AN: On this day, 12th May 2013, the following happened...
The weather was being kind. It was early spring but it was sunny and relatively warm, the sky an endless stretch of baby blue. A slight breeze kept the threat of uncomfortable heat down, especially because men were in suits (some with ties). Women were in spring dresses, despite it being cold that morning, and Cal thought that was nice, that would be what Gillian would want for today; no heavy winter coats. The scent of roses drifted around him and he stood waiting, catching glimpses of other people's conversations, his daughter at his side, not an entirely easy silence. Zoe was still on his mind and she shouldn't; she was probably on Emily's too. They hadn't said a word in the car on the way down here. Not a word. For which Cal was grateful, because he didn't want to hear a lecture, didn't want to fight; not with his daughter and not today. And maybe she knew that. Because she hadn't said anything.
Cal had fixed his tie again, they had got into his car, and Emily had driven him to the Rose Gardens. Gillian had specifically asked him to check up on a few things when he got there, so he did, speaking with the marriage celebrant, checking in with the event staff who had organised the gazebo, the chairs, the decoration of the trees. The flower people arrived and Cal donned his button hole, a pink miniature gerbera. Gillian had picked her own bouquet and Cal had picked his; like their wedding rings, they weren't going to know what the other had until Gillian was at the altar. They'd done the same with clothes. It had become a 'thing'. Gillian conceded on the vows, but that meant Cal caved on practically everything else. He didn't mind too much. She wasn't asking of him too much.
Cal smoothed his tie, a silver blue, and pretended he hadn't just caught the eye of Gillian's mother in the front row. He'd already said hello to everyone, played nice; he wished he had thought to conspire with Kate's bridesmaids to get one of them to text him to let him know Gillian had her dress on, had her hair done, had got in the car, had arrived at the venue. God he hoped she was on her way. He didn't think she'd change her mind, but maybe? He never really knew for sure. There had been six months they were apart. And then there was the thing with Zoe. She couldn't know about it, now or ever. If it had been Alec, he'd kill the bastard.
Cal turned his gaze to his daughter whose eyes flickered to meet his; a deep heavy brown. She wasn't happy, Cal could tell, but he really hoped that was about her mother and not the fact that he was getting married again. She had always encouraged his relationship with Gillian. And maybe he hadn't always got it right but... he thought she was happy that they were getting married at least. She wasn't even living at home anymore; it didn't impact on her directly. Cal raised his eyebrows at her, trying to pull a funny face while not letting anyone else see; no mean feat when there were fifty guests and they were all staring at him, waiting.
Emily gave him a slight smile. She stepped forward, fidgeted with the flower in his button hole, straightening it, or at least pretending to. "You look great Dad," she murmured under the pretext.
Cal gave a genuine smile in return. "Thanks luv."
The marriage celebrant came over to where Cal was waiting on the little platform, so Gillian didn't have to stand in grass in her heels, with a smile. She took up her position and Cal took his, remembering where he was meant to stand. Emily moved to stand at his shoulder. Music started up somewhere to the side, the crowd fell silent and Cal's stomach twisted itself into a birds nest. She was actually here. She wasn't standing him up. The hardest part was already over.
And then Gillian came around the corner of a garden bed of tall red rose bushes. Cal's heart started thundering and his stomach got tighter, if that was even possible. So yeah, he was a lot more nervous than he thought he was going to be. Gillian caught his eye immediately and gave a beam of a smile that just about stopped his heart. It was sudden, it was almost painful, but it was all background information. The sun glowed off her recently cut and coloured hair and Cal stared back at the way her eyes seemed so bright as they looked back at him. She was right in front of him before he remembered he was supposed to help her step up on to the wooden platform. When he took her hand, her fingers were cold. But her smile was bright and Cal was watching her mouth, vaguely aware the celebrant was talking, and he was not letting her go.
Gillian stood across from him, no more than a few feet away, and kept his hand too. She held her flowers in her left hand, kept her fingers curled around his, and she kept on smiling. She didn't even look away. Just stared at him, with that smile, and Cal felt an odd need to cry. Gillian was going to marry him. Right now, in fact, she was marrying him. It was equal parts bizarre and brilliant.
Legally, they did actually have to verbally say that they would enter into the marriage contract and that they would work to stay together in union blah blah blah. So Cal did say 'I do' when the time was right and so did Gillian; it gushed out of her, she seemed so excited. And it did something to Cal's insides; something he couldn't describe. She watched Cal the whole time, no doubts, her eyes not drifting away, and he relaxed a little. She was here and they were doing this. He had a quick look at her wedding band before slipping it on her finger and she licked her lips in an eager kind of way that actually made Cal's neck flush as he pushed it over her knuckles. She handed off her flowers to Casey to take Cal's ring and his hand and join the two together. She held his eye as she did it, trusting that it would fit as she slid it over the joints, but not all the way down, allowing for the extra webbing a man had on his fingers that a woman didn't. Then she squeezed his fingers, hard, and smiled so brightly, and Cal relaxed a little more. Yeah, it felt like relief.
The surreal feeling didn't end all day, but it did get easier. After they exchanged rings (and Gillian's mother cried, Cal could hear her), they signed the marriage certificate, (Gillian as Foster for the last time!) and they went for photographs amongst the roses. And Cal got to speak to Gillian alone. Finally. As the photographer walked ahead with the bridesmaids and Emily, Cal took his new wife's hand and pulled her back gently to lag behind, his wedding band digging into his finger acutely. She looked over at him and smiled; so many beautiful smiles. Finally Cal just stopped walking and Gillian turned back to him. He leaned in to kiss her but she put a hand to his chest, pushing while she tilted her head away. Cal pouted around a sharp flare of panic in his gut.
"Wait until after the photos," Gillian murmured.
"But I haven't got to kiss you yet."
"Wait," Gillian told him again. "Then I'll kiss you."
"That sounded like a promise," Cal gave a grin.
"It so was," Gillian agreed. She took a careful step backwards on the manicured grass. Their hands were still secured and she tugged on Cal's arm. "Photos," she prompted. "They'll wonder where we are."
"Let them wonder," Cal muttered under his breath. Gillian didn't seem to hear him, or she chose to ignore.
They caught up to the group and Cal smiled, didn't smile, looked that way, turned this way, stood on that side, then the other side, his hip like that, put his hand on a shoulder, on a waist, his arms around his wife, a hug with his daughter, hold Gillian's flowers, tilt them towards the camera. It seemed like forever. It was about an hour. Then they got into two cars and headed to the reception at the hotel, where everyone else, luckily, had been snacking on champagne and canapés.
And Cal was alone with Gillian again. After they settled into their seats, before the car had barely pulled into the lane, Gillian's hand was against Cal's jaw, pulling him towards her. She pressed her lips against his, fitting without hesitation. Cal felt his stomach drop in relief and he brought his hand to her elbow, to keep her there. He kissed her slowly, trying, really, to not smudge her lipstick; he didn't want to wear it and he wasn't sure how she was meant to reapply. Unless she was hiding the tube in her cleavage.
"Much better," Gillian murmured, pulling away from him. She gave him an amused smile and reached with her fingers to wipe at his lips anyway. Cal smiled back, let her, his eye drifting to the ring on her third finger. It was a thin band, like her last wedding ring, but it seemed plain, simple, no shiny stones, not so much like the last one.
"You look really beautiful," Cal blurted.
Gillian's fingers faltered and her blue eyes met his with another smile. "Thank you. You look pretty good yourself."
Cal gave a quirk of his lip. Really, all he'd done was get a haircut and wear a suit. Not that big of a deal.
"I like this suit."
"It's new," Cal supplied.
"I noticed," Gillian told him, an impressed but teasing tone in her voice. She fingered his tie, toyed with it, then smoothed it against his chest. She was wearing a figure hugging dress, in silk or satin, Cal couldn't tell; a light purple, lilac or lavender, Cal couldn't tell.
"When can we go home?"
"Later."
"How much late-a?"
"A lot. Prepare yourself," Gillian sat back in her seat, her hand against her thigh. But she did look over at him with glinting eyes and Cal knew she was excited about the rest of the evening too: dinner, dancing and cake. Cal had agreed. Readily. She wasn't twisting his arm. It was a compromise. Look at him starting off his marriage like a grown up.
Gillian had found the function room in the hotel. She had picked the colours, decided on the decorations and Cal just showed up to help put them up where he was told. Which was new for him. He thought he might be bored, he thought it'd be too much of a girly thing, but he had actually enjoyed being involved in the preparations. The cake testing afternoon hadn't been all bad either. He suspected Gillian already knew what she wanted and was merely dragging it out to wind him up. Too bad he already felt as though he'd walk on a bed of nails for her.
Damn he was turning into a sap.
They got applause as they came in. Gillian beamed and Cal found himself grinning and she took his hand, leading him across the room to the head table. The bridesmaid's and Cal's 'best man' followed behind. Casey leaned across to tell Gillian the room looked great and Cal scanned the crowd for faces he recognised, placing them mentally so he was aware of where everyone was. Then the hotel's even coordinator was getting everyone's attention to let them know how the next few hours were going to go: dinner. The entrees were already coming out, the main was also going to be plated but dessert was going to be buffet style. A waitress was already pouring wine for the head table as their salads were put down in front of them.
"Excuse me Gillian?"
Cal also turned his head, interested, as the event coordinator, now finished with her speech, leaned in toward his wife. Gillian looked up at the woman and smiled, attentive. "We have a few unexpected guests."
Cal's first thought was 'who the hell?' But he didn't get to hear who it was. Emily told him the Caprese salad was really good. Cal had to take a bite to agree. It was good though. A waitress asked Cal which wine he wanted. By then he was thoroughly distracted. The food was very good, the wine not bad, and afterwards people came by to talk. The photographer took candid shots. The dessert buffet was set up. Cal lost track of Gillian for a while but hung out with his daughter. She had come home specially and it seemed she had forgotten about her mother for a while too. They danced and laughed and she introduced him to the young man who was meant to be her date, but who was spending a lot of time at the table with Ria and Loker and their dates. He was just a friend, this young man, who Emily had gone to school with, and who happened to still in the DC area. Cal wasn't entirely sure it was just a 'friends' thing but grilling his daughter about it at his wedding probably wasn't a good idea. He might do that tomorrow.
"Hey."
Cal felt a tug at his sleeve and turned. Gillian smiled back at him, coming in to place a kiss on his mouth. "Want to have dessert with me?"
"Absolutely," Cal agreed. He made a quick introduction between Emily's date and his wife, which turned into a ten minute conversation and he tried to not look bored. He wasn't even a big fan of dessert but he did want to drag his wife away. He'd already had to do the rounds and be polite and say hello. He smiled for photos. He was being good; it was a long day already. He was looking forward to just taking her home so it would be the two of them. He liked it better that way.
Finally conversation wound up. Cal realised he had lost track of what they were talking about. He hoped Gillian wouldn't ask him to comment. She was pretty good about not telling him off for not paying attention, but still, it was easy bonus points to earn when he did. Damn. They reached the dessert table where people were drifting up to help themselves. Gillian found someone else to talk to, who Cal didn't recognise, so he grabbed two bowls and served himself fruit, mini-cheese cake and pannacotta. For Gillian he got one of each of the little chocolate desserts; some sort of mud cake with ganache by the look of it, chocolate panacotta, a few little animal shaped chocolates and strawberries. Once he'd done that he had to stand and patiently wait for his wife to stop talking again, before they could go and sit down.
If Cal jiggled the bowl, the panacotta swung back and forth. His wedding ring was digging in to his finger.
"Ok talk to you later," Gillian wrapped it up and Cal quickly paid attention again, just in time to give a nice friendly farewell smile to whoever that was. "Oh," Gillian saw him. "You served up?"
"I did. Death by chocolate alright with you?"
"Just about perfect," Gillian agreed. She took her bowl from him and linked her left fingers into his right and they headed across the room to the head table again. They were the only ones sitting there now and Cal made sure he pulled his chair in nice and close to Gillian's, so her elbow was practically in his chest.
"So has this day been absolutely everythin' you dreamed it would be?" Cal concentrated on his wobbly panacotta for a second, then looked over at his wife.
She gave him a smile, her spoon halfway to her mouth. "Pretty close," she agreed.
"What do you mean close?" Cal asked softly, watching her as she put the spoon in her mouth and rolled her eyes at him in a sign of pleasure. Cal grinned; naughty.
Gillian removed the spoon to her plate and gave him a shrug. "I don't have any complaints."
"But you're hedgin'," Cal pried.
"I'm not."
"So are," he muttered taking a bite of his own dessert. He went back to studying her face but she just gave a little sigh and a half eye roll and he really didn't know if he should be pushing her for a proper answer or she was just teasing him. Sucked he wasn't meant to be reading her.
"What about you?" Gillian changed the subject. "Was this day everything you wanted it to be?"
"Well you showed up so it's pretty much been phenomenal."
Gillian laughed and leaned in closer to him, curious. "Really? You didn't think I would show up?"
Cal shrugged his left shoulder, the one she practically had her right cheek pressed to. "Nah. Can't resist me," he offered by way of explanation. Gillian laughed again, straightened up, went back to her dessert. Cal watched her out of the corner of his eye for a moment but she was done; she figured he was teasing.
Cal finished eating and pushed his bowl away. There was a clatter of cutlery against glassware and Loker's voice calling out across the room. Cal groaned inwardly. The room quietened down. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Eli, I work for the lovely couple at the Lightman Group."
"He's totally drunk," Gillian murmured to Cal.
"Definitely on his way," Cal agreed resting an arm along the back of her chair.
"This could be amusing."
"That's four words I would use to describe Eli."
Gillian gave Cal a smile. She also pushed her bowl away but Cal could see there was still dessert left behind. She leaned back against his arm and chest, resting her right hand on his thigh, curling her left in her lap. Cal could still see her wedding ring though. It completely drew his eye.
"I've known Cal and Gillian for six years now."
"Cos he was lucky enough you gave him a job," Cal added under his breath. He saw Gillian's smile out of the corner of his eye; he kept his gaze across the room. He watched Emily's date lean in to whisper something in her ear. Something that made her smile. Cal narrowed his eyes in their direction.
"I think he was more lucky you didn't fire him the first chance you got."
Cal smirked suddenly. That was true actually. Gillian kept telling him to give Eli another chance. After three of those begging sessions Cal made her work with the young man and his big mouth for about six months; then she started begging him to let her fire Eli. Heh. The younger man was up there now trying to embarrass them but really, with the stories Cal could tell, he'd have the poor guy quivering in his shoes if he gave it half a thought. Gillian squeezed Cal's thigh as the other man ended his speech.
"So Cal, you're one lucky bastard," Eli raised his glass in salutation.
Cal leaned forward to get his half drunk wine.
"Congratulations," Eli added, the room echoed it, Cal clinked his glass with his wife's, smiled, drank to the toast.
Then Gillian's dad made a short speech. Then the bridesmaids. Even Emily got up and said a few words. A few of Gillian's friends spoke. Cal got more bored. Then he remembered that he should really thank everyone for coming, so before anyone else could start yammering on about romance and blah blah blah, he got to his feet and remembered his manners. He thanked people on behalf of himself and Gillian (though he didn't for a second think Gillian needed him to speak on her behalf. This was just earning him points; he knew how to play the game). He thanked the venue staff for looking after them, promised there would be cake shortly, said he was thrilled (well, he was), the usual stuff. He drank to his wife, who was giving him a big grin right now and when he sat she leaned closer to kiss his cheek.
Duty done.
Cal relaxed again. And finished his wine. He thought about what Eli had said for a second. He was a lucky bastard. He really was. Gillian had married him today. She had actually shown up and married him and now she was his wife and, possibly more importantly, he was her husband. So yeah, he had to play the game. Properly this time. He knew.
"So shall we cut that cake then?" Gillian asked, placing her wine on the table. She took Cal's empty glass from his hand, her wedding ring clinking against the vessel.
"Sure," Cal agreed, because the sooner they did that, and then danced, the sooner this evening would be over and he could go home. Then he wouldn't have to play as nicely; he was already tired.
The cake was only two layers. The top was lemon, the bottom chocolate. Gillian picked both, and Cal wasn't really bothered either way. Holding hands, or more, Cal had his hand over Gillian's on the knife, they sliced into the top layer, posing for the cheesy requisite photos, but that was where the tradition stopped. They didn't cram a piece into each other's mouths. They weren't keeping the top layer for the christening of their first child. The hotel's kitchen cut the rest of the cake and people helped themselves. Cal had a few crumbs of each, which were really nice, but he wasn't overly fussed. He figured it was going to appear in their fridge and he'd be eating it for the next few days. Gillian didn't eat any either. And once that was done Cal took her hand and dragged her out to the dance floor, just as Emily started up the jukebox again by the bar (following the plan, good one Em).
"Dancing too huh?" Gillian teased as she unashamedly wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body tightly against his.
Cal settled his hands low on the back of her hips; two could play that game. "That was the deal wasn't it?"
"It was. I'm just impressed you haven't tried to weasel your way out of any of it."
"Weasel?" Cal asked, shocked, raising his voice a little as the song started to get louder. He hugged his arms against her sides, making them a snug fit. "Me? Weasel?"
Gillian smirked at him, her thigh brushing against his as Cal turned them in a lazy circle. "No you're right. Stubbornly refuse might be more accurate."
Cal actually felt a pang in his stomach at that one. He wasn't sure that was entirely a joke. But he forced it aside because damnit, it was his wedding day, and if it wasn't strange enough tying the knot again, that morning with Zoe made it odder and he really just wanted to get through the rest of the night without anything going amiss.
Emily joined them on the dance floor with her date and Cal noted they didn't fall into each other's arms as they moved. It seemed friendly enough. Other people joined them. Someone dimmed the lights, the cake came back, people mingled, Cal stared at Gillian, she smiled at other people around them. Cal tried to refrain from giving her ass a squeeze. That kind of thing was funny when they were around their good friends, but in front of her family? Nope. But he did want to do something lewd with her. Actually, kissing her might be ok and that would satisfy the urge for a while.
Shame he had to be relatively chaste.
Gillian gave him a smile. "Want to go somewhere?"
"Sweet Jesus, tell me you're serious," Cal almost whined.
"Aw are you having a hard time?" Gillian paused for a microsecond. "Pun intended."
"It's not that bad yet," Cal responded softly. He pressed his lips against her ear. "But the thoughts are creepin' in." He felt Gillian huff a laugh and when he pulled back her eyes were bright in the dimness. She petted her fingers through the hair at the back of his head, then tugged him down to kiss again. Mouth practically closed. Not as fun.
"Seriously," Gillian whispered against his cheek. "Let's go ride the elevator."
"Was that a metaphor for?" Cal started to ask but Gillian shook her head slightly with a smile. No, she really meant going to ride the elevator. She was five. But Cal would take it, because then he would be alone with her. Alone seemed like much more fun than having to play nicely with people he didn't know or really care to.
"You slip out first and I'll follow."
"Now that definitely sounded rude."
Gillian fixed him with a stern expression.
"No," Cal corrected. "You go first and I'll follow you. You're more likely to get stuck talkin' to someone and I'd be out there waitin'."
"You've thought this through."
"I fantasise."
Gillian tried to hide her smile. "Maybe you can tell me about that sometime." She slipped out of his grasp before he could react and Cal watched her go for a moment, standing still in the middle of the dance floor. And then he realised that if someone were watching he'd look like a right idiot. So he headed off the dance floor and towards the... cake table, which was by the door. He glanced up in time to see Gillian slip out of the room, totally unencumbered by polite small talk, so Cal changed course and headed straight for the door.
The elevators were to the side of the lobby and Cal had to head down a short corridor to get back there. There was still no sign of Gillian so she must have made it at least that far without having to stop and talk to someone. Cal quickened his pace, came out into the big atrium of the hotel, and there, yes, there was Gillian, looking up at the numbers above the elevators. Cal hurried over to her and her hand reached for him, even though she didn't look. As he arrived, the doors to a car popped open. It was empty. They stepped in. The doors closed. Gillian turned abruptly, pressing her mouth against his. Cal opened his and grabbed her tightly. Gillian gave a little moan, her fingers sliding into his hair, around his shoulders and then there was a ding and the car came to a stop, the doors repelled sharply open.
Cal withdrew his hands quickly, brushed a palm against his skull, trying to flatten his hair again. There was no one there though, waiting to get on, and Cal realised he didn't remember seeing Gillian picking a floor. She took the hand that was dangling at his side and tugged him into the corridor. It was also empty and oddly hushed but she kept moving, like she knew where she wanted to go. Cal let himself be lead, trying to get a hold of himself again. That was totally what he'd been after all day: some serious making out. Except the lift wasn't long enough and now they were on the top floor. Gillian dragged him over to a window inset in the hotel wall. She gave an impressed little sigh but she didn't look at Cal. She was looking at the lights over the city. Oranges and reds and yellows.
Then she turned to look at him, a smile on her mouth, her fingers still gripping his. "You seem happy," Cal jumped in before she could speak.
"I am happy," Gillian agreed easily, her eyes bright. She bumped her hips closer, standing within the width of his body.
"So today was good?" Cal tried again.
"Of course," Gillian grinned.
"It was what you wanted?"
"Absolutely," she nodded. "What about you?" And Cal saw the tiniest flicker of doubt. He gave her a warm smile, leaned down and kissed her softly, sweetly, with meaning; words wouldn't do enough to persuade her, but his mouth still could. Gillian gave a hum when Cal pulled away again, then a sigh and when their eyes locked, hers were warm and bright. "I'll take that as a yes then."
"You should."
"We'll go home soon. Promise."
Cal gave a slight smile, that upturn of his lip that said he was amused.
"You look tired," Gillian told him.
"Ouch," Cal feigned hurt. But he relaxed again in the next second. "I didn't sleep well last night."
"Really?" Gillian asked concerned. "How come?"
"Nervous."
"Really?" Her tone went to disbelief.
"Kept thinkin' bout you."
"Oh yeah? Gillian teased.
"Somethin' about it bein' a big deal today."
Gillian gave a slight laugh and Cal grinned. She kissed him again, a brush of her mouth against his. "I'm glad we did this."
"Got married?"
"That and also, sneaking away for a moment."
Cal smiled. "Big fan of that too. Cept the lift was too short."
Gillian pressed her mouth against his again, another chaste kiss.
Cal slid his arms purposefully and slowly around her waist. "You know what we should have done?"
"What's that?" Gillian played along, sliding her arms around his waist as well.
"We should have got a room."
Gillian gave a slight laugh. "That figures." She pinched at his waist and Cal squirmed on cue. "But think how nice it will be to go home," she lowered her voice. "Just you and me. In our bed..." She twisted her hips and rocked into him. Her eyes were bright and her smile wide and it made something fill up in Cal's chest. He would have agreed to anything at this point. And it still amazed him. He definitely hadn't felt this way before.
"We should go back," Gillian continued.
Cal pouted.
"They'll wonder where we went."
Cal wiggled his eyebrows.
"Exactly." Gillian stepped away from him, but held out her hand.
Cal took it, followed along dutifully behind her. "Can we make out on the way down again?"
"Absolutely."
PJ
Gillian thanked the event coordinator again. Emily gave her a wave from the door, and then she was gone, Eddie trailing behind her. Gillian scanned the room further, looking for Cal. Her husband. Oh wow. Her husband... She spied him sitting at a half packed down table, slouched so he was almost obscured by the growing stack of chairs next to him. She approached, slid a hand over his shoulder and asked him if he was ready to leave. He looked up at her, his eyes a little bleary and agreed. She asked him if he was ok. He got to his feet and repeated that he was. Gillian reached out her hand and he took it without a second glance, as if it were natural. It should be. They were married now. That simple gesture, right now, was the best feeling in the world. She suggested they go home. Cal agreed.
She drove and she wasn't sure but she thought Cal went to sleep. He really must have slept poorly last night. Which was kind of cute, when she thought about it. He was nervous. That was nice to know. But of course she was going to show up today. She was in love with the man. She wouldn't have it any other way. She had tried living without him. Now she knew she just needed him. She wanted him.
When they pulled into the garage Cal stirred, sat up and pretended he was awake the whole time. He helped bring in the flowers, left over wine, the cake, Gillian's overnight bag and change of clothes from when she stayed over at Casey's to get ready for the wedding. "You want your flowers in wart-a?"
"Yes please," Gillian called over her shoulder as she headed down the hall. It was late and the neighbourhood was quiet. "Then come to bed," she added from the doorway. "I have something to show you."
Cal gave her a grin from the kitchen doorway opposite, "Is it rude?"
"Absolutely," Gillian answered. She heard her husband chuckle behind her as she turned away. She dumped her bag on the bed, tossed her clothes from last night over the end of the bed and took her toothbrush and dirty laundry into the bathroom, as well as the something rude she had bought for Cal. She brushed her teeth and removed some of her makeup. Then she slipped out of her wedding dress and changed into the lingerie. She heard Cal in the bedroom, dumping his shoes heavily on the floor and slamming a drawer shut. Gillian readjusted her boobs and fluffed her hair. When she pulled the bathroom door open for the grand reveal, Cal was in bed, face down in his pillow and the eye she could see was closed.
Ooooh-kay.
Gillian crept across the carpet in bare feet and knelt on the still made side of the bed. The eye came open and looked her up and down. "Wow," Cal murmured half into the pillow case.
"Kind of wasn't expecting you to be asleep."
"I'm not asleep," Cal's voice went high in indignation. He struggled against the mattress to get his arms underneath him to push himself up.
Gillian leaned down to smooth her fingers against the back of his head. "Don't get up. It's ok."
"No, it's," Cal turned onto his side. "Not married till we consummate it."
Gillian tried not to laugh. "You're tired."
Cal stared at her for a moment. "See now that shouldn't be wasted."
Gillian gave a slight smile, smoothing his hair. "There's always tomorrow."
"And I promise I'm gonna wake you up for dirty things," Cal settled back.
Gillian laughed and moved to get under the covers. She reached over and put out Cal's light. In the darkness he mumbled, "just got an eyeful of boob."
Gillian smirked to herself. She thought about putting more clothes on in case she got cold; it wasn't like she was wearing much. Instead she dug the covers out from between them and snuggled in closer against her husband, against his chest. "You really didn't sleep well huh?"
"Kept tossin' and turnin'. Only got a few hours," Cal lifted his chin so Gillian could tuck beneath it.
"Yeah me too."
"You couldn't sleep?"
"I woke really, really early. It was still dark," Gillian settled a hand against his waist. "Couldn't get back to sleep."
"Ouch."
"I wanted to call you."
"You should have. I was probably awake."
Gillian pressed a kiss against his neck. "Turns out you needed your beauty sleep."
"Tryin' to imply I need it?"
Gillian didn't respond. He was sleepy, his words slow and starting to run together. He was about to fall. If she stayed quiet, he would go really quickly. But one last thing. "I love you Cal."
"Love you too."
"Today was a good day."
"Me too."