WHO: Kevin Munroe and Xiomara Valdez Munroe WHEN: 2004 WHERE: Various places in New York SUMMARY: Xo and Kevin eloped because true love is real! It didn't go so well. WARNINGS: Sexual allusions. Relationship strife. Yelling.
While growing up, Kevin never envisioned the happiest day of his life would be spent inside a courthouse near lunchtime on a tuesday. On the field of Yankee Stadium? Almost every night he could remember. Eating a Tomahawk steak the size of an infant? Nearly as often. But standing here, in a run-your-hands-over-the-wrinkles-until-it-looks-sorta-okay button down shirt and smelled-alright slacks, holding the hand of the woman he had loved since he laid eyes on her while they signed their lives away to the state and to each other - it was a dream he never had come true.
With only a month or so until finals, it seemed like the perfect time to take the plunge, so to speak. Kevin had purchased and gifted Xo with a modest diamond ring on their one year anniversary, and he stacked it today with a small shower of glitter splashed across a band to frame the larger gem perfectly. He had spent a lot of time having someone else pick that out for him. Eyes hardly casting away from his blushing bride, he felt more pride than he had holding any other trophy in his life. This was one he never had to share, he could put on his mantle and keep for himself forever.
Left arm slung across her shoulders, Kevin held Xo tight to him as the exited the building once the lack of festivities had ended. “So, Misses Munroe, what would you like our first task as husband and wife to be? Wanna grab a bite? See a movie? Drop out, pack up, move back to Buffalo and work on makin’ babies?” The snarky grin overwhelmed his face as he leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head. He was half joking, after all.
There was no way to describe just how high her mind was right now. It was better than anything she had ever experienced, just the pure delight and surprise that seemed to overwhelm the entire world in light and joy. And the only thing that was clear was Kevin, looking down at her with that smile that saw no one else in the room, in the world, that was only for her and only ever would be for her.
Xo wasn't sure if she had even started breathing again since she had seen the ring. It was the picture of perfection, everything she had always wanted but thought she had lost. It didn't matter that she was in a sunflower sundress or that her makeup wasn't quite as perfect as she would have imagined, that her hair wasn't that fabulous updo that would have taken forever and a million pins. All that mattered was that smile and yes and I do and she could breath again.
She spun around at the kiss, jumping up to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him into a kiss. “This.” Xo pressed into his lips before kissing him again. “Kissing first.”
Arms catching around her lower back, leaning closer to reciprocate each and every kiss without hesitation. This truly was bliss. Nearly two years of uninterrupted happiness. Kevin had mostly drifted along in life through his sports career before he had met her, but within a month he had selected a major. Her major. To follow her anywhere, or she with him. It didn’t matter anymore. He had quit the baseball team just as quickly - picking up a couple classes in lieu of practicing daily as he had some catching up to do on pre-reqs for the Journalism degree. And he had bunkered down. And it had all been worth it. They had each other now, always and forever.
Succumbing to her attention a couple more minutes, enjoying each and every moment, Kevin finally straightened back up slowly after one more kiss was pressed to her nose, pulling away with the widest grin he had worn in his life. “I’m serious, babe. Let’s get through finals and head home. My home, where we can actually get jobs.” Cracks at her small time hometown came easy, always followed by a flash of a killer grin that he knew could cut through any bit of upset she mustered towards him. He took advantage of that fact often.
“We can get a place down the road from my parents, find you a job down at the news station. I think they’ve got some syndicated shows as well, you could pick up a fan base in Canada, eh?” His hands moved through her hair carefully, tucking a couple stray strands behind her ears as he studier her face for probably the thousandth time. “We can have a couple kids, raise them to be bankers and make us lots of money to retire off of, keep season tickets for the Yankees and enjoy weekends at Niagara Falls or the big city. It’s gonna be great, babe.”
“I’ll have my internship first.” Xo reminded, bubbly and light as she kept hold of him. There were times he looked just like a mountain, a shining and brilliant mountain that somehow had seen her. Xo wasn’t sure she had ever met anyone who believed in her like this before, not in a way that seemed to want her so passionately and totally. Her ideas were interesting to Kevin, he liked when she thought, when she talked, and she had never had that before with a boy that smiled at her like that.
How could she possibly stay mad? Ever?
“The rest of that sounds pretty fun.” she ran her hands from his neck to his chest, grinning bright. “We could get started on practicing for those kids.”
A playfully smug look washing over his face with an overdramatic shrug, pulling her body closer to his - as if there had been distance to begin. “But baaaaabe,” he crooned to her in his best attempt at a baby voice, eyes narrowing devilishly. Being across the state from each other while still in their honeymoon phase hadn’t been in Kevin’s plans when all of this snowballed, but it was better to lock her down than have uncertainty wash through their relationship. Plus, eight hours of a drive wouldn’t be that bad, right? Xo could pull it on a weekend, he would telecommute every now and then. Things would be fine. In a quick swoop, his hands found the backs of her thighs, effortlessly hiking her over his shoulder followed by a pat on her ass, arm crooking to hug her knees tight to his chest before she had a chance to get free. “Practice makes perfect,” his voice came at a low growl, setting off towards their car in the parking lot. Who needed a bed to consummate anyway?
A squeal escaped her as she found herself thrown over his shoulder, much further from the ground than she usually was. But he was strong, a thrill that ran up her skin as she giggled, playfully swatting at his back even as it moved beneath his shirt. They would work this out. This was true love, the real kind that managed to get past any obstacle. No one had loved her like Kevin did and no one ever would, that was why she had this ring on her finger and her name on paperwork binding them together forever.
“You better be ready for the consequences when you put me down!” she teased, reaching down enough to catch as squeeze of his ass. No reason not to start the honeymoon right now. __________
“Hey, it's meeee. I was just calling to say good night but I guess you're already in bed. I miss you. So much. Give me a call back when you're awake. Dream of me.”
“Hey sweetheart, I miss you. It’s been a couple weeks and I know things haven’t been totally smooth but we’re gonna figure this all out, okay? I should be able to come visit you next weekend. Nine more days. I love you.”
“Hey KevBev. Weren't you supposed to be here an hour ago? Are you stuck in traffic? Is everything okay? Should I start calling hospitals? Just give me a call back, love you!”
“Were you supposed to come over tonight, or did you assume I’m coming all the way back to the city, again, to spend more time with your couch than with you? [insert long sigh] Call me when you get this. Maybe we can salvage a trip next month.”
“Hey. Baby. I'm so sorry. Kelly went into labor a month early and there isn't anyone else who can cover for her. They said maybe I can take the days off in two weeks? But it'll depend on how far behind we get and I don't want to said no because it's a good opportunity. The team needs me.”
“Just got your message. This is bullshit, babe. You told me you requested these days off last time I saw you. It’s been three fuckin’ months, you know that? Do you even give a shit?”
“Hi Kevin's voice mail. It's Kevin's Wife. If he still talks to you, maybe you can tell him to call me back.”
“What the fuck Xo?! Did you change your fuckin number or are you forwarding all my calls now?! What excuse do you have this time?! Does Saturday Night Live have to start filming on Tuesday?! Check your goddamn voicemail and call me back - NOW!!”
“Oh I see how it is, you can scream at the voicemail but you can't PICK UP YOUR PHONE! Or was this not now enough for you? Whatever. I'm going to bed.” __________
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE MANHATTAN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK
Case No.: 729164829 Division: Matrimonial Support
In re the Marriage of:
KEVIN FRANK MUNROE; Husband, and XIOMARA EMILY VALDEZ MUNROE; Wife.