A\N – Hello, my dear readers! Yet another chapter of Kelly\Harper awesomeness as we slowly approaching the series timeline. Also, I was watching the previous week's episode yesterday when Kelly took Nicky to his room and told her something like "I used to be engaged once too…" and she flew crying down the stairs and out of the show (thank god!). Well, this line just sits so well with my plan for this story, the screenwriters just read my mind!

Also, this chapter is Kelly's perspective on things. I'm trying it out so hope he stays in the character.

Still waiting for your reviews! Everyone who writes me a line can have a cookie! =)

-\-

It's been a month and a half since the release from the hospital and Kelly was beginning to get restless. He didn't have a medical education but was sure that by the time the ache in his arm and shoulder was supposed to be feeling different. He wasn't hurting all the time but the little repulses that regularly occurred were a proof enough that something was wrong.

Visibly his hand was perfectly fine, on the inside – it was all but fine.

With any real applied pressure the pain in the right side of cucullaris was becoming stronger. It was bearable for the time being but Kelly feared that it would just keep getting worse.

All the reasoning kept screaming at him to go see someone about the pain but the little voice in his head was clearly against it. It kept whispering that if there was a permanent damage with a nerve or a deeper tissue there's a possibility that he wouldn't be able to get back to work anytime soon…or at all. And it was something Kelly couldn't afford to suffer.

Kelly looked at the prescribed painkillers in his hand before throwing them into his locker. A couple more days and they'd run out. So not good.

Apart from the doctors, he could try talking to Leslie. She was his roommate, friend…hell, she was him in a woman's body. Leslie probably wouldn't say anything but look at him with her calculating gaze, shake her head and sigh… Kelly decided to leave Leslie as his last resort.

There was Andy, his best friend. They were ready to go through fire (literally) for each other but in matters like this…Kelly was afraid that Andy would be the first one to grab him by the injured hand and drag him to the doctor's office.

Matt, Chief and all the other guys were out of the question.

And of course there was Harper. His beautiful skinny dancer. The woman that he's brought in his life by his own free will and made sure she stayed there. Kelly couldn't count how many women he's had before her and he didn't want to make that list. But from the first second in the burning house to bumping into her in the hospital, to moving in together, to watching her dance gracefully and so feather-like he knew that she has to be in his life. He's never felt like this before her. It's like in one moment there appeared a map of his life and he suddenly knew how he wanted to live it. All of a sudden he wasn't afraid of responsibility or long-term commitments, didn't want different women every night but rather wanted to come back to Harper every evening. There were bumps on the road, take his jealousy for one. That one came as surprise for himself more than for others. He was never that kind of guy, never felt that overwhelming possessiveness…maybe because he's never held anything so precious to him, he's never really had anything to lose. The new feeling did the trick and he exploded in the situation with Jonathan.

But as the smoke settled his relationships with Harper seemed to become as strong as ever. They loved each other and were ready to stand by one another whatever happened.

Kelly was worried that Harper would notice his winces and small movements of pain but she either thought that they were the aftermath of the injury or didn't notice them full force because she was preoccupied with the dancing contest and he was a pretty good actor if needed.

So in the end Kelly was determined to keep the ache in his hand to himself…at least for the time being. He would have time to react if he felt it necessary.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" Kelly turned from his desk to look at Casey, his bag in hand ready to depart home. "I thought you weren't due until tomorrow."

"I'm not." He nodded a half-smile. "Just finishing some paper work."

"Man! You'll have time for that! Go home to your girl. It's not like we get enough time with our women." Matt took a look at the clock on the wall inwardly.

"She actually told me to 'go take a walk for an hour or two'." Kelly stood up and took his jacket in one hand, checking for the car keys in its pocket in the process, and switching the lamp with the other.

Matt's eyebrows went up suggestively.

"I can only hope so!" Kelly smirked. "Very much."

"Very much." Casey nodded and laughing patted his fried on the shoulder roughly but affectionately missing a grimace that appeared on the other man's face just for a second.

-\-

"I'm home. I hope that's enough walking?" Kelly called out loudly, closing the door behind him.

Soft lyrical music was his only answer.

Walking further into the apartment he saw a field of candles. They were everywhere: on the floor, the table, the kitchen island, window seats… The lights were off but the small and big torches lighted the room with dimmed light just enough. The strong smell of honey and vanilla filled his nostrils.

"You should know better living with a firefighter and all that this is fire dangerous…" Kelly said loudly though his smile was speaking volumes.

"Then it's good there are those firefighters everyone keeps talking about here." A sly voice purred from the door.

Kelly's eyebrows flew up as he felt the excitement rush through his body. He didn't step closer choosing to observe from his place near the couch. First there showed up a leg…a lean flawless leg that was conveniently exposed up to the mid-thigh as far as he could tell. As the leg bounced slightly he could see what was covering the upper part of it. And…oh, God!...it was his firefighter's coat. Kelly did have his fair share of wild fantasies in which Harper had the most provocative leading roles but never in his life did he dare to hope to act on one. Harper was as far from frigid as he was from becoming a ballerina but they've never talked or hinted about even a little role-play so the surprise was definitely thrillingly welcome.

Harper cocked her head from the bedroom door and her blue eyes scanned her frozen in slight shock boyfriend. She giggled slightly and winked at him, slowly coming out in the open so he could appreciate her efforts.

Kelly's eyes gradually absorbed the woman in front of him the way the art lover first looks at the painting he's been craving to see all his life. Her slender legs, thin waist, breasts hidden behind the black lace lingerie, delicate neck…his coat fell from one of her shoulders. Her hair falling onto her skinny shoulders in waves, the fire from the candle light making them look like chocolate. And her big blue eyes that were looking right back at him with the sparkle Kelly was so happy to see.

As the time passed and their relationships changed, as the "I love you's" were exchanged and the secrets were revealed, their connection became stronger. In a physical sense probably more recognizable. It grew from the initial hunger to appreciating and respecting each other. From the most simple forms of sex to making love.

Kelly took his time watching Harper. Her biting the bottom lip, wrapped in his uniform.

"Well?" She asked finally, nervous about his reaction. "I expected a little more…excitement?"

Kelly smirked and crossed the room with measured steps like a lion would while walking his territory. With one of his hand secured around her waist, Kelly used the other one to slide the coffee-colored strand of hair behind Harper's ear.

"You look very neat." He said finally still smirking.

"I was going for sexy, glamorous, seductive…but I guess, thank you." Harper pushed her full lips together.

"I meant the coat." Kelly's voice sank to the lower tone. "Other parts of your…almost non-existent outfit are just…utmost stimulating."

The corners of her lips curled in a satisfied smirk.

"There was supposed to be a pole dance actually but…there are so many problems with getting the pole in here…"

"I wish you didn't say that…that just breaks my heart." Kelly blew out an imaginary breath of air and Harper laughing hit him on the chest lightly.

"So…." Her small hand was making its way to the bottom of his shirt to pull at its edges when his bigger one caught hers and held it securely with her other hand in front of them.

"Marry me."

Kelly didn't exactly realize how that question sprang out of his mouth but what was even more astonishing: he didn't regret it. Harper meant more than anything or anyone else to him, they were already a family. Kelly felt like he wanted for everyone to know that she belonged with him and him only.

Harper on the other hand was looking at him with eyes three times wider than normal and lips in a perfect 'O'.

"I know, this seems out of the blue but this is right. I want it, I want you to be my wife. I want to make you happy, I want to spend my life making you happy because you complete me and make me a better man…the one I never thought I could be. I…" He stopped for a moment to see Harper still looking at him a mixture of different kinds of amazement on her face. "Say something?"

She blinked. Kelly considered it a good sign. A second prior he was ready to believe she turned into a vegetable.

"Hmm…" Harper cleared her throat. "I just wish I would be wearing more clothes right now."

Joking was even a better sign.

"I don't think there will ever be any other man that I would be willing to spend my life with. I love you." Her voice was gentle as she was squeezing their clasped hands in between them.

"That a yes?" Kelly looked at her for confirmation.

Harper nodded her head smiling softly, tears walling up in her eyes but not falling. "Yes."

Her whisper was all he needed. With her in his arms and in his life he didn't think he could ask more from life. He had his job and the woman he loved agreed to marry him, at the moment Kelly felt truly complete.