Authors Note: Thanks so much to Sundiata and Beth Smith for all their reviews, thoughts, constructive criticism, opinions, kind words and interest with this story. Most of all thanks for inspiration that came to me from your own great writings. I really appreciate everything and I hope you continue to enjoy the chapters.

"So how did you like the movie?"

"It was okay", Gerry shrugged.

"Just okay?"

"Alright, alright. You win. It was a good movie, Emma. I really liked it."

"And..."

"And what? That's it."

"No. Say, 'Emma, you are the wisest and the greatest and you know everything and I'm sorry I ever doubted you and never will again'."

"The movie wasn't that great", Gerry grinned. "Rocky was better."

The couple laughed and joked as they left the local movie theater after watching One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. The topic of what movie they would see was usually the source of all their disagreements. Emma would scoff and pretend to be difficult especially when Gerry chose manly, action adventure or sports movies and Gerry would throw mock fits at the mere suggestion of love stories, tearjerkers and "chick flicks" but in their hearts it really didn't matter. They cherished their "date nights" and the picture on the screen was nothing more than a technicality. Emma just loved being with Gerry and he loved being with her.

"Come on sugar, let's take a walk and roll."

Emma laughed. From the moment they were first a couple, taking walks were always a favorite pastime for Gerry and Emma. Nothing had changed over the years except for Gerry's wheelchair confinement so he had affectionately renamed their hobby a "walk and roll".

"Sure thing, baby", she smiled. "Gosh the weather is getting so nice. I love it when it's warm out."

They made small talk about nothing and everything at the same time as they made their way through the semi busy streets of Alexandria.

"Coach Yoast and I are going down to Fredericksburg next week to do some more training for the Wheelchair Olympics", Gerry excitedly shared. "I want to make sure I'm prepared for the big games."

"That's great, honey."

"You'll be there won't you, Emma? At the games."

She ran her fingers through his hair. Didn't he know by now? Whether he was breaking heads on the football field or inspiring hearts from his chair at a special games, Emma would be there no matter what, grinning proudly and cheering loudly from the stands.

"Of course baby."

"We were looking at all the events and..."

Emma's mind temporarily drifted from the conversation to a small shop directly to her left. It was the new bridal boutique that had just opened. Inside Emma could see a young girl around her age. She was smiling nervously into a mirror as a seamstress fitted her into her gown. Wedding dresses were on display everywhere. Just the very thought brought tears to Emma's eyes. Since she was a young girl she had dreamed of the day when she would be married. Her wedding would be outside, the afternoon of a hot July day. There would be friends and family and lots of flowers. Her father would walk her down the aisle and then present her to be joined forever with her knight in shining armor.

"...I'm really excited and they're gonna do the games in D.C. I feel more confident with Coach Yoast beside me. Heck, we've been winning together for ten years now. Emma? Sugar?"

"Huh? Oh I'm sorry. You were saying something, Gerry?"

He looked at the peculiar expression on her face through narrowed eyes. Something was obviously on her mind.

"Nothing. Why don't we go over to the park?"

Emma nodded and carefully guided his chair over to a bench where she took a seat.

"Today was a nice day", Gerry commented.

"It sure was."

"Beautiful weather...good movie. I like it when we spend time together like this."

"Me too."

"If it keeps warming up, maybe we can have a picnic this weekend or a cook out over at Julius's place."

"Okay."

"I was talking to Alan Bosley this morning and..."

"Gerry, I want to marry you", Emma blurted out.

The words had been buried deep inside her for so long and finally it was like a volcano of raw emotion that had erupted.

"What?"

"I said...I said I want to marry you", she repeated.

Gerry was silent for a moment, not quite knowing how to react.

"Yeah Alan and Petey went fishing last week and..."

"Gerry did you hear what I just said?"

"Yeah, I heard you", he finally replied.

"Well if you heard me then why are we discussing Petey and Alan's fishing trip?"

"Emma, you know I can't marry you", he said in a quiet voice.

Fresh tears sprung to her eyes.

"Why not?"

"Because I love you too much."

"Gee, that makes sense", she muttered sarcastically.

"You are a wonderful girl. You're kind and smart and funny and loyal and so pretty. You're the total package Emma and you deserve the best. Honey, I'm not the best."

"Oh God, here we go again. Gerry, please don't do this. Didn't we go through all this last year when we got back together?"

"Now you're talking marriage, Emma. That's serious. It's a lifetime commitment."

"I know that."

"I don't think you do. You just don't get it. Anyway, I care too much to let you throw the rest of your life away with someone like me."

"Throw my life away? Gerry, are you high?" Emma demanded.

"No. I think I'm the only one who is using common sense."

Now Emma was angry.

"Common sense? Common sense! You stubborn, selfish, self righteous jerk! How dare you say that to me?"

"Emma..."

"I love you Gerry. I love you and I have been by your side for forever. And I don't want to leave and I'm not gonna. Doesn't that count for something?"

"It's more complicated than that. Emma, you know I love you. I just want you to have a normal life with a normal husband."

"I don't want a normal life! I don't want a normal husband! I want you, you fool!" Emma practically shrieked.

Gerry had to laugh. Man, she was super cute when she got mad at him.

"Emma, for one second don't think that I don't want to spend the rest of my life with you. I do. I love you, sugar. I...I just want you to be sure. I don't want you to wake up next month, next year, ten years from now with regrets."

"I love you, Gerry Bertier. I have loved you since I was a little girl. I love you madly, passionately, deeply and without condition. You are my life. You complete me. I can't and won't imagine one day without you and the way you make me feel. And I know you love me the same way. We were meant to be. It's about you and me and our love, that wheelchair has nothing to do with it. When I look at you Gerry I don't see that chair. I see a beautiful man with a beautiful face and a beautiful mind and a beautiful heart. I see your spirit and that's why I love you. I see a whole man and you're all the man that I'll ever need or want. That won't change, I promise you."

"Emma, I don't...look, the doctors still don't know whether or not I can have children. I know how much you love kids and that you always wanted a big family."

"Maybe you can, maybe you can't. If you can have kids then I know we'll make lots of beautiful babies and be incredibly loving parents and you'll have the pleasure of seeing me barefoot and pregnant all the time. If you can't have kids, then we'll adopt. There are plenty of children right here in Alexandria that need a good home. Either way it doesn't matter. Gerry, we have so much love to give...baby as long as we're together, we can do anything. Our love can do anything."

Gerry fought back tears. Emma had more than proved herself over the years. When had she gotten so tough? Her strength, her beauty, her persistence only made him love her more.

"I just wish..."

"What Gerry?"

"I wished that I would have asked you first", he grinned sheepishly.

"Well you still can. Technically, I didn't ask you to marry me...I kind of ordered you to. So we still have one more chance at tradition."

"So much for tradition", he smiled. "Well, I don't have a ring and I can't get down on one knee. But I do love you Emma. And I promise to love you and honor you and take care of you for the rest of our lives if you'll have me. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

A tear slid down her cheek.

"Yes. Yes Gerry. I will marry you."

She kissed his lips.

"Now you're finally right, Emma."

"What do you mean?"

"Now I'm finally whole."