Emma's heart swelled with pride as she watched the Games Master present Gerry with a bouquet of flowers. Then her husband lowered his head so that he could be awarded the gold medal. Looking over she could see the tears spilling down her mother in law, Jean's cheeks and with the look of ultimate accomplishment and satisfaction plastered across her husband's face, the reality of the moment set in. As the National Anthem began to play, Emma could no longer contain her joy.

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

The crowd erupted in applause and triumphantly Gerry raised his arms. As he was wheeled from the gold medal platform, he was greeted by Coach Bill Yoast. Coach Yoast, the man who had been by Gerry's side for so many years. They had been through everything together, so many victories on the football field and now one more at the Wheelchair Olympics. Perhaps this one, achieved after so many lingering physical and emotional obstacles, was the sweetest of all. Emma smiled as she watched the coach blink back tears of his own before leaning down and whispering into Gerry's ear. Gerry laughed and the two men embraced, as Yoast placed a tender kiss on the younger man's forehead. It was a golden kiss from coach to athlete stemming from the uncontrollable joy of victory and the proud sense of accomplishment in the face of so much uncertainty.

"Sugar, I did it!" he grinned. "I really did it."

He caressed the medal. At first glance it was just a disc suspended from a brightly colored ribbon. But only those who had worked so hard to earn it could understand its true value. Only they would really know the honor, dedication and sacrifice required to win.

"Yes you did, sweetie. I am so proud of you."

He pulled her down onto his lap before planting a huge kiss on her lips.

"We did it, Emma. You and I. We did this one together."

"What are you talking about?" she teased. "You did all the hard work. I was just there in the background."

"You know what I mean. Sugar, this medal belongs to you just as much as it does to me. I just wanted to tell you that. And I wanted to say thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything. Most of all for loving me and always standing by me no matter what. For so many years now you've been my best friend, my biggest confidante, my strongest supporter and my sweetest lover. It's been a rough road and I've hit a few bumps but every time I did, you were always right there by my side. In my darkest hours when there was so much uncertainty, there were times when I didn't know if I'd make it...times I didn't even know if I wanted to. But through it all you were there like you've always been. Just like an angel sitting on my shoulder."

She smiled and stroked his face. She had always loved Gerry and they had always been there for each other but lately things had changed...for the better. Sure it was a long, winding and devastating road to recovery following the death of their child but somehow, someway, they had gotten through the pain and made it...together. In the year and a half following the tragedy, the couple had grown closer and fallen even more in love. Emma had resumed working and Gerry had thrown himself into the rigors of training with Coach Yoast but their bond had only deepened.

"I'll always be there for you, Gerry, today, tomorrow and forever. You're never getting rid of me so you might as well get used to it."

"And I never want to", he smiled. "I mean it, Emma. I love you. I really love you, sugar. And right now, this very moment...well, it's one of the best of my life. That's only because you're here to share it with me. I know we've both been through a lot with the accident and with losing Christopher and all but I just have a good feeling about us and our lives. Like it's all gonna just keep getting better, you know? I feel like I have so much to look forward to, so much to live for. My heart is just bursting with energy and love. Heck, I know it sounds corny but..."

"No...it doesn't sound corny. Gerry, it sounds beautiful."

And it truly did. It had been so long since she had seen his eyes light up that way. It was as if the whole world waited at their feet.

"You know what I think?"

"What's that?"

"I say we should start traveling."

"Traveling?" Emma laughed. "Sweetie, where on earth do you want to go?"

"Everywhere! The moon!"

"I doubt the van will make it that far", she laughed.

"Well how about camping in the mountains? The ocean? Fishing? Just packing up and letting the van take us to wherever it wants to until we run out of gas!"

His newfound enthusiasm along with their rejuvenated happiness was contagious.

"Gerry Bertier, are you serious?"

"Hell yeah! Never been more serious in my life. It's time I started living and doing all the things I've always wanted to do. I mean, what's stopping me? Life is so sweet and so precious and so short. Emma, there is so much I want to do...and I want to do it all with you."

"Okay", she smiled.

"Okay? Just like that?"

"Just like that" she grinned. "What can I say? You talked me into it."

"Super!"

"So when do these adventures begin?"

"I don't know but soon. We'll have to plan. I have a big speaking engagement down at Virginia Tech next Wednesday. I'm going to speak to the students about football and what it was like being a Titan that season we won and just also about life and the wheelchair and everything I've experienced."

"Good for you, honey. That's great. You have quite a story to tell and I think it'll be good for you to share it with other people, especially young people. I'm proud of you, Gerry."

"Thanks...Emma?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Will you be there? Will you come and watch me speak? It would mean a lot."

She grinned as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Of course, sweetheart. There is no other place I'd rather be."

"Good. I just feel better knowing you'll be there. I'm kind of nervous about it. Anyway, all we have to do is get through next week and then it's on to the moon."

"To the moon!" she repeated.

"I have a good feeling about this. Emma."

"About what?"

"About us...about life...about everything."

She could only nod as she kissed him again. There had been bad times but the rough roads were all behind them now. Everything was going to be okay. The smile on Gerry's face and the twinkle in his eye told her that and she loved him for it. For his passion and his sincerity and his enthusiasm and most importantly, his heart. Gold medal or not, Gerry Bertier had always had the heart of a champion.