Not that their wedding had been traumatic or awful - at least no more so than any other. They had won out over her mother's grandiose plans and had their smallish wedding. The 100-odd guests had been just the right number, and the flower-decked chapel of the old church in Sydney she and Terry both chose was beautiful in the evening's shadows. The altar was decked with white roses and baby's breath tied with cream and peach ribbons, and similar flowers done in silk ribbon embroidery cascaded down the back of Val's gown onto a very short train. That had been to placate her mother, who had wanted a very grand, cathedral length train and at least ten bridesmaids.

"Two at most, Mother," Val had insisted, and to ease the pain of that, had agreed to the small train as long as it didn't interfere with walking. "And no flower girls, ring bearers or spreaders of rose petals!"

Rowena's face had fallen at that because she had just the perfect, socially prominent children in mind, but a nudge from her husband had reminded her that she wasn't to insist or there'd likely be no public ceremony at all. When had her daughter become this self-sufficient, stubborn person? She wasn't sure anymore that she actually had her own daughter - perhaps this was actually a changeling from some hardy, working class couple and they had her real daughter.

Val smiled now, recalling her mother's reluctant but quiet capitulation on so many things to do with the wedding. Even the location of the honeymoon. Bay Islands Retreat was exactly as Terry had described it - private, luxurious and utterly relaxing. Their casita was beautiful - a small jewel of a tropical cottage right on the white powder sand beach. They had their own pool for when the salt water wasn't as attractive or for private forays into the water in the altogether. The casita was surrounded by luxuriant tropical plantings, the orchids and birds of paradise lending color to every corner, and the interior was tastefully done in soft pastels that flowed with the colors of the flowers.

She stood in the open doorway watching Terry walk up from the beach. His head came up and he waved, sensing her eyes on him. She smiled and waved back. The location was perfect, her new husband was perfect, life was perfect. Even the baby was perfect now that her diet was regulated and she was growing like a little piglet. "Dinner in ten minutes," she called to Terry now.

He tramped up onto the pool deck and dropped the sandals he was carrying, "Good, I could eat a horse!"

Val giggled, "Don't ever let mum hear you say that, she'd be outraged."

Terry came in, grabbed her close for a brief, though passionate interval of kissing, then set her back as a polite knock on the front door announced the arrival of dinner. As the waiters rolled the carts in and began arranging the dishes on the dining table, Terry went to wash the sand off his feet and legs. He arrived back in the dining room as the wait staff left. "What's for dinner tonight?"

"Something grand," Val promised, then laughed when he lifted the covers over the plates to reveal not gourmet fare but simple broiled steaks, baked potatoes and asparagus. "I thought you'd appreciate something other than haute cuisine tonight."

Terry grinned at her, rubbing his hands, "You thought right - not that I've not enjoyed the gourmet stuff so far, but it's nice to be ordinary."

They sat and began to eat, the baby soundly sleeping in the room they were using as a nursery. The resort provided nanny service, which they had availed themselves of several times so they could go off to be alone, but mostly they took delight in caring for the baby. The peaceful togetherness was wonderful. "I found out we can stay another week - if you want to, that is," Terry told her over dessert.

Val swallowed her raspberry sorbet and grinned at him, "You read my mind!" He was getting so good at that, it was almost uncanny. This having a husband wasn't so bad at all.

Terry nodded smugly, then laughed when she kicked him playfully under the table. "Well, I wanted to stay too, I have to admit it."

"You're having a good time, then? You don't feel trapped?" That was something Val had worried about, knowing how long Terry had been single since his divorce from his first wife.

He clasped her hand warmly in his, smiling at how her fingers disappeared inside his much larger ones, "Not at all. I love being with you." He studied her face across the small table, liking how the candles struck gold sparks in her topaz colored eyes. "It was a lucky day when you came out onto your porch."

"I thought so - at least if I had to see a naked man dragged past me, it was a good looking one!"

They laughed, comfortable with the memories of what had been a very unpleasant experience. Now that it was over and in the past, they could grin about some of their adventures. Val supposed that was healthy, not feeling appalled any more at some things she had done to get away from the bad guys.

"Glad to oblige," Terry said with mock humility, "and don't kick me again, woman!"

"Oh, and what are you going to do to stop me?" Val wanted to know.

Terry rose, darted around the table and grabbed a giggling Val out of her chair, lifting her in his arms and heading down the hall to the bedroom. "I'll tell you when I think of it," he finally answered, tossing her onto the bed. Before she could get up or move, he pounced on her and began divesting her of her clothing. She was ripping his shirt open and fishing for the tab of his zipper at the same time. Before long they were both naked and laughing, until his mouth came down on hers and silenced her effectively.

Val couldn't pull him close enough, wrapping legs and arms around him as he came into her in one smooth thrust. "God! Yes, that's it - Terry - I love how you do that - don't ever stop!"

"I won't," he promised, adding, "I love you Mrs. Thorne."

"Me too!" she managed before the power of speech left her.

The End