Holy shit! Just saw the promo on YouTube and 10.01 looks freakin' awesome! Can't wait!
Oh, and the Denver Broncos just won the game, so it's been a good day over here! I hope everyone else's has been just as good and if not, hopefully this chapter will help.
Two and a half years later…
To state that their relationship moved at a snail's pace would be an utter understatement. They tried their sincere hardest to make certain that all issues—past and future—wouldn't be enough to rip tear them from one another back cruelly toss them back into hell. But as the time passed and they became more confident with the stability of their relationship, Eric and Calleigh found their love and infatuation for one another intensified to levels they didn't even know possible.
Now, two years and six months had passed and their lives with one another had definitely changed; this time it was for the better.
This particular morning, the harsh sound that was the buzzing of the alarm rung through their bedroom, yanking them out of their dreams, not that they hadn't been looking forward to getting up this morning, but they wouldn't have minded savoring a few more precious minutes of a morning just the two of them.
Eric pulled Calleigh closer into his bare chest as she blindly hit the button to shut off the obnoxious ringing of the alarm before snuggling back into Eric's chest.
"Cal?" she heard Eric's voice calling to her through her slumber filled mind. "Calleigh," he said again, his voice this time accompanied by his lips softly touching her forehead. Calleigh's eyes fluttered open to the face man who in a few hours would be called her husband. She pulled her arms out of the mess of sheets that covered their naked bodies and wrapped them around his neck, putting her lips to his. Eric wrapped his arm around her torso, pulling her onto his chest, not allowing the kiss to break.
Calleigh leaned out and folded her hands beneath her chin as she smiled down at Eric, who smiled with sheer excitement back as he ran his hands through her blonde hair, the locks following like silk between his fingers.
"This time next year I'll be telling you Happy One Year Anniversary," Calleigh whispered.
Eric chuckled. "Sounds good to me," he grinned, tracing the line of her lips with his finger. She reached up to take Eric's hand that was on her lips. She kissed his fingertips, his palm and the pulse on his wrist before he moved his palm to caress the side of her face. They looked at each other and their lips touched, once again.
"No second thoughts?" Eric asked.
"Nope," Calleigh mumbled against his lips. "You?"
"None whatsoever," Eric promised. "I'm just happy that I'm finally marrying you."
"Well," she sighed, happily, as she glanced at the digital clock, "only six more hours."
As far as Eric was concerned, those six hours couldn't go by fast enough. He had spent a good part of the last decade fantasying about the day he and Calleigh would wed and now half a dozen hours stood in his way, mocking him for still having to wait. But, as he kept reminding himself, no matter how long he had to wait, Calleigh would always be worth it.
"When's Alexx coming to get you?" Eric asked, absentmindedly twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers.
"In an hour or so," she shrugged, remembering the time Alexx had given her in which she would pick Calleigh up to take to take her to Carmen's place to get ready for the ceremony. "So I'd better take a shower."
Calleigh shifted her weight to roll off of Eric and grab her robe from the floor, sitting up on the edge of the bed as she slid it on.
"I can help you with that shower," Eric volunteered, seductively, as he snaked his arms around her waist from behind her.
Calleigh laughed and shook her head as she turned in his direction to kiss his cheek. "We have to save a few things for the honeymoon," she reminded him, unlinking his arms from around her waist.
"Good point," he sighed in defeat, leaning into the pillows. "And how long is it until the honeymoon?"
Calleigh just rolled her eyes and walked away from him to head into the adjoining bathroom. Eric heard the sound of the water hitting the tiles of the shower floor as his eyes landed back onto the clock counting down until Calleigh would become his wife.
Eric remembered how two and a half years ago he had almost lost this moment by letting Calleigh go from his life forever. Yes, at the time his pain had been enormous and the fear of opening his heart back to her even more so. But now when he put everything into the proper perspective, his hurt and losses were feeble compared to all he was about to gain: Calleigh as his wife, one day their family and the promise of many years together. All of this had been promised almost a year ago when he proposed to her.
One year ago…
Calleigh wasn't quite sure how she had spent her nights before Eric. She wasn't sure how she survived without those sweet kisses being dotted along the veins of her neck, how she had managed to endure every night without love, passion and intense ecstasy. The nights without his broad arms wrapped around her waist, without hearing his steady heartbeat beneath her ear whilst her head rested on his chest or his fingers combing through the locks of her hair that was slightly askew by that point of the evening.
But now she worked overtime in Firearms, getting caught up on a few of her open cases, and was beginning to long for the feeling of their bodies lost within one another and the contact of their skin as they held each other. Instead she was constantly running rounds through IBIS, test-firing weapons, comparing bullets under the scope and filling out reports. As much as Calleigh loved being around guns and working in her Firearms lab, she also loved Eric and their nights together, something they were constantly robbed of. But her dedication to her job, to catching the killer, kept her at the Crime Lab.
Calleigh continued write out the details of the report when the door to her lab opened and entered an unexpected visitor.
"I come bearing coffee, drink of the gods," Eric announced, two Styrofoam cups of coffee in his hands.
Calleigh laughed as he came towards her, handing her the cup of coffee. "What are you doing back here?" she asked. "Your shift ended hours ago."
"I haven't seen you all day," he shrugged, innocently, as he delivered the alibi he formed on his way over; one Calleigh appeared to have bought. "How's it going?"
"Good. I just have to finish up this report and then I'm home free," she grinned as she took a sip of her coffee.
Eric smiled and, after placing his coffee to the side, came up behind her to wrap his arms around her middle and ducking down to kiss the nape of her neck. Calleigh lightly giggled but gave him a look of light disapproval; however the threat in her eyes was out shined by the dimples her smile formed. She allowed herself to lean into his chest and he lightly rested his chin on her shoulder, attempting keep his nerves under wraps.
"I'm glad you stopped by," Calleigh smiled at him.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I was getting a bit lonely, too," she admitted as she resumed her work.
Eric waited for her to complete her report patiently, remaining quiet as to not interfere with her work, but would occasionally turn her head in his direction to kiss her neck or her cheek, mildly distracting her for a moment; Calleigh couldn't say she minded too much. His being here as she completed her report definitely made the task less tedious.
Calleigh signed her name, completing the report, and smiled in triumph as she slid it into a manila folder.
"Be right back," she whispered, leaving his arms to hang up her lab coat.
"Okay," he nodded as she walked through the doors and left him standing in the lab alone, giving him the final opportunity to prepare himself for what he was about to do.
Eric reached into his pocket to take out the little black box that felt as though it weighed over a thousand pounds; he pulled open the lid to examine the ring. He could already see the silver band on Calleigh's finger, complimented by the setting of the diamond. The second he saw the ring in the jewelry store, he knew it had to be the one he bought for Calleigh when he would ask her to marry him, he had purchased the ring months ago and vowed to himself that he would propose to Calleigh by this date before eleven-thirty PM.
Originally, he had thought he would have proposed to her way before his deadline, but time had dwindled due to his nerves constantly getting in the way and the fear of how their relationship would be affected were she to say no. Now he was down to the wire and had to ask her to marry him within the next seven minutes, even if it was in the middle of the Firearms lab.
The door opened again and Calleigh entered; Eric hurriedly put the ring away before she had the chance to see it.
"And I'm done for the night," Calleigh announced, jubilantly as she approached Eric. "Ready to go?"
"Um, not quite," Eric said, the butterflies his stomach now circulating at a much higher rate. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay, go ahead," she permitted, slightly confused about what he could ask her here but not at home.
Eric took a deep breath and placed his hand back in his pocket, his fingers encompassing the velvet box as he looked into Calleigh's eyes. She awaited him to speak, however his lips had yet to form words despite the fact his mind was screaming. He stood in front of her, by this point feeling absolutely ridiculous that his nerves were getting the better of him, especially considering the fact he had pictured this moment plenty of times.
Calleigh gave him a reassuring smile and stretched up to kiss him and as her lips tenderly caressed his, Eric's nerves faded almost instantly, the kiss just had a natural calming effect on him.
"Eric, this is me you're talking to," she reminded him, leaning away. "Whatever it is, just ask." Calleigh didn't admit aloud she had an idea as to where this conversation was heading, but wasn't about to rush him; though at this point she was getting fairly anxious.
"Okay," Eric nodded, slowly getting his confidence back, though his heart was still experiencing a slight arrhythmia. "I've wanted to ask you this for years," he admitted. "I mean, you saw Dr. Marsh's file on me and….But I've never actually came out and asked you, so Calleigh…" He pulled out the velvet box and popped open the lid to reveal to her the ring as he slid down onto one knee. "Will you marry me?"
Her answer was immediate.
"Yes," Calleigh accepted with great certainty.
Eric exhaled in relief and he could feel the smile on his face spread from ear-to-ear, unable to contain his sheer happiness. He slid the ring into place on Calleigh's ring finger before getting back up to his feet, delicately holding her face in his hands as he leaned in to kiss her, his lips highly elated against hers as he was unable to conceal his joy. When the kiss broke, Eric was pleased to see Calleigh's smile mirrored his own, just as wide and just as excited.
Eric looked around the lab before his eyes rested on her, now looking a little sheepish. "I know Firearms probably isn't the most romantic place for a proposal," he said, apologetically.
"Hey," Calleigh grinned as she hugged his waist. "In my book, this lab beats out Paris," she reassured him.
Eric laughed and leaned in to kiss her, almost certain that Calleigh and only Calleigh would be the only one he'd ever know who would say that; he wouldn't have it any other way.
Eric's mind returned to the here and now, in which he stood in the kitchen in an old T-shirt and a pair of sweats, listening to the sound of coffee bubbling and hissing in its brewer. He reflected on this memory with an enormous amount of joy and, of course, relief. For there had always been the chance his proposal would've been rejected, but as the coffee pot filled with its dark liquid on this clear spring morning, those fears of rejection now seemed so trivial.
A knock on the door signaled Alexx's arrival, fifteen minutes ahead of her expected arrival; apparently she was as anxious for the wedding to arrive as Eric was.
"Come in," he called to her. The door opened and Alexx rushed into the living room, a broad smile on her face as she came up to embrace him.
"You're getting married," she said, excitedly. "Ready?"
"I've been ready for a long time," he confessed with a grin as he leaned out of the hug, feeling light as a feather and as though he was defying gravity at the prospect of getting married.
"So where's your bride?" Alexx asked.
"Here," Calleigh smiled as she entered the kitchen, her hair dried and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, opening a cupboard door. "Want some coffee?"
"Oh, no thank you," she declined. "I'm running on three cups already."
Calleigh chuckled as she grabbed a mug for herself and came over to stand beside Eric as Alexx leaned against the counter. Calleigh placed her cup on the counter and Eric took the opportunity, seeing as she was in close proximity, to lean down to kiss her hair.
"You two do know it's supposed to be bad luck to see each other before the wedding, right?" Alexx reminded them with a cocked eyebrow.
"Alexx, that's superstition," Calleigh pointed out. Alexx replied by lightly rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the indifference towards the tradition.
"Well, whether we see each other or not," Eric spoke up, pouring the coffee into the mugs. "There is going to be a wedding." The giddiness about this fact was all too apparent in Eric's eyes and Calleigh couldn't resist smiling wildly back at him.
Alexx chuckled at the two of them, fondly remembering the days when herself and her husband were young and in love; it did her heart good to see two of the people she was so close to experiencing such a magnificent feeling. To see Eric and Calleigh standing close to one another as they had their coffee, so comfortable and content just being with one another. And Alexx knew they would look at one another with just as much devotion in the years to come.
"Now, you have everything right?" Alexx asked. "You know, borrowed, something new; something borrowed and something blue?"
"Yes," Calleigh assured her as she finished the remains of her coffee. "Don't worry, Alexx, everything is ready."
"I don't understand how you two could remain so calm," she said with a shake of her head. "Whenever someone I know gets married, things are usually completely hectic."
Calleigh didn't admit it aloud, but she was certain the reason the day wasn't completely disorganized and rushed was due to the wedding being so small. The ceremony was going to be traditional, however miniscule compared to most weddings, only their closest family and friends in attendance at the Catholic Church. Calleigh would have been happy standing in front of a judge at a courthouse if it meant her and Eric could be married; the ceremony didn't seem all that important by this point.
"Well, calm is better than hectic," Eric pointed out.
"I suppose so," Alexx agreed with a nod. "Okay, baby, we'd better get going. You only have a few hours left as a bachelorette and we have work to do," she grinned, digging out her car keys.
"Okay," Calleigh smiled, excitedly, as she placed her empty mug in the sink. This was almost surreal to her by this point; she was about to go get ready for her wedding, the one all those years ago she thought wouldn't happen. Now, the three walked onto the porch—Eric seeing them out—and down the path to the driveway.
"We'll see you at the church," Alexx broadly smiled, giving Eric a hug. "I'm so happy for both you," she whispered.
"Thanks, Alexx," he said, gratefully. She leaned out, tears forming in her eyes uncontrollably, as they had been doing for most of the morning. Alexx hurriedly blinked them away as she loaded herself into the car.
"Be right there," Calleigh said to Alexx.
"Take your time," she grinned as she closed the door; though Calleigh and Eric both knew by this point "take your time" translated to "make it quick."
Eric chuckled. "The bridal party awaits."
"Yeah," Calleigh sighed, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'll see you later."
"You'll be the one in the white dress, right?" Eric asked, jokingly.
She rolled her eyes at the cliché and stretched up to kiss him, his hand cupping the side of her neck, his thumb lightly brushing against the corner of her mouth and across the outline of her jawbone, the fact hitting him that the next time he would be kissing her, it would be when they share their first kiss as husband and wife. This was to be their last kiss as Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko; the thought sent a delightful shiver down his spine.
"I'd better get going," she whispered as she leaned out and Eric nodded with a smile.
Calleigh released her hold on him and got into the passenger side of Alexx's car. They pulled out of the driveway, waving at him in the process and pulled out of sight.
Eric stood there in the driveway for a moment, taking in the day, the circumstances and the events which were to follow in a mere few hours. A light breeze blew through the air, the leaves on the nearby trees and shrubs swayed softly with it as Eric allowed his mind to wander. He thought about how completely and utterly right this felt, how he was certain he was the following appropriate path of his life, by choosing to be with Calleigh and spend the rest of his life with her. And he wondered how, even for a brief period in his life, he ever could have thought anything differently.
But that was the past, eons behind them, it felt. This was now, this was today, and today Calleigh Duquesne was going to become his wife and the world felt at peace.