Wait 13
Author's Note: Skipping a head a little by a few weeks. This chapter is filled with a lot and became really, really, long. I hope you find it both sweet and funny.
Let me know what you think.
DDDDDDDDD
Don Ressler walked through the slush with Samar from the cab to the hotel cursing the snowstorm that blew into Buffalo that day and cancelled all flights coming and going from the airport.
"Do you want to grab some lunch in…?" Samar asked.
"No," Don huffed.
"You need to eat," Samar reminded him.
"I'll get something later," he replied, walking briskly to the desk to get the keys to their rooms.
Samar huffed beside him. She knew he was not pleased with being kept here overnight because he was supposed to be back in DC for Liz's ultrasound today. An ultrasound they had delayed for 5 days while he worked this case in Buffalo with Samar. They had been in Buffalo for a week and Samar also wanted to go home, but it seemed he did more. Truthfully, he'd been a bear all week. She heard him on the phone frequently with a contractor who was trying to start working on their reno and with Liz who seemed to be having some sort of issue that Ressler wouldn't elaborate on. He seemed stressed, and this snowstorm tipped him over the edge.
She looked down at her phone when it buzzed. It was Liz.
How is he?
Samar smiled, even in DC Liz could tell that Ressler was not doing well. She texted back:
A bear
She waited for Ressler to get their keys and sign the paperwork. Her phone buzzed again.
You may need to get him to a bar tonight. He needs to take the edge off.
Samar smiled. This was why she loved Liz. Despite her one night stand with Ressler, Liz never worried about them travelling together, she was fine accepting that what happened between herself and Ressler was firmly in the past. Samar texted back:
I'm not sure I can convince him to do anything but sulk in his room. But I will try.
Ressler turned around and handed Samar her key card.
"I'll finish the case notes in my room," Ressler said.
"Ressler, I can do them," Samar offered. "What else is there to do but wait this out? Why don't you rest, you seem tired and stressed? Then we can grab dinner here in the restaurant."
He gave her a soft smile. "Samar, I don't think I'd be good company. Honestly, I know I'm in a mood and I don't see it lifting anytime soon."
She nodded.
"Well, if you change your mind and want company for dinner or a drink, you know how to get a hold of me," Samar smiled at him.
"Thanks," he smiled back before they headed to opposite wings of the packed hotel to find their rooms.
Three hours later he got a text from Liz.
Install skype on your phone right away.
He did as he was told and texted back asking her why and received no response.
Then his phone started to buzz with a skype call and he answered the call to see Liz's beautiful face on the other side.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Ressler asked her with a smile.
"I'm with Dr. Namakura," Liz said as she turned her phone to show him the doctor smiling and waving.
"Hello Don," the doctor smiled. "I hear we are stuck in Buffalo?"
"Yes, a snowstorm is keeping me here," he smiled back at the doctor who had accommodated them by moving Liz's appointment and he still wasn't there for this one. "Sorry I can't be there."
"You're here," Liz said as the camera came back to her. "Lucia, her nurse is going to show you everything as it happens."
Ressler looked at her perplexed as they phone was handed to someone and a Latino woman smiled at the camera.
"Hello Don, I'll make sure you get a good view," she said with a smile before the camera looked at a screen with their baby on it.
"Wow," he said when he noticed the difference in size of the child.
"It looks so much bigger, right?" He heard Liz's voice.
"It really does," Ressler smiled at the image of the baby who appeared to be squirming a little.
"Want to not call the baby an 'it' anymore?" Dr. Namakura asked.
"Don? You still good with knowing?" Liz asked him.
"As long as you are," he smiled back.
The camera moved from the screen to Liz who nodded.
"Yeah, we want to know," Liz smiled.
The camera stayed on Liz, but Ressler could hear the doctor's voice in the background.
"Congratulations, it's a boy," she said, and he saw Liz's face light up and laugh. He knew he was grinning ear-to-ear as well and she looked at the camera and saw him smiling.
"A boy, Don," Liz said as she started to cry.
He joined her with a few tears that he wiped at even though they kept flowing.
"As long as he's healthy," Ressler choked out.
"He's a healthy, big boy," the doctor's voice said in the background as he looked at Liz wiping her tears and smiling. "Dad's arms and legs."
Everyone laughed.
"God, I love you Liz," Ressler sighed.
Liz turned and looked at the camera, her face and nose red, and her cheeks tear streaked.
"I love you too, honey" she said as she cried some more.
Ressler was caught off guard by her declaration and got even more choked up. She had said the words were difficult, but here she was saying them.
The camera panned back to the ultrasound screen with the baby and Don quickly wiped at his eyes and grabbed some Kleenex to blow his nose as the doctor explained some things about the ultrasound and their baby for a few minutes. He blew his nose again.
"You okay?" Liz asked as the camera turned from the screen to her face.
"Yeah, just really, really, happy, Liz," Ressler said honestly.
"Me too," she smiled into the camera. "Me too, babe."
Ressler swallowed hard and nodded. In that moment, all of the strife he had been dealing with for the last week seemed to disappear. This was all that mattered. Not the contractor issues with permits, or the sex calls he'd been placing to Liz to relax her, or the stupid case that kept them in Buffalo longer than they ever expected, or even the November fucking snowstorm that kept him from being there in person.
They listened to the doctor talk about things to look for, the baby and Liz's general health, that Don should soon be able to feel the movement Liz could feel, and Liz asked about her very crazy libido that seemed to not show any signs of slowing.
"It happens to a lot of women in the second trimester," Dr. Namakura said with a smile. "I know it's unnerving to feel that out of control, sexually, but for most woman it slows to almost no desire by the last trimester. Think of it as a great honeymoon period before your libido slows and then you are so tired taking care of a baby sex is the last thing on your mind."
Don and Liz nodded.
"I once heard a doctor say that there were anthropological connections, that it firmly established who the father was before the child was born, but also assured the mother she was still physically attractive and sexually desirable as her body changed. So, even hundreds and thousands of years ago this was happening; you are in good company."
Don and Liz laughed; it did place it in perspective.
The appointment continued with Don on the video call and when it was over, Liz took the phone back and smiled at him.
"I'll call you once I get home, okay?"
He nodded and the call disconnected.
Ressler looked around his empty room and sighed. He wanted to be with her, but knew it wasn't going to happen, so another video call later with her was probably the next best thing.
He texted Liz.
Okay if I call mom and tell her?
He got back a text with a smiley face emoji and one word:
Yes!
Don called his mom and was pleased to share his happiness with her in that moment. She asked a lot of questions about the baby and said when she had a sonogram with him the doctor also commented on his long legs so she expected their baby would be a long one like he was. Don finished the longish call with her and was pacing the room with pent up excitement and energy when Liz called again, this time it was just a regular call.
"A boy!" She said as soon as he answered.
"Liz, I'm thrilled it's healthy, boy or girl, but boy is great," Ressler said.
"I was honestly really nervous it was a girl," Liz admitted. "I always pictured myself being better with a boy. I just know that naturally I was a boy's mom. Does that sound ridiculous?"
"Not at all," he smiled into the phone.
"Good, because I was honestly sooo relieved when I heard keenler was a boy," Liz smiled.
"And maybe everyone can stop calling him that, now?" Ressler chuckled.
"I don't know, it's kinda grown on me," Liz chuckled.
"Hey, your sex drive has slowed this last week, why did you say it hadn't?" Ressler asked.
"Uh, it hasn't slowed," Liz explained.
He furrowed his brow. They were averaging 3 times a day up until he left for Buffalo and while he was here, they had only had 1-2 sex calls a day where he helped her relax over the phone.
"What?" Ressler asked.
"I visited a shop and got a couple of tools to assist," Liz said hesitantly.
"A sex shop?" Ressler asked chuckling with his eyebrows going high.
"Yeah, they aren't just for gag gifts at showers and stags," Liz chuckled. "I haven't been to one since I was in university but with you being away, I needed to take the edge off."
"And?"
"Not the same as the real deal but it works," Liz smirked into the phone.
"You'll have to show me when I get home," he said low and growly into the phone. Thinking Liz with sex toys was a huge turn on.
He heard her giggle on the other end.
"You need some help now?" He asked.
"No, I'm going to get something to eat, I'm starving," Liz said. "Later tonight?"
"I'm in Buffalo stuck in my hotel room in a snowstorm, Liz. I'm not going anywhere," he said softly.
"You are," Liz said.
"Huh?" Ressler asked.
"I want you to call Samar and go to the hotel bar to celebrate our son," Liz smiled into the phone.
"Liz, I don't need…."
"You've not been in the best mood all week and now you have a reason to celebrate, so celebrate," Liz said.
"I think I have a couple of reasons to celebrate," Ressler said, knowing it was her declaration of love that was also something that brought him joy.
"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to say it," Liz said softly. "But know that I have loved you for a long time. It's just the words that I…"
"I know, Liz," he said softly into the phone. "It was just really nice to hear it."
He heard her sigh into to the phone. "I love you."
His heart started to pound at her words, she'd said them in the moment at the ultrasound but said them purposefully right now.
"I love you too," he sighed back.
"I'll call you later tonight," Liz said quietly. "But between now and then go celebrate our son."
"Copy that," he smiled into the phone.
They said their goodbyes and he texted Samar asking her if she wanted to meet him in the bar for a drink.
"It's on me," he said with an ear-to-ear grin as her drink was placed in front of her. "I'll have a scotch."
"You seem in a happier mood," Samar noted with a smile. He shifted himself onto the empty bar stool next to her, it was a busy night at the hotel bar with the snowstorm and they were lucky to find seats at the bar.
"That's because I am in a happier mood," Ressler smirked at her.
"Mind sharing why?" Samar asked, liking his teasing and jovial nature.
"Let me get my drink first," Ressler nodded toward the glass being poured behind the bar. "Is everyone here tonight?"
"I heard the guy over there saying there wasn't a room free in the city tonight," Samar said. "A lot of connecting flights got cancelled and people expecting to fly through to other locations are also here. We're lucky we got rooms."
The bartender placed Ressler's drink in front of him and Ressler passed him money for both their drinks and a tip and picked up his scotch.
"Okay, you have your drink, what's the ear-to-ear grin for?" Samar asked as she raised her glass.
"Liz and I are having a boy," Ressler said softly.
"Ressler!" Samar cheered as she leaned in to hug him. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," he grinned. "We just found out. Liz skyped me into the ultrasound, so I got to see him and her and listen to the doctor."
"That smart woman," Samar smiled at him. "I should be buying you a drink to celebrate!"
"Nope, it's on me tonight," Ressler smiled. "I have been ordered by my better, smarter, half to celebrate our son with you."
"Well, I'm honoured," Samar smiled at him. "You will be a great dad, but a son is right up your alley."
Ressler nodded and drank his scotch. "I hope so."
"I know so," Samar said ass he patted his arm. "How's Liz feel about a boy?"
"Relieved," Ressler chuckled. "She was worried about raising a girl and hoping for a boy."
Samar laughed.
"Have you told anyone else?" Samar asked.
"Just my mom," Ressler admitted.
"Reddington?" Samar asked.
"Good point, I'll get Liz to call him," he said as he pulled out his phone and text her. Liz's response was quick, she already had called him, and he was delighted.
Ressler turned his phone so Samar could see Liz's reply and she laughed.
"I can totally see him saying 'delighted' too," Samar said.
Ressler nodded.
"I guess I should call Aram and Cooper," Ressler said. "I can do it later…"
"No, do it now," Samar said. "Joy needs to be spread immediately."
Ressler texted Liz and she told him she was eating pasta but to go for it and tell them.
Ressler smiled and dialed Aram then Cooper. Both men were happy when they heard the news and congratulated Ressler and told him to share this with Liz. As he was talking to Cooper, Ressler was getting texts from Liz with various emojis and gifs that Aram was apparently sending her that she was forwarding to him. They were both sweet and hilarious and Ressler shared them with Samar over their second drink. He got a congratulations call from Robby as well and he left Samar for a few minutes to chat with his brother. When he returned drink three was waiting for him and Samar was laughing at her phone.
"Aram wants to plan a baby shower with me for you and Liz," Samar chuckled as she put away her phone.
"He's already thinking of a theme, isn't he?" Ressler chuckled as he picked up his drink.
"So far, he's proposed Marvel, some kind of Japanese Anime, and something called Shaun the Sheep?" Samar chuckled. "Don't worry, I will reign him in."
Ressler chuckled. He was feeling the affects of all the alcohol he had consumed on not much to eat.
He called the bartender and asked for a menu.
"What do you want to eat?" Ressler asked Samar.
"Nothing, I ate already," she said.
"Oh," he said as he looked over the menu thinking of the easiest possible thing to order that he could get quickly.
"Can I get a large plate of fries?" Ressler asked. "I also want the buffalo sauce burger but send the fries out as soon as they're ready, I'm starving."
The bartender nodded and left to place his order.
"Feeling tipsy?" Samar asked.
"Not much to eat today with everything going on," Ressler admitted.
"Did the permit get sorted?" Samar asked.
"It looks like it," Ressler said. "Apparently having the new unit in Liz's name and my unit in my name was a paperwork nightmare for the permits. But it looks like we're good to go now."
"When do they start demolition?" Samar asked.
"Next week," Ressler said. "Which means we're in a hotel for about a week while they take down the wall and pull out the other kitchen. Once the big demo is done, we can move back in because it won't be as bad for dust for Liz."
"Look at you two all domestic and blissful," Samar smiled. "I'm so happy for both you and Liz, Ressler."
"Thanks," he smiled. His fries arrived hot in front of him, and he smiled.
"Have some if you like," he gestured toward them.
"I'm good, but thanks," Samar grinned. "I swear men can eat anything and still look fit."
"I've been on the Liz diet up until this week," Ressler chuckled.
"She put you on a diet?" Samar asked, noting the man had probably lost a few pounds.
"She eats half my food," Ressler chuckled. "I have not eaten one full meal around her in weeks. She eats her food and much of mine."
Samar laughed.
"Well, she is growing your son," she noted.
"True, but I've started to plan for her eating half my food, so I put twice as much on my plate so I still get a decent meal," Ressler laughed, half knowing the alcohol in his bloodstream was making him divulge more information than he normally would, but not caring anyways. "She hasn't caught on yet."
Samar joined his laughter. "Well, that's one way to do it."
He joined her laughter and continued to eat and have his drink.
"You two are really doing this, aren't you?" Samar asked him.
"We are," he nodded.
"Parents, living together…" Samar said.
Ressler nodded.
"Have you asked her about marriage?" Samar asked him.
He looked at her and shook his head; he hadn't really spoken with anyone about wanting to marry Liz. "I thought I'd bring it up maybe after he's born…"
Samar nodded. His speech was slurring. She needed to get more food into him before he was a write off tomorrow.
"Have you thought about names?" Samar asked.
Ressler chuckled. "I've thought about names I don't want. Usually, they're perps that stuck with me."
"I guess if you have any job that involves the public, there are names that you just can't have for your child."
"No Tom's, no Milton's, no Anslo's, no Stanley's, no Luther's or David's…" Ressler listed, his words slurring slightly.
"None of them are names I would think were particularly nice choices anyways," Samar chuckled. "After your father or Liz's?"
"Robert or Samuel?" Ressler asked. "Maybe, I guess. I'm not big on naming kids after others. I'm named after my uncle who died before I was born. I've never particularly liked my name."
"You could choose one of the new trendy names and name your child after a city or country or character in literature?" Samar asked.
Ressler shrugged and finished his fourth scotch. "As long as I don't hate it, Liz can choose whatever name she likes."
Samar nodded, liking that he was tipsy and easily answering her questions. "Will he be a Ressler or a Keen?"
Ressler's brow furrowed, he hadn't thought about that. If they were married it wouldn't be a question, but they aren't, so it could go either way.
"I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "Liz is thinking of…she's thinking of going back to Scott and dropping the Keen."
"That makes sense with everything that went down with Tom," Samar said. "I wouldn't want that name either."
Ressler nodded slowly. Nodding made him feel a little dizzy.
"Any word from him?" Samar asked.
"Not since the hospital," Ressler said as he wiped off his fingers. He was feeling numbly happy. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"With Tom, it's usually a bad thing," Samar noted.
Ressler nodded and his burger arrived.
He took one bite of it and his phone started to ring. He put his burger down and looked to see it was Liz calling him.
"It's Liz, I should probably go," Ressler said as he stood unsteadily and grabbed his burger to take back to his room. "It's like she knew I was about to eat."
Samar laughed.
"Tell her I'll call her tomorrow so I can hear all her baby news," Samar said as she watched him nod, answer the call, and start walking away crookedly with his burger on a plate as the bartender called after him.
"Hey," Ressler said into the phone. He realized as he walked that standing made him feel even more drunk than sitting and he needed to get to his room before he fell down.
"What are you doing? Still drinking with Samar?" Liz asked.
"Not anymore," Ressler smiled into the phone.
"You sound a little drunk," Liz smirked.
"I am a lot drunk," Ressler chuckled. "I've had 4 scotches and one plate of fries."
"Wow, you were celebrating," she said. "You feel good?"
"I always feel good when I'm with you," Ressler smiled into the phone.
Liz laughed; she hadn't been around drunk Ressler in almost a year. He was always very flirty.
"Your birthday is coming up, what do you want?" Liz asked, knowing he would likely not remember this conversation in the morning.
"You, naked, and a hero sandwich all to myself," Ressler chuckled as he got into the elevator and pressed the button next to an older woman that was looking at him strangely.
Liz laughed at his joke. "Okay, you'll get it."
He laughed with her. "And cake."
"You usually get a cake for your birthday," Liz chuckled.
"Yeah, but I've never got to eat it off you," Ressler growled.
The older woman next to him scoffed.
"Sorry, private conversation," Ressler said to her as he turned his back to the woman and whispered. "There's a lady in the elevator with me."
Liz laughed.
The elevator stopped at his floor, and he stepped out into the hallway.
"Sorry," he said to the older woman, "just having a private conversation with my very pregnant wife," Ressler smiled at her before the doors shut and he walked toward his room with his burger.
"Your wife?" Liz asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You could be," he said as he fumbled with one hand for his keycard, "I'd like you to be. You're so sexy and smart."
"I am, am I?" Liz chuckled.
"You know you are," he said as he tapped the card against the keypad several times before it beeped. "You know how much I love you."
"I know," Liz smiled.
"And we're having a baby boy," Ressler said as the door slammed behind him. "And we made him, you and me, we were dirty, Liz. We did all kinds of sexual things…"
"We did," Liz chuckled.
He kicked off his shoes and walked toward his bed putting the plated burger down on it and loosening his tie before he undid his shirt.
"How about you eat your burger, and we can talk while you do?" Liz snickered.
She heard some kind of fumbling.
"Ressler?" Liz asked him. "Don?"
"Just taking off my pants," he said as he tried to kick his one leg off his foot.
"Okay, get comfortable and get some food in you, please," Liz said with a chuckle. "You'll be sad tomorrow if you don't eat."
"I can think of something I'd rather eat…" Ressler snickered.
"Hooo boy," Liz chuckled. "You really are…something."
She was used to flirty Ressler but drunk and sexually charged Ressler was a whole new ball game.
Liz heard some more noise and something hit the ground.
"Ressler?" She asked.
She heard him laughing.
"Ressler?" Liz asked again.
"Just fell," he said through peels of laughter.
"Are you okay?" Liz asked, concerned.
"Yeah, tough as nails," he snickered.
He sat up on the bed and picked up his burger and started to eat.
"Okay, let's get some food into you while I talk," Liz snickered. "You liked the news today?"
"Loved it," Ressler said with a full mouth.
"And your mom was happy?" Liz asked him.
He nodded and chewed.
"I can't hear you honey," Liz said when she heard no reply.
"Yes," Ressler said as he chewed.
"She called me too," Liz smiled. "She was crying, it was very, very, sweet."
"She cried?" Ressler asked as he placed his burger down directly on the bed spread.
"Yes, she was really…overjoyed seems to be the best word," Liz said as she wiped at her eyes. "We both had a good cry."
"I don't ever want you to cry," Ressler said as he looked down at his phone.
"It was a good cry," Liz smiled into the phone.
"I don't ever want to make you cry, Liz," Ressler admitted.
"I know babe," Liz smiled. "You make me the happiest I have ever been."
Ressler nodded and picked up his burger.
"You know when I'm the happiest I've ever been?" Ressler asked her.
Liz smirked, she was interested to hear what drunk Ressler was going to say to that one.
"When?" She asked.
"In the morning, when I'm not quite awake and I smell you, it's the first thing, and it makes me smile. Eau de Liz," Ressler said quietly.
"Aww, Ressler," Liz said as she wiped at her eyes. He was such a soft romantic.
"And when I'm coming inside you," he added as he put down his burger. "I can't imagine being happier."
Liz chuckled, and there was the drunk horny Ressler answer. Liz swore she may have had the libido that started their multiple sexual encounters each day, but his libido stepped up to the plate each and every time.
"Eat some more," Liz said.
"You're not here," Ressler said low and growly.
"Ressler…" Liz chided. "Your burger."
"Oh, yeah," he said as he turned and found the burger on his bed.
She listened to him eating and smiled. She needed to make sure he got some water into him as well.
"You're happy it's a boy?" Liz asked him.
She heard some mumbling,
"Ressler?"
"Happy he's healthy," Ressler said. "He or she."
Liz nodded. "Me too. After getting beaten up I've worried…"
"I wanted to kill him," Ressler said, throwing down his burger somewhat violently on the bed.
"I know honey," Liz smiled. "But it's better you didn't."
She heard more mumbling and something being pulled.
"What's going on?" Liz asked.
"I'm just moving it off the bed," Ressler mumbled as he gathered up the bed spread with the burger spilled on it and put it in the corner of his room.
"Don are you tired?" Liz asked him.
"Come over and we'll find out," he said with a wink.
"I can't babe, you're in another state," Liz said. "But I want you to get some water to wash everything down with."
"Lubrication," he chuckled.
"Yeah, let's go with that," Liz chuckled. "I swear you've turned into a horny 20-year-old…."
"It's you," Ressler said as he stumbled with his phone into the washroom.
"It's me, what?" Liz asked.
"You make me want you," he said growly. "Always want you."
Liz smiled.
She heard water running and what sounded like a glass filling.
"Drink up," she said.
She heard him gulping back some water and the glass going down with a thud on the counter.
"Okay, babe, time for bed," Liz chuckled. "I'll tuck you in."
"You can tuck in anything you want of mine," he chuckled. "Or take it out."
"Oh my god," Liz groaned. "You are not going to remember any of this, are you?"
"I remember I love you," he said as she heard a bed creak.
"I remember that too," Liz smiled into the phone. "I remember that too, honey."
"I like when you call me that," Ressler yawned as he lay on his back on the bed.
"Honey?" Liz clarified.
"Yeah, and babe," Ressler said as he closed his eyes. "Sorry Liz, you're going to have to do all the work tonight…"
"I'm not there, never mind," Liz chuckled. "Sure, it's all me Ressler, you just lay back and close your eyes and relax."
She heard another yawn.
"Ressler, are you relaxed?" Liz asked him.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"Good," Liz said.
"Now I want you to picture a cute little boy with red hair and freckles just like his dad running around a playground with his dad on a sunny summer day," Liz smiled into the phone. "Can you see it?"
"Uh huh," he said tiredly.
"He's giggling and his dad is laughing and chasing him, and he runs to his mom to hide from the monster his dad is pretending to be," Liz smiled.
"You're his mom," Ressler said quietly.
"Yeah, me babe," Liz smiled back.
"And to protect the little munchkin and turn you back into his daddy I have to kiss you," Liz said quietly, her voice sing-song-like. "I have to kiss you slowly and softly as he giggles between us."
She heard a mumble.
"So, I'm kissing you softly when the little boy asks to be picked up," Liz said. "And I pick him up and you wrap your arms around us and hold us close. You're no longer a silly monster chasing him but his daddy who loves him."
She heard a soft snore and waited for him to say something. Then the snore got a little louder and he snorted like he does sometimes in his sleep.
"Good night honey," Liz said softly into the phone before she hung up.
To be continued…