It was the first thing Beth's mother said to me. Those words changed my life.
She was holding Beth's picture when she came to me for help, and even then, as she put it in my hand, I felt a connection that would tie me to her for the next twenty-two years. Josef spent years trying to get me to come to my senses and walk away, but I couldn't. I was consumed with this need to protect her, to look out for her, and it gave me something I hadn't had in a while. Purpose. Someone to live for.
Oh, Josef had a field day with that piece of information... He thought I'd finally lost it, and I'll admit, following someone around without their knowledge for most of their life isn't exactly the sanest way to spend your time. But once I saw that terrified look in her eyes, I had to make sure that she never felt that way again, and from that day on, Beth was never far from my mind. Her mother, on the other hand, I hadn't given much thought to since then. That is, until the day she decided to pay Beth a little surprise visit.
And well... Imagine her surprise when she found me there.
It was the first quiet night that Mick and Beth had come across in days what with her new job at the DA's office and the mess he'd had to deal with since the close call with Emma and Jackson. So naturally the couple decided to stay in and spend it alone.
Mick sat on the couch, drink in hand, in her apartment and watched as she paced the kitchen, trying hard to cut the phone call she was currently having short. She was clearly exhausted and wanting to relax.
"You sure you don't want to just turn in early tonight?" he asked, coming up behind her as she hung up the phone, "We can do this another night if you're tired..."
"No, I want you here," she turned and placed her hand gently against his chest, "It's the only thing that got me through today..."
He brushed her hair from her face and smiled softly at her remark.
"So go sit," she added, giving him a light push toward the living room, "I'm just going to make me a drink."
"I'll get it," he replied, walking passed her and taking a glass from the cabinet before she could object.
After pouring her usual drink, he returned to take her hand in his and led her toward the couch. They both made themselves comfortable, tangled in each other's arms on the couch's soft cushions.
"Mmm," she sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned back against his chest. He found it funny sometimes just how completely smitten he was with her. He loved being close to her. The warmth of her skin, the scent of her hair, the way her chest rose and fell with every breath. She was intoxicating. And right when he was about to show her just how happy he was to be so close to her, the sound of someone knocking at the door ruined all his fun.
"Ignore it," he growled playfully, flashing her an almost sadistic grin. "Down boy, I think you can wait a few minutes," she laughed, prying herself from his grasp to answer the door.
"Ok but just so you know, if it's Talbot, I'm not above biting him!"
"Then let's hope for the sake of my paycheck that it's not," she quipped as she turned the knob and opened the door.
"Surprise!"
Her body stiffened which Mick noticed immediately, and he rose to his feet behind her. "...Mom"