Chapter 38 - Over It

Two week later Valerie was seated upon her husband's couch, her leg propped up on a pillow to let it rest while Ethan and Rachel were taking care of her. They were around all the time, always making sure she was comfy and had everything she needed. They were like her private nurses. It was fun the first week, but it was slowly getting more annoying because her private nurses were all over each other most of the time.

Her husband who would make the situation better was nowhere to be found, dealing with some unfinished business as he called it. She missed him. Gabriel was set on making Tiffany's life hell, he couldn't accept the fact that she might get away with the accident she caused. Valerie let out another tired sigh, causing Ethan to shift his gaze to her, his eyes burning intensely.

"I married a Bond villain." She told him.

Ethan smirked, "You figured that one out just now?" Ethan set his laptop aside and reached for his lukewarm tea, "He just wants to make sure the DA is on top of his game on this case. The fact that he can't do anything but wait is killing him so you know, he plots like a Bond villain to feel like he is doing something to protect you."

"I just want him beside me." She knew she sounded like a whiny little girl, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to spend more alone time with her husband.

Ethan's smirk got even wider, "You should tell him that."

"Well, I can't since he's always out."

Ethan stared at her, his creepy staring causing her to feel uncomfortable. She couldn't move away though, her broken leg made sure she stayed put. She could probably limp away on one leg, but she was well aware of him being able to catch up with her. Staying put was her only option.

"I'll talk to him."

Valerie glanced over her shoulder when Rachel walked in being all chirpy, "Dinner is ready."

Ethan trailed his eyes to his girlfriend, "Great, I'll help you." He got to his feet and happily joined his girlfriend to grab the plates from the kitchen.

Valerie felt utterly useless, she wanted to help somehow. Gabriel didn't want any of that though, he made Andrew Swift active sales manager and ordered Rachel to come over every day to help out when necessary. Rachel didn't mind because she was planning on moving in with Ethan anyway. It gave her time to plan the move. Valerie reached for Ethan's laptop and checked her email. Gabriel also took over when it came to her apartment. A moving company was bringing her stuff over next week. Gabriel didn't joke around when it came to her and planning their future. She glanced up from Ethan's laptop when he appeared before her with a plate in hand.

"You better not be working, Gabe will have both our heads."

"Nope, he's overly sweet to me these days, whenever I see him that is." She smiled at him, "He'll only chop your balls off and serve them up on a silver platter."

Ethan made a disgusted face, "Great, I'm so looking forward to eat these Swedish meatballs."

It was why she made that joke in the first place, the reaction she got was pretty sweet. She needed some form of entertainment since she'd be stuck on the couch for another six weeks or so. It was her only defense against their in-your-face relationship.

"Looks great, Rachel!" Valerie told her sister, taking a fork full of pasta and a piece of a well-seasoned meatball, "These meatballs are amazing, Ethan, you should really try them."

He rolled his eyes at her, "I got it." He sighed, taking away his laptop from her and placing it upon the coffee table in front of them. He sat down beside her and turned the Television on, "What do you ladies want to watch today? A comedy perhaps? To wash away the lousy jokes Valerie is making?"

Valerie refrained from responding back, knowing they'd go back and forward the entire night. That'd be dreadful. She let him pick a movie, Rachel wasn't interfering either. Her sister was now used to her being the target of Ethan and Gabriel's jokes. Her sister never took the bait and she wasn't shy either. Rachel did not shy away from their dirty jokes so obviously the guys didn't find it very entertaining to mess with her. With Rachel now being around more and her nearly dying Ethan an Gabriel didn't team up on her anymore though. That was probably another plus aside from taking a long break from work. She just needed to figure out how to take a break exactly.

"The moves are coming over next Monday, Gabriel asked me to help you out so I'll be here early."

"Thanks, Rachel." She told her sister, her eyes glued to the screen.

Ethan beside her shifted, his soft laughter causing both of them to glance at him, "You were set on keeping your apartment yet here you are, married and moved in with Gabe." Ethan's grin widened, "In six months we'll get the big news about Rachel and I becoming godparents to your little baby."

Valerie nearly dropped her plate, her heart beating in her throat because of the scare. Tightening her grip on her plate, she glared at Ethan for oversharing his fantasies.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked, sounding concerned.

Valerie brushed it off, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Once calmed down she smiled at Ethan, "That's not going to happen anytime soon."

"That's what you said about moving in with him." Ethan mumbled, grabbing his glass of water and sipping it to hide his smile, "But that also happened rather unexpectedly."

Valerie decided not to talk at all, she ignored the man who had a lot to say and focused on the movie. She didn't lie when she told Ethan the meatballs and pasta was amazing, it actually was. When Ethan noticed he couldn't provoke her any longer he also focused on the movie, the mood settling again. Half way through it he moved to sit beside Rachel and snuggle up to her. It made her jealous, she couldn't enjoy her marriage because Tiffany tried to kill her, then Gabriel decided he needed to socialize rather than spending time with her. She missed him a lot. She just wanted to cuddle up with him too.

***

Valerie groaned, feeling a pressure around her stomach which awoke her from her light slumber. Blinking her eyes she was met with darkness, trying to adjust her eyes to that she smiled when Gabriel shushed her. Leaning in he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Go back to sleep."

She rested upon her back which made sleeping hell because she liked to move around a lot, her broken leg made it really difficult for her to do anything though. She couldn't wait until the day she'd be released from her cast.

A small smile spread across her face when she glanced down and saw that Gabriel's arm was draped around her stomach while he snuggled to her side. His warmth wrapping around her felt comfortable, made her feel loved. She had missed him, him being this close to her got rid of all the insecurities she felt when Ethan and Rachel rubbed their relationship in her face.

"I missed you." She whispered to him, "I feel like we haven't spent any time together since we got married."

"Yeah." Gabriel mumbled, his eyes still closed while she observed him carefully, "That's on me. I'm sorry." He whispered, "I promise you I'll be focusing on us from now on."

"Promise?" She asked to make absolutely sure she heard him right.

She felt his eyes upon her, but she couldn't meet his eyes in the dark. She assumed he was taking her in the same way she was taking him in, "I promise." He whispered to her, giving her the reassurance she needed.

Smiling she settled in, closing her eyes again, "Don't leave me alone with Ethan and Rachel again. They're awful." She muttered.

She couldn't help but to giggle when Gabriel laughed, him shaking because of laughter caused her body to move too.

"Don't laugh, it hurts." She giggled, trying to calm down herself too.

"You're right. They're all over each other all the damn time, it's disgusting." She could hear the smile in his voice, he was only teasing, trying hard to keep the laughter in yet she could feel it.

"Can you imagine dealing with that every single day?" She asked, "Because I can."

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her head, "Night, Valerie."

"Night."

***

Gabriel kept his word and focused on their marriage instead of giving Tiffany what she deserved. Valerie was just content with being alive and being surrounded with people who she loved. When she was out of her cast six weeks later Valerie was glad to get back to her normal life, normal as possible that is. Gabriel was still all up in her space, wanting to protect her from nearly anything. She realized then that he was reacting that way because he was scared. Scared of losing her. She couldn't imagine what it must have looked like when he watched the car run her over.

"Gabriel, do we need to talk about that night again?" She asked him when they were seated in the backseat of his car, the driver taking them to the office.

"No, I'm good."

The fact that he didn't want to look at her told her he was not good. It would take a while before he was over it. She just had to be patient and be there for him when he needed her.

"Well, I'm glad to go back to work, no more Ethan and Rachel. I love those guys, but I seriously needed to get away from them." She reached for her phone and scrolled through her messages, "Lauren told me they can come over this weekend. I'm finally being able to meet the girls without being high on drugs or out of it because of the intense pain."

He reached for her hand and tightly squeezed it, "That's good. You'll like the girls, they're cute."

She squeezed his hand back, "Can't wait to meet them."

Arriving at the office building Gabriel helped her out of the car and guided her to her office. She was glad to have it back, she did make sure the guys put Andrew in charge, but she wanted back what was hers. She couldn't give up her job, she loved it. Clinging onto Gabriel's arm while they were taking the elevator up, she leaned even closer to him. Her breasts pressed against his arm while she brushed her lips against his ear.

"If we do decide to have children of our own I'm still going to keep working here." She whispered to him.

"What?" His surprised rather loud reaction caused a few heads to turn.

"I'm not giving up being a sales manager even when we decide to have children." She repeated calmly.

He frowned, "Are you thinking kids because of Zoe and Ella?"

She shook her head, "No, that one came up because Ethan brought it up first. Since we're going to my office and I realized I wanted it back even though I'm sure Andrew did a great job, I also realized that I'm not giving that office up, ever."

He laughed, his laughter actually causing people to stop and stare. She liked his laugh, but she knew not a lot of people heard it that often. Stepping out of the elevator they left the shocked people behind and walked together to her office. She never held onto him like she was afraid of losing him in front of her subordinates. But today she did, holding her head high while they moved to their destination with determined steps. Andrew walked out of her office and forced them to let go of each other because of him hugging her. Gabriel didn't look happy to let go of her, but he let Andrew hug her.

"I'm so glad you're back." Andrew whispered to her, "I love you so much."

She hugged him back, confused and amused at the same time, "We saw each other like two days ago. But I love you too." She gave him a firm pat against the back and pulled away, "I'm so glad to be back. I want my office back now though."

"She's very territorial about that apparently." Gabriel informed Andrew with a shake of his head.

"Also territorial about you." Andrew grinned at him.

Gabriel turned to look at her, "Okay then, I'll leave you to it. We'll head home around five. If you don't feel well, tell me immediately."

She smiled at him, trying to reassure him enough to get back to work himself, "I will, I promise."

Gabriel left her to it and walked away, leaving her in Andrew's capable hands. Andrew placed his hands upon her shoulders and turned her around. She jumped when everyone from the office moved forward surprising her with suddenly yelling in her face, something about welcome back and congratulations. She wasn't sure what she heard since she still needed to get over the shock. Behind her Andrew chuckled and gave her a pat against the back.

"Welcome back." He repeated, "We have cake." He smiled.

She wasn't sure what was happening, but it seemed everyone was glad she was still alive and wanted to celebrate her recent marriage to Gabriel. It was overwhelming, but it was also heartwarming to share this moment with everyone.