I know this chapter is really short but bare with me! There's a method to my madness!

"Ana?" I'm standing at the glass wall looking out to Brainbridge Island. I didn't hear Christian come into the room. I turn to look at him. He reaches his hand out towards me then stops. "Can I?" I half smile at him and force my way into his arms. "I'm sorry about earlier. When you- your body shut me out I didn't know what to do. I was afraid I was losing you. I know you we're terrified, you didn't know what was happening either and I should have reacted differently. I should have been there for you but I wasn't. I've failed you again." Oh Fifty!

"You didn't fail me. I don't think they have a class on how to deal with your shell shocked wife at Harvard. I was confused and I know you were too. I just thought you we're mad at me. I thought that if you couldn't sleep with me, you'd leave." The sun is setting and I'm in my favorite place in the world, Christian's arms. Nothing can touch me here. When I'm here nothing matters.

"Ana, the two of us have been to hell and back. With Jack and Leila and Phoebe and Elena, we've been dealt a shitty hand but we always come out on top. You'll always be my queen no matter how they shuffle. You loved me before I loved myself. You stayed with me before I really deserved someone as loving and strong and smart as you. I'm not going to leave you not matter what. You are truly irreplaceable."

We stood there together for what seemed like a lifetime.

"Do you think Detective Clark could do something about the reporters camped out in front of the house? I meant to ask him when he was here earlier."

I finally got around to calling him and he came bearing good news. Joe plead guilty so I don't have to be dragged through the courts. I don't even have to show up to the sentencing but Christian is going and there's no way I'm letting him go on his own.

"They're technically on public property. There's nothing anyone can do to stop them." I feel a pang of annoyance then realize my best friend is kind of one of them.

I hear the front door open and both of us look to the front of the house but we can't see the front door from where we're standing. Christian sits on the couch and motions for me to sit on his lap. I'm afraid my body won't accept the contact but it seems to be fine.

When Teddy enters the room he's covered in blood and carrying his shot gun in one hand and a bloody sack in the other.

"Teddy!" I scold. "The hunting season ended last month! You know that! And you know better than to bring them in the house like that!" I motion to the blood dripping on the floor.

He doesn't speak or move. After looking at his face for all of two seconds I know something is terribly wrong with my baby. I get up and walk towards him. I take the gun from him and remove the last shell. I let the gun fall to the floor and take his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me. "Teddy," I look into his eyes but they're distant. "Teddy. What's wrong? Tell me. What's the matter with my baby boy?" When he doesn't roll his eyes at me for calling him a baby I know something's really wrong. He doesn't answer and I rub his cheek and click my tongue the way I did when he was upset when he was younger.

Finally, life returns to his eyes and he starts to cry. "Mommy." He breathes and wraps his arms around me, gathering me into a back breaking hug. Part of me squirms because he's blood covered but I know he's hurting. I just wish I knew why.

Christian stands and goes upstairs, leaving us alone. "Teddy, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"Mom." He pulls back and looks at me. "Dana-" He chokes. "She's dead."