Chris opens her eyes sleepily, only to look into Street's. She frowns.
"Good morning, how long have you been staring at me?" She grins sheepishly.
Street says nothing for now. He has his head propped up on his hand and just looks at Chris. A slight smile flits across his lips before he answers her.
"Oh, for a while. You looked so content and I didn't want to wake you." He brushes a strand of hair out of her face and Chris looks at him with an expectant look.
"Aren't you going to kiss me now?" She asks the question almost indignantly. In response, Street's smile grows wider and wider, perfectly showcasing his dimples. Slowly he leans down to Chris and gives her a tender kiss, he puts his free hand to her cheek to pull her even closer to him. They both enjoy the kiss and can't keep their hands off each other until Chris pulls back a little and mumbles into the kiss.
"Jim, I have to get up, my shift starts soon." She looks apologetically at Street.
"Oh no, always when we're getting to the fun stuff I'm supposed to stop." He throws himself backward on his pillows and holds his hand over his heart. "You know what you're doing to me right now, don't you?" He looks over at Chris and gives her a reproachful look. She can't help but laugh and strokes his bare chest as she climbs over him to walk towards the bathroom.
"This is torture Miss Alonso." Street looks after her. Chris is almost at the bathroom door when she grabs the door frame with one hand and turns to Street.
"If you hurry we can take a quick shower together. We should have that time." She winks at him, turns her back to him again, and as she walks into the bathroom she takes off her top.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Street mumbles, hopping out of bed so fast he almost runs into the door.
Thirty minutes later, they're both standing in front of the mirror getting ready.
"So if you'd asked me, we could shower together every morning." Street leans over to Chris to give her a kiss on the shoulder.
"I have no objections," she smirks a little sheepishly.
"What's on your agenda today? Tactical training or personal security with Deac?" He wants to know curiously.
"First, I have a quick meeting with Deac, we plan the week, and then it's off to tactical training. I'm having so much fun with that Street. I mean, you know Deac as well as I do, but I never thought he'd be such a great boss. He's fair, loyal, and yes, just Deac." As Chris says these words, she automatically has to smile, Deac really is a great role model for her.
"I'm so happy for you. It was the best decision when you quit SWAT a year ago, wasn't it?" Street just has to own up to that.
"Oh, has that finally gotten through your thick skull now?" Chris gently taps his forehead and kisses him.
"Mmmhh." he murmurs into the kiss. "Oh, by the way, our old 20 - David team sends their regards and they ask if we have time and would like to go out to dinner with them tonight, 8:00 p.m. What do you say?"
"Well, of course! I'm excited to see everyone again. Is Bonnie coming too?" Chris wants to know.
"Yes, if her morning sickness allows it. Tan seems to be suffering a lot from it."
"Ehm sorry, but why Tan? Bonnie needs to puke, not him." Chris laughs and rolls her eyes. Men!
"Yeah, but he has to satisfy her cravings all the time. Half the time she's craving cashews in the middle of the night. And Tan has to run out and get some." Street tells visibly taken. As Chris walks toward the front door, she calls out to Street.
"Watch out honey, you're in for that one too." She turns around, only to look into her boyfriend's shocked face, then adds. "Don't worry, I'm certainly not planning on getting pregnant." She winks at him and calls out another "I love you, see you later." to him and is gone.
Street stands dumbfounded and swallows.
"I love you too." He says tonelessly after her, relieved that Chris feels the same way about having children. But the thought of having a real family with Chris someday makes him grin with satisfaction.
When Street arrives at HQ for his shift, he is once again greeted by an overtired Tan.
"You look like shit buddy. How's it gonna be once your kid gets here?" Street can't help but grin.
"Thanks for your sympathy Street. I'm really beat. I hope these food cravings are over soon. According to some women's magazine, starting at five months." Tan sits in the locker room, lacing his shoes as he says this.
"What's the commotion out there today, anyway?" Street wants to know.
"The new puppies for the police service are here and everyone wants to cuddle them." Tan grins. "I've been there too, and yeah, they're really cute." He still admits. The shift goes by quietly and there were no special assignments. The guys say goodbye to each other and everyone is looking forward to seeing Chris again later, after all, it's been at least two months.
As Street is about to leave HQ he sees a young woman sitting on the floor with one of the puppies, she seems sad. He approaches the two and stops in front of them.
"Hey, are you okay?" He noticed right away that the young woman is crying. She quickly wipes the tears from her face before answering.
"Hi, ehm yeah, everything's fine. I'm just a little sad." She has been taking care of the puppies for the past few weeks before the suitability tests could be taken.
"And why are you sad, if you don't mind me asking?" Street joins her on the floor and the curious Malinois puppy immediately climbs on his lap. "Hey you, you're a naughty one."
"This is Codie. I have to take him to the shelter tomorrow. His x-rays of both hips are not good, he can't be trained, it would be too physically taxing for him." She looks at the puppy and gently strokes his head.
"Oh no, that's terrible. I'm so sorry to hear that. Oh Codie, I hope you find a great family. I have to go now, but cheer up, I'm sure he'll find a new home quickly." The young woman smiles at Street and off he goes.
"Hey babe, I'm here. Sorry ran a little late." Street calls through the apartment and already sees Chris coming towards him.
"Hey honey, a little late is fine, it's 6:45 p.m., hurry up." She gives him a kiss and as he walks past her another slap on his butt. Street acknowledges this with a mischievous grin.
"Wait till we get back home later."
"I can't wait, now hurry," Chris instructs him again. As Street gets ready, Codie is on his mind. Such a cute little dog and just because he's not eligible, he has to go to the shelter. Maybe there was another option, but he'd have to worry about that later, or Chris would get mad.
At the restaurant, everyone was already there. Luca, Hondo, Bonnie, and Tan, and also Annie and Deac.
"Great Street, because of you we're the last ones, again," says Chris while the two walk fast holding hands towards the others.
"Hey, don't put all the blame on me, you could have stepped on the gas a little bit." He grins at her, earning an evil eye in return. Everyone looks at the couple and smiles, did it take them long enough to find each other. After effusive greetings, everyone now sits at the table and orders their drinks. Chris has to tell the others about the work at Deac, while Annie and Bonnie are engrossed in the subject of children. Every now and then Chris and Street's fingers meet and they look into each other's eyes for a brief moment in love.
"You two are such a beautiful couple, it makes me want to cry again." Bonnie tells them adding, "I'm really emotionally since I got pregnant." She laughs and everyone else joins in. It's just after midnight when the group decides to leave. Street has taken Deac aside and Chris wonders a bit what the two of them have to talk about so mysteriously.
At home, Chris drops onto the sofa and is dead tired. Street follows her and puts an arm around her.
"It was a great night Jim. We really need to do this once a month. Don't you think?" But she gets no response and looks up at him. "Jim?" Street shakes his head a little for a moment and then looks to Chris.
"Yeah sure, absolutely." He says, confused.
"Are you okay?" Chris wants to know.
"Yeah, everything's fine, I just had to think of something and no, I won't tell you what. It's a surprise." Street kisses Chris's forehead, gets up, and goes to the bathroom to change. He hopes she won't follow up because she's too tired, and he got lucky.
The next morning, it's just before 6:00 a.m., Street sneaks out of the apartment. Chris is sleeping so deeply that she can't hear anything. When he arrives at HQ Deac and Lynn, the young woman from yesterday, are already in the parking lot and Codie is sitting next to her perfectly still. Street gets out of the truck and can no longer suppress his smile. On one hand, he is so happy, but on the other, he is a little afraid of Chris' reaction.
"Good morning Street." Greets Deac, as well as Lynn. She lets Codie off the leash and he runs to Street.
"Hey little man, are you as excited as I am? You're going to have such a nice time with us, and you're going to get a gorgeous mom." He takes him in his arms.
"Good morning you two. Sorry, but Codie has priority." Street laughs.
"You've got your priorities straight I see." Comes a laugh from Deac as well.
"So Street, here are all his things. Basket, food, food bowl, and toys." Lynn is visibly relieved that Codie doesn't have to go to the shelter, and she's sure he couldn't have it any better anywhere than with Chris and Street.
"Give Chris my love and she'll have the rest of the week off, just like we talked about Street. That'll give the little guy a good chance to get settled in." Explained Deac again and he too was happy that Chris would now have a dog again. The three say goodbye and Street drives home with Codie.
When the apartment door opens Codie rushes in and before Street can stop him straight to Chris in the bed.
"Oh God, she's going to kill me." Street whispers and goes after the puppy. Chris is still fast asleep when she feels something wet and hairy on her cheek.
"Honey you might as well shave again." She mumbles but when it barks next to her ear, she tears her eyes open and looks to her right. Two dark brown dog eyes including a dog nose look at her and if she didn't know she was awake she would think she was dreaming.
"Street, is there really a dog sitting next to me in bed?" She asks incredulously.
"Yep." Comes the short, curt reply from him. "That's Codie. We just adopted him." Chris doesn't quite follow. Adopted? Codie? Street?
"That's our dog now Chris." Street joins them both at the bedside and Codie immediately slobbers all over him, too. Chris can't help it, but her heart pounds, and a big laugh creeps onto her face.
"His hip x-rays are bad and he's not fit to be trained as a guard dog, so he was supposed to go to the shelter today. I met him yesterday and I couldn't let that happen, Chris, I - " But that's as far as Street got because Chris threw her arm around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks, Jim." She put some space between herself and Street again and looked at him. "It's totally crazy though and I have no idea how we're going to fit Codie into our daily lives, but thank you. He's so cute and I've actually been wanting a dog again for a long time." Chris kissed Street briefly.
"I know that, and I've already sorted out how things are going to go with Codie." Chris had a thousand questions in her head. "I've already discussed everything with Deac. You're off for the rest of the week, as am I by the way, and then you can train him to be your personal bodyguard. He can then accompany you to all your bodyguard appointments and watch over you." Street beams more with every word he says and somehow he is also a little bit proud of himself.
"You're amazing, I don't even know what to say." Chris was truly speechless.
"Just kiss me and I'll be the happiest man in the world." He didn't have to wait long for that. Chris kissed him so passionately until Codie came barking for attention.
"Yes Codie, you are our favorite now. Jim, I love you more than anything, thank you." Chris leaned her forehead against Street's.
"And I love you. Now we're a real little family."
This beautiful epilogue was written by Kris1986. Thank you for gifting me this very cute end to this story and allowing me to share it with everyone.