Gail woke up after taking a nap on a beautiful beach in Mexico. She got up from her sun bed and noticed that the bed beside her is empty. Holly must be in the water…. She took a sip of ice cold lemonade that was brought when she was waking up and she took off her sundress so she would join her wife…yes, wife. She still couldn't believe they did it and that it all happened in twenty minutes. She smiled to the memory of how their wedding came to be.
Holly woke her up and told her to get ready. She packed some things in two suitcases and got Gail to her apartment to pick up her passport. Dove and Chris were asleep so they had no idea Gail was there and that she took anything from the apartment. Holly was very responsible traveler, so she made sure to be at the airport much earlier than it is necessary. They were driving by the courthouse and they stopped at the traffic light. Gail took Holly's hand, looked at her and looked at the court house.
''Wanna do it now Stewart?''
She didn't expect Holly to do anything impulsive. She believed she would give her long list of reasons why getting married like that was wrong, but she was the one who was wrong. Holly made wrong turn and got to the parking.
''Ready?''
Gail smiled at her and left the car. They got all the papers in few minutes and fifteen minutes later, Gail became Mrs. Stewart. Holly was surprised Gail took her last name and gave the Peck up so easily. Holly was ready to add Gail's last name, but she said no.
''I want a clean slate… And that often means dropping the Peck ways…. Let's just stick to the Stewart ….''
''I don't think that being Peck is wrong. I think that you see it as burden. I want you to be happy… I love you Gail…Stewart…''
''I love you too.''
Gail kissed her wife and they went to the airport.
Holly was in the water and she waved at Gail to join her. It took Gail few minutes to get in and then she swam to her wife. Holly greeted her with a long kiss and a very happy face.
''Did you have a nice nap?''
''Yes, I had an amazing nap… I dreamed we were married….''
''Hm… That sounds like amazing dream.''
''It was… And I don't want to wake up from it…''
''I hear you Mrs. Stewart…''
''I can't wait to see their faces when I come to ask for a new name tag…''
''Are you sure about changing the name? I don't mind adding your last name Gail… It mattered to you to be Peck.''
''It did, but I don't care about it anymore… I love you Nerd…And as I said.. I want a fresh start. I want to be Stewart. I want to be your wife Nerd. I'm so proud of you…''
Holly kissed her wife again and she realized she was not that happy and peaceful for a long time. She smiled at Gail and just pulled her closer.
''You'll brake my bones Nerd…''
''Shut up!''
Gail did what Holly said and they just stood like that. Holly needed to feel her close.
''Nerd, how about we go back to the room and we can do this without water and bathing suits…''
''I love your idea…Mrs. Stewart…''
They went back to their room and made love. Gail told her she feels like teenager doing something forbidden and wrong.
''You are my wife… Nothing is forbidden and wrong… You hear me?''
''Yes, I do…''
Gail fell asleep on top of Holly. Holly couldn't sleep. All of the sudden, so many feelings were resurfacing inside of her. She was so happy Gail was alive and with her. She was a woman of science, but she was grateful to some higher power for Gail and her being ok. She played with Gail's fingers and she touched her rings… Small smile appeared on her face….
Holly felt bad because she didn't have ring for Gail. Gail used the ring she proposed with as a wedding ring and Holly felt bad for Gail's bare finger. They checked in their bags and Gail went to the ladies room and to bring them something to eat. Holly was left with few minutes on her hands. She saw a jewelry shop and she decided to find a ring for Gail. She deserved the best, but she also knew Gail couldn't have some big ring. It was not hard to find a ring for Gail. She didn't like anything but simple rings, so Holly got her a white gold band and very simple engagement ring with small black diamond. It was discrete and it would be perfect on Gail's hand. Gail came back with two bags of food and pretty angry face.
''Who got you that angry?''
''Stupid!''
''What was it love?''
''Some guys were checking you out….''
''And?''
''They said you were nice piece of ass and they tossed the coin who will come to talk to you…''
Holly loved jealous Gail. She didn't care about the guys and things they said… She heard it all. They were not first to comment her and think how to come on to her.
''Oh, baby… Get used to it… People do it all the time… I ignore it…''
''Would you ignore it if someone hit on me?''
''Honestly, until you show interest in the other person, I would ignore it… But if you like them, I would react… And, we know I can't hurt them as much as you can baby…''
She smiled at Holly…
''You are right… I can be much worse than you.''
She smiled at their food. Leave it to Gail to be distracted by the food on the plate in front of her.
''I'm so hungry… We didn't have breakfast before we left…''
''We were in the rush…''
''We didn't have time to eat, but we had time to get married…That's so us…''
Holly was smiling with her eyes too.
''You are so beautiful Dr. Stewart… And I'm so in love with you.''
''So am I…. I have something for you my beloved wife….''
Gail grinned at the ''wife'' word.
Holly got out ring box and opened it for Gail. She first slid the engagement ring and than the wedding band.
''I think you deserve it my love…''
''It's beautiful Holly…''
''Just like you wanted it. Simple and perfect.''
Gail got up and sat by her wife.
''Holly, you are a dream come true… I never felt so loved and happy before. You complete me and that makes me feel strong and weak at the same time… Don't ever leave me love…''
''I promise to stay forever and love you each day of my life Gail… Even when you get on my last nerve I will love you…''
''Wow… That was honest…''
''You are pain in the butt…''
''And you love me…''
''I do…''
They kissed and when Gail opened her eyes, she noticed those men who were talking about Holly. They looked surprised with what they saw. Yap, Holly was taken…and by a girl…''
Holly cupped Gail's face and made sure that two of them see the wedding ring on her finger. She was sending the message to the world that she was not just taken but that she was married.
Gail woke up to see Holly looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
''Nerd, for how long have you been staring at me?''
''I lost count… I just know I can't stop looking at you… You are here, alive and married to me. I'm afraid I will wake up and it would all be just a dream.''
''I know the feeling…''
Gail cuddled up to Holly.
''I fear the same things you do. I want to be like this forever. Far from the rest of the world. Just us… Happy, naked….''
''I love being happy and naked with you…. Wifey….''
They made love again enjoying every moment they had.
While at home….
Tracy came to the mourge early in the morning to see if Holly found something more about the girl and the evidence found at the scene. Instead of Holly, Dr. Mars was in the lab.
''Good morning, is Dr. Steward around?''
''No, she is not here…''
''Is she on the scene?''
''No, I have no idea where she is, but from what I gathered… she took her vacation days and she is not here.''
She was surprised to hear that in the middle of the investigation Holly would pick up and decide to take time off. She got into her car ant went to Holly's house. She was surprised to see that her car was gone. She knocked and rung the bell, but no one answered. She called Steve and asked him to call Gail or Holly. He called them but their phones were off.
''I can't believe they took off…''
''Why? They wanted to do it when Gail recovers…''
''We have a girl missing…''
''And twelve people working the case.''
''But I needed her…''
''So did Gail and we know who would she pick.''
''Yes, but…''
''Tracy, they need this time off. They need to mend their broken peace.''
''Victim needs her too…''
''Maybe, but she has other people and there is only one Gail and Holly…''
''I can't believe you are defending them…''
''I am not. But I get it. They need time to build their relationship again. She almost died on Holly… Holly is not able to be rational. She almost lost her…''
''I got back to work after Jerry. I picked up myself alone… I made it knowing I lost someone who was such a big part of me…''
''I know. I was there. I was one of your friends and I was the one who had to watch you and Gail fall apart every time memories hunt you. I know it all. She still hasn't forgiven herself for Jerry's death and the fact she is the one he gave his life for. She is broken in so many ways and Holly put her together. Don't make her crack again.''
''What about me? Who will mend me?''
''I will…''
''Steve…''
''What?''
Before she said anything his phone rung.
''Hi, mom…No…I don't know where she is… Tracy told me she and Holly were not at home. She said Holly took some time off…''
Steve rolled his eyes at things his mother said. Tracy could only imagine what she was saying.
''I'll try to find her mother…. I will call her.''
He hung up the phone.
''Supermom is looking for Gail. She is not answering her phone.''
Tracy looked at him curious.
''Where is Gail?''
''No idea Tracy…''
''Do you think something happened to them?''
''No, I think they are fine…. They just wanted to be alone…''
''Our little Gail grew up and found herself a partner.''
Tracy went with Sam to the crime scene and she spent most of the day away from the station. Dr. Mars called her and told her that he found some things to help them with the case. Few hours later they found the girl. Tracy was so relived and happy. Girl came back to her family after almost two weeks missing. That night when she came home, she locked herself in the room and she opened her Jerry box. Those were memories she buried after he died… She missed him a lot. She felt like she died the day he died.