Epilogue

"A.J., hurry up, he'll be here any second!" Laurie told her brother-in-law as he screeched into the parking lot.

"I'm coming, honey, don't worry, he was ditzing around his new desk. It'll be a few before he gets here!" A.J. grinned, surveying their old digs. "All right, we're all here, just be careful getting across the street!" she told him over his transmitter.

Looking both ways, the younger Simon jogged across the street to Mike's, their old sandwich haunt in San Diego. Supposedly in town to file a brief regarding an old case, Laurie and A.J. had cooked up an anniversary party with Towne and Temple and Abby and all their family and friends, even the Chief. A.J. couldn't help but laugh, Laurie was so convinced she had fooled Rick, wait until she saw what his brother had planned!

Turning back for a moment to survey their old office building, he shook his head, after seven years it still felt like home. Their new digs were nice for the time being, but he and Rick would be glad when Simon & Simon settled into a permanent spot. Still, working out of the borrowed suite the Mayor's office had gotten for them helped. The community's gratitude was evident once the news spread how Catherine Palmer was caught in the act and died in the fire she had set. Only a few officials knew Rick and Captain Ron had shot her to save Laurie. When the fire was put out they were able to confirm she died in the blaze and that was all any of them cared about.

Laurie was hospitalized for several days, as Dr. Clarke and Rudy had insisted on complete bed rest until her ribs healed. Once she was back home, Rick and A.J. took turns seeing clients until she was up and walking. Since Rob and Robin were now working full time, both brothers felt better with her working in the office part time, especially with her still needing a new transmitter.

As he entered the diner, he saw his mom stick her head out of the back room, then grinned as his son yelled, "Poppa." Going into the familiar old "meeting" room, he hugged Towne and Temple, then picked up Ricky from Rudy's arms and tossed him in the air. Mike himself gave him an elbow, then told A.J., "I got the missus in the cooler, wait 'til your brother sees her!" Just let me know when you want the surprise!" "As soon as he comes in, I don't want her to catch cold!" A.J. said, only half-kidding. "Don't worry, kid, I got a blanket around her, don't want to spoil her day!" the owner snickered.

Just then a cheer went up outside, and A.J. stuck his head in the darkened storage room. "Honey, he's here, I'll send Mike in when it's time, ok?"

From the cake trolley came a muffled "Ok, but hurry, no wonder Mike's salads are so fresh, it's cold!"

Coming out of the cooler, he almost crashed into his brother, who was wearing a warrior outfit. "A.J., I thought I saw her car across the street, has she called yet?"

"Yeah, she'll be here in 5 minutes, hurry up and get on the trolley, I'll send Mike in as soon as she comes in the door.", he replied, trying not to smirk.

"Thanks little brother, brr, it's cold in here, hope she's on time!" he shivered climbing onto the spare table.

"Oh, I think she will be." came A.J.'s voice as he pushed it in and closed the door.

Hearing voices, Laurie unwound the thin blanket from around her, then peered through the bottom of the draped cart. Seeing nothing but what she assumed was the cake tray next to her, she sighed, then heard a "who's there?"

"Rick?", she gasped, parting the curtains to see her husband's face not six inches from her's "Laurie, what are you...oh I'm going to kill him, he's an ex-brother!" he groaned. "Darling, I've got dibs first, he was going to help me surprise you, looks like the surprise's on us!" she giggled, then sneezed.

"Sweetheart, come here, are you cold?", he whispered, reaching his arms to her. Cuddling to him, she said, "Not anymore. Happy Anniversary, my love!" "Thank you, darlin', Happy Anniversary to you, too." he returned, kissing her.

Suddenly the doors to the cooler opened, and amid cheers Robbie and Mike came in and pushed the two trolleys into the midst of their friends. As Rick looked around. calling, "all right, A.J., very funny." Laurie came out of the drapes dressed in her "Helga" outfit, then started to laugh. "Oh, Rick, you look so good!" she told him, as he climbed off the cake trolley in a leather warriors costume. Lifting her off the cake cart, he kissed her, saying, "I decided my Helga deserved a warrior of her own!"

"Only a real man can wear an outfit like that!" she declared, embracing him.

As Robbie and Robin came forward to hug their parents, Mike brought in trays of sandwiches and salads, including one 2 foot sandwich marked "Simon Special". Cecilia smiled and told her son, "all those years of teaching you to eat right, you still prefer your father's favorite, sandwiches!"

"You got that right, Mom! I took after you though," he kissed her cheek. "I married someone who's always there for me."

After being toasted with sodas and beer, Rick stood to give one to his bride. "To my beautiful bride, after 13 years together you still surprise me! Happy anniversary!" As they clinked glasses, she blushed, then lifted her drink. "To my darling Rick, you protect, and comfort and love me through bad times and good." She choked up, then smiled at him as she finished, "Happy Anniversary, grow old with me, the best is yet to be!" Moved beyond words, Rick put his drink down, then picked Laurie up in his arms and they embraced, as her uncle wiped his eyes.

"All right, all right, that can wait until tonight!", Towne catcalled, breaking everyone up. Rick turned to him, "Says you, I could have timed you and Temple last year!" Amid groans, A.J. stood up and handed a large box to his sister-in-law. "This is from all of us, to our favorite warriors!" Beaming at all their loved ones, Laurie opened the box to reveal box after box after box. As the laughs grew, Rick held up each box and pretended to shake it. Opening the smallest box, Laurie lifted out matching sunglasses, suntan lotion, and an envelope.

Hardly believing her eyes, she handed it to Rick, "Open it, darling, I think I'm going to cry!"

Clearing his throat, he opened the card to reveal plane tickets and reservations for 4 to Hawaii. Speechless, he looked at all their friends, then shook his head. "Words can't describe it, thank you all!"

Laurie nodded, "He said it. you have always been there for us, but Hawaii? Thank you!" she managed, then started hugging everyone.

After the last piece of cake was consumed, Mike shooed the Simon family out, grumbling he'd clean up their mess. As Rob and Robin started teasing who'd drive their grandmother and Chief Joseph home, Laurie hugged her brother and sister-in-law, saying "You two take the cake, literally! Here I thought I was the surpriser, instead of the surprisee!" Linda grinned, "It was all A.J.; after that housecleaner bit for our anniversary, he decided payback was going to fun! Seriously, we knew you guys needed, well, one last holiday with the kids, and I think Hawaii is ready for a Simon invasion again!"

Passing by, Oscar stole a kiss from his niece, saying "After 12 years, I have to agree!" Laughing, she threw her arms around him, then told him and Rudy to drive careful, as they were going back to Ojai for the week.

"You know, Lin, that's the most wonderful idea, I've been trying to think of something we could do together, and Hawaii is perfect.", she told her, putting an arm around her. Just then A.J. returned from helping put their leftovers in Rick's truck, then said, "we'll let you two lovebirds have some time alone, I'm going to drive Linda over to Sunset Cove to watch the, well, the sunset!"

Laughing, Rick put him in a headlock, "Watch the sunset my foot, sure you don't want to borrow a blanket and some leftover sandwiches?" "I'm sure, well, maybe just a roast beef for the road!" A.J. turned red, as Linda got a mischievous look on her face, then taking Ricky over to his grandmother, whispered a few words, then handed him to her.

Coming back over, she took her husband's hand then leaning over to Laurie asked "Can I borrow it back?" With a wink she pulled off her red wig, saying, "Have fun, don't forget the accent!"

Watching everyone drive off, Laurie linked arms with her husband, "Darling, it was a wonderful day, but I still want to give you your present!" Smiling down at her, he kissed her, then admitted, "me too! Listen, do you want to go see the waves at our cove?"

"Oh yes, I knew you'd think of something romantic!" she giggled, as he unlocked the truck. All the way to Wayfarers Cove, they talked about the party, until they reached the site of their wedding.

Setting up an impromptu picnic in the bed of his truck, Rick and Laurie polished off the remainder of the "Simon Special", then discovered a small bottle of Champaign that Rudy had tucked into their bag. Laurie started to tear up when she read "to our favorite niece and nephew, a private toast for two, Love, Oscar and Rudy."

"Darlin', have I told you how much I appreciate your uncles!" Rick teased, wiping her eyes with a napkin.

"Yes, every time you tell me you love me," she smiled. "If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here!"

"Then let me tell you again." he kissed her, then handed her a small box. "Happy Anniversary, Laurie!"

Opening the box, she unearthed a velvet case, then gasped as she discovered a gold watch with a raised dial.

"Oh, Rick, it's beautiful, is it?" Yes, sweetheart, it's a transmitter, just like your other one, only better!" he answered, putting it on her wrist, then kissing her hand.

"Thank you, my darling, you are so good to me!" she breathed, unable to take her eyes off the opal studded dial. Raising her lips to his, she kissed Rick, "I love you, thank you for taking care of me!"

"No, thank you for giving me someone to take care of!" he kissed her back. Leaning against him, she reached behind her, then pulled out a package and handed to him. "I hope you like it, Rick, I've never given you anything like this!"

Tearing open the wrappings, he opened a leather case with a knight's insignia on it, and his mouth dropped.

"Angel, how did, where did you find it?" he gasped, staring at the Rough Rider symbol engraved on a black revolver.

"A.J. saw it in a catalog, I know you have a gun, but I wanted you to have something special", she said, almost timidly.

For an answer, he gathered her in his arms and covered her with kisses. "Thank you, sweetheart, this is perfect!" he said as she laid her head against his shoulder.

"Just as you are to me, "she whispered, stroking his cheek.

Turning to watch the last rays of the sun, Rick and Laurie waited until the water had turned to pink, then reluctantly packed up their trash and headed back to San Diego.

"Well, darlin', we're back where we started, where do we go from here?" he sighed, hating to leave such a happy place. Placing her hand on his, Laurie squeezed it, saying, "Home to our children, so we can help them with their new start in life, and ours?"

His heart full, he kissed her hand, then putting his truck in gear, told her, "Your wish is my command, my lady!"