"She wants to what?"
Rick stared at his wife, then saw she wasn't kidding.
"Robin wants to get married on Valentine's Day, in Las Vegas." Laurie repeated, her smile fading as she got a glimpse of her husband's face.
Anger, hurt, disappointment, all those and more.
Rick dropped his jacket on the sofa, then pulled off his holster and almost threw it onto the floor.
Almost, because his wife saw what he was about to do and caught it.
"Richard Simon, don't you ever do anything like that, it could have gone off!" Laurie yelled, a frightened tone to her voice. She carefully placed the weapon on the table, then realized she had raised her voice at her husband, and abruptly sat down on the sofa.
Rick stood there, staring at the gun, then caught sight of Laurie's upset expression.
"Rick, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I got scared, what's happened? Did something happen at work." she asked, reaching out to him.
At once Rick was in her arms, and he whispered, "I'm sorry, darlin', I shouldn't have done that, I know better, but, oh Laurie, I couldn't stop it, I wasn't fast enough."
"What, my love, are you all right, is A.J.? Tell me." she said, then heard him take a ragged breath.
"A kid, maybe twelve. He was shot during a stakeout with me and A.J. and Ron today.
He wasn't supposed to be there, but he was playing hooky. A robber grabbed him as a hostage at a convenience store, and then shot him when his mother ran toward him. If I had only been a little faster, I might have been able to pick off the bastard. Now the little guy's barely alive and the mother's blaming herself and...."
"I saw the footage on the news before you came in but I didn't know it was you guys. The commentator said you were a hero, that you tried to stop the woman before she panicked. You saved her life, Rick. I'm proud of you, don't second-guess yourself, please." Laurie told him, holding him as tightly as she could.
They remained together,, clinging to each other for a long while, until Rick felt his fear and self-doubt easing. Pulling back to gaze at his wife, he saw the understanding in her eyes, and he realized how much he needed her.
"Have I told you today that I love you, sweetheart." He said, letting out a deep breath then kissing her.
"Yes, Rick, but it sounds so beautiful the way you say it, I can handle hearing it again." She sighed, kissing under his ear, then meeting his lips with hers.
After a moment Rick chuckled as he sat back then said, "you know, Robin's idea about Las Vegas is our fault, she really associates the place with romance and all the good times we've had there." "I know, love, but I asked her to think about it, then talk to Ian. I know it would be fun for her, but what about him?" Laurie said, relieved that Rick was calm enough to discuss Robin's change of plans.
"My thoughtful girl, who taught you to be so understanding?" Rick pulled her onto his lap, then kissed her neck.
"You and A.J. and Mom." She replied, contentedly leaning back against him. Just then the gate buzzer went off, and he grumbled, "that better be family or else we're not home!"
Reaching for the remote intercom, he asked, "Who is it?"
"It's Ron and Abby, jeez, don't you ever look out your window?" the familiar voice teased.
Laughing, Rick stood up and hit the gate buzzer, then pretended to race Laurie to the window in time to see their friends pull up the driveway. "Darlin', I think Ron needs to talk, he was as upset as A.J. and I." Rick told her.
"I'm glad they came here, love, besides it's been been a week since I've talked to Abby." she replied, eager to ask the newlywed's opinion.
As the Johnsons came up the walk, Laurie opened the door and saw a suspicious bulge under Abby's coat.
Meeting her eyes, Laurie saw the hidden excitement and at once enveloped her in a hug.
"Say yes, Abby, are you....?" She whispered, then smiled joyfully as Abby answered tearfully "Yes!"
"I'm so happy for you." Laurie told her, then saw the looks on both husbands' faces.
"Go ahead, Ron, tell this matchmaker friend of yours." Abby sniffed, then grinned as he blushed bright red then answered, "We're having a baby."
Rick's mouth dropped open, then he embraced both of their friends, realizing how much this would mean to the two of them.
"Well, this is, I mean, I couldn't be happier, buddy." He hugged Abby, then saw her look at Laurie and smile.
"You were right, honey. He was worth waiting for." She reached out and clasped hands with Laurie then told Rick. "When you and A.J were in the hospital in San Diego, Laurie told me how long she had waited for a family, and that I would find one too, that it was worth the wait. Now I understand."
At that, Rick cleared his throat then jovially replied, "Well, in that case, we're celebrating, Any one for sparkling cider!"
Amid a burst of laughter from both women, Ron looked confused. "What's wrong with that?"
Laurie giggled as she led them into the house. "My favorite tough guys drinking cider, this is so funny!"
"You might think it's funny, honey, but I like beer, no mas for me, though!" Abby groused.
At that Ron laughed, "Oh, now I get it!" He elbowed Rick, who just shook his head then shooed Laurie out of the kitchen.
"You go talk to Abby, Ron and I need to have a heart to heart about fatherhood."
After a very boisterous dinner, enlivened by Robbie and Ramona coming by and having dessert with them, Ron and Abby accepted Rick's invitation to spend the night and Laurie immediately roped Abby into gathering eggs for breakfast. "That is, if you're willing to settle for my cooking"
"Sounds good to me. So Robin wants to go to Vegas for her wedding, I think that's fun. What did Ian have to say about it?" Abby picked up the basket full of eggs as Laurie closed up the barn.
Abby had discerned a little bit of tension in Rick when Ron had asked about the wedding plans.
"Believe it or not, Ian's the one who mentioned it, except he wants a theme wedding with himself and Robin in medieval dress. You know me, I love the idea. I think Rick is just having cold feet at letting his little girl go. Oh, Abby, I never knew he would be such a wonderful father when we married, I knew he cared about Robbie and Robin, but it just makes me so happy..." Laurie ducked her head looking for a Kleenex, only to find Abby offering first a tissue, then her shoulder.
"Honey, it's got to be emotional for you, seeing Robin ready to leave home." Abby dabbed her face, then smiled at the loud hiccup Laurie gave out.
"You're right, honey. It hit me today, I guess. Poor Rick came home and was so devastated by that shooting, after Robin told me what they wanted to do, I guess I was afraid of everything changing around me. But you know," Laurie cleared her throat and gazed at her friend. "As long as I have Rick and the kids and all of you, I can handle anything. That's why I've decided to concentrate on teaching and training a few horses. I'll do a little writing still, but no more appearances or book tours, even the couple I did last year made me too nervous."
"I didn't know, Laurie. You've always been so strong, honey. I think Rick will love to hear that you don't want to travel anymore." Abby hugged her then raised her head to see that both husbands were on the steps.
"Don't look now, but the guys are looking for us." she added, and Laurie giggled, a sense of relief settling in now that she had actually mentioned her plans.
"They're probably curious as to if we're talking about them."
Abby burst into laughter, then linked arms with Laurie. "Come on, honey, let's give them something to think about."
Taking the basket of eggs from her friend, Laurie started the ball rolling. "So, do you want to be a lady of the court or a wench, Rick and I are picking up the tab on the outfits. Plus you'll finally get to meet my cousins."
"I don't know, wench might be fun." Abby retorted, then smirked as Ron came walking over and took her in his arms.
"It's too cold for you out here, Abbs, let's get you inside." he said lovingly, and Rick grinned.
"Abbs, oh that's cute. Sweetheart, give me that, you bad girls are going to catch cold." he reached for the eggs with one hand and Laurie with the other.
"Bad girls, oh Rick that's funny." she snickered, then rubbed noses with him as they went into the house.
"Oh, darlin'." Rick kissed the tip of her nose, then put the eggs in the refridgerator. "I like it when you're naughty, but your face is icy, I'm going to make some tea."
Abby shivered as the warmth of the house enveloped them. "You're right, babe, it really is cold."
Ron immediately made both women sit by the fireplace, and soon everyone was warmed up with mugs of tea. Laurie nudged Rick as she sat in his arms, watching how Ron was waiting on Abby.
"I know, angel. He's really happy with her." Rick said quietly, enjoying the sight of his long-time friends together, feeding each other cookies.
"I'm glad, darling. Speaking of happy." she lifted her face to his and kissed him.
"Are you, sweetheart?" Rick gazed at her, then smiled as she nodded, then laid her head against his chest. "Anytime I'm with you I'm happy. That's why I was thinking about not doing anymore book store appearances or traveling. I'm so much more comfortable teaching and raising the horses, and staying home, love. I still want to write, but I really don't have any more of Grandmother's stories to tell, at least any I would publish. What I would write is about people, like the Chief. What do you think, Rick?"
Laurie looked up to see her husband's expression.
Rick let out a sigh of relief. "What do I think? Do you mean next week's Book Fair will be your last appearance?" she nodded, then he kissed her and stroked her hair as he spoke.
"Thank you, darlin'. I love the idea of you being home with me, I worry so much whenever you're away. I know you have a lot to say in your stories, but, I think a book about the Chief would be great. A.J. and I have cut back on our work enough that I could, say, have you teach me how to train the horses?"
"Rick, oh love that would be great, thank you!" Excited, she put her arms around his neck and kissed him all over. "Sweetheart, anything for you." Rick told her with a wicked grin, then stood up and took her into his arms.
"Hey, hey, get a room you two!" Ron teased, standing up then pulling Abby to her feet.
"Good idea, pal. I think I'll take you up on that!" Rick laughed, then exchanged hugs with his friends.
Laurie went and got Abby and Ron some night things and blankets, then wished them goodnight as Rick finished closing up.
Once the guest room was silent, Rick took his wife's hand. "Come here my princess."
She smiled up at him. "Yes, my lord." then put her arms around his neck as he picked her up.
"Your wish is my desire." he whispered, to which she replied "you are my desire." as he carried her to their room and shut the door.