"Michael, did you hear that?" Jenna's eyes had snapped open at the sound of the front door latch. But she wanted to check first. She was a light sleeper and often heard things which hadn't happened. Craig was always teasing her about it. Not this time though. She was convinced she'd heard something. The killer nodded, standing. He raised his pad.

Stay there.

The sense of history repeating itself didn't escape Jenna. Months ago, Myers entered her house to check for a burglar, who they now knew had been Richard and Eric Taylor. So much had changed since then. Jade was married to the killer just for one thing. In spite of his warning, Jenna slipped to the top of the stairs and felt her heart jolt with relief.

It was Jade.

"Bloody hell Jade!" She almost glared at her sister. "You almost gave me a damn heart attack!"

"Sorry," Jade apologised. Jenna noticed she looked terrible. Tired and pale, and wasn't looking at either of them.

Jenna headed down the stairs in time to see Michael typing on his pad.

"It's 1AM," Jenna said. "What are you doing here at this time?"

"Couldn't sleep after I spoke to you like I said," Jade said softly. "Had to come back."

Jenna nodded, just as Michael showed his message. Seeing it, Jenna felt a combination of sympathy for Jade and gratitude towards Michael.

We will talk tomorrow Jade. You walked out, not I and I have a request to honour tonight. If you thought you could just come back and talk to me at this hour you were mistaken. There is obviously a reason you left as you did despite me asking you several times, so you can wait until tomorrow. That shouldn't be difficult should it? Considering you've waited this long?

After she'd read it, he walked out of the room towards the stairs.

"I deserved that," Jade said quietly. "I'm not even going to pretend I didn't."

"At least you can admit it," Jenna said gently. "But damn Jade…" She stepped towards her sister and pulled her in to a tight hug. Jade rested her head on Jenna's shoulder, blinking hard.

"You look terrible," Jenna murmured. "Have you got any sleep at all the last couple of days?"

"Couple of hours when I couldn't keep my eyes open, otherwise no. The request was for him to stay with you tonight, wasn't it?" Jade said. "I don't blame him at all. I feel like I've been so damn selfish and I'm so sorry! Your husband's in hospital and where was I? I ran away from it like a coward! Yeah what happened set me back, but I should've been there for you. Michael's a better person than me, killer or not." Jade gave her sister a sad smile. "I'm going to stay at Dan's hotel tonight."

One of Craig's best friends Dan Miller was a hotel manager and was only too happy to help out any of the family for accommodation if needed. Jade had spoken to him a lot at Craig's party.

"I was afraid I might get that reaction," Jade said. "I'm not running away a second time, but I expected that So I contacted Dan. I don't blame Michael at all but I need to try and get some sleep and there's no way I will alone here. I'll see you in the morning."

"Stay here," Jenna said immediately. "You're safe here and you know it."

"Not if they come back and I don't want to put you in that situation."

"Jade…" Jenna began, then stopped because it was at that moment Jade raised her head a little and Jenna saw the terrible bruising to her left eye curtesy of Eric Taylor, but she also had a nasty black eye on the other side of her face.

"What the hell?" Jenna said softly. "Eric didn't slap you twice?"

Jade looked away and didn't answer.

"Jade!" Jenna gently grabbed her sister again so she couldn't move away.

"My dear birth mother," Jade said very quietly. Jenna looked angrily at her. "Wait! What the fuck?"

Jade sighed. "I unfortunately had the pleasure of encountering her a second time while I was at our parents. She's determined to blame me for what happened. She apparently was picked up by the police and is on bail for accessory to murder. But she's determined to expose the truth. I think it's only her fear of Michael which is stopping her, so instead she will twist it on to me. Angry birth daughter takes violent revenge."

"So, what happened?" Jenna demanded. "Also, why the fuck didn't you tell me on the phone?"

Jade suddenly looked more tired than ever. "I went out for a walk night before last and she ambushed me. Told me she was right to abandon me, that I was a bitch. Told me I'd made up lies about Eric, (which I now know I haven't because Tara confirmed it) and that I didn't deserve either of them. Said she'd been better off without me since I was 10, Said she wished I was dead instead of Eric. I didn't say anything and I think that angered her even more. She back handed me to the face. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you."

"Lies?" Jenna asked softly.

"When Tara was 12 just before I was adopted, Eric started to…"

"Ok!" Jenna said immediately, raising her hands. "Ok! Got it! Thank fuck he's dead! Son of a bitch!"

"So, I'm going to stay in the hotel because I won't be alone there. I know you and Michael will be here, but you sleep a long way from me. Julie knows this address and said she wouldn't hesitate to come back for me. You guys are safe, it's only me who isn't. She doesn't care about you. When Michael's with me I feel safe and when he's not…" Jade sighed, rubbing her bruised cheek. "I stayed close to him because I was afraid of losing him to captivity and now, I hate myself for it. I've hurt my husband; sister and my birth mother wants me either arrested or dead." She gave a sad smile. "Plus, I don't want Michael to see these bruises. That's why I kept my head down. This is honestly not me being self-pitying I'm being honest. I feel ugly to him already with this damn scar and now my face is even worse. Stings like hell as well. I totally understand why you feel safe close to Michael, so do I. I've let you down too Jen. I'm so sorry for that. Julie turns up and I go to pieces! Craig got stabbed for me for fuck sake and I respond that way?"

Before Jenna could answer, Jade walked towards the front door and her car. Jenna gently grabbed her and locked the front door so she couldn't leave. Jade had bought her suitcase in with her to grab some things. All Jenna felt was sympathy for her sister. Whatever mistakes she may have made, she was clearly suffering and that hurt. At least she'd managed to stop her leaving again. She headed back to her room.

"Michael, I have to tell you that right now I feel incredibly sorry for Jade and I'm not talking about the problems between you at all here. She encountered Julie Worthington again 2 nights ago," Jenna spoke softly, blinking fast. "She's got fresh bruises, said she didn't want you to see them because she looks and I quote, ugly enough already. Julie slapped her to the face several times. Jade Said she totally understood why you were staying with me tonight, as she feels safe close to you too obviously. So, she's…" Jenna swallowed hard, pain for her sister restricting her voice. "She was going to go and stay in Dan Miller's hotel tonight, Craig's best friend's place he's the manager of. It's partly because of what you've told her, she said she was afraid of and expecting that reaction, but it's also because Julie has made threats to come back here. She either wants her arrested, or…" Jenna couldn't say it. "Everyone else in this house is safe. Julie and Taylor only want Jade. But she's not leaving to protect herself, she's doing it to protect us. But I can see through it. She says she's selfish, but I think she's actually the most selfless person I know. Especially when you consider…" Jenna stopped herself quickly. She'd almost told Michael the truth and that was what Jade was desperate to do. "But I'm fucking glad you killed Eric. He abused Tara as a child. I managed to persuade her to stay here though. Or rather, locked her in. So, she'd have to unlock the door and we'd here that."

Jenna was struggling with tears and the rush of sympathy for Jade. She was sure she heard the killer softly sigh, as she headed back down the stairs. She needed to put her washing in the machine for the morning.

I lay on the couch in the living room feeling as though I was about to be sick. I'd expected that reaction as I'd said to Jenna, but it hadn't made it any easier to hear it. Or rather, read it. We always tended to say Julie had abandoned me 20 years ago, that wasn't strictly true. I was Jenna's age, 21. She'd left me 11 years ago, but it was just easier rather than going in to technicalities. Now she was back.

I remembered the times I'd desperately hoped for her return when I was a child, despite the emotional abuse she'd put me through. I often thought of it as 20 years also because from the moment I was born it seemed as though Julie hadn't loved me as a daughter. Was it because I'd been an accident? A one night stand? Or because she didn't know who my father was? Maybe she did and he'd rejected her? I kept asking those questions constantly at first and had to work very hard to stop myself doing so. It would drive me crazy.

Steve had paid for me to attend therapy in the aftermath and as I was only 10, I couldn't refuse. My child Psychologist had been a lovely woman named Samantha. She'd tried to get me to talk about what'd happened in the last 2 years when the abuse had got worse, but I'd really struggled and hadn't been able to face it until 5 months in to my treatment and after she'd assured me multiple times, she wouldn't tell anyone, not even my parents. That she wasn't allowed to. I'd finally disclosed Eric's violence (he'd started hitting me,) Julie's neglect. She'd go out sometimes all night with Eric leaving Tara and I alone. Tara was 3 years older than me, and ended up almost raising me from the age of 11. When Julie had told me in her letter she'd forbidden Tara to contact me, that had hurt more than anything else, including her not wanting me.

Now I was married to a man 4 years older than me and I'd lied to him. While it may seem only a small lie, to me it was huge. I hated the fact I hadn't been honest with him and I knew he was angry as a result. I didn't blame him.

Using techniques Samantha had taught me during my 3 years of treatment, I'd tried to analyse why I'd lied to him, ask myself what was behind it. Of course, that hadn't been too difficult to figure out. I'd faced harder self-thoughts in my time. Deep down in my subconscious, was I afraid he'd actually kill me if I told him everything?" I'd tried to ignore that thought and deny it but as time had gone on, that had become harder and harder to do.

After all, when I considered it, I was asking him to stop killing people, or at least take fewer risks so he wasn't captured again. I had only been constantly close to him because I loved him so much and was terrified of losing the only man I'd ever loved. Not just any man either, but my husband. Yes, I did also want to be close to him because he made me feel safe. Since my encounter with Julie and the Taylor's, that'd become even stronger. But now I knew Jenna had been right. I'd tried to prove to everyone even Michael that I could do this alone and didn't need to be close to him all the time. But I'd been proved wrong. Not just that, but I'd done it via lying to my husband. That to me was unforgivable. I stood up, going in to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As I turned back to the couch, Jenna appeared from the utility room.

"You ok sis?" She murmured.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I will be."

"You sure you want to sleep on the couch?"

"Yeah. It's fine. I can't face being upstairs, Michael so close yet so far, so if you don't want me to leave and I can tell you don't because you locked the door, that's my only option."

"Only because this is your home," Jenna said quietly. Now her emotional scales were starting to tip the other way in Jade's favour. Now she thought Michael was being a little harsh. It was late at night and Jade had been so desperate to patch things up she'd driven back. She had bruising all over her face and was clearly very sad and tired. Jenna sighed.

"I can do that washing for you if you want," I said. "I'll almost certainly be awake before you and I'll be down here anyway. Leave it in there and I'll deal with it for you. You start at 12, right?"

"You'll do no such thing," Jenna said firmly. "That's my washing, I'll do it."

"We'll see," I said quietly.

Jenna turned away just as Michael slowly descended the stairs. Jade didn't see him; she'd gone back to the couch. Jenna looked at the killer and managed a small smile.

"I'll be fine," she said quietly. "Jade needs you a hell of a lot more than I do."

I didn't see Michael approach, I'd closed my eyes, pulling the thick duvet over me. I only realised he was there when his hand fell on my shoulder. I opened my eyes just as he took his seat on the edge of the couch. Gently, he turned my head towards him with one hand and there was no way that was anger in his gaze was it? As he looked at my bruised face. Both my eyes were black now, not just my left from Eric Taylor's hit. I was sure I heard Michael softly sigh, before he leant towards and put his arms around me, then softly kissed me. I cuddled against him; I couldn't help it. He kissed me again and his arms tightened. I knew this was it. There was no way I was lying again. It was time for the truth.

"Michael," I said quietly as he gently pushed my head to his shoulder and took my hand in his. "I know you're not staying with me tonight and I totally understand. Jenna needs you more than I do. I don't deserve it either. But please just let me say this before you go? I… I have to! I wanted to be close to you because…" I knew there was no time for hesitation, reluctance, fear, whatever. This was it. "I am so scared of losing you to captivity a second time! I love you so damn much Michael Myers, I can't put it in to words! I don't think you'll ever understand how much as I said to you just before we married! You're everything to me, masked killer or not! When you leave for the kill it breaks my heart…" I took a deep breath. "I wish you were able to stop killing people or at least take fewer risks! Ok so killing isn't… Normal, but it's what you do and I've long since come to accept and respect that to some degree. But if it was a choice between losing more people to you killing them or losing you, I'd take the kills in a second! You also make me feel so safe and I can't lie I've needed that since first the attack, then Julie and the Taylor's doing what they did. Jenna's obviously told you. The bruise on my right is from her. She hit me several times. I think they're also watching my parents' house. But Julie at least has said she's coming back and either wants me arrested or killed. She's too afraid of you to expose the truth, so she'll try to twist it on to me. Birth daughter takes violent revenge for being abandoned. She's on bail for accessory to murder, but she's angry. I've no idea where Taylor is, thank God! But I also didn't want to expose you and Jenna to that danger. Another reason I told myself I should leave. I love you all so much and although she says you're safe, I don't trust her. Not one bit. But I think the main reason I struggled to tell you all this at first was because I was a little scared of your reaction. No, I don't mean scared you'd kill me, I believed you when you promised a few months back."

The huge weight which came off my shoulders was almost ecstasy. God I should've said that at the beginning. I'd done it. No more lies. He knew the truth. I heard the soft beep of Michael's digital notepad.

Jade. Oh, Jade.

He pulled me tightly back against him and kissed me repeatedly. I clung to him as hard as I could, as our kisses deepened. After a while he lifted me up in his arms and headed for the stairs. I couldn't say anything because he was still kissing me as he did so, but also because I wanted to be here so, so badly… We entered our room and he lifted me gently in to bed. I'd changed in to some of my soft pyjamas before I'd lane down on the couch.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered eventually, blinking hard. "I never wanted to lie to you Michael and the fact I did regardless of the reason hurts me more than I could ever tell you. I don't like lying to those I love." He slipped in to bed next to me and pulled me close, my head automatically resting on his shoulder. Damn I was so tired.

"I must look terrible huh?" I gave him a sad smile. "Haven't slept properly in days, not since I left. Also, my face…" Michael stopped me with his lips on mine. A few seconds later, he raised his notepad.

Jade, stop there. I will say again what I said to you re your scar. All those bruises show is you are a fighter and brave despite all this. I love that in you. I don't ever want to hear you call yourself "ugly" again. Got it? Just answer me this. How can I protect you if you don't let me, hey?

I felt the tears falling before I'd even realised it. That message had touched me so deeply I felt my heart almost snap with my love for him. I hugged him as tightly as I could as he gently wiped my streaming eyes.

You are the one going through this, Jade. You're trying to protect us? I think you've really got that the wrong way around. That's your family's job to protect you. Jenna is correct. Stop being so selfless. I ask you again. How can I protect you if you leave? Why were you so afraid of telling me this to the extent you ran from it? Me?

"It was the killing part," I said in just above a whisper. "I've never talked to you about it because… Well I just can't. How could I approach Michael Myers the masked killer and just say by the way Michael, please could you stop killing because I'm so scared, you'll get captured again? Not exactly easy, wouldn't you say? Killing is… Well part of you. Just as the mask is. That'd be like if I was an alcoholic and you told me to stop drinking."

I accept that. But you are correct. I'd never harm you Jade. Never. Were you afraid deep down I would if you told me this?

"Possibly in my subconscious," I said quietly. "I don't know. But I just wanted to stay close to you for that reason and because I love you so much. Also, yes because I wanted your protection, can't lie. But when you kept asking me about it for some reason, I started feeling uncomfortable. Particularly when you kept asking which now, I'm really glad you did. It was the whole talking to you about killing I think which made me so… Nervous."

Are you asking this of me because you're worried I'll get captured? Or because you simply want it to stop?

"Both," I just managed to whisper.

Michael pulled me gently back in to his arms and kissed me again. It was a long, tender kiss.

"What…" I could hardly believe I was about to say this to Michael Myers. 6 months ago, I would've been killed for it no questions asked. "What do you get out of killing? Is it the thrill? The adrenaline? You've made your very name Michael Myers one which makes people shiver just to hear it. I was no exception once. Do you want people to be afraid of you? Is that it? Plus, that mask you wear is terrifying on its own. Do you get a kick out of knowing people are terrified of you? Even without your mask we all know how dangerous you are. I wasn't lying when I said I find that attractive, I can't help it and I'm not alone there either. But why?"

There was a couple of minutes silence. I didn't break it. Michael was obviously considering what I'd just asked and it would be damn unfair of me to push him.

Why does an alcoholic drink? He wrote finally. They need it. Same thing here. You are correct when you talk of blood lust, Jade.

I shivered.

"But what about the families of those you kill?" I asked very quietly. "Does that not enter your mind?"

Not until I fell in love with you.

"You're joking?" I could hardly believe my ears. I was starting to change Michael Myers's murderous heart?

I am not.

I thought back over the times Michael had killed since I'd met him. I knew he'd still killed random people, but when I thought about it most of the kills had been related to me. Scott, the locks, Eric. All of whom had hurt me in one way or another. Also, I had noticed a significant decrease in Michael's number of kills lately. I'd dismissed it as just coincidence, but now?

"Can I do anything to help you?" I asked very quietly.

To what? Stop killing?

I could only nod. "Would you respond to Dr Sartain this time? I know he wants to help you. He cares about you. He's told me that often enough."

Total silence. Again, I could hardly believe I was talking to him about this. I'd wanted to for so long and tonight it'd just happened naturally.

I refuse to be taken back to MSU. They try that, they die.

"We wouldn't let that happen," my voice was choked with tears. This whole conversation could very well be a dream. I kept expecting Michael to shake me awake and tell me as much. "Dr Sartain would attend here. We know you trust him after all these years. No way would we ever assign you to another doctor. It's him or no one."

You've spoken to him about this previously I take it?

"Not me, Dad and Craig did. I had mentioned to them how I was feeling a couple of months back and whether we could do anything for you. But then Craig asked the biggest question. Do you want to kill? Because if you actually want it, we may not be able to."

Jade.

Again, silence. As before, I didn't push it at all.

It's… Just me. I need it.

"But need is different to want, right? We're not for a second suggesting we could or would stop you overnight, or even that we definitely could at all. But we'd like to make the try. We all love you Michael. All of us. Your part of our family now of course and we want to keep it that way. Even if you faced charges for your previous kills, it's a damn sight easier to see you in prison than it is in MSU. There's a lot more I could say but…"

Then say it.

He wanted to hear this?

"Just…" I started. "Imagine what people would think if Michael Myers faced up to his actions and proved he wasn't… Criminally insane. I think you'd earn a lot of people's respect for that at least. Yes, you'd always be known as the masked killer, but you'd no longer be feared, hated by all, etc."

You've really thought about this haven't you?

I inwardly shivered. Was that anger? "Only because I love you," I said very quietly. This time I think the silence was at least 10 minutes.

I will talk to Sartain. I am promising no more than that.

"That's all I can ask of you," I felt tears building again. He was going to at least do this for me. Us. He sighed, drew me close and kissed me. I felt a huge jolt of relief. He wasn't angry at me for this.

If I'd known wives interfered so much, I never would've married you.

I half laughed half sobbed at that message. "It's in the marriage contract sweetheart," I murmured in to his ear. "Did you not read the small print?"

Obviously not and I wish I had. It's not just this either. You are bringing out feelings in me I've never felt before. I want to protect, love and look after you as Steve has previously asked of me. I'm Michael Myers, that's not… Wasn't me before I fell in love with you. I intended to kill you in the end you know. Prove to me what you say is true, I said remember? I wanted you dead. Or you will die, I said. I intended that to happen anyway in the end. It really started to change the day you asked me "are you saying I can be with you for life?" I didn't intend to let you in to my bed. Or my house, or damn you my heart! Hell, I asked myself what I was doing the day I gave you a damn key! I intended to kill you one day when you came in. Make you think you were safe, then… But I couldn't! Damn you Jade I love you!

"Michael," I hugged him as tightly as I could. I could hardly believe what I'd just read. This time it was me to kiss him, tears streaming once more down my cheeks. "That's another reason we're asking this of you," I said eventually, my voice choked again with emotion. "How can you love me yet kill? Aren't you struggling to live both ways?"

You sound like a Psychologist.

"Sorry," I smiled at him through my tears. "But aren't I right?"

He sighed.

Damn you Jade.

He pulled me tightly to him and we began to kiss passionately. I rested my head against his neck, as our tongues met. His grip was as tight as it had been when he'd been holding me to calm his killing crave. But I could sense something different in it this time. It was out of a desperate desire to express his love for me, a feeling he hadn't previously felt or understood. I held him back just as tightly, as before either of us knew it I think, we were making love. It was the most passionate, but said more than any time before ever could. I could feel the emotion he couldn't voice and all that'd just been said by both of us in our passionate kisses, touches and when he entered me.

Afterwards, he held me tightly as I gasped for breath. Whew that'd been intense, but damn I felt a hell of a lot better for it. I'd said everything which was on my mind nothing was hidden from my husband now. I gave a sleepy smile as Jenna quietly slipped in following Michael leaving the room for a few minutes and curled up on the bottom of our bed. Just as she had done on mine countless times when we were young. Michael slipped back in next to me and my heart swelled with love for him yet again as he put one arm around me, one around Jenna. She smiled at him in pure gratitude, as did I. He was keeping his promise to her and comforting me at the same time.

The last thing I saw before I fell in to a deep contented sleep for the first time in what felt like years, was Jenna resting her head against Michael's chest, as mine hit his shoulder. The last thing I heard was Jenna and I speaking in unison as we smiled sleepily at Michael.

"I feel safe now."