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The waiting room was filled with friends and family. Suzanne, BJ, Jennifer and Gabe sat together in one corner. Matt and Shane met their wives, Annie and Lily, as they rushed there as well. Vinny and Jobe stood near Tony, ready to offer support the minute they were needed.

Matt had reported that while Hernando was killed, Quentin escaped. The club and Hernando’s businesses were raided and the number of children found in all areas was astounding.

“I can’t believe that he got away,” Jobe growled.

Lily placed her hand on his arm, and said, “But think of all the children we helped save tonight.”

Just then a nurse came through the ER doors and looked around at the impressive group of men filling the room. A look of confusion crossed her face for a moment as she looked back at her file. “Mr. Alvarez?”

Tony stepped forward, but before he could say anything else, she said, “Ms. Mullins listed you as the fiancé.” He nodded, unable to speak at the moment. She continued, “The doctor will see you in the consultation room.”

He moved to follow the nurse, the sound of others behind him not surprising. As the nurse looked back, she pursed her lips and said, “This is for family only.”

Tony glanced around, seeing Gabe, Vinny, and Jobe. “These are my brothers.”

Jobe spoke clearly, “Where he goes, we go.”

She nodded and left them in the small room. A few minutes later, a doctor walked into the room, startled at all of the men standing there. “Mr. Alvarez?” she asked, her gaze moving among them.

Tony nodded and stepped forward once again. The doctor smiled and said, “Ms. Mullins is doing very well, considering her ordeal. I am concerned about a concussion so we will keep her here for a while to make sure that she retains consciousness. We will of course have the hospital counselor see her and they will recommend a trauma therapist.”

“So she’s all right?” he asked, his voice breaking. He could feel his friends take a step closer, knowing they were closing ranks.

“Yes,” the doctor replied. “I was concerned about the bruising on her abdomen, so we’re doing an ultrasound to make sure there are no internal injuries. In fact, if you want to see her now she is just across the hall and you can be with her.” With that, she turned and walked out of the room as Tony quickly entered the ER bay across the hall. Gabe, Jobe, and Vinny told him they would be right there until they knew for sure that Sherrie was all right.

The ultrasound technician was sitting next to Sherrie’s bed, moving the wand across her abdomen from one side to the other. Tony walked to her side and leaned down to kiss her forehead as she weakly smiled up at him.

Her eyes red-rimmed and the dark bruising on the side of her face made Tony want to bring Hernando back from the dead just so that he could make him suffer again.

The technician’s voice cut into Tony’s anger and he quickly tamped it down so that Sherrie had his undivided attention.

“It appears that her kidneys and other internal organs are just fine. That was one of the things that the doctor wanted us to check. And of course, I know you are most anxious to hear that the baby’s heartbeat is strong and it’s very tightly settled in her uterus. This ordeal did not hurt the baby, just the baby’s mama,” he joked.

Tony stopped breathing. The sounds of the ER receded to the back of his consciousness as he replayed the technician’s words. Baby? Baby? Oh, Jesus, oh, Jesus.

Looking at Sherrie, he saw the shock on her face before her expression broke out into the most amazing smile. Overwhelmed, he leaned down for a kiss, tasting her tears on her lips. A kiss of awe. Of amazement. Of celebration. Of family.

“Okay, daddy,” the technician said. “If you can move out of the room for just a second, I need to get this equipment over to the other side so they can get the portable x-ray out of here since she won’t need that.”

Looking down at his beautiful woman, he choked out, “I’ll be right back, babe. I’ll just go across the hall and tell the men.”

She smiled and nodded as she saw his chin quiver. Giving him another kiss, she whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you too, babe.”

Stepping out of the way of the equipment being moved in the small space, he went across the hall seeing the expectant faces of his men. His friends.

“She’s going to be fine,” he said, his voice breaking. “And…we’re going to have a baby.” A sob tore from his lips as his legs gave out from under him. Dropping to the floor, he knelt as more sobs continued to rack his body. The wall of men dropped with him, each kneeling around, placing one hand on their friend. Silent tears slid down the faces of the other three men as they supported the one in the middle.

Gabe, Vinny, and Jobe remembered the last time they knelt around Tony in such a way. That day, five years earlier, they supported their friend as he buried his wife and baby girl and then watched as he closed himself off to life. Until Sherrie came along. And they had watched as Tony slowly, painfully allowed life, and love to come back in.

Tony slowly became aware of his surroundings, but felt no shame. There was nothing hidden from these men. Nothing they had not shared. Standing, he wiped his eyes before looking at each of them in turn. They all smiled. Sucking in a huge breath, he let it out slowly. “Seems like we’ve got some celebrating to do, but if you don’t mind, I think I’ll go back to see the mother of my baby.”

* * *

Two weeks later, Sherrie Mullins became Mrs. Tony Alvarez. Tony had insisted that they marry as soon as possible and showed her the ring that he had bought, but had been waiting for just the right time to give her. She insisted that she did not want a large wedding—just Tony’s father and friends. And Bernard to give her away.

Bernard had been shot in the side of his chest, the bullet just passing through muscle. Within two weeks he was ready to walk Sherrie down the aisle, although with the injuries to her feet, they made a slow pair moving toward Tony.

Standing in what was now their living room with the minister before them in front of the fireplace, they said their vows. Their friends sat in chairs moved in just for the occasion, with the dining room table loaded down with food for the reception.

Sherrie, overflowing with happiness, looked into the caramel eyes gazing back at her. Dressed in a flowing, ivory, knee-length dress, her blonde hair streaming down her back with Baby’s Breath interwoven throughout, she looked like the princess he thought she was. The news they were having a baby had stunned her, but like Tony, she was ready to begin their lives together. No waiting. No second thoughts. Smiling, she pledged her life to him.

Tony, resplendent in a dark suit, kept his eyes locked on the beautiful woman at his side. He had a second chance at love and planned on making every moment count.

His father, standing next to him, glanced at the mantle noticing the small, framed picture of a smiling Tony with Marla and newborn baby Sofia. Sherrie did that, he knew. She had brought Tony out of the past while still celebrating all of life. Next to it was another framed snapshot, this one of Tony and Sherrie in the snow with the frozen lake behind them. And the two pictures looked perfect side by side. He knew that the mantle would soon be full of other pictures of them. Now, and later with children. Life goes on, he thought. And thank God it does.

Tony kissed his bride with all the love and passion he had for her, holding her tight as he handed her an envelope. Turning to the gathering, he proclaimed, “I have a gift for my new bride. One that holds a special meaning to us.”

She looked up in confusion, her hand holding the plain envelope. “What is this?”

“Open it, baby,” he said gently.

Licking her lips nervously, she opened the envelope and pulled out the sheaf of papers. A deed? “Oh my God!” she shouted, throwing her arms around his neck. Looking at the questioning gazes of their friends, he explained. “Mr. Marks sold the mountain cabin to us.”

The laughter rang out in the room as his wife’s tearful smile filled his vision. Yeah, life goes on.