Gabe's marriage was long enough ago now to not be a worthy topic of discussion, though the occasional comment was still made by the jackass of the department. So, she was always surprised to remember how impulsive one of her favorite coworkers had to be to marry so young. Perhaps there was hope for Jesse and she, then, if Mrs. Hatchitt could forgive such a transgression.

"I think you're not giving yourself enough credit," she teased. In her eyes, Jesse was as great a catch as they came: kind, dependable, handsome (not necessarily in that order). Even in their worst moments he was still able to think rationally, to calm her tides. Hell, Fallon had even slapped him once and all he'd done was hold her. If that didn't speak to the measure of his character, then nothing else would.

"It would've been someone else within the year if it wasn't me, I'd wager." Her comment was meant jokingly, but she only belatedly realized the context of which it could be taken. There was a very real chance only a few short months ago of him ending up with someone else entirely. Fallon sipped on his cocoa to avoid further shoving her foot in her mouth.