Open Heart One Shots

Soulmates (Part 2)

Evelyn's POV

The morning breeze was warm, with the smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries flooding Evelyn's senses as she and Ethan walked to Dolce Vita.

She never imagined that they would get to this point. Holding hands, walking down the surprisingly quiet streets, now a married couple.

Still feeling a sense of disbelief, she smiled and shook her head, glancing down at her hand, her ring glittering in the sunlight confirming that yes, they had vowed to stay by each other's side for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.

"What's got you so giddy?" Ethan asked, catching her smiling to herself.

"I was just thinking about how far we've come together. We're married! I guess it just doesn't feel real yet."

"I can understand that. Are you having any doubts?"

"Dr. Ramsey! I'm horrified that you would even ask such a thing!" Evelyn exclaimed, placing a hand over her heart faking distress. "No, I'm not having any doubts. You're stuck with me until the day I die Mr. Chief of Medicine."

"Good, because I don't intend on ever letting you get away. Oh, here we are." Ethan announced as they approached the little café. "After you madame," he said, holding the door open for her.

"Why thank you, kind sir."

Entering the store, they're both overwhelmed by all the options.

As they waited in line, Evelyn began thinking back to those Duolingo lessons that she tried taking months prior. She never liked going anywhere that she couldn't understand the language.

Reaching the front of the line, a new drink on the menu caught her eye.

"Buongiorno. Cosa posso offrirti oggi?" the barista asked. (Good morning. What can I get for you today?)

"Buongiorno, che sapore ha tua Madre?" she asked, pointing to the item on the menu behind the barista. (Good morning. What does your mother taste like?)

"Excuse me? Did you mean to ask, che sapore ha quella bevanda?" he inquired, pointing to the same spot on the menu. (What does that drink taste like?)

Quickly trying to think back to what she said, her face dropped in horror.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I got mixed up, and I didn't realize-"

"She was trying to learn Italian before we came, so she can order in it," Ethan added, trying to not make her feel worse.

"Don't worry about it," he responded laughing, "I know how it is to try to learn a new language. I moved here three years ago and trust me, I've had my fair share of mishaps. The drink that you're asking about is caffè d'un parrinu. It's coffee with flavours of clove, cinnamon, and cocoa powder."

"That sounds amazing." she managed to replay still blushing furiously, hoping no one had heard her mistake.

"We'll take two of those and two tiramisu-filled croissants please," Ethan glanced at the barista's name tag, "Oliver."

"Coming right up!"

After paying, Oliver handed them a bag with their croissants and their coffees. "Here you go, have a nice day!"

"Thank you, you too," Evelyn replied, taking Ethan's hand and heading out.

The walk back to the hotel was quiet, neither one wanting to bring up what had just happened.

Upon entering their room, Evelyn placed her coffee on the small table and collapsed on the bed, screaming into her pillow.

"Dammit, dammit, dammiiittt!

Placing their bag and his coffee down, Ethan sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Sweetheart, I know you're embarrassed, but please, if the other guests are going to file a noise complaint against us, let's be wise about what we use the opportunity for."

Sitting up and laughing through tears she wrapped her arms around him.

"I know what would cheer you up."

"What?"

"Here," he said, handing her his credit card, "take this and go get whatever you want."

"I can't do that." she protested.

"Yes, you can. Consider it your wedding gift."

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, pushing him down on the bed and showering him with kisses. "Don't you want to come with me?"

"Surprise me," he responded, giving her one last lingering kiss.

——————

About an hour later, Evelyn returned with two bags in hand.

"Thank you!" she exclaims, handing Ethan his card back.

"Of course, darling. Did you get everything you wanted?"

"I did."

"Excellent, I slipped my mind to mention it to you earlier, but tonight, after dinner, we'll be going on a gondola ride."

"Booyah!" she squealed, pumping her fist in the air and dancing.

"If you do that on the boat, trust that I will push you off."

She smiled and kissed him, "No you won't. I think you're all talk Dr. Ramsey."

——————

That evening, after dinner, the newlyweds boarded the gondola and began floating along The Grand Canal, the setting sun shining a glorious golden light upon the water.

Evelyn sat across from Ethan, admiring how bright his blue eyes looked in the light, his face a look of calm peacefulness. She didn't think that she'd ever seen him so relaxed.

Before she met Ethan, she thought she knew what love was. She had only loved one boy from the age of eight until eighteen. Her first and only boyfriend. When she left home for school, they tried to make long distance work, but slowly fell out of touch. It made her sad, but it didn't break her.

Then she thought of when Ethan left for two months to go to the Amazon. She had felt more hurt at that moment than she did in her entire life. Hurt that Ethan hadn't contacted her or even mentioned to her that he was leaving. Hurt that he had tried to erase all the progress that they had made in the previous year.

But they overcame it all. They stayed and fought together through everything that was thrown at them. From working tirelessly to find a cure for Naveen, to the attack on the Senator and the deaths of their friends. Leland Bloom had even tried to overthrow the hospital, but they took him down together.

Now here they were, Chief of Medicine and Head of the Diagnostics Team. They made each other stronger and pushed each to always be their best.

He was the love of her life and she was the love of his, and together they would be unstoppable.

Catching her staring, Ethan smiled and took her hands in his, "I love you Evelyn."

"I love you too Ethan."