Disclaimer: Still don't own the rights to POI sadly.
A/N: Happy 2019 everybody. New year, new things to look forward to like the new season of Lucifer on Netflix, new games, and of course, more Careese because we still can't get enough of them. I hope that all of you have another wonderful safe year to enjoy whatever it is you do and thank you from the bottom of this Careese heart for all the kind words, including the guests that I couldn't write back to. I can only hope that I can get some ideas out there to share with all of you. In the meantime, here's chapter two with SWWoman once again handing out the assist of being the best beta for this particular subject. Thanks for putting up with me as long as you have :D
Chapter 2 - Question
"What do you think of this one sir? The outside is sheer perfection while inside holds the warmth that you feel whenever you are around this woman."
John took a moment to give the object a thorough once over. Satisfied, he smiled. "It's perfect."
John began preparing the salad that would go with the dinner tonight of steak and potatoes, making sure to give Joss extra. He smiled to himself at the whirlwind that had been the last 5 months. From the morning sickness to the weight gain, John couldn't help but laugh as she dealt with the pregnancy of his first and her second child.
Of course, Joss fought him tooth and nail when he offered to help her. Even though she was carrying such precious cargo, she outright refused to be treated like, as she called it, an invalid.
Taylor had been nice enough to supply John with updates whenever he came to visit. Joss's son was more than happy to be his spy, finding enjoyment in telling John his mom's choice words when another shirt couldn't fit her. When Taylor got the news of the new arrival, John and Joss did it together in the living room after a welcome home dinner when he came back from his father's place. To say Taylor was excited was an understatement. He had to fight the urge to jump up and down before hugging the two of them tightly.
Joss's mother Evelyn had been shocked, to say the least, but she was just as excited to be a grandmother again. She was happy that Joss having a child with someone that she could see loved her with all of his heart, unlike Paul. Of course, Evelyn had been wary of John Warren when Joss brought him over for dinner to properly introduce him. After her failed marriage, she didn't want her daughter's heart to be broken again. John was quite the gentleman, looking after the two of them even though he had been the guest. Evelyn knew John was a keeper when she found that he was well trained in cooking exotic meals. She had joked how if Joss hadn't been her daughter, she'd try to steal him away, which was met with laughter.
John felt comfortable and welcomed around her mother. She had taken him aside to give him a talk about making sure to treat Joss right. He assured her that there was no need to worry because he wouldn't let Joss out of his sight again. Evelyn wished him luck with that, commenting on her stubborn attitude before the two laughed. Evelyn has also kept an eye on Joss during doctor visits when he couldn't go because of work. Eventually, Joss had busted him for turning her own family against her.
Taylor had an ongoing joke that the baby was going to inherit some pretty interesting traits because of how badass he thought his mom and John were. Joss assured him that they did not have to worry while John joked around about getting a lockpick set because it was never too early for their baby to learn. That, of course, earned him a smack to the head and threats of being banished to the couch for the night before Taylor threw the time out sign.
Now it was time to take out the main course because Joss would be coming at eight. John smiled at how natural everything felt for him. He wasn't just thinking about the baby either. He felt like he was part of the Carter family and this addition just served to bring him and Joss closer.
The steak was cooked to perfection as he began plating. Just then, he heard a hard knock at the door. Right on time, he thought before making his way to let the love of his life in.
Once the door was opened, John chuckled with amusement at the scowl on Joss's face before letting her in. After redoing the locks, he turned around to grab her and gently pull her to him, being all too wary of her ever-growing stomach, before giving her a sweet kiss that surprisingly didn't remove the scowl. "I missed you, Joss."
"And I miss wearing clothes that fit me," she blurted out before adding "And you too of course. The man that did all of this to me." Finally, the scowl ebbed away as Joss looked at his mock hurt before wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry John. I just wanted to look nice for you."
Giving her a once-over, John smiled at her choice of such casual attire as the loose-fitting blue dress stopped just below her knees. "You look beautiful Joss," the compliment while moving his hands on her back in small circles hoping to soothe her worries. "You'll always look beautiful, especially when you are carrying my child." Pulling away, he moved one hand to her stomach, mimicking his action from earlier.
At seeing such tenderness, Joss felt her eyes well up, cursing before turning away and walking further into his home. "Damn hormones. So where's the food? I'm starving."
"I bet you are. Doing paperwork all day must be so difficult," John said sarcastically as he took and draped Joss's coat over the couch.
"Hey, it wasn't my choice." Joss was annoyed at the fact that she wasn't allowed to go out on the field because her overprotective boyfriend had his friend Harold insert a fake recommendation from a doctor into the precinct's computer, saying she should be in a desk job. It took all her willpower not to strangle John when she found out. "You know that there is nothing to be worried about."
John stopped just short of the kitchen and turned around to confront her. "Joss, I don't want you to take any risks."
"I'll be fine. I just don't want to feel suffocated is all. Remember, I was a mother before so I know the steps. I guess it just takes some getting used to - having so many friends that care about me." She gave him her classic glare with hands on hips for extra emphasis. "No more going behind my back like that John. I swear if I have to write another report about some idiot that called us so he can buy weed, I might just leave the city."
The two shared a laugh after remembering the night Joss told him the story. John knew she would let him have it, but he couldn't even begin to let go of his protective feelings because of that night when she was shot by Bottlecap. He had lost Joss in the crowd for only a second but if she hadn't been wearing her vest, he would have been too late to save her. John's second mistake was abandoning her after Rikers. Joss lost her detective job, her boyfriend Cal, and her friend Bill, all because he wasn't there for her.
After coming to terms with losing Jessica, John promised that he wouldn't make the same mistake again and he was going to keep that promise, even if he had to endure that sexy glare. It was all worth it. "I understand you value your independence Joss but you have to remember" he pulled her to him once again before his voice dropped to a mere whisper. "You're not alone anymore."
"Always the charmer," she commented before kissing him again. "Now stop distracting me. I smell something delicious." Without waiting for an answer, she went into the kitchen. Before following, John's eyes went to a nearby drawer where his earlier purchase was. He questioned himself for the first time in a while over what he planned on doing when they finished dinner. "John, please come here. You know I don't want to eat without you" she yelled from the kitchen.
"Coming." He would just have to pray that tonight would end how he'd like.
Joss sat back against the chair, rubbing her large stomach in gratitude. The food that John made was delicious and she thought about how their unborn baby was being spoiled as well. She and John made small talk about their day, Joss once again complaining about desk work while he got to go out and have all the fun.
Even though he was talking with her, Joss noticed a few times where his eyes drifted back to the living room. "So what's got your mind so distracted John?"
He mentally cursed himself for being so careless that she noticed. "Just wondering what you feel like doing tonight," He lied, fighting the urge to cringe.
Joss eyed him suspiciously, not at all convinced that was the question he wanted to ask but chose to let him believe he was off the hook. "Well, I still didn't get my dessert," she pouted.
John, relieved to get a reprieve that he knew was only temporary, got up and went over to the refrigerator. "You and your sweet tooth," he joked.
"Hey, it's not my fault our child is already developing a sweet tooth." Joss's face brightened at seeing the cheesecake in his hand. "You spoil us, you know that John?"
That's because I love you both He thought, still not ready to vocalize his feelings for her just yet. "I just know you so well Joss. How about we eat this in the living room?"
Joss agreed and let him help her get up so she could follow him. After she got comfortable, including John removing her shoes so she could tuck her feet under her body, she waited for John to sit right next to her so she could snuggle close to his body. Smiling at her touch, John threw a protective arm over her shoulders. "So are you going to tell me what's wrong before or after we eat dessert?" She asked.
He inwardly cringed that Joss brought up the subject again. "I'd prefer after." John then reached over to grab the cheesecake and spoon, leaning back so that he could get the right angle to feed her, enjoying the intimacy of such an action because of how much he loved this woman. Joss looked at him with a glint of mischief in her eyes before opening her mouth, allowing him to slip the dessert between her lips.
She couldn't help but moan at how the cheesecake melted in her mouth. "That is so good," she uttered while still chewing, her cheeks started tingling too. After swallowing, she wanted to take the spoon to give him some but instead, he put the dessert back on the table before tenderly grabbing her cheeks, his expression growing serious so quickly that she was taken aback before putting her hands on top of his. "John, what's going on? You're starting to freak me out here."
He gave her hands a squeeze. "God Joss, do you have any idea how much I care about you?"
"Well, I could imagine since you did stick around after knocking me up." She joked to help him relax. Seeing that it didn't work, she grew serious too. "John, if I didn't think that you felt anything for me, I wouldn't have started a relationship with you or stayed with you."
Looking into her beautiful doe eyes, John stood up to try and get some separation so that he could think of the best way to tell her what she meant to him. "Joss, it's more than that. I told you back when I thought I was going to die how you changed my life. I thought that I was going to die alone. That was until that night." Finally getting the courage he was looking for, he went over to the drawer and pulled out the velvet box. When he turned back around, he could see Joss's curiosity. He went back over to her and went to his knees in front of her.
Joss shook her head, confused. "John, what are you doing?"
"Joss, please just hear me out?" Seeing how much he wanted to get what he wanted to say off his chest, she nodded and allowed him to continue. He then put the box next to him on the floor before taking her hands in his. "You really did save me that night. I have never met someone like you. My feelings for you are different than what I had for Jessica. I thought that I had found someone that I could be with but then I realized that she wouldn't be able to be with someone who had an obligation to his country. You understood me from that first night. Your heart was able to pierce through the darkness and make me feel like I could live again, and I don't ever want to lose that or you. I love you, Joss." His throat tightened as he felt her stiffen at his declaration and saw her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
She felt an overwhelming flood of emotion at finally hearing the words of how much he felt for her. Joss knew he had cared about her, but she also knew how hard it was for him to say those words because of his prior experience with Jessica. She leaned down while pulling him up to give him a sweet kiss and she noticed that he wasn't finished, wondering if what was in the box was what she thought it was.
"I love you with all my heart Joss and to this day I don't understand how I was fortunate enough to have met you, but even after everything we've been through, we are still here together. You are the one woman that really understood me and trusts me as much as I trust you. I don't want to make the same mistake by not taking action." He then grabbed the box and held it delicately in his large hands. "I want you to be my wife Jocelyn because I can't see my life without you in it." He then opened the box to show the large diamond ring nestled on a gold band.
Unable to fight back the tears anymore, they began to fall down her face. She had never felt so overwhelmed before, not even when Paul proposed. "Damn my hormones. I swear John, you are the only person that could make me cry even more than when I had Taylor."
Chuckling at her attempt to lighten the mood, he pulled the ring out of the box and took her left hand. "So is that a yes?"
She nodded her head quickly. "Of course," she said in a hoarse voice before he slipped the ring on her left ring finger. He rejoined her on the couch and pulled her close to give her another, more passionate kiss that was filled with happiness. Once she calmed down, Joss took a moment to look at the ring, amazed by how beautiful it is. "So who am I going to be? I doubt that I will be able to take on your dead persona's surname John.
Always one step ahead, John had already thought of his next move if she had blessed him with accepting his proposal. "We'll use my Warren alias since like I told you after Rikers, that was the name that was closest to who I really was."
"I like the sound of that and I love you, John Reese." Her smile was so bright, enhanced further by her pregnancy. John swore he was going to find out what was it about having a baby that made Joss look so beautiful. "Now give me some more of that damn cheesecake and then we'll figure out the rest later."
"As you wish," he said with a smile before granting her wish. "I love you so much Joss" he whispered before going back to feeding her, his heart swelling at the fact that this woman agreed so easily to be his. John already knew that he had been hers for the longest time. Even with all of the obstacles, he still wanted her. Looking down at his future wife who was carrying his future child, John felt so blessed to finally have a life worth living when he thought the world was better without him.
As Joss gazed up at him with love in her eyes, John silently promised that he would do everything in his power to be there for Joss and their child until his dying breath. He sealed that promise with another kiss.