A/n: Be forewarned, this is a shorter chapter then most. Again, thank you for the reviews. They're most helpful. And if you have the time, please review at the end. Thanks in advance.

Chapter 14 – The Dress

After the reception, all of the guests were invited into the Warner's backyard for the reception. Tony was accompanied by Curtis and upon making their way outside they were instantly bombarded by a barrage of waiters asking whether or not they wanted crab cakes.

Curtis told Tony that he was going to get a drink and asked if Tony wanted anything to which Tony denied. Instead, Tony tried to locate Jack and Audrey to send them both his best regards. He looked around and upon seeing that they were surrounded by almost half the guests he decided that he would wait until the crowd died down around his two friends.

Being at the wedding brought back memories of his own wedding. It had been so long ago but the images were still fresh in his mind. He knew that he should move on and just forget but it was much easier said than done. After daydreaming for a few more moments, he shook himself out of his fruitless endeavor and proceeded to move towards Jack and Audrey whom by now were only surrounded by a few people.

Just as he was making his way over, he heard the voice of a little boy and a little girl, with the boy saying,

"Watch out, Lauren!"

And before Tony could turn around to look at whose voices they were a little girl ran promptly into him.

She stumbled back and fell down as her brother came forward saying,

"I'm sorry, sir. Lauren didn't mean to run into you. We were just playing...and we didn't see...and we're really sorry!"

The little boy who was now talking to Tony looked almost ready to burst into tears and his sister was no better. However, his sister seemed much more concerned with the state of her dress than she was at having bumped into a stranger.

Tony gently chuckled to himself and lowered himself down until he was eye-level with both the little boy and his sister, Lauren. He gently said,

"Don't worry. I know it was an accident."

As soon as Lauren remembered that she had actually ran into someone, she immediately apologized and after apologizing she instinctively stepped behind her brother.

Tony noticed this and he couldn't help but smile at how adorable these two children were. Tony had always loved kids and he gently said,

"My name is Tony. What is your name?"

Lucas, the ever brave one, ventured forth talking to this man and said,

"My name is Lucas and this is Lauren..."

Lauren tugged eagerly at her brother's sleeve and whispered,

"My dress is dirty! What will I do? Mom will be mad!"

Tony heard her quiet whispering and said,

"Well, I may not be wearing a pretty little pink dress like you Lauren, but I know how hard it is to keep your good clothes clean. I'm sure your mother will understand. But how about we go inside and I get you some water so you can wash out a bit of that dirt?"

As Tony finished asking him, he realized how their parents probably would have taught them not to follow or even talk to strangers. So he offered,

"Don't worry, I'm a friend of Jack's."

At the mention of Jack's name, Lucas' eyes brightened and a little part of him told him that this Tony person was trustworthy, so he took Lauren's hand and followed Tony into the house.

Tony brought the children to the first floor washroom and after finding a small stool so that Lauren would be able to stand and reach the sink, he left her to her privacy and went outside to wait for her.

Lucas observed Tony and asked,

"What do you do, sir?"

Tony was surprised that Lucas would talk but answered him, saying,

"Well, Lucas, I used to work with the FBI. I track down people who commit crimes and I make sure that they aren't out there to hurt good people of America."

Lucas nodded his understanding and just as he was about to ask Tony another question, Lauren came out of the washroom and said,

"Luke, I'm done. Do you think my dress looks okay?"

Lucas nodded his head absentmindedly, while Tony again bent down and said,

"Well, I must say Miss. Lauren, you certainly do look much prettier in that dress than I would!"

Lauren giggled at the thought of a full grown man in a dress and then said quietly,

"Thank you for your help!"

Tony smiled and told them that it was no problem and as they all went outside, Tony said to Lucas and Lauren,

"Lucas, Lauren, if it is all right with you, I would like to meet your mother later on. She must be a wonderful woman if she has raised two such polite children."

Lucas nodded his head in agreement, and just before he ran off he points and says,

"You can right now, sir. She's right over there. In the pale pink dress with the brown hair. She's standing beside Aunt Kate."

And sure enough who else would be in the pale pink dress?

None other than Michelle Dessler.