I happily handed him over.
"Hey, little man." Grayson settled Marcello against his shoulder, his whole posture relaxing. "Everything's secure. We've got cleanup crews handling the rest."
The kitchen filled with quiet conversation, updates being exchanged in low voices. I caught fragments, something abouta few taken in for questioning, businesses being shut down, loose ends tied up. The men spoke in that careful way they did when they didn't want to worry us with details, but I could read enough between the lines to know it had been serious.
"Just tell us the important parts," Meredith said firmly, dishing pasta into bowls. "Is everyone safe? Is it over?"
"Everyone's safe," Jackson confirmed. "And yes, it's over."
That was enough for all of us. We didn't need the blow-by-blow.
Dinner was served with the kind of easy warmth that only came after surviving something difficult together. Conversations flowed around the table, lighter topics now, deliberately so. Sofia's marinara sauce earned universal praise. Marcello babbled contentedly in his high chair, making faces at anyone who'd pay attention.
I found myself checking my phone every few minutes, but dinner stretched longer than expected. Stories were told, wine was poured, and slowly the tension of the day began to fade from everyone's shoulders.
Elena noticed me glancing at my phone again. She always did.
"Is Eric coming?"
"He is. Should be here any minute now."
I checked my phone again, needing something to do with my hands.
How far off are you?
I'm here.
My heart jumped. "He's here."
Elena squeezed my hand, smiling. "Go."
But I didn't have to go anywhere because Eric was already coming through the door, looking solid, real, and alive. Darkjeans, black shirt, hair still damp from what must've been a recent shower. And flowers. He'd brought flowers.
Our eyes met across the room.
Then I was moving, and so was he, meeting somewhere in the middle. His arms came around me, strong and sure, and I pressed my face into his chest and breathed him in. Clean soap, subtle cologne, and underneath it all, something that was just Eric.
"You're okay," I said into his shirt.
"I'm okay." He pulled back just enough to look at me, then cupped my face and kissed me.
Not a quick peck. Not a tentative exploration. A real kiss, thorough and claiming and full of everything we hadn't said yet.
Elena clapped. "Finally."
I laughed against Eric's mouth, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. When we broke apart, everyone was watching with varying degrees of amusement.
"About time," Grayson said, shifting Marcello to his other arm. "Thought we'd have to lock you two in a room to deal with things."
"Don't encourage them," Sofia said, but she was smiling.
Leo stepped forward, his blue eyes assessing Eric with that particular intensity he had. "Glad you're both safe."
"Thanks to all of you." I looked around at these people who'd become my family somehow. "For everything."
"That's what we do," Meredith said simply. "Take care of our own."
Eric's hand found mine, his fingers lacing through mine. "Food looks good. I'd like to stay for dinner, if that's okay."
