Chapter Text
XxX
“You know, I would have paid for your tickets!” Sam laughed as he caught the bag Phoenix threw at him.
Phoenix hopped down from the small plane, “Where’s the fun in that?” She smirked as Bob tossed her his bag and climbed down next. They had rented a plane for the weekend from one of his friends and Phoenix was starting to think that it really was the only way to travel. If she needed to make a quick getaway she could, quite literally, fly away.
Sam turned to his sister’s plus one, “Sam Trace.”
Bob took his hand, and Sam was impressed by the firm shake, “Robert Floyd.”
“Natasha Trace.” Phoenix pointed to herself before winding her finger up, “Now, let’s go! I want to shower before dinner.” Sam rolled his eyes as Phoenix pushed past him, heading for the parking lot. Bob just offered Sam a smile and followed after her. Phoenix would always be Phoenix, and Bob wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You know, Miranda’s pretty upset you turned down our offer to host you guys. The boys are too.” Sam stared at his sister as they drove along, hoping he could get her to change her mind.
“Well, we don’t always get everything we want. Best she learns that sooner than later.” Phoenix was unusually interested in the trees flying past.
“Come on, Nat. This weekend’s about Cam and Melissa, not whatever chip’s on your shoulder this trip. Be nice.”
Phoenix managed a sarcastic smirk, “Aren’t I always?” Her big brother wasn’t amused and it wasn’t lost on Bob. As she pulled down the visor, she caught Bob’s eye in the mirror; he gave her a small nod, letting her know she was okay.
Once they got to the hotel, Phoenix headed in to get checked-in, leaving Sam and Bob to fend for themselves.
“So, you and Nat?” Sam closed the trunk, switching into protective brother mode on a dime as he took in the gangly lieutenant.
“Yep.” Bob popped, not letting the act intimidate him.
“I think this is where I give you the whole spiel about if you hurt her, I’ll kill you and such, right?”
Bob set their bags on the sidewalk, choosing his words carefully, “You might be the big brother, Sam, but I’m Natasha’s wizzo. Which means I’m charged with watching her six day-in and day-out, every flight, every mission, it’s just me and her, and, since I’m her boyfriend, I watch it off the clock too. So, if anyone should be questioning anyone here, it should be me.” Bob’s bright blues didn’t waver from Sam’s darker gaze, but his tone wasn’t unkind, “This weekend is going to be hard enough on Natasha as it is, she hasn’t seen you guys in a long time and it doesn’t sound like it’s always the easiest when she does. So, my question to you is this: are you going to have her six when it comes down to it?” Bob asked evenly, remembering how long it had taken Phoenix to finally get some sleep last night and how tense she’d been all morning.
Sam weighed each word just as carefully, his arms crossed, before he allowed a short nod of approval.
“Alright then.” Bob returned the nod.
Phoenix appeared at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed just like her brothers, “Did I miss something?”
Bob hoisted up their bags and kissed the side of her head as he passed by, “Nope, let’s head up so you can get ready.” Bob turned back around, making the lines crystal clear, “See you at dinner, Sam.” The Marine nodded as his sister looked skeptically between the two before following Bob in.
As Sam hopped back in the car, he chuckled, “I like him.”
XxX
“So, do I want to know?” Phoenix asked as she stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and grabbed another to start drying her hair.
“About what?”
“About what? About you and Sam!”
Bob grinned from where he lounged on the bed, working on a Sudoku, “He just wanted to know what my intentions were.”
“Oh?” She poked her head out the door, “And what did you tell him?”
“That we’re planning on having sex in the coat closet during the reception.”
“Ooo! Count me in!” Phoenix laughed as the towel she chucked hit Bob square in the face, knocking his glasses askew, “What was it really about?”
“He just asked if he needed to give me the whole big brother speech,” Bob said as he stood to hang the towel up. He leaned against the doorway, watching her futzed over her appearance more than usual, “And I asked him if he was planning on actually being a big brother this week.” She caught his eye and his expression told her everything she needed to know; he would always have her back, when it came to missions, the Navy, and her family.
“And he didn’t break anything?” She smirked.
Bob considered it, “I’m pretty sure I could take him.”
“He’s the Marine, remember?” Phoenix knew exactly what she was doing as she swayed past him, casting a coy look over her shoulder as she made her way towards their bed.
Bob hadn’t figured out her play yet and his brow knit, “You don’t think I could?”
With a sigh, she made herself teasingly comfortable, “What are you going to do about it?” Her dark eyes were warm, inviting, “Maybe we should leave the Marine alone, and worry about more pressing matters on the home front…”
It took a second and she allowed herself a slight chuckle when she saw it dawn across his face.
“Dinner’s at 7 though.” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder but she knew she had already won. Bob always looked at her like she was the most beautiful creature to behold but, in moments like this, a hint of awe would touch his eyes. He couldn’t believe she had picked him out of everyone.
Phoenix let her hand feather across the place beside her, “We’ll be quick.”
XxX
They were not, in fact, quick, and around 7:45 – after three missed calls and thirteen text messages – they made it to dinner.
Sam popped a brow, “Shower problems?”
“You wouldn’t believe the traffic.” Phoenix sighed as Bob helped her into her chair. Bob rolled his eyes before taking his own seat; their welcome dinner was at their hotel’s restaurant.
“So, are we going to get introductions started?” A true Southern belle asked, her manicured hands meticulously folded before her. The thing that made Bob the most uncomfortable was that her hair didn’t move even when she did; it had enough hairspray in it to keep every hair perfectly in place for months to come.
“Sure.” Phoenix cleared her throat and Bob grinned, knowing it was a bad habit she’d begun to pick up from him, “Robert, you know Sam. Next to him is his wife, Miranda.” The belle offered a delicate wave, “Jude, and his wife Megan.” A mini version of Sam gave a quick nod and a woman who looked like she’d just stepped off the set of a 60’s sitcom gave a demur smile, “And Cam and Melissa.” Cam looked just like his brothers, but there was still a boyishness to his face, and Melissa looked like she was still deciding on what cliché she’d be filling in the Trace family.
Bob gave a small wave as Phoenix finished with his introduction last. Once everyone’s attention was off them, he cut his eyes to her, popping a single brow in question, and she shook her head. Miranda, Megan, and now Melissa. Each blonder and more blue-eyed than the next. The Trace boys certainly had a type. Though, in all fairness, it wasn’t like Phoenix had strayed far from the set theme; Bob’s name just happened to start with “R” instead of “M”.
Dinner was nice enough, but Bob soon learned why their get togethers were so far and in between. It was obvious that Phoenix was the designated black sheep of the family. Her sisters-in-law went out of their way to not include her and her brothers simply went along with it. Bob also figured out why Phoenix had taken longer than usual in front of the mirror. Her sisters-in-law critiqued everything from her split ends (Bob wasn’t sure how they could even see them across the table; he was right next to Phoenix and he had no idea what they were talking about) to the dress and shoes she wore to how she used her fork and knife. It was exhausting and he was just an observer; he wasn’t sure how Phoenix was holding it together so well.
As they headed back up to their room, Bob was extremely thankful that Phoenix had insisted on booking a hotel room. They closed the door behind them and shared an exhale. Phoenix had actually fallen back against the door, as if that could keep the world out.
Bob kept a close eye on her as they undressed, waiting to see what she’d need. After a while, he finally said, “You all have the same eyes.”
Her face softened, “My mother’s.” She left her dress in a crumpled pile on the ground and snuggled into bed, “The boys all took after Dad, I’ll have to show you some pictures when we’re over at Sam’s.”
Bob nodded as he picked up her dress and hung it up beside his jacket. He finished brushing his teeth and the rest of his nightly routine before joining her, “You alright?”
She snuggled up close to him and breathed, “I am now.”
XxX
Phoenix stood on the podium, mortified as her sisters-in-law and their friends cooed over the monstrosity she wore.
“Don’t you just love it!”
“The color is so great!”
“And what’s perfect is you can always wear it again!”
Just keep smiling, Phoenix chanted her mantra to herself, Just keep smiling.
Megan twisted Phoenix’s dark hair up and pinned the matching yellow flower comb into the loose bun, completing the look, “Ta-da!”
“Oh, Robert! What do you think?” Miranda’s talons found Bob’s arm and forced him to stop before he could escape into the fitting room.
Bob tried not to laugh, he really did, but the eyes were the window to the soul and Phoenix’s eyes screaming “help me!” as she stood there looking like a multi-tulle-layered sunflower was a picture he always would remember.
“I have never seen anything like it. You have truly outdone yourself, Melissa.” Bob finally managed to the delight of the bride-to-be before ducking into the men’s fitting room.
“No…” Phoenix quietly pleaded, reaching out for him, before quickly covering it with a smile, Just keep smiling.
Bob changed as quick as he could, knowing Phoenix had probably had just as much as she could take, and reappeared a moment later as he fought with his tie. When the tailor had finished chalking and pinning the suit to a perfect fit, Bob hopped up onto Phoenix’s podium. He rested his head on her shoulder, his arms hugging her waist, “Just remember, we’ll meet in the coat closet right after the ceremony.” He whispered for her ears only.
Phoenix laughed, her eyes lingering on her pitiful reflection beside his, and sighed into him. She knew how much Bob hated PDA and yet, here he was, going out of his way just to make her feel better.
“Oh, don’t they make such a cute couple!” One of Melissa’s friends, who had one too many glasses of champagne in her, rested her head lazily against the couch’s arm as she stared up at Phoenix and Bob. She continued to mutter to herself, wishing someone would look at her like that.
“Yes, they do.” Miranda mused, moving to lay Bob’s lapel flat. Bob smiled a thanks, having already figured out that Mrs. Miranda Mae Trace was to be handled with care. Control was the name of her game and there was a delicate balance to keep for all parties involved. Miranda set to fixing Phoenix’s sash next, “Maybe he’ll be able to finally get our Nat to settle down.”
“We just started dating, Miranda.” Phoenix’s voice wasn’t as strong as she would have hoped. Her eyes cut to Bob, her heart racing when she found him politely unreadable. This is what she had been worried about, her family pushing certain topics too soon. Bob and her had a really good thing going, and Phoenix didn’t want them ruining it.
“Yes, dear, but you aren’t getting any younger.” Her eyes cut to Phoenix’s disappointingly flat stomach and the message was received loud and clear.
Bob tightened his hold, gently pinning Phoenix’s arms to her side before she did something she would regret, and said, “We promise, Miranda, when there is any news to share, you will be the first to know after our COs.” Miranda smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“That’s right, you’re both Navy. Do you think you’ll retire when you get married, Natasha?” One of Melissa’s friends asked sincerely.
“No.” The word was out before Phoenix could help it and her darkening expression let them know the subject was closed.
The room grew too quiet and the bridesmaids shifted around, treading carefully. But Megan simply couldn’t help herself and asked, “What about when you have kids though?”
Phoenix tensed, Why did she have to go there?
A piece of her understood their questions. Bob and her had rushed through a couple stages; they rented an apartment together once they got back to Lemoore and had been steadily building a life together these past few months, and not many girlfriends would ask their boyfriends to attend a family wedding only four months in. But they hadn’t gone anywhere near subjects like “marriage” and “children”. She watched Bob, wishing he would give her a hint as to what he was thinking so she knew what to say.
“You are planning on having kids, aren’t you, Nat?” Megan pressed.
Without missing a beat, Bob swooped in, “There’s a lot less to worry about if it’s just the two of us, especially where the Navy is concerned.” He waited for Phoenix to nod, making sure he wasn’t overstepping, before adding, “If that changes though, we’ll figure it out as we go.”
Megan was aghast, “You have to have kids! And children need a mother, so you’ll have to retire, Nat.” She declared, and Miranda and Melissa where right there nodding their support.
“Oh, I would never ask Natasha to give up her wings.” Bob rested his head against hers and Phoenix was as captivated by him as those around them were, “If we have kids, I’ll retire and stay home with them.” He wasn’t just saving face with her family; he was making her a promise. Her heart had never been so full. Bob turned to Miranda next, his smile patronizing, “Is that alright with you?”
Mrs. Sam Trace knew this battle was a loss and gave a curt nod. All of a sudden, she decided she must go see what was taking the groomsmen so long and dashed away. Phoenix let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding and turned into Bob, cutting them off from the room. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder. He would never cease to amaze her. Every guy she knew ran for the hills when their girlfriends started asking the serious questions, even if they were a couple years in, but, then again, most guys weren’t her Robert.
“She’s a peach.” Bob whispered, hugging her close.
Phoenix chuckled, “Oh, you saw the dress she picked out?”
“Be nice.” But his playful eyes gave him away.
She winked, “Aren’t I always?”
XxX
“Jude, Robert, this table needs to be over there. Cam the table cloth needs to be even. And where is Sam?”
Bob and Phoenix easily fell into their routine of checking-in every so often as the self-appointed Trace Matriarch dictated how she wanted things set up for the bridal shower. Phoenix exhaled a loud puff; they had the his-and-her events tonight with the wedding tomorrow, which meant they only had to survive three more days, one of which was a travel day. She could do this, Just keep smiling.
“I’d say this is at least a little less stressful than our last mission.” Bob whispered as he headed out to grab chairs. Phoenix smiled as she watched her two nephews trail after him like little ducklings.
A few minutes later, as Phoenix was battling with the ice cube tray to free the heart shaped lavender ice cubes, she retorted, “I’d take a battalion rescue op any day!” He lovingly stroked her arm as he snuck pass.
“Alright, boys!” Miranda clapped, “Time for you to scoot and let us enjoy our afternoon! Reed, Felix, upstairs. Ms. Caitlin is going to watch you during the party.” The mini-Sams drug their feet, almost as reluctant to say goodbye to Bob as Phoenix was.
Phoenix wanted to ask him to stay, but she knew the headache that would cause. She rolled her shoulders back, commanding herself to attention. She’d graduated top of her class at the academy, she’d flown all over the Middle East, and she’d successfully completed a mission just a few months ago that everyone said was impossible; she was sure she could handle a group of wine wives for a few hours. At least, she hoped.
Bob grabbed his jacket and headed towards her to get in a quick goodbye.
“Remember, you can look, but don’t touch!” Phoenix joked as Bob kissed her cheek. The look of terror as he pulled back was worth it, having not realizing he had inadvertently signed up to attend the bachelor party and whatever it might entail, “Breathe! They’re just going to the bar, you’ll be fine. Just watch your water.”
He instantly relaxed and even managed to look slightly peeved at her joke before heading out with the guys. Phoenix watched him go, realizing just how lucky she was. Bob had been the first to offer to help with set up and he hadn’t complained once like her brothers or any of their friends had, and he was more than happy to let Reed and Felix tag along when they decided that he was their new favorite.
And then, here he was, while the other guys were ready for a hall-pass night, only having eyes for her.
“Nat?”
Phoenix visibly shuttered and quickly composed her face before turning around, “Coming!”
XxX
Bob had a set rule that he drank nothing when he was at bars, not even water, after Hangman’s prank last spring, and he knew Phoenix’s brothers well enough by now to know he’d be sticking to that rule tonight.
“So, you’re Nat’s new boy toy?”
Bob looked up to see one of the groomsmen, a lumbering SF named David, “Looks like it.” Bob answered.
David nodded, knowing what he was doing as he continued to tower above the wizzo, “Did she tell you we used to go out?” He smirked.
Bob shifted, not knowing if he should nod or not, but kept his face vacant. He had a guess that the two had some sort of history; David had been circling Phoenix all day and she had been cautiously familiar, sticking pretty close to Bob or one of her brothers. It was obvious she knew David and that he made her uncomfortable, but Bob hadn’t gotten a chance to ask her about it.
The Green Beret took a swig of beer, “In fact, I think she’s made her way through most of the guys here.” He pointed around the bar with a leer, “Mark, Andrew, Eric, Wyatt.” He chuckled, “Mark and then Andrew, again. Damn, that bitch used to get around like she was in heat!”
“Her name’s Natasha.” Bob stated, his eyes warning. David sized him up.
Sam, who had been keeping a close eye on the pair, made his way over, “Everything alright here, fellas?”
“Yeah, fine.” David sneered, “Just taking a trip down Nat’s memory lane. In fact, I remember this one night, just before she left for the academy, Nat was acting all high and mighty because she’d gotten in and was planning on becoming a big-shot officer and making her way into Top Gun, but all she really needed was her man to take charge, to see past her playing hard to get and show ‘er who’s boss, if you know what I mean…”
Bob felt his blood boiling; violence was so far from his normal bearing that the speed at which it hit him almost shocked him out of it. Almost.
Sam knew the quiet ones were the last ones you wanted to piss off and quickly advised, “Hey, David, why don’t you chill, man? We’re here to celebrate Cam.”
“What? I just think Robert here should know what he’s getting in to.” David slapped Bob’s back, surprised when the backseater didn’t fall forward, “I mean, Nat gets bored easily, am I right?” He waited to see if Sam would deny it and smirked as he turned back to Bob, “If he isn’t careful, he’s going to look like a fucking idiot when she cheats on him. I mean, if she cheats on someone like me, then you know no one stands a chance at keeping that bitch in line…” David smiled down and slapped Bob on the back once more before sauntering off.
Bob took a page from Phoenix’s book and tried to smile through it as his nails bit into his fists. He had wanted to come to her defense, but all he saw was red. Not even Hangman had ever gotten him this angry and, in that moment, Bob knew that, if it came down to it, he’d win. So, Bob kept quiet and mastered himself, refusing to be the reason Phoenix took any more hits this week.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s a fucking loser.” Sam looked like he was about to take a swing at David himself, “Cam is shit at picking friends.”
Bob let out a steady breath, “No argument there.” Pushing his chair back, Bob shot up, “I’m going to go for a walk.”
Sam offered a more friendly clap on his shoulder, “Sure, man.” He watched as Bob headed out to blow off some steam. Even as angry as he was, Bob was still in complete control of himself and he hadn’t stooped to David’s level. Right then, Sam knew his little sis had finally found a good one.
XxX
Phoenix’s face began hurting around the thirty-minute mark and it was completely numb by the second hour. She was relieved when her phone dinged and she could excuse herself for a minute.
She unlocked the screen and pulled up the message,
Can you call Bob? He went for a walk but he isn’t back yet. The guys want to head to the club but I don’t have his number.
Her heart raced. Is everything alright? She hurried to add, What happened?
Phoenix reminded herself that they were on base, probably the safest place in the entire state, but her nerves won out and before Sam could respond she’d pulled up Bob’s number and hit the call button.
“Come on…come on…” She muttered as it rang. Finally, she heard it connect, “Where are you?” She demanded.
“Um…” There was almost a laugh in his tone, “I’m back at the hotel, I wasn’t feeling very well.”
Her brow knit, “What? Sam said you went for a walk, the hotel’s twenty miles away.”
“I…yeah…” She could easily picture him tousling his hair as he tried to find his words, “Well, I’m here.”
“I’ll head back. Do you need me to pick up anything?”
She was already heading for the front door when he said, “Oh, you don’t need to. I’m fine, Natasha.”
Her first name sparked panic, “Robert—”
“Really, I am.” He pressed, “I don’t want you to have to deal with Mrs. Peach’s temper tantrum. Please, stay at the party.”
For him to have walked all the way back to the hotel, and to not want her with him, something big must have happened, and the distance she felt growing between them scared her. Phoenix wasn’t used to being ruled by fear and, she had to admit, she wasn’t a big fan of it; the helplessness of it made her uneasy and she wasn’t sure what she should do.
So, she left the decision in his hand, “Are you sure?”
“I am, I’ll see you later.”
And with that the phone cut off. Phoenix stood, staring at it.
“Everything alright?” Miranda asked, her eyes sneaking a peek as she searched out the latest gossip.
Phoenix’s voice was hollow, “Yeah, fine.”
Miranda saw the last call she made and tutted, “You shouldn’t keep him on such a short leash, boys need to be boys.”
Phoenix narrowed her eyes, but held her tongue.
“Come along, dear.” Miranda gave Phoenix’s hand a little pat before ushering her back to the party.
XxX
The twenty miles had seemed like a brisk walk around the block; though that could have been because Bob took another page from Phoenix’s book and jogged most of them. He had heard the concern in her voice over the phone but he needed some time to clear his head. Of course he wasn’t mad at her for what David had said, but he needed time to feel what he felt without having to consider how it would affect her.
Bob left his clothes in a pile on the floor as he hopped in the shower, needing to get the stale bar smell off. He rested his head against the wall, still shaking in anger.
If someone ever called Phoenix that again, Bob was sure he’d clock them into next week, and he’d kill the next man who—Bob couldn’t finish the thought, and his shaking grew worse.
XxX
Phoenix’s knee hadn’t stopped bouncing since their call and she scheduled an Uber to be at their curb the minute the party was over. She ran through the expected niceties, excusing herself from tear down by saying that Bob wasn’t feeling well and she needed to check on him. Her sisters-in-law were less than thrilled, but their friends gushed over how thoughtful Phoenix was.
She continued bouncing the entire drive and skipped the elevator in favor of sprinting up the stairs. She already had her keycard ready when she got to their floor; Bob hadn’t replied to any of her texts and she was beginning to worry. Only when she opened the door and saw him curled up in bed, watching tv, did her heart settle.
His smile instantly put her at ease and she found her stride, “How ya feeling?”
“I’m fine, just needed some quiet.” Bob watched as she kicked off her heels and asked, “How did the party go?”
She rolled her eyes in answer. Her attention wandered to the screen as she sat down beside him, pulling her hair to the side in a silent request. Bob sat up and unzipped her dress so she could finish getting ready for bed. Phoenix watched as the she-elf Arwen pledged her love to the heir of Gondor, “Fellowship of the Ring?”
Bob nodded as he snuggled back down; his eyes childlike, “They’re playing the extended editions.”
She returned the small gesture as she headed for the bathroom but she stopped when she saw the pile of clothes still on the floor. Phoenix slowly turned back around, “How are you really?”
Bob wouldn’t meet her eye.
“Robert?” Her pulse raced when he still didn’t look at her, “What happened?” She asked gently, sitting back down on the bed.
“I almost committed manslaughter. I still might, but then it’ll be premeditated.” He answered, his manner monotone as his eyes lingered on the screen.
She knew in an instant what had happened, “David?” He gave a single nod.
Carefully, she reached over and turned the movie off, her breathing ragged. She’d been so caught up with everything that she hadn’t considered what might happen on their boys’ night out and she cursed herself for not thinking ahead.
Finally, Bob began to open up, “I know that I wasn’t your first, and I get that you have a past – and I really don’t care about any of that – but I wish you hadn’t let me be blindsided like that. The things he said…” His hands flexed.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…” She fought for the right words, “I’m not proud of who I used to be.” She shrugged, “I was so stupid when I was younger, just going along with everything, doing whatever I wanted without thinking about what it would cost me or anyone else…everything that happened back then, it’s my fault, really.”
“It’s not your fault.” His breathing grew uneven, the anger anew, “He told me what happened before you left for the academy, he—” Bob couldn’t bring himself to say the word, he just couldn’t, not if he wanted to keep control of himself. He took a second to compose himself because, when it came down to it, this wasn’t about him and his feelings, it was about her, “It’s not your fault.” He repeated quietly. If she heard nothing else that he said, he needed her to know that, “No, it’s not your fault. You were barely nineteen and he—” The shaking started to come back and he fought desperately to control it.
“Well, we sort of had a friends-with-benefits thing going on, and, I mean, it’s not like I said no—”
“And he didn’t wait for a fucking yes!” Bob shot up; his outburst reflected in the heartbreak in her eyes as the memories came rushing back. Her wince nearly broke him, “Oh, Natasha…” He quickly reached out but stopped and rested his hand beside hers, leaving it to her if she wanted his touch, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I just…”
“It’s okay…” She took a steadying breath. It wasn’t like it was the first time she’d heard such language, but, coming from Bob, it meant something more, “It’s not my proudest moment.” She tried to shrug it off but her voice caught, “I had quite a few of those back then.” She took his hand and gave it a squeeze, her eyes lingered on their hands as he wove his fingers tightly between hers. It was like she was the only thing tethering him to the ground.
“No, it’s just…” Bob hugged her hand between his and rested them against his cheek. He sighed, not finding the words. Then he looked at her, wondering if she really knew, “I love you.”
Her smile warmed; he had shown he loved her in so many ways, in every look, every touch, but he’d never said the words out loud before.
His eyes pleaded with her, asking her what he should do, what she needed from him.
It was her turn to take their hands and gift them a kiss, “Just this.” She lay down beside him and Bob quickly wrapped her tightly in his arms, “Just this.”
A long time ago, Phoenix had locked those memories away, hoping to keep them at bay. She always thought no one would want her if they knew who she had been, what she had been through, but here Bob was, loving her even more because of it. More than that, he was offering her every last piece of his heart in hopes that, somehow, he could shield her from the pain of her past. Phoenix knew the healing would have to be something she did on her own, but she was so grateful not to be alone in the pain any more.
XxX
The wedding was as puke inducing as Phoenix had expected. Every sappy quote was read, practiced tears were shed, and the Pinterest gods would have been so proud of how in season the décor was.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride.” The pastor said, stepping aside for the couple to get the perfect shot as Cam took Melissa in his arms.
The crowd began to cheer, but no one was happier than Phoenix, who practically skipped back down the aisle and out of the spotlight. Of course, things could never be that easy, and she was roped into doing more photos with the bridal party before she could escape. Bob lingered off to the side, ready when she needed him.
“Alright!” Miranda, the unofficial matron of honor, clapped, “Let’s get ready for their big entrance!”
Phoenix exhaled and let herself slouch as the rest of the party started towards the reception hall. Bob met her, ghosting his hand across her back, “I found the coat closet.”
She burst out laughing, hugging his arm as he escorted her inside, “That’s why I love you.” Her name rung out across the lawn and she rolled her eyes, “Gotta go!”
Phoenix found her spot just as the DJ boomed, “For the first time, I am proud to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Trace!” The newlyweds ran through the tunnel and into their reception to roaring applause and whistling.
“And we are going to kick things off with their first dance!” The DJ continued as she pulled up the same song used at every wedding that year. Phoenix allowed herself an eyeroll and began searching for Bob, who she found at the singles table near the back. Her relief was short lived as Miranda’s French-Tip nails latch onto her.
“Oh no, dear, you need to sit at the head table.”
Phoenix had had just about enough and ripped her arm free, “I’m here with Robert, so I’m going to sit with Robert.” Bob looked between the two, almost scared to see who would win.
“Well, there aren’t any open seats at this table.”
Phoenix’s smile grew devilish and she squeezed herself between the table and Bob’s chair, landing squarely on his lap, “Problem solved!”
Miranda’s face looked like she’d eaten an entire lemon and she turned sharply on her heel, no doubt to go tattled to Sam.
Phoenix could feel the heat radiating off Bob’s face but she just threw her arm around his neck, shifting to get more comfortable, “So, what did you think of the wedding?” Phoenix asked the table as she reached for Bob’s water. Everyone was too dumbfounded to answer; though they were quite impressed by the little spit fire who had gone toe to toe with the infamous Miranda Mae Trace and lived.
“Oh,” She offered the glass to Bob, who downed it, “When we get married, we’re going to be announced as Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Natasha Floyd, none of this Mr. Cameron Trace crap.” She waved at the lovebirds as they swayed back and forth, posing perfectly for the photographer.
Bob had known Phoenix long enough by now to know sometimes the best course of action was simply rolling with it, “We could do Mrs. and Mr. Natasha and Robert Trace.”
“Oh, yes! Let’s do that. See how many people we can piss off at once.” Phoenix crinkled her nose, “I need a drink, do you want a root beer or something?”
“Yes, please!” Bob watched her get up and cleared his throat as the rest of the table continued to stare at him, “I—I’ll come with you, actually.” He fixed his tie and scurried after her.
Phoenix took his hand as they wove through the crowd, “Thank you.” She called over her shoulder.
“For what?”
Her smile was playful, “For braving a weekend with my family instead of signing up for a tour in Afghanistan.”
“Oh, your turn will come.” Bob laughed as they got to the bar, “Jean invited us to Christmas.”
Her smile grew as she ordered their drinks, “Your grandma makes plans this far out?”
“She was testing the waters, seeing how serious we are.” Bob shrugged; his nerves nonexistent. When it came to Phoenix, he knew exactly where they stood.
Phoenix took a swig of beer, “I’m sure I could get leave. Do you think Jason will let us rent the plane again?”
“I think so.” Bob grinned.
She toasted his root beer, “Then count me in. It’s about time I meet the women I share your heart with.”
“We’ll have to sleep in separate rooms.” He cautioned, wanting her to know everything up front before making her decision, “House rules.”
“Well, I’m assuming they have coat closets in Montana too…” She teased his lapel and let her mouth linger above his, but before she could sneak her kiss someone bumped into her.
“Oh, my bad!” Came David’s very non-apology.
“No worries.” Bob said, reaching for a couple napkins to dab up the spill, “Accidents happen.”
“That they do.” David’s roaming eyes snaked over Phoenix once, twice, before he practically moaned, “Looking good, Nat. Hey, how’s about we—”
Her eyes narrowed, and, not for the first time, Bob was glad her conceal carry wasn’t good in this state, “Fuck off!”
“Hey!” David held his hands up, “I thought you were happy keeping your options open! You knew that, didn’t ya, Rob? From the bar?” The SF was baiting him and was severely disappointed when he got no rise from the wizzo. David changed tactics, knowing he could at least get a final dig at Phoenix, “Innocent little Nat here isn’t as innocent as she’d like you to believe. She got it on with a couple someones during her first deployment, one of which was a superior, if I remember. I know that had to involve some sort of demotion, or did you offer to sleep with the military judge too?”
Phoenix’s face grew scarlet; torn between anger and embarrassment. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Bob because David’s comments were thorned with truth, even if it was grossly exaggerated. She had turned eighteen a few months before she was called up for her first deployment, but, even back then, she knew she was playing with fire. David and her hadn’t labeled what they were, and she wasn’t really interested in anything serious anyway, but she’d failed herself in more ways than one during that year, and she’d paid the price. It was where she’d learned that, while she was expected to be one of the guys, she would be held to a completely different standard than them. She signed up for the naval academy the day she set foot back on shore and hadn’t been back home much since.
Bob’s gaze hadn’t strayed from David’s for a second, and he stepped forward to take up the gauntlet, “It’s a good thing we aren’t the mistakes we make then, isn’t it?” His hand feathered across Phoenix’s back, letting her know they were alright, “Deployments are brutal, especially that first one, but I’ve seen the bars Natasha earned from that tour and the ones that followed. When it comes down to it, no matter how many times she has to pick herself up, Natasha always overcomes. That’s probably why they named her Phoenix. No matter how many times others try to burn her down, she will always rise again.” Phoenix fell in love with him all over again, her breath catching when Bob looked at her; what had she ever done to deserve such devotion as this?
“Hey, bud, just giving you a heads up!”
“Thanks,” Bob turned sharply towards the SF, “But I have it from here.” He offered Phoenix his arm and led her away. Still, Phoenix couldn’t help herself and threw the bird as they walked away.
Instead of heading for their table, Bob spun her towards him as a new song began, “I saw that.” He whispered as they swayed back and forth.
Phoenix winked before she rested her head on his shoulder. Words escaped her and she tightened her hold, smiling when he tightened his in response.
Bob rested his head atop hers, “I got your six.”
A small laugh bubbled up, “I got your twelve.”
“Then we’re doing pretty alright, aren’t we?” Bob looked down at her, gently reaching up to trace her face. He could see the quiet mist in her eyes.
“Yeah,” She smiled, burying her head in the crook of his neck so no one else would see her tears, “We are.”
XxX
Phoenix’s shoulders relaxed only after they had taken off and her brothers were nothing but little specks on the airfield.
Bob watched her steadily, “That wasn’t so bad.” She cocked a brow in reply and he chuckled, “It could have been a lot worse.”
Her mouth scrunched, “Yeah, I guess that’s a silver lining.”
“Just think, you won’t have to see any of them until Melissa’s baby shower.”
Phoenix’s eyes grew as she turned to him. Bob chuckled, his eyes scanning the horizon out of habit, “Amazing what one learns being a wallflower.”
“Good Lord!” She shook her head, “No wonder they were all so insistent that the wedding happen sooner rather than later!”
“Weren’t they already living together before they got married?”
“Yeah, but think of all the clutched pearls if they had brought a baby into this world unwed!” She pulled a mocking face and burst out laughing, “I don’t get why people can’t just own their choices instead of putting on some stupid show. You slept together before you got married, or you didn’t, who cares? It’s no one’s fucking business if you ask me, we’re all adults.” She sneered, “Appearance is everything to them though, it’s all they have, but it’s all an illusion. A silly illusion for silly people.”
Bob casually nodded, letting his thoughts wander as the city gave way to trees. He knew she was still coming down from the long weekend and that she needed to rant it out without his commentary.
Phoenix’s eyes lingered on him, wondering if she should risk sharing what she was actually thinking. She decided to take her own advice and own it, “You know, if…if we got married, we could get on the waiting list for a house on base.” She shrugged, trying to play it off, “It would cut our commute in half.”
Bob’s half-grin tugged at his mouth; the apartment they were in was maybe fifteen minutes from base, and only a couple miles away from family housing. He quickly hid the smirk when she cut her eyes to him and he mirrored her shrug, matching her casual tone, “If that’s what you want to do, sure.”
“Is it what you want though?” She hurried to ask.
He thought out loud, “People will talk.”
“Not more than they do now,” She countered, “And it’ll die down once they realize there aren’t any tiny Floyds running around.”
“That’s true.” His thoughts turned, seriously considering her proposal. They hadn’t known each other that long but, when it came down to it, Bob knew there was no one else he’d want by his side, come what may. Was he crazy that he was actually considering it? His grandparents had only known each other a week before they got married. If they could make it through a world war and seventy years on a whim, didn’t he and Phoenix stand just as good a chance?
Phoenix’s nerves stirred the longer he took to answer. She couldn’t read his face; he was keeping his thoughts locked up tight. She thought about taking it back, but Natasha Trace had never backed down from something she really wanted, “We could elope and surprise everyone at Christmas, or we don’t have to tell anyone. Just the HSC so we can get on the list.” Her grin was jittery, “You aren’t getting any younger, ya know.”
Bob chuckled, “No, I’m not.” He dropped his head back against the seat and looked at her. Phoenix felt her heart race, knowing what he was about to say would change everything. He smiled, “On one condition.”
Her face softened, her shoulders easing, “Name it.”
“I want to propose.”
She laughed, “What? Mine wasn’t good enough for ya, Mr. Manners?”
“I know you don’t care about all that stuff, but it’s important to me.” He shared; his heart was in his voice and she listened intently, “I want to do right by you, Natasha. You deserve so much…but that’s all I’ll ask for. We can elope, we can keep it a secret, kids, no kids, whatever you want to do, but I really want to propose to you properly. Okay?” He finally met her eye.
She nodded and breathed, “Okay.” Phoenix offered him her hand which he took and squeezed before returning to her, “So, we’re gonna do this?” Phoenix’s heart raced; she wasn’t sure who was crazier, her or him!
“It looks like it.” He grinned, curious what had sparked her proposal. If anything, he had thought a weekend with her family would make her run even further from the idea of settling down, but he was happy to go along if it meant they were in this together.
She smiled, “We’re doing this, then.”
Bob was right, the trappings had never been her thing, but more and more Phoenix found herself thinking about what it might look like if they were heading to their wedding instead of her brother’s. She thought about eloping to some exotic destination, or flying to Vegas one weekend, and she even considered what a small Montana farm wedding might look like. But, more than that, this weekend had showed her that while she definitely didn’t want the white-picket fence and was still undecided on the two and a half kids, she wanted Bob today and all the tomorrows that followed.
“We could get married September 22nd.” Bob’s brow knit and she grinned, “It’s Hobbit Day.”
He leaned back, appreciating how thoughtful she was, “Whatever you want, Natasha.”
She took his hand again, holding it fast, “Whatever we want.” She reminded, watching him until he agreed.
Bob was the first to break the comfortable silence they fell into, “It would be nice to have an extra bedroom, you have a lot of stuff.” He chuckled as Phoenix playfully stuck her tongue out.
And they fell back into an easy stride as they flew home, ready for whatever adventure awaited them.
XxX