Her mind was a blur, in the distance Nona could hear someone calling her name but for some reason she couldn't move; her legs felt like they were cemented in place. The sound grew closer and she could tell that it was Eliot's voice calling her; she had to get to him
"Nona?" Eliot called her name, for the first time in two days she began moving and groaning in her sleep
"Eliot!" she slurred, eyes still closed, but her body was fighting
"Yes honey it's me; Dr!" he called frantically so that she could be examed
Within minutes he was ushered out while the drs examed her. He did the only thing he could, which was pace back and forth waiting, and hoping.
"Dr how is she? Is she awake? Can I see her?" he rushed the Dr as he came out of Nona's room
"She's fine Mr. Flynn; she is awake, though she's still groggy and a little unsure of what happened, so please go easy on her." Eliot nodded and went back in
"Nona?" he called to her softly, and when her blue eyes turned and fixed on him it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
"Eliot?" her voice was raw but at least she still knew who he was
"It's me honey" he replied as he grabbed her hand
"Eliot I have to-"
"All you need to do is rest right now"
"But I-"
"It's ok, I'm not going anywhere" he replied answering her silent question
"Well ok then" she replied as her drifted closed and she stopped fighting trying to keep them open
While Nona slept Eliot called the rest of the team to let them know that she was going to be ok; he figured his other news could wait until Nona was feeling better. However since he knew that she was going to be ok, a couple days later he arranged for Parker and Hardison so sit with her while he tended to a few things.
"Jesus Parker did you buy out the entire gift shop?" he asked as she walked in hidden by the enormous teddy bear she carried
"Who said anything about buying it?" she replied as she arranged the bear in one of the chairs
"Damn it Parker…."
"Relax man I made sure she paid for everything" Hardison walked in and set down the huge vase of flowers on the table next to Nona's bed
"You did?" Parker asked as she removed a box of chocolates from under her shirt
"Woman…." He started in on her
"I'm sorry Eliot, I didn't know that she – didn't I tell you we were gonna do everything on the up and up?"
"Yeah but you know you can't just take me in …." And thus began the arguing
"Guys…GUYS!" Eliot all but shouted. They both stopped and stared at him
"Do you think you could stop arguing before you wake-"
"Eliot?" Nona called to him
"You see what you did?" he snapped at them
"Nona honey I asked these two to come sit with you – there's some things I have to take care of and I don't want you alone."
"But Eliot there's something I have to tell you…."
"Later, right now I really have to go." With that he placed a kiss on her forehead and was gone. Nona sighed and noticed the flowers
"Are these from you?" she asked Hardison, she knew they couldn't be from Eliot because other than when the drs came in to evaluate her, he hadn't left her side.
Hardison nodded
"Thank you, they're beautiful"
"I got you these!" Parker thrust the box of chocolates into her hand
"And she does mean got" Hardison supplied putting air quotes around got
Nona laughed, she kenw it was wrong for Parker to steal but she also knew that Parker meant no harm
"Well thank you both; do you have any idea where Eliot is going?"
"Wouldn't say – geek's honor" Hardison held up his hand
"Oh" she looked so dejected that Parker tried to cheer her up
"Hey but Nate and Tara said they'd be by later"
"That's nice of them. So tell me Parker, how are things?" she asked trying to make small talk and politely listened with half an ear as Parker launched into a story all the while wondering if Eliot had taken off again, this time on both of them her hand immediately going to her stomach; only time would tell.
Nona was released from the hospital a week later and her face fell when Hardison and Parker walked in announcing that they were taking her home
"But where's Eliot?" she asked Though he had indeed returned, it was only for short visits, and whenever she tried to tell him about the baby he either changed the subject or some member of the medical staff came in. She figured tonight would be the night that she'd finally be able to tell him that not only was he going to be a father, but that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him
Hardison's voice was tight
"I honestly don't know, he just asked us to pick you up"
The drive was quiet; God Bless both Hardison and Parker for sensing that she just wanted to be left alone. They didn't even really do much talking themselves; almost like a black cloud loomed over the SUV. 'Looks like it's just going to be you and me kid' she thought as she ran a hand across her stomach. She had no idea how she was going to do it, but damn it this kid was going to have the best life that she could provide; Eliot or no Eliot. When they didn't take the turn off to go to her apartment she questioned Parker
"Where are we going?"
"Our instructions were to bring you to Eliot's house" she replied indicating that noone messed with Eliot Spencer's instructions
"I just want to go back to my apartment" she couldn't face the empty house with all the memories there. Though it was only a few short days, it was still the place where Eliot had first made love to her, the first time she'd really let someone in, and most of all it was the place where their child was conceived. There was no way she could go back there, knowing in her gut that Eliot wouldn't be there.
"I'm sorry Nona, but I'm not taking any chances; if you still want to go back to your apartment afterwards I'll happily drive you, but for now we're going to Eliot's" Hardison replied and was grateful when she didn't argue with him; damn Spencer for putting him in this spot. Forty five minutes later they pulled up the driveway
"Ok we've been here, now I'm ready to go home"
"Sorry man, we've got to take you inside" Hardison unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car
"For what? I already know Eliot's not here, so what possible reason do I have to go in for?" she practically shouted
"Nona I'm sorry but Eliot made us promise and he's saved my life more than once so I have to keep my promises to him" Parker said and took her hand, her eyes pleading
Nona sighed and wanted to resist with every fiber of her being but let Parker lead her up the porch.
"Now close your eyes" Hardison commanded as they reached the second level
"Hardison I'm not doing this again" she replied reminding him of the last time he and Parker had 'surprised' her
Hardison sighed
"Fine then just go in" he said and opened the door
She wasn't sure what to expect when she walked in but as soon as she did, tears welled in her eyes; Eliot had taken one of the spare rooms and turned it into a nursery. There were bright colors everywhere – all of which she noted were neutral the latest crib model sat in the corner and when she turned to take in the rest of it she sucked in a breath. On one wall of the nursery was a mural of what she could only guess were the rolling plains and wide opens skies of Oklahoma that Eliot so loved and often spoke about. How could he have known? She hadn't told anyone
"But how did he?" she looked at Parker questioningly
"You were still out and the drs came to let him know that you were ok and then said that he might like to know that the baby was ok too"
"But why would they tell him that?"
"Because he told them he was your husband" she said matter of factly
" and he only told us because he wanted you to see this; oh and he left this" she said producing yet another envelope. The thought of knowing what was inside made her both sick and mad; how DARE he take off again after she saved his hide. Well no more if he was too chicken to stay and face the fact that she loved him despite of his lifestyle well then he could just take his letter and shove up his ass.
"I don't want it Parker; matter of fact I don't want any of this. If he's too thickheaded to realize that I love him and that he's worth it then screw him" she said and started out to the car, but Parker grabbed her arm
"I think you're gonna wanna read this one" she said, very serious and very un-Parker like. After a minute of those eyes boaring into her she snatched the letter and ripped it open
Dear Nona –
I'm downstairs
-El
She didn't even feel the paper slip through her fingers as she raced down the stairs. Downstairs could be anywhere but knowing her and Eliot she turned for the kitchen and came to a dead stop. Covering every surface imagineable were vases and vases of sterling roses, which Eliot knew were her favorite. She laughed as she recalled the way he rolled his eyes when she told him the name of the flower.
"Hi" Eliot interupted her thoughts
"Hi yourself" she said as she took in the sight of him. Most men would have opted for a tux, or a suit when trying to pull off a romantic gesture, but Eliot knew that she'd had enough of polished men with Steven. Instead he opted for well fitting jeans and a layered top; he couldn't have looked hotter.
"Listen Nona I know that I don't deserve a second chance, I mean I basically took off with almost no word but you have to listen to me. I was scared, I've never felt this way about anyone and I knew that with the life I led you deserved better. I know it was pompous of me to assume that I knew what was best for you and what you needed, if it helps I was miserable without you. However even when you showed up in that building I was determined to get you out of there and tell you that you were better off without me. Then the explosion happened." His eyes began to well with tears at the thought
"I thought I had lost you" by now he had made his way across the room as was standing less than a foot from her, his eyes searching hers for some kind of sign but she was completely unreadable.
"That was a kind of pain I haven't felt…well ever and trust me I know pain" he smiled slightly hoping to make her laugh; when she didn't he went on
"I decided then that I was done running; I realized that no matter where life takes me, there would always be that road that would lead me home, which is what I feel whenever I'm with you." He moved closer and cupped her chin; she was the one fighting back tears now
"Oh Eliot" she covered his hand with hers
"Marry me"
"What?" she asked dumbfounded
"You heard me, marry me."
"Eliot, if this is about the baby I can't deal with –"
"This is about you and me; now don't get me wrong I love that child already and yeah it's gonna take some time getting used to thinking of myself as a father but that's not why I want you to marry me. People have kids all the time that don't get married; I want you to marry me because you are the sun when I'm cold, the drink when I'm thirsty, hell you're the air that I breathe. Nona I want you to marry me because I love you. The last 20 years of my life have been cold and dark, but when I'm with you the world lights up."
"Eliot-"
"Nona I am begging you please don't make me go back to the cold again" he pleaded and captured her lips. He poured everything he had into that kiss; all the hurt, all the love, every essence of who he was. He was reluctant when she broke the kiss but he allowed her to have her space.
"Can I finish?" she asked looking up into his eyes. He took a step back and released her bracing himself for the inevidable
"All I was going to say is that you can run, but you can't hide. If I have to, I will kick your ass the next time you even THINK about running off."
The look on his face was priceless, a minute passed before he said
"Are you saying…"
"I'm saying that I love you and no matter what, I will ALWAYS find you." She replied and then grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him down for a mind-searing kiss of her own
When they finally broke apart some minutes later and some of the blood had returned to his brain he asked
"So I guess that was a yes?"
"That was a hell yeah marry me before the baby comes and I'm fat" she replied laughing
"Good cuz now I get to give you this" he said and pulled a box out of his pocket. When he opened it, nestled inside was the most beautiful blue tanzanite engagement ring
"Now I know you like Native American jewelry, but this sort of spoke to me and I figured our bands can be traditional but –"
"My God Eliot, it's beautiful" she exclaimed as he slipped it on her finger
"And if you don't like the nursery we can always change-"
"Eliot for someone who's supposed to be the strong silent type, you're talking an awful lot." She interupted as she kissed him again
"Aw damn look at you two!" Hardison teased as he and Parker entered the room
"Damn it Hard-"
"Eliot be nice" Nona scolded
"He got me here didn't he?"
Eliot sighed and nodded at Hardison and Parker
"Thanks guys"
"So when's the wedding?" Parker asked eagerly
"As soon as possible before I blow up like a balloon" Nona replied looking at her still flat stomach
"Still be the prettiest thing this side of the Mississippi" Eliot said making her blush
"Yeah well I'd still rather have you make an honest woman out of me before we become a family"
"You hear that?" Eliot bent over and placed a hand over Nona's stomach and began talking to it
"We're gonna be a family"
"What is he doing?" Parker asked Haridson
"Talking to the baby"
"But why? It's not like the baby has ears or anything yet"
"Yes but-"
"Damn it Parker-"
Nona smiled as the three of them began to argue; little did Eliot realize that he had a family already, he was just adding to it.