Three and half days in the Artic upgrading satellite servers coupled with the long flight there and back left Walter, Paige, Sylvester, and Cabe exhausted, but it was an ideal job while Happy and Toby were away on their honeymoon. The group stumbled into the garage nearly dead on their feet. Paige, Sly, and Cabe immediately find chairs to plop down in, grateful for the three day weekend ahead since Walter had announced the team would have tomorrow off. Walter however bounds up the stairs with his duffle bag.
After twenty minutes, Cabe inquires, "Do you think he went straight to bed?"
"I wouldn't blame him if he did." Sly replies still too tired to move.
"Well, that is a genius idea." Paige jokes half-heartedly.
"What's a genius idea?" Walter asks as he descends the stairs with a different suitcase and a garment bag.
"Sleep!" Paige responds laying her head on her desk for effect.
"Where are you going?" Cabe questions noticing Walter's luggage.
"Oh, I have a flight to catch." Walter replies.
"Seriously? You just spent 18 hours on a plane. Why on earth would you head back toward the airport?"
"Mallory's sister is getting married and I'm her date to the wedding." Walter states matter-of-factly.
"Mallory, the mysterious Mallory. No one knows how she met Walter or how long they've known each other, but apparently they are wedding buddies." Paige thought.
Cabe and Sly asked some basic questions initially, but Walter was unforthcoming in the details department. They didn't even know her surname. That was intentional on Walter's part so they couldn't rummage through her digital footprint. Additionally they observed a more relaxed demeanor about Walter the past couple of weeks. Cabe and Sly quickly accepted Walter's new personal boundaries and stopped pressing him. Paige still dropped casual questions here and there, but avoided being too direct, not wanting to come across as a jilted lover.
"You will be back for Toby and Happy's welcome home party Sunday evening, won't you?" Sly asks.
"That's the plan." Walter confirms as he retrieves his car keys.
"Well I don't envy you, wherever you're going." Paige hints.
"I'll tell you where I'm going. Home to bed." Cabe exclaims.
"Well, sleep well. Bye." Walter replies exiting.
"Yeah, safe travels son." Cabe responds.
Walter waves in response as he walks out the door. The rest of the gang soon departs in search of blissful slumber. After finding a space near Mallory's condo, Walter drags himself out of the car to assist with her luggage. Mallory hears the door bell and does one last cursory check around the room before answering the door, but her demeanor changes as soon as she lays eyes on Walter.
"Oh Walter, ye look exhausted. Maybe ye should stay home and rest?" Mallory asks concerned.
Walter smiles weakly, "And miss the chance to see you in that dress again? Never! Besides, there will be plenty of time to sleep on the plane."
"Well, ye will let me drive to the airport at least?"
Walter nods, appreciating her gesture.
"Good." She declares.
After the in-flight meal, Walter slept the remainder of the ten-hour flight. The captain announced the local time was 8:52 AM when they landed in Waterford. It took about 75 minutes to get through airport security, retrieve their luggage, and pick up the rental car.
"We'd better hurry; it's about a 30 minutes to drive to New Ross." Walter estimated.
"Yes, we should get to me parent's estate about a quarter before 11:00. That doesn't leave a lot of time to shower and change, but at least the wedding's taking place there." Mallory answers.
When they arrived, the gate was open to guests and deliveries for the Noon nuptials. Looking at the beautiful land and mansion of a house, Walter suddenly felt a little nervous, "This is where you grew up?"
"Well not me entire childhood, but a fair piece of it, yes." Mallory responds.
"Oh." Walter gulps.
"Ye have nothing to worry about. Now come on, we must hurry." Mallory says parking the car.
Walter had just come out of the shower in the guest bedroom. With the towel still around his waist, he unzips his garment bag with his back to the door. The door was cracked open just enough to see the figure inside from behind. Mistaking him for someone else, she pushes open the door.
"Sean?" an unfamiliar voice asks hesitantly.
"No, Walter," He states turning around. He observes a pale and apparently upset woman, "Is everything alright?"
"Sorry, from behind ye reminded me of someone I used to know. I should let ye get dressed." She states rushing from the room closing the door behind her.
"That was odd." Walter states to himself and turns to finish getting ready.
He walks into the hallway, unsure where to proceed since Mallory had shown him to the room before rushing off to shower and dress herself. He walks to the stairway landing where he observes much hustle and bustle below as guests are being greeted and directed outside where the wedding will take place. He is about to proceed down the stairs when he hears his name. He turns around to see Mallory coming down the staircase toward him. She descends the stairs, the champagne dress glittering as her hair bounces seductively with each step.
"Absolutely stunning." Walter doesn't even realize he spoke aloud.
Mallory pushes him away playfully, "That's what you said last time."
"Well, it's still true."
"Come on. I'll never hear the end of it if Lizzy's wedding is delayed because of me." Mallory urges.
Walter is glad to have Mallory back at his side as they mingle after the ceremony since large social gatherings are not his forte.
Walter notices the woman from earlier walking towards them now with a man by her side. He briefly wonders if the man's name is Sean. He observes Mallory perk up seeing them as she immediately greets each of them with a hug and kiss, "Mum, Dad, this is Walter. Walter this is me Mum and Dad." Mallory introduces.
Walter smiles nervously, "Nice to meet you."
"Oh dear, it's nice to formally meet you. What you must think of earlier! Please, call me Emily."
Mallory gives both her mom and Walter a curious look but says nothing.
"Walter, Walter O'Brien?" Mallory's dad inquires.
"Yes, have we met?" Walter asks surprised.
"No, but I'm very glad to make your acquaintance. I heard how you saved your village after Lake Clementine exploded. After that I read up on many of your other heroic ventures. I'm David Sweeney, one of the junior ministers in this region," shaking Walter's hand he continues, "Please call me Davy. It truly is an honor to meet you. When Mallory mentioned she was dating a Walter, I never dreamed it was Walter O'Brien."
"I'm flattered you've even heard of me. It's very nice to meet you too." Walter responds.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but we really should mingle with our other guests. Perhaps at dinner, you will be staying won't you?"
"Now Dad, I'm sure you can imagine Walt doesn't make it home any more often than I do. He wants to drive up and surprise his family tonight." Mallory explains.
"Aye, well I can't fault you for that, but I do hope you will escort Mallory to the annual Ireland Funds charity ball in Los Angeles next month."
"Yes, we will be there. She told me you are being honored for the work you've done to alleviate financials hardships from the drought." Walter replies.
"Well, I try…" Davy hears his name and is being summoned over to another group of guests, "Hopefully we can chat more soon. Please excuse us, Walter."
After her parents walk away, Mallory kisses Walter gently on the lips. "That went well. Dad usually has my boyfriends to call him Minister Sweeney."
"Hmm… who is Sean?" Walter asks.
Caught off guard, "Sean? Why do you ask?"
"I ran into your mother before the wedding. She seemed rattled and said from behind I reminded her of Sean." Walter explains.
Mallory nods, that earlier exchange making sense, "Sean was my little brother. He died trying to rescue an injured hiker from a bluff."
"I'm very sorry." Walter states, at a loss for anything else to say.
Mallory smiles sadly, "He went out bravely. He was a trained paramedic, but just happened to be out hiking that day. I think you two would have liked each other."
She sighs. Walter is unsure of how to proceed when "Precious and Few" begins to play. He extends his hand, "I believe they're playing our song, my lady."
She gratefully accepts. They proceed to dance for several songs as she tearfully tells Walter about her little brother. As they part company later that afternoon he reminds her, "I'll pick you up Sunday morning around 8:00."