"Sis, are sure you're okay to do this?"

A.J. watched as Laurie clambered around the shiny new truck, trying to tie a large bow to the roof.

"No….I'm just too clumsy still, A.J.." she admitted, then let him help her down. Perching on a chair behind the barn, she watched as he finished adjusting the ribbon, then stood back to examine their handiwork. Replacing Rick's old truck had been hard, but she had spent every moment that Rick wasn't around calling dealerships and enlisting Towne and Ron to do the footwork.

"It looks great, A.J.. Thank you." She smiled up at him, then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Honey, thank you. You're the one who found the truck, it's perfect." He replied, then kept an arm around her as they cut through the barn. He was worried at her trying to recover too fast from her ordeal. It had only been two weeks since her rescue, but Laurie had spent her recovery trying to surprise Rick with an anniversary dinner and the gift of a new truck.

"I hoped I would be able to find one, I had to wait until…until I felt like I could handle going someplace without Rick holding my hand." Laurie explained ruefully

"You're doing great, Sis. But you need to let us know if things get bad, okay?" he told her, giving her a serious look.

"I will, little brother. Thank you. I just wish Barnabas could have stayed for the party", she sighed, then a familiar voice called.

"Laurie! Where are you, sweetheart?"

"Here, Rick, A.J.'s helping me close up." She answered, as Rick met them outside the barn.

"Thanks, A.J.. This bad girl needs to tell me when she goes outside." He responded, picking Laurie up with a mock glare.

She giggled then planted a kiss on his nose. "Yes, darling. I promise I will."

A.J. laughed. "She's got you spoiled, Rick." He went into the house ahead of them as Rick dropped his scowl. "I love you, angel. I just want to make sure you're safe, okay?"

"Si, mi amor." Laurie kissed him then put her face against his. "I love my worried husband. What would you like for dinner?" she added, snickering at his growling stomach.

"Well, if you're going to speak Spanish at me…." He teased. Setting her down, he took her hand in his.

"Come on, sweetheart, we'll have potluck. A.J. and Linda brought some enchiladas, I'm sure I can whip up some beans and rice."

As he opened the back door for her, Rick thought with a smile that he had the time now to cook, to make them whatever they wanted. He and A.J. could go fishing and riding, taking Laurie and Linda and the kids when they weren't in school. With the mild fall weather, he could see being able to hunt with the Chief and friends into November. 'Course he would miss the challenges of their work, but he'd be busy enough.

And the best thing about retirement was being able to spend the time with Laurie, not worrying about appointments or clients. Going to the spa at the Cultural Center was the best example of this.

He'd been afraid of some "frou-frou" vegetable mask place, but just soaking in the mineral pools with Laurie in his arms was so relaxing. Afterward she'd surprised him by wearing her Rainbird dress, coming to him as he waited in the lobby…Oh, wait until she saw the picture Robin took of them….

As they walked into the kitchen, Rick sniffed suspiciously around the room. "Hmmm, what smells so beefy, if I didn't know better…."

"Surprise! Happy Anniversary!"

Rick's mouth dropped open as the lights of the living room went on, and a host of family and friends stood.

"Laurie?" Rick looked at his wife who was smiling broadly at him.

"Happy Anniversary, Rick!" she said, then giggled as he picked her up and kissed her until she was breathless.

"Thank you, sweetheart." He managed, then put her down as Cecilia shook her finger at them. "You two can do that later, come here, children."

Laughing, husband and wife were swarmed over by Robin and Robbie, and their families, then Oscar and Rudy and several of their friends. Trailing in after everyone was Chief Joseph and Steve and Jaime Austin, then Downtown Brown and Temple brought up the rear.

"All right, where did you all come from?" Rick demanded, threatening to swat A.J. only to have his sister-in-law give him a hug and a kiss instead.

"Ve' have our ways!" he quipped, pretending to hide behind a giggling Robin and Ceci.

"It was Laurie's doing, Rick." Abby Johnson told him, an arm around her friend. "She said why should you have all the fun planning her birthday. Besides…" she lowered her voice. "This is a better way of giving her your anniversary gift, right?"

Rick smirked. "I like the way your mind works, Mrs. Johnson."

Just then Robin let Petey hold a pan and bang on it. "Dinner is served, so come and get it!" she announced, cracking everyone up.

Letting Laurie and Rick back into the kitchen, Rick was delighted to find his daughter's signature chicken, carne asada, shrimp and crab enchiladas and assorted side dishes lined up along their counters.

"Honey, thank you for setting this all up, it looks so delicious." Laurie hugged their daughter, who started to sniff as Rick added, "My bird did a beautiful job, thank you, honey."

"Oh Pop, I love you!" she threw her arms around him, then her mother. "You guys make us so happy, it doesn't seem like 25 years since we became a family!"

"You've given us so much, Pop." Robbie joined them, his eyes brimming with tears. Rick got very choked up at seeing his boy this emotional. "Robbie, you and Robin are the most important part of our love, if it wasn't for you two taking care of your mother, I would have missed out on the best life."

Once the tears and hugs were past, everyone took their plates to the living room and ate until they were stuffed. When Oscar helped carry out the fudge and strawberry cake Robin and Cecilia had baked. Rick decided he might have room for a small piece.

As Laurie handed him a slice, he noticed something glittering on the top.

"Laurie, this had better not be a silver baby….huh?" he stopped, pulling a frosting-covered key out of the

pastry.

"Happy Anniversary, darling." He looked at the key, then his wife's smiling face.

"Sweetheart, what does this open?" he managed, then she gave him her hand.

"Besides my heart,… I want you to come see."

Bemused, Rick let her "pull" him up, then she led him outside, down the back steps and past the barn.

"Go ahead, love, go take a look." She pointed to behind the barn, and peeking around the corner, he was floored to see a brand new red and silver truck, a huge silver bow perched on top of the cab.

As he started towards it, he stopped, then reached for Laurie and took her in his arms. "Thank you, my angel. I love you!"

"I love you too, and so does your family." Now it was her turn to be emotional, then he pulled her with him to the truck and opening the door, gazed at the interior that matched his favorite old truck.

"Darlin', how did you find this, they don't make this kind anymore!" he asked, then A.J. put an arm around him. "Sis never takes no for an answer, I think she and Ron and Oscar and Mom called every auto dealer in Arizona and then some."

"Here's your card, love." Laurie handed him a card with everyone's signature on it who had helped in getting his present.

"Thank you, and I mean that…" Rick cleared his throat. "You've all been so supportive of Laurie and I through the years, we would never have made it without all of our family and friends taking care of us …thank you is all I can say!"

A loud cheer burst from the younger family members, then Ricky raced up to his uncle and said, "Now you and Auntie Laurie can help take my football team to games, cause we got you a camper shell, too!"

"What?" Now it was Laurie's turn to look astonished.

"True, sis!" A.J. laughed. "That's my surprise!"

After the new camper shell was properly presented and mounted, Robbie beckoned everyone back to the party.

When they made it back into the house, a large flat package and three smaller ones rested against the coffee table, as well as two small packages.

Holding Laurie's hand, Rick felt her tremble, then stole a look at her face. Instead of anticipation, there was a look of dread in her eyes. Suddenly Rick knew she had "hit the wall", and he needed to have her let it out.

"Mom." He beckoned his mother over, then whispered to her. "Take her to your room for a moment, I'll say she's cold and wants to change." Cecelia replied.

"Laurie." Rick squeezed her hand and she raised her face, a forced smile on her lips.

"Let me get you into something warmer, angel. Come on." Wordlessly she let him lead her to their bedroom.

As he closed the door, he realized he didn't know what to say, other then to hold her and let her know she was safe.

Turning back to her, Rick walked to their bed, sat down then pulled her into his arms.

The lump in his throat melted as the nightmarish events whirled in his head.

"Oh Rick." Laurie's arms were around him as she saw his tears. They clung together, just holding on. Finally Rick managed to take a breath, then look her in the eyes.

"Laurie, it was all my fault. Why didn't I go see if that Cheryl was telling the truth? I could have stopped Archer!" he began, only for Laurie interrupt him.

"No, oh no, darling.", she choked. "He was going to kill you in front of me. He was standing in back of the reception door with a gun. Dear heart, I prayed you wouldn't come in, I couldn't have taken it……" A weight lifted off Rick. All he would have done is been wounded or killed, and his girl….

"Thank you, God." He whispered, then cuddled her to him. "Angel, it's all right now. I want you to see those pictures, and remember how much fun we had with all our family. Robbie needs to see, too, darlin', that we had a wonderful time doing the sessions with him and Ramona and the children. I don't want him blaming himself anymore"

By the nod of her head against his shoulder, he knew she had seen the worry in their son's eyes.

"We are safe, Laurie. I believe that. We've made it through the twenty five years since you gave me your hand, and I'm not letting go, not ever." He finished his words with a kiss on her neck.

There was silence except for Laurie's soft breath on his face, then she looked up at him, her eyes shining.

"I believe you, and I know I'm safe, because I'm in your arms. Now and forever my love." She kissed him, then he joined his lips to hers.

A hesitant knock on the door made them both groan, and Rick huffed, "Come in!"

Robbie stuck his head in, then smiled as he saw his parents. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yes, darling. We're coming." Laurie grinned at her son. Turning for a minute, she pulled on a warm sweater over her sleeveless dress as Rick added, "And I'm almost ready for some more cake, Robbie."

"Oh Pop, you're terrible." Robbie laughed, then held out a hand to his mother.

Helping her up, the three of them came out to the sight of their family and loved ones waiting.

"Come on, Grandpa, we want to see you open your presents!" Andy bounced impatiently as Ramona shook her head . "Sorry, Dad, he can hardly wait!" Rick held out his arms and the child happily came and sat in his lap. Not to be outdone, Petey got up from his mother, then plopped himself next to Laurie.

Uncovering the pictures was a moment Rick would never forget. There was a collective "aahhh" when each of the family groups taken with Rick and Laurie were displayed.

Rick could hardly wait for the last picture; as he stood up to unveil it he winked at his children, then heard Laurie whisper to Robin, "what is it, sweet?"

"Oh, ……" The sigh that enveloped the room brought tears to his eyes. It was a picture of him catching Laurie up in his arms. Seeing her that joyful …..Rick turned and drew her to him again.

"Rick, it's so beautiful, thank you darling!" she kissed him.

"You're who's beautiful, Laurie. Happy Anniversary!" He handed her a small box, inside of which was a watch with a face displaying their picture.

"Rick………..Oh, you are the best." Laurie put her arms around him as he whirled her around the room.

"All right, you two. Save it for later, your old dad's thirsty!" Oscar needled.

As everyone laughed, A.J. stood and raised a glass. "To Rick and Laurie, I hope to celebrate at least twenty-five more of these with you! To my favorite brother and sister!"

Watching everyone lift their glasses, Laurie waited a moment, then walked over and plunked a shiny new key in each of the brother's drinks.

"This is another anniversary gift, from Linda and I." she announced, then Linda added, "To both you guys. Much as we love having you home and with us, we wanted you to still have a place for your files and cases.

So……" She went to the room that had been Laurie's office, and opened the door.

To Rick and A.J.'s astonishment, the room housed two of the old file cabinets from their office, as well as Rick's desk and chair and A.J.'s spare desk and chair from San Diego.

"Linny?" A.J. stood up and looked, as Rick put an arm around his wife. "Sweetheart, are you sure?"

"Yes, Rick. You love doing investigative work. This way, you can keep doing projects and still be here, for all of us. A.J., we did the same thing with your home office…look." Laurie handed him a picture showing the same set up, A.J.'s desk from the office with Rick's old desk from their first place.

Both A.J. and Rick looked at each other, then Rick cleared his throat.

"I guess we're still in business, just…"

"Appointment only." A.J. said firmly, then leaned over and kissed his wife.

"Appointment only." Rick echoed, then drew Laurie on to his lap for a kiss.

"Well, now that we've got that settled…." Towne grinned, hoisting his glass.

"Here's to twenty five more anniversaries, and the partnership of Simon, Simon, Simon and Simon!"

Fin