It's a week before the grand opening and Elizabeth has invited all the guards that helped her get the place into working order to join her in a soft opening of sorts. She's ordered food from Eli's, knowing that they all enjoyed the barbecue from there. Coolers of drinks to keep them well hydrated and, of course, a whole bunch of triple chocolate brownies to pull the whole night together. With all the effort they put into the gallery, having absolutely no personal gain from it, Elizabeth was just so blessed to be surrounded by such generous human beings.

"This is amazing, kid," Francis comments as he hands her a drink. "For you to do this for the guys...it means a lot to them."

"Well, they mean a lot to me," Elizabeth says with a soft smile. "After all they did for me, they're pretty much family."

"Well said," Johnny replies as he saddles up next to her. "So...rumor has it there's a painting with my name on it. Any truth to that?"

"What do you think?" Elizabeth counters with an playful arch to her eyebrow. "Did you really think I'd create all these paintings and leave you guys out of it?"

"Now this I've got to see," Francis voices as he comes out of his silent shock, not having expected that. "Do you mind?"

"Of course not," Elizabeth says, linking arms with both her guys and guiding them to the center wall where their paintings hang. "Here they are."

For a long moment, they stand in silence, just taking in the paintings that Elizabeth has created for them. It took her nearly a week to create each painting, doing her best to portray the kind of friendship, the kind of love, that the three of them share. They have come to mean so much to her, beyond words, that she had to find a way to put them in her artwork. To find a way to show them just how deeply they have affected her life. How deeply she feels for them both. To show them that they are her family. Apart the two paintings express enough, but when the two paintings come together...when the image is whole...that's when the true emotion shines through. Just like them.

"Its..." Johnny tries to come up with the right words to say, but he can't think of anything. "...wow."

"John's speechless," Francis comments. "Huh, guess miracles do exist."

"Funny," Johnny punches him in the arm. "Dare you to come up with something better."

"For once, the knucklehead's right," Francis turns to Elizabeth. "They're beyond words, Elizabeth. Thank you."

"I'm glad you feel that way because they're yours once the gallery's over," Elizabeth explains, smiling softly at the look on their faces. "My small way of saying thanks for everything you guys did for me. I love you guys."

"We love you, too, kid," Francis replies as she pulls them in for a group hug. "More than you could possibly know."

Whatever she did to deserve these two in her life, Elizabeth is thankful for it because she just couldn't fathom her life without them in it anymore. They are her guys and they'll always be her guys. Together they rejoin the group and take the time to just have fun. Talking a little with everyone, getting their input on the gallery, she couldn't help feeling so blessed to have them all in her life. Though she doesn't see it as too much, they are all so grateful for her taking the time to do this for them, making her so thankful for them and their appreciation of her efforts.

Sarah wasn't sure at all about meeting with her ex-boyfriend, but he was adamant that he needed to see her and so she went to meet with him. If her therapy has taught her anything, it was to take things as they are without the overcast of the past. Arriving at the diner a little early, she orders a cup of coffee before taking a seat at one of the empty tables. It didn't take too long after she finished her first cup for Nikolas to come walking into the diner and over to her.

"Sarah," he says in greeting, taking a seat across from her. "Thanks for agreeing to this."

"I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here, Nik," Sarah says seriously. "It won't last long. Why did you need to see me?"

"I need your help with Elizabeth," Nikolas explains, holding his hand up to stop her from cutting in. "I've been trying to fix things between us, but she's been screening my calls."

"After everything you did to my sister, you have some nerve asking me for help," Sarah counters. "Give me one good reason why I should even bother."

"I know I have no one to blame but myself," Nikolas says seriously. "I miss her, Sarah, I miss my friend. If there is any way to salvage my friendship with your sister, I'm willing to do it. Please...I'm begging."

"Wow," Sarah says after a long moment. "I've never seen you like this."

"Elizabeth means a lot to me. She's like family," Nikolas says with his whole heart. "I screwed up beyond measure, I get that...I just can't accept that there's no hope. I can't."

"Okay, okay," Sarah sighs, shaking her head, remembering a time when she had felt the exact same way. Pulling an invitation out of her bag, she slides it over to him. "Don't make me regret this."

"You won't, I swear," Nikolas says as he takes the invitation into his hands. "Thank you, Sarah."

"My sister means everything to me, Nik, so, hear me when I say this," Sarah says seriously. "You hurt her again and losing her will be the least of your worries."

Gathering her things, Sarah gets up and walks out of the diner before he could say anything else. She doesn't know if he'll be able to fix things with Elizabeth, but here's to hoping that he can. Regardless of her feelings about her ex-boyfriend, Nikolas means a lot to Elizabeth and it hurt her on every level that he could do what he did. Taking the long way to the hospital, having some time before her appointment with Dr. Collins, Sarah takes a moment to just be. To center herself and remind herself how far she's come from the girl she used to be. Though the road ahead is still long and winding, taking time to appreciate where she is gives her hope for where she's heading.

As the last of the guys call it a night, Elizabeth takes a walk through the gallery in reflective silence, her heart overwhelmed with all that she's accomplished since that last hospital visit. She's come so far from the broken girl with shattered hopes, a long way from the girl that couldn't stand on her own two feet, and that made her all the more hopeful for the girl she's yet to become. Spending time with Dr. Collins, she has begun seeing her world in a whole new light and she has come to terms with a lot of the things she had no control over. Standing there now, seeing the world that has become her own, the people that has become part of her life, Elizabeth just couldn't put into words all that she feels.

"Hey," Elizabeth voices when Jason comes walking into the gallery. "I didn't expect to see you tonight."

"Finished early," Jason explains, kissing her softly. "How did it go?"

"We had a good time," Elizabeth assures. "I just can't believe they cleaned up before they left."

"It's how they are," Jason replies simply. "Ready to call it a night?"

"Sure, we can do that...or..." Elizabeth says with a playful smile upon her lips. "You could take me riding."

"You had a long day," he reminds her. "You sure you're not too tired?"

"I'm sure," Elizabeth replies. "Unless you're too tired."

"Not when it's for you," Jason says softly. "You wanna ride, let's ride."

Taking one last look at the gallery, she walks out of the building with Jason, straddling the bike behind him before taking off into the night. It's been a while since they've been able to just ride, something she has truly missed. Being able to do it now after the day she's had is just icing on the cake. Making their way up to the bridge, they stand together for a long moment, just letting it settle over them before Elizabeth turns to Jason with that playful smile of hers. Holding out her hand, Elizabeth watches as understanding fills his eyes before he carefully takes her into his arms. Swaying slowly, Elizabeth's eyes close softly as she listens to the sound of his heart beating beneath her ear, a rhythm she will never get tired of hearing for as long as she lives.

"I've still got some things to settle, but it's looking promising," Jason voices as they lay together in bed, wrapped up in each other's embrace. "I just don't want to get your hopes up until I know for sure."

"I understand," Elizabeth replies, kissing him softly. "Seeing how hard you're working, it clearly means a lot to you and I look forward to the day you can share it with me."

"Me, too," he admits. "Until then, there's something else I'd like to talk about."

"Sure," Elizabeth meets his gaze. "Anything."

"How would you feel about getting a house together?"

"I...was not expecting that," Elizabeth shifts in bed to sit up, prompting Jason to follow suit. "You want to buy a house?"

"The studio has been our home for a long time, but I want a home that we can build our future on," Jason explains. "If you're not ready for that, it's okay, but I just wanted to know where you stand."

"Jason, the idea of building a future with you is a dream I've always believed was out of my reach," Elizabeth replies honestly. "There's nothing I want more than to have a future with you. To make a home with you."

"But?"

"But I want to be sure that we're ready for this," Elizabeth says seriously. "Both of us. Together. Are we really ready to do this?"

"It has taken a lot to get us here, we've been through more than most couples have," Jason reminds her. "After everything we've been through, there's no doubt in my mind that we're ready for this."

"We have been through a lot," Elizabeth agrees, meeting his eyes for a long moment before a soft smile slowly touches her lips. "And if anyone can get to happily ever after, I believe we can."

"So we'll do it?" Jason questions to be sure. "We'll get a house?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of building a house," Elizabeth counters. "If we're gonna build our future on it, I think we should build our house, put our vision into it from the ground up. What do you think?"

"I think it's perfect," Jason says, kissing her softly. "And I just might have the perfect spot for it."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Jason says as he gets out of bed, holding his hand out to her. "Trust me?"

"Always."

Getting dressed, they climb back onto the bike and take off in the early hours of the morning. The anticipation of what was to come made the ride that much more exhilarating. It was until the last turn that Elizabeth realized exactly where he was taking them. Getting to the clearing, dismounting the bike, the two of them stand before the old abandoned boxcar. Turning to Jason, seeing how much this means to him, Elizabeth pulls him to her, claiming his lips with hers. He was right. This was the perfect spot.

"Yes," Elizabeth says as they pull away. "Let's build our home here."

"Yeah?"

"This is where it all began after all," Elizabeth says with a bright smile upon her face. "Where we first met. Where it all started. It's perfect, Jason."

"I love you more than words."

"I love you, too."