I don't even know where this came from but I wanted to wrap my ficlet up with a happy ending. If anyone reads this pairing please let me know what you think. I own nothing and mean no harm.
"Mr. Wolfe."
Ryan turned to his left, inclining his head in welcome, "Horatio."
"She looks beautiful doesn't she?" H had been nostalgic all night, had in fact been pleased with the turn of events since they had unfolded.
"That she does," and Calleigh was beyond beautiful. She was radiant, beaming, all those vanilla adjectives that he had thought were just that were absolutely true in regards to the dancing woman.
"We have all come so far," again with low murmur of satisfaction he watched H cast his gaze over all in attendance.
"That we have," and it was not hard to agree with. Every member of their team had changed in the past year and a half. Since that series of cases that had taken so much from them.
But tonight was not a night for those memories it was a night to make new ones; Ryan watched H move up towards the newly wedded couple, and slide easily between bride and groom.
"Ryan," taking the hand that offered he noted that the groom kept his eyes on his bride, "Jake."
Jake and Calleigh, he felt like he had played a small part in helping them find their way to each other. Being a romantic was not practical in their line of work, so often they saw how romance could end.
Seeing how Jake and Calleigh how made their own ending gave him hope.
Ryan snagged a flute of champagne from a passing server, handing it to his left, "You got yourself a beautiful bride," Jake met his glass with a smile.
"That I do," they sipped and watched her dance with H.
"I still don't know why man," Ryan, surprised, looked over at Jake, "I mean she could have had anyone," Ryan knew Jake knew what had almost happened between Calleigh and Delko, "but still."
And that's where it got confusing and sort of awesome. Calleigh really could have had any of them. Hell, Ryan could admit to harboring a slight crush.
Jake had been the one though, her one, and that was what mattered. Ryan might not get it, but he sure as hell wanted it.
Sending Calleigh off on her 'vacation' had been one hell of a risk. Everyone had known what Calleigh had struggled with given the scope of what Jake had sacrificed and sending her off to meet him could have been a disaster.
They had returned together hand in hand walking through Miami International and everyone, the entire team had turned up to greet them, knew that the opposite of disaster had occurred.
Calleigh had even given into Jake's suggestion and eloped on the island right then and there. Ryan's jaw had literally dropped at that, the thought of Calleigh being so impulsive was mind boggling.
H had taken it in stride, smiling that smile of his and wrapping his girl in a hug and insisted they do it right and do it right away.
Ryan had suspected, given the speed with which this celebration had come together, if H had not had some idea that a union like this might have been in the cards.
H had passed Calleigh off to Kyle with a flourish that him laughing along with Jake.
As one song ended, Jake put his empty glass down on the nearest surface, "I do believe I've been apart from my bride for too long," he strolled out onto the dance floor and Calleigh met him with a kiss.
"We did well H," Ryan clinked another glass with another man he called friend and smiled.
"That we did Mr. Wolfe. That we did."