Robert struggled with his tie. He had worn ties everyday for the last million years and couldn't figure out why he was having trouble with it now. "Can I help you with that?" Maggie asked quietly from the door.

Robert looked at her and nodded. She walked over and smiled at him as she adjusted it. "I know that you and I have not been very close in the last few years Robert, but I want you to know that I love you so very much and could not be more proud of you."

Robert smiled at his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you too mom." He said quietly. "And there is something that you need to know."

"What Robert?"

"I know."

"You know what?"

"I know that it wasn't your fault. I know that you did what was best for me. I really don't want to explain it all but I know that when you left dad it was because you thought it was the best thing for me. And to be totally honest, it was."

Maggie smiled at him. She sensed that he was speaking from experience but decided to leave it alone. "You don't know how badly I needed to hear that." She kissed him again. "You are going to have a wonderful life with Lexie and your children."

He smiled at her and took a deep breath. "Well lets get going then." He put his arm out for her to take and she did. They walked out to the back porch and studied the garden. It was in full bloom and the hundreds of candles and white twinkle lights only made it all seem like something out of a dream.

"She did a beautiful job." Maggie whispered and Robert beamed.

"Yes she did."

They walked out and greeted the 40 or so guests that were there. Jason sat with his new girlfriends feeling uncomfortable. He wished it were he up there but he knew that it would never be. Robert greeted him and Ed Chapman, Donald and the rest and then took his place under the arbor that was dripping with roses and ivy. The soft music from the string quartet drifted through the air and Robert's breath caught in his throat. Lexie stood with Carter in the open French doors that lead from the house to the garden. No one had seen her yet and Robert made the moment his. He would never forget how she radiated as she and Carter shared a last minute conversation as the wedding planner fluffed her dress behind her. Carter said something and kissed her cheek as she smiled at him. The photographer caught the moment on film and Robert thought to himself that it would make a beautiful picture. She looked up and pointed to something in the garden and her eyes met Roberts. They stared at each other, drinking in their future, neither able to breath at the weight of the emotion. The music flared up and everyone stood as Lexie and John made their way slowly down the isle. Susan and Elizabeth wiped tears away as John took her hand and kissed it softly and placed it in Robert's. Lexie and John smiled at each other and she pulled him into her arms for one last hug.

Carter then looked at Romano. "Remember what I said." He warned quietly and Robert nodded.

"I love her." He replied and Carter shook his hand. John stepped back and stood in the front row with his grandmother.

Lexie and Robert faced each other, their eyes locked and at that moment every shred of doubt and non-believing left every person in attendance. The love between them glowed. "You are exquisite." Robert whispered, emotion filling his voice. A tear trickled down Lexie's cheek and Robert reached up and wiped it away with his thumb.

"I love you." She said, her voice barley audible but he heard it.

"Friends, we are gathered here for a joining of souls. Barbara and Robert, have you come here, with the people closest to your hearts as witnesses, in full understanding of the sanctity of marriage?" The minister asked and Lexie and Robert smiled at each other and faced him.

"We have." They both said quietly.

"Robert, you have written your own vows for Barbara, please speak them now."

Robert cleared his throat as Lexie handed her bouquet to Max, both meeting each other's gaze again. "Lex, I tried to think of the words to best describe how much I love you but every one seemed to underestimate how I really feel. You saved me, not just from being alone but from never knowing what real love was. From never getting to experience that I could be a better man. You are a rare find Barbara Carter, and the sheer fact that you allowed me the honor of spending my life with you is something that I will be forever grateful for. And I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to thank you for that honor by loving you more than any man has loved a women before although I know that it will never be as much as you deserve because you truly are poetry."

Lexie didn't bother to wipe away the tears that flowed down her cheeks as she listened to him speak. Elizabeth and Susan sat with their mouths open in stunned shock. Everyone had been blown away by his admission but as two of Lexie's best friends they were in deeper shock and pea green with envy.

"Barbara, will you take Robert to be your husband, to love honor and cherish him all the days of your life?" The minister asked.

"I will." She whispered. Robert slipped the wedding band on her finger and they smiled at each other.

"Now Barbara, your vows."

She nodded at the older man and looked back at Robert. "Robert, you showed me that there are still men who can love without hurting and for that I am forever grateful. Our lives have been intertwined for as long as I can remember and I know that I am blessed because what we have doesn't happen everyday. If given the chance I would gladly take every painful memory and do it again because they led me to you and that makes everything worth it. There are a million things that I want in this world but you are the only thing that I truly need and I am in totally awe of your heart and your courage to wake up everyday and face the ugliness and hate and still show so much compassion for those that you hold dear. You are not only my love, but my best friend, my rock, my conscience, my family and my soul mate and I will love and cherish you for always." Her voice was no louder than a whisper, breaking with emotion.

"Robert, will you take Barbara to be your wife, to love honor and cherish her all the days of your life?"

"I will." He said proudly. Lexie slipped his ring on his finger.

"By the power vested in me, by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Robert, make it official and kiss your bride." Robert 's hands went to her face and softly pulled her lips to his as she closed her eyes, her hands resting on his hips as they sealed their fate.