EPILOGUE

Billy was nervous. But it was a good nervous. Because at five years old, he was on a mission. What he was carrying didn't weigh much, and he wasn't sure why people were making such a big deal out of it. But there were a lot of people seated left and right and he could hear them whisper as he walked by. Some of them had familiar faces, but most guests were strangers. It didn't matter. They all smiled as he strode forwards which in turn made him smile.

His mom's voice sounded in his brain. Just walk towards aunt Donna.

Anybody could do it, really. But they'd had him practice, anyway.

He could see his aunt smiling from where he was, halfway down the red carpet. His mom looked more beautiful than ever. His dad waited up there, too, standing next to Uncle Harvey. They wore matching suits and Billy felt the itch of his own suit pants as the fabric scraped against his skin. He didn't pay attention to it—being dressed up like his dad was way too much fun to care about the nuisance. The outfit even came with a tie! Nobody in his class had ever worn a tie before. He knew because he'd asked.

Aunt Donna was in a big, pale-pink dress with flowers covering the front and side. The word pale-pink had been thrown around often, yet it still elicited a giggle each time. Uncle Harvey and aunt Donna were in the middle, and there was a gray-haired woman he'd met yesterday standing behind them.

The scene in front of him looked like the picture he'd seen on the mantel. Except in that one, his parents had been in the center, flanked by his aunt and uncle.

The closer he got, the more obvious it became his redheaded aunt was on the verge of tears. Once more, his mom's words repeated themselves. There will be crying today and just remember, those are happy tears, she had said.

Billy climbed the three steps leading to Donna and with two steady hands reached up to give her the white pillow with the rings attached. She in turn bent down and gave him a big hug and of the most radiant smiles he had ever seen. Feeling immensely accomplished and a little lost, he wandered over to his mom, who instructed him to go sit with his grandparents in the first row. He ran over and all but jumped into his seat, happy to be out of the spotlight, but pretty darn proud of himself.

He'd done good.

Pacing back and forth, Donna forced herself to stop, take a breath, and calm the hell down.

It was late July and the Californian night air was sticky with the promise of no relief.

The past few months had been pure, unadulterated bliss. She had realized the amount of happiness even made the ecstasy they had shared when she and Harvey had first gotten together pale in comparison. Perhaps it was the location. Or not having the impending doom of everything collapsing hanging over their heads. Whatever it was, it was more than she could have hoped for when they'd left New York some six months ago.

Harvey's new job was going very well, but her house lacked the space for a home office, one of the reasons they were going to look for a bigger place come the fall.

A larger home for the future they were planning together, with nothing holding them back this time.

Standing near the stonewalled edge, she looked out at the city below when she sensed him approach, feeling his eyes rake over her body and a grin appeared on her lips.

.

Harvey spotted Donna from a distance, her radiant beauty shining brightly under a crescent moon and a thousand shimmering stars and he wasn't at all surprised she turned around the moment his gaze landed on her frame—they had always felt each other's presence, even in a room full of people.

Tonight, she wore a new, dark blue satin dress that had a waterfall front, accentuating the swell of her breasts where his glance lingered briefly. Her hair fell down her arms in long auburn waves and the colorful wrap she had draped over her upper arms added a touch of elegance very few women could pull off, but the accessory seemed made for her.

When Harvey had gotten off from work, Jack, his driver, had told him he had been instructed to take Harvey here. Jack wouldn't tell him who had given him the instructions, but Harvey'd had a pretty good idea. And here she was, looking like a summer goddess, the wind whipping her dress and toying with her hair as it engulfed her in a sensual dance.

Suddenly the Tom Ford three-piece he was wearing made him feel underdressed for whatever this was.

And what was the occasion? Had he missed an anniversary? It wasn't the twenty-fifth of anything, so it had to be something else, but the fact he was drawing blanks unnerved him, no matter how extraordinary she looked tonight.

.

The moment their eyes locked, Donna's smile lit up the East Terrace of the Griffith Observatory and the air between them crackled as Harvey drew nearer. She watched him close in, his jacket clutched in one hand, his sleeves rolled up, his stride eager, his eyes uneasy.

Without hesitation, he marched forwards until his palms were on her waist and his lips brushed over hers for a lingering kiss.

"You look amazing," he beamed, pressing his fingertips into the soft satin covering her hips.

"Hmm, thank you," she replied, leaning up again for another kiss, her heart beating out of her chest from the nerves crawling up her spine. Kissing him always soothed her, and tonight was no different.

"So, why did you want to meet me here?" he eventually asked when the explanation wasn't offered.

The question was simple, to the point, and out of nowhere way too confrontational, causing her courage to waver, and her to turn in his arms, away from his inquisitive eyes.

Leaning into his body as he embraced her from behind, she closed her eyes, reveling in the sanctuary of the moment. "I was thinking about our first kiss here and how magical that moment was."

Burying his face in her hair, he hummed in accordance. "It was pretty special."

And how far they had come since that December night. Exploring fingers ran over his big underarms and she drew a breath. "That's why I picked this place," she said, tightening her hold as her body buzzed with a nervous energy running rampant under the surface.

Harvey wished he could look into her eyes and read what she was trying to say, desperate to know. "For what?" What could she possibly have to tell him? She definitely wasn't pregnant. Or was she? No way. Impossible.

"I love you, Harvey." No sooner than the words had left her mouth was she facing him again.

"I love you, too, Donna, but what's going on?"

Another breath.

"I wanna marry you," she blurted out. Surprising herself, she frantically scanned his features. Shit, this was not exactly the calm and collected proposal she'd had in mind when first coming up with this plan.

With his mouth slightly agape, he stared at her. "You want to—?"

Now that the cat was out of the bag, the remaining tension left her body on a sigh and she fingered a button of his shirt. "I wanted to marry you five years ago. And just because we didn't make it then, doesn't mean we shouldn't do it now. I have never been happier, Harvey, and I can't wait to add your name to mine. So, I guess I'm asking you to marry me."

Much better.

Hopeful eyes met his confused stare and he blinked. Twice. Trying to catch up to the moment.

To fill the awkward silence, she added, "And I thought we could do it next week."

A puzzled frown contorted his features further. "Excuse me?"

"You busy next Friday?" she asked, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Donna." His warning was convincing enough that she relented from her teasing.

"I sorta arranged for our wedding to be next week," she confessed with a careful shrug. "Like I said, I don't want to wait any longer."

Donna watched an array of emotions flicker across his face, but still he failed to produce a sound. But she knew. He wanted this just as much as she did, so she bravely continued. "Everything is taken care of. Everybody will be there. Mike and Rachel, Marcus and Natalie, Louis, Alex. I even invited Jessica. She's coming, by the way. You name them, and they'll be here. All you have to do is say yes."

His lips crashed into her mouth with such force, she stumbled backwards, thankful his embrace kept her upright as her arms wrapped around his neck.

Reluctantly, Harvey broke their connection, overwhelmed with joy and too many unanswered questions fogging up his brain. "The only reason I haven't proposed to you yet, was because I wasn't sure you wanted to get married. I mean, after what happened… We never really discussed it."

The fragility of their relationship only intensified whenever he thought about marriage. They had tried that before and it didn't work. And as long as they were together, no legal ceremony would fortify what they knew to be true in their hearts.

"I know. And I would have brought it up sooner, but I was a little busy planning a wedding," she smiled nervously. "We both know we're gonna be together forever. I would just like to make it official in the presence of all our friends and family."

Harvey felt his body vibrating with a cocktail of love, amazement, joy, gratitude, and utter happiness coursing through his veins. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"So, I assume that's a yes?" she beamed with a hint of uncertainty.

"Jesus. Of course. Yes! I'll marry you. It's all I ever wanted."

As his fingers tangled in her hair, cradling her head, Harvey kissed Donna with the same desperation he'd only felt once: the night he had finally realized she was the one. And here he was, twenty-five hundred miles from that spot, promising to spend the rest of his life with her. Again.

Mary inhaled a calming breath, waiting for the music to fade out before all eyes would be focused on her. She had come to know Harvey quite well over the last few months, and when Donna had asked her to officiate their marriage, she had jumped at the chance. Seeing the redhead exude happiness was already everything she had wished for. Knowing her history with Harvey, it was an even bigger honor to be made part of their wedding.

Absentmindedly, Mary fingered the alien necklace resting over her heart. Harvey had requested her to wear one of Lily's favorites, a tangible reminder his mom was there with them, too, especially now that they were both orphans, with Clara having passed away a few months before.

When the song ended and a lonely cough cleared the air, her moment had arrived.

"Love is a mystical thing. It's elusive, intangible, and sometimes fleeting. You can't see it, hear it, or taste it. You can't smell nor touch it. You can only experience it, and once you're under its intoxicating spell, all bets are off. Some people meet at a young age and spend their entire lives together. Others meet in college or while doing their jobs. And then there are those who meet in a bar, on a night of celebration, and suddenly everything changes; the world as you knew it is turned upside down and a new journey commences. Donna and Harvey's journey, which is about to enter its third decade, was certainly not one of leisure, instead their road was filled with many obstacles and difficulties along the way. And yet, their love for one another never wavered when even a lengthy separation succumbed beneath the power of the universe, uniting them once more."

Pausing briefly, she placed a hand on her chest, trapping Lily's necklace against her heart as she watched how Harvey swallowed thickly at the small act. She flashed him a knowing smile before continuing. "None of us are safe from the trials of life. We must all carry the legacy of those who came before, trying not to repeat their mistakes as we wrestle life's challenges. It's not always an easy feat and it shapes us into who we become and who we choose to spend our time with. Sometimes, our paths to find true love take a detour when the universe has other plans and even two people who are obviously meant to be together, aren't."

Mary paused again, glancing at the couple before her, sharing a weighty look. "Major events, both good and bad, are a reliable part of life. As we travel on, friendships come and go and loved ones are lost. Thankfully, those who have passed on will sometimes remain with us, guiding us as we learn to navigate life without them. But if you're lucky enough to meet that one person who is there for you throughout it all—who serves as a beacon in the night, a steering light, who provides shelter when you need it, someone to share the fun and laughter with and to cry with when you're feeling down and out—you're wise to hold on to them and treasure them with everything you have. Donna and Harvey certainly had their hardships, but there's no doubt in my mind their love was always written in the stars."

Donna was having trouble holding it together. Mary's beautiful words were exactly why they had chosen the elderly hippie to officiate their wedding—with Harvey being on board from the start, once he had been informed of all her plans. Her colorful insight and friendship had become monumental in their lives and hearing her address how destined they were to be together, made whatever resolve she had not to cry vanish into thin air, forcing her to bite her lip to keep herself from going into a full blown ugly-cry—one that would make Oprah proud.

As she finished her well-rehearsed story, Mary's eyes darted between the two people before her. Both had already lived an entire life, but in many ways, their life was only just beginning. She gently asked, "Harvey, would you like to go first?"

Although all kinds of emotions were gushing through him, Harvey was mostly calm. Of course, finally tying the knot was a significant event, but then again, this has been twenty years in the making and he was more than ready to be her husband.

He only wished his mom could have been here to celebrate the occasion.

He could feel Donna's delicate hands tremble in his as he began, smiling softly at her as she beamed at him. "Donna, we've been through hell and back. In the time we were apart, it felt as if there was a piece of myself missing. But I never stopped loving you. And I never will. You're my best friend, my soulmate. You make me a better man and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Although he tried hard not to grin like an idiot, he couldn't help himself as he looked at his bride's nervous face and Mary handed him Donna's ring. All he could think about was how he wanted to kiss those gorgeous red lips.

The ring slipped on with ease, and it matched perfectly with the one he had given her at Christmas—the one cut from the diamond he had proposed with all those years ago. Something old, something new.

Donna watched how her wedding ring glided into place on her finger. The weight of the promise it came with made the metal burn her skin with enchantment.

She glanced at Mary for a sign, who nodded with a compassionate smile on her face.

Afraid no sound would come from her mouth, she inhaled deeply and straightened her back before locking eyes with Harvey. Immediately, a serenity settled over her jumpy nerves and her heart raced a little less. "Harvey, you are my world. We traveled a gravel road to get to where we are today, but I wouldn't have it any other way. As long as I have you by my side, no mountain is too steep to climb. I promise to love you forever. And once this life is over, I'll find you in the next, because an eternity won't be long enough to spend my time with you."

Wiping a tear away, Mary handed Donna Harvey's ring, which fit perfectly around his long finger, like it belonged there all along. Once in place, their hands entwined.

Donna felt him tug gently and she stepped forward gazing into his dark brown eyes, and for a moment she saw the universe, her universe, as she drowned in the overwhelming love she felt as her vision slowly started to blur.

"Harvey, do you take Donna Roberta Paulsen to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, comfort and honor her, from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

He had to swallow; his mouth suddenly dry as cotton. "I do."

"And do you, Donna, take Harvey Reginald Specter to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, comfort and honor him, from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Screw it. She was crying. Nodding vigorously, she muttered, "I do."

Mary wore the brightest of smiles when she announced, "Then I now pronounce you: husband and wife."

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd and Mary must have said something about Harvey being able to kiss the bride, but she never heard it, too preoccupied with the way Harvey's lips dominated her mouth and big, strong arms wrapped themselves around her body, carrying her. Forever.

The next thing she knew, she was being hauled outside, onto the makeshift dancefloor overlooking the ocean. The sun had begun to set and soon a million western stars would blanket them in their light.

Looking into her husband's eyes, who was skillfully waltzing them around, she whispered softly, "We made it."

He met her with a loving gaze. "We sure did."