Chapter 12

Vic made her way down the stairs in their bungalow and into the living room, a place where she and Ripley hadn't spent much time. Ripley was in the small kitchen, just off the living room, rummaging through a cabinet. His back was to her. He was a in a tan suit jacket with matching pants. Vic could see a small bouquet of native Hawaiian flowers in a vase on the table next to the door. They were meant to be her wedding flowers.

"Lucas," Vic said.

"Hey, woah," he replied, not turning around. "I thought we said we'd see each other on the beach. It's bad luck to…"

"What are we doing?" She asked, feeling beaten down.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are we doing? Getting married is…it's crazy."

She could see his body tense, but he still didn't turn around.

"Victoria."

The way he said her name sent shockwaves through her body. He didn't phrase it as a question, but as a statement. His voice wasn't quavering as her was. He was as sure and determined as he ever was. It was one of the things that made Ripley such a good fire chief. When he made his mind up about something, that's all there was to it. He could be firm and gentle all at the same time. And he almost always got what he wanted. All it took was him saying her name and Vic felt like melting.

"I'm sorry," Vic whispered.

"If you're not ready, we don't have to do this," he said to her. "But I love you, Victoria."

"Are you ready?" She asked, her voice sounding small.

He nodded, but then realized his back was still to her. "I am. I know what I want, Victoria. I want you. But like I told you last night, I'll wait if that's what you want. I'll wait for as long as it takes to convince you that this is right."

"There are just so many things that we've never talked about."

"Like what?"

"Like…I don't know if I want to change my name. I like my name. It's who I am. It's who I've always been," Vic began. Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but she kept going. "And children. We've never discussed if we want children. I don't even know if I want children and I sure as hell don't know if you want children. And then there's the money. I don't want you paying for everything even though you make more money. Do we merge our finances or do we keep our money separate? And what about a house? Do you want a house? Do I want a house?" Vic threw her hands up in the air, frustrated. "Would you just turn around? I don't want to have this conversation with your back!"

Lucas backed himself up towards the sound of her voice. Without looking at her, he grabbed a blanket that was draped along the back of the couch. He handed it out to her.

"I'm not cold," she said.

"Hold it up in front of you so I can't see you."

"Are you serious? Lucas, I'm talking about our future and you're worried about seeing me in my wedding dress? A dress that I picked out yesterday, by the way. This isn't like a traditional wedding."

"You're right. It's not traditional. But please, Eggy? I know it's silly, but nothing about our relationship since day one has been traditional. Can you just give me this one thing? Please?"

Vic sighed. She grabbed the blanket and unfolded it. Grabbing the edges, she held it in front of her, creating a barrier between her and Lucas. The only thing visible to him would be her neck and head.

"Alright, fine," she said. "I'm covered."

Lucas turned around slowly. He smiled when he saw her.

"You're beautiful," he said, looking at her face. "I love your hair like that. So natural." He had to stop himself from reaching out and touching it.

"Aren't you worried?" She asked, ignoring his comments. "Aren't you worried that we're rushing into this?"

"No." He placed his hand on her cheek softly. "Eggy, I don't care if you change your last name. I mean, I'd be honored to share my name with you, but if you want to stay Victoria Hughes, then so be it. I fell in love with you as Victoria Hughes. That sure as hell isn't going to change. And do I want kids? Maybe. Can I see you being an amazing mom? Yes, I can. But if it's just the two of us, I'll be happy. And I don't care that I make more money than you and I don't care if we merge our finances. And I get that you want to pay your own way and be independent. I wouldn't dream of taking that away from you. And as far as where we're going to live. That bed in your apartment is pretty nice."

Vic smiled. "You do seem to like it there."

"Yeah, I do. And when the time is right and we decided we need a place of our own, we can apartment hunt or buy a house or live in a condo or live on a bench in the damn park for all I care. I just want to be with you, Victoria. Wherever that is. Whatever your name is or whoever might come along in our future. As long as I'm with you, nothing else matters."

Vic could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn't want to cry. Crying would ruin the minimal amount of makeup she had already applied.

"How do you always know how to say the right thing?"

"Because I love you. Because even though it's only been a short time since we've been dating, I know you. I know you better than you think I do. And I know we can make this work. So, if you're ready, I'd like to marry you, Victoria Hughes. Here. Today. In this paradise. Isn't that what you said to me recently?"

She nodded. "I did say that, didn't I?"

"Yeah. I think it was you convincing me just yesterday that this was right. That you and I are meant to be."

"You're right. I'm sorry for my…meltdown."

He shrugged. "I've gotten used to how your brain works. It's one of the many things I love about you."

He leaned in to kiss her, but Vic backed away.

"It's bad luck to kiss the bride before the wedding."

"Is it?" Ripley asked with a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smile. "Then let's go get married so I can kiss you properly."

"Ok."

"But I want to make sure that you're sure. I don't want to convince you of anything, Vic. I want you to know in your heart that this is right. I don't want you to get halfway down the aisle and…"

"We're on the beach," she interrupted. "There is no aisle."

Ripley laughed. "Damn, I really want to kiss you right now."

"Soon enough," she replied. "And yes, I know in my heart that this is what I want. You don't have to worry about that."

"That is very good to hear." He looked into her eyes and Vic could feel his love. "Alright, so, I'll see you in a minute then, yes?"

"Yes," she answered.

With that, Ripley turned and left the bungalow. Vic lowered the blanket and tossed it back on the couch. She made her way back upstairs to get the last item she needed. Then she went into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She adjusted a clip in her hair and examined her reflection. She did look pretty great. And after their talk, she felt ready. Vic took inhaled and exhaled slowly.

When Ripley saw Vic just a few moments later walking towards him, he had to stop himself from audibly gasping. Although he had just seen and talked to her, seeing her walk down the sandy beach barefoot towards him in her white, flowing gown made every other outfit she had ever worn pale in comparison, including the sexy red dress. Her gown was made of silk and it flowed off her body like a goddess. A short veil was clipped into her hair, the lacy fabric blowing behind her in the slight wind. She was carrying the bouquet of bright pinks and oranges. Ripley standing in front of an arbor decorated with the same flowers as her bouquet. When she got to Ripley, she could see he had attached a white flower to his suit. It matched the one she had in her hair. There was a man standing next to Ripley, holding open a booklet. He was obviously the one who was going to marry them. But Vic paid him no mind. Instead, she focused on Ripley. Even though she had seen him in his suit back in the bungalow, seeing him standing in front of the ocean, his naked toes in the sand, his gorgeous head of hair blowing in the breeze, and the look on his face as he watched her walk towards him, he was better looking than ever.

"You are so beautiful," he said to her as she approached him.

"And you're quite handsome yourself," Vic replied.

"Shall we begin?" The man asked.

Ripley took Vic's hand. "Yes. I don't want to wait another minute to marry this woman."

The next day, Victoria stared at the two rings on her left ring finger. She couldn't believe that she was a married woman. Ripley took her hand and squeezed it.

"Are you nervous?" He asked.

"I'm a little worried about Travis's reaction," she answered. "I'm sure everyone will be…"

"Surprised."

"That's an understatement."

Ripley put his foot on the gas as the red light they were waiting at turned green. Within a minute, they would be at Station 19. Vic's shift was set to start in just ten minutes. They had returned from Hawaii the night before. They had spent the night at Vic's apartment, in Vic's bed, doing what they did best. As Vic woke up in the morning, wrapped in her husband's arm, she thought about everything that had transpired. The wedding ceremony had been short and sweet, but Vic wouldn't have changed it for the world. After they were officially married, they walked along the beach a little ways to one of the beachside bars. They drank and ate and danced to a DJ who was playing music. Other people from the resort joined them and eventually they had a full-blown party on the beach. Neither Vic nor Ripley knew any of the people there, but it was like they had their own little reception. Before too long, however, it was time to catch their flight home. Victoria returned her wedding dress to the shop she had rented it from, as did Ripley with his suit. As they dragged their luggage through the airport, they both knew that to everyone else around them, they looked like a typical traveling couple, returning home from a vacation. But to them it felt different. To them it felt right. Vic couldn't stop smiling.

Vic slept most of the plane ride home on Ripley's shoulder. It felt good being able to sit together and knowing that even if they did run into someone they knew, it wouldn't matter. They were married. They weren't breaking protocol anymore. Vic had practically collapsed in her bed when they got back to her apartment. But as Ripley started peeling off her clothes one article at a time, she perked up and they made love twice before they both succumbed to sleep. When Vic awoke that morning, she was saddened to realize that their secret vacation was actually over and that she had to report to work. But then Ripley reminded her that their secret vacation no longer had to be a secret and Vic became a little excited.

Ripley turned his car into the driveway of Station 19, being sure to not park in front of one of the firetrucks or aid cars. After all, there was no telling when an emergency could happen.

"You ready?" He asked.

She nodded. "Let's do this."

They each got out of the car. Vic led the way into the firehouse. They debated on going in holding hands, but thought that might be too much. They needed to announce their news first. Ripley waited out by one of the firetrucks while Vic walked into the kitchen. She was glad to see that everyone was sitting down to breakfast. Upon seeing Vic, Travis jumped up and was the first to give her a big hug. As each member of her fire station family hugged her, Vic did her best of hiding her left hand. They asked her about her trip and Vic told them she had a good time. She asked about how everything had been at Station 19 and she was glad to hear that nothing outrageous had happened while she was gone.

"Come on," Travis said when everyone was done with their initial greetings. "Let's have some breakfast."

"Actually, there's something I want to tell you," Vic said. "Or show you. Or tell you and show you."

"What's going on?" Maya asked.

"Just…come with me," Vic said, trying to hold back a smile. "And could someone get the Captain?"

Taking a calming breath, Vic walked back out of the room and towards the firetrucks where she knew Ripley was waiting. The rest of the group followed her, whispering amongst themselves. Sullivan had seen the mass exodus and popped his head out of his office.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Vic wants to tell us something. Or show us something. I'm not sure which. I'm not sure she knows which," Andy answered.

When everyone else saw Ripley standing in front of the ladder truck, Travis eyed Vic.

"What is going on?" He whispered.

Vic walked over to Ripley. Everyone else gathered around, enclosing them in a semi-circle.

"Chief?" Sullivan questioned.

"Lucas and I have some news," Vic stated.

"Did she call the chief Lucas?" Dean whispered to Jack.

"I didn't just go on vacation by myself," Vic explained. Her palms were beginning to sweat. She didn't think telling her friends the truth about her and Ripley would be so stressful, but she wasn't sure how they would react. She knew Travis might be a little angry that he wasn't invited to their wedding. And she was pretty sure the others might be mad about the fact that they didn't even know she and Lucas were dating in the first place. But it was time to come clean.

"She went on vacation with me," Ripley continued. "We went on vacation together."

"Wait, I don't understand. You went on vacation…" Andy began.

"Together?" Dean finished.

Vic could see on everyone's faces, except Travis and Jack, that they were trying to make sense of what Vic was saying.

"We've been dating for a little while now," Vic explained, her words coming out quickly. "I kept it from most of you because our relationship was against the rules."

"From most of us?" Maya asked. "Who knew?"

She looked around, as did everyone else. Travis looked away sheepishly. Jack did the same.

"You knew?" Andy practically yelled at Jack. "How come you knew, but I didn't? I thought all us girls were supposed to stick together?"

"Jack found out by accident," Vic explained.

"Trust me," Jack said. "It would have been easier if I didn't know."

"And we appreciate your discretion," Ripley stepped in. "All of your discretion." He looked at Sullivan as he said the last part.

"There's sort of more to the story, though," Vic stated.

She took her left hand out from behind her back. "While we were away in Hawaii, we sort of..."

"You got engaged?" Travis exclaimed, cutting her off. "Let me see the ring!"

Vic held her hand out and Travis looked at her rings.

"Wait, there's two rings here," Maya said, examining her finger along with Travis.

"We also sort of got married," Vic responded in a hurried tone.

"Wait…what?!" Travis replied.

"You got married?" Andy asked.

"Congratulations!" Dean said.

Immediately Vic and Ripley were peppered with questions. It took Vic some time to convince Travis that he could still help them plan a party in Seattle and that she did wish he had been there. They told the story of the fire on the boat and their small wedding ceremony and everything else in between, except for the lurid details of their time spent in the bedroom of their bungalow. By the time they were done, everyone was hugging and handing out their congratulations. And Vic, again, couldn't stop smiling.

"I think this calls for a drink after shift," Jack announced when they had all filed back in to the kitchen to finish their breakfast. Ripley sat beside Vic, their fingers entwined. He looked at her and she looked back him. He leaned over and kissed her briefly.

"It feels good to do that out in the open," Ripley said.

Before the others could respond with teasing and shouts of delight, the alarm sounded.

"You can sit this one out if you want," Sullivan said to Vic. "I'll even give you the day off to celebrate."

"No thanks, captain," Vic replied. As enticing as it sounded to spend another whole day with Ripley, she was ready for life to go back to normal. Or, at least as normal as life could be as a newlywed. "I'm ready to get back to work."

As the others rose from the table and hurried to get ready, Vic crawled onto Ripley's lap and kissed him hard on the mouth.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For making this the best secret vacation ever."

"Well, the good news is we never have to go on another secret vacation again," Ripley reminded her.

"Oh, that's too bad. I kind of liked being a secret. It was sexy."

He laughed. "You better go before they leave you behind." Vic slipped off his lap. "Be careful out there."

"Always. I love you."

"I love you, too," Ripley called as Vic left to do her job. A job they both loved. And now they could love it together, out in the open, and not in secret.

Author's Note: That's it! That's all she wrote…literally. I hope no one is too disappointed that I didn't write about the actual wedding ceremony. Despite the fact that I've been in 6 weddings, I don't really like writing wedding scenes. I think it feels like too much pressure to get it right. Anyway, a huge thank you to everyone who has been following this story and leaving such positive comments. When I first started writing this story, it was to heal my broken heart after what happened on Station 19. I hope maybe I helped a few others heal as well. I do have an idea (or two) floating in my head for another Vicley story. But if I do write anything, it won't be published for a while. But definitely stay tuned if you're interested. Thanks again!