A/N: I liked this chapter, especially the end!

Send prayers my way! NaNo finishes in 4 days, I need to get to 50k and I only just cracked 30k tonight!

Disclaimer: As usual.


Slumped over in the recliner with her head resting on the edge of Amber's bed, Haven was fast asleep.

She had spent the early hours of the morning pacing around the emergency room of Georgetown University Hospital while Zack slept in a drunken haze on a bank of hard plastic chairs. She had tried to call Amber's parents, only to find that they were either out of town, or very good at sleeping through multiple phone calls. She'd watched, unable to look away, as they had pumped Amber's stomach to try and rid her system of whatever drugs she had ingested.

It was barely dawn, and Amber was finally resting. Haven was deep in dreams, her exhaustion pulling her well away from reality as she stayed watching over her best friend.

"Haven"

The voice was soft and gentle, barely reaching Haven deep in her sleep.

"Haven"

This time, a shake of the shoulder. Haven jolted upright, bleary and disoriented in the light filtering into the room. She turned, expecting to see Zack standing behind her, but instead, finding her mother.

"Mom? What are you doing here? How did you know where I was?" she asked, yawning widely halfway through her sentence.

"I woke up and you were gone. So was my car. So I got Aunt Pen to track your phone. Haven, you scared the hell out of me, when I realised you were at the hospital, I thought something had happened to you or the baby," JJ said anxiously.

"I'm sorry Mom, but Zack called and needed my help," Haven replied apologetically.

"I know, I've already spoken to Zack. Is Amber alright?" JJ asked.

"I think so," Haven said quietly, turning to look back at her friend. "She was so unwell, they had to pump her stomach. The doctors think someone tried to roofie her with a bad batch"

JJ shook her head in disbelief. "What high school kid tries to roofie a classmate?"

Haven scoffed. "You'd be surprised"

Sighing heavily, JJ sank onto the arm of Haven's chair. "I was worried sick about you"

Leaning into her mom's side, Haven nodded knowingly. "I know, and I'm really sorry. I should've left a note or woken you and told you where I was going. Honestly, all I was thinking about was getting to Amber and making sure she was ok"

JJ smiled, running a hand through Haven's hair. "You're a good friend, milagro. Amber is lucky to have a friend like you. Someone who drops everything to help you and never gives up on you"

Haven tipped her head up, a smile on her face. "I know Amber would do the same for me"

JJ raised an eyebrow. "I hope you're not out drinking to the point of hospitalisation"

Haven grinned. "No Mom. I know it's really bad for the baby, and I wouldn't do it anyway"

"Good," JJ said seriously, making Haven laugh.

Her mom was such a worrywart.


After finding out from a finally conscious Amber that her parents were out of town for another two days, JJ had flashed her FBI badge to get Amber discharged into her care. It had been a long and slow drive back from the hospital, with three stops for Amber to throw up on the side of the road, but eventually they had arrived safely back at the LaMontagne residence.

"I'll try and give your mom a call again, ok Ambs?" JJ said as she helped a shaky Amber over the front threshold.

"Ok. Thanks so much for doing this, JJ. You didn't have to," Amber replied quietly.

"If I hadn't done it, you would've had to be held in the hospital until your parents got home, and I'd rather you were here with us than there by yourself," JJ replied truthfully. "Your mom has gone out of her way for Haven many times. I need to return the favour"

Amber smiled, hugging JJ. "Well, thank you"

JJ grinned. "Not a problem. Now you make yourself comfy on the couch, and Haven will be down in a minute with some of those awful movies you two love so much"

Giggling, Amber moved to the couch, curling up at one end with one of the throw blankets as JJ moved through to the kitchen, where Henry was sitting at the table poring over his laptop.

"Where's your dad?"

Caught by surprise, Henry slammed his laptop closed, making JJ jump before eying him suspiciously.

"Henry? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," Henry said hurriedly.

"Henry, I don't care if you're twenty three and entitled to whatever, open that laptop now," JJ said firmly, pointing a stern finger at the computer on the table while fixing a famous glare on her son.

Henry knew better than to argue with his mother. Begrudgingly, he opened the laptop again, sitting completely still with his gaze dropped to the floor as the screen flickered back to life.

JJ leaned closer, her eyes scanning the screen before her.

Engagement rings.

But... Henry wouldn't be looking at those unless...

"Oh my god," JJ gasped, her eyes lighting up as she stepped back and covered her mouth with her hand. "You're going to propose to Lily?"

Henry stood up quickly, holding a hand out towards his mother to slow her down. "Yes. I don't know when. Or where. Or... how... but I'm going to. It's more of a long-term thing... I'm proposing because I want to promise to her that no matter what, we're going to be together forever. Whether we get married within a year, or ten years down the track, who knows? I just want to propose because I know that she's the girl for me, she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with"

Her eyes growing awfully bright, JJ threw her arms around her son. "You're too good to be true, Henry. God I am so proud of you and I love you so much"

Henry chuckled. "I love you too Mom. Promise to keep this a secret for now?"

JJ nodded, stepping away and wiping her eyes.

"Promise"