Valarie looked at herself in the mirror wearing the simple dress, with a lace crochet overlay and a sweetheart neckline with an empire waist. She felt beautiful. The child nestled under her ribs was growing and would be with them soon. And her adoption of Mateo had been finalized and she was legally his mother. She smiled at the sight of her sister, Mary Lou and Lula, all once again in "the dresses", though they had been altered. Now they were shorter with less full skirts, but the hats and parasols had reappeared because Lauren's mom would be attending today's nuptials.

Tank would be standing in for Val's dad, as he had taken his wife on a cruise to Australia and New Zealand when he retired last month and they sold the house in the Burg. Helen Plum fell in love with a condo outside Vegas and they moved in right before they travelled. Val couldn't help wondering if her son-in-law's infamous murder had anything to do with her decision. Her Grandpa Harry and Grandma Edna were in attendance. They found a lovely retirement village not far from the home Lester and Val would share.

The house was a gift of sorts from her late husband. He had taken out million-dollar policies on both of them. Joe Morelli shared that Steve may have been planning to have her die in an accident and thought buying a policy for each of them made it look less suspicious. Brian Gilman took a plea deal for First Degree Manslaughter and would serve ten years. Terry Gilman's divorce was uncontested.

Valarie got a card from Vito Grizolli, Terry's uncle. He was selling a multi-family house in Miami, and would give it to her at a decent price, to make up for her troubles. And so, the two-family house with a four-car garage was theirs, without a mortgage. She and Les figured that somewhere there was ill gotten gains involved, but none of Hector or Stephanie's research found anything wrong with the deal.

Hector had been a gang member back when Ric and Lester first met him, and he was the first non-military, non-family hire at RangeMan. They were still operating from a storefront, Bobby and Ric still had to finish up their enlistments, but Les and Tank hit the ground running and were make a name for the company.

Lester had Ric as his Best Man, and Stephanie was Val's Maid of Honor. Lauren's photographer agreed to do the photos, Eddie and Val's cousin Shirley came down with Joe Morelli for the service- Val was grateful that they had kept what they knew of her late husband to themselves.

The extended Manoso/Santos family was in attendance with one exception.

Marion had been banned from the celebration.

Marion had written the letter to Steve, so he would divorce Val and then she could come back to Lester. Then Stephanie could give back the baby and marry Ric so Ric would stop ignoring Marion. Or that was what she told Ric and Lester when they confronted her. Sonia told Val in confidence that Marion was sent to an estancia in South America by her father after he heard what she had done. Apparently, he had been a Cuban General back in the day. At least Les and Ric came to their work honestly- being in the Military was a family affair.

Val shook her head. How different Ric and Steph's journey would have been without Marion and her interference?

Stephanie loved that all the boys were in uniform- something they called Mess Dress. Even Lester- he was still technically in the reserves and his uniform was amazing. It was like a tux version of a military uniform and they each wore tiny copies of all the medals they had been awarded.

They were heroes, and their uniforms told the whole world it was so.

Stephanie thought she would be self-conscious around Ric, but he was kind and sweet to her at the rehearsal dinner last night. He had Julie there as his plus one, and Stephanie asked about Rachel.

"Is she not well?"

"She left me the day we got Les back. Her parents promised to give her back her old life if she left me and Julie."

"And she left?!" Ric nodded and looked ashamed.

"I was never what she wanted forever. She just wanted to play at being a grown-up. And I can't blame her. Being a wife and a mom is hard all the time, and with my job and responsibilities? Anyway, the final paperwork was duly executed and finalized."

"So, you are divorced?" Ric nodded.

"I am sorry. I don't know what to say."

"Say you forgive me for hurting you… for leaving you…"

"Oh, Ric, I was never sorry you left. You did the right thing, even if it didn't work out. And you have a beautiful daughter. I do wonder how you will manage being a single dad with the work you do."

Ric told her about his aunt and uncle and the house and Bobby and Mary Lou. Then they talked about RangeMan, Hector, Ric's ill spent youth… like old friends. Easy… painless.

Then Ric asked if she minded Mateo being adopted by Val, and raised as a Santos.

"Actually, I hoped for this outcome from the beginning. Steve was always an asshole. But Val will have a daughter because of the hell she suffered, and a house bought and paid for…"

"It came at a terrible price."

"Agreed."

Today they were partnered and instead of being nervous, Stephanie felt safe. With his hand in the small of her back as they walked down the aisle after Les and Val said "I do"; as he held her when they joined the newlyweds during the first dance; and when he joined Tank and Joe Morelli as back up for an encore of "It's Raining Men"- which was going down in history as the BEST part of the beach reception. Ricardo Carlos Manoso made her feel safe.

Stephanie suspected all her friends conspired when she caught the bouquet and her suspicion doubled when Ric caught the garter. She blushed furiously as he maneuvered the garter to above her knee like it was something that happened every day, even if he looked slightly flushed as he gave her his hand to help her to her feet. They danced again to a slow Spanish ballad and he sang to her.

All in all, it was a great night.