"All The Small Things"- Rave-(one shot)
Title: All The Small Things
Show: CSI Miami
Genre: Drama, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ryan Wolfe and Maxine Valera
Ryan and Maxine had been dating for several months and had even spoken those three little words. But, they had gotten into a big argument one night. Ryan had left Maxine's apartment, telling her that he needed some time alone to sort things out in his head. She had thought that he was breaking up with her and she was devestated. She had taken off of work that day because she was too upset to work.
Ryan had gone home that night after learning that Max didn't go to work and he didn't sleep well. He had a nightmare that something bad had happened to Max. He woke up sweating and had been filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. He immediately got dressed adn left to go check on his girlfriend.
When he arrived at her apartment, he found the door open and evidence of a forced entry. He had drawn his weapon and had gone inside. That's when he saw her lying on the floor bleeding.
"Max!" He ran to her side, noticing that her clothes were torn. "Oh, God! Baby, can you hear me?" As much as he wanted to take her into his arms, he knew he couldn't until every piece of evidence was collected. He had checked her pulse though, relieved to find one. He pulled out his cell phone.
"911. What is your emergency?"
"My girlfriend is hurt."
"What happened, sir?"
"I came over to check on her because she wasn't at work today. I found her apartment door open and it looks like there might have been a forced entry. So, I drew my gun-"
"Gun?" She interrupted.
"Yes, I'm a CSI with Miami Dade."
"Oh."
"I found my girlfriend on the floor bleeding. I checked her pulse and she's still breathing... but, her clothes are torn."
"She was raped?"
"I think so."
"Okay, Officer. Give me the address and I'll send an ambulence out there right away." He gave her the address and hung up the call, dialing another number.
"Calleigh, it's Ryan. Can you meet me at the hospital?"
"Why, what's wrong, Ryan?" Calleigh asked, concerned.
"I came over to check on Max and her door was open and it looks like there's been a forced entry. I came inside and found her lying on the floor bleeding. She's still breathing, but her clothes..." He paused.
"What is it, Ryan?"
"Calleigh, her clothes are torn. I think that... I think she was..." He paused again, trying to collect himself. "Oh, God, Calleigh I think she was..."
"Ryan..." Calleigh said gently.
"Could you ..."
"Of course, Ryan. I'll be there as soon as I can."
~ ~ ~
Ryan sat beside Max's hospital bed, holding her hand. She had not yet awakened. Ryan felt the tears falling from his eyes. He leaned his face against the mattress, not wanting anyone to see him crying. He didn't realize that he had started to sob, which woke his girlfriend.
"Ryan?" Max said.
Ryan's head shot up and he looked at her. "Max!" He exclaimed. "Is it okay if I hug you?"
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course it's okay! Why would you ask that?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
"What?"
"Your injuries."
"Oh." She said. "You can hug me if you want." So he did, but he was very careful.
"Honey, do you remember anything?"
"I don't know who he was. I was just sitting on the couch putting my shoes on when the guy busted in and attacked me. He hit me a few times and then he... he..." She started to cry, which only made more tears fall from Ryan's eyes.
He sat down beside her on the bed, taking her into his arms like he had wanted to the minute he'd found her on the floor of her apartment. "Shh, it's okay, Max." He kissed her forehead. "I'm here now, baby. You're safe."
"The baby!" She exclaimed. "Oh, God! Ryan, is our baby okay?"
"What baby?" He asked, but then it hit him. "When did you find out?"
"A few minues before that guy showed up. That's why I was putting my shoes on. I was about to leave to come tell you."
"You were?"
"I thought you deserved to hear it in person instead of on the phone or something." She started to cry again. "He stabbed me, Ryan."
"I know."
"I need to know if the baby is okay."
"I'll go find the doctor." He let go of her and started to get up.
She grabbed him and pulled him back to her side. "No!" She nearly shouted. "Please don't leave me, Ryan!" There was panic in her voice and in her eyes.
He embraced her. "I promise you, Max; I will never leave you." He kissed her crown.
"You already did once."
"What?" He asked. "Oh, Max... I didn't. I just needed some time to think. I was never going to leave you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I love you, Max... with all of my heart... for better or for worse." He kissed her forehead again. They sat there quietly embracing for several minutes.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"Who did it?"
"Did what, honey?"
"The SAE."
"Calleigh." He answered. "I didn't think you'd feel comfortable with a stranger and you've known Calleigh longer than I have, so I just figured she was the logical choice. So, I called her and asked her to meet us here and that I wanted her to do it."
"Thank you."
"Are you in any pain, sweetheart?"
"No, but I am worried about the baby." She replied. "Ryan, I have to know that our baby is okay." He nodded and started to push the call button until Calleigh walked in.
"You're awake." Calleigh said. "I took the evidence to Natalia. She's going to process it. How are you feeling?'
"I just want to knwo that the baby is okay."
"The baby is fine, honey." Calleigh told her. "I talked to the doctor and he said that you're both going to be just fine."
"How did you know?"
"About the baby?" She asked. "Horatio was processing your apartment. He saw the test and he called me and told me right before I did the SAE."
"Oh, okay."
"How come you didn't say anything to me?" Ryan asked Calleigh.
"I figured that you either already knew or she hadn't had a chance to tell you yet. I didn't think it was something that you should hear from me just in case you didn't already know."
"Oh."
"I'm going to go on back to the lab now. I'll be back by later."
"Thank you, Calleigh." Max said.
"No problem, hon. You just get well." She smiled before leaving the room.
Ryan carefully placed his hand on Max's stomach. Max watched him curiously. "Ryan?"
"We're having a baby." He said softly. He lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on her stomach. That caused Max to smile and she threaded her hand through Ryan's hair. He looked up at her. "I love you." He said, moving back up so he could kiss her on the lips. "So much." He kissed her again.
"I love you too, Ryan." She replied. "I'm sorry about our argument."
"I'm sorry too, honey. I never meant to hurt you, Max. I just needed to calm down. I didn't want to end up yelling at you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, but let's never fight again, okay?"
He smiled and kissed her. After Max fell asleep, Ryan left the room to get some food for himself and for Max. He stopped in the gift shop on the way.
~ ~ ~
Max couldn't believe this was happening to her again.
"He belongs with me!" The blonde reporter said as her hands wrapped around Max's throat. Max tried to grab for the call button, but she couldn't reach it. Her only thoughts were that she was going to die. Maybe she was supposed to earlier, but Ryan had gotten a warning of some sort and had messed up Death's plans by saving her. But, Death never took a holiday and now it had come back to collect her.
Death was a persistant bastard. I love you, Ryan. Valera thought just before she heard the gun shot. Valera gasped as the other woman collapsed on top of her. "Ahh!" She managed to groan out, gasping for air from being nearly strangled to death. She felt the other woman's body being pulled off of her.
"Maxine, are you okay?" It was Natalia's voice.
Max didn't have time to answer before Ryan entered the room. He sat the store bags and the bag of food down in the chair next to the door and rushed to Max's side. "What happened?" He asked, seeing the body on the floor. Natalia helped Max drink some water.
"When I walked in, Erica Sikes was trying to strangle Maxine, so I shot her." Natalia said.
"Max, are you okay, baby?" Ryan asked as he saw the tears in her eyes. He hugged her. "I'm so sorry, baby. I shouldn't have left the room." Tears fell from his own eyes.
"It's not your fault, Ryan." Max told him.
Ryan looked over at Natalia. "Thank you, Natalia." And Natalia nodded.
~ ~ ~
After Natalia had left, Ryan got up from the bed. "Ryan!" Maxine cried out, missing the warmth of his arms around her. "Where are you going?" Ever since she'd been attacked she had felt afraid and uncomfortable. The only time she felt safe and protected was when Ryan had his arms around her. She knew as long as she was in his arms that no one could hurt her. He wouldn't let them. "Please don't leave!"
He quickly grabbed the bag of food and the bags from the gift store off the chair and walked back over to her side. "It's okay, Max." He said. "I just went to get these. I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head. He hated what that creep had done to his girlfriend. It was killing him to see her like that... so broken. Maxine Valera had always been tough, but now she was the complete opposite. That creep had stolen that from her. He cuold only hope that one day she'd get it back. Though it didn't matter, he'd still love her no matter what. "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."
"Ryan..." She said quietly. "I can never go back there."
He nodded, understanding. "It's okay, honey." He told her. "You never have to go back there. You can stay with me."
"I was hoping that you'd say that because I don't think that I could sleep alone."
"You never have to worry about that again, baby. You just let me know what all you need from the apartment and I'll pick it up for you or have the team do it."
"Ryan, I'm sorry if I seem needy right now."
"Hey," he said, lifting her chin, "you do not have to apologize for that. After what you've been through, you have every right to be needy. I don't mind at all."
She could see it in his eyes, he blamed himself for what happened to her. "Ryan, don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't blame yourself."
"How can I not, Max? If I hadn't gotten upset over something so small, we would have been together and you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"It's not your fault."
"Erica attacked you because she was obsessed with me."
"That wasn't your fault either." She paused. "I think Death has it in for me." She said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"What?"
"But the first time, you thwarted his plans and the next time Natalia did."
"Well, Death can't have you. You belong with me." He hugged her.
"Yeah, I do." She smiled.
"I don't like not being with you. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know this isn't exactly the ideal setting for this nor is it the most romantic, but..." He paused. "I actually have had this planned for a while, under much better circumstances of course. But, I had the ring sort of put on layaway I guess you could say. The jeweler agreed to let me make payments on it. I just got the last one in today. I had to pay it online because I didn't want to leave you. That's why my laptop's here. Anyway, I called t0 ask one of our friends if they could pick it up for me. Natalia was on her way to visit you anyway, so she went to pick it up for me before coming here. She met me in the hallway outside the gift shop and gave it to me." He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it, displaying a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
"Oh My God!" Max whispered.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" She said without hesitation. he put the ring on her finger and kissed her passionately.
"It didn't sing." A voice from the doorway said.
The newly engaged couple turned to see Eric Delko standing there with a goofy grin on his face. "What?" The couple asked.
"The ring, it didn't sing." They looked at him oddly. "Sorry, I babysat some of my nieces last night and they brought over this movie called The Tenth Kingdom. Six hours long. It was a magic kingdom and this guy bought his girlfriend a magic engagement ring that sang when the box was opened. And before you ask, it made me think of you two because the woman was pregnant and the guy was half human and half..." He paused.
"Half what?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, don't leave us in suspense Eric." Max added.
"Half human and half wolf."
Max immediately cracked up and Ryan grinned. "Thanks for that, Eric." Max said. "I needed that laugh."
"No problem. How are you feeling?"
"Okay. They can't give me very strong pain meds because of the baby, but I'm dealing."
"Just so you know, when we find this creep, if I get to him first I'm gonna knock his teeth in."
"I wouldn't stop there." Ryan grumbled under his breath.
"Thanks, Eric." Max said.
~ ~ ~
A little over a month later, Ryan walked into his place (which he now shared with his fiancee) and heard music playing from the stereo. "Max?" He called out.
"Hi, Ryan." She greeted him with a kiss. The kiss quickly grew passionate. "Ryan, I need you. Make love to me."
"Are you sure, baby?" They hadn't made love since before she was attacked. She hadn't been ready and he was willing to wait as long as it took until she was comfortable.
"Positive."
"Okay." He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, placing her gently on the mattress. He was very gentle with her and constantly whispered how much he loved her.
~ ~ ~
They were in the bed. Max's head was against Ryan's chest and his arms were securely around her. "You okay?" He asked.
"Yep." She smiled, kissing his shoulder. "Perfect."
"So, should we talk about names?"
"What?"
"For the baby."
"Oh. We can later. We have all those name books you bought, remember?"
"Yeah, okay. So, do you want to know whether it's a boy or girl?"
"Do you?"
"Doesn't matter to me. It's up to you."
"I want to know."
"Okay then." He kissed her forehead.
~ ~ ~
Ryan grabbed the phone. "Hello? Hi, Natalia. No, she's asleep. She's fine, just tired. What? Really? That's great. Thanks for calling. Okay, bye." He hung up the phone.
"Ryan, who was that?" Max asked from beside him on the bed.
"That was Natalia."
"You don't have to go into work do you?"
"No, honey."
"Good." She said, snuggling against his chest.
"You're safe now, baby. They found him guilty and he got the maximum sentence allowed by law."
"That's good."
"I love you, Max."
"I love you too, Ryan." She kissed him softly.
"Goodnight, baby."
"Goodnight."
~ ~ ~
Ryan and Max were standing at the altar. "Ryan, you may now kiss your bride." The priest said.
Ryan smiled and pulled Max closer, kissing her. Everyone clapped and cheered.
~ ~ ~
Ryan sat on the hospital bed beside his wife. He was holding their newborn daughter. He was in awe of the tiny infant in his arms... his little angel. He kissed the baby's forehead.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Max said.
"Yes, she is. Just like her mother."
"She's got your eyes."
"And your nose." He kissed Max on the nose. "She's perfect." Max put her hea don Ryan's shoulder and her hand on her daughter's head. Ryan kissed Max's forehead. "So, what are we going to name this little angel? You didn't like any of the names in the baby name books."
"None of them fit her."
"You're right. She should have a name that suits her. She's just the most adorable, perfect-"
"That's it!" Maxine exclaimed.
"What?"
"She's adorable, you said it yourself."
"Yeah. Wait, I'm confused."
Max laughed softly. "Adora fits her. Don't you think?"
Ryan chuckled. "It does." He answered. "But, isn't that She-ra's name?"
Max laughed. "You watched that?"
"What can I say? I've always had a thing for tough chicks." He said with a grin, getting a chuckle out of his wife.
Max gave him that look that said, "You're such a dork sometimes."
"So, what about a middle name?" Max inquired.
"How about Maya?"
"Why Maya?"
"It's the only thing I can come up with by putting out first names together. Well, except for Mary and that doesn't go."
"Adora Maya it is then."
"Yep."
~ ~ ~
Calleigh, Alexx and Natalia came into the hospital room. They all oohed and ahhed over the baby, each of them taking a turn holding her. They guys soon joined them.
"So, what's her name?" Eric asked.
"Adora Maya Wolfe." Maxine said. "I picked her first name because she's adorable and it fits her. She seems to like it too. Ryan picked her middle name because its a combo of our first names."
"Well, I think it's a beautiful name." Alexx said.
"We agree." Nat and Cal added.
"You kids did good." Frank told the new parents. "She's beautiful."
"Thank you."
"Don't you worry, little one." Calleigh said. "You're going to have plenty of people looking out for you and protecting you."
"She sure will." Horatio said. "She sure will."
Title: All The Small Things
Show: CSI Miami
Genre: Drama, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ryan Wolfe and Maxine Valera
Ryan and Maxine had been dating for several months and had even spoken those three little words. But, they had gotten into a big argument one night. Ryan had left Maxine's apartment, telling her that he needed some time alone to sort things out in his head. She had thought that he was breaking up with her and she was devestated. She had taken off of work that day because she was too upset to work.
Ryan had gone home that night after learning that Max didn't go to work and he didn't sleep well. He had a nightmare that something bad had happened to Max. He woke up sweating and had been filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. He immediately got dressed adn left to go check on his girlfriend.
When he arrived at her apartment, he found the door open and evidence of a forced entry. He had drawn his weapon and had gone inside. That's when he saw her lying on the floor bleeding.
"Max!" He ran to her side, noticing that her clothes were torn. "Oh, God! Baby, can you hear me?" As much as he wanted to take her into his arms, he knew he couldn't until every piece of evidence was collected. He had checked her pulse though, relieved to find one. He pulled out his cell phone.
"911. What is your emergency?"
"My girlfriend is hurt."
"What happened, sir?"
"I came over to check on her because she wasn't at work today. I found her apartment door open and it looks like there might have been a forced entry. So, I drew my gun-"
"Gun?" She interrupted.
"Yes, I'm a CSI with Miami Dade."
"Oh."
"I found my girlfriend on the floor bleeding. I checked her pulse and she's still breathing... but, her clothes are torn."
"She was raped?"
"I think so."
"Okay, Officer. Give me the address and I'll send an ambulence out there right away." He gave her the address and hung up the call, dialing another number.
"Calleigh, it's Ryan. Can you meet me at the hospital?"
"Why, what's wrong, Ryan?" Calleigh asked, concerned.
"I came over to check on Max and her door was open and it looks like there's been a forced entry. I came inside and found her lying on the floor bleeding. She's still breathing, but her clothes..." He paused.
"What is it, Ryan?"
"Calleigh, her clothes are torn. I think that... I think she was..." He paused again, trying to collect himself. "Oh, God, Calleigh I think she was..."
"Ryan..." Calleigh said gently.
"Could you ..."
"Of course, Ryan. I'll be there as soon as I can."
~ ~ ~
Ryan sat beside Max's hospital bed, holding her hand. She had not yet awakened. Ryan felt the tears falling from his eyes. He leaned his face against the mattress, not wanting anyone to see him crying. He didn't realize that he had started to sob, which woke his girlfriend.
"Ryan?" Max said.
Ryan's head shot up and he looked at her. "Max!" He exclaimed. "Is it okay if I hug you?"
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course it's okay! Why would you ask that?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
"What?"
"Your injuries."
"Oh." She said. "You can hug me if you want." So he did, but he was very careful.
"Honey, do you remember anything?"
"I don't know who he was. I was just sitting on the couch putting my shoes on when the guy busted in and attacked me. He hit me a few times and then he... he..." She started to cry, which only made more tears fall from Ryan's eyes.
He sat down beside her on the bed, taking her into his arms like he had wanted to the minute he'd found her on the floor of her apartment. "Shh, it's okay, Max." He kissed her forehead. "I'm here now, baby. You're safe."
"The baby!" She exclaimed. "Oh, God! Ryan, is our baby okay?"
"What baby?" He asked, but then it hit him. "When did you find out?"
"A few minues before that guy showed up. That's why I was putting my shoes on. I was about to leave to come tell you."
"You were?"
"I thought you deserved to hear it in person instead of on the phone or something." She started to cry again. "He stabbed me, Ryan."
"I know."
"I need to know if the baby is okay."
"I'll go find the doctor." He let go of her and started to get up.
She grabbed him and pulled him back to her side. "No!" She nearly shouted. "Please don't leave me, Ryan!" There was panic in her voice and in her eyes.
He embraced her. "I promise you, Max; I will never leave you." He kissed her crown.
"You already did once."
"What?" He asked. "Oh, Max... I didn't. I just needed some time to think. I was never going to leave you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I love you, Max... with all of my heart... for better or for worse." He kissed her forehead again. They sat there quietly embracing for several minutes.
"Ryan?"
"Yeah?"
"Who did it?"
"Did what, honey?"
"The SAE."
"Calleigh." He answered. "I didn't think you'd feel comfortable with a stranger and you've known Calleigh longer than I have, so I just figured she was the logical choice. So, I called her and asked her to meet us here and that I wanted her to do it."
"Thank you."
"Are you in any pain, sweetheart?"
"No, but I am worried about the baby." She replied. "Ryan, I have to know that our baby is okay." He nodded and started to push the call button until Calleigh walked in.
"You're awake." Calleigh said. "I took the evidence to Natalia. She's going to process it. How are you feeling?'
"I just want to knwo that the baby is okay."
"The baby is fine, honey." Calleigh told her. "I talked to the doctor and he said that you're both going to be just fine."
"How did you know?"
"About the baby?" She asked. "Horatio was processing your apartment. He saw the test and he called me and told me right before I did the SAE."
"Oh, okay."
"How come you didn't say anything to me?" Ryan asked Calleigh.
"I figured that you either already knew or she hadn't had a chance to tell you yet. I didn't think it was something that you should hear from me just in case you didn't already know."
"Oh."
"I'm going to go on back to the lab now. I'll be back by later."
"Thank you, Calleigh." Max said.
"No problem, hon. You just get well." She smiled before leaving the room.
Ryan carefully placed his hand on Max's stomach. Max watched him curiously. "Ryan?"
"We're having a baby." He said softly. He lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on her stomach. That caused Max to smile and she threaded her hand through Ryan's hair. He looked up at her. "I love you." He said, moving back up so he could kiss her on the lips. "So much." He kissed her again.
"I love you too, Ryan." She replied. "I'm sorry about our argument."
"I'm sorry too, honey. I never meant to hurt you, Max. I just needed to calm down. I didn't want to end up yelling at you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, but let's never fight again, okay?"
He smiled and kissed her. After Max fell asleep, Ryan left the room to get some food for himself and for Max. He stopped in the gift shop on the way.
~ ~ ~
Max couldn't believe this was happening to her again.
"He belongs with me!" The blonde reporter said as her hands wrapped around Max's throat. Max tried to grab for the call button, but she couldn't reach it. Her only thoughts were that she was going to die. Maybe she was supposed to earlier, but Ryan had gotten a warning of some sort and had messed up Death's plans by saving her. But, Death never took a holiday and now it had come back to collect her.
Death was a persistant bastard. I love you, Ryan. Valera thought just before she heard the gun shot. Valera gasped as the other woman collapsed on top of her. "Ahh!" She managed to groan out, gasping for air from being nearly strangled to death. She felt the other woman's body being pulled off of her.
"Maxine, are you okay?" It was Natalia's voice.
Max didn't have time to answer before Ryan entered the room. He sat the store bags and the bag of food down in the chair next to the door and rushed to Max's side. "What happened?" He asked, seeing the body on the floor. Natalia helped Max drink some water.
"When I walked in, Erica Sikes was trying to strangle Maxine, so I shot her." Natalia said.
"Max, are you okay, baby?" Ryan asked as he saw the tears in her eyes. He hugged her. "I'm so sorry, baby. I shouldn't have left the room." Tears fell from his own eyes.
"It's not your fault, Ryan." Max told him.
Ryan looked over at Natalia. "Thank you, Natalia." And Natalia nodded.
~ ~ ~
After Natalia had left, Ryan got up from the bed. "Ryan!" Maxine cried out, missing the warmth of his arms around her. "Where are you going?" Ever since she'd been attacked she had felt afraid and uncomfortable. The only time she felt safe and protected was when Ryan had his arms around her. She knew as long as she was in his arms that no one could hurt her. He wouldn't let them. "Please don't leave!"
He quickly grabbed the bag of food and the bags from the gift store off the chair and walked back over to her side. "It's okay, Max." He said. "I just went to get these. I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head. He hated what that creep had done to his girlfriend. It was killing him to see her like that... so broken. Maxine Valera had always been tough, but now she was the complete opposite. That creep had stolen that from her. He cuold only hope that one day she'd get it back. Though it didn't matter, he'd still love her no matter what. "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."
"Ryan..." She said quietly. "I can never go back there."
He nodded, understanding. "It's okay, honey." He told her. "You never have to go back there. You can stay with me."
"I was hoping that you'd say that because I don't think that I could sleep alone."
"You never have to worry about that again, baby. You just let me know what all you need from the apartment and I'll pick it up for you or have the team do it."
"Ryan, I'm sorry if I seem needy right now."
"Hey," he said, lifting her chin, "you do not have to apologize for that. After what you've been through, you have every right to be needy. I don't mind at all."
She could see it in his eyes, he blamed himself for what happened to her. "Ryan, don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't blame yourself."
"How can I not, Max? If I hadn't gotten upset over something so small, we would have been together and you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"It's not your fault."
"Erica attacked you because she was obsessed with me."
"That wasn't your fault either." She paused. "I think Death has it in for me." She said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"What?"
"But the first time, you thwarted his plans and the next time Natalia did."
"Well, Death can't have you. You belong with me." He hugged her.
"Yeah, I do." She smiled.
"I don't like not being with you. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know this isn't exactly the ideal setting for this nor is it the most romantic, but..." He paused. "I actually have had this planned for a while, under much better circumstances of course. But, I had the ring sort of put on layaway I guess you could say. The jeweler agreed to let me make payments on it. I just got the last one in today. I had to pay it online because I didn't want to leave you. That's why my laptop's here. Anyway, I called t0 ask one of our friends if they could pick it up for me. Natalia was on her way to visit you anyway, so she went to pick it up for me before coming here. She met me in the hallway outside the gift shop and gave it to me." He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it, displaying a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
"Oh My God!" Max whispered.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" She said without hesitation. he put the ring on her finger and kissed her passionately.
"It didn't sing." A voice from the doorway said.
The newly engaged couple turned to see Eric Delko standing there with a goofy grin on his face. "What?" The couple asked.
"The ring, it didn't sing." They looked at him oddly. "Sorry, I babysat some of my nieces last night and they brought over this movie called The Tenth Kingdom. Six hours long. It was a magic kingdom and this guy bought his girlfriend a magic engagement ring that sang when the box was opened. And before you ask, it made me think of you two because the woman was pregnant and the guy was half human and half..." He paused.
"Half what?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, don't leave us in suspense Eric." Max added.
"Half human and half wolf."
Max immediately cracked up and Ryan grinned. "Thanks for that, Eric." Max said. "I needed that laugh."
"No problem. How are you feeling?"
"Okay. They can't give me very strong pain meds because of the baby, but I'm dealing."
"Just so you know, when we find this creep, if I get to him first I'm gonna knock his teeth in."
"I wouldn't stop there." Ryan grumbled under his breath.
"Thanks, Eric." Max said.
~ ~ ~
A little over a month later, Ryan walked into his place (which he now shared with his fiancee) and heard music playing from the stereo. "Max?" He called out.
"Hi, Ryan." She greeted him with a kiss. The kiss quickly grew passionate. "Ryan, I need you. Make love to me."
"Are you sure, baby?" They hadn't made love since before she was attacked. She hadn't been ready and he was willing to wait as long as it took until she was comfortable.
"Positive."
"Okay." He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom, placing her gently on the mattress. He was very gentle with her and constantly whispered how much he loved her.
~ ~ ~
They were in the bed. Max's head was against Ryan's chest and his arms were securely around her. "You okay?" He asked.
"Yep." She smiled, kissing his shoulder. "Perfect."
"So, should we talk about names?"
"What?"
"For the baby."
"Oh. We can later. We have all those name books you bought, remember?"
"Yeah, okay. So, do you want to know whether it's a boy or girl?"
"Do you?"
"Doesn't matter to me. It's up to you."
"I want to know."
"Okay then." He kissed her forehead.
~ ~ ~
Ryan grabbed the phone. "Hello? Hi, Natalia. No, she's asleep. She's fine, just tired. What? Really? That's great. Thanks for calling. Okay, bye." He hung up the phone.
"Ryan, who was that?" Max asked from beside him on the bed.
"That was Natalia."
"You don't have to go into work do you?"
"No, honey."
"Good." She said, snuggling against his chest.
"You're safe now, baby. They found him guilty and he got the maximum sentence allowed by law."
"That's good."
"I love you, Max."
"I love you too, Ryan." She kissed him softly.
"Goodnight, baby."
"Goodnight."
~ ~ ~
Ryan and Max were standing at the altar. "Ryan, you may now kiss your bride." The priest said.
Ryan smiled and pulled Max closer, kissing her. Everyone clapped and cheered.
~ ~ ~
Ryan sat on the hospital bed beside his wife. He was holding their newborn daughter. He was in awe of the tiny infant in his arms... his little angel. He kissed the baby's forehead.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Max said.
"Yes, she is. Just like her mother."
"She's got your eyes."
"And your nose." He kissed Max on the nose. "She's perfect." Max put her hea don Ryan's shoulder and her hand on her daughter's head. Ryan kissed Max's forehead. "So, what are we going to name this little angel? You didn't like any of the names in the baby name books."
"None of them fit her."
"You're right. She should have a name that suits her. She's just the most adorable, perfect-"
"That's it!" Maxine exclaimed.
"What?"
"She's adorable, you said it yourself."
"Yeah. Wait, I'm confused."
Max laughed softly. "Adora fits her. Don't you think?"
Ryan chuckled. "It does." He answered. "But, isn't that She-ra's name?"
Max laughed. "You watched that?"
"What can I say? I've always had a thing for tough chicks." He said with a grin, getting a chuckle out of his wife.
Max gave him that look that said, "You're such a dork sometimes."
"So, what about a middle name?" Max inquired.
"How about Maya?"
"Why Maya?"
"It's the only thing I can come up with by putting out first names together. Well, except for Mary and that doesn't go."
"Adora Maya it is then."
"Yep."
~ ~ ~
Calleigh, Alexx and Natalia came into the hospital room. They all oohed and ahhed over the baby, each of them taking a turn holding her. They guys soon joined them.
"So, what's her name?" Eric asked.
"Adora Maya Wolfe." Maxine said. "I picked her first name because she's adorable and it fits her. She seems to like it too. Ryan picked her middle name because its a combo of our first names."
"Well, I think it's a beautiful name." Alexx said.
"We agree." Nat and Cal added.
"You kids did good." Frank told the new parents. "She's beautiful."
"Thank you."
"Don't you worry, little one." Calleigh said. "You're going to have plenty of people looking out for you and protecting you."
"She sure will." Horatio said. "She sure will."
THE END
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