Author's Note: Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend to everyone. Decided to post my last chapter this morning before I continue my weekend festivities.

Miss Parker stepped into Jarod's hospital room and found him peacefully asleep. She pulled up a chair quietly, sat down and caressed his face lightly as she held back her tears. It terrified her that the man which laid before her, was the one she had thought was gone forever. They were given a second chance in life.

He felt the familiar gentle touch of her fingers as she stroked his face. Slowly, he opened his lids and she saw the sparkle in his eyes.

"Jarod." Miss Parker bit her lower lip softly, then repeated his name . "Jarod."

"Hey. It's you. You're here. Hi." He stroked her cheek.

"Hi. I'm here. Where else would I be?" Carefully, she bent down and hugged him. "I thought I'd never be able to hold you again."

"I worried you. I'm sorry, Parker." Jarod watched her as she cried. Miss Parker fumbled through her handbag for tissues and cried harder when she couldn't find any.

"There's tissues on the table." He reached for them and moaned softly as he grabbed several sheets for her. He wiped her eyes, only for more tears to run freely down.

Parker laid her hand on his abdomen, but, quickly pulled away. Her head lowered onto his shoulder. "Does it still hurt?"

"Just a little. Don't cry for me, Parker. It's alright. I'll be fine," Jarod assured her. "I wish I could hold on to you and make your pain disappear."

Miss Parker kissed the back of his hand and he felt her teardrops as it fell down onto his arm. She smoothed out the wrinkled creases on his sheet. She pulled the covers up to him and ran her fingers through his hair.

"These last two weeks, all I've done was cried. And now you're here...you're here. There were days I wouldn't get up. Took a few shots of my favorite, still the pain wouldn't go away."

"Bad for your ulcers, Parker. Come here." Jarod cupped her face in his hands.

"I could hear your voice inside of me, but, you weren't with me anymore. Each morning I woke up...I cursed why. At times, I hated you for leaving me. You have no idea how frightened I was. I couldn't let you go."

"I'm sorry." He kissed her tenderly. "I'm sorry for what you had gone through. I would never have guessed our lives would come to this." Jarod leaned his forehead on hers. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Sydney told me you fell to pieces when heard of my death."

Miss Parker pulled away and spoke in between sobs. "I hated everyone who breathed the same air I did. I wanted a life with you and The Centre took you away from me. And Sydney...I..." She hesitated and wiped her tears.

"What is it?"

"We had a horrible shouting match at my place this morning. Jarod, we both said awful things to each other. His bottled up feelings about you, me, The Centre, especially me, exploded."

Jarod just listened, held her hand, his thumb moved back and forth onto hers, his cocoa colored eyes gazed at her deep blues.

"I was so angry at him for everything. I said things I shouldn't have and Broots, I scared the hell out of him. He was so petrified of the whole scenario, but yet, he intervened and he made sense."

"Broots to the rescue." Jarod smiled slightly.

"Sydney...me...we both have something in common. You. We love you. I love you."

"All these years of our cat and mouse games, I've always wondered if you loved me, now I don't have to wonder anymore. I know you do, Parker. I love you, too. I love you more than I can ever imagine."

"I want to be the one you come home to at nights, Jar. I want you to tuck me into bed when I'm not feeling well. And I really don't mind growing old and gray, as long as it's with you." Miss Parker's tears drenched Jarod's sleeve.

"Oh, Parker. Don't cry." Yet, a tear escaped and slowly ran down the pretender's cheek.

They locked their arms in an embrace and comforted each other. There were no amount of words in the dictionary to have described what they felt. Jarod was quietly in deep thought.

"The Centre. You know I can't stay here, Parker. Sooner or later The Centre will eventually find out that I'm alive. Look at me?"

She kissed his forehead, eyes and then his lips.

"Parker, you have your mother's home, Sydney, Broots and Debbie. I'm not asking you to follow me, but, if you won't, I'll understand."

"My world would be empty and my life would be nothing without you. I'm not losing you again. Ever. Our "you run, I chase" games has ended. This time I'll be the one running alongside with you."

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There were no more secrets, no more lies. They were free from The Centre. Free from the turmoil that ruined their lives.

Their story would be unforgettable. Jarod and Miss Parker were prepared for a new beginning. The simple pleasures of life they enjoyed were hand and hand peaceful walks around the neighborhood, comfort in each other and the feelings of renewal and rebirth toward their relationship.

The Centre pulled them apart, but in the end, their love was timeless.

The End