"Shhh, Mike, simmer down, you're going to wake your mother." Rick scolded his dog, then handed the leash back to Robin as he started to close the door.

"Give me five minutes, honey. She had a nightmare last night, I want to make sure she's okay."

"Sure, Pop. I won't start the eggs until then." His daughter smiled, then leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, Pop, you take such good care of Mom and all of us."

Moved, Rick opened the door again to hug Robin. "Thank you, Birdie, that's all I want to do. Now, just knock when you're ready."

Closing the door, Rick wiped his eyes, then stole back into the bed where his birthday girl lay sleeping.

He watched her breathing peacefully, grateful that three days after their ordeal, her arm was healing and she'd only had the one nightmare. Robbie and Laurie had both talked about what had happened in the cave, but only in listening to her statement did Rick truly understand the horror his wife had faced.

At least she were spared having to testify against Jake Dennis, the former deputy openly admitted his guilt and would be going to prison for a long time. When Sheriff Rob opened the silver box the robbers had been after, he discovered thousands of dollars of cash and priceless jewels. "That was their take from the other robberies they had done earlier in the month, Rick. Every town they worked in had several vacation homes ripped off." he had explained.

Now Laurie seemed to have most of her strength back, and with Rudy's discovery that the iron-enriched vitamins they were both taking had affected their "link", things were slowly getting back to normal.

Careful not to disturb the bandage on her injured arm, he wrapped himself around his wife, then kissed her neck. "Good morning, my princess."

"Mmmm, I love your waking me up, please do it again?." Laurie snuggled against him as he dropped kisses all over her face. "Your wish is my command, sweetheart. Happy Birthday."

"Thank you, darling." She opened her eyes, then he was startled by the sad expression on her face.

"Rick, I really got myself and Abby into danger this time. I feel so bad, maybe she's right, maybe I get into too much trouble by not thinking."

"Laurie, what on...,darlin', you didn't do anything wrong. Where did you get the idea Abby thinks that?" Rick was upset, then saw the confusion in her eyes.

"Rick, Abby once told me I got into too much trouble and you and A.J. were always having to bail me out. At the time I thought she was just jealous, but..I should have backed off immediately when she said to."

Rick cupped his hands gently around her face."Sweetheart, she was upset when she said that, as for backing off, she's glad now you two didn't, Randolph told Rob he and Fischer were going to knock Towne and Temple out when they came home. They might have been killed if you two hadn't interrupted them."

Laurie gazed at him, then put her good arm around him and kissed him passionately.

"Thank you, darling. I do promise to be more careful, and to get on Brick faster." she promised between kisses.

Out of breath, Rick finally released her lips. "That's my girl, I love you, my angel. Whatever you want is yours."

Laurie's face beamed with joy as she whispered, "What I want is you, only you. You are my happiness, love. Never without you."

His only answer was to bury his mouth in hers, only to have a soft knock on the door interrupt him.

"Laurie….." he groaned against her lips.

"Let me guess, Rick, is that breakfast?" Laurie giggled, then laughed as both their stomachs rumbled.

"It better be, sweetheart. I need to feed my birthday girl." He snickered, sitting up, then pulling out one of her presents to put around her shoulders.

"Ohhhhh, darling, it's beautiful." Laurie lit up at the jade velour lounging jacket, then Rick helped her put on the matching short gown.

"Thank you, Rick, I love it!" she kissed him.

"Pop?"

Robin's voice interrupted them again.

Chuckling, Rick called, "We're ready, come on in."

At once the door opened and Ceci came bouncing in, "Happy Birthday Auntie!"

Laurie held out her arms and the little girl vaulted onto the bed then carefully hugged Laurie.

"How's your owwie, Auntie, did Uncle Rick make it better?" she asked, then Rick tried not to laugh as his wife embraced her niece. "Yes, he did, Ceci, all better. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah!"

At that Robbie and Ramona and Robin and Ian piled into the room, bearing trays and children, and Rick laughed to see Laurie's face at all the food being passed around. There was a knock on the back door, then as Cecilia came in, Temple and Towne and Ron and Abby followed with a basket of cut fruit.

"Honey, you made all this, this morning?" she asked as everyone settled in around TV trays Ian had brought in.

"Well, Mom, Pop and Ian did help." Robin smiled, then giggled as Rick put a hurt face on. "Helped, heck I made the bacon!"

"And I baked the biscuits." Ian chimed in. Towne held up a bandaged thumb, "And I …."

"Okay, Towne, never mind!" Rick threw a grape at him.

"Well, to all the cooks, thank you for a wonderful breakfast!" Laurie bestowed kisses on each of the "helpers."

When all the dishes were empty, Robbie and Ian cleared everything away, then a pile of presents surfaced in front of her. "You guys, breakfast was a present enough!" Laurie was teary-eyed until Lala held out her arms and squealed "Nana!"

"You mean for me, thank you, Lala!" she beamed as Ramona handed her only granddaughter to her.

With "help" from the children, Laurie had fun in opening the various gift bags and boxes. "You sure you have enough clothing now?" Rick teased, as she held up the watered silk outfit Temple had picked up for him.

"Yes, silly. Enough so I can come into your office and surprise you every time!" she replied, winking at him. Amid the laughter, Rick wriggled his eyebrows back then kissed her amid an enthusiastic "Yuck!" from Andy.

"One of these days, son, he won't be saying that!" Rick chuckled at his son's red face.

"I don't know about that, Pop, he does the same with us!"

When she finished oohing over her new pendant and earrings, she came to the last box. Laurie saw the telltale handwriting on the tag, then glanced at her suddenly bashful husband.

Opening up the small, flat box, she found a turquoise and black leash, then a black streak hit the bed.

"A puppy, you got me a puppy? Oh, hello, love!" she gasped in between licks.

"His name is Rex, Grandma, I helped get him." Andy told her proudly, then Rick quietly said, "he's Mike's son, sweetheart. Seems the Chief had a visitor with a Scottish Terrier, and Mike made friends rather quickly!"

"Mike, oh you stinker!" Laurie giggled then welcomed the older dog on the bed, noticing with a pang that his injured leg was still stiff.

Mike snuffed at the frolicking Rex, then settled down in her lap, causing Rex to do the same as if playing a game.

"Rick, thank you so much, I love him!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck, then whispering, "And I love you too, thank you for spoiling me."

"You're welcome, Laurie." He returned, then told Andy, "Cover your eyes, another yuck!"

At that Mike looked up then covered his eyes with his paw, reducing the happy group to hysterics.

"Okay, I think we need to get up now, we've got more surprises coming." Rick managed, wiping his eyes.

As the doors closed behind their family, Rick felt a shudder go through his wife, then he saw her bury her head in the sleeping puppies' fur.

"Darlin', what's wrong, what hurts.?" He stroked her hair, then let out a deep breath as she raised her face and wiped her eyes.

"I'm all right, Rick. I was just so happy, then I remembered how down Dad was yesterday. He's not blaming himself about the transmitters, is he?"

"Oh, no, Laurie. He's just been thinking he shouldn't have gotten so angry with the Secretary. It's not his fault, he knows that." Rick was relieved at her smile, then he felt her hands caress his face.

"Darling, I should have warned you I get emotional at birthdays, but, I'm so lucky. When I look in the mirror, I don't see a woman who's 50, I see your girl, the one who feels special every day. The best thing is..." She blushed then met his eyes. "I get to show you every day how I feel."

"Well, after lunch, you can show me again." He returned archly, then took her in his arms.

As promised, Rick had several surprises lined up for his wife's birthday lunch, including an old home movie his mother found showing Rick and Laurie and A.J. playing together and celebrating A.J.'s birthday. As the tape ended, Cecilia wiped her eyes, then looked at her children.

"Well, this is one birthday that didn't end up with A.J. getting ice cream all down his shirt or Rick getting into a fight with one of the guests."

"Oh, I don't know, Mom, day's still young." Rick teased, leaning back in his chair to flick his brother's ear.

"Rick! That's so adult." A.J. complained, drawing laughter from Ricky and Ceci.

"All right, time for a toast to the birthday girl." Oscar spoke up, then quietly slipped a piece of paper into a picture frame.

Standing up, he looked at Laurie, who smiled up at him from her perch on Rick's lap.

"27 years ago, I met a very brave young woman. The way she trusted those of us who took care of her won my heart from the very beginning. Then, when I found out she was my brother's grandchild, I vowed I'd make sure she never was without my love and protection.

I didn't know how difficult it would be, but, honey…." Oscar walked over to her and took her hand. "I want you to have this. I've called you my daughter for several years now, but this makes it official."

Laurie gazed at the double picture frame, one side showing a photo of herself and Oscar and Rick on their wedding day, the other holding a certificate of adoption from the state of Arizona.

"Oh, Dad." Her eyes filled with tears, but her joy was evident in her face as she stood up and embraced him.

"Thank you, thank you for being my father in every way. I love you." She sniffed.

"I love you too, baby," Oscar kissed her, then managed a grin as Rick wiped his eyes then added, "Guess that makes you my official father-in-law, huh?"

Amid the laughter, Oscar hugged Rick then pretended to eye Cecilia sternly. 'Well, Cecilia, perhaps I should find out your son's intentions toward my daughter."

She shook her head, chuckling. "Too late for that, Oscar, I don't mind sharing her though."

Rudy broke through the merriment, "Oscar, you forgot something, isn't there a toast involved here too?"

"Well, that's my privilege." A familiar voice announced, and Father Nick entered the room to hugs from the children and a heartfelt embrace from each of the Simons..

"Rick, darling, I should have known! Father, Rick told me you had to go to a conference for the Bishop!" she exclaimed, as Robbie brought him a chair.

"Hmmm, well, I think bending the truth for a good cause is acceptable." Their old friend smiled, then took a glass of punch from Robin.

"Besides, I did go to the conference, and the next time I have to do a Marriage Encounter, I have orders to bring my four best couples!" Father Nick bragged.

Rick put his arms around Laurie as Father waited until all the joking died down, then he became serious.

"Normally, Oscar, I'd defer to the birthday girls parents when giving a toast, but…" he looked at her, then put his hand on her hair, "I want to do this in honor of all the people whose lives she's touched. Laurie, I just want to give you a blessing, that all the good you have done in your fifty years comes back to you and your family a hundred-fold. And that you will always be protected from those who would take your piece of mind and security from you."

Everyone was quiet as Father blessed her, then he simply raised his glass and said "Happy Birthday to our girl!"

As everyone raised their glasses, Laurie wiped her eyes and hugged Father Nick. "Thank you, you've always been there for me. You gave me hope when as a child I didn't have much." She looked at all of them then added, "As have all my family when things have been bad. Thank you for sharing my birthday, and…" she looked at Rick, who was frantically hunting for a Kleenex. "Thank you, Rick, for making me so very happy. I love you."

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart." He choked, then swept her up in his arms and kissed her to the "awwwww" from their friends.

Suddenly a voice popped up. "Mom, is Uncle Rick and Auntie Laurie going to do that all day?"

Everyone laughed as Rick cleared his throat then smiled at the culprit. "What do you think, Ricky?"

Andy nudged his cousin, "He means yes. Mama and Papa do the same thing."

Robbie turned red as Ramona giggled, "Busted."

Ricky suddenly grinned that Simon smile. "Okay, but can we go riding first?" A.J. groaned, as Laurie winked at her nephew, "I think we can manage that!"

As the daylight faded, a very tired group of riders put their horses away under the watchful eye of Robbie, who taught Andy and Ricky and Joey and Ceci how to feed their mounts.

Rick and Laurie sat in the patio, content to watch Mike playing with Rex, and kibitz as their son wearily shooed the children inside. Rick stole a look at his watch, waiting for Oscar to return with the last of his "surprises" for his wife.

"Mom, I don't know how you get them to listen to you." Robbie collapsed next to his father then chuckled as Laurie passed him a glass of ice tea.

"I just talk to them like I talk to your father, darling. Except for Ceci, of course."

"What do you say to her, sweetheart?" Rick smirked as she replied "Yes, no you can't, and no, the horsy can't sleep in your room."

"Sis, she doesn't!" A.J. came out of the kitchen, then shook his head as Laurie told him, "Oh yes she does, she's going to be one of those teenagers who'd rather have a horse then a boyfriend."

"Well, now that's okay. At least it would be easier to manage a horse then a boyfriend." A.J. looked pleased, then yelled "Ow!" when Linda swatted him.

"Very funny, A.J.. A horse indeed!" she laughed, then squealed as A.J. plopped next to his brother then pulled Linda into his embrace.

"Rather have you then a horse, Linny." He whispered, then proved it with a kiss.

"That's more like it." Linda sighed.

Just then Cecilia came out of the house, stopping to survey her children and grandson.

"Penny for your thoughts, Mom." Rick saw a wistful look on her face.

"I was thinking, this is the best part of being a parent, to see your children, and their children happy and together at the end of the day."

"And it's all because of you, Mom." A.J. spoke up, then Laurie stood up and hugged her.

"Thank you for my family, Mom. I wouldn't be so happy if you and Uncle Jack hadn't let me come to dinner that first day. Remember?"

"I do, honey. The boys came running in, all excited because what their new friend did to the class bully." Cecilia sat down next to Laurie, then put an arm around her as she reminisced about that day.

Soon the Simons were surrounded by their children and their friends, listening to the start of a friendship.

As the front door bell rang, Rudy came out of the kitchen, then seeing everyone outside, went to open the door and found Oscar with Steve and Jaime Austin. "Where is everybody?" Oscar wondered, as Rudy embraced his friends. Before he could reply, they heard Cecilia's voice.

"As the car drove away, I promised Rick and A.J. we wouldn't let you disappear. And you know, honey, somehow, thanks to Steve and Oscar and Rudy, we found you again."

"Sounds like a happy ending to me." Steve stood at the back door, then Rick grinned as Laurie jumped up.

"Steve, Jaime! Oh, Rick!" she turned and saw his mischievous look. "You nut, thank you!" she flung her arms around him, then turned and hugged the newcomers.

Seeing the excitement of his daughter, Oscar turned to Rick.

"Good job, pal."

Rick gazed at the happy crowd, then met the older man's eyes. "You too, Dad. Like Mom says, we wouldn't have Laurie if it wasn't for you guys."

As they went to join the celebration, Rick smiled. Not just a happy ending, but a happy beginning. He couldn't wait to see what the next fifty years with his girl would be like.