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Thirty Minutes Later Sapphire Room

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. “You are late,” she said in a dry tone. Seeing the expression on his face, Aubrey asked the most obvious question. ’ Inside she was smiling. His reaction was exactly as he hoped it would be. Chris might be far more immature than Andy but he was a great guy. “So did you watch it?”

“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.

The obnoxious and irritated part of Aubrey wanted to come back with a zippy comment about he could have the next fifty years of seconds but under all the grump, she did have a soft spot for her family and Chris. It was a small spot and rarely showed, but it was there. Letting go of Ruth she let Chris pick her up. “Sure. I can go call Andy. He had a huge deal he was making,” she got up and put some space between her and Chris.

Chris you are back, Ruth’s face lit up and her babbling increased tenfold. I knew you would come back, she cuddled up to his chest. Ruth’s babbling got very soft as Chris held her. Toby made mommy and me cry. I don’t like Toby. Don’t make me be with him. Can’t you be Mommy’s friend instead of him? Ruth had no idea if Chris would leave like he did the day of the zoo. She had gone to sleep and he didn’t come back but he was here right now and that was all that mattered.

“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.

Oh no. You are not getting off that easy. Do you know how nuts my life has been for the past thirty-six hours, Aubrey looked at him with her deadpan, neutral gaze. The words yes formed on her lips until she saw Toby coming up from behind. “No,” she replied. But it is gonna be in about thirty seconds, she added silently to herself.

“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 forgiven 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.

Ruth was not sure what to do except hold on to Chris tighter. He was probably still mad that she had bitten him. Without her mommy there, Ruth was worried Toby would start yelling at her again. Ruth wasn’t a shy kid but maybe if she didn’t look at Toby he would go away. Turning her head she faced away from Toby still lying on Chris’ chest. The thumping of his heart relaxed her.

“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.

Understanding what Ian said, Ruth pressed a little deeper into Chris’ body. At least Uncle Ian was here though. If Chris left, Ian would take care of her until her mommy showed up.

“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 brat of a child I can teach him for poisoning Alex against me… it’s the only thing that makes sense.” came Toby’s snarling response, it was clear he was not going to back down as Chris handed Aubrey over as Ian turned back to face Toby.

“Brat of a child? Dude… no… that little girl is not some brat, 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,” Toby threw his hands up. “Six months. Six months I waited so it had to be good for both of you to care so much. I was hoping this wedding would loosen her lips but you know what I don’t give a damn anymore. There are easier scores and prettier women. 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 upright.

“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 barely 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 held 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.

Ruth couldn’t help but smile; however if all the adults were so happy, she could tell them how she helped too. An I bit ‘em Aunt Aubrey. I helped too just like Uncle Ian and Chris, Ruth babbled pulling herself up to look directly in her Aunt’s eyes. Do you want to see how I bit him?

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.

I can’t hit ‘em yet but I can bit ‘em? Did you know he called me a bad girl? I wasn’t bad. He made my mommy cry, Ruth grabbed at Chris’ neck trying to pull herself off Aubrey. Are you listening to me Chris? she tightened her grip around Chris not letting go,

“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.

Uncle Ian I am talking to Chris, Ruth babbled talking over Ian. She wagged her finger at Ian babbling her no, no, no. She hadn’t seen Chris forever. Ruth had as much right to talk to him and she wasn’t going to stop until she got Chris’ attention.

“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.

Everyone seemed to be ignoring her right now and Ruth was not going to have any of it. Grunting she tugged at Chris’ shirt collar desperate to leave Aubrey. Opening her mouth she slathered the side of his face with wet, open-mouthed kisses. If I kiss you will you listen to me, Ruth asked as she continued to kiss him.

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

A series of bleeps had Aubrey juggling her personal communicator and the baby. Seeing who it was her face lit up. “Yay you know you are the father. Take her,” Aubrey started to loosen her grip talking over Ian and Chris. “Andy is calling,” she adjusted her grip so that Ruth could grab more of Chris’ shirt.

“Is she at the zoo? I like the zoo. Can we go back to the zoo,* Ruth babbled not knowing why there was this much commotion but Chris was here and that was all that mattered.

*** 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.

Lexi sat on the large branch that extended to the side. Her feet dangling over the edge. Why she had climbed up here made sense at the time. Now she was just sitting.

“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

“For now yes,” Lexi shrugged. “Are you okay,” she looked down.

Lexi