Washington, D.C. Date Night
Washington, D.C.
Date Night
Four Days Post Case
The Conference Center
Now that they were living out West in Damascus, it was rare they made it back to DC. With Elizabeth, his wife, running FBI West, as Wyler got his cancer treatment, they were pulling double duty on both sides of the country.
Since The President of the United States of America was in DC, and Elizabeth had to answer to not only Axelle, but most of the time to him, they had to be mobile.
After the clusterfuck in Holladay, and the damage done to her team, Elizabeth had to hop on the jet, and go to her other job—despite being worried about The Grave Robber, and her family.
Ethan was pretty sure her other job was less exciting.
Court Jester for Gabe.
Well, maybe that wasn’t the title, but that’s what it certainly felt like more times than not to Ethan. He hated that his wife was being pulled in so many ways, especially when she was in danger.
Someone had better tell the emperor about his nonexistent clothing, and soon. Maybe that would buy his wife some spare time in distraction.
What wouldn’t he give to get the man off of his wife’s ass about the laundry list of situations they were dealing with, but he knew that wasn’t happening.
The president was stressed.
Oh, and when the president was stressed, everyone felt it.
The man had a wedding coming up, and Elizabeth was on Matron-of-Honor duty, and he was on Best-Man duty. For now, that was at the top of Gabe’s list, and when he had a burr under his saddle, no one had a good time.
No.
One.
Apparently, a happy pregnant fiancée was a happy life—in Gabe’s world. As his closest confidant, she had to make sure that happened.
So, trips back East were something that happened more often than not.
Like this one.
Only, buried beneath this one was stress, as their family was in danger.
Not but a day ago, Ethan and Elizabeth had made sure the family was already on the way, and Gene, Chris, and Callen were joining them.
For safety’s sake.
The more the merrier.
While he and Elizabeth were dealing with Gabe, they could go check on the new house being built, ironically, so NO ONE would live in it.
Only, that was just one of the ploys.
It wasn’t what was happening.
The kids would be flying out of the US in a day or so, and they would be working on handling the killer on their asses.
Lowkey.
Oh, and if that wasn’t timed badly, once more, Elizabeth was playing accomplice, and Ethan was grateful for that. Amidst the chaos, there was a side quest, so to speak.
She was his partner in crime.
What was that crime?
Well, Ethan had decided it was time—time to make that commitment to Gene, and not in front of just the four of them, and Corbin.
He wanted to surprise his other love with a wedding, and in their family, if someone was getting hitched, as his wife called it, Elizabeth was up to bat.
Oh, and Blackhawk desperately needed her help on this. He was overwhelmed, and not a party planner—but Elizabeth could multi-task and plan a gala in her sleep.
Ethan felt bad about pulling her into this, though. She was up to her eyeballs in work, mainly, The Grave Robber. She’d not only been planning Ian and Gryphen’s wedding in the castle in Scotland, but she’d also thrown together a wedding for him in her spare time.
And he loved her so much for it.
What he’d learned about Elizabeth was that she had the biggest, most compassionate streak in her that he likely didn’t deserve.
Not only had she given him children, and this life, but she’d taken the chance and opened her world up for Ethan to have an opportunity with Gene.
Any other woman would have balked, but not his. She gave him the gift that kept on giving, and in the process, it made their world spectacular.
Better.
Bigger.
Brighter.
They were a dynasty now, and anyone who WASN’T a Blackhawk, wanted to be one. In DC, with politics, there were whispers that Elizabeth would one day take over the FBI, and then, she’d likely run for president.
Would it happen?
Ethan didn’t know, but he did know one thing. If anyone could hold the world on her shoulders, and do it right, it would be her.
Let a woman run the country, and shit would get done. She ran their family like a general, and nothing got dropped.
Not.
One.
Thing.
So, because of her skill, compassion, and rabid ADHD, Ethan went to her with a proposition.
Help him trick Gene into the wedding of his dreams, and he’d let her get another dog.
Yes, he sold his soul to the devil on this one.
The second she’d heard that, she grinned wickedly, and dove right in. He’d never seen anyone plan a wedding that goddamn fast.
She’d ask him questions, and make shit happen.
The bottom line was this. Elizabeth was a miracle worker.
So tonight, when the clock struck six, they’d be heading to what Gene thought was a presidential shindig, again, her words, at the Conference Center.
Once there, and in a tux, he’d be surprised by the fact that Ethan might have just outromanced him for the first time in their relationship.
Gene Cantrell would always catch him off guard, showing him how much he loved him, and now, Ethan was going to do just that.
It was payback time—and by payback, this was going to be the best kind.
A night of love.
Little did the man know that not only had they all flown home, but their whole family had too.
Willa, their shared child, was there, and tonight, she’d be the flower girl in their wedding.
How his wife pulled this off, he’d never know, but the queen had her court, and planning a party was her favorite thing.
Not a ball was dropped.
So, the fun was about to begin, and he couldn’t wait to experience it.
As they were getting ready, Ethan was working on his tie, and he was nervous as hell.
Oh, not about marrying Gene in front of their family and friends, but because he was always wary about doing things this big.
Because rejection hurt.
Would Gene do that?
No, but old fears ran rampant, and there was always that lingering ‘what if’ that haunted him.
“Let me help you,” Christopher Leonard said, as he saw one of the people he loved struggling.
Ethan sighed.
“Thank you, my love,” he said, gratefully.
They were all in tuxes, minus Elizabeth. She’d yet to pop into the room, but they were all pretty sure she’d steal the show.
And no one minded.
Staring at her in some gorgeous gown was always a good time for Chris, Callen, and Ethan.
Gene would rather not, and that they got.
To help him out, Chris stood in front of him, and as he did, he effortlessly made handiwork with that tie. Before Ethan knew it, it was all knotted up, tucked into his jacket, and was perfect.
“Bless you.”
Chris stared into his eyes.
“You’ve got this,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “It’s about time you handled this.”
Yes, yes, it was, and he knew it was more than just tying Gene to their family, but instead, making a statement to the world.
He was being very public with his relationship because word, after tonight, would be spreading like wildfire. That was the point. The media wanted confirmation, and this was it. Gene Cantrell was a Blackhawk—just not on paper.
This was their official coming out to the media and the rag tabloids. Tomorrow, everyone would know that the family was five strong, and staying that way.
Gene was the last one.
While Gene had planned an impromptu handfasting, to give Ethan that security, it was done in a room of a hotel with no family there.
This was more about a statement from the whole Blackhawk clan to the world.
Gene was theirs.
And he’d always be.
What they wanted him to know, and all the gossipers, was that he was part of them, and they were proud of that. People came and went in your life, but this man was here to stay.
“I know. I’m just nervous.”
Well, he knew how to stop that.
Chris gave him a soft kiss on the mouth, and it soothed the nerves. If anything, Ethan needed that.
He melted into the kiss, and was so damn grateful for everyone in his life.
People might stare and question it, but it worked for them. They simply didn’t do conventional.
They did extraordinary.
And that’s what their relationship was.
PERIOD.
It didn’t matter who was married to who, or what was legally on paper, and what wasn’t. Their relationship was fluid, and it ebbed. There were days he was more focused on Chris, and then there would be a week where Callen was who he doted on.
It worked for them because someone was always loved and cherished, and no one felt left out.
Ever.
Last week, Callen had a premiere for his new movie, and he was the center of attention.
Their relationship worked because everyone was acutely aware of the other people’s feelings and needs.
Like now.
The guise was that Elizabeth was getting an award from Gabe, and Gene, along with the other men, were focused on her.
Oh, wouldn’t he be surprised when he found out that he was the odd man out, and tonight was about them?
“You look so handsome,” Chris said softly after breaking the kiss. “You’re going to blow his mind.”
Yeah, that was his hope, and not the part of him that he’d hoped to blow, but that was how he rolled.
Ethan smiled, and Chris winked.
“Point that grin at him,” he said. “It’s his night. We all know it works on me. I’m easy.”
Yeah, it was, and Chris definitely was that.
Thankfully.
When Callen headed their way, he was trying to get his cufflinks on, but big fingers and tiny pieces of jewelry did not work for him.
His dexterity wasn’t like Chris’.
A doctor was just better at some things, and helping them get into tuxes was one of them. He’d been rich his whole life, and they were married rich. There was a big difference.
“Handsome,” Callen said. “Help a guy out,” he added, holding his wrist out.
Chris got the cuffs onto his monogrammed sleeve of his shirt, and locked them in place. They were gold, and had an onyx stone with a filigree ‘B’ on it for Blackhawk.