A/n: and so we present the 'real' proposal. and then some...
Chapter Eleven
When Gloria got home a little after 8 that evening, she was greeted with the smell of garlic bread and spicy tomato sauce. Their small kitchen table was covered with her grandmother's antique lace table cloth, and in the center was their only glass vase, filled with a bunch of Algerion Irises and surrounded by votive candles flickering on the dimmed light. She pretended not to see the takeout boxes from Prito's as she accepted a kiss from her (Fiancee!). Frank handed her a glass of Barbera before pulling out her chair and seating her. Dinner was Tony's mother's famous vegetable lasagna, full of eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and homemade ricotta cheese. They chatted casually, just enjoying the moment.
Dessert was cannoli and espresso. At the end, he reached out a hand to help Gloria stand. It happened to be her left, and instead of letting go when she stood, he brought it to his lips and bowed over it. "You'll forgive me if I don't get down on one knee. Still a little tender down there." he smiled at her, brown eyes expressive. "Gloria Jean Thompson, will you do me the honor of consenting to be my wife?"
"I thought you'd never ask." she responded, not entirely joking. "But there is no way I am giving back this ring so, Yes. Yes I will marry you."
Frank laughed in relief. "Thanks for giving me a second chance to do it right." They both leaned over and blew out the candles.
The next day they presented themselves to her parents in Florida via Skype and his parents in person. Everyone expressed great joy at the news. All Frank could do was leave a voice mail on his brother's phone, though. Joe was hot on the trail of Edmonds and was nowhere near Bayport. They played phone tag for nearly 2 weeks before Joe finally wrapped up the case and returned home. He knocked on the apartment door that his brother and new fiancee shared, but there was no answer. He then dialed his parents house as he headed to the car but again, there was no answer. In disgust, he then dialed his wife at work.
"Where is everybody?!" he whined into the phone.
"What, did you expect people to pine away by their phones waiting for your triumphant return?" Halloran laughed at him.
"Well, yeah, kinda." he pouted, but with a big grin on his face.
"My husband, the Diva." Joe could hear her shaking her head in mock despair over the phone. "Dinner is at your parents' house at 6. Bring the wine." she instructed him before saying goodbye.
Promptly at 6, Joe pulled in to their driveway, noting that everyone else was already there, including Frank's car. Ordinarily he'd just walk in, but today his arms were full and he leaned his hip on the doorbell and waited for the door to open.
"What the hell happened to your face?!" Frank asked in astonishment as he opened the door and immediately grabbed one of the bags out of his brother's arms.
"Todd Edmonds." Joe snorted disgustedly. "He really did not want to come quietly or leave his daddy."
"A six year old gave you a black eye?!" Frank laughed.
"Actually he turned seven the day we caught up with them as he very loudly proclaimed the entire time." Joe now sported a sardonic smile. "The only way we could get him to shut up was to bring him to Toys R Us and buy him a birthday present and remind him that his Mommy had a bunch waiting for him at home." he dropped the bag of beer on the kitchen table and opened the fridge to start transferring bottles. " By the way, I will be submitting a bill to the Agency for reimbursement. Business expense to the tune of $65."
"What on earth did you get him?!"
"The Lego Marvel Avengers Tower. We had to talk him down to that. He first demanded the Millennium Falcon. That's $150." Joe shook his head with a laugh as he popped open a beer for his brother before opening his own. As he handed it over, he suddenly stopped short and grabbed his brother's wrist in a steel grip.
"What the hell is that?!" he demanded in shock.
"It's called a wedding ring Joe." Frank smiled a little loopily. "Gloria and I eloped last weekend."
A/n: I had to do it.
