AN: Many thanks go to Jan in VA for her help and suggestions with this chapter.

Chapter 13

It had only been a week since Christmas when Rosie Dobey and her father had confronted Ken Hutchinson over his state of depression about the loss of his best friend and partner David Starsky, but the change in him was miraculous to say the least. Already, Hutch was gaining some of the weight that he had lost over the months that Starsky had disappeared.

The Captain had given Hutch a simple case to follow up on and so far Hutch was living up to what he expected from one half of his best detective team.

There was still a sense of sadness in the sky blue eyes, especially when Dobey would catch Hutch alone or in thought, but that was to be expected. Harold Dobey understood that sadness and even caught himself at times, even after all these years, in that melancholy sadness himself when he thought of his partner Elmo Jackson who had been killed in the line of duty years earlier. The captain understood the void that came from losing someone as close to you as your skin…someone that shared the joys and sorrows as no one else…not even his wonderful wife Edith could. There was something in male bonding that was unlike anything other relationship he had ever experienced.

"Thank God for Edith…" Dobey thought to himself. He knew that if it weren't for her faith and love he might have been as lost to the world as Hutch had been.

Dobey; however, was determined to be there for Hutch…not only as his boss, but as a friend. He knew he could never be the kind of friend that Starsky had been to Hutch. He didn't expect to be, but every so often and as time went on with greater frequency, Hutch had taken Dobey up on his offer to talk after shift. They had talked a couple of times in Dobey's office over leftover pumpkin pie and turkey sandwiches. Hutch had even convinced the Captain to go with him to see Huggy this night over at the Pits.

Hutch had finally realized that it was not only him that missed Starsky, but a multitude of people who had a void in their life now that his curly haired whirlwind of a partner of his was not around.

Funny what you miss about a person when they aren't there any more…

…chatter that before seemed to be endless…

…blue adidas and worn blue jeans…

…a cocky grin and an even more cocky attitude…

The three talked long into the night…about Starsky and the tricks he'd play on the Captain. There was laughter and beer and even a couple of games of pool.

It was a good evening with good friends until Dobey looked at the time.

"Oh Man!" exclaimed Dobey. "Let me use your phone Huggy!"

After a few animated minutes, Dobey announced he had to be getting home.

"Lord knows that I don't want to ever cause that wonderful woman a moment's worth of grief not after everything she's been to me." With that, the captain was out the door of the bar and into the night.

Hutch only stayed a little while longer, then he too was on his way home.

"Oh, Starsky," mused Hutch while driving after leaving the Pits. "How I wish I knew then what I know now…that we would have so little time."

Parking the car next to the curb, Hutch was still lost in memories until a lone mop topped jogger passed by. The man waved briefly at Hutch as he went on his way.

Hutch was suddenly thrown out of his memories into the here and now. He realized that although he would never stop looking for Starsky, he needed to get on with the business of living.

Living….

Hutch realized that he probably would be long gone by now if it weren't for the two men that he had just left, Edith and of course little Rosie who had started the whole healing process for Hutch in the first place, but he knew without a doubt that there was someone else who had as much if not more of a role in him embracing life again.

Hutch got out of his car and walked with purpose toward the home that he and Lizzie shared making a decision right then and there that he hoped Starsky would have been pleased with.

Dec 31st, 1984

Lizzie brushed a tear from her eye as she looked at the tiny jewelry box that Hutch held in his hand.

"Will you marry me?" he repeated quietly, looking at her solemnly. They had been living together since Thanksgiving and Hutch knew that he loved her even if the idea of getting married again after his disastrous first marriage to Vanessa had initially turned him off the idea of marriage. But, with Starsky gone, Hutch needed someone he could count on in his life, someone he could love and be loved in return. He was getting his professional life together…now it seemed just logical that proposing to Lizzie would be the next logical step in getting the rest of his life back.

"Yes!" Lizzie exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. "Yes, yes…" she whispered as she nuzzled her lips against the side of his neck, "Yes, I will marry you." She began to cry with happiness as Hutch took the tiny diamond out of the box and slid it onto her finger, sealing their commitment to each other.

Claiming her mouth hungrily, Hutch lifted his fiancé into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

Their lovemaking was sweet and passionate. Afterwards, into the early morning of the New Year, Hutch found himself awake with Lizzie lying contentedly in his arms.

Hutch silently got out of bed and went to the bedroom window. Looking out to the moon, he wondered if somewhere Starsky was gazing at that same moon. It gave Hutch a measure of comfort to think that he and Starsky could share at least that.

"Well, I did it Gordo," Hutch whispered to the night sky. "What do you think of me getting married again?" Only the blackness answered.

"I do love her Starsk…I just wish you were here to share this with me," Hutch said forlornly.

Hutch felt a hand on his shoulder that shot him back into reality, "Starsk!"

"No, sweetheart," replied Lizzie's soft voice. "Come on back to bed, Ken."

She took Hutch's hand and led him back to the warmth of their bed and her arms…to the comfort that she knew that he needed right now.

March 23rd, 1985

Lizzie nervously twisted her hands together, keeping her head bowed, unable to look into Hutch's eyes. She knew she owed him an explanation for her recent behavior but she was terrified that her news would come between them and the happiness they had finally found together.

"Tell me what's wrong," Hutch whispered, as he took Lizzie's hand and squeezed her fingers gently. "Whatever it is, we can work it out…together." He knew that something was wrong and he couldn't keep the concern from showing in his voice.

Finally, Lizzie took a deep breath and raised her head, looking deeply into Hutch's ice blue eyes. In a shaking voice, she said, "I'm pregnant."

"Are you sure?" Hutch asked in a stunned voice at the unexpected news. "I thought you were on the pill."

"Yes, I'm sure. I saw the doctor this morning…and I was on the pill. I must have missed one or something, I don't know," Lizzie said somewhat defensively. She chewed on her bottom lip to control her emotions. "I'm sorry…I never meant for this to happen…not like this."

"I know you didn't," Hutch said, releasing her hand and running his fingers through his thinning hair. They had talked about children at some undefined point in the future. Now the abstract had become a reality and Hutch wasn't sure exactly how he felt about that.

"I'm not blaming you."

"I know this isn't what we planned," Lizzie said in a sad little voice. "I don't have to have it…"

"NO!" Hutch said loudly, glaring at her with a fierce expression in his eyes that scared Lizzie for a moment. "We'll deal with this together…this baby didn't ask to be conceived…but now that it has…we need to do the right thing."

"I don't want you marrying me just because I'm pregnant," Lizzie said with a trace of bitterness creeping into her voice.

"I asked you to marry me because I love you…this just gives us a reason to finally set a date." Hutch reached out pulled a quietly weeping Lizzie into his arms. "When's the baby due?"

"October 31st," Lizzie mumbled through her tears.

Hutch chuckled as the significance of the date registered in his mind. "Halloween," he said with a trace of sadness "Starsky would have loved that."

Lizzie raised her head and looked at the man she loved "If it's a boy…I want to name him David Michael…for you and for Dave."

"I'd like that…" Hutch said, choking back a sob of his own at her suggestion. He tightened his arms around her waist and bent his head to kiss her tenderly.

May 1st, 1985

Hutch stood at rigid attention with Lizzie at his side listening to the words of the preacher as he declared them man and wife. They shared a brief kiss, then joined hands and turned to leave the tiny wedding chapel. Their decision to elope to Las Vegas had been an impulsive one. Although Hutch had proposed to Lizzie on New Years Eve, he had been postponing setting a date for their wedding. A part of him simply couldn't face marrying Lizzie without Starsky being there, standing beside him, offering both moral and emotional support as his best man.

Lizzie had been nothing but loving and supportive since Starsky's disappearance. She was well aware of the unique bond the two men had shared and how lost Hutch felt without Starsky. It was her love and support that had helped Hutch through the darkest hours and days since Starsky's disappearance and he loved her in his own way. But, there was a big part of his heart that would always belong to Starsky and anyone else in his life would have to settle for whatever he had left over to share. Lizzie knew that and accepted that which made her the perfect match for Hutch.

Outside, they climbed into the rented car parked at the curb and drove to their hotel where they would be staying overnight before heading back to Bay City. Neither of them spoke on the short drive, both lost in their own thoughts.

Lizzie blinked back a tear as she looked out the side window, watching the bright lights of the city. This might not have been her ideal dream of her wedding day but she loved this man beside her with all her heart. She would have been willing to continue living with him without the sanction of marriage if that was what he had wanted. But, they both wanted a family and having a child out of wedlock didn't seem right to either one of them. The tiny life nestled deep inside of her had ultimately decided their future together.