Alice POV

It's been two months since I got shot; two months, in which so many things had changed.

I'd spent about three weeks in that hospital with many people fussing around me and the nurses often had to force them out. The Millers – grown-ups and twins, Caden and the boys, Morgan, Logan, my aunts and even my mother visited me as frequently as they could. I also had some other guests including Cillian, Will and a few other patrons of  the pub. The big leather-clad men had given the hospital staff quite a scare the first time they visited.

My room had always been full of flowers, get-well cards, stuffed animals, chocolates... I even had my own nurse – courtesy of Joseph and Catherine. I still don't know exactly how they'd managed that. I mean, I wasn't sure that it wasn't against hospital rules or even illegal for them to hire an independent nurse and have her stay with me twenty-four seven. But then again rules changed when you had money and the Millers had lots of them. And they didn't mind using them to make sure I was taken care of at the hospital and the following couple of weeks at our house.

A big surprise for me was that after a week in the hospital and with me complaining that I'd miss a lot of school while being here and then spending two weeks of home treatment, the boys had actually brought me my homework. And notes; lots of notes. All three of them went regularly to classes and penned down everything that I might use to catch up with my studies. I was truly touched by the gesture and happy that they finally paid attention in class. And I hade quite a laugh while they described to me how astonished our teachers and classmates were to see them so diligent.

"They treated us like ticking time bombs," Keegan had said one day.

"As if we were planning to blow up on them at any moment," Asher had added.

Almost immediately after I was discharged, it was time to go to court. The bulky robber was going to prison and this time he was going to stay there; no probation, no chance of getting out due to good behavior.

Caden kept his promised to me. During the time we were in the courtroom he concentrated on helping me keep calm and not on getting revenge. I could tell he wanted to. I could see it in his burning eyes, his alert posture and his fisted hands. All the boys seemed that way. Skyler including, which caught me completely off guard; I'd never seen that boy furious before and I hope to never see him that way again.

The women didn't differ much: my aunts and Elanor stared at the man the whole time, looking like they were about to spring out of their seats and tear him to pieces. Beth and Catherine Miller were the same. The only one who appeared in control of his nerves was Joseph, although he fidgeted around frequently.

As for me – I was scared, angry, upset, I jumped at the slightest noise... I was a wreck. But I did my best to hide it. I had to. I had so many people in that courtroom who were worried about me; if I'd broken down, it would've been harder for them to keep their own emotions in check.

The two robbers had separate trials. I had asked my lawyer – a tall, strict-looking, but in truth very compassionate middle-aged woman, to arrange that. It was my opinion that the second guy should not be judged as harshly as the first robber. After all, he was not aware of his companion's plan for revenge and even attempted to stop him. Because of my statement, Blondie's sentence was considerably less severe and he was even sent to a different prison.

And now I was finally at home. For the past two weeks I'd been well enough to go to school. I still needed to take it easy though. No training sessions with Caden for example.

"Alice?" Someone spoke from behind me and I turned around somewhat surprised. I still wasn't used to her calling me that and not "you" or "Alissa". I still wasn't used to her being in this house. Because it was safe to say that after all I'd been through, the biggest change I had to deal with was my mother actually wanting to be around me and try to act... well, like a mother.

Elanor had broken the engagement with the Peacock and moved in with her sisters. Since I slept in what once used to be her bedroom, she now shared one with Azalea, leaving her old room to our disposal. I said "our" since a certain delinquent had made it his second home... and he no longer had to sneak in through the window whenever he wanted to see me.

"When are the rest of our guests coming?" She went on.

Oh, another new thing around here: every weekend the Miller twins came over and stayed until Sunday noon. And on the first evening they were at our house (Friday or Saturday, depending on how soon they could come visit) we had dinner with them as well as Caden, Keegan, Asher and Will. Even Cillian tagged along. Logan was also welcomed and because of what she'd done, Morgan was our guest of honor.

Beth and Sky had already arrived and were freshening up in my room.

"They should be here any time now," I replied, watching her fix the wrinkles on her apron. It was weird watching my mother in jeans, t-shirt and a cooking apron. Even though the jeans and t-shirt were designer. The only things reminding me of the way I was accustomed to seeing her were her impeccable make up and signature tight bun.

"I hope so! It's about to rain." With those words she turned around and went into the kitchen.

I gazed through the living room window.

"Yes, it is about to rain," I silently agreed just as something brushed around my legs.

I looked down to see Chess staring up at me with his big eyes.

"How much you've grown," I mused aloud, picking up the Maine Coon. He started purring as soon as I snuggled him.

"How long has it been now," I went on. "About six months... Yes, I think that is right; about six months, since Caden brought you."

"Are you talking to the cat again?" An amused tone spoke from behind me and I smiled as two arm wrapped around my waist. "And how is my little Alice doing today?" He questioned, placing small kisses on my cheek and the side of my neck.

I closed my eyes and leaned back into him, before I answered.

"Good. Even better now that you are here."

His embrace tightened but was still gentle. We stayed like this, quiet, with him embracing me and me holding Chess, each of us just enjoying being close to the other.

"Caden," I started suddenly, remembering something I'd been meaning to ask him for a while.

"Mmm?" He responded lazily.

"Do you remember the first day we met?"

"Of course," he gave me a slow kiss on the cheek, "how can I forget?"

"What was on the paper? The little piece that fell out of your pocket that day?"

"The one that led to you calling me "tall, dark and handsome"?" He chuckled. "I honestly don't remember."

"What are you two love birds cooing about?" Sky asked, getting into the living room and spreading himself across the couch.

"None of your business," Caden replied.

"Where's Beth?" I queried, putting Chess down on the floor. He tried to jump right back into my hands, but I stopped him as we were expecting guests and I wanted to help out in the kitchen.

"She's getting ready for Ashy-boo," the male twin replied in a baby voice.

I laughed at his antics. He had started to call Asher that just to annoy his sister.

"I'm going to help them with the meal," I announced, kissing Cade on the lips. A fake gagging noise came from behind us and my boyfriend pulled away to glare at the blond who was producing it.

"Way too many lovey-dovey couples lately," Sky explained with a shrug and grabbed a near by deck of cards. "A game while we wait for the others?" He suggested to Caden, ignoring his still narrowed eyes.

I laughed again and gave my moody guy another kiss before heading for my destination.

*****

In less than an hour, we had all assembled.

I'd spent just ten minutes in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. My aunts told me to go answer the door and then stay with our guests instead of come back to help them. I had groaned in annoyance. I knew they were worried about me and wanted me to take it easy, but ever since I came back from the hospital, I wasn't allowed to do pretty much anything.

I opened the door and was greeted by three people: Morgan, who gave me a hug as soon as she was in, Logan, who was holding a huge umbrella due to the heavy rain that had suddenly poured from the sky, and Cillian, who was without an umbrella and soaking wet.

"Damn it, it's raining cats and dogs outside," he cussed loudly, taking of his dripping jacket.

"Language, Cillian!" Four female voices came simultaneously from the kitchen.

"Sorry!" He shouted in their direction.

I took him by the hand and led him to one of the bathrooms. I gave him towels and Rose came up to find him some dry clothes. We were both barely holding back our giggles as we went downstairs after he had changed. The three of us walked into the living room, where the Millers, the three boys, Logan and Morgan were, and everyone stopped their chatter and looked at Cillian with wide eyes.

Then we started rolling with laughter.

Due to not having any men in our household the bartender had to dress in my aunts' clothes. He was wearing my Aunt Flora's green short-sleeved shirt and Aunt Rose's large purple pants, the ones she put on whenever she wanted to relax in some comfortable loose clothing. Since Cillian was considerably taller than her, the pants ended a few inches beneath his knees, showing his white socks with green polka dots. To top all that up, the only footwear we could provide him with was a pair of fluffy pink slippers, which Aunt Rose had bought by mistake and didn't get round to returning them to the store and explaining she'd needed a smaller size.

"What's going on here?" We heard Will's voice from the hallway and he came into the living room. "Oh, well... Maybe you should add some make up, Cillian; you make one ugly drag queen," he managed to remark before he joined in our laughter.

"Shut up or I'll shove those flowers in your... mouth," he changed the last word, casting a careful gaze at Rose. He was referring to the humble bouquet William had brought for Flora.

"Maybe you should work in the pub that way; you might get more tips," Cade joked, through his laughter.

"Keep that up, wise guy, and I'll make you wear a uniform," his boss countered, pretending to be angry, but it was obvious he was just as amused as us. "And now if you'd excuse me, I'll go show off in front of the rest of the ladies," he announced and headed for the kitchen with Rose and Will in tow, leaving us, "the kids", on our own in the living room.

"Now what are we going to do," Keegan questioned, once our laughter died.

"Oh, I know!" Sky shouted enthusiastically. "Let's have a game of riddles! I'll go first: you use it between your head and your toes, the more it works, the thinner it grows. What is it?" We were all silent. "Come on, you criminals," he turned to Cade, Ash and finally at Kee. "You should know this one! Here is a clue: don't drop it!"

"How is that a clue?" Keegan asked.

"Criminals... Whatever you do, don't drop it..." Sky wriggled his eyebrows meaningfully.

"Soap?" The other boy's answer sounded like a question.

"That's it!" The blond one clapped his hands. "Exactly!"

"You do realize, Skyler, that none of us have actually been to jail, right?" Keegan queried his new best friend.

"The criminals/don't-drop-it combo should still be a clue." The male twin replied. "And it's a good thing too that you've never been in 'cause a guy like you inside..." He trailed of dramatically, shaking his head with fake sympathy. I tried to giggle at him and at Keegan who was cracking his knuckles in an unambiguous way, but as my throat was dry, my laugh came out as a high-pitched sound.

"Did you just cackle?" Sky's question was aimed at me this time.

"Yeah, Alice, did you just cackle?" Kee repeated, no doubt in an attempt to shift our friend's attention to me. He leaned on the sofa to get closer to me and went on. "Okay, tell me the truth here: you make potions..."

"They are called tea, Keegan," I interrupted with an eye roll.

"Whatever!" He waved his hand dismissively at me. "You make potions and now you let out that creepy cackle. What the hell was with that? Do you have witches in your family or something?"

"I could tell you, but then I'll have to turn you into a frog," I replied with a grin on my face.

"Hey! Nobody calls my girl a witch!" Cade butted in, pretending to be angry and playfully punched Kee on the shoulder. "Now stop pissing me off, I am running out of places to hide the bodies!"

"Dinner is ready," Elanor announced, coming into the room. Her eyes shifted from one person to another, lingering on Cade for a moment longer than when she looked at the rest of us. The two of them had still not reconciled, but I knew that for my sake, they were just waging a cold war, trying to ignore each other's presence whenever it was possible. "Come on, before it gets cold!"

*****

We were all gathered at the huge oak table in our kitchen, enjoying the diversity of meals that were displayed in front of us. I was the only one who had already finished with their food; ever since I got out of the hospital and wasn't allowed to do anything but rest, I seemed to have lost my appetite. Now, don't get me wrong: I was still eating, just not as much as I used to before.

Chess jumped in my lap and I absentmindedly started to pet him. I looked around me. Everyone seemed so be having a good time. I was sat to Caden's right, watching him talk casually with Aunt Azalea, who was to his left.

"Who would think that my strict aunt will become good friends with the bad boy?" I mused in my mind and smiled. I never really found out why she'd changed her opinion on him; maybe she was just touched by how worried and attentive he had been during my recovery.

I shifted my gaze to Rose and Elanor. The two of them were discussing what plants to add to our garden.

"It will be some time before I get used to seeing my mother like this," I thought in my mind, a picture of her working in the garden the previous day and smiling, actually smiling, popping in my mind.

I turned my head a little to look at the three happy couples: Flora and Will, Beth and Ash and Morgan and Logan, who were all cuddling or holding hands, each conversing with their significant other.

Next to them were Skyler and Keegan and they were talking about... you've guessed it! Girls. What else? And Cillian was listening to them amused, shaking his head and muttering the occasional "boys will be boys" and "teenagers!".

Chess seemed to have fallen asleep in my lap, yet he continued purring. I yawned loudly, covering my mouth with my hand.

"You are not sleepy, are you?" Caden asked, leaning closer to me. I noticed Aunt Azalea had joined Rose and Elanor's conversation. Everyone was chatting and no one was paying attention to Cade and me.

"No."

"Good! I have plans for us tonight, little Alice, and they don't include sleeping," he stated in a quiet, husky voice and with a naughty smirk on his lips. I had to turn my head away to hide my blush.

I'd slept with a few guys before, but the sensations they brought me could not compare to what Caden made me feel.

I bit my lip remembering how we would spend our nights lately. How he'd put me on the bed and then lean on top of me, gently, without pressing too much, always mindful of my injury... How he'd talk to me in that husky voice and caress every inch of my body with the tips of his fingers... How he'd kiss me sensually... How he'd make love to me.

The night couldn't come soon enough!

The Green Girl sequel is called Frost on the Green and is already uploaded on my Wattpad page :)