#bexwritesstuff

Natalie furrowed her brows as the “Breaking News” from Scoop Magazine appeared on her iPad screen. She scanned the headline and opened up the article, her curiosity getting the better of her.

BREAKING NEWS: 

Celebrity doctors and medical powerhouse couple file for divorce! Dr. Natalie Cusack-Ramsey and Dr. Ethan Ramsey are separating after just ten months of marriage! Dr. Cusack-Ramsey was recently spotted out and about without her wedding ring, causing speculation on her relationship with her new husband. Shortly after that sighting, a source close to the couple confirmed that they are separating. The reason given for this separation was “irreconcilable differences.”

Scoop has reached out to both doctors for comment, but neither have yet to reply to our inquiries. Watch this space for further updates!

Nat cocked her head to the side as she read the article… then read it again. 

“The fuck?” Nat asked, in disbelief.

“Hm?” Ethan replied from the kitchen.

She chuckled. “Uh… apparently, we’re getting a divorce.”

Ethan stopped making coffee to look up at his wife and raise an eyebrow. “Oh, are we?”

“According to Scoop,” she replied, waving the iPad. 

Ethan rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the espresso machine. “Ugh,” he stated. “Why do you read that garbage magazine?”

“Because usually it’s fun!” Nat replied, returning her attention to the article. 

“Mhm. And who exactly is telling these gossip rags that we’re divorcing?”

“Someone close to us, apparently. We are separating due to ‘irreconcilable differences.’”

“Do those irreconcilable differences include you putting your cold feet on my back every night?”

“Hey! It’s not every night!” Nat protested. She lifted her feet for him to see. “I’m even wearing socks today! See?”

Ethan chuckled and nodded. “My bare back thanks you.” Natalie stuck her tongue out at him, a gesture he returned right back at her.

She looked back at the iPad. “According to the article, speculation started when I was ‘recently seen out and about without my wedding ring.’” 

Ethan hummed in response, as he stirred his coffee. “This wouldn’t happen to be the same wedding ring that no longer fits your finger, would it?”

Nat wiggled her slightly swollen fingers. “It’s not my fault.”

“Are you suggesting it’s mine?” he replied, fighting a smile.

“Well, I’m certainly not the one who got me pregnant!”

Ethan laughed and joined her on the sofa, placing his coffee on the side table. “I’m pretty sure it takes two people to make a baby, my love.”

She scrunched her nose. “Mm, not necessarily.”

He snorted and kissed her temple. “With us, it did,” he whispered into her ear. 

Nat felt a chill run down her spine and giggled. “Either way, you’re still responsible for my fingers being like this,” she said, holding up her hand. 

He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on each finger, then held her hand close to his chest. “I assure you: your fingers are still quite beautiful.”

Nat frowned. “Even when they’re swollen?”

“Especially then.” The iPad dinged again and Ethan looked at it, frowning. “As for this article,” he said the word with clear disdain, “we should probably nip it in the bud while we still can.”

“Do we need to?” Nat asked. “I was just thinking we could ignore it.”

“Mm,” Ethan scrunched his face in disagreement, “I think we need to shut it down. Before any other outlets pick up on this trash.”

Nat chuckled. “You really don’t like gossip columns, do you?”

“I just think there are other things we should be putting our energy towards rather than worrying about people we don’t know and their relationship. Our relationship is our business; no one else’s.”

Nat nodded, smiling. “I like it when you get protective.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Do you, now?”

“I do. It’s sweet and… well, it makes me feel safe.”

Ethan gave her a small smile and pulled her close, wrapping her up tightly in his arms. “You’re my life, Nat. And you’re carrying my son; of course, I’m going to be protective. But I also just really want people to mind their own goddamn business.”

Nat nuzzled into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his midsection. “Well said.” 

He kissed the top of her head. “And, just for the record, if we were to separate for irreconcilable differences, it would definitely be because of your cold feet.”

Natalie scoffed in disbelief. “Rude!” 

She pulled out of the embrace to lightly whack him but he caught her hand in his and pulled her back to him, kissing her soundly. 

She broke the kiss briefly to mutter “You’re a little shit,” against his lips.

“You love it,” he returned, peppering kisses on her face.

Nat chuckled. “I do.”

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:

A few days ago, Scoop reported a story stating that Drs. Ethan Ramsey and Natalie Cusack-Ramsey were divorcing. Scoop has now learned that the information given to Scoop was false and inaccurate. Dr. Cusack-Ramsey has confirmed with Scoop that her marriage is strong and not at risk of divorce in any way. 

Scoop deeply apologizes for any harm or distress caused by our previous article. 

A/N: So... I definitely HC that Landry was the “source” that claimed E & N were separating. Forever the sore loser, that one...

Natalie scanned the aisles of the baby store, looking at all the various supplies they would need. The nursery had already been painted and baby proofed. Now, the fun part began: shopping.

They still had a few months before their son was due but, being the planners that they are, Nat & Ethan wanted to leave nothing to chance. By the time the baby was born, they wanted to focus exclusively on him, and nothing else. Nat stopped in front of some rocking chairs and inspected each one, determining which she thought would be the most comfortable. Narrowing down her choices, she nodded to herself, then made her way over to the clothing section where she had last seen Ethan.

She found her husband standing in front of a rack of onesies, holding a small brown onesie in his hands, his thumbs running absent-mindedly over the fabric. “Hey E, will you come look at some rocking chairs and tell me which one you like better?” she said, approaching him.

Ethan didn’t immediately respond, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the onesie. Nat cocked her head to the side and lightly touched his shoulder. “E?”

He perked up at her touch and his eyes refocused. “Hm? Sorry, love. Did you say something?”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He gave her a small smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

She studied him for a moment before determining that he was telling the truth. She looked down at the onesie in his hands and smiled. “Do you like that one?” she asked.

He looked back down at it, his eyes lighting up. “Is it ridiculous if I say yes?”

“Of course not!” Nat replied. “I think it’s cute! But I never pegged you as the type of person who’d want to dress up our baby in an animal onesie.”

“I’m not, usually, but…”

“But?”

He shrugged, sheepishly. “When I look at this, I have this image in my head of our son wearing this and I… I’m kind of obsessed with the idea.” He laughed. “I don’t know why, I just am.”

Natalie grinned. “Ethan, I love that idea. Let’s get it!”

“Really?”

“Really,” she nodded. “He’ll be our little bear cub.”

“I thought we were Rams for Ramsey?” he replied, smirking.

Nat shrugged. “When you find a cute ram onesie, we’ll talk about changing it. For now, he’ll be our little bear.”

Ethan beamed at her and placed the onesie in the basket he had been carrying. “For our little bear, then.”

------------------------

A Few Months Later

Ethan smiled down at his newborn son as he gently zipped up the onesie around his small body. Little Noah wiggled around and cooed at his father, making Ethan’s heart swell with overwhelming love. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his son’s forehead before picking him up and carrying him out into the living room.

Nat was sitting on the sofa, watching television when Ethan appeared with the baby in his arms. Nat’s face lit up at the sight of her son in the bear onesie they had bought for him all those months ago. “Hi my little Bear,” she said, her voice rising an octave as the baby was passed to her arms. “Look how cute you are!”

“I gotta say, Nat: we made one cute baby,” Ethan said, sitting down next to her.

Natalie smiled as little Noah wrapped his tiny hand around her index finger. “Yeah, we did. It helps that his father has such good taste in onesies,” she replied, looking at him.

He kissed her forehead and smiled down at their son. “He’s the cutest bear I’ve ever seen,” he said, quietly.

“Our little Noah Bear,” Nat replied.

Noah looked up at both his parents with his bright blue eyes and cooed. Ethan rested his chin on Natalie’s shoulder, his cheeks beginning to hurt from smiling so much. “I love you,” he whispered into Nat’s ear.

“I love you more,” she replied.

He kissed her cheek. “Never.”

A/N: Noah would outgrow the onesie, but this nickname would stick for life.

“Dad?” Noah said, quietly. They were sitting in the den, Noah and his sisters huddled together on the sofa, while Ethan sat in a large armchair, standing by the window. He hummed quietly in response to Noah’s question.

“Will you tell us about her?” He asked.

Ethan turned his head to look at his children, and his heart tightened. As much pain and torment as he was in, right now, it was likely nothing compared to what his children were feeling. They were young; they were only just now grasping how cruel the world could be… whereas Ethan had known for a long time. He thought he’d found peace and happiness after a lifetime of pain and hurt, only to have it ripped from his fingers in an instant. His heart was in pieces, never to be fully healed ever again. But he still had his children… their children. Her children.

The little boy who looked so much like Ethan but had her mannerisms and smile. The two little girls who were carbon copies of her, down to the flecks of green in both of their eyes. All three of them had a piece of her in them, and though it would never make up for her loss, it meant more than Ethan could ever say that a part of her lived on in the three beings they had made together.

Ethan hadn’t just lost his wife; his children had lost their mother. And right now, they wanted to know more about her. They wanted to keep her alive in their memories. The least he could do was oblige.

He gave his children a small smile and nodded. “What would you like to know?”

“Everything,” Evie replied.

Ethan’s smile grew and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Your mother… she was everything. She lit up every room she walked into, she had a laugh that was so infectious, it caused everyone else around her to laugh too. She had such a warm, open personality. All it took was one smile from her, and everyone who met her fell in love.”

His children were enraptured, hanging onto his every word. His heart sped up at the memories of Natalie’s smile, the twinkle in her eyes when she was about to laugh, the feel of her lips on his. God, he missed her. He missed her so much.

“She had a heart of gold,” he continued. “She became a doctor because she wanted to help people; and help people, she did. She saved so many lives and changed countless others for the better. In her intern year, she stole a potentially life saving medicine for a patient just so that patient could travel the world. She nearly lost her medical license for it but she would have done it again in a heartbeat if it meant that someone got to truly live. 

“She saved Grandpa Naveen’s life too. When I had given up on finding him a cure, she kept going and found the solution that would save his life. He told me he’s always been grateful to her for that…

“She changed my life too. Before I met her, I was a shell of a person. I didn’t have much to live for except work, and I thought that it was enough. God, I was so wrong. She came into my life like a shooting star, lighting up everything that had previously been dark. I didn’t realize how much I needed the light until she brought it to me.

“Your mother…” his voice cracked, and he wiped away the tears that were starting to fall. “She gave me a reason to believe in love. She made me believe in soulmates. I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for her. She didn’t just change my life… she made it better.”

He got out of the chair and moved towards his children on the couch, crouching down in front of them. “I miss your mother so much. I will miss her for the rest of my life. But I’m so grateful for the time I had with her. I’m grateful to her for so many things, but especially because she gave me you three. I see so much of her in you. My two beautiful little girls who look just like her, and my sweet Bear who inherited her kind heart.” 

Ethan took their hands in his, and squeezed. “I’m so sorry she was taken from us. I’m so sorry that we couldn’t save her. But I promise you this: I will always be here. Anytime you need me, I will be here for you. You three are my greatest treasures, and I will protect you and love you, now and always. I love you three, so much.”

He opened his arms and Noah, Evie, and little Lydia squeezed themselves into his embrace. Ethan held them closely, burying his face into their hair.

“I love you,” he whispered to his children.

“We love you more, Dad,” Noah and Evie replied. Little Lydia nodded in agreement.

Ethan kissed the tops of their heads and held them tighter. “Never,” he whispered.

A/N: *hides*

Natalie watched as Ethan schmoozed and networked with investors and stakeholders, smiling to herself. Ethan may have hated these types of events, but she had to admit: he was good. His charming smile and assertive manner made for quite the impression and nearly everyone he spoke to left dazzled by the Great Ethan Ramsey.

As he split from the latest investor he was speaking to, he walked over to her and smiled, making her heart skip a beat. He leaned down and kissed her softly. She smiled up at him when they broke apart. “I know this isn’t your cup of tea, but you’re kind of rocking it out there,” she said.

He shrugged. “Thanks. Like it or not, we need investors and stakeholders and if I have to schmooze a few to ensure the hospital continues to thrive, I’m willing to suffer through it.”

“Well, just know, your sacrifice is appreciated,” Nat said, laughing.

Ethan rolled his eyes and smiled, before looking back out over the crowd of people. Natalie noticed when he spotted someone, as his body straightened up immediately. She expected a look of grudging acceptance of his fate, but instead she saw his eyes light up and a beaming smile grace his lips. “Elizabeth!” he exclaimed.

Natalie followed his gaze to find a beautiful blonde woman, around Ethan’s age, approach them, smiling. “Well, I’ll be damned,” she said in a lilting British accent. “Ethan Ramsey, in the flesh.”

The two embraced tightly, and Natalie couldn't help but notice how at ease the two seemed with each other. When they separated, Ethan gestured to Natalie. “Nat, this is an old friend of mine, Elizabeth White. Liz, this is Dr. Natalie Cusack. She’s Co-Head of the Diagnostics Team with me and a brilliant doctor all around.”

Elizabeth smiled warmly at Natalie and shook her head. “Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Cusack.”

“Natalie’s just fine,” Nat replied, returning the woman’s smile. Is this the same Liz as his Undergrad girlfriend? She thought to herself. And why didn’t he introduce me as his girlfriend? He always introduces me as his girlfriend first.

Natalie shook her head, trying to get the thoughts that were flooding her brain to quiet down. As she tuned back into the conversation, she watched Ethan and Elizabeth converse with practiced ease. “What are you doing here?” Ethan asked.

“Same as you: working,” she replied. “I’m working with some non-profit organizations to boost their donations and public awareness. Basically, I’m doing a lot of schmoozing.”

Ethan laughed. “We have that in common, then.”

“Still hating every second of it?” she asked.

He nodded, chuckling. “Absolutely.”

“Good to know some things never change, then.”

Natalie listened to the conversation, contributing where she could, as unease settled into her stomach. What was wrong with her? Was she… jealous? Noooo. She wasn’t the jealous type. It wasn’t like her to feel this way around other women, especially Ethan’s exes. Granted, the only other ex she had ever met was Harper, but Harper was a trusted colleague and friend. And Nat had never been jealous of Harper, ever. 

So, why was Elizabeth different?

“And how is dear Tobias?” she heard Elizabeth ask. “Are you two still causing trouble everywhere you go?”

“Us? Never!” Ethan replied, exaggeratedly.

God, there was so much history here. Probably more than Nat had ever realized. She looked over Elizabeth again and couldn’t help but compare the older woman to herself.

Elizabeth exuded elegance, dressed in a designer navy blue pantsuit, her blonde hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Meanwhile, Nat was in an old black cocktail dress she bought for her Undergrad School graduation and her hair was down, in its natural wavy state, frizzing up due to the humidity from the afternoon’s previous rainstorm. By comparison, Nat didn’t hold a torch to Elizabeth. And with every passing moment, Natalie felt more and more inadequate. And all she wanted to do was get the hell out of here.

Blessedly, someone called Elizabeth’s name from across the room and the woman smiled sheepishly. “Duty calls,” she said. She hugged Ethan again as she said her goodbyes. “It was absolutely lovely to see you, Ethan. And it was a delight meeting you, Natalie.”

“Likewise,” Nat said, forcing a smile.

She watched as Elizabeth walked away and fought the urge to hide in the nearest bathroom and scream into a hand towel.

Ethan turned his attention back to Nat and furrowed his brows, a look of concern shadowing his features. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “I’m not feeling very well,” she said. “Can we get out of here?”

“Of course.” Without wasting another moment, Ethan ushered the two of them out of the event and back into the car. The entire ride back home, Ethan continued to check on her, asking if she was alright; Nat merely hummed in response, staring out the window the entire time. Her thoughts were racing in her head and she couldn’t quiet them enough to think of a better response.

By the time they got home, Ethan was nearly at his wit’s end trying to figure out what was wrong. “Nat, please talk to me. You’re starting to scare me.”

She was staring out the patio door, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

“Nat?”

A reasoning voice sounded off in her head. Tell him! You’re the one who insists on communication. Tell him what’s wrong. The tears she’d been holding back started to fall, and she sucked in a deep breath. “You didn’t introduce me as your girlfriend.”

“What?”

She sniffled, and forcibly wiped the escaping tears away. “When you introduced me to Elizabeth. You didn’t introduce me as your girlfriend. You always introduce me as ‘This is my girlfriend, Natalie, my Co-Head of Diagnostics.’ Instead, it was just ‘Dr. Cusack.’”

“I-- I’m sorry, Nat. I didn’t realize that was important to you.”

“Well, it is!” She snapped. She covered her face with her hand and fought the sob that wanted to escape. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“Nat, will you look at me, please?” Ethan said, stepping closer to her.

She sniffled and did as he asked. His eyes flashed with concern as he looked over the devastation on her face. “Nat--”

“I know it’s stupid,” she said, pulling away from him. “We’re adults, I shouldn’t be upset that you didn’t call me your girlfriend but she’s your ex and it’s the first time I met her and instead of being introduced as your girlfriend, I was just introduced as your colleague and--” she was rambling now, “and it just made me feel less than, okay?!

“She’s fucking perfect. She has the designer suits, the accomplishments, the hair, and she’s blonde and I--” she looked down at herself, “I’m not. I don’t have any of that.” She wrapped her arms around herself again, a protective position she’d had since she was a child. 

“Oh, Nat,” Ethan said. He slowly stepped toward her again.

“I know, it’s stupid. I’m just being stupid.”

“Don’t you dare say that about yourself,” Ethan said, firmly. He stepped closer to her again, closing the distance between them. “Natalie, baby, listen to me.” He placed his fingers under her chin and moved her face so she was looking at him. “You are not stupid, in any way at all. Your feelings are valid, remember that.”

He cupped her cheeks with his hands and used his thumbs to gently wipe away her tears. “First of all, I want to apologize for not introducing you as my girlfriend. You’re right, I didn’t introduce you with that title first and I should have. But I’m just so damn proud of you that I wanted to showcase your accomplishments. It didn’t occur to me that my omitting ‘girlfriend’ would have hurt you. I’m sorry that it did and I’ll be sure not to make that mistake again.

“Secondly, Elizabeth might be accomplished in her career field but that doesn’t make you any less accomplished than she is. You’re the youngest fellow the Diagnostics Team has ever had, not to mention Co-Head of said team. You saved Naveen’s life as an intern and you’re paving the way to make healthcare more affordable for those without insurance. These aren’t things to sniff at, Nat. You’re making more of a difference than you realize.

“And thirdly, designer suits and nice hair don’t define a person, my love. You are a phenomenal person just the way you are, and you don’t need anything fancy to prove that. That being said, if you want the designer suits, I’m more than happy to give you my card and let you go shopping.”

A small smile appeared on Nat’s lips and she shook her head. Ethan returned her smile. “Lastly,” he continued, “Liz may be my ex, yes. But that period ended for us a long time ago. She’s happily married now and I consider her to be nothing more than a dear friend. You, on the other hand, are everything to me. You are the love of my life and nothing is going to change that, Natalie. Nothing.” She sniffled and he wiped more escaped tears away. “Baby, you are the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. You are the one that I want day and night. And it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re in a designer suit or sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt; you are fucking beautiful and perfect in my eyes, always.”

Natalie nodded and sniffled again. “I’m sorry. I feel like such a dick, now.”

Ethan shook his head and pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t feel that way. You’re allowed to feel the things you feel. Just, don’t shut me out again, okay? I can’t ease your concerns if you don’t tell me about them.”

Nat nodded. “Okay, I promise.”

“I love you, Nat. Always.”

“I love you too.”

They held each other for a long moment before Ethan pulled back and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “And for the record,” he whispered against her skin, “I much prefer redheads.”

Natalie giggled and Ethan grinned before kissing her soundly on the lips, letting the last of her worries fade away.

He didn’t belong here. 

These weren’t his people, no matter how hard they tried to make him believe they were. These people showed off their wealth and their connections at every turn, which only made them feel more like phonies than anything else.

He adjusted the bowtie around his neck and sipped his drink, waiting until it was an appropriate time for him to leave.

He scanned the crowd around him, finding most everyone exceedingly boring or snobbish, until his eyes fell upon a familiar head of bright red hair. His eyes widened as the head turned and he saw Natalie, smiling and laughing with a group of people he didn’t recognize. 

She looked beautiful. She always had been, but now, with her deep blue gown and her hair curled, falling around her face, she looked almost ethereal. 

He didn’t realize he had been staring until she made eye contact with him. It only took a moment for her to recognize him, but when she did, she gave him that dazzling smile of hers and immediately began to make her way over to him. His heart skipped a beat and he quickly checked his appearance in the nearby window before she appeared. When he turned back to look at her, his heart got stuck in his throat hearing his name on her lips again.

“Damien!” She exclaimed. She opened her arms wide and pulled him into a tight hug. He returned her hug just as tightly. 

“What are you doing here?” She asked, pulling out of the embrace.

Damien smiled sheepishly. “I’ve taken on an Assistant Professor position at Columbia. I’ll be teaching classes on Environmental Engineering. My appearance at this event is my ‘coming out’ to the other academics and high society folk of New York.”

Natalie grinned. “What?! Damien, that’s amazing! Congratulations!!”

His smile widened. “Thank you, Nat. What are you doing in New York? I thought you were in Boston?”

“Oh, I am. I’m just here for a medical conference. My mentor’s the Keynote speaker this year. And... I may or may not be speaking on a panel about affordable patient care as well.”

“Look at you, moving up in the world,” he said, smiling with pride.

Natalie laughed. “We both did pretty good for ourselves, huh?”

“You could say that.”

She took her hand in his and he fought the urge to squeeze it. “Come on, there’s someone I want you to meet!”

Following her lead, Damien stuck close to her as she led him across the room towards the back, where a tall man in a sharp suit was in conversation with an older couple.

“Ethan!” Natalie called as they approached.

The man called Ethan turned around and smiled at her, excusing himself from his previous conversation. Natalie let go of Damien’s hand and reached out for Ethan, placing a gentle hand on his forearm. “E, there’s someone I want you to meet.” She turned back to Damien.

“Damien Calabaza, meet Dr. Ethan Ramsey. Ethan, this is my dear friend Damien.”

“Ah, the engineer,” Ethan said, smiling and shaking Damien’s hand. “I read your article in the Times on renewable energy resources. I was very impressed.”

“Thank you,” Damien replied, his eyes narrowing in concentration. “Are you that Ethan Ramsey? The one Nat never shut up about?”

Natalie lightly punched Damien’s shoulder while Ethan laughed and nodded. “The very same.”

Damien smiled. “Look at you, Nat. Meeting and working with your hero. Teenage you would have fainted.”

Nat rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Nah, teenage me would have fangirled a little hard but she wouldn’t have fainted. Finding out she’s engaged to her medical hero though? That would have made her faint!”

Damien’s stomach dropped as he glanced down and noticed, for the first time, the diamond ring sitting on Nat’s left hand. He had always held a torch for Nat, even all these years later. He knew it had been foolish, but he had hoped she’d been unattached. Now, he knew she wouldn’t be ever again.

He cleared his throat and forced a smile. “Forgive me, I didn’t realize. Congratulations! When’s the wedding?”

“October,” Ethan answered. “Though I’d be happy with a simple courthouse wedding.”

“And face my mother’s wrath?” Nat said. “No way in hell am I risking that.”

Damien nodded. “Yeah, that’s smart. I’ve only seen your mom mad once and it still haunts me.”

“See?” Nat said, pointing at Damien. “He knows!”

Ethan laughed. “Fair enough.”

The three continued to stand a chat for a while, Damien observing how well attuned Nat & Ethan were with each other. When he moved, she moved, when he stopped speaking, she kept the conversation going. It was clear to anyone who looked at them that they were a perfect pair. And even though Damien didn’t want to admit it, he liked Ethan. Despite being one of the best doctors in the country, Ethan was very down to earth and not at all like the snobs that populated this event. No wonder Nat was drawn to him.

Eventually, the conversation came to a natural end. Ethan glanced around them and whispered conspiratorially. “Think we can get out of here now?”

Natalie nodded “Definitely. We’ve been here long enough to leave without anyone raising a stink.”

Nat pulled Damien into a tight hug goodbye. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? Keep in touch. Oh, and reach out to Dani! She’s also here in New York, and I know she’d love to see you.”

“Will do,” Damien replied, smiling. He turned to Ethan and shook his hand. “Good to you meet you, Dr. Ramsey.”

“Ethan, please. And the pleasure was mine. I look forward to hearing more about your work in the future.”

Damien watched as Ethan wrapped his arm around Natalie’s shoulders as the two of them made their way out of the event. He smiled as he watched Natalie look up at Ethan and give him a gentle kiss on the cheek. He was happy for her. She’d found her person and was very clearly happy and thriving. 

And maybe one day, he’d find that for himself as well.

Ethan was her home.

His bright blue eyes were her anchor; his smile, meant only for her, was her oxygen; his hand holding hers tightly calmed every storm in her mind. His familiar sandalwood scent was a comfort to her senses. When he held her in his arms, the rich, earthy smell of his cologne would fill her nose and she would smile, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

His heartbeat was the melody to her favorite song, his lips soothing her with whispers of reassurance and love during their late night talks. Her fingers laced with his, fitting perfectly together like two puzzle pieces. He was her heart and soul. 

He was her home.

------------------------------------------

Natalie was his light. 

On his darkest days, she would enter like a beacon of sunshine. He would give everything to sit in her company and soak up every ray of light she gave, forgetting what it ever felt like to sit in the darkness, alone.

She smelled like springtime; her lavender body wash and citrus shampoo filled his senses and it was as if he could feel himself come alive. He would bury his face into her hair, into her neck and shoulders, inhaling every inch of her intoxicating scent that he could. Her lips tasted of pomegranate chapstick and one taste was never enough. One kiss would turn into several before his lips would trail down her neck to her chest and stomach then even lower, until her fingers are gripping his hair and she’s moaning his name. He would never tire of that sound.

Her smile was a masterpiece and her laugh like a symphony to his ears. Those blue-green eyes that he loved so much would sparkle like gems and his heart would skip a beat every time. On the nights he dreams of that horrible, gut wrenching day he nearly lost her, she is there, arms holding him tightly and a strong, steady heartbeat to reassure him that she is there and she will never leave him. 

His heart was hers from the day he met her, of that he was certain. She was his heart, his soul, and everything in between. She was his light in the darkness.

She was his home.

It’s been a week since the Hopeful Hearts Gala. A week since he kissed her in public, for all the hospital to see. A week since he proudly showed her off, not as his intern or his mentee, but as his girlfriend. It’s been the best week of his life.

They’re watching a movie tonight. Nat wanted a quiet date night at home so they ordered some takeout and are watching one of her favorite classic films. About halfway in, she pauses the film and goes into the kitchen to refill their drinks. He follows her after a moment.

He comes up behind her, wraps his arms around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder. She leans into his embrace, humming quietly to herself, and he knows it's time to tell her. He’d been wanting to tell her for a while, but he’d wanted to wait until the right moment; maybe on one of their evening walks with Jenner or over a romantic candlelit dinner.

But right now, standing with her in his kitchen, he knows there will never be a more perfect moment than this one.

He places a gentle kiss on her neck, smiling at the quiet sigh that leaves her lips, then moves his lips slowly up to her ear. "I love you," he whispers.

Natalie stops what she's doing and turns around in his embrace to face him. She wraps her arms around his neck and smiles, making his heart skip a beat. "Really?" she asks.

He smiles and nods. "I always have. I always will."

Her smile grows. "Say it again."

He leans forward and gently presses his lips to hers. "I love you," he whispers again.

She kisses him searingly, tangling her fingers in his hair. His grip on her waist tightens and he pulls her impossibly closer. They kiss until they have to break for air, but even when they break apart, they don’t move far from each other.

Leaning her forehead against his, Natalie nuzzles her nose with his. “I love you more,” she whispers.

“Never,” he replies. He kisses her again, more passionately than before, and in one movement, he picks her up and carries her into the bedroom. Both the drinks and the rest of the movie were forgotten.

Ethan looked around at the room, surrounded by their family and friends, and smiled to himself. Natalie was on his right, laughing at something Dani had said. Forty-plus years together and he’d never tire of the sound of Natalie’s infectious laugh or the way her face lit up with joy. His heart thumped in his chest and he reached over to her, squeezing her hand with his.

She turned to him and smiled, her eyes shining bright. He returned her smile before standing, taking his glass in his hand, and cleared his throat. “May I have everyone’s attention?” he asked.

The room quieted and turned their attention to him. He smiled and raised his glass slightly. “I would like to thank everyone for coming out and joining us tonight,” he began, scanning the faces in the room. He spotted his children sitting nearby and gave them a beaming smile before continuing. “I know I speak for Nat and myself when I say that we are so grateful to have all of you with us to celebrate the first--” he stopped himself, chuckling, “the first forty years of our marriage.”

The guests laughed and Natalie beamed at him. “It’s no secret,” he continued, “that the start of mine and Nat’s relationship was a complicated one. I do realize I was the one complicating things but that’s not important here.” He smiled at the sound of chuckles from some of their friends. He sobered as he began to speak again. “It took almost losing Natalie to a tragic and avoidable attack that made me finally come to my senses and realize that life wasn’t worth living if she wasn’t by my side.

“Every day since then, I have been grateful beyond measure to spend every available moment with Natalie. She has been my constant companion and my rock. She gave me three beautiful children and, together, we raised them to be some of the best individuals I have ever known.” He smiled again at their children, and all three raised their glasses to him. “Everyone who knows Natalie knows that she has a beautiful heart, an intelligent and brilliant mind, and a wicked sense of humor that leaves you laughing so hard, it hurts to breathe.”

He turned to Natalie and gave her his hand. She took it and stood next to him, smiling. “Natalie, you have brought so much joy and light into my life. I wouldn’t be the man or father I am today without you by my side. May the next forty years of our lives together be just as wonderful as the first.” He pulled her close and raised his glass. “To the love of my life: Natalie!”

“To Natalie!” the guests echoed, raising their glasses.

“To mom!” their children yelled, laughing. 

Natalie smiled and kissed Ethan softly. “Forty years together and you still manage to surprise me, Dr. Ramsey,” she said, quietly.

“Good to know I haven’t grown too predictable,” he joked. As music started to play through the speakers, he extended his hand out to her. “May I have this dance, Mrs. Ramsey?”

“You may, Mr. Ramsey,” she replied.

Leading her onto the dance floor, Ethan pulled his wife close and began to slowly sway with her to the music. Other guests began to drift onto the dancefloor with their partners and soon, everyone was dancing and laughing together. 

As Ethan and Natalie danced, he had a vision of a night similar to this one, many years ago:

They were dancing at the Hopeful Hearts Gala, surrounded by their friends, colleagues, and various benefactors; it had been such a difficult year for all of them, but dancing with Natalie in his arms at that moment had made it all worth it. And, in a rare moment of impulse, he kissed her, in front of the entire hospital. He didn’t care who saw or what anyone thought; all he knew was he was madly in love with Natalie, and he would never let her go.

The vision faded and Ethan was brought back to the present. He gazed into Natalie’s blue-green eyes, and rested his forehead against hers. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” she asked.

He nuzzled her nose. “Just thinking about how much I love you,” he answered.

She chuckled. “I love you more.”

He pecked her softly on the lips and smiled. “Never.”