We were talking about what we were going to do today, trying to come up with a plan, when there was a pounding at the door. For a split second, I wondered if it was Puddin', but there was no way he could have found me without my cell phone.

"You expectin' someone, Red?"

She shook her head, vines coming up behind her as she slowly approached the door. The pounding came again, more insistent this time. I walked up behind Ivy, staring at the door in curiosity. I didn't even have my bat, so I didn't know what I was going to do, but I wanted to be close. She used a vine to open the door, and there he was.

"Puddin'!" I shrieked joyously and rushed forward, jumping into his arms, "You found me!"

He kissed me deeply, "I will always come for you, little one."

After setting me down, he looked to Ivy with hate in his eyes. Before I could do anything, two vines wrapped around my arm and pulled me back as she muttered, "So much for self-esteem. … Did you forget why you left?"

I started, wondering how she knew, wondering if she'd invaded my privacy and read my journal. But then I realized she was just trying to make me think of it, even though she didn't know what it was. She was trying to help. And for a second, I was angry again.

"I didn't forget." I looked to J with a frown.

He reached out his arms to me the way he had at the top of the platform just before I killed Harleen, "Pumpkin. My love, I'm so sorry for what happened and for our fight. You know I didn't intend for what I did to be permanent and I shouldn't have blamed it on you."

I felt my heart softening.

"And if you really want to be a mother one day, we can steal a rugrat or two."

I squealed and tried to jump forward, but the ivies were still wrapped around my arm.

"You've got to be kidding me. Harl, what did he do to you?!"

"Harl?" J asked, one hairless brow raised.

"It's a long story, Red. But it's ok, really. You can let me go now."

The plants continued to pull at me as J pulled out his Colt and leveled it at Ivy.

"Puddin', no!" I stepped into his line of sight, blocking her. My expression dark and serious, "If you hurt so much as one hair on her head, I will leave you forever and you'll never see me again."

"I would find you."

"And I wouldn't come back. I'd kill you if you tried to make me. Do. Not. Hurt. Her."

He scowled at me, angry at my standing up to him. I could tell he wanted to test me. Wanted to cause her pain. But I was serious in my threats.

More vines lashed out and I yelled, "Ivy, stop!" before they could reach him. I turned to look at her with just as dark a scowl as I'd given him, "The same goes for you. You hurt one hair on his head and I'll kill you myself."

Emerald green eyes widened, hurt. "Harl..."

"Don't get me wrong, Red. I love ya. But he's … He's my soulmate."

"Look what he's done to you."

"I know what he's done. I know everything he's done. And I love him." I said it simply. Just stating facts. Was I still furious? Hell yeah. Did I want to go home? More than anything. "I still wanna go on heists and go shopping and have girl days. … This isn't goodbye, Red."

"I … I'm gonna need some time, Harl." she was really hurt. Why is she acting like I betrayed her?

The vines withdrew from my arm and I ran to J, "Daddy!"

As he gathered me in his arms, pulling me in for another deep kiss, I heard Ivy scoff behind me. He picked me up and carried me outside, where I saw a LOT of his boys waiting, "You weren't gonna storm in and kill everyone you found … were ya?"

"Of course, Pumpkin. I'd do anything for you."

"You're not gonna hurt her?"

"I promise."

"If you punish me for this I will leave again."

He leveled me in his gaze as he set me down, a slight frown on his face. Clearly, I'd messed up some of his plans.

"You don't get to sterilize me and then punish me for reacting to it."

He held me in his arms and finally conceded, "Ok. No punishments."

I squeezed him tightly, just so glad to be in his arms again, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too. I couldn't sleep at all."

"How'd you find me?"

"We hacked into the GPS in your car. Took a while longer than I thought it would." He growled, frustrated with whoever it was that had failed him.

I looked around, "Where is my car?"

"Being brought back home, of course."

"You towed my car? What if I didn't want to go back with you?"

He looked stunned for a moment but covered it quickly, "That wouldn't have been an option, my love."

By this point, we were both in the backseat of his purple Lamborghini. He didn't seem to want to leave my side. Jonny started the car just as some of the boys started vomiting behind us.

"Oh yeah. Uh, this is a toxic waste dump. Without the vaccine, everyone here will die within half an hour."

"Better get everyone out."

Jonny beeped three times and the boys started moving faster into their vehicles. For a moment I thought of Ivy, all alone again, and felt my heart break a little. But I shoved that aside when I saw vines carry my bags outside and dump them on the ground. I frowned, though I noticed that the boys were still taking the time to grab my things, and turned to focus on J.

"Really, though. What if I didn't want to go back home with you?"

"Baby girl. You're not listening to me. I would have found a way to bring you home. No matter the cost."

"You'd have done anything I asked?"

"I already did."

I looked at him, somewhat shocked. But he was right. He didn't kill Ivy, though it was clear how much he'd wanted to. Not only had Ivy hidden me, she'd also actively tried to prevent me from leaving. But at my request, he'd holstered his gun and sworn not to hurt her. And then he promised not to punish me. My demands were made and he'd met them without complaint.

"Oh, Puddin'!" I wrapped my arms around him and crawled into his lap, kissing him recklessly, "I love you so much."

"And I you, my little one."