Ch. 65

Laurie had been so occupied with the details of her move that she did not come to the realization until later that morning that this could be the last day she was going to spend in the house.

Of course she was still going to visit; she would have to frequently stop by to make sure the house was maintained while her father was away. But that was different from actually living there. Laurie was far from finished with her packing, but she was pretty sure that she was going to be sleeping in Walter's apartment from that day on, regardless of whether or not she would be ready to move by the night.

Two days had gone by since the incident with Agent Orange II. Two days, and Laurie had tried to distract herself with enough work to keep from thinking too much about prior events. That morning she had woken up and decided that she would surprise Walter by clearing out completely by that evening. He was at work, of course, and Laurie tried to concentrate on organizing her things and boxing them -- anything but Adrian, actually. It was too early to reflect on Adrian right now, but there she was thinking of him again. It was almost a relief when the phone rang, mostly because she knew it was a break from her thoughts, at least; though she struggled, her mind always returned to that cramped apartment with the awful smell and the man with the eyes that were no longer human. Still, Laurie approached the phone with some degree of trepidation. Welcome break or not, there was also the possibility that the caller could be her mother, and Laurie wasn't ready to deal with her either. When she finally answered, Laurie was happy for once that it was Dan, calling to tell her that she and Rorschach were in the newspaper. Captain Hurley had not failed to mention them, and from what Dan described, it was very complimentary. Hurley's precinct was getting a commendation, he read from the article. And also, the mayor was saying something about extending a thank-you to the vigilantes of the city. It was all very incredible, but even more so was was the way that Dan described Agent Orange II -- Adrian, his old partner -- as if he didn't know him. Laurie briefly wondered if she should pry, but decided not to in the end. If she was in the same situation as Dan and Dan had called to tell her about Rorschach being captured on charges of murder, Laurie knew she would not want to go into the details. Of course, she couldn't imagine anything short of her heart breaking if that had happened, but that thought at least did not surprise her -- she and Walter were quite different from Dan and Adrian, even without taking their romantic relationship into consideration.

Dan quickly moved on to other topics, as if he somehow knew where Laurie's thoughts had been lingering. Still shaken by the memories brought in by the mention of Agent Orange II, Laurie had to stand up. Feeling nervous, she began to rifle through her things once more, throwing out items she didn't need and keeping the rest. She murmured into the phone as Dan's voice droned on in the back until she found the old picture of the Crimebusters that Dan had given to her and Rorschach. Laurie marveled quietly to herself as she studied each subject's features intently; the picture seemed like it had been taken such a long time ago. Another time and place, lost in the shifting subtleties of interactions as relationships changed and deepened -- it was bittersweet to look at. With a wistful smile playing upon her lips, Laurie had placed the picture to her heart, briefly closing her eyes as she tried to recall that day. Letting out a small sigh, she glanced at the photo again, Rorschach in particular. She wished he had been unmasked for the picture (ridiculous idea, she knew); it surprised her when she observed that she didn't actually have a picture of Walter in her possession. She wondered if it was possible to convince him to take a nice picture with her, and giggled at the thought of him protesting and using that serious, indignant tone he used when he meant to start an argument. Dan inquired into her levity and once she explained, he gave her a cryptic message about showing her something. 'Oh, I have something to show you,' had been the exact wording -- he told her he was going to come visit her that day (once he found it) and ended their phone conversation.

Laurie paced for a moment before she gave up and went into the living room to sit down, waiting for Dan to stop by. He wasn't going to appear there that instant, of course, but with the prospect of his arrival and inevitable interruption to her work she suddenly found herself unable to do anything at all productive. Instead she allowed herself to reminisce, starting with the collection of photos on the mantelpiece. Laurie smiled as she recalled that first morning she had awakened in that very room, utterly dazed and confused. She remembered how upset she had been the night before that, gazing upon her mother's house when she had felt compelled to leave it. Her mother's house held so many more years of memories, yet this place was more important to her. Laurie stood up again and made a slow tour around the house. She studied each room carefully, trying to commit them to memory. She kept laughing at herself, knowing that she was acting as if this were her last chance, but she knew though the house would stay the same, her perspective could always change over night. If she returned here tomorrow she might be a different Laurie, trying to capture some of the magic of an old thought or feeling but unable to -- she wanted to prepare and make sure she could recall it with the familiar ease of any repeated task.

Dan had something to show her, she recalled. Laurie wondered what exactly it could have been. She took one last look into her father's room before she returned to the living room and sat on the couch again, waiting and listening, drawing in the scent of the room and the way the light pierced through the sheer white curtains and spilled inside.

Laurie watched the clock, her leg moving up and down in a nervous gesture. Wondering about what Dan was bringing for her made her worry a little. She worried about how much time this was going to take, that she should probably be looking through her things right now. She also wondered if she would be able to pack up by that night in turn and in the end worried so much that it was a detriment to her work. All she could do was wait helplessly until the doorbell rang, and when it did she jumped into action, flinging the door open and expecting to receive what Dan brought quickly before she sent him on his way again. Dan beamed down at her with an eagerness that made him look like a little boy; in his outstretched hand was a fat envelope of which the contents Laurie was pretty certain.

"When did you...?" Laurie started to ask, but her question trailed off as she opened the envelope and gazed inside, rendered speechless.

"Are you moving?" Dan inquired as he peered around her. Laurie politely stepped aside to let him study the small arrangement of boxes in the hall.

"Oh, yeah, to Walter's apartment," Laurie said, blushing a little.

"Good," Dan said, and for a moment he was looking at her expectantly as if she was going to tell him something. Laurie thought his eyes had gone to her hand, but the movement had been too subtle for her to tell. Laurie surmised that he was wordlessly trying to hint to her that he wanted her to continue looking through the envelope, so she did.

"Yeah, I'm pretty excited," Laurie told him as she pulled out the photos -- from the envelope, of course -- and carefully tucked the envelope under her arm as she flipped through them, one by one.

Laurie gazed at each picture in amusement, still wondering when Dan had managed to take these. She hadn't noticed Dan carrying a camera during their stay in California, but then, there were many things about Dan that went unnoticed by her so she wasn't too surprised. There was a picture of Nelly and Leland pausing to pose in what was probably the middle of a serious discussion. The next picture was of Nelly in the car with a map folded out and a crumpled and confused expression on his face to match -- he and Dan must have gone on a trip while Laurie and Walter were busy somewhere else. Laurie revealed the next picture: the room Dan and Walter shared, with the contents of their respective bags scattered about in a mess that was endearing to look at. Next came a picture of Laurie on the beach, waiting patiently while Walter applied sunscreen to her back. Laurie looked relatively pleased in the photo, though Walter beheld a sort of concentration on his face that gave the appearance of him solving a complex mathematical problem. The picture behind it was of Dan with a collection of crab cakes in front of him with his two thumbs up and sporting a bright sunburn. Next was Laurie and Walter on the couch; Laurie fast asleep with her head resting on Walter's shoulder while Walter stared disapprovingly into the camera as he peered over those notes of his that he had taken everywhere with him during their trip. A few cursory shots of various views of Huntington Beach followed, some of Walter and Laurie walking ahead through a tourist's area. There was even a picture of Blake standing on the balcony of his own room, posing with a huge grin as he held his cigar in front of him. The next photo had Walter standing with his arms folded next to Blake, who was purposefully making a bewildered expression and pointing his thumb at Walter. Laurie almost dropped the picture that came after that -- it was still a shot of Blake's room with her father and Walter, but slightly blurry. They still occupied their previous positions, but this time Blake was laughing while Walter was clearly moving away, a smug expression on his face and his hand slightly extended in a very subtle throw of his middle finger.

"What is this?" Laurie nearly screamed even as she gasped with laughter, remaining photos forgotten for now as she waved the photo in question at Dan.

"Haha," Dan said, as he squinted at the image. "I don't remember what it was to -- I think it was something about me taking too many pictures."

"It's hilarious," Laurie told him.

"You should have heard what he said to me," Dan laughed. "Actually, I don't exactly recall the wording, but..."

"I am framing this," Laurie exclaimed. "It needs to be bigger -- big enough to cover the entire mantelpiece. It deserves a place right in the middle of it."

"I don't think Walter would like that," Dan said, though he was laughing nevertheless.

"It's great," Laurie quickly searched through the rest of the photos. More scenery, and one shot of the crime fighters at the meeting that she and Walter had been unable to attend. Seeing these photos made her eyes sting with tears. "These are great, Dan."

"Glad you like them," he said, looking proud of himself.

Laurie briefly scanned through the pictures again, returning to her favorite one (the one of Blake and Walter, of course) and unable to truly concentrate on the rest. Dan hung around for a few moments longer, but he took one look around the room and told her that he would let her get back to her work and left. It seemed almost unnecessary, seeing as how Laurie was certainly not packing right now but looking at that one picture instead with rapt attention, a huge smile on her face. The photo was blurry and candid, but that was the best part about it. It had her two favorite people in the whole world, looking happy, cracking a joke and having a good time, and best of all -- enjoying each other's company. It was beautiful, and Laurie was in love with the picture; she loved Dan all the more for taking it.

After a moment Laurie finally set the pictures aside and reluctantly went to work packing again, though this time she was full of happy thoughts with Adrian far from her mind. She was actually a little disappointed when she had to stop a little while later when the phone rang once more. Laurie gave a small sigh, exasperated that she was interrupted; she had been close to finishing up. Shuffling her steps a little, she slowly reached the phone and picked up the receiver, hoping again that it was anyone but her mother.

"Hello?" she asked, vaguely noting how nervous she sounded.

"Guess what?" asked a familiar male voice.

"Dad," Laurie said, her free hand flying to her mouth in an attempt to cover it; impossible now that a huge grin had appeared on her face.

"No, that's the answer to 'guess who'," Blake told her.

"Dad, is the war over?" Laurie felt like crying. "Please tell me it's over."

"Well, I was going to say it wasn't, but if you're going to ask like that--"

Laurie nearly screamed in her elation, but she came close to it.

"That's wonderful," Laurie shouted. "And are you all right? You're unhurt?"

"I think I might be deaf now," Blake joked. "You think they'll accept that as a war injury?"

"When are you coming back?" Laurie asked, her voice shaking as she jumped up and down.

"In a million years," he told her. "Well, seems like it, anyway -- they've been pissing fireworks into the sky for about five hours now. And of course, the president wants to make some speech and waste more time."

"Is Dr. Manhattan going to bring you back?"

"I'll see if I can talk to him, but if not, my flight leaves tomorrow."

"I hope he brings you here, otherwise it will take forever."

"Heh, it's better than not coming home at all."

"I'm so glad," Laurie said. "I really missed you, Dad."

"I missed you too," he replied. "You all right over there?"

"Yes, oh yes," Laurie smiled into the phone. "I'm moving in with Walter."

"You are? You haven't gone and eloped, have you?"

"No, Dad."

"Judging by the storybook ending I am guessing you've caught up with Agent Orange?"

"Yes," Laurie lost her smile.

"Hm," her father said, after a short pause. "Anti-climactic, was it?"

"Well, yes," Laurie laughed bitterly. "It turned out to be Ozymandias."

Blake let out a low whistle.

"Should have known," he said, without a hint of surprise in his voice. "I always thought the kid was weird."

Laurie nodded, not thinking of the fact that her father couldn't see it, and glanced at the clock. It was almost time for Walter to return, and she really needed him now. Her father was never a great conversationalist, especially not on the phone, and she knew he would be hanging up any time soon.

"All right kid," Blake said, as if he were made of clockwork and set to being predictible. "I better go. I'll see you in a week or less."

"Bye Dad." Laurie decided not to protest.

"Uh," he paused a little awkwardly. "I love you."

"I love you too," Laurie smiled and hung up the phone.

Laurie's heart was beating fast -- she couldn't believe the war was over in such a short amount of time. Of course, with someone like Dr. Manhattan fighting on their side, why wouldn't it be? She had seen first-hand what he could do to a person; she wondered if there were any of their enemies left to even surrender or if he had just vaporized the entire country while he was out there. Whatever it was, Laurie didn't want to know. Laurie sighed a little, putting her head in her hands for a moment as if in supplication -- though to what, she had no idea. Laurie's heart leaped into her throat when she heard the front door open.

"The door is left unlocked yet again," Walter pointed out to her. Laurie ignored his comment and nearly threw him backwards with a fierce hug.

"I'm so glad you're home," Laurie exclaimed as she attacked him with a kiss to match her hold on him.

"You are?" Walter's voice belied just the slightest hint of astonishment.

"The war's over, Walter," Laurie told him. "Dad's going to be back soon."

"That's wonderful news," Walter said as he squeezed her, but he gave her a sharp look after a quick glance around him. "But are we celebrating with a parade of boxes in the hall?"

"Walter," Laurie admonished, "Did you wake up ornery or did just you decide to be during the course of the day?"

"I was born ornery, thank you very much," said Walter. He closed the door behind him and danced further into the house with a grim expression on his face. Laurie laughed.

"I'm all packed," she told him. "Well, I still need to box up some things in the bathroom, but that's it."

"Oh," said Walter, brightening. "Very good."

"I thought we could move some necessary things over to your apartment then patrol afterwards. Then, while you're at work tomorrow I can move the rest over to the apartment by myself."

"An excellent plan, though I am certain there is at least one detriment to it and thus ultimately to the proper functioning in our day to day lives," said Walter.

"What?" Laurie giggled at him.

"I'm hungry."

Laurie tossed a cushion at Walter and walked towards the kitchen. Walter took the envelope Dan had left behind and started to shuffle through its contents as he followed her.

"Dan's pictures?" Walter asked.

"Oh yes," Laurie turned and peered down at his hands. "I especially like this one."

Laurie showed him her favorite photo.

"I think we should frame it," Laurie told Walter in a teasing manner.

"No," said Walter. "I think you should send it to your mother as a gift."

They both laughed a bit too much at that idea. After dinner, they discussed which boxes would be going with them that night. Walter helped stack the boxes that Laurie pointed out to him. As they made a quick sweep around the hall, Laurie had to pause when a thought came to her.

"I suppose I should tell my mother where I'm going to be staying from now on," Laurie frowned.

"No," Walter told her as he grunted with the effort of moving three boxes at once. "Never tell her anything ever again."

Laurie laughed.

"You make it sound so easy," she told him. Walter somehow managed to shrug at her while keeping a hold on the boxes.

Walter and Laurie used a dolly to wheel her possessions to his apartment. Laurie was glad that she didn't have very many things to begin with, but walking to Walter's at the slow pace took up more time than she had originally estimated. When they made it up to Walter's apartment, it was already well into night, and too late to go out even to patrol. Walter neatly set the boxes in a row next to the hallway, and the dolly by the door. Laurie took Walter's hand as they looked into the room. Laurie hadn't brought much with her, but already the apartment looked overstuffed.

"We really need a bigger place," Walter told her with a little frown.

"This will do for now; don't worry too much," Laurie assured him.

Walter turned and regarded her for a long moment.

"Are we staying here tonight?" he asked her.

"Yeah," Laurie nodded. "I'm tired."

"All right," Walter said. "Less than ideal, but I have no choice now."

"To go to bed?" Laurie asked him, bewildered. Walter disappeared around the corner towards his room so Laurie waited for him.

Walter re-emerged a moment later, looking mysteriously pleased.

"What?" Laurie asked with a smile.

"Oh, you'll see," he told her, as he took her hand in his. He studied it as if he had never seen it before, and when he gave her a gentle kiss across the knuckles, Laurie couldn't help but shiver.

"Walter," Laurie said in a soft voice as she stepped closer to him. Walter withheld his intense expression for a moment to lean in and kiss her lips.

"You will stay with me indefinitely, won't you?" he whispered in her ear. "Regardless of where we live in the end."

"Of course," Laurie whispered in return. "As long as you want me."

"Forever."

Laurie closed her eyes as Walter drew her to him. She could hear him taking a deep breath as he buried his face in her hair. His hands were on the back of her arms, rubbing them slightly until she shivered again.

"What is it, Walter?" Laurie asked him once more. There was something hanging in the air, and Laurie thought that she might die from the anticipation.

"Hm," was Walter's only reply. He pulled away to regard her once more as if she were a puzzle to be solved. "Hm, hm."

"Please?" Laurie offered.

"I was thinking," Walter said, with a finger tapping his chin.

"Yes?" Laurie insisted, pulling his hand away from his face and placing it on the small of her back.

"Now that I have you trapped in here," he said, as his hands clasped her waist, "I am going to have to demand that you marry me."

Laurie laughed.

"Well, if you're going to demand it," she said, "I really have no choice, do I?"

"Good." Walter handed her a ring. Laurie had to admit that she was surprised. Walter had voiced his intentions to her long before this, of course, but there was a big difference between words and actions. She should know better than that by now -- Walter wasn't one to speak lightly of things.

Laurie gave Walter a smile as she took the ring from him, though her hand was trembling. Laurie took a shuddering breath and let the ring lay in her palm as she studied it. The ring could have been silver or even white gold, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the small pearl that rested in the middle of the simple band. The pearl itself gleamed when it hit the light -- it had been intricately carved into symmetrical shapes. The pearl held an even smaller dark pearl inside it somehow, and the contrasting colors brought out the pattern; it was very reminiscent of Rorschach's mask.

"Where did you find this?" she asked him.

"Dan made it, under my specifications," Walter told her as he slipped the ring on her finger. He smiled when it fit perfectly. "I hope you like it."

"I love it, Walter," Laurie said, as she took his face in her hands and kissed it. Walter gave her a smile, his flushed cheeks making him look almost bashful.

"So glad," he told her as his lips brushed against her ear. "Perfect."

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To be continued...

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Author's Note: I would like to thank Silvergrin for reminding me that Walter would probably go for the more non-traditional ring (she had also suggested Dan as someone who might be able to make something for them)... We actually had this conversation about a billion years ago, but it took this long to finally get to it. I thought maybe Walter might not even go for a ring but something else, but that was what he decided on in the end. I suppose I should have more faith in Walter, too. I'm quite glad with the result! :)