My feet feel weighted down, cemented, as I struggle to lift and push them forward. Memories of that horrible night in the cabin flash through my mind - Mr. Cayle holding
Maddie while he sneered like an evil villain, me grabbing her to run as he pulled out his gun. I vividly remembered in slow motion him lifting his arm and pulling the trigger before Kyle's chest blossomed red.

I am cold and numb no longer able to feel the grasp of Joel's arm squeezing mine. The bad guys is here, we all lose now. The words sing song across my thoughts as the horrible images play. The sound of the click of shoes echo down the hallway like thunder through the sky, and somehow without even looking up, I know they're his, My Cayle's. They sound important, cocky, and fear inducing and they shut out everything else.

As we get to the end of the cross hallway I get a glimpse of him, just barely, but it's enough. Kyle's dad is coming around the corner. He's being followed by a woman in a red power suit with a hospital badge dangling from her lapel. She takes two steps to his one trying to keep up and her face is as red as her suit as he yells at her about incompetence and the power he has to take her job.

Despite my efforts to keep up with Joel I turn around to watch the woman chase him down the hallway and wonder just how many lives a person like Mr. Cayle will destroy in his lifetime. Joel pushes me into the elevator and whispers "hold it together rookie" as the door closes. And I'm trying. With swirling thoughts and overrun emotions and the pain of knowing Mr. Cayle has shown up and ruined our plans, I try.

Joel pushes me out the front door as a white van screeches to the curb in front of me almost knocking me off my feet. The sliding side door opens and Joel pushes me in it. I realize what's happening too late and before I can fight back, the door is closing.

The van pulls forward and I fall backward stumbling to get some grounding and let my eyes adjust to the dimly lot interior. Arms help pull me up and I rip off the sunglasses and see a sight that finally gives me a smile large enough to match Joel's. Val!

I tackle her in an embrace and she laughs as the van swerves around the parking lot. I hear sirens outside getting closer and Val pulls me back down toward the floor. Finally, we park and Val lets me go.

"I didn't think I'd see you again Cassie! You look great." Her voice is squeaky and joyful and she looks amazing. Rested and put together and above all, happy to see me.

"How did you get here? How did you know I'd be coming out? Is everything Ok?"

She grabs my hand and clasps it. "Of course, I'm just here for to deliver my best friend a few things and hug her one last time before she goes into hiding."

She winks at me and I hear someone from the front of the van clear their throat and see Agnus in the front seat with a beaming smile on her face.

"You did it kid. Last leg before the finish. I knew you were more like me than your parents believed. Hell of a fighter."

I crawl forward on the leaf covered van carpeting and throw myself on her arm. It's impossible to believe they're here despite the fact that I'm touching them. Tears come, ugly tears of washed up dreams and broken hope.

"There there Cassie. Pull it together. You can't fall apart now. You're too close to the end. This is the fun part."

I look out the tinted windshield and see people filtering out of the building and filling the lot. Fire trucks and police cars with flashing lights line the front of the building and I wipe my face never letting go of my grip on the arm of Agnus. I duck my head below the dashboard and offer her my best attempt at a smile.

"I don't know about fun, I just wanted to see Kyle, to hold him one last time and tell him I was sorry. I don't even know what I wanted really, but somehow I had this fairy tale ending in my head. Maddie, Kyle, me, and everyone I love finally able to be happy and not having to look over our shoulders anymore."

Agnus laughs as the driver of the van puts it into gear and eases onto the traffic filled road.

"There's always a reason things happen the way they do. You just remember to keep me in the loop. I've got no plans for Christmas this year and Val and I feel like a trip is in order."

I sit cross legged on the floor of the flower delivery van holding on to Agnus with one hand and Val with the other as the van drives, the thick scent of too many flowers surrounding us making me think of a funeral. I can't help wonder if my parents funeral smelled like this, and a stab of regret that there are so manny things I'd never know comes to the surface before I can shove it down with the rest of the things I'm too tired to think about at the moment. I answer her honestly.

"It would be too dangerous. I meant what I said. I'm going to hide Maddie so well that people like Kyle's dad will never find her. But I'll always be thinking of you, and maybe in a few years I can find a way to secretly bring you to us." The words come barely audible, drenched in sadness at the reality of a goodbye.

"You always did make things dramatic Cassie. I'll see you at Christmas. Tom promised me, and if there's anyone that's able to pull of a caper of epic proportions, he's the guy."

I frown. I believed it too, right up until Joel dragged me out of Kyle's room and away from The building without me being able to tell him what I needed to. That I loved him, that I was thankful for having him in my life even for a moment, that even if he picked his father now, I'd never hate him or wish bad things for him.

"I'd have said that too, until today. I just wanted to talk to him Ag, just let him know how I felt."

The van finally pulls to a stop in the parking lot of a run down coffee shop. Val moved toward the sliding door and pulls it open. The sun bursts in and for a moment I'm blinded by the brightness of it until someone stands in front of the door blocking its glare. I look up and see Kyle.

No one moves or makes a sound as my brain slowly tries to register what I see. It's impossible, but true. Kyle is standing at the door with a cheesy grin on his face and a head full of crazy curls bobbing in the breeze.

"Somebody have a delivery for me?" He asks with a chuckle.

I launch myself forward and land in his arms. Holding on like a kid as his arms wrap perfectly around my body. He grunts and I remember his shoulder, easing up but not letting go.

I don't know whether to cry or kiss him and end up doing a mix of both as I struggle to get out of the van without taking my arms from around him. "How?" It's the only word I can say between sobs.

"Fire, fire alarm, panic, and a perfect storm of diversion. These guys know what they're doing. And so do I. I'm running away with the girl of my dreams and starting a life. If she'll have me."

Tom and the team stand behind him, beaming and proud at being active on a mission and adding a win to the day. Tom's face shines with pride and Blaze pats him on the back so hard he stumbles forward. A dam releases and everyone gets to laugh- breaking the tension. I grab Kyle's face between my hands and kiss him deeply.

"I'm so sorry you got hurt, and that I ran. I didn't know what else to do. I love you so much."

He winks at me and wraps his arms back around me. "I love you too Cassie. And I wouldn't change a thing. I'd take a bullet for you and Maddie anytime."

Tom whistles. "Now that's a statement I wouldn't recommend. Come on lovebirds. We've gotta stick to the schedule. We've gotta get you kids on the road. Time's a wasting."

Val hands me a large duffle bag and I hug her goodbye before turning to Agnus. She hugs me so tight it hurts but I wouldn't have it any other way. Her hand grabs my ear and she yanks it putting on her serious face.

"Don't ever scare me like that again. And you'd better keep in touch. Tom says it's possible and he'll show you how it's done. I'll see you soon, until then, you be good, be careful, and most of all, be happy."

She let's go of me and Kyle wraps his good arm around her kissing her on the cheek.

Tom beeps the horn of the the long black truck and Kyle and I move towards it. As we pull away I take one look back, Val and Agnus are holding hands waving and I wave back through dark windows despite the fact that I know they can't see me.

I lay my head on Kyle, still trying to clear the shock that he's next to me, that we're in a car with a crazy team of guys that could really pull off the impossible, and I smile. Sometimes the good guys get lucky, and right now, I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.

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Yep, we're wrapping things up, believe it or not, just a couple chapters to go. I hope to have the book marked complete by Jan 10. How do you think the Kyle heist went? Did you picture them together? Do happily ever afters even exist? Thanks for sticking with me, and feel free to let me know you're thoughts on this chapter and the story in general.