Lee roared as his knife went sailing into Scott's arm. Scott howled in pain, dropping the gun. He took off then, and Rita stood there wondering why she wasn't dead. Barney went for John, who was backing up and begging for mercy.

"I gave him blanks!" John shouted. "I gave him blanks!"

"What?" Barney demanded. John pointed to Rita.

"Those were blanks!" John yelled. Lee ran after Scott, who was making his way outside. Rita hurried after them, thinking he might need help. It turned out she needn't have worried. Lee tackled Scott, and they rolled and fought until getting up again. Lee dodged and blocked all of Scott's attempts while dishing out well aimed shots of his own back. Rita watched, feeling tense. She wanted to help but had no idea how to even get involved. When Scott managed to throw Lee to the ground, Rita's heart leaped to her throat.

"You die now!" Scott shouted, pulling out the knife Lee had thrown at him. Rita whipped out her pistol and fired off two shots. Scott's face showed surprise as he fell to his face on the ground, dead. Lee looked up at her gratefully, but she was shaking. He got to his feet and went over to her, holding her arms tightly with his hands.

"You all right? You okay?" he asked, searching her face.

"I'm fine," she answered. They looked to see Barney and John in the doorway.

"What is the meaning of this?" Barney growled, holding John in a choke hold.

"Wait!" Rita shouted, pushing back from Lee and hurrying to them. "John, Amy's upstairs."

"She is?" John choked.

"Amy?" Lee questioned.

"She was a prisoner," Rita explained. "I set her free and came to get you guys."

Barney relaxed his hold on John, who gasped in air.

"Amy is?" he asked John.

"My girlfriend," John managed to say around Barney's fingers. "Scott was gonna kill her if I didn't help him get you guys."

"She's all right," Rita reassured him. "She's upstairs with a gun. I'll show you."

"Wait a minute," Barney said, still holding John by the wrist. "Is that the only reason? Thought you said he paid better?"

"He wasn't paying me. He threatened to kill Amy. I had to save her," John said. "I'm so sorry. I knew he'd want to do execution style, though, so I gave him blanks in his gun. He never knew."

"If Rita hadn't been there, what was your plan?" Barney demanded.

"I was gonna throw you my gun once I shot you down," John answered. "She beat me to it. That and I knew if he was close enough to one of you guys you'd do something to him."

"Amy's really scared," Rita said, interrupting. "I think we should get her."

"I'm coming," John said. Lee and Barney followed to ensure no more funny business happened. Rita knocked on the door softly.

"Amy? It's me. Don't shoot," Rita said. They heard a scraping noise and the bolt being unlocked. A woman poked her head out. She looked terrified.

"Amy," John said, gasping.

"John!" she cried. She flung herself into his arms, and he rocked her back and forth.

"I'm sorry," he cried. "I'm so sorry. It's all right now. I'm so sorry."

Rita turned away to give them privacy. She holstered her gun as they walked down the stairs. They were met by the others in the main entrance.

"All dead," Gunner said. There was a gleam in his eyes.

"I'm ready to go home," Toll added. He was covered in sweat and blood.

"Hear, hear," Doc chimed in.

"Trench?" Yin asked. The door was blown open then, and Trench stood there gun in hand and cigar in his mouth.

"Knock, knock," he said.

"You're a little late," Lee scoffed.

"Sorry. I was busy losing the six guys on my ass."

"Can we please go now?" Toll said again. He never wanted to see this place again.

"Yes," Barney nodded. "Let's go." They headed out the door while Lee stayed behind. He caught sight of John coming down with Amy, who still looked terrified. He stopped in front of Lee while Amy hid her head into his shoulder.

"I'm really sorry, man," John apologized.

"I would have done the same thing," Lee told him. He looked over at Rita, and he knew it was true.

"Am I out?" John asked, looking worried.

"You might have to win some people over," Lee commented.

"There he is!" Luna shouted on cue. "Traitor!"

"Luna, wait," Rita tried. Luna stormed over to John before seeing Amy. She faltered, unsure of what to do.

"I did it for her," John said. "He...he was gonna kill her. I'm sorry. I gave him blanks, though. I had a plan."

"I'm still pissed at you," Luna snapped, spinning on her heel and joining Mars and Thorn outside.

"Like I said, you're gonna have to win them over," Lee repeated, smirking. He went over to join Rita then and looked at her seriously.

"I'm fine," Rita told him. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Has anyone ever told you how hot you are?" Lee asked, a slow smile spreading on his face. Rita gave him a shove, and he laughed. He put his arm around her, and together they walked out of the building and back towards their simple lives.

...

"Drinks are on me," Barney said. They had entered the first bar they found and were all sitting around a table. Mars, Thorn, Luna, and Galgo had decided to take the first flight home. John and Amy had left immediately after vacating Scott's place. Yin and Trench headed for home as well. It was just the original gang minus Caesar and Tool, and their absence was felt by them. Losing family was the most difficult thing, but Caesar and Tool would forever be in their hearts. Rita sat in Lee's lap as the others drank and chatted.

"How do you guys do this?" Rita asked.

"Do what?" Lee countered.

"Be so casual. You were almost killed," Rita pointed out. Lee shrugged.

"We're used to it."

"It's all we've ever known," Gunner added.

"Second nature," Toll said, nodding. He gripped his mug a little tighter than usual, though.

"Twelve months is a hell of a long time to be held captive," Barney said, rubbing his head roughly.

"I'm sorry," Lee said, looking upset then.

"It's not your fault. You thought we were dead," Barney responded. "Hell, I didn't think you made it either. That was a long fall for you off that cliff."

"So, Lee," Gunner said. "Will you be coming home with us?"

Lee looked at Rita questioningly.

"I'll go wherever you go," she said.

"Told you I liked her," Barney smiled. She gave him a smile back.

"It's very weird to see you married," Doc chuckled. "Hope that doesn't make you a softie."

"Oh, bring it, Doc," Lee said, shifting Rita off his lap.

"Here we go," Barney rolled his eyes.

"What's happening?" Rita asked, moving over to sit beside Barney while Lee and Doc got in each other's faces.

"Never have more than one knife specialist on your team," Barney sighed, taking a swig of his beer then.

"Nobody beats Lee," Toll chimed in. "Well, Tool did once, but to be fair, Lee was having a bad day."

"Nobody beats him, huh?" Rita said, watching her husband and Doc throw their knives at the board.

"Supposedly," Gunner nodded. Rita stood then, reaching for her knife as she walked over to Lee.

"What's this?" Doc asked, seeing her knife. "Competition? Damn, girl."

"You think you can beat that?" Lee teased her. She put her face really close to his.

"Watch me," she whispered.

"Oho!" Doc hooted. Without looking, Rita threw her knife, and it landed exactly between Doc and Lee's.

"I was wrong," Barney noted. "Lee can be beaten."

"Damn!" Toll shouted, clapping. Rita took a bow and went to head back when Lee caught her hand and pulled her back to him. Barney grinned as his friend planted one on his wife. It was good to see Lee so happy.

"Marriage made him better," Gunner said, awestruck.

"Figures," Barney chuckled. "Now there's three knife specialists to fight with each other."

"I relinquish the title of Master to you," Doc said to Rita, bowing his head at her.

"Oh, stop," she said. "Anyone could have done that."

"You should see what she can do with three knives," Lee said, coming back with them from the board. Doc took his back and went to join the team again. Rita took hers from his fingers and pinched his cheek, smirking at him as she went to sit next to Barney again. Lee looked at his team and his wife, and he felt like nothing could ever be this good.

A Few Days Later

"I missed this place," Rita said, setting her bag down on the floor. They were back at the cottage where everything had started between them during the War. Lee watched her walk around with a small smile on his face. Since they were planning on returning to the States, Lee wanted to have a holiday with Rita first. They also had to attend Mark's wedding, which was going to take place in England. Rita was glad for the chance to recharge before going to it and then going to America.

"You wanna do a replay of our first night here?" Lee asked.

"Second you mean," she corrected.

"Right."

"I could," she mused, leaning against the table. "You're not going to shoot me in the face, though, right?"

"I did that?" Lee asked, wincing.

"Well, it was at my request. I had a deadline," she explained.

"How are you really," Lee said, moving so he was against her and his hands were on the table next to hers. Rita looked at him seriously since his face was pretty much right in hers.

"I still have flashbacks. I still see you dying. I still remember dying. I still feel afraid I'm going to wake up and you'll be gone," she said quietly. "But I am working through it, and I am pretty confident that eventually it will all go away."

"I have nightmares," Lee admitted.

"You do?"

"Mmhmm."

"Bad ones?" she asked. This was a first for him, admitting to her that he had nightmares.

"Sometimes they are so mixed up I have no idea what's happening. I sometimes have this recurring one where we are in Verdun and you die in front of me."

"Really," Rita frowned. It didn't make sense. How could he remember something when technically he didn't?

"Maybe it's just my mind contorting things," Lee shrugged. He slid his hands up her waist then.

"You shout a lot," Rita told him as he rested his forehead against hers.

"I do?"

"Yes. And sometimes you thrash around and push me off the bed," she finished.

"I had no idea..."

"I never told you. I didn't want to worry you. It's why I kept thinking you should talk to someone."

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"I guess you are."

"I'll try to be less violent in bed," Lee promised. "Just wake me up, all right?"

"Okay," she agreed. He kissed her slowly then.

"I have good dreams too, you know," he breathed.

"Oh yea?" she murmured, biting his lip gently.

"I can show you," he responded, pulling her up into his arms. She wrapped her legs around him as he walked to the bedroom. She shut the door on the way by, kissing him passionately. It was definitely a good re-enactment of their first night together, she had to admit.

...

"You may kiss the bride," the minister finished. Mark kissed Becky with such gusto he got cheered and whooped at by the crowd. Lee laughed along with James and Brady, who were also standing up with him. Rita was on the other side with Brady's wife and Mark's sister. Lee held out his arm for Rita to take as they walked behind Mark and Becky up the aisle.

"He's so happy," Rita commented, smiling.

"I know. It's great," Lee agreed. He caught sight of Brady high fiving his eldest son as they passed. He was glad he had made the split decision to prevent Brady from going to Verdun, even though it meant Brady had a small limp for the rest of his life. His foot never did heal properly. They enjoyed the reception, and Mark and Becky made everyone's hearts melt with their first dance and speeches. Lee would catch Rita's eye every so often, and she'd smile back. Barney had called him earlier about a house, and he'd put an offer on it. He wanted Rita to like their new life, even if it wasn't just simple anymore.

"Hey, it's our song," she said, pulling him to his feet.

"It is?" he asked. It still bothered him at times that Rita had all these memories of what they did together and he didn't, but he had to let it go. There was no use in getting mad or upset about it. She spun them around, laughing, and he couldn't help but join in. Her laugh was contagious.

"Come on now," he said after a while. "We can't steal the show from the bride and groom."

"Oh, you're right," she said, breathless. She smoothed her dress down and fluffed her hair with her fingers. Lee liked it down since he rarely got to see it that way. She looked different.

"Champagne?" the waiter offered.

"Oh, none for me, thanks," Rita said. Lee paused from sipping his, looking at her curiously. She flushed. He suddenly realized she hadn't had any alcohol in the past two weeks.

"Are you...?"

"Can we talk?" she interrupted, pulling him to the hallway. He followed her as she went to the ladies' room and locked the door.

"Wow, your bathrooms are even more glamorous," Lee noted. Then he focused on Rita. She was standing in front of him looking flustered.

"Lee," she started.

"What is it, luv?"

She pulled out a white stick from her purse. Lee felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Is that...?"

"I haven't looked at it yet," she said quickly. "I...I haven't been feeling so well the past couple of weeks, and I thought I should check."

"When did you...do this?" he finished awkwardly.

"An hour ago. I couldn't bring myself to look at it without you."

"Well, I'm here now," Lee said. Rita took in a deep breath and released it.

"You are," she nodded. "Okay, here goes." She breathed again and looked at it. Lee felt his heart speed up rather quickly as he watched her face.

"Well?" he pressed.

"Positive," she said quietly, looking at him finally. "Lee, it's positive."

"Holy shit," Lee managed to say. "We're having a baby?"

"Uh huh," she nodded vigorously. He closed the gap between them, kissing her ferociously. He suddenly wanted her very badly.

"Lee," she gasped, holding him tightly. "We're in the ladies'..."

"I'm just so friggin happy," he said, pressing his face against hers.

The doorknob rattled then, and women's voices were getting high pitched in the hall.

"We can't," Rita said firmly. "As much as I want to."

"Are you happy with this?" Lee asked suddenly, gripping her hands in his. He needed to know.

"Of course!" she gushed. "It's our child, Lee. Oh, gosh how are we going to explain our jobs to our baby?"

"Let's cross that bridge when we get there," Lee laughed. Banging on the door ensued. Rita unlocked it and yanked it open, revealing four women standing there gaping at the two of them.

"Excuse me," Rita said, holding her head high as she pulled Lee along with her past them all. The tittering started immediately, and Rita barely held it in until they were far enough away. They both burst out into laughter.

"You've made me more happy than I ever thought I could be," Lee said after, sliding a hand behind her head and kissing her again. She hugged him, and he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"We made it," she said, muffled by his suit jacket.

"Come on," he said, untangling himself from her. "Let's go celebrate." Hand in hand, they walked back into the reception area towards a future that looked rather bright.

...

Barney answered the phone even though it was almost 2 a.m. as he had a feeling he knew who it would be.

"Yea?"

"Hey, it's me," Lee said.

"What's up? Everything all right?" Barney asked, sitting up.

"Yea, yea. Look, I'm calling because I have to tell you that I'm out."

"You're out?"

"I'm out."

"For good?"

"For now."

"I see," Barney said, feeling puzzled. No less than 12 hours ago Lee was planning on coming back. "What changed?"

"Rita's pregnant."

"Wow. Congrats," Barney responded, getting it now.

"A kid needs their dad, you know?" Lee said.

"I know." Barney did know. He knew it bothered Lee that he didn't have parents. He understood.

"We good?"

"Of course. If you ever want back in..."

"I'll call," Lee finished.

"Good," Barney said, nodding in the dark. "Take care, eh?"

"I will, thanks. You too."

Barney looked at the phone in his hands after they hung up and smiled. His boy was all grown up.

The End...For Now

Of course it's not the end. I have a third story lined up, which I'll post soon. Just picture the Expendables with a toddler in their midst. It will be funny and cute along with action and suspense I promise. I really hope you enjoyed it even though I didn't hear from you. Until next time!