"Guilty." The judge announced.

Tax evasion.

Corruption.

Blackmail.

Fraud.

He said more, so much more. He explained the sentence and what it would entail, who would receive what. I was no longer listening. My eyes glazed over with tears that refused to progress down my cheeks. My hands trembled in my lap. My lips were locked together, not making a single sound. I just stared down at the purple dress, the one I had purchased just for this day to match my recently dyed hair. It had been my tiny protest against my parents. But now, I couldn't even look at them.

"Camila."

Alistair's voice seemed distant. I didn't even raise my head.

"Ma chérie."

That caught my attention. At least what little there was that could still be captured.

And beside me in the courtroom was Alistair. Healthy and physically healed from the vile attack that we had both endured. And my parents had played their role in the traumatic experience. They deserved to be punished. This was a victory, we both knew that. But he was staring at me with his sharp green eyes, looking as concerned as he ever had.

"It's over." I said.

"Yes, it's all over."

He looked like he wanted to hug me but wasn't sure if I would crumple against him, sobbing with relief or suddenly start screaming and thrashing about in a fit of rage. In all fairness I wasn't sure what I would do either. What was I supposed to feel? My parents, the people who had raised me, had just been sentenced to lengthy prison time. The ones who were supposed to care for me the most had intentionally put me in harm's way and were going to be paying for their sins. And the informant that Josh had placed on jasper's team was also going away for a very long time.

I should've been thrilled, I should've been delighted. Or maybe it was best that I would be saddened. At least that seemed mildly logical. I was neither. I was numb and stricken. Not surprised exactly, just dazed.

"Come on." Alistair encouraged, slowly standing up. He extended a hand towards me. "We need to go home."

The rest of the courtroom had been vacated. The only people left were Alistair's family and Sophie. Jasper and his mother had come to testify alongside me, but everyone else had come to simply support me. Now they were all watching me with worry. I felt like they were expecting tears or angry screaming or a whoop of victory. I could give them nothing.

But I took Alistair's hand knowing that I couldn't stay here forever and the longer I remained here the more inclined everyone would feel to try and pacify me. As we progressed out of the courthouse Brad apologized to me, but I couldn't understand why. Emma and Jasper said that they had done the best they could. Sophie didn't say anything. She just pulled me in for a quick hug and told me that she was always a phone call away.

Alistair didn't let go of my hand until I was buckled up in his car. He tucked me into the passenger seat with added care, much like I had done for him all those months ago when we left the hospital.

We drove to the apartment I had started renting in silence. I thought about saying a hundred things. I wanted to tell him how much I needed him and that I so appreciated him coming with me today. Facing my parents for the first time since the hospital encounter had been harder than I could've imagined. Especially since I knew there was a good chance I would never see them again. I wanted to tell him that my heart was aching because, as terrible as they had been, they were still the people who had raised me. I wanted to tell him that I couldn't be alone right now. But now of those words would willingly tumble out of my mouth.

Alistair tentatively placed his hand on my thigh, seeming nervous about the gentle gesture. I just gave him the best smile I could muster and watched his tense shoulders drop.

We entered my apartment in a deep hush, and we remained that way for a very long time. I headed straight to the bathroom and Alistair followed closely, seeming to read my mind. The intention was to shower, but the second I met my own eyes in the mirror I seemed to freeze.

Reality set in.

The informant in Jasper's troop was being punished.

My parents were in jail.

Josh was dead.

And the world would go on.

Alistair sensed my impending breakdown instantly because, somehow, he was starting understand me better than I understood myself. The second I froze with my hands on the edge of the sink and my chest heaving his fingers were in my hair. One bobby pin was pulled out gingerly, then another, and another. Eventually my brown and freshly dyed purple hair tumbled down my shoulders. I let out a breath I had been holding.

Alistair's head dipped down just as he brushed my hair to one side. With loving consideration, he placed a tender kiss on the side of my neck. I tipped my jaw away willingly, letting my eyes close just as his hands began easing my black blazer off my shoulders. It fell to the floor without a sound. Another two kisses and the zipper on the back of my brand new dress was tugged all the way down.

"I'll be in the living room when you're ready." He whispered before leaving.

Somehow I was conscious enough that I knew that I didn't want to soak my hair. The dye was still vibrant and relatively fresh. It would waste away in half an hour of hot water. That was my first and last coherent thought process for a while. I just stood under the cleansing stream with my hair up in an ugly bun and my mascara streaking its way down my face. The water helped, but not enough. I was still numb.

I cleaned my makeup off with a face cloth and then wrapped my body up in a towel.

"What are those?" I asked, reappearing out of the bathroom.

Alistair was strewn across the couch in my living room, just like he promised. And he was staring at two tickets that he held in his hands.

"Nothing." He lied with a relieved smile, "I grabbed your favorite sweatpants and my warmest hoodie."

The sweatpants that I had stolen from him months ago were lying on the arm of the couch with the hoodie over top of them. Hardly caring, I dropped the towel and pulled on the clothing. The soft scent of Alistair that wafted off of the sweatshirt and the comforting fleece of the sweatpants eased my racing mind just a little more.

"What are those tickets for?" I pressed again.

"Nothing, it was a stupid idea."

"Tell me anyway."

"Do you remember that record you bought for me for Christmas?"

I nodded. Since then we had listened to their music almost every time we were together and Alistair could never stop himself from mouthing the words or tapping his foot along.

"Well, that band is having a concert tonight. When I ordered the tickets I hadn't even thought that it would line up with the trial...." He whispered. "I'll sell them, don't worry."

"I want to go." I interjected.

It was a lie. The thought of being around hundreds of screaming people and loud noises only frayed my frazzled nerves further. I wanted to stay home. I wanted to turn on a kid's television show and stare at a wall until my body gave away to sleep.

But where would I be when I woke up tomorrow morning? Still numb? Still hating myself for what I had done but knowing it was the right choice? Then another day would be wasted as I stayed in my apartment, spiraling further until I hit an emotional rock bottom two days later and had to rebuild again. A distraction, especially a noisy and interactive one, seemed like the best way to avoid an oncoming crisis.

"Are you sure?" Alistair pressed, raising a single eyebrow, "Today couldn't have been easy on you. It might have even brought up some unwanted memories."

"I want to go, Alistair."

It took me another hour to get ready and Alistair waited patiently through that. As he always did when I dribbled into a disaster. I had never met anyone who was so prepared to face enormous challenges head on.

It was the strangest thing; I worried that when Alistair and I survived the same traumatic event we wouldn't be able to support each other through our recovery process. We had been damaged by the same things, by the same person and we would suffer the same way. And Alistair feared I would blame him for what happened while I was terrified that he would hold me accountable for Josh's actions.

But Alistair had never accused me for what happened to him and I couldn't fathom placing any accountability on Alistair. Once we realized through countless therapy sessions- together and separately- that we were not to blame, that this awful thing had occurred because of someone else we automatically began using each other for support. I learned to watch for the signs that Alistair was slipping like when he became too self-reliant. Each time he pulled away and began placing up barriers I would coax him out of hiding again. He was a tough agent, but he didn't have to be all the time. And when he saw my eyes become frantic and panicked in public places or dark corridors he would murmur soothing words and slip a reassuring hand into mine.

It wasn't easy and it certainly wasn't painless. There were days I would spend with Sophie where we would huddle in a bedroom and sob softly for hours. There were days when I couldn't force myself to get out of bed and put on dress pants for work. Alistair had to demote himself all together, assigning himself to office work until he felt he could handle dealing with the intensity of field work once more.

But it wasn't all bad and there was beauty in the regrowth. In fact, there were moments when I felt better than I had in years. I could have people call me by my real name without clutching at my heart in fear. I was the public face of hundreds of charity events, most of them raising money for those who couldn't afford counselling after horrible accidents and events like what I had gone through. I could progress forward with my life, not fearing for my friend's safety and love a man without worrying that he would find out who I really was. I was allowed to be Camila Lopez again.

Alistair knew who I was and he loved every part of me regardless.

And now I was tackling another hurdle.

I told myself over a hundred times that I didn't have to go to this concert. But I saw Alistair's pleased expression in the back of my town car as Stanley drove and I knew that I couldn't pull the plug now. Not when he was looking so happy and wearing the band tee shirt I had found for him in Paris.

I let him pull me into and through the massive building so we could find out seats.

The pounding music made my heart clench. My hands were getting clammy by my sides. But Alistair kept a gentle, guiding hand on my back until we made it to our seats. I sucked in a harsh breath when the already intoxicated girl beside me repeatedly screamed with enjoyment. My eyes kept flashing towards the nearest exit, prepared to flee at the slightest sign of frenzy or danger. My finger nails dug into my palms and I thought this night would never end.

But the rock band came on stage and began playing. And beside me, Alistair leapt to his feet instantly. He had always been so refined, so collected and calm. And to see him get truly, genuinely, excited about something like a concert made me stare up at him in wonder. His expression was entirely unguarded as he grinned, his green eyes sparkling with happiness. But then his gaze drifted down towards me and I watched a touch of concern float onto his features. He could see how much I was struggling to keep it together.

This was his day and I was not going to ruin it.

Mustering the best smile I could I stood beside him. His smile grew a sliver. That was enough for me to pretend like I was alright. Though I didn't know all the lyrics by heart like Alistair did I had listened to enough of the songs to manage. And when I fumbled over the lyrics I was simply thankful that it was too loud to hear. After two songs I offered to grab beers. The beers went down quickly, Alistair manning one and I the other. My eyes were locked on the performers for a long time and I was impressed by how well they worked as a team, always seeming to know what the other was thinking. Then my attention went to the brilliant light show that accompanied the music. The excitable girl beside me no longer bothered me as I continued to sing along to songs that I barely knew. I slowly let myself go.

But I saw Alistair. I saw that wonderful smile that made my heart melt. I saw the way his eyes shone when he peered at me and saw that I wasn't attempting to curl myself into a corner. Two more beers went down just as fast as the first. My singing got louder, I started to sway on the spot, not particularly following a beat but loving the feeling anyway. Two more beers appeared. After those two disappeared my dormant arms were in the air. No, it wasn't my favorite music. No I didn't know it as well as I should've. But the atmosphere was unimaginable. Everyone was laughing, singing, dancing, clapping. With both of us on our fourth beers Alistair pulled me tight to him in the middle of a song and placed a hops flavoured kiss on my lips. It was sudden and sweet all at once. I didn't want him to pull away but the song droned out and another started. His hand rested against the small of my back for the rest of the night.

Two hours later I was giggling both from the alcohol and the accelerating experience. It had been quite wonderful and I wasn't prepared for the feeling to be over. But the cold air of the night was nipping at my skin, making me dig into my pocket to retrieve my cell phone. Alistair just pushed me along, guiding me away from the heavy crowds.

"Where are we going?" I asked, still giggling to myself.

"I'm not ready for the night to go home yet." He replied.

We walked nowhere in particular. I laughed and tugged at Alistair's hand when the street lights illuminated an intriguing piece of graffiti. He would always nod in agreement and try to sneak kisses in between my words. And I would let him, loving the feeling of his warm lips against my chilled ones in the night. The heady buzz that coated my brain would make me sway like the world was spinning and I would throw my arms around his neck to hold myself to him. My safety. My rock. My love.

I pulled away, humming softly to myself. Though I hadn't known the songs very well before tonight I doubted I would ever forget them. And I knew that every time I heard one of the melodies on the radio- whether I was in the gym, at my office, or in my car- I would think about Alistair and the way his eyes shone the whole night. And that stunning smile that I had come to adore.

Alistair's hands found my hips. I hadn't realized I was swaying to the rhythm inside my head until I felt him moving with me. When I opened my eyes Alistair was watching me intently. I could see the adoration in his eyes and the smallest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It made me let out a happy sigh and nestle my head against his chest.

To anyone looking in we would've been two fools dancing in the dark on a dead street.

But to us it was so much more.

I was dancing with a man who had swept me off my feet almost a full year ago. And I could see some of the features that I had seen the first time I had danced with him. So tall with proud shoulders and a perfect posture. The most intensely green eyes I had ever seen. Dark hair that contrasted so greatly against his pale skin. And his strong arms held me to him as we moved. I saw more, far beyond what I had seen back then. His wildly competitive streak. His laid back demeanor. The nearly constant softness that always graced his features, the compassion, the honesty, and the love that he was so willing to give.

"What are you thinking about, ma chérie?"

His voice was honey and silk. To this day the nickname still made my heart sing.

"About how much I love you. How much I love us." I said.

With a suddenness that surprised me and smoothness that impressed me, he twirled me away from him. The world spun with alcohol and dizziness but I was not afraid. My head tipped back and I let out a loud laugh. His guiding hands brought me back to him. And it was just the two of us wasting the small hours of the morning in the dark of an unpopulated street.

"Marry me." Alistair whispered.

His head dipped down towards mine until his chin was resting in my hair and I was pressed against the warmth of his chest. We continued to move to music only we could hear.

There was no flashy ring that would've gotten the attention of every woman from a mile away. He didn't move away and get down on one knee. There was no long winded speech. We were on top of a mountain with enviable views or under the Eiffel tower in the city of romance.

We were in our city.

It was just the two of us.

Once the runaway and the federal agent.

Now, just a man and a woman who had conquered the impossible together.

And all I wanted, more than anything, was to continue taking on the world with this incredible man.

"Of course." I murmured.

****And that's the end everyone. Thank you all for coming on this amazing journey with me. I hope you have come to love Alistair and Camila as much as I have. Thank you again for all of your continued support, it means the absolute world to me on my writing journey.****