A/N: Home sick, but I've got my toddler with me today. Will see how much writing I can manage. Watching Season 11 though. Luckily my kid loves watching CSI too.
Love Is Your Color
Chapter 8: Endings and Beginnings
Nick's hand firmly held Roxie's. Roxie was so grateful to have him by her side. The last few days had been the most difficult days she has ever been through. Sadly, but luckily for her, her mother had planned her entire funeral out and Roxie's job was just to confirm any details. Even though she'd known for a while that this day would come, she just didn't expect it to come up on her so fast. The service had been beautiful with all of the elements her mother had wanted. Now at the after service get together Roxie just wanted to run and hide. She had just buried her mother. Her heart was pounding and she just wanted to leave, but she knew she had to be there and to stand strong. She was grateful to have Nick holding her hand. A good chuck of the LVPD was there honoring her mother who had served over 20 years as an officer. Roxie was also grateful that many people from the lab had come. Most of them were the people she had gotten to know in her last few months temporarily working the nightshift.
"Hey Roxie." Catherine said as she approached giving Roxie a hug.
"Thanks for coming." Roxie said truthfully.
"No problem. We support our family." Catherine said. Roxie truly felt like she belong in the nightshift and the fact that the cases were dwindling down made her apprehensive. She really didn't want to go back to dayshift. She dreaded it with every new case she pulled from the box of open cases.
"People are starting to head out. Do you want to go home?" Nick asked Roxie who simply nodded.
Once in her apartment she kicked off her heels and sat on the couch. She just starred into the distance in silence. Nick went in the kitchen and put on her kettle to make her a cup of tea. He left the kitchen and found her on the couch. He didn't know the pain she was feeling in losing her mother, but he knew how it felt to lose your best friend. He sat down next to her and pulled her close to him without a word.
"Whatever you need you know I'm here." He said to her. Roxie looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. He'd been so amazing to her since she got that phone call that night. She couldn't have asked for anything or anyone better.
"I know." Roxie said weakly. She could feel her emotions welling up inside of her. She'd been strong through the entire service, but now she felt that the damn was full and on the verge of breaking. Nick could tell that she was about to break. He held her even tighter. "I'm…I'm…so lost." Roxie then choked out before she broke down into tears.
"Shh…shh…I've got you." Nick said as he held her close to him. He ran his hand down her arm. He closed his eyes and relaxed his body hoping that his relaxed state could help her relax. It seemed to be working. Roxie was beginning to be less hysterical and slowly the only sounds coming from her were small sniffles.
Roxie then looked up at him. He took his fingers and wiped away her tears. She simply smiled and he placed his lips on hers. His strength radiated into her and helped her. She then thought of the upcoming holidays. She and her mom always spent Christmas together at her mom's house. Roxie thought of the house that sat abandoned. She knew eventually she would have to go and start cleaning it out, but she wasn't ready for it just yet. She couldn't face that her mom would never be returning to the house that she worked so hard to pay for so Roxie could have a roof over her head. The kettle then began to whistle. Nick loosened his grip on Roxie and stood. He walked into the kitchen and poured the hot water into a mug to make tea. Roxie walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
"You know I'd imagined this day in my head for over a month now and I always saw it for myself, but today it was so different. I am grateful for everyone's support, but I feel like nobody really understands. It's normal to lose a parent, but I lost the one person I've always counted on." Roxie said as she looked at Nick. He walked to her and ran his hand over her arm down to her hand and took her hand into his.
"That afternoon before your mom passed. She called me and asked me to come see her." Nick started. Roxie was shocked. She had no knowledge of this. For all she knew her mother and Nick had never met. "I went to see her and she told me about how she was finally at peace knowing that you had me. Knowing that you would have someone to lean on always. I promised her that I would care for you and love you."
"She…she told you that and you did that?" Roxie questioned. She felt Nick's hold on her hand tighten.
"I did. I promised her that you'd always have me because I love you." He said giving her a weak smile.
"Thank you." Roxie then said feeling her heart swell. "Thank you for fulfilling her wish."
"I also asked something of her." Nick then said. He took his other hand and cupped Roxie's cheek. "I asked for her permission. I told her when I felt like the time was right. I would ask you to be mine. To be mine for always. I didn't plan on today, but I feel like as you close one chapter I want you to be able to walk into the new chapter." He then pulled a small box from his pocket and got down on one knee. "I've been carrying this around with me for a while now and I think it's time I give it to you. Roxanne." He said. Roxie smiled down at him. She knew exactly what was happening. "My Rainbow… I promised your mother I'd love you forever and forever is how long I want to be with you. Will you make me the luckiest man in Vegas and be my wife?"
"Of course I will." Roxie said happily. She didn't think on the day she buried her mother that she would have a smile this big on her face. He slipped the ring onto her finger. She realized it matched her necklace. Just like her necklace the ring was rose gold and the diamond was the shape of a heart just like the necklace. "It's beautiful."
"Thought I did an ok job." Nick said as she stood to his feet. He pulled her close to him. "I love you more than words could express."
"I love you too." Roxie said before he pulled her in for a kiss. That single kiss was filled with so many emotions and simply love as they stood there in that tiny apartment kitchen.
It was a few days before Roxie returned to work. She happily walked into the lab. She was ready to be back and looking forward to working. Opening the box of cases it was getting pretty empty. Her heart broke a little at the fact that her time here would nearly be over. She looked at Nick's empty desk chair. He'd been off working since early that morning when he was called to a scene. There was the sound of throat clearing at the door. She looked to see Catherine at the door. She entered the office and closed the door behind her.
"Hi." Roxie said.
"Hey Roxie. I wanted to talk to you for a second." Catherine said as she approached Roxie.
"Sure." Roxie said as she sat down the folder she had in her hand.
"Well it is obvious that your time with us is coming to an end. You've done such a great job getting these cases closed up for us." Catherine said.
"It's been no bother. I've enjoyed it." Roxie said happily though it hurt her heart that she was getting so close to emptying the box.
"Well we've loved having you around. I've spoken with your supervisor on days and they are still overstaffed. I've asked him if I can keep you here on nights after you've finished the task you've been brought here for." Catherine said.
"You want me to join the nightshift?" Roxie then asked.
"Only if you want." Catherine added.
"Of course I'll stay!" Roxie said happily. She couldn't believe it. In that single moment she was so happy. She'd finally found a group of people she fit in with and after being so afraid she was going to have to leave them she now didn't.
"Great welcome aboard officially." Catherine said. "And Congrats!"
"You know?" Roxie asked.
"About the engagement…of course. As soon as he bought the ring he came straight to me for my opinion on it. I'm happy for both of you." Catherine said sweetly.
"Thanks." Roxie then said.
Roxie sat in the break room eating her middle of the night lunch. She'd actually managed to make her own food and bring it with her. The last couple days off had been useful for her. She looked down at her ring and smiled. As much pain as she had been in with losing her mom she saw the light at the end of the tunnel with Nick. She was still so amazed that he had proposed to her. She then felt hands on her shoulders that then slid down her arms. She looked up to see Nick smiling down at her.
"Hey Country Boy." She said happily. He bent down and kissed her lips. He then sat in the chair next to her.
"Hello my Rainbow." He said as he picked up her container of food and took a couple bites. "This is good."
"I made it." Roxie said proudly.
"You did?" Nick questioned.
"Guess what?" Roxie asked happily.
"What my dear?" Nick questioned taking another bite of her food.
"I spoke with Catherine earlier and she offered me a position here on nightshift and I accepted." Roxie said happily.
"That's great. I'm so happy for you and for us." Nick said.
"Me too. I'm so happy I don't have to leave you once I'm done." Roxie said. "Did you close your case?"
"Yeah we did. Turns out the guy and one of the girls were having sex on the balcony railing and it was an accident. Dude slipped." Nick explained. Roxie burst into laughter.
"Why would anyone have sex on a balcony railing?" Roxie then asked.
"No clue. Not my cup of tea." Nick then said as he pulled Roxie's chair closer to his.
"No we will just keep it simple. I like it the way we do it now." Roxie said sweetly. He pressed his lips softly to hers.
"Aww young love." Came a voice from behind them. They turned to see Sara standing there with Greg and Catherine. Catherine was holding a cake. She walked in and sat it on the table. The cake read: Congrats Nick & Roxie.
"You guys." Nick said.
"We are so happy for you guys." Catherine said.
"Yeah congrats and welcome to the team Roxie." Greg said.
"Thanks." Roxie said sweetly.
"So are you ready to meet the in-laws next week?" Sara asked.
"Next week?" Roxie questioned.
"Thanks for ruining the surprise." Nick then said.
"I'm lost." Roxie admitted.
"Umm guys let's give them a minute." Catherine then said as she, Sara, and Greg quickly left the room.
"Well I know this was going to be your first Christmas without your mom and I thought you could use a good time and be away from Vegas. I booked a trip for both of us to Texas next week for Christmas." He explained. Nick wanted this to be a good Christmas for Roxie. He didn't want her to have to really think about the fact that her mother wasn't there. He wanted her to be able to celebrate with him and he knew it would be a great opportunity for his family to meet her.
"Well I need to request time off then." Roxie said.
"Well until you've finished with that box of cases I'm your supervisor and your time off is approved." He said giving her a wink. Roxie threw her arms around him. She was so happy that he had thought of doing this for her and she was so excited to see where he grew up and to meet his family. It was like her life was starting over again just with him.
A/N: Reviews?