After meeting with Xander's father, Lauren felt the need to go out and clear her mind. Something to help clear away the shit that was shoveled during her surprise visit with the old man. She knew the perfect place to go clear her head which is the most amazing mental pallet cleanser in the entire city, the art gallery downtown. It had been months since she visited the place, and she was excited to look around again. Without the kids around to watch like a hawk, Lauren was able to browse and take her time as she stared at her favorite pieces and admired their brilliance. She liked the fact that this place was available to her and the public whenever they wanted a distraction from life and the things that troubled them. Even hundreds of years after their passing, the artists from the past were cheering people up and giving them inspiration. Lauren knew that she was never going to be that inspirational, and that more than a hundred years from now she might not be remembered by anyone. There was a part of her that honestly didn't care, as she would prefer to live well and do her best to make life better for others today rather than hundreds of years later. She knew there were people out there that she could help, and with Xander backing her up, the sky was clearly the limit. She never wanted to be with him because of his money, but it certainly didn't hurt. She thought of him again as she approached the piece that would remind her of him from this moment on. The classic painting that Xander purchased himself, and she couldn't help but take a seat on the very same bench that she fainted on not long ago. She sat there and stared at the painting, and then down at her ring. She began to wonder if this was all a dream, and that she was going to wake up and be back in that apartment with her grump roomie. While that wouldn't surprise her, Lauren closed her eyes and prayed that this was the real world and that she was never going to wake up from it. The answer came mere seconds later when someone asked her a question.

     "Penny for your thoughts?" The familiar voice asked her.

     Lauren opened her eyes, and her fiancé was standing there looking like a million bucks in a suit she hadn't seen yet. She looked up at him and smiled.

     "I was thinking of you, actually." She informed him.

     "All good things I hope," Xander said, sitting down on the bench beside her.

     "Of course," Lauren said, as she leaned into his shoulder, "I was remembering how I fell off this bench when I fainted."

     Xander couldn't help but chuckle as he remembered it fondly.

     "I remember it well," Xander replied, "How is your head feeling?"

     "I'm alright," Lauren said, "But a part of me is scared."

     "Scared?" Xander repeated, "Of what?"

     "That this isn't real," Lauren said, "It all seems too good to be true. I hope I'm not in a coma from falling over that day."

     "You're not," Xander said, trying to reassure her, "But if you are, I can assure you that when you wake up I'll be there too."

     "You promise?" Lauran asked, aware he was playing with her.

     "I promise," Xander said, leaning over and kissing her brow.

     "Is it crazy we're getting married?" She asked him.

     "Some might call it that," Xander answered, "But if something feels right, I say just do it. I was never the kind of kid that would dip his toe in the pool. I preferred to just cannonball in there and let chaos reign down."

     "Yeah, that sounds like you," Lauren said, amused by the metaphor. "You're not afraid this could be a terrible mistake?"

     "If it is a mistake," Xander replied, "Then it's mine to make. I'd rather try something and crash and burn then never give it a chance. Wondering what if for the rest of my life sounds a lot worse than knowing you tried and gave it your all."

     "I like your attitude," Lauren said, hugging his arm while resting her head on his shoulder. She never wanted to let him go but knew they would eventually have to move on from this spot.

     "F.D.R. said there is nothing to fear but fear itself," Xander quoted, "And that's the kind of attitude I take when looking at everything. I don't panic until I have a good reason to do, refusing to let fear control my life and my decisions."

     "I'm more of a Kennedy kinda gal," Lauren said, which got another laugh out of her handsome fiancé.

     "He was a pretty cool dude too," Xander conceded, "He wanted to change the world and was taken out before he could see it through. I kind of felt like that a few months ago when my life was spiraling out of control. That I was going to lose my chance to change the world and make it a better place. That was one moment when fear almost got the best of me."

     "How did you handle it?" Lauren asked.

     "I hired a new lawyer," Xander said, "And then Russell saved my life in more ways than he'll ever know. I was actually walking back from my first meeting with him when I bumped into you and the kids. If I never hired Russell, I don't think I ever would have had the pleasure of meeting you."

     "I guess we're both grateful to Russell for many reasons," Lauren agreed, "He gave you back your life, and brought you into my life as well. Now we'll have a chance to make that difference you were hoping for."

     "Will you help me out with that?" Xander asked her.

     "I suppose I can toss you a few ideas," Lauren jokingly answered, "Make sure you don't make a total ass out of yourself."

     "Isn't that the whole point of getting married?" Xander asked, "To love, honor, and prevent him from making a total ass out of himself?"

     "Yeah, that sounds about right." Lauren said, smiling. "I suppose your mother will have a lot of helpful advice on that subject."

     "I suppose she would," Xander conceded, "I don't know if I'm ready to talk about him right now. I just head from Russell that he's just going to pay a simple fine and that will be all she wrote. No trial, and no jail time. Not one damn day."

     "I heard about it," Lauren said, "But the old man is getting his fair share of lectures, especially from the women in his life."

     "Is that so?" Xander asked.

     "It is so." Lauren confirmed, "As a matter of fact, I had breakfast with your father this morning at his restaurant."

     Xander sat up with a surprised look on his face. "You did?"

     "Yup," Lauren said, "And if it makes you feel better I stole his favorite seat again just to piss him off."

     "Ha," Xander said, rather surprised. "Actually, that does make me feel better."

     "Like you said before," Lauren said, "Fear isn't something you should allow to control you, especially when it comes to our parents. While you may be furious with your father right now, you need to settle your affairs before it's too late. I'm never going to get a chance to make things up with my parents, and I can assure you that's the ultimate what if that will keep you up a night if you don't bury this hatchet before it's too late."

     "I get it," Xander said, as he remembered Lauren mentioning during a different discussion that her parents were no longer around. He seemed selfish for taking his living parents for granted while Lauren had no one else to turn to. In her eyes, bad parents were easier to get along with than those who were six feet deep.

     "What he did sucks on so many levels," Lauren continued, "But eventually you will have to forgive him, not for me or your parents, but for yourself. Carrying around that anger will only hurt you in the long run. Don't let him live in there rent free, and just give all that rage the heave ho. In the end, it will make you feel better rather and that's all I really care about."

     "I understand," Xander said, "It's something I need to work on."

     "I didn't say you had to resolve it today," Lauren added, "I think giving you until our wedding day to take care of it is enough time, don't you?"

     "I have to forgive him by the wedding?" Xander repeated.

     "Well, let's set a date and then we can judge if that's enough time." Lauren said, "But I don't need to remind you that I'm short a father to walk me down the aisle. That means I'll need your father to step in, and in order for that to happen you two have to be on much better terms."

     "I see where you're coming from," Xander said, as he understood. "As long as the engagement isn't too short, I should be able to take care this before the big day."

     "I wonder what store I'll buy my dress from?" Lauren said, thinking about wedding stuff since the subject came up.

     "None," Xander said, "Your dress with be custom made by one of the finest designers in the world."

     "And you'll be wearing a tux, right?" Lauren asked.

     "Kind of," Xander said, smiling back at her. "There's deep Scottish roots in the family so we'll all be wearing kilts."

     Lauren looked at him with a surprised face. "Seriously?"

     "Dead serious," Xander replied, highly amused by her reaction. "Our family even has their own print that we make our own kilts out of. All the men on my side of the aisle will be wearing them. I'm even going to force dad to wear one too as a part of his eventual penance."

     "Oh, that would be a sight to see." Lauren said, laughing out loud.

     "Yes, it certainly will be." Xander concurred.

     "I get that you're not scared," Lauren said, as she still had doubts, "What makes you so confident that this is going to work out for the best?"

     "I could give you billions of reasons," Xander playfully replied, "but in the end there is only one that truly matters."

     "And what one is that?" Lauren asked.

     "That I love you," Xander answered, "And everything else is just bullshit."

     Xander leaned over and gave Lauren a short, soft kiss, and then stood up from the bench because he was ready to leave.

     "Besides," Xander started, making a gesture to his painting, "If it doesn't work out, I could always put this back bad boy back up for sale. I bet I could make at least a thirty percent profit the next time it goes up for auction."

     "Don't you dare!" Lauren said, acting offended by the mere suggestion. "This painting is never to leave this gallery, ever!"

     "Is that so?" Xander asked, as he was amused by her response.

     "I want it to always be here," Lauren explained, "That way it can always cheer me up whenever I need it."

     "That sounds fair," Xander said, as he agreed with her. "I'll adjust my will to have it donated to the gallery with the stipulation that they never sell it."

     "Sounds good to me," Lauren said, "But it never hurts to have backups as well."

     "Trust me, I have backups to my backups," Xander declared, as he helped his fiancé off the bench and back to her feet. "We're going to be alright."

     "So, where are we going now?" Lauren asked.

     "I was thinking of going out for pizza," Xander replied.

     "Pizza?" Lauren said, as she thought he was trying to be funny.

     "Yeah," Xander said, smiling back at her. "There's a great place a few blocks from here that I like. Let's grab a slab and head home with it. I'll even let you pick the toppings."

     "Sounds like a plan," Lauren said, taking his hand as they started to leave the gallery together. "Can we have pineapples on it?"

     "Oh, hell no." Xander said, "That is just not happening."

     "And what do you prefer?" Lauren asked.

     "I like anchovies," Xander replied, "But I'm willing to let it go and compromise. I suggest you do the same regarding that vile, sour fruit."

     "Sounds fair," Lauren conceded, "I'm sure we'll work it out before we get there."

     "I am too," Xander said, as they strolled out the gallery together towards a better life. While he didn't know what the future would hope for either of them, the young billionaire had never felt more confident about it with Lauren by his side. He looked forward to what was to come and couldn't with for the rest of their life to begin. It would get there before he knew it, so Xander was going to make sure he savored every moment going forward. Lauren brought out the best in him and made him a better man, and for that he was willing to spend the rest of his life trying to return the favor. If he failed, it wouldn't be from a lack of trying as he intended to do anything he could to give that woman the husband and family that she deserved. Their life together was only just beginning, a new chapter that he looked forward to reading as they marched into the future together. And as long as that future didn't include any sour fruit on their pizza, Xander was confident they were going to be alright.

THE END