A few more chapters to come before I wrap it up and present you with the alternate ending. Enjoy!

Jack eagerly stayed with Grace and Aaron as I left with Lauren to go to Johns office. Lauren was still quiet and tentative. I knew she was going through the same adjustment I had when I finally came home from the war. I looked over at her, reaching for her hand, "Are you okay?"

Lauren smiled weakly, nodding, "Yes." She took a steady breath, "It's the first day I have been home, no sand, no heat, no..."

I interrupted her, "I know, you don't have to tell me." Lauren glanced over at me, "I owe you a lifetime of apologizes for being such a hardass to you when you first walked into my office, I had no idea."

I smiled, "No one really does until they have been in it." I held her hand, "You are home now, and if you want to talk." I left it at that, I knew trying to over compensate and being too compassionate would just irritate the lingering on edge feeling I knew she was carrying.

Lauren smiled and turned back to the road, "I want nothing more to sleep a whole night with you in my arms, Bo."

John's office was the same one in the middle of London that I remembered going to with Grace as a little girl. Pushed into an ancient building turned into offices, the large stone walls provided with a thick, cool silence as you entered, shutting off the hustle and bustle of the city outside. Lauren stood off to my right, her fingers linked in mine, since the large cast she had prevented our hands coming together completely. I was smiling to myself as I walked up to the front desk, the young man behind the desk smiled at Lauren asking if she had an appointment, Lauren filled in the young man as I walked away from her to look down the hallway. I heard John's voice as he sat in his office, mingling with a younger woman's voice, they were in a mildly heated conversation.

I overheard the young man ask me if I had an appointment, I turned to him and shook my head, "No, I don't. The young man and smiled as he called john, "Ma'am, there is a sitting area if you would like to wait until your friend is done with her meeting."

I nodded and smiled at Lauren who moved to stand next to me, "Well, friend. I can wait out here for you, I will setup my appointment to see John."

Lauren smirked, "Don't you technically own this legal office? These are your family lawyers, right?"

I shrugged, "Grace owns the building, I am the eventual heir to this building and the contents." I looked at the young man taking phone calls, "I am not one to throw my weight around."

I heard the soft clap of John's shoes as he came out into the front area, smiling as he held his hand out to Lauren, "Ms. Lewis! Welcome home! I have everything set up in the conference room." he took Laurens hand and gave her a slight hug, then looked at me, "Bo! Why are you waiting out here? You could have sat in my office." he looked back at the young man, "Why do you have Ms. McCorrigan sitting out here?" his tone was gentle as the kids face turned a whiter shade of pale. He stammered as he tried to remedy is mistake, I smiled and waved off the young man, "It's no trouble, I should have made an appointment." I batted my eyelashes at John, "But I do kind of want to take a look at some of the files I left neglected when I left New York for the Navy."

John laughed, "If you let me take care of Ms. Lewis here, we can certainly get to work on those files, make your Aunt happy you are finally taking care of the will and inheritance." John took my hand, "Feel free to wait in my office, Bo." he put a hand on Lauren's back, "This way Ms. Lewis, your former counsel is already waiting."

I looked at Lauren as I felt her physically tense up, the dynamic in the air changed with her. I gave her a reassuring smile as John walked us to the conference room. I stood outside the door as Lauren walked in. The same brunette I had seen in her office before we both left for New York, stood up suddenly from her chair and rushed to Lauren. "Lauren! Oh my god." she looked at the cast on Laurens arm. "Are you okay? What happened."

Lauren took a slight step back, trying to move away from the woman's touch, "I am fine, Audrey." Audrey shook her head, "You don't look fine. What happened? I also don't understand why I am in this office."

Lauren clenched her jaw, "I told you when I called you, that I am removing you as my lawyer." she motioned to John, "He is my new lawyer."

Audrey opened her mouth, visibly irritated, "Really? And how are you intending to pay for this level of legal representation."

Lauren sighed and moved past Audrey to sit down, "I am not going to fight with you, Audrey. I want to get this done and over with and home to Jack."

Audrey folded her arms and turned to Lauren. I felt John pat me on the back, "This way Bo." he looked up at the two women in the conference room, "This may take a bit, Audrey is young, emotional and has been picking at the reasons why I am the new counsel."

I took a breath, "Thank you for doing this, John." John winked, "Anything for your family." We both went to take steps to move to the office in the back of the building when I heard Audrey raise her voice, making me stop in mid step.

"Lauren, where has Jack been staying? I was listed as his guardian and I find out that, that was also changed. Who hired this new lawyer for you? How are you paying for it and why are you doing this too me?"

Lauren sighed, keeping her voice low, "Audrey, Jack is being taken care of. I am doing nothing too you, we broke up a long time ago and life moves on. You should understand that."

Audrey raised her voice a bit more, "No, I don't Lauren, I still love you and who is that woman you came in with?"

"Her name is Bo, and she is my girlfriend." Laurens voice was firm and emotionless.

I heard Audrey, push out a irritated laugh, "Your girlfriend? I get it now, she is the one pushing you away from me. Am I right? I can't believe you brought her here to this."

My temper flickered, I walked quickly to the conference room, surprising both Lauren and Audrey. "She didn't bring me here, I asked to come." Audrey turned to look at me, her eyes full of spite that I was the one taking the attention away from her. "I am not pushing Lauren to do anything, that is all you."

Audrey folded her arms, "You don't even know me, so don't you dare begin to assume anything." Her voice was dripping with hate and anger.

It came out hard as I said it, trying to hold back from yelling, "No I don't know you, all I know is you are the inexperienced lawyer who fucked up a lot of things up for Lauren, lost her her son and pushed Lauren in to a war. A war I chased her too, because I love her more than my own life. I am the one who fought harder than you did for Lauren and her son, I almost died for that woman. So, no I will not assume anything about you, but I will not allow you to take out your frustration of your own mistakes on her." I pointed at Audrey, "Do you what you have to do here, and leave before I get angry." I looked at Lauren who was trying to hide a smile. I glanced at a very red faced, embarrassed Audrey.

John broke the awkward silence that fell around the room, "Bo." I broke my stare of Audrey and walked past john and into his office. My temper was still at a high, I was two seconds away from punching the woman in the face. I looked at john as I sat on the large leather couch, "Sorry about that, I have a little residual anger for that woman." I leaned forward on my knees, "I promise I will stay back here and behave until you are done."

John smiled and tried not to laugh, "Just make sure you invite me to the wedding, Bo." he winked at me as he left me sitting on the leather chair. I heaved a huge sigh as I laid back on the couch, fascinated by the desire all of the men in my life had for me marrying Lauren.

I could only sit for a few minutes before I called the young man at the front desk to bring me the files John had set aside, I was curious as to dig through what I left so many years ago. I was handed a large stack of files and folders. I sat back down on the couch and looked over the legal documents, it was Grace's will and my basic inheritance paperwork. I was truly the heir to the McCorrigan fortune, the liquor company assets, the manor and a large percentage of the horse breeding business. Grace had set it up that at the age of thirty five, the assets would begin to trickle down into my hands. I flipped through the pages, catching spots and provisions that would be filled in as I married. There were small notes I had made back when I was dating Dyson. Dyson would have been filled in had Grace not interjected when I joined the Navy. I stared at the paperwork, after a few moments I stood up and grabbed the white out. I covered up Dysons name and notes and wrote new notes, replacing Dyson with Lauren Lewis. Regardless if I married her or not, I wanted her to be taken care of as well as Jack. Even if our relationship dwindled and fell apart, I owed her at least that much. I scribbled notes for John as I went through the rest of the paperwork. An hour and half passed by, when I heard John knock on the door as he entered, Lauren was behind him.

I closed the last file I had and set it aside, "I went through and made notes and changes, John." I stood up and smoothed out my shirt as the sight of Lauren made me nervous. John picked up the files and set them on his desk, "Perfect, I will take a look at them later. Anything you want to discuss?"

I shook my head, keeping my eyes on Lauren as she looked tired taking a seat on the couch, "Nope, I made changes to the spousal provisions and added one more." I glanced at John, "Based on your advice earlier." John smiled wide as he knew what I was talking about. I sat down next to Lauren, "I think I should apologize for my outburst...it's that temper."

Lauren smiled, "Don't apologize, Audrey has been blind to the fact our relationship was over a long time ago. You opened her eyes."

In the instant our eyes met, I finally understood what Aaron, John and Jack were hinting at. There would never be anyone else. In that instant I knew I wanted to marry her. Lauren smiled wider as she caught me staring at her, John cleared his throat walking over to me. He handed me a thick envelope, "This is from the USN and the Royal Navy. It came while you were in Germany."

I broke away from Lauren, taking the envelope. "What is it?" John shrugged, "Not my place to open it. It is addressed to you." I opened the envelope and say that it was my formal commendation paperwork from the United States Navy as well as the Royal Navy. I read over the formal paragraph describing my actions on that day. I was to be awarded with my second purple heart and second Navy Cross from the USN and the Royal Navy was awarding me with a Distinguished Service Cross. There was short personal note from Admiral Williams. Informing me that in a months time, a formal ceremony would be held to award me the commendations. I sighed as I folded the papers back up, tossing them on to the table in front of me.

Lauren reached over and picked them up, reading over them quickly, she smiled, "Are you going to need a date to this ceremony? I might be available."

I looked at her, smiling, "I don't think I am going, I never went to the first one and I really don't want to go to this one. It's just more metal to carry around."

Lauren lowered the one sheet in her hand, "Fair enough, but will you be my date? I have this ceremony to attend for saving this feisty brunette American Lieutenant." She handed the sheets back to me, "So?"

I furrowed my brow, "Only if you promise me one thing, Commander."

Lauren nodded lightly. I grabbed her hand, "Neither of us go back." I looked in her eyes hard, it had more meaning than one for the both of us. Lauren looked at my hand in hers, whispering, "It will be the one promise I keep forever."

One Month Later-

Aaron and Jack were sitting on the bed, watching as I pulled on my dress uniform. I was finishing up the last final details before Lauren and I headed to the awards ceremony at the hospital. We both had yet to return to work at the hospital, I had a few more weeks to go and Lauren was working from the manor. She and Jack had moved in a few days after she came home from the desert. Jack was ecstatic that he was staying with us, he had grown very attached to Grace and Grace had taken him as her own.

Lauren was nervous for a few days, staying in the extra room until one night she crawled into my bed in the middle of the night. Shaking and scared from a bad dream she had, one she would not tell me about, but I knew it was similar to the many bad dreams I had and continued to have here and there. After that night, she never went back to the extra room.

I fidgeted with my buttons as I turned to look at Aaron, asking for his opinion of how my uniform fit now that I was free of the bulky bandages that had covered most of my upper half. I now had small pieces of gauze to keep the wound and my uniform clean. Aaron and jack nodded in approval. "Looking good Bo!" I smiled as I looked him up and down in his own dress uniform, "Not as good as you, you should wear that thing all the time." Aaron smirked as he stood up to fix my collar, "I wear it only for you, Bo." he glanced and caught sight of the small black box sitting next to my hat. He smiled wide, "Is that it?"

I glanced at the box, reaching for it and handing it to him, "It is, I picked it up from the jewelers this morning." Aaron sat back down next to Jack, who climbed up to look at the box as Aaron opened it. Aaron's smile widened when he saw it, "Holy sparkle Bo." Jack leaned and looked at the ring on the inside, "Is that for mummy?"

I leaned against my dresser, "It is. I am going to ask your mummy to marry me, is that okay with you?" I knew it was important to have Jack's approval.

Jack nodded eagerly as he bounced in his spot, "Yep!" he looked back at the ring, "Its sparkly."

Aaron closed the box and handed it back to me, "About time you did this, you two have been living in sin for too long." he laughed at the dirty look I shot him, "Where did you find a ring like that? I have never seen one in any of the shops around here."

I opened the box, looking at the vintage square cut diamond set into a wide band, cradled by two rubies also set into a old platinum band. "It was my mother's engagement ring. Grace gave it to me years ago when she felt I was responsible enough to have it and thought I was going to marry Dyson. Dyson had intentions of pulling the stones out and making a hybrid engagement ring for when he finally proposed to me." I stared at the diamonds, "I am glad I didn't do that, this ring is far too perfect and is everything I have of my parents." I closed the box slowly, "It also describes how I feel about Lauren."

Aaron made a soft aw sound, I stuck my tongue out at him as I dropped the box into my pocket. "When are you going to ask her?"

I reached for my hat, "Tonight, after the ceremony." I dropped my hat onto Jack's head making him giggle, "Before I talk to your dad about my future with the Navy." I slid into my jacket, and turned as I heard footsteps coming towards the room. I pointed at both boys, "Don't say a peep." Aaron and Jack nodded in unison as Lauren came into the room.

Jack rolled off the bed and ran to his mother, her cast barely fit into her dress uniform as she smiled, "Are you ready? The car is here."

I finished the last buttons on my jacket as Aaron slid his arm into mine, "Yes we are Commander." Aaron held out his other arm for Lauren to take as she held onto her sons hand. We met Grace at the door, wearing an elegant dress. She bent down to fix Jacks little tie and help him into his tiny jacket as Kenzi ran out of the kitchen, half eating a sandwich. I laughed at the sight of my best friend wearing the most expensive red dress I had ever seen in my life, chomping on a ham sandwich like it was the first meal she had in days, "Careful Kenzi, I would hate for you to choke on that thing. You know they are serving dinner after the ceremony, right?" My heart was smiling as much as I was, my entire family had eagerly signed up to come to this ceremony the moment I told Grace, filling the empty spaces in my heart completely, I wondered why I had ran from them all in the first place.

Kenzi nodded and through a mouthful of food, "It is the only reason I am attending, but a girl has got to eat. I haven't eaten since lunch and my stomach was starting to collapse." Kenzi looked at Jack, "Looking handsome there Jackson."

Jack walked over and high fived Kenzi as she finished off her sandwich and took his hand, "We call shotgun!" Kenzi giggled with Jack as they trotted out to the car. Aaron let Lauren and I go, taking Grace's hand as he escorted her to the car. I looked over Lauren, sliding my arms around her waist, pulling her close to me, "Well Commander Lewis, how do you feel about sneaking off with me for a minute or two before dinner?"

Lauren smirked at me, "I was hoping we could have dessert at home, Lieutenant Commander Dennis." She kissed me softly on the lips, the softness of her lips against mine sent small lighting bolts through my body. Although we had slept in the same bed night after night, we had yet to touch each other skin to skin since we both came home. Our bodies were still healing, and we were both getting adjusted to living with each other and living in peace. I smiled into the kiss, "Oh I definitely intend to have dessert on you later." I pulled back, "But maybe we can make out a little in the back halls of the hospital, its been a strange fantasy of mine since that first kiss with you on the fire escape."

Lauren bit her lip, I could feel her flush in my arms. "Before dinner?"

I nodded as I slid my hand into hers, pulling her with me as I walked to the car, I teased her, "Not a minute sooner." I heard Lauren groan as she walked after me, her fingers squeezing mine in anticipation.

Lauren and I sat next to each other as Admiral Williams and Colonel Windsor began the ceremony, highlight both Lauren and i's careers. Lauren became visibly upset as Admiral Williams went over the events of that day and how I selflessly jumped onto the helicopter, saving the lives of the three soldiers and how I ran back for Lauren. I placed my hand on her back as the Admiral went into the details of how Lauren risked her own safety to perform the necessary surgery that had saved my life.

Admiral Williams looked at us, "These two women are a shining example of how sacrifices often come from the selfless. These two women are the bravest, strongest, and the most brilliant doctors I have ever had the pleasure to come across." he motioned to us, "Ladies, if you will please stand up."

A large round of applause echoed from the room of officers, politicians, hospital staff and media that had been invited to be party to this unique story of heroics. I dropped my hand to the small of Laurens back as she received her award from Colonel Windsor and Admiral Williams. I then took my turn as Admiral Williams pinned my newest medal on me, he shook my hand as well as Laurens. We took pictures and were congratulated by many of the staff and Colonel Windsor. After the ceremony, Lauren was pulled away by Colonel Windsor to meet with some of the higher ranking officers that were in attendance. I was pulled away by Admiral Williams for the same reason. A few minutes of obligatory congratulations, Admiral Williams escorted me over to the table where the family was. He held my arm in his, "Bo, have you made a decision about your future? With the Navy?"

I took a deep breath, "Can you give me until the end of the night? I have to do something first." I glanced over at Lauren, catching her eyes as she was stuck in the middle of doctors, she smiled at me and nodded that she would be over in a minute.

Admiral Williams patted my arm, "May I ask what that is?"

I looked up at him, smiling, "I am going to ask that doctor over there to marry me in about ten minutes, me staying in the Navy is not just my decision anymore, Admiral."

The smile that spilled across his face looked exactly like the wide grin Aaron was giving me from the table, the admiral turned and held me at arm's length, "Then don't let me hold you up a minute longer, Bo." he looked over at Lauren, "Go and start your life."

I half saluted at him, then kissed him on the cheek, a bold statement in a room full of military officers, but I didn't care. "Yes sir." I took quick steps over to Lauren, interrupting the crowd around her, "Excuse me gentleman, but I need to steal Commander Lewis away for a moment. We have a few more pictures to sit through."

Lauren tried to hide her smile as the crowd dispersed to allow her to come with me. We walked through the mass of people in the conference room and out into the hallways of the hospital. As soon as we were free from many sets of eyes, I reached back and took her hand in mine. I walked through hallways and up stairs until I pushed open the fire escape door, opening up the night sky and air to us. It was the same fire escape Lauren first kissed me. The city around us was lit up, looking like strange star constellations on the ground.

I heard the door click closed behind us as Lauren let go of my hand to take hold of the fire escape ledge. She was taking deep breaths of the night air, clearing out the stuffy stale air of the full conference room.

I looked at her, the city lights luminating her beauty gently. Lights would catch her eyes and make them sparkle, pushing the gold in her eyes further, she was beyond beautiful in this light. "You remember the first time we sat out here?"

Lauren looked down as she smiled, "I do." she turned to look at me, "I attacked you on this very fire escape." I laughed as I moved closer to her, "You did attack me." I felt the nerves begin to rise as I looked at her longer, "But I knew then, you were someone I could never get rid of, or never would want too." Lauren looked at me slightly confused as I continued, "I started to fall for you in that moment, as hard as I fought not too, I couldn't stop myself. As much as you drove me nuts, you drove my heart deeper into your hands." I took a steady breath as I knew I had to push through the nerves. I took her hands in mine, "Lauren Lewis, you are the most stubborn, frustrating, brilliant, beautiful, selfless, giving, loving person I have ever met in my life. You put my heart back together with more fight than anyone in my life let alone myself." I looked up in her glassy eyes, "I love you like I have never loved anyone before or will ever want too. You are the one, plain and simple." I reached into my pocket, wrapping my fingers around the box as I pulled it out, taking a deep breath I opened it, suddenly blurting out, "I don't even know if you like diamonds." I stared at the ring, afraid to look at Lauren and the answer she could give.

I felt her hands come to my face, puling me gently to look at her, "Bo, what are you asking?"

I swallowed hard as I saw the tears in her eyes, I choked it out, "Will...will you marry me?" I bit my lip, "I have never done this before...I don't even know if I am doing this right."

Lauren silenced my beginnings of a ramble with her mouth, kissing me deeply. I almost buckled at the intensity of the kiss, having to hold onto her sides so I would not fall to me knees. Lauren leaned her forehead against mine, whispering, "Bo, why do always have to beat me?"

I looked at her confused, she pressed a soft kiss against my lips, "I was going to ask you to marry me next week when the ring I had made came in."

I stared at her in shock, "Is that a yes?" I was completely caught off guard. Lauren nodded, "Yes, it is a yes. I love you Bo and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and only you." I held up the ring box, pulling the ring out as I took her hand in mine, the ring fit perfectly as I settled it on her finger. Placing a soft kiss on it, I whispered, "You will only have me." Lauren laced her fingers in mine, the cool metal of the ring pressing against my skin as she pulled me into her arms. "Wait until I tell Jack, he thinks you are the greatest thing since robots." Lauren laughed lightly as I laid my head in the gap between her neck and shoulder, I was absolutely, hopelessly in love with this woman. I bent my head up, kissing her softly on the neck as I mumbled, "He already knows, I asked for his blessing this morning."

Lauren leaned back in my arms so she could look at me, "You did?" I nodded as I kissed her jaw gently, "I did, he is your son and the most important thing in your life. If he said no, I would not be here on this fire escape, pushing through more nerves than on my first day of medical school to ask you one simple question." Lauren looked at me with a happy shocked face, "Have I told you I love you, Bo?"

I smirked, "Maybe once or twice, but I will never tire of you saying it." I kissed her quickly, "I told Aaron to give me ten minutes before he came for me, in case you said no."

Lauren looked at me, seriously as she squeezed my hand tighter, "It would have been the second biggest mistake I ever made." she pulled our hands up, kissing them, "Who else knows."

I laughed as I pulled her towards the door, "The entire family, so be prepared for the onslaught of my family." I looked back at her as I held open the door for her, "I also have not forgotten about this dessert you promised me, later." Lauren looked at me with dark eyes and a smirk, "Neither have I."

I had to catch my breath at the sight and tone in her voice, if I was sure Aaron was not going to walk around the corner in the next few seconds, I would have pulled Lauren into a linen closet and torn her uniform off. I could sense the same thing in her head as she moved closer to me.

"Bo! There you are! I was looking for you." Aarons heavy theatrical voice cut the tension as he looked at me with wide questioning eyes as he entered the hallway with us. I sighed and looked at him, "She said yes, Aaron."

Aaron raised his fist in victory and ran to Lauren, scooping her up in a giant bear hug, "Welcome to the family my dear doctor Lewis!" Lauren couldn't help but laugh as she was gently spun around the room in the arms of one of my best friends. Aaron finally set her down, smiling wider than I had ever seen him, "Grace has been fidgeting since you two disappeared." he held out his hands to the both of us, waggling his fingers for us to take them, "Come my lovely ladies, lets ease her worried mind and kick start it with wedding plans." Lauren and I took his hand as he pulled us closer, arm in arm we walked back to the conference hall. As we rode down the elevator I caught Lauren smiling like a fool as she stared at the ring on I had put on her finger.