A/N: I lied when I posted the last chapter, there's going to be 9 chapters in total; one more to go after this and then the epilogue.
In the days following the aftermath of Holly's parents epic let-down, Gail makes sure to be there for Holly in all the ways she can possibly think she may need her, and when Holly hides away in her bed and refuses to go in to work again, Gail simply calls them both in sick and crawls under the covers with her.
She wraps Holly in her arms silently, not forcing her to talk about it or pestering her to get over her hurt feelings and feel better, because Gail knows that's impossible, the heart needs time to heal just as much as any physical wound, and so she simply lets Holly rightfully wallow for a little while.
Gail knows what Holly needs from her right now is her unwavering presence and love, and so she makes sure to be attentive without being crowding, and comforting without being overbearing, and lets Holly feel all that she's feeling.
On the third day, as the sun rises and creeps in through the blinds, Holly throws the covers back and wordlessly heads into the bathroom, and when Gail hears the sound of water running, she knows Holly's ready to try and pull herself together. She's taking her first tentative step in moving past her disappointment now that she's recharged and found the strength she needs to tape up the cracks her parents have caused in her fragile heart, making herself as whole as possible to face the world again.
She doesn't vocalise her gratitude to Gail for staying by her side these last few days, but when Gail pours coffee into their travel mugs and hands one over to Holly with a smile and says, "ready only when you are, Lunchbox", Holly simply steps into Gail's body and wraps her up in a bone-crushing hug that lasts for an age, and when Holly brushes a tender kiss to her cheek and pulls back to gratefully accept her coffee with a sincere smile that melts Gail's heart, she feels Holly's appreciation washing over in her waves.
Gail knows what it's like to be disappointed in your parents, having taken her fair share of hurtful blows from her own over the years, and so she's more than aware that it takes a little time to get back to finding your balance sometimes. Holly's parents devastating let-down probably feels a lot to Holly like she's been shoved harshly and carelessly down to the ground without a second thought, and as painful as that is, Gail also knows that Holly's not one to be defeated for long, that she's now attempting to dust off her knees and get back up to her feet again. It's not surprising that she's still a little bruised and that her legs are still a little wobbly, and Gail knows that even though Holly's trying her hardest to persevere, it will take a few days for her really get back to being her rightful herself.
While Holly's attempting her very best to do that, Gail intends to be there for her as a guiding and supportive hand, burdening the weight Holly can't carry alone quite yet, and hoping that by doing so, she can prove to Holly that not every relationship – every marriage – is destined to have an inevitable, devastatingly messy and bitter end with aftershocks that never seem to stop causing pain.
On Sunday, instead of hosting the usual monthly Peck family dinner, her mother calls her to invite her and Holly out for lunch at a little Italian bistro on Elm Street, stating that it will be nice to sit out in the sun and have somebody else cook for them for a change.
Her father and Steve have gone to a hockey game, so it will be an all girl affair, and although Gail knows Holly gets on remarkably well with Elaine, in spite of the fact her mother can be tremendously overbearing, Holly declines the invite stating that she has some work to catch up on.
Gail knows it's just an excuse though, that the hint of sadness she sees flashing beneath the surface of Holly's eyes when she mentions her mother's invitation hits too close to the mark about how unavailable her own parents are for her. It must seem terribly unfair to Holly, Gail thinks, that even the Pecks, who bicker constantly about everything, are able to put aside their differences and get together once a month for dinner, no matter what's going on, when her own family can't put their issues aside for a few hours and attend something that's so important and significant to Holly.
Instead of pressing Holly to go, Gail just tells her it's an open offer if she changes her mind, and calls her mother back to confirm the table for three, just in case, not wanting Holly to feel excluded from the Pecks as well as the Stewarts.
Holly doesn't change her mind though, and when Gail arrives at the bistro alone, her mother gets up to greet her with a perplexed expression rippling across her face, her eyebrows knitting together questioningly as she leans in to press a chaste kiss to Gail's cheek.
"Where's Holly?" Elaine asks as she looks past Gail in search of her. "Is she running late?"
Gail shakes her head and gestures at their table, indicating for her mother to take her seat. "She's not coming, Mom."
"Oh, why ever not?" Elaine questions as she reluctantly sits down, frowning at the news. "I wanted this lunch to be in celebration of her article. I even stopped by the florist to get her these; lily's are her favourite, right?"
"They're beautiful, Mom," she replies nodding, looking over the gorgeous, expensive bouquet of flowers sitting in a glass vase next to Elaine on the table, wrapped up in a big gold ribbon. "She'll love them, and I promise I'll make sure to pass along your congratulations later. Holly just wasn't feeling up to coming to lunch, she has some..." Gail tails off then, struggling to find the words to explain without over-sharing something that she knows is private to Holly, "...personal stuff going on with her parents."
Elaine studies her quietly for a moment, searching Gail's eyes out for answers, and after a beat, Gail sees the way her mother's gaze shifts to one that's alarmingly knowing. "Those parents of hers don't know what they're missing," Elaine scoffs, her mouth pinching tightly into a frown. "Holly's article was fantastic, they should be damn proud of their daughter's achievements instead of being so selfish and punishing her for their idiotic mistakes."
"You read her article?" Gail breathes in surprise, not knowing her mother to have a keen interest in forensics at all, and then, blinking in realisation at what her mother's statement implies, adds, "You looked into her background and parents the moment I became friends with her, didn't you?"
"Of course I did, sweetheart. It's not like you to make new friends, and after the questionable men that have been part of your life, I wanted to make sure Holly would be a good influence for you, and she has," Elaine retorts unapologetically, a hint of a smirk playing across her lips, "and to answer your disbelieving question, yes I've read her article, it truly was well deserving of its publication. I don't know why my interest is surprising to you though, you know I like to keep tabs on my family."
Hearing her mother so easily and so earnestly refer to Holly as family steals the breath from her lungs and makes her heart clench with so much longing for it to actually be true, that Gail feels an overwhelming urge to tell her mother the real depth of her feelings for Holly.
It might be a little foolish when nothing with Holly is certain quite yet, and even more risky given how focused and driven her mother is about finding her a man she deems appropriate to join the Peck legacy, and yet, although she's never had the best relationship with her parents, at least her mother and father take the time to watch over her and Steve – and now Holly too – even if it is in their own, overbearing, little way. It's still far more than what Holly has with hers.
While Holly's parents have constantly let her down, Gail's have constantly overloaded her with pressure and expectations that she can never quite seem to live up to, and as a result, Gail's well aware, that it's left both of them with tender, fragile hearts, and cautiously living their own lives in fear of getting beaten down further.
Gail knows Holly's terrified of mimicking her parents' mistakes, and that fighting against that freaks Holly out so much that the exhaustion of it forces her to run away and withdraw from whatever she's feeling sometimes. It's something Gail knows a little something about too, her failed attempts at love with every man she's ever met scarring her, and her parents gruelling Peck standards making her guard her sensitive heart all the more fiercely with bite and bluster and aloofness, never letting anybody get too close to her.
It's the issues that have been instilled into them, Gail thinks, that is helping to keep them skirting around each other and talking about the real repercussions of what they did in Vegas.
In this moment, she feels completely and utterly exhausted from it all, and keeping something as meaningful as her feelings for Holly hidden away, is starting to hurt far more than anything else ever has. Especially now that her mother's words have set the truth of her feelings bursting free from her rapidly swelling heart and rushing to sit on the tip of her tongue, desperately beseeching Gail to speak them aloud and make them free and known.
As her mother begins to absently browse the wine list, completely oblivious to the inner-turmoil her comment has had, Gail releases a shaky exhale as her stomach twists nervously, and before she can over-think it and talk herself out of it, she finds herself tentatively murmuring, "Mom, I- I have something I need to talk to you about."
"Is this about you not having a second date with Henry?" Elaine cuts in pryingly, "because I must say I'm very disappointed, Gail. He's such a fine young man and you'd make a rather elite couple."
The sudden shift to Henry catches Gail off-guard, making her stumble a little, her intention momentarily side-tracked as she rolls her eyes and defensively retorts, "You only like Henry now because he's successful. What about when I dated him in high school and you thought he'd squander his family name, you weren't his number one fan then, were you?"
"That's a given, I think," Elaine fires back, her lips curling into a smile. "I always thought you were a bad influence together, that you'd both forsake your family legacy's on some silly, rebellious whim, but I was wrong. He's done the Cooper's proud, and you're making your father and I proud as you make a name for yourself on the force. You even handled that messy Armando case well, even though I overreacted about the whole invalid arrest situation when it was that moron Swarek at fault and not you. Something which I actually owe you an apology for by the way; so, I'm sorry, sweetheart," she adds sincerely, her eyes softening as she nods her head submissively at Gail.
Gail's not sure if it's the fact that her mother is actually apologising to her or her confession that she's proud of her that stuns her into choking on the sip of water she's just taken, but before she can fully process what's happened, her lungs are burning and her chest is heaving with a wheezing cough.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Gail," Elaine reprimands, reaching over to pat her back, and helping her to catch her breath again. "Whatever has gotten into you? You're acting very strange today."
"Sorry," Gail chokes out, lifting her hand to rub at her chest and letting her gaze find her mother's, her mouth curling into a disbelieving smile. "It's just... that's the first time you've ever said you're proud of me," she confesses in a whisper.
"Is it?" Elaine queries, looking both startled and unsettled by the news, and making Gail nod wordlessly in response, still overwhelmed by absorbing the fact for herself. "That's- I- well then. I guess all I can say is that I'm sorry again, deeply. I know your father and I have always been hard on you, Gail, but it's only because we believe that you have the utmost potential."
"Yeah right," Gail snorts cynically on reflex. "Steve's your golden boy."
"Steven wasn't academic like you, Gail, so your father and I had to shape him to be a police officer from a young age, to see him make it as a detective is a bonus. But you..." Elaine says, her voice softening in a way Gail's never heard before, "your father and I both knew you had the brains and the determination to go further than either of us could. But we also knew that law enforcement is still a dog-eat-dog political shitstorm the higher you go, and we wanted you to be prepared for that when the time comes. You're such a sensitive soul, we didn't want it to destroy you."
"You were hard on me because you wanted me to succeed, not because you thought I'd be a failure," Gail drawls in realisation, watching Elaine nod, her eyes glimmering so earnestly that Gail can't help but feel confused, every moment of disappointment her parents have made her feel over the years rushing back over her and making her heart ache. "Then why have you and dad always made me feel like I'm not a good enough to be a Peck?"
"That's how we've made you feel? Well then, we've failed as parents," Elaine replies glumly, her shoulders stumping slightly beneath the weight of Gail's honesty. "I knew we were never going to be great at it, I'm not particularly maternal and your father grew up with Grandpa Peck at the helm – the cruel old bastard – but Gail, we've always wanted you to be successful and happy more than anything, and we do love you, very much. I don't want you to see us the way Holly sees her parents, as some... un-proud, unsupportive let downs."
It's the most sincere her mother's ever been with her, laying all of her flaws out bare for Gail to see, and apologising for her faults, and it makes Gail feel like maybe it is possible for old wounds to heal. If the universe can help her work things out with her parents, maybe it's possible for karma to also help Holly reconcile with her own in some way, and open her eyes to a more hopeful outlook on trust and love.
"Maybe we could both try a little more," Gail offers with a small smile, knowing that as hard as her mother is to connect with, that she doesn't make it easy for her mother to know her either, having learned from a young age to close off and remain as distant as possible. "Neither of us are the best at communicating."
"That sounds like a wonderful plan, sweetheart," Elaine remarks with a genuine smile, and reaches over to lovingly cover Gail's hand with her own, squeezing briefly before letting go again. "Now, what was it you want to tell me?"
Gail swallows thickly, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips as her heart begins to hammer anxiously. "I won't be going on another date with Henry," Gail breathes nervously, her voice stuttering a little over the words, "and I don't want you to keep setting me up with bachelors you deem eligible."
"Okay," Elaine says slowly, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion. "Is this your way of telling me that you've met somebody?"
"Kind of," Gail murmurs quietly, holding her mother's gaze, and shrugging helplessly as she feels her eyes prickle with fearful tears even as a contradictory rush of relief overwhelms her as she breathily admits, "I'm in love with Holly."
Gail feels the oxygen rush out of her chest, her lungs constricting apprehensively as she braces herself for her mother's reaction, her fingers curling around the cheap, gold-plastic ring in her pocket and clutching it like a lifeline. She expects her mother's eyes to flash with surprise and her mouth to set into a thin line of disappointment, always having had such grand plans to marry Gail off to a suitable husband so that she could replicate the Peck legacy in her own right; successful career, big house, children of her own to boss around.
Instead, she's shocked to see her mother's eyes softening instantly at the confession, and an understanding smile lighting up her face.
"Oh honey, don't look so terrified, that's wonderful news," Elaine consoles, shifting her chair closer to Gail's to wrap her arm around her shoulders and hugging Gail into her side.
"Is it?" Gail exhales in bewilderment. "You're not disappointed and upset that I've crushed your dreams for me then?"
"Sweetheart, it's not the 1940s, you know. My dreams for you involves you being successful and happy with a family of your own, not necessarily a husband. I was only setting you up with men because they're all you've ever dated, and to be frank, you're quite awful at choosing them for yourself; those idiots Craig and Nick, for example," Elaine quips with a teasing but soothing smile. "Your father and I absolutely adore Holly. You know I've wanted to adopt her into the Pecks since the moment you introduced us to her, and that I was gutted when I figured out she was a lesbian and couldn't keep trying to set her up with Steve," she chortles, making Gail remember all of the times her mother would annoyingly encourage Holly to sit with Steve at the Peck dinners, and the way Holly and her brother interacted awkwardly as her mother watched on with misguided, hopeful glee. "If she's the one who makes you happy, Gail, then we'll support your relationship full-heartedly."
"We're not together," Gail professes tearily, her mother's passionate approval crumbling the walls she's built around her heart to hide away her feelings and making waves of her emotions surge overwhelming through every inch of her being. "I mean, I want us to be and we're kinda in a weird limbo, but we're not..."
"That woman adores you, Gail," Elaine comforts, seeing her daughter struggling with the niggling, plaguing doubts that come with unexpected love. "You two have been inseparable since you became friends, and to be honest, I feel a little blind for not seeing it sooner. You'd be perfect together, just the right fit."
"Yeah, you think?" Gail questions in a small, desperately hopeful voice.
"I do," Elaine nods. "You balance each other out, she keeps you sane and you keep her grounded," she teases with a smile. "Holly's a smart lady, she'll work it out eventually, Gail, but it is a big thing, realising that you're falling in love with a friend, especially if you thought your feelings for them were set in stone, so maybe she needs a little guidance to point her in the right direction."
"That's what Henry said when he figured it out," Gail responds in amusement as she reaches up to thumb away the last of her tears escaping down her face.
It's her mother who rolls her eyes this time. "Of course you two were toying with me when you agreed to go on a date," Elaine exclaims in realisation. "I should have known something was up, you agreed far too quickly to the go out with Henry, and Holly sulked for the rest of the party in an unexplainable mood that baffled me completely."
Gail breaks into a toothy grin at the affirmation of Holly's jealousy, glad to know she really was feeling put out about the idea of her going on a date with Henry, and then jests, "Sorry Mom, but you know how rebellious Henry and I are, we still don't like doing what we're told."
"At least I know I can count on Holly to keep you in line, she's always had you wrapped around her little finger," Elaine retorts, smirking when Gail glares back at her slightly, her bottom lip pouting out petulantly because she knows it's true. "So, are you planning on telling her that you're in love with her any time soon? Or will you be pining from afar until Holly pieces it together for herself?"
"I want to tell her, I just... I want to be sure she really is feeling that way about me before I risk our friendship, Mom. There's no take-back's once I say it," Gail replies seriously, knowing exactly how heavy that risk is; her relationships with Chris and Dov and Nick all having taken a turn for the worse when romantic feelings got in the way and messed things up, and although they're all okay now, it took awhile to get their friendships back on track. "I'm letting her work it out and patiently encouraging her along."
Elaine smiles softly, understanding her plight, and says, "Well, since that's your strategy, my advice to you to woo Holly into wanting to date you-"
"Ew, don't say woo," Gail interrupts with a shudder. "We're adult women in our thirties, I'm trying not trying to woo Holly into dating me. I'm trying to make her see that what I feel is real, that I'm completely serious about her and that I'm ready to commit to her for as long as she'll have me. If she'll have me at all, that is."
Elaine blinks back at her quietly for a long moment. "You really are quite serious about her, then."
"Of course I am, I've never felt this way before, Mom," Gail admits shyly, feeling her cheeks blushing hotly. "She's the only person I've ever looked at and envisioned spending the rest of my life with. I just need to be sure she sees that when she looks at me too before I tell her I love her and alter things forever."
"Well then, sweetheart, my advise to you, if you're patient enough, is to just keep being yourself," Elaine encourages kindly. "Be sweet and kind and charming in that snark filled way of yours, and keep being there for her when she needs you, and I guarantee Holly won't be able to deny her feelings for you for much longer. But, if you're impatient like I was when I was after your father, you'll want a quicker solution," she says with a mischievous smirk. "If that's the case, go out with Henry again, and I promise you Holly's jealousy will consume her so unbearably that she'll either end up exploding and loudly declaring her feelings or grabbing you and kissing you senseless, either way things will work out."
"You totally cornered dad into proposing to you by flirting with another man, didn't you?" Gail inquires knowingly, and letting out an amused breath and rolling her eyes when her mother simply winks back at her. "Thanks for the sound advice, Mom, but I think I'd rather wait for Holly to accept her feelings and be comfortable with the idea of us before I convince her to spend her life with me."
"Have it your way," Elaine replies with a smile. "But since you're trying to encourage her along, at least woo her a little, a woman as exquisite as Holly deserves to be treated to some luxuries. Take her on a few non-date dates, romance her with compliments and tokens of appreciation, sometimes it's the smallest and simplest gestures that are the ones to unlock the heart."
As her mother turns away from her to quickly grab the passing waiter's attention, ordering them a bottle of wine and some pasta, Gail can't help but think over her mother's suggestion, and conclude that maybe she has a point. Maybe she does need to up her game a little and woo Holly a little if she wants to help hurry along the process of opening Holly's eyes to the real possibility of them.
Even though Holly's back at work and slowly getting back to being more herself in the days that follow, Gail still catches glimpses of deep-rooted sadness flashing in Holly's eyes whenever somebody congratulates her, Holly always bashfully and reluctantly accepting their praise, brushing it off swiftly almost as if she feels guilty for something she worked so hard for.
It's makes Gail's heart ache to see something that Holly should be getting joy and confidence from instead causing her to be morose and dispirited, and so Gail sets her mind to formulating a plan to eliminate the gloomy shadow Holly's parents have cast over her article, and instead turn it back into something Holly can happily and proudly embrace.
With a little thought and planning, she comes up with a fairly simple, but hopefully effective idea, and with some help from Oliver to organise it, Gail manages to set up what she hopes will be the perfect surprise to lift Holly's spirits and put that adorable, lopsided smile back on her face that Gail loves so much.
The first step of her plan involves encouraging Holly to come out with her after work instead of rushing home to mope. It takes a little poking and prodding and charming Peck persuasion – that includes her pouting out her bottom lip and giving Holly her best sad puppy dog eyes that she knows Holly can never refuse – and promising that it's only for quick drink and that they can leave as soon as they're done.
"I'm only staying for one drink," Holly repeats grumpily for the tenth time as they make the walk from the station after their shifts to The Penny. "I don't get why we couldn't just open a bottle of something at home, going to The Penny is hardly unusual or exciting."
Gail ignores the grouchy complaint and simply says, "I just fancied having a drink in a different environment. We've been hanging out at yours every night these past couple of weeks, Hol, and not that I mind, but I really fancy playing a game of darts and eating bar snacks while I down some shots, okay?"
"Whatever," Holly huffs tetchily, scowling in a most un-Holly like way. "You can stay and play darts with the guys if you want, but after I've had a glass of wine I'm heading home, I'm tried and not in the mood to socialise."
Gail nods in response, and reaches for the door, holding it open for Holly who sullenly and reluctantly moves past her to head inside. Although convincing Holly to come was hard work, and having to bite her tongue and patiently listen to her best friend crabbily grumble about nearly everything all day so as not to give her plan away, the delighted surprise that washes over Holly and lights up her face as she falters to a sudden stop at seeing all their friends gathered together, surrounded by balloons and banners and merrily yelling their congratulations to Holly, makes it all worth it.
While the Stewarts might not want to celebrate their daughter's hard work and achievements with her, her friends from fifteen division most certainly do, and it makes a surge of warmth rush through Gail to see Holly breaking into a happy, teary smile as she's lovingly embraced by the likes of Traci, Andy, Chloe, Chris and Dov.
These are people who truly appreciate Holly's work on a daily basis, and even though they probably don't thank Holly enough, Gail knows that they wouldn't be able to do their jobs half as well without her, and so showering Holly with their support and gratitude, now more than ever, seems like the most fitting way to break through Holly's dark mood and show her that she's loved and appreciated for what she works so hard at, even if her parents don't get it.
"I can't believe you did this for me," Holly breathes, turning to seek out Gail's eyes, her voice coming out a little shaky as her eyes brim with overwhelmed tears.
Gail just shrugs aloofly, feeling a little coy as Holly's eyes penetrate deeply into her own, almost as if she's looking into the very truth of Gail's soul. "You earned it, Lunchbox," she replies softly, flashing Holly an earnest smile. "You always work so hard and you deserve to relish in your success. This is just a little something I wanted to do to remind you that you're not alone, that all of us here are so proud of you and want to celebrate with you."
Holly's eyes soften at her explanation, awe settling over her face, and with an adoring smile, she gently reaches out and cups Gail's face, loving stoking her thumb across her cheek before leaning in to press soft, appreciative kiss to the corner of Gail's mouth.
"Thank you," Holly murmurs gratefully, holding Gail's gaze for a long moment, the sincerity in her voice and the look of utter affection in her eyes enough to make Gail blush shyly in response.
"You're welcome," Gail murmurs back quietly, her heart hammering so fast and so loud as she lets herself get lost momentarily in Holly's eyes that it leaves her feeling breathless and a little lightheaded.
"A drink for the talented Dr. Stewart," Traci announces with a bright grin, breaking their moment by handing them both a drink and leaning in to kiss Holly's cheek. "Well done on the article, Doc."
"Yeah, a big congratulations! It's so awesome that you've actually published something hundreds of people will read, like it literally blows my mind" Chloe adds merrily, reaching for Holly's hand. "You've got to come and tell us all more about it," Chloe says excitedly, bouncing on the balls of her feet before hurriedly dragging Holly off towards everyone still waiting to congratulate her.
For the rest of the evening Gail watches the scene unfold happily, her heart swelling in her chest as she observes Holly talking passionately about her research and gleefully answering genuine questions of interest from their friends, their happiness for Holly radiating out and washing away the bitter disappointment and hurt left by Holly's parents.
"You did a good thing, darlin'," Oliver says with a kind smile, sitting himself down on the bar stool next to her where she's contentedly watching Holly excitedly explain something, her hands gesturing wildly as everybody's eyes flash with amazement. "It's nice to see her lighting up the room again with that big, gorgeous smile of hers."
Gail smiles softly in response, unable to take her eyes off her beautiful wife for even a single second as she toys with the cheap, gold-plastic ring in her jacket pocket. "Yeah, it is," she agrees, getting distracted momentarily as Holly bursts into a hearty laugh at something Chris has said, and looks over to catch Gail's eye.
"She's lucky to have you," Oliver adds with a kind, knowing grin as Holly waves her over with an adoring smile, extending her hand out for Gail to come and take. "Looks like she's starting to realise just how true and meaningful that is for her too. Maybe it's time you think about telling her how you feel, Peck," he suggests when Gail glances at him shyly. "Go be with your wife," he whispers, giving Gail an encouraging shove when she hesitates briefly, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the depth of her feelings for Holly, and with how she seems to be falling more and more in love with her best friend with every second that passes.
It's probably not the type of wooing her mother had in mind, but as Holly threads their fingers together and loving strokes her thumb along Gail's own, refusing to let go of her and looking at her with so much affection every time their eyes meet for the rest of the evening, Gail knows that being surrounded by people who support her and are proud of her and who love her, means far more to Holly than any cliched romantic gesture she made ever could.
Holly hasn't stopped smiling since they left The Penny, tipsy from alcohol and high on the love and support of her friends, and Gail finds that seeing her best friend so happy and carefree again is completely infectious.
She also hasn't stopped thanking Gail for the little surprise party the whole cab journey home, and more heart fluttering than that, Holly still hasn't let go of her hand, almost as if she can't bare to break their connection quite yet.
Gail can feel Holly looking at her with such adoration out of the corner of her eye, that it makes her blush and bump their shoulders together. "You've thanked me enough, Hol," Gail says when Holly squeezes her hand and voices her gratitude once again, a look of disbelief still lingering in her beautiful eyes.
"Never," Holly counters with a soft smile. "You have no idea how much I needed that, or how much it really meant to me, Gail. I was in a low place and like always my amazing best friend swooped in and pulled me out of it in just the right way. So, just accept that I'm not going to stop thanking you for being awesome any time soon, Peck."
"Okay," Gail murmurs with a small smile, bashfully averting her gaze and bumping their shoulders together again, her heart swelling in chest, utterly brimming with love.
Once they've settled in at Holly's townhouse, both showered and changed into their pyjamas, and readying themselves for bed, Gail feels it's time to enact the final stage of her plan. Nervously, she waits for Holly to finish brushing her hair and climb into bed before digging around in her bag and coming to sit opposite Holly as she deposits a small, gift-wrapped box into her lap.
Holly's eyebrows knit together as she blinks down at the unexpected gift and then flicks her eyes up to meet Gail's questioningly. "What's this?" she asks, surprise rippling across her face.
"Just a little something to commemorate your article getting published," Gail replies with a small smile.
Holly's head tilts to the side as she stares back at Gail affectionately, her dark eyes shifting to a warm amber. "You didn't have to get me anything, you've already done more than enough for me, honey," Holly hums softly, sincerely.
"I know," Gail replies honestly and shrugs, "but I wanted to. You deserve to be reminded of your achievements, Hol."
Holly shakes her head in protest, gently fingering the ribbon wrapped around the box. "You still shouldn't have-"
"Just open it, Holly," Gail cuts her off with an encouraging smile.
Holly shakes her head again with a relenting grin, her fingers carefully and slowly untying the ribbon, and Gail feels herself anxiously holding her breath as she watches Holly gently open the box, a shaky gasp rushing from her lips as the gift is revealed to her.
Gail knows Holly's not one for jewellery, but the one piece that she always wears is a watch. For as long as Gail's known her, she's always worn a plain, silver watch given to her by her mentor, Dr. Alice Brooks, who had guided Holly through her residency in pathology and been responsible for her falling so in love with forensics.
Holly had been absolutely devastated, when just shortly before their trip to Vegas, she'd lost it while out in a swampy marsh examining a body. Gail had gone back to the scene to help an upset Holly look for it when she'd horrifyingly realised it was missing. But after they'd retraced all of Holly's steps in a desperate attempt to find it, they'd come up short, the watch truly lost amongst the boggy soil somewhere, never to be found again.
So, it had only seemed fitting when Gail had caught sight of a very similar silver watch in a store window while out on her lunch break one shift, and without a second thought, had gone in and bought it on the spot for her best friend, knowing she would love it.
The intention had originally been to keep it as a Christmas gift for Holly, but with what happened in Vegas happening to them and Gail's heart splitting open to reveal her true feelings for Holly to herself, it somehow seems more appropriate it to give it to Holly now, a kind of token to give Holly a small glimpse of the depth of Gail's love for her.
"Gail..." Holly breathes, her voice thick with emotion as she takes in the sight of her new watch. "It's beautiful," she whispers glancing up at Gail as she gently takes it out of the box to take a closer look at it.
"Yeah?" Gail inquires breathlessly, her heart pounding so nervously in her chest that she can feel it pulsating through every inch of her body.
"Yes, you adorable dummy," Holly retorts affectionately, her eyes glimmering incredulously as she carefully turns it over.
She watches apprehensively then, as Holly silently turns the watch over to discover the engraving Gail's daringly had inscribed into the back; 'To Holly, all my love, your plus one forever and always, Gail x'. Holly doesn't say anything for a long moment, just inhales sharply and blinks down in wonderment at what's written, and Gail feels her anxious heart lodge in her throat, her pulse racing to life beneath her skin as she waits to see what Holly's reaction will be.
Holly's fingertip gently brushes over the engraving, tracing each letter with the utmost care as if she's letting Gail's message slowly absorb into her skin, and when she does finally look up to meet Gail's gaze, it's with adoring tears gleaming in her eyes. It's totally overwhelming, the way Holly's beautiful, warm amber eyes gaze back at her utterly awe-struck and overflowing with such palpable love, that it makes the oxygen rush from Gail's lungs and leaves her heart stuttering to a stop for a few seconds.
It's when Holly wordlessly and deliberately sets the watch down at her side and leans forward to press a soft, tender, lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth though, their foreheads naturally coming to rest together as they both release breathy exhales, that makes Gail feel that even with the absence of what she hasn't had the courage to say yet, it feels an awful lot like Holly may finally be on the same page as her.
And with her eyes still closed as she breathes Holly in and relishes in having her so close, Gail thinks that maybe Oliver is right, maybe it is time that she throws caution to the wind, ignores the last niggling doubts she has about all the remaining risks, and braves telling Holly how she really feels about her.