A/N: Hmm, only 2 reviews for the last chapter - I hope they are more than 2 of you reading this story! Buckle up - here starts the wild ride to the end.


Marshall couldn't remember the last time he needed to set an alarm. It must have been in another life – the one before kids; and before he would call to see if Mary was up and needed him to stop by on his way to the office to give her a ride because her car once again wasn't running.

"Mama!" Bee cried as she landed on Mary's hip.

Mary cursed as her daughter's chin smacked her wounded arm, and Marshall rolled over at her cry of pain. "Bee, be careful with your mother – she has an owie, remember?"

Bee immediately sat up and scooted over. "I forgot, daddy!"

Marshall reached out an arm sleepily and she snuggled into his side. "I know, 's okay. Why are you up so early, love bug?"

"Dee's birthday!" Bee chirped, bouncing and shaking the entire bed.

Marshall smiled and glanced at Mary who had already begun to snore again. "The party isn't until this afternoon, Bee."

"I know, but I heard-"

Just then the doorbell rang and Luke and Leia ran down the hall, barking ferociously. Mary came awake with a start. "What the fuck is going on?"

"Mary," Marshall admonished softly, "Language – we're not alone."

Her eyes focused on her wide-eyed daughter for the first time. "Where did you come from?"

Bee giggled as the doorbell rang again. "Who the hell- what time is it, anyway?" Mary groused as she swung her feet over the side of the bed, reaching for her robe.

Marshall had already pulled on a T-shirt over his boxers and was heading for the hall. "It's six-thirty."

Mary shook her head. "It's way too early for – wait, don't you think you should take your weapon?"

He looked down at Bee who was ready to follow him to the door and sighed. "I'll just see who it is – Bee, stay here with your mother."

Bee nodded at her daddy's tone of voice and scurried back to the bed. Marshall wasn't even halfway down the hall before he recognized the sounds on the other side of the door. He turned to see Mary standing in their bedroom doorway. "It's all right, it's Jenna – I can hear Josie crying."

Mary came to his side. "Jen? But why is she here so early?"

He shrugged. "Let's go find out."

They opened the door to find Jacen holding a sleepy-eyed Jada and a red-eyed Jenna trying to comfort a crying Josie. Marshall took Josie and began bouncing her up and down, her cries almost immediately calming. Jacen didn't say a word as he went down the hall to Bee's room.

"Jen? What's wrong?" Mary asked as she pulled their friend into the house, closing the door behind them.

"I know we're a bit early for the party – but I didn't know where else to go," Jenna explained, her voice breathy as she tried to contain the sobs.

Marshall and Mary exchanged looks. Over the past six years, Mary and Jenna had become very close. Since Brandi was no longer around for Mary to mother, Jenna had quickly become an adopted little sister. Marshall knew Mary would never admit it, but he knew that his partner cared about Jenna very much. He continued to bounce Josie and watched as Mary led Jenna over to the couch.

"Jen- what's happened? Where's Henry?"

Fire flashed in the younger woman's eyes. "Probably shacked up with some two bit floozy somewhere enjoying the funds he's embezzled from the law firm."

"What?"

Jen nodded. "Yesterday afternoon, I got a visit from Mr. Cumbers, one of the two head partners in Henry's firm. It seems my husband hasn't been at work all week and he wanted to know if I knew where he was." She got up to pace. "I didn't have a clue! Henry called every night to say he couldn't come home and to say goodnight to me and the girls but he never said where he was. I just assumed he was staying at his club," she snorted. "You know what they say about assuming things, right?"

Makes an ass out of you and me. Mary stifled the imp in her head and simply said, "Go on."

"Then Mr. Cumbers dropped the bombshell. Someone had been embezzling from the law firm and they had had an outside team of investigators looking into the matter for weeks. They had narrowed it down to Henry and another man," Jen swallowed her emotion. "Mr. Cumbers came to tell me that they found irrefutable proof that Henry is the embezzler and a warrant had been issued for his arrest."

"Oh Jen," Mary breathed.

Jen held up her hand. "Wait – it gets better. Then Mr. Cumbers told me that since we were living in a company house, I had less than twenty four hours to get out-"

"What? That's outrageous- Marshall, can he do that?"

Both women turned to glare at him and he sighed, shifting the now drowsy Josie to his other shoulder. "Unfortunately, yes. I mean, he could definitely give you more time to collect your personal belongings, but I'm sure he's not in a generous mood since your husband embezzled from the firm. Did he say how much Henry took?"

"Half a million pounds."

Marshall winced. "I see. Well, I can call Thomas and Richard – they owe me a favor. We can run down to your house and pack up your clothes and things this morning and be back for Sadie's party this afternoon."

Jen shook her head as her eyes teared up. "I've ruined everything, haven't I? I mean, it's not like the two of you don't have enough to worry about – but I really didn't know where else to go." She collapsed on the couch next to Mary, who put her arms around her.

"Stop it, you're family, Jen. We'll have a huge birthday breakfast and then the boys will go off to pack up your house while you stay here and help me get ready for the party."

"You're going to cook, Sunshine?" Marshall teased her.

"Don't be stupid, Doofus. You know my talents don't lie in the kitchen."

He gave her a heat filled gaze. "I know that all too well."


"So, are you going to tell me what's up with the ring on your finger?"

Mary looked up from the changing table to see Jen smirking at her from the doorway. She turned her attention back to Ry as she snapped her onesie closed and lifted her to a standing position on the mat. She made a funny face and Ry squealed in happiness.

Jen followed Mary out to the living room and watched as she set Ry in the enclosed area with Josie. "If you don't want to tell me-"

Mary met Jen's eyes and smiled. "Marshall and I are engaged."

The younger woman threw her arms around Mary's neck and squeezed. "I'm so happy for you both!" she drew back to look into her friend's eyes. "I've never understood why you waited so long."

Mary shrugged. "I wasn't ready – and Marshall knew that."

"And now?"

"Now-" Mary smiled. "The timing is right."

Jen looked at her in surprise. "Now? With the very real possibility of losing Sadie looming on the horizon and me and my brood showing up on your doorstep – now you say it's the right time?"

Mary nodded as she sat down on the floor on the other side of the enclosed play space, Jen sitting next to her. "There's always going to be something going on – some shit about to hit the fan – but for us, me and Marshall – now is the right time for this."

Jen shook her head.

"Don't worry – I'm not saying we're going to get married tomorrow. There are too many things to get settled first," Mary's expression darkened. "Jen, Sadie's mother received a threatening anonymous letter and we're worried that someone is still after her and Sadie."

Jen frowned. "But who could it be?"

Mary swallowed. "We think its Sadie's father."

"I thought he was dead."

"He's supposed to be."

"But you think there's a possibility he's still alive."

Mary nodded. "I know it sounds crazy – Marshall doesn't believe it but I think it has more to do with the fact that he doesn't want to even entertain the idea because that would mean Sadie isn't safe."

Jen was silent for several seconds before she whispered, "What are you going to do?"

"Well, we're not going to send Sadie back to Carmen until we know for sure that this latest threat has been dealt with – when did this get so complicated, Jen? In the beginning it was simply our job to keep her safe. But now, it's become so much more than that. She's our daughter – and we won't send her back knowing we'll be placing her right back in the lions' den."

The back door opened and shut, and Marshall appeared in the kitchen doorway with Luke and Leia at his feet. "It's all arranged. Thom and Rick will meet me here in an hour and we'll head down to your house, Jen."

Jen smiled. "I can't thank you enough, Marshall. Maybe I should come-"

He waved away her words. "No, Jay can come with me and we'll be just fine. Now, I think we should wake everyone and have breakfast, don't you?"

None of the adults noticed the clicking of Sadie's bedroom door.


"I hate saying good-bye to you every week or so," Charlie pouted, drawing Rosie closer to him as they waited in line at airport security.

She grinned. "But we have so much fun saying hello when I get back." She lifted her face and pecked his lips, keeping the touch light since they were in public. "And I won't be gone long – my agent said this was just a quick two or three day shoot in New York."

Charlie groaned as he gripped her hips tighter. "Yes, but I've heard that before – you'll call me tomorrow and say, 'Sorry love, but they need me for another couple of days.' – and the next thing I know I won't see you for ten days!"

She threw her head back and laughed at his vocal impersonation of her. "But I always make it worth your while, don't I?" she leaned up for a kiss, letting it deepen this time.

Someone behind them cleared their throat impatiently and the couple pulled apart to see that the line had moved. Rosie flashed her brilliant smile and murmured an apology as she tugged him forward, snuggling into his side.

Charlie sighed. "We're going to have a long distance marriage, aren't we?"

Rosie's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you're not going to quit your job and settle down here in Albuquerque once we're married, are you?"

Married to Charlie – settle down here – in the desert – miles away from the hustle and bustle of the big city – chained to this sweet, naïve man for the rest of my life? Rosie could feel every fiber of her body revolting at the very idea. She needed to get this mission accomplished and get the hell out of Dodge, fast.

Instead of answering, she turned the question around on him. "Would you be willing to quit your job for me once we're married?"

"I – I can't do that, Rosie. My work is too important."

She stepped back from him, her posture defensive. "And I'm just a model."

"I didn't say that."

"You sure as hell implied it."

"No, Rosie, I –" Charlie ran a hand through his hair. "Let me back up, ok? I love my job and so do you. I don't see either of us quitting anytime soon – do you?"

Knowing that she needed to leave things in a good place between them so as to not arouse his suspicions, she allowed him to believe he had pacified her. She shrugged. "No."

He tugged on her gently, waiting to speak until she came back into his arms. "Ok then, long distance it is then. We've been making it work for two years – so why can't we make it work for twenty?"

"Twenty?" she repeated faintly.

"Not long enough?" he whispered, dipping his head to kiss her neck.

She fought the nausea rising inside her. Sounds like a prison sentence. Lifting a hand to cup his cheek, she whispered. "Sounds perfect." Noticing that it was almost her turn to pass through the security gate, she slipped off her sandals. "I have to go."

"I'll walk you to the gate."

"No! I mean, I've already made you late this morning – please just go into work before I get you in anymore trouble."

Charlie frowned. "My boss understands. After all, his wife lives in DC."

"Still, I think you should go – I don't want to keep you from your important work."

"Rosie-"

She smiled. "Go on, I'm fine. Really."

He gave her one last lingering kiss and left her in line, but stood off to the side, watching as she passed through the metal detectors and blew him a kiss as she disappeared around the corner for departing flights. His cell rang and he began walking to the exit as he answered.

"Hi, Dee, what's up? Johnny again? Yeah, I'm just leaving the airport now, I'll meet you there."

Charlie's SUV left the parking garage and ten minutes later Rosie emerged from the airport and hailed a taxi.


She let herself into her apartment and instantly noticed two things. The FedEx package was waiting for her on the coffee table, which meant someone had been there to sign for it. Then she saw the ashtray and she smiled.

"Gus?"

"Hey, Rosie."

She whirled to find him lounging behind her. "Still living up to your nickname, I see."

Gus grinned. No one knew what the man's real name was – he had quickly earned the moniker 'Gus' from the movie Cinderella because he moved as quietly as a mouse. "How ya doin', Sugar?"

Rosie threw her purse onto the table and sighed, her ring catching the light as she ran a hand through her hair. "Better now that you're here."

"Nice rock."

She grimaced as she slipped it from her finger and set it next to her purse. "I guess – it's more like an albatross."

"Aw, what's the matter? It's not your taste?" Gus drawled. "Or is it the person who gave it to you not to your liking?"

Rosie frowned. "Let's just get down to business, ok?"

Gus' face hardened. "Don't tell me you've gotten soft."

"I have not gotten soft. I just want to get this over with – I'm not exactly looking forward to today's events."

"No one has to get hurt."

Rosie looked at Gus like he had grown two heads. "There are many different ways of hurting someone without actually killing them, Gus."

He leaned in and she could smell the tobacco on his breath. "You have gone soft – you actually care about-"

She shoved him back. "I don't – but that doesn't mean I want to kill him, all right? I didn't sign on to kill anyone – not Charlie and definitely not any little girls."

Gus grinned. "The boss man would be very upset if anything happened to Emmy."

Rosie swallowed. "And what about the other girl? She's a bargaining chip – what's he going to do with her when he gets what he wants?"

Gus shrugged. "That's none of our business, Sugar. Our job is to get the girls out of town – and leave no loose ends. Now, are you ready to help me do that – or are you a loose end I'm going to have to take care of right now?"

She inwardly shrank from his words but outwardly she squared her shoulders and moved towards the package on the coffee table. "Just so we're clear that I'm not going to let any harm come to the girls on this end, I'm ready to go."


"Alison, can you pick up Emmy from dance this afternoon?"

Alison looked up to see a harried Stan in her office doorway. She frowned and looked at her calendar. "I – I don't think so. I have meetings all afternoon. I thought it was Charlie's day."

"It is but there's a witness crisis-"

"Can't Delia pick Emmy up then?"

Stan sighed. "No, she's with Charlie and I have a meeting with ICE or I would pick her up. Look, Alison, you haven't picked her up once and we've been bending over backwards to help you. Can't Mrs. P-?"

"It's her afternoon off. I'll take care of it." She waved him away as her phone rang.

Bitch never even says thank you, Stan thought angrily as he hurried out the door.


It took longer than he wanted it to, but Marshall found a place that would store some of Jenna's larger things for a reasonable rate so they unloaded most of the stuff at the unit before he and Jay headed back to the house. The boy had hardly said a word all day and Marshall respected his silence, giving him space, but he also wanted to let Jay know he was there if he needed to talk.

"Jacen, are you all right?"

Jay shrugged.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it – I just want you to know if you do want to talk – to someone other than your mom, well, I'm here."

Several miles ticked by before Jay whispered, "Is it okay to be angry?"

Marshall's jaw clenched. Hell yes. "Yes, Jay, it's ok to be angry."

Jay looked at him from behind his glasses, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. "I never liked him, you know – and I felt bad about that. 'Cause mom was so happy – and she wanted me to like him – for us to be a family. But I don't know," he shrugged again. "He – he smiled too much."

The boy's been reading too much Jane Austen. "Well, it doesn't matter now, does it?" Marshall probed gently.

"No, he's gone – for good, I hope. 'Cause if I see him again, I might hit him."

"Violence isn't the answer, Jacen."

Jay blinked at him in surprise. "You and Aunt Mary carry guns."

He sighed. "But we only use them as a last resort – and only to protect people who can't protect themselves – like you or Sadie."

Jay was quiet as he absorbed that answer. "Sadie told me about her mother and father."

Marshall's hands clenched on the steering wheel. "I didn't know that."

The boy nodded. "Is it true that she has to go live with her mother when she gets out of prison?"

Marshall exhaled, the sound loud in the enclosed car. "She really did tell you everything, didn't she? Yeah, son, it's true."

"She doesn't want to go."

"I know – we don't want her to go either – but none of us have a choice in the matter."

Jacen was quiet for several minutes before he suddenly said, "Did she tell you what happened in the park?"

Marshall's radar was suddenly pinging. "No, what happened?"

"She told me she'd tell you – I don't think I should-"

Marshall slowed and pulled the car onto the shoulder, turning off the engine. "Tell me."


Alison sipped her double shot mocha and waited for the hour to end. She was annoyed that her meeting had to be pushed back to four but Emmy had to come first. Just like the witnesses had to come first – so she couldn't really be mad at Charlie and Delia. However, a meeting with ICE? She snorted. Yes, she could be a little annoyed with Stan. That meeting could have been put off much easier than hers.

Someone rapped on her half open window. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm new to town and I was wondering if you could give me directions to SW Pine? I thought this was it but-"

Alison sighed. "No, this is SE – SW is on the other side of town. Here, let me draw you a map," she leaned down to pick up her discarded napkin from the floor.

She never saw the gun but she felt the butt as it collided with the side of her head. Alison saw stars as the world went black and she slumped against the passenger seat.


"Bye, Bree! Bye, Carina!"

"Bye, Emmy!"

The three girls hugged each other tightly, their tutus only getting in the way slightly as they embraced. Bree and Carina left with their moms and Emmy did a few practice steps as she waited.

"Where's your ride, Em?" MJ asked as she skipped into the studio.

Emmy shrugged. "Don't know. Uncle Charlie is-"

Rosie breezed into the room. "I'm so sorry I'm late, angel! Uncle Charlie is busy – everyone's busy so they sent me to pick you up and bring you back to the office. Are you ready to go?"

Emmy looked at Rosie with a little suspicion. The woman had never picked her up alone before – and Nana didn't trust her. "Are you sure it's OK?"

Rosie laughed. "Of course it's OK – come on, I've got cupcakes in the car as a treat."

Emmy's eyes lit up. Nana never let her have treats between meals! "Let's go!"

"Wait – does your friend want one too?"

MJ was dancing on her toes in excitement. "Could I, please?"

Emmy giggled. "Sure, come on."

"Let me just tell Gigi where I'm going-"

"Oh, we'll be right outside. You'll be back before she misses you," Rosie urged.

MJ shrugged. "OK."

Rosie led the girls into the bright sunshine and they all climbed into the rented sedan. She gave each girl an enormous vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting. "Eat up, girls. When you're done, you can go back inside," she nodded to MJ, "and we'll go see your Nana at the office, Emmy."

The girls giggled and eagerly dug into their cupcakes. Halfway through, their pace slowed and their eyelids began to droop.

"I don't feel so good," MJ murmured.

"I'm sleepy," Emmy slurred, nearly dropping her cupcake.

"I think I'm gonna go-" MJ dropped her cupcake as her head lolled to the side in sleep. Emmy didn't notice as she was already fast asleep beside her.

Rosie started the car and drove two blocks, stopping to pick up Gus at the stoplight. He glanced at the slumbering girls in the backseat and grinned. "Let's get out of here."

She hit the gas when the light turned green. "No problems on your end?"

"Nope. She never saw what hit her."

"And she won't wake up before we're out of town?"

He chuckled. "I made sure of that."

She gasped and tightened her grip on the wheel. "What do you mean?"

"No loose ends, Sugar – no loose ends."


A/N: Oh snap! They kidnapped Emmy AND MJ? Why? Stay tuned . . . Reviews are LOVE!