Apology Challenge, by mergatrude

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Post-Eclipse Elaine and RayK. Gen, G, 460 words. Say it with flowers. china_shop, thank you for beta and for being wonderful.

Contemplation Rose

"I'll be right there." Elaine laid the last sweater on the drying rack before wiping her hands on a towel, and went to answer the door. At this hour it could only be Sally from 4B with mint chocolate chip ice cream and her latest boy troubles.

On the other side of the door, though, was the new Detective Ray Vecchio.

"I… Sorry to come by so late." He shifted self-consciously and offered her a bunch of flowers.

Surprised, she took them without even thinking. Elaine hadn't been on the receiving end of too many flowers—make that bouquets of expensive flowers; blush-pink roses, tiny white daisies, something she recognised from her sister's wedding as lisianthus, soft ferns, all wrapped in florists' paper.

"Thank you?" Elaine wasn't sure what to make of it. He was more dressed up than when she'd last seen him at the precinct. Now he was wearing a nice button-down shirt and neatly pressed charcoal pants. She hadn't drunk so much at Fraser's crazy fake-birthday party that she'd agreed to go out with him, had she? She thought he'd left with Fraser anyway, both of them still wearing party hats.

"No, it's you know," he began. "Today wasn't so good, even if we won. And I thought it must've been really not fun for you." He ducked his head.

She gave a surprised laugh. "I have to admit that being grilled by IA before I even graduated was not on my to-do list." She sniffed the flowers appreciatively. "This is thoughtful of you, but really not necessary. I mean, you were the one who sent them packing, eventually."

"Nah, it's okay. You've been really great since this gig started. So it's kind of a thank you, as well." He shoved his hands into his pockets and shuffled his feet. "So I'll see you at the station tomorrow, huh?" and turned away down the corridor.

She thought for a moment about inviting him in, but let him go, leaning against the door frame to watch as he walked away.

"Oh." He turned at the top of the stairs. "If you ever want to go out dancing…" He gave another little shuffle and winked, before heading down the stairs.

That was more like what she'd expected. She smiled as she closed the door and went to look for a vase, noticing that a few of the flowers on one side were crushed, as if the bouquet had been lying on its side for a while. She teased the damaged blooms out of the arrangement and placed the vase on the table.

"Elaine?" There was another knock on the door—that had to be Sally. She grabbed a box of tissues and went to open the door.

The end

Comments

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

Sweet! (Did you mean post-Eclipse? That puzzled me.)

That line about the crushed blooms...dare I ask where the flowers came from? (Oh, Ray. Sheesh.)

Elaine, though...Elaine is always fabulous. :)

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Doh! Yes, of course I did. *thwaps self*

Hee! I leave it to your fertile imagination.

Elaine is awesome!

Thanks!

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

Hee. It's a handy thing to know a wolf who's a florist. :)

[waltzforanight.livejournal.com]

Awww! How cute are they?! ♥

(I, too, am not sure I want to know where Ray got the flowers - or rather why they're squished. *g*)

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks!

[sage]

awwwwwwwwww, yay them! :D

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thanks, Sage.

[pharis.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's adorable! I love Elaine.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Elaine is awesome!

[akite.livejournal.com]

I love, "If you ever want to go out dancing..." the shuffle and the wink. Oh, Ray.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Oh, Ray!

Thanks, you! &hearts

[ariastar.livejournal.com]

This whole thing is wonderfully sweet, but the point where I started beaming was "If you ever want to go out dancing…" He gave another little shuffle and winked, before heading down the stairs. That is more like what you expect and it's sort of like the little cherry on top of this fic. :D

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *beam*

[mizface.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this little glimpse into early RayK at the 27th, and I can totally see him being like this. Shyly appreciative, and knowing how hard things were for the folks (especially Elaine) at the station while he was at the cemetary. And then going back to his more happy-go-lucky persona before it got too awkward.

And your Elaine was great as well - I could really see this scene happening.

Just lovely

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you! *beam*

[exeterlinden.livejournal.com]

Callum (or the DS producers, or someone) owes you one for this - you made RayK look good - even better than he usually does. What a charmer. Great little story, this.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you! &hearts

[luzula]

Oh, that's sweet. It's funny how she's almost reassured by his flirting at the end--everything back to normal, kind of.

And I'm amused by the crushed flowers.

[brigantine.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaa! Oh, Ray! Did Dief find those flowers for you in the--? Heee! Of course he did.

But hey, it's late, right, no flower shops open. ;D

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

*g*

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaw. Sweet.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[plotbunniofdoom]

Aw, Ray is so sweet here!

And the little shuffle and the wink are great! So Ray. :D

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[exbex.livejournal.com]

I love this fic :D You wrote Elaine so well ( and gave her the respect she deserves). And Ray with his sensitive side while still being the Kowalski we love.

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love Elaine. And you know, Ray is a poet on the inside. *g*