"Street, I, I, I can't really talk about it right now. It's a mess inside of me about my feelings and I don't want to promise you something that I might not be able to keep later. I've hurt you too many times already." Chris looked at him sadly and Street's look was anything but happy as well. If this dance, this moment had been so perfect, now all the doubts and fears were back.
"Please believe me, I don't want to stall you and if the whole thing with me here is too exhausting for you, then I can totally understand that. I - " but that's as far as she got, because Street grabbed her hands and looked at her.
"Hey, don't say that, okay? As long as I know there's hope for an `us,' I'm not going to let up. I`ll give you all the time you need Chris, but please promise me one thing, don`t shut me out again. Tell me how it looks inside you and what you feel. Free your mind and don't close yourself off. It's not good for you or me." he looked at her with such love in his gaze that Chris couldn't help but throw herself into his arms. She was so confused. On one hand she wanted nothing more than to be with him, to make it work and on the other hand there was the insecurity, fear and doubt if they could handle everyday life and the job together. Yes the job, SWAT, that scared Chris the most. The reaction of the others, of Hicks. Would they even be allowed to continue working together?
She felt Street tighten his grip around her torso and that gave her the hold she needed right now.
"Thank you." she whispered against his ear. Street's reply was a gentle kiss on her temple. Chris closed her eyes and just enjoyed the moment in the here and now, not worrying about how it would eventually go. But what they both knew 100% was that they could not be without each other. Their friendship should always be in the first place and not be broken again, no matter what Chris would decide.
The wedding was a dream. All the guests had been thrilled and Bonnie and Tan were on cloud nine. Chris and Street had done a fantastic job as best man and wedding planner and they were a little proud of that. The bride and groom flew out the next for their honeymoon. They had booked a small cottage in Bali right by the ocean.
Street slept in today. The last weeks had been very exhausting. All the planning, the conversation with Molly and the little incidents that happened again and again with Chris. Luca looked at his watch.
"Well, he could really get up now. I'll go check on him." He quietly crept to Street's room and knocked on the door. Nothing. But that was normal, he could sleep like a bear. Luca knocked again a little louder with his fist and promptly a croaking and annoyed
"Yeah." came from inside. Luca poked his head in the door and laughed.
"Good morning sir. I hope you slept well. Breakfast would be served."
"Boah how can you be in such a good mood so early buddy." Street couldn't even open his eyes properly.
"Early? Have you looked at the clock. It's almost noon you sleepyhead. I'm going to eat, come on." Luca didn't let up and turned around again. "Oh and by the way Street, it's your turn to do laundry today."
"Ooooohhh." Street was already sitting up in his bed, but after this realization he threw himself theatrically back into his pillows. "I'm coming!" he grumbled.
The two had just started eating breakfast when there was a knock at the front door. Both looked at each other.
"I bet that's for you." came from Street with his mouth full.
"You lazy bastard, you just don't want to run to the door. Man, unbelievable." Luca swung himself off the chair and went to the door. When he opened it a beaming Chris looked at him.
"Hey Chris." he immediately pulled her into his arms.
"Hi Luca, I brought croissants." she waved the bag in front of his face.
"Oh yummy, they go perfect with the scrambled eggs. Come on, I'll get you a plate and cutlery real quick." they both walked towards the kitchen. Street was shoving a spoonful of egg into his mouth when he saw Chris. He choked briefly in amazement. "Hi, um, did we have a date?" he was a little unsure.
"Hey Street. Nah, I just wanted to come visit you guys, brought croissants." Chris laughed.
"Oh fantastic, sit down." he pulled a chair back for her. For a long time the three of them sat together, eating and chatting about anything. Chris felt so comfortable and all doubts from last night were gone for the moment. She just enjoyed spending time with her best friends, though, she had to admit to herself, Street hadn't been just her buddy for a long time. As soon as she was in his presence, her heart beat up to her neck and the butterflies in her stomach did somersaults.
"So I'm going for a run. Anyone want to come?" Luca looked at the two.
"Oh no, today I relax announced. I'm out." Street raised his hands.
"Sorry Luca, but I'm really tired, I'll pass today too." Chris looked at him apologetically. "So young and not used to anything, tz. See you later." came Luca laughing and away he went.
"What else are you doing today Chris?" Street was curious.
"Yeah, so that's actually why I'm here. Sarzo called me earlier and asked if you and I wanted to come to his barbeque tonight." she looked at him wait and see, secretly hoping he didn't have anything else planned yet.
"Oh that's a bit short notice now, but I can't say no to his barbeque and I haven't seen Thomas in half an eternity either. When do I have to be with you?" Street beamed at Chris. She couldn't help it and laughed.
"Perfect, 6:30 pm at my place. I promised Sarzo I'd make a mexican salad and olive bread. I'm off then, or it's going to be very tight. See you tonight then." Chris waved to Street again before walking out. Street was really looking forward to the evening with Chris' family.
There was a knock at the door and Chris went quickly to open it.
"Hey, what are you up to?" came a grinning Street.
"Oh hey, I didn't expect to see you here yet." she looked at her watch and it was only 4:30 p.m. "Come in." and already Chris was moving towards the kitchen again.
"Hm it already smells delicious here." Street stuck his nose in the air.
"Street you're two hours early, what's wrong with you? I'm not even done yet. So as you can see, I'm pretty stressed out here." she waved the whisk around and chopped the ingredients for the salad in parallel.
"Yeah, that's why I'm here already. I thought I'd help you with all the prep. I'm no ace in the kitchen, but I'll do for a loaf of bread and a salad." Street didn't even wait for Chris to respond, but immediately grabbed a knife and started cutting as well.
"Oh Street, ehm, thanks, but you really don't have to help me, I can do it. Why don't you sit down and talk to me on the side?" Chris hoped he would stop helping her, because he would only make it worse with his cooking. Since he wouldn't stop, she turned to him to tell him again to just sit down. She had the open tube of mustard in her hand, as she was tasting the salad dressing, and then it happened. Turning to Street, she accidentally pressed the tube and a stream of yellow mustard landed on Street's shirt.
"Oh shit, sorry Street, I didn't mean to do that," came Chris laughing.
"Oh man Chris, admit it, that was on purpose, that I don't help anymore!" he said playfully reproachful.
"No, I would never do that." she continued laughing.
"Well wait you beast." Street looked around the kitchen and spotted a package of flour, probably Chris was going to use it to bake the bread. He took it and ran toward her. "Street, don't you dare... Stop it! You're not doing that!" Chris ran around her dining room table, Street after her with a clump of flour in his hands.
"I'll get you, just you wait!" and the next moment he threw himself across the table to Chris and slapped the flour in her face. Street couldn't stop laughing and snorted. "Look at you you little ghost." he was already holding his stomach. Chris tried to get a clear view through the veil of flour.
"You're such an ass Street!" she said laughing too though. Street already thought it was over and sat down on the chair to take a breath, when Chris approached him from behind and threw flour in his face as well. Now both looked like ghosts and had their fun.
The two had made it, despite the small flour battle, yet on time to the Barbque.
"Hey you two! Glad it worked out on such short notice." Sarzo approached Chris and Street with a smile. He took the bowl of Mexican salad from Street and the homemade olive bread from Chris.
"Thank you so much for inviting me Sarzo, even though I didn't plan it this way now." Street laughed. Together they went to Chris' family and were greeted warmly by everyone. Steet felt at home here, they had become something like the family he never had. Chris's aunt had a special crush on him and every time at Sarzo's barbeque he had to dance with her.
Thomas approached Street.
"Hey buddy, you up for a game of basketball later?" the two slapped each other with their hands.
"But always. Only Luca, our fourth man is missing today." said Street. Chris stood next to the two and had listened to them. Playfully indignant, she now stood there, stretching her arm in the air and waving.
"Hello, am I no one?" she looked back and forth between the two men.
"Oh cousin, sorry, but you really can't hold a candle to Luca." they all laughed and Thomas caught a slap on the shoulder from Chris.
After dinner, Street, Sarzo, Thomas and Chris walked to the basketball court. Chris was playing with her cousin, Street with her uncle.
"So go ahead, but you guys don't stand a chance against the boy punt and me anyway!" came Sarzo, confident of victory.
'"Well just you wait!" Chris shouted back at him. The game started and all four had a lot of fun. For being the smallest on the court, Chris shot some baskets and the men acknowledged that without envy. Street and Sarzo were in the lead. Thomas was able to take the ball from his father and saw that Chris was standing perfectly to the basket. "Chris, this one's for you!" He called out to her. She positioned herself to receive the ball and turned purposefully toward the basket. Chris jumped off, threw and sank it. However, out of the corner of her eye, she didn't see that Street was standing very close to her and was still trying to knock the ball out of her hands. This closeness to him threw her off her game and when she landed on the ground she crumpled. She was about to fall but suddenly she felt two strong arms from behind holding her and preventing the worst.
"Hey, take it easy. I got you. You okay Chris?" came Street's voice so close to her ear that it gave her goosebumps. His tight grip around her waist, his smell, his voice, and the tickling of her ear by his slight stubble caused a fireworks of sensations in Chris' belly. She became instantly hot and could barely control her breathing.
"Chris, are you okay?" came Street's voice to her ear again and Chris had to collect herself first to be able to answer him more or less correctly.