It only took a few moments for them to get their tears under control, and then Erin was leading Alex into the living room and pulling her down onto the sofa. Now that they were both free, it seemed like she didn't ever want to stop touching Alex, because it was so difficult to imagine that this day had truly come, that they were both free from John's clutches, and she tried not to let the truth of things overwhelm her as she cupped her friend's face with her hands and stared into her eyes.

"I didn't think that I would ever see you again, Lexie. I thought that John and David would figure out that we were corresponding, and that I'd be moved again, and have my access to the internet cut off once more. I, I didn't want to hope, but then he messed up by letting his guard down, and I was able to take the chance I should have taken on my birthday. I could have been free months ago, if I had only been smart enough."

"Everything happens for a reason, Erin. I've come to learn that as we've talked. I just wish that I could have tracked you down sooner, to save you some of the horror of waiting. They brought your angel here?"

She nodded as she let go of Alex's face to worry the fabric of her sweater between her hands. "I thought that you were the only one who knew about the significance of that statute. But somehow, John or David figured it out as well, and they thought it would be the perfect thing to taunt me with. Along with destroying my three season patio by bringing the children's hand prints here. They wanted to break me before they killed me, even if John's plan was starting to take a detour."

Alex nodded before letting out a long breath. "I just want to sleep for a few days, Erin. Preferably with you under the same roof as me, because I want to keep my eye on you."

"Well, that's good, because I was going to ask if I could spend some time at your house, as I don't want to be alone for a long time. There were stretches when I felt like John would just forget me down there, and even though I'm an introvert, I'm not that introverted."

Alex nodded, looking like she was about to say something more, when James and Grant came into the living room. "So, update. Agent Hotchner's team has just landed at the airfield near here, and they'll be at the cabin in about thirty minutes, since they're waiting for the local police to rendezvous with them. Until then, we're to lay low, but I don't think that will be much of a problem, will it?"

"No, I think that we'll be fine in here, Grant. Though I am famished. Would one of you see if there's something in the kitchen that would be fast and easy to make? I'm certain that Alex hasn't had anything to eat in a few hours, either."

"I will do that, ma'am." Grant gave her a small smile before turning on his heel and heading into the kitchen, leaving James with them.

"So, while he's making us a quick meal, I think that it's time to call your children, don't you, Erin?"

She nodded as James took a seat on the other side of Alex, and she listened with bated breath as Alex's husband dialed a number on his mobile before putting it on speaker so that they could all listen to the call connect. It took too many rings for the call to be picked up, but then she was hearing her Karen's voice warble over the miles that separated them and burst into fresh tears, sliding closer to Alex and allowing her friend to hold her close as they listened. "Hello? James? Have you found Mama yet? She hasn't written anything on the forum today, and I'm so worried that something's happened with her and Alex. Please, say something."

"Darling, it is so good to hear your voice again," she managed to choke out, welcoming the way Alex ran her fingers through her hair in an effort to soothe her. Now that everything was almost at an end, she felt like all the adrenaline that had been building up in her system was gushing out much too quickly for her to hold on to consciousness, as much as she wanted to talk to her children. Still, she would try and hold on for as long as she possibly could. "Are Bruce and Tabitha with you?"

"I wish, but Tabitha had to go to the stable to take care of Black Gold, and Bruce elected to go with her, just in case they decided to go after us next, since Alex went to find you and then disappeared. Is she okay? Please, tell me that both of you are fine."

"I'm fine, Karen. It takes more than a knock on the head to keep me down. Though you'd be so proud of your mom, if you had been here to see how she snuck into her former cell and whisked me out of it before locking John and David up in there. I don't know if we'll be home tonight, since it is such a long drive…"

"That's fine, it's just so good to hear both of you together and to know that you're safe now. What's the next step?"

"Agent Hotchner's team, alongside the local police, will take John and David into custody. Most likely, since I was a federal agent, and so was Alex, jurisdiction will go to the FBI, so they'll both be brought back to Quantico to face our court system. Especially considering that I was transported across state lines around Christmas, in an effort to make certain that you all couldn't find me. I wish that I had found a way to contact you all sooner. You deserved to know that I was alive so much earlier."

"We figured it out, though. Remember, your knitting is so distinctive. Is there anything that I can do to make it easier for you when you get back to Quantico?"

Erin took a long, shaky, breath to give herself some time to think about Karen's question. "I don't know, darling. I'll be staying with Alex and James while I recover my balance, and I'm not certain that they'll want the hustle and bustle of three rambunctious teens adding to the stressors of their jobs. And I don't know how easily I'll return to life. I hate saying wait, when all I want to do is hold you close to my chest and never let you go for a month of Sundays."

"It will be okay, Mama. You were put through such an ordeal that it makes sense you'd want to hold off on seeing us all right away. Though I hope that we can come over for a few meals, to help ease the way for you to return to full time living?"

Erin nodded as she pursed her lips together. "I would love that, I just have to ask my dear hosts for their permission. I will be depending upon their kindness, after all."

"We will love having your children over whenever they come to visit, Erin," James said, and she leaned forward to give him a tremulous smile. "Now, we need to eat before the team comes and there won't be any more time. I promise, I will keep watch over your mom and make certain that she comes home in one piece. All right?"

"Yes, James. And thank you. I love you, Mama."

"I love you, too, Karen. Give my love to your brother and sister." She ended the call without saying goodbye, unable to bear saying that word, not when she was so close to seeing her beloved children once more.