AN: Warning: There could be a little trigger moment with Dylan and Aubrey talking about their past so keep that in mind. Thanks for the reviews. Here is your next chapter.
Chapter 9: Closure & Trouble
Earlier that evening (Around the same time that Thomas had just left his hotel to go to Bayside Restaurant)
Aubrey had just gotten ready for dinner and was now sitting down on the couch waiting for Isabella to change clothes from what she had on earlier.
She picked up her phone from the coffee table, went to her contacts, scrolled down to Thomas's name, hovered her thumb over it but before anything else happened she hears Isabella. "Is this ok?"
Aubrey looks up at her, seeing her stand there in a purple shirt that had little butterflies on it, pants that went with it, tennis shoes and her hair was brushed but down, it wasn't that spectacular of an outfit but they weren't going for that tonight. And Aubrey will always think this little girl is beautiful no matter what she wears and that made Aubrey smile. "What you are wearing is fine and beautiful."
Isabella smiled and asked. "Are we ready?" Aubrey nodded, looks back at her phone, gets out of her contacts page then puts it in her pocket as she stood up then she made sure that Isabella had her coat, she grabbed her own, went to the kitchen, grabbed the keys from the counter then they were out the door.
15 minutes later they were at a Pizza place that had arcade games, which she knew would make the kids happy, in fact the moment Aubrey parked the vehicle Isabella was already taking off her seatbelt and getting out. She smiled as she was getting out then after she shuts and locks the door she walks in front of her parked vehicle, grabbed Isabella's hand, looked down and said. "Now, you remember the rules right?"
Aubrey knew that the little girl did but she would rather be safe than sorry because if something were to happen to her she would be dead and her parents wouldn't be the only suspects.
Isabella looked up at her Aunt and replied. "I do. Don't talk to strangers and always be in your line of sight so you know that I am ok." Isabella pauses for a second then continued. "Oh, And always say please and Thank You to everything I ask for or receive."
Aubrey nodded and replied. "Excellent." Isabella smiled, happy that she got it right.
Once they were in the building and away from the door they stood in the eating section of the place and looked around for Dylan and Colby but didn't see them in that part. Then just as Aubrey was turning her head to look in the arcade section she hears Isabella say. "Hi Colby." Aubrey looked that way and saw Dylan and Colby walking up to them.
Smiles and pleasantries were exchanged then Aubrey and Dylan told the kids that they could play the games for a bit while they waited on the food. The kids nodded and went to go play, while the grown-ups stood there making sure that they could see them from were they stood.
When they were satisfied that they could see them they looked at each other and he said. "You look beautiful."
Aubrey shook her head with a smile and replied. "It's nothing special, something I would ware on any given day, outside of school of course."
School attire for her was more like pant suites with an occasional dress day but right now she was in blue jeans, a t-shirt, tennis shoes and small amount of make up with her hair in a pony tail.
He smiled a bit bigger and replied. "I don't care what you ware you'll always look beautiful to me." Aubrey couldn't help but smile then she looked down embarrassed.
He chuckles a little but not to make fun of her or anything it was just nice that he still had that effect on her then he cleared his throat and said. "Why don't I order while you get us a table." Aubrey nodded as she looked back at him then he asked. "It's still pepperoni for you right?"
Aubrey nodded. "Yes and a..."
Dylan cuts her off. "A diet coke, I remember."
Aubrey smiled then told him to get a medium-sized glass of orange soda and some water for Isabella since she knew her mother didn't want her daughter to drink a lot of soda. Dylan nodded then went to order the food and drinks while Aubrey looked to her right to make sure she could see the kids and when she saw them she walked to a table that had a good view of the arcade then sat down and waited, feeling a little conflict in her. She shook her head before she thought about it and watched the kids.
A few minutes later Dylan walked over to the table, sat down the tray of drinks then sat down across for her.
When the drinks were in place they started talking but not the subject they both knew they needed to address, they just wanted to feel comfortable around each other again and surprisingly for her it didn't take long, it felt like it was old times again. They were talking and feeling good around each other so much that they almost missed the call for their pizza.
Once the Pizza was at the table and the children were sitting down they ate but of course it wasn't done in silence because Dylan started talking to Isabella and asking her questions, which Aubrey knew he wasn't doing that just to be polite he was really interested in what she had to say and he was hanging on to every word as if he was listening to a grown up talking. But it made Aubrey feel a pang in her heart every time he smiled or laughed at something Isabella would say because all it did was remind her on what they lost, she did try to push it away though for the sake of the children, not wanting them to see her upset.
After they got done eating Colby looked at his father and asked. "Can we go play some more dad, please?"
Dylan nodded, grabbed some money and handed it to him then said. "Sure buddy." Colby smiled, grabbed the money and said thank you.
Isabella nodded in agreement. "Thank you Mr. McCoy."
Dylan nodded again, looked at the little girl with a smile and said. "You're very welcome sweetie." Isabella smiled back and both kids got off their chairs to go play some more. He had watched the kids go into the arcade again, after transferring the bills into coins, then he looked at Aubrey and noticed she was doing the same thing. They smiled at each other and Dylan said. "That girl is something special."
Aubrey nodded and replied. "I know, I felt the same the moment I met her. The Grissom's are very lucky parents." They look into each other's eyes then she looked down and said. "And I have to say so are you, that boy is special. Especially because he has a dad like you." She closed her eyes as the sadness came through, she couldn't hold on in front of him anymore.
Dylan looks at her sadly and replied. "I know how special it is to have him in my life, I feel blessed every time he smiles at me."
She nodded trying to swallow the lump in her throat and he continued trying to hold on to his own emotions. "And sometimes when I look into his eyes I'll catch myself thinking about how our son or daughter would have been like today and what college would they have gone to? And if they liked to play sports what would it be? And/or would they be the brainiac and bookworm like their beautiful mother."
She started to sniffle as tears came down her cheeks and he stood up from his seat, walks to her side of the table, tugs on her arm so she was standing up then he took her in his arms and she silently sobbed, not wanting to draw a lot of attention to herself but knowing they needed this.
He runs his hand up and down her back for a few minutes to calm her down then she pulls back from his arms, looked at him and said. "Excuse me for a minute?" He nodded, released her then stepped back.
She turns and walks toward the bathroom while he looked to see where the kids were then he sits back down and clears his throat as he was wiping the tears out of his eyes then he grabbed his water and took a drink.
He was looking down at his water when she came back a few minutes later. "Sorry."
He looks at her, stands up while she sits down then he sits back down and replied. "You have nothing to be sorry about. Sometimes it's good to get those emotions out and knowing you like I do, you can keep your emotions bottled up because you don't want anybody to think of you as weak. Just know I never thought that and looking at you now after everything that you had been through I never will." She gives him a small smile before looking down at her drink, he smiled for a few minutes then told her what he wanted to tell her since the first night he saw her again. "I made a mistake Aubrey."
Aubrey looked back at him and he continued. "The day I walked away from us was the biggest mistake I have ever made. I broke the promise of sticking by you when it got rough and losing our child couldn't have been rougher than that, especially when you had to add losing your dad a month earlier so I am so sorry."
She shook her head while sniffling again then she cleared her throat to clear her emotions out and said. "You were 18 years old and dealing with your own grieve and yes even though it hurt back then and I couldn't or didn't understand why such a strong couple like use ended, I do now." She swallows the lump in her throat and finished with. "We weren't ready to deal with our grieve together, I think we had to fix ourselves first."
He thinks about that for a minute then nods, moves his hand and puts it on top of hers, she looks at their hands then looks into his eyes and he continued. "I'm ready now, Aubrey. I want to fix us, I want to start over with you."
When Robin got closer to the bar she cleared her throat and said. "I wasn't aware you knew about the wedding and if you were I assumed you would have been too busy to show up."
Thomas tensed as he heard that voice and took the last sip of his drink then nodded his head to the bartender for another one and as the man was pouring Thomas looked to his left and saw his ex-wife, now sitting beside him, and he couldn't help but flashback to the last time he saw her.
Flashback
4 years ago (5 months after finding out about the affair)
Thomas walks into his office to pack up his stuff so he could go get ready to go to Vegas. Technically yesterday was his last day but he decided to grab his things today because he had to come back for a special goodbye from them and he had just left them in the break room. He does a small sigh looking at his desk then started packing.
10 minutes later he grabs the last thing off his desk, which was a picture of his mother, he smiles at it and said. "I am getting a new start mom, I hope I can continue to make you proud."
As he was putting the picture in his box a voice came behind him. "I think she would be very proud." He tensed as he heard that voice then turned around and saw Robin standing in the doorway. He gives her a look that said 'what are you doing here?', and knowing him for over 20 years she knew that look but instead of answering that question she said. "So I see it's true, you're leaving."
He turns his body around so he was looking right at her and said. "I see that Preston ratted me out."
She shook her head and replied. "Don't get mad at him, I think he just wanted to blame me that your leaving, I understand why you didn't tell me."
He snorted and said sarcastically. "Well I am glad you understand, now everything is right in the world." He watched her flinch at his tone then said in a softer tone. "So why are you here?"
She had to mentally smile at his demeanor right now, he had every right to go off on her again but he didn't. Before her thoughts turned to five months ago, she speaks after clearing her throat. "I just wanted to say good luck out there and to say how sorry I am."
He shakes his head and said. "But it doesn't change anything because the damage has already been done."
Robin looks down for a second then looks back at him and said. "I know your still ma..."
He cuts her off and spoke as he was looking around his office making sure he had everything. "Hanging on to that feeling means I still care." He looks back at her and said. "But how can I care for somebody who has ripped my heart out, shredded it and threw it back in my face?" He shakes his head and continued. "So no I'm not mad anymore."
Tears were building up in her eyes, knowing he wasn't saying this to be cruel, it was how he felt and one of the things she loved about him was his honesty and really she had only herself to blame for him making him pull a wall over his heart.
Her thoughts were interrupted when he spoke again. "I just want to try to move on with my life now, so anything else we have to discuss I would like it to go through our lawyers if you don't mind but really there is nothing left to discuss, our papers are already signed."
Robin nodded in understanding and said. "Then I guess this is goodbye." Thomas gives her a small nod.
She looks at him for a second longer then turns around to walk out of the door but stopped when he said her name. She looks back at him and he said. "Thank you for the good luck." She gives him a small smile and short nod then she turned and walked out of the room.
When he was alone again he closed his eyes as the sad emotions came through, he told her he didn't care about her anymore but he did and it still hurts every time he thinks about her. He took a few minutes then shook his head and started walking to the door with his box, hoping this new start will be a positive thing in his life and that something in Vegas will help him get over the hurt and sadness that he has felt.
End of flashback
He mentally shakes his head from the past and as he was looking back down at his drink he replied. "I wouldn't have missed my friend's wedding if I could've helped it."
"I should have known that, that's just who you are."
He snorted and said. "Yep that's me, a nice guy who is always dependable."
She frowned as he took another long drink and asked for another one. Not only did she feel his demeanor was off but she wasn't use to seeing him drink this much. She knew a lot can change in four years but she felt something was very wrong with him, so she asks. "What's wrong? Did something happen in Vegas?"
He looks at her for a second then looks down at his drink again and said. "I'm not really in the mood to talk about it."
She nodded, puts her purse on the on the bar next to her, asks for a white wine then when he looked back at her she said. "Then we will talk about something else until you are."
Aubrey looks at him with a smile and hope soared into Dylan for a second until she slipped her hand out from under his, cleared her throat and said. "Dylan I can't."
He swallowed with his heart breaking and said. "Can't or won't?"
"A little of both." He looks down and she continued. "I can't lie and tell you that I didn't feel anything when you showed back up in my life nor can I tell you that they were ever fully gone." He looked back up at her and she spoke again. "You were my first love and the good and special times I'll always cherish but I have truly moved on. The day I met Thomas my life changed, I lo..."
He puts his hand up to stop her and said. "Please." She nodded in understanding then he sighed and said. "Ok."
She raises an eyebrow and said. "Ok? Is that all you have to say? Not trying to convince me that I belong with you?"
He smiled with a small chuckle then gets serious. "I love you Aubrey and I had never stopped but in part of loving somebody is letting them go when you know it's what they want or what's best for them and in this case I can see that's what you want. I just thought maybe when you heard how I felt your answer might change." She smiled at him while shaking her head 'no', he shrugs and said. "Well you can't blame a man for trying." She laughed a little while shaking her head and he smiled a little back.
When she calmed down she sighed and asked. "Are we ok? Because with you being here I don't want any problems."
"We will be fine and just as long as he keeps making you happy I won't be an interference with you guys, I just hope we can still be friends."
She smiled bigger, stands up, tugs on his hand so he would stand up and when he was she gives him a hug. It took him a second but then he hugs her back and she said. "Thank you Dylan." He smiled, kissed her head and just held her.
He was sad that he won't have her as more than a friend but happy that she was back in his life. If anything he had missed her friendship for the past 17 years.
Their moment was interrupted when they heard Isabella's voice. "What's going on?"
They get out of the hug and look at the girl and she was almost glaring at Dylan. She didn't want him taking her Aunt Aubrey from her Uncle Thomas.
They both seemed to understand that look because Aubrey puts her hand on Isabella's shoulder and said. "It's ok honey, he was just giving me a friendly hug."
She looks at her Aunt then looks at Dylan as he was bending down so he was eye level to her and said. "She's right. I would never want to do anything to hurt your Aunt and I hope we can continue to be friends, I would really like that and I'm sure Colby would like that too."
Isabella looks at Colby and he smiles with a nod then she looks back at Dylan, nods and said. "Ok, friends."
They all smiled then Dylan stood up and said. "I guess it's time to go."
Aubrey nodded and after everybody got their jackets on, the four of them walked out of the building and he walked them to Aubrey's vehicle.
After she unlocked the door Isabella said goodbye to Dylan and Colby then wished them well for the rest of the weekend and got in the vehicle.
Once the passenger door was closed Aubrey looks at Dylan and she said with a smile. "Both." He raises an eyebrow in confusion and she continued. "Our child would have been a Brainiac but would have loved playing sports because you would have encouraged both but not pushy enough to make them choose either way." He smiles, knowing what she was talking about.
They continue to look at each other imagining what could have been, this time letting the feelings reflect in their eyes. They will always miss not knowing how their child would have turned out but at this moment they knew it was time to say goodbye to that life and that's what they did, finally together.
He puts his hand on her shoulder and said with emotion in his voice. "You make sure that man knows how lucky he is."
She nods with a smile, after wiping a tear away, then said. "I will." He removes his hand and she looks down at Colby. "I'll see you at school on Monday."
He nods with a smile, wondering what happened between those two but he will save the question for another time.
Dylan and Aubrey looked back at each other and he said. "Goodnight Aubrey."
She smiled again and replied. "Goodnight Dylan." He smiles back then the boys walked away.
She watched them then sighed in relief. The weight of her feelings of the past two days just disappeared, she felt free from the memories of the past.
What she told Dylan earlier was the truth, she will cherish every memory that they shared but now she was ready to start her new life.
She smiled as she was getting in her vehicle and after she shuts the door she looked over at Isabella and said. "I'll take you home in a minute. I want to make a phone call." Isabella nodded and Aubrey pulled her phone out of her pocket, hit's speed dial number one, puts her phone up to her ear and listened to the ringing.
Thomas had gone to the restroom a few minutes ago so Robin was sitting alone at the bar when she hears a phone ringing close to her so after she puts her wine glass down she picks up Thomas's phone and saw the name of the person who was calling, Aubrey Hayes.
She made a disgusted look as she saw the picture of the woman then when it stopped ringing she looked around to make sure he wasn't walking back then she looked back at his phone and pressed the delete button so it wouldn't inform him that he missed a call then sets his phone back down and said. "Sorry Ms. Aubrey but he will be a little busy taking your call." Then she snickered as she took a drink of her wine.
After seeing him again she wasn't sure she wanted to let him go this time and she was going to do anything to take advantage of that. Even if it means making it seem like this woman, who she suspects was his reason for drinking, didn't care enough to call.
Aubrey pulls the phone from her ear with a little frown that he didn't pick up and Isabella asked. "Is he ok?"
Aubrey showed a smile when she looked at the little girl and said. "I'm sure he is having to much of a good time with his friends to pick up." She didn't want to leave a voice mail because what she wanted to say to him was important enough to talk to him personally and plus she wanted to hear his voice, not a recording. Isabella nodded then Aubrey cleared her throat and said. "Alright let me take you home."
"Ok."
Aubrey nodded with a smile then starts her vehicle and as she was driving she asked. "Did you have fun sweetie?"
Isabella nodded with a smile and said. "I did. They are really nice and I'm glad I got to met them. I think Colby could be my best friend now."
Aubrey smiled and replied. "I am happy to hear that." She stops at the light then looks at Isabella and she was grinning ear to ear as she turned her head to look out the window and if Aubrey didn't know any better and if Isabella was older she might say she was experiencing her first crush. Aubrey bit her lip and thinks. 'Better not tell her parents just yet.' Then she smiles as she shakes her head and started to drive again.
Aubrey stopped the vehicle on the side of the street in front of the Grissom house then both of them got out.
As they were walking up to the front door it opened and Sara appeared in the doorway, they all smiled at each other and Sara asked. "How is my girl?"
Isabella smiled at her mother and when she was close to her she gave her a hug and said. "I had a good time."
Sara pulls away from the hug, puts her hand on her daughter's cheek and said. "I am glad."
Isabella looked back at Aubrey and said. "Thank you Aunt Aubrey."
Aubrey smiled and replied. "You are very welcome, enjoy the rest of your night and weekend." She nodded and after a hug Isabella walked inside getting greeted immediately by Hank and her father.
Sara looks back over her shoulder and smiles at the interaction then looks back at Aubrey and asked. "You want to come in?"
Aubrey smiled and said. "No Thanks. I have something I need to do." On the way here she decided that she wasn't going to sit around and wait for him, she was taking action.
Sara smiles, feeling like she knew what Aubrey meant so she said. "Like going after somebody?" Aubrey looks down, red in the face and Sara chuckles then said. "So I take it dinner was good." Aubrey looked up and was about to open her mouth to explain but Sara shook her head and said. "The only thing that matters is that you put your past behind you and now you can move on. Now go get your man."
"Gladly."
Sara nodded with a smile then after a goodbye Aubrey turned and walked back to her vehicle with a smile on her face.
Sara watched Aubrey drive away then steps back inside, shuts the front door, turns and saw that Grissom was walking up to her.
He noticed her smile and asked. "What?"
She smiles bigger, wraps her arms around his neck while he puts his arms around her waist and she said. "Things are just lining up the way it should be with those two and I wish them all the best."
He smiles, puts his forehead on hers and replied. "I do too."
She brings him closer, if that was even possible and said. "I love you."
He whispers back. "I love you too." She sighed in content with her life at this moment and for her friends.
Now if everything goes as planned, Aubrey and Thomas should be married next month and if she had anything to say about it, it will happen. Those two need to have their happy ending and nothing was going to screw it up. Or will it?
Robin's thoughts were interrupted when Thomas was walking toward her and spoke. "What are you still doing here? You said one drink and you'll leave. I'm not in the mood for your company."
She looks at him and he didn't look very steady so she stands up, puts her hand on his shoulder and said. "Well it looks like you have no choice now. There is no way your driving." He was going to open his mouth but then closes it and nods, she smiles and said. "Good." She releases him and tells him to just stand still while she paid the bill then she grabbed his phone and her purse then hands him the phone.
He takes it, looks down at it with a frown when he didn't see a call from Aubrey yet and he would have called but he knew he wasn't in the right shape at the moment so he sighed and puts his phone back into his pocket while she talked to her bartender friend about driving her car to her place and he said he will, which she gave him a higher tip for helping her out.
She stands in front of Thomas and asked. "Can you walk?" He nods and they started walking, which surprisingly he didn't fall but he did have stop a few times and Robin would just smile then said. "I can see why you don't drink much."
She finally gets them in his vehicle then he looks over at her and answered. "I didn't see the need to."
She looks back at him and asked in a small voice. "Even after our divorce?"
He looks out the window and said. "I had already lost you I wasn't about to lose my job too. No matter how much I wanted to drink I knew my job would always be there."
She puts her hand on top of his and said. "I'm here for you now."
He looked into her eyes then looks down, removes his hand, grabs his keys from his pocket, hands them to her and said. "Here."
She takes the keys, puts them in the ignition, starts it then says. "Now where?" When she didn't get an answer she looked over at him and saw that his head was laying against the window and his eyes were closed.
She sits there for a few minutes watching him then she smiles and thinks. 'Well if I can't take you to your hotel I guess my place is good enough.' She smiled bigger as she drove the familiar route to her place.
AN: Find out what happens next. Please review.
