A/N: The time really starts jumping in this part, I didn't dwell too long on any event. I also had a long stretch of writers block when writing this because Claire wouldn't do what I wanted her to and I finally gave in and let her have her way just to carry on with the story, I've reread it a few times so I think I got all of the years in but I'm not 100% sure. Hope you enjoy and as always I do not own these characters and do not profit monetarily from this work.
-Slow and Steady-
Part 2
It was a shock when Alex called early one morning in November saying she not only wouldn't be home for Thanksgiving, she was staying East for the entire winter break. She had found a job she really liked and was hoping to help with tuition next semester. She insisted she was fine, she had made friends she was going to spend her off days with, but there really was no point in her family canceling their plans and flying across the country to see her, she would be working almost the entire time. Even when the last Thursday came around Phil was still holding out hope that Alex would walk through the door and surprise her family. Across the country Alex was holding her breath that her family wasn't going to walk through her door and surprise her.
She had plans that afternoon to have Thanksgiving with friends at a restaurant in the city, a game of touch football in the park, but this morning she was pouring hot coffee into a thermos and making sure all of the parade watching supplies were ready. She had been content to watch it on T.V. like every year but Dylan had insisted that she see it in person, since she did live here now. Plus he seemed really excited to see it and his enthusiasm for any and everything was contagious. He had arrived a day earlier than planned, but it was a welcome surprise, even if she did have to work that evening. She hadn't realized how much she actually missed him until she saw his smiling face. They barely moved from her bed the entire next day, but the parade was different, everyone loves a parade. Alex had to admit, even with the size of the crowd and the dropping temperature, it was an experience she was glad to have, and Dylan's arm wrapped around her, as he pointed out each float and balloon that passed by.
She introduced him to her friends, and he went easy on the guys during the game later, and that evening as they planned the Christmas break Alex thought she had never been happier in her life.
-.-.-.-
Dylan was leaned over the ring counter when Claire spotted him. She ducked behind the nearest rack of dresses before he could see her. When she was positive that his attention was fully on the rings she relaxed and started browsing, trying to keep a barrier of clothes between them. It was minutes before she realized that Dylan was looking at rings. She couldn't help herself really, it was her nature to know everything. She stopped looking for a present for her daughter and went to the jewelry counter to see exactly which piece he was looking at.
"No, it's just not her. Something simple, unassuming, like no other."
"Yes Sir, but you have looked at the majority of our diamonds, maybe another jewel perhaps?"
"Maybe, it's just, it doesn't seem right, an engagement right without a diamond."
"That's because that's what they want you to think." Claire interjected before the salesman pulled out another tray.
"Mrs. Dunphy! What are you doing here? Who are 'they'?"
"Oh I'm just doing some Christmas shopping. But it's true, diamond rings didn't become engagement rings until the 1930's, some huge conspiracy by DeBeers, Alex told me about it years ago."
"Alex told you? Are you sure?"
"Yes, she went on and on about the Diamond Conspiracy and how she could never be with a man who fell for it. So who's the lucky girl?"
"Oh, um, my girlfriend, maybe."
"Maybe, you aren't sure you want to marry her? Oh Dylan, you didn't get her pregnant did you?" Dylan couldn't be sure but she sounded almost happy about that possibility.
"No ma'am, she's not pregnant, she's still in school, and it's just a bit complicated with her family is all. I don't want to rush her, but I just want her to know that I'm serious about us."
Claire was slightly taken aback by this, she still remembered his proposal to Haley and just a few days later him staying in Wyoming.
"If you are serious then there's no need to jump to a proposal Dylan. School can be stressful, and to add marriage to it can be challenging for a young couple. You're still in school yourself right? Do you think it wise to spend so much money on a ring?"
"You might be right Mrs. D. I just want her to know that I love her even when we're not together."
"That's nice Dylan." Claire was skeptical about his devotion, but didn't want to show it, at the very least she was grateful that he wanted a woman who wasn't her daughter. "How about a promise ring?"
"Promise ring, isn't that a bit high school?"
"What? No, of course not, it's meaningful, instead of a diamond a simple band or her birthstone."
"Her birthstone…"
"Yeah, you do know your girlfriend's birthday right? Look there's Haley's and that one is Alex's." Claire was pointing to the children's rhinestone rings, but Dylan was coming up with an idea.
"Thanks Mrs. D, that's a great idea."
"You're welcome Dylan, I hope it works out for you. Well I should go, still have to find something for Alex."
"Are you seeing her for Christmas?"
"No, we thought about surprising her, but Luke's school work is getting harder and with all the younger ones, it would be a lot of trouble to trek everyone to New York for a week. And there's no guarantee that Alex would have time to spend with us. Haley thinks it's a bluff, that Alex is using the breaks to meet some guy, but it's Alex, so that's unlikely. Um no, we're just sending her her presents this year, next year she'll be home." Claire walked back to the dresses, her head full of her daughter, she didn't see Dylan turn back to the counter and point to the tray full of garnet jewelry.
-.-.-.-
"Three. Two. On…" Flesh and sweat. Salt. Bliss. Safety.
Alex stared at herself in the mirror, she touched the garnet heart around her neck. A promise, that's what he said, no one had ever made her such a promise before, she never wanted anyone else to make that promise to her again. He didn't ask her to wait, didn't ask her to stay true to him, didn't ask her for forever, he offered her all of those, and a heart made of garnet, her birthstone, she was never going to take it off. His arms wrapped around her from behind.
"I can't tell my parents over the phone, this had to be a face to face discussion. Over spring break, I'll go back to California, you shouldn't be the only one traveling all the time anyways."
"I want you to finish school first, I want us both to finish, we have the rest of our lives, what's four years?"
"Four years, no I can do it in three, you'll have a job, so will I, then…"
"Then?"
"Then, maybe we start on a family?" Alex was sure there was nothing more beautiful than Dylan's smile.
"No maybe about it."
-.-.-.-
The ocean licked at her ankles, she had missed it, but she had been near another ocean, so it was more the being back in the one she knew than the water itself. She hadn't even told Dylan she was coming in early, she wanted this moment to herself. The quiet, the wind and sea, birds and waves, the realization that she was more healed than she knew. She summoned up her courage and pressed speed dial on her phone.
Dylan pulled up to the Dunphy house at eight o'clock like Alex asked, he had been so thrilled that she had arrived early and disappointed that he couldn't get off of his shift earlier. His supervisors still hadn't forgotten he'd taken an extra day at New Years, but it really couldn't be avoided. He didn't expect to see so many cars in the driveway, then there was Alex, the red around her neck catching in the light, he would never buy a diamond.
"Is there a party?"
"Kind of, they were in the middle of preparing a welcome home party for me, I interrupted them. But everyone is here now."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah. We can wait, I really did want to just tell my parents first, alone, the four of us." Alex was concerned with look Dylan was giving the house.
"That's probably the best thing to do."
"Right, but it's no reason we can't enjoy ourselves tonight. There is food and cake, just family."
"Family, right. Let me just do one thing before I can't." Dylan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. The blood rushed out of her head and she staggered just a bit when he let her go.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
And like before no one really knew why Dylan was there, but this time they saw touches and lingering eye contact. Jokes that only the two laughed to and smiles and glances for only the other. They found out Dylan didn't have a shift for the next day so he was free to stay later than those that had work or babies to get to bed. Then Alex disappeared for almost half a hour, when asked where she had been she merely said she was saying goodnight to Dylan.
Claire wasn't going to scream, she wasn't going to yell, or berate in any way. She was trying very hard to not focus on the clasped hands of the two people in front of her but the only other thing she could focus on was the red heart hanging from her daughter's neck. She thought she heard Phil stuttering but wasn't sure because of the sound of rushing blood that had taken up her hearing. Just a dream, it was surely all just a dream, or nightmare. Hands and Heart, Heart and Hands, it was too much. Claire stood up and walked away.
"Honey are you okay?" That was Phil, her husband.
"Mom say something. Please!" Alex, her daughter, the good one, the smart one, the one getting ready to throw her life away. What was there to say?
Claire woke up, she didn't remember going to sleep. She walked past Alex's room, empty, no Alex, no luggage, just a dream, it really was just a dream. There was the banner they had hung up earlier, Phil and Haley were in the den talking, very quietly.
"You two will not believe the dream I just had."
"Oh Mom! How could you? I don't like it either but I'm going to be supportive, they look so happy together!"
Alex stretched out on Dylan's bed, watching him get ready for work. She only had a few more days before the summer semester started, then it would be Thanksgiving before they could see each other again. Dylan had one more test before being an official nurse. She was so proud of him. He came home tired and his clothes smelled like the hospital, but nothing could change the way he smelled to her. After he left she would get out of bed and make him lunch and in a few hours she would take it to him. She was reading ahead for her classes, it was going to be a busy few years, but she knew what was on the other side of it and was committed to getting it done quickly and with top marks. She chose a major, Marine Biology, they had been watching the sunset and she knew right then that the ocean was a fundamental part of her life, like oxygen, like Dylan.
-.-.-.-
They woke up early but didn't go to the parade, Dylan couldn't bare to share her with anyone else. They had Chinese delivered, he almost didn't let her get out of bed to answer the door. He wiped her tears away at the airport.
-.-.-.-
9pm. He kicked the wall. He couldn't get out of it, she had papers to write, he had a job he loved, she said it would only be one more Christmas. Dylan swore they would be together next year. His phone rang, he smiled.
"Happy New Year!"
-.-.-.-
Sun, ocean and sun. Cancun. Dylan was trying to teach her to surf. It was unnerving, letting the ocean take control and just try to keep your balance and stay pointed in the right direction. But Dylan was there with his hands on her hips and speaking softly in her ear. They walked on the beach at night and wrapped around each other by the fire. It had been Dylan's idea to come here on break. He didn't tell Alex that he had stopped by her house earlier that week, Claire had slammed the door in his face. It was the only chance she had to relax between classes.
She told him her plan, he still wasn't sure she was fully committed to it. To almost never see her family again. But over all it was tempting, living in paradise, he could work anywhere, as long as Alex was with him.
"One year Dylan, just one more year is all."
"One year and three months Alex, you'll miss most of the next two summers."
"Yeah, and I hate that Dylan, I really do. The last place I want to spend summer is in New York, far away from you. But then, oh Dylan, it's going to be wonderful, living in Paradise. I've already sent out feelers to labs and even if none of them pan out, it'll be okay because when we're together all is right with the world." Dylan thought she had never looked more beautiful and kissed her.
-.-.-.-
She watched the parade on T.V. at her friends apartment in-between helping with the turkey and pumpkin pies. It was the compromise Dylan had to make, work Thanksgiving to be off Christmas through New Years. Alex surrounded herself with people to pretend that she wasn't alone. She laughed at the right times, and these were her classmates, her equals, no one she had to dumb down or overcompensate for. Her phone rang shortly before dinner, expecting Dylan she didn't look at the caller ID.
"Alex? Are you still there?"
"Yeah dad, I'm here."
"I just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving honey."
"Thanks dad, Happy Thanksgiving to you too, and the whole family. I miss you all on days like this."
"We miss you all the time sweetie."
"We're still getting married dad."
"I know, your Grandpa is coming around to it."
"Grandpa, really?"
"Yeah, he had to rush Joe to the E.R. a few days ago, Dylan was there. Joe's alright, you know kids they'll stick anything up their nose. But Dylan was the one who stayed with them the entire time. Jay said he hardly recognized him, he had matured so much."
"He's always been like that dad, more than any of us knew. He's just doing a job he loves and is really good at now."
"You might be right sweetie. Alex, don't run off, let your family support you on your wedding day. Let me walk my little girl down the aisle."
"And mom?" Phil was silent, there was no way to answer her without hurting her.
"Dad, what about mom?"
"She just needs a little more time honey, she'll come around."
"She's had a year dad, how much longer is it going to take?"
"I don't know Alex, but she'll see, one day."
"Dad, I gotta go, love you."
"I love you too Alex."
-.-.-.-
They went ice skating in the park. Hot coco by the heater. It's A Wonderful Life along with the standard cartoon fare on T.V. A song, brand new and written just for her, played on a new guitar that she had done weeks of research on but in the end decided on the one that sounded like his voice.
They talked about locations and outfits, flowers and food. Guest, family and friends. Tears and screams. He held her until she fell asleep, he had a resolution for the new year, one he vowed to keep. They went to The Ball Drop and danced like no one was looking.
-.-.-.-
Claire hadn't actually meant to volunteer herself for Luke and Manny's project, but here she was driving them to and chaperoning their visit to an Elderly Care Facility, though most would call it an Old Folks Home. She could never get a straight answer from the boys about what their project was about, but they had been insistent on the place and time and no one else was available. The staff was friendly enough on their arrival, been expecting them. Look at her boys, showing they could be responsible. The staff insisted she wait in the activity room, they were having music today. Claire saw the little platform with a chair and guitar waiting but no performer, there was how ever a large number of older women sitting up front waiting for the show to start. Panic spread through her when he walked into the room. The child stealer, where were Luke and Manny they were leaving. He didn't look at her beyond a glance as he made his way to the platform. Luke and Manny stood in the doorway. A setup, all a setup to get her here with him, for what, did any of them actually think she was going to change her mind?"
"Hello ladies, so good to see you all again." Claire fumed, Manny and Luke had taken the seats beside her, trapping her. Heads would roll. Then he started playing.
Heart of Gold - Bob Dylan
Claire had forgotten how good he actually was at this.
Fools Rush In - Elvis Presley
Not enough love songs in the world buddy. That's what Claire wanted to scream out at him.
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
She tuned out, she couldn't stand it anymore, everyone trying to convince her that this was fine, good even. How could they believe that, they just wanted to make everyone happy and not face the reality of it. Alex was a child, a brilliant, responsible, child. And Dylan was what, a man child, who showed no sign of ever growing up and he had dated her other daughter, proposed to her, took her purity. Did he really have to have the other one too?
Dylan finished his set and was accepting the applause of the group when he saw her and froze. Her face was red and wet, tears still pouring down, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his resolution just by her expression. Anger, maybe Hate, Claire wouldn't be on their side.
She was silent as she left, didn't bother looking back, didn't pause or even slow down on the way to the van. She had enough of a clear mind to wait for the boys to get in and buckle up before tearing out of the parking lot. And she waited until she was at home in her own room with the door locked to scream and ball her eyes out. She had lost, she knew it. They were going to be together no matter her feeling or opinion, there was nothing she could do and she felt weak and helpless. Then Phil cam home, and as much as she wanted to call him a traitor, she wanted him to hold her and rock her and whisper soothing words into her ear more.
-.-.-.-
Dylan started applying to hospitals early, explained his situation. He started looking for houses, apartments, condos, shacks. Anything they could afford. He had been summoned by Jay after the senior center incident and been told in no uncertain terms to never do that again and in exchange he would pay for the wedding. Dylan had been hesitant about that, he really should talk to Alex about it first. They called her right there, on speaker so they could both hear. Jay hadn't expected her to start crying. She insisted she was happy and would be glad to accept her Grandfather's offer if Dylan was okay with it. He handed over their plans to Gloria on the condition that they keep it small and on the beach.
Alex had been accepted into a lab, she would start her masters in the fall. It really was all coming together for them just as long as they kept on top of everything, like finding a place to live. He was thinking of her school and job, how far she would have to travel each day. He was certain Alex hadn't told her family what would happen after the wedding, her career plans and where they would live. It was going to be rough on all of them, more so than she was willing to admit to herself.
-To be continued-
PS A/N: I know somethings are really vague, but I like surprises in situations and I don't like killing myself just go into minute details. Hundreds of years of the English language and two different words still have the same spelling, so you get to pick and choose what I just said.