"Electra, stay with me here."

I hear a frantic Zak say through the haze in my brain. That's when I let my eyes snap open and I look around. Zak keeps staring at me with wide eyes and I can tell he's a little scared.

"I'm okay; it's just a minor concussion. Just try and keep me awake until we get there."

He nods his head slightly and looks at the road again. I run my hand down my face and think about how long the next 24 hours are going to seem. I've already been up for the past two days and I was hoping to sleep soon.

"Lectra, we're here."

I look up to see a beautiful two story home with a good size porch and lots of windows, the exact type of house Roni had always wanted in college. I'm so happy that she got it.

Zak walks around to my side of the car and helps me stand up. I start to fall forward and he catches me. He can tell that I'm not going to be able to walk anymore so he just picks me up bridle style as another car pulls into the driveway.

Aaron Goodwin jumps out of his car in a hurry and rushes over to us.

"Zak, dude, what happened?"

"I'll explain when we head out with Annabelle. Just get the door."

Aaron rushes ahead and opens the door and yells into the house that we're here. Then a little girl, maybe three comes rushing towards us.

"Uncle Zak!"

Before she can get to him Aaron scoops her up.

"Come on, let's go get your stuff and you, me, and Zak are going to go somewhere and have fun. How does that sound?"

I don't get to see her reaction because he walks upstairs with her and Zak takes me into the living room.

All of a sudden a worried looking Roni comes in with a bunch of first-aid stuff.

"Zak, Aaron's at the door with Annabelle's bag. Nick put her car seat in Aaron's jeep. Leave your keys here and Nick will move your car after you leave."

He goes to protest, but Roni cuts him off.

"Nick has driven your car before. It needs to be moved so that if she needs to go to the hospital that we can take the Tahoe instead of the Focus."

"Yea, bu-"

"No buts. If something happens I'll call you and Aaron if something happens. Annabelle's staying with Aaron tonight. You can get your car later. No go."

Zak doesn't try and argue this time; he just smiles at me and leaves.

"Guys can be so stupid sometimes!"

I smile at her when I see the look on her husband's face as he walks into the room.

"Well, nice to know I'm loved."

"I love you; it's just that sometimes guys don't get the hint. Can you go get some of my sweatpants and one of your baggier shirts for her to change into?"

He nods his head, kisses the top of her head, and walks back out of the room.

"Take your shirt off."

"Roni, I'm fine."

She gives me one of her pointed looks and I take my shirt off.

"Fine my ass. Lec, you have a huge gash on your stomach. What did he do to you?"

"I didn't have the TV at the right angle so he slashed my stomach with his pocket knife and threw me into the wall. I bolted after that."

"How did Zak find you, and how did you know that he would have my number?"

I blush a little before speaking.

"I kind of ran into him when I was running, and then after he punched Joe and threaten to call the cops, he said he was going to bring me here. I watch their show, so I knew it was you."

"If you knew that I lived in Vegas now, why in Sam's Hell did you not get a hold of me?"

"Joe said he would kill you and your family if I tried and talked to you."

Roni drops everything she's holding and sits next to me and pulls me into a hug.

"Lec, I'm sorry. I should have tried harder in college to do something about this."

We sit like this, us hugging and me in just a bra and jeans until Nick walks back in. He sits the clothes on the coffee table and picks up the first aid stuff that he'll need to use on the wound on my stomach.

"Roni, hold her hand. This stuff will sting, but it'll clean everything off and I'll be able to see if you need stitches or not."

Roni grabs my hand and we talk about how her parents are doing to keep me from focusing on the pain.

"When he gets done, we're calling them. They need to know that you're okay."

I nod my head and bite my lip as Nick gets done cleaning it up.

"It'll be fine. It's really shallow, but you'll need to keep an eye on it for infection. Are there any more open wounds?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure I have a slight concussion so I need to stay awake for the next 24 hours."

"Aaron's keeping Annabelle tonight so I'll stay up with you and we can watch movies. How does that sound?"

Roni gives me a huge smile so I have no choice but to say yes.

Two Hours Later:

I've just got off the phone with Ellen and George, Roni's parents, and I've never been more at peace in the last nine years. I know that I have them back, and that Roni's not mad at me. I know that no matter what happens that I have them.

"Lectra, Roni's got dinner ready."

Nick walks over to me on the couch and helps me up. We figured out an hour ago that I can't walk without getting dizzy, so for the foreseeable future I will have to be helped everywhere.

He helps me into the dining room and carefully sits me down in one of the chairs. Roni walks in with a big smile on her face as she sits down Broccoli Casserole, mashed potatoes, and rolls.

"Dig in. I had Nick go and get the stuff to make the casserole while you were on the phone. I figured you haven't had it since college."

"No, but I've tried really hard to make it like yours. It never turns out right."

"You mean the great culinary genius couldn't make a simple casserole?"

I stick my tongue out at her and we start eating.

I've changed so many things in this story, but it's still the same plot line and still has the same characters. I'm hoping I've made it more interesting.

Much love,

xxsarabethxx