Epilogue
"Rob, you look fantastic!" Robin couldn't believe how handsome her brother was in his "Range Rider" suit, a slightly different version of his father's present.
"Thanks, Robin, but you look pretty good too. Sure you want Ian to see you in that get up, he may not want to wait until next year!" Robbie teased, trying to cover his emotions at seeing his little sister so stylish in an old-fashioned maid of honor dress.
"Rob, don't you dare scare him off! He's just now getting used to the idea of you for a brother and Uncle Oscar and Uncle Rudy breathing down his neck." She warned, than laughed at the mental picture.
A knock sounded on the door, "Robbie, are you and your sister ready?" Oscar stuck his head in the door, then stood smiling at both of them.
"I was just looking for two children I used to know, instead I see a couple of very handsome adults." he began, only to be interrupted by Robin and Robbie giving him a hug.
"We'll always be those children, Uncle Oscar, we're just a little bigger these days!" Robbie managed, as Robin sniffed then nodded her thanks for the hankerchief Oscar passed her.
"Well, you both make me very proud, now speaking of children, where's, oh," Oscar stopped in mid-sentence, as Laurie came out of the bride's room of the church, a teary-eyed Cecilia following her. Wearing a pale ivory and lace dress, patterned after one her Great-grandmother wore for her wedding, Laurie came and without a word went into Oscar's embrace.
"You are as beautiful as the day you first got married." The big man said, choking back the tears. "Thank you, Dad, for being so sentimental!" she beamed at him, then kissed his cheek. Cecilia smiled at the big man. "Oscar, you look so distinguished, we should have weddings more often!"
Blushing, Oscar offered her his arm and escorted her to the front of the little church.
"Mama, you look so pretty!" Robin and Robbie stared at how youthful their mother looked, then she enfolded them in her arms.
"I have both of you to thank for how I look, you make me feel special everyday!" she kissed both of her children, then saw Rudy trying to get their attention.
"Rick is getting impatient, missy, you'd think he'd never been married before!" he smirked, then kissed her. "Now I know why, he's got the loveliest bride in town."
"That's because I'm the luckiest bride, I have the best family." Laurie dropped a kiss on his cheek as she linked arms with both Oscar and Rudy.
Going ahead of them to the vestibule, Robbie went to stand next to Rick and Steve and A.J., as he had fifteen years before. Rick looked at his tall son, then glanced at the full pews on both sides of the church.
It was to have been "just family" for their "re-marriage", but after Laurie's illness and the way everyone had helped out around the ranch while Rick was off his feet, they wanted to share their day with all their friends. When almost all responses came back "we'll be there", Father Nick got permission to use the local Church. Only her cousins could not make it due to a conference, but Barnabas, Carolyn and David had promised to come for Thanksgiving this year and Robin was taking lots of pictures to send.
Of course they had kept their wedding outfits for each other a secret; Rick had teased Laurie about her "skimpy" wedding dress, but he could hardly wait to see the replica of Grandmother Kasey's outfit on his wife.
"Buck hardly recognized you, Rick, you sure look good in his suit." A.J. had ragged on him when he came out of the changing room. All he knew was that Laurie had given him something that he would pass on to Robbie and then Andy someday, and he intended not to mess it up one bit!
"Now we have a lot of family on both sides, Pop." Robbie whispered, bringing a smile to the older Simon. "Yes, son, our family." he put an arm around Robbie, wistfully recalling that day.
Father Nick came forward then, and nodded to Ian, who signaled Oscar.
Suddenly the music started, and as the strains of Rachmonioff sounded, first Robin, then Linda and Jaime came down the aisle, then took their places as Oscar and Rudy escorted Laurie to Rick's side. Rick couldn't take his eyes off his wife, then he saw her blush and realized she saw the desire in his face.
Father Nick grinned as Laurie's surrogate father told Rick, "I still have my eye on you, son." then put Laurie's hand in his.
As husband and wife turned to their friend, Rick winked at Laurie, then tried to settle down as Father Nick shook his head at them, then addressed the gathering.
"If at first you don't succeed..." he started, drawing a laugh.
"Thank you all who came to this joyous day, the rededication of two people who have truly lived their vows. Through hard times and good, sickness and health, natural and man-made disasters, Rick and Laurie have endured. They have chosen to renew their pledge to each other twice before, and each time I am amazed at the effect their example has had on others.
Rick and Laurie have gathered strength not only from their family, but a legion of friends who have supported them for the last fifteen years. They taught that strength to an entire community who is richer for their efforts. Now, I won't say that your marriage is perfect, "the priest eyed the two Simons as they blushed and laughed. "But it is as close to true harmony as I have every seen, including that of your parents, Rick."
Cecilia nodded her thanks to Father Nick then clasped hands with Chief Joseph as he continued, "The only thing I would offer to you for the next fifteen years is to listen. Hear what each of you needs as opposed to wants. That is the only thing that would ever hurt your relationship, or cause you pain. Listen to each other, and everything else falls into place."Rick thought back to those times he hadn't paid attention, then he felt Laurie's eyes on him and he squeezed her hand. "I promise." he "told" her.
"Me too." she whispered, intertwining her fingers with his.
"Well, that's all I have to say, now it's your turn." Father Nick grinned as Rick nervously turned to his wife. "Instead of repeating their vows by rote, Laurie and Rick have each chosen a verse of commitment to each other."
Laurie gazed up at Rick, then said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, for your God is my God; your family is my family. Wherever you go, I shall follow, for Rick, not only have you given me so much laughter and friendship and love, but you are my strength, the brave knight who protects me from all harm and the love of my life. I love you."
Moved, Rick wiped the tears from his eyes, then took a deep breath.
"Love is patient, love is kind, love finds no faults and knows no boundries." He stopped, then spoke from his heart. "You are all these things and more to me,Laurie. I cherish every day we've spent together, for the happiness, and joy, and fun you share. You are love itself, sweetheart. You are my Light, and I love you."
Laurie couldn't help it, she cupped his wet face in her hands and kissed him, then Rick put his arms around her and kissed her back. Sniffing was heard around them, as Cecilia hunted for a hankerchief and ended up with one from Temple Brown.
Father Nick finally cleared his throat, and breathless, husband and wife turned back to him, holding hands.
"Now that you have told God and all of us of your commitment to each other, I bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What God and you have joined, let no one put asunder. In other words, nobody mess with these two, or you'll have me to answer to!" he added, as the gathering laughed.
"Okay, Rick, you know the next part." Rick smiled, then took Laurie in his arms again and kissed her. "May I present after 15 years, still Mr. and Mrs. Richard Simon."
As applause filled the church, Rick whispered to Laurie "Want to go to Vegas?"
Excited, she replied "Yes!" then giggled as he whirled her around.
Setting Laurie down, Rick took her hand and pulled her down the aisle, only to stop halfway when Laurie said, "wait, darling, my bouquet!"
Turning, she spotted Abby in the middle of the church and airmailed her flowers right to her.
Surprised, the chief of detectives nearly dropped them, then waved at her and said "Thanks, now convince him!", pointing at Captain Ron.
Open mouthed, the two Simons watched as Ron Johnson crossed the aisle, then kissed Abby right in front of everyone. "Oh my, since when?" Laurie asked joyfully as Rick led her outside, saying "when you were in the hospital, darling. She was bunking at his place, I guess they knew each other years ago, and, well..."
"I love it, darling! Wait a minute, where's Robin and Robbie, I want to say good bye real quick." She stopped at his truck, now decked out with silver flowers.
"Mom!" Robbie rushed up out of breath, grinning. "I love you, son, you and Ramona be good!"She hugged him, then embraced her daughter as she ran from the front of the church. "Pop, you be careful driving, both hands on the wheel now!" Robbie teased his father, then hugged him tightly as Rick whispered, "I love you, son, thanks for taking care of things!"
"You mean squirt, don't worry, I'll have her in by curfew!" Robbie joked, then put an arm around his sister as Rick helped Laurie in, then climbed in the truck and started it up.
As they drove away, Laurie started to laugh as a rattling noise sounded from the back of the truck, and Rick pretended to swear as he got out and found oil cans tied to the back of the bumper. "All right, I bet ten to one odds that was my baby brother who did that!" he groused, climbing back into the cab.
"That's too funny, Rick, we'll have to think of something equally as good for his anniversary!", she giggled.
"Nothing will be as good as what we had, darlin'! Thank you for my great suit, Buck was so funny about my wearing it!" Rick put his arm around her and she leaned against his shoulder.
"I'm glad, darling. Thank you for my dress, it's so beautiful. I promised to take care of it for Robin, she would like to wear it for....", Laurie sniffed, feeling sentimental. "For her wedding, sweetheart?"
Rick finished, then sighed. "I know, Laurie, she's ready to leave our home, but at least we've given her a head start."
"Thanks to her very doting dad." she smiled, then wiped a tear off his cheek.
"And a very devoted mother!" Rick replied with a kiss.
Just then a horn sounded behind them, and a limousine pulled behind them.
Grinning, Rick pulled over to his wife's puzzlement, then teased her.
"Did you think you were going to wear that for the next three days, sweetheart?"
"Oh, I forgot, you're right. The only reason I have my purse is that Robin handed it to me, is that for us?" Laurie gasped, then hugged her husband as he came around and opened the door for her.
"Yep, I decided three hundred plus miles was too far to drive, I want to spend some quality time with my anniversary girl!" he kissed her, then snickered as she realized who was driving the limo.
"Boy, when you make up your mind, you really do it up right!" she said happily, embracing both Ron Johnson and Abby, who exited the car and opened the back of the limo for them.
"Surprised, sweetie, you could have hit me with a two by four when he proposed, we decided then and there to elope with you. Is that okay?" Abby asked, suddenly shy.
"Of course, honey, I love it! Rick, did you know they were going to do this?" she hugged him as he admitted, "yes, I knew Ron wanted to marry Abby, but they needed just the right push. When I told Ron what I'd planned, well..."
"Well what, Rick?" The chief detective smiled at his San Diego counterpart.
"Well, you just needed a little push, so offering the limo was a good way to do it!" Rick smirked at his friend.
"All right, Mr. Simon, let's get this show on the road. Okay, A.J.!" Ron laughed as A.J. popped his head out of the limo, then embraced his brother and sister-in-law.
"You sneaky little brother, you really fooled me!" Rick shook his head then gave the younger Simon the keys to the truck.
"What can I say, except," A.J. hugged his brother. "Happy Anniversary!"
