Be My Wife, Be My Family

Everyone had arrived and was waiting on Sam and the other women. Alex sat in his tuxedo playing with his Game Boy, patiently waiting to be told what was going on. The guests list was small and included just their closest friends and some of their colleagues from the hospital. Luka's father was there too – a last minute gesture from Carter. Josko Kovac was away with Luka's brother looking at orchards he was thinking of purchasing and was not able to attend. In light of that, Luka decided that it would be easier if he had Sam and Alex meet him after everything took place, however Carter, in true Carter fashion, tracked down the senior Kovac and arranged for Luka's ex-colleague and friend, Gordana, to accompany him to Chicago.
At last, the limo arrived and the four women made their way to the house. Sam was in awe. The driveway was beautifully lit and the house was impressive. It was an older stone house in a part of Chicago she had never set foot. It was indeed majestic. To her surprise, she recognized several people as she made her way up the driveway to the front door. Pretty much every one of the nurses she worked with was there, all dressed to the nines; all with huge smiles on their faces.

"Guys, what's going on?" she muttered to Deb, Susan and Abby.

"Patience, Sam. You'll see," said Susan while the others just giggled. Sam said hello to everyone she knew from work and to the five friends, (all moms and dads from Alex's school) she had in the whole city. Her stomach tied in knots; she nearly fell over when Carter opened the door to reveal Luka, Alex and an older gentleman who very much looked like he would be Luka's father, standing in the hallway, all dressed handsomely in tuxedos.

"What's going on?" she asked, in a barely audible voice.

"That's what I'd like to know," grimaced Alex, fiddling with the Game Boy that Luka gently took away.

"Come, sweetheart," he extended his hand to hers and she accepted. He led her to the living room filled with chairs where the guests had now gathered. All eyes were on Luka and Sam and she was speechless.

"Please ... Everyone, make yourselves comfortable. I'm so glad you could make it this evening. I have a lot to be grateful for and I wanted to celebrate with our friends. First I'd like to welcome my father. I also want to thank my friend, John Carter. Thanks to Greg, Deb, Elizabeth, Kerry, Susan and Abby for helping me get well again and for their help in planning this evening," Luka paused for a bit then said, "I'm so grateful to be able to stand here, before you. I've learned a lot of lessons over the years and I've learned that I'm very good at wasting time. I've been given a lot of chances to change my life and I figured I'd better take this one before I don't get any others. I'm very lucky to be alive and I'm very lucky to have Sam and Alex in my life," Turning to Sam and Alex he opened his arms to them and they joined him.

"Luka, what's going on?" whispered Sam.

"Sam ... Alex ...You make me happy and you make everything about my life now, feel right. I can't get down on my knee as I would have liked but I just wanted your permission to place this ring on your finger and ask you to marry me,"

Sam was speechless at first then through the tears she whispered, "W-What? Luka ... Of course ... Yes ...Yes," She stretched out her trembling hand and he placed the engagement ring on her finger. It was a platinum band with ruby insets with a four carat diamond on a high mount. It was exquisite.

"Now, Alex, your Mom has said yes, so I'd like to know if you would let me be your Dad?" Too overcome to speak, Alex nodded and hugged Luka tightly.

"I can't believe this is happening ... to me. I love you so much. I can't wait to marry you,"

"Well, that's good because Father McNally is expecting us in an hour at St. Paul's ... so if you're not too busy tonight, Would you like to get married?"

"Right now? Luka ... I ... ah ...Well ... What the heck? It's all been pretty crazy so far so ... yes. Let's get married tonight!"

"Then you'd better come with us," said Deb "You have your choice of three dresses. They're up in your new room,"

"What? Did you just say my new room?"

"She did. This is our new home. Do you like it?

Like it? Luka ... I love it! Is it really? I mean ... it's ... ours?

"It's really ours,"he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her forehead.

"I'm really glad she said 'yes'" he told everyone. "It would have been an expensive let-down,"

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Everyone had gathered at St. Paul's for the ceremony.

Sam went with Susan, Abby and Deb with Luka admiring the glow on her face while he hugged his soon to be son.

"Alex, why don't you go with them and wait for your mom? I think it would be great if you would take her by the arm and walk her down the aisle," Luka told him.

Alex smiled then he rushed into Luka and hugged him tight. He tried not to cry but he was too overwhelmed.

"Hey, it's okay. I know I sprung a lot on you guys but I'm so glad I did. Are you happy Alex?" he asked him, stroking his hair.

Alex pulled away and wiped his tears. "Thank you for making us a family,"

"You're welcome. Now, let me see you," Luka straightened Alex's tie and adjusted his jacket. "Okay, there. You look fantastic. Now go wait for mom, then bring her to me,"

Alex ran to find his mother and while they waited, Carter pulled Luka aside.

"I ah ... did a little snooping yesterday and I found something I thought would help you through the ceremony tonight," Carter produced two shrunken copies of two pictures dear to Luka. One was a picture of his late wife and children and the other a picture of him with Alex and Sam on their camping trip on Alex's birthday. Carter placed them in Luka's breast pocket.

"Keep them close to your heart," he said.

"Thank you," said Luka, his eyes glassing over a bit. "This means a lot,"

Abby appeared at the doors of the church, signifying they were ready to begin. Father McNally, Luka and Carter took their places and watched as Abby made her way towards them. They looked at each other then again at Abby and grinned. So much water under the bridge among the three of them but now everything was different and they were all good friends. Next was Susan, escorted by Luka's dad and then Deb and Greg. The music changed and everyone stood up and turned to see Sam on the arm of her son making her way towards her soon to be husband. She chose a champagne colored dress with a wide neckline and fitted to the hips with a flowing skirt. Her bouquet was made of the same lilies that decorated the gazebo. She was stunning. Fighting back tears she gazed into Luka's eyes as he did the same; both their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" asked father McNally.

"I do," said Alex with a wide grin.

"Take each other's hands and repeat after me,"

The vows were simple and for a few moments they saw no one else but each other. All they could hear were each other's voices.

"By the power invested in me and by the state of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Luka, you may kiss your bride,"

The kiss was short and sweet and they both reached out and hugged Alex. Then Father McNally spoke again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce for the first time as a family, Samantha, Alex and Luka Kovac,"

Everyone cheered, dabbed their eyes and wished them well. It was the most perfect sights, witnessing these three souls find each other, love and happiness.

Luka and John invited everyone to the back to the house where, in the back yard were lanterns hanging from the trees and chairs and tables set on the lawn. There was a gazebo decorated with lights and lilies. This warm Chicago night was perfect for a back yard reception. There was dancing, good food, handshakes and congratulations and ooh's and ahh's over the rings and the house. The toasts were joyous and some were moving with Luka's father summed up the evening the best,

"Luka, Samantha, Alex. I am proud and happy at this moment. I always wanted my son to find happiness again. I feared for a long time that you wouldn't and I am so happy that I was wrong. I think somewhere in heaven the angels came together and planned this day. God's blessings on all of you,"

By 2 am everyone was gone and the little family had the place to themselves. They found Alex asleep in the den, his head on Luka's father's lap. Luka's dad was reading, unable to get adjusted to the time difference.

"Hey buddy, wake up," said Luka. "The party's over. Do you want to see the house?"

"Sure," yawned the little boy.

Luka put him on his shoulders.

"Should you be doing that?" Sam looked concerned.

"Funny thing about the human body ... it heals!" he prodded her. Seeing 'the look" he got he backed down. "Hon, I'm fine," Sam said nothing but she was more at ease.

"Tata, you coming?" asked Alex. Luka was pleasantly surprised to hear Alex refer to his dad as 'Tata'.

"No Alex, you go with your mama and your dad, I want you to show me everything tomorrow,"

Alex agreed and Luka started the tour. They covered the ground floor and went out to the back yard again, then around to the front to the garage.

"So, everything that's in here can be changed if you don't like it. The décor, anything and everything,"

"Are you kidding, I've never had stuff this great before. I love it all!" said Sam.

"Oh, before I forget ... Alex, go push that button and open the garage door.

When the door opened two vehicles were revealed. Luka's SUV and a red Accord.

Reaching onto a shelf he took down some keys and gave them to Sam.

"I know you don't like big cars. With this one, there's enough space for stuff without it being overwhelming,"

"This is mine?"

"You like it?"

"I ... This ... This is my car?"

"Yes. If you and I are on different shifts, you don't want to get stuck waiting for me and it's a long way if you had to take public transportation,"

"Luka, you've given me so much ...and I didn't get anything for you ...I..."

"You've given me back a missing part of me ... a life. I can never thank you enough for that. Now, do you like the car?"

"I do. Thank you,"

"Okay already, she likes the car. I want to see the rest of the place," Alex whined.

They took him up to the second floor and showed him the rooms there.

"Which room do you want?" asked Luka

"Not the one next door to yours, that's for sure,"

"Well, I don't know if I want your loud music on this floor anyway and you can't live in the rec room,"

"Why not?"

"Because that is for everyone,"

"We could move that gym stuff and I could sleep there,"

"No, I don't want you to ... besides I have an even better idea,"

Luka took them to the end of the hall and opened a door there that revealed some stairs.

"Go on up," he urged Alex. Alex did and then they heard it.

"Holy crap! Mom, mom, mom, you have to see this! I have an attic room with a balcony and a rope swing! Mom! A rope swing!"

"Sam could not believe the effort that Luka put into the whole house much less for Alex's room. She decided that Alex needed to go to bed right at that moment so that she could thank Luka in their new room.

With Alex snugly tucked into his new bed, Sam decided it was time to properly thank her husband. "Husband" she thought. It made her smile. Lying on the bed she watched him as he undressed. Luka never looked better. He looked great before the accident but with all the rehab and his mission to take better care of himself and become stronger and heal faster had him in the gym 14 hours a week and it really showed. Being tall, he wasn't bulky but very well defined and strong ... and man, could he keep a tan! She watched as he walked over to the closet. Who would have thought a year ago he'd even be alive, much less standing or walking. He only wore his leg brace if he was working out or playing some sport and unless you saw the scar on his leg or stared at him long enough as he walked you wouldn't know he was so badly injured. Looking him walk around the room she could see the tiny give in his step that indicated that there was still some healing to be done. It ached a little knowing how he got that and how hard he had to work to rehabilitate himself so well.

"Mrs. Kovac, you are way too dressed," he said as he lay beside her.

"You're still dressed, Dr. Kovac,"

"I'm in my underwear .... Now as much as you look stunningly beautiful in this dress, I know you'd look even better out of it," he said, as he undid the buttons.

"So we should have just gotten married in the nude,"

"We'll renew our vows in the nude. How's that?"

"Kinky. But wouldn't we be old?" she laughed and he rolled her onto him and pulled her hair away from her face.

"Age is just a number ... God, I could stare at you forever,"

"Ah ... CLEARLY, you can't. So, let's see what you're made of ..."

The kiss turned into caressing with Luka making his way slowly and passionately about her body. He kissed and caressed her breasts, her tight belly her, thighs, her calves. He pleased her over and over again until she felt she had nothing more she could experience then he began again, watching every intense sensation, every pleasurable moment she had. As she took him in, all he could think about was that she was his and this night was real and the next day and for days to come she would wake beside him, love him, make decisions with him in their home, in this life.

"I thought I had the best of you before, but tonight ... tonight was ... it was ... God, I can't even describe how I feel,"

"Wait until we get to Nassau. I have a lot more to give you then. But right now, I'm going to sleep,"

"Um hmm....wait... Nassau? What's in Nassau?"

"Two hotel rooms, a beach and lots of activities for ten year olds who have newly wed parents,"

"Luka, we're going to Nassau?"

"Ummhmm...goodnight,"

"When?"

"In two weeks ... I want to install a better security system before we go ... Keep all the Steve's out ....Goodnight,"

"What can I do to show you that you've totally made my life?" she asked stroking her fingers along his shoulder.

"Stop talking ....sleep,"

"No really ... I want to give you something,"

"I need sleep ...."

"No, seriously..."

"Seriously? ... Sleep,"

"How about we start working on filling up those two rooms next door?"

"I'm too tired and I had a lot to drink at the party...they'd come out with gills,"

"Not now .... Besides, I'm on the pill,"

"Then give me your best shot in Nassau...but now, please give me the chance to sleep or I'll drive you back to the loft myself!"

"Okay," she whispered. "Nassau then ..."