AN: Here's the next installment. I wanted to explore the question of what would happen if Vic's family shunned her the way the members of the force did for ratting on a fellow officer. This chapter alludes to this and later chapters explore it more in depth. It's a long chapter, but I wanted to keep it in tact.

Ch. 18

Walt and Vic stayed outside after bidding Cady farewell. They sat in silence while the sky was painted in an ever changing kaleidoscope of colors. Walt started thinking about proposing to Vic again, and considered that maybe he was over thinking this. He had the woman he wanted to spend his life with in his arms watching a beautiful sunset. She was leaning back into his arms, her head resting next to his. He spoke softly into her ear.

"Vic…"

"Hmmm?"

"Remember the night we first made love?"

"Every second, Stud!"

He was growing accustomed to her ribald compliments to his sexual prowess, but they still could made him blush.

"I uh meant a little before the tumble in bed."

She snickered and he felt the heat rising on his skin.

"We did more than tumble in bed, Walt."

He couldn't help but chuckle at her ribbing. Her candor was one of the things he loved about her.

"Humor me, Vic?"

She huffed out a laugh before answering in earnest.

"I remember everything about that night. You were scared of me running away at the drop of a hat and I was devastated because I thought you weren't attracted to me. We both needed to talk more and assume less."

"Yep. You're on the right track."

She paused for a moment and he could tell she was trying to figure out what he was after.

"You also gave me the 'I'm going to put all my cards on the table' speech, which completely melted my heart by the way, even though we still weren't ready for that step."

She turned in his arms, probably sensing the change in his demeanor from relaxed to tense. His eyes locked with hers and sought the ring in his pocket as he spoke.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Vic. I've spoken at length with Cady and Henry, who are both in favor if we choose to follow that path. I've also spoken with your father and mother, which we can discuss later. I want to share my life with you, Victoria Moretti. Whether that means marriage or simply committing ourselves to one another, I would still like you to have this ring that symbolizes our love for one another. Will you make this old cowboy's life complete? Will you spend the rest of your life with me, by my side, as my partner in all things?"

He took her left hand and slid the ring on it, knowing he'd want her to have it regardless of her answer. She gasped as she watched him slide the slim gold band inlaid with jade and diamonds, and looked up at him with a huge smile.

"Hell yeah!"

She launched herself into his waiting arms and kissed him deeply before pulling back.

"What on earth possessed you to call my parents? I can't imagine what they said when my boss called them on the phone asking permission to marry their daughter like some black and white film from the 40's!"

Her laughter was genuine, but short lived as the reality of her family's abandonment settled around them and she grew quiet. He had learned that her relationship with her family was far worse than he had imagined once they moved in together. She left Philly to get away from the threats and harassment that kept coming her way once she turned in a cop. He found out that her parents and brothers were active participants in the threats and harassment, even after she fled the city. Her family was always a touchy subject, but he was raised to respect her and her family. Knowing he wouldn't get their blessing wouldn't stop Walt from being with her. He wasn't stupid. He just felt an obligation to make their plans known to the family.

"I know I probably should've asked you before calling them, but I knew that you would just tell me to avoid it altogether. That's not the kind of man I am."

He was wondering how she would take this, and so far she seems ok. But she didn't know the extent of his meddling yet. Because he did meddle and he'd take the consequences. She shifted off his lap to his side facing him and he mirrored her.

"No. You're a different breed, Cowboy, and you're mine I'm happy to say. I can see this was more than just a simple conversation."

He nodded. She could read him well and he wasn't trying to hide it, he was just apprehensive about her reaction.

"No. I had problems even getting your father to accept my call. It kind of went downhill from there."

She raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"I called them and asked to speak to both of them at the same time. Your father hung up on me a couple times before I threatened to show up on their doorstep in person."

"Well you didn't mysteriously leave town, so he must've finally conceded. What did you say to him?"

She was grinning, obviously amused by his encounter with her father.

"The third time I called, I used Henry's cellphone so he wouldn't recognize my number. I led with 'I will show up on your doorstep if you hang up on me again.' and I guess he believed me."

She snickered and he grinned.

"You must've used your sheriffy voice."

He rolled his eyes and elicited another grin from her.

"He conceded and I called them back once I was at the cabin and had some privacy. I explained who I was to you, as a boss and a man, and what I was calling about. He started in about your incident in Philly and how desperate I must have been to hire you in spite of it. I really wished at that point I had gone to see him in person."

He could feel the indignation he felt at Victor's comment return. He expected them not to approve. He expected them to balk at his age, the fact that he was a widower, and even that he was her boss. But to say he hired her because he was desperate got under his skin and couldn't be further from the truth.

"My dad certainly has a way with words. That comment still bugs you."

It wasn't a question. She could see the answer written all over his face, he was sure.

"Yep. Before I could get a word in, the two of them started to try and justify to me why they have turned their backs on you. How you needed to be taught a lesson. How you should expect it after what you did. The things they said about you made my blood boil. I wished at that moment I had showed up in Philly and made them say those things to my fist, uh face."

He shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around this situation with her family. It would've ended badly, going out there and confronting them in person. She gave him a look that said she knows fist wasn't a slip of the tongue.

"Unfortunately for them, I had quite a lot to say for a man of few words. I informed them it wasn't desperation that made me hire you. It was the fact that you were by far the most qualified applicant in decades. Not only that, but your integrity had been tested and proven beyond doubt. I was eager to hire an unimpeachable officer of the law and knew you would be an asset to any outfit. Your exemplary performance in the field confirmed my assessment of you. My trust in you as a deputy came easily, as did my trust in you as a partner and a friend."

He paused a moment to collect his thoughts and subdue the anger stirring from the memory of the conversation. Vic's eyes were shining at the praise he was giving her.

"I also let them know that I was a widower and that I had let my relationship with my own daughter become frayed. I told them of your gift to help us heal the rift between us and ultimately improve our communication and openness with one another. And that without it, we would still be estranged and growing farther apart every day. I left out Martha's manner of death and the stone, because I thought it was too personal to share with strangers. Especially with people who are somewhat hostile toward me and us."

"I don't blame you. No reason to give them intimate details of your history."

To use against you was what went unsaid by her.

"Most importantly, I told them of my love for you and my intentions for our future. That you have family in Wyoming now. Family that loves you. Family that will support you. Family that won't ever turn their backs on you. I told them I'm unable to comprehend why they would ever shun you the way they had for standing up for what you believed in. Doing the right thing despite the consequences. What you did took courage, strength and honor and they should be proud of you."

"So none of this really explains why you're apprehensive about telling me all this. I know you think I'm going to be upset, but I don't really see anything to be upset about."

"It's this last bit. I told them that my love for you knows no bounds."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

No there's not. He kissed her and continued his recollection.

"That I will protect you, even if that means protecting you from your own family. That the calls, letters, texts, and packages stop immediately. The harassment, the comments, and the threats stop immediately. That I have your back now, so if they want to speak to you, they need to go through me and it better be in a respectful manner."

He waited nervously for her to say something, anything really, so he would know how mad at him she was. She sat down on his lap and in his arms.

"How can I be mad at that? I'd never ask it of you, but I'm not ashamed to admit I'm relieved. I would've buckled under the pressure sooner or later."

She put her arms up on his shoulders and drew him close to her.

"God I fucking love you for doing that! You've got balls made of titanium, I swear."

"So, I'm not in the doghouse then?"

"Hell no, you're getting rewarded tonight, Cowboy. Right here, right now."

He felt her hands go to his buckle and almost stopped her. Dark had settled around them and they were completely alone. Plus they were engaged now.

They stood up and he pushed his jeans and boxers down past his knees. Sitting back down, he commanded her.

"Jeans off, then up here."

She struggled to get her boots off, but finally managed to strip and climb on his lap. They no longer used condoms as she had been on birth control for some time now and they were both checked out by the doc. He was erect and she was wet for him, sliding easily down his shaft as a groan let loose from the back of his throat.

"Vic."

His voice was tight as he struggled to not cum in less than 30 seconds. What was it about her that turned him into a horny teenager again? He couldn't get enough of her. He felt her muscles tense and flex around his shaft in an excruciatingly slow rhythm. He normally kept a tight rein on his language, but he'd loosened his control a bit when they were together knowing the effect it had on her to hear him say words like fuck.

"Fuck that feels good! The things you make me feel. You're exquisite. You set me on fire. Look at me, Vic."

He watched as she opened her eyes, dark with desire for him. Their gazes locked as she began to move above him. His large hands fanning out on her back as she moved up and down on his cock. She braced herself on his shoulders so he moved his left hand to her breast and his right to her center. Sliding his fingers through her slick folds caused her to stop moving. He continued massaging her until she was struggling to keep hers eyes open and her body upright. He felt her puffs of breath on his face as her heart rate increased and her skin flushed.

"Oh fuck, Walt."

He slowed his fingers, but increased the pressure knowing that would slow her build to orgasm yet make it more intense.

"You always do it this way. Fucking hell."

He chuckled. He knows it frustrates the hell out of her. She has very little patience for delayed gratification, though he's been working on that with her. Perhaps he'll have to teach her using restraints. Definitely something for him to discuss with her in the very near future. For now, he must focus.

"You always say it's worth it."

He leaned forward and bit her nipple, then soothed it with his tongue.

"Cum for me Vic."

Again he slowed his pace and increased the pressure slightly. He knew when she stopped breathing that she had crested and when she finally released her breath she would collapse forward, muscles trembling as her body recovered from her climax.

"Well? Was it worth it?"

He smirked at her. He knew what her answer would be.

"You know it was, you smug sonofabitch."

He was laughing now, loving the way she grudgingly admitted he was right. He had no idea why she wouldn't let herself surrender without a fight, but it didn't matter. He loved the push and pull of their life together. He loved how she ran the words son of a bitch together when she was frustrated. He loved the feel of her all sweaty and boneless in his arms. He loved what was coming next.

"Fuck me, Vic."

He latched onto her neck and sucked her skin into his mouth.

"I should just leave you here to your own devices."

He moved back down to her breast and teased her nipple.

"Mmmm. But you won't. Not when you know you have at least one more orgasm coming your way."

Breathless, she started to move on him again.

"I could handle that myself."

"You could. I've watched you. But do you really want to?"

She huffed a no, so he shifted his body so that he was at the angle she liked when astride him. It allowed her a more natural movement, so she could ride him as hard and fast as she wanted.

"Oh God, that's better."

She upped her pace and it was his turn to submit to her wonderful torture. He held on to her hips, but didn't try to control them. He knew at this angle she controlled his stimulation and her own, which she enjoyed. No longer able to speak, he mumbled and groaned his approach to his own climax with her. The warm air of night surrounded them as they came down from their high. She grabbed their underwear and cleaned them up as best she could given the circumstances. They both managed to make it inside despite their limbs being like rubber.

After a second, less intense round in the shower and a quick meal, they retired to the couch where she sat in his arms.

"Vic?"

"Mmmhmm."

"I know you said yes, but I want to make sure you know that we don't have to get married if you're still not comfortable. I just want to be with you. To know that you're committed to me and I'm committed to you. I don't need a paper for that."

She turned in his arms and kissed him soundly.

"I don't mind getting married to you, but I don't want a big, traditional wedding. We've both had that. I'd really like it if it were just the four of us, you me, Cady and Henry."

He couldn't help the smile overtaking his countenance.

"I'm good with that. What do you have in mind? Do you want to do it here or make it one of those destination weddings?"

"Destination weddings? How do you know about those?"

"I've been reading."

"But we just got engaged."

"Vic, I had this ring made before I asked you to move in with me. Once we started seeing each other, the question for me was never if, just when. So I spent some time doing some research while I waited."

Vic got up on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. He sensed the change in her mood.

"You had the ring that long? How long before?"

"I knew you had my heart at the gun range, after your hand injury. When you cried simply because I kissed your hand. I wanted to be the one to show you gentleness, respect, support and love. To show you how you were supposed to be treated by a man. When you spent the night at my cabin and you didn't resent my talking about Martha I knew you were the one for me. You would respect my past and share my future. You'd have my back, guard my secrets, challenge me and support me. I wanted to do the same for you. I went into town to have it made later that week."

"What about if we didn't work out?"

"I would've kept it as a reminder of how I felt when I ordered it and worked my ass off to get you back."

"I know I told you at some point that I didn't even know if I wanted to get married again."

"Vic, I meant what I said. We don't have to get married. Regardless of what happens, I want you to have the ring as a token of our love and bond. Wear it on whatever finger you want, on a chain, or just on special occasions. None of this is about the ring. It's about you and me, side by side, throughout the rest of our journey."

"I want to marry you, Walt. I want the world to know that you are mine and I am yours. I want to know that no one can keep me away from you in the hospital or make me testify against you in a court of law. I want the peace that comes with knowing we are legally, spiritually and physically bonded for life. Besides Lizzie needs to keep her damn claws out of you and you're going to wear the ring that makes that clear. I don't suppose you'd wear a ring that had a flat surface at the top engraved with 'If you're not Vic, Fuck Off!'"

They both broke out in laughter and it took them several minutes to recover.

"I don't know. 'Not yours!' Might work."

"Definitely too tame. How about matching 'Property of' tattoos."

She was still snickering.

"I'd consider a tattoo if you wanted, but not a novelty one."

"Really? Since you didn't get one in college or in the service, I figured you wouldn't ever get one."

"It's not something Martha would've liked. I've never really thought there was something I would want permanently anyway. That said, if you have any ideas other than 'Fuck off Lizzie' or 'Property of Vic', then we can look into it."

"Fair enough."

"Now, back to my original question. Would you like to do a destination wedding?"

"I think that might be nice. Do you think Henry and Cady would want to come or should it just be us?"

"I think we should figure out where we want to do it and then ask them. If they want to come, great. If not, we'll just have to find a way to occupy all that extra time. Tell you what, pick some places you might want to go. I'll do the same, then we can compare notes."

"I'm thinking I like the idea more and more. Do you have a passport Walt?"

"I used to, but I let it expire after my military service."

"Maybe we should go ahead and apply for them now."

"That's a good idea. Just so you know, if you change your name you'll have to change it again for your passport."

"And…?"

"I kind of assumed you might keep your maiden name, since you did with Sean. But after your family's behavior I thought you may want to leave the name behind. So I thought I'd mention it, just in case."

"What do you prefer, Walt?"

"I like Victoria, but I prefer Vic."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"My last name, Walt. Duh!"

"Every guy my age grew up knowing if they got married, their wife would take their name. I'm very old fashioned in many ways, but I'm also aware of the fact that you didn't change yours. I've always thought of you as Moretti. I've always known you as Moretti. I'm kinda glad you didn't take his name."

He smirked at her and she laughed.

"Yeah, maybe I always knew it wasn't going to work. You didn't answer my question."

"I didn't. Look I understand if you don't want to be Mrs. Longmire. I get it. I just want you to be with me."

"Walt!"

He didn't know her eyes could roll that far back in her head.

"Fine. I want you to take my name. I want to see it on your name tag. On your mail. On your license. I want to call you Mrs. Longmire. I've dreamt about you having my name. I don't want to hear you correcting people when they call you Longmire and you tell them Moretti. I don't want you carrying the burden of the way your family treats you by hearing that name. When we have children, I don't want them to be hyphen kids. I want them to have my name, like Cady does. I know it's selfish, chauvinistic, barbaric and probably against everything you want. But that's what I want."

The look of shock on Vic's face said he may have gone a bit off the rails.

"Wow! Ok. And I do want to take your name. It fits."

"It does. Why didn't you take Sean's name?"

"I told myself I was trying to be independent. That it was the thing to do for women of my age. That I was a Moretti, which meant something in Philly. The name is a legacy of service. Plus, it didn't sound right. Victoria Keegan? Vic Keegan? That's one syllable away from vegan. Ugh! Really, though, I never expected to be married to Sean until death do us part. I suppose I was saving myself the hassle of the post-divorce name change."

Walt hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head.

"Walt, you said you wanted our kids to have your name."

"Ah. Yeah. I uh, I said that."

"Did you mean it?"

"Yes, I meant it, but I'm not saying you have to do it. It's something we can discuss, but I'd love to see you as a mother. Although the hormone mood swings would be a little scary."

He felt her huff at his remark and smirked at her.

"Kiss me, Vic."

She shifted on his lap, rising to press her lips to his own. She wasted no time in deepening the kiss, tongue tangling with his own. He loved her passion and desire for him that burned in every touch, every glance shared between them. His hands slid down her back to her ass and pulled her hips firmly into his groin. He was hot and hard for her again and he intended to have her as often as his body and their desire allowed.

"Jesus, Walt. You're insatiable. Irresistible."

He guided her hips to grind on him, through the denim, knowing by the hitch in her breath that it was having the desired effect. Lifting her off of him, she protested until he got up and pulled her off the couch. He continued his assault on her mouth as he walked them across the room into the kitchen until her backside hit the edge of the table. She reached for his waistband but he stopped her.

"Let me."

He grabbed her belt loops and pulled her to him. His fingers quickly undid the button and zipper. He yanked down her pants, underwear included, and helped her step out of them. Standing back up, he gazed down at her as he undid his pants enough to get them down past his erection.

"Turn around."

He pushed her torso down to the table keeping his hand on her back, nudged her leg out to the side and took his cock in hand.

"Stay put."

His hand left her back and sought out the heat of her core. She was plenty wet for him, so he planted his hand under her shirt, in the center of her back and guided his cock to her allowing just the tip to enter her.

"Ready, Vic?"

"Shit! Yeah."

He took a breath and exhaled, drawing the tension between them out like a blade. He could feel her muscles bunch beneath his hand and waited until he felt them releasing before he started thrusting into her. She gasped and moaned her approval as he drove into her at a steady but rapid pace. He knew he wouldn't last long but he could tell that she was getting close as well.

"Do you have any idea how many times I imagined bending you over this table and fucking you like this. My desk at the office. The railing out front. Against a tree in a secluded spot on the property."

He kept thrusting in her, trying to hold on until she came.

"I've wanted you for so long. Imagined us. Dreamed about us. But they pale in comparison to the reality of you."

Vic tensed, then shouted his name as she reached her climax. He thrust a few more times and found his own. He reached across to grab the towel on the counter and contained the mess. Tossing it in the corner, he sat on the closest chair and embraced her as she sat on his lap.

"What's gotten into you? I'm in no way complaining, mind you. That was fucking hot."

"I don't know. I just wanted to."

"But you said you've wanted to for some time. Why now? Is it because of this?"

She held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger. It was an interesting question that he hadn't considered before. Was he consciously holding back or is something on a subconscious level?

"I'm not sure."

He took her hand and kissed the ring.

"Maybe it is. In my mind, once you accepted the ring it meant forever. Legalities and formalities didn't matter. Only your acceptance. Once I had that, I was free. The kind of free that is the result of a love without conditions or ultimatums. A love that transcends the day to day ups and downs of a relationship. I never really thought about it in those terms. You're right, I did want to do that with you before, but I didn't feel comfortable doing so. I probably should've talked to you about it back then. And now."

"It didn't bother me. If it did, I would've told you. Besides, I like that you felt comfortable enough to take what you wanted. You don't have to ask permission to change things up. I know I can be pushy. Controlling. Occasionally, I like it when I don't have to. I love that you can be both strong and tender. Firm but gentle."

She shrugged as if she were embarrassed by her admission.

"Good. I expect you to tell me of anything that makes you uncomfortable. I also expect you to tell me what you do want. Your fantasies, desires, and whims."

"All of them?"

"Every. Single. One."

He punctuated his words with kisses.

"In explicit detail."

"There is this one where you fuck me through the bars of the cell. I can tell you, quite honestly, you are the only man I know who has the stature to do that."

Walt's brain short-circuited on the image of her bent over in the cell, ass cheeks pressed up against the bars and him thrusting his cock into her. In his mind the scene morphed to Vic on her knees sucking his cock into her warm mouth through the bars.

"I can see you on your knees, grabbing my ass to hold my body up against the bars and sucking my cock through the bars. Are you inside the cell or outside, Vic?"

He wondered if they would always be this passionate about one another. He would not take her or her desire for granted.

"Both. I could even get you a new black hat to play Outlaw. And you already have a perfect non-sheriffy sheriff look about you for Lawman. Maybe we should try to get snowed in at the office. Then we can do the Outlaw thing and the Lawman thing, your desk thing, my couch thing and the bathroom thing. It's not exactly a mile high club, but it's a second story."

Her laughter was music to his ears. Apparently they were both living a wild sex life together in their imaginations.

"Let's not forget about your desk, Vic, and the bench in the outer office. Not as comfortable but more daring."

"You know, if you didn't tote so many dead bodies and bleeding people in the Bronco, we could have a whole host of Bronco sex."

"I could have it professionally cleaned."

"And get rid of that blanket or at least get it out of the truck for a while."

"Yep."

"Walt?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you're mine and I'm yours."

"Me too, Vic. Me too."

TBC