Willow spent a few minutes going over her solution in her head. She weighed all the other options and it still came down to the one she hated the most. She was trying to hold back the tears when she heard her cell vibrating on her bedside table. She looked at the number face timing her, wiped away the few tears that were rolling down her cheeks and answered "Hey Vince, how are you?"

"Hey Vince, how are you?" Willow asked as she answered her cell "Im very well Willow, but it should be me asking you that question" Vince replied as Willow felt the tears forming in her eyes again. "Im surviving Vince. I hate Victor for what he's done, not just to me, but to Matt, Jasmine and the others" Willow said quietly, the tears rolling down her face "I just want him gone and the more i've thought about it, theres only been one solution. I have to leave with him. Its the only way to protect everyone" "Willow, im not letting you sacrifice your life for him. Im sure Matt and Amy wouldnt want that either" Vince replied "I have an idea that could work" Willow said "but i'd want to discuss it with both yourself and Matt as its quite risky. Phil would also have to be involved" she continued as she explained her idea to Vince "I think you should talk to Matt first Willow. Then we can set up a meeting once you're back. Oh and we are wanting to do a special photo shoot with you for the magazine" Vince replied "Thank you Vince. For everything" Willow said as the call ended. I really should go downstairs for some food she thought to herself as she tried to get out of bed, she fell straight onto the bedroom floor. Why cant i move my legs? she thought as she heard the door open. "Wills, what happened? Are you ok?" Matt asked as he scooped her up in his arms, Willow shook her head, tears streaming down her face and replied "Matt, I cant move my legs"

"Willow, what do you mean you cant move your legs" Matt asked, concerned for his girlfriend as she sobbed "I tried to get out of bed and ended up on the floor. My legs wouldnt work" "Its ok baby, im here" Matt whispered as Elly came into the doorway and said "I've called for an ambulance. Willow are you alright?" Willow shook her head as Matt held her tighter, "What if its permanent? What if i can never wrestle again?" "Willow, dont say that. Of course you'll wrestle again" Matt said comforting her as Elly sat on the floor next to her. "Willow, i know we are still getting to re-know each other but from what ive seen of you over the last few days is that youre a strong woman, you are a fighter" "Thanks Elly, i dont know what i would have done without you and Matt these last few days. Im just scared right now" Neither had a chance to reply as there was a knock on the door. As Elly went off to answer it, Willow began to close her eyes and whispered to Matt "Matt, dont hold me so tight. I cant breathe"

"Wills, im not holding you" Matt replied, shocked by Willows latest comment "so what do you mean you cant breathe?" Willow didnt repsond as her eyes were closing. "Wills, hey baby stay awake, the ambulance is here" Matt said, worried about his girlfriend as Elly and the paramedics came through the door "Matt, whats going on?" Elly asked concerned for her sister as Matt, struggling to hold back his tears replied, "Shes struggling to breath now. I cant lose her Elly. I just cant" "Matt, you wont lose her. I meant what i said a few minutes ago. Willow is strong, shes a fighter" Elly replied as she hugged Matt and the paramedics raised Willow from the floor. "Where are you taking her? Can i come with her? Whats going on?" Matt asked as he followed the paramedics downstairs. "We are going to take her to St James Hospital as we are concerned about her breathing and this sudden paralysis. You may come along with us" the paramedic driving said as Elly asked "Do you want me to folllow you Matt? Or do you want me to call Amy?" Matt shook his head as he got into the ambulance with Willow, "Dont call Amy yet. Not until we know whats happening with Wills. Follow us to the hospital if you want too. I think its just going to be a lot of waiting around though" "I'll follow you Matt. Im not leaving you on your own"

As soon as they reached the hotel, Willow was wheeled off for tests to find out what caused her paralysis. Matt was angry that he couldnt go with Willow. Elly followed him into the waiting room, anxious for her sister and also worried about Matt. "Matt, come sit down. Willow will be fine" Elly said softly as Matt shook his head "Not until I know whats going on with her" he said, his voice and body shaking. The two waited for over two hours, until the doctor came into the room and closed the door behind him. "How is she Doc? Can we go see her?" Matt asked quickly and hopeful as the Doctor replied, "You can go and see her in a while. But let me explain whats happened to her. Miss Smithson has suffered a very rare allergic reaction to Chloroform which caused her breathing to slow and she seems to have a toxin in her body from the Foxglove which may have caused her temporary paralysis" "Oh thank God!" Elly sighed as Matt added "I honestly thought i was going to lose her" "Shes not going anywhere, not for a very long time at least. Although we are wondering where the cholorform and foxglove came from. Oh and there was some bruising on the inside of her thigh and around her vaginal area" the doctor said as Elly replied, "she was raped a few nights ago. The guy who did it knocked her out with the Cholorform. The police already know" "Doc, can we go see her now?" Matt asked, desperate to go and be with Willow. "Of course, follow me and i'll take you there now. Be aware that she is sleeping and she does have a respirator on to help her breathing get back to normal"

"You go in first Matt, she needs you more than she needs me" Elly said as they approached the room "Thanks Elly, but we are going in together. Im not leaving anyone alone right now, not with him still out there" Matt replied as Elly followed him into Willows room. "Im so sick of seeing her in a hospital bed, Elly. Especially because of him. I hate him for what hes done to her. I should have been here to protect her" Matt said quietly as Elly stood up and hugged him. "Matt, stop beating yourself up about this. This isnt your fault, nor is it Willows. From what Willow and you have told me, this Victor guy is a total nutjob. If you want to blame anyone, blame him" she said as they sat either side of Willows bed, watching as Matt took her hand and held it. "I do blame him Elly. I fucking hate him. Everything thats happened happened because of him. But I love her" Matt said as Willow shuddered in her sleep. "In the time she was gone, i never ever stopped loving her. Im going to ask her to marry me Elly" "Wow Matt. I had no idea" Elly said as Willow stirred in the bed "does she know? Or have any clue?" Matt shook his head "Not that I know of. I want it to be perfect before i ask her" "It may never be perfect with him around. You are just going to have to go for it" Elly said and Matt knew she was right.

Willow remained in the hospital for a few days. Matt and Elly stayed with her for the entire time, despite her telling them to go home and sleep. The day before her parents deathaversay, Willow was restless. She wanted to go home, she needed to go home. "Matt please go and find out when i can get out of here" Willow playfully pleaded with Matt, as Elly entered the room with 3 coffees. "Hey guys, whats going on?" she asked, as she passed the coffees around. "I was just asking Matt if he could go find out when im getting out of this place" Willow replied, taking a sip of her coffee "I just want to go home, take a nice long hot bath, maybe do a quick work out" "There'll be no working out for you just yet Miss Smithson" the Dr said as he entered the room, having overheard the conversation from outside the door. "When am i getting out of here doc?" Willow asked, hopeful that she was going to be released sooner rather than later. "Just one last check and you are free to go" he replied as he began to check her chart.

Outside of the room, Matt was pacing "I dont know just how much more Wills can take from this guy" he said as the Doctor came out of Willows room. "How is she doc? When is she able to come home?" Matt and Elly asked at the same time as the Dr replied "Willow is fine and she'll be coming home with you today. But she cant do anything to strenuous so not to reharm her body, shes been through alot these last few days" "She sure has. Thanks Doc" Matt said, relieved that this part of Willows nightmare was over.

The next few days were spent recouperating at the Smithson family home. Willow, Matt and Elly spent the days planning what to do for Mike and Graces death anniversary. They were going to visit the grave in the morning but couldnt decide on the rest of the day. "Guys im just not up to having a load of people around me right now. I know this sounds selfish but i need to focus on my recovery and with Victor still out there" Willow said as she massaged her sore ribs, "especially if one of those people is Dianne Potter" "Who's Dianne Potter?" Elly asked as Matt and Willow glanced at each other. "Dianne was Mike and Graces old neighbour, she blamed Wills for their deaths" Matt explained, going into full details, leaving Elly disgusted. "She blames Willow for them dying? She sounds rather charming" Elly said as she sipped on her cup of tea. "She was awful Elly. She berated me for bringing Matt, Amy and the rest of the gang over for the funeral. So i slapped her. I had had enough of her constant interfering and putting me down. Insulting my friends was the last resort" Willow said, smiling for the first time in ages.

"You ok Wills? You're being incredibly quiet tonight" Matt asked as Willow climbed into bed next to him "Im fine Matt. Just tired, today took alot out of me" "Willow replied as she put her head on Matts chest and continued "and im dreading going back home and having to face Victor" at the sound of his name Willow felt her eyes fill with tears. "Hey we'll face him together. He wont win, he wont break us" Matt said as he put his arms around her, unaware of the plan that was set in place just a few days earlier.