Deep in thought, she suddenly jumps up when a hand lands on her shoulder. "Hold your horses, McNally," Andy hears Noelle next to her. "We're going to spend a quiet day in the car together today," explains the experienced police officer Andy, with a smile.

At first, there is silence in the car. Andy is a bit unsure about this team-up and she must have unconsciously rubbed her shoulder more than once, because suddenly Noelle remarks, "Hey, that won't happen again."
Andy smiles, caught.
"Sorry, it's just..."

"weird?" Noelle interjects and then adds "For me too. But we can't be afraid to work together just because something went wrong. Do you trust me?"
For a brief moment, they look into each other's eyes, and Andy nods. It's true. She would always trust Noelle. She wasn't so sure about herself though.

Basically, this day, this assignment, was their "last" chance to prove themselves. The new jobs were certainly already being assigned in the background.

Luckily the day is completely calm and when everyone is in the locker room Luke sticks his head in. "The same applies to you: later a round in the Penny on me." he pauses and looks at Andy. "on us," then he disappears again with a knock on the door frame.

A little later Andy is leaning against the counter waiting for the next round of drinks when Sam joins her. "Congratulations, McNallly. But if he hurts you..." "He won't. But thanks."
And that's the end of their conversation.

After the changes at work, which are not as extensive as initially feared, time flies by. Almost automatically, Andy finds herself in Gail's apartment with Tracy sometime in the evening and they flip through magazines and folders full of clippings.
"Come on we have to finish planning your buffet if you want to celebrate your wedding and not starve to death?" Tracy nudges Andy from the side.
Andy startles out of her daze. "Sorry, I was just... this dress. It looks almost like my mom's."
"Choose that then," Gail leans over, but then taps the food list, "But chocolate cream isn't a dessert for a wedding,"
Andy sits up and crosses her arms. "And why not?"
Gail's eyes sparkle mischievously. "That's something for children. And it sounds like a spread. Take creme brulee."
The three friends look at each other and laugh snorting.
"Okay, chocolate cream it is," Andy says after she can breathe easy again.
"Have you agreed on a color concept?" Tracy asks, flipping through the bridesmaid dress catalog.
Andy shakes her head. "Luke wants to leave that to me... but what do you think about blue and cream? I mean I'll choose a cream dress and a dark blue with an ultramarine accent for Luke. Plus you'd both look great in blue."
She studies her two friends uncertainly and exhales deeply as Tracy flips through a few pages and hands the magazine to her and Gail.

A short time later everything is organized for the big celebration. The buffet, as well as the musical program, are chosen. The girls have agreed on an appointment to try on dresses and Luke also knows what color his suit should be, but what has not yet been clarified is how many people the whole celebration should actually be for.

Andy is sitting on the sofa with a tea and a pad, twirling a pencil between her fingers.
Luke steps up to the sofa from behind and lays his head on Andy's for a moment.
"Well, what are you thinking about?"
Annoyed, she holds up the pad.
"The guest list, what else? We really have to decide who to invite and who not." she groans in shock and Luke has to laugh a little.
"Quite simply: everyone."
Andy briefly frowns. "Like all our colleagues, everyone?"
Luke collapses onto the sofa next to her. "Yes, all our friends and colleagues. And of course your dad,"
he grabs her hand and kisses the back of it.
"No matter who's there, I'll only have eyes for you anyway," he murmurs while trailing his lips up her arm.
Andy laughs and pushes him away. "Now please be serious. Won't it be weird if we invite Jo and Sam over?" she looks at him uncertainly and waits for his answer with a slight panic.
Luke sits a little straighter and puts his hands on Andy's shoulders. "Would it be weird for you not to invite Sam? Don't you want Jo there? We'll do whatever you want!" he then says in a firm voice and Andy inevitably has to shake her head.

"Stop," she says in a firm voice. "We said we would invite all friends and colleagues. Sam and Jo are part of it and it probably won't be that bad. If they don't want to come, they can RSVP no," she explains very pragmatically. She had often worked with Jo in the past few weeks and valued the policewoman professionally, even if the private involvements weren't a basis for a close friendship.

After a while, the two of them finished the list and some of Luke's old Academy friends had to go on it too. "Is Gail really bringing a date?" Luke is still a bit surprised because there is also a plus 1 behind the cool blonde.
"She's seeing someone, at least for now," Andy shrugs, "I'd rather keep the option open before she gets in a bad mood."
"Okay, that's a good point," Luke laughs, kissing her cheek.
"We're going to rock this somehow, even though it looks like a mess right now," Luke spreads his arms and gestures at the scattered papers and maps throughout the living area.
"It'll be better tomorrow. Then Tracy will be here and Gail and they'll help to fix it." and with that, Andy snuggles up to Luke's side and pulls the blanket over her legs.
She exhales deeply and closes her eyes.
After a while, the silence is broken by a constant hum. "Is that your phone?" Andy mumbles sleepily and Luke blindly reaches for the side table. "No, it's yours. Jerry," he holds out the device to Andy.
"Yes hello?" she answers slightly irritated with a look at the time but calms down again. It's still early.
"Are you alone McNally? If no then tell me you have to help me with a present for Tracy," she hears on the line and Andy scrunches her eyebrows. But does as she was instructed.
"Okay, Jerry. Let me see what Tracy might like." With an apologetic smile and an eye roll, Andy saunters towards the bedroom and pulls the door shut behind herself.

Andy has to bite her tongue to keep from laughing while Jerry stutters his way through the explanation that the boys are planning a "little" bachelor party for Luke and would like her approval.
"Have you asked Tracy if she's okay with you going to a bachelor party?" Andy giggles and suddenly there's dead silence on the line.

"Jerry? Are you still there?" Andy still laughs a little. "Come on, everything's okay. It's a tradition. Just bring him back in one piece, please," she finally adds her approval.
She hears Jerry exhale deeply on the other end of the line.
"You just scared me, but yes, I should tell Trace. Give me a day!"

I am trying to put the final chapter up tomorrow. Thanks for following along so far.