A/N: This chapter is more of a filer than anything, so sorry if it sucks...

The next day, I called Alison to tell her what happened the previous day. She screamed into the phone, making me rip the device away from my ear, and I groaned. Once we hung up, she immediately came over to our apartment. When I let her in, she practically flung herself at me, pulling me in a giant hug; she hugged Ian, also. Once she settled down, I asked her about our engagement announcement in the newspaper. She just grinned evilly with a maniacal laugh.

I looked at Ian and rolled my eyes.

"Yup. She did it," I sighed.
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The end of spring flew by, and the summer was just as fast. Our summer consisted of wedding details. Whenever I was at work, Ian was at home writing out invitations and making phone calls. (When I told my boss, Todd, that there was a change of plans and we weren't moving, he was so excited, he upped my pay by a few dollars AND said that he would photograph out wedding at no charge. I was so happy, I could have kissed him...but didn't.) Our summer nights, when we were together, were so long because of the wedding that we some times ended up falling asleep at the dinning room table or computer.

Let me just say that our necks hurt like a bitch after a night like that.

By midsummer, most of the R.S.V.P. cards came back.

A letter came with my mother's card; she congratulated us, but was a little disappointed that I hadn't called to tell her about Ian's proposal. Feeling bad about my unthoughtfulness, I called her as soon as I finished her letter...twirling my ring as I did so. I apologized profusely and, while laughing, she said it was all right, and that I probably had a lot on my mind. She had no idea how right she was: our loss of Shaw, moving worries, money worries, and Ian's arrest still lingered in my mind. My mother asked me all the details about when and how Ian proposed, and I told her...I just left out the fact that we were in bed.

When I got off the phone with my mother, about an hour and a half later, I sought out Ian. I had been in the kitchen, so I went out to the dinning room, then the computer room, then the bedroom. Not finding him in any of those places, I went to the living room.

Ian was stretched out on the couch with his eyes closed.

I kneeled at the arm of the couch, where his head rested. Bringing my hands up, I ran my fingers slowly through his hair and massaged his scalp at the same time. A grin slowly formed on his lips and he grunted softly, then sighed. I smirked and he opened his eyes.

"Mmm, Alex..." he moaned, then tilted his head back to look at me.

A very deep, bone-chilling shiver ran through my whole body.

In retaliation (since Ian knew he did it), I messed up his hair, then stood from where I knelt. I took the few steps to the front of the couch, put my hands on my hips, and stared down at him. He put his hands behind his head as he stared back at me, still grinning.

Sighing and rolling my eyes, I crawled onto the couch and on top of Ian. I propped myself up on my elbows by putting my elbows on Ian's shoulders; my hands went back to his hair. I sighed again.

Ian took his hands away from his head and put them on my back. He raked his fingers lightly up and down my back.

"Does your mother forgive you?" he asked softly.

I scoffed. "Yeah, she forgave me. You think I'd be on the phone for an hour and a half constantly apologizing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess not," he answered, then pulled his head up to give me a kiss.

When Ian pulled back, I rested my head on his shoulder and looped my arms around his neck.

"I can't wait until this wedding of ours is over," I said into his neck.

His hands stopped their movement on my back.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"We'll be able to get more sleep, for one. And we won't be so focused on the damn thing, we'll have more time for each other," I said, closing my eyes.

Ian hummed in response, and I realized he was falling asleep. Readjusting my arms, I settled in for a short snooze, also.

An hour or two later, Ian and I woke up, got off the couch, ate, then groggily got back to work on the preparations.
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I think it was five days before our wedding when I had the longest day of work, by far.

At work that day, we had a slight problem when one of our photo printers died. One of our best customers had come in to pick up some of her pictures that were supposed to be ready that morning. Of course, they weren't ready. I was put to the task of trying to fix the printer, while Tasha, Todd, and Dave (my other co-worker) tried to calm our customer and prevent her from making a scene.

I planted myself on the floor of the studio with the printer and tried to figure out what was wrong with it. After checking the ink, the paper, and looking for a paper jam, then seeing if it was plugged in, I found nothing wrong. Sitting with my legs and arms crossed, I stared at the machine.

Hearing a commotion from the front of the studio, I turned to see all three of them trying to explain to our customer that there was a slight problem. I then saw Todd excuse himself, as politely as he could, and walk towards me...after a shake of the head and an eye roll.

"How's it going?" he asked, kneeling next to me.

"Ugh, not so good. I can't figure it out. I checked all the paper problems I could think of and the ink. I even checked if it was plugged in," I said, then slapped the printer.

"Okay, well, keep trying. You're smart. I'm sure you'll figure it out...just hurry or we're going to have a problem," he said looking over his shoulder to the customer.

"You mean an even bigger problem?" I asked with a smirk.

Todd turned back to me. "Yeah, an even bigger one." He then stood, and walked back to help Tasha and Dave.

I turned back to the printer. Another minute of a staring contest that was not in my favor, I realized I hadn't checked the toner. Sure enough, the damn thing was out of toner. Having a mental celebration at my small victory, I got up from the floor, and practically ran to the storage room to get the toner. After I tested the printer to make sure everything else was all right (by printing out a random picture of Ian and I), I called to Todd and the others that the customer's pictures would be ready within the hour. The customer calmed down and all four of us got to work on her prints.

After that customer paid and left, the four of us let out a sigh of relief. We then figured that we were behind with our other customers' pictures.

That was one very long work day...we had to stay a few hours after we closed to get everything done.

When I got home that night, the only thing I wanted to do was eat something (since I had to work through lunch) and go to bed...but that wasn't going to happen the way I wanted it to.

As soon as I walked in the door, I heard more than just Ian's voice. Walking into the living room, I saw Ian, Shippen, Phil, and Victor sitting on the couch and chairs. I was definitely surprised to see them.

They were so engrossed in their conversation, they didn't even notice I was there...until Ian looked my way via a double-take.

"Alex! When did you get home?" he asked, waving a hand to beckon me over to him.

I was so worn out, my name rolling off of his tongue didn't effect me...and I think he noticed.

"Just now. It was a tough day at work," I said, standing next to the couch, where Ian sat. I turned my attention to the other three for a moment. "And hello guys. Glad to see that you're all safe and well." Stifling a yawn, I looked back to Ian. "Could I speak to you for a moment in the other room?"

He nodded immediately and stood from the couch as I walked to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Ian stood at the entrance to the kitchen, realizing I just wanted food. When I had food in my hands, I walked out (followed by Ian), and went to the bedroom.

Once Ian closed the door and I set my food on my nightstand, I turned to him. Ian walked towards me slowly, then put his hands on my shoulders. I looked up at him for a moment, then threw my arms around his waist; his arms came around my shoulders and held onto me.

"What happened?" he asked softly.

"It's just been a very long and challenging day..." I then went on to tell him what happened at work.

When I finished, Ian kissed the top of my head. "Eat, then go to sleep, love. They'll only be here for another hour, at the most, then I'll join you," he said.

"There you go with that 'love' crap again," I said, grinning into his chest.

"It's better than calling you 'cranky' now, isn't it?" he said, then took an arm away from my shoulders to poke me in the side. "Go on. Get to bed," he instructed, holding me at arms length, and nodding towards the bed.

"Yes, sir," I said with a grin.

With a swift kiss on my lips, Ian left the room to go back to the other three.

As I ate my lunch/dinner, I changed into my pajamas. Then, once I was through with eating, I crawled into bed, got comfortable, and fell asleep.

Some time during my sleep, I woke up suddenly. Gasping, I sat straight up, panting. I rested my elbows on my knees and held my head up as I took deep, calming breaths.

I glanced at Ian briefly, then put my head back in my hands.

"Just a dream," I mumbled. "Just a dream."

A rustle of the sheets next to me, alerted me that I woke Ian up.

"Alex, you all right?" he asked, sitting up next to me.

"Just a bad nightmare," I replied, staying in my position.

Ian put his hands on my upper arms and rubbed them as he rested his head between my shoulder blades. "Wanna tell me about it?" he asked comfortingly.

"Just a nightmare...involving you," I said, picking up my head.

I felt Ian pick his head up, also. He moved so he was sitting next to me, and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him give me a confused look. "Now you have to tell me."

I looked at him, then turned my body to face him. "It was our wedding day, and just after we exchanged rings, a bunch of FBI people came rushing into the church. They arrested you...that's when I forced myself to wake up." Ian took my hand and I looked down at them. "I don't want to lose you again," I whispered.

"It was only a dream, Alex. I've paid for what I've done and I haven't done anything else for them to arrest me," he said, putting his free hand on my back and rubbing it.

"I know that, Ian, but it's still unnerving," I said, then leaned into him, letting my head rest against his bare chest.

He released my hand and wrapped it around me, bringing me closer to him, and rocked us gently for a few moments.

Ian's rocking was making me tired again, so I pulled myself from his grip and laid back on the bed. Ian laid back down next to me, then once I was settled (on my back), he threw a leg over mine and an arm over my stomach, near the bottom of my ribs. He lifted his head to kiss my lips once more, then put his head on my shoulder. His 'body protection' and steady breathing on my neck made me relax.

I knew nothing would happen to him (or me, for that matter), but it was only a few short months ago when I could have lost him for a very, VERY long time.

When Ian's breathing became even and deep, I knew he fell asleep. I moved slightly and his grip around me tightened. I grinned to myself, brought my hand up to hold onto his arm across my stomach, then fell asleep myself as I snuggled closer to him, nuzzling his cheek with my own.

A/N: There you go!

I hope everyone's holidays were awesome!!! Mine was!