Summary: A ransom leads to a very long weekend for Walker an Alex
Disclaimer: I do not own them
A/N: First W/A fic so be nice.
Chapter 21
Alex and Walker stared into each others eyes as they sat on the porch swing. Alex had drifted off earlier, only to be wakened with a gentle kiss by Walker as he held out the tray full of fruits, and coffee.
She had enjoyed these moments, no work, no visitors, just Walker and her.
"CD will be here in a few minutes to pick me up. Are you sure you will be all right here?" Walker questioned Alex.
"Stop worrying Walker. Sydney is coming over and one of the girls from work. Not too mention I doubt the police car sitting in the driveway all night will have burglars or anyone else wishing to come into the house."
"Just the perks of being a Texas Ranger ma'am," Walker grinned.
"Well, you just make sure he picks you up in time. It is bad luck to see the bride the night before the wedding."
Walker went in to gather his bags up as CD pulled into the driveway. He stepped out from his truck and walked over to speak with Alex.
"So little lady how are you feeling?" CD asked even though he though Alex looked a bit pale.
"Fine, all things considered, and were you able to get them?" Alex asked CD.
"I sure was." CD handed over the small box to Alex and her face lit up.
"I hope he likes it," she said, her face frowning in worry.
"Shucks, after all the trouble you went through to get these I'm sure he will like them."
"Like what?" Walker said, coming out the door, his overnight bag in hand.
"Never you mind what," Alex said, hiding the box behind her back.
"I can wait. However I can't wait another moment for this," Walker said, pulling her into his embrace and kissing her gently across the lips.
Alex watched the truck pull off, and went back inside. She was tired and thought perhaps a nice relaxing bubble bath would ease her aching muscles. She had torn the ranch apart searching for her meds the day before, hoping she could find them and ward off the achy feeling she had. Often she found herself feeling faint, but once she knew she had been overdoing it for the wedding, rushing to make everything just so.
Just as she sunk down in the warm water of the tub the doorbell rang. Alex sighed in frustration, but got out of the tub, wrapping the robe around her and went to open the door.
"Alex, so good to see you!" Sydney said, hanging the dresses in her hand up in the hallway closet. When she came back into the living room it was then she noticed the robe.
"O.o, I guess I came at a bad time. How about you finish your bath and leave dinner to me."
Alex jumped at the chance, and went back to her bubblebath. Once inside the water she felt her body relax. The water soothed all her aching muscles, and it even felt good the many bruises that still remained all along her abdomen. Alex was glad she had chosen a long flowing gown, because she was self conscious about the many scars she was carrying due to the Culliver brothers. She was to testify against Chuck Culliver, that is if he didn't make bail and skip town. Shaking her head, Alex sunk down further into the tub, letting the water ease out the stress in her temples before she lathered the pouf and began to wash.
Coming from the bathroom Alex felt much better and she could smell the scent of chicken coming from the kitchen. When she entered the table was set, and Sydney was placing the last of the food on the table. Alex's mouth fell open in shock.
"Sydney if I eat all that I will never fit into my dress!"
Sydney turned around, "If you don't eat all of it you may blow away with the first strong gust of wind."
Alex forced herself to eat at least half of what was on her plate and then her and Sydney went to get ready for bed.
The next morning was a flurry of shoes and dresses and makeup being flung in bags and packed in the car. Alex was running late, but she knew it was no uncommon for her to be late for her dates with Walker. He had often commented that she would never be on time for a date yet she could wake up at the crack of dawn to be in court.
Once at the church Alex peered over and saw Walker's truck and then she spotted Walker. Ducking down behind the bushes she waited till he had passed into the door and then walked in the other door.
"Alex, why are you hiding in a bush?" Sydney inquired.
"I didn't want to jinx it by having Walker see me. We have fate working against us enough as it is why chance it?"
"Well, he is gone now so hurry up, we have hair to do and makeup and I have to try to figure out which pair of shoes match this dress."
The chapel was not full by any means, only Walker and Trivette were there. CD was coming and Alex's father was supposed to come, but he had been snowed in at the airport in Paris. Alex had been heartbroken, but CD had offered to stand in, and Alex had graciously agreed.
Walker's hands were sweating, and he wiped them on the towel for the third time. He didn't know why he was so nervous, well, other than he was about to take the biggest step he had ever taken in his life.
"Walker, the minister has asked us to come out now, the wedding is about to start."
Walker told Trivette he would be there in just one minute, and he knelt down on his knees there in the small room.
"God, I would like to thank you for bringing Alex to me. Know I will protect her and make her happy."
Standing again Walker walked out as he heard the music start back up keying the beginning of the wedding. There stood Trivette in his tux, and to his side was Gage, seating his Uncle Ray, and couple other people from the reservation. Walker again felt his stomach twist into knots, and hoped he would not throw up. It was then the wedding march began to play and everyone's attention was turned toward the doors at the end of the aisle.
There stood Christine, one of Alex's friends from work in her pale blue gown, her hair just so, and Walker thought she was quite lovely. As Christine made it halfway down the aisle Walker and the others saw Sydney. Her hair was swept up, and the usual tomboyish ranger looked all of the woman she was. Walker noticed Gage's face turn into a big smile and wondered if he would be the next to stand where Walker was now.
All Walker's thoughts ended when the lights dimmed low in the church and at the end of the aisle was CD, and on his arm was the most beautiful woman Walker could ever imagine, Alex.
As she walked down the aisle, he noticed how her hair shined even in the small amount of light, of how her smile lit up his soul, and how he longed for nothing more than to climb to the highest building and shout his love for her. The dress he had chosen so carefully for Ellen, was no longer Ellen's, it was Alex, and it flowed about her as if carried on wings.
CD stepped up to stand beside Walker and gave away Alex, but before he sat down he took her hand in his and placed a kiss upon it. Wiping the tears from his eyes he took his seat, an Alex turned to Walker.
"The minister started to ceremony but it was as if Walker were merely walking through a fog, the only thing in his mind was Alex.
"Do you Cordell, take Alex to be your lawful wedded wife?" the minister asked, and without hesitation Waker blurted out yes.
"And do you Alexandra take Cordell to be your lawful wedded husband?"
"Yes, yes I do," Alex answered.
The minister called for the rings and Alex placed Walker's on his finger, her hands trembling so bad, she almost dropped it, but before Walker placed her ring on the minister called everyone's attention to him.
"Cordell has asked that he could read a poem to Alex before the giving of the ring."
Alex was shocked, and so were all the others, for Cordell Walker was a rugged Texas Ranger and not one thought to sit and write a poem, so everyone waited on pins and needles as he pulled he paper from is pocket. Staring at it he handed the paper to Trivette and instead took Alex's hands in his, staring into her eyes, he recited.
Whatever I say or do.
Know that I love you.
Even if my actions betray me.
I hope in your eyes you can see.
The true love and devotion I have inside.
Only from you can I not hide.
Every scar that mars my soul.
On my body it takes a toll.
Yet I will be fine as long as I have you.
Only you know this is true.
Never have I wanted anything more.
Than to never have to walk out the door.
Will I always be at home here?
Will you still hold me dear?
These things dwell in my mind.
But I know in you the answers I will find.
For you hold them forever in your gaze.
Till the end of time and all the days
There wasn't a dry eye in the church when Walker was done and Alex had tears streaming down her face. The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur and soon it was time for Walker and Alex to be announced.
"May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Cordell Walker," the minister said.
Alex heard nothing, Walker's poem still going over and over in her head. She didn't say a word the whole ride back to the ranch to get changed so they could go to the reception at CD's.
Once on the porch, lost in her thoughts Alex almost yelled out when Walker picked her up and toted her over the threshold, but when he set her down she wrapped her arms around him and just held him. Here was the man she had loved at first sight, his eyes gazing into hers, his smile that made everything else melt away. Slowly she parted from his grasp and went into the room to change and when she returned she carried the box that CD had brought her the day before. Sitting down on the couch she faced Walker.
"I know we are supposed to wait till our honeymoon to exchange gifts but I can't wait any longer," she said as she handed the box to Walker.
Walker looked at her wondering why the sudden tears in her eyes. When he opened the box he pulled back the tissue paper and saw three little statues carved from wood, but when he turned them over he saw exactly what they were. His words coming out choked.
"Alex, how ... where?"
"They told me about you burning the statues and I couldn't have you give up your only remaining memory of your parents. I sent CD to the reservation to see if your Uncle Ray could have some more made. Do you like them? The one is of your father and the other your mother, but the last is one of you and your parents together, as it should have been."
Walker's eyes brimmed with tears and a couple rolled down his face.
"What did I do to deserve you?"
"You loved me, all that was all I ever needed," Alex whispered back, wiping the tears from his face. "Now come on before CD brings everyone over here looking for us."
"All right Mrs. Walker, but you will have to wait for your gift, until we get to the hotel."
Alex wondered what it was Walker had gotten her, but she forgot about that quickly as Walker picked her up and toted her to the car. She was about as happy as one woman could be. She had the man of her dreams, and a life of nothing but happiness to look forward to.