Final Chapter

This is DAx' wife Rita. I wanted to thank everyone for all the support you have shown me on the passing of DAx this past February! The outpouring was truly incredible. I had no idea how many people DAx reached with her stories. My heart is truly filled with all the love!

Recently I was cleaning out DAx' email and found notes and the end of COEM. She told me she only had 2 more chapters to write before she finished the story. As many of you know, she was trying to finish this for our anniversary. Because of the support and love you all have shown me, I thought this would be a great early Christmas present for her fans.

So here is the last chapter and epilogue of COEM by my beautiful and talented wife Patricia L. Givens. Enjoy and thank you again for all the support you have shown me the past 10 months.

A/N This is a bit choppy but this is how she envisioned the ending.

A/N Please post comments, I still receive emails and would love to hear what you all think!

"Okay." Olivia threaded her fingers through Natalia's belt loops; holding the younger woman steady as she stood on the back of the couch to thread purple crepe paper through the balustrades of the stairs. "Why are we decorating again? The wedding and the reception are at the Beacon!"

"Because..." Natalia grinned at her. "I want the celebration here too."

Olivia looked up at her, her smile softening before she tugged hard; throwing the smaller woman onto the couch and covering her body with her own. "Then let's celebrate."

"Olivia..." The brunette felt her heart rate soar; felt the juncture between her legs flood with moisture as the older woman's knee insinuated itself and pressed firmly. "It's just one more day." She panted.

"Is it?" The blonde yanked her head up, staring at her through eyes wild with desire. "Can you wait? Just... one... more... day..." Olivia punctuated every word by nibbling on her bottom lip. "I know I can't wait that long."

Strong fingers stroked down Natalia's belly, flipping open the button on her jeans and slipping inside.

Olivia groaned at the wetness that met her fingers. Burying her face in the younger woman's shoulder, she growled. "From the way you feel..." She slid two fingers firmly inside the woman she held in her arms, biting down hard on her own cheek at the groan that fell from Natalia's lips. "From the way you feel... you can't wait that long either."

"You need to learn not to play with other people's toys."

Frank rushed over to the cot. Pulling back the blanket; his eyes widened when he saw nothing but pillows beneath it. "What the..." He spun around quickly, lunging for the door as it began to swing shut. He heard the lock engage a moment before his body collided with the heavy steel. "Mallet!" He roared. "Mallet, what the hell are you doing?"

The observation window in the door slid open and Frank's heart jumped up into his throat as he found himself staring into flashing jade green eyes.

"Sorry." Olivia's voice was low, an angry growl that echoed off the walls like thunder. "Mallet's not available right now. Guess you'll just have to settle for me."

"You open this goddamn door, Olivia... open it now or so help me..."

"So help you what?" She spat back. ""You already tried to kill me…" She made a face, her tongue scouring the inside of her mouth. "Bleh! What was that... a polyester blend?" She grinned when he tugged harder, making the door shake in the frame. But this was a police station, and bigger jackasses than Frankie Cooper had tried the same thing and failed.

Olivia smiled at him sweetly, winking through the window. "Looks like I still get to have a pretty good time..." She leaned her head to the side. "...playing with your toys..."

"Okay..." Josh stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulders, sighing when she threw them off and leaned in closer to the door.

"I guess you still haven't learned, have you Frank?" She trailed one finger down the plexiglass; something that would have been sensual had the anger around her not been a palpable thing. "Don't...fuck...with me..."

"That's enough." Josh slid the window closed.

"No, no it isn't enough." Olivia fumed, pacing back and forth across the hallway. "It will never be enough. That man belongs right where he is...behind bars! Unlawful detainment, false imprisonment...kidnapping!" She clenched her hand into a fist and beat it against the door. "Do you hear me, Frank? When I'm done with you 'playing with other people's toys' is going to have a whole new meaning!"

"I can't leave him in there." Mallet rubbed his forehead roughly. "I gotta let him out."

"What?" Olivia took a step towards the detective, only to have Josh grab her shoulders and pull her back.

"Look," he raised his hands as he addressed Mallet. "The best thing you can do for Frank is to leave him right where he is... at least until after the wedding."

Mallet stared at him like he was crazy. "How do you figure that?"

"Because," Josh jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Olivia. "That is the only thing that's going to keep her from filing charges against him; which would not only ruin his life, but probably land him in jail with some very unsavory characters that would love to see him again."

Olivia's chest puffed out as she set her jaw in an obstinate line. "If you think that anything is going to keep me from seeing that...that... idiot... pay for what he did then you've got another think coming, Josh Lewis! He handcuffed me to the bed! He actually handcuffed me..."

Josh grabbed her by the arm and pulled her aside. "Shut up, Olivia."

The blonde blinked in astonishment. "Wha... what?"

"I'm your best man, Olivia. So shut up and let me be your best man... and fix this."

"And letting him off the hook is how you would fix-" Her eyes widened as a hand was pressed firmly across her mouth.

Josh lowered his voice. "Ass or not that man is connected to half of Springfield. You start a war and you aren't just dragging yourself into it. You'll be dragging Emma, and Rafe... and Natalia into it too. Is that what you want?" He watched her shoulders slowly relax and removed his hand. "Right now, the woman you love is waiting for you... for YOU... at a church across town. So really... what's more important? Getting even with Frank... or getting married to Natalia?"

Olivia swallowed, the anger slowly leaving her body as she gave in to his logic.

"Besides," He leaned closer, trying not to laugh in her ear and failing miserably. "It's not like you've never been handcuffed to a bed before."

Olivia snickered; then she looked up sharply. She headed to the door again, holding up one finger when Josh tried to stop her.

The ex-minister rubbed the back of his neck worriedly but held his tongue.

The blonde slid the window open one more time. "Frank?" She called softly. "Frank? I know you're there. Really, where are you going to go?" She smiled at the sound of a body colliding with the other side of the metal. "Frank. Come on now. I just wanted to ask you something."

The detective's face appeared in the window; his eyes filled with rage. "What?!" He spat.

"You know all of those old marriage traditions?" She grinned silently when he yanked hard on the door.

Olivia waited for him to quiet; until he was again staring at her, wild eyed through the small glass portal.

Slowly, she raised her arm; showing him his own handcuffs dangling from her fingertips.

"Can I borrow these?"

Olivia: Oh and if you take a call during my ceremony? You'll need a colonoscopy to find your phone.

Doris followed Olivia out of the Groom's Room, taking her place at the dais while the bride to be took up position one step below and to her right. She looked out over the congregation, unable to stop a shocked smile when she saw the sea of people who were packed into the rows so tightly that some had even spilled over to line the back wall. It looked like everyone in Springfield had turned out for the town's first all-girl wedding, including all five of the groom's ex-husbands. Turning to whisper something snide, she ended up blinking in surprise at the sight that greeted her.

Olivia was fidgeting.

There was no other way to describe it. Time after time her hand came up to adjust one of her lapels, or to pull at the edge of the band that circled her waist. When she had no excuse to further adjust either of those, her hands returned again and again to her hips, smoothing across the black fabric while she asked herself over and over just why she had decided against an actual tuxedo.

At least then she would have had pockets.

"Olivia!" Doris hissed quietly through her teeth. "Will you calm down? What the hell are you so nervous about anyway? You've been married a million times! And with you, that's not even an exaggeration!"

Olivia turned to glare at her and had to take a deep breath as the movement left her slightly dizzy. Mouth open, lungs pulling in small gasps of air, she finally met the mayor's eyes.

"Jesus!" Doris reach out to place a steadying hand on the nervous woman's arm. She could see the panic flaring wildly in Olivia's sea-green eyes, widening the pupils until there was almost no color at all. "You need to breathe or you're going to hyperventilate!"

Olivia nodded, hanging her head slightly as she forced herself to breathe deeply.

"Everything all right?" Josh took his position to Olivia's left, his voice full of concern as he took in his ex-wife's dangerously pale features. "Olivia?"

"I'll be... I'll be okay..." She swallowed hard and reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She had worn it down, but pulled back at the sides with fine silver combs; the ends curling gently against her neck. It framed her face nicely but left it unhidden, something Natalia had always appreciated. "I just... I guess I'm just nervous."

Josh's hand came up to rest casually on her back. He made it look like a friendly gesture instead of the attempt to keep her on her feet that it really was. "Are you going to make it?"

"Yes!" Olivia barked quickly, a bright flush traveling up her neck as she forced herself to calm down. "Yes." She held her hands out slightly as she struck a pose, falling back on her vanity as a stop gap for her courage. "So...? What do you think? Is she going to like it?"

He laughed out loud. "Are you kidding me?" His eyes traveled down her body as he took in the incredible gown she was wearing.

It was iridescent black and very form-fitting, with a neckline that plunged almost to her waist and wide, white tuxedo lapels that fastened behind her neck, leaving her shoulders and most of her back bare. Her waist was circled by a crimson band of silk that added a wonderful touch of color before the gown continued down, hugging every one of her curves before ending in a slight train on the floor behind her.

Josh smiled as he gave her the biggest compliment he could think of. "Reva who?"

Olivia pressed her lips together, trying hard not to cry as she raised her head and kissed him gently on the cheek. She stared at the dark red lipstick left behind for a few moments, then raised her hand and gently brushed it away with her fingertips.

Once upon a time it had been him standing in front of her, instead of beside her. And even after they split up, through all of the years they had remained friends, both of them had known that one little nudge was all it would take to push them back into each others arms.

Looking at him now, Olivia felt that door close once and for all; she felt all of them close... all but one.

As if on cue, music began to play around them, the song they had chosen for this moment rich and warm in the small confines of the church.

You're my peace of mind in this crazy world.

You're everything I've tried to find, your love is a pearl.

You're my Mona Lisa, you're my rainbow skies,

and my only prayer is that you realize

you'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

Olivia looked up the aisle, a sweet smile curving her lips as she watched Emma walk towards her, dropping flowers in her wake. Ashlee, Christina and Daisy followed behind her, all three of them smiling brightly as they took their position across from her.

The world will turn and the seasons will change,

and all the lessons we will learn will be beautiful and strange.

We'll have our fill of tears, our share of sighs.

And my only prayer is that you realize

you'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

The music swelled and Olivia turned her head towards the back of the church, taking a deep breath before lifting her eyes to the empty doorway. After a moment, Rafe stepped into view, his dark good looks emphasized by the charcoal tuxedo he wore. She watched him smile and hold out his arm...

...and then the rest of the world disappeared as Natalia took it and turned towards her.

She was... exquisite... and Olivia felt her mouth drop open but could do nothing to stop it.

The first thing she noticed was the gloves.

Snow white silk encased Natalia's arms from her biceps to her fingertips, covering everything that needed to be covered and offsetting the deep purple gerber daisies she held in her hands with an elegance that defied description.

The gown itself was white, long and sleek in the back, with a strapless lace-covered bodice pulled tight by a row of tiny, silk covered buttons. It looked as though it had been painted onto her torso; leaving the olive skin of her shoulders and the upper swells of her breasts bare, creating a wildly alluring contrast that threatened to steal the older woman's breath completely and leave her crumpled on the floor. The brunette's hair was down, curly almost to the point of being wild about her face; the rich color enhancing the subtle makeup that left Natalia glowing in the late afternoon sunlight.

And her eyes…

The blonde swallowed.

Her eyes danced and sparkled, filled with love and joy; never leaving Olivia's face as she moved towards her down the aisle.

Olivia felt her heart explode with love and emotion, overloading her senses to the point where she was sure she was going to pass out.

She must have swayed slightly, because suddenly Josh's hand was there, resting against her back again.

"Hold on..." He whispered. "Just a little bit longer."

Nodding, unable to speak, she dragged air into her oxygen starved lungs as the most incredible creature in the world walked down the aisle towards her, accompanied by words that could have never been more true.

You will always be beautiful in my eyes.

And the passing years will show

that you will always grow ever more beautiful in my eyes.

When there are lines upon my face from a lifetime of smiles,

and when the time comes to embrace for one long last while,

we can laugh about how time really flies.

We won't say goodbye 'cause true love never dies.

You'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

And then Natalia was there, standing right in front of her as the music faded away, and still she couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't speak. All she could do was stare at the woman who had stolen her heart so completely... and pray she wasn't dreaming.

Natalia looked at Olivia, really looked at her, and felt tears trail down her cheeks. She had been here before; crying at the altar, but this time... this time it was right. She could feel it in her heart and in her soul... and she could see it shining from Olivia's eyes like a beacon... leading her home. Reaching out, she took Olivia by the hand. "Breathe." She whispered, a sweet smile turning up the corners of her mouth. "You have to breathe to say yes..."

"Yes." Olivia whispered.

Doris leaned forward slightly. "I haven't asked you that yet."

and turned her, smiling and nodding her head towards Doris until the the older woman flushed and faced the mayor, a sheepish grin on her face.

"I thought for a long time about what to say to you here... now. Honestly, I was thinking about it a long time before I ever really believed we would make it here. Now..." She let go of one of Natalia's hands; running the backs of her fingers down one smooth cheek. "Now, all I know is how you make me feel." She swallowed, her eyes bright with tears and almost... almost, as bright as her smile. "Sunlight." She laughed at the younger woman's confused look. "You make me feel... like sunlight. Like it must feel on the water. Like moonlight must feel on the backs of the clouds." She laughed again, this time at herself. "I know what I sound like. I know what I look like... But all I can tell you... is what I AM at this moment."

She tightened her grip on Natalia's fingers.

"Honest."

The church was completely silent as Natalia raised one hand to her mouth, trying to keep the sobs in her throat from breaking free. The tears she had no control over; so she just ignored them as they ran down her face. "Olivia..." She choked out between breaths. She paused for a moment and then smiled, shaking her head. "I knew what I was going to say to you. I've been working on it all week. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single word of it now." She pulled Olivia's hands up to her face, kissing them gently. "Now... Now I just want to promise myself to you, kiss you, and go start our life together. There has never been ANYTHING I have ever wanted more.

"Just a few more hours." She watched as Olivia's eyes darkened, her smile becoming almost feral. "And then you'll be all mine."

Natalia nodded, trying to breath as she watched the door close between them before touching it reverently with her fingertips.

"I always was." She whispered.

A/N #Infinity: Olivia's vows are a short version of a poem I wrote almost 24 years ago. (Before I realized the position of Emily Dickinson had been filled.) Here is the whole poem:

The Muse

you have my heart

my soul

my thoughts

you occupy my waking moments

and haunt me in my sleep.

you are my dreams

my hope...

...my muse

you make me feel

like sunshine

must feel on the water

like moonlight must feel

on the backs of the clouds

you are my smile

when I am angry

you are my laughter

when I am down

you are my love

and my heart

is yours.

Epilogue: The Marriage of Emma's Mother... (AKA: Are Herring Really Red?)

The heat felt soooo good...

Olivia sighed happily, arching her back as she repositioned herself on the wooden deck lounger, her eyes closed against the light of the midday sun. Moorea was even more beautiful than either of them had expected; the waters, a brilliant blue from the distance, had a crystal-like clarity up close that had left them both laughing in delight as they watched schools of colorful fish dart about beneath their feet. It had been a shock at first... to find the couches and table of their bungalow situated over a thick pane of glass... but spending the night before laying on her tummy with Natalia draped across her back so that the younger woman could watch as she fell asleep... Well, that was a joy she would never forget.

And the bungalow itself... oh... it was beautiful to the point of being decadent. Propped up on stilts in the middle of the bay, it sat all by itself at the end of a long dock. The beach on either side stretched out a thousand feet in either direction before running into the next dock, assuring them the privacy to do... just about anything they wanted.

And they had.

A shiver ran down the older woman's spine and her body shook slightly as the memory of Natalia, naked in the waves, flashed through her mind. It had taken her nearly fifteen minutes to catch the little nymph, but once she had...

Olivia swallowed, feeling her palms begin to ache as moisture pooled between her legs. She licked her lips as she thought about dark chocolate eyes and smooth, tan skin...

"And just what are you thinking about?" Natalia asked knowingly as she lowered herself onto Olivia's lap. She straddled the prone woman across her thighs, pinning her to the chair as she fanned her hands out across her bare midriff.

The blonde smiled, her hands sliding up the younger woman's thighs to grip her hips. "Sushi..."

"Olivia!" Natalia poked her in the ribs.

"Hey you asked!" She half-opened her eyes, looking up at Natalia with a lazy desire that drove the brunette crazy. "It's been almost four hours since I last tasted you..." She sat up, pulling Natalia into her arms. "And that is entirely too long..." She caught the younger woman's lips in a kiss, her tongue stroking wetly as her hands slid down to cup her ass.

"Mmmmm..." Natalia buried her fingers in thick, soft hair; her head falling back when the older woman's mouth slid down to her throat. "Olivia..." She breathed. "Baby..."

"Hmmm?" The older woman bit down, her whole body begin to vibrate with energy when she felt the woman in her arms tremble.

(insert love scene here)

"Olivia... stop... honey...stop, stop..." She pushed herself back.

"What? Why?" Olivia blinked up at her in surprise, her hands tightening to keep Natalia from moving any further away.

"We need to talk."

"No we don't!" She buried her nose in the brunette's cleavage, breathing her scent in deeply as she kiss her way up the valley between her breasts. Whoever invented the bikini... I love you and I want to have your children... "We talk all the time... we talked over breakfast... I'm sure I'll have something to say at lunch... right now though... my lips have better things to do..."

"Olivia!"

"Okay... Okay!" Olivia sighed, crossing her arms to keep her hands from reaching out for the woman in front of her. "I'm all ears." She smirked. "Well, not all ears, but enough to make really good handholds..."

"We're going to have a baby." Natalia blurted out.

Olivia's voice trailed off, her eyes widening. Talk about karma... Every muscle in her body went limp and she fell back heavily into the chair behind her. "Wha...wh...w..." She stuttered, her brain trying to find a thread of thought to expound upon. Suddenly her eyes cleared and she looked up in horror. "Frank...?"

"Olivia..." Natalia looked at her sarcastically, her eyebrows knitting together. She reached up and gently knocked on the blonde's forehead. "I slept with Frank one time and that was... God... that was what, like... four months ago? I seriously doubt I'd be able to pull this suit off under those circumstances! Plus, if I was pregnant that long and never knew it..." She rolled her eyes. "Okay, that's just ridiculous."

"Then..." Hurt filled the older woman's features. "Who?"

Natalia smiled gently as she leaned forward, nuzzling the older woman's cheek with her nose. "You."

Olivia's mouth twitched. "Look... I know I'm good but..."

"And so modest too." The younger woman laughed, kissing her softly before cupping her face with her hands. "I mean I want to have your baby!"

"Do you see how those two statements are in no way similar?" The older woman pinched the bridge of her nose. "So... you're... not pregnant now?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why did you scare the hell out of me?"

"I just said that we're going to have a baby..." She shrugged. "As in... we need to start planning. I figured if I got the shock value out of the way it would be easier to move forward."

Olivia sighed in relief, pulling her close and dropping her head onto Natalia's breasts. "Well, thank you for the heart attack."

"That's not funny."

"Neither were you." She smiled nervously. "So... a... a baby..." She felt a clammy tendril of panic begin to wind it's way up her spine. "You don't think it's a little...soon?"

"Soon? For us?" Natalia leaned her head to one side, the smile on her lips never dimming. "No I don't. Ava, Rafe and Emma are all nine years apart..."

Olivia grinned. "And Emma is eight so you figured..."

"With the planning, procedures and pregnancy taking about a year... Why mess with tradition?" She kissed the older woman's ear. "And even though we haven't been together that long officially... in our hearts we've been a family forever. Besides..." She trailed her tongue over Olivia's earlobe. "A lot of brides come back from their honeymoon pregnant."

Olivia snorted. "Now that would keep the gossips in this town well fed for years!"

"So?"

She wrapped her arms more tightly around the younger woman's hips. "I want that... a child with you... I want that, I do." She shrugged her shoulders a little sadly. "I just... I wish there was a way..."

Natalia looked directly into her eyes. "For a baby to truly be 'ours'?"

Olivia nodded, looking away to hide her tears.

"Well..." The brunette snuggled more deeply into her arms. "Lucky for you I've figure that out too."

"I don't..." The older woman closed her eyes when she felt Natalia's lips against her throat. "I don't understand."

"When I said I wanted to have your baby, I wasn't using a figure of speech, Olivia. I want to carry your baby."

Olivia pulled back, looking at Natalia in shock. "You..."

The younger woman nodded. "I already talked to Rick. He said that we're a close enough match for it to work."

"That's why you went to the doctor before we left..."

Natalia nodded. "Please don't be angry... I just wanted to know for sure that it was possible before I even brought it up." She traced a finger across Olivia's mouth. "I want another little girl, Olivia. One with your lips and your eyes and..." She smirked. "My personality..."

"Ah!" Olivia grabbed her, rolling her over so that she was pinned beneath her on the lounge. "Sorry, it's a package deal! My eggs, my personality!"

The brunette sighed dramatically. "All right... I guess I can handle that... it only took me a year to house train you anyway..."

"WHAT?"

"You heard me." She slid her hands down Olivia's back; nails scratching against her newly tanned skin. "Tell me I'm wrong!" She challenged. "You're home every night in time for dinner, in bed by ten... up by seven..." She licked the bottom of her chin.

Olivia's jaw went slack. "You're right..." She hung her head. "How the hell did that happen?"

"Oh... cheer up. It's not so bad."

The blonde's eyes narrowed. "And what do I get in return for all of this good behavior?"

Natalia smiled. Wrapping her legs tightly around Olivia's back, she pulled the older woman down until she could feel her breath ghosting across her lips. "You get to sit up and beg..."

Olivia nodded slowly, her eyes closing as the younger woman's mouth slid down to cover one nipple. "Yeah..." She swallowed heavily. "Yeah... I can live with that..."

The End