Chapter 18

When he got to the top of the stairs, Wyatt could hear the soft murmur of Lucy reading Jamie a bedtime story, and after peeking in the doorway, continued along the hallway to his room. Crossing over to the dresser, he retrieved a small white envelope from the underwear drawer, and placed it on the night stand on his side of the bed. Quickly stripping down to just boxers, Wyatt dropped his dirty clothes in the hamper, and climbing into bed, pulled the covers up over his lap to wait as patiently as he could for Lucy. He picked up the envelope and taking a deep breath, tried to anticipate her reaction to what was inside (maybe this hadn't been such a good idea).

When Lucy walked into the room a few minutes later, he hastily shoved the envelope halfway under the covers, and watched in silent appreciation as she got ready for bed, hiding a smile when she opened his dresser drawer and chose a tee shirt to sleep in. As much as he definitely enjoyed the occasions when Lucy wore something particularly feminine to bed, there was something about her sexy little body practically swimming in one of his shirts that really did it for him (every single time).

Nude except for a minuscule pair of panties, she dropped the overly-large "ARMY" shirt over her head, and turning around, caught his openly unapologetic stare (oops, busted). Despite the rosy blush that fanned across her cheeks, Lucy tried to brazen it out, "See something you like, cowboy?" as she padded across the room towards him. Wyatt reached out and tugging her to the side of the bed, smirked, "Do you even have to ask, sweetheart?" Ducking her head shyly at his husky tone, she spied the envelope he was doing a poor job of hiding.

"What's that?" she inquired, dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. Caught off guard, Wyatt stammered, "A surprise?" Lucy's elegant brows drew together in a vague frown, "Are you asking or telling me?" As he continued to just stare at her mutely, she pounced on him, pinning him down under her slight weight. Since he outweighed her by at least 70 pounds, it would have been childishly easy to flip her over, but the pleased expression on her face at getting the drop on him, combined with the delightful press of her body on top of his, made Wyatt reluctant to move a muscle.

"Wyatt," she cajoled, leaning in to delicately nibble on his stubbled chin as he closed his eyes and shivered, "What's in the envelope?" and as she moved in even closer to nip his ear lobe, snatched the envelope out of his unresisting hand. Moving back quickly, she perched herself on top of his legs, and shot him a triumphant grin. "Is this for me? Can I open it?" At his solemn nod, she carefully pulled open the flap and removed two tickets that read, "Camp Pendleton Annual Christmas Gala, December 10, 2016."

A mystified Lucy looked up from the tickets to find Wyatt's intent dark blue gaze fixed on her. She glanced down and asked hesitantly, "Wyatt, is this the same party that you told me about earlier? The big fancy one at the base every Christmas that you haven't been to since before Jessica passed away?"

Swallowing hard at her words, Wyatt cleared his throat and placing a hand on either side of her small waist, confirmed, "Yeah, it is," and at the look of confusion on her face, he tried to explain, "This might sound kind of crazy, but last night when we were talking about holiday memories, you gave me the impression that it had been several years since Christmas had been really special for you, and I guess I wanted you to have that. And now that we are together, I thought maybe it was time to make new memories, for both of us, and Jamie, too."

Dismayed by her lack of response save for a solitary tear that slowly made its way down her cheek as she continued to stare at him, Wyatt started to apologize, "Oh, Lucy, hey, it's okay, we don't have to go, it was probably..." when she suddenly fell forward on him and started pressing frantic little kisses all over his face before leaning back and whispering, "You are the sweetest man I have ever known. You would do this for me? Why?" before stretching her body over his and tucking her tear-stained face against his neck.

"Because I love you," he said simply, holding her firmly against him and gently rubbing his hand up and down her back, "And I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few days and decided that it's time to stop spending so much time living in the past. Lucy, if you really think about it, we are a miracle. Two strangers, and out of nowhere, without any kind of warning, we were lucky enough to find each other, and I think we are starting to build something that feels real and solid together. Being with you and making our own memories feels like a step in the right direction. So, Lucy Preston, will you do me the honor of being my date to the gala?"

Lucy rolled off of him, and sat up, quickly swiping at her wet face. She sniffed, and offering him a luminous smile, answered, "Wyatt Logan, it would be my honor to be your date to the gala," and squeaked in surprise when he sat up abruptly and taking her face in his hands, slowly, tenderly kissed her, his tongue teasing her mouth over and over until she was whimpering and clutching at his broad shoulders.

"Did you lock the door?" he panted. She managed to gasp, "Yes" before he eased her back against the pillows, quickly pulling his shirt over her head, and settled himself between her pale thighs. Running a gentle finger down her cheek, he promised, "We are going to make ourselves some amazing memories this Christmas, Lucy." She nodded shyly in agreement and pulled him closer.

Lucy woke before Wyatt the next morning, his muscular frame curled securely around her, his steady warm breath dusting her bare shoulder (I wish I could wake up with him every morning for the rest of our lives). Carefully rolling over, she lay calmly facing him, perfectly content to just watch him sleep. His face relaxed in slumber, he looked younger, and quite peaceful (and happy, if she dared to think it). Lucy's heart was so full she thought it might burst with all the feelings she had for Wyatt.

Like any woman might, she had always hoped to find that one guy she could share her life with, someone she could love with all her heart and who would in turn be devoted to her, but that hope was usually tempered with a fair dose of doubt, especially as she got older. But now, in this moment, with him, all her insecurity had been banished by such a happiness she could never have imagined. As she gazed at his face, Wyatt's beautiful blue eyes fluttered open, and he gave her an easy dimpled grin, "Good morning, sweet Lucy," he rumbled sleepily. Unable to resist, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before touching her forehead to his.

He pulled back, and blinking lazily at her, murmured, "I might have another surprise for you," and at her quizzical look, confessed hesitantly, "I hope you don't mind, but I wasn't sure whether you owned any fancy dresses, and when I told Julie about the tickets yesterday, she offered to take you shopping today, but only if you want to or need to. Of course, by now, you know her well enough to guess that she was extremely excited, to put it mildly, about the tickets, and the four of us going to the gala together. Seriously, I thought she was going to blow my phone up, she sent so many texts yesterday."

Chuckling at his very apt description of their friend, Lucy assured Wyatt that she'd love to go dress shopping with Julie. "What about you? Will you be in uniform?" she asked. "Actually, yeah, all of the enlisted men and women will be wearing dress uniforms, and I should probably dig mine out of the back of my closet and take it to the base cleaners on Monday," he responded. "Well, I always think you are handsome, but I bet you look incredible in your dress uniform, and I can't wait to see you in it," Lucy teased, and was gratified when he actually blushed at her compliment.

A couple hours later, when they arrived at the Baumgardners, Lucy barely had time to kiss Wyatt goodbye before a visibly giddy Julie was pulling her by the arm towards the minivan. Wyatt had explained that he and Bam Bam would keep the kids at home today so that she and Julie could enjoy a "girls day out," and Lucy was highly amused as both men rolled their eyes at Julie's admonishment when the two women left about keeping an eye on the little ones. "Good lord, woman, Wy and I are highly-trained military men, Delta Force Master Sergeants, the best of the best, so I am sure we can handle three itty-bitty kids," Bam Bam indignantly responded while Wyatt tried to muffle his snort at the pitying look Julie shot her husband.

"Men," Julie huffed as they pulled out of the driveway, "We'll be lucky if they don't blow up the house or lose one of the kids, or God forbid, both," and Lucy chuckled at her friend's dubious faith in the guys. Before they had ridden two blocks, she could feel the other woman's interested gaze on her, and sighing inwardly, realized she was in for a not-so-subtle interrogation.

"You know, Lucy, I have to say it was a pretty big surprise when Wy texted me yesterday to tell me he was picking up tickets for the Christmas gala, especially since he had already told you how he felt about it. I mean, sure, I'm thrilled we will all be going together, but do you have any idea why he changed his mind so suddenly?"

As much as Lucy really liked her new friend, she wanted to keep the intimate conversation she and Wyatt had shared earlier to herself, so she prevaricated, "Um, you know how guys can be, Julie, who knows how their minds work, especially the quiet ones like Wyatt," and deliberately looked out the car window, hoping the blonde would take the hint. Aside from a sharply speculative glance, Julie agreeably dropped the subject and began telling Lucy all about their destination.

"I don't know if you and your sister have done much shopping since you moved here, but I thought maybe we could start our 'find Lucy a killer dress for the Christmas gala' mission at my favorite mall, Fashion Valley. They have some really great stores. Dave absolutely hates going to the mall, so usually, once or twice a month, my mom and I go and take the girls. They love the Build-A-Bear Workshop, so Grandma bribes them with a new bear in return for behaving while we shop," Julie admitted sheepishly.

Lucy hadn't realized that Julie was a native of San Diego, and during their drive, learned that she and Bam Bam had met at one of her sorority mixers at San Diego State when Julie was 19. "Dave and Wyatt were probably around 22 when I met them, and Wyatt was already married to Jess. See, when he joined the Army after high school, Jess stayed back in Texas because she was a couple of years younger than him. Then, after she graduated, he proposed while he was home on leave, and she moved out here. Not exactly sure, but I don't think they were engaged for very long before they got married."

Lucy tried not to betray her natural curiosity about Jessica, but an intuitive Julie took pity on her and started to elaborate a little more on the woman who had been married to Wyatt. "Honestly, Lucy, I think you would have really liked Jess. She was a sweet girl who was happiest just being Wyatt's wife and Jamie's mom. And it was incredibly tragic how she died, such a senseless death. I don't think I've ever seen anyone grieve like Wyatt did, for months afterwards, and I would never say this to anyone else, but I always thought that if it weren't for his son, Wyatt would have eventually drunk himself to death."

Her heart aching at the terribly painful grief that Wyatt had endured, Lucy thoughtfully absorbed what Julie told her before confessing, "It seems wrong somehow, and I try not to, but I am curious about her, because he very rarely even mentions her. There are no pictures of her anywhere in his apartment that I've seen except for the one beside Jamie's bed. Not sure if this makes sense or not, but it feels like Wyatt has built a wall around Jessica and her memory, so I'm just not comfortable asking him. But, Julie, you don't have to tell me any more if you don't want to, I understand, I know you've been friends with Wyatt for years."

Julie was silent for a few moments, carefully considering her words. "Well, Lucy, it's not a big secret to any of his friends that you are the only woman that Wyatt Logan has even blinked at since Jess died, and believe me, it wasn't six months she'd been gone before he could have had his pick of all the women who were interested. Hey, I love my Dave dearly, but let's face it: Wyatt Logan is a really good-looking guy, and when you throw in the grief-stricken single father raising a baby by himself piece of the puzzle, let me tell you, he was like catnip to a bunch of alley cats. Come to think of it, some of those women didn't even have the morals of an alley cat," and grinned when Lucy laughed.

She continued, "Anyway, he has picked you, and to me, that says it all. The two of us haven't known each other for very long, but it feels like you and Wyatt are good together, like you each needed something and found it in the other. And if anyone deserves to be loved and happy, it is surely Wyatt. Plus, you make my little man Jamie very happy, so believe me, they both need you, Lucy. Although, in spite of all that, I think you might be right about this "Jessica wall." I suppose everybody grieves and deals with pain in their own way, and maybe keeping all his feelings bottled up like that is Wyatt's way. The thing is, though, for me personally, I would worry about what happens if that bottle blows up or something."

Lucy quietly contemplated everything Julie had just told her, and nodded her agreement, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I guess I do kind of have insecurity issues, and the not knowing very much about Jessica at all sometimes makes me feel like maybe he will never love me as much as he loved her, and jeez, that probably sounds kind of depressing, because he has said the words, and I believe him, I do. And now I sound like a basket case," she admitted ruefully.

But Julie was shaking her head, and replied bluntly, "Well, maybe a little insecure, yeah, but any woman would be a little intimidated at living up to someone who's sort of been put on this pedestal, because even a very nice person like Jessica had her faults 'cause we all do. And she was just 24 when she died, and they had only been married maybe three years which means she and Wyatt were practically still in the honeymoon stage of their marriage."

Pulling into a parking space, Julie turned off the engine and faced Lucy. "Bottom line, Lucy, is this: you are here, and Jess is not, and after waiting nearly five years to find someone to love, you are Wyatt's choice. And that makes you pretty special in my book, and his, too, I bet. Now, enough of the serious talk. Let's go find you a dress that will make that man sit up and beg!"

Several hours and stores later, Lucy stood uncertainly in front of the triple mirror at Nordstroms, and bit her lip at the image reflected back at her. The two friends had looked longingly at the display windows that were definitely out of their price range, like Neiman Marcus, Carolina Herrera, and Prada, and after Lucy had no luck at Bloomingdales or Macys, they ended up at Nordstroms. Julie had already decided on a dark navy crushed velvet sheath with short cap sleeves that fit her like a glove, so she was eagerly choosing dresses for Lucy to try on.

"C'mon, Lucy, this is the fourth one you've tried on. Come out here and let me see," she urged. Taking a deep breath, Lucy opened the dressing room door and slowly stepped out. Her friend's green eyes widened in appreciation, "Oh, my! Lucy, yes, yes, this is the one. My lord, you look like one of Annie's Disney princesses! If Wy doesn't fall on his knees drooling when he sees you in this dress, I swear I'm taking his 'man' card away," she declared, nearly jumping up and down in her excitement.

Lucy grinned at her companion's enthusiasm. She did like this dress the best of all the ones she had tried on this afternoon, and she sternly told herself that she wasn't going to flinch when she handed over her credit card. Julie snapped her fingers at Lucy, and ordered, "Well, go get changed, because we're not done yet. You will need shoes and a small bag, and duh, some sexy new lingerie for underneath, 'cause this gorgeous dress is just the gift wrap, girlfriend, on the package that is you," and she smiled knowingly at Lucy's sudden hot blush.

An hour later, shopping complete, they finally took a break for lunch. They were discussing hairstyles and makeup when Lucy's phone chimed with a new text. As she was pulling the phone out of her bag, Julie sassed, "Tell Wyatt we're having a great time and will be home when we get there." Lucy stuck her tongue out at Julie and read his message twice before she looked up to see her friend smiling fondly at her.

"Girl, you are so much in love, it's kind of sickening. But I might just envy you a tiny bit because I remember those days, too, before marriage and babies and the day-to-day routine. So it's okay to be head-over-heels in love, because one of these days, unfortunately, the 'shiny new toy' feeling will fade a little, and you'll be just like the rest of us," she promised, "But the good news is, when you've got a really great guy like Wyatt or my Dave, what comes after the new feelings is so much better, Lucy, 'cause it lasts forever."

Lucy smiled softly and reached across the table to take Julie's hand and squeezing it, said, "Thank you, Julie, for today, and for being my friend. Aside from Amy, I've never really had a close girlfriend, and your friendship has become so important to me." The blonde grinned at the praise. "Right back at you, Lucy Preston. Now we better get home and see what kind of trouble they've gotten into." "The kids?" Lucy asked. "Hell, no, I mean Dave and Wyatt! I'm sure the kids were little angels," Julie quipped, and they both giggled.

Everything seemed calm and peaceful at the Baumgardner home when Julie pulled into the driveway. The two women looked at each other and shrugged as they gathered up their shopping bags and going inside the house, came to a abrupt stop in the hallway. Thrusting her bags at Lucy, Julie whispered, "Hold these while I get my phone, okay? I have got to get some pictures of this." And she quickly took several photos, promising to send them to Lucy.

Standing there looking into Julie's living room, Lucy thought she had never seen such an adorable sight. They were all asleep, daddies and their children, while some college football game played unwatched on the television. Bam Bam was sprawled out in a recliner with both his daughters curled up in his lap, while Wyatt was stretched out on the sofa with Jamie snugged up against his chest, arms wrapped protectively around his son.

"Damn, but it's a shame to wake these men of ours, Lucy," Julie murmured, "Let's go ahead and put your bags in the kitchen and take my stuff upstairs. Maybe they will be wake up on their own." When they came back downstairs a few minutes later, they could hear little voices coming from the living room, and peeking around the corner, saw that the girls were awake. Then Sadie caught sight of Lucy, and her happy shriek pretty much ended the group nap.

Lucy's breath caught at the soft look Wyatt gave her as he swung his legs off the sofa so she could sit down, and when a drowsy Jamie climbed into her lap and cuddled up against her, she felt complete. And even though she and Julie had spent a wonderful "just girls" afternoon together, Lucy suddenly knew that at this very moment, she was exactly where she was always meant to be, right here with this man and this child.

A/N: I promise that the gala will be in the next chapter, and the mystery of Lucy's dress will be revealed :) Thanks so much to everyone for continuing to read, follow, and review this story-I really appreciate your support...