Disclaimer: I don't own Scorpion and never will. Oh well. It won't stop me from playing with them – no infringement intended.
Thank you so much for the amazing response to this story….. I'm truly humbled and honored that you're enjoying it. I plan to reply to each review that I can (I can't reply to guest reviews so let me say thanks now) just as soon as I can. I appreciate so much that you took the time to leave a few words.
This chapter got away from me so I've had to just cut it off and break it in two. The second half will hopefully be up sometime next week.
In the meantime… enjoy and thanks in advance for reading and reviewing. It makes my heart happy.
Because You Want To – Chapter 2
"Because Walter and my mom love each other."
Paige dropped her hand from Walter's shoulder and whipped around at the sound of her son's voice.
Everyone else in the room slowly turned including Walter as he stood up. The genius caught sight of the scowl on Tim's face before the former Seal schooled his features when he realized Walter was watching him.
"Ralph, you know better than to eavesdrop on private conversations," Paige scolded the young genius.
"This conversation affects me so I should have a right to participate," Ralph replied logically and Walter's lips curved up on the right. Then he sobered as his mind drifted back to Paige and her words before Ralph spoke up. Just what in the hell did she mean?
"I think the kid is right," Toby chimed in to the conversation uninvited. "This affects him as much as it does any of us."
"Toby," Paige hissed at she pointed a finger at him. "I don't need your input right now."
"I agree with Toby," Sly added even as he cringed at the look Paige turned on him.
Mama Dineen was out in full force and no one was safe when that happened.
"Can we get back on topic here, please?" Happy said. "What exactly are you, or Ralph rather, saying Dineen?"
"Yes, Ms. Dineen," Tedreau spoke up from his chair, having already sat down again. "Would you care to elaborate on your earlier statement?"
"Ralph, come down here," Paige sighed resigned to the fact that trying to protect him from this was futile. She motioned with her hand for him to come to her and the young genius did without hesitation.
"Paige," Tim said her name and she looked at him. She could see the questions in his eyes and it took all her effort not to crumble where she stood. What had she just done?
She should have talked to Tim before she spoke out of turn but more importantly she should have discussed it with Walter before she just blurted it out to everyone.
Ralph walked up and Paige slid her fingers through his hair. It was more of a gesture to soothe her than it was him. "Tim, I know I owe you an explanation but please you have to give me a few minutes. I need to speak to Walter," Paige looked toward the man in question to find him staring intently at her.
"Ms Dineen," Tedreau spoke up again. "Are you implying that you and Mr. O'Brien want to get married because, as your son has so eloquently put it, you and Walter 'love each other'? Why did neither of you bring this to my attention earlier?" The lawyer's voice took on an accusatory tone. "Had I known my approach with USCIS would have been very different."
"Tedreau," Walter said sharply as he shot a glare at his lawyer. "Paige is not responsible for my immigration problems."
"Walter," Paige said his name firmly to get his attention. He turned his head to look at her. "We need to talk."
"Paige, you don't have to do this," he started as he shook his head.
The liaison pressed her lips together and released her son before marching over to the genius. "We are not having this conversation with an audience." She grasped his wrist and yanked him toward the kitchen.
"She's already showing him who is boss," Toby snickered and Happy hissed under her breath.
"Why are you such a dickhead sometimes?"
"It's a gift," Toby replied before leaning down and saying more softly in her ear. "I told you this was going to happen eventually."
"Shut it Doc before I shut it for you."
Paige stopped beside the stairs, theoretically out of ear shot of the others, and turned to look at Walter. He was looking at her with a mixture of confusion and awe and something she had already begun to understand was love ever since he'd admitted his feelings for her during his hypoxia episode.
"I don't understand," Walter said before she could speak.
"Ralph shouldn't have said that. I think he said it more to upset Tim than anyone else. I'll speak to him-"
"I'm not upset with him."
"Well I am," Paige frowned. "He shouldn't make statements about things he knows nothing about."
"He knows how I feel a-about you."
Paige sighed. "Walter, he knows our relationship is complicated but he doesn't know any more than that."
"Yes he does," Walter insisted as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "He asked me a few weeks ago and I told him."
Paige looked at him surprised. "Why would you do that?"
"Because he asked me," Walter replied simply because to him it was simple.
"Okay," Paige sighed again and closed her eyes. Sometimes Walter tried her patience more than her son. "Now I understand why he suddenly started throwing attitude at Tim," Paige said more to herself and Walter bit his tongue to keep what would likely be an unappreciated comment from slipping out and getting him into trouble.
Paige opened her eyes. "We're going to table this part of the discussion for the moment."
"Why did you say that?" Walter blurted out unceremoniously and it was so abrupt it startled the liaison.
She lifted her eyes to his and, as she had become so accustomed to doing when she could see he was confused or stressed, she reached out a hand and touched his arm. "Walter, I am not going to let you be deported if there is something I can do about it."
He shook his head briskly. "But you're putting yourself at risk. You're putting Ralph at risk by getting involved in this. It's illogical because the likelihood that USCIS will accept another petition from me is less than ten percent."
"Less than eight point two percent actually," Sly called from across the room and Paige's eyes snapped in the mathematician's direction.
"Stop listening Sly," she scolded before returning her gaze to the man in front of her.
"Everyone's listening," he replied in a guilty tone and Paige huffed out a frustrated breath as she grabbed Walter's wrist again, tugging his hand out of his pocket as she pulled him into the kitchen next to the table.
"They can still hear us here, you know," he said flatly.
Paige released his wrist and muttered to herself. "I'm surrounded by undisciplined children."
Walter's lips curved into a smirk and he shrugged because he couldn't dispute it. But the smile fell from his lips when Paige looked at him again. He could see the worry in her eyes and he hated that he and his mistakes put it there.
"Walter you have to believe James if he says this could work to keep you here." Paige implored. "Short of you and Happy staying married this is the only option."
"It's not truly a viable and logical option."
"Walter O'Brien," she snapped losing her patience. "You are the only true father figure my son has ever had and I refuse to allow him to lose that…. to lose you."
Walter couldn't help but wonder if her only concern was the affect Walter's departure would have on Ralph.
"But what about Tim?" Walter asked as he again shoved his hand into his pocket and rocked on the balls of his feet. "You're already in a relationship with him." He held his breath as he waited for her answer.
"Walter," Paige spoke his name gently as her eyes softened. Walter could see the conflict in her eyes and he braced himself for her reply. She lowered her voice an octave. "Tim is a very nice man and he's good to me and for me."
Walter knew this, hated that it was true, but that knowledge didn't make it any easier to hear coming from her lips. Why did he suddenly want to vomit?
"But," Paige paused briefly as she licked her lips. Walter found his gaze fixated on them, remembering once again how they felt on his and he almost missed her next words. "My feelings for him don't come into play in any way in my decision. I like him, Walter, but I don't love him."
Walter's eyes whipped up to meet hers as her last four words registered in his brain.
"You don't?" He wondered if it were possible to sound pathetic and hopeful at the same time.
"No, Walter." He had no doubt she was being honest and did the way she say his name always sound so sensual?
Walter licked his own lips as the memory of her taste flooded his senses. He wanted to kiss her. He had never wanted to kiss a woman this badly.
"The sacrifice you'll be making is too much to ask, Paige. You're putting yourself at risk and putting your life on hold for what will very likely be half a decade for someone you don't love."
Paige reached for the collar on his shirt and grasped the fabric of his button down in her fist.
"Walter, do you honestly believe that? Are you really so stubborn and blind that you don't see?"
Walter stumbled toward her as she yanked on his shirt in frustration but he stopped himself from bumping into her.
"You would do anything for me and Ralph."
It wasn't a question but Walter nodded his head in agreement anyway. There was no hesitation.
Paige's eyes flashed intensely. "How can you doubt that I would do the same for you?"
"It wouldn't be real though," he insisted. "And I don't expect-"
His words were cut off as she released his shirt and reached up, brushing her fingertips along he cheek, effectively stopping his brain from functioning.
"Do you love me Walter?"
The genius felt his body shudder and his eyes slipped closed at the feel of her soft touch. It wasn't scientifically possible to feel her touch in every cell of his body but he did. He would swear to it.
"Yes," he breathed without hesitation.
"Then this marriage will be real," she replied, dropping her hand as she stepped closer. Walter's eyes fluttered open as he felt the heat from her body so close to his. He watched as Paige's eyes dropped to his lips and she licked her own before she spoke her next words. "Because I love you, too, Walter."
Walter's eyes widened and he inhaled a quick, sharp, breath at her words. When Paige licked her lips once again, patiently waiting for her words to register, Walter gave in and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. Without another word he lowered his face and pressed his lips to hers.
Paige hiccupped into his mouth as she lifted her hands between them, fisting more of his shirt in her fingers. Walter unconsciously propelled them forward and they stumbled until Paige's back hit the cement column beside her desk. She grunted softly into his mouth and he tore his mouth away.
"Did I hurt you?" he panted against her lips and she just shook her head and pulled his mouth back to hers again before sliding her arms around his neck and burying her fingers in the short strands of his hair.
Walter pressed the length of his body against hers and a low groan escaped his lips. Their last kiss was burned into his brain and he could remember the feel and taste of her so vividly there were times over the last year he could have sworn the taste and feel were still on his lips.
But this was different. It was just as frenetic as their last kiss, a desperate tangling of lips and tongues, but he had barely allowed himself to touch her last time. He'd been afraid to touch her. But this time he indulged his desire and he let his hands slide down the sides of her body, over her hips and then around to grip her bottom, holding her flush against him even as the wall behind her prevented her from pulling away.
Paige was lightheaded and it wasn't from the lack of oxygen. Walter was kissing her like he wanted to devour her whole and the feel of his lips on her, and his body against her, made Paige feel like her brain was going to ooze out her ear.
The passion with which he was kissing her was a surprising but truly exhilarating and welcome sensation. She wasn't surprised he was capable of this kind of passion, she'd sensed it from their last kiss, and saw hints of it in many other aspects of his life. And to have all of it focused on her, all at once, was a bit overwhelming. But that only had her clutching his hair a little tighter because she feared he might also become overwhelmed and pull away from her.
A small whimper bubbled in the back of her throat when she felt him reach down and hike her leg around his hip. Paige's calf curved around his thigh and when she felt him press his hips further against her Paige gasped, her body softening instinctively and Walter sunk deeper into her and this kiss.
"Ho…. way to go 197!" Toby cheered from the other side of the room and his voice just barely penetrated Walter's awareness. He realized everyone could see them again but he refused to let it bother him despite the chatter that was now coming from the other side of the room.
"Now that's not fraudulent," Tedreau said from where he now stood next to Cabe. The Homeland agent hummed his agreement exaggeratedly. "Whoa there," Cabe said a second later. "Come on Tim. Let's you and I step outside for some air."
"As gross at that is, it's actually kinda hot," Happy murmured as Sly and Ralph gagged in unison.
There were those rare times when Walter considered his brain to be a curse, particularly because it could usually register all of his surroundings even when he was focused intently on one thing. This was one of those times.
"I'm completely uncomfortable right now," Sly's strangled tone would have made Walter laugh if he wasn't so focused on the warm, soft, sweet woman in his arms.
"I concur." Ralph agreed. "I hope they don't do that all the time after they get married." It was his young mentee's familiar voice that finally penetrated Walter's awareness and the genius realized he was pawing at the young boy's mother in front of a room full of people. What kind of man disrespects the woman he loves like that?
But the thought of pulling away was almost too painful but he softened his fingers, which were pressing insistently into the soft flesh of her thigh, and gentled his lips. The kiss softened but Walter continued to kiss her, his tongue gently caressing Paige's as their mouths slowly parted. Her lips clung to his and he gave into temptation, deepening the kiss briefly again before finally pulling his lips away.
Paige inhaled a shaky breath as Walter rested his forehead against hers. He felt himself shaking but he wasn't sure if it was him, or Paige, or both of them.
"Oh my," Paige panted softly as she caught her breath. If Walter was planning on kissing her like that on a regular basis she wasn't sure she'd survive being married to him because she would surely expire of a heart attack. Her fingertips brushed softly along the back of Walter's neck causing his body to shudder and his eyes to involuntarily close.
"Are you sure, Paige?" Walter asked and held his breath as he waited for her to answer.
"Yes," Paige's answer chuckled out of her and she pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. "Do you really need to ask me after that?"
"And they come up for air," Toby's amused voice filled the garage and Paige looked over as Walter frowned and stepped back from her.
Paige looked at the faces of her son and friends. She immediately noticed Tim and Cabe were missing and guilt flooded her. He shouldn't have had to see that but Paige couldn't bring herself to regret the last few minutes. They were some of the best of her life. Still she knew he had to be hurt and confused and she owed him an explanation. But it would have to wait.
Walter placed his hand on Paige's lower back and guided her, both of them on still somewhat shaky legs, back to the team.
"Not another word Toby or I will shut you up permanently," Walter growled in warning as they came to a stop. The behaviorist held his hands up in mock surrender but his smirk told Walter more harassing was in their future.
"So this may significantly change your situation Mr. O'Brien," Tedreau said as he looked back and forth between the couple in front of him with an amused smile.
"It changes everything," Walter replied as his hand dropped from Paige's back. He didn't dare keep touching her because all he wanted to do at that moment was touch every inch of her. And that wouldn't be prudent considering how they had both so recently lost control. He wondered if Paige wanted to touch him as well but his silent question was answered a second later when he felt Paige's fingers brush against his own as his hand hung between them.
"So how do we do this?" Paige asked. "Can this really work?"
"Well it might. I need to immediately file a request for extension of Mr. O'Brien's deportation for special circumstances. The two of you need to marry as soon as you are legally able to and we will immediately file a new I-130 petition."
"Can you stop him from having to leave the country?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Tedreau shook his head negatively. "The new application will be on hold until the investigation is over. But it will go retroactive to the date of filing once it is approved."
"Are you sure this will work?" Sly asked from beside Paige.
"I cannot give you any kind of guarantee but I can tell you that I haven't lost an USCIS case yet and I've been doing this for over thirty years."
"That's good enough for me," Paige said confidently.
"How soon will the divorce be finalized?" he asked as he grabbed his tablet off the table and started typing notes into it.
"We sign the papers on Monday," Walter replied with a glance at Happy.
"Okay, so here is what I suggest you do," Tedreau started as Cabe entered the garage without Tim. "Get married immediately and take a leisurely honeymoon to Ireland or Europe. Build a honeymoon album that is more realistic and convincing that that piece of garbage you showed me. Let me do my job and I will endeavor to have you both back in the country in a few weeks, a few months at most."
"I can't leave the country for a few months," Paige looked at Walter slightly panicked before returning her gaze to the lawyer. "We have work and I can't leave my son for that long."
"First of all you don't have work. Scorpion is officially suspended pending the outcome of the immigration investigation. Second, we can all watch Ralph for however long it takes to get this resolved."
"Absolutely not," Paige said firmly. "No offense Cabe but I am not leaving my son for that long. End of story."
"Ralph can come with us," Walter suggested. "It's summer so he doesn't have school. We can make it an educational trip."
"Really?" Ralph piped up from the chair at Walter's desk where he'd migrated after his mom and Walter walked back over.
"Uh, Walt," Toby chimed in. "Kids and honeymoons don't exactly go together… unless you're making them that is."
The behaviorist wiggled his eyebrows but both Walter and Paige ignored him.
"That might look suspicious to immigration," James warned, clearly not keen on the idea.
"It will look more suspicious if Paige abandons her son for months. That isn't the kind of mother she is and I don't care how it looks. Ralph is coming with us or we don't go," Walter insisted and Paige felt her heart swell with love for him so intensely that it made her physically stagger.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he looked at her worriedly.
"Still trying to recover from that kiss I imagine," Toby chuckled under his breath but Happy heard him and reached out and pinched him.
"Oww."
"I'll tell you what," Cabe spoke up. "The two of you take a week alone together. I imagine you will likely need it. Then I will fly with Ralph to wherever you are to deliver him."
"Yes, that will work," Tedreau agreed. "Take lots of pictures. Look happy and in love. Like you just did a few minutes ago. And you need to comingle your lives quickly. The sooner and more mingled your lives are the better it will be for your petition."
"What does that mean?" Walter looked confused.
"Married couples, ones who are legitimately married, comingle their lives. You need to open a joint bank account at the very least."
"We already have one," Walter replied and he felt Paige reach for his hand. She squeezed his fingers gently.
"Walter me being a signer on the scorpion account doesn't count."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Walter looked at her as he answered. "We have a personal joint bank account."
Now it was Paige's turn to look confused. "Wait a minute; we never opened a joint account together."
"I did." Walter realized, rather quickly, that blurting that information out so casually probably wasn't the best idea especially when he saw Paige's eyes narrow.
"I never signed anything for that."
Walter cleared his throat and took a small step back. "Yes you did. When you signed the paperwork for the scorpion account. It's not my fault you didn't read what you were signing."
Paige crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't because I trusted what you handed to me," she replied and both her tone and body language told him they would be discussing the matter further when they had a moment alone.
Walter sighed. He deliberately didn't tell her about the account at the time, sneaking the papers into the other pile, hoping she wouldn't notice. And she didn't.
But now the genius was quickly realizing that perhaps that wasn't the most prudent choice and he wondered how she would feel if she ever learned about the other arrangements he made for her and Ralph. Marrying her would likely reveal it but he was not going to mention it now. He would face those consequences when the time came.
"How long has that account been open?" James asked as he made another note on his tablet.
"Almost eighteen months."
"Good," he replied. "That will definitely work in our favor. Do either of you have life insurance policies."
"Yes," they both answered in unison.
"Who are your beneficiaries?"
"My son," Paige answered.
"Paige and Ralph," Walter answered carefully and cringed as he waited for her reaction.
"What?" Paige was becoming overwhelmed by Walter's revelations. "Since when am I your beneficiary?"
He shrugged casually. "Since Megan died. She had been on everything but I had all of it, including my Will, changed to you and Ralph after her death."
"Walter?" Paige said his name as she digested yet more unexpected news.
"Well isn't this a juicy tidbit of information,' Toby drawled but then shook his head. "Wait a minute; you're married to Happy but have another woman as the beneficiary of your insurance policy and all your worldly goods if you kick the bucket? Real nice O'Brien."
"Shut it Toby," Walter growled. Why did the behaviorist always have to try to stir things up?
"Well this will unquestionably help your case, Mr. O'Brien for the new petition. It will demonstrate your commitment to Ms. Dineen and her son and due to the timing, the length of time these arrangements have been in place rather, should facilitate USCIS's acceptance of the validity of your relationship. In theory they shouldn't have any reason to reject the petition."
"That's positive," Sly said as he squeezed some hand sanitizer on his fingers.
"Of course, the investigation into the first marriage will continue but I will continue to insist it was legitimate. The only thing that could potentially derail all of this is if we can't get USCIS to dismiss the investigation. But let me worry about that for now." James walked toward the table and grabbed his brief case from the floor beside the chair. "I have to go. I have another appointment but I'll have the application paperwork sent over by messenger on Monday. Get it signed and notarized and back to me by Tuesday morning."
"James," Paige said his name as she approached him.
"Yes, Ms. Dineen?"
"Thank you," she smiled, completely overwhelmed at the moment by all of this, but she hoped he could see the relief and gratitude in her eyes.
"You're welcome."
As she and Cabe walked the man to the door and said goodbye, Walter walked to his desk and pulled up a chair beside Ralph.
"Can we talk for a minute, buddy?"
Ralph stopped playing a game of chess on Walter's computer and gave his mentor his undivided attention.
"Are you mad at me for what I said?" he asked a little nervously. "I know we had an understanding about your feelings for my mom."
"No, Ralph, I'm not upset with you." And he wasn't upset with the boy. Not in the least.
When he'd told Ralph about his feelings for Paige he did his best to explain why he chose not to pursue them, hoping he adequately conveyed that it was because of how much he loved Paige that he decided it was best not to tell her at that time.
He then advised the young genius that it was probably best to keep their conversation just between the two of them. Now he questioned whether he'd put more of a burden on Ralph by asking him to keep that knowledge confidential.
Walter could see the relief in the young boy's eyes and he reached out and patted Ralph's shoulder.
"It wasn't right of me to put the burden of my feelings for your mom on you, Ralph. I'm sorry."
The young genius shrugged. "No big deal. It's not like I hadn't figured it out already. Everybody knew," he added with a roll of his eyes. "It was just your and her who couldn't figure it out. Although I suspect my mom has known for a while."
"Your mom is the most intuitive person I've ever known. Even more than Megan was."
"I know. That's why I don't understand why she's dating Tim. Or was until probably a few minutes ago."
"Uh… yeah…" Walter swallowed back the bile that always rose up his throat as he thought about Paige and Tim together. "That's…. uh… what I want to talk to you about. I want to make sure you are comfortable with my m-marrying your mom."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"It is…. unexpected," Walter said because he was still having a hard time wrapping his mind around the idea of it so he could only imagine what Ralph was feeling.
"You love my mom. She loves you. And you need a legitimate marriage to be able to stay in the country. It's the only logical choice."
Ralph replied so simply Walter was at a loss for a response for about 20 seconds. The kid was more logical that he was at times.
"If I've learned anything from your mom over the past couple of years it's that the logical choice isn't always the right one."
"Statistically that's not true. Only one point seven percent of the time is the logical choice not the right one."
Walter smiled proudly and couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped.
"You are correct. And this is likely the logical choice for me but you and your mom are the most important people in my life and I would never want to do anything to hurt either of you. So I want to make sure you are….. comfortable… with this….outcome."
Ralph looked at him intently for so long that Walter felt the temptation to squirm. This child was a son to him, blood or not, and his acceptance and sanction was more important than anyone else.
"I'm pleased with the outcome." Walter felt the relief flood through him like a tidal wave. Ralph bit his bottom lip just like Paige always did and Walter could tell he had more to say."
"And?" Walter encouraged.
"I always hoped someday you'd be my stepdad," the young genius admitted and his voice was so soft Walter strained to hear it. "Almost since the first day we met."
Walter swallowed thickly, and blinked quickly, overcome with some of the strongest emotions he'd ever felt. Emotions he suspected he never would have felt if it had not been for the boy in front of him and the woman who gave him life.
"Me too, buddy," Walter said and cleared his throat when his voice faltered and as he said the words Walter realized just how true they were, even if he hadn't known it at the time.
As Paige and Cabe said goodbye to Tedreau at the door she was distracted but the sight of Ralph and Walter sitting at his desk talking quietly. It was obvious it was a serious conversation and as the door closed behind the lawyer, Paige started toward them to see exactly what it was about but Cabe grasped her elbow gently.
"Hey, kiddo. Let's talk a minute, huh?"
Paige watched as Walter smiled and squeeze Ralph's shoulder gently so she reluctantly nodded and let Cabe lead her out the door and into the alley.
They stopped halfway down. "Are you sure about this, Paige?" Cabe asked seriously not wasting any time. "This is a big sacrifice to make for our boy."
"It's not a sacrifice, Cabe. I love him."
And, God, did it feel good to be able to say that out loud to someone else. It had been torture keeping it in.
"I know you do, kid. And I know he loves you too but I hope you understand what you're getting yourself into. Just because he loves you doesn't mean he knows how to adequately express it." Cabe's warning was said with concern not malice. "Walter is still trying to understand the concept of love and I don't want to see either of you get hurt if he is unable to tell and show you the way you deserve."
Page patted the older man's arm. "Cabe, I'm under no illusions of what I'm getting into with Walter. He'll never be a man who will express his emotions easily."
"He did a pretty good job a few minutes ago when the two of you almost set the column next to your desk on fire," Cabe said drolly.
Paige felt her face heat as the blush crept up her cheeks.
Cabe chuckled for a minute and then sobered. "Speaking of I think you owe Tim an explanation. He left and will likely take the next few days off but he's hurt pretty bad."
Paige inhaled a ragged breath as she was flooded with guilt again. "I never meant to hurt him, Cabe. I didn't."
"I think he thinks you were using him to get over Walter."
Paige smiled sadly. "I wasn't doing it consciously. I was honestly at the point that I'd given up. Walter had broken my heart too many times and for my own self-preservation I had to move on. But I can understand why he probably feels that way and why he's hurt."
He nodded his head in understanding. "Yeah."
"I'll talk to him Cabe."
"You should probably give him some space for the weekend first. Give him some time to cool down. He was pretty hot."
"Okay," Paige agreed to heed Cabe's advice. "Thanks, Cabe for understanding. I know Tim is a good friend."
"Yes he is. But Walter is like a son." Cabe didn't need to elaborate any further for Paige to understand his meaning. He would always protect, support and stand up for Walter. In that she and Cabe were in sync. She would also always protect, support and stand up for Walter.
"Well we better get back in there. You and the boss have a wedding to plan," Cabe grinned and patted the hand she still had on his arm.
With Cabe's words Paige heaved out a breath as the reality of what was to come sunk in now that the adrenaline rush of it was over. It was now replaced with a warm spine-tingling feeling that enveloped her from head to toe.
Paige smiled and turned toward the door and saw Walter standing there looking at her and Cabe silently. His posture was stiff and his gaze was intense and inscrutable.
"Oh, Walter," she said as she stepped toward him. "We were just coming back in."
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
Paige nodded with a small sigh. "Yeah. We were just talking about Tim and how I need to talk to him once he has a couple of days to calm down a little."
"Hmmm," Walter hummed noncommittally.
"Walter don't start," she warned gently. "I owe him an explanation and apology."
"Apology for what?" Walter frowned. He didn't think she had anything to apologize to the interloper for.
"For not being completely honest with him," she replied patiently, knowing he likely wouldn't understand her need for penitence. "It wasn't deliberate but it also wasn't fair to him."
"Hmmmm," Walter hummed again but kept his opinion to himself. He didn't want Paige to regret her decision or, even worse, change her mind.
"On that note, I'm out of here," Cabe said quickly. "I'll see you two tomorrow."
Cabe smacked Walter on the back. "Congratulations kid. You are one lucky duck!"
"I don't know what that means," Walter grunted and Cabe just laughed as he walked away.
The genius looked over at Paige who was chuckling with a soft smile. "What does that mean? What does a duck have to do with anything?"
"He's not being literal Walter. It's his way of telling you he's happy for us."
That wasn't exactly the accurate translation but Paige felt it would do. His confusion was so adorable and because she wanted to touch him, the liaison stepped forward and slid her arms around his waist, pressing against him.
Walter tensed and she looked up at him with a question in her eyes. Had she overstepped? Was he not going to be comfortable letting her touch him even after they were married?
Walter relaxed a second later. His automatic reaction to touch was to tense up. But when his body recognized that it was her it loosened up.
He lifted his arms and wrapped them around her. He didn't need to be told that was what was expected and Walter was pleased she wanted to touch him and sought out his touch in return. He craved her touch more than he wanted to admit even to himself.
It was going to take some getting used to but having her in his arms was something Walter knew he was going to enjoy immensely.
He smiled at her and her lips curved again, almost shyly. And he was overcome with the desire to kiss her again. As if she could read his mind, Paige unconsciously licked her lips and her eyes darkened with desire.
He wasn't sure who moved first but in an instant they came together as he lowered his mouth to hers.
"I love you," he murmured against her lips, needing to tell her and it was almost alarming how much he needed to say it. She smiled against his lips and whispered the words back, the sound lost in his mouth as the kiss deepened.
This kiss was softer and slower and deeper and Walter groaned as he tightened his arms around her. He'd always found kissing awkward and messy and wet. But kissing Paige was like nothing he'd ever experienced. And as illogical as the thought was, Walter never wanted to stop.
Paige's fingers gripped the back of his shirt and she pressed against him, her head falling back as she surrendered to his kiss. The way he kissed her left her breathless and, as she felt his fingertips clutch her tighter, Paige knew being loved by Walter O'Brien was going to be worth everything else that came with it.
###########
Seven days later Walter stood in the courthouse hallway tugging at the collar and tie around his neck. Ralph stood beside him, perfectly mimicking his actions as Toby leaned against the opposite wall typing something on his phone.
Paige had them both in suits and ties and both geniuses hated them. But neither one would dare deny her on this day.
Toby looked up from his phone and snickered as he caught sight of them and he couldn't resist snapping a quick photo.
"I still can't believe you and Paige are getting married at city hall," he said as he texted the photo to Sly who was currently parking the car with Cabe.
"Why?" Walter asked and looked down at his watch for the fourth time in as many minutes. As cliché as it was, Paige was usually late, except when it came to getting Ralph to school. So the fact that they were still waiting for her to arrive was not a surprise but Walter thought she would at least be punctual at her own wedding. "It was the most efficient thing to do," he replied with another tug as his collar.
"Efficient… right," Toby drawled sarcastically. "Because that's what marrying the love of your life is supposed to be about… efficiency."
"We are on a red eye to Ireland in less than six hours and we've had exactly seven days to get our lives in order so we can be out of the country for an indefinite period of time with the slight chance I may never set foot in this country again." Walter spewed out the run on sentence and only inhaled a breath when he got to the end, before he started in again. "Excuse me for trying to get it all done, get divorced, get married again, and still make arrangements for all of you to have employment while I'm gone."
Walter had made arrangement with Richard Elia to utilize the team's resources while Walter was away. He would be available to work remotely but at least the influx of cash would allow Walter to keep them all employed while he was trying to straighten out his life.
"My mom better get here quick because I think he's melting down," Ralph said to Toby as he rolled his eyes and slipped his fingers between his tie and his button.
"Whose side are you on anyway?" Walter asked with a scowl, unbuttoning his top button before buttoning it again.
"Yours?" Ralph said but it sounded more like a question and Toby snickered again.
"I have taught you well young padawan," Toby said in his best Yoda voice.
"Where is Paige?" Walter huffed out a frustrated breath. He didn't want to let on how anxious he was but he couldn't help wondering if perhaps her being late was indicative of her having second thoughts or changing her mind.
Since they decided to get married the thought that maybe she would back out plagued him at least two dozen times a day.
Everyday.
Being deported he could handle. Going to jail he likely could handle, at least for a short period of time. Having to start over again in another country, whether it was his homeland of Ireland or elsewhere, Walter could handle. It would irk him but he could handle it.
But losing Paige and Ralph, Walter had come to quickly accept, was something he wouldn't survive.
And if they didn't get married and he got deported permanently he would most surely lose them because he didn't know if she would follow him. And that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Two years ago Walter would have scoffed at the idea that anything other than science and work and helping his sister would ever be of any significant importance to him. But in a very short time his entire world had been flipped on its axis. The small family he'd started to build with the other misfits he'd assembled had been infiltrated by a normal woman and her young genius son and she had literally changed everything.
And he would never go back…. could never go back. And so it was a bit disconcerting that the woman in question was now late to marry him.
Walter rubbed his sweaty hands on his slacks before once again looking at his watch.
"I think I should call her. Something must have happened," Walter said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Calm down 197. Happy texted me a few minutes ago and they'd just arrived in the parking garage. They ran into Cabe and Sly and they're all on their way up."
"Thank goodness," Ralph said under his breath as he yanked hard at his collar.
Walter felt the tightness in his chest release when a moment later Paige and her entourage came around the corner. Walter stopped breathing as she approached him. She was wearing a simple white knee length summer dress that swung around her thighs as she walked. Her hair flowed in long waves cascading over her shoulders and she was smiling as she walked quickly toward him.
"I know I'm late. I'm always late."
Walter just stared at her and she tilted her head to the side as she stopped in front of him.
"Walter, are you okay?"
Her words registered but he was still unable to move or respond until he felt Ralph yank on his arm.
"Huh?" Walter finally blinked and inhaled a long needed breath. "Did you say something?"
Paige laughed lightly knowing it was her arrival that threw him off balance and she couldn't help but feel powerful and beautiful – something that she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Are you ready for this?" Paige rubbed his arm gently.
"Yes," Walter nodded slowly and returned her smile.
"What's wrong with him? He's acting like a dope," Happy said as she stepped up beside Toby.
"He's Walt. What do you expect," Toby shrugged as he greeted his fiancé.
"Be nice," Sly scolded. "You should be nice to people on their wedding day."
Paige looked over at Sly and gave him a warm smile. They had spoken briefly in the elevator about Megan and how he was feeling today.
While the mathematician eyes saddened briefly at the mention of his wife, he quickly recovered and told Paige that Megan would have been so happy for them. And he knew she was looking down and watching her brother finally get it right.
Sly also confided that before she died his wife told him that Paige and Ralph were the best things to ever happen to her brother and she had no doubt Walter would get his head out of his ass, eventually, because he was already head over heels in love with the liaison even though he didn't realize it.
Paige's eyes had blurred for a second as she was struck with an immense gratitude that Megan O'Brien Dodd had once lived. She gave the man Paige loved a safe place to be himself and be accepted for who he was. Then she went on to give Sylvester, a man who had been afraid of the world, the courage to open up and be brave.
"You look pretty, mom," Ralph said from beside her, still yanking at his collar, and Paige flushed with delight as she looked down at her son. She stepped over and pulled him into her arms, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. She pushed Ralph's fingers aside and adjusted his collar and tie and the young boy sighed with relief. She smiled at him and brushed her fingers through his hair.
"Thank you, sweetie."
Walter silently kicked himself realizing he should have told Paige she looked lovely the second she stepped in front of him. But how was a man who swallowed his tongue supposed to be able to speak?
"O'Brien and Dineen?" A man stepped out of the small courtroom and called their names.
"Alrighty then," Toby said as he slapped his hands together. "Let's go get these two kids hitched"
"Ugh," Happy sighed as she pushed off the wall and handed Paige her small bouquet of tulips. "Why do you have to be such a pain in the ass?"
"Because I can be." Toby slung his arm over Happy's shoulders and led her through the door. Sly and Cabe followed with Ralph trailing behind.
Paige laughed and moved to also follow but Walter's hand on her elbow stopped her.
She turned her head and saw him looking at her the way he did almost all the time now. How hadn't she seen it before? But then again even if she had seen it, it likely wouldn't have mattered. He was too stubborn.
Walter O'Brien came around to things in his own time, he needed time for his brain to catch up with the rest of him, and if Paige was going to love and spend her life with him she had to accept him as he was. She was under no illusion that loving him was going to be easy. But he was worth it.
"Walter?" she said his name inquisitively with an arch of her brow.
"You look lovely," he said sincerely and her lips curved as her eyes crinkled in the corners. "I-I should have t-told you right away. My brain temporarily short circuited," he admitted sheepishly as he once again tugged at his collar.
Paige handed him the flowers and reached up to adjust the button and loosen his tie just as she'd done for Ralph. And miraculously the feeling of being strangled vanished. She lifted one hand and brushed her fingertips against his cheek and Walter's eyes fluttered closed as his body shuddered.
Paige leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, cupping his cheek in her hand.
"I like knowing I can make your brain short circuit," she replied as she pulled back.
"I love you," he blurted it out, proving her point perfectly. It would have startled her but she was getting used to it already. It had only been a week since he admitted to her, while not under the effects of hypoxia, that he loved her. And he had the tendency to blurt it out suddenly, out of the blue, and at inappropriate times. He didn't pay attention to where they were or who was around. If he felt compelled to say it he just did.
"I know," she whispered as she kissed the dimple in his chin.
He lowered his face with the intention of kissing her when Toby's head poked around the door.
"Hey you two…. no starting the honeymoon before the vows. Get your butts in here already so we can get this over with. I'm hungry and our reservations at Escala won't fill themselves."
The low growl of frustration that bubbled up from Walter's chest caused Paige to chuckle and she stepped back. She took back her bouquet and held out her hand.
"So you wanna go in and get married?" she asked and he smiled and nodded as he took her hand.
As he followed her through the door Walter came to the very life changing conclusion that he would follow her anywhere she asked.
So…. this chapter was supposed to have the first smut but it got away from me…. so like I said earlier I have to break it into two parts. Smut will be in the next chapter. Sorry for the delay but I'll make it worth the wait.
Thanks again for reading and reviewing.