Phillip whispered something into Ross' ear before walking over to Rick's table. Rick, after the judge had left sank back into his chair. He nodded towards Rick's attorney before stopping in front of his old friend. "Well, I'm not quite sure what happened here, but to say I'm a bit surprised is the understatement of the decade." Phillip said. Rick looked up at him incredulously.

"If you're implying that I had played afoul here your wrong pal. That's a Spaulding trick, not mine."

Phillip looked past him to an ashen Blake who was rushing back into the courtroom. "Well, pal, you're the one shacking up with Roger Thorpe's daughter now. I wouldn't put anything past them."

Rick turned and spied Blake, he stood and opened his arms which she ran into. "It's over?" She asked.

"It is."

"Are you alright? Was Phillip at all contrite? Did he say if he will transition Matthew gently, or is he taking him today?"

Rick pushed her back and held her at arm's length. "Blake, you honestly don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

Rick broke into the biggest smile. "Just wait here. Holly, can you sit with her a minute" Rick asked, practically sprinting out of the court room.

"What's going on?" Holly asked Blake. She looked for Fletcher, but he had joined the media circus outside.

"I'm not sure, Mom."

They only had to wait a moment to find out what Rick had to tell them for moments later he carried a pink faced Matthew into the court room. Blake scrambled to stand. "Rick?"

"Blake, I know you two have met, but I would like to officially introduce you to my son Matthew Edward Bauer."

Blake reached out and held Matthew's hand. "What are you saying?" She asked, all sense having left her. Rick handed her the lab report, which Blake reviewed with Eagle eyes. When she was done, she handed the papers to Holly as she wrapped Rick and Matthew both in her arms.

Later that night everyone gathered at the light house.

"We have a little announcement to make" Rick said standing at the top of the stairs leading to the living room.

"Rick" Blake said through clenched teeth.

"Just hang on Blake. I'm only going to tell these nice people that you've agreed to marry me. I wasn't going to tell them that you've also agreed to adopt Matthew once we have" He winked at her.

Everyone with the exception of Roger, who had been invited as an afterthought gave their immediate congratulations. Blake excused herself from the throng and went to him as he was standing near the door, an easy escape from the crowd.

"Chrissy, are you sure this is what you want?"

Blake took his hand and pulled him outside on to the small porch beyond. "Daddy, I have never been surer of anything in my life. I love Rick, and I adore Matthew as much as if I'd given birth to him myself."

"I thought so." He kissed her softly. "In that case I shall give you my blessing, even if the love of your life is a Bauer"

"Thank you, Daddy." She paused "Daddy, tell me something."

"Anything"

Blake twisted her engagement ring. "Daddy, I can't start my marriage with any more lies. Please tell me you didn't have anything to do with the paternity tests coming out in Rick's favor"

Roger looked wounded. "Blake, I loathe Phillip more so than I loathe Alan or Alexandra. To think I shared a bed with that woman." He shuddered at the thought. "But I also loathe the idea of any man being kept from his child. If Phillip was Matthew's father, then they would be celebrating at the mansion tonight instead of mourning. I promise I had nothing to do with those results. Rick, as far as I know is Matthew's father."

Blake practically jumped into his arms.

"Now I have something to ask of you. Will you please make this a long engagement. A summer wedding, next year would give me plenty of time to adjust to you being the newest Mrs. Bauer."

Blake smiled, still not ready to tell him that he was going to be a grandfather "I'll see what Rick thinks and get back to you"

The pair walked back into the festivities hand in hand.

After Rick and Blake put Matthew to bed that night they laid in bed and discussed their future. For the first time it didn't seem so scary to either of them. Blake fell asleep wrapped in Ricks arms. The sound of his breathing even, his heart beat reassuring, his skin warm on her cheek. She woke when she heard Matthew crying. "I'll get him" She murmured to Rick who didn't even flinch.

She went to Matthew's room, stopping as soon as she crossed the threshold. The familiar fragrance hit her first. It was Meredith's perfume. In the rocking chair she sat, Matthew in her arms. He was dressed in the pajamas that Blake herself had placed on him earlier that evening. He wasn't crying, in fact, he was as peaceful as Blake had ever seen him. He held his mother's finger in his hand, and her undivided attention on his face. Meredith looked up at her and grinned. "Thank you for loving him. Thank you for loving both of them. Everything has worked out the way I wanted." She appeared ethereal suddenly. "Blake, you make a wonderful mother to him, and will make a wonderful wife to Rick. You two are going to be wonderful parents to the next miracle too."

Blake didn't remember going back to their bed, but when she woke again it was morning but Rick wasn't sleeping beside her. She tiptoed to the nursery where she found him crib side. Silently she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. He laid his hands on hers. "Good morning" She whispered.

Rick turned to face her, wrapping his arms around her. "Good morning" He said "I hope I didn't wake you, but I have got to tell you about my dream…."

THE END...of this portion...

If you enjoyed this read thank you. I did my three-part saga backwards, but if you just started, I suggest moving on to "When the Universe Collides" that tells the story of Holly and Fletcher. The series is completed with "Walk Away Joe"

It's been suggested that I write a bridge story between Universe Joe as there is some unwritten history that could make for a good story...but we shall see...we shall see.