When she and Les were finally alone, she realized she honestly and completely loved him. And even with everything she did, all the poor choices she made, he still loved her. He wanted to marry her and share a life with her.

"I love you, Lester Santos." she managed to whisper despite her immobilized jaw

"I lived to see you again. Hold you again. Love you forever. I would have waited for you forever." Lester kissed her gently, sweetly, light brushes of his lips, full of future promise.

Val and Lester announced their engagement that evening.

Stephanie, Lula, Tank and Joe Morelli joined all the Santos/Manoso family for the lively engagement celebration. Neither Les nor Val was up for dancing or singing, but that did not stop everyone else from letting loose.

Tank and Lula's salsa dance reminded Val of what the nuns used to say at school dances years ago- leave room for the Holy Spirit- yeah- the Holy Spirit was out of luck with these two. And Joe Morelli was such a surprise. Lester told her all the things she didn't remember. The pain meds she received to help when they set her arm and wired her broken jaw washed away some of her memories but she remembered Joe holding her gently as she sobbed with relief when told Steve was dead. Then he whisked her out of town so the Burg gossips didn't know about her injuries. He got her admitted anonymously so she could be honest about all Steve had done. The most shocking thing was that even re-infected with STDs and injured from the multiple beatings, her body had protected her baby girl. It was a miracle. And she was so grateful.

Val watched her little sister dance willingly with Joe, saw her throw back her head and laugh at something he said and wondered again if Stephanie would ever notice that Joe was crazy about her- lusted after her, wanted her. Probably not. In Stephanie's heart, there was only room for Ric. A married man.

Life could really suck at times.

Then Sonia and Stephanie joined Lula for a powerful version of "IT'S RAINING MEN" with Tank and Joe as back up dancers and everyone was crying laughing by the end… Les took her hand and she looked into his eyes and saw his joy. And her heart was light.

Joe asked again if it was okay he was staying.

"Joe, Mary Lou's room is empty, since Mateo bunks in my room. Besides, there isn't a one of us who should be driving tonight." Stephanie handed him sheets and towels and set a glass of water and aspirin on the nightstand.

"Hey, Steph, before you go… The Buick… I deserved it. I deserved worse. And while my leg healed, I turned my life around. It was the making of me. And I really am sorry. More than you know."

"I am just glad I didn't do any permanent damage."

"Night Steph."

"Night Joe. Don't forget the aspirin."

In their room, Tank mumbled under his breathe. Lula looked at him. "What is it, sweet thing?"

"He apologized… between that and helping Val, I feel like I can't kick his ass."

"Poor Tank. Don't worry, a good ten mile run on the beach and you will be good as new. Did Les tell you who wrote the letter?"

"No." Tank grunted. Maybe 15 miles.

Les introduced Val to his therapist, who worked with those who suffered trauma. He was able to recommend a therapist who worked with rape and domestic violence survivors. Each day, each of them moved forward, healing step by step. Working toward the day they would be a family. And Les went with her to the OB visits, excited to see her body change, as he missed it when she carried Mateo. He was like a kid on Christmas when the sono was done.

"You can see all her little fingers and toes. She's waving at her Poppa." He was so excited about their big happy blended family in progress.

The lawyer's office was outfitted well in rich colors and large furniture pieces. Since Stephanie had already been working on adding Lester's name to Mateo's birth certificate, the easiest thing to do was for Val to adopt Mateo after she married Lester. Stephanie was here to see what the easiest options were so there were minimal delays. The young lawyer was kind and would be able to have everything done without complications. Stephanie left satisfied.

Ric sat with Rachel in another lawyer's office across town. She would be leaving for college in two weeks' time. She was sure this was what she wanted. They met for lunch three days earlier and Rachel looked good. She looked happy. Content with her choice. Yes, she loved her daughter. Yes, she was fond of Ric- in fact, he would be the model she would judge her future husband by- when she was ready for a husband and a family of her own.

"You were always kind to me. You always did the right thing, even when it caused you pain. I will never forget how well you treated me. And I will never settle for less. I know our daughter will have a great life with you." She held and kissed Julie and Ric saw her unshed tears- there was love there.

Now it was just paperwork. Rachel refused compensation for her half of the house in Georgia. "None of my assets were used to acquire it so I have no claim on it." She insisted.

"It was born during your marriage." Her lawyer was treating her like she was a child.

"I don't care when it was purchased. I didn't put any money or work into it- fair is fair."

Once the paperwork was satisfactory, it was signed and Ric treated his soon to be ex-wife to lunch.

"You will remember your promise to me?" He said as he set his card down on the bill.

"That you are one phone call away if I ever need anything." Rachel smiled at Ric, her ex-husband turned big brother. "You will always be on speed dial."

Tank was nervous. Asking Lula to marry him had to be perfect. He had the ring, he had the flowers. He had a reservation at her favorite restaurant and a rented limo. He was dressed in his new suit. His "I do contract work for the government" suit. Over the last six weeks he had been rotated to the reserves and signed his new contract.

"God, you weren't this nervous before our last HELO jump."

"Laugh it up, Brown. I want everything to go perfect."

"She will still say yes, you know, even if it doesn't"

"She will say yes." Mary Lou confirmed. She helped Tank pick the ring. She had said nothing to Lula. She also didn't tell Tank that Lula had been waiting ages for him to ask her and was so impatient she wanted to ask him herself. It was much more fun to watch him sweat out her answer.

"Ric, hey did I wake you?" Tank clearly got the answer he was looking for from Lula, Ric thought. Otherwise he would have noted the time. "No Tank, I am wide awake most days at 1 am."

"Sorry Ric, it's that she said yes and I want you as my best man- if you hadn't talked to them at the diner that day, I would never have met her."

Damn, the diner morning seemed a lifetime ago.

"I am happy to stand up with you. Hopefully we can discuss the details another time."

"Yes, of course," Tank was sheepish.

"Congratulations to you and Lula."

"Thanks Ric!"

Lauren met Ric in the lobby of The Venetian and her first thought was that the girls had not exaggerated. He was the perfect specimen of man. But even in a perfectly tailored Armani suit, he was a soldier.

"Mr. Manoso?"

"Please call me Ric."

Hi Ric, I am Lauren."

"The bride from the Valentine's Day wedding that brought today's couple together." Lauren found that he was trying to put her at ease, but was tense himself.

"She isn't here. Stephanie stayed behind with Val, since she is too pregnant to fly now. It is me and Mary Lou, you and Bobby.

She couldn't tell if he was relieved or heartbroken that Stephanie stayed behind in Miami. Heartbroken- he was still in love with Stephanie Plum.

Tank and Lula's Vegas morning wedding and wedding breakfast buffet was topped of with helicopter rides to the base of the Grand Canyon for all six in the wedding party. The pilot played music from Star Wars, which the girls loved. For Ric, Tank and Bobby, it was a little too much like a day in the office. The next morning was a long hike along the Calico Tank Trail, in Red Rock Canyon. Again, fun for the girls but a little too much like work for the guys.

Tank and Lula disappeared after that, saying they would see everybody back in Miami. On the return flight, Ric smiled, thinking they had not mentioned when they would see them there.