Next morning Elizabeth made breakfast and we set the table. It was fun to observe two of them. Holly and her sister had so much time to make up and I didn't want to be the burden.

''Baby, I'm going to hang out with Tracy and Leo so you can have some time with your sister.''

''Not necessary... Bethany is on her way. I'll hang out with my girl for the weekend and you can have my sister to yourself. I love her, but...my girl comes first.''

''Ok. It's settled.''

''Yes, her girl comes first, so you are stuck with your wife...''

''Yeah, poor me...''

''Yes you are. We have some...things to do Peck...''

''Holly, no! I'm not doing it...''

''Where your glasses, you are way more sexy that way...''

''Yes we are... You owe me for all the names I had to take from you..''

''Baby sister in the room you perves...''

''Oh, come on... Like you and you girl are not into some...special talk and activities connected to it.''

Yeah, I was blushing. My WIFE shears our intimacy with baby sister...''

''Baby, she might be fast learner...like you...''

''I so do not want to know...''

''Holly!''

''What?''

''Stop talking about our sex life...''

''Fine... O.K. Liz, you'll be staying home alone. Me and Mrs. are going to her lake house and will be having impromptu honeymoon. Se you Monday evening. You have all the numbers. I love you and we'll be out of your life for two days...And, our room is off limits... Ok?''

''Yes, I had no wish to do the deed in your room.''

We packed our bags and went to the car. Her phone rang and she was not happy.

''Now? You want me to do than now? But it's my weekend off and I had planes...''

''No, Sir... I understand...Fine, I'll be there in twenty minutes...''

''Bad news?''

''Yes, I have to be in a lab. There is something going on with the evidence. Remember I told you about that intern that could do nothing right?''

''Yes, you screamed at her when we were at the lake...''

''Yes, that one... Well she misplaced, mislabeled the evidence and the defense got to the story and wants to exclude these evidence. With them we had almost closed case. Now, we have to do things again and we have two weeks. I have to go back to the crime scene, get what I can from there and then do magic.''

''Hm... Let's go home, change and go to the crime scene. I'll help...''

'' Thank you love.''

Her sister was surprised that we were back.

''We have to work. We might come home so...''

''I know. Stick to my room.''

''See you...''

Some officers were already at the scene. Many people wanted nice weekend and ended up here working like crazy because one idiot of the interns didn't do the job as she should have. Holly walked around with her lunchbox deciding where to start form. I went to the officers and started conversation with them. Apparently news of my nuptials was not out yet, so I had some more time to enjoy the secrecy of my new marriage. I looked around the room hoping to see Holly, but she was out of sight. I looked for her and found her on the floor with brushes and a lot of evidence bags ready for samples. Two hours later, she was done with one of the rooms. She sent the samples to the lab and insisted that only the best work with them. This case was now ''intern free'', and that meant no sleep for a week or very little sleep. She moved to the room where the actual murder took place. Collecting evidence was different now. It has been more than a year and so many of them disappeared. She needed to find more things to work with. This house was pretty much dead end. There were some evidence in the lab that were logged by other interns who knew their job, so they could be used. That was her only hope. She insisted on exhuming the body and working on it again. Again, she insisted on no interns. One of them brought them in this situation and now, all the best experts will work the case. I spent two days at the old apartment just to give Liz some time and space to be with her girl. Boys made food and insisted I take it to Holly. On Wednesday afternoon they were done with processing, logging and rapports. She had two days off and I insisted we skip town and spend time with each other. Liz was happy to be alone again and I was happy to be with my wife. I knew she will sleep for long time and I was fine with it. She fell asleep in the car and I woke her up at the super market and when we arrived to the lake. She went straight to bed and I unloaded the car and groceries. While she slept I read some of my materials for the doctorate and had serious trouble writing mail to Frank where I ask for leave of absence. I had to find the way to explain why I need that time off work. I would miss my work, miss all the action, but this way I will fulfill my dream and work close to Holly. Now I am free from ''Pecks are grate cops'' chains and restrains I can go back to being just me, just Gail and doing what makes me happy. Lucky for me I am married to a workaholic lab rat, like me, so long hours wouldn't be a problem as it would have been id ether of us dated normal person. I really liked my ''normal''. It was getting dark and little bit cold. I went into the house and stared dinner. It was so worm and nice that I had seriously considered never living the comfort of this house. After I finished diner I took some food to Holly. She was so peaceful and perfect. Sometimes it confused me how did I get so lucky to have her and be loved by her. She could've ended with better and less complicated person, but she wanted me. I was really lucky one.

''Stop staring... You married me... you can join me... You know?''

''I do.. I just...You are so perfect...''

''Is that macaroni and cheese I smell?''

''Yes, and they are for you...''

''Oh, you made an effort and cooked the meal from the box...''

''No, I actually melted the cheese. Yes, you may be proud of me. Your wife cooked for you.''

''Thank you wife... I am so hungry.''

She took the tray and tried the food. Apparently I did good. Holly is perfectionist in almost everything she does and she didn't give any comment on the food I made.

''Thank you. This was good. Mmmmm... I'm so full. Do you think we could just cuddle up here and not leave the bed for two or more days?''

''I would love not to leave the bed with you my love...''

''Good. I just missed you so much. It's not how people should spend days after they are married. We should be doing things that involve me and you naked and the world dead to us.''

''I like that idea...''

'' My bet in on the part ''world is dead''... With you it has to be some pain and suffering to the world...''

''You know me well..''

''I do, do I?''

''Yes, you do...''

She put the tray on the floor and pulled me on her...

''I think we can have our instant honeymoon now... I rested and I'm ready to be tired again my love... What are you going to do about it?''

I straddled her and took of my sweater and shirt.

''What do you want me to do?''

''Oh, where should I start from?''

''The top Dr. Stewart...''

She flipped us over...

''I knew you liked it when I'm on top...''

''I don't care, as long as we are making love...''

And we did. All the ways we knew how and we took our time. She was gentle, loving and in some moments I felt like I gave her everything I have. I was hers with all my body and soul. I opened up to someone and realized how good it feels to love and be loved. She fell asleep beside me and I couldn't stop looking at her. I couldn't believe I'm the one to watch her grow old and have new memories, family and freedom. We were finally free from our past and all the burden it carried. She was free, I just had to inform my friends and bosses about the doctorate and time off. I grew to like my job, but I was never happy there as much I was happy in the lab. On Tuesday I will tell them I'm leaving and finally put that chapter of my life behind. I was not afraid. I had Holly, and with her I had all the love and support I need. We forgot to pull the shades, so I was waken with first ray of light. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I put on my running chlodes and went for a run. I needed to clear my head and start thinking of my leaving and haw I'm going to tell to people. College and doctorate are big things to keep silent about. I had to think about how much they will be hurt about my silence and some other life I hid from them. When I came home, Holly was making pancakes. I was hungry and I missed her.

''Morning love, go shower. You need it...''

''Be back soon. ''

I came to eat after twenty minutes. Holly was almost done with her food. My mind was all over the place and I didn't have my usual smile when she makes me star shaped sandwiches. I haven't even paid attention to them this morning. I just started eating.

''What is going on with you Gail? Are you fine? Are we fine?''

''We are great... Don't worry. It has nothing to do with us... I'm thinking about how people will take the news...''

''Gail, do you even want to do this? Your letter said that position is waiting for you for two years... Is that what you want? Do you want to leave the police work and start on your doctorate?''

''I do. There is part of me that is excited to do that. Other is scared... Baby, when I take this position it's living on relation Boston-Toronto... That scares me...''

''Well, I might help with that.''

''How?''

''I applied for my post doctorate classes... They want me. I'm published, good and they want me. So, my little dork, in six months we are leaving.''

''Yes we are.''

For months I kept doctorate as my secret. On the other hand, news of Holly's leaving surfaced soon after we made the decision. Liz was sad to be away from Holly, but happy to have apartment just for her and Bethany. I liked the girl. She was very vibrant, funny and dorky enough to be part of the family. Holly and I were going strong and it felt good to be married. It felt safe and much less lonely. I had married the craziest person alive. Our life was so much fun and I became happy person with her. My dad, Steve and Tracy were coming every week for dinner at our house and sometimes Holly would let me cook, of course, with her supervision. I became all I never believed to be. I became someone whose damaged side was not that visible. I became good for me and other people around me. Every day, after work, we would go to Penny with my friends and I think they also became her friends too. She was so loved and popular with the boys that it was funny sometimes. She was one of the boys. They played dot, pool and gossiped about how evil the ladies are. It was funny how most of them cried to her when they had girl troubles. Ladies of the percent were envies because I married a girl. I had no one to clean after, there was no fighting about price of the bought stuff, we had the same shoe size so we could buy anything we wanted and most importantly, she knew me well. For such a short time we knew each other better than many couples dating or being married for years.

''I can agree on almost all that you said...But I must say my wife is hot as hell.''

She was in heels, tight ladder pants and one shoulder shirt. Her hair was curled at the end and glasses were off.

''You are right... None of our men could pull off that outfit...''

And we started laughing so heard that we came to tears.

''I can only imagine...''

That got Holly's attention.

''What's so funny Babe...?''

''So do not want to know... Trust me...''

''But I do...''

Andy told her and she didn't find it that funny. She made some lame joke and went back to the boys. Something was bothering her. On the way home she was very quiet. I grabbed her hand and she didn't turn to face me.

''Holly, what's wrong?''

''It's stupid...''

''No, it's not...''

''Do you miss being with the boys?''

''You mean alone at Penny drinking and gossiping? No, I don't...I love that you are with me and part of the gang.''

''No, I meant in sexual way...''

''Sleeping with them?''

''Yes...''

''No, I don't... I do not miss them in any way. I am happy and in that department, my wife is... WOW...''

That got me a smile and a peck on the lips.

''You mean that?''

'' I do... You are the person I love and no... addition on the body could change that.''

''Thank you love.''

She was in a better mood.

''You know, there are ways to make you feel like you are with a men...''

''No! I'm fine like this...''

''O.K. I was just saying...''

''I'm fine...''

All the way to our car, she was working on getting me on board for the sex toys. I was curious, but then I thought that if I said yes to her idea she would think I miss men. Relationships with women were complicated. It was easier with men. Looking at her I do not regret anything. She gave me so much love and home. After almost twenty six years, I had a home and that happened thanks to crazy nerd with a lunchbox...