Three Weeks Later
"We're only going for three days Eames, not three weeks." Says Bobby as he tosses her suitcase into the trunk of their Explorer. It was on lone from the squad.
"You didn't elaborate on how formal of an event this is Bobby, I had to bring a variety of clothes to fit every occasion."Alex says as they get into the car, her driving of course, and fasten their seatbelts.
Bobby puts on his sunglasses and waits until they're pulling away from her building before talking again. "Most of the weekend we're on our own. Tonight there's a banquet slash picnic at the old high school and tomorrow night is the actual reunion at the Marriott, that's where most everyone is staying, including us." Replies Bobby as he watches her pull into traffic.
"Picnic?"Alex asks with a questioning look in her eye.
"It's a tradition, don't knock it until you try it Eames." Bobby turned to look out the window.
Alex sighs and focuses on the road. "So how dress-up is this reunion? And...I'm not talking about the picnic, Goren." Alex questions as she signals and merges over into another lane.
"Its black tie." Bobby states, casually. "I've got my tux in the back. I'm just hoping that I don't spill anything on it, its rented."
"Bobby!"Alex exclaims, hitting the steering wheel. "Thank God I packed a formal, otherwise I'd look like a fool. You are the most organized person I know. When were you going to tell me this? I suppose you figured you'd be running me to Macy's an hour before the reunion?"
"Well actually there is a huge mall about twenty minutes from the hotel. Bobby replies only in a half joking voice.
"You know I could just turn around now and head back, don't you? I could watch you lose your savings and/or pension on some stupid, un-Goren like wager." Alex had to force herself to loosen her grip on the steering wheel before she either broke it or her knuckles.
"I'm sorry I offended you." Bobby replies, watching her hands clench and unclench the steering wheel. "Apparently this weekend is starting off great. No one is going to suspect a thing. We sound like we've been married for ten years already."
"Try seven."Alex mumbles. "Which reminds me, we've got to get our stories straight so no one catches on. What do you do for a living?"
"That's not a secret, everyone figured I'd eventually end up in law enforcement or psychology after graduating.We have to think up something for your background though." Bobby stated
"Can't we just tell them we met at work? Or are you embarrassed to tell people that your wife is a detective too?" There was a hard edge to Alex's voice.
"No, I suppose we could do that, but I just didn't want to raise any red flags. It would be easier to just say that you're a cop." Bobby frowns. "I mean it isn't a lie, you were a cop before becoming a detective, right?"
"So you're saying you don't want anyone to know I'm your partner too?" Alex said, frostily.
"I don't think that would be a good idea. Besides no one would believe that New York would allow a husband and wife to be partners." The logical side of Bobby said.
"You're right Bobby. I didn't think of that. So I'm a New York Cop while you're an accomplished New York Detective?" She sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm getting the crappy end of this deal?" Alex grumbled.
"Actually I don't want to elaborate on my status of detective. I was hoping it wouldn't really come up. If it does though I want you to just tell people I work with Narcotics. I have enough problems at work, as it is, I don't need these people knowing that I get up close and personal with criminals that do unspeakable crimes. They would never let me live it down and would be reminding me about it at my fiftieth class reunion." Bobby sighed.
"Okay, so where do we live?" Alex changed in the subject knowing exactly what her partner went through at work. He was good at his job and most of the other detectives disliked him because of it.
"New York City." Bobby says as they stop at a traffic light.
"Do we have any hobbies?" Inquires Alex once the light turns green and they're on their way again.
"We golf, play bridge and collect antiques." Replied Bobby, seriously.
"Bobby, no one in their right mind is going to believe this. You're making us sound like..." Alex trailed off.
"A TV couple?" Asks Bobby.
"I was going to say the Captain and his wife but you're right too." Alex nodded her head towards him. "What about kids? Are we pretending that we left them home with the nanny or hasn't little Bobby Junior been born yet?"
"Um, I haven't thought of that. If it's too hard for you to talk about we can say that we don't have any kids and don't have any immediate plans for building the Goren family tree." Bobby was referring to the situation where Eames was a surrogate for her sister. It was still difficult for her to talk about and he was trying to be considerate. "It's up to you." He placed the ball in her court.
"Thanks but we're going to sound like snobs Bobby. Our profiles sound like a couple who belongs to a country club and their entertainment is going to art museums and wine tasting events. Can't we be, I don't know, normal?" Alex gave him a small smile. If there was one thing that never changed about her partner, it was that he was considerate of her.
"I don't know what normal is. Besides, if we act better than everyone else, people won't want to talk to us because of our obnoxious attitudes. Which reminds me, we may as well get used to wearing these." He pulls out small ring box from his coat pocket, opens it and pulls out three rings. "Pull over." He motions to the side of the road with his head.
Alex eyed him and the rings before putting on her blinker and pulling onto the shoulder of the highway. She turned towards him, waiting.
Grinning, Bobby grabs Alex's left hand before she can protest. "Okay, will you marry me Alex? Yes? Good!" He then puts a two carot diamond engagement ring on Alex's ring finger. Before she can open her mouth to say anything he interrupts her. "I take Alexandra Lisbeth Eames to be my lawfully wedded wife...I do." He slips a diamond wedding band on her finger after which he quickly slips a gold band on his own finger. "You may drive now." He says, smugly knowing that he got one up on his partner.
"Bobby, you wouldn't know romance if it came down and bit you in the ass." Alex signals and pulls back out into traffic. Once they get moving she twirls the rings on her finger, absentmindly. It felt weird, yet comfortable, to have a ring back on that finger. "These rings look too real Bobby and they are way too flashy."
"We've got to stick to our profiles, Eames. Oh, and the reason they look real is because they are. Just be careful they're rented too." Bobby turned back towards the window, ending the conversation for now.
"Oh brother, how did I get talked into this?" Alex asks, aloud.