Caroline & Richard...

By: Jana~

--Richard entered the dressing room with Stefano, and as he did, Annie left with Del. Caroline turned to look at Richard, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Hi." Richard said softly, tears in his eyes.

"Hi." Caroline said, struggling to speak through her tears. There was silence between them, neither could think of what to say... Stefano broke the silence.

"Caroline, this is Stefano. Son, this is my... this is Caroline." Richard said, introducing them. Caroline approached them, reaching out for Stefano. Richard handed him to Caroline proudly. Caroline fell in love with him instantly.

"Hi Stefano. I'm Caroline. I'm a good friend of your daddy's." she said brightly. "Where's Julia?" Caroline asked suddenly.

"Monte Carlo. She's trying to get over her postpartum depression... she says." Richard said with disappointment to his voice.

"Is she coming back?"

"I don't know."

"Richard... why did you come back?"

"I had to come back Caroline. I heard you were getting married... and... I had to." Richard said nervously.

"Why?" Caroline asked hopefully.

--Just then Randy walked in, wearing strreeet clothes, tux in hand. Richard and Caroline were startled by Randy's abrupt entrance and jumped back away from each other.

"Randy..." Caroline said nervously, not sure of exactly what to say.

"I better leave." Richard said, heading for the door.

"Richard, no. Stay. Please." Randy said calmly. "Caroline... look... I always knew I was second to Richard, but because I love you, I tried not to let it bother me. But it bothers me now. With Richard out of the picture... well, maybe in time you would have learned to love me like you love Richard. But he's not out of the picture anymore. He's right here... and he loves you... and you love him. Caroline, you two belong together. You guys have had so many obstacles, I don't want to be one more. And 5 or 10 years from now I don't want you wondering 'what if?'..." Randy said compassionately.

"Randy... I'm... so sorry..." Caroline said tearfully.

"It's ok Caroline. It's better that this happened now... instead of later. I want you to be happy. I would have tried, but only Richard can truly make you happy." Randy gently kissed her cheek, then turned his attention towards Richard... "Richard... no more wasted time. Take my tux... marry Caroline... right now. Today. Make her happy like only you can." Randy said, offering Richard his tux. He then opened the door and called to Annie. "Annie, do them a favor and hold the baby. Richard has a wedding to get ready for." Annie just stood in shock for a moment...

"Uh, sure... ok." she said with uncertainty. Richard handed Annie his son, then took the tux from Randy. Richard just stood in shock as Randy turned to leave.

"Randy..." Caroline called out to him... "I don't know how to thank you."

"No thanks needed Caroline. I just want you to be happy." Randy said softly, then turned and left.

Richard, Caroline, and Annie just stood there staring at one another in shock. Annie finally broke the silence...

"I'll wait outside for you Caroline." she said, walking towards the door and out into the hall.

"Richard, this is all going very fast. I don't want you to feel pressured to do something you don't want to do." Caroline said softly.

"Caroline... I want to marry you."

"But?" Caroline asked.

"No 'but' Caroline..." Richard said as he took her hand and dropped to one knee. "Caroline... will you marry me?"

"Richard, I want more then anything to marry you..."

"But?"

"But... I want children."

"Caroline... I didn't know how much I would love being a father... but I do. I really do."

"So... children are no longer out of the question?" Caroline asked tearfully.

"Caroline... I would love for you to be the mother of my children and the stepmother to Stefano." Caroline cried tears of joy at Richard's words...

"Yes." Caroline said softly.

"Yes?" Richard asked, momentarily confused.

"Yes, I will marry you." Caroline said joyfully. Richard got off his knee and embraced her lovingly.

"I love you Caroline. I have always loved you, and always will love you." Richard said through his tears.

"I love you too Richard. I always have, and always will." Caroline whispered, unable to find her voice. Richard kissed her so passionately that her knees almost buckled.

"Give me a minute to change..." Richard said as he gently broke away from their kiss. Caroline nodded and smiled, then headed out the door and into the hall where Annie waited for her.

--"Oh my God Caroline!" was all Annie cooulld say.

"I know Annie, I know... can you believe this?!" Caroline asked, still amazed herself.

"No! I can't! So... now your marrying Richard?!"

"Yes, Annie... I am."

"And Randy is ok with this?!"

"Yes... oh, Annie... I feel HORRIBLE!"

"Why?" Annie asked supportively.

"Randy is such a great guy! He doesn't deserve this!" Caroline said sadly.

"Caroline... you didn't plan this! He obviously understands that! Don't beat yourself up over this! Just... be happy that you are marrying your 'sincere amore'!"

"I am! I am. Oh, Annie... he came back! Richard came back!" Caroline said, still in partial shock.

"I know sweetie... I know. And he brought back a miniature of himself!" Annie said, gesturing to Stefano, who was still in her arms.

"Stefano." Caroline said as she reached out to take him from her.

"Stefano?!" Annie chuckled.

"Julia named him." Caroline said as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, well... figures." Annie laughed... "Where is Julia anyway?"

"Monte Carlo." Caroline said as she cooed at Stefano.

"Why?"

"Cause she has postpartum depression."

"Oh right! Sure! Is she ever coming back?"

"I don't know. No one knows." Caroline replied.

*****~*****

--After letting everyone know what was ggoiing on, the wedding went on as planned... with one major exception. Instead of Randy, Richard was the groom. The Wedding March played for the second time that day, and for the second time, Caroline walked down the aisle towards marriage. But, it was the first time that her sincere amore, her grand passion, the love she would never have to question was on the other end of the aisle waiting for her.

THE END

Thanks for reading!