She spent more than an hour driving aimlessly through the Hills. Three times she passed by Jocelyne's place, but she couldn't bring herself to go in. Eventually she sent her sister a two line text suggesting she talk to Seth, if she hadn't already.

She contemplated tracking Colton down and giving him a piece of her mind, but she dismissed that idea out of hand. There was enough bad blood between them and she knew very well Colton would never admit he was wrong about anything, even this.

Finally, she found herself making her way up the driveway of Healing Horses. She knew it was incredibly impolite to show up without calling ahead of time and she kept telling herself if no one saw her then she would just turn around and leave.

So she was shocked when she pulled into the driveway and saw Colton's car. She was about to throw Nick's car in reverse when she saw Rainbow waving. Feeling trapped between good manners and good sense, Chantale pulled into a parking space and killed the engine. She had barely opened the door before Tiffany placed a paw on her thigh.

"Yes, I'm happy to see you again," she said, "but you have to let me get out of the car so I can pet you properly."

She heard Rainbow's laughter and quick whistle. Tiffany lopped back to her mistress, leaving Chantale the room to manoeuvre out of the car. She was surprised when Rainbow gave her a hug of greeting.

"You're like family now," the younger woman said. "Once you take a puppy, you're part of our pack."

"Okay," Chantale said, feeling overwhelmed again. "I came to see Autumn but it seems someone else beat me to it."

"They've been holed up in Kennedy's office for about ten minutes." Rainbow scrutinized Chantale. "Has something happened?"

"Colton didn't tell you?"

Rainbow shook her head. "He drove up and demanded to speak to Autumn. He was lucky she was here. She doesn't have classes on Monday," Rainbow said, as way of explanation. "He just-"

Rainbow stopped abruptly as they heard a door slam. Within moments, Autumn was rounding the corner of the ranch in a jog. When she spotted Chantale, she broke into a run. Fortunately, Chantale had the instinct to brace herself or Autumn would have knocked her to the ground. The younger woman's arms came around Chantale's neck in a stranglehold which nearly robbed her of breath.

"Thank God," Autumn kept saying over and over again.

"You're safe," Chantale said, holding the young woman as she sobbed. "You're going to be okay." Over Autumn's head, she caught sight of Colton and felt pole-axed.

"Rainbow, can you take Autumn into the house? I'll be there in a minute."

Rainbow, still clearly confused, prised her sister's arms from around Chantale's neck and took her sister into her arms. "It's okay, Autumn. Whatever it is, we'll fix it." Autumn's sobs didn't abate, even as Rainbow led her away. Only when the two women were gone from view did Chantale round on Colton.

"What the hell did you say to her?"

Colton looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I only told her the truth."

"Not very tactfully, by all accounts. You know, you have a reputation of being really good with victims, but I have no concept of how you got that rep, because all I've seen has been a catastrophe."

"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration," Colton said defensively. "I came out here to tell her the guy's been caught and she started screaming at me. Then she ran and you saw what happened." He looked baffled.

"Two months, Colton. She was attacked over two months ago and she's been waiting for this day. She's been living in terror today would never come. The other three victims might have believed Declan was guilty and felt reassured by his arrest, but Autumn never did. Of course she's furious with you and it's been two months in the making. You probably should have sent Dorrie instead of delivering the news yourself."

"I just thought, with Autumn being my ex-sister-in-law, she should hear it from me."

"Just more proof you were always too close to this investigation," Chantale said. "You should have listened to her. Maybe if you had..."

"Two women wouldn't be dead? I haven't thought of anything since I heard of Martin's arrest." He let out a quick sharp breath. "I have to live with that, Chantale, don't think that I don't. What can I say? I'm human and I'm fallible."

He would feel it, she thought. He felt all of this more deeply than she had ever given him credit for. Just because he had never shared the pain with her, didn't mean he didn't feel it.

Then, without warning, he pulled her towards him and gave her a hard kiss. His hands dove into her hair, tugging her close. "I've missed you," he whispered hoarsely. "I need you."

Words that, scant weeks ago, she would have given anything to hear. Now, however, she knew better. She reached out to snag his hands in hers and then she pushed him away from her. Gently, but firmly. "You don't need anyone, Colton. You never have and you never will. You'll get over this and then you'll go back to being emotionally unable to connect. What we had was good, but it wasn't enough."

She could see her words were having the desired effect. "I hurt you," he said.

"You did," she confirmed, "but I've gotten over you."

"Because of him?" Colton's voice was gruff.

"No, I would say in spite of him." Chantale let out her own quick breath. "What you did was inexcusable, but what he did cut even deeper than your defection."

Colton blinked. "You do realize he loves you, right? That he only sent you away because he had to?"

"No one forced him to expose me that way, Colton. No one forced him to hurt me like that."

"Oh, sweetheart, you forced him." To her confused look, he offered a small smile. "You would never have let him fire you. You would have continued to believe you could protect him. You got shot and still you thought you could protect him. He knew you far better than any of us," Colton said.

Chantale wanted to believe what Colton was saying, but it didn't make sense. "If he feels that way then why keep me apart even now?"

"Have you spent any time alone since he found out?"

She shook her head.

"Have you thought about what he's facing?" Colton looked out over the paddock and then back at Chantale. "I did my best to ruin him, Chantale, I can admit that now. He's probably wondering how his reputation is going to rebound from this. You would just be a complication." He raised a hand to her cheek. "A beautiful, smart, stubborn complication, mind you, but a complication nonetheless."

"Why does everyone keep calling me stubborn?"

"It's a compliment," Colton assured her. "Along with loyalty, it's probably your best virtue." Colton hesitated. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

Offering to fly her to the moon would have been less surprising. Less surprising, but not less touching.

"You would do that?"

Now, Colton looked uncomfortable. "For you? Yeah, I think I owe you at least that much. Might also be for him, although I doubt he would see it that way."

"Probably not," Chantale confirmed. "But it was very sweet of you to offer." She gazed up at Colton. "One day you're going to meet a woman who will bring you to your knees. She'll blindside you and you won't know what happened. I only hope I'm there to see it."

He gave her an odd look. "Why wouldn't you be?"

"Because being your friend is likely to be challenging."

"But you're up for that challenge, aren't you?"

Chantale gave him a smile. "Yes, I believe I am. That and your best friend is married to my sister. We owe them this, I think, to make a truce." She held out her hand. "Friends?"

He gave her the once-over as if sizing up her veracity. "Yeah," he said, taking her hand, "friends."

Then he let her go and walked towards his car. "Are you staying?"

"I think I need to at least try to talk to Autumn."

His face became inscrutable. "Well, offer my apologies." With that he got into his sports car and drove off.

Chantale watched him leave and wondered if she had just imagined the past few minutes. Friends with Colton? Aside from Seth, was Colton even able to have friends?

"Chantale?" She turned to see Kennedy walking towards her. "Autumn and Rainbow are in the barn. Why don't we go join them?"

"I should have called first," Chantale said, but Kennedy only lay a hand on her arm.

"You'll always be welcome here." She guided Chantale towards the barn and away from the parking lot. "Helena is going to be thrilled to see you."

Chantale wanted to scoff, but her heart wouldn't have been in it because she knew she was going to be thrilled to see her baby. "Do you like the name Helena?"

Kennedy laughed. "Autumn was the one who told me that the name came from Shakespeare. I was thinking it was a variation of Helen of Troy."

Now it was Chantale's turn to grin. "I hadn't thought of that. I'm glad I didn't pick Hermia, though. I like the image of Helen of Troy."

Kennedy was about to open the door to the barn, but hesitated. "I wasn't sure about you at first, but I'm glad I gave you the benefit of the doubt." She gave Chantale a long level look. "You sister was running from something and I think you are as well. If you want to talk about it, give me a call." With that she opened the door.

Chantale barely had time to consider Kennedy's assertion before being beset by puppies. She spotted the purple collar at the same time Helena realized she was there. Her baby bowled over several siblings to get to Chantale. Crouched with arms extended, she welcomed her little bundle of joy. "Oh, I missed you," she crooned, even knowing it had only been a day. One very, very long day

Her baby already weighed about ten pounds, but settled once Chantale had her in arms. Then Chantale made her way over to a bench, sitting down next to Autumn. The young woman was holding a puppy tight in her lap and her eyes were shut tight.

Rainbow and Kennedy stood across from them and, for a long time, no one spoke.

At length, Chantale ventured, "have you told them?"

"I couldn't," Autumn said on a hiccup. "If I tell them then it's real and I just can't let myself believe that it's real."

Convoluted logic, perhaps, but logic which Chantale understood. "May I tell them?"

Autumn nodded, still keeping her eyes shut tight.

"They arrested the man responsible for the attacks on the women," Chantale said. "He was caught in a woman's apartment and she stabbed him. Did considerable damage, I understand."

Autumn let out a hiccup which sounded distinctly like a giggle. "I hope she cut his balls off."

"Not quite, but he's never going to attack anyone again."

"How do they know it's him," Kennedy asked. "I mean, they were sure Declan did it."

"They found the jewellery in his apartment."

Autumn's eyes popped open. "Can I get my ring back? Kennedy gave me that ring for my high school graduation."

"After the trial, you'll be able to get it back. Someone from the RCMP will probably come out and ask you to identify the ring."

"Not Colton," Rainbow said. "I think we've had about enough of him."

Chantale felt an odd desire to defend him, but held her tongue.

"Colton was just doing his job." All three women turned to Autumn who only shrugged. "He was wrong, but...I guess I can see how he tried." Her gaze fixed on Kennedy. "Is it wrong to be so happy? I mean, after everything that's happened..."

"There are no wrong a right ways to feel, Autumn. You just need to own the happiness which is probably tinged with relief."

"It is," Autumn confirmed. She turned to Chantale. "I can speak to Dr. Byrne now, right?"

"I think he would really appreciate hearing from you," Chantale said. "I gave him your letter and I'm pretty sure he read it."

Autumn groaned. "I unloaded on him and I shouldn't have."

"Unloaded how?" Kennedy sounded confused. "I thought you said he didn't do it."

"Not that kind of unloading," Autumn said. "I just told him stuff I couldn't tell anyone else." She looked at Kennedy. "I'm sorry, but it felt safe to talk to him. To tell him what was going on. I guess I was tired of burdening you."

Kennedy scowled, "you're never a burden, Autumn."

Autumn shot to her feet so fast the puppy in her lap was dropped rather unceremoniously on the floor. Momentarily stunned, it quickly recovered and trotted over to mama.

"Did you ever think maybe I just wanted a sister and not a therapist? I'm always so careful what I say around you because I'm afraid you'll take it the wrong way. That you'll think there's something wrong with me when all I really want is to vent."

Kennedy's professional mask dropped for just a moment and Chantale saw the flash of hurt.

So did Autumn. "You see? I'm always afraid of saying the wrong thing." She pressed her trembling fingers to her lips. "I'm just so scared things will never be back to the way they were before."

Now, Chantale felt she had to speak up. "Well sometimes it's not a bad thing when it comes to change. Sometimes we younger sisters have to stand up to our big sisters and show them we can be strong and independent. Then our big sisters have to respect that. We forge new relationships."

Rainbow picked up the thread. "You and Summer were the special ones because you were unexpected and the rest of us were much older. Kennedy was nineteen when you were born and I think she sees you as much as a daughter than as a younger sister. That closeness is so obvious, just like Zephyra and Summer are tight."

Kennedy looked at Rainbow. "When did you get to be so smart?"

Rainbow shrugged. "You're not the only observer of this family. You're the eldest and the protector. I think it's a good thing this guy is in custody because otherwise you'd tear him from limb to limb."

"I would," Kennedy admitted grudgingly. She turned to Autumn. "Promise you'll be honest with me? If you need a sister, I can be a sister. If you need counselling, maybe we can find someone else. I shouldn't have been involved anyway, but I thought keeping it formal would help."

"It did," Autumn assured her.

Chantale watched as Kennedy opened her arms and Autumn stepped into them. Rainbow sat next to her. "She's going to make it, you know."

"She's one of the strongest people I've ever met," Chantale agreed. "I should be going. I have to return Nick's car and then start to figure out what I'm going to do."

"With what?"

Chantale's grin was rueful. "There were two men who believed Declan was guilty and they came after the two of us. They did quite a number on my apartment, destroying all my clothes. I need to meet with the insurance agent and then I need to do some major shopping."

Now it was Rainbow's turn to grin. "Retail therapy? I almost wish I was in your shoes." She sobered. "Did they catch the guys?"

"Yes, they did. It sounds weird, but I'm getting my life back and yet it still feels unreal."

"You've been a victim as well," Rainbow pointed out, "and I seem to remember you thinking Autumn was brave because she got help."

"Hardly the same thing," Chantale said. She gave one final kiss to Helena. "I should be going."

"We'll see you out," Autumn said.

So the four women strolled alongside the paddock and then to the car. Tiffany trailed along with them while the puppies had been put back in the pen.

"Just two more weeks," Chantale said as she opened the door to the car. "I think I'll really like having the company. Plus, she'll be able to come to work with me. I just hope she'll get along with King."

"Lacey brings King here and he loves the puppies," Rainbow assured her, but Kennedy gave her a pointed look. Obviously this was where Lacey came for counselling and Chantale liked the sound of that. This place with the horses, dogs, puppies and qualified therapists taking care of people in crisis. People who needed help to navigate the difficult place the world could be.

Chantale tried to get away with a wave, but Autumn was having none of that. She gave her another hug. "You're the best," she said, "although Rielle's pretty cool as well. Two great lawyers." She said the words almost as if she were in awe. Funny that, the reputation the legal profession could engender. It was too bad Remy and Zach had been wrong about Declan. Their prejudice would have coloured a young woman who was trying to convince them of her truth. The truth which had turned out to be accurate. Chantale wondered if Remy would offer an apology to Autumn like Colton had.

Once she'd managed to extricate herself from Autumn, Chantale was able to give a little wave and head out. As she drove down the tree-lined driveway, she let out a little sigh. Even in the dead of winter, the Fraser Valley was a beautiful place. Here, in Kennedy's domain, there were soaring trees. Trees easily twice as high as the ranch house. Now, as the sun peeked out from behind the omnipresent clouds, the driveway was sun-spackled. As Chantale pulled onto the road, she thought about Rainbow's words.

Was she a victim? She certainly would never seen herself as such. Except she did feel violated, although nowhere near the degree Autumn and the other women would feel. But someone had come into her sacred space and destroyed her sense of peace. Her first home after thirty-two years of living under her father's thumb and another man had come in to take away her sanctuary. No amount of shopping was going to erase the memory of what had been done to her. No amount of paint was going to erase the memory of those vicious misogynistic words.

Still, the clean-up was due to be finished on Thursday and the crew chief was going to oversee the installation of the hardwood floor so the next time someone broke in with pig's blood it would be easier to clean up.

Stupid, she told herself, to let herself go there. Of course it wasn't going to happen again. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime events. How many ex-police sharpshooters were going to put her in his sights? None. So she'd install another deadbolt and move on with her life. What had she told Autumn?

Well sometimes it's not a bad thing when things change.

There was truth in those words and she'd do well to remember that.

Then she pulled up to a four-way stop and felt her heart trip.

Turn right and she could go to Jocelyne and Seth's.

Go straight and she could go to Nick and Lacey's.

Turn left and she could go to Declan's.

How was she supposed to decide? Well, she wasn't up to facing Seth right now, so that was out. Lacey and Nick would be expecting her, of course, but she wasn't sure she could face what was supposed to be a celebratory day.

A horn blared behind her and she found herself turning left. He owed her. He owed her an apology and she was damn well staying until she got one. Then she'd walk out the door with her head held high, moving on with her life.

Still, her stomach was twisted in knots as she made her way up the long driveway to Declan's. The house looked much as it had when she had arrived three weeks ago, but she was a different woman. What kind of welcome would she get this time? Probably not a warm one, she thought, but she was still determined to get what she had had come for.

So she exited her car and went up the walkway to the front door. She rang the bell.

Then waited. She glanced at her watch and waited until two full minutes had passed.

She rang the bell again.

Another two full minutes went by.

Feeling annoyed, she pressed her finger to the bell and held it there.

The door flew open.

"What the hell?" There was no mistaking the fury in his voice or the anger glittering in those crystal blue eyes. Again. "What the hell do you want?"

She wasn't sure she had ever received a colder reception, except perhaps the first time she had shown up unannounced. She gave him the once-over and decided he was even angrier now.

She straightened. "I need to talk to you."

His gaze raked over her. "You're dirty."

Again? Seriously, it looked like the stick was back up his ass. She brushed at her jeans. "Better?"

He didn't look pleased, but he opened the door further so she could get in. Still, he directed her to the bathroom. "Clean yourself up."

She wanted to argue. She wanted to point out she wasn't staying, that she would just say her peace and be on her way. She wanted to demand he apologize so she could get the hell out of here.

Then she looked at him. Really looked at him. His face showed the ravages of stress and his eyes had gone from angry to empty in a heartbeat. She pointed to the bathroom. "I'll go get cleaned up."

He simply nodded, turned, and headed off towards the kitchen. So Chantale went into the powder room and did her best to make herself look respectable. The jeans were Jocelyne's so they were rolled up as were the arms on the shirt. Still, after she wiped the dirt and a stray wisp of straw from her jeans, she believed that she looked presentable. Then, her hackles went up. Who cared what she looked like? She wasn't here to impress him with her looks, but to impress him with her impassioned speech on why he owed her once massive apology.

So she stepped out of the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen. She was instantly hit with the aroma of coffee. She hadn't been planning to stay long enough to drink a cup, but she wasn't going to be rude and turn it down if it was offered.

Declan was standing near the stove where he had put the kettle on to boil. Chantale walked to the breakfast bar and leaned against it. For a full two minutes, neither of them spoke. What did he see, she wondered, when he looked at her? Did he see some dense women who might fawn and fall at his feet again or did he see a competent lawyer who had done everything in her power to get him set free?

At length, he crossed his arms across his chest. The aggressive and indolent stance. Well, two could play at that game. She mimicked him, but he gave no response. He looked like he was about to speak when the kettle boiled. She watched as he set about pouring the water into a teapot decorated with pink, blue, and yellow flowers with pale green leaves. It was such a delicate pattern and should have been at odds with the virile man, but it wasn't. It suited what she knew was his inner sensitivity. He was secure in his masculinity. Enough to have a delicate porcelain tea set.

"I like-"

"I owe-"

They both stopped. He was still turned from her, giving her both his back and the cold shoulder. A moment passed.

"I was going to say that I liked the tea set."

"It was my mother's," he said simply. Of course it was, she thought. A mother who must be gone was gone and there had been no one else to give it to because when Seth had asked if there was anyone those horrible men might go after, Declan had answered he had no one. At the time she had thought that sad and she felt doubly that way now. He had so much to give, yet had no one to give it to.

She watched as he took a deep breath. His arms were placed on the counter on either side of the pot. His shoulders were hunched forward and his head was bowed.

"I was going to say I was sorry I hurt you."

That she hadn't expected. She'd expected to have to make demands, not have his apology come so swiftly. She found herself flummoxed. "I...I accept your apology."

Now, finally, he turned. She'd been right when she'd thought him ravaged. Lines of fatigue and pain crossed his features and his hands were balled in tight fists.

"I never meant to hurt you," he said. "Well, maybe that's not true. I needed to put distance between us and the only way to get rid of you was to hurt you and for that I'm sorry. Maybe if I'd had more time I could have found a more delicate way to extricate myself, but the one thing I didn't have was the luxury of was time."

She took a moment to take in what he was saying. "Did you mean the things you said?"

He turned away and poured a cup of steeped tea into the mug. "I did not."

"Look at me and say that," she demanded. "Look at me and tell me you understand what you did to me."

Slowly, he turned. Then his eyes settled on hers. "I know what I did to you. I was purposely cruel and used things you had told me in confidence to hurt you. I think everyone there knew what I was doing, but it doesn't excuse my behaviour." He hesitated. "Nick told me he spoke to Bennett, Greg, Seth and Colton. None of them is going to report your behaviour to the law society, but I'm still sorry I put you in that position in the first place."

"Colton apologized to me."

Where she had expected surprise, she found none.

"Colton and I had a long conversation about you. About you and him, about you and me. We had a long time to try to sort out our differences and found there weren't as many as we'd first thought. He still believed I was guilty, of course, but I think doubts had begun to creep in. Not that he would ever have admitted it," he was quick to add, "but still, we were able to find common ground."

Chantale found herself stunned and more than a little disconcerted. Colton and Declan talking about her? Somehow she didn't see how that could possibly be a good thing.

"He was here," Declan went on to say and Chantale felt like he could have knocked her over with a feather.

"And?"

"He apologized. He didn't even try to justify his behaviour. He said his first stop had been to see Autumn and then he had come here. He said Dorrie and Remy were contacting the other victims, including Jade. I can only hope they'll find some kind of peace."

"And you," Chantale prompted. "Can you find peace?"

Now, he looked uncertain. "I received a call from the Chancellor and the president of the university. I am being given a sabbatical for the next three months until summer semester begins. Then I'm expected to take on a full course load."

"That's good news," Chantale said. "By then the furor will have died down and you can go back to being Professor Perfect."

The look he gave her told her he didn't appreciate her attempt at humour.

An uncomfortable silence descended.

"I should get going," Chantale said. "Lacey will be wondering where I am."

"You haven't had coffee," Declan said. "Surely you can stay to have a cup."

"What's the point, Declan? I think everything that needs to be said has been said."

He shook his head. "No, I think we've just begun. I need to tell you the last few days have been hell-"

"That's hardly surprising-"

"That's not what I meant," he said, effectively cutting her off. "They were hell because I was missing you so much. In such a short time, I had become accustomed to having you with me. Used to having you to talk to, to watch movies with, to bounce ideas off of."

"Declan, we only ever had your case in common. What happened...it happened because of circumstances-"

"I love you."

She was stunned into silence. She wanted to tell him he was mistaken. She wanted to tell him it was just circumstances. She wanted to assure him that once she walked out the door, he would be relieved and they would forget his proclamation.

Except she couldn't do those things because she felt the same way.

"Say something." His voice was soft and entreating. She felt herself powerless to disobey.

"I love you too Declan, but it doesn't-"

She was cut off as he strode over to her, thrust his hands into her hair and pulled her lips to his. Without preliminaries, he slid his tongue along the seam of her lips and she opened her mouth. He plundered, he challenged, he parried. He demanded and brooked no opposition.

Yet she wasn't scared. She knew he would stop if she asked him to. If she did anything but twine her arms around his neck and pull him close, he would step back. So her arms snaked out and she dragged him against her. Hard planes met soft and yielding flesh. His ardour left her breathless so she tore her mouth from his and put her forehead to his.

"There's so much to say," she said, between ragged breaths.

"And we'll say it all," he replied, "but for now, will you let me show you? I need to show you."

She had no argument to that since she felt exactly the same way. So she allowed him to scoop her into his arms and carry her the twenty or so steps to the bedroom. Each stride ratcheted up her desire so when she slid down his body, she was already reaching for the hem of his sweater. Fingers fumbled as clothes landed in a heap on the floor. She was greedy as she raked her fingers along his abdomen. He must have felt the same way because soon they were both naked and he was pushing her back against the mattress. When her knees buttressed, she lay down and crawled back towards the head of the bed.

By the time her head hit the pillow, he was next to her. She was already urging him over her.

"Too quick," he whispered.

"I'm ready," she replied, digging her fingers into his hips and then sliding beneath him. Her thighs parted and then she was guiding him to her. They were both ready, she thought, as he slid into her. Her hips flexed, drawing him as close as she could to her.

When he was seated to the hilt, he began to take her. Take was the right verb because she was offering herself up to him. He took her hands in his and raised them above her head, pinioning them. She strained, but that only tightened his grip. He nipped at her lower lip then plunged his tongue into her mouth, forcing her to take the intrusion. His tongue sought the recesses of her mouth even as he continued to piston in and out.

She met his eyes, which were dilated in pleasure. The black of his pupils almost completely overtook the icy blue she was used to. His face was contorted with both ecstasy and agony.

Then, her body began to come apart. The orgasm ripped at her, pulling her down into waves of bliss and, for just a moment, she closed her eyes.

"Look at me," he demanded, and she complied, even as he pushed her higher and higher. "Take me in," he said through gritted teeth.

"I need you," she panted. "I'm yours."

That seemed to spur him on as he pressed even closer and began a more demanding rhythm. Chantale wasn't sure she would be able to keep up when she felt her body draw up again. This time, when she crested, he was right there with her. His back bowed, he let out a low and feral sound which might have scared her if she hadn't found it so arousing.

Then he collapsed on top of her, finally releasing her hands so she could wind them around his sweat-slicked back and pull him even closer to her.

"I'm crushing you," Declan said, but Chantale only tightened her grip on him.

"Just another minute," she said. "Just one more minute."

So he let himself be held. His mind was still blown and his limbs were still jelly, so he could stay where he was for another minute or two. As time bled, though, he rolled away and pulled her towards him so she was sprawled across him, their legs just a tangle of limbs. Her head was cushioned on his chest and her hand was laying on his stomach. Still, neither of their breaths had completely returned to normal.

"That was..." Words failed him. He ran his hand through her hair, pulling it back from her sweat-slicked brow. "I feel like I should apologize," he began. "I was a brute."

She turned her head, then, placing her chin on his chest and meeting his eyes. "I'm only going to say this one. I like ardour. I like knowing I can drive you out of your mind so all you want is me. I like having you inside me and I really like orgasms. You gave me several, but the way, for which I thank you."

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "So you're really okay? I feel like I should have been gentler."

She gave him a wicked grin. "The next time we can go for gentle. Or maybe the time after that. The day after I got shot, you showed me what gentle looked like and I enjoyed it - more than I ever have with anyone else. As someone pointed out to me, I like enthusiastic sex and there's nothing wrong with that."

He leaned over to place a kiss to her forehead. "No, there's definitely nothing wrong with that." Then his expression turned serious. "You never got your coffee."

Her grin was quick and wide. "Coffee will keep. I think I'm just about ready for round two."

He knew better than to argue with her as she had some very creative ways of getting to the next round.

It was almost an hour later before they slipped into the soaker tub. It wasn't necessarily designed for two, so Chantale was sitting with her back to Declan's chest, leaning back against what she knew was great strength. He slid his arms around her so he could pull her even closer.

"I've been thinking," he began.

"I don't know if I like the sound of this," Chantale said teasingly.

"Well, I've been writing a novel," he said. "Maybe it's too early to talk about it, but I'm really excited. A forced sabbatical isn't what I would have chosen for myself, but I will have time to properly research the book and then write it." He paused. "I think I want to go to Ireland to do some of the work. See my old haunts as well as visit my cousins in County Cork."

Chantale nodded. "I think you've earned a vacation."

"Will you come with me?"

She turned to glance at him over her shoulder. "You want me to go to Ireland with you?"

"Well, I want to introduce my cousins to my wife, so, yes, I would like you to come to Ireland with me."

"Your..." Her voice hitched. "Are you asking me to marry you?" She was sure she must have heard him wrong.

He nuzzled her neck. "I love you and you love me. Maybe there will always be a cloud over my head-"

"I don't care about that," she said quickly. "And I'll always be a defence attorney-"

"I don't care about that," he assured her. "You're the only thing I care about. If you want us to go somewhere and start fresh, that's okay with me."

"No," she said quickly. "I love Mission City. I love being close to my sister."

"You'll be even closer when you move in here," he pointed out. "I'm a bit of a traditionalist in that I want us to be apart until the wedding, but since it will only be a few days from now, I'm sure your sister won't mind if you bunk with her."

Chantale considered. "No, she and Seth would welcome me. I guess I could buy a wedding dress while I'm replacing my wardrobe. Now would be a good time to get married since I don't currently have any clients."

"That won't last, you know. Pretty soon they'll be knocking on your door looking for the best lawyer in British Columbia."

"Hardly," she said, but she did revel just a little bit in her success. "I want a small wedding. Seth and Jocelyne, Nick and Lacey, Bennett and, of course, Aline and Jamie."

Declan pulled her even closer. "I owe Jamie everything. Do you think he would stand up for me?"

"I think he would be honoured," Chantale said. "Would you mind if we invited the Dixon sisters?" She clapped her hand to her forehead. "Oh, crap."

His hands tightened on their now clasped hands. "What is it?"

"I was supposed to get a dog," she took a breath, "but I know how much you hate dirt. I guess I'll just have to pass on her."

"You would do that for me?"

"Of course," she said, but with just a slight reluctance.

"Well, you don't have to. Helena is as welcome in my home as you are."

Chantale turned, trying to blink back the tears. She could see through his easy grin he wasn't just humouring her. He really meant it when he said she could bring home her baby.

"I'll ask Kennedy to watch her while we're in Ireland." She brought their entwined hands to her lips, placing a kiss on his. "Is it really this easy?"

She felt him place his face to her hair and then his breath feathered along her neck. "It is as easy as we want to make it, Chantale. Quick marriage, honeymoon in Ireland and then we come back here and get Helena. Then we start a life together."

"Okay," she said slowly. "I feel so happy that I'm going to burst."

"Well don't," Declan warned. "I'm not sure everyone will be happy about this."

"They'll just have to get with the program," Chantale said, "because now we've charted this course together, nothing's going to dissuade me."

Nothing did as they were married the next Saturday afternoon in a pretty Catholic church. Then the small group went back to Nick and Lacey's where they had a small reception. Chantale had tried to make time to see each guest and was pleased that Declan had invited Chloe and several other co-workers.

Now, they were driving to the airport.

"Anything I should know before we get there?"

"Only that although Ireland is the home of my birth, Canada is the home of my heart." He paused. "Especially now I have you in my life."

"You make me feel like I can do anything," she said quietly.

"And you can, my glorious Titania. Together, we can do anything."