*Well, here we have it, the end of the story! I hope you guys laughed and cried and hurt and loved as much as I did during this journey! This chapter is all about Team!Family, because let's be honest, this couple would be nothing if it weren't for them
Chapter 20 - Table for Eight
Ethan and Leanne had spent the rest of night, and most of the following day, making up for lost time. But when they finally emerged from the bedroom, Leanne had voiced her overwhelming desire to get out of the small apartment. They had agreed that waiting until dinner would be best, as they still had quite the pile of laundry to take care of, and had settled for eating ice cream for lunch. While the old Leanne would've scoffed at the Colonel's eccentric eating habits, the new Leanne, didn't mind so much. They had settled themselves on the couch in his living room with a pint of ice cream between them and they were half way through the carton, and a third of the way through the newest season of their favorite cooking show, when Leanne's phone dinged loudly from the coffee table.
Eyeing it suspiciously, Leanne questioned whether she really wanted to answer it right now. After all, she was supposed to be off work for the next six days. Turning to Ethan she raised an eyebrow, to which he just shrugged, digging his spoon back into the tub of Rocky Road, his eyes never leaving the screen in front of them. Figuring it was probably for the best not to leave whoever was on the other end hanging she turned the phone over and was shocked to see Angus' number flashing back up at her. Sighing to herself she answered the call, putting the phone to her ear quickly.
"Hello?" Her voice was soft, and she was appreciative of Ethan for pausing the show, knowing that he hated when she talked over it, just as much as she hated missing it.
"Hi." Was all the voice on the other end said and she had to let out a chuckle. She knew Angus must've drawn the short straw, and she almost felt bad for the kid.
"You drew the short straw didn't you?" She asked calmly, and she let out a small laugh when Ethan turned to her with a bewildered look in his eyes.
"Yeah." She heard Angus let out a sigh on the other end and she nodded her head in understanding. "They wanted me to call and see how you guys were doing. You know? Both of you…"
Leanne knew exactly what he meant. They wanted to know if they had gotten engaged last night. She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what her insane friends were up too.
"We're good Angus." She paused, offering Ethan a cheesy grin as she spoke. "What about you? Are you okay?"
"I don't know Dr. Rorish." His voice was flustered, and she could almost see the younger man squirming on the other end of the phone. "Am I okay?"
Leanne let out a full blown laugh at Angus' antics and she knew that Ethan probably thought she was insane. "I tell you what Angus. Ethan and I are going to dinner tonight, say around 7:00? Why don't you guys join us? We'll talk about how we're all doing, together."
The young resident let out a breath on the other end of the line and Leanne chuckled lightly. "7:00 it is."
"I'll text you." She said quickly, hanging the phone up before anyone else could jump on the call. She turned her gaze back to Ethan and laughed at the look on his face. Taking another spoonful of ice cream for herself she let out another chuckle before speaking, her eyes returning to the show as he pressed play. "Angus drew the short straw."
Ethan let out a laugh that mirrored hers, and leaned back against the couch, his arm going around her shoulders softly. "Of course he did." His comment was gentle and Leanne knew that he understood just what she was saying. "So, I take it we're not dining alone tonight?"
Shaking her head back and forth Leanne settled herself against his side, tucking her bare legs beside her on the couch, her hand resting on his thigh. "Nope." She smiled softly at his chuckle and relaxed against him, her attention returning to the show on the TV.
—
They had made a point of arriving at the restaurant a little early, their nerves getting the best of them. It's not that they weren't excited about their engagement, in fact, they were beyond excited. However, telling people hadn't exactly been on the top of their to-do list at the moment, so the idea of having to do so, and so soon, was daunting. Leanne had changed her outfit at least six times before they left the house and Ethan had forgotten his wallet, twice. Finally, they had both stopped and taken a few deep breaths before realizing that this would probably be one of the easiest things they had ever had to do as a couple.
Ethan saw Noa and Mario enter the small Italian restaurant first. And judging by the smile on Noa's face, there was no announcing necessary for the young girl. She had pulled Ethan into a bear hug in the lobby, and luckily, she had held back on her tears until she got to Leanne. The two had stood in the small room they had been given awing over the ring for a good five minutes before Ethan and Mario even dared to step foot through the door. Mario had engulfed Leanne in a tight hug the second he was close enough and she had hugged him back just as tight.
The four of them had been sitting for a few minutes when Rollie and Will entered together. Ethan had stood to walk them in, but Will had waved him off, stopping at the bar for a drink before coming back to see the couple. Leanne hadn't wasted any time, and she had jumped up to show Rollie the ring before he had even gotten his bearings about him. He had hugged her tight too, and when he shook Ethan's hand, he felt the gratitude in the shake. Will had just chuckled as Leanne held her left hand out to him, and he had hugged her tightly as well. He and Ethan had shared a look, and Ethan extended his hand warmly, to which the ER director had taken it without hesitation.
Angus was the next to arrive, and Leanne had greeted him at the door, pulling him into a bear hug and apologizing to him for all the bullshit the others must have put him through earlier. Angus laughed it off, but the color in his cheeks told them all a different story. He had hugged Ethan loosely, and the older man thanked the younger one for his patience after said phone call. Mario had clapped them both on the back and made some joke about suck-ups. Angus had flipped him off when he thought no one was looking.
Leanne had gotten up to wait outside for the last member of their little family. And she was starting to get nervous when he didn't arrive by 7:00. She turned her attention back inside, watching as the rest of the group laughed carelessly with each other, the relaxing atmosphere setting all of their nerves at ease. She caught Ethan's eyes through the small window of the room and he offered her a soft smile, which she immediately returned. She couldn't believe that the man on the other side of the wall was her fiancé. That she would be marrying him someday. It all still seemed so unreal.
"There's my girl." She heard Jesse's voice from behind her and she turned to look at him immediately. He offered her a smile and she quickly cleared the few steps between them, her arms going around his neck tightly.
"Oh Jesse." She whispered against his shoulder, squeezing him tightly. She smiled when the man hugged her back, his hands rubbing up and down her spine.
"How was it?" He whispered, pulling back to hold her arm's length. Leanne offered her best-friend a look, one that Jesse knew all too well, and he let out a chuckle. "That good huh?"
Dropping her arms from his neck, she brought her left hand up for him to inspect. "This is the first time we've left the bed since yesterday afternoon."
Jesse rolled his eyes in response. These damn kids were going to be the death of him. He eyed the ring curiously and he decided that it looked much more beautiful on her hand than it did in the box. And he wanted her to know that. "Looks better on you than it did in that damn box."
Leanne's mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide at Jesse's statement. "You knew about this?" She poked at his chest with her already outstretched hand, her other going to her hip with a sigh.
"You kidding?" Jesse stepped forward, turning her body gently and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Romeo over there asked for my permission first. Can you believe that?"
Letting out a soft sigh Leanne shook her head, a smile gracing her lips as she caught sight of the man in question as they made their way inside. "Believe it or not, I can."
"Can what?" Came Rollie's voice from across the room, moving to pull Leanne's chair out for her as Ethan and Jesse embraced tightly.
"Jesse asked if I could believe that I could ever be this lucky." She felt the tears prick her eyes and she reached out for her wine glass, raising it in toast like fashion, and she smiled when everyone turned to face her. "And I told him that I could believe it."
"To luck." Noa said softly, her eyes catching those of Leanne's from across the table as she rose her glass as well.
"To second chances." Rollie added, bringing his glass up off of the soft white linen of the table cloth.
"To good times." Mario said, his eyes moving from person to person around the table, eyeing his family curiously over his glass.
"To good friends." Will chimed in, raising his glass as well, a small smile on his face.
"To a table for 8." Angus added jokingly, his glass moving from the table to the air in front of him.
"To happily ever after." Jesse added, his eyes shifting from his best-friend to her new fiancé lightly, his glass coming up in front of him as well.
"To forever and always." Ethan whispered softly, taking Leanne's hand gently in his as he too raised his glass.
"To forever and always." Leanne whispered back, their glasses clinging together over the table, the tears of joy falling from their eyes, smiles as big as ever on their faces. "To forever and always."
**Don't forget to comment to let me know what you think.
***Also, there will be a sequel, so just stay tuned! However, I have another work coming before that called Love Triangle, so be on the lookout :)