Bless the Broken Road Chapter 6, an er fanfic

Title: Bless the Broken Road

Author: lyricalpeach

Summary: Ray's conversation and situation with Katey started my brain turning. After that, it churned on its own, in and out of the gutter. Spoilers for S13, Heart of the Matter and Jigsaw, future speculation. No ER action.

Rating: FRM. (you can read pretty far down without hitting it though)

Disclaimer: Without Prejudice. All the ER characters are property of NBC. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are used here without permission. Please don't sue me. The other words are my own. Please don't steal.

Notation: Ray's thoughts 'Neela's thoughts' Abby's thoughts Katey's thoughts (I'm not going to put Gates' thoughts in here.)

Chapter 6

A blaring beeping woke them up from their dozing. "Crap!" Ray said, "The pizza!" He scrambled out of the warm bed and jogged to the kitchen.

"Well?" Neela called out. She pulled on her robe and grabbed his.

"It's... crunchy..." Ray said sadly, as Neela wrapped his new robe around his shoulders. "Thanks, baby." Neela smiled as he put the robe on.

"Don't worry, Ray. There's a nice cold piece on the table. Next time we order in, we'll eat first and play later."

"Want me to warm up the last piece for you?" Ray asked.

"Mmm... I'm hungrier for my dough-Ray-nut...," Neela said naughtily.

Ray blushed, his cheekbones flaming. He pressed himself up against Neela, backing her against the table. Reaching around her, he grabbed one of the doughnuts and then took a big bite, smirking. "We'll need the energy," he said, as he held it out to her." She took a bite and the jelly spilled out onto her robe. "Oh!"

"You're a mess!" Ray laughed. "I can fix that.." He put the doughnut down, licked his fingers, and then pulled her robe off, letting it drop to the floor.

Before Neela could complain a word about freezing, Ray pulled his robe around her. Warm.. 'Mmmmm...' He wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her feet just off the floor, bending backwards to keep his balance... and waddled them back to her room. Laying her down, he quickly shred the robe and pulled up the covers over them.

Neela was quick. She sat on him, not moving, and put her cold hands on his chest. "Hey!" he laughed, taking her cold hands in his and pulling her down. Neela was about to crawl down under the covers when Ray suddenly turned her over, pinned her and grinned. "My turn!" Suddenly the look on his face became serious. Neela studied his expression and returned an intense gaze. He leaned in to kiss her, lowering himself slowly to cover her, his weight on his arms.

Soon he had traveled the length of her and his warm mouth and tongue were pleasuring her. She grabbed his head and writhed until she exploded. Ray crawled back up over her and Neela wrapped herself around him tightly. 'Oh, Ray...,' she thought, but no words came out. Ray gave her a brief moment to rest, and to rest his arms, before raising himself over her, pressing himself against her and plundering her lips again.

Mumbling without completely removing his lips from hers, he sighed, "Oh, Neela.." The length of their bodies sparked where they touched. Ray let himself drop to the side of her so he could wrap his arms around her, and then slowly let go to trail them up and down her body. His fingertips settled between her legs, warming her up in circles, making her dizzy. In answer, she reached out to cup him, gently at first, and then tugged him slowly toward her.

The warm comforter becoming suffocatingly warm, Ray threw them back, sitting up and straddling Neela with one movement. Resting on one arm, he leaned down to press his open lips to hers. The other hand guided him back inside her after the short nap and pizza hiatus. Slowly, his lips never leaving hers, Ray let himself be enveloped in her warmth. The alternating cold air surrounding him drove him toward her heat more deeply. So warm, I don't know how much longer I can hang on.. Quickening his pace, Ray parted from Neela's mouth to make her open her eyes. Gazing into them, he lost himself, letting her see how much he was affected by their lovemaking. Neela ran her fingers through Ray's tousled hair and rubbed the back of his neck, the neck he was always stretching to reach her lips. 'The short hairs at the back of his head are baby soft,' she smiled. He was so gentle, and so vulnerable, and so PWNED! Neela's face became a bit smug. He was still breathing hard, but managed to catch her expression change.

"What?" Ray looked a tiny bit embarrassed.

"Nothing," Neela smiled. "I'm just admiring you."

"Really?" Ray grinned, but before he could look too smug, Neela pulled him down to rest beside her and caressed his cheek, pressing her forehead to his so they could feel each other breathing. "I love you, Ray." He was warm head to toe. "I love you, Neela."

000

"Attention, everyone!" Abby called out. "Neela has a request before Ray's buddies here kick in with The Clash, my personal fave."

They hurried up to the platform, and Neela spoke, as Ray stood by her side. "We'd both like to thank you for coming to share this day with us."

"As you all know, we turned quite a lot of curves before getting to this day." Cheers came from all over the lawn, making their faces blush on top of the rosiness from drinking slightly-more-than-toasting amounts of champagne they'd been toasting with at every table... the fault of certain ER helpers.

"We've struck a lovely balance in our lives, and you are all a part of getting us to this day." Neela smiled, beautiful in her red sari woven with gold and subtle chocolate patterns." She turned to Ray, especially handsome in his black tuxedo with a custom vest to match her sari and his miniature red rose bout that Brett must have pinned on, because it was tilted.

"We're so happy it's finally official!" Ray grinned. "And here is the well rehearsed.." he nodded to his buddies, "..song we've selected for our first dance. We're sure you'll agree that it fits our story perfectly." He handed the mike to Brett, whispering, "Thanks. Don't screw this up." Brett made a face, "Me?? Not on your and Dr. Neela's wedding day, man. Don't worry, go enjoy her." Ray smiled and stepped back up to the dance floor.

The music began, a hush fell over the crowd, anticipating. Ray took Neela in his arms. She gazed up at him, forgetting the crowd for a moment. They'd had a 6 month engagement, just long enough to plan the wedding, take dance lessons together. The wedding would be simple - they had already begun their life and were only anxious to make it official. They'd said their vows and signed the papers, and found a newer apartment with enough bedrooms to accommodate the family they were planning. And now, they were dancing as husband and wife. They held each other tight, full of joy and wonder of how they could be so fortunate.

As they danced, Ray sang every word to Neela, his voice husky, raspy and low.

000

"Broken Road" as sung by Melodie Crittenden (you can search for this on YouTube, I found a fanvid that used the song)

I set out on a narrow way
Many years ago
Hoping I would find true love
Along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign
Pointed straight to you

(chorus) Well every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were just northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent
Just passing through
I'd like to take the time I lost
And give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan
That is coming true (chorus)

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know, I know is true, it's true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Oh, straight to you

000

The song hadn't quite finished, but to Neela's surprise, Ray pulled away as Brett came up to hand him the mike.

Ray sang the last verse, his beautiful voice ringing in Neela's ears.

As Ray finished, his mouth came into the biggest, honest smile, and Neela went up on tiptoe. They kissed tenderly to the crowd's loud clapping and cheering as the music ended. Parting lips and touching foreheads, they smiled and turned their heads toward the crowd briefly, before kissing again, smiling lips curling at the edges. Ray picked Neela up suddenly, and she laughed. He was bursting with happiness and put his cheek warmly against hers. He then turned his back on the crowd and kissed her again, to the sound of whistles. "I love you, Neela." She smiled. "I love you, Ray." She whispered, "Let's go home," and Ray's eyes glistened. "Yes, let's."