A/N Any of you watch castle and saw that ending? Wasn't it cute?!
"So.." Greg started when he and Ed were in the locker-room the next day. "How was Veronica yesterday? After the moving out and everything?"
He shrugged. "Don't know, she texted me she had to work late so she couldn't call me."
"You didn't talk to her after.. the confrontation?"
Ed laughed at him. "The confrontation?" He shook his head in amusement. "Not really, briefly on the phone."
"How did she sound?"
"Upset, though she tried to hide it. I could hear it in her voice, but then you guys came home."
"Yeah, she didn't seem upset, just angry."
"Talking about angry.." Ed looked up at Greg. "You don't seem too angry."
Greg nodded and started buttoning his shirt. "I talked to Veronica, she explained a couple of things.. how you wanted to tell me, how she wouldn't let you. I'm still a little hurt you didn't tell me anyway.. but I'm not angry."
Ed nodded. "Greg, I know she's your stepdaughter and you care for her.." Greg nodded, waiting for what was going to come. "I'm not toying around with her feelings. I take this and her very seriously, I love her. I know we've known each other for a long time, and I hope you trust me enough to know that. To know I don't want to hurt her, and this isn't just a fling for me."
"You love her."
Ed nodded. "We're having dinner tomorrow." He smiled, steering the topic away from his feelings.
"Valentine's day, I thought she had to work? Or was that just an excuse to spend the night with you?"
Ed shook his head. "She does, she doesn't know we're having dinner yet."
Greg smiled at him. "Is the romantic in you awaking?"
"Yes, he is." He sighed and shook his head. "What am I supposed to do? She's fighting with her mom because of me."
"The only reason she's mad at her mom is because she called you a paedophile."
Spike turned to Ed and Greg surprised, he walked into the locker-room in the middle of the last sentence. "Someone called you a paedophile?"
Ed tried brushing him off. "Yeah.. it's nothing."
"Really?" Spike didn't believe him.
"And cradle robber." Greg joked.
Then Wordy and Sam walked in.
"Someone called Ed a paedophile and a cradle robber." Spike told them excited.
"Ed, are you dating a 12 year old again?" Wordy joked. "I told you last time, that's not acceptable in this century"
Ed sighed, they all stopped with the joking getting that it was serious. He didn't even smile at Wordy's joke.
"Ed, are you okay?" Greg said, feeling bad for joking with them.
"Gym, five minutes." He told everyone as he walked out.
…
"What are you making? We're not open for lunch.." Angela said as she walked inside, Veronica was already cooking.
"Steak, it's been in the marinade since yesterday."
"So, I got your voicemail."
"Hmm." She turned away from the stove. "Steve!" It was a minute before a boy walked in. "Are you all ready? Because you have to rush deliver this, I want him to get it warm."
"I'm ready Veronica."
"Helmet?"
"Come on.."
"Your mom will kill me if you don't wear it, you know that." He sighed. "Go get it." She wrapped the package she prepared and put it in a bag. Steve walked back in wearing his helmet. "Good, now you have to give this to him personally." He nodded. "Tell him to open the letter first, got it?"
"Yep, where was it again?"
"SRU headquarters, that's near Broadway."
"Right across from the goose, right?"
Veronica nodded and handed him the bag. "I don't want to know how you know that. Now go, you'll get your money when you come back."
"Thanks Veronica!" He said while rushing out.
Angela turned back to Veronica. "Ed?"
"It's Valentine's day."
"So, the important thing I needed to call you back about doesn't have anything to do with him?"
"No, it does."
Angela's smile broadened. "Did he ask you to move in with him?!" She asked excited. "Finally!"
"Uuh, no.. Greg and my mom walked in on us, she yelled at him and I moved out and into an hotel."
"What?" Angela asked surprised. "When you say, walked in on us.."
"He just came out of the shower and was wearing a towel, I was wearing his boxers and shirt."
"Aah.. so you had a fight and moved out?"
"Yep."
"And Ed didn't offer you to stay with him?"
"No, he did."
"And you didn't take that offer, because?"
"I'm not ready for that yet."
"Right, right.. because you only spend every moment together that you can."
"Ange.."
"Which will be much easier now you're out in the open."
"We're not exactly.. out.. just yet. His colleague's don't know yet."
Angela nodded. "So, he's going to tell them today?"
Veronica sighed. "I don't know, should he?"
"Yes!"
"I just, we're at a crossroads now."
"And you needed my advice."
Veronica nodded. "He asked me yesterday, if I wasn't making a rash decision.. I didn't then, now I'm not so sure."
"What did she say?"
"She yelled, saying I was just 26. Called him a paedophile, cradle robber.."
Angela nodded. "Sounds like quite the fight."
"It was, she made me chose. Him or her."
"You chose him?" Veronica nodded. "Why?"
"Because he's never made me choose between them and he makes me happy."
"I think you now if you made the right decision."
"Just quit the psychology.."
Angela laughed. "You always do that to me."
"Yeah, but it was my minor. One of them anyway." She washed her hands. "I'm just so angry with her.. I never judged Greg.."
"But he's her age.."
"Doesn't make it necessary for her to yell.. At least now I don't have to sneak around anymore."
The boy walked back in.
"Did it work out?"
"Yeah, gave it to him."
"What does he look like?" Veronica asked, wanting to make sure he gave it to Ed.
The boy shrugged. "Old and bald."
Veronica smiled and nodded. "Sounds about right." She handed him the 20 bucks she promised him.
"Thanks Veronica, I can't wait to buy that new game."
"You know you have to wait here for your mom right?"
He nodded. "I know.. can't I just run to the store to buy it?"
Veronica shook her head. "No, I don't wanna die just yet."
"Fine.. can we at least play a game?"
"Sure, go set up whatever you want. I'll be there in a couple of minutes."
…
It was half past 12 on Valentine's day when a teenage boy walked into SRU, he walked towards the counter and put a delivery bag on it.
"Rush-delivery for Ed Lane." He smiled at Winnie.
"Okay, do you need me to sign?"
"I need to give it to him personally."
Winnie looked surprised, it was just a restaurant delivery-boy. "Uuh, okay.." She grabbed the microphone. "Constable Lane, front desk." She put the microphone back down. "He should be here any second."
The boy nodded. "Thanks." It wasn't long before Ed walked towards him. "Ed Lane?'
"Yes."
The boy handed him a bag and an envelope. "You have to open the envelope first."
Ed smiled as he saw the name of the restaurant. "Okay, thanks." The boy nodded and turned around to go back into the elevator. "Thanks Winnie." He smiled at her and walked into the briefing room. He dutifully opened the envelope first and read the letter that was inside.
He smiled and unpacked the bag. He then unwrapped the still flaming hot package and smiled when he found a grilled steak and fries. He unpacked another package and found a container with an hot apple pie and vanilla sauce.
The guys walked in, all wondering where Ed went off to. "That smells great!" Spike said as he stole a couple of fries. "Did you order lunch and not tell us?!" He then scolded.
"Nope." He took a bite from his steak. "Hmm.."
Spike noticed a note on the table and grabbed it.
"Spike.." Ed warned.
Spike shook his head and read the letter out loud.
"G-man,
You know I'm bad at the romancy things since I tend to over think it and can't see the use of valentine's day.."
"Spike.. I'm serious." Ed got up, his face was set like thunder.
Jules sat down in a chair to enjoy the show, already knowing who this mystery woman was.
Spike stepped away from Ed and shook his head, continuing with the letter.
"But since I know you like it, I tried to think of something for you –came up blank- so I got you this.
Enjoy it, made it especially for you.
Love you,
V." He walked away from Ed again.
"Ed's got a girlfriend." Sam started teasing in a sing-song-y-voice. "Ed and V, sitting in a tree." Then Wordy and Spike joined in. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G"
"There's more!" Spike interrupted them. Ed gave up and sat back down to eat his steak before it got cold. Spike cleared his throat before continuing.
"Ps. Don't over think the stuff that happened yesterday, doing that enough for the both of us.
Pps. I'm sorry I have to work tonight, but it's kind of a big night for restaurants. Maybe you can come by after my shift? See enclosed key, room 4455."
"Oeh!" Sam continued. "At least one of us un-married men is getting laid tonight."
Ed shook his head. "I get why you aren't.." He finished his steak and started with his dessert.
"So, who's V?" Jules asked. He glared at her, she had been telling him he should just tell the guys already.
"A girl, woman.."
Jules smiled at his choice of words. "Anyone we know?"
Ed sighed, when he told Veronica he wanted his friends to know he didn't mean like this. "Yeah." He took another bite from his pie.
Sam chipped in. "Does this have anything to do with the cradle robber thing?"
Ed didn't answer but his face said enough.
"Okay.." Spike continued. "So she's much younger then you then.." He took another look at the letter and then he grabbed the bag the food came in. "Veronica?!"
They all turned towards Ed and looked at him expectantly. "Yep." He said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"How long?"
"Half a year or so." He gathered the plates she had sent with the food. "Well, let's go train." He told them before walking out, ending the inquisition.
…
"V, there's someone at table 28 for you." Maria said as she walked into the kitchen that night.
Veronica didn't turn around and continued with cooking. "Does he have a complaint?"
"Special request."
She sighed. "Let me guess, ring in dessert?" She shook her head. "Already have 5 tonight. Really, are there no original guys anymore?"
Maria smiled at her. "Didn't ask."
"Angela, your kitchen." Veronica said before walking out. "28 you say?" Maria nodded. "Okay, thanks." She walked towards the table but smiled when she saw a bald man. "Taking your other girlfriend to my kitchen? Risky." She smiled at him as she stood next to him.
"I wouldn't dare." He smiled back and got up to kiss her. "Happy Valentine's."
"Happy Valentine's day." She kissed him briefly, noticing the looks they were getting. "What are you doing here?" She smiled at him.
He shook his head in fake disappointment. "Spending our first Valentine's dinner apart? Now that's unacceptable."
She looked around again. "Did you make a reservation?"
"No."'
"Come." She took his hand. "You're getting the chef's table." He grabbed his phone and put it back in his pocket. "Got everything?" He nodded. "Maria, table 28 is free."
"Thanks, V. We're swamped."
"I know."
They walked into the kitchen and Ed was confronted with all the noise, the last time he was there they were just cleaning up.
"Francois, chef's table for two." She told a man as she steered Ed through the kitchen to a sole table.
"Yes chef!"
"Sit down," She told Ed. "Francois will get the table ready, check the menu, I'll be back for your order." She smiled at him and handed him the menu. "I'll sit down with you when I can."
"Good." He took her hand. "Surprise me with the food."
"Okay, what are you in the mood for? Italian, French, Indian?"
"Indian main sounds good, I love spicy food."
She chuckled, doubting he ever had a real Indian curry. "Spicy curry it is." She gave him a quick kiss just as Francois was approaching. "Be patient now, and don't distract me."
"I'll be good."
She huffed at him and walked back to Angela.
"So, he's here."
"Yep." She grabbed some spices from a cabinet.
"Those aren't on the menu."
"The man says he loves spicy food." She grabbed another couple of things from different cabinets and put them together on the counter.
"Canadian spicy or real spicy.."
"We'll find out.."
…
A/N Please leave me a review? :D