“Daddy! Daddy! Wake up!” Natalie exclaimed as she shook him. “Look!”

“Bug,” he groaned as he rolled to his side and cracked his eye open. “Why don’t you go wake your mommy up? She’s in the guest room.”

“But she told me if the Tooth Fairy came I should wake you up first,” Natalie said.

“She’s been talking to Jamie again,” he mumbled. “Taking lessons.” He flopped to his back as Natalie climbed on the bed.

“Daddy! Look! The Tooth Fairy gave me five bucks!” she said as she sat on his stomach.

“I told you, Bug, that your teeth were a perpetual gold mine,” he said as he scooted up, her still on his stomach. He kissed her forehead. “You should go show Mommy. Oh, and ask her if she’ll make us a big breakfast to celebrate.”

“Okay,” she said as she scrambled off of him and raced from the room.

He yawned as he threw his legs over the side of the bed. He winced at the black tux hanging on his closet door. All too soon Cassidy would be rushing him about before she took Natalie and headed to the beauty salon or whatever women did before weddings.

“A big breakfast?” Cassidy asked as she appeared in his doorway, a tiny smile flirting with her lips. “You do realize you kept me in this room until nearly dawn and I have to get Natalie to the church soon?”

He grinned at her, scenes from the previous night flashing through his mind. “That’s what you get for plotting with Jamie. Pretty sneaky telling Bug to wake me first.”

“Cut Jamie a break,” she said as she approached RJ and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “He is getting married today.”

“I know,” RJ muttered against her lips. “That’s punishment enough.”

She shoved his chest playfully. “I should burn your breakfast for that.”

He raised a brow. “Does that mean you’re going to cook?”

“How did you manage before I moved in here?”

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “By the skin of my teeth.”

She kissed him again. “I have to go feed our child.”

His heart flipped as she walked away. He glanced at the tux again as his pulse began to race. He reached in his nightstand and retrieved the little black box to take a quick peek. He smiled and tucked it carefully in the inside pocket of his tux jacket before heading down to breakfast.

XxX

He stood beside Jamie as Natalie pranced down the aisle, dribbling rose petals on the white runner. She beamed at him and he winked causing her to giggle. She took her place next to Ally and turned to watch as Sophie made her way down the aisle clutching Uncle Charlie’s arm. RJ glanced at Jamie and nearly laughed at how pale the poor guy was. He was tempted to punch his arm but he knew Ally would give him hell for it later.

His mind wandered as the minister spoke. Jamie had been Cole’s best man so it was his turn to be Jamie’s. That meant if Cass said yes, Cole would have the honors. His head started to spin as he rethought it. He’d have to ask Ally to make sure he was right – the whole rotating best man thing was her idea.

Cassidy might not agree, his mind reminded him. He stifled a groan and tried to pay attention. She’d agree, he was sure. Almost positive. Nearly certain. Not so sure at all.

He shook his head and focused on the minister. He knew Cassidy loved him and he was positive he loved her. Cassidy and Natalie were his life and he wanted them to be a family. Cassidy had moved in with him a couple months after Natalie did – though she used the guest room. They both agreed it was best if Bug didn’t see them sleeping together while they weren’t married. They’d had a few close calls but managed to keep up the façade so far. He hoped they wouldn’t have to keep it up much longer.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the minister smiled. RJ watched as Jamie kissed his bride and led her down the aisle.

RJ offered Sophie’s best friend from Wichita, Hilary, his arm and escorted her out of the sanctuary – Cole and Ally behind him followed by Tyler and Cassidy and Robby and Sam.

XxX

“So, are you going to do it?” Jamie asked as he and Cole cornered him at the reception.

“Sure, I guess,” RJ shrugged. “But dude, it’s your day.”

Cole snorted. “He wants you to propose to Cassidy on his wedding day so that you’ll always remember this date and you can remind him that it’s his wedding anniversary.”

“No, way!” RJ said. “James, really?”

Jamie gaped at him. “Nah. Besides, you won’t remember the date. You’ll just remember you proposed at my wedding.”

“Dude,” RJ said as he turned to Cole. “How did you remember your anniversary?”

“Easy,” Cole smirked. “Ally has this calendar on the refrigerator and she writes all the birthdays and anniversaries on it.”

“I hope Soph does that,” Jamie mused.

“That’s cheating,” RJ accused.

“What are you idiots arguing about?” Ally asked as she handed her baby to Cole. “Here, take your son. He wants you.”

Cole’s face softened as he took the baby in his arms. “Hey, buddy. What did you think? You managed to stay quiet during the whole thing. Did you sleep through it?”

Ally rolled her eyes. “Of course he did – he’s male.”

RJ tossed an arm over her shoulders. “You can’t win, Ally. You were raised with all boys and then you give birth to one.”

“At least I still have Bug,” she said. “So what’s the deep male discussion about? Wait, let me guess.” She tapped her index finger on her chin. “Jamie is thinking that if RJ proposes today, that RJ will remember the date and remind Jamie it’s his anniversary. But, Cole reminded RJ and Jamie that RJ won’t remember the date, just that it was Jamie’s wedding. So, RJ and Jamie are both screwed because they were depending on each other to remind them of the date.”

“Dude,” RJ said, grabbing Cole’s sleeve. “How does she do that?”

Cole shrugged. “She grew up with us.”

“Damn,” Jamie cursed.

Ally grinned as Natalie charged toward them.

“Aunt Ally, can I hold Nathan?” she asked.

“In a little bit,” RJ told her as he scooped her in his arms. “I need your help first.”

“Okay,” she smiled, showing off the gaping hole in her mouth. “But you have to hold my money for me.”

His brow furrowed as he studied his daughter. “What money?”

She handed him a wad of crumpled bills. “I showed everyone my missing tooth and Uncle Jake gave me five dollars and Uncle Matt gave me five dollars and Uncle Nick gave me five dollars. But Grandpa gave me ten dollars.”

He held up a fist and Natalie bumped it with her own. “I told you that your teeth were a gold mine.”

“RJ,” Ally scolded.

He sighed and looked Natalie in the eye. “Bug, you shouldn’t ask people for money because you lost a tooth.”

Her eyes grew wide. “I didn’t, Daddy, I promise. I showed them where my tooth was and told them the Tooth Fairy came and they just gave me money. I told them thank you.”

Ally kissed Natalie’s cheek. “You’re fine, honey. They just like to spoil you.”

“Will you hold my money, Daddy?” Natalie asked.

“Yep, Bug. But I need your help,” he said as he tucked her wad of money in his pocket. He walked away from his friends and found a quiet corner. He set Natalie on her feet and knelt before her. “Listen, Bug. I want to ask you something, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.”

He cleared his throat. “Um, well, I was thinking that maybe I would ask…well…I want to ask your mommy to marry me. Um, do you think that’s okay?”

Her face lit up as a huge smile engulfed her lips. “Oh, yes!” She jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “I want you and Mommy to get married!”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Will you help me ask her?”

“Okay!” She frowned. “But you have to have a ring.”

“I do,” he whispered. “Want to see it?” She nodded. He pulled the box from his pocket and opened it. She laughed and pressed her hands to her mouth. “Do you like it?”

“Yes! Let’s go ask her!”

“Hang on, Bug,” he said, snagging her arm before she could run off. “We need to do it nicely.” He whispered to her before taking her in his arms again.

He wandered around the hall until he found Cassidy talking with Sammy near the bar. He interrupted, flashing a conspiratorial wink at Sam, and took Cassidy’s arm.

“Me and Bug want to dance with you,” he said. Natalie giggled in his arms.

“Um, sure,” Cassidy said. She laced her fingers with his and followed him to the dance floor. He released her hand and wrapped an arm around her while he clutched Natalie in his other arm.

“This is like a real family,” Natalie said. RJ’s insides flipped. He couldn’t have planned it better if he would have written a script.

“Yes, Nat, you’re right,” Cassidy said as she rested her head on RJ’s shoulder.

RJ gave Natalie a pointed look and she giggled. “Mommy, Daddy wants me to ask you something.”

“What, Bug?” Cassidy asked as she lifted her head.

“He wants to marry you but I think he’s too scared to ask you so he asked me to ask you.”

RJ groaned and closed his eyes. “That’s not what I told you to say.”

“I forgot what you told me to say,” Natalie said.

“RJ?” Cassidy asked, her eyes wide.

He grinned sheepishly. “Well, will you?”

“Please, Mommy?” Natalie begged.

“Of course I will,” Cassidy said as the tears shimmered in her eyes. RJ’s heart tremored as he kissed her softly.

Natalie giggled. “Daddy, give her the ring.”

“Oh,” RJ said as he dragged his lips from Cassidy. He set Natalie down and dug the ring from his pocket. He slipped it on her finger and she kissed him again.

“My mommy and daddy are going to get married!” Natalie exclaimed. RJ blushed as those who heard her applauded.

Pretty soon, they were engulfed by his family and all their friends. They accepted congratulations and toasts and after awhile, he finally pulled Cassidy away.

“I love you, Cass,” he said. “Natalie was supposed to tell you that.”

“I’d rather hear it from you,” she smiled. “And I love you, too.”

“Hey,” Jamie shouted as he clapped RJ on the back. “I sort of remember you saying something about a year ago.”

“Oh yeah,” Cole said as he joined them, his baby is his arms.

Ally wrapped an arm around RJ’s waist. “I think I remember that, too.”

“What?” RJ asked, feigning innocence. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Jamie stretched his hand out to the sky, punctuating every word. “’RJ Stone Dodges the Bullet As All His Friends Fall’”

RJ lifted Natalie in his arm and took Cassidy’s hand. “What the hell did I know then? It took a five year-old to teach me a thing or two.”

Natalie kissed RJ’s cheek and giggled. “Daddy, I’m six now. Remember?”

He looked at his daughter, love swelling in his chest, then kissed Cassidy again. “Of course, Bug.” He looked at his friends as he recalled that night that seemed so long ago. “I thought my life was perfect back then but I know better. I have it all now. Now my life is finally perfect.”

Natalie giggled and squeezed his neck. “I love you, Daddy.”

“See,” he said, choking on the big lump of emotion in his throat. “I’m right.”

A/N: Yay! All finished! Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews.