CHAPTER ONE

The sounds of my feet hitting the pavement was soothing. I loved running. It always had a soothing effect on me. My life was great up until the other day. I was apart of something amazing and I had an amazing boyfriend who was very respectful and loving, waiting for me in the house that we shared. I had amazing friends who had my back and family who I adored. Running helped clear things up usually, but today running didn't help one bit. It all started a week ago…

Dinner with my boyfriend, Detective Antonio Dawson, was tonight. We hadn't had a chance to spend much time together as we had worked on a case that kept us busy and exhausted. We both decided we needed some time away from the Intelligence Unit where we both worked. My birthday was also coming up, and Antonio wanted to take me out.

I put my hair in a curly updo, with some of the red strands curling softly around my ears and framing my face. My make up was light, but the dark liner made my eyes stand out in a way I knew he would like. I perfected my lipstick and turned to my closet. A tight, knee length green dress that showed off my curves hung in the corner, and I slipped it on. I was struggling with the zipper when Antonio walked in. I didn't notice him at first, and he stood for a moment, watching me.

I jumped up when I heard him wolf whistle. I spun around and he pulled me close. "I think you look great." He kissed me sweetly and turned me around and finished zipping my dress, placing a delicate kiss on my shoulder. "I have a surprise for you," he said. He took my hand and led me to the living room, where there were a dozen red roses on the coffee table. I smiled and kissed him, but he shook his head. "Those aren't from me. I found them on the porch. I thought they might be from your uncle."

I smiled at him softly. "They might be." I walked over and picked up the card, reading it. I feel my eyes widen, reading it again, this time slowly. Happy Birthday, Doll-face was all that was written on the card. The roses weren't from my uncle. The only person to ever call me Doll-Face was my husband who had died in the line of duty 11 years ago. I froze, my heart racing and my hands shaking.

"Babe?" I heard Antonio ask. He took the card from my hands and read it. "Who's this from?" I couldn't answer him. I didn't know who it was from the only person who it could possibly be from is dead. I couldn't breathe.

Antonio took me in his arms. "Babe? Listen to me, okay? We'll talk about this later. Forget the flowers for now."

"I…"

"Come on. It's your birthday. Let's have some good food and celebrate. It's our time. Let's not let anything interrupt our date. I promise, we'll figure this out later, if that's what you want. Okay?"

I smiled up at him, reveling in his warm embrace. "Okay. Thank you."

We walked to his car hand in hand, and he drove us to a restaurant named Vitalia's. I stared between him and the door. Vitalia's was booked for weeks and weeks, and it was almost impossible with our schedule to be positive of a day off that far in advance. I wonder how he got our reservation.

The host looked me over, then turned to Antonio, asking for the name on his reservation. "Dawson, table for two." Antonio slipped his arm around my waist. After checking me out again, the host led us to our table.

A few moments after we sat, a waitress came by to take our drink order, and we immediately decided on a bottle of wine. While we were looking over the menu, I looked up, feeling like I was being watched. I frowned, feeling myself go pale. My husband was staring at me from a seat three tables away.

"Alexis? Hey!" Antonio brought my attention back to him. "Are you okay?"

I just shook my head. "I'm just… seeing things. I'll be alright." I looked down at the menu, choosing my meal as the waiter brought and poured our wine. After that, things went smoothly, we laughed and talked, enjoying our time together. We got our food and enjoyed each other's company. We talked about his kids, Diego and Eva. We talked about the team and our futures together. We started talking about marriage. The thought of marrying Antonio Dawson was exciting to me. There was never a dull moment when I was with Antonio.

Towards the end of dinner, Antonio smiled and slid a long velvet jewelry box in front of me that he'd pulled out from his jacket pocket. "Happy birthday, baby."

I opened the slim box and smiled widely. It was a Pandora bracelet, decorated with charms of representing love, my family, bravery, and also my job as a Detective in the Intelligence Unit. I leaned over and kissed him hard.

"So you love it?" He smiled, taking the bracelet and gently clasping it on my wrist. I nodded happily. We were blissful in this moment. It was as if nothing could break us apart.

The next morning I woke up early, stretching as I sat up in bed. Last night, after we left the restaurant, we went straight home and made love long into the night. Antonio was still asleep, so I leaned over and kissed him good-bye. He mumbled a sleepy good-bye and rolled over, falling asleep again right away. I giggled at his sleepy mumble, and got ready to pick up my uncle and two of my old friends from the airport.

I got in my car but then my phone rang. It was Lindsey, letting me know that we'd gotten a case. I dialed my uncle's phone number and asked that he get a taxi; that I was called into work. I got his voicemail; he must have already been flying. I turned the car around and went to pick up Antonio.

He was already in the shower when I came in. I snuck in and made him coffee. I then changed into a pair of black dress slacks, a white tank top and a white button up shirt paired with a pair of black flats. By the time I was finished braiding my hair, Antonio was out of the shower and dressed. He kissed my cheek and pulled on his shoes. We arrived at the crime scene and the victim was a missing daughter of the police chief. We gathered our information and went back to the bullpen.

We posted the picture up of the victim on the board. Her name was Melissa Barnes. She was a sixth grade teacher, with dark hair but bright, clear brown eyes and an expression that made it easy to believe she was good with kids.

She wasn't married, but she had a boyfriend. Her father had never met the boyfriend and none of her friends knew him either. He was a mystery to us. We quickly divided up tasks to investigate and find him, and headed to our desks to work.

My boss, Sargent Hank Voight, stopped by my desk to wish me a happy birthday. "Weren't you supposed to pick up your uncle from the airport?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but I left him a voicemail letting him know we caught a case."

"Oh, no. Go ahead and take a personal. We'll be alright here until you get back, and we'll call if something comes up." He proceeded to shoo me out of the bullpen so I could pick them up. I waved everyone a good-bye and went to the airport.

I got there just in time to see my best friends Elizabeth Ryan and Timothy Daniels, and my uncle Michael Williams walking up. I started walking forward to greet them, but I froze upon to seeing the fourth person with them.

Behind them was my cousin, Aaron Williams. He was a soldier in the army. He'd been gone for several years, and had done two separate tours in the Middle East. I had missed him terribly. I immediately jumped into his arms, hugging him hard. "Welcome home, Aaron." I had tears in my eyes, and I saw Elizabeth wipe away a tear too. I soon hugged everyone else, and we went to baggage claim to collect everyone's things. I drove them to my house, and then drove back to the precinct, focusing on my work again.

Author note: I don't own anything you recognize. They belong to your respective owners. I'd also like to thank my beta temporaryinsanity91