Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Happily Ever After… - Schmidt/Garfield Wedding

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9:00 AM Hotel Rivera — Room 408 —
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Chris sat there quietly as the song kept going as he felt everything seem to blur and fade as moments seemed to pass before him. After what felt like an eternity he heard the page at his door as he seemed to snap out and realize he had been utterly still for so long as he looked up, his eyes red and wet. “Enter…” he said, unsure who it was but wanting anything but to feel what he felt right now.

Thirty Minutes Later

Chris stood in front of the building, feeling everything fall apart as he could clearly see guests leaving the building. Pushing past them he went into the building knowing where Lexi would have been he began to scour the building for a sign of anyone, yet finding none of the faces he wanted to see. That was when he saw her, sitting on the lap of the one woman who was willing to tell him the truth.

Aubrey sat holding Ruth on her lap in the small room, it appeared to be the dressing area for her and the other bridesmaids as he came into the entrance just staring at the small child.

“Yeah… I watched it…” he said with a choke of tears as he tried to force himself to not become overly emotionally as he approached Aubrey. Not even wanting to ask permission he leaned down and took Ruth from her. She had this small blue dress that matched the other bridesmaids. It was frilly and far more cute on a child than it ever was on Aubrey.

“Give me a second please.” he said looking over at Aubrey, he wanted to be alone with his daughter, a phrase he never thought he would have uttered as he turned his attention to Ruth with a smile.

“I know, you are beautiful little one…” he said as he put her close in his chest as he seemed to have no words just then. He wasn’t sure how to say what he needed to say but he knew he needed to hold her close.

“Okay little one, I have so much I will tell you when I get back… but I want you to know I love you and your mommy more than anything in this world.” he said as he looked at the door corner, he could see Aubrey there clearly snooping as he came to her.

“Thank you, but… I need Lexi. Is… is the wedding over?” he said we a nearly flat and dejected tone as he looked at Aubrey. It sure felt like it was over as everyone seemed to be leaving and Lexi and Toby seemed to be no where in sight.

“There you are!” came a loud screech behind him as Chris turned around seeing an angry Toby marching towards him. It was clear Toby was fuming as came towards Chris. From his march he hadn’t forgiving him for last night as he came into the room. The only saving grace for him not striking Chris was the fact Ruth was firmly in his arms as he stood right in front of Chris as he tried to assert himself but fell short of Chris sheer size and height.

“Tabatha, don’t you have some small children to terrorize…” retorted Chris as the two men seemed to size up each other, the only thing to calm the scene was the voice behind them.

“Hey… not right now.” came Ian as he came around the corner as he put himself between Chris and Toby. “Look I know a lot of tension right now but this isn’t going to solve anything… Chris give Aubrey Ruth.” Ian said as he looked back, if Chris paid close enough attention he would see the small smile on Ian’s face. Chris didn’t run, he came. In reality he had to wonder how lucky his friend always was that Lexi decided to call off the wedding but right now he needed to deescalate the situation and not tell his friend how proud he was of him for doing the right thing.

“Look, I got nothing against you Bordeaux… this is just me and that idiot of a man child you call your best friend. If he can just put down that rat of a child I can teach him for poisoning Alex… it’s the only thing that makes sense.” came Toby’s snarling response, it was clear he was going to back down as Chris handed Aubrey over as Ian turned back to face Toby.

“Rat of a child? Dude… no… that little girl is not some rat, I was there when she was born… and if you give two craps about her maybe Lexi wouldn’t have dumped your ass like a bag of dirt I hear.” Ian said as he put himself in front of Toby. While Ian wasn’t as broad shouldered and as large as Chris he was no shrimp as he looked down Toby.

“What, you want her too? What friend of Alex’s doesn’t seem to want to get with her. She doesn’t even put out I don’t even know why you two care so much. I was hoping this wedding would loosen her lips but you know what I don’t give a damn anymore, you guys can have her and that freak of a kid.” Toby said as he turned around only to feel his shoulder being pulled back as a fist came flying at him for the second time in two days.

“Don’t you ever talk about Ruth or Lexi like that again.” came Ian’s response as Chris couldn’t help but smirk from the back. Ian always preached trying to find a diplomatic solution to all things, right hooks had never been anything he had heard him preach as Toby staggered but stayed up right.

“Why you…” Toby shouted as he began to step forward before Chris put his arm across Ian placing himself between his friend as the first punch Toby came flying at Chris as it barley missed his target. Toby never had a chance for a second try as Chris finished what Ian began, laying down Toby hard as he fell to the ground out cold.

“God I love doing that…” Chris said as he looked behind to see Aubrey smirking widely as she help Ruth in her arms as Ian shook his head.

“I had that, and thanks…” Ian said as he moved over to Toby as he pushed his side with his foot to see that he was fully out.

It wasn’t until the small babbling of laughter broke the silence as Ruth could be heard giggling loudly. Looking behind Chris couldn’t help but smile at his daughter as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Never hit anyone pumpkin, don’t do as daddy does.” he said softly, feeling a sense of rush and joy as he said those words.

“Look, I know you are looking for Lexi and I know you want to see her before she changes her mind and tries to come back to this…” Ian said as he gestured around them to all the chaos that seemed to encircle them. “She left, she said she was needing to go back to where it started… I asked and she just said something about a tree… I wasn’t really sure what she meant.” Ian said as he looked at Chris with a confused expression hoping that all made sense.

“The tree… yes… know exactly where she is at.”

*** Twelve Years Ago - First Day Of School ***

The early autumn air was a welcome sight in the bay area. Chris had been looking forward to his class he had in a few hours and decided to take a walk. Life hadn’t really gone like had planned over the past six months. The academy felt like that perfect chance to start anew as he walked in the court yard past a large oak tree that had a very peculiar site. There was a young looking cadet perched at the top, the tree branched in a way that seemed to have a u shape one could sit in if they wished. He had never seen anyone in the tree from his few times he had been in this area during orientation but today seemed a different occurrence.

“You okay?” Chris shouted as he came closer as he looked up at the woman in the tree. He had to admit he wondered what this was all about as he smiled as she looked down at him, her face seemed utterly distressed as he waited for her reply.

Christopher Robins