Author's note: This story is for the biggest Jimel fans ever! I warn you that this story may be extremely hard to get through due to it's violent and mature content. This is my most heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, love-stricken story I have yet to write. If you don't think you can handle it...walk away now. :) Enjoy!

It was just her luck! The last dress in the store on sale. She didn't have the money to pay full price, and the wedding was just days away, so she didn't have time to waste. She handed it to the cashier, along with her credit card, requesting that it should be hemmed.

"It'll cost extra." The cashier said.

"It'll be worth it." She said, with a smile.

The cashier took a quick look at her distended stomach. "I take it you want me to extend the waste line?" He asked, sarcastically.

"What gave it away?" She asked, sarcastically, as well.

He flashed her a fake smile and took the dress into the back room. She stood there, by the register, with her purse, and just waited. From behind her came the quiet crying of a baby. She turned around to see a five week old baby boy sitting in a blue and yellow striped strolled, with an outfit to match. She looked up and saw his mother, who was reaching for her son. She stopped and looked up at his mom.

"May I?" She asked.

"Of course." She smiled.

She reached down and quieted the little boy. "Wow. You're a natural. Do you have have kids?"

"Oh...no, not yet." She said, motioning to her stomach.

"How far along are you?"

"Three and a half months...well...fourteen weeks and two days." She chuckled.

She chuckled back. "Excited?"

"No...nervous."

She understood how she felt. "Do you know the sex?"

"Well, Lee was hoping for a boy-"

"Your husband?"

"My...fiance..." She chuckled, "That's kinda why I'm getting a wedding dress..." She went back to the original subject. "It's a girl." She smiled.

"Oh...I wanted a girl, too...don't get me wrong, I love Brennan...but, you know how it is...the guys want their jocks...the girls want their little princesses. Do you know what you're naming her?"

"Not yet..." She was stopped by the cashier.

"Here...hope it fits." He said, unamused, practically throwing the dress at her. They both flashed each other a fake smile and an 'evil' look. She took her dress from the cashier and started out the door.

"Oh...I'm sorry. What's your name?" She said, holding out her hand.

"Alice...Alice Buckley...and you?" She said, exchanging the gesture.

"Melinda Gordon." She smiled and started for the door again.

"Uh...Melinda?" She turned back around. "You have your whole life ahead of you...make the most of everything...please.

She nodded. "I will." And with that, she finally walked out of the building.

She got out of her cat and hurried into her store. She flipped on the lights and locked the door. She rushed to the back of the store and hung up her dress. She looked at the dress and breathed in the reality of everything. She was startled by a knock on the door. She turned the corner to the front of the store, and saw a very chilly Lee, holding a non-fat caramel frappachino and a decaf mocha latte...double foam, of course. She rushed over and unlocked the door.

"Baby, it's freezing out there!" She let him in and brushed the snow off his jacket. "Why aren't you at work?" He set the coffees down and put his hands on Melinda's shoulders.

"I like to say 'Hi' to my fiance every forty-eight hours." He said, jokingly. He rubbed his hand on her cheek and gave her a kiss. "How you feelin'?" he asked, still rubbing her cheek.

"Better..." She had been feeling sick for weeks, and she was glad that she finally feeling better. "Did you get the rings?" She asked, excitedly.

"Picked 'em up this morning." He smiled. She responded by throwing her arms around his neck and started crying hysterically.

"Why are you crying, babe?" He asked, chuckling.

"Because..." She said, weeping and wiping her tears. "...It really means a lot to me that you're still around...After everything we've been through...no one's stood by me like this before; not even my mom...so this day is really important to me."

He smiled, admirably. "Babe...it's just as important to me..." He lifted her head and looked her in the eyes. "How often does a guy like me get lucky enough to be with a girl like you? You are worth everything we've been through...and more...there's no doubt in my mind." He looked at her, and watched her smile. "It's those hormones again, isn't it?" He chuckled.

"Probably." She chuckled, too. "Anyway, you gotta go back to work. The chief is taking these days out of your paternity leave, and I'll kinda need you then."

"I planned on it, but I gotta pick up something from the house...Hey, did you get your dress?"

"Yeah...It's in the back." Lee started walking to the back of the store. "Woah! Woah! Woah! I don't think so!" She said, blocking his way.

"What?"

"You're not allowed to see the dress until I walk down the aisle!"

"Says who?"

"Says me...and there's nothing you can do about it." She grinned.

"Oh really?" He asked, grinning. He walked closer to Melinda and reached his arms out to tickled her.

"Lee, please...please wait until the wedding."

"But I want to see you in it."

"Lee.."

"Okay...okay." He smiled. "I'll wait." He gave her a kiss and picked up his coffee. "I'll call you when I get back to work." He headed out the door and opened it slightly."...I love you." He said, his voice breaking. He didn't say it too often, but he really did love her. She didn't say it back, though. She just smiled and waved goodbye.

"Okay...have a nice day." Melinda called out to her customer, who was just leaving. She took another look at her phone, waiting for Lee to call. He had left the store about an hour before, so it seemed a little peculiar. It was getting dark, anyway, so she headed back home. She grabbed her keys, turned off the light and locked the door. She took another look at her phone; still nothing. She got in her car and drove off. About two streets away from her house, a line of police cars stopped her. She got out of her car and walked over to the police officers.

"Excuse me...what's going on?"

"Don't you smell the smoke? House fire."

Melinda was shocked. "W-w-what! W-what address is it!"

"Not sure. But-"

Melinda ignored the officer and ran past the yellow tape. The officers chased after her but couldn't keep up. She made it to her street and stopped dead in her tracks. She started at her house and watched the flames grow bigger and bigger. Her mouth was gaped open and tears began welling up in her.

"LEE!" She screamed into the night.

Author's note: :'( More chaps coming. Don't worry, if this wasn't enough for you...it only gets more dramatic from here on out. Review.