Amnesty 2007, ' A State Attended to ' by Aingeal
Title: A State Attended to
Author: Aingeal
Pairing: Fraser/Vecchio
Rating: G
Word Count: 3764
Summary: Fraser needs to make a proposal and Ray needs to say yes.
Notes: For the Marriage Challenge.
Disclaimer: This potrayal of Mounties and their rules is purely fictional and bears no resemblance to the real thing. due South isn't mine, which is a pity becuase this would have made a fun episode.
A State Attended to
Ray Vecchio was sitting down to a mountain of paperwork, caused by his unofficial partner’s talent for finding trouble wherever they went, when the phone on his desk rang. Ray picked it up and audibly sighed as he answered.
“Vecchio.”
“Ah, hello, Ray?”
Ray recognised the voice on the other end of the line. He also recognised that voice had something different about it. To begin with Fraser rarely phoned unless he was in trouble, and even then he preferred coming to see Ray in person.
“Benny, are you okay?”
“I have a problem, Ray, and I need your help.”
“You need my…” Ray rubbed a hand over his hair, at least what was left of it. Why did Fraser do this to him? “What’s going on?” he asked.
“I’d rather not talk about it now. Could you come to the Consulate?”
Ray looked about. He couldn’t see Welsh. “What? Now?”
“Yes, Ray.”
“I only dropped you off there an hour ago,” Ray said, wondering what trouble Fraser had got himself into in an hour.
“I know. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
Ray had a last look around. Welsh wasn’t anywhere to be seen. In fact the place seemed eerily deserted. Ray couldn’t even see Elaine. It was safe to leave. “Okay, I’m coming.”
Ray admitted he may have broken the speed limit a couple of times getting to the Consulate. But Fraser sounded strange on the phone which had him worried. It was crazy worrying about a grown man, a grown Mountie, but Ray did. All the time. He guessed that was what love did to you, that he worried about Fraser whenever they weren’t together, and that he had dreams of Fraser naked.
Ray took the stairs to Fraser’s office two at a time. The Consulate seemed oddly quiet, more so than usual. There was nobody at the desk outside Fraser’s office, which was unusual. Normally Turnbull, or Jasmine, were there. He didn’t bother knocking on Fraser’s door but went straight into the office.
He found Fraser standing up, adjusting his lanyard in a small mirror.
“Okay, Benny, what’s this about?”
“I have a problem, Ray.”
“I know that. What kind of a problem?” Ray asked trying to work out if Fraser was injured, if he’d had a bump on the head or something similar.
Fraser cleared his throat. “It appears that if I don’t get married within twenty four hours I will no longer be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
Ray waited a moment for Fraser to start giggling. He didn’t. “This isn’t a joke?”
“No, Ray.”
“You have to get married or they’ll throw you out of the Mounties?” Ray asked, making sure he had heard what he had thought he had.
Fraser nodded. “Yes, Ray. I’ve reached my fifteen years in service and I have to marry in order to keep my position. It appears it’s a very obscure rule, it’s rarely enforced.”
“So, why are they enforcing it on you?” Ray asked marvelling at the latest lack of logic by the Mounties.
Fraser licked his lower lip. “I’m not sure, Ray, but it seems to be very important. The Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP has come especially to perform the ceremony.”
“The ceremony?”
“The marriage ceremony,” Fraser said, patiently.
“Oh, yeah, right. So, who are you going to marry?”
Fraser dipped his head and Ray had to admit Fraser was good looking even when he was concerned. “That’s why I asked you here, Ray.”
“You are not marrying Francesca?” Ray asked. He was sure Fraser wouldn’t do that. Fraser wouldn’t survive marriage to Francesca. Ray wouldn’t survive Fraser’s marriage to Francesca.
“I don’t want to marry Francesca.”
“Then why did you ask me here?” Ray asked, starting to pace. Fraser was getting married, was Ray here to be the best man? “Do you want me to help you find someone to marry?”
Fraser shook his head. “No, Ray. I already know who I want to marry.”
Ray was now even more confused. “You want me to meet her? It’s Inspector Thatcher isn’t it?” His stomach rolled at the thought.
“No, Ray, it isn’t, and as my superior she’s forbidden from marrying me.”
“Another obscure rule?”
“Apparently.”
Ray gave up guessing. “So, who is it?”
Fraser came and stood very close to Ray. He made eye contact and, very firmly, said, “You, Ray. I would like to marry you.”
“Marry me?”
“Yes, Ray, I will.”
“That wasn’t a proposal, Benny!” Ray said. Fraser wanted to marry him. Benny, the guy he’d spent months breaking his heart over, wanted to marry him.
“Sorry,” Fraser cleared his throat. Ray then stood open mouthed as Fraser got onto one knee. “Will you marry me, Ray?”
“You want to marry me?” Ray asked again, making sure he hadn’t misheard again.
“Yes.”
“So you can stay in the Mounties?” Ray was sure this was too good to be true.
“That’s not the only reason,” Fraser replied.
Ray’s heart beat faster. “It’s not?”
“If I ever married someone, you’re the logical choice.”
Ray’s heart hurt then. “Logical? I’m logical? What about feelings?”
“I’m sorry, Ray.”
“You’re sorry for wanting to marry me?” This was just Ray’s luck.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make my feelings clear before now.”
“What are your feelings?” Ray asked. Fraser was still on one knee, still proposing with something more than words, with a look. Ray remained standing trying not to stare at Fraser because he knew he’d crumble if he did. Oh he’d be happy for Fraser to marry him solely because of the Mountie rule. Hell, Ray was even feeling grateful for logic but he still hoped there was something more. “Do you have them for me? Feelings?”
“Very much, yes.”
“You…do?”
“I wouldn’t ask you to marry me out of some sense of duty or honour or a friend helping a friend, Ray, unless I had affection and love for you.”
Ray couldn’t deny the truth in Fraser’s eyes. The eyes he was currently lost in. “You do don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Ray smiled, just a little. “Yes.”
“Ray?”
Ray let his smile get bigger. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“You’ll marry me?”
Ray pulled Fraser up and put his arms around Fraser’s waist. Fraser didn’t move. Ray could feel a living breathing person under that serge. “I’ll marry you, but not because I want you to stay a Mountie. I mean…I do want you to stay a Mountie but I’ll marry you because I love you.”
“You love me?”
“Yes!” Ray tightened his hold. “You think I could marry someone I didn’t have affection and love for?”
It was a rhetorical question, which, fortunately, Fraser realised.
“Oh, thank you, Ray.”
“You don’t thank your fiancé, Fraser. You kiss them.”
“Oh.”
It was then Ray noticed a faint smile dancing across Fraser’s face but before he could say anything he was being kissed. By his fiancé. Ray would have smiled had he not been very involved in his kissing Fraser. Benny was warm, and surprisingly soft, and just lovely. So caught up were they, they didn’t notice the creak of the door opening.
The first they knew was the feminine voice of Inspector Thatcher. “So, Fraser…ah I see you asked Detective Vecchio.”
The two men parted, blushing, but kept their arms around one another. “Yes. He said yes.”
“I can see that. Well, I’ll tell the Superintendent you’re ready.” She was clearly embarrassed and left quickly, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Ray turned to Fraser. “Ready for what?”
“To get married.”
“I thought you said we had twenty four hours.”
“Technically, we have twenty two hours and thirty two minutes.”
“So, why are we rushing?” Ray asked. He would have liked to take some more time to get to know Fraser in ways he hadn’t before.
“Well, the Superintendent has to catch a flight in less than two hours, and he’s the only one who is qualified to perform the ceremony. So we have a limited time to get married.”
“Okay, but what about my mother? What am I going to tell Lieutenant Welsh?”
Fraser looked pleased with himself. “Your family are already here, along with lieutenant Welsh. I took the liberty of inviting them.”
“You knew I was going to say yes?” Ray asked, wondering if he had been that obvious.
“I hoped you’d say yes, Ray. And if you did say yes I didn’t want to have the dilemma of hoping your family would be available in time to see us married.”
Ray shook his head. “Mountie logic.”
“Ray?”
Inspector Thatcher peeked her head around the door, cautiously after her earlier embarrassment. “Constable, we’re waiting.”
“We’ll be right there. Won’t we, Ray?”
“Yeah. My mother’s out there?”
“Yes.”
And Lieutenant Welsh? And Huey? And Francesca?
Fraser nodded. “Yes, Ray. All of them.”
Ray felt his nervousness kicking in. “Okay, I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“Get married.” Ray let go of Fraser and moved toward the door. “Are you coming, Benny?”
“You have to go first, Ray,” Fraser replied.
Ray frowned. “Why do I have to go first?”
“I’m being escorted in by Sergeant Frobisher.”
“He’s giving you away?”
“Yes.”
“So, who’s our best man?” Ray asked.
He heard a bark from just outside the door from a supposedly deaf wolf.
“Diefenbaker?” Ray asked, only half surprised.
“No. Actually Elaine volunteered.”
“She’s not a man.”
“No, Ray, but she is a friend.”
“Okay.” Ray opened the door and turned back to Fraser. “I’ll see you at the altar?”
“There’s not an altar, Ray. I did think about using a…”
Ray smiled. Knowing Fraser he would have figured out some weird Inuit altar. “Benny, it’s just an expression.”
“Ah, yes, Ray.”
“Don’t be nervous.”
Fraser fingered his collar. “I’m not nervous.”
“Your lanyard isn’t straight,” Ray said. Fraser’s reaction of looking down at it made Ray stifle a laugh. That was his Benny.
“Ray!” Fraser reprimanded when he noticed his lanyard was perfectly straight.
“See you out there,” Ray said and he walked out to meet his family and calm his nerves before his marriage ceremony. Ray wasn’t quite sure what to make of the walrus pelt Elaine was holding.
The ceremony itself flew by. Ray was lucky he had to repeat words because Mountie marriage ceremonies were complicated. There had been the added complication of being tied to Fraser to a walrus pelt. But at last it was nearly over.
The Superintendent’s strong voice boomed out. “I now pronounce you married. You may kiss each other.”
They turned to each other and, still tied by a walrus pelt (which Ray felt made things awkward), they kissed. Ray heard a wolf whistle from Elaine and what he thought was a groan from Francesca but he didn’t care. He was kissing his husband.
It turned out not only had a wedding been organised, but a reception too. Ray’s mother had clearly had a hand it. That was the only reason Ray could see for all the frilly decoration. His mother, it turned out, was very pleased and was constantly fussing over her new son in law. It had taken Ray a good half hour before he’d managed to rescue Benny from her. Together they were mingling, talking to guests and trying not to feel awkward.
It was working too. Ray wasn’t that awkward when Inspector Thatcher came over to talk to them. In fact he greeted her first.
“Hey, Inspector.”
“Hello, Sir.”
“Constable Fraser, can I have a word with your husband?” she asked.
“Certainly, Inspector,” Fraser turned to Ray. “If Ray doesn’t mind.”
Ray shrugged. “I don’t mind. It won’t take long? We have to cut the cake before Dief manages to eat it.”
Dief was sitting opposite the cake staring at it, as he had since held first laid eyes on it. Ray thought Dief probably felt all his Christmases had come at once with the amount of frosting on a three tired cake.
“It won’t take long,” she replied.
“Good.”
They moved away to a quieter corner of the room, out of ear shot of even Fraser’s hearing.
“So, what did you want to talk about, Inspector?”
“This,” she replied, handing Ray a file.
“What’s this?” Ray asked, opening it.
“It’s a legal document,” she paused. “It’s an application for a formal name change.”
“Whose name?”
“Constable Fraser’s.”
“Benny wants to change his name?”
“He’s taking your name as part of his married name.”
Ray read the application and spoke the name out loud. “Benton Fraser-Vecchio. He didn’t say anything about this.”
“Probably because he thought you’d try to dissuade him.”
“It’s official?” Ray asked, surprised but pleased, Fraser had done something like that. Still Inspector Thatcher was right Ray would have tried to dissuade Benny.
“His application was approved, yes. It became formal when you signed the marriage register,” she paused. “Of course he’ll still be Constable Fraser; his married name will only apply on official documents.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” Ray said, sincerely. He handed her back the file.
“He’ll want to tell you himself, later, just act surprised. I just thought I’d let you know in advance.”
“I appreciate that,” Ray paused. “This wasn’t just about a name was it Inspector?”
She shook her head. “No. The married rule hasn’t been enforced for years but if an officer asks it to be enforced, especially on a member of staff under her command, the Commissioner has no choice but to honour the request and enforce it.”
Ray was shocked and surprised by her confession. Of all the people who would want to see him and Fraser together Inspector Thatcher had not been high on the list. She’d not even been on the list. “You’re the one who made them enforce the law on Fraser?”
“Yes. I don’t want this to go any further. As far as Fraser is concerned it was a clerical error.”
Ray understood what a sacrifice she’d made. Nothing he could say would express his thanks. Maybe he could just bury the hatchet. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, Meg.”
Ray offered his hand to her and he was pleased when she took it.
“Just make him happy.”
“I will,” Ray promised.
Once the handshake was over Inspector Thatcher left and Ray went back in search of Benny.
“Is everything all right, Ray?” Fraser asked, as Ray walked up to him.
“Yeah, the Inspector just wanted to congratulate us on our marriage.”
“That’s very good of her.”
“Yeah,” Ray paused. “So, you want to cut the cake now?”
It was then they heard a cry form Elaine. “Dief no!”
Ray and Fraser turned to see Dief crashing into the cake. Clearly his self-control had failed him. Cake and frosting went everywhere and when the metaphorical dust had cleared they saw Diefenbaker in the middle of the ruined cake, happily tucking in.
“I guess it’s too late to cut the cake now?” Ray asked.
“We could always move onto the first dance,” Fraser suggested.
Ray couldn’t argue with that.
They moved onto the dance floor and after their first, rather awkward dance, other couples joined in. Ray was grateful of that; he felt self-conscious out there with Fraser. They were great at holding onto each other and swaying in time to the music but anything more technical failed them. Ray figured they just needed more practice.
“Benny?” Ray said, as they swayed gently together.
“Yes, Ray?”
“What are we going to do about, you know…”
“Consummation?”
“Yeah.”
“The Inspector says we can have the use one of the bedrooms used for visiting diplomats.”
“Really?” Ray slowed a little.
“Yes, Ray.”
He eyed the staircase. “You think anyone would notice if we slipped out?”
“Of our own reception, Ray?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I don’t think anyone would, no.”
“Come on then,” Ray said, pulling Fraser off the dance floor.
It was true nobody did notice them sneaking upstairs, all bar one. Inspector Thatcher noticed and smiled as she saw them leave. Vecchio was happy, Fraser was happy, she was happy.
Meanwhile upstairs two newlyweds made love to one another, golden bands twinkling in the light, soft bodies learning each other and happy sighs of love.
Author: Aingeal
Pairing: Fraser/Vecchio
Rating: G
Word Count: 3764
Summary: Fraser needs to make a proposal and Ray needs to say yes.
Notes: For the Marriage Challenge.
Disclaimer: This potrayal of Mounties and their rules is purely fictional and bears no resemblance to the real thing. due South isn't mine, which is a pity becuase this would have made a fun episode.
A State Attended to
Ray Vecchio was sitting down to a mountain of paperwork, caused by his unofficial partner’s talent for finding trouble wherever they went, when the phone on his desk rang. Ray picked it up and audibly sighed as he answered.
“Vecchio.”
“Ah, hello, Ray?”
Ray recognised the voice on the other end of the line. He also recognised that voice had something different about it. To begin with Fraser rarely phoned unless he was in trouble, and even then he preferred coming to see Ray in person.
“Benny, are you okay?”
“I have a problem, Ray, and I need your help.”
“You need my…” Ray rubbed a hand over his hair, at least what was left of it. Why did Fraser do this to him? “What’s going on?” he asked.
“I’d rather not talk about it now. Could you come to the Consulate?”
Ray looked about. He couldn’t see Welsh. “What? Now?”
“Yes, Ray.”
“I only dropped you off there an hour ago,” Ray said, wondering what trouble Fraser had got himself into in an hour.
“I know. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
Ray had a last look around. Welsh wasn’t anywhere to be seen. In fact the place seemed eerily deserted. Ray couldn’t even see Elaine. It was safe to leave. “Okay, I’m coming.”
Ray admitted he may have broken the speed limit a couple of times getting to the Consulate. But Fraser sounded strange on the phone which had him worried. It was crazy worrying about a grown man, a grown Mountie, but Ray did. All the time. He guessed that was what love did to you, that he worried about Fraser whenever they weren’t together, and that he had dreams of Fraser naked.
Ray took the stairs to Fraser’s office two at a time. The Consulate seemed oddly quiet, more so than usual. There was nobody at the desk outside Fraser’s office, which was unusual. Normally Turnbull, or Jasmine, were there. He didn’t bother knocking on Fraser’s door but went straight into the office.
He found Fraser standing up, adjusting his lanyard in a small mirror.
“Okay, Benny, what’s this about?”
“I have a problem, Ray.”
“I know that. What kind of a problem?” Ray asked trying to work out if Fraser was injured, if he’d had a bump on the head or something similar.
Fraser cleared his throat. “It appears that if I don’t get married within twenty four hours I will no longer be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
Ray waited a moment for Fraser to start giggling. He didn’t. “This isn’t a joke?”
“No, Ray.”
“You have to get married or they’ll throw you out of the Mounties?” Ray asked, making sure he had heard what he had thought he had.
Fraser nodded. “Yes, Ray. I’ve reached my fifteen years in service and I have to marry in order to keep my position. It appears it’s a very obscure rule, it’s rarely enforced.”
“So, why are they enforcing it on you?” Ray asked marvelling at the latest lack of logic by the Mounties.
Fraser licked his lower lip. “I’m not sure, Ray, but it seems to be very important. The Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP has come especially to perform the ceremony.”
“The ceremony?”
“The marriage ceremony,” Fraser said, patiently.
“Oh, yeah, right. So, who are you going to marry?”
Fraser dipped his head and Ray had to admit Fraser was good looking even when he was concerned. “That’s why I asked you here, Ray.”
“You are not marrying Francesca?” Ray asked. He was sure Fraser wouldn’t do that. Fraser wouldn’t survive marriage to Francesca. Ray wouldn’t survive Fraser’s marriage to Francesca.
“I don’t want to marry Francesca.”
“Then why did you ask me here?” Ray asked, starting to pace. Fraser was getting married, was Ray here to be the best man? “Do you want me to help you find someone to marry?”
Fraser shook his head. “No, Ray. I already know who I want to marry.”
Ray was now even more confused. “You want me to meet her? It’s Inspector Thatcher isn’t it?” His stomach rolled at the thought.
“No, Ray, it isn’t, and as my superior she’s forbidden from marrying me.”
“Another obscure rule?”
“Apparently.”
Ray gave up guessing. “So, who is it?”
Fraser came and stood very close to Ray. He made eye contact and, very firmly, said, “You, Ray. I would like to marry you.”
“Marry me?”
“Yes, Ray, I will.”
“That wasn’t a proposal, Benny!” Ray said. Fraser wanted to marry him. Benny, the guy he’d spent months breaking his heart over, wanted to marry him.
“Sorry,” Fraser cleared his throat. Ray then stood open mouthed as Fraser got onto one knee. “Will you marry me, Ray?”
“You want to marry me?” Ray asked again, making sure he hadn’t misheard again.
“Yes.”
“So you can stay in the Mounties?” Ray was sure this was too good to be true.
“That’s not the only reason,” Fraser replied.
Ray’s heart beat faster. “It’s not?”
“If I ever married someone, you’re the logical choice.”
Ray’s heart hurt then. “Logical? I’m logical? What about feelings?”
“I’m sorry, Ray.”
“You’re sorry for wanting to marry me?” This was just Ray’s luck.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make my feelings clear before now.”
“What are your feelings?” Ray asked. Fraser was still on one knee, still proposing with something more than words, with a look. Ray remained standing trying not to stare at Fraser because he knew he’d crumble if he did. Oh he’d be happy for Fraser to marry him solely because of the Mountie rule. Hell, Ray was even feeling grateful for logic but he still hoped there was something more. “Do you have them for me? Feelings?”
“Very much, yes.”
“You…do?”
“I wouldn’t ask you to marry me out of some sense of duty or honour or a friend helping a friend, Ray, unless I had affection and love for you.”
Ray couldn’t deny the truth in Fraser’s eyes. The eyes he was currently lost in. “You do don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Ray smiled, just a little. “Yes.”
“Ray?”
Ray let his smile get bigger. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“You’ll marry me?”
Ray pulled Fraser up and put his arms around Fraser’s waist. Fraser didn’t move. Ray could feel a living breathing person under that serge. “I’ll marry you, but not because I want you to stay a Mountie. I mean…I do want you to stay a Mountie but I’ll marry you because I love you.”
“You love me?”
“Yes!” Ray tightened his hold. “You think I could marry someone I didn’t have affection and love for?”
It was a rhetorical question, which, fortunately, Fraser realised.
“Oh, thank you, Ray.”
“You don’t thank your fiancé, Fraser. You kiss them.”
“Oh.”
It was then Ray noticed a faint smile dancing across Fraser’s face but before he could say anything he was being kissed. By his fiancé. Ray would have smiled had he not been very involved in his kissing Fraser. Benny was warm, and surprisingly soft, and just lovely. So caught up were they, they didn’t notice the creak of the door opening.
The first they knew was the feminine voice of Inspector Thatcher. “So, Fraser…ah I see you asked Detective Vecchio.”
The two men parted, blushing, but kept their arms around one another. “Yes. He said yes.”
“I can see that. Well, I’ll tell the Superintendent you’re ready.” She was clearly embarrassed and left quickly, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Ray turned to Fraser. “Ready for what?”
“To get married.”
“I thought you said we had twenty four hours.”
“Technically, we have twenty two hours and thirty two minutes.”
“So, why are we rushing?” Ray asked. He would have liked to take some more time to get to know Fraser in ways he hadn’t before.
“Well, the Superintendent has to catch a flight in less than two hours, and he’s the only one who is qualified to perform the ceremony. So we have a limited time to get married.”
“Okay, but what about my mother? What am I going to tell Lieutenant Welsh?”
Fraser looked pleased with himself. “Your family are already here, along with lieutenant Welsh. I took the liberty of inviting them.”
“You knew I was going to say yes?” Ray asked, wondering if he had been that obvious.
“I hoped you’d say yes, Ray. And if you did say yes I didn’t want to have the dilemma of hoping your family would be available in time to see us married.”
Ray shook his head. “Mountie logic.”
“Ray?”
Inspector Thatcher peeked her head around the door, cautiously after her earlier embarrassment. “Constable, we’re waiting.”
“We’ll be right there. Won’t we, Ray?”
“Yeah. My mother’s out there?”
“Yes.”
And Lieutenant Welsh? And Huey? And Francesca?
Fraser nodded. “Yes, Ray. All of them.”
Ray felt his nervousness kicking in. “Okay, I can do this.”
“Do what?”
“Get married.” Ray let go of Fraser and moved toward the door. “Are you coming, Benny?”
“You have to go first, Ray,” Fraser replied.
Ray frowned. “Why do I have to go first?”
“I’m being escorted in by Sergeant Frobisher.”
“He’s giving you away?”
“Yes.”
“So, who’s our best man?” Ray asked.
He heard a bark from just outside the door from a supposedly deaf wolf.
“Diefenbaker?” Ray asked, only half surprised.
“No. Actually Elaine volunteered.”
“She’s not a man.”
“No, Ray, but she is a friend.”
“Okay.” Ray opened the door and turned back to Fraser. “I’ll see you at the altar?”
“There’s not an altar, Ray. I did think about using a…”
Ray smiled. Knowing Fraser he would have figured out some weird Inuit altar. “Benny, it’s just an expression.”
“Ah, yes, Ray.”
“Don’t be nervous.”
Fraser fingered his collar. “I’m not nervous.”
“Your lanyard isn’t straight,” Ray said. Fraser’s reaction of looking down at it made Ray stifle a laugh. That was his Benny.
“Ray!” Fraser reprimanded when he noticed his lanyard was perfectly straight.
“See you out there,” Ray said and he walked out to meet his family and calm his nerves before his marriage ceremony. Ray wasn’t quite sure what to make of the walrus pelt Elaine was holding.
The ceremony itself flew by. Ray was lucky he had to repeat words because Mountie marriage ceremonies were complicated. There had been the added complication of being tied to Fraser to a walrus pelt. But at last it was nearly over.
The Superintendent’s strong voice boomed out. “I now pronounce you married. You may kiss each other.”
They turned to each other and, still tied by a walrus pelt (which Ray felt made things awkward), they kissed. Ray heard a wolf whistle from Elaine and what he thought was a groan from Francesca but he didn’t care. He was kissing his husband.
It turned out not only had a wedding been organised, but a reception too. Ray’s mother had clearly had a hand it. That was the only reason Ray could see for all the frilly decoration. His mother, it turned out, was very pleased and was constantly fussing over her new son in law. It had taken Ray a good half hour before he’d managed to rescue Benny from her. Together they were mingling, talking to guests and trying not to feel awkward.
It was working too. Ray wasn’t that awkward when Inspector Thatcher came over to talk to them. In fact he greeted her first.
“Hey, Inspector.”
“Hello, Sir.”
“Constable Fraser, can I have a word with your husband?” she asked.
“Certainly, Inspector,” Fraser turned to Ray. “If Ray doesn’t mind.”
Ray shrugged. “I don’t mind. It won’t take long? We have to cut the cake before Dief manages to eat it.”
Dief was sitting opposite the cake staring at it, as he had since held first laid eyes on it. Ray thought Dief probably felt all his Christmases had come at once with the amount of frosting on a three tired cake.
“It won’t take long,” she replied.
“Good.”
They moved away to a quieter corner of the room, out of ear shot of even Fraser’s hearing.
“So, what did you want to talk about, Inspector?”
“This,” she replied, handing Ray a file.
“What’s this?” Ray asked, opening it.
“It’s a legal document,” she paused. “It’s an application for a formal name change.”
“Whose name?”
“Constable Fraser’s.”
“Benny wants to change his name?”
“He’s taking your name as part of his married name.”
Ray read the application and spoke the name out loud. “Benton Fraser-Vecchio. He didn’t say anything about this.”
“Probably because he thought you’d try to dissuade him.”
“It’s official?” Ray asked, surprised but pleased, Fraser had done something like that. Still Inspector Thatcher was right Ray would have tried to dissuade Benny.
“His application was approved, yes. It became formal when you signed the marriage register,” she paused. “Of course he’ll still be Constable Fraser; his married name will only apply on official documents.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” Ray said, sincerely. He handed her back the file.
“He’ll want to tell you himself, later, just act surprised. I just thought I’d let you know in advance.”
“I appreciate that,” Ray paused. “This wasn’t just about a name was it Inspector?”
She shook her head. “No. The married rule hasn’t been enforced for years but if an officer asks it to be enforced, especially on a member of staff under her command, the Commissioner has no choice but to honour the request and enforce it.”
Ray was shocked and surprised by her confession. Of all the people who would want to see him and Fraser together Inspector Thatcher had not been high on the list. She’d not even been on the list. “You’re the one who made them enforce the law on Fraser?”
“Yes. I don’t want this to go any further. As far as Fraser is concerned it was a clerical error.”
Ray understood what a sacrifice she’d made. Nothing he could say would express his thanks. Maybe he could just bury the hatchet. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, Meg.”
Ray offered his hand to her and he was pleased when she took it.
“Just make him happy.”
“I will,” Ray promised.
Once the handshake was over Inspector Thatcher left and Ray went back in search of Benny.
“Is everything all right, Ray?” Fraser asked, as Ray walked up to him.
“Yeah, the Inspector just wanted to congratulate us on our marriage.”
“That’s very good of her.”
“Yeah,” Ray paused. “So, you want to cut the cake now?”
It was then they heard a cry form Elaine. “Dief no!”
Ray and Fraser turned to see Dief crashing into the cake. Clearly his self-control had failed him. Cake and frosting went everywhere and when the metaphorical dust had cleared they saw Diefenbaker in the middle of the ruined cake, happily tucking in.
“I guess it’s too late to cut the cake now?” Ray asked.
“We could always move onto the first dance,” Fraser suggested.
Ray couldn’t argue with that.
They moved onto the dance floor and after their first, rather awkward dance, other couples joined in. Ray was grateful of that; he felt self-conscious out there with Fraser. They were great at holding onto each other and swaying in time to the music but anything more technical failed them. Ray figured they just needed more practice.
“Benny?” Ray said, as they swayed gently together.
“Yes, Ray?”
“What are we going to do about, you know…”
“Consummation?”
“Yeah.”
“The Inspector says we can have the use one of the bedrooms used for visiting diplomats.”
“Really?” Ray slowed a little.
“Yes, Ray.”
He eyed the staircase. “You think anyone would notice if we slipped out?”
“Of our own reception, Ray?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I don’t think anyone would, no.”
“Come on then,” Ray said, pulling Fraser off the dance floor.
It was true nobody did notice them sneaking upstairs, all bar one. Inspector Thatcher noticed and smiled as she saw them leave. Vecchio was happy, Fraser was happy, she was happy.
Meanwhile upstairs two newlyweds made love to one another, golden bands twinkling in the light, soft bodies learning each other and happy sighs of love.