A/N: I'm so glad you all enjoyed the cliff hanger! Lol. As always thank you for reading and reviewing. Enjoy.

I focused on my breathing as I put one foot in front of the other. Slowly I marched to my death. I could feel the cold steel as he pressed the barrel of the gun into the back of my neck. Selena and Gracie's crying rang loudly in my ears. This was the only way. I knew as soon as I got him out of the house, Selena would call 911. I would die but they would live an that's all that mattered to me.

"You don't have to this." I said as we stepped out the front door. I heard Selena scream my name.

"Yes I do. It's the only way." He said in return.

"I know you're hurting Nate. Think about what you're doing. There's no turning back if you do this. What do you hope to accomplish?" I asked trying to stall him.

He shoved me forward without saying a word. I landed hard on my knees and winced as the gravel dug into the palms of my hands.

"Don't move." He growled.

"So this is how it's going to be? You're gonna shoot me in the back when I'm on my knees." I said as I felt myself growing angry.

"Something like that." He answered.

I pushed myself up off the ground and turned around to face him. "Fuck you Nate. You can look me in the eyes."

"Turn around!" He yelled at me.

"No."

"Turn around." He said his voice low and menacing.

"Make me." I said as I met his steely gaze.

I could see him struggling with what he should do next. He opted to step closer and push the barrel of the gun against my cheek.

"Get on your knees." He hissed.

"No." I said as I tried to keep my breathing even. "I'll die standing, not on my knees."

I watched as his face twisted into an ugly snarl. He kicked my knee and I immediately dropped and cried out in pain.

He leveled the pistol on my head. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. I didn't see her at first but I could hear her. It was Gracie and she was running toward us screaming at Nate to stop. He glanced over at her and I immediately tackled him.

"Gracie!" I heard Selena scream as she chased after her.

As Nate and I rolled around on the ground, I attempted to get the gun away. He was too strong. I continued to fight with him and hoped I could last until help arrived. As we struggled, I managed to get a hold of the firearm. We both pulled and pushed in attempt to gain control. The loud bang when it went off caused us to both stop fighting. He quickly stood up as I stayed on the ground. The pain was excrutiating. I didn't have time to process what was happening. I heard another gunshot ring out and watched as Nate lurched forward and fall to the ground.

I looked around and I saw Gracie clinging to Selena. Taylor had her arms around both of them. Shane. It was Shane. He was standing about 30 feet away holding a rifle. He lowered the weapon and ran toward me. I could hear the sirens approaching in the distance. I felt Shane's hands on me as he tried to pull me up.

"Come on Dem. Get up." He said

"I can't. My leg." I winced as I pointed to my blood soaked thigh.

"Do it for her." He said pointing toward Gracie. "Don't let her see you like this." He added as he grabbed my arm. "Get up."

"Is he...?"

"Yeah." He answered quickly.

It didn't take long for Selena to hand Gracie off to Taylor and run over to me. My leg was throbbing and gushing blood. The red stained my pant leg. She looked pale an scared as she approached me.

"Demi." She whispered as she grabbed my face in her hands.

"I can't." I groaned as I lowered myself to the ground. "It fucking hurts."

"You're stupid. You know that right? He was going to kill you." Selena cried as Shane put pressure on my bleeding thigh.

I reached up and touched Selena's face. "Better me than you.

Before she could say anything, Taylor came over with Gracie. "She insisted." Taylor explained.

"Did you fall?" I heard Gracie's little voice ask.

I laughed and groaned at the same time. "Yeah. I fell and cut my leg sweetie."

"Want me to kiss it better?" She asked.

"I love you." I said smiling as I marveled at her innocence. I realized that she hasn't asked about her father. He was laying a few feet away with his face down in the gravel. She seemed completely disinterested.

Once the police and ambulance arrived, everyone was questioned. I was loaded into the back of the ambulance and I watched as they took Nate's body in the coroners van. It still hadn't sunk in. That would be the last time I would ever see my little brother. I felt responsible for all of this. I wondered how Shane was doing. Because of me, he had to take Nate's life.

I felt the painkillers start to kick in as the paramedics closed the doors of the ambulance. I arrived at the hospital and had surgery to remove the bullet that was lodged in my leg. The surgery itself wasn't major and once it ended I was moved to a room for observation. I had to stay in the hospital for a couple days. They didn't want the wound to become infected. Once I was settled into my temporary living quarters, I drifted to sleep.

I woke several hours later and I was surprised to see him sitting there.

"It's not your fault." I heard him say.

"I'm sorry Shane. I really am." I said as a single tear slid down my cheek.

"I love you Dem. He made his own choices. That's not on you." He said as he took my hand in his. "Don't beat yourself up over this. Don't get lost in your grief or guilt. You have responsibilities now. She needs you to make this all right for her."

"I know." I sighed. "Why are you so calm?"

"My wife is an amazing woman and she put it all in perspective for me."

"How is Gracie?"

"She's good. She doesn't quite understand what happened to Nate, but I think she knows he's gone."

"Selena?" I asked.

"She's a mess. She's down at the police station right now."

"Why?" I asked slightly confused.

"He was her husband." He explained.

I nodded my understanding. Paperwork. Lots and lots of paperwork.

"Is mom ok?"

"She's upset, but I explained everything to her. She understands. She wants him buried with dad."

"Me too." I answered quickly.

"I know." He replied with a sad smile. "You should rest. I'm gonna go home and check in with Taylor and Gracie. I'll see you in the morning."

I nodded. "Give her a kiss for me." I said to him.

"Which one?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Taylor." I smirked.

"That's a terrible joke Dem." He said shaking his head.

"Gracie you asshole!" I shot back.

"Rest." He said softly before he walked out the door.

I drifted in and out of sleep as I laid in the hospital alone. I could feel her presence as soon as she walked into the room. I turned toward her, and her eyes met mine. She didn't say a word and neither did I. She climbed into bed and laid her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and breathed her in. She was familiar. She was my everything.

"I didn't want him to die." She sniffled.

"I know baby. Me either." I said softly.

"He was going to kill you Demi. I don't know what I would have done."

"I'm still here Sel, and that's all that matters."

"I can't lose you Demi. I just can't." She cried.

"I'm right here." I said trying to soothe her.

I could feel her pain as the sobs shook her body. She cried herself to sleep. It had been a long day for her. I felt her shift and roll over to her side. I followed suit and spooned her. Her hair was in my face and my hand was on her hip. The dull ache in my leg reminded me of everything that I had lost today.