Chapter 199

The way a star falls from the sky, now I'm forever lost in your eyes

Robin sat in the kitchen enjoying the quiet of early morning. Looking down at her engagement ring she marveled at the depth of promise it held. It had been a week since Darren had told her that he had developed AIDS and her feelings and thoughts continued to be scattered to all corners and yet through it all Patrick was by her side. He held her, he let her talk, he made her laugh, he went with her to visit Darren and was amazingly compassionate. There were not many couples who tested their wedding vows before actually saying them but they had and they found that living those promises came naturally to them.

She smiled as she heard him pad down the stairs; even when he had the opportunity to sleep in, he didn't. It was almost as though once she was up, he didn't want to be in the bed without her. He came into the kitchen and touching her shoulder, softly kissed her. Then he dropped to his knees in front of her, pushed her robe open and kissed her burgeoning belly.

"Good morning baby," he said softly. "How are the summersaults going? You working on your gymnastics in there?"

Robin's heart fluttered as his voice vibrated against her skin. Patrick had taken to talking to the baby first thing in the morning and just before they went to sleep. She adored the slightly goofy look on his face as he did so.

"I think it's more soccer or kung-fu this morning than gymnastics," she told him.

He swept his hand across her belly. "Are you giving your mom a hard time?" he asked. "You be good to her in there." Getting to his feet, he kissed her again.

"I made coffee for you." She nodded in the direction of the coffee maker on the counter. "Leaded coffee, even though I can't have any." The mock pout in her tone elicited a laugh from Patrick.

"You are too good to me - your sacrifices are legendary."

"Yeah, yeah." Robin took a drink of tea. "So are you all ready for your best man duties?"

Patrick shrugged as he filled his mug. "Leave it to Eric to have the world's simplest wedding. All I have to do is stand there."

Alexis and Eric had barely been engaged two days before they announced they would marry the following weekend. They had decided to have a simple, quiet ceremony on the docks at the lakehouse with just the girls, Patrick and Robin in attendance. When questioned about the lack of pomp and circumstance both demurred, saying they just wanted to be married - without fuss but with all who were important to them in attendance.

"True, but you're going to look damn hot standing there," she smiled slyly.

Cocking an eyebrow, he shook his head. "You are insatiable. You are going to wear me out before this baby comes."

"Quit your whining," she teased. "I thought you had game."

"I do," he grinned. "It's just you keep wanting to score .time."

Setting her mug down on the table, Robin got to her feet and walked over to the counter, retreiving an envelope. "Because you've been such a good player, I have a present for you."

"Oh?"

Nodding, she placed the envelope in his hands. Patrick gave her a curious look before sliding his finger underneath the flap. Reaching inside, he pulled out two plane tickets.

"Greece?" he asked in surprise.

Curling her fingers through the waistband of his sweatpants, she nodded. "It's on our list - a week on the beach in Greece. And since you've been doing most of the list organizing I thought I would take care of this."

Grinning, he bussed her lips. "When do you want to go? And can it be a topless beach."

Playfully swatting his bare chest, she surpressed a giggle. "Well I'm done flying until after the baby is born, so I was thinking we could go there for our honeymoon. What do you think?"

Sliding his arms around her waist, he dipped his head and kissed her lazily, his tongue dragging along the seam of her lips before slipping inside her mouth. Robin moaned happily, deepening the kiss.

"So is that a yes?" she asked breathlessly as they broke apart.

"That's a hell yes," he replied. "What a great idea."

"I love our list" she told him. "And I want to keep adding to it and crossing things off. I want it to be pages and pages long by the time we're done."

Stealing a quick kiss, he smiled against her mouth. "I like the way you think."

Catching a glance at the clock over his shoulder, Robin's eyes widened. "We better get a move on before the bride and groom think we've abandoned them."

"Well in that case," he said, as he took her hand and led her down the hall, "I think we better shower together - in the interest of saving time and water and all that."

Robin giggled. "God, I love it when you get environmental on me."

*******
Eric pulled at his tie as he paced the length of the floor. Patrick, sitting on the couch, watched in amusement. His friend continued to check his watch and then peer out the patio door and down to the docks.

"So the judge is already down there, right?"

"For the tenth time, yes. You know, you're a little high strung - which is kind of fun to watch."

Eric shot him a withering glance. "Just wait - your wedding day will be here soon enough and we'll just see how calm, cool and collected you are. My guess is we'll be peeling you from the ceiling."

"Nah," he disagreed. "I'm as cool as they come."

"Pffft."

Patrick carefully studied his friend and depsite his obvious nerves he finally seemed to be at peace and for Patrick that meant everything. They had been by each other's sides when family and friends had disappeared and disappointed and they knew the exact each had paid to get where they were. The peace, the happiness Eric was experiencing was hard fought and hard won.

"Smitty"

"Yeah?"

"Nice work."

Eric smiled bashfully and winked. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped as Molly and Kristina came skipping into the room in their white dresses. Crouching down he beamed as he looked at the two girls.

"You two are gorgeous!" he exclaimed and was rewarded with them both sprinting into his arms.

"Ewic" Molly said, looking up into his eyes.

"Yes Molly?"

"I wuv you"

"Me too!" Kristina added.

Hugging them as tightly as he could without squishing their dresses, he kissed them each on the cheek. "And I love you both - very much."

Robin and Alexis came from around the corner and Eric froze where he was as he looked up. His sharp intake of breath was the only sound in the room as he drank her in. "Oh my" he whispered.

She stood on the step to the living room and beamed at her soon-to-be husband. Dressed in a simple white satin sheath dress that hugged every curve, she gave off an air of complete and total happiness.

"How do I look?" she asked nervously.

Rising to his feet, Eric crossed the floor in three easy steps. Cupping her face, he let his mouth hover over hers. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he told her quietly, "and I can't believe you're going to be my wife."

"It's not too late to back out" Patrick called teasingly.

Without taking her eyes from Eric, she shook her head. "Not a chance." He closed his mouth over hers and kissed her passionately, in a silent expression of his love for her.

Kristina, having climbed on the couch beside Patrick, looked at him seriously. "They are still very kissy" she announced.

Patrick burst out laughing and as Robin came to join him, he leaned over and kissed her. "I think being kissy is a good thing."

Taking Alexis' hand in his own, he guided her down the step. "Shall we get this show on the road?"

With the two girls skipping ahead, the four friends walked out the patio door and headed down the pathway to the dock where the judge was patiently waiting. The sun was shining brightly, glistening across the water and a light breeze rustled through the trees. It was a most perfect late summer day. Patrick held Kristina's hand and Robin, Molly's as they waited for the bride and groom to walk the final few feet together.

Robin's heart beat loudly inside her chest as she saw how utterly joyful Alexis was and thoughts of her own wedding day to come danced in her head. Looking over at Patrick, chatting kindly with Kristina, it felt as though she was having a glimpse of the future. Though she never doubted whether he would be a good parent, catching a small glimpse of it, sent her soaring. She had long eschewed happily ever after as the doings of fairy tales but glancing at him and knowing the love she felt for him and he for her, she was begining to think it might be more than just reserved for fairy tales.

The judge, a friend of Alexis', greeted them all and spoke passionately about the sanctity, the importance and the responsibilites of marriage. He smiled at the couple who only had eyes for each other before inviting them to say their vows.

Eric held both her hands in his and smiled lovingly at her as she spoke.

"You are a gift to me and like the best gifts you were a total and complete surprise. I had not thought that I would find love again but I did and better than that, I found a love that I had never experienced before. You give me all the space I need to be who I am but you never are out of reach. I have learned to trust you and in doing that I've learned to trust myself. I love you for who you are and who you will be. You are a man of profound strength and honour and caring. It means everything to me that you have accepted my children, that you love them as your own and that you cherish them as you do me." Several tears escaped from the corners of her eyes. "And so I say here in front of everyone who matters to us that I will love, honour and sustain you through good times and in bad for the rest of our lives."

"Eric?" the judge prompted.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly. "I don't know the exact moment I fell in love with you because there have been so many moments betwen us that have affirmed my feelings but I do know that my love for you is deep and unwavering. You have given me total and unconditonal acceptance and if I am a good and honourable man it's because your love for me has allowed me to be that way. You are so beautiful in every way and that beauty is reflected around you in your children and your friends and I am grateful that you allow me to share in it. I promise here in front of family and friends and God that I will love you, honour you and protect you with my whole heart every day, now and forever."

Patrick looked past Eric and caught Robin's eye. With a small smile, he mouthed 'I love you' to her. Returning his smile, she placed her hand over her heart and mouthed the same words back to him.

The Judge called for the rings and both Robin and Patrick passed them to their friends. They slid on easily and Eric brought Alexis' hand to his mouth, kissing it.

"Alexis and Eric, by the authority vested in my be the state of New York and by my belief in the promises you have made to each other this day, it is my honour and my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Stepping to his wife, Eric took her face in his hands and kissed her with unbridled passion.

Patrick walked to Robin and pulled her to his arms. Dipping his head, he placed a soft kiss against her cheek. "I cannot wait to marry you."