Tonight was the first night she hadn't cried in two weeks-she was making progress, though it had been a long, hard road. She wrote Lon and Christian each a letter apologizing for her behavior at the ceremony. As of yet, neither had replied. She didn't expect them to, and that was fine with her…or was it? She felt horrible about leaving the girls like she did-and Lon, too. She couldn't believe he had attacked Christian like that. She couldn't believe she had threatened them with her gun like she had. That was in the past. What was done was done. There was nothing she could do about it now. She had missed her family terribly over the past four months, and was looking forward to spending time with them, appreciating the time she had already spent with them. The stress of the past four months had taken its toll. She looked and felt older. A good portion of her youthfulness had vanished. She was definitely a different person. Marlene being pregnant was quite enough stress, not to mention all her near-death experiences. She sighed as she crawled into bed, thankful for an excuse to lose consciousness and escape the torment. Peace was returning to her soul, but it was taking its sweet time. She had a long road ahead of her. Memories, good and bad, haunted her at night, but it was getting better. She stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking. Someday, she would write all of this down, publish it, and make a load of money. She smiled slightly at the thought. Sleep descending upon her, she rolled over, whispering: "I miss you, my darling…"

She heard music in her dreams-the sweet music of the man she loved. His rich voice ringing through the darkness, penetrating her soul, and awakening the joy she had felt those few months ago. His face was barely perceptible, but it became clearer as his voice became stronger. She felt like she was floating, letting the melody carry her up and away.

A foggy day in London Town
Had me low and had me down
I viewed the morning with alarm
The British Museum had lost its charm
How long, I wondered, could this thing last?
But the age of miracles hadn't passed…

She quickly found herself blinking at the glaring light of her clock radio. It read 4:00 am. She groaned a little and rolled over, closing her eyes. She still heard his voice. It sounded even closer. "Tu eres loca en la cabesa, chica" she told herself. It was probably the psychotic neighbor cat, but it did sound awfully close. She rolled out of bed, curious and irritated. "Stupid cat…" she grumbled, walking to the window. She reached for the handle to shut the window. Her arm stopped in midair. She blinked several times, shaking her head vigorously, trying to bring to her mind out of its nocturnal fog. She swore she was dreaming, but she wasn't. There he was, in the flesh, standing in the street, singing the song that meant so much to both of them. A tornado churned in her stomach. It was all she could do to keep from shouting. He was here. She ran and switched on her beside lamp. Startled, he looked up at the light. She stood at the window, beaming, and sang:

"For suddenly, I saw you there, and in foggy London town, the sun was shining everywhere…"

He smiled brightly. "I got your letter."

"What took you so long?"

He laughed. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find reasonably priced airline tickets from London to here?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," she grinned.

"Ah, so you can sympathize with my plight."

She nods. "Stop talking and your get behind up here!"

He laughs. "Yes, madam" He pauses, looking around. "Er, how do you propose I do such?"

She smacks her forehead. "Der! Hang on." she disappears from the window and returns moments later, a roll-up fire ladder in tow. "Behold! I am the great Codini!" she claps her hand over her mouth. "Oh, geez! My parents!"

"Parents?"

She whispers. "Yes they're sleeping!" She tosses one end of the ladder over the window ledge. "Catch, Wonder Boy!"

He catches the end and begins climbing. "Wonder Boy?"

"Oui! My new nickname for you."

He looks up at her and grins. "I like it."

"I thought you might."

"I could write stories about him."

"Oh, yes! The Adventures of Codini and Wonder Boy-I can see it on the New York Times Bestseller List right now!"

He chuckles, ascending the last top rungs of the ladder. "How come you get top-billing?"

She smirks. "I came up with idea."

"Right," he grunts, stepping onto the window ledge.

"Yes, me and my brilliant multiple personalities."

"Okay, now you're scaring me," sets his foot down on her bedroom floor.

She giggles. "I try."

"Hi." he sighs in relief, planting his other foot on the floor, smiling.

"Hi, yourself," she grins broadly.

He smiles and holds out his arms "Fill my empty arms, oh keeper of my heart."

"I can't believe you're here," she says, awestruck by his presence.

"Believe it." he smiles.

She gladly goes to him, laying her head on his chest. "Fill my empty soul, oh one which I crave. Fill my empty days, oh usurper of my sorrows…"

He wraps his arms around her, speaking quietly. "Fill my empty life, oh fire of my bosom. Fill my empty dreams, oh shelter of my form."

She speaks. "Fill me with passion, with grace, with honor, guardian of my soul, I give myself to thee."

"Fill me with truth, with wisdom, with joy, protector of my spirit, I offer thee my hand."

"To shape and mold…"

"To have and to hold…"

They speak in unison: "Now and forever, you are my love, my light, my hope…you are my life."

She sighs happily. "You really love me, don't you?"

He smiles. "What gave it away?"

"Oh, just flying hundreds of miles to be with me."

"Is that all?"

"Not even close…"

"Oh? Do tell."

"That would take forever."

"You, oh keeper of my heart, you have me for the rests of your life and mine."

"Seriously?"

He lifts her chin with his finger, staring deep into her eyes. "Yes…after all, a very wise woman once said 'Forever means forever'" he smiles and kisses her deeply. The kiss lasts a long time. It had been so long since their last kiss, and they were savoring the moment.

"Please tell me this isn't a dream." she looks into his eyes.

"If it is, don't wake me up…" he smiles, kissing her again. "No, my Darling Cody, you are not dreaming. "I am here-I stand before you as a man hopelessly in love with the most amazing woman in the world."

She frowns. "How can you love me, after everything I've put you through? I don't deserve you."

He smiles warmly, holding her close. "How? When something like this is forever, nothing can stop it-not even a literal shotgun wedding."

She buries her face in his chest, groaning. "How in the world did it come to that? She looks up at him. "Christian, darling, I am so sorry for everything. I acted like a fool. I…"

He stops her, putting his finger to her lips. "Enough of that- what's done is done. We are together now."

"Yes, darling, we are." she yawns. "Oh my…it's nearly 4:30." she goes and crawls underneath the covers of her bed. "Fill my arms, My Forever…"she smiles softly.

He looks at her quizzically. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, my darling…I just want you to hold me."

"Very well," he smiles and lies down beside her. "I love you, Codini," he says, kissing her softly.

"I love you, Wonder Boy," she pulls him close, and soon they both drift off to sleep, wrapped in the security of each other's arms.