Esposito was laying in the queen sized bed wide awake. Lanie was asleep next to him and he was laying watching her. She opened her eyes and smiled at him and his heart melted.
"Good morning" She smiled and he smiled back.
"Good morning"
"What time is it?" She looked for a clock and he stayed watching her.
"Around eight I'd say. we don't have breakfast for a little while"
She slid deeper into the blankets and turned on her side to face him. Unable to stop himself he reached out and brushed her hair back from her cheek. He could get used to waking up like this.
"Does your mother know that you're sleeping in the same room as me?" She teased and he laughed.
"Yes, she does" Something crossed her mind and she frowned when it did.
"What is it?" He asked concerned and she shrugged knowing it wasn't any of her business but wanting to know anyway she asked the question.
"Do you often bring women here?"
"Women? So you think I'm a ladies man?"
"Well...No..."
"I'll tell you honestly Lane, I haven't had a woman in any sort of way in probably two years"
"Come on,really?"
"Yes really, Why how many men have you been with?"
"Not that many maybe two in my entire life. They weren't interested in dating anyway"
"I'm sorry you deserve better then that" She shrugged and he took a deep breath.
"Listen Lanie...I..." She looked at him with big eyes hanging on his every word and he hesitated a second too long. The door opened and Rosie came in.
"Sorry. Am I interrupting?" She stopped and Esposito closed his eyes when he spoke.
"No I was just getting ready to go down and help mom" He rolled out of the bed and took one look at his sister she smiled and blushed looking away. He smiled and shook his head.
"Naughty girl" He teased as he left and Lanie watched him go.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted" She told Lanie who waved it off.
"No, No, It's fine. So...I take things went well last night after everyone went to bed?" Rosie practically beamed.
"It was amazing...Ryan...I mean Kevin...wanted to go slow since I'd never...well you know but I didn't want too" She blushed impossibly more when she called him Kevin.
"Well sit down...tell me all about" Lanie moved over and Rosie laughed before crawling onto the bed beside her.
Ryan was leaning against the counter top in just his pj pants and a t-shirt drinking a cup of coffee when Esposito came into the kitchen and try as he might he couldn't hide his smile.
"No use hiding it man I already saw Rosie" Esposito told him as he poured his own coffee.
"Well, Before you blow my head off I want you to know that this is real. I promise"
"It better be" Esposito said seriously.
"It is...I want to date her I want this to be done right" Ryan told him.
"I trust you man. I love you like a brother you know that" Ryan grinned.
"Well as a friend I have to tell you...I've never felt anything so good" Esposito winced.
"Yeah yeah I know you're happy and I'm happy for you but keep in mind that is my little sister...I don't want to know anything you two do" Ryan smiled.
"Well, I'm glad you approve because I want to ask you something serious" Ryan set his coffee aside and Esposito straightened.
"Anything"
"I know you're father died years ago and you stepped up in that regard for Rosie" Esposito nodded.
"So, I thought you'd be the person to ask for...her"
"Her? You mean you want to marry her?" Esposito wasn't sure he heard right but Ryan nodded.
"Yes, Not now and maybe not next week but sometime very soon after I get a ring and everything of course. I want her to be my wife and I'll do it rather you like it or not but I'd prefer to have your blessing...I'll need a best man"
"Of course. You know I would like nothing better then for you to be my family in reality" He gave Ryan a brief brotherly hug then laughed and Ryan looked confused.
"What's so funny?"
"Come with me. I've got to show you something"
The two men let their cups on the counter and headed towards the study.
Lanie made her way carefully into the kitchen, Rosie had assisted her down the stairs with her crutches and now they were wondering where the men had snuck off too. Rosie was beside her and Maria was behind them having just woke up not long ago.
"Where could they be?" Maria asked and Rosie went over to the counter.
"Well the coffee is here so their not far"
"Do you think maybe you could put some pants on Rosie dear before Ryan wakes up and sees you running around the house in only a night shirt?" Maria offered and Rosie blushed before going past to the stairs.
"Yes Mama" She went upstairs and after she had Maria poured herself a cup of coffee then winked at Lanie.
"I'm not stupid, I know exactly what went on last night but...why let Rosie and Ryan be emberassed" She shrugged and Lanie smiled at the woman. She was glad however that she had brought her favorite pair of cotton pj bottoms and t-shirt.
"I'm going to go find Esposito" she said turning she headed for the study.
She went across the carpeted living room to the door that led into the small study room the door was slightly open and she was about to go in when she heard Ryan speak and she hesitated not meaning to eavesdrop but listening just the same.
"When on earth did you go and do that?" Ryan asked
"Uhm that second day" Esposito said and Ryan laughed.
"Do it man just show her" Lanie wondered who they were talking about.
"No, I can't" Esposito protested.
"Then what was the point in going through all the trouble?"
"I don't know" Esposito sighed and sounded a little depressed.
"Did you tell her yet? About well you know..."
"No, I can't do that either...She's so...fragile"
"LANIE! fragile? Please the woman is a pittbull" She backed up with a gasp it was her they were talking about.
"She isn't, you only see her at work if you'd see her the way I do...When she's having those nightmares...She's scared"
"So why do it? Why did you buy that if you're not going to go through with it?" Ryan asked.
"Because I know...I just know...it's going to be her...or nobody"
Lanie backed up and wondered what they could be talking about. What did he do and then not have the nerve for? What happened to him that everyone kept asking if he was alright? Where did he keep going and why did it involve her?
She turned and made her way back to the kitchen Maria turned.
"Honey, Are you alright? you're as pale as a ghost" She smiled at Maria.
"I'm fine just a little bit tired I think" She sat down at the table and Maria put a hot cup of coffee in front of her.
Esposito came into the kitchen and she tried to smile but he read right through it and instantly knew something was wrong. The stairs were what separated the kitchen from the living room and as Ryan passed Rosie jumped from about the third step where he caught her without even being warned she was jumping.
She laughed and he held her in his arms grinning like a cheshire cat he gave her a kiss that would have made anyone watching blush. Maria smiled and went back to the toast Esposito barely noticed he was watching Lanie who was staring out the window with a hurt expression.
The phone rang and he answered it as Rosie practically skipped over to sit by Lanie holding onto Ryans hand.
"Esposito"
"It's Beckett. I'm sorry to be calling you there but...we got a break in the case and...I think you'll want to come in" He could tell by her tone something was up.
"We'll be there" He hung up and turned to Ryan and the rest.
"We have to go to the station Beckett needs us"
Lanie was amazed how fast the two men could move when they were called. With in ten minutes of hanging up they were all three dressed including herself and on the road heading back to the precinct.
He set Lanie in the chair by his desk before he and Ryan met Kate and Castle at the interrogation room doors.
"What's up?" Ryan asked and Kate sighed.
"Michael Hayes. His wife died four months ago. Autopsy report said it was an accident and he demanded five more one right after the other they all concluded the same thing... five are dead including our last victim" She stated and Esposito nodded.
"Alright so...why did you call us?"
"Number six is still alive" The two men shrugged and Kate sighed.
"Esposito...It's Lanie, She's number six"