JE owns the rights to anything familiar - mistakes are mine and many apologies for those.

This tale will now be diverging from the 'Glimpse' timeline and is set several months after the end of the last chapter of that story.

For Margaret and also for zicobabe

Warning: The following may get excessively romantic and/or sappy. Apologies in advance.


The Rest of our Lives

Zip POV

"You need to get it together, Zip. My wife will be pissed if I end up at the emergency room because you jabbed a needle in my eye." I knew Tank was fucking with me, but he was right, I needed to get a grip. For some reason I couldn't stop my hands from shaking.

A bullet had fortunately only grazed by his face instead of blowing his head off, but it left a gash starting at his hairline, right by his left eye, and I was attempting to stitch it closed.

I set the needle and thread on top of my case and took a breath. "Maybe I should get Bobby to do this."

Tank eyed me critically. "What's wrong with you today? I've never seen you react this way when things haven't gone exactly as planned."

I didn't know what my problem was. Besides almost getting shot again and now having to patch wounds of those who had… that never bothered me before, yet something freaked me out because my hands were trembling and I felt like I could vomit at any second. I cut my eyes away from Tank and dropped them to the ring on my finger, running my thumb over it a couple times. The familiar smooth surface always seemed to calm me a little. "I don't know what the deal is," I admitted without looking at him.

"I do," he replied and it brought my head up. He flicked his eyes briefly to the ring I was still touching and then met my curious gaze. "You have someone to go home to now. It makes things like what happened today harder to deal with."

I once again looked at the ring Hector slid on my finger six months ago. "Well shit," I mumbled, realizing he was right. We'd already had a very close call when I'd been shot a couple of years ago. Today wasn't quite on that level, but it could have gone really, really wrong. I think part of it was that Hector and I still hadn't found the time to get married and I didn't want my life to end before having been married to him.

I brought my eyes back to Tank's bleeding face. "As do you, but it doesn't seem to affect you at all."

"That's because I'm not a pussy," he told me with a straight face. "Now, will you finish so I can go home to my wife and kid?"

It had the desired effect of drawing a laugh from me and I was able to close the wound without puncturing his eyeball or anything else that shouldn't be stabbed.

"Speaking of, how is Jack?" I inquired as I tied off the thread. "You haven't brought him by the building in a while."

As always when someone mentioned his son, Tank's face split in a wide grin. "He's great. I think he's about to say his first word. I just hope it's not of the four letter variety or Beth might kill me."

I laughed again and wiped an alcohol pad over the neat row of stitches. "Just keep him away from Stephanie and you should be fine."

"That's true enough," he said with a deep chuckle.

"You're good to go," I told him, dropping everything into a medical waste bag.

"I knew you could do it." He slid off the retaining wall where I'd made him sit and then clamped a huge hand on my shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze. "It gets easier," he added and then headed Bobby's way.

"Really?" I called after him, hope threading lightly through my voice.

"Fuck no." He grinned at me over his shoulder and I rolled my eyes behind his back while I began packing my gear.

Per Rangeman protocol, there was a debrief after the incident so it was really late when I finally headed home. Hector had been expecting me at six and it was nearly eight when I exited the building.

We're not overly sentimental people but today's the anniversary of the first night we spent together and he actually brought it up last week. I kept track of that kind of stuff but didn't think he did so I was a little thrown off guard. His response when I asked him why he remembered that particular date made my heart flip beneath my ribs. "It's the day you changed my life."

Hector wasn't really a verbal person, but every once in a while he let things like that fall out of his mouth and it made me all mushy. It also made me want to fuck his brains out - which I did, repeatedly.

I thought he might be planning a celebratory dinner or something for tonight because he'd been more intense than usual the past couple of days but the house was dark when I eased into the garage. It wasn't unusual, he tended to stick to one area until I got home, unlike me who wandered the whole house when he wasn't there.

I cut the engine and headed inside, flipping the light on in the kitchen as I went. The new granite on the recently restored counters shone under the lights and I smiled as I traveled through the room. We'd finally finished the last of the remodeling a few weeks ago and the house looked pretty damn good. It's where we spent most of our time now and I wanted to talk to him about giving up our apartment, but first things first. I was starving and wanted dinner but since the kitchen was spotless I guessed we must be going out to eat.

"Hec?" I called as I hit the long, curving stairway. He didn't respond and I felt a frown tugging at my lips. Was he not home?

Hector POV

"What's going on, Hector?" Stephanie entered my bedroom on a pair of three inch Christian Louboutin's and the sound of them clicking on the hardwood floors bought my head around. They were a simple black patent but the iconic red soles made them really stand out. She'd paired them perfectly with the cocktail-length dress she'd chosen to wear and I told her how great she looked.

"This is nothing," she replied, running a palm over the slightly belled skirt. "Have you taken a look at yourself? Because that suit is all manner of hot."

I flashed a grin and dropped a kiss on her cheek while she smoothed down my tie. "Ranger's guy is pretty good."

"I'd say so, since you only gave us three days notice and this thing fits you like a second skin, but you're deflecting. What's the deal? You seem almost...you aren't nervous, are you?"

I nearly rolled my eyes. I wasn't nervous; that particular affliction hardly ever affected me but I was...anxious so I told her that. "I just want everything to be..." I almost said perfect but our lives were so far from that it was almost laughable. Although I did think Zip and I had somehow made our own version of perfect and that wasn't half bad. "Right," I concluded and Stephanie grimaced slightly. "What? What was that face?"

"Okay," she said, "but please remember you only gave us three days to pull this together."

"Stephanie," I warned, suddenly feeling very tense.

"We got your license but Judge McArthur is on vacation in Barbados."

I ran my fingers through my hair and turned away from her, trying not to think about the sudden tightness in my chest.

"But it's alright," she assured me quickly. "Ranger has a backup but he said I had to run it by you first since you know him. I said we shouldn't say anything and then you wouldn't have a choice but he insisted and...it's Manny," she finished on an exhale.

That brought my pacing to a halt and I spun back to face her. "What? Manny from work?"

Stephanie was nodding, making her long curls bounce on her shoulders. "Yeah, I was surprised too. Apparently he was the chaplain in Ranger's unit in the army and he recently just got re-certified or whatever it is they have to do, but at any rate he's good to go and can legally perform the ceremony. Are you okay with that? I know you wanted to keep it small and quiet..."

"I'm good with it," I let her know. And I was. It might be a little awkward, but I'm sure in the end I wouldn't really care.

"Good," she breathed a sigh of relief and dug around in her pocketbook for her phone. "I'll let Ranger know." The device rang in her hand before she could dial and she put it up to her ear. I could tell it was her husband by the smile on her face. Did I grin like that when Zip called me?

Her quick greeting was obviously interrupted by something serious as a frown wrinkled her forehead and her responses became short and clipped. My body tensed again for bad news.

"Yeah...Okay... Injuries? You're sure? Yes, I'll see you soon then." She disconnected and met my now worried face. "There was a problem but everyone is okay. It's going to delay things a bit but we are still good...He's fine, Hec. I promise." She squeezed my bicep and I swallowed hard at her words.

"How bad?" I wanted to know.

"Not very," she reassured me. "Only superficial stuff. It still sucks but no one got more than a few stitches. We are going to have to kill a couple of hours though."

"Zip's mom will be back with Zyla in a few minutes."

"So? You like his Mom. And did you see what she did with the backyard? It looks amazing."

She was right about that. Zoe Zabar made most of the house look amazing but she'd turned the backyard into something out of a movie for the wedding ceremony. I asked her not to go overboard but I guess she couldn't stop herself. "I do and it does," I agreed. "But this will be the first time I'm meeting his sister and I don't think I can entertain her for two whole hours."

"Relax," Steph said. "You can and you will and if you can't, that's why I'm here. It's what the best man does."

I grinned at her again just as the doorbell rang. "Well, you are entertaining, but you're about as far from a man as a person can get."

She gave me a tiny eye roll but then pulled me into an unexpected hug. "I love you, Hec. And I'm so happy that you finally quit avoiding the best thing that ever happened to you and that you finally realize how worthy of love you are." She didn't let me respond, which was probably a good thing, since it almost brought tears to my eyes. Instead she took my hand and led me down the stairs.

I opened the door to Zoe and her miniature copy, Zyla. Same long, blonde hair, same unbelievable golden eyes, same fucking dimple. She was just about a foot shorter than Zip and a half a foot shorter than her Mother. I wondered absently if Zoe's late husband was short.

"Oh, Hector. You look so handsome." Zoe hugged me after I ushered them inside. She was about to introduce her daughter when Zyla spoke, eyeing me up and down like she was critiquing a statue.

"So you're the famous Hector." She walked around me in a slow circle. "Well, I can see the appeal, you're kinda cute."

I don't think anyone has ever referred to me as cute before but I wasn't about to argue. She had a look on her face like she could chew me up and spit me out before I even saw it coming.

"You make my brother happy," she stated, coming back around to face me.

"I try to, yeah."

"Good. But before this goes any further, you should know that if you ever hurt him, I will kill you."

"Zyla!" Zoe admonished but I held up a hand while Stephanie barked out a laugh.

"Understood," I said with a nod and she nodded back, an accord reached.

"We're going to get along great," Stephanie jumped in. "I had the exact same conversation with Zip when they first got together.

"My kinda girl," Zyla replied with a grin. "Now, I've just spent an hour in the car with my Mother so do you have any Grey Goose in this place?"

"Zyla!"

And that was my kinda girl. I explained the delay while we had drinks and then Stephanie disappeared with my future sister-in-law so she could "get ready," which left me alone with Zoe while we waited for Zip to get home.

Zip POV

"Hector?" I called again when I hit the top of the stairs. I was retrieving my phone to call him when I heard him answer from our bedroom.

I picked up the pace, anxious to see him and felt my shoulders relax when I pushed open the door and saw him walking out of the master bath. I didn't even say hello, just pulled him into my arms and held on tight.

"Whoa," he murmured and slid his hand up to the nape of my neck, slipping his fingers in my hair as I dropped my head onto his shoulder. "You okay?"

I brushed a kiss over the tattoo on his neck and smiled at the hint of Acqua Di Gio. It was my favorite cologne on him. I inhaled another long breath before answering.

"Yeah, I'm fine, it wasn't a great day but I'm good now. Listen, I know things have been crazy lately with the house renovation and work and everything else but...can we figure out when we're gonna get married? Maybe this weekend? I just really want to be married to you before..." I trailed off as I ran my hands up and down his back, finally realizing what he was wearing.

I extracted myself from his embrace and took a step back. Hector's face was carefully blank. "Why are you in a suit?" I ran my fingers under the lapel. Italian silk. "Is this Armani?" Don't get me wrong, we weren't opposed to dressing up and were far from strangers to designer clothes but I could count on one hand the number of times I'd seen him in a suit and they'd all been at weddings. Did he...were we..."What's going on, Hec?"

He graced me with a rare full smile. "Yes, we can figure out when to get married, but I don't want to wait until the weekend so we're going to do it now. Yes it's Armani and yours is in the closet. Take a shower, get dressed, and meet me out back." He pressed his lips to my forehead and left me standing in the middle of our bedroom with my mouth hanging open in shock.

I've never showered so fast in my life and didn't really take time to admire the dark chocolate-colored suit that had obviously been tailored specifically for me as I slid into it. I did remember that Hector loved me in brown. He said it did amazing things to my eyes and a significant amount of my wardrobe catered to that.

I took one quick stop at my dresser before I left the room and when I hit the stairs I faltered for a second, thinking of my family. My mom and sister wouldn't be pleased when they found out I got married and didn't invite them - it wasn't going to stop me - but it did give me pause. I'd have to try and talk Hector into having a small party or reception soon.

I reached the sliding glass door that exited onto our deck and pushed the vertical blinds back that were covering the door. That was odd; those blinds were hardly ever closed. I slid open the door and stepped out into the deck, expecting to find Hector waiting for me but was greeted by my sister, wearing a gorgeous navy slip dress and heels that made her almost as tall as me.

"Better close your mouth before you swallow a fly," she quipped and linked her arm through mine.

"Zy?"

"You didn't really think I'd miss your freaking wedding, did you?"

"Hector..."

"Of course he did," she cut me off. "Turns out he's sorta perfect and he seems to really love your goofy ass, so I guess I approve."

It was a ringing endorsement from my sister, but I knew her better than anyone. "How many times did you threaten him?"

A slow grin tipped her mouth up at the corners but she avoided my knowing accusation "Did Mom go gaga out here, or what?" She gestured with her hand to the transformed deck and backyard and I took in the alterations. My mother did go a little nuts but it looked really good.

There were white lights wrapped around the railings of the deck with multiple strings of the same kind extending from the roof out across the yard and ending at the two large oak trees that stood regally at the fence line. I knew there were other things I should be paying attention to - like several small tables draped in black cloth with silver runners down the middle and what looked like a new bar set up by the barbecue pit and the stranger with photography equipment - but I'd set my eyes on Hector the second I saw him out by the trees, talking lowly to Steph and Ranger…and Manny? And everything thing else faded into the background – including my sister who was saying something else to me I hadn't really heard. "What?"

"I said, give me your ring." She was holding out her hand and I only hesitated a second before sliding it off my finger. There was a slight tightening in my chest as her fist closed around it. I'd never really had it off since he'd given it to me and it felt really weird.

"It's only for a minute," my sister soothed, obviously reading me like a book. "Now, C'mon," she said, slipping her arm through mine again. "I'm giving you away."

She tugged me across the deck and headed out over the lawn. Hector's eyes found mine as we made our way to him and everything I ever needed to know, I saw on his face. He wasn't hiding anything tonight, apparently from anyone, because my sister said from beside me. "I'm really happy for you, Zander, and I hope someday I will find someone who looks at me the way you two look at each other. It's really…" She trailed off, unable to find an adequate description and I knew the feeling. I often found myself at a loss for words when he looked at me that way.

I thanked my sister and pecked her on the cheek and then Hector was taking my hand. Later I would ask why Manny was officiating the ceremony, but right then I didn't care.

Steph and Ranger and my Mom and sister stood around us in a small semi-circle and Manny began what I'd been waiting for since the day I met Hector.

Manny cleared his throat and flashed a smile. "I've been informed this should be short and sweet and to quote Hector verbatim, 'none of that 'traditional crap' so we're here tonight to officially join these two in matrimony and in lieu of the usual vows, I will now give you the floor." He gestured to Hector and my soon to be husband lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm before starting.

"I think there will always be a part of me that can't believe I'm the one you chose to so generously give your heart to and I'm constantly amazed after knowing me better than anyone else in this world, you somehow still manage to love me...you are the light in the endless darkness that I will gladly follow the rest of our lives."

My heart turned over at his words and I had to choke back the rush of emotion he always seemed to bring to the surface so I could actually speak. "I knew the second I saw you I would love you and although you made it challenging, I was right. I've loved you since that moment and will spend the rest of our lives loving you and making sure you know you're worth it."

Hector had to swallow at that so at least I knew it wasn't just me getting overly emotional. Manny said it was time for the rings and I surprised Hector by pulling the one I'd gotten for him out of my pocket. The ceremony had been a surprise, but I've had the ring since the day after he gave me mine. I knew there was a possibility our wedding would end up being a last minute ceremony so I wanted to be prepared.

We exchanged rings, were pronounced legally hitched and then given permission to seal the deal. Hector whispered, "I love you," just before our lips touched and as always the kiss quickly spiraled into a fog of lust that made me wish we were alone.

The second surprise of the night came when I heard very loud whistling and a round of applause that was way too huge for the small group of people gathered around us. Hector and I broke apart and turned to find what looked like most of the Rangeman company crossing the lawn.

Several "Congratulations" were tossed out and I think it was Lester who exclaimed, "It's about fucking time!" and then we were overwhelmed with handshakes and pats on the back and kisses on the cheek from Steph and my Mom and sister and some of the guys' wives. Junior set up his DJ equipment on the deck and started some music while Woody and Bones manned the bar, waiters materialized from out of nowhere with trays of champagne and food and we were instantly right in the middle of a wedding reception. It was a good hour before I was able to drag Hector away for a minute of alone time so I could tell him how much all of it meant to me.

It was very cliché, but I'd yanked him into the bathroom for privacy. He almost derailed my thoughts with his wandering hands and wicked tongue and I was as hard as stone when he finally let me up for air but I managed to not rip him out of his suit while we had a whole backyard full of guests. I leaned into him, pressing him against the wall and held his piercing eyes. "This was…God Hec, I don't even know what to say, except thank you. I…it…it means everything to me that you were willing to do this and have all our friends here…you continue to surprise me and I just…"

"I know mi amor." He threaded his fingers in my hair and brought my head to his for another quick kiss. "But the party wasn't me. You'll have to thank Steph for that. I didn't even know about it until two minutes before you walked outside."

That was surprising. Steph must have been feeling brave and I was guessing my Mother had something to do with it as well. "Are you mad?"

Hector's mouth lifted at the corners. "How could I be mad when I get you for the rest of our lives?" He kissed my ring and then my neck and then my lips and I made the decision our guests would have to be on their own for a while.

I needed to start the rest of our lives immediately.