Perp-Loving Cop-Hater 7

Author's Note: Here's the final chapter of the little story. I have plans to continue with Milly's shower at some point and possibly make this a series…we'll see.

Let me know what you think!

IIIIIIIIIII

"Thanks for putting us up Aunt Patty," Ressler said as he hugged his aunt. "The wedding was really great."

"Don't stay a stranger," she said. "We will be happy to have you anytime."

She kissed his cheek and hugged Liz.

"We hope to meet your little girl too," Aunt Patty said.

"Oh, don't worry," Liz smiled at her. "She'd love this."

Patty smiled and released her from her grip.

"Where are you two off to before your flight?" Moira asked as she hugged them.

"Early dinner and the hot springs before the flight back and work tomorrow," Ressler said as he loaded their things in the rental car he and Maurice had picked up just after their trip into town.

"Doesn't your flight get in in the middle of the night?" Moira asked.

"We sleep on the plane," Liz smiled. "We're used to it."

Everyone nodded.

"See you for the shower?" Moira asked Liz.

"Yep, and Agnes will love it," Liz nodded. "And I may bring him."

She hip-checked Ressler and he laughed.

"Yes, I think she likes you more than she likes me," he joked.

"I don't think that's possible," Lisa said with a smile.

Liz leaned in and kissed his cheek and he put his hand around her waist and smiled.

"We'll see everyone again soon," Ressler said to the small group of people seeing them off.

They got in their car and started to head out of town chatting about the events of the weekend as they went until Ressler veered off the road suddenly and into a parking lot.

"I'll just be a minute," he said before he got out of the car.

Liz looked around, unsure of where they were, and saw the sign for the Potato Museum and started to laugh. Aram was going to get his shirt after all. Liz had bought him and Samar a gift card for dinner out at one of the restaurants they enjoy as a 'thank you' for taking Agnes for the weekend. And, based on their phone calls and the texts Aram kept sending her, she was having the time of her life visiting a children's museum, some sort of fairy tale land, various parks, going to see the latest animated movie, and going to a restaurant that had a pirate ship in it…Liz wasn't sure where Aram found these places but she was sure Agnes would want to go back to them.

Ressler returned 10 minutes later with two bags.

"You got him his shirt?" Liz asked him as he got in the car.

"This one," Ressler said as he pulled a shirt out of the bag that said Darth Tater: Welcome to the Starch Side with a potato dressed as the Star Wars villain on it.

She burst into laughter, and he seemed quite pleased with his choice as he placed it back in the bag.

"I also got him a potato gun," Ressler said as he pulled one out of the bag.

"You know you are his new best friend now, right?" Liz said.

"I got Samar a potato pancake kit," he said pulling that out of the bag.

"Why are you buying them both…"

"To thank them for having Agnes this weekend," he smiled at her.

"You are adorable," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "I got them a gift card for Antonio's."

"Well, I guess they get both," Ressler chuckled.

"Is Samar's in the other bag?" She asked.

"Uh, I got something for Agnes as well…" he hedged, with everything so changed this weekend, he wasn't quite sure what her thoughts were on him with regard to Agnes.

She smiled and he opened the bag to show her a little shirt with a cute animated smiling walking potato on it that said Haters Gonna Hate, Potatoes Gonna Potate

"Oh my god, that's…Ressler, that's the cutest freaking shirt…" Liz said as she took it from him and looked down at it smiling. "She's going to love this when you give it to her."

He smiled at her. They needed to have some conversations about Agnes, but this was a start.

"We've got about another half hour before we get to the hot springs and restaurant," he said with a smile. "You sure you're good with the later flight, because I could change our tickets and get us back…"

"No, I don't quite want this weekend to end yet," Liz smiled at him and took his hand in hers.

"So, you're an Idaho convert?" Ressler snickered.

"Maybe," Liz hedged. "We'll see what these hot springs are like. You have wined and dined me with your parents, taken me on a beautiful bike ride, we went to that serene Japanese garden, have had all the wedding festivities, and toured a golf course…"

He winked at her and she smirked.

"It's been a pretty amazing weekend Ressler," she nodded. "You did good."

"Well, thank you," he said, his voice soft and low.

Liz looked at him carefully as they drove. How many times had she sat in cars with him just like this? How many times had she wanted to reach out and touch him? And, here she was holding his hand after waking up in his arms after a nap this morning, a place she hoped to wake in many times in the future. Liz sighed and looked out the window, Lisa was right. Once she stopped talking herself out of the best thing that could have happened to her, the pieces fell into place. Agnes, knew him, but not well. She would get to know him better when they got back and his purchase of the sweet shirt for her was a clear indication that Ressler wanted that as well.

And, Tom was gone. He was Agnes' biological father but would never be her father as she grew up. She was sad Agnes had lost the experience of knowing him, but in her heart knew it was never going to work out with Tom. As much as he tried, he was never going to be what she or Agnes needed. As much as she loved him, it was a destructive love that was not good for her or an example for her daughter that she wanted her to see. Agnes needed to see a positive and healthy relationship, like Don saw with his mom and Maurice. Like she would see with her and Don. That you could love each other without lying to each other, without destroying the other person, without manipulation, without ulterior motives.

"You've been awfully quiet," Ressler said as he droved down the one lane highway. "You feeling okay?"

She smiled at him. "Feeling totally fine. Just thinking…"

He turned to look at her quickly, and she watched his face as he seemed to try and make a decision about whether to ask or not.

He decided not, allowing her some thoughts that were just hers and she loved him for his confidence that she would share anything needed.

"Feel free to say no," Liz said as she turned and looked at him. "But I was wondering if you wanted to start coming to ballet with me and Agnes? The parents just sit and watch but…"

"I'd love that," he smiled at her.

"Okay then," Liz nodded. "Maybe you can re-live the good old dance days of your youth."

Ressler looked at her and licked his lips, he wanted to propose something but wasn't sure what she'd think about it.

"What about a weekly dinner at my place?" He asked.

She turned and looked at him surprised.

"I can make something kid-friendly and maybe Agnes come bring some of her toys to my place to play…there's a park nearby the three of us could visit and…"

A slow smile spread across Liz's face. "I would love that."

"If it's easier on ballet night…" Ressler said.

"No, let's make that it's own special night," Liz smiled at him.

He nodded.

She squeezed his hand and leaned over to kiss his cheek as he drove. They were on exactly the same page about easing into things with Agnes, but not so slowly that it was glacial.

They arrived at the Hot Springs and got a table by the window overlooking the various pools down below.

"This is quite the operation," Liz smiled as she looked at all the couples and groups of adults in the many steamy pools.

"I read up on it," Ressler said. "You are supposed to do a cold plunge between each hot spring and go from coolest hot spring to warmest with cold plunges in between."

"So you get all warm and then cold?" Liz asked confused.

"It's supposed to reset your body temperature and the cold isn't supposed to feel as cold…I'm not really sure of the science behind it but…"

Liz smiled at him. "I love it."

He smiled back and they lifted their menus to order. Dinner was a mix of conversation about them and observations about the hot springs below. They watched people navigate them and do the cold plunges, which, based on their expressions looked COLD. They noted the steam rooms, the saunas, the fire pits, and the Adirondack chairs spread out everywhere.

"If I had known it was this nice, I would have got us here earlier," Ressler chuckled as he paid their dinner bill and they picked up their bags to go downstairs and get changed.

"Maybe we need to spend a weekend…they have a hotel," Liz said as she stepped towards the women's change room and he toward the men's.

"I'm down with that," Ressler smiled at her before he disappeared inside.

They re-joined a few minutes later, on the stones patio outside and started with the pools. It was breathtakingly beautiful, serenely quiet, and exactly what was needed after a busy weekend and before a long flight home. Neither of them were fans of the cold pools but got used to them as they progressed and Ressler had to admit, sitting in a steamy pool or sauna with Liz in a two piece was a great end to an already fantastic weekend.

Reluctantly, they left later that night and made their way to the airport.

"I'm glad we didn't learn about that sooner or we may have missed the wedding," Ressler said with a chuckle, his body relaxed and pliant as they pulled into the Avis lot.

"I know, right?" Liz said as she sat next to him in the car, her eyes closing. Sleep would not be an issue on the plane.

They checked the car in and made their way to their flight, relaxed and tired. When they got on board it was not even take off yet and the two of them were sleeping with their heads leaning against each other. After arriving back in DC, without any discussion, he took her to his place where they fell into bed together and slept until it was time to get up for work the next morning. Their weekend was over, but some other aspects of their life together had just begun.

THE END.