The Flashbacks

Chapter Eighteen: Big Amazing Changes

I dropped Jax off in the backyard with Luna and the dogs to play and took Ava up to Ethan's apartment. He asked me to come over for dinner in his apartment.

"Hey, baby." I smiled at him, putting Ava in the playpen he had for her. I made sure she had her favorite stuffed toys and made my way to the kitchen.

"Hey, gorgeous." He was trying a sauce that he had simmering on the stove. "Try this." He held out the spoon to me. I pressed the spoon to my lips and licked them, just trying the sauce. The look Ethan gave me told me that he could bend me over the counter right now.

"That's good." I smiled softly at him, brushing some hair away from my face. "So, what's the special occasion?" I asked him and I could see him biting his lip nervously.

"I was going to wait until dinner, but I can't wait." He took a deep breath. "Do you want to move in with me? Here in the apartment? We can start slow and I could empty a drawer for you or even just start with a couple of days a week." He let out his breath when he got the words out.

"I would love that, Ethan. We don't have to take it slow. I already spent half the week here anyway when we have dates." I wrapped my arms loosely around his waist and pressed my lips to his.

"Elyse said that they could redecorate Luna's room so that Jax can share with her. He always sleeps in there whenever you bring the kids to spend the night anyway. Ava can have a room of her own." Ethan was so cute when he was nervous.

"Calm down. You need to breathe between your words." I giggled softly. I rubbed his cheeks with my thumbs and he smiled softly at me. He had shaven. I think he liked to keep his face clean looking for work. I could feel his heart beating against mine.

"There's something else I wanted to ask you about." He told me once we were separated and he was pouring two glasses of wine.

"I'm listening." I hopped up onto the counter and sipped my wine. He turned to take some toasted French bread out of the oven.

"The Policeman's Ball is coming up at the end of this month. Would you like to be my date?" He asked with a smile. He scooped some quinoa and put it on the toast, pouring some of the sauce on top. It looked so good, it was making my stomach growl.

"I would love to go to the Policeman's Ball with you." I carried the glasses of wine over to the table and he brought the plates. "I know what you'll be wearing. Is it evening gown attire for the guests?" I asked him, immediately digging into my food after we prayed together.

"Yes, Alex is going to ask Elyse to go so you two can go dress shopping together. I can give you money." I opened my mouth to object and he stopped me. "I invited you to be my guest at the ball. I want to pay for your dress." He insisted and I smiled, nodding my head. "Now, finish your dinner. I'm looking forward to taking you into the bedroom where you can be as loud as you want." He said it so nonchalantly and I almost spit out the wine that was in my mouth.

Elyse's POV

I kicked off my clogs by the front door, just like I did in the old house. I pressed my lips together in a smile when I saw the trail of rose petals leading to the kitchen. I made my way into the kitchen where the room was illuminated with candles. Luna was sitting on the table with a sign that said 'Will you go with my daddy to the Policeman's Ball?' It was Alex's handwriting, but her painted handprints were all over it. There was a large bouquet of red roses on the island counter.

"Well, well, what's all this?" I asked Alex with a smile. He was pulling roasted potatoes out of the oven.

"Just thought I'd try to be romantic." He smiled, coming around the counter. "So? Will you go to the Policeman's Ball with me?" He asked, putting both his hands in mine.

"I'm your wife. Of course, I will, you silly goose." I stood on my tippy toes and kissed him softly. Alex was nearly a foot taller than me when I wasn't wearing shoes.

"I will never stop asking you to do things, no matter how obvious they may seem." He smiles at me. "You ready for dinner?" He asked me and I nodded my head.

"It smells delicious." I got Luna and Jax settled in their seats. I knew that Ethan and Steph were having dinner together tonight so we offered to watch Jax. The boys would be redecorating her bedroom for the two of them on their day off tomorrow as long as Steph agreed to move in with Ethan. Alex served the kids baked macaroni and cheese and some potatoes along with a juice box. He poured me a glass of wine and grabbed a beer for himself.

"You have tomorrow off too right?" Alex asked me curiously. I nodded my head. Every couple of weeks I took an overnight peds ER shift so my office would be closed for the day.

"Technically I'll go in at 10PM, but I have most of the day off." I smiled slightly at him, poking at my food. I was hungry but I had morning sickness at the same time.

"I can make you soup or something else." Alex offered when he noticed my hesitation to eat.

"I'm okay, thank you." I put a bite of macaroni in my mouth to show him that I was fine. Alex was telling me about this stakeout they went on today while we ate. As we were finishing up our dinner, Steph and Ethan came downstairs. Ethan was holding Ava in her arms, she was sleeping peacefully. Alex had invited them down for dessert so that we could find out Steph's answer.

"We have a few new roommates." Ethan smiled, taking the cheesecake he bought out of the fridge.

"Awesome. We can decorate the kid's room tomorrow and get some stuff for Ava's nursery." I smiled at Steph as she sat next to me at the table.

"Thank you. I'm really looking forward to being here." She tucked some hair behind her ear. "Thank you for welcoming me and my kids into your family." She brushed her fingers over Jax's hair.

"We're genuinely happy to have you." I put my hand over hers and gave it a soft squeeze. Ethan cut the cheesecake and served it on 6 dessert plates. He did this all with Ava in his arms. When Luna was a baby, she went through a phase where she only wanted Ethan to hold her, not me, and not her father. Ethan got used to doing everything with Luna in his arms. It prepared him for now that he had a girlfriend with a baby.

"Who wants chocolate and/or caramel on their cheesecake?" He asked. Both of the kid's hands shot up into the air. He smiled and drizzled some on their slices, bringing them over.

"Do you guys have any strawberries?" Steph asked and Ethan nodded his head.

"I'll take strawberries too." I sipped my water and Alex held my hand under the table. Ethan and Alex took their cheesecake plain. "Are you going to spend the night tonight?" I asked, taking a bite of my cheesecake.

"I'm going to spend one last night with Sarah. We finally just made up from when I snapped at her about Jax's head. I hope she doesn't think it's because of her." She played with her cake.

"I'm sure she'll understand that it's just a step you and Ethan are ready for." I smiled and nudged her. We finished up our cheesecake and we all went into the living room to watch a movie together. Both Jax and Luna climbed up into Ethan's lap once he had given me Ava. I had no idea my life would change as much as it did when I met Steph, but I was still so grateful.