Chapter Text
"Oo. Look at that house."
Bobby slowed down as they got closer to an absolutely gigantic lights display. Arches and trees and giant ornaments all flashed in time with the Christmas music on the radio.
Bobby pulled to a stop on the roadside behind another car and tuned in the radio to the Christmas station in time to catch the last stretch of the Carol of the Bells rock version. Meanwhile, the lights to their right bounced around the display, filling the entire car with light or with shadow.
It built and built until it finally reached the final climax. The entire house lit up from window to wall along with the entire yard in one giant flash for several long seconds before slowly fading back to dark in a shower of sparkles. Muffled cheering from a few of the cars around them reached the couples' ears before several of them pulled away.
By the time the car in front had cleared its spot, the lights outside were already starting to move while 'The Christmas Song' began to play on the radio.
Bobby put the car in park to let them all enjoy a little more of the display. "They really went all out."
"It's gorgeous," answered Athena. "But how do you sleep with all of that flashing in your window."
With a shrug, Bobby glanced up at the rearview mirror. He opened his mouth to ask question for the three currently in the back, but he slowly let it drop back close into a smile. Then he gave his wife a gentle nudge before nodding toward the backseat. "Ask them."
Athena turned to look behind them.
What she was greeted to was the sight of all three figures currently sound asleep. Buck somehow had himself curled into the door of the seat behind her with his forehead touching the cool glass. Next to him Harry had his arms crossed and his head resting on the back of Buck's shoulder. Then May was curled up on his other side, her head resting on her younger brother's shoulder, completing a very cozy looking cuddle pile with Buddy on their feet. They would have brought Missy, but she didn't travel well to the vet. Much less in a car to a nearby park.
After the matching Christmas photo shoot they were all forced into, May had noticed a lights display and had practically begged all of them to go take a look. It was getting dark enough that some of the lights were already being turned on with more to follow.
So, with both her brothers groaning along behind her, the group had made their way over. And there were Christmas decorations everywhere.
Lights strung up into the few trees. Giant tinsel candy canes shoved in the ground. A train made completely of lights completely with rotating red wheels and swishing yellow steam.
The event was definitely geared more to little kids, but the family had had a great time. Even both Buck and Harry, much to their chagrin.
They whole group had spent a few hours exploring the far corners of the park. They had all gotten hot chocolate before getting a picture with both the Grinch and a much more realistic looking Santa than Buck and then the trio currently sound asleep in the back had egged on their parents to let them get a few photos of them in this gazebo covered in yellow twinkle lights.
Where Bobby may or may not have tried to carry Athena out of. Hence the word try.
The opening was too small for him to do it properly so he almost dumped her onto the ground and almost sent himself falling down the four steps they had leading up to it.
Once she was back on solid ground, Sergeant Grant had made sure Bobby was okay before slapping his shoulder then addressing the group of supposed 'adults' cackling at them. They didn't listen though. They went running off like a group of school children.
Bobby had to take a moment to recover from his embarrassment and his laughter before he was able to help his wife wrangle the three back to the car.
All three actually pouted about having to go back early since it wasn't even 9pm yet. The sugar from the hot chocolate probably wasn't helping that. So Bobby hinted to his wife about 'taking the long way home' so they could look at more along the way. Hence why they were currently parked outside of someone else's house admiring a lights display set in time to some very relaxing Christmas music while the clock neared 11.
Well, he and Athena were. Buck, Harry, and May were not.
However, Athena still let out a sigh of relief as she sunk into her seat. "Thank goodness."
"Grinch hot chocolate must have more sugar than regular," Bobby teased.
"Apparently." Sergeant Grant grabbed her husband's hand, rubbing it near the scrape he'd gotten from the gazebo. "Or atleast it makes people do crazy things."
A slight heat rose up on Bobby's cheeks. "Sorry again. I thought I had enough room to clear it."
"I'm not mad." Athena guided his hand over to her lips to press a kiss to the mark. "Still a bit embarrassed, but not mad."
Bobby hummed in agreement. "I can live with that. After I recover from my own."
Athena chuckled, still keeping her fingers intertwined with his. "Chief Simpson talk with you and Chim?"
Bobby locked eyes with her, a smile slowly spread across his face. "I passed."
Athena gave him a smile of her own. "Was their ever any doubt."
Bobby leaned forward to kiss her on the lips. "A few."
After a few seconds, Athena pulled back. "You sure were nervous."
Bobby hummed, taking his hand away so he could scoot closer and wrap the arm around her shoulders. "Still am. I've been away for so long."
"And yet both Simpson and Chimney thought you were good enough to return."
". . . Am I though?"
Athena raised an eyebrow as she studied her husband's face.
"I would do anything for my team . . . My family."
"And they'd do anything for you."
A smile curled up a corner up Bobby's mouth. "Simpson was worried about this kind of favoritism on a call."
"He should be thankful for this kind of loyalty," corrected Athena. "A team as close as all of you is hard to come by."
That made Bobby's smile turn bashful. He snuck a glance at Buck in the rearview mirror. "A family as close as ours is hard to come by too."
That pulled a chuckle out of Athena. She moved her upper half in closer to her husband. They couldn't get as close as the kids right now because of the center console. Which was fine for now since they were both a little sticky from sweat.
"You'll be great out there," Athena assured next. "We all will be."
"I know. My brain is the last one that needs to be convinced."
"We'll get it there eventually. You'll see."
For a bit, the couple went quiet so they could tune back in to the dazzling display and listen to Nat King Cole's croning voice filter in from the radio.
As the song continued, Bobby lifted his wife's hand. He admired her wedding band sitting on her finger and remembered how silly it had looked sitting next to the ring pop he had placed next to it almost a month ago. That one moment felt like another lifetime after everything that had happened after.
The soon to be reinstated fire captain hesitated before moving closer to his wife's ear. "D-do you still want to renew our vows?"
Athena turned to see his face in the shifting lights. A look of surprise was on her own. "Of course."
Hope crossed Bobby's. "Really?"
"Name the time and place, and I'll be there."
A grin overtook the fire captain's features. He squinted and lifted his gaze to the roof. "The day after New Years? Everyone has that day off at the firestation."
"Maddie has it off from the dispatch center too," Athena mused. "And schools won't reopen until the following week."
"That means all the kids would be free . . . Your mother?"
"She could make it. Your Mom?"
"I'll ask if she and Charlie can make it." Bobby turned her attention back to her. "Anyone else?"
"Michael?"
"Give him a call. Elaine?"
"She might have plans with family, but we'll see."
Athena met his eyes. "We'll work it out, but you still need to give me a where."
"Courthouse?"
Sergeant Grant's face lit up in the Christmas lights and in idea. "Our apartment."
Bobby took a moment to picture the place filled with their guest list. "Might be a tight squeeze."
"Yes, but it's a bit more intimate than a courthouse."
"Fair." Soon to be again Captain Nash squeezed her close. "Anything else you want to have there?"
"Just us, our family and friends, and the officiant."
"Buck will want to make a wedding cake."
"Don't we know it."
With that, the song and lights show ended once more.
And Bobby reluctantly reached for the steering wheel. "Guess that's our cue to go."
"Should we wake them?" Athena asked, referring to their trio in the back.
"Let them sleep." Bobby started them down the road again. "It's been a long day."
"We'll have to wake them when we get home.
You may be able to carry them one at a time, but you'll take your back out."
"I need the strength training."
"You'll be out of strength if you try."
"I can do it."
Athena raised her hands. It was useless to argue.