After the week we had, we need fluff and I'm serving it up. Hang in their Surrera stans. Despite my Twitter breakdown earlier this week, I really do believe they are endgame and going to be fine. Cheers to just 19 days left 'til our faves return to us! XO, Reddixon
"I could have driven if you'd just tell me where we're going." Robert said as he took a glance at his wife from the passenger seat. Music in the background, they were coasting down I-5 South on a sunny spring day. Late April in Seattle could be hit or miss. Either it was gorgeous, with trees growing green and flowers in bloom or it was raining. Today was one of those rare days... clear skies, low sixties. Not warm per-say, but comfortable enough for only a light jacket.
"And ruin your surprise?" Andy said with a mischievous grin, her eyes dancing in delight behind her sunglasses. "Not a chance. Just relax and enjoy the ride."
Robert rolled his eyes a bit and replied, "You do realize telling someone to relax almost never actually makes them relax."
Things in the world had finally started to settle, after Maya had been relieved of duty, much to Andy's initial dismay Robert had been re-installed as Captain. It had been bumpy between them at first to say the least. Tensions after the announcement and in the days to follow had been the worst they'd ever been between the married couple, but it had also been the catalyst for the important conversations they needed to have, a recommitment to each other and the love they shared and also what caused them to reach out and get support. It also didn't hurt that Chief McCallister told 19 they likely would have been closed instead of Station 23 if Robert hadn't made a compelling case to keep them open. Several months later, 19 was no longer in the Chief's crosshairs and after months of leading 19 successfully, Robert had just gotten his job back as Battalion Chief and promoted Andy to Captain. Their marriage was stronger than it ever had been and Andy couldn't believe life got to be this good.
She shrugged her shoulders a bit. "It's really a little weird that you'll trust me to drive a million dollar fire engine, but are concerned about me behind the wheel of my own vehicle."
"It's not about trust. I just like to drive." Robert noted. And it wasn't. He didn't worry about whether or not his wife could handle herself behind the wheel of any vehicle...but he was old school. Chivalrous. In his mind, a man drove and it wasn't about some weird toxic masculinity, but a desire to protect and take care of the one you loved. It was also slightly true that he was a bit of a control freak...but that wasn't the point.
Andy laughed lightly. "You just like control." Robert gave her a look and she added. "It's all good... I know who I married." Slipping her right hand over the middle console she grabbed his hand and squeezed gently.
A short while later, they pulled into the parking lot of Pacific Raceways. While the Pacific Northwest wasn't heavily known for its racing circuit, there was no shortage of people who loved speed and expensive cars. As a motorsports facility who once hosted the Indianapolis 500, Pacific Raceways catered to that group perfectly.
Confusion furrowed in Robert's brow. "This isn't exactly racing season?" Robert both stated and questioned rhetorically. "How are we watching a race?"
Andy chuckled to herself and said. "We're not watching a race." Then hopped out of the car before her husband could reply.
When Robert met her just beyond her crossover, he grabbed one of Andy's hands to hold and tentatively asked, "So we're driving?"
Andy stopped walking and turned to look at Robert. "You're awful at surprises..." Making eye contact with her husband, she couldn't help the way her stomach did flip flops as he stared back at her with a sheepish grin and happy yet confused eyes. He shrugged his shoulders lightly at her statement knowing she was right. "You're driving... a red 2020 Ferrari 488 to be exact."
Robert's jaw dropped and shock flitted across his features. "What?"
"Zero to sixty in 2.7 seconds, twin-turbocharged 3.9 liter V-8 engine with over 700 horsepower and 567 lb of torque." Andy couldn't help the tug of her lips upward as she dropped the only real car knowledge she had. Info that she'd learned for this exact moment.
When his comprehension caught up with Andy's words, Robert couldn't help the ridiculously happy face he sported and scooped up his wife in excitement. As he turned her around, Andy laughed happily and loudly. Letting her find her footing, he pulled her in for a breathtaking kiss just after whispering, "You're amazing."
Looking up into her man's eyes, seeing him lit up and excited was the kind of thing that brought Andy a joy she hadn't known before. "C'mon, let's get in there." She grabbed her husband's hand and they made their way into the sports facility.
They checked in, signed the required waivers and were quickly ushered to the driver's briefing to learn the fundamentals of performance driving and safety tips. Andy smiled inwardly, watching her husband as he listened intently. They hit the track with an instructor for a few discovery laps and it wasn't long before Robert was standing in front of the car of his dreams.
"Holy shit," he mumbled under his breath as he walked around the gorgeous machine. With broad shoulders, large fenders and a perfectly arched roof, the 488 was the stuff dreams were made of. And with a price tag of over $300,000 dollars, it should be.
"You ready?" Robert's instructor asked casually as he watched the large 6'4 man take in the sexy car in front of him.
"Hell yes." Robert replied easily. He walked over to Andy who was waiting on the sidelines, planted a kiss on her lips and slipped his driving helmet on. She muttered a gentle, "be safe, have fun" and he was off. Once behind the wheel, he couldn't help the rush of adrenaline he felt as the engine roared to life.
Watching Robert climb into the exotic sports car, decked out in a jumpsuit, gloves and helmet, Andy smiled at how happy he looked. The last 18 months had kicked his ass and he'd taken blow after blow. Between his injury, the addiction, recovery, getting knocked back to grunt and working his way back...not to mention the bumpy road they'd had in their relationship, it had been a lot.
There wasn't anything particularly special about today... yes there were things to celebrate like him finally getting his job back but, really Andy just wanted to do something to treat him. To remind her husband just how much she loved, appreciated and cared for him.
Robert's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he tested out the speed and handling of the vehicle, before increasing to the fastest speeds possible. Like most areas of his life he was focused and controlled. And despite the minimal instruction he maneuvered around the curves of the track expertly. After multiple laps and pushing the car to its limits, he slowed down and brought it to a full stop.
The smile on Robert's face when he emerged from the vehicle and pulled off his helmet was exactly what Andy was hoping to see. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning. It was pure joy. A smile from ear to ear, eyes on fire with excitement, it was magic. His day being made, had made hers. "Did you love it?" Andy asked as her husband made his way over to her, though she didn't need his words for confirmation.
Pulling her into a tight hug, "That was..." Robert struggled to find his words for a moment. "Unreal... I can't believe..." Shaking his head just slightly, he pulled back just slightly and caught Andy's gaze, cupping her cheeks he finally landed. "That was incredible. Thank you."
"The smile on your face is all the thanks I need," Andy said sappily. Ugh, she was so in love. They shared a sweet kiss before Robert fully disrobed from the jumpsuit, they got checked out of the facility and made it back to her car.
When they finally arrived back at home, Andy reached into the glove box and handed Robert one of his ties. "Here," she said as casually as she could. "Put this over your eyes."
"A blindfold? You want me to put on a blindfold?" Robert asked a bit incredulously.
Andy gave him a hard stare, "Yes."
"Andy, seriously? We're at home..." Robert tried to argue and when he saw her face knew there was no way he was winning this one. "Can I at least wait til we get to the front door?"
Andy threw him an eye roll and feigned annoyance as she got out of the car. "Fine."
While Andy and Robert were out at the track, she had enlisted the help of Maya and Vic to set up the backyard for an intimate dinner at home. Her two friends had texted just before they arrived letting her know everything had been set up and was just perfect.
Reluctantly Robert tied the blindfold around his eyes and stood in front of his wife. Andy waved her hand out in front of his eyes to see if he'd respond and when he grabbed her wrist she exclaimed, "You're cheating!"
Robert laughed and kissed the inside of Andy's hand before letting it go, knowing his action had annoyed her. "I can't actually see anything, I just felt your hand and couldn't resist.
Andy rolled her eyes even though she knew Robert couldn't see her. "You're such a charmer." Unlocking the door she grabbed his hand and said, "Watch your step."
Awkwardly lifting his foot up to step into their apartment, Robert joked, "Don't ruin such a perfect day by letting me fall and break something." Feeling a slight nudge in his side, he laughed a little. "Just kidding."
"If you keep this up, I might just cancel the rest of our evening." Andy teased as she held his hand and they made their way from the front door through the living room, kitchen and out towards the back hall.
"Highly unlikely, you're hungry I can tell," Robert said. Laughing at his statement, Andy stopped abruptly causing Robert to bump into the back of her. Feeling his wife nearly lose her balance, one of his strong muscular arms wrapped around Andy's waist snuggly. Despite the blindfold, he swept her loose curls to the side of her and dropped a kiss into the crook of her neck before saying, "Careful."
Reveling in the feel of their bodies flush with one another's, Andy tilted her head up towards her husband's and pulled his lips down to hers in a kiss. The heat and softness of his lips rocketed through her and she was immediately intoxicated. Somehow every time they kissed it was just as good if not better than the first time. Andy moaned into the kiss and let Robert do what he did best. Take control. His fingers moved to the back of her neck and tilted her head back further deepening their embrace.
Andy's hand's moved on their own, trailing up Robert's strong biceps, to his neck and held on tightly as Robert explored her mouth. It wasn't long before she was hoisted up, her legs wrapped around his waist and being pressed firmly into the wall behind her. She felt slightly helpless under the mastery of his tongue and sighed deeply feeling Robert's growing arousal. There was no doubt she wanted him. It never took much, but as he nipped at her bottom lip and held her tightly, Andy knew they wouldn't make it to the final part of their surprise if things went much further.
Pushing the silky material of his blind fold off, Andy found her husband's eyes and breathed, "Stop trying to distract me with sex."
"If I remember correctly, you kissed me." Robert quipped back as he planted yet another kiss on her neck.
Gathering all of her internal resolve, she patted the top of his shoulders and said, "C'mon, put me down. There will be plenty of sex later." Groaning slightly, Robert did as he was told and let Andy's legs fall to the ground. "And close your eyes."
Robert gave her a look that said, "Seriously?" But he did it nonetheless.
Seconds later, they made it out the back door and into their small yard. Andy smiled wide at the space and made a mental note to do something extra special for her two friends helping her out. The patio was lit up, the fire pit was going off to the side and a candle lit dinner table set for two was in the middle. "Okay, open your eyes."
When Robert opened his eyes, his heart swelled and after looking around to take it all in, he found his wife's gaze. "What is all this?" He questioned with a curious look on his face.
Still holding the hand that she used to lead him outside, Andy took a deep breath and offered her husband a small smile. "Robert Sullivan, you love me so well. I'm so grateful for you and us. Today, I just wanted to say thank you with more than words." Her eyes pooled with emotion and she looked away briefly. "I love you so damn much and I just hope that I make you as happy as you make me."
Doing the only thing he knew to do, Robert leaned in and kissed his wife. Pouring as much love as he could into it. He held her close and whispered. "You do, baby, you do."