Cassie and Ella made Annie sit on the bed, after she'd scrubbed her hands clean of Jovon's blood for good solid eight minutes, while they called the rest of the family so they could inform Jovon's family, as she kept trying to walk out of the room to the surgery waiting room.

"You're not leaving this room." Cassie said gently. "I don't care what you say, but we'll only let you out after he's out of surgery. You need to calm down for you and for your baby just to make sure-"

"I'm not going into shock." Annie snapped. "I just need to know that he's okay. You didn't see the blood."

"Shh." Ella said as she took Annie's other hand. "It's okay, Annie. He'll be fine. We came here immediately we received the call from the hospital. Mother and father as well as Kaden and William are in the waiting room with Jovon's family. You'll be the first to know that he's awake."

Annie clutched the sheets to her chest with her free hand. "He almost died because of me." She cried. "When I saw him go down. . . it was as if my whole world crumbled. I love that idiot and I want to tell him that I forgive him. I want him to be with my baby and I. We'll all be a family."

Cassie joined her on the bed. "And family you'll be. Don't worry too much."

Annie leaned into Cassie as Ella joined them on the bed and wrapped a hand around them. The three of them silently stared at the door as they all thought of what they'd been through in the last fifteen years. Then they knew that everything would be more than okay now that the storm had passed.

"I'm sorry." Annie broke the silence. "I'm sorry for pushing you away when you wanted to comfort me. I apologize for what I said that day."

Ella hummed. "We understand you at the time, Annie. It's okay. Forgive us too. We should have been here when you woke up, but we also had little issues."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing." Cassie interjected quickly as she glared at Annie. "It's nothing. We're all fine."

Annie narrowed her eyes at Ella, noting that something was different about her, but couldn't tell what. She decided to let it go for now, knowing that they wouldn't tell her anything even if something was wrong.

"Do you think everything would be okay again?"

"Yes." Cassie caressed her hair. "Everything would be fine."

"Yes. . ." Ella trailed off when her phone began to ring. She quickly reached for It and rose to her feet. "Liam. . ."

Annie sat upright and stared at Ella hopefully as she spoke with William.

"Okay... Huh? . . .I will tell her. Okay, thank you."

William hung up first as always without a farewell, and Annie waved off Cassie's arms as she reached for the sheets again.

Ella scratched her head as she stalled the news. "Annie. . ."

"Tell me." She clutched the sheets tighter to her body. She was terrified that Jovon didn't make it put of surgery. Then Celine would get what she wanted and Annie would loose Jovon again. Only that it was permanent this time around.

"He is awake."

Annie sagged against Cassie in relief. He was alive. He was still Alive. That was all that mattered.

*                            *                           *

Annie sat quietly beside Jovon's bed as she watched Megan fidget in her seat. The hospital had only allowed two people in at a time and Annie refused to leave, so Megan had volunteered to go in place of Marcello. She'd explained what Susan told her the day before and was remorseful for neglecting her son when he was defenseless.

"I went to see grandmother after I learned about all that happened." said Megan after a while.

Annie nodded.

"I went to see his grandmother and she didn't deny it. Marcello was so angry that he almost hurt her. She still had the nerve to tell us that he deserved it." Megan shook her head. "I was furious. Mistakes were not...well tolerated in our family.

"I told her at that instant that we're cutting her out of our lives. We owe Jovon so much apology for what he went through. He was so brave and strong."

"He liked to protect people he loved," Annie said slowly.

"Yes, he is." Megan sniffed. "He risked his life to save yours and his baby's." She reached out to hold Annie's hand in hers. "I have no right to ask anything of you after the way we treated you. . . But please don't leave him. It might take sometime before you forgive him, but please give him another chance."

Annie squeezed her hand with a small smile dancing on her lips. "I forgave him even before he took that bullet. When I saw him on the floor unmoving, I realized then that I can't live without him. I want to be with him everyday for the rest of my life. Although I am still cautious of the fact that he might hurt me later on, I am willing to take the chance."

"Really?"

Annie nodded. "Thinking back on it, Lukas only used me to get back at Jovon. The only thing that hurt was the fact that he didn't trust me enough."

"You know, that night he decided to buy a new house where you would both live. He told his father and I that he couldn't bear the thought of you leaving him. I knew that day that he loved you, but was in denial." Megan squeezed Annie's hand before releasing it. "I am so sorry,Annie. Forgive me."

"I won't say it's fine because I am still angry at you. But I will keep that in mind. "

Megan slid her hands over her knees and began pleating the fabric of her skirt between her fingers. "Susan told us everything from how we left Jovon vulnerable to his grandmother. He all told us about Americus and Lukas' plan. He's so loving and success driven."Megan smiled. "And a successful one. It's good. And I realized we hurt him when he was little after Susan told us again. We were so concerned about getting his grandmother's approval that we neglected our children. He was a sweet kid, so easy to hurt and yet he'd forgave us, you know? So I wanted to come see him after speaking with his grandmother first." She glanced at Annie. "I'm glad he has you."

"I wouldn't care," Annie said. "All that matters is his happiness. If he still want to see you after all what you did to him, then fine. But I don't know if I can forgive you anytime soon."

"I understand." She leaned forward and touched Jovon's cheek.

"Hey, son, you in there?" When he didn't respond, she glanced at Annie. "Has he been awake?"

"Yes. He's talked a little. He's just really tired."

"Then I won't wake him." She stood and rummaged in her purse for a card.

"Here. My cell number. Will you tell him that I was here and I'd like to see him? I'll check his chart on my way out, maybe talk to his surgeon. Will you call me? I'll be in town for a couple of days."

"Sure," Annie said taking the card. "I'll call you, either way."

When the door closed behind her, Annie took back the chair and frowned at Jovon.

"Open your eyes, Jovon."

Jovon twitched, and then blinked up at her. "How did you know?"

"I know you. How long were you awake?"

Jovon sighed. "About halfway into they plan to apologize to me after cutting grandmother out of their lives?"

"She's right," Annie told him. "It would be the best thing they could do for you. Do you want to talk to your mother?"

"Yeah," Jovon said wearily. "Later. Is there ice?"

"Better. The doctor okayed some lovely water for you." Annie held the cup and straw, while Jovon took a few small sips.

Jovon licked chapped lips. "Thanks." He looked down, and asked uncertainly, "Is pretending to be asleep the same as lying?"

"I'm thinking there's more shades of grey to this than I realized," Annie told him.

"Really?"

"Yep."

"So you're not going away mad right now?"

"I'm not going away period." Annie cupped Jovon's face in her hands and gently forced her lover's gaze upward. "Jovon, I love you and I need you, and I am damned well not living without you. We'll work it out."

Jovon's smile was beautiful. His eyes lit. "Really?"

"Really." Annie bent and kissed him lightly, around the tubes and lines. Jovon's mouth tasted like crap.

Annie could care less. She settled back in the chair and took Jovon's hand. "I know we have to work around our past situation. I know that involves telling stories and
hiding stuff. Just promise me when the going gets tough you won't abandon me and you will always believe what I say first."

Jovon's face fell and he slipped his hand free. "I can't."

Annie stared at him. What? "Why not?"

Didn't loving someone mean being honest with them and being with them when the going got tough? Or maybe Jovon didn't feel the same way about her.

"I want to." Jovon stared at her intently, his eyes damp. "God, Annie, I want to be with you and I don't ever want to deceive you. But I cannot promise that I won't make mistakes at times, but I can promise that I will stay with you no matter what happens.." He bit his lip, and went on urgently. "I promise to try. I promise to never tell you lies that would endanger your
health or safety. I promise to love you and care for you and never so much as look at another woman, even if she's beautiful. But there's going to be times, some little thing.
I just...it's the way I've always handled things. After Americus death, I learned not to let my feelings show, but for you I would try."

"So small stuff, you do it out of reflex," Annie said slowly.

"Yeah. Small stuff, medium stuff." Jovon choked. "Big stuff when it's about feelings. I'll try. I'll really try. But I can't promise."

Annie looked down at him. So, will you walk away from this man because you can't live without absolute trust. Or will you try too? "I want you," he said. "I trust you. Maybe that's why it's so hard. Because my gut believes every word that comes out of your mouth, completely. And then it hurts like hell when I'm wrong."

"So yell at me," Jovon said.

"I can do that. You confess when you catch yourself doubting me about something, instead of piling it up,and we go on from there."

"I'll try," Jovon repeated. "Just . . . don't go cold, okay? Don't walk away and shut me out. It won't be easy to love again. I froze people out and when i was a kid, my parents gave me the silent treatment the very first time i confessed to having a girlfriend. I wasn't allowed to say anything, not say a single word aloud at home, until the next Sunday in church, when the communion...the blood of our Lord washed my impure tongue  clean." He offered a shaky smile. "I just figured out why I have such a jones for grape juice. Good thing our church was dry, or I might have become a raging alcoholic."

Annie nodded. "I promise. No cold treatment. I might yell. I'll try not to throw things."

Jovon's smile became wider. "I know how to duck."

"Not at you. Jesus." She breathed. "Not after I watch you bleed out in front of me. What the hell were you thinking?"

Jovon's eyes had regained their sparkle. Those gold lights danced in the pretty green, as he looked up at her. Annie felt her own lips twitch in an answering smile. She was about to move closer when there was a tap at the door. Ian turned to see Agent Kelly standing in the doorway.

"Ms. Mckade," he said. "Ah, Mr. Phim You're awake."

"He's still pretty weak," Annie said warningly. "What does the FBI want with us now?"

Kelly came in, and pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "I want you to look at some pictures."

"More mug shots?" Annie had identified the two men from the dead bodies as those who kidnapped her along with Bridget. They were all dead, including Lukas while the other Skylar and Aceline were in custody on a variety of charges involving weapons and firing them at police officers and also kidnapping.

She thought she'd convinced the cops that she'd never seen any of the other who were involved in her kidnapping.

"Not exactly." Kelly passed over a set of four-by-six photos. They were all views of a man, clearly dead from a shot to the head. The bullet had been small-caliber,
not enough to obscure the man's features. Annie pulled a breath in through her teeth.

"What?" Jovon asked, reaching weakly for the pictures in Annie's hand. Annie turned them so he could see.

"Shawn" Jovon said. "He's Skylar's husband."

Kelly looked at Annie. "You agree?"

"Yes," she said, passing the shots back. "That was the guy she introduced us to as her husband. What happened?"

Kelly tapped the pictures back into a neat stack, and slipped the envelope into his pocket. "Shawn was involved in some shady business before his demise. I'm guessing his boss, a drug lord of a powerful cartel, happened. That man was found in a hotel room in
Mazatlan, two days ago. We confirmed his identity from the fingerprints, but I wanted to be sure it was the same man you saw at the party. If you're trying to escape from a man who deals drugs, Mexico is not a safe haven."

"What does this mean?" Jovon asked. "To us, that is?" He shifted like he might try to sit up, and Annie put a firm hand on his shoulder.

Although from the whimper Jovon had made when he moved, it might be unnecessary.

"I was just trying to be sure that Lukas wasn't involved in any of that business. And now that I know, no knw would be coming after the both of you." Kelly said. "

"What about Skylar?" Annie asked. "Is her father likely to try to stop us from testifying against her?"

"I don't think so," Kelly said. "You were able to identify her and her accomplice confessed to her crimes. The only one who can help her lie about anything was Shawn, who's dead. She killed six people. Three of her business associates. The other three are low-level thugs. They don't have any information on Shawn's boss that he might worry about. And we have them all cold on other charges. It's not like they're going to walk away if you two don't testify. So even if they don't just take a plea bargain, I can't see it being worth his while to go after you." The agent smiled slightly.

"So we're safe?" Jovon said thinly.

"I believe so." Kelly hesitated. "What about the woman who shot you? Do you remember any information about her?"

"I don't even remember getting shot," Jovon muttered. "It still...do you know what happened?

"We found a gas station attendant, Gordon Fischer, who attested to the fact that that lady was mentally unstable. Her name is Freya Delarosa ," Kelly told him. "He says he saw her talking to herself as she bought a pack of cigarettes and filled her car up. He saw her heading his way with a gun out, and was smart enough to take off out the back. He caught a bullet in his arm, but was able to keep going. He played hide-and-seek with the
Freya with the gun for a while and found a spot to stay hidden. The lady hunted for Fischer for a long
time. Eventually she drove away, and Fischer passed out. We think that she's truly unstable mentally.  Fischer was out cold and still hidden. His boss found him the next day. Did you have any relationship with her?"

Jovon shook his head silently.

Kelly looked over at him. "I still need your statement, but frankly you look like crap. I don't want Ms. Mckade getting after me if I set back your recovery. Someone will
come by tomorrow and go through it. Have a good day, Lady and gentleman."

Annie looked down at Jovon as the door closed. The man's eyes were shut and he looked pale. "Should I ring the nurse?" She asked. "Do you need pain meds?"

Jovon turned his head marginally from side to side on the pillow. "I hadn't thought..." he whispered. "Do you think we're safe?"

"Sure," Annie said firmly. "Agent Kelly's right. There's no reason for anyone to come after us." Not that Annie wouldn't be watching for them, just in case, for a long time to
come.

"What about the woman?" Jovon asked. "The one who assisted them in kidnapping you. . .who was she?"

"Her name was Bridget Tyson ," Annie said.

"She was a criminal? But. . .I met her once. I didn't recognize...But she was in West Mercer . . .I thought. . . she was your neighbour when i saw her crossing to the house next to your townhouse."

"I guess not," Annie told him. "I found out she moved out to West Mercer few months after she was released." Annie sighed. "And also that Celine. She seemed obsessed with you."

"She once told me to let you go," Jovon remembered. He looked sad. "She seemed to think I would magically fall in love with her since I stopped to help her and chat with her."

"Yeah. She kind of mixed real world and fiction together. I don't know how it would have turned out, but she had your car tagged with GPS, waiting to pick you up after Lukas killed me. I guessed she planned that you both headed to some nice secluded country spot and decided it was a good opportunity for the snatch. Skylar was just in her way, so she called the police to get rid of her."

"Because she couldn't tell that I wasn't interested in her that way. Jovon muttered. "And my being nice to her made her think I harboured some feelings for her. I am responsible for putting you in danger both times. I feel as though that's all I'll ever attract to you "

Enough was enough.

"She was loony," Annie said firmly. "You're just a good person, when the need arises. You know the difference, and you would never hurt anyone. We need to suck it up and move on."

"She won't move on."

"No. But I swear, Jovon, if you start wallowing in guilt I'm going to beat your ass." She threatened. "And don't you ever throw yourself in harm's way like that ever again."

Jovon suddenly smiled. "I like the sound of that."

Annie stared down at him. Every inch of her body leaned toward the man in the bed, seeking that electric heat that only Jovon seemed to possess. Including about that hot wet core of Annie that was going to just have to wait.

Annie took Jovon's face in both hands and leaned in to kiss him, long and sweet and slow. Jovon's lips moved under hers, opening.
Jovon's tongue stroked hers, and the smaller woman made a soft sound that was not pain.

Annie pulled back and smiled at him, not letting go of his face. She stroked along Jovon's cheekbones with her thumbs, and watched her lover's eyes darken.

"Hold that thought," she said.

The end.

A/N: The end is not the very best in the book, but I had to end it that way. But. . . there would be an epilogue, that I promise you. For those who started this book with me and still stayed through the end, thank you all.

I love you so much.