A tapping on the window caught Bill's attention. He saw Dale in the window motioning for him to meet outside. He glared at him and looked away. Dale pounded harder on the window, yelling. Bill huffed and carefully got up, trying disturb Bailey as little as possible.

He threw open the front door and waited for Dale to speak, arms crossed over his chest.

"I think you're making a mistake going through with this." Dale said, arms behind his back.

Bill clenched his jaw. He didn't need this the night before he was getting married. "I think you don't know what you're talking about, Dale." Bill spat about to slam the door closed.

"Think about it! She's a young woman, what could she possibly want from you?" Dale pushed, trying to reason with his friend.

"Is it so hard to believe we want to be together with no ulterior motives?" Bill snapped.

"You went missing and then show up from the hospital with this woman that also happened to be missing. Something doesn't seem right about it. You're missing an eye for fucks sake." Dale said angrily, waving his hand around for emphasis.

Bill sighed heavily, leaning on the doorframe. "You don't know the half of it. If it weren't for Bailey then I'd probably be dead right now. We really bonded over that time we were held as prisoners."

Dale took this in for a moment. " What really happened?" He asked after a tense pause.

"I don't want to talk about it." Bill said tiredly.

"I didn't come here to argue, I wanted to talk some sense into you. I still think you're rushing into this too soon." Dale relented with a sigh.

"She's not like the other women I've been with. She actually cares. Give her a chance and you'll see." Bill said, brightening back up some.

Dale took a long drag on his cigarette and nodded. He pulled out the old plastic ball and chain they had used at their bachelor parties in the past. "Hank and Boomhauer are waiting on us." He said before walking back to Hank's house.

Bill mulled it over for a moment before sliding on his shoes. He gave Bailey's sleeping form one last look before he quietly left. This time tomorrow she would actually be his wife, this put a genuine smile on his face.

Bill tore his gaze away and quietly left. He excitedly shuffled over to Hank's. Bill entered through the sliding glass door, he made his way into the living room where his friends were waiting.

He stood there awkwardly for a second as they greeted him. Bill plopped down on the couch between Hank and Boomhauer. "Hey guys!" Bill said with a smile.

"Hank says you finally knocked up a woman." Dale blurted out suddenly.

Bill went beet red, an ache in his chest. "Yeah." He managed to say, the wind knocked out of him. She would be right now if it weren't for that murdering monster masquerading as a woman. Bill squashed down those dark feelings and kept an upbeat demeanor, coming back to the present.

His friends congratulated him and clapped him on the back. This was something he wanted for so long. They seemed to come around. Bill relaxed some and found himself genuinely smiling.

Bill grabbed one of the cold beers off the coffee table and cracked it open. The rest of the men followed suit and opened their respective cans, filling the room with pops and hisses.

Hank turned on the radio, putting on a classic rock station. Boomhauer was already dealing out the cards. Dale was already munching on the pretzels and other snacks Hank had laid out for them. Bill grabbed a few pretzels and washed them down with his beer. It was like old times. Only this time, this wife wouldn't be cheating on him two weeks after tying the knot.

He picked up his hand and arranged his cards. Bill noticed Dale's hand of cards reflecting in his mirrored aviators. He focused back on his own cards, not wanting to cheat. He made his bet and took another sip of his beer. This was nice.

"Bailey seems nice, though a tad shy." Hank said casually as he laid down his card.

" Yeah she's a total sweetheart." Bill said with a sappy grin.

"Well alright, Bill." Hank said with a friendly smile.

"We thought she was going to be like all the other women you've been with." Dale said as he adjusted his hat.

"Robbing the dang ol' cradle yo." Boomhauer mumbled playfully.

Bill took another sip of beer, sure it was playful but it still made him self-conscious.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

"That must be the pizza, why don't you go get it Bill." Hank said as he handed him two crisp twenty's.

Bill took the money and got up, when he took his first the step there was the old plastic ball and chain latched onto his ankle. They all burst into laughter as Bill walked to the front door.

Bill answered the door and paid for the pizza. The delivery person gave him a strange look when he heard the plastic ball and chain rattle.

" I'm getting married." Bill said proudly.

"Congrats?" The man said.

"Keep the change." Bill said good naturedly.

"Thank you, sir!" The man turned and left.

Bill sat the pizza down on the end of the table and grabbed a slice for himself. Life was good.


Bailey slowly woke up, alone on the couch. "Bill?" She called out. There was no answer. "Bill!" She called louder. Still no answer. Where could he be? Was he even home?

The sun was going down, it was too late to be out. She went to call him but realized with a start that she didn't have his number. Bailey got up and looked around for a possible note but only found Ms. March taped to the fridge.

She peeked out the window and saw the alley was empty. She ventured to the back door and cracked the door open. "Bill?" She called. Still no answer.

Her heart was already pounding painfully in her chest. Bailey began to hyperventilate. She hadn't ever really been alone. Black tendrils poked out of the shadow in the kitchen, reaching for her. Bailey hurriedly slammed all the lights on in the house. It was too dark to go outside. She would have to just wait.

Bailey grabbed her phone and threw a musty throw over head, hugging her knees to her chest. She would be safe for now. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Didn't he understand that they were safer together? Even Amy understood this and slept in her room. Even the times she had a man over, which was awkward the first few times.

She wanted Bill to come back from where ever he was and hold her. Bailey felt safe with him by her side. She worked to slow down her breathing and make as little noise as possible. Maybe it wouldn't find her before Bill returned. Unless...it got to him somehow... Her breath died in her throat. Sheer panic made her sick to her stomach. She shook and sobbed uncontrollably, trying in vain to keep quiet.

She stayed like that for the next two hours.

Bill quietly opened the door, expecting Bailey to be asleep. Her heard quiet sobs coming from the couch. "Bailey?" He said as he rushed over to her.

She let out a blood curdling scream as soon as he uttered her name. Bill nearly jumped out of his skin. He yanked the throw off of her, causing her to scream more and flinch away.

"Bailey! Its just me!" He said as he caught her hands carefully. He winced when she accidentally put pressure on his healing wound. "Its okay! Its okay!" Bill pulled her into his lap.

Bailey finally looked at him. She cried in relief, burying her face into his chest.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Bill demanded, concerned.

She shook her head. "You were just gone." She cried.

"I was next door." He said, still bewildered at her behavior.

"You left me alone and its dark now." She sobbed, clinging to him.

"The lights are on though." He said, even more confused now.

"That doesn't matter if you're alone! Your house is full of huge shadows! Its a breeding ground of darkness!" She yelled into his chest.

Bill wasn't sure what to make of this. He hadn't realized how bad her fear of the dark really was until now. "You're fine, love. You're safe here." He tried to soothe her.

"You didn't even leave a note! I thought you were just gone!" Bailey cried, shaking in his arms.

"I'm right here, nothing his going to hurt you." Bill said in a calming voice.

" Don't leave me alone again!" She cried, looking up at him with bloodshot eyes.

" I won't, I love you." He said, stroking her hair.

"I love you too, Bill. I feel safe with you. Please don't leave me alone when it gets dark." She pleaded.

Bill pulled her into a soft kiss. Bailey wrapped her arms around his neck. She could finally relax now.