Bruised Egos

Chapter: 5

Pairing: Robert and Holly

Rating: PG

Exhaustion was something that Holly knew well. Too well. Over the course of the past three weeks sleep had come few and far between. The new case that she was working on demanded all of her attention. So much so that she couldn't remember exactly when the last time she actually saw Robert was. Ever since they had agreed to take things nice and slow they hadn't really spent any time together other than a few lunches and a late night movie.

After a nice, long, relaxing bath she had finally found the inner peace she was looking for. With her mind blank and her conscience clear heading to bed sounded like the perfect ending to a very chaotic day. She slipped on her striped pyjama bottoms and a purple cami, the most comfortable outfit she owned. Life was finally settling down a bit and she had never been more grateful in her entire life.

Holly threw back the blankets and was about to climb into bed when an insistent knocking started on the door of her flat. She knew that knock. That persistent knock. It was Robert. It had to be. He was the only one that would show up at...she glanced over at the alarm clock...eight thirty two at night. My God how slow and boring her life had become.

When she opened up the door he was leaning up against the doorjamb. He had this suaveness about him, this light and sophisticated air, that she's wasn't sure if he even knew he possessed. He was smiling his perfect smile, dimples shining. And the way the moonlight was hitting his hair showed the graying at his temples. He was so confident. Somewhat arrogant. But she had never been more in love than she was with him at that very moment.

"Oh my." she smiled, seductively. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"Actually the honor is all mine." he said, flashing a bottle of champagne. "I thought maybe you would invite me in for a drink."

"You brought the champagne how could I possibly say no?"

"You can't." he replied. "That was the plan."

Holly pushed the door open wider. "Please, come in."

"I thought you'd never ask." he said, walking in and shutting the door behind him. "Where do you keep the champagne glasses?"

"In the kitchen." she replied. "I'll get them, you uncork the champagne."

"Okay."

"And Robert." she said, turning around in the doorway. "Try not to spill it everywhere."

He smiled as he thought of the past. "I'll do my best." he replied. "Besides I would at least wait until you were in the room and half dressed."

She blushed slightly. "Then maybe you should wait to uncork it."

Holly reappeared several moments later with two glasses in her hand. "So what are we celebrating?" she asked, placing the glasses on the cocktail table. "Or are we just drinking to drink?"

"I thought we could make a little toast." he said, carefully uncorking the champagne bottle. "I thought we could drink to the future."

"The future?"

Robert carefully filled up the glasses, careful not to overflow them. "Yes." he replied. "And whatever it may hold."

"I think this feels like the start of a seduction."

"Really?" he sighed. "I thought it was just a nice gesture. I haven't gotten to spend any time with you as of late and I thought it would be nice to come over and see you."

"And the champagne?"

"You love champagne." he smiled. "Expensive, cheap, and everything else in between. Besides I didn't think that you would object to a drink and some light conversation."

"I'm not objecting." she replied. "Not at all. I happen to enjoy your company. I was just curious of exactly what you had in mind that's all."

"You enjoy my company?" he asked. "That's quite a relief."

"Now." she exhaled, inching closer. "Why don't you tell me the real reason you're here."

"I told you the real reason." he said, picking up his champagne flute and taking a drink. "I wanted to see you. And I wanted to ask you a very important question."

Holly took a sip of her champagne. "You have my undivided attention."

"I was hoping you would say that." his dimples shining. "Because what I'm about to ask you is going to change everything."

"Well now I'm definitely intrigued." she said. "What is this life changing question?"

"Will you marry me?"

"Are you insane?" she asked, never batting an eyelash. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Probably." he replied, reaching into his pants pocket and pulling out a little black box. "It still doesn't change my question." he said, opening the box. "Will you marry me?"

Holly looked down at the ring and then back up at Robert. "That's an impressive diamond."

"I think so." he said. "I fell in love with it the moment it caught my eye and I thought it would have the same effect on you as well."

"You were out shopping for diamond rings?"

"No." he replied. "But I was walking past a jewelry store and it caught my eye in the window. Somehow I found myself inside the store and thousands of dollars poorer."

"So it was impulsive?"

"No." he disagreed. "I'd like to think of it more like fate. You came back into my life in a fate filled sorta way and I think it's a sign. I think we would be absolutely insane not to give this another try."

"Wow." she took a long drink of champagne. "Fate and second chances and diamonds. This is really a lot to take in, Robert."

"Would you prefer me to get down on one knee?" he asked. "I probably should. You do deserve a proper proposal."

"Robert...I." she trailed off as she watched him get down on one knee. "Robert, what are you doing?"

"Proposing."

"Have you thought about this?" Holly asked. "Have you really and truly thought about this?"

"I know that I love you and that I've always loved you." he told her. "And I know that you love me too. We've been through heaven and hell and this may not have been our vision of what our life was going to be like but I'm thankful that we're here together. We've taken things extremely slow. We've had dinner and lunch and movies and I'm ready for a little more. I want you to be my wife and I want us to have babies. Lots and lots of babies. I want to move to the suburbs and mow the grass every Saturday."

"Robert." she said, softly. "I do love you. You know that and I know you know that. I just don't want you to have to give up everything and settle for a life that you're going to be restless in. I don't want you to have any regrets."

"I could never had any regrets with you." he replied, honestly. "I know that we got off to a rocky start this time around but I think we've worked through that anger. And I could never be restless or bored with you."

"I could still use an adventure or two a year." she smiled. "Can we alter your ideal life just a little?"

"I think we could add that in." he smiled. "So is that a yes to my question? Will you marry me, Holly?"

"Yes." she said, softly. "The past few weeks I've realized that I can't go back to living in a world where I can't see you and talk to you. I don't want to live in a world where you don't exist to me. And if I have to marry you to keep you around then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

Robert laughed. "I'm going to make you deliriously happy." he said, taking the ring out of the box and slipping it on her finger. "It's official, you're stuck with me now."

"I knew I'd get you back." she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "I knew it."

Finished.