Katdancer: Thank you, there were so many names to retype on that page. I know, that was so funny! I figured that would be just like Erika.

Phanatic01: Yes, they will have several ups and downs, but that's life. Don't worry about the last chapter, it's no big deal.

Trrmo77: I know, I don't even know what I was doing when that hit me. I do know I wanted to change the original broom scene and it looks like I did a good job. Thank you for all your help.

Chapter twenty-four

364 days later,

Erika let out a loud shriek; Jim and Christine immediately spun around to see Erik with an amused look on his face.

"Sorry." Erika murmured before shoving Erik. "Stop it!"

Jim cleared his throat. "What…was and is going on?"

"Did you know," Erik grinned as he brushed Erika's hair back. "that your sister has a weakness?"

Jim shook his head. "No."

"Well she does."

"It's al lie!" Erika said.

Erik grinned impishly. "She's ticklish behind the knee."

"I am not!"

"Really?" To prove his point, Erik made a lunge at her. She shrieked and darted out of his reach. "Don't you lay a hand on me! Erik. I mean it!" Erik caught her around the waist and she squealed as his hand snaked down behind her knee. "Erik!" She began laughing uncontrollably. "Stop it! Stop it!"

"Ok," Christine said. "we get it." Erika collapsed on the floor at Erik's feet trying to control her laughter.

Jim glanced at Christine. "Am I glad they're getting married tomorrow. I'm getting a little sick of this constant chaperoning."

Erika stuck her tongue out at Jim. "Very mature Erika." Erik said dryly. "Very."

"It's late, don't you think you two should retire?" Jim suggested. "After all tomorrows a big day."

Erika nodded, "Yes. That's a good idea." She stood up and gave Erik a quick peck on the mouth. "I'll see you tomorrow."

His brow arched, "That wasn't much of a kiss."

She smirked and patted his unmasked cheek. "It wasn't supposed to be." She sauntered away. "We'll have a lifetime of goodnight kisses. Goodnight tall, dark and handsome."

Erik shook his head in feigned agitation as she turned and walked upstairs. He stood and watched her walk away. Erika, was his perfectly, imperfect angel. Erika had conned him into leaving his mask off when they were among only friends.

Jim cleared his throat. "Erik? How…were you able to find that out about her knee?"

"We were sitting there, my hand slipped behind her knee and she shrieked." Erik caught Jim's suspicious look. "It was an accident, nothing like you're thinking."

"Well, she is still my responsibility. Starting tomorrow morning, she's yours."

Erik laughed. "And I can hardly wait to take on that job tomorrow!"

Erika smoothed her strapless, airy, white chiffon wedding dress. It was simple, except for a notched neckline and the beaded detail on one side of her hip. The wedding had been simple and Erik looked simply dashing in his tuxedo. She thought her legs would turn into Jell-O at the look in those piercing blue eyes. Jim was naturally the best man and Erika had insisted on Christine being her Maid of honor. Erik and Christine were now as they were meant to be brother and sister. Her parents had finally met Erik, and they were a bit skeptical at first, but Erik won them over with his natural charm, laid back manner and refined sense of humor. They never did tell her parents about her prior lifestyle in New York. They all decided to live and let live, that part of her life was gone forever.

Erik was now taking a ribbing from his fellow officers about his suit. She studied her ring for a moment. Erik had bought her a simple silver ring with an abbreviated version of first Corinthian chapter 13 verse 7. Love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.

That verse described their relationship very much. Erik always protected her and they both had earned each other's deep trust. They had high hopes for the future and they had no doubt their love would persevere.

"Hey?" Erik said sitting down beside her. "Happy?"

She squeezed his hand. "Very." She exhaled. "If we have children…and it's a boy…can I name him?"

He frowned. "The mother always wants to name the girl."

"I'll let you name the girl."

"Considering that we haven't made it to the marriage bed yet," She blushed at the look in his eyes. "And you're all ready picking out children's names I have to ask. Why?"

"Well…I've got the boy's name picked out."

"Oh." He said with a nod and his innocent, slightly wide-eyed look. "And what brought this on?"

"Well, I just wanted to have some handy."

"I'll humor you…what do you want to name the boy?"

"Dickon."

Erik frowned. "Dickon? What kind of name is that? Dickon Ormanni?" He really didn't look pleased now, but didn't want to upset her. after all, it was their wedding day. "We can call him Dick for short."

Erika scowled. "Oh no you don't! It's Dickon!"

"Where'd you get that name?"

"The secret garden!" She said. "I like it and we're keeping it!"

"Oh no we're not!"

"Easy you two." Jim said approaching with Christine who was holding their son, little Jim. "You're supposed to last until death do you two part, remember? And arguing on your wedding day, you two haven't even been married an hour!"

Erik groaned. "Honey, are you hell bent on wrecking my image?"

"You wrecked your image the moment you married me and you know it!"

Erik groaned, "Point taken." He stood up and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Erika nodded and took his hand. "Indeed Officer Ormanni, you may have them all."

They'd selected Roger and Hammerstein's 'People will say we're in love' for their wedding dance because it summed up their courtship. Two people who ultimately denied their love until it hit them smack in the face and then once they admitted their love. The world could no longer hold them apart any longer.

Ten years later,

Erika smiled as Dickon and Dede Dinah Ormanni giggled with anticipation as they waited for their father to come in the door. No one had been more surprised than Erika and Erik when they found out that they were the proud parents of twins. This was their tenth anniversary, and she wanted everything to be perfect for tonight. This was Erik's last week on the police force as well. He decided that he was now in a stable enough financial position to try making his living as a composer. Those who knew them were certain that Erik's music was going a success.

"Here he comes!" Dickon said ducking behind a couch. Erika ducked behind the piano and Dede scrambled under the table, pulling the long tablecloth over her.

The door opened and she held her breath as Erik's footsteps grew louder. "Erika?"

She inhaled and called. "Family room!"

Erik came in the room, his stance wary. "Erika? I know you're in here." She stood up and tiptoed towards him. "Don't even," Erik spun around with his gun pointed right at her. She shrieked and put her hands up in the air. "Think about it."

"Erik. Point that somewhere else."

"Why?" He stepped towards her, keeping the gun at her face. She backed up against the wall. "Afraid it'll go off?" He used the barrel of the gun to push back a lock of her hair before his serious face. Erik pulled the trigger and everyone screamed in terror. Then Erika shrieked as a huge stream of water came pouring down her face from the gun. Erik began laughing loudly as he put his gun in his holster. "Happy anniversary."

"Where did you get that?"

"Not saying. Because if I did, you'd tell me never to go there again."

"Correct. Point that thing someplace else."

He laughed, "All right. But I knew you were up to something so," he holstered the gun. "I haven't been married to you for ten years not to know you're up to something. What kind of husband do you think I am?"

"Do I have to answer that question?"

"Ouch." He held out the bouquet of purple roses. "Here you go."

She took them and hugged him tight. "Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary." Erik kissed her and the children groaned as he pulled back with a groan of his own. "No privacy."

"Well that a simple price to pay." She said turning and motioning the kids towards them. "Because when Dede gets married, you're going to say that you didn't have enough time with them."

Erik looked indignant. "Dede's never going to get married." He picked her up. "Because you're my best girl. Right?"

Dede frowned. "I thought mommy was your best girl?"

Erika laughed at the look on his face, but Erik recovered quickly. "She's my wife, you're my best girl."

Dede frowned. "Well." She shot her mother a look that screamed 'help with daddy!'

Erika stepped closer and patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry old man…you're the second best now."

Erik stiffened. "Are you trying to tell me?"

She kissed him. "Later."

"She's only ten!"

"Puppy love dearest." She gave him another quick peck. "So don't worry about it now, because by the time she's old enough to get married…you'll be too old to run the suitors off."

Erik let out a harumpff and Dickon spoke up. "Can we cut the cake now?"

"Go ahead, I want to talk to your daddy."

"Ok." Dickon said. "Hope he says yes."

Erika winced and turned back to Erik who had an impish smile on his face. "Yes, Mrs. Ormanni, I'd love to go upstairs with you."

She blushed. "Erik be serious."

"Sorry." His expression went sober. "What is it?"

"I want a baby."

He frowned. "Honey, the doctor said you can't."

"I know, but you know those two girls, you and Jim found? Charlie and her sister?"

"Yes." That sad light filled his blue eyes. Charlie's mother had beaten her severely and often left her and her baby sister alone and without food. No one would have known except that a neighbor reported Charlie stealing the milk. Then, the whole truth of the story came out. The heartbreak of the situation was when Charlie was asked who had beaten her; she'd lied and said her father had. Why? Because she loved her mother. "You want those girls?"

She nodded. "Yes Erik, they've been on my mind for so long and…I went down and visited them. Charlie's so sweet…I fell in love with them. Please, couldn't…we adopt them?"

Erik exhaled. "Honey," he opened his mouth to say something before let out a long exhale. "You know how to get me don't you? Especially on our anniversary."

"This is the only present I want Erik. Please."

He pulled her forward and rubbed her shoulders. "You know….Charlie Ormanni…isn't a bad sounding name."

Erika started crying as she flung her arms around his neck. "Oh Erik!"

Erik shrugged. "I know." He groaned. "I'm getting soft."

"Never." She said. "You'll always be that same, grumpy and charming man I married. And I love you."

"And you're still the wacky and sweet woman I married." He smiled at her. "Think we'll make it to twenty-five years?"

She nodded. "Yes I do….but don't point anymore guns at me!"

Erik laughed and hugged her. "Come on…let's go tell the kids."

Erika beamed as they walked towards the kitchen with a small turning point in their lives. But they were ready to walk down that trail of life together. Come rain or come shine.

The End

I hope everyone enjoyed it. As for me, I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. I might do a Bonanza story, but I'm not sure yet.