her on the couch. He kissed her softly on the lips and said "the place looks great, you take such good care of me" and kissed her again. She put her wine glass down and cuddled into his side breathing him in. Being this close to him was making it difficult to remember that an important conversation needed to happen. She sighed and closed her eyes "I missed this so much".

"Me too baby, more than anything" he said as he kissed the top of her head.

He took a deep breath and decided it was time they had a serious talk. "Lulu" he started "I know this has been a difficult few weeks for you and for us. It has to be tough on you watching me almost die in the hospital for the second time in two years."

Lulu interrupted, tears filling her eyes "Dante, I know there are things we need to talk about but just for tonight, can we leave it be and just enjoy each other? I just want to climb into bed and sleep next you knowing that you are okay and home where you belong." The tears spilled over and started running down her cheeks. Dante used his thumbs to wipe them away and kissed her softly on the lips. "Okay baby, we can talk tomorrow" he said as he stood up and held out his hand "let's go to bed".

Lulu grabbed his hand and got up off the couch. He led her over to the bed and pulled back the covers. "I'll be right back" Lulu said quickly as she rushed off to the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and leaned up against it sliding down to the floor as she quietly sobbed. She chickened out again. She had to tell him that she couldn't marry him. That she wasn't strong enough to be a cop's wife or a mother to his children. That she broke once before after a traumatic experience and she was sure she would break again if something happened to him. She just wanted one more night in his arms before she broke his heart and her own. Before she told him that the future they dreamed of wasn't possible. Just one more night before it was all over.

Lulu picked herself up off the floor and went to the sink to splash some water on her face. She open the bathroom door and went out to climb into bed next to the man she loved more than she thought it was possible to love someone.

He looked at her with concern but knew better than to try to talk again. Instead he just pulled back the blanket and waited for her to climb in next to him. He put his arm around her and she curled into his side with her head on his chest careful to stay on the opposite side from his healing lung. They could talk tomorrow. Tonight he just wanted to hold her and enjoy being able to sleep next to the love of his life. He wanted to breathe her in and remember this moment. Something told him when they did finally talk, things would never be the same.