A/N Wedding vow renewal time. :-) Wasn't sure where to take this so I hope you enjoy. :-)
Eric and Roger led the seminar group through French doors that led out on to a small garden patio, set with chairs and decorated with white flower arrangements. At the head of the patio there were large pink rose bushes, with long stems and an array of pink buds and blooms bobbing in the late morning breeze, and where Reverend Roger organized Jamie ad Eddie in front of him and began the ceremony. His friendly broad smile was as welcoming as his words. "We're gathered here together this morning to witness Jamie and Eddie as they reaffirm their wedding vows. This ceremony is a departure from the standard formal wedding rituals, but every bit as meaningful. We like to think of it as 'I do – Take Two'." He winked and the assembled group chuckled.
Jamie tried to hide the roll of his eyes and glanced over at Eddie, catching her doing the same back to him. They shared a momentary look, their panic now giving way to amusement as they turned to face each other. He could have sworn she was holding her breath as much as he was.
"Eddie," Roger's calm, soothing voice began, "please repeat after me…."
As the words were spoken, Eddie thought back to when she first met Jamie, never dreaming it would lead to something as crazy as this. Then again, their partnership was crazy so on certain levels it made perfect sense. Her friendship with him meant everything to her and listening to Roger say the vows she realized the words felt as natural as breathing in and breathing out. Her connection with him was a part of her now, in a way she hadn't realized. It was complicated but simple all at the same time. The words came easy and reflected the truth she hid in her heart. "You are my best friend, my hero, and my partner. My hopes and dreams are intermingled with yours and I draw from our combined experience in our journey and endeavors together. And I promise to continue being a source of comfort and support to you every day and always."
Jamie saw something alluring in her eyes… Earnestness? A challenge? Attachment? He had always seen it in her eyes, but today it was different. He listened to the words Roger was asking him to repeat and was sure they were words he would say to her in the RMP over coffee. "Today and in all days I take shared responsibility for our partnership, community, and myself, regardless of our success or failure. I promise to continue to be forgiving but not complacent, to cherish and respect you as my partner."
Eddie wasn't sure when her hand joined his, but she felt the warmth of Jamie's fingers holding hers as she recited the final vow. "I promise to be trustworthy and honor you in spirit and mind, side by side, and step by step." She suddenly felt overwhelmed about their friendship and the bond they shared, and she felt her eyes water.
Jamie reached up and gently brushed a tear from her cheek as he finished his vows. "Free and bound by our partnership as long as we live." Without realizing it, his hand lingered on her cheek.
Roger closed the bible he was holding. "May your lives continue to be ever intertwined, partners in life and love; two hearts married and forever filled with love, peace and happiness. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." He smiled at Jamie. "You may kiss the bride."
A self conscious expression filled his eyes, immediately reassured by a squeeze from Eddie's hand. His fingers still cupping her cheek, he leaned forward, his face directly in front of hers and paused, whispering so only she could hear him. "I've never kissed a married woman before."
She leaned up on her tip toes to meet him the rest of the way, her lips brushing his. "Get used to it."
He pressed his lips to hers in a chaste, but warm tentative kiss. His thumb brushed her cheek and he detected a soft hum from her throat. He wanted to deepen it, to taste her and feel her body up against his…like the first time. But his head still ruled his heart so he thought better of it. He stopped, placing several soft sweet pecks against her mouth which she returned.
The seminar group applauded and when Eddie looked up at him their eyes met briefly and she noticed the color in his cheeks. "Are you blushing?"
"What? Married thirty seconds and you're already on my case?" He glanced down and realized that despite the fact that he pulled away, he was still holding her hand.
His heart was having the last word after all.
~~00~~00~~
Danny and Maria stood on a small bridge in Central Park, with a view of the Plaza across the street. It was lunchtime and he glanced at his watch for the thirteenth time. "I wonder what's holding him up?"
"He'll be here," she said looking down at her phone. "He's only a few minutes late."
Jamie suddenly appeared, running down a path and up to the bridge. "Hey, sorry I'm late." He was trying to catch his breath and rested his hands on his hips. "I was tied up in a wedding ceremony. But the session is on a lunch break."
Danny squinted his eyes as he processed the excuse. "Wedding ceremony? Who got married?"
Jamie gave him a matter of fact look. "Apparently, Eddie and I."
Danny's brows went up. "Excuse me? Did I just hear you say that you and your partner got hitched?"
"Well, technically it was a wedding vow renewal. It seems we're the poster couple at the marriage forum and in every class they elect a couple to renew their vows. Green nominated Eddie and me."
"It's just symbolic, though, right?" As Danny spoke he noticed the pink lipstick on his brother's cheek.
Jamie shrugged. "I'm not sure. It was affitiated by a minister, Green's business partner Roger, and there were some documents involved. We might need to get the department legal guys to take a look."
"Jesus." Danny shook his head.
Maria smiled and chuckled. "There is symmetry in that. But besides your nuptials, anything new on Green we can move on?"
Jamie let out a breath. "So far, nothing on Green. But we're attending some sort of seminar reception tonight and Eddie will get another shot at it with him. Hopefully this time it will pay off. But I gotta be honest, Danny, Janko and I have doubts he's linked to trafficking."
Danny exchanged a look with Baez. "Ok, kid, let's give it another night and see what you two can turn up."
Jamie looked at his watch. "I gotta get back. We'll check in tomorrow." He turned and jogged back up the hill toward the hotel.
Danny turned to Maria, his hands out at his side, feeling the case was stalled. "I think all this pretending to be a couple is causing those two to go soft in the head."
"I'm not so sure they're pretending." She said with a smile.
~~00~~00~~
In the hotel room Jamie stood in front of a desk mirror, wearing dress pants and a pressed white shirt, trying to get the knot of his necktie just right. "Hey, Janko, you almost ready?"
"Yeah. Just a second." She called out from the bedroom.
"We're supposed to meet Green in fifteen minutes." His tie still looked slightly crooked but he thought to hell with it. He picked up his wallet and slid it in his back pocket and fastened his wrist watch in place. Leaning over to pick up his jacket , he heard her come in and glanced up. His train of thought was instantly derailed.
Eddie was dressed in a strapless black satin cocktail dress with a low cut neckline. Her blond hair cascaded around her shoulders and black heels added nearly five inches to her height.
Jamie remained speechless as she crossed the room and stood in front of him. She reached up and her fingers deftly straightened the knot of his tie. "What were you saying, Reagan?" The sound of the silk fabric in her fingers made a swishing sound and her voice was deep and soft. Jamie's eyes were almost level with hers since her heels nearly leveled their height difference. He couldn't prevent his eyes from trailing down her body and back up again, taking in how the satin accentuated the curves of her body, her narrow waist, and his gaze stopped at her claret red lips. "I was just saying that, um…." He swallowed trying to remember what he'd been talking about. "What was the question again?"
She smiled and finished with his necktie and reached for the jacket in his hand. "You were saying something about Green?" She stepped around behind him and held it up so he could slide his arms through the sleeves, then stepped back around in front of him as her hands adjusted it over his shoulders, straightening the lapels and brushing her hands over the fabric. Her hands smoothed down over the front of his shirt, touching him, but not touching him.
Her perfume was intoxicating and the feel of her hands and fingers made him forget what he'd been saying. His brain was short circuited, and instead of finishing his sentence he said what was on his mind. "You look amazing, Eddie. You're totally beautiful." He felt like his shirt collar was too tight.
"Thank you." She smiled and the familiar twinkle in her eyes sparkled back at him. "You look incredible yourself, Reagan. I'm going to have to keep my eye on you-like I always do." She teased, giving his tie a gentle yank.
The chances of him noticing another woman were about a million to one but he kept it to himself. "I guess we better get going."
As she nodded and turned he watched and realized the view from the back was as heart stopping as the front. The dress had a small, matching black satin bow attached at the dip of her back, framing her bottom. Every nerve in his body screamed that he should call the front desk and get a second hotel room...or a second hotel. Everything he had been trying to avoid-or deny-over the last two years was suddenly all around him. But his thought was interrupted by her voice.
"Hey, Reagan, I know we're keeping the PDA down to a minimum, but since we just renewed our vows do you think it would be ok if we held hands or something? I mean, I think we should look like a couple who just did something as romantic as that. But if you think it's overkill, I'm good."
Her police partner voice didn't match her appearance and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was a turn on. But the way she asked the question pulled at his heart. Had he really said it so emphatically? She had a short matching black jacket to wear with her dress that she picked up off a chair. He took it from her and helped her on with it. He reached down and slipped his hand in to hers, lacing their fingers together. "Is this ok?"
His fingers tenderly intertwined with hers, his hand felt protective and warm. The tone of his voice and the feel of his skin against hers sent butterflies swirling inside her. "Yeah. Side by side, and step by step," she said and followed him out the door. Somehow she knew it would not be the only time he would ask her that question during course of the evening.
A/N Thank you for reading. :-)