| Disclaimer: I don�t own these characters, I don�t pretend to know all the ins and outs of Law & Order � I�ve just started watching it & I�m picking it up as I go. But the story & ideas are mine� please don�t sue! I W a n t L o v e A Jack/Nora story by Rhonda* I've dreamed of you always feeling you were there. And all my life I have searched for you everywhere. I caught your smile in the morning sun; I heard your whisper on the breeze of night. I prayed one day that your arms would hold me tight. And just when I thought love had passed me by we met. That first look in your eyes I can't forget. You melted me with your tender touch; I felt all fear and sorrow slip away. Now here we stand hand in hand this blessed day. I promise you as I give to you my heart. That nothing in this world shall keep us apart. Come happily ever after be the man I'll love until the very end. I've dreamed of you my great love and my best friend. For God must know how I love you so he's blessed us here today as man and wife. Come dream with me as I've dreamed of you all my life. Part twenty-six � I�ve dreamed of you Saturday 11th January No matter how you looked at it January was a cop-out month. The excitement and laziness of Christmas was gone and the realisation that you had to wait and entire year to do it all again. And it was damned cold too; Nora had spent the past week suffering from a cold and had somehow managed to hang on until the weekend before she collapsed. Jack had wrapped her up on the couch and was making her comforting soup for lunch. Her throat was too sore to manage anything else and although she claimed she wasn�t hungry he was forcing her to eat at least a small lunch. "Here we go." He placed a tray on her knee and she smiled at his over attentiveness. "Like my mom." She croaked. "Probably won�t taste as good but I try." He fetched his own tray and sat on the floor leaning on the coffee table. "I have to go out later, I�m meeting Kate for coffee, catch up after Christmas." She nodded. "Probably won�t be too long." "I�ll be fine." "I�ve got you a stack of magazines and films to watch if you get bored." "Jack I�m not dying, stop worrying." She coughed and struggled to keep her soup from spilling. "I�ve had a hundred colds before." He poured a glass of water and took it over to her. "Sure but I�ll bet you never had a nurse like me taking care of you. So be a good patient, drink this to soothe your throat and don�t speak." He kissed the top of her head. "You�ll get my germs." "Shhh." He smiled as he sat back down. "Besides people are supposed to relax over Christmas and I don�t think I saw you sit down even once." She smiled and nodded her head. "In the car." She mouthed. Jack laughed. "We didn�t really take it easy there though did we!" He shook his head remembering the pretty wonderful few hours they�d spent in the back seat. "We�ll have to work something out for next year so we don�t have to park up in the middle of nowhere." She shook her head. "Two years together�" She mouthed again trying not to cough. "Ah so you think after nearly two years together we�ll not be quite as desperate, we�ll see." * * * * * Jack had chosen a corner booth in the little burger place. He knew Kate hated it in here but she did say he could choose and besides he hardly came here anymore, they knew him by name at one time when he came here almost every night for a quick meal. But things had changed now, most nights he cooked a meal with Nora, though he never said she wasn�t much use for cooking, she may be a good DA but the kitchen was definitely not her strong point. She�d rather pay for takeout or treat him to a restaurant somewhere than put a meal together herself. He glanced at his watch, it wasn�t like Kate to be late, he�d already ordered two coffees and he had something important to discuss with her. He heard the door open and looked up to see his daughter enter. She looked smart and businesslike and far too busy to stop for a long chat with her father. She spotted him and came over, she already looked annoyed; he stood up to greet her. "Sorry I�m late, got held up at work." "How long are you in the city for?" "Leave tomorrow." She took her coat off and sat down. "Anywhere nice?" "Paris." She beamed. "Wow, that�s great, I was thinking of taking Nora there." "You two are still together." "Now don�t start that you know we are. In fact it was Nora I wanted to talk to you about." "Why?" She opened the menu and hid her face in it. Jack folded his hands and leant forward on his elbows, it had been a while since he was nervous. "I�m thinking of asking her to marry me." "What!" She threw the menu down. "That�s a bit sudden." "We�ve been together a year now, and it just feels right." "But marriage is supposed to be forever dad, you�ve already screwed one up." "I know that. But this time it�s different." "You�re trying to tell me she�s the one." He nodded. "Yes." "She�s your boss." "That�s not a problem, we�ve worked through that, why does it bother you?" "It just�dad I�ve never known you to make a relationship work. I�m sorry but that�s how I see it, I should know I�ve turned out exactly the same." She reached over and took his hand. "I know I�m a pain at times and I haven�t tried with Nora and if you really think she�s gonna be around for a while then I�ll try harder. But I don�t want you to make another mess of your life." "Me neither, that�s why I�m staying with her." Kate smiled something she didn�t do often enough. "Then we have to plan how you�re going to propose, you better do it right." "I know, and I was wondering if you could spare some time to go shopping with me." "Let me see if I can manage an hour or so this afternoon." "Thanks." Friday 17th January Jack had purposefully worked his ass off all week to secure at least half a day of freedom so he could sneak off home, Serena had to be let in on the plan in the end to cover for him but it seemed to be working out. He�d arranged for the florists to deliver at 4p.m and Nora would have killed him if she�d known just how fast he drove the bike to make sure he made it. So now here he was in their apartment surrounded by what seemed like 50 thousand white lilies and a few red hundred red roses! He�d filled the lounge and around the dining area with the flowers and the sweet heady perfume was slowly invading his mind and distracting him from the job of cooking dinner. He didn�t want something to heavy so they were having just a light smoked salmon salad with king prawns for dinner, he�d chilled a couple of bottles of Nora�s favourite wine and hidden a bottle of the best champagne away for later. Then there was a fresh fruit dish for dessert, just strawberries, blueberries, passion fruit � that kind of thing. His plan was to keep it simple yet enjoyable, special. Then he�d filled the apartment with candles, right from the hallway through to the bedroom and finally he�d taken a quick shower and changed ready for her coming home and he was nervous as hell as he waited. He�d bought Nora a wonderful old fashioned rocking chair for Christmas and she�d draped thick blankets over the back of it, they smelt of her and he sat there now, looking out at the skyline, practically shaking with nerves as the scent of the flowers and her perfume mingled together in his mind. Finally he heard her key turn and the door slide open, he ran through to the hallway to see her shocked expression as she stood outside the door gazing in at the candle lit hallway. "Happy anniversary." Jack smiled. "Are you coming in?" She pulled her key out of the lock and slowly came in. "I thought you might cook dinner but I didn�t realise you�d go quite this far." She stuttered. "It looks beautiful." "Wait until you see the rest of it." He took her bag and briefcase and she hung her coat up. "You look so good, I�m still in work clothes." "You look fine." He briefly kissed her cheek and led her into the lounge. "Oh my god." She gasped at the sight of all the flowers. "Jack you � wow." She laughed. "My favourites." "I know." He took her hand and squeezed it and she turned and flung her arms round his neck. "I�ve had such a lousy day and I was so pissed off you�d disappeared all afternoon." Jack laughed. "And now you know why." "I should have guessed I suppose." She loosened her grip and lifted her head from his shoulder. "Thank you. I love it." "And you haven�t tasted the food yet. Why don�t you make yourself comfortable, change or whatever while I open some wine and then we can eat." "Great, I�m starving." She kissed him hard and pressed herself against him to show how sincere her thanks were, and his hand slowly moved round to cup her breast. She smiled against his lips. "I thought you said dinner first." "I did. So stop attacking me." He untangled his self from her and went into the kitchen laughing. "Damn woman can�t keep her hands off me." Nora giggled as she took her jacket off and went to change. * * * Dinner was over almost two hours ago and still they sat at the dining table, the candles on the table were almost burnt out and they�d consumed both bottles of the wine Jack had chilled. "Than goodness were not at work tomorrow." Nora smiled draining the last of her wine. "I know what you mean, getting to old for staying up all night." He picked at the few pieces of fruit left in the bowl. "Not that old." She took a strawberry from his fingers and ate it. He smiled; she really looked stunning in the candlelight, and very happy. "Ok, so how about we stay up and watch the sun rise � then go to bed." "Its only 2a.m � we have a few hours to go." He shrugged. "I�m up for it if you are." "You�re on. Let�s go sit on the balcony and play cards or chess or something." She jumped up stretching her arms above her head. "Yeah, we can in a minute." "Why?" "There�s something we need to talk about." "Sounds serious." "It is I suppose." He got up from his chair and reached into his pocket. "Oh god Jack your present I forgot." She ran toward the bedroom. "Just one second." He took his hand back out of his pocket and shook his head. It had taken him all night to get to that moment. Nora came back out of the bedroom proudly holding a neatly wrapped box out in front of her. "For you dearest." She giggled; the wine was certainly taking effect. "Now don�t tell me you wrapped something this well." "No, the store did but don�t tell." "It�s our secret." He took the box from her. "Think I better sit down the wine�s gone to my head." "Mine too." She followed him to the couch and sat next to him curling her legs beneath her. "Open it then." She urged. "Wait a second, got to read the card, Happy 1st anniversary from your woman � damn right too." He leaned over and kissed her before ripping the paper off. "Ah, you got me a new helmet." "I did. I know the other one�s special but its wrecked and I want you to be safe." He took it out of the box. "It�s red." "Dark red, to remind you of me." She smiled squeezing his leg. "You wanna put some perfume inside too." He teased. "Now don�t be cheeky, do you like it?" "I love it." He leaned over and kissed her again and she took the helmet from his hand and pushed it to one side. "Mmm, lets go and watch the sun rise from the bedroom window." She smiled lying back on the couch. Jack was tempted to forget all his plans and just make love to her there and then, he knew she wouldn�t object the way she was wrapping her legs around his and pushing her breasts up for his grasp. But god he needed to stop this, at least for the moment. He pulled himself back from her body and she followed him getting up from the couch and taking his hand as she went toward the bedroom but he pulled her back. "Nora wait." "Why?" "Because I have something for you." "A gift, but I thought all this was your gift, the flowers alone must have cost a fortune, how long do you think they�ll last?" She mumbled on. "Nora, just be quiet for one second." He took hold of both of her hands. "Now sit down." She sat back in the rocking chair, silent as he�d asked her to be. And Jack knelt down in front of her. "I wanted to do this properly." He smiled nervously taking the small box from his pocket and holding it out to her. "But the thing is now I can�t think of a single thing to say, all the times I�ve gone through this in my mind, all the reasons for you to accept. But now, it�s all gone." He took a deep breath. "So all that�s left is to say I love you and please, will you marry me?" Nora slid down from the chair into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I thought you�d never ask." "Is that a yes?" "Of course it�s yes you fool, as if I�d turn you down." She pulled her head up from his shoulder and kissed him. "You haven�t even looked at the ring." He said holding the box up. She took it from his hand and opened it, a huge yet simple diamond glistened back at her. "This must have cost a fortune." "Complete life savings so we�ll have to save for a honeymoon." He choked out, he wasn�t one for crying but he found himself suddenly emotional. "Thank you so much." He touched her mouth. "For saying yes? Jack I love you, and I don�t care what problems we have I want to share the rest of my life with you." "Perhaps you should have been the one to propose you put it better." "Don�t want to break tradition now do we." "Does that mean you�ll be wanting the full works for the wedding." "Of course, big church, every one we�ve ever met." She laughed. "I�m only joking, something small will be fine, I�ll look silly in a huge white dress." "I wouldn�t mind. Perhaps we should put this on." He took the box from her grasp and slipped the ring on. "Perfect fit." She smiled admiring it. "Well I had a little help from Kate with design and Anita with size." "I shall thank them both." "Can we get up now, my legs are starting to cramp." "Of course old man." "Now now you won�t be saying that later." She got up and pulled him to his feet. "Later? There will be no sex now until after we�re married." She managed to hold her serious face for only a few seconds before collapsing in fit of giggles. "You rotten tease�come here." He grabbed her waist and lifted her up swinging her over his shoulder. "Jack put me down." "Not a chance, I�m going to show you what real teasing is." He carried her into the bedroom and lay her down on the bed kissing her gently at the base of her neck. "I�ll be back in one second." He whispered. "Where are you going?" "Champagne." He smiled, leaving her lying there watching her ring glisten in the candlelight. She could hear him fiddling with glasses and she took the time to quickly get up and undress and climb into bed ready for him. "Wow you�re good." He laughed as he came back in. "How much do you charge an hour?" She threw a pillow at him. "Too much for you, now get in bed." "Patience." He smiled as he undressed, then he climbed in next to her handing her a glass of the champagne. She held her glass up. "To all the wonderful things this past year has brought us." "And all that's yet to come." He returned clinking his glass against hers. "That was good." "Well I practiced that bit." She watched as he took a gulp of the champagne. "Nerves starting to fade yet?" "Only slightly." She took his glass and pushed him back against the pillow. "But we�ve done this part lots of times before." "But I�ve never been under scrutiny before." "Oh no the wedding night is the real judgement night." She smiled as she moved on top of him. "Than I better practice." She laughed as he flipped her over and attacked her chest with kisses. "Jack, I love you." "I love you too, and I�ve waited so long to find this, I�ve wanted this for so long." "Me too. Mrs. McCoy � now that�s going to be weird." "But sounds good though." "Very good. DA Nora McCoy." She declared. "Damn fine woman." "Damn fine." She smiled as he dipped his head to kiss her chest again and his hands moved down her body. "We�re getting married." She whispered as she closed her eyes and let the feelings completely take over. * * * * * Part 25 Stories |