Chapter Ten: Wedding Bells

He lets himself into her house with the key she had given him just three weeks previous. After some long discussions, they had both agreed that they weren't quite ready to move in with each other, although they did want to take another meaningful step in their relationship. So they both made copies of their respective keys and switched. So far, the arrangement has worked out well.

Better than well.

It's perfect.

Every time he uses that key...he feels like he's coming home.

Today is no different, except she doesn't greet him as he expects her to. He can see the top of her head resting against the arm of the couch, and when he steps inside and closes the door, he registers how animatedly she is talking on the phone. In fact, he's pretty sure he's never heard her this excited.

It makes him smile.

"Oh, Sara! I can't wait. This is so exciting! I am so happy for you and Ethan!"

An alarm bell goes off in Carlton's head, although it isn't so much an alarm as a tiny ping of recognition as he put the pieces together. Sara, Elizabeth's sister. Ethan, Sara's longtime (two years) boyfriend. It doesn't take a detective to figure this one out...

He walks around the couch and mouths, "Hi," to Elizabeth.

"Carlton!" she squeals. She moves her legs to make room for him on the couch, then pats the spot beside her. "I've got to tell you the news! It's great! Sara and Ethan are engaged!"

Carlton smiles, then sits down. "Tell her congratulations from me."

"Carlton says congratulations...oh yes, I know. It's going to be wonderful...but hey, I know we really need to keep talking about this, but I haven't seen Carlton all day. Can I call you back later?"

"You don't have to-" Carlton tries to protest, but she ignores him.

"Okay. Yes, okay. Love you too. Bye."

She looks over at him and beams, then leans over and pulls him into a kiss. "And how was your day?" she whispers, running fingers through his hair.

"All right. Nothing much happened, to be honest."

She smiles. "What do you want for dinner?"

"I don't know." he says.

She frowns at him, surprised by the short response. "Carlton, are you okay?"

"Yeah I was just...never mind."

"Come on, tell me!"

"I was just wondering about your sister's wedding."

Elizabeth waits for further explanation, but when none comes, she feels the need to pry it out of him. "What about it?" she asks, somewhat patiently.

He looks away from her. "It's just...will I have to go?"

Instead of glaring and pulling away, as he expected, she laughs. He's always amazed at how the things that usually got him in trouble with other women just roll right off of her. "Not if you don't want to," she says fairly. "But I would like you to go. You can be my date."

The thing is, he hates weddings. He hates the formality, the long drives to ceremonies, the way he feels so crowded when around such large groups of people. Not to mention it still brings up memories of his first marriage-now-divorce.

But he loves Elizabeth, and although she doesn't say it, he can tell how badly she does want him to be there. And being Elizabeth's date anywhere is always a hard offer to pass up. He makes the mistake of meeting her eyes, and seeing the quietly hopeful look hidden there.

He holds in a sigh. "I'll go, Liz." he reassures her.

She grins, almost victoriously. She knows just how to play him, he decides. But, surprisingly, he doesn't mind so much. She kisses him again, and it's perfection. And although he should be paying attention to this moment and the here and now, he finds himself wondering about Ethan's proposal, for some unfathomable reason. He wonders whether he did it right or wrong, private or public, whether he asked for Mr. Henson's permission first, whether he – Carlton – should do the same when he pro-

He cuts that thought short, too intimidated to even allow it in the privacy of his brain.

But it's there, this thought.

This feeling.

He loves Elizabeth, loves the thought of being with her, and while he had once given up on the concept of marriage...right now, as she kisses him, he thinks maybe he could give it a second chance. But only for her.

And he wonders if she'll do the same for him, when that time finally comes.