One day…..
Daisy twirled around the room, her skirt floating out around her knees. Kim had given up asking her to try and stay a little neat and tidy. She was worried she was going to spoil her dress and mess up her hair but Daisy was too high on life right now to care. She was way too excited.
Paddy was standing up against the table, bouncing on his chubby little legs and squealing at his sister. He loved the kids and constantly sought them out. If he could hear them he wanted to be where they were and now he was crawling there was no stopping him; often to Daisy's annoyance. She had told Adam one day that he had 'no chill' when Paddy had grabbed her dolls out of her dollhouse while she was playing with them and Adam had to go and sort them out.
Paddy banged his hands loudly on the table when nobody was paying him any attention. Erin scooped him up and tipped him upside down making him squeal with laughter. "You are just like your Daddy. Always want to be the centre of attention." She cooed and Kim laughed.
"He's a Daddy's boy that's for sure."
Kim's hair was finally finished and she sat down briefly to give Paddy a quick feed. Despite her attempts to get him to take a bottle he was having none of it. It was boob or nothing when Kim was around, he would take one from Adam or anyone else as long as he couldn't see or hear his Mom. Adam loved it, he loved watching them together and seeing how obsessed Paddy was with her boobs and how excited he would get when Kim sat down and started unlatching her bra. He didn't want them to stop but Kim had just about had enough and that was totally her call, although she was looking forward to his first birthday in just over a month because she was willing to stick it out until then.
Erin took Paddy from her to get him changed once he was finished while Amanda helped Kim into her dress. The tight fitted lace bodice that finished low over her hips showed off both her toned arms and back. The skirt made of the same flowing material as Daisy's dress swirled around her legs as she moved. Paddy was wearing the cutest pair of black suit pants and a white shirt.
"You know, I am so happy for you and Adam." Amanda kissed her sister's cheek and Kim could see the tears bubbling along her lower lids. "You deserve this. Both of you. I wish Mom and Dad could be here to see how happy you are finally." It had been a long time since they'd lost both their parents. Their Dad had died when they were still teenagers and their mother when Oliver was almost three. It had been a bitter blow watching their Mom suffer a stroke and her two daughters made the heart breaking decision to turn off her life support. As they rarely saw their Aunts and Uncles it was just Kim and Amanda now.
"Don't you start crying, my make-up will run."
"I am proud of you. You and Adam have done so well. Look at this beautiful family." They smiled down at Daisy who was holding Kim's hand while Erin had bought Paddy over. He reached out for his mother and Kim happily took him from Erin.
Kim had been back a work since Paddy was six months old. It just wasn't financially viable for her to stay home any longer. They were lucky that Adam was able to take on the role of stay at home Dad for a few days each week. When he was on shift his mother would look after Paddy and take care of Oliver and Daisy after school until Kim got home. As best they could Kim would try and get home early those nights. It worked well and Adam did enjoy the extra time with Paddy. He may have joined the party late but he was a damn good Dad, not the neatest or most organised Dad in the world but the kids were clean, fed and happy but more than anything, they were loved.
Al walked her down the aisle. They would both be forever grateful for the way Al not only looked after Kim and Oliver when Adam wasn't around but he had helped bring them back to each other. Not having a father around Kim couldn't think of anyone else she wanted to be by her side. Amanda had carried Paddy down and handed him over to Adam before the ceremony started and he had literally dived into his arms when he saw him, he adored his Daddy. Oliver, Paddy and Adam were all dressed in black pants and a white shirt. Adam was wearing a jacket but no tie and Oliver was the same as Paddy, just pants and a shirt. They wanted all three of the kids with them as they did this so Adam wasn't letting go of either of them.
They constantly had Kim mesmerized and right now she couldn't drag her eyes away. Adam's arm was draped over Oliver's shoulder and tucked into his hip was Paddy. A man and his two sons was a beautiful sight and the fact that it was her man and their two sons made it all the more perfect.
Al had linked his arm through Kim's and she held Daisy's hand in the other and when he stepped away at the top of the aisle and when he took his seat next to Kim's sister and watched this beautiful family put the final piece of the puzzle in place he felt like his work was done.
In front of their families and friends and their work colleagues who had been by their sides for longer than they could remember Kim finally became Mrs Adam Ruzek. "You may kiss your bride." The Minister declared and Adam was more than happy to use his free hand to hold Kim's cheek and kiss her. Surrounded by the three most important people in their lives they were finally husband and wife.
Daisy clapped happily when they kissed, Oliver's smile lit up his face and Paddy couldn't decide if he wanted to be in his father's arms or his mother's.
"Nice to meet you Mrs Ruzek." Kim felt his smile against her lips.
The ceremony was short and to the point. They mingled with their guests before taking off and having some family photo's taken before heading back to the reception. It wasn't a big wedding, that would not have been them but all the people they wanted to spend the day with were there. Intelligence, Firehouse 51, Adam's parents and Kim's sister Amanda, Pete and Zoe all celebrated a wedding that was more than a decade in the making.
They had told no one that they were planning a wedding. Until they all received the invitation in the mail nobody knew anything. That had been Adam's idea; wedding planning hadn't gone well for them in the past so he really wanted to avoid all that drama. Of course people asked if they were going to get married as soon as they had Paddy but they managed to throw everyone off. 'We haven't talked about it.' Kim would tell them and explained that it was too much for Adam right now. It was easy enough and Adam didn't mind that Kim was using him as an excuse because no one dared question him. His struggle with anxiety was no secret among those closet to them and they were the people that they wanted with them today.
One thing had changed for Adam though; he didn't ask Kevin to be his best man because he wanted Oliver to be beside him. He had taken Oliver out fishing one afternoon and asked him. "You know Bud, Mom and I are going to get married. Years ago I asked Kev to be my Best man because he was my best friend now though it's you, you are my Best man, my best friend. I want you to stand next to me when I marry your Mom. Whaddya say?"
"What do I have to do?"
"Just be happy for us."
"I am happy Dad." He was so excited that Adam had barely pulled into the driveway before Ollie was out and telling his Mom about being the 'Best Man.'
Of course Adam had told Kim he was going to ask him that afternoon and seeing Oliver so happy bought a tear to her eye. Adam scooped Paddy out of Kim's arms and leant in for a kiss. "I think he's cool with it." He laughed.
Kevin was the MC for the night and had everyone in stitches. If ever he failed as a cop this was always an option for him. He teased Adam about going over to the dark side. "Unlike our dear Trudy who just married someone from over there." He waved in the general direction of the guys from the Firehouse. "Ruzek went one better and decided to actually become one of them, so I guess we have to put up with him tyring to convince us that he is still serving and protecting when really he's rescuing cats outta trees and sleeping for the majority of his shift and waving the occasional hose around." He waved his hand dismissively at the good-natured jeering from their tables. He talked about them for a few minutes, how they met and some funny stories about their lives together. It was short and sweet just as Adam had requested and he didn't talk about their time apart or Adam's years away. This was a celebration.
"Now, while I could probably spend the next hour sharing some pretty entertaining stories about these two, there is someone who wanted to say something. He pulled me aside earlier and begged me to let him talk. While I don't like sharing the stage usually I couldn't say no." Oliver's speech made both Adam and Kim cry, along with just about every other person in the room. They had no idea he had worked on something for them.
"My Mom has always looked out for me, from the moment I was born she loved me and told me all about my Dad. My Nan and Pops were always talking about Adam and how much they missed him and when I stayed with them they would show me photos and videos of my Dad. When I met him I was scared that he wasn't going to like me and that he wasn't here because he didn't want to be my Dad but Mom told me that he would, that he would never have left if he'd known. I was really nervous but I asked him to come to my baseball game the next day and he hasn't left yet. It has been an amazing four years. He loved me and I love my Dad. He loved Daisy too. He's looked after us and our Mom and Daisy and I love them both so much, Paddy would say so too if he could talk. Even when Paddy came along they just loved us even more." He stole a quick look at his parents. Paddy was curled up on his mother's lap and he was playing with his camel which was keeping him occupied while Daisy was on Adam's lap, she was loving the whole party vibe. They kept stealing glances at each other and Adam's arm was draped around the back of her chair, running his fingers up and down her bare arm and they never felt so loved and so in love.
"It's was not always fun, but my Dad protected us and never let us get hurt and it felt good to know that I had someone to help me look after my Mom and Daisy. Mom always worried though and wouldn't let me ride on Dad's bike for a long time which was annoying and the first time I stayed with Dad she rang four times to make sure we didn't really go to the bar." Oliver seemed to be loving talking about them and every single person in that room had tears in their eyes and a smile on their face. "Dad hates it when we spew, he get's all squirmy and starts to gag, he get's bored at our concerts. Sometimes it's hard for my Dad and he used to get sad. We just love him even more until he's happy again." Adam dropped his head for a moment and Kim could see his tears, which he wiped away with his thumb. "That's okay though, because that makes him special."
"Mom hates how messy we all are and how loud we get but she loves it when we make her breakfast in bed although she doesn't love having to clean up the kitchen afterwards and they never share their Gummy Bears."
"My Mom and Dad are the best people in the world. They are our favourite people. We love them and we couldn't be happier now that they are married and not going anywhere. Although apparently they want to have a couple of nights away from us all now so we have to stay with our Grandparents. Dad says he needs peace and quiet to love Mom properly." Oliver seemed to have inherited his father's gift of the gab.
Kim laughed and dug her fingers playfully into Adam's leg. "I can't believe you told him that?" He just winked at her as he got up to take over from Oliver. He stopped and kissed his forehead before bending down and whispering something in his ear. All anyone could see was the delighted smile on Oliver's face.
"Well I don't know if I can top that." He started. "This day was a day I never thought would come. Many years ago I woke from a dream comforted by the thought that I imagined this day. For a long time every day I lived was like a nightmare. There was this woman that I loved with every single part of me that I couldn't see or touch or feel. One day I learnt that perhaps I could see her one more time, hear her voice again and perhaps, if I was lucky maybe I could kiss her one more time, even if it was only for a moment I convinced myself I could live with that."
"Well that was a lie. How could I not fall in love with her again? And she walked back into my life in this dirty rundown café half way between Chicago and Detroit and my heart felt whole again and I thought to myself 'one day'. This remarkable person who had raised my son into this incredible boy you see before you today." He raised his hand towards them both. "I know you all know how amazing he is because you all helped create that and I will be forever grateful. She also had this beautiful daughter who just sparkles and lights up every room she steps into. And now we have this other perfect little human in our lives too. However.." he paused and looked at Kim who was trying her best to hold it together. "However, this beautiful woman, who from today I get to call my wife bought Adam Ruzek back to life, she is my life." That little lip quiver she caught sent the tears tumbling down her cheeks.
"I have this tattoo on my side." He pointed to its location, his voice still a little shaky. "It says 'Is a dream a lie if it don't come true' The rest of it is meant to say 'or is it something worse.' and I can tell you that a dream that doesn't come true is worse than a lie it is a painful ache in your heart that never goes away. It seemed appropriate at the time I got it. Right now, now that the dream has come true and life is so much better than I imagined in my sleep. I don't need to dream anymore because I am living it."
"My beautiful Kim, thank you for my life and my children; Oliver, Daisy and Paddy. They keep it real; they keep us sane and drive us insane. At times it feels like we are one tent away from having the whole damn circus. I wouldn't swap one single second of our life with them, even when they are spewing." He looked and pointed at Oliver who had Daisy now sitting on his lap, and that was a beautiful sight. He hoped someone had captured a photo of it, his whole world sitting together. "Thank you for that Oliver."
"I couldn't let this occasion pass without thanking you all for being here. It's been a long hard road and having you all in our lives makes us happy but there are a few people I want to thank personally. Outside of our families who have always supported us, who supported Kim as she bought our boy into this world and as she made the best life she could for Oliver and then Daisy I really want to thank a couple of others." He turned to Platt first. "Trudy, I can't thank you enough for holding Kim's hair back on that terrible day and for every day after. You busted my balls but had my back when I couldn't be here to look after her. You truly are one of a kind." Surprisingly Trudy blew him a kiss and he just nodded and he took a mouthful of beer to clear his throat.
"And Erin, who saw my son come into the world and you've been forever connected to him through that. He's a lucky boy to have you in his life, you've always been in his corner and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that." He took a deep breath and this was when it got really hard. "And finally to Al, I don't know what to say. It was a long time ago that you took a punt on me and set a crazy chain of events in motion that have led us to this day. The day I picked up the phone wanting to hear a voice from my past it was you I turned to and you fronted up the next day and everyday since. Not long after that I stumbled into your kitchen and saw my son for the first time. While it was a huge shock one thing I did notice was that not only did Oliver turn to you when he was scared but also I saw the love and protectiveness for him in your eyes. When his world was in chaos he turned to you, as did I. I don't have the words to tell you how much you mean to me, but I want you to know that you are my hero."
Taking another sip of his beer he wiped away a tear and took a deep breath. "I am a lucky man and before I go I just want to say. Love your people, tell them that you love them, fight for them, hold them and don't let them go, life is for the living, love and live your life with the people you want. Don't let anyone take that away from you. I am doing that. I am loving every single second of my life, I am loving Kim like there is no tomorrow because one day there is no tomorrow and I am never letting her go." Laying his hand on his heart he continued. "I am a man in love. So drink our beer, our wine, eat our food and when you go home tell the one you are with how much you love them, tell them everyday."
Adam walked towards Kim with his hand out and a watery smile on his face. Amanda took Paddy from Kim's lap and while he protested a little he soon settled into her shoulder with his doody in his mouth and his camel tucked under his arm. It was the ugliest toy Kim had seen but both Ollie and Adam insisted that Paddy would love it and he did. It was his constant companion. Al came and stood by Oliver and held Daisy's hand as Adam and Kim danced, lost in their own world for a few minutes. Like the day on his back veranda when he first came home and Adam had held onto her for the longest moment and the world around them just blurred into the background a little.
Adam then danced with Daisy while Kim danced with Oliver, ignoring his protests about being embarrassed by dancing with his mother. She leant down to talk to him. "That speech you made was beautiful. I am so proud of you."
"I am really happy for us Mom."
"You know, you and me we've been through a lot together and I love you so much." She kissed his forehead. "I am glad we had each other."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can." They were standing in the middle of the dance floor while everyone else moved around them.
"Do you think we can do that paperwork that changes my name?" It had been a while since Oliver had stopped using Burgess as his surname but they hadn't done anything formally, his birth certificate still said he was a Burgess. "Can I just be Oliver Ruzek? Like officially?"
"We can do that. Your Dad will love that." Oliver looked so relieved and he was happy to hug his Mom. Adam caught her eye, he had watched them talking and it was something he loved doing, watching Kim and Oliver together. They had something special even though 11 year olds liked to pretend they didn't need their Mom's love and cuddles.
Adam found Kim talking to Sylvie and Gabby along with Teresa, Cruz's partner. She looked beautiful and happy as she rocked Paddy to sleep. He had protested at not being able to have a feed because Kim had had a few champagnes but was settling down. It was way past his bedtime. Daisy was still the life of the party and she was currently dancing with Mouch while Oliver was talking to Jay. He made his way over to Kim and rubbed Paddy's hair lightly. His eyes shot open briefly before they slid closed. "Mom's going to head off soon and take the kids."
"You gonna break that to our little party animal over there?" she nodded in Daisy's direction.
"How about I take Paddy and you can do that?"
"Nice try." Kim watched as Adam approached his step daughter and they all laughed as her face fell and she burst into tears. She was tired, way over tired but had the habit of just going and going but once she stopped it all fell apart. Adam picked her up and Daisy wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, her protests had been brief.
"You've had a big day Tickety Boo and Grandma is going to take you home."
"Is Ollie and Paddy coming too Dad?"
"They are." When Daisy had started calling him Dad just after Paddy had been born Steve didn't particularly like it but he accepted that Adam was in her life. He had been surprised when Daisy had told him that Adam kept telling her that Steve was her Daddy and loved her and that she had to keep seeing him. He knew that it was Adam who pushed Kim to let him back into Daisy's life when he finished Rehab, he couldn't hate the guy. No matter how much he wanted too.
She didn't always call Adam Dad but most of the time she would and they spent a lot of time together. Steve would still have her every second weekend and would sometimes pick her up after school when Adam was working and she would spend half the school holidays with him. They all missed her like crazy, she had such an infectious personality but being with her Dad was also important along with her Grandparents. Steve had moved on and met someone else and seemed happy but his relationship with Kim was only friendly for Daisy's sake and she did get along with Beth, his partner and Daisy loved her.
They walked the three of them out. Paddy was out cold and barely moved when Kim buckled him into his seat, Daisy was asleep on Adam's shoulder and Oliver was more than happy to go, he'd had enough of people trying to hug him or dance with him.
Rather than head straight back inside when his mother left with the kids Adam grabbed Kim around the waist and pulled her close. "Just a minute." He kissed her softly. "My beautiful wife."
"Pretty wild hey?"
He nodded. "Pretty wild."
"Hey did Oliver talk to you?"
"About what?"
"He wants to do the paperwork, he wants to officially change his name to Ruzek."
"We'll get it Monday." He held both Kim's hands. "Are you okay with that?"
"Of course. It feels right. He's always been a Ruzek."
Running his thumb over her wedding ring. "This feels right. Can we just stay out here until they all go home?"
"No." They danced the night away, laughed and drank with their friends. It was perfect end to a perfect day.
Kim had left it up to Adam to organise the hotel for the wedding night and he surprised her with The Langham for not only one night but two. Initially Kim had been worried about leaving Paddy for so long but he really wasn't as needy anymore and would eat almost anything and she did leave his mother with some milk. They promised that on the second morning Janet would bring them in for a late breakfast and they would hang around the hotel for a few hours but they had two nights and a whole day to themselves and that hadn't happened for a long time. This was a treat and they were going to make the most of it.
"Can you believe we finally did this?" Adam had asked her to dance with him when they got into their room. While they had danced at the reception everyone was watching and now it was just them, no interruptions, just a peaceful, quiet all consuming love.
"I can. From the moment I saw you sitting in that café I knew this would happen. I knew we would find a way. You can't have a love like this and let it go to waste."
"While we haven't made things easy and it's been such a long hard road, one thing was always easy." Adam bent her backwards slightly and kissed her softly. "Loving you is easy."
A/N: Yes, that is it. Hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together when the idea first popped into my head so I'm glad it made sense in the end (hopefully?). Thank you for all your reviews, follows and kind words, you are all awesome. Until next time….