Chapter 65
Several months later…
The spring breeze was warm and welcoming after the harsh, emotional winter they'd experienced. Today was a perfect day to be lounging on a hammock under a shade tree, but there was too much going on.
Like they had so many times over the months since meeting, the gang was together again. Annie had tried moving back to the farmhouse, but memories of her brother haunted her at every turn. Instead, Danni, Mrs. Kersting, and Annie bought a larger farm closer to D.C. with the profits from selling the two homes.
The closer house made it possible for Annie and Michael to continue working on their relationship. Despite statistics telling them relationships began under intense circumstances rarely work out, theirs was an exception, having blossomed into something special.
Myles and Tara had grown closer and spent most of their free time together. She was in her last weeks of physical therapy when he whisked her away to visit his family at Christmas. However, because of the Bureau rules about dating, they hadn't officially announced their relationship until a few weeks ago. Fortunately, Personnel was still working on the transfer so they were able to work together, though no one knew for how long.
Though cleared by OPR of the shooting, Amber was formally reprimanded, and then suspended for not revealing her conflict of interest on the case. Because she'd recently finished her two-year training period, her supervisor put her on probation having Charles keep an eye on her.
While she didn't like being under his watchful eye, Shelby didn't seem to mind. After meeting Charles' younger brother, Nathan, she spent just as much time at her sister's apartment as she did her own, hoping for a chance to see him again. They hadn't gone out yet, but it seemed to everyone around them, it would only be a matter of time.
Even though she wasn't present during the tense finale at the beach house, Liz was recognized for leading the team that had resulted in a successful conclusion of the case. At one point, she'd considered moving to the Baltimore office to take a promotion, but as it became time for her to make the decision, she found she couldn't give up the family she'd found with this group.
Coming out of the house, Annie leaned against the porch railing to watch her friends in the yard. In addition to the agents she'd met on and following that fateful, stormy night, several friends from up on the mountain had come today. She smiled pensively, noticing the way they all got along as if they'd known each other all their lives.
Hank and Charles had set the picnic table out under the shade trees by the barn, and everyone had gathered around. While Shelby and Nathan played horseshoes with Traci and her husband, Mick, Tara swayed lightly on the swing as she fed baby Sarah. The baby's older sister, Aubrey, chased Myles and Michael around the yard, the bad guys to her FBI, causing Liz, Amber, and Danni to laugh at their antics. Annie was happy they all seemed to be having so much fun.
"Fwoggy, Fwoggy," a little girl came toddling across the yard towards her. "It's time!" she announced.
"Time for what, Miss Aubrey?" Annie asked, lifting the little one into the air.
"The wedding!" Aubrey giggled as she was set back down on the ground.
"Oh my, then we better hurry," Annie agreed as she let the young girl take her hand and pull her towards the barn. As they neared the barn, Aubrey went running ahead, launching herself into Michael's arms as he stood by the corral gate waiting.
"She's coming!" she cried excitedly.
"Good girl!" Michael praised hugging her tight. "Mommy and Daddy are waiting with the others," he told her seriously.
"Oh, I need to get my fwowers," Aubrey realized, scrambling to get down. Smiling at her excitement, Michael set her down and watched her scurry off before Annie joined him.
"Heya, beautiful," Michael greeted, taking her hands in his and leaning forward to press his lips to hers. "Did I tell you how much I like your new haircut?" he asked, feathering his fingers through the short layers.
"Yes," Annie smiled teasingly. "But you can tell me again."
"You look like Charlize Theron in Mighty Joe Young," he told her, his love shining from his eyes as he spoke.
"Yeah," Annie scoffed. "We better get in there with the others. The horse manure is getting to me," she grinned, pulling him through the gate.
"Horse manure? But you only have goats…Oh!" Michael started before realization hit. "Funny, Miss Wilson. Just a regular comedienne," he smirked, threading his arm around her waist as they walked towards the others.
The scene in the barnyard enclosure was quite humorous as fourteen adults stood around young Aubrey waiting for her directions. Aubrey held a basket of flowers that the two goats in front of her kept trying to eat. Aubrey's namesake had a white ribbon tied loosely around her neck while the larger Billy goat next her had a black ribbon.
"Tell me why we are doing this again?" Charles whispered over Amber's shoulder, grimacing when the young brunette elbowed him in the stomach to keep him quiet.
"When little Aubrey found out that Aubrey the goat was pregnant, she said Aubrey and Kenny had to get married," Amber explained again.
"What can I say, my kid has morals," Mick boasted proudly, his arm affectionately around his wife.
"I think it has something to do with how my husband explained where babies come from," Traci smirked. "Now she thinks only mommies and daddies get married and have babies."
"Well, there goes a hundred years of women's liberation down the tubes," Danni groaned jokingly. "Someone else that will think a woman's purpose is to be a wife and have kids."
"Thanks a lot, Mick!" the women of the group exclaimed together. They all enjoyed a laugh before turning their attention back to the serious looking two and a half year old.
"Can we stawt?" Aubrey looked annoyed at the adults.
"Yes, ma'am," Michael saluted sharply, smiling over at Annie as she wrapped her arms around his waist. The others casually took the places Aubrey assigned them as they listened to her instructions for the 'ceremony'.
"Dearly beloved," Mrs. Kersting started, having been designated to officiate by little Aubrey.
This is going to be a perfect day, Annie thought as she looked around at the smiling faces of her friends. After all we've been through, we deserve it, she sighed to herself, snuggling closer to Michael's warm embrace. She couldn't ask for anything better.