Lim couldn't help but feel a tad disappointed with Melendez. Today was their ten year anniversary, and though she probably would've been a bit disgusted if her husband had tried to shower her with flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, she at least wanted him to acknowledge the fact that they had hit an important milestone in their marriage. The kids hadn't made cards and Melendez hadn't even told her happy anniversary along with his good morning kiss. Oh shit. Were they already one of those couples? The couple that forgot their anniversary and did absolutely nothing about it? The only nice thing Melendez had done for her today was make her a cup of coffee, and that act of affection wasn't any different than usual as she was the one whom often got the kids ready for school and made their lunches or gave them their lunch money. Once they arrived at work, they both had surgeries scheduled and they hadn't seen each other all day.
Lim glanced up from her paperwork to the picture of her and Neil on their wedding day sitting on her desk. She smiled to herself as she thought about that day ten years ago. Neither one of them were looking at the camera, but instead, gazing into each other's eyes as per the photographer and Neil's request. She couldn't believe how different they looked, dressed up in their formal wedding attire; she couldn't help but chuckle to herself in amusement over the fact that she had hated being forced to wear qipao dresses growing up, but once it came to her wedding day, she couldn't bear the thought of not getting married in one. A knock on her office door brought her back to reality. She glanced over and found Park standing in the doorway, "Dr. Park," she greeted.
"Dr. Lim-Melendez," he greeted her back, "Can you come down to the ER? We really need you."
Lim looked back down to the paperwork on her desk and said, "Yeah, I can finish these forms tomorrow," she shoved the papers into her black bag and locked her office door before following Park down to the ER, "What's the situation?" Park didn't answer, "Dr. Park?"
"You'll see," he said. Lim was suspicious about this visit to the ER, but she wasn't going to pressure Park. Once the two surgeons arrived at the emergency department, Lim noticed that Morgan, Shaun, Claire, and Andrews were all standing in lines on each side. Melendez was at the end, standing next to the hospital chaplain, and Mei-Li and Carlos were standing with Shaun and Claire, "How did?"
"Dr. Melendez told me to pick them up from school," informed Claire.
Lim walked towards Melendez and Park took his place next to Morgan. Everyone was wearing red in some form, either a tie, a shirt, or in Mei-Li's case, a dress that she had changed into after school, "What is all of this? Shouldn't we not be standing around the ER?"
Melendez came over to her, took her hands in his, and said, "I got permission from Dr. Andrews to use the ER for this special occasion."
"Neil, what's going on? What special occasion?" asked Lim.
"Our vow renewal," Melendez answered, "Happy anniversary, Audrey."
The chaplain began, "We gather here today, in the presence of friends and family to recognize and renew the marriage vows that Neil Melendez and Audrey Lim-Melendez have originally taken in 2020. Through the triumphs and trials of life, Neil and Audrey have found the strength in their love and commitment to each other to endure and to enjoy all that has come their way. Neil and Audrey would like to thank each one of you for sharing this celebration with them. They would also like to acknowledge loved ones who are no longer physically with us. Their memories will always be cherished and remembered. We are certain they are here with us in spirit today. Today, you reaffirm your commitment to each other as beloveds and partners in marriage. May you continue to strive to be sensitive to each other's needs, to be open and understanding with each other, to share your thoughts, your feelings, and your experiences with each other. Today, you renew your promise to always try to bring out the qualities of forgiveness, compassion, and integrity in yourselves and in each other. May you continue to cherish each other's uniqueness, continue to share in life's joys, and remain steadfast and comfort each other through life's sorrows. Please face each other and join hands."
Melendez and Lim did so, "Neil," Lim whispered, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Neil, will you continue to have Audrey as your wife, to love, honor, and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Melendez stated proudly, holding back a few tears as well.
"Audrey, will you continue to have Neil as your husband, to love, honor, and cherish him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Lim smiled softly.
"Now that you have declared your intentions, I invite you to share your vows with one another."
Melendez pulled a piece of paper out of his lab coat pocket and took a deep breath, "Audrey, I know there are plenty of vows online, but I felt the need to write my own. I chose the ER for our vow renewal because it's where our story began. Our first overnight shift in here is when I realized I loved you. It was here in the ER I almost lost you, but being the badass you are, you showed that virus who was boss. And our family grew in the maternity ward two floors above the emergency room. We've spent the past ten years as an officially married couple, but the truth is, we've fought like one for quite some time," he joked and everyone chuckled, "I look forward to more adventures with you, more cases with you, and I promise to stick by your side through both the good and bad times. Wǒ ài nǐ, Audrey Mikayla Lim-Melendez. I am so glad you're mine."
Lim cried and laughed before the chaplain nodded at her to say her vows, "Okay, wow. I guess I have to wing it because I didn't know this would be happening today. Neil, if I'm being honest, I truly believed you had forgotten our anniversary today, but I should have never doubted you. You have always been there for me since day one of our residency, even though you were trying your hardest to make Chief Resident. You were there for me right away every time I needed you as I recovered. It didn't matter how rough of a day you had, you were right there by my side. For years, I knew I felt something special towards you. At first, I thought it was annoyance, then, I thought it was because we were great friends, but then I realized, it was love. Unending, abundant love. You helped me bring two more of the most important people in my life into this world through our love. You planned that elaborate proposal in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter because it was cheesy and nerdy and you knew I'd love it. Ten years ago today, we vowed to spend the rest of our lives with each other and trust each other; you proved your trust in me by actually getting on my Ducati with me. You even made sure everyone was wearing red today because the color is so important in my culture. It's the little things you do that make me fall in love with you more every day. I don't know what the rest of our lives will bring us, but I do know with you by my side, we can handle anything. Te amo, Neil Alexander Melendez."
"That was off the cuff?" asked Melendez in surprise, but smiled.
"It was from the heart," admitted Lim.
"Inasmuch as you Neil, and you Audrey, have reaffirmed your commitment in matrimony and have witnessed the same before family and friends, it is my honor to recognize your recommitment to one another as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Melendez and Lim smiled at each other and their lips met, Melendez's hand on Lim's face and Lim's hands on his shoulders. Their kids, their group of friends, and even a few of the patients, doctors, and nurses clapped and cheered.
They hugged everyone and Claire approached the two of them and said, "Happy anniversary."
"Just think, in ten years, this might be you and Murphy," Melendez joked.
"No," said Shaun, "Claire said she would renew our vows on a beach when I asked her if she would renew our vows in an emergency room. Even though you are the couple we strive to be like."
"Truly," affirmed Claire.
Melendez and Lim looked at each other, completely honored that Shaun and Claire had said that to them.
Later that night, Melendez went in their bedroom where Lim, Mei-Li, and Carlos were gathered on the bed, looking through their wedding album, "You looked so pretty on your wedding day, Mom. I hope I look that pretty on my wedding day."
"Well, thankfully, that day is a long way off," said Melendez as he crawled in next to them.
"Who's that?" asked Mei-Li, pointing to a picture of her with Melendez and Lim at the wedding.
"That's you, mija," answered Melendez.
"Mei-Li had chubby cheeks as a baby," said Carlos.
"Carlos Samuel," warned Lim.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"Well, it's bedtime guys," said Lim, closing the photo album. Lim put the kids to bed and when she arrived back, Melendez had their wedding song, Can't Help Falling in Love, playing and he immediately came up to her and started slow dancing with her, "Neil, haven't you romanced me enough today?"
"Hardly," said Melendez. Lim laid her head on his shoulder and they swayed back and forth in time with the music when Melendez asked, "So how does a relaxing weekend in Napa sound?"
Lim took a deep breath and said, "Wonderful, but unattainable with two kids," suddenly the thought hit her, "Wait a minute?"
"Well, Dr. Lim-Melendez, you'll be happy to know that a certain Abuelito and Abuelita have agreed to watch their grandchildren while we enjoy a weekend getaway. The kids' and our bags are packed, Mom and Dad are picking them up from school tomorrow, and we leave tomorrow after work."
Lim smiled and kissed Melendez. She leaned her forehead against his and said, "And here I thought that you stopped caring. Like seriously, I thought you could've cared less about our anniversary."
Melendez softly kissed her lips and whispered, "I could never stop caring about you."
