Disclaimer: I don't own it or get paid for it : ) I don't own the characters and therefore have no hope of making any money off this.

Chapter 47: Happy Anniversary

The twins turned four the week their parents started marriage counseling. Two months later was their parents' fifth wedding anniversary. Terri took Stiles to Andros so they could finally finish their honeymoon.

Stiles lay awake watching Terri sleep their first morning on the island. When he felt her stir, he leaned over and kissed her. "Good morning sunshine."

"Ummm, Good morning," Terri mumbled as she snuggled close to her husband.

"Happy anniversary; I can't believe we're finally celebrating our FIRST anniversary together."

"Five years late!"

"Yeah"

"What do you want to do today?"

"It's already planned and it's a surprise."

Terri leaned up on her elbow and eyed Stiles. "You know I hate surprises. Tell me."

When Stiles nodded no, Terri looked down at him, batted her eyes and gave him her most seductive look before kissing him first on his neck, his forehead and finally his lips. When he was breathless she added. "Please, I'll make it worth your while."

"Nope" was all Stiles said. Then in an entirely selfish move he added "But I will take you up on your offer."

Terri gave him a long, slow kiss. "Anything you want Mr. Stiles. Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Yes, and you can tell me again, but I'd rather you show me."

Terri was happy to oblige; she and Stiles made love in the true sense of the word for the first time in a very long time.

After a lazy morning in bed, Stiles announced that it was time to get moving.

"Noooo, I want to stay here with you the rest of the day. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow, can't it?" Terri whined.

Stiles took Terri's hand and tried to pull her up. "Nope, I've already made reservations; we can spend tomorrow in bed.

"Reservations for what? Where? You have to tell me sooner or later."

"Well, first we're getting a massage downstairs. Then you are going to our hotel for a manicure, pedicure and facial—and a mud bath if you're up to it."

Terri's eyes lit up. "And what about you Mr. Stiles, where will you be while I'm being scrubbed and buffed?"

"Ah, that's the surprise. Come on, get up. We're going to be late."

Terri frowned playfully and pouted until Stiles smiled and added, "Please." She was thoroughly enjoying being alone with her husband and he was happy and grateful for every moment with her.

While Terri was enjoying her afternoon in the spa, Stiles was finalizing their plans for the evening.

That evening, Terri got dressed in their bedroom while Stiles took over Jack's room. He was speechless when he saw his wife 30 minutes later.

Terri came down wearing a black halter dress that flowed to the middle of her knees and showed off every curve. She walked down slowly completely aware that Stiles was watching her every move.

Stiles started grinning the second he saw her. "I don't know what to say except wow! You look absolutely amazing Mrs. Stiles."

Stiles was wearing a new suit that he bought for the trip; he completed his outfit with the gold and diamond cuff links Terri gave him on their wedding day. "So do you Mr. Stiles! Are you ready to go?"

Stiles took another long look at his beautiful wife, "I don't know. I'm beginning to think a quiet evening at home isn't such a bad idea after all. I'm not sure I want to share you with anyone else tonight."

"Oh no, you made me get dressed so now you have to take me out. You're going to have to earn your dessert tonight, Mr. By the way, you still haven't told me where we're going."

Stiles couldn't help but smile. He hadn't seen Terri so relaxed and happy in a long time.

"No, I haven't. You'll just have to wait and see," Stiles said as he took Terri's arm in his and led her out the door.

"Wait! I want to give you your present."

"Bring it."

"I can't. Sit. I'll be right back."

Terri ran upstairs and came back a few moments later and handed Stiles a large package. He ripped it open and was immediately impressed and amazed when he saw Terri's painting of their children playing on the beach. They were working on the sand castle they built the week he spent with them on the island almost a year earlier.

"When did you do this?"

"While you were working all those looonnnnnngggg hours. Terri asked quite pleased with herself. "It's for your office!"

"I love it, it's perfect. Thank you very much for the painting and for them."

Terri couldn't stand not knowing where they were going. Initially, she assumed they were going back to "their" restaurant, but it didn't take long to figure out that they weren't going there.

They took what turned out to be a 20 minute drive and ended up at the dock next to a small boat. Terri gave Stiles a disapproving look as he held out his hand to help her on the boat.

'He can't seriously want me to get on a boat in these shoes.'

But he did. "Come on, I'll carry you!"

"That's okay," Terri replied sarcastically. Where are we going now?"

"Be patient. I promise you're going to have a good time tonight. Trust me?"

When Stiles smiled at her she couldn't help but melt. "Yes," Terri answered sheepishly, "I trust you." Twenty minutes later they were at their little cove on the back side of the island. Stiles could tell Terri was disappointed by the look on her face.

"Don't look so surprised," Stiles said as he kissed Terri on the cheek. "We have a couple of things to leave." Stiles put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a copy of the twins' birth certificates, Terri's death certificate, and a copy of their wedding certificate.

"Hey, why are you putting our marriage certificate in there?"

"We don't need it anymore."

"What? Why?"

Stiles only smiled which irritated Terri.

"Stiles, tell me!"

"Okay, I'll tell you at dinner." She was so worked up he didn't have the heart to tell her it was just a copy.

Terri rolled her eyes at Stiles as she followed him back to the boat. After all of the riding and rowing around, Terri understood why Stiles had insisted they leave for dinner so early.

When they got back to the car Stiles put a blindfold over Terri's eyes. By this point, she had given up protesting and just let him lead her around.

A short time later he announced, "We're here."

Terri reached for the blindfold. "Un un, not yet."

"Oh come on."

"You'll love this one, I promise"

Stiles helped Terri out of the car. When she got out, she tried to assess her surroundings. She thought she heard water and then music.

Stiles led her to their final destination and removed the blindfold.

"Oh Stiles," Terri almost screamed in delight as she hugged him. "It's beautiful!"

Stiles was beaming. He had worked hard to arrange dinner. Lyn helped him locate a private yacht for the evening. He rented the yacht, a local quartet, and a chef to prepare Terri's favorite dishes.

Terri couldn't believe all the trouble Stiles had gone through. "Honey, this is great, I love it. What a wonderful surprise."

Stiles hugged her and kissed her tenderly on her forehead then handed her a long wrapped box. "Happy anniversary my love."

"What's this?"

"Open it."

Terri raised an eyebrow at Stiles as she carefully opened the box. Inside was a platinum and diamond bracelet with four charms.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it," Terri answered as she examined the charms. There was a charm with a little boy on it and Jack's name and his birthstone and another with a little girl and 'Ava' engraved on it along with her birthstone. The third charm was engraved with Terri and Stiles' wedding date on one side and Ireland on the other. The last charm had that evening's date and Andros engraved on it.

"That last one has tonight's date on it. See"

"I see." Terri hugged her husband and whispered in his ear. "I love it," After a kiss she added, "Almost as much as I love you."

TERRI and Stiles had a gourmet dinner while watching the sun set over the ocean. After dinner, the quartet played the first song they danced to at their wedding and several others that were favorites of Terri.

Terri spent the entire evening smiling. She was so happy she couldn't imagine things getting any better. She and Stiles were dancing cheek to cheek when he broke the silence.

"Terri."

"Hmm?"

"I love you. . ."

She looked up at him and smiled, "I love you too."

". . . and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

She smiled broader. "I know."

Terri's "I know" was a huge step for her. With the help of counseling and a lot of patience from Stiles she was beginning to get over her insecurities; Stiles wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

He stopped dancing and took both of her hands in his.

"Five years ago today you made me happier than I ever thought I could be; my greatest accomplishment so far has been finding you and making you my wife. When I thought I would never see you again, I was lost. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that you would be back in my arms, and that we would have not one, but two beautiful children. They're as lucky to have you for their mother as I am to have you as my wife."

As tears ran down her face, Terri just looked at her husband. She was slightly overwhelmed by the whole evening. "Oh honey I . . ."

Stiles smiled and stopped Terri putting one finger to her lips and gently wiping her cheeks.

"Though we've had some rough spots the past few months I can't imagine being with anyone else. You will always be in my heart and I don't want to ever experience waking up not having you by my side. I want to love you, to hold you, to make you happy—always. You make me laugh, you keep me in line, you inspire me. Terri you complete me and I love you with all my heart and soul. Terri?" Stiles asked as he let go of one of her hands and knelt in front of her.

When she saw what he was doing, Terri's free hand went to her mouth as she gasped in astonishment. Through tears Terri answered with a nod.

"Will you marry me?"

Stiles stood up and waited for Terri's response. She thought his proposal was even better than the first time he did it. She nodded yes, but it took her a while to compose herself enough to answer.

Terri smiled broadly. "Stiles, I love you too and never want to be parted from you again, but honey, we're already married!"

Stiles laughed. "That's not exactly the answer I was hoping for. I want us to renew our vows—tonight—right here on Andros, well next to Andros, the place where we fell in love and then found each other again."

Terri put her arms around Stiles and hugged him tightly. "Of course I'll marry you, but how, who is going to do it?"

Like clockwork, a small boat with Sam, the gallery owner, Lyn and Max on it.

Terri let go of Stiles and looked around. "Lyn, Max, Sam—you're all here!"

Stiles was quite pleased with himself. Within minutes, Max was walking Terri down a makeshift isle and "giving her away" to Stiles. Sam, a former judge, performed the ceremony as Lyn and Max looked on.

By the time Stiles kissed his bride there wasn't a dry eye on the boat, musicians included. After the couple enjoyed their wedding cake and dancing, their friends said goodnight. But, Stiles had one last surprise for his wife.