"Em! Open the damn door!" Serena shouted, banging on the door. Emily sat upright in bed from the noise. It was blatantly morning, and she felt as though she'd been in a coma.
"Tell her to go away," Lee said, muffled. She turned to look at him lying face down in the pillow with one arm thrown over his head. His eyes were still closed.
"I need to change!" Serena called. "Come on!"
Emily looked at Lee, who finally cracked an eye open to look back at her.
"I am not hiding under the bed again," he said adamantly. She giggled.
"Fine," she answered, taking the blanket and throwing it over his head. It was more to protect him from Serena's barrage of questions and comments than hiding the fact he was there. Then she padded over to the door, tying her robe up tight.
"Why is the door bolted?" Serena asked crossly as she came inside.
"Get your things and then please go," Emily said. Serena went to comment when she caught sight of Lee's shoes and clothes on the floor beside the bed.
"Oh," she said. "Oh. I'm sorry."
"Hurry up," Emily ordered.
"Yup. Hurrying," Serena nodded, rushing to grab her whole bag and rush back to the door.
"Aren't you glad we took this trip?" she said, half out the door. Emily shoved her out with a smile, and Serena laughed as the door got shut in her face and bolted again. She practically skipped back to join Lee, who by now had emerged from under the blanket and was grinning.
"Her idea, huh?" he asked.
"Maybe," Emily answered, curling up into him.
"I guess I can say she doesn't owe me one anymore," Lee mused.
"Why did she owe you one?"
"For making me spend hours hiding in your room."
"But...that was me who made you do that, not her," Emily pointed out, confused.
"Oh, yes, that's right," he said, feigning surprise. Emily realized he'd been messing with her and gave him a small shove. "Then I think you still owe me one."
"I can cash that in now if you'd like," she offered.
"Oh no," he shook his head. "No, I've got something in else in mind entirely."
Emily had a suspicion that she knew what he was gonna do.
...
"All right, all right," Caesar was saying, rubbing his hands together. "Let's destroy this."
"It's food, Caesar, not an armed guy," Barney snorted.
"I was talking about my appetite," Caesar replied.
"I don't see how that's better," Barney said. Gunner guffawed while Yang grinned.
"Can you just let me enjoy my chicken wings?" Caesar asked, annoyed. They were in Scott's bar, and Emily was sitting on Lee's lap while Serena and Toll were doing some sort of dance by the jukebox.
"You forgot something," Barney said, picking up a napkin, opening it up, and stuffing it into Caesar's shirt as a bib. Caesar raised a brow at him.
"Thanks, Mom," he said sarcastically.
"Is it always like this?" Emily asked Lee in his ear.
"Yup," he answered. "At least Tool's not asking for a knife toss." Tool was in fact chatting up one of the waitresses as he sipped his beer.
"I have to admit, I never pictured myself hanging around a gang of mercenaries," she said. He squeezed her side in response, smiling.
"Damn, man," Barney commented, still watching Caesar. "Take a breath will ya?"
"He's a machine," Gunner noted as Caesar inhaled his food.
"You're damn right I am," Caesar said, his mouth full.
"His mouth always faster than his legs," Yang smirked. Caesar threw a bare chicken wing bone at his head, and he ducked, narrowly missing getting hit by it.
"I'm faster than Gunner at least," he commented.
"I already told you, I don't need to be fast when my aim is better."
"Oh no..." Caesar started, pointing a chicken wing at him furiously.
"I will shoot you if you start that fight again," Barney warned, his finger in Caesar's face now.
"Fine," Caesar grumbled, dropping it and going back to devouring his wings.
Lee stiffened when he saw Lacy come into the bar. She wasn't going to keep at him was she? His heart sank when she approached them. Barney watched, interested.
"So, she wasn't your cousin," Lacy said.
"No," Lee shook his head. Emily rested her head on Lee's shoulder, staring at Lacy. Her message was clear: back off. Lacy narrowed her eyes.
"So you did lie," she said angrily.
"About the cousin part, yea. I was not lying when I said I didn't cheat on you," Lee explained.
"Well, that's a huge comfort," Lacy said sarcastically.
"What do you want me to do? I wasn't the one who decided to try again. I told you it's over."
"You really love her?" Lacy asked.
"I do," Lee nodded. Lacy looked like she wanted to freak out, but she kept it together. After all, she had been the one to send him on his way.
"Well, best of luck to you," she told Emily before turning to stalk off, her head up high.
"Wow," Yang said.
"Jealous," Gunner commented.
"You're better off, man," Barney said. Caesar was still busy eating and didn't share his thoughts.
"EMILY!" Serena shouted over the loud music. "It's our song, babe! Come on!"
"Oh, no," Emily shook her head.
"Why not?" Lee asked.
"I don't dance in front of people," she answered. He got a bit of a twinkle in his eye, and she just knew what he was going to say next.
"Your favor to me can be that," he said.
"No," she replied. "Absolutely not." How had she known he would make her do something embarrassing as her favor to him?
"You made me do things I didn't want to do the last time we were here," he pointed out. "Remember?"
"That's because you lost..."
"And this is because you stuffed me in your room for hours with your cat. Same thing," he finished. Emily squirmed. She did not want to do this, but she knew he had a point. She'd make him do it.
"You suck," she told him.
"I know," he grinned. He pushed her off his lap, and she made her way towards Serena. She passed Toll on his way back.
"Damn," he said, sitting beside Lee and out of breath.
"Getting old sucks, eh?" Barney snickered.
"Oh, what is happening?" Caesar asked, catching sight of Emily and Serena breaking into some kind of dance routine. Lee started to laugh out loud. Barney clapped and cheered them on. Even Tool stopped talking to his waitress to watch, an amused expression on his face.
"This is the best night of my life," Gunner commented as Emily and Serena banged their hips together at one point.
"I agree," Yang nodded.
Emily felt super embarrassed at the start, but she was ignoring everyone now and just having fun with her friend, Serena. The two of them had done this routine so many times that it was ingrained in their memory forever.
"Are you happy?" Serena called as they faced each other. She was laughing, and Emily couldn't help but laugh too.
"Yes," she answered. "I am."
"Good!" Serena beamed. They finished with the song, and Emily was going to return to her seat when she turned to find Lee standing right behind her.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he pulled her into position.
"What's it look like I'm doing?" he countered as the next song started. It was slower, and Emily felt shy suddenly. He was going to slow dance with her in front of his gang and everyone. She blushed and ducked her head.
"No one is even watching," he said in her ear, noticing. She turned her face to look, and it was true. Everyone was busy talking to each other, and no one else in the bar was interested. She felt herself start to relax.
"I didn't know you knew how to dance," she said, looking at him.
"I have a few surprises up my sleeve," he replied. "But you are going to have to show me that routine again later."
"I think you'll just have to wait for next time that song comes on and Serena is around," Emily said.
"Oh no," he shook his head.
"Oh yes," she argued, but she was still laughing. Lee held her close, and she felt so at home with him. It made her decision about her future so much easier. And for a moment, the pain of losing her sister wasn't as sharp. She knew it would only get better from here.
...
Lee was curled behind Emily in his bed at his apartment. There was no need for the hotel room anymore since both she and Serena had places to go.
"What are you thinking?" she asked. She was playing with his fingers in hers.
"When do you have to go back to New York?" he inquired.
"Well, since I'm currently unemployed, I technically don't have to be back ever again, but I do have Jasper to think about," Emily answered.
"I see."
She turned so that she was facing him now. It was difficult to see him in the dark, but she could imagine what his face looked like. She knew there would be worry there about when he'd see her again.
"I think Jasper would be okay with New Orleans," she said casually.
"He would, huh," Lee replied. He felt his heart skip a little. Was she telling him she was moving here?
"Yes. I mean, he kind of has to go where I go, right? He might be miffed for a bit, but he'll get over it."
"So what are you saying?" he asked.
"I'm going to leave New York," she told him. "I want to be with you."
"I'm at a loss for words," he admitted.
"For once," she teased. He reached to pinch her in return, making her give a small shriek and wrestle with him for a moment until he kissed her.
"You're serious?" he asked after a moment. Her face was pressed into his neck.
"Mmhmm," she answered. "Is that okay?"
"That's more than okay," he replied. "I'd love you to move here."
"I just think it's time for a change from the city," she went on. "For a little while anyway."
Lee had been contemplating moving to New York, and maybe he would someday if she wanted to go back. They'd talk about it then.
"We can go wherever you like," he said. "As long as I'm with you, I don't care."
Emily moved to kiss him again, and then there was no more talking.
A Week Later
"Last box," Emily said, nudging it with her foot towards Lee, who picked it up. They were driving back to New Orleans in the rented mover's truck. Toll was visiting Serena, and he had helped load the truck. They were down there waiting.
"You're sure you still want to do this?" Lee asked.
"Oh no, Lee, I'm just packing all my stuff up to drive across the country for the hell of it," Emily answered, giving him a look.
"Don't say it," he started.
"Here's your sign," she finished, smirking.
"I knew I shouldn't have introduced you to Mr. Engvall," Lee sighed.
"You're just sore because I'm better at it than you are," she smiled. She caught Jasper as he went to bolt out the door and hugged him.
"I'll give you a moment," Lee said, knowing she wanted to say goodbye to her apartment. He gave her a quick kiss before leaving with the box, and Emily stood there with Jasper, who was purring.
"Well, Jasper," she said. "It's time for a new chapter in our lives. I hope you're okay with that."
The cat did not respond, but Emily knew Jasper would be fine anywhere. He was a cat. She felt bad putting him into his carrier, but she didn't want to lose him. He protested, and she knew he was going to snub her for a while when she finally let him out.
"Ready?" Lee asked when she joined them.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Good luck," Serena said, hugging her.
"You could come too," Emily suggested.
"Maybe one day," Serena answered. She stepped back, and Toll put his arm around her. They were going to do the long distance thing for now.
"Drive safe," he offered.
"Thanks," Lee replied. He helped Emily climb into the truck and passed Jasper in his carrier to her. When he got into the driver's seat, he turned to look at her.
"Last chance to run," he said.
"I don't plan on ever running from you," she replied.
"All right," he smiled, starting the truck and putting it into gear. She reached for his hand as they started moving, and she watched her old life slowly disappear behind her as they drove. She smiled. Who knew that strangers in a hospital could end up in a love story. She felt lucky, and she knew Lee felt the same way. Their journey together was beginning. The future looked good.
The End
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