"Eve?" Julian rubbed her arms. "Eve, are you sure you're okay?"

Eve yanked her arms away from him. "Julian, I can't talk about this right now."

Julian's face fell.

Eve's heart dropped to her stomach. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I didn't mean that—I'm just really emotional at the moment."

Julian studied her. "How could you not be with the news we just received? Would it be easier for you if I met with Agent Freeman by myself?"

"No, no—" Eve's heart and face lifted. "What if he has news about our son?"

Julian tucked a strand of hair behind one of her ears and smiled softly at her. "I'm hoping with every cell in my body that he does."

Eve brushed a tear from her eye and smiled at him. "This day might turn around after all."

Julian smiled softly; his eyes twinkled at hers. "Yes, it very well might."

Eve's smile fell; her eyes dropped to the floor. "I'm sorry I snapped at you a few minutes ago . . ."

"There's no need to apologize." Julian lifted her chin. "I'm happy to listen whenever you want to talk—or to just hold you if that's what you'd prefer."

"Oh, Julian." Eve wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. "How can you be so good to me?"

Julian embraced her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Eve. I'm only giving you all the love you deserve."


Sheridan and Luis watched Julian and Eve greet Hal as he walked into Julian's library.

"I'm so glad Julian and Eve asked us to join them for this." Sheridan laid one hand on Luis's chest. "Do you think we should share our suspicions with them?"

Luis wrapped his arms around her. "I think we need to get some solid evidence before we get Eve's hopes up."

"You're probably right about that." Sheridan frowned. "What if my idea is just another dead end, Luis?"

Luis kissed her forehead. "Don't think like that, Sheridan."

"I can't help it," Sheridan said. "Given everything my father has done, it's hard to stay positive."

"Well, let me help you with that." Luis smiled and kissed her.

Hal cleared his throat and crossed the room to them. "It seems like I'm always interrupting you two."

A blush creeping up his cheeks, Luis turned to Hal. "Sorry about that, Agent Freeman."

"Don't worry about it," Hal smiled. "It's good to see you both." Hal chuckled quietly and shook Luis's and Sheridan's hands. "I still can't get over the fact that you two are married and having a baby—the first time I met you, you could barely be in the same room."

Sheridan's face lit up with a smile. "Yes, well, it took us a while, but we finally worked things out."

Luis's eyes twinkled at hers. "Really, Hal, we should be thanking you for assigning me to be Sheridan's bodyguard."

Hal smiled. "It was my pleasure. I just wish more of our assignments worked out as well as this one did."

"Just please, Agent Freeman," Katherine piped up as she entered Julian's library, "don't fake anyone's death this time. I don't think my heart could take it."

Luis wrapped one arm around Sheridan's waist. "I'm with you on that, Katherine."

"There shouldn't be any need for that," Hal said, glancing back at Julian and Eve. "With all of the precautions we've set up this time, the path to justice should be a whole lot safer."


Hank swallowed hard and then finished lacing up his skates. "You ready for this, lady?" he asked, plastering a smile on his face as he turned to Gwen.

Gwen smiled and took his hand. "Yes, Hank, I am."

Hank took Gwen's hand and helped her up from the bench. He might not be able to afford the ring she deserved, but at least he could give her this afternoon.

What had he been thinking getting all excited about proposing to her? He could barely afford this date.

"Oh, Hank, this was such a wonderful idea," Gwen gushed. "This day is already ten times better than the last time you and I were at this pond."

Hank wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Yes," he said, steadying his breathing, "—yes, it certainly is."

Gwen snuggled into his arms. "Hopefully, this time, there won't be any teens falling through the ice."

Hank looked up, his brow creasing. "That was pretty scary, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was. I mean, really, the entire night was a disaster . . ." Gwen's voice dropped, pain washing over her face.

Hank's heart plummeted.

Could he do anything right?

What had he been thinking bringing her here?

"Oh, Gwen, I'm so sorry . . ." he stammered, his heartbeat accelerating. "I wasn't thinking about the fact that you and Ethan were supposed to officially get engaged that night. I shouldn't have taken you here."

"No, no—it's okay . . ." Gwen's expression softened. "I'm happy to be here with you. Besides, if you think about it, the entire night wasn't a loss . . ."

Gwen ran one finger down Hank's chest, her lips curling into a seductive smile. "Remember that loop you and I took around the pond? Even back then, you were already showing me what an incredible man you are."

Gathering himself together, Hank forced a smile onto his face. "Yeah, well, I would have been a lot happier if you had been my date that night—that's for sure. I mean, Sheridan may have been here with me, but she couldn't keep her eyes off of Luis no matter how hard I tried to distract her."

Gwen frowned. "It sounds like we both have some memories from that night that we'd rather forget."

"Yes, it does." Hank racked his brain, his heart pounding: There had to be some way he could turn this around.

He couldn't let this afternoon just be a reminder to Gwen about the multitude of ways she'd been let down.

Wait a minute.

That was it.

Hank grinned and turned back to Gwen. "I have an idea," he said, his face lighting up. "Instead of just forgetting those memories, why don't we try to replace them?"

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her onto the ice and twirled her under his arm, catching her in a tight, warm embrace.

"Hank!" Gwen laughed. "You're crazy! We both could have fallen!"

"But we didn't, did we?" Hank kissed her nose. "I'll never let you fall, Gwen."

"You wouldn't, would you?" Gwen smiled softly.

"Not on your life."

"I believe you, Hank." Gwen's smile grew. "And let me assure you—this time, your date only has eyes for you."

"Right back at you." His eyes twinkling, Hank nudged her nose. "I can't think of anyone else I'd rather share this afternoon with."