... ... ... BACKGROUND RECHECK ... ... ...

Trudy Platt coming up to their office never brought good news. Those were mainly police matters. But now the sergeant inexplicably and oddly stood in front of her table.

"Christopher Herrmann called me. He's at Molly's... and said that someone's waiting for you there..."

At total loss, she stared at the woman and waited for any additional clue. After a tense pause she got more than that and even in more cautiously quiet voice.

"Alec..."

Holy shit! If somebody else told her this, she wouldn't believe. But Platt didn't kid around... correction - didn't kid around with her, and somehow seemed to be pretty aware who exactly that Alec was.

"I can tell Herrmann to kick him out without explanation. Or more civilly myself deliver the message that you don't want to see him..."

"No... I'll deal... I'll deal with it myself..." dumbfound, she even neglected those "civil ways" of Trudy Platt, in another situation to make her laugh, and forgot her manners, even though, at the back of her mind was grateful for woman's consideration.

Meantime, Antonio "joined the party" to replace the sergeant's concern with his own, and so, the two, a week ago officially engaged, were left alone to discuss the sudden emerging, not here in person yet, of her ex from past life in New-York.

Guessing how and why Alec found her was useless. The man would explain himself if... when they meet. But what she said to Trudy wasn't quite the truth. She didn't want to do that alone. Her for years enshrined self-sufficiency - undeniably, a great thing to cultivate and possess - slowly yielded to the pleasure of being cared for, being supported, being able to rely on... Gosh, how lovely it sounded... her fiance, unhindered, squarely and round the clock. So unusual to have all that now to cause the weight of a mountain, she didn't know she'd carried, off her shoulders. The same strange to find herself liking that attendance, accepting it without a protest, and also at the moment asking of it.

"Will you come with me?" she inquired.

But indeed she didn't have to question. Or better - thank God she asked. Because, with all respect for her personality, yet, Antonio wouldn't let her go without assistance, be that him, or Erin, or Platt. And thus, in an hour, hand in hand, they walked up to Molly's.

Frankly, with every step she's getting thrilled to tremor while hoping that Alec didn't wait and simply left. But once they entered, in the space with clients only about to gather she beheld the guy lonely sitting at the bar. Her boyfriend's face faded in her memory, but she instantly recognized him, who barely changed over seven years. That's when she recalled why she'd fallen in love with him... no, rather why she was flattered by the fact he fell for her. He was so handsome, cool and fun, and back then many girls openly envied her.

Of course, it's not that Antonio was somewhat after Alec. At first sight - different looks, but they did have a bunch in common, both were worthy inside and alluring out. But her to become husband had so magnetic maturity and warm blood in him, she wouldn't ever give up Antonio Dawson for anyone. No need to worry. Though, her fiance sensibly squeezed her hand tighter as they approached the man.

And still, her heart sank as soon as she met Alec's eyes, kind and rejoiced, with only a shade of sadness behind. Weird fears of hers gone in a flash, with nothing of the reasons, like his cheating or something else, of their break up to prevent her from being at last genuinely content to see him. She realized afresh how much she's grateful to Alec for the time, the most difficult in her life, he'd been with her. Actually, they were a bright beautiful couple, she was loved and cherished, no lack of attention, no misunderstanding, no disrespect, no complains... but either no real depth in that... on her part.

So, a bit awkwardly she acquainted the two men of hers, with her ex surprised not an inch at her nearly husband. Yet, those kept examining and measuring each other with their gazes, while it revealed that Antonio's daughter was "to blame" for uncovering her location.

She left New-York harshly splitting the few bonds, dropped no notice where she'd been heading to, and after settling in Chicago for all those years, without remorse, didn't brief anyone on her fate, whether someone wondered or not. Until Eva made a saluting post with the news of her dad's engagement at Molly's - the only public event, regarding their decision, they organized, while the wedding they planed as completely secret on some sooner or later unscheduled day. And in the bizarrely mystic ways, damn this Internet, Alec happened to cоme across that very video, without a second thought got on the plane and landed at the detected spot - the definite Chicago bar - as the most precise link to his long runaway past love. No, not to beg forgiveness and her to return to him, but merely for his own satisfaction to witness her in the flesh, sound and happy. That was her Alec...

And now she felt like an impossible bitch for troubling him for ages in absentia since she dumbly moved away, and for never giving him enough in the relationships, rather closing up and distancing. So, obviously, them falling apart was her choice, and it shouldn't be his charge. With that acknowledging along their fluent, within ten minutes, friendly talk, she hugged Alec warmly at parting and whispered her deepest thankfulness, hardly suppressing her tears, then, crap, letting him go for good.

Yep, escaping is the most suitable and painless method, as contrary to it just checked and experienced.

"Can we use your store room?" Antonio referred to Herrmann, as her tears already flowed without permission.

And like that and there, secluded from curious glances, she broke completely. Not embracing her fiance only 'cause strangled with weeping and required air and space for her old and repressed ache to out. Regretting nothing, nonetheless, to grant herself a pardon. Wholeheartedly and mentally once again to bless Alec and wish him happiness. And thus, to truly turn over the page...

After a while, silently near through her crisis, Antonio handed her napkins, one by one, as she was done alleviating her agony by crying and wearily sat on the floor, with him to join her.

"You still want to marry me?" that was sort of a joke with a bit of apprehension.

"And you... still want to marry me?" from his lips, though, that sounded disquietly, and no trying to cover it with fun.

"Of course," she looked at him in disbelief. "You think I wrecked 'cause of Alec?... Yes... But no... Alec and I, we needed that final word. But it changes nothing for you and me. I love you... And I don't want to wait..." she added meaningfully to the marvel of his relieved smile. "But not tonight. I'm a mess..."

"You're not," he rushed to assure her, dying to scoop her up in his arms.

"I am, Antonio! And need time to recover... But maybe tomorrow... right after work..." a firm hopeful suggestion to make him beam, with a soothing touch of hers and her chin on his shoulder with humble devotion in her eyes to observe his response.

"Okay..." But for that matter, if not now, he'd take her to court straight in the morning... giving her no chance to reverse her decision...

However, a marriage certificate doesn't stop a woman from leaving. He'd gone through that... That's why this situation with Alec and her following meltdown brought back those bad reminiscences and almost unnerved him. Desperate and loathe to think of a possibility staying without her - that was his tacit torment, demolishing him brick by brick with every passing minute since Platt informed them about the ex popped up.

But, hey, the issues between former lovers resolved, yet, his own lingered, reluctant to be ironed out. So, to appease his mind, not to drive himself inside of her he craved, but to press her, with her soul exposed as never, tightly against his affected heart was his supreme desire and more than enough for tonight. Gallantly and readily, he effectuated that on the floor of the store room 'till the noise of the bar got too loud, and then at their comfy bed 'till the morning... of a brand new day to end with them, shining and anticipating, united in holy wedlock. To blossom and last. Not otherwise.