Laurie slumped down on her sofa as soon as she and LYNDA got through her door. She still felt exhausted and drained. Just as she'd expected, there was no sign of Michael.

"I'll make you a cup of coffee," LYNDA offered, heading into the kitchen. Frankly Laurie worried if she ate anything she'd be sick, but knew LYNDA would force her to at the very least drink, so she just nodded.

LYNDA joined her a few minutes later and Laurie saw her wince as she glanced at the huge bruise on the back of Laurie's head. "How is it?" She was almost afraid of the answer.

"It's still pretty bad," LYNDA said truthfully. "But give it time, it only happened two days ago."

"Feels like five minutes," Laurie mumbled. LYNDA chuckled.

Dr Gooding had confirmed to her during her check up that she was now deemed safe to sleep without monitoring, but she had to keep a careful eye on her symptoms and call 911 or a friend if they worsened. He'd been particularly stern about this and she felt a rush of respect and gratitude for him. But she also hoped that wouldn't need to happen. All she wanted now was to be at home.

A little while later LYNDA left for a while to see her parents. Laurie didn't mind at all; in truth she was grateful for a little time on her own. That was until the tears started to fall. Ben, Michael, Ben, Michael. Both men had affected her life beyond repair in totally different ways, she hated herself for being glad one of them was dead. As for the other… she desperately tried not to think of him, her husband, it was too painful. Of course she should've known he wouldn't come back to her, not tonight or next year. Why would he? He'd already left once after all and her marriage to him was purely to aid his release. He didn't care about her and she'd been stupid to believe otherwise.

Then why… her internal voice tried to start again but Laurie put earphones in and played her favourite tape on full volume to block it out.

That was why she didn't hear the doorbell until its third ring. She groaned. So much for peace. But when she eventually did and went to open the door, she couldn't help the rush of affection which filled her chest. LYNDA, Andy, Katie and Townsend were all standing there.

"May we come in?" Townsend asked. "So glad you're home, Laurie."

"I… thanks," she spluttered, unsure what to say as she stepped back to allow them inside, a little embarrassed by her modest house. It was nothing special considering Townsend probably lived in a mansion somewhere.

As they entered, Laurie smelt food and despite her earlier thoughts about eating, she heard her stomach rumble. It smelt like her favourite, burgers.

"I bought us some food," Townsend said, as the group entered the lounge. She saw the two men drop 3 enormous bags neatly against the wall.

"The contents of the gift shop," Andy said, stepping forward and pulling Laurie into a gentle hug, mindful of her injury. "How are you feeling babe?"

"Like I got slammed into a brick wall," Laurie chuckled and the others joined in.

"Well sit down," Townsend instructed. "Food's here."

"I wouldn't argue with him if I were you," LYNDA smiled. So she didn't. The group took seats all around the living room, LYNDA perching on the floor beside Laurie's chair. She was embarrassed she didn't even have enough seats, but LYNDA was adamant she didn't mind.

"Thank you Tom," Andy said gratefully as they started eating. "He bought all the food," he explained to Laurie. "Plus the drinks. Thought we'd bring all the gift shop stuff here; you get first dibs and then you decide where it goes."

"I can't…" she began.

"Yes you can," Townsend interrupted. "We think you deserve that at the very least. If it sells, you get the money. We all have agreed on this." Everyone nodded.

"I…" she tried again, totally at a loss for words. "I can't do that…"

"Yes you can," Townsend repeated.

"We've all got what we want," LYNDA said. "The rest is yours."

After they'd all finished (with a lot of left overs in Laurie's fridge,) Townsend cleared his throat. "There is another thing I need to talk to you all about," he said, but the smile on his face told them it wasn't serious or to worry about. "I have already done all the legal paperwork for it; I just need your information. Due to everything you have all been through down in one of my attractions, I wish to compensate you all with a million dollars each."

Andy, Katie, Laurie and LYNDA's mouths fell open. Andy was the first to recover. "There's… man, you…"

"No," Townsend said firmly. "This is the least I can do for all of you. I want to do this; you were right about what you said in the HH Andy. The very least you deserve is compensation from me."

"I…" LYNDA spluttered, trying to find words herself. "A million bucks?" The last came out as a disbelieving whisper.

"We can't…" Katie tried this time. "We can't accept that, Mr. Townsend." They all knew it was pocket change to the billionaire, but to them it was life changing. "That's…"

"Well I'm asking you to," the tour owner's voice was gentle now, clearly understanding how this would change all their lives and that they were in shock. "Please. Do with it what you will, or give it to charity. It is your money. Please, let me do this for you all?"

"I…" Andy started again. "That's… that's very kind of you Mr. Townsend."

"What's with 'Mr. Townsend?' I've told you since we met to call me Tom. As for what you just said Andy, it is the least I can do after everything you went through."

Laurie could tell by LYNDA, Andy and Katie's faces they were thinking about how that kind of money would change their lives, what they could do with it. She smiled a little sadly. For her, all the money in the world would never bring the man she loved back to her side, not after he'd already left once.

"Oh yeah Laurie," Andy held out his hand, passing her the safety whistles Ben had snatched from her pocket to stop her calling for aid. "Got these back for you after that fucker stole them."

Katie shuddered. Looking through the pockets of a dead man clearly wasn't something she found appealing. Andy grinned at her. "Me neither babe, but someone had to do it. Man was an attempt rapist and thief."

"Can't argue with you there," Katie nodded. Glancing more closely at her, Laurie could tell she too was wondering where Michael was and trying to conceal the fact she was glad he wasn't there right then. Laurie felt a jolt of pity and sympathy for her all over again.

"These will be great in a power outage," Andy grinned, holding up a flashlight and helmet. "They're the most powerful lights I've ever come across."

"There's the huge box of batteries in there as well," Townsend said. "Just in case you need them. Also, I wanted to tell you guys that even though 'Doom Tunnel' is closed, you five are always welcome to go back down there, should you wish to see the gravestone again." He saw the five of them shiver and understood.

"No thanks," LYNDA said softly. "I won't join you on that quest Tom."

"Me neither," Katie nodded.

"Totally understandable, but I just wanted to tell you as much." Townsend stood and approached Laurie, handing her a medium sized gift box. "When, yes I said when your man returns, please could you give him this for me?"

"Sure," Laurie nodded. "But I wouldn't hold your breath."

"Oh come on Laurie," Townsend murmured. "He adores you, that was so damn obvious we could've seen it without helmets or flashlights! Why else did he carry you out of there and to hospital?"

"See," LYNDA elbowed her, clearly having heard the exchange. "I told you, at least I'm not the only one who thinks that."

Laurie had never expected her friends to stay for hours, she now deeply counted Townsend as a friend. They drank tea and talked about anything but 'Doom Tunnel'. Laurie asked Townsend about how he'd got started with tours of horror attractions and the others listened just as interested.

"Ha, the four T's," LYNDA chuckled. "Thomas Townsend Terror Tours."

Townsend rolled his eyes. "Don't you start, you can imagine the nicknames my staff gave me as a result!"

Andy snickered. "Like what?"

"Townsend sighed dramatically. "Townsend the total twat was a common favourite, when they thought I couldn't hear them." Laurie almost choked on her drink for laughing.

"So Mr. Townsend," LYNDA fluttered her eye lashes in a playful flirting gesture. "Do tell us, with all your money, attractions and yes I can't deny good looks," Andy spluttered and everyone laughed. "If I'm right in my suspicions, how the fucking hell are you still single?"

When the group finally made to leave, it was almost midnight. Laurie felt happier than she could remember feeling since Michael left and she was deeply thankful to them for it. She wasn't sure she'd go to bed yet, was thinking about going through the bags for a look.

"Give me a call if you need me whatever time, ok?" LYNDA made her promise before she left, kissing her cheek as she hugged her close.

Townsend was the last to leave and as Andy headed out to the car, he turned back to Laurie.

"I owe your man a huge debt of thanks," he said very softly. "He went back down with me once you were safe and helped me retrieve the tractor and train, so I can use them once repaired in my other attractions."

"He did?" Laurie was astonished but touched.

"He did indeed," the tour owner nodded. "So I wanted to tell you, that gift box contains things from the gift shop yes, but also the same free lifetime badge you all have, hey my tours make good dates," he winked. Laurie couldn't help but smile back at him. "He also will receive a million dollars from me, I will pay it into your bank account with yours. I have enclosed a letter telling him this. He loves you Laurie, I'm telling you. Even from your brief interaction that was obvious."

Laurie couldn't help herself then, she stepped forward and pulled her now friend into a hug. Townsend reciprocated, smiling fondly at her. Nor could she stop herself when she kissed his cheek and felt close to tears when Townsend returned it. His expensive aftershave filled her nostrils and she couldn't deny it was nice. "Here," he handed her a slip of paper. "My personal phone number. Call if I can do anything for you, got it? The others have it as well."

"Thank you so much Tom," now she couldn't hold back a tear. "I'm so grateful. You're far from the arrogant money hungry power tripping guy the Hype tried to portray, we know the real you!"

He smiled at her again. "I was once," he admitted. "Money was my one and only goal. Even when I did well at it, I always wanted more. I hated having competitors, I wanted to be the one and only."

"Well you're the one and only Thomas Townsend," she hugged him again. "And we love you."

"You're a sweetheart, thank you."

"No, thank you. Without you I could've very well died down there from my head injury and been raped. You looked after us way more than you were required to that night."

"It was my pleasure," he said softly. "Good night, call if you need me day or night. Ok?"

"You too Tom, good night."

Townsend headed out to his car and she closed and locked her front door. Heading back into the lounge, she glanced at the three huge bags. Maybe she wouldn't tonight, that was a lot of stuff to go through and the group wanted it to be all hers? She'd have to argue that with them, that wasn't fair. They'd all gone through it right by her side.

Sinking onto her battered leather sofa, she sighed with relief. It felt so good, just that simple thing. She felt emotionally exhausted, even if her physical wounds would heal over time. All she wanted to do now was sleep. If she stayed awake, she worried her mind would go back to the one place it simply could not go. The one place she couldn't allow it to go. Michael. Standing, she grabbed the painkillers Dr Gooding had proscribed her and took two with a glass of water. It didn't take long for her eyes to start to close in sleep.

Laurie wasn't sure what time it was when she heard a soft click. She opened her eyes, still groggy from the effect of the painkillers. Maybe she'd imagined it? She was just about to close her eyes again when she saw it. Her front door was swinging open.

When she'd married Michael, she'd been required by the laws of the contract to give him a key to her house. Not that she'd had too, he still had one from when he'd left her, but he'd also had to give her one to his. Dr Loomis had dropped it to her a few days after she'd agreed to the arrangement.

"What the…" she mumbled still half asleep. She tried to stand up but her body didn't want to move. That was when she heard the door click shut. She knew it wouldn't be Michael, but she had to check she wasn't being burgled or something, so she forced herself to stand. She wobbled a little as she found her balance, feeling a little light headed. But she'd only taken one step forward when the soft, warm hand fell on her shoulder. She turned, her heart thumping and was sure she was dreaming.

Because it indeed was Michael. Still holding her shoulder, he steered her back onto the sofa and sat beside her. Laurie's mind was going into overdrive, her heart agony. After he'd left once, what was he doing back here now? The worst part for her was she could not ask him to leave, another law of the contract. She could only do that if he became abusive and/or violent. It was the same if she was in his house too. But her heart didn't think she could stand anymore pain.

"Please…" she looked desperately at her husband. "Please don't, Michael? I can't go through it again! Plus I'm in no position to have sex tonight, as you can see. Please, please don't put me through anymore pain? I fucking love you and you know it you cruel bastard! You shattered my heart once, I…"

But that was as far as she got, because he pulled her carefully into his arms and she was once again powerless to stop him. Her heart was beating so fast she feared it would short circuit! With his warm hand under her chin, he turned her head and she knew he was examining her injury.

"It's on the mend," she said quietly. "Dr Gooding said no lasting damage done, my concussion was only brief, I just have to be careful for the next few days. I… thank you for carrying me to safety and for… um… disposing of the guy who tried to rape me twice." Reaching forward, she picked up the gift box Townsend had given her and passed it to him. "Thomas Townsend asked me to give you this."

Her husband took it, but laid it on the coffee table in front of him. Laurie was surprised. He wasn't leaving yet? She expected him to satisfy himself she was ok, take the box and go. After all, why would he be back to stay after leaving before? Unless it was to fuck her of course.

Don't dream! Her other internal voice warned. Bad idea. He's not coming back you're right. So don't let your heart be fooled! Don't get too close to him! Get to bed or something before anything happens, you know you're powerless to this man so leave!

She tried to heed her thoughts and stand, but Michael didn't let her. Gently but clearly with intent, he pulled her back into his arms and to his side. Laurie wanted to scream at him. DON'T PLAY WITH MY HEART YOU CRUEL SON OF A BITCH, but of course she couldn't. She didn't want to die tonight, possibility of death penalty or not.

"Please," she tried to plead with him. "Please Michael I can't… I can't take this pain. I need to get back on my feet, I did this for you because…" she just managed to stop herself. 'I love you?' Not a good idea. "Because I wanted to help you," she finished, somewhat lamely. "But I… fuck Michael you know how I feel about you, but you made your decision. I appreciate you making sure I'm ok, I really do. But I… I need time to think!"

He held her tighter, refusing to let her move. Pushing her head to his shoulder he stroked her hair off her face, mindful of her massive bruise. Something in this tender and intimate gesture made Laurie snap and she was speaking before she could stop herself.

"God damn you Michael! Do you not fucking understand? I fucking love you, alright? That's why I married you, contract be damned! You hold my damn heart in your hands and you fucking know it! I bet you were watching me down there two nights ago weren't you? Hell even the first time we were down there! You've… you've held my fucking heart ever since after about six months I first entered Smith's fucking Grove! I know you know it Michael Myers, but you don't care, hell I know you think it's amusing! If you didn't, you wouldn't have just fucked me all those months and then left like it was nothing! Even when you actually said 'mine' to me, I should've known that wasn't real! Hell you can kill me if you fucking want! It's not like I'll be able to tell anyone is it? Parents never gave a damn, nor did you. This isn't self-pity, it's facts! You damn well know I adore you, but to you it's just some fucking game! Yes you carried me out to safety last night and I really appreciate it, but surely you knew it would break my heart in the process? Or did you just not care about that either? Please Michael, you left once, I can't take it a second time! Please just let me walk upstairs and sleep, you can stay here as per the contract, but please don't hold me, don't… fuck!" She slammed her hand on the coffee table as her tears began to fall, despite her best efforts to keep them from him. Desperately, she fought to stand and he released her, breaking her heart even more. "Thanks," she said, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. "Thanks, you just broke my heart all over again." Devastated and wanting nothing but to be alone to cry and scream, Laurie darted for the stairs. Damn she loved Michael Myers, but right now she fucking hated him. He had no regard for her heart, of course he didn't. She'd been stupid to think he ever would and marrying him had been fucking insane. She should've let him stay locked in Smith's Grove, at least until some other stupid girl took up the contract. But she shouldn't have done it! That'd been a mistake, the biggest one of her life.

She'd just reached the stairs when she felt him grab her by the back of her shirt and pull her not exactly gently towards him. Her fear spiked then, because she of course knew she would be no match for his anger. She dared not look up at him, terrified he'd put on his mask or picked up a knife. Or perhaps he was just getting ready to break her neck. It would be easy enough for him to do.

He released her shirt and grabbed her collar, pulling her face up towards his. Laurie closed her eyes, expecting any second to feel the stab of pain just before her neck broke, or the cold metal of a knife piercing her throat just as it had Ben's.

What she was not prepared for was Michael's lips touching hers. The kiss wasn't demanding or lustful, it was soft. Laurie wanted more than anything to pull back, but Michael Myers right now had her exactly where he wanted her and of course he knew it. Releasing her collar, both arms came around her tightly, as now their kiss grew in passion and longing. Laurie felt her whole body go weak as she fell against his shoulder. Their mouths parted in unison and their tongues came into contact. She clutched her husband's shirt, desperate to be as close to him as she could.

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? Her internal voice screamed. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE AFRAID OF AND YOU'RE SURRENDERING TO HIM AND LETTING HIM KISS YOU! THIS WAS EXACTLY HOW IT STARTED LAST TIME! FUCK WOMAN DO YOU WANT THAT PAIN AGAIN? IF NOT, STOP THIS NOW!

But she couldn't. For someone who'd never done it before, Michael Myers knew how to kiss. She remembered thinking the exact same thing the first time he'd kissed her, but this time something felt… different. She couldn't stop the soft moan of desperate longing as he now did lift her into his arms once again, but this time they weren't in a dark cave and his lips were still leading hers in a passionate dance. Weakening further with every second, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Next second, Michael was carrying her up the stairs.

"I can't," she tried weakly, convinced he just wanted her for sex once again. "I can't Michael, not tonight. "My head still really hurts and…" he stopped her by taking her lips with his again and she almost melted in his arms right there. She couldn't deny it any longer, something in this kiss felt so… different from the previous times he'd kissed her. Yes they'd been gentle sometimes, but this was on a whole new level. He carried her into her… their bedroom and carefully pulled off her clothes even as he still held her. She didn't stop him, in truth she couldn't. Damn it! How did Michael Myers turn her into a weak lovestruck mess with one kiss? Lifting her into bed, he took off his own clothes and joined her, pulling her close against him, before he once again started to kiss her. Laurie desperately tried to find the words, a desperate plea for him to stop before he broke her heart all over again, but nothing came out.

Despite her earlier words, Michael's gentle kisses made her push close against him, skin to skin. "Damn you Michael Myers," she felt tears sliding down her cheeks even as she grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth to hers, this time her being the one to take control.

Michael's hands on her felt so different to how Ben's had. They were careful, considerate. Before she knew quite what was happening, she was almost shaking with pleasure as her husband pushed into her and they moved as one like a perfectly fitted glove.

Afterwards he again pulled her into his arms and kissed her once, twice. Laurie looked up at him, wanting to speak but not daring too. She feared anything she said now would break the moment between them, but she also knew she had to say this.

"But you left," she blinked back tears but to no avail, they fell anyway. Immediately she felt him trying to wipe them away and this totally unexpected and loving gesture from a cold blooded serial killer only made her cry harder. "You left, Michael. Why? I can't do it again, I'm sorry, wife or not! You ripped my heart in pieces when you left and having spoken to Dr Loomis I think I can understand it to some degree. You needed to process these totally new feelings. But why didn't you come and find me as soon as you were released if you wanted to come back so badly? Why did you wait until we were back in 'Doom Tunnel'?

Michael sighed softly and held her tighter. Then to her shock he handed her a piece of paper, the first time he'd ever done so. When she read it, her heart cracked and she suddenly felt terrible for her earlier words.

Because I love you, Laurie. But I believed after my foolish move the man I killed below ground that night was the one you wanted to give your heart to. Just because we were married, I had no right to assume you were still mine.

"You thought I wanted Ben?" She stared at him, guilt crashing over her. "Jesus no! You saw what he did to me tonight, months, Michael. Months I've been trying to tell him I wasn't interested, trying to gently turn him down, but he wasn't having it! The only man I wanted was… is you! I fucking adore you Michael Myers, don't you understand that? If I didn't, do you really think I would have married you, contract or not? No way in hell! You did something to me over the months we were together and I knew it was real. As opposed to some stupid crush or something. I started feeling it during my visits to Smith's Grove. But if I didn't think it was real, there was no way I'd have married you! I… I thought you left because I was… I was for just sex and you didn't care about me."

He pulled her tightly to him again and sort her lips once more. This time, she could almost feel desperation in his kiss. "If you want me," she gasped as she pulled back, I'm yours, Michael Myers! All yours!"

Again, he raised the piece of paper.

You are all mine.

Despite the joy and love she was feeling, Laurie still couldn't get rid of her doubts entirely. "But you left, Michael," she said again, but very softly. "You told me I was yours, you actually said it and then you…"

That was when for only the second time, she heard Michael Myers' voice. This time though it wasn't primal or filled with lust, it was a loving whisper in her ear.

"This time though, I mean it."

Laurie stared at him, unable to believe he'd actually spoken to her. Still though she was scared. She desperately wanted to trust him, but after it'd happened once, she wasn't sure she could completely.

That was when Michael sat up and reached for something. She couldn't see what it was in the dim light, but she heard the soft creek of leather as if a box was opening. Glancing up, she saw one indeed had. A black leather ring box.

She then felt her husband take her left hand and it was only then she realised hers was shaking badly, as he tenderly slid the gold wedding band onto her finger. She remembered what Dr Loomis had told her. Only Michael could give her this if he wanted the marriage to become permanent. Well she sure as fuck did!

"Michael," she tried to speak, but realised the tears were now pouring down her cheeks. He pulled her back into his arms and the comfort of their bed, as their lips once more crashed into contact. As he again started trying to wipe away her tears with soft tissues, she could've sworn he again spoke, a soft whisper of three words.

"Mine, I promise."