Once the ball had gotten rolling, it had gathered pace quickly. Less than two weeks had passed since Hank, Kalinda, Erin and Jay had agreed to what Jay had called 'playing musical chairs with houses.' That description had amused Kalinda in particular, appealing to her keen sense of humour. She laughed a lot, and Hank enjoyed that, although he would never be able to match her. It simply wasn't in his personality to laugh often.
The moves were to take place over a weekend. Firstly, on Saturday, Kalinda's things were to be moved from the apartment she was vacating to Hank's house. Then Erin and Jay's things would be moved into the apartment the following day. The two days promised to be long and arduous, which was why Hank, Jay and Kalinda were up early, making a start on her belongings before daylight even came.
"We might as well run what we've got in the van over to the house," Hank told Kalinda. They were in her bedroom, where she was still working on packing things for the move. Cardboard boxes and duct tape had been in plentiful supply over the past few days but time had not, thanks to both Intelligence and Voight Detective Services being extremely busy. That meant that packing and moving were happening at the same time, which was hardly ideal.
"Okay," was all Kalinda said.
Hank could tell she was stressed, understandably, so he figured it was best to leave her to it. "We'll be back a bit later."
"Yeah. See you," she said, not stopping what she was doing.
"Moving is the worst, isn't it?" Jay said to Hank as the two men walked out of the apartment. He was carrying one last box for the current load, so Hank held the door open for him and closed it when they left.
"Yes. And we're only at the start. How's Erin doing?"
"About as stressed as Kalinda. She's trying to finish our packing as well as cleaning the place. Think we'll all be glad of a drink tonight."
"That's what I thought," Hank said. "I'm stocked up on beer and wine for that exact reason."
They were soon on the road, heading for Hank's house. Since Hank was the one who had rented the van, he was doing the driving.
"You know, Hank, you've really struck it lucky with Kalinda. She's such a nice person, she obviously thinks the world of you, and she's gorgeous too."
"Believe me, I'm well aware of all of those things, including how lucky I am."
"Never thought I'd see you all loved up with someone."
Hank realised the comment was meant with humour, but it was too early in the day for jokes as far as he was concerned. For that reason, he responded seriously instead.
"Neither did I. Seemed I was going to spend the rest of my days alone. But then Kalinda and Erin showed up in quick succession and everything changed. Kalinda and I make each other very happy. We're not the only ones though." He looked at Jay for a second, thinking that his daughter was about to take the next step with the man by moving in with him. Hank didn't doubt that they would be happy.
None of Jay's detective skills had left him, and he picked up on the meaning behind the quick look. "I love her, Hank. Wouldn't be doing this if I didn't."
"What do you see in your future? Or, what are you hoping for? That's a better way of putting it."
Jay didn't need thinking time. "I want to marry her. One day, I mean. And I'd like to have kids. Two, maybe. Neither of us are getting any younger, so that's a conversation I'd like to have with her sooner rather than later. Would you be okay with me proposing to Erin, when the time is right?"
"I wouldn't be okay with you not doing it, given how deeply she loves you. Being with you makes her very happy, and that's what she deserves. Now, can we talk baseball or something? It's early, and I've only had one coffee."
Jay laughed. "Sure. And we can get more coffee at your place."
Stress and physical hard work were both things that Hank and Kalinda were used to. They were part of the job if you signed up for police work. However, there was something unique about the process of moving house that was both physically and mentally exhausting. And that was despite the fact that Kalinda had no furniture to move since the apartment was furnished by the owner.
"Thanks again, both of you. See you tomorrow," Kalinda said. She and Hank were at what was now their front door, seeing off Erin and Jay.
"Don't thank us, you're the one who has helped us out," Erin said to her.
"That's right," Jay added.
"See you at seven in the morning?" Hank asked.
"See you then. Have a good night," Erin said.
"You too," Hank said, and closed the door. Yes, he was exhausted, but there was also a warm feeling of happiness and contentment inside him. This, right now, was the first moment that Kalinda could call this her home. They now lived together. It felt great.
"What a day," she said tiredly, stepping into an embrace that he gave her automatically. She rested her head on his shoulder. "I plan on never having to move again in my life."
Hank chuckled, sensing the hint of humour she had put into that. But he could also tell that she meant it, and that was very important. She had essentially just told him that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
"I plan on you never moving again either. If this is where we live for the rest of my days, that'll be perfectly fine with me."
Kalinda kissed him on the lips. "I love you, Hank. You make me so happy, and I feel loved. For the first time in my life I feel truly loved by a partner."
"You are truly loved. And now you're at home here too. Come on, let's have a drink to celebrate. I know I need one."
"Count me in," she said, walking with him to the kitchen.
Hank stopped just inside the kitchen, remembering something he had thought about a few days earlier. "Actually, before we drink, I'd like to pray with you. Been meaning to do that for a while now but for whatever reason I've not suggested it. Is there a prayer we can say about us having a long and happy life together?"
"Hank, it means a lot to me that you thought about that," she said. Her tone conveyed that she meant every word. "Rather than praying, we can ask for a blessing for our new home together?"
"Sure," he said, tactfully not mentioning that he didn't really know the difference. "What do we have to do? Do we change? Do we need to go to a specific room?"
Kalinda smiled, accepting his lack of knowledge for what it was. "You may recall me saying I don't follow Hindu religion particularly, or any other. I kind of make up my own prayers to God, in whatever way he may exist. Come with me."
She took his hand and led him to the living room, where the floor was carpeted. "Let's kneel together. Close your eyes and join me in asking for the blessing."
Hank did as she asked. Kneeling beside her, he closed his eyes and tried to add his mental energy to her words as she spoke.
"Tonight, let us ask God to bless this house. Let us ask him for his help to make this house forever be a place of sanctuary, of warmth, and of mutual love for us and all who enter. Let us ask him to encourage positive energy to fill our home, and to leave no opportunity for evil presences to enter. Let us ask God to be our guide and our shield as we share our lives with each other. Let us keep him in our hearts, and thank him for this blessing."
"Amen," Hank said. Whether that was appropriate or not, it felt right.
Kalinda gave him a soft kiss on the lips, then he helped her to her feet.
"You made all of that up on the fly didn't you?" he asked.
"Yes, I always do. Was it rubbish?"
"Not at all. You did a great job. Let's pray together more often."
"I'd like that," she said happily. "Now that we've blessed the house, I'd also like some wine. There's some red out there that I saw last night."
"Fix me a whisky please, I'm going to change out of these dirty jeans," Hank said as they left the living room, parting ways.
He went up to what was now their bedroom and changed into some comfortable black pants. The bedroom, like the rest of the house, was a mess. There were boxes of Kalinda's stuff that had been moved in, and downstairs there were boxes of Erin's stuff waiting to be moved out. The bed was currently covered in clothes of Kalinda's that hadn't been put away yet.
Hank's attention was caught by the photo of Camille on the nightstand on the opposite side of the bed. It was still there. He had never moved it, and Kalinda, bless her heart, had still never said anything about it. It couldn't stay there now though, he realised. This wasn't his bedroom now, it was Kalinda's too. She could hardly be expected to have a photo of another woman in her bedroom.
It was an important reminder to him that he had to help Kalinda get used to treating the place like her own now. She wasn't a guest anymore. It would take some adjusting to for both of them.
With some reluctance, Hank went around the bed and picked up the picture. He took it around to his side, having decided that the best place for it to be kept would be in the top drawer on his side. Before putting it away, he took a long look at Camille – until Kalinda the only woman he had ever loved. Camille was gone, but would never be forgotten. This wasn't about forgetting her, it was about moving on.
Deep inside, he knew he didn't need to feel guilty. He now fully believed that Camille would want him to move on, and that if she was somehow able to check in on him from time to time, she would be happy for him.
Putting the picture in the drawer and closing it was a tough moment. A tough one, but an important one in the process of moving on.
A/N: A big day for Hank and Kalinda. How do you think they will adapt to the next phase of their relationship?