Sorry for the late update- only just finished redecorating the house. enjoy this chapter!
It was the start of a new year for everyone. The air was still crisp with frost, the grass still crunchy under foot. In Central park, Sharon was walking along the path with Jake.
Jake gripped the walker he was using, he was also strapped in to give him more support. His body shook as he took a few steps, then having to stop whilst he concentrated on the movement. He looked at Sharon. "C-Cof... Coffee?" His speech had improved a lot over the holidays and the doctors were pleased with his progress.
Sharon looked at him. "You want some coffee? Yeah, we can do that. There's a Starbucks across the street we can go to?" Jake paused and looked, before he nodded. "Ye.. yeah." Sharon smiled and they continued to walk through the park.
Once inside, they found a table. Sharon helped Jake get comfy and took his non spill cup to the counter, ordering the drinks. Jake sat and looked around, enjoying the warmth after the cold of the city. His body still rocked back and fourth, giving the impression of someone rocking out to some music. He frowned though as he heard people talking.
"Look at him..."
"What's wrong with him? He should be in a home, not outside."
"Freak."
"Disgusting.."
Jake frowned and grabbed his stuffed bear from the bag on the walker, holding it close. Sharon walked back over and put the coffee on the table. "There you- Hey, what's wrong Jake?" Jake whined and buried his face into the soft fur of the teddy. A man was watching on. Sharon tried to comfort him when the man stood up and spoke the people at the table where the remarks had come from.
"Hey. Are you taking the fun out of him?"
"Excuse me?" A young woman said. The man glared at her. "You heard me."
"Listen.."
The man cut her off and spoke up. "I served my country for 20 years and in that time, I saw my friends get their heads blown off, saw their guts being blown twenty feet up in the air. You don't think that gives me nightmares? Don't ever dis respect someone just because they look or sound different or do things in a certain way to make their life that little bit easier. You don't know what they are going through." The women and the man at the table looked around, before getting up and leaving.
The man watched them go and walked over to Sharon and Jake. Sharon looked at him. "Well, thank you sir." The man smiled at her and looked at Jake.
"Hey... I know you. Jake Peralta right?"
Jake blinked and looked up and frowned. The man smiled. "You might not remember me, I'm Sargent Jordan King. You helped me out a few years back getting my kid's bike back. Never did get to thank you, so thank you." Jake blinked a bit, but couldn't remember, so only smiled.
Sharon laughed and sat down. "He likes you. Would you like to join us?" Jordan nodded, and gathered his stuff, before coming back over. Jake carefully sipped his coffee, once again content. Jordan looked at Sharon as she explained what happened to Jake. Jordan was patient throughout and listened, occasionally making Jake laugh or something.
"Now, we are just.. Having some coffee here." Her eyes went over to the window and she smiled. The door opened and someone walked over. "Hey Jake."
Jake gasped and looked around. "A-AMMMY!" Sharon and Jordan laughed at his reaction. Jake went to stand up but almost fell. Jordan caught him. "Easy, I got ya.. There you go."
"Th-thank you.." He turned to Amy and hugged her and gently kissed her cheek. Amy smiled and kissed him back. "I've missed you."
"Mis... you too." Sharon smiled. "We'll give you some privacy, Jordan would you like to join me?" Jordan nodded and they moved a few tables over.
Amy smiled and sat down. Jake smiled and leaned forward, taking her hand for a moment, before sitting back. Amy looked at him. "You're looking great Jake, putting some weight back on."
"C-Cakes!" Amy laughed. "Cakes? Hard enough to get any sweet thing around the sqaud." Jake giggled happily, rocking back and fourth, before settling back down.
There was silence before Jake spoke. "A-Amy?"
"Yeah Jake?"
"Do...Do." Jake paused, before he continued. "Do.. Do yy-y-y.. you st.. stilllf...still lur.. lr.. love mm-m-mme me?" He looked at her, twisting his fingers.
Amy smiled and leaned forward before kissing him. "Of course I do. I will always love you Jake and I do miss you. A lot. I miss holding you and... being with you, but I will always love you."
"Ho... hold...ing you.. you back?"
Amy frowned. "What? Jake... No baby, no..." She got up and moved the seat closer to him, holding his hands. "We are still together, and I wouldn't trade that for anything else in the world. I will always be here for you Jake and don't worry... I will not leave you. Okay?"
"Ok.. Okay..." Jake smiled and leaned forward, giving her a kiss on the mouth.
Amy paused, before she kissed back, having missed this simple act with him. She gripped his hands and smiled through the kiss. It was yet another stepping stone on the road to recovery.
Meanwhile, Jordan and Sharon were talking. Jordan had a younger brother who was Autistic and lived at home with their parents, but would soon be moving in with Jordan as he would become his full time career. It made Sharon think of becoming Jake's full time career as well. It would mean him living at her home from now to... whenever. They also both looked at each other and felt something...
It seemed there was more than just one romance that cold new year's day in the warmth of a coffee .