A/N: First of all, thank you all for your awesome and encouraging reviews! It made my morning so great that I wrote this chapter on my lunchbreak. So please excuse any major typing issues my iphone did its best. :) Btw, sorry about the lack of separation between months in the last chapter, it deleted my breaks!

Casey walked out of the DA's office. She felt numb. No broken to be exact. As if someone had just driven a huge knife through her heart and pulled it right back out.

Yet that wasn't all. At the same time she felt renewed. Like this huge part of her that had been hollowed out was somehow being refilled. How was it possible?

Alex had been shot on her way home. Taken to the hospital, where they tried to save her life, but failed. She died. The doctors came out and told Charlotte and her she was gone. They told everyone she was gone. They buried her. So how is she alive?

Before Casey was fully aware of what was going on she realized that she was sitting outside Violet's office. She clearly had been on autopilot the whole drive over. Not to mention, Abbie's earlier intrusion into her office had made her late. Climbing the stairs she couldn't figure out what she was going to say to the curly haired therapist.

She bolted into the office, immediately pacing like she does in the courtroom trying to regain control. Casey was barely aware Violet was speaking before she blurted, "She's alive! Violet, Alex is alive!"

Violet's gaping mouth expression said volumes before she spoke, "What do you mean Casey? How is that possible?"

"I just found out Violet. I am not fully aware of all the details just yet. What I can tell you is she was or is in Witness Protection, but she is coming back."

Violet nodded, "Okay, how did you find this out?"

Casey took a deep breath to compose herself, although she was still pacing and trying to stop shaking. Slowly she began, "A few nights ago my friend Abbie showed up at my apartment. She had discovered through her homicide detectives that the man she was preparing to try for murder was also the hit man that killed Alex. At the time, she wasn't planning on trying him for Alex's murder because there wasn't enough evidence, but she wanted me to have some closure knowing that they caught him and he was going away for the rest of his miserable life." Casey took a shaky breath and continued, "Anyway, something happened and the judge was about to dismiss yesterday so Abbie quickly added in Alex's charge against him to be able to save the case. So the man, Conners, was re-arrested on her charge."

Casey paused and finally sat down placing her head into her hands. Violet could tell she was trying to not burst into tears. The redhead shakily continued, "So, according to Abbie, Abbie arrived at work this morning to Branch and the Feds in her office waiting for her. They told her that Alex was alive and that she would be returning to testify against Conner's so they could still put him away for good."

"Oh my God, Casey..." Violet started but was interrupted.

"Shit Violet, I woke up this morning like I have every morning for the last year and a half, alone and miserable. Wishing I had never awoken, wishing I hadn't been home sick that night she was shot, wishing that we were together. I forced myself, like every morning, to pull it together. 'Get up Casey, get ready for work Casey, don't cry Casey.' Then I walk out of the bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen to make my coffee. Like I use to do every morning when Alex was alive, and that's where I let myself cry for five minutes while the coffee brews every morning. I stand there and look at the picture of us from her family's annual beach trip. It's a candid shot her uncle took of us, we are wrapped in each other's arms I am smiling and she has her head thrown back laughing at something I have said. It's so apparent how in love we are in that picture. That's when I cry, because it's real and I can't hide anymore. I know she isn't going to walk down the hall at any minute asking if she looks ok or if I know where she left her glasses the night before, thanking me for making the coffee with a soft kiss. But now, now she's alive. She's alive and headed here. Oh my God, she's alive!" Casey looks up in fear.

"Casey," Violet starts, "yes she is alive. That is a scary revelation, when you process everything you have dealt with emotionally over the last year, but I want you to focus on the fact that you have been given this amazing gift. The woman you love with your whole heart is still alive and coming home."

Casey dries the tears from her eyes and questions, "Why didn't she tell me? What if she doesn't feel the same?"

"Casey, I can't answer why you weren't told, but I would assume it had something to do with your safety and her safety. As for how she feels, I don't know for sure, but my guess would be she feels the same as you. I have watched and listen to you grieve Casey over the last year and a half. I know you two were madly in love so my guess would be she is has been hurting just as much and is very happy to be coming home to you."

"I hope so I don't know what I will do otherwise. I am just so scared Violet."

Violet observes her patient for a minute. She can clearly see how nervous Casey is and how this new knowledge is wracking her emotionally. Sighing she starts, "Casey, I told you my husband died, right?"

"Yes," Casey replies.

"Well, if I just found out he was alive and I was going to get to see him, I would be in your same shoes. Feeling the exact same feelings you are feeling. Don't let your brain get too bogged down with what ifs, listen to you heart right now. What does your heart say?"

"It says thank God Alex is alive and is full of love. I all want to do is love her."

Violet smiles, "Listen to your heart Casey. Go be in love until you have a reason not to. Can you do that?"

Casey smiles, "Yeah, yeah I can."

"I am glad to see you smile Casey," Violet says noticing they are out of time, "how about I see you back this time next week?"

Casey stands, "Sounds good, see you then."

Feeling at ease for the first time in over a year, Casey decides to call into work for the rest of the day. She just can't go back, not today. Instead she thinks she will go to the store get some groceries and go home and rest. Sometime in the next 48 hours she is going to see Alex again and she would like to not look like total crap when that moment comes.

Running quickly through the grocery store she heads home with wine, roast chicken and salad. The remaining drive home occurs rather peacefully. She smiles at the possibility that she might see Alex tomorrow and begins to wonder how that first meeting will be for them. Will it be awkward or natural? As her mind wanders she realizes just how tired she is and knows a nap is in store before she fixes dinner.

Casey pulls her car into the apartment building garage. She takes the elevator to the fifth floor of her building were their apartment is located. Carrying her bag of groceries, she can barely unlock the door nonetheless relock it after entering.

She is so locked into her thoughts of her impending reunion with Alex while walking through the foyer that she doesn't notice the light on the hall table has been turned on. Walking through the dining room and into the kitchen she sets the groceries down. Quickly unpacking them she decides to make a cup of tea before going to lie down. Once finished she heads towards the bedroom.

She doesn't expect anything. She doesn't feel like anything is out of the ordinary. She is so wrapped up in her thoughts and with trying to not spill the hot liquid that she doesn't notice the coat on the couch as she walks through the living room towards the bedroom.

But as she walks in the bedroom door she freezes noticing the blonde sound asleep on the bed clutching her pillow.