A note from the author: Thank you to everyone who has come along on this unexpected Knight Rider journey that I truly never expected to span these last few months. I started publishing this fic with the view to making it a few chapters long. But those reading it encouraged me to continue, as did Edward. Thank you for the help and great story hints.

The party truly does go on eternally now…

Éirinn go Brách, Edward. Go raibh maith agat.

Sláinte mhaith, mo chara. Téigh le Dia... Go with God…

Thanks once more to my superb Beta Reader, Bernadette. To Susan and Sue for all your great ideas and thoughts! Three of my loverly wing girls. Together we make one awesome human being!

Sláinte!

Chapter Forty

Christmas And Love In Montecito

It was late morning, and I was alone in the living room. The Gull Cottage ghosts had faded silently away after the Captain promised to help us with sorting through everything up in the attic.

"Thank you. I'm very keen to begin," I replied. "Whenever you're ready." I wondered where Kat and Edward were. I wanted to share our news with them.

Emma smiled. 'We will tell you when we are ready. But for now, you will soon be hearing some very happy news. And I have an idea I would very much like to share with you at a later time. We will leave you to enjoy your day...'

"I wonder what that was all about." Devon shrugged as we stared at the vacant spot where the spirits had just been standing. "'Some very happy news', she said. I guess we'll find out in due course. Having them able to pop in and out at will, is going to take some getting used to."

"Well, I think it's lovely. I'm going to enjoy working with them," I replied happily as I turned to smile up at the Captain's portrait. "And as you said, they are the perfect house guests."

The painting's blue eyes suddenly seemed alive and aware. I did a quick double-take because I was sure he winked at me. I shook my head.

"I did say that, didn't I?" Devon consulted his wristwatch and swore under his breath. "Blast! I need to be going. I'll have to skip breakfast. I'll buy something while I'm out. I need to take a lot more photos for my next portfolio. I'll be back before dark."

He kissed my cheek. "See you later, my love."

"See you and love you…" I looked after him as he left the room.

I heard him take my Jeep. The January date for his upcoming exhibition was fast approaching. And we still had Christmas coming up. I was looking forward to having all my family around me this time. I had been so lonely last Christmas without Devon in my life.

It still amazed me how much things could change within a year and for the better. Our time in Sedona lived with me always as a very precious memory. One day soon, we would go back there on a second honeymoon.

"Time to get to work…" I walked to the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee before I sat down at my writing desk in the living room.

I wanted to do some revisions on my new outline for another Edward Grainger crime thriller. I'd suddenly thought of the new, radical idea to give my hero a talking car as a crime fighting partner. "Just in a small way. Nothing too flash. It won't be Kitt," I decided as I began to make the needed changes.

I was still working there when Edward and Kat walked in. As I stood up, I noticed that Kat had her hands tucked behind her back.

"Hi, Mum," Edward greeted me with a kiss and a warm hug. He lifted me off my feet and swung me gently around before putting me down again.

"Hi…" Kat added, looking very happy.

"Something's up," I replied. "Where have you two been all this time?"

"Down at my place," Kat replied and her smile widened. "Getting to know each other." Her cheeks bloomed with delicate colour.

"I see…" I knew immediately that there was something different about them.

They both looked very settled and replete. As if all their questions about their ongoing relationship had been asked and answered. Deep in my heart, I guessed then what Emma's good news was. I couldn't have been happier. But I did wonder how my new, ghostly friend could have known.

"It all just sort of happened last night and today," Kat admitted with a dreamy smile and the colour in her cheeks deepened as she held out her left hand to me.

"Oh, it's truly gorgeous." I took her hand between mine to admire the diamond ring that adorned it. It was a beautiful gift. I smiled at both of them. "Oh, how wonderful! I'm so very glad for you two. You truly belong together." I hugged Kat tightly and then went up onto tiptoe to kiss my son's bearded cheek.

"Where did you find it?" I asked, looking back to the ring. "It looks to be early Victorian if I'm not mistaken."

They both looked at each other. Kat nodded and then said, "If was a gift from… a very good friend." She looked down at the ring and I could see the sheen of tears in her eyes.

"Ah, that 'friend' wouldn't happen to be one of a pair of friendly ghosts, would it?" I asked gently.

Edward looked puzzled. "Yes. But how did you guess? We met them down on the beach last night. They gave us the ring then."

I sighed, glad to be able to tell them the truth of my encounter with the ghostly pair. "Because Devon and I have just had the same spiritual encounter. I was so happy they finally decided to show themselves. I have been longing to meet them and now I have."

"Oh, I'm so glad…" Kit hugged me tightly. "I knew I was so right in choosing you and Devon for this house. It all fits so beautifully. Emma and the Captain can rest easy now."

"Yes, it does, doesn't it?" I smiled mistily. "Almost like it was meant to be."

"Maybe it always was…" Edward replied solemnly as he put an arm around both of us and we all hugged each other with love and delight.

※※※※※

Three weeks later:

"Anyone who wants a steak, better get up here now before they're all gone," I shouted over the joyful noise of our Christmas backyard, barbeque feast.

The festive day was sunny, clear and windless. It was too nice a day to stay indoors. The air held the rich scents of the vast ocean below the house. As soon as Carolyn and I got up, we decided to fire up the grill and invite our friends over.

We went for the informal gathering to accommodate everyone who wanted to come to our first Gull Cottage Christmas. And that seemed to be everyone we worked with. I smiled at my wonderful family and good friends as they all took the hint and lined up for their food.

I was proud and honoured to be able to finally welcome Kat into our family. I knew she would be a great addition and make my son a wonderful wife. Anyone with eyes could see how much in love they were. It made my old heart happy and full to bursting with pride in all we had accomplished over the past year.

Our time in Sedona was on my mind again. Those days had been spectacular, sensual and deeply meaningful. Once my exhibition was over, I was intent on repeating that adventure. If I could drag my wife away from her ongoing work in the attic. Or the wheelhouse, as the Captain insisted on calling it.

"Hey, old man…" Michael elbowed me as I stood there with my barbeque fork raised. "You daydreaming again?" He laughed softly.

"Sorry…" I speared a large steak and slapped it onto his plate. "I was just thinking."

"About?" he inquired as he moved to stand next to me to allow the others to grab their steaks.

"About how good our life is now," I replied as I supplied Bonnie and then RC with their food. "How I wouldn't change a single thing. Not for all the money in the world."

Nancy was next in the line, and she accepted her steak with a soft word of thanks. Edward's forthright secretary had quickly become a vital part of the Knight Investigations team, and everyone wondered how they had managed without her up until now.

"Yeah, you sure got that right, Devon," Michael avowed as I placed steaks onto Edward and Kat's plates before a newly tidied-up Daniel accepted his with a wide grin.

Carolyn's youngest child had returned to the house dressed in stylish clothes and sporting a new short back and sides haircut that Maria had insisted he have. I almost didn't recognise him when he walked into the house after they'd been shopping together.

Daniel was passing all his courses with flying colours, and he was now Kitt's backup driver if Michael wasn't available. He'd settled well into the team and was enjoying himself hugely.

"Gracias…" Maria accepted her steak as she looked over my grilling work with a critical eye. "Not bad…" She nodded her approval and winked at me before she turned away to walk back to the table.

"Thanks…" Lucy smiled at me as I plated her steak. "And thanks for putting me up at such short notice. I never expected my house to sell so fast. All my things are still in boxes in storage."

"No problem," I replied. "We were very happy to be able to help. That's the beauty of having a house with seven bedrooms. Stay as long as you need."

"Thanks…" She nodded as she stepped aside to walk back to the table.

Carolyn and Stevie were next up for their food.

"Hi…" I kissed my wife slowly, tasting fresh strawberries on her lips, before I served her food.

Stevie reached up to kiss her husband and then hugged me. "Thanks for everything, Devon," she said. "This is just about the best Christmas party I've ever been to. Everyone is so relaxed."

She laid one hand on her abdomen where she was just beginning to show with their second child. Michael beamed with quiet pride and kissed her again.

"You're very welcome," I replied, feeling more than a little humbled as I kissed her soft cheek.

Arm in arm, the two women returned to the large outside table where everyone was gathered to sit while they ate and talked. The steady hubbub of conversation grew louder again as the wine flowed and everyone had an opinion they needed to express or a question to ask.

"Life is truly very good…" Michael put his plate down on the side of the grill and began to cut up his steak. "I wouldn't have it any other way now, either."

I joined him with my own plate of food and waited for him to say whatever it was that I could see was on his mind. He'd been somewhat reticent throughout the morning after they'd all arrived.

"About?" I finally repeated his question to me when he frowned at his food as he sliced and ate it. "Why the frown?"

"You know me too well," he replied ruefully as he paused in his eating. "A couple of days ago I got a phone call that I totally didn't anticipate from someone I never expected to hear from again."

"Okay…" I allowed as I sliced and ate my food. "I'm listening."

I waited once more, knowing he would get around to whatever it was he was chewing over, in his own good time. I ate my food as I tended to the grill and wiped marinade over the racks of succulent baby pork ribs and glistening chicken wings. I added burger patties and sausages as I wondered what was eating at him. What it was that he found so difficult to say.

"It's not bad news, I hope," I finally remarked as I turned the food.

"No, nothing like that. But I debated if I should tell you at all." Michael finally shook his head as he put down his steak knife and fork. "Since you've got everything so well squared away in your life. I figured you might not want or need to hear my news."

He shrugged. "But then, Stevie and Bonnie said I had to tell you. That you needed to know. Rumours have a way of spreading without any help."

I turned to him and put down my grilling utensils. "Okay, you've got my full attention. Who called you and why? What did they want?"

Michael looked rueful. "Just the almighty chairman of the board back at FLAG. He phoned me up a couple of days ago to offer me my old job back. He said they'd heard great things about my investigation work and knew they needed me back."

He turned his head to stare at Kitt who was parked on the edge of the driveway and playing soft music through his speakers. "He said Jones hadn't worked out as well as they'd hoped, and they'd fired him for cause. He blustered and prevaricated when I pushed him to spill, but he wouldn't say what that was about. He said it was Jennifer's idea to call me. I think he thought that would be sufficient incentive to know she wanted me back."

He turned back to me. "I'm guessing old Jonesy wanted a great deal more power than they were prepared to give and he'd neglected to catch the criminals, who are starting to get the upper hand again. The old boy didn't like to talk about that."

He waved a dismissive hand. "Then the old skinflint wanted to know where you were living now. Where they could reach you. They're mad keen to get in touch with you to make you a substantial offer, as well."

His lips parted in a grim smile. "It seems they think the old team worked the best, after all. They're willing to let bygones be bygones. Water under the bridge and all that. Smoothing the way for us all to come back."

He grimaced. "There were great offers for Bonnie and RC, too. Which I'm proud to say they turned down flat, of course. It was supposed to be just like old times. Like I hadn't walked away, and you hadn't been fired."

His blue eyes darkened. "And Carolyn hadn't been shot by a bullet meant for us and almost died for it. That he never mentioned. It didn't fit inside his glossy new narrative all about forgiveness and light."

He shook his head. "He also said it was a crying shame about the talking car. But they were very sure they could manage to build another one for me just like it. He said they would need you for that too. He said they were prepared to make it worth your while, and mine."

He tapped two fingers to his forehead. "It seems they haven't managed to find any of Kitt's diagrams and schematics. But he was sure you would be able to remember all of it and redraw them. He was very complimentary about all of us. Of course, I didn't tell him we managed to destroy everything before we left."

He shrugged as he picked up his knife and fork and began to eat again. I wondered how he could appear so calm after dropping such an oversized bombshell right in my unsuspecting lap. But I knew he was waiting for me to ask about his reply to such an outrageous offer.

I forked another juicy steak onto his plate as he finished his first. "I gather you gave the old goat an answer suitable to his exalted position and status within FLAG. On my behalf, as well."

I went on tending to the food before loading a huge plater with the rest of the barbequed meat. I set it aside to carry to the table before I turned off the flame and closed the grill hood.

"Oh, yeah…" Michael grinned at me before he placed one hand on my shoulder. "I told the old bastard to go straight to hell and take all his blasted, bean-counting minions with him! We aren't going anywhere! Not now, not ever!"

He began to shake with laughter. "Then I slammed the receiver down on his protests. He sounded madder than a cut snake that he couldn't grease his way out of the board's dumb-ass decision! I can tell you, it felt really, really good."

"I'll bet it did," I managed to say as I joined in with his merriment as we hugged each other. "Merry Christmas, Michael!"

"Yeah! Merry Christmas, Devon!" He slapped me on the back.

We stepped back and grinned at each other in total accord. Then we picked up our plates and carried the food to the table to join the others. It was time to take the festive celebrations to a whole new level.

※※※※※

I felt oddly nervous as we all gathered in the living room to hand out the presents to each other. We were all replete from too much good food and wine and the merriment had continued into the early evening.

Baby Amanda was securely tucked up in her cot in Devon's office. She was teething and tired out from all the excitement of the day. Her parents had agreed to leave her for Mum and Maria to look after when they finally went home to celebrate a quiet night Christmas together. With a new baby on the way, Michael and Stevie were going to need all the rest they could get while they still could.

"It will be all right…" Kat squeezed my hand as she stood next to me. "I know he'll love it. They all will. You've done the right thing."

"Thank you…" I stared down at my love.

I'd shared my gift idea with her, and she had heartily approved. As had Danny and Lucy when I told them. They both said it was time and they were happy for me. It felt good to have their total endorsement and support.

Everyone took turns going beneath the huge Christmas tree set up in the corner of the living room to find their gifts. There was excitement and chatter as each one was opened, admired and the giver thanked. The pile of discarded wrapping paper and ribbons in the middle of the floor began to grow. Soon there was nothing left beneath the tree.

"Time for coffee, I think." Maria stood up. "I'll make it hot and strong. And there's a selection of desserts in the kitchen if anyone's still hungry."

Her audience groaned good-naturedly and complained, but they got up and began to follow her from the room. All except for Mum and Devon. I put out a detaining hand to them as they made to leave. Only Kat remained with me, giving me her unspoken support.

"I… have one more gift for Devon," I said. "I wanted to give it to you last."

"Mysterious," my father replied. "What is it?" He looked around the room.

"Just this…" I walked over to Mum's writing desk and opened the bottom drawer to pull out a large envelope wrapped in masculine Christmas paper.

I returned to hand it to my father. Kat laced her fingers through mine and hugged my arm. I felt the ring on her finger and caressed it with my thumb as we waited.

"I was wondering how that got in there," Mum remarked, looking over Devon's arm. "And what it was. I saw it this morning. It had no name on it, and I was going to ask who it was for and from."

"Okay, you have me intrigued," Devon said, turning the gift over to study it from all sides.

"Go ahead and open it," Mum instructed him. "You can see Edward is waiting for you to do so."

"Oh, sorry…" Devon nodded as he slit the paper open to reveal the large white envelope. "What's this?"

"Open it and see," I urged him.

"All right…" My father did as he was bid and drew out a single sheet of heavy paper. He stared at it for a moment, seemingly not to understand what he was looking at.

"I know it's over thirty-five years too late," I told him. "But I thought it was time for my surname to be legally changed from Bridges to Miles." I tapped the edge of my amended birth certificate. "This is how it should have been…"

"Oh, Edward, darling…" Mum's eyes glistened with tears and her bottom lip trembled as she read the document. "I think that's a wonderful gift. Thank you for thinking of it. It is so long overdue."

Devon looked up at me and I could see tears in his eyes as well. "Thank you, son," he said simply. "I will treasure this." He studied the certificate again before replacing it carefully back into the envelope.

"You're welcome, Dad…" I smiled at them, knowing I had done the right thing, and it felt really good. "Merry Christmas, everyone…"

I shook my father's outstretched hand before he pulled me close to hug me tightly while Kat hugged Mum. It certainly was a day for embracing the love we all felt for each other.

Life was so good, and I wouldn't have it any other way. There was only one final celebration that needed to be held, and I couldn't wait…

※※※※※

Four months later:

"You look very handsome, my love…" Emma remarked as she adjusted Daniel's collar and fastened it closed over his black stock. "You could be the one to give the bride away today."

"That's for Michael to do," the Captain replied as he submitted to her fussing. "Kat said she asked him because she has no father."

He cleared his throat as he adjusted the set of his naval cap and his dress sword. "I still feel like a clothes store dummy. I always did in this get-up."

"It's all in a good cause," his beloved reminded him, giving his collar a final pat of satisfaction. "There. You look so smart."

Once more, they were standing on the balcony outside the main bedroom of their old home. Emma turned to look down into the garden below. The small intimate wedding was about to be held there with a select group of invited family members and guests. Of course, she and Daniel were not on that list, but their presence had been formally requested by both the blushing bride and the impatient groom.

She sighed as she smoothed her hand over her elegant apple-green silk dress. "This all makes me feel so young and alive again. We should go walking along the beach later. Just like we used to do."

Her love drew her close and kissed her cheek. "You will always be young and beautiful to me. You are my sun, my moon and all my stars. Always…"

Emma nestled into his strong shoulder. "I'm glad I gave Kat my wedding dress. I had always promised her that I would share it with her if she got married. Now I can…"

"It has been a good few months, sorting through all my things in the wheelhouse," her love replied. "I found so many things I had long forgotten."

The Captain and Carolyn had spent many long, dusty hours up in the attic of the house, finding, sorting and cataloguing everything they uncovered for future use or discard. Kat had been there to help, as often as she could, and Maria supplied them with food and coffee. Even as she'd frowned at all the dust and cobwebs.

The book sales had been everything that had been expected and more. It was rapidly climbing the New York Times best-seller list and would soon be in the top ten. There had been book tours and signings.

Kat had decided to sell her gardening business to an eager young couple she had recently employed. She was now going to turn her hand to her long-held ambition of working in landscape gardening and design. When she wasn't up in the attic helping to catalogue everything.

One of the treasures that had been uncovered was a trunk containing Emma's wedding dress. It was neatly folded away beneath many layers of tissue paper that had begun to crumble.

Emma and Kat had cried together when they found it. The ghost gifted it to her young friend. Its delicate champagne-coloured silk and applique embroidered dress suited the bride's complexion beautifully.

"Oh, thank you…" Kat held it up in front of herself to admire her image in the attic's dusty wall mirror. "It's beautiful."

"We'll get it cleaned and press the wrinkles out of it," Carolyn said watching her. "It truly suits you."

Kat quickly decided against wearing the traditional veil that went with the dress. Instead, she chose to wear a dainty, diamond and seed pearl hair comb that had been among the jewellery her ghostly friend had left. Her bridal shoes were made of cream, watered silk and her bouquet would be a simple collection of flowers plucked from the Gull Cottage gardens that she had tended so well.

Not to be outdone, Devon volunteered to take the wedding photographs. With another sell-out exhibition behind him, he'd decided to take a few months off and just enjoy his growing family. Returning to Sedona was also still on his mind.

Another pressing issue was about Kitt. The Trans Am had insisted on acting as a second best man to Danny. "I am family, after all," he'd reasoned.

The Trans Am took his duties very seriously and read up on all the rules and nearly drove everyone crazy with his need to make sure everything was correct and according to his detailed plans. But they'd worked it out.

Now, the longed-for day had finally arrived, and the soft April sunshine held the promise of a lovely day for a wedding. Nothing had been left to chance.

"It is all so perfect," Emma commented, hugging her husband's arm. "So wonderful."

"It's how it should be," her love concurred as they watched the assembled guests take their seats on both sides of the central aisle.

A sudden buzz ran through the assembly of family and friends. Danny and Edward walked out of the living room followed by Devon who was taking photographs as he walked. They were all immaculately dressed in formal tuxedos.

Edward and Danny shook hands as the small group of onlookers buzzed and murmured with excitement. Edward looked down the aisle to where his bride would soon be waiting. "Everything is just perfect…" he said.

"Yes, it is…" Danny nodded and grinned as he slapped his brother on the shoulder. "Let's go and get you married, bro."

"Thanks…" Edward turned and walked slowly down the central aisle with the younger man beside him. The excitement and chatter among the small group of invited guests grew steadily with the expectation of the bride's arrival.

Edward and Danny continued down the walkway until they were standing in front of the grey-haired minister. He greeted them with a smile and a quiet word of encouragement.

Then Kat slowly appeared from the living room doors with Carolyn behind her as her matron of honour. The bride looked beautiful in her antique dress, and she smiled radiantly as she walked up to Michael to take his proffered right arm. They stopped walking for a moment to allow Devon to take more photographs. They exchanged a few quiet words.

Kitt rolled up slowly and unobtrusively to be as close to the wedding party as he could. He stopped behind the edge of the flowered bower where Edward and Kat would soon exchange their vows.

His red scanning light moved from side to side as he positioned himself carefully. He rolled down his windows and began to play Lionel Richie's 'Endless Love' from his speakers.

Michael moved slowly forward with Kat on his arm. They walked down the central aisle. Kat didn't look at anyone. She only had eyes for Edward who was waiting for her. They quickly reached his side. The two men turned to join them and face the minister. The music softly faded out and the sounds of the ocean underscored the quiet.

"Who is here today to give this lovely bride away to her beloved?" he asked.

"I am," Michael replied with a warm smile.

He turned to Kat to admire the beautiful picture she made in the soft sunshine. Then he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the cheek before he stepped back. His part in the ceremony was now over.

"My dear family and friends…" the minister began. "We are gathered here to witness this marriage between Edward and Kat. Edward, do you take Kat to be your beloved wife? To love her, protect her and care for her for the rest of your life and beyond?"

"I do," Edward replied quietly.

The minister nodded. "And Kat, do you take Edward as your husband, giving yourself to him? Showing love, protection and care for him for the rest of your life and beyond?"

"Yes, I do," Kat with a wide, happy smile.

The minister turned to Danny. "Do you have the rings, young man?"

"Right here…" Danny grinned as he fished around for a moment or two in his jacket pocket. He produced them like magic and placed them carefully on the minister's open bible.

"Take this ring as the symbol of my eternal love and wear it…" the minister continued as Edward took Kat's hand to place the ring on her finger.

"Take this ring as the symbol of my eternal love, and wear it," he repeated.

"As a token of my love, devotion and fidelity toward you," the minister went on.

"As a token of my love, devotion and fidelity toward you," Edward repeated quietly.

They smiled at each other before Kat took Edward's ring from the bible and accepted her love's hand between hers.

"Take this ring as the symbol of my eternal love, and wear it," the minister intoned.

"Take this ring as the symbol of my eternal love, and wear it," she repeated softly, pushing it slowly onto Edward's finger.

The minister nodded. "It is a token of my love, devotion and fidelity toward you."

"It is a token of my love, devotion and fidelity toward you," Kat repeated looking at Edward with loving eyes.

They stood holding hands, looking completely and totally in love in the warm sunlight. Everything was still as if the whole world was holding its collective breath.

"Oh, I love this part…" Emma whispered, still leaning on her love's broad shoulder.

"I remember…" Daniel leaned closer to kiss her cheek as they listened.

"I have something for you, my love…" Edward then drew the sapphire and diamond pendant from his tuxedo pocket.

He released the clasp and fastened it around Kat's slender neck. He lifted it to brush his lips across the gleaming stones. "Forever…" he whispered to his new bride. "Forget-me-not…"

"Not ever…" Kat kissed the back of his hand. "I will love you for all eternity and beyond…"

"Oh, how absolutely perfect…" Emma breathed with tears in her eyes.

"Very nicely done, young man…" The minister looked from them to the guests. "And now by the authority given unto me by the state of California, I have the honour to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Edward didn't need any further urging, turning immediately to his new wife to kiss her deeply and thoroughly. They seemed oblivious to everything around them at that moment.

As the newly married pair finally drew apart the minister nodded and smiled. "I would now like to introduce to everyone present, Mr and Mrs Edward Miles."

The guests clapped and cheered as the couple turned to them. Everyone began to press forward with their congratulations and calls for their happiness. The guests threw handfuls of confetti over them.

Behind them, Kitt began to softly play 'True Colours' by Cyndi Lauper. His red scanning light seemed to gleam with pride. He'd enjoyed his part in the day's events. After all, he was with his family.

The happy couple took their time walking back up the aisle. They deserved each other and looked so right together. They looked up to the balcony above them and smiled.

Above the crowd of well-wishers, the two ghosts watched the ceremony. They nodded their warm approval. Everything was now as it should be in their world, and they were content. They were home, once more.

Devon looked up at the ghostly couple as he opened the back of his camera to remove the used roll of film. He slipped it into the bag hanging from his shoulder and pulled out a new roll from the front compartment.

"Here, let me do that," Carolyn offered, taking the unopened box of film from his hand.

"Thank you…" Devon smiled down at the beautiful picture she made in the warm sunshine as he took the new roll from her hand. "Well, what do you think, Mrs Miles? Has it been a perfect day?"

He inserted the roll and closed the camera. He listened to the soft whirr that told him the film had engaged properly and he was good to go once more.

"Better than perfect," Carolyn replied as she watched her beloved husband going about his work with practised ease. "We have gained a lovely new daughter, and our son is a very lucky man. I can't wait for their new life to begin."

Devon smiled as he leaned closer and kissed her cheek. "Are you already anticipating grandchildren, Luciana?" he teased softly. "Their first day together as a married couple isn't even over yet. They haven't caught their breath, and they still have their Greek honeymoon ahead of them."

"I know…" Carolyn sighed. "But I'm allowed to dream. They will be wonderful parents."

She glanced to where Stevie was talking with Edward and Kat. The younger woman was glowing with health and was now close to her due date.

A toddling Amanda was clinging to her mother's dress, closely watched by her loving father as she took a few steps away and then fell down onto her well-padded bottom. She laughed happily and clapped her hands with delight before getting up again. Bending down, Michael trailed after his small daughter as she began to explore the garden.

"You are allowed to dream..." Devon leaned down to kiss her properly, making her knees go a little weak. "And so are we."

He pulled back to smile down into her eyes, seeing all his love and care for her reflected back at him. "I have to confess I've been thinking about good old Schrödinger's blasted cat these last few days."

"You too?" Carolyn stared up at him. "How's it doing, do you think?"

"Hhhhmmm…" Devon shook his head as he went back to taking photographs of the happy couple as they moved through the small crowd of guests.

"So, have you come to any conclusions?" Carolyn prompted when he didn't elaborate. "About the cat."

Devon lowered his camera to hang by its strap around his neck. "Oh, I think the cat is well and truly out of the box now and doing very well on its own. Don't you think?"

"Yes, I do…" Carolyn nodded as she looked around the crowded garden full of people they knew and loved. "More than very well. We don't need to worry about it anymore."

"Then I would say it's past time we took a trip back to Sedona. I would love to photograph it in springtime." Devon turned to look down at her. "I happen to know that a certain very secluded house is available right now. Our trip last time was cut short. Do you fancy going back there to fool around some more?"

"As long as it's with you…" Carolyn hugged his arm and kissed his cheek. "I can't wait. A second honeymoon has been on my mind as well."

"Good…" Her husband smiled. "Because I've booked the house for six weeks."

He turned his back to the chattering group as champagne corks began to pop and the caterers cleared back the chairs to set up the long, white linen-covered tables for the wedding breakfast. Devon had a few moments before he needed to return to taking photographs.

With his hands on her slender waist, he brought Carolyn around to stand in front of him. "'I do not know what it is about you that closes and opens. Only something in me understands. The voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses. Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands…'" he quoted her favourite poem, putting everything he was thinking and feeling into the romantic words. "My beautiful, sexy Luciana. You are my life…"

"Go raibh maith agat…" Carolyn replied, smiling up at him. "Cuisle mo chroí. Is tú mo ghrá…"

Devon sighed. "Cuisle mo chroí. Is tú mo ghrá…" He drew her close to him and kissed her lingeringly. "Is tú mo chroi agus m'anam..."

"And you have my heart and soul…" Carolyn rested her forehead against his. "And perhaps, after we get back from Sedona, and Kat and Edward return from Greece…"

"We will all take that promised trip back home to Ireland," Devon finished for her. "It's beyond time I showed you how truly beautiful the green lady can be."

"I would love that…" Carolyn blinked back the tears in her eyes. "And I love you, Devon Miles. For now, and for always…"

"Always, Luciana…" Devon kissed her again before they turned back to rejoin their family and guests.

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Éirinn go Brách, Edward. Go raibh maith agat.

Sláinte mhaith mo chara! Téigh le Dia, i gcónaí… Go with God, always…

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"Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy.
Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy;
Which come in the night-time of sorrow and care,
And bring back the features that joy used to wear.
Long, long be my heart with such memories fill'd!
Like the vase, in which roses have once been distill'd.
You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still..."

Thomas Moore – "Farewell"

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