The drive home took way longer than it needed to. Brody was sure that if Pride drank more coffee he would either burst or be sick. They had stopped just about every half hour for a coffee or to use the bathroom. What she did notice was when they went inside each little diner or coffee shop Pride picked a seat that was either a booth or bench or in one case a couch. Every time after bringing their drinks over or after ordering them from the waitress he would snuggle up to her side with his arm either round her waist or across her shoulder. He kept her close to him every chance he got and she had to say it was kinda cute. She enjoyed the feeling of being pressed up against him and having her head resting on his shoulder. On a couple of occasions, he had managed to beat her to it and had moved enough so he could rest against her shoulder with his head turned enough so his face was in her neck. She could feel his breath of her skin and the odd kiss as his lips brushed her skin ever so gently. He was definitely making sure he had her close and she was loving every second of it.
The last coffee shop they stopped in was the same with them sat in a booth with him resting up against her with his hand in hers resting on his knee. He sat the whole time just stroking her knuckles as they drank really bad coffee. When it was time to leave they both stood up and instead of keeping hold of her hand as they headed back out to the truck Pride instead slid his arm around her waist and tucked his hand in her jeans pocket as they walked. She returned the gesture and hooked her thumb in the waistband of his sweatpants. The way they walked it looked like a funeral procession as they walked so slowly. When they reached the truck Pride brought them both around to the passenger door and was about to open the truck when he let go of Brody and gently pushed her backwards so her back hit the door of the truck. Before she could speak she felt his lips descending on hers as he kissed her with all he had in him. The kiss was passionate and deep as he gave her his all in a single kiss.
They broke apart panting for air as he dropped his head to her shoulder and buried his face in her neck taking deep breaths to try and control his breathing. She in turn rested her head on his shoulder letting his arms pull her closer to him as he held her. He didn't seem in a hurry to break apart as he caught his breath and managed to kiss the warm skin of her neck at the same time. This was starting to become one of her favourite positions in the world. Nothing around them mattered as they stood like that locked in each other's arms with their heads resting on each other's shoulders. They were just standing there when they both heard music playing from the direction of the diner. Someone must have opened the door and it stayed open so the sound of the music travelled through the near deserted car park.
Pride moved back a little but kept hold of Brody as he waited for her to lift her head up and look at him. When she did he brushed his lips across hers before letting the music from the diner wash over him. He started to sway a little as he rested the side of his face against the side of Brody's head and did a slow dance of sorts to the music they could hear. Brody was a little confused at first till she worked out what he was doing as he moved a little more to the music. It was just a sweet and romantic gesture, stood in a near empty car park swaying along to random music with the man she loved in her arms. This was what memories were made of. The slow music that had been on changed to a more upbeat tune, but it didn't stop the two of them swaying along to a tune only they could hear. They danced for what seems like hours and only stopped when a huge truck rolled in and parked up. They stopped moving but didn't break apart as they just looked at each other. The look that passed between them was a look of a couple truly in love with each other. It didn't matter they both hadn't said the words aloud as it was all there, written on their faces and deep within their eyes.
Letting go of Brody's waist Pride cupped Brody's face and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. He gently kissed her lips making the contact light and brief as he kept his eyes open and watched her. The sun was getting lower in the dusky blue sky and the rays of the sun fell across Brody's face. He was lost for words at how beautiful she was and he knew he would never ever feel this way again about anyone. He just looked at her as he dropped his forehead to hers and rubbed his nose against hers.
"Meredith I love you so much. It takes millions of people to complete the world, but it only takes you to complete mine. I never want to spend a day without you in my world." Closing his eyes and letting the enormity of how he felt wash over them both.
When he opened his eyes he caught sight of a stray tear running down Brody's cheek and he quickly kissed it away. He looked at her with eyes full of concern at the fact she was crying.
"No one has ever said anything that sweet to me. If only you knew how much these little moments with you matter to me. I need you more than I have needed anyone else in my life. After Emily, I was left with a huge empty void that no one could fill. I tried, but nothing even remotely fitted. Now I have you I know you fit perfectly and can help slowly fill the emptiness I have. Emily will live on in me and I get to share her with you, what more could I ever need." As another stray tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek.
Pride caught the tear on the pad of his thumb and looked at it.
"I will be here beside you for the happy and the sad. I will catch every tear that falls if you let me. I never want you to feel empty and alone again." Letting go of her face and hugging her so hard she swore he cracked a few ribs.
The sun was now fading fast and the couple of hours drive home had ended up taking all afternoon and most of the evening.
"We should head back before dark. I need to get back to the office and make sure it's still standing. Plus my bed is there." Seeing a look of what he was sure was hurt cross Brody's face as he mentioned his bed at the office.
"What did I say? Don't hide away, tell me." As he stepped back and opened the passenger door.
"Home. Home for me is my house where my bed is. Where I thought you would be stopping when we got back." Looking at him as she spoke.
"I want to spend every waking and sleeping moment with you, but your house is just that, yours. I want to be wherever you are if you let me. Be that tucked up in my room at the office or in your bed at your place, home for me is wherever you are now." Seeing her smile at his words.
"Well let's go home then, my home is now yours if you want it that is." Hoping he would agree.
"Home, I like the sound of that. Let's go home." Gesturing for her to get into the truck.
Climbing in she couldn't help but smile. She was going back home and she had now got a commitment of sorts to where she stood in the grand scheme of things. Pride was coming home with her and she couldn't ask for more than that. The short drive back was over quickly and as Pride parked the truck up outside Brody's house he had to admit he was a little excited. He hadn't called anywhere home since Linda. She was home and wherever she was was home, the same as how he felt now with Brody. She was his home now, so this house was home. Getting out the truck he made his way around and opened the door for Brody as he watched her stretch out and yawn. When she was out and standing on the sidewalk next to him he shut the door and took her hand. They both looked at the house in front of them and then at each other.
Brody led the way up the small pathway and dug in her pocket for her keys. Opening the door, she stepped inside and pulled Pride in with her. She let him shut the door when he was in and then he just stood there unsure what to do. She could feel his unease and she squeezed his hand making him look at her.
"Home." Gesturing to the room at large.
Turning to her he took both her hands in his as he stepped closer so he could rest his head against hers.
"Home." As he indicated their joined hands and the lack of space between them.
"Home." Reaching up to kiss him.
Kissing her back he let himself be swept along with the emotions and the feel of her lips on his. He didn't want it to end as he stood in her or should he say their lounge kissing her. He wanted to live in this moment, pause time now he had everything he thought he had lost once before. The kiss did end as they stood with big silly grins on their faces.
"How about I order us some takeout and you get the bags from the truck. You need clothes for tomorrow and it does need emptying at some point." Letting go of his hands and moving away to pull her phone out her pocket.
"Good plan. What we having so I can prepare myself. No doubt it will be..." As she finished the sentence for him.
"Pizza, I need pizza. Hot melted cheese, chicken, peppers, anchovies and garlic." Seeing him cringe at the mention of garlic.
"If you want me to kiss you later I would reconsider the last one." As they both laughed.
"Good point, skip the garlic. I have plans for you so definitely no garlic." Stepping up to kiss his cheek.
"I like the sound of plans, now you order and I will get the bags." Moving away and opening the door.
Taking the tarp off the truck, he grabbed the bags and dumped them on the sidewalk. Seeing how much more stuff there was he decided to just empty the lot out. Picking the bags up he carried them to the house and dumped them on the couch. Going back he grabbed the last couple of boxes, stacking them up to carry them. He left the cover opened on the truck and checked there was nothing in the back of the cab before making sure it was locked and heading back inside. Dropping the boxes on the floor he picked the bags up and carried them into the kitchen where he found Brody getting serviettes out along with two bottles of beer.
"Laundry." Looking around the kitchen as he dropped the bags on to two of the chairs at the table.
"Dump it all there and I will do some when I put these on the coffee table. Or even better put in a mix of both our things and I will put it on." Seeing Pride pick his bag up and turn it upside down so everything dropped to the floor in front of the washing machine.
Doing the same with Brody's bag he knelt down and started to sort through the clothes. After getting some of his things in the machine, he picked a few out belonging to her then shut the door. Standing up he used his foot to move the pile to one side so it wasn't in the way. He was about to shout out and ask where the laundry detergent was when he saw a hand come round followed by Brody as she nudged him out the way to get to the machine. Stepping aside he watched her set the machine and stand back up. When she was done she was about to turn to face him but she never got the chance as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Melting back in his arms she moved her head to one side letting him have more room to kiss and nip her neck and shoulder.
This was definitely going to be something they could both live with. Finally managing to turn in his arms Brody lifted a hand up on rested it on the back of Pride's neck as she brought his head level with here's so she could kiss him. They stood kissing till a knock on the door made them break apart. They smiled at each other as they stepped apart.
"You better get the door, don't think the pizza delivery guy needs to see me like this." As they both looked down to the large bulge in Prides sweatpants.
"Good idea." Turning to walk away but not before she brushed her hand across the front of his sweatpants causing him to groan and her to giggle.
He stayed in the kitchen till he heard her shut the door. When he came through he waited till she had put the pizza down before he grabbed her and pulled her to him causing her to break out laughing.
"That was a low trick you just pulled there. I will make you pay for that later." Tickling her sides causing even more laughter.
"Stop, stop, stop. The pizza is getting cold and I am sure you will get me back later." Feeling him letting go of her sides.
"Only giving up as the pizza will get cold." Letting her go completely and going to sit down.
She followed him over and sat down beside him as he opened the pizza box. He looked around for plates and when he didn't see any he looked at Brody who had picked up a serviette and was in the process of taking a big bite out of a slice of the pizza. Picking up a piece of pizza he took a bite then had to put his piece back down so he could wipe the runny cheese and tomato from his face. Eating pizza they sat laughing at each other at the amount of sauce and pizza they had on their faces and fingers. They would take it in turns to wipe a part of the others face to remove the sauce and clean them up. When they were finished Pride grabbed the empty box and the used serviettes and took them all through to the kitchen.
Brody settled back on the couch and looked around the room. She had a couple of pictures of her and Emily up and a couple of Emily on her own but they were the only family pictures. She did, however, have a few frames dotted around with pictures of her new family in. There was some taken at a party they were all at and it had a lovely group one included. There was a frame with four in from the last birthday they had for Sebastian. Then her eyes drifted to a picture sat next to her favourite one of Emily. It had been taken at Christmas and it was a picture of Pride and her dancing. Neither had been aware the picture had been taken so it was a perfect natural picture. They were standing with his arms around her waist and hers around his neck. They were looking at each other and lost in each other's gaze. Nothing else mattered to them at the moment the picture was taken but the person they were holding. She remembered that night clearly as they danced as it was the first time Pride had held her so close and it was also the night he first kissed her. She was so lost in the memory she didn't notice he had come back from the kitchen and sat down. Following her gaze he looked at the two pictures.
"There both beautiful pictures, not surprised you have them framed on display. How old were when that picture was taken?" Feeling Brody come to sit as his side and lean against him.
As they both looked at the picture Brody told Pride the story behind the picture and pointed out that is was still a double photo but she had tucked herself under so couldn't be seen. After a lot of badgering, she agreed to let him see the rest of the picture as she stood up to get it. He told her to bring both pictures over. He had heard of the picture of them dancing but had never really seen it. Brody brought both over and sat down again shuffling back beside him. She put the picture of them together down and opened up the frame with Emily in. She held the picture and ran her finger over her sister's face before opening the photo to reveal not just Emily but herself. Passing the picture to Pride she let him take it to look at it.
"That is a beautiful picture, I don't know why you hide yourself." Passing her the picture back and watching as she folded it back over and carefully put it away in the frame.
"It's my favourite picture of Emily. It was taken not long before she died. We had fun that night." Getting a far away look in her eyes.
"Tell me." As he used his arm around her shoulder to pull her closer.
Brody smiled as she held the picture and told Pride the story of the night out which lead to a pair of very drunk women hooking up with a couple of sailors on Liberty. By the time she had finished the tale they were both laughing. Standing the picture up on the table she picked the one up of the two of them and again she smiled at the picture. Pride took the photo and a huge grin spread across his face. It was definitely a nice picture of them both and he asked who she got it off. When she said he promptly informed her he was getting a copy for his desk. Shaking her head they sat talking about the night the picture was taken and the fun they had. They only stopped due to the fact Pride yawned. Brody stood up and pulled him to his feet. Picking the pictures up she dragged him across the room to put them back. Locking the door as she passed she lead them both out the lounge and after switching the light off she took him through to her room.
As they both stood in the bedroom Pride again froze. He was stood in what was her personal space and it most definitely was all her. He watched as she stripped down to her underwear and picked her dirty clothes, dumping them in the hamper at the foot of the bed. Disappearing into what Pride saw was the bathroom he waited till she reappeared and looked at her.
"You sleeping in your clothes tonight? You're the one who was yawning, get ready and come keep me warm, beds a little cold without you in it." Watching as he finally started to move.
When he stripped off he picked his dirty clothes up and she nodded to the hamper she had just put hers in. Opening it he put his in and made his way to the bathroom. He smiled at the new toothbrush that was sat on the sink for him. When he was done in the bathroom he placed the toothbrush in the holder next to hers and opened the door. Looking across at the bed he walked over and sat on the edge as he pulled the covers back and climbed in. He hadn't even lay down when she pounced on him and pinned him to the bed as she straddled him. Gripping her hips he waited as she bent and gently kissed him before kissing him with a renewed sense of urgency and passion. They kissed and touched and finally made love in a slow and gentle fashion as they learnt more about the others body now they had room to explore and touch and feel.
As they lay tangled together afterwards Brody lifted up and looked down at Pride as he slept. She used her finger to move a piece of his hair that had fallen over his forehead. She was happy again and she knew this time it would last. This was it, this was her past, her present and her future. She knew they would make it work no matter what life threw at them. As she bent and placed a kiss to his cheek she snuggled up to his chest and closing her eyes she said the three words she thought she would never say again.
"I love you, Dwayne."