"I still feel like I'm not me sometimes. I'm finally okay with Dom touching me and I'm comfortable with him again, then we try to be intimate and I freak."

Sally wrote everything down. "You went through a trauma Josie, it'll take time."

"It's been 5 months since my attack. There's been time and I just want my life back."

"You are the only one who can take your life back. I think you're afraid to be happy again."

"I'm afraid nothing will be the same. I'm afraid it'll all be different and if it's different then what if our relationship can't make it? What if everything is different after everything that's happened and he doesn't love me like that anymore."

"Dom has been nothing but supportive and he has faith that you both will be fine. Don't you think you should do the same?"

Josie thought about it. "You're right. I owe him that. I just don't think I'll survive him leaving me."

"Take it a step at a time. Move at your pace but don't be afraid to move forward."

Josie nodded.

Sally looked at her clock"I think this is a good place to stop. How about we meet again in 2 weeks."

"Sounds good."

Sally handed her a card and she stood up to leave.

"Thanks Sally."

"Trust your instincts. They're there for a reason. Your love for Dom and his love for you can go as far as you want it too."

Josie nodded and she left the office. She walked and got a coffee then headed to the garage to see Dom.

She walked in and Brian came out to greet her.

"Hey how are you?"

"I'm good."

He gave a look.

"Honest. I'm good. Where's Dom?"

"Right behind ya." Dom said coming in the door. She turned around and was in his arms. He leaned down and kissed her before letting her go.

"How was your appointment? "

"Enlightening."

"Wanna grab lunch?"

" ."

He held out his hand for her keys and they went to find a food truck with outside tables. She fiddled with her wedding rings on her finger thinking through everything that was brought up in therapy.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm afraid."

"Of what baby?"

"That if we make love it'll be different after everything that's happened, you won't feel the same as you did."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I love you the same as I always have. What happened to you isn't going to change that. If anything I love you more for being so strong. When we make love again, and we will it'll be better than it ever was."

"You sound so sure."

"Because I am. We can make it through anything, we already have. This is just another test. We can pass it."

"Well I know how much you love a challenge."

"Bring it on."

Josie smiled as they pulled into a parking lot. They got out and walked over to the food truck and ordered then sat at a picnic table.

Dom took a bite of his taco. "Babe don't put so much pressure on yourself. It'll happen when it's supposed to."

"I know. I'll try."

They got Dom back to the garage and then she went to see Mia.

She walked in and looked around. "Mia?"

"Up here. Hang on."

Mia came downstairs and gave Josie a hug. "Thank god you're here. I need your help."

"With?"

"Dresses and flowers and guests."

Josie laughed. "Boy I don't miss having to do that."

They sat down with some catalogs and flipped through them.

"Why don't you guys get married at the beach? It would be perfect for you 2."

"That would be great. I wanna move the wedding up a month though."

"Why the rush?"

"Because it's right and we're ready and in about 7 months I'll be really showing."

"Showing?!"

"We were gonna wait to tell everyone."

Josie hugged her tight. "I'm so happy for you guys."

"Thank you. You know he or she is gonna need a playmate. "

"I have to have sex with my husband for that to happen and I'm still struggling with that at the moment."

"Is it getting any easier?"

"Yeah. It is. Day by day, right?"

"Right."

Josie and Mia planned stuff until evening fell and then Josie went home and ordered chinese for her and Dom. He got there as the food got there. He took a shower and then came out to eat.

"So how was your day?" He asked her.

"Not bad. I helped Mia with wedding stuff."

"Did she by any chance tell you…."

"About bumping up the wedding? She said something about needing to…"

"Brian told me today that they were going to bump it up because…"

At the same time they said it. "They're pregnant!"

"I'm so happy for them." Josie gushed.

Dom smiled. "A little kid running around. It'll be interesting."

"Very…. I'm gonna take a shower."

"Okay I'm coming back to the bedroom."

Josie got in and as the water hit her she closed her eyes remembering how it felt to feel Dom's hands on her body and how he made love to her, so gently. She got out and dried but instead of getting dressed she wrapped the towel around her.

"Get out of your head, you can do this." She came out of the bathroom and Dom was reading a car magazine. She went over to his side of the bed and he looked up and gave her a questioning look. She took the magazine and put it down before straddling him. He put his hands on her waist.

"Baby we don't have to…."

"I want to do this. I need you. Please."

He flipped her over and kissed her deeply before moving down her body taking the towel off slowly. When he got the towel off he looked down at her and ran his fingers over her scars. He bent down and kissed each one. Dom was waiting for her to put the brakes on and when she didn't he undressed and positioned himself at her entrance.

"If at any time you wanna stop just…."

She put her fingers to his lips. "I want this Dom. I need this."

She closed her eyes and he entered her slowly. Her face scrunched up but then relaxed. He stayed inside of her a few before starting to move. Her face got more relaxed with each thrust. He started kissing down her body and she had her eyes closed getting caught up in the moment. His thrusts became faster as he felt her tighten around him. They climaxed together and he laid on top of her catching his breath, the same as her.

He looked down at her and kissed her again.

"I'm still here."

"Nothing felt different. It felt better than before."

"Yes it did. I'm so happy to have my wife again."

"I'm not going anywhere ever. I love you Dom."

"I love you more than anything in the world." He rolled off of her and she laid on his chest. Running his fingers through her hair he felt whole for the first time in months. "Are you okay?"

"I'm perfect. For once."

"Good." He hugged her tight and they both fell asleep.

The next morning Josie woke up and looked at the sun shining she remembered last night and smiled.

"Hope that's a good thought running through that beautiful head." He brought her in coffee and she sat up but kept the sheet around her.

"A very good thought." She took a drink then looked at Dom.

"How do you feel?"

"Great. I really missed that connection with you. I'm sorry it took so long to get it back."

He put his hand on her face and kissed her. "It was worth the wait."

"I Feel like me again. It's been a while since I've felt that."

"It just took time."

They got up and got dressed and went over to Mia and Brian's. Tej and Rome were sitting at the table waiting to eat while Mia made eggs.

"Are you guys hungry?" She asked.

"Yeah sounds good." Dom sat down at the table as Brian came down. Josie went to help Mia in the kitchen.

You could just see the change in her. She was happy and relaxed. Brian smiled at Dom and gave him a pat on the back.

"She's back." Tej said. "She's back."

Rome put his hands in a prayer way. "Thank you god. We missed her."

The girls brought out scrambled eggs and toast then Josie grabbed out the juice and coffee. A family breakfast. It had been too long since they did this. Soon they would have another family member at the table. That was something they all couldn't wait for.

Mia and Josie spent Saturday going over wedding stuff. They went over the seating chart for the reception and made sure the dresses were going to be done in time since the wedding was moved up.

Brian watched the girls from the door as they were outside sitting. Dom came up behind him and watched Josie's face light up.

"It's a good day."

Brian agreed. "I can't believe things are going so fast. This time next year we will have a new member of the family. Hard to believe."

"It'll be great. If it's a boy you get to teach him everything you know about cars. If it's a girl you get to take my shotgun on her first day and uncle Dom will bury the body."

Brian laughed. "I hear that." They bumped fists.

"Mia looks so happy. I've never seen her this happy."

"I'm happy. We should've done this a long time ago. I'll keep her safe Dom. I won't hurt her."

"I know that. You're the only guy I'd ever trust my sister with. You're a good man Brian. You guys will be fine."

"I wish you and Josie's first year wasn't such a nightmare."

"We're getting past that. We're in a good place now. We got a whole future of ups and downs to get through. This year was probably the worst and we made it through. If we can survive this, we can survive anything."

"No lie there. It was tough on the whole family. It's about time good stuff happens."

Dom nodded in agreement. "Where's Rome and Tej?"

"Oh they met 2 girls last night at the race and are taking them to lunch."

"I hope they find someone who can handle Rome."

"Good luck with that."

They both laughed before they headed out to the girls.

"So what have we got here?" Dom sat down and looked over what Josie had.

"This is a seating chart because Mia has gone bridezilla on us."

"People need to know where to sit."

"Let them sit where they want. It's a reception, a party to celebrate. No one wants to be assigned seats."

"I just want it in order."

Brian kissed her. "Baby the day will be perfect no matter where people sit."

"I guess you're right." She tore up the seating chart and put it away.

"What's your cake look like?" Dom asked. "Ours was too big I think. We had cake forever."

Mia took out the book and showed him the picture. It was a 7 tier cake with little pearl beads all over it.

"Okay I guess it's a normal thing to have a big cake."

Josie laughed. "You wanna make sure there's enough."

"Apparently."

They talked and went over stuff till evening fell and then Josie and Dom headed out. They went to dinner and a movie then went home. When they got in the house Dom pulled Josie into his arms and kissed her.

"Our 1 year is coming up in a month. What do you think?"

"I wanna have a nice night out and just be with you."

"Sounds good to me." He kissed her again, his hands in her hair. You could feel the urgency. She kissed him back with just as much passion. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He took his time undressing her, kissing every inch of her body. Josie couldn't believe how much she needed this. She loved him so much and was so happy she could show him that again. She helped undress him and he entered her slow. He didn't move at first just to make sure she was okay. Then he started a rhythm with her. She was meeting him halfway and it was driving him crazy. When she started to tighten around him he picked up the pace and they went together. He kissed her planting kisses all over her face. He rolled off of her and pulled her close. Josie looked up at him and when he looked down at her he kissed her again. Life was pretty perfect right now. They deserved the break.