It's not easy being blue -- a cop -- that is, not a good one anyway. Scott Hedrich and Mark Stenner have had each other's backs a long time. Best friends, they've supported each other through girlfriends, marriages, divorces, promotions, the various ups and downs and dangers of their job, including the terrorist attack on DC.<br><br>Somewhere along the way, their friendship turned into something more. Twenty-three years later and they've finally come to recognize what's been the truth all along. They belong together. It's time for a wedding!

For the Last Time

Mark followed him into the house and down the stairs.


Nobody should be that organized. Scott wanted to beat his head against a hard surface. It took Mark about forty minutes to put the dollhouse together.


“Voila!” Mark made a sweeping arm gesture, and grinned. “You owe me a beer.” He sat with his arms braced behind him on the floor, legs crossed.


“How ‘bout a kiss then a beer?” Scott pushed Mark flat and laid down on top of him, indulging in a deep kiss. The sound of footsteps upstairs grabbed Scott’s attention. “Lynn and Kari are home.” He hastily stood up and offered Mark a hand. “Help me move it into the other room.”


The assembled dollhouse was hidden near the washer. Mark walked back out into the main room of the basement and sat on the worn sofa, legs stretched out in front of him.


Lynn came down stairs. “I figured I’d find you here by the time I got home.” She lightly tapped her fist on the top of Mark’s head.


Chapter 9