"So would you get married again?" Torres posed the question to Foster and Katelyn before taking a bite out of her sandwich.
They'd been talking about the Lightman Group's latest case - a suspected 'black widow' who was on husband number five having had her previous four die in varying situations. Apart from some circumstantial evidence there wasn't much to link her to the deaths of the four men but the Police had suspicions and wanted her questioning again.
The woman's serial marriages had sparked a slightly more jovial discussion over lunch about weddings in general and now Torres was looking expectantly at her colleagues for an answer.
Foster put down her cup of coffee and thought for a moment.
"I don't know really, getting divorced was rather…liberating," she replied with a smile that gave away exactly what she meant by 'liberating', "It'd have to be someone pretty special to make me want to give that up any time soon."
Torres smiled recalling more than a few flirtatious exchanges between Lightman and Foster in recent weeks, she decided against drawing attention to Fosters subtle glance in the direction of Lightman's office and turned her attention to Katelyn.
It was a question Katelyn had spent some time considering before this conversation had ever happened and it was still one that stirred a lot of emotions. She sighed a little not really trying to hide the flash of sadness that crossed her face.
"I would get married again, no doubt. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned but I believe that's the way a relationship should go."
"Would you do the wedding the same way?" Torres probed directly wanting to shift the conversation back to the lighter topic of wedding planning.
Katelyn laughed, her mood changing as her thoughts shifted to the planning of her wedding to Michael, "Oh gosh no."
Torres looked confused, "I thought your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life?"
"Oh it was, I married the man of my dreams - but the wedding was so not what I'd have done myself."
Foster and Torres both waited for the explanation.
"Michael's parents paid for the whole thing so they basically had the day they wanted, I gave up trying to fight it in the end. The only thing I actually chose was my dress because I insisted on paying for it myself. Don't get me wrong they were lovely people but it was all about the show - big country house, five course meal, all the trimmings - it was just a bit too much really."
"That's sounds alright to me, I wouldn't mind a big wedding like that."
"Yeah the venue was lovely but if I said lavender and peach bridesmaid dresses with co-coordinating flowers would that change your mind?"
Torres giggled at the description, "That is some peculiar taste in colours."
"I'd have loved dodgy colours," said Gillian with mock sarcasm, "My mother-in-law threatened not to come to my wedding if we invited Alec's father's new wife. Then his father said he wouldn't come if we didn't invite her. I re-wrote the table plan six times."
Foster shook her head wryly at the memory of her wedding plans, "They did both end up coming but spent the entire day glaring at each other, made for some interesting wedding photos, especially as they ended up in the same colour outfit."
The girls laughed.
"So what about you Ria, marriage on the cards?" Katelyn asked as she selected a cherry tomato from her salad bowl spearing it carefully with her fork.
"I'd need to find a man first, my latest dating choices haven't exactly been commitment worthy. Take Saturday night's date - he spent the whole evening staring at my chest, even when I called him on it he just didn't stop. Needless to say I finished a whole bottle of wine and didn't stay past the main course."
"There is definitely a lack of decent men out there," said Foster recalling her own recent male encounters, "My last date seemed to tick all the boxes but then he sneezed and spent almost a whole minute looking at it in his handkerchief."
"Oh my gosh, that's disgusting, you're kidding right?" Katelyn and Torres both looked shocked.
"Totally serious, I managed to slip a text out to Cal and he called me with an 'emergency'." she made the air quotes sign and lowered her hands back to the table.
"Guess you're the lucky one then Kate not being on the market anymore" said Torres with a grin.
"Oh I don't know about that," Katelyn smiled back, "he snores."
"So what did she say?" Loker practically jumped on Torres as she came back into the lab after lunch.
"Geez, let me at least make it back to my chair."
"Sorry, but what did she say?"
She sat down slowly to prolong giving her answer and tried to relax her face, "Well did you buy a ring yet?"
"No," Loker looked apprehensive and she could see him trying to read her.
"Probably for the best." she patted his knee in patronising sympathy.
Loker looked pathetically crestfallen but Torres couldn't hold her expression any longer and she giggled.
"That's really cruel you know." he replied with a frown realising she was messing with him.
"Couldn't resist, I'm obviously getting good, you normally can read me better than that."
"Just tell me what she said." He ignored her previous comment and sounded almost desperate. Loker leant forward in his chair his usual relaxed posture completely gone.
"Well I can't promise she'd say yes to you, I didn't want to give her hints, but she would get married again."
Loker grinned at the news, "Ok so what type of ring do I get?"
"How should I know?"
"Come on Torres I sent you with the specific task of doing some recon for me - is that all you got?"
"I didn't want to ask too much - she'd figure it out."
Loker knew she was right - ok so the new case opened up the topic of weddings rather nicely but Torres asking about ring size and style preferences probably would end up giving the game away. He'd thought about raiding Katelyn's jewellery box to find some ideas but he couldn't even find it in their bedroom. His search had been additionally hampered by the fact that she kept her drawers rather neat and tidy so his rummaging was also going to arouse suspicion.
"You're not helping much" he complained childishly.
"Loker you live with her, surely you know her better than I do." mocked Torres as she leant back in her chair.
"Yeah but not only am I guy and am genetically designed to miss the details, I am also a very nervous guy who doesn't want to get this wrong which means every time I think I've made a decision I end up mulling it over and over until I forget what I decided in the first place."
Torres shook her head at his babbling, it wasn't like him to be quite so wound up.
"Katelyn doesn't wear jewellery, certainly not at work anyway, but her watch is silver so I'd probably go with white gold or platinum."
Loker scribbled down the tip on a post it note - it was certainly logical advice.
"And her watch is quite delicate so I don't think she'd want something too flashy."
"Well what would you say is too flashy?"
Torres sighed and figured she would regret the next statement she was about to make.
"Do you want me to go with you to choose something?"
The following lunch time, Torres found herself inside a rather expensive looking jewellers about 2 blocks from their office. She was eyeing up a rather charming bracelet for herself when Loker's exasperated voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Urgh, they're all the same to me."
She straightened up and joined him as he peered blankly into a glass cabinet full of rings.
"They don't look the same at all."
Loker huffed at her comment, "No what I mean is none of them stand out to me - when I look at Kate, all I see is her so the ring should have the same effect."
Torres was a little stunned by the romance in her colleague's words and decided that she could probably be a little more supportive in their shopping expedition.
"Can I help you both?"
Loker and Torres both looked up into the face of a smartly dressed middle aged woman with her hair in a bun and name tag that read 'June'.
Seeing Loker still looking totally baffled by the choice in front of him, Torres smiled politely.
"Yes please, we'd like to see an engagement ring in white gold or platinum, something stunning but understated, maybe in an alternative style to usual solitaire."
"Well congratulations," said the assistant shifting her eyes approvingly between the two of them, her gaze settling on Loker, "And what's the budget sir or would you rather not say in front of your fiancé?"
"Oh she's not my fiancé, she just works with me." Loker's rebuttal of the comment was a little too quick for Torres liking.
"Thanks, makes me feel very appreciated."
He shrugged still looking a little bewildered at the situation, almost as if he was just starting to actually process what he was doing inside the jewellery store.
The assistant ignored their exchange and repeated the first part of her question about the budget.
"I'm more bothered about finding the right ring to be fair, so we'll see how we go."
As Torres watched him answer his face seemed to show more control of the situation and she guessed he had probably done his research and had a good idea of the price range the shop had to offer. At least he'd done some research.
The assistant pulled on a pair of thin white fabric gloves before starting to select rings from the various cabinets and displays around the store. She motioned for Loker and Torres to take a seat at a small mahogany table in the corner of the room; she soon joined them with an ivory satin tray full of rings that matched the general description Torres had offered.
There was a real mixture on the tray - some had three diamonds in a row across the band, others were of the solitaire variety but in an array of settings. Torres actually felt a little spoilt for choice and rather jealous. She was about to make her suggestion when Loker pointed his index finger at one in the top row, "I think it has to be that one."
The assistant didn't hesitate, she quickly lifted it from tray and handed it to him to take a closer look.
A fine choice, sir, it is a woven shoulder ring in platinum with a 1.25 ct princess cut diamond in an elegant four-claw setting."
Torres was impressed with the sales pitch but Loker didn't seem to care about the specifics, he'd made his mind up and had found the ring he wanted. She looked at her watch - for a guy who didn't have a clue what he wanted, half an hour in the store was far better than she'd expected.
Out of politeness, Torres went back to looking at the bracelet in the cabinet by the door as he paid. Gazing at the price tag she calculated she would have to miss her rent for three months if she wanted the diamond studded gold bracelet - she'd make a very attractive homeless person with that on her wrist though.
Back in the office, Torres could see Loker was decidedly fidgety as he sat watching the screen.
"So how are you going to ask her." She didn't know if he wanted to talk about it or not but she was curious.
"I don't know - part of me thinks I should make a big deal out of it, but then I start thinking it might just be cool to leave it on her pillow or something."
"I'm not sure it really matters as long as you actually say the words. I guess I never figured you for the marriage kind of guy though."
Surprisingly Loker laughed, "Me neither and to be honest I haven't actually thought much beyond the proposal which currently is still lacking form. I just know she's the person I want to be with and I'm hoping she feels the same way."
Torres was about to offer some words of support but their private chat came to an abrupt end with Lightman and Foster's entrance into the lab. Loker's head snapped back towards the screen and Torres quickly tried to find something to make herself look busy.
"Right enough of the gossip you two, Loker I'd appreciate it if you would actually watch the footage and not just your screen saver and Torres I need you to come and see husband number five with me."
Lightman's voice was somewhere between authoritative and amused, he was clearly enjoying this case and was therefore happy to pass on his enthusiasm to his slacking workers rather than reprimanding them.
Torres got up reluctantly secretly hoping that Loker would do the proposal soon - it was weird seeing him all wound up.
Loker sat staring at his beer feeling rather nervous about the conversation he was going to have; the music in the main club pounded away as he sat in the VIP area in the balcony section of Max's club. He'd only been here a handful of times, and never without Katelyn - Max wasn't really his sort of guy to be fair - he was too polished and made Loker suddenly want to go out and sign up for a gym somewhere.
"Hey Loker, how it going?" Max settled into the seat next to him, a glass of what appeared to be scotch in his hand.
"Things are good." Loker's answer was vague and he took a deep breath without realising it.
"Something on your mind?" Max asked knowing full well that Loker hadn't come to see him on the social.
"Ok, here it goes." Loker stilled himself fully expecting a negative reaction from Max given that he and Michael had been quite close.
"I want to ask Kate to marry me." Loker waited for the rebuke.
"You're serious?"
"Very serious." Loker couldn't read Max's face accurately in the dimly lit club.
"That's brilliant, I'm really happy for you, I'm sure she'll say yes."
Loker let out another deep breath in relief - if Max was happy then the rest of her friends would be ok too. He knew he didn't exactly need permission for anything but something had been telling him for the past few weeks that Max was like family to Katelyn and to not involve him would be wrong.
"So how are you going to do it?"
"That's the thing, I don't know, I was hoping you could shed some light on what I should avoid." Loker hoped his expression conveyed the true meaning behind his words - he was really asking how Michael had proposed.
Max nodded getting the point, "Well given that you're actually putting some thought into it you couldn't be more different to Mike."
Loker couldn't help but flinch a little at the familiarity.
"Mike's proposal was a bit of an accident really - a shopping trip that got a little out of hand albeit in a good way. They were talking about marriage and Kate went to look at a nearby jewellery shop window, because Max was making jokes she called him on how serious he was about getting married and he took her inside and asked her to choose one. The actual proposal took place in a car park about twenty minutes later. Not exactly romantic but at least memorable."
Max took a sip of his drink and leant back into the plush sofa cushions his arm resting across the back of the chair.
"So should I make a big deal out of it then?"
Max chuckled at Loker's obvious attempts to get someone else to make the decision for him, "Come on, you know what she likes - just think about it and go with the first thing that comes to mind."
The radio on Max's hip crackled into life, "Loker, I need to go but you know my number if you want to talk some more."
"Yeah, thanks for the help. I'm sure you'll be hearing from one of us very soon."
"And I'm sure it'll be her telling me all about your proposal."
Loker finished his beer and made his move out of the club. It was about a thirty minute walk back to their apartment but it wasn't particularly late and it was a warm evening. He thought back on Max's advice - just think and go with it - he let his mind wander to thoughts of her and what he could do to make it just about the two of them but also special and memorable. It didn't take him long to settle on the perfect idea.
"Feeling like a duet tonight?" Katelyn asked running her fingers around the top of her wine glass absentmindedly.
"Not tonight, bit too tired really, just thought it would be nice to come out and relax." Loker's tone of voice wasn't as chilled as he had hoped but she nodded and didn't question his unusual decision not to go on stage.
They were in his favourite music café where they'd shared their fifth date. It was mid-week so the bar was rather quiet but the talent on stage was of a higher quality than the usual weekend ever-so-slightly-too-tipsy renditions.
Loker could feel the nerves in his stomach, his guitar was already on stage waiting for him and the ring was ready to go; before he'd really had time to compose his thoughts his name was being called.
"I thought you were too tired tonight." Katelyn asked with a suspicious grin as he slid along the chair to get up.
"So I said a little white lie." he shrugged returning her smile as he headed to the stage.
His heart was racing as he lifted up his guitar and pulled the strap over his head. He glanced over to the bar and Sam the bartender gave him a wink.
Settling on the stool in front of the microphone he coughed a little to clear his throat his own heartbeat pounding in his ears; he started strumming the tune he'd chosen -Bon Jovi's You Had Me From Hello.
He got through the second verse and started the next chorus giving Sam a brief nod. He watched the bartender make his way over the Katelyn's table, she didn't notice he was there at first, her eyes were fixed on Loker.
"From the gentleman on the stage." said Sam causing her to take her eyes away from Loker as he laid out two glasses and a bottle of champagne followed by a single yellow rose and the black velvet ring box. Katelyn looked up at the bartender in confusion, he simply smiled and walked back to his bar.
Loker continued to play wondering what she was thinking, he watched her open up the ring box and wished he could see her face better from the stage. In the next moment she had stood up from the table and was heading towards him; Loker carried on strumming but stopped singing causing the bar patrons to glance round to see what was going on.
She moved lightly up the stage steps and Loker stopped playing altogether, he quickly removed the guitar setting it down carefully on the stand next to the stool.
The nerves were back in abundance as he stood there waiting for her to say something, instead she handed him the ring box back. His heart jumped into his throat and he began to panic that she was telling him no.
Seeing his distress she finally spoke, "You missed a bit."
Loker didn't understand at first but then he recalled what Torres had said a few days before - it doesn't really matter as long as you say the words. Quickly he got down on one knee causing the bar to let out a wolf whistle of moral support. He couldn't help but laugh a little.
Taking a deep breath he opened up the ring box holding it up towards her, the ring sparkling fabulously in the stage lights.
"Katelyn Harris, will you marry me?"
She smiled softly and he was sure he could see tears in her eyes, "Eli Loker, yes I will."
The bar erupted in cheers as he stood up and lifted the ring out of the box; she held out her hand and he carefully he slipped it onto her finger. He drew her towards him and kissed his fiancé causing further wolf whistles from their spectators.
"So then how about that duet?" He asked as he pulled back, slightly breathless from the kiss and the sheer elation he was feeling.