Epilogue

Why did it have to be so freakin cold? Carrie thought as she traveled down the dark streets of New York City. She clutched her jacket pulling it closer to her body as the wind began to pick up around her. She walked with determination in her step. If he asked her to meet him all the way out here, then that is what she was going to do. "Stupid jerk," her breath hitched as another cold draft of air nipped at her bare legs. He had asked her to wear a dress in this weather. She was going to kill him. Looking up into the night sky she tried to focus on something other than the cold air beating away at her small frame. However, this became difficult when the only thing she could see was her breath on the wind. "Damn, it is so cold!" Turning into a street between two buildings the girl attempted to shield herself from the wind surrounding her. She pushed her hands into her pockets to shield herself from the cold. She suddenly stiffened as she felt the warmth of a body standing behind her. Turning around slowly, she gasped as she was slammed into the wall behind her, hesitantly looking up into two dark eyes. "Victor, you know I hate the cold!"

Victor pulled the jacket off of his body and through it around the whining woman in front of him. "Is that better, princess?" He smiled dangerously at her as she glared up at him through thick eyelashes. He could never understand how this woman turned him into the man he was now. He looked down at her shivering body and felt the peace he craved surround him.

"Don't call me princess." She said it as a warning. "And yes, that is much better." She laughed as she felt herself being lifted off the ground again.

He pressed his body close to hers shielding it from the chill in the air. She wrapped her legs around his torso and moaned when she felt him thrust his hips in surprise. "Do you know where we are?" She felt his breath against her neck as he whispered huskily into her ear, before biting playfully on her neck.

She tried her hardest to focus on her surroundings with all of the distractions he was bestowing upon her. "No, but I know where I wish I was." She felt him smile against her neck at her playful banter.

"This is where you were attacked a year and a half ago." She stiffened in his arms as the memory came flooding back. "Relax," and at the gentle command she did.

"This is where you saved me." She shivered as she felt his lips caress her neck sensually, and then she felt him pull away from her neck to look her directly in the eyes.

"No, Red, this is where you saved me." Her eyes began to burn with emotion as his statement hit her full force. Without any further hesitation Carrie kissed him with as much passion and love she could convey in a kiss. She moaned his name as he bit gently on her lower lip and trailed his sharp nails through her hair. "I love you." He moaned it into her mouth as her legs tightened around his waist.

It was so hard to believe that only a few months ago she was near death in a hospital bed. The doctors told her she was lucky to be alive. She had been shot through her shoulder, and the bullet had grazed a major artery. They told her had the artery been severed she would have bled out much quicker. She was in the hospital for nearly a week as they monitored her. She felt like she was in hell. She had just gotten Victor only have him taken away for a week. She knew he didn't leave her though. She felt his presence the whole time, even if he didn't make himself visible. He told her later, after torturing him for information, that on some nights he would crawl into bed with her when he knew they were alone and sleep beside her until morning. She had stopped torturing him after that, which basically meant she would stop walking around the apartment nude not letting him touch her. He now stayed with her in her apartment, but would often leave when company came over. It hurt a little, but Carrie understood his need for privacy. It almost made her a little proud that she was the only person he loved being around. Jackie finally stopped asking about 'Officer Sexy' when Carrie told her he had shot her. She felt a little guilty about telling such a mistruth, because to be fair, it was an accident. But if he had shot Victor it would felt like he was shooting her anyways, so she saw no difference. She would often wonder what had happened to him, but she assumed he just went back home. She could have never been his southern girl.

Now, as she held on to the love of her life, she couldn't believe that this was the same man who had caused her so much pain in the past. He was dangerous, undependable, short-tempered, and she loved him with everything in her soul. Carrie broke the kiss long enough to bask in the passion flowing from his eyes to hers. "Let's finish this at home."

Carrie watched as his sharp teeth protruded over his bottom lip in his trademark grin. He grabbed her upper arms in a secure grip as he slung her behind him so she could wrap her legs securely around his back. He felt her grin against his back in anticipation for the ride to come. She closed her eyes as she heard him push his claws into the wall to begin climbing up. She knew this ride well enough now that the fear no longer existed. She knew he would never let her fall. "Ready?" She heard him ask her and shuttered as she felt his voice vibrate through his back and into her chest.

Placing a chaste kiss against the back of his neck she whispered, "Always…" Then she felt the wind against her face as Victor bounded up the wall and across buildings back to their home. There they would make love most of the night until exhaustion caused her to curl up into his body and fall asleep to the sound of his quiet breathing, whispering 'I love you' one last time, as the night slowly disappeared into morning.

He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:3-4

---Well, I know it is shorter than the previous chapter, but I think it made its point ;)

----Please review loves!