A/N: This is short, my bad. But more is coming because did you see tonight's episode? Anyway, let me know what you think.
The first time Lourdes mentions it, it's a poor attempt at casual nonchalance. Why don't we invite Michaela over for dinner? We haven't seen her in a while. Completely ignoring that he sees Michaela every day at work. He's essentially paired up with her now thanks to the NSA, but Lourdes doesn't know that.
She's also conveniently ignoring that dinner would be more awkward than anything else he can imagine and that there's no way in hell Michaela will want to come. It will fall on him to wrangle her into coming. But he can't slowly rebuild a relationship with Michaela (albeit of a different nature) and not try to help his wife do the same. They both love her and it's not fair for him to shrug off Lourdes's wants just because he gets to see Michaela every day so he agrees.
Michaela blows him off with no excuse at all besides not wanting to do it. He missed that about her. When he texts Lourdes to try and let her down easy, Lourdes insists he push so when Michaela tries to take off for the day he gives it another try. The guilt gets to her and she reluctantly agrees.
The ride from the station to his house reeks of awkwardness. He hates it. Sometimes at work, it's all professional and distant. And sometimes they both relax and all the easiness of being around each other comes rushing back. Then there's this awkwardness of him marrying her best friend. They've managed to avoid it over the last week but he has a feeling it will linger in the air all through tonight. When they finally get through the door, he can see Michaela looking to him for what to do but he honestly doesn't know. It's not like he's had dinner with his dead, almost-fiance and his current, used to be her best friend, wife before.
Seeing his discomfort as well, she decides to lean into it and calls out, "Honey, we're home." Lourdes seems to be doing much better than they are because she comes out of the kitchen all smiles and casual normalness. Then comes the first of what he assumes will be the worst of the evening; he kisses Lourdes in greeting and then shoots his eyes to Michaela. She'd pulled a fairly obvious move and almost completely turned around to look behind her. He hopes she found the front door rather than the picture hanging on the wall behind her featuring him and Lourdes. He fleetingly wonders if seeing them together still makes her want to puke or faint or both.
Dinner starts off exactly as he expected. It's all stumbling over words and awkward passing of plates. It doesn't help that Michaela waves off the wine. Thank God for Lourdes because when she comes back to the table with a water for Michaela she pulls her chair away from him and closer to Michaela. Despite the round table, he seems to be opposite both of them and between that and the lack of physical affection and the avoidance of the 5 years Michaela was missing, they finally settle into a friendly and comfortable (or as comfortable as can be) conversation. He's enjoying the sound of her laugh. He didn't realize how much he missed it.
He's not sure what sets Michaela off but she goes quiet suddenly. Back in the day, he would have just thought she got lost in her thoughts, no big deal, but now it holds a significance it never had before. His fears are realized when Michaela jumps up from the table with a muttered thank you for dinner and runs out. Lourdes's face falls fast and as he comforts her he tries to ignore the urge to go after Michaela. It's two dueling desires. He wants to stay with Lourdes but he also wants to run after Michaela. It was obviously too soon for them all to be together and he'd forced Michaela's hand anyway.