J: Justified

Victor knew that the shooting was justified, but he couldn't help but blame himself for making things worse on Marty.

Watching Todd die...on top of everything else had traumatized her. It had been three weeks since Todd had died and Marty hadn't said a single word.

The doctors had given up on her and was planning on shipping her off to ST. Ann's but Victor wouldn't let that happen.

"Marty, I'm taking you out of here. I'm going to take care of you until you're all better," Victor said as he picked her up and carried her out of the hospital.

Victor had taken Marty to the house in New Mexico that he had bought for them years ago. He got her all settled in bed and made a bed for himself on the floor in case she needed him. "I wish that you would talk to me, I miss you and I need to know if you forgive me for shooting Todd. I didn't have a choice Marty,Victor said as he held her hand.

Marty could hear Victor. She longed to tell him that she didn't blame him for Todd's death but her voice refused to articulate the words she longed to say. She worked like hell to squeeze his hand...for now that was all the contact that she could give him.

XOXOXO

K: Keyboard/Kiss

Marty woke up and saw Victor sitting in his chair by her side.

"I have a really big surprise for you," he stated. "Close your eyes."

When Marty had her eyes closed Victor reached under her bed and pulled out the brand new keyboard that he had bought her. He placed the keyboard on her lap.

"Okay, Marty...open your eyes."

Marty looked down at the keyboard and smiled.

Her smile brought tears to his eyes. It had been the first time that he had seen her smile since Todd had hurt her. Her smile had given her hope that she was recovering.

"I bought you a baby grand piano that should be here next week...but you shouldn't have to wait to play music," Victor stated.

Marty slowly and cautiously kissed his cheek and then began to play "Heart and Soul."

Victor sat by her side, careful not to touch her, and played the section that she had taught him.

XOXOXO

L: Languid

Victor watched Marty while she slept. He clutched the pregnancy test that he had just bought in his hands. He wondered how she would react when she learned that he had bought the test for her. She had been so sick lately and he knew that it was possible that Todd was responsible for her languidness.

He wondered if she had come to the same conclusion that he had. It was so hard not to communicate with her and he felt powerless as he watched her spirit fade away.

Marty opened her eyes and smiled for a brief second until she saw the pregnancy test box. She shook her head no as tears formed in her eyes. She couldn't take the test.

She knew what it would say...she missed her period and she had been sick...all the signs indicated that she was pregnant, but she was afraid that if she was then he would leave her. Victor had been her lifeline and she couldn't survive without him.

"You need to take the test and I'll be here with you every step of the way. We need to know why your so sick and if you're pregnant then we'll deal with that together. I'm never going to leave you," he said as he wiped her tears.

Marty stared into Victor's eyes trying to gauge if he was telling her the truth. She knew that they had to know what they were facing so she grabbed the pregnancy box out of his hands and headed into the bathroom.

Victor sat by Marty's side as they waited the longest three minutes in their lives. At the end of the three minutes they stared at the big pink plus sign in the window and they knew that she was pregnant with Todd's child.

"I'm sorry. Please don't leave me," Marty softly stated.

Marty's words had torn right through his heart. He had waited so long to hear her speak and when she finally did it was filled with pain and anguish as she pleaded with him not to leave her.

He wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her but he didn't want to scare her. She still flinched when she was touched and he didn't want to scar her any more if she wasn't ready to be embraced. He slowly opened up his arms and waited to see if she would let him hold her like he longed to do.

Marty cautiously went into Victor's outstretched arms and let him hold her.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I love you Marty, and I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you too," Marty stated.