A/N: I apologize for any mistakes made throughout this story and the title of this chapter. It makes no sense, I know.

Part 4: The Dove Flies at Dawn

In Which We Finally Understand

10 a.m. In a Building in Paris

"Sir, please drop the water pipe and raise your hands over your head!"

A loud clatter of metal from outside shook you from your restless stupor. You ran to the window and looked down through the bars to see a tall man with platinum blonde hair with his hands in the air and a length of piping at his feet. Several officers rushed forward to secure him.

The man in charge gave orders to the rest of them and half ran to the door in front and the others went around to the other side. Your breaths came shallow and fast. They found you! Thank god! You walked back and collapsed on the bed, relieved, you would go home. You'd see him again...

Detective Kirkland led the way up the stairs, closely followed by Officer Williams. The halls were dark and dank in the way neglected industrial buildings usually are. It gave off a feeling of sadness that penetrates the soul, like looking at a Holocaust memorial or an ancient asylum. Except it was clean, no debris on the floor, or old construction equipment piled up in rooms with the floor half gone.

They opened each door and meticulously searched each room, losing hope with each empty discovery. The tip said she was here. They reached the end and gently pushed open the last door on the floor. It was a fully furnished bedroom and would have passed as totally normal if there weren't bars on the window and the girl lying on the rumpled bed hadn't been missing for over a day.

Kirkland ran over to her while Matthew spoke into his radio: "We found her, fourth floor, last room on the right, she doesn't appear to be injured, but bring medics anyway." He released the transmitter and exchanged a glance with the blonde Englishman, not every case ended this well.

At A Hospital In Paris

Your eyes flickered open, trying to reconcile your surroundings. The bed you were lying on was slightly uncomfortable and told you you still weren't home and the air smelled like cleaning products. You turned your head carefully to the side to find Heracles sleeping soundly in one of the chairs lined up against the wall, his head lilting backwards and to the side, face peaceful and mouth slightly open. All that was missing was an army of cats sleeping along with him. You smiled at the thought, wishing he would wake up when Roxanne pushed into the room.

"Oh thank the gods!" she exclaimed, setting down the coffee on a small end table and rushing over to you, by way of smacking her son's shoulder.

Heracles blinked slowly before realizing your eyes were open. He stood, closed the distance to the bed and dropped to his knees, taking your hand in both of his and pressing it against his cheek. "I'm glad you're back."

Tears pricked at your eyes. It had been only a day or two since you last heard his voice, but you'd missed it so much. "I don't want to leave ever again," you whispered brokenly, pushing a few locks of hair out of his face. Neither of you noticed Roxanne backing out of the room.

"I'll make sure you never do," he replied, leaning over to kiss your forehead. You stayed there for a while longer, then Heracles straightened, letting your hand slide out of his and said, "I'll see when you can come home." Home... home with all the cats and that stupid box... Yeah, home would be nice.

December 14th, 11:27 p.m.

"Do you really think Sadiq won't mind not being there?" you asked tentatively, snuggling closer to the handsome Greek at your side.

"He told me to get married to you as fast as humanly possible," he replied with a soft chuckle. Sadiq and Heracles finally forgave each other. In fact the former called the latter right after he phoned the police about where to find you. Since he gave up the others his prison sentence was shortened, but it would still be a while until he came back. Yekaterina and her five-year-old daughter, Leysa, went to visit him as often as they could. It also turned out that I wasn't the only person being held captive, Ivan Braginski was also responsible for the kidnappings of Eduard von Bock, Ravis Galante and Toris Laurinaitis. Francis had no redeeming qualities, nor did he have any more outstanding crimes.

You and Heracles were getting married tomorrow and you'd opted to avoid the usual bachelor and bachelorette parties in favor of spending the time in each others' company. The cats, of course, were there as well.

"Don't worry, [name], we'll send him a short letter once we get to Athens," Heracles said, holding you closer.

You laughed, kissing him playfully. When you pulled back you saw in his hand was a box. The box. You took it from him, lifting the lid. At first there didn't appear to be anything inside, but you reached in for the silvery glint, pulling out a necklace. The chain was delicate bearing a charm of two cats side by side, one made of black diamond with a golden collar, the other of platinum with a white diamond collar.

"For my lovely [nickname of choice]," he said, taking it and fastening it around your neck.

You smiled again, throwing your arms around his neck. "I love you, Heracles."

"I love you, too, [name]."