A/N: I am actually republishing this story. There have been edits made. Text that has been italicized is a flashback, and text that has been bolded is from the show. I am merely borrowing characters besides though that are not recognized.

Kathleen looks around the two-bedroom apartment. She and Luke had moved in last week. It was a step that was sped up by the attack. Kathleen could hardly handle 30 minutes in her old apartment, even with Luke and her dad around. They decided she would move to a different place. Luke was the one that suggested they look for a two-bedroom place together. They had converted the second bedroom into a guest room slash office for the two of them.

Luke had been her rock during all this time. He had returned to work that morning after spending the last six weeks with her. They had spent the Civic weekend out at the lake after spending the week moving into their apartment. Luke had been taking her out to eat and to the movies. They had gone on nature hikes and even to the zoo during the six weeks off. They had been exploring the city and visited different markets and farms. He was there when she had nightmares or when she saw a guy that fit Sean's description. He held her hand through her entire interview with John, even though he was asked to step out.

They had talked about her going back to work and continuing with her therapy. She had gone in a few times to the hospice. She checked on a few of her favourite patients and attended two funerals of those who had passed on. Her photography needed to be rescheduled as she wasn't able to attend it because of her injuries. They were trying to decide whether to get a puppy. The thing they couldn't figure out was if their schedules would allow them. They didn't feel right about leaving a dog alone in the apartment all day or leaving it at a doggy daycare.

She looked down at her left hand and noticed her newest accessory. Luke had proposed during their time at the cabin this past weekend. He had bought the ring before they had gotten back together. He hadn't found the perfect moment to give it to her. They had been curled up on the couch after making love when he had pulled out a black ring box. She can still hear him making his speech.

"I've been carrying this around since a few weeks before I sought you out. I was passing by a store on my way to interview a suspect and I saw it through the window. The only I knew thought was that it screamed you," he begins as he opens the box to reveal the ring. It was a white gold band with a princess-cut emerald framed in diamonds. "It called to me, and that is when I knew I had to do everything in my power to get you back into my life. I've already told you that when this case started that it scared me. Nothing had prepared me for the night we found you. All I kept thinking was that I never got to tell you."

"You are the only girl for me. When I think about my future, you are the one I see. You are the future mother to my children. The darkness surrounds my world and you are the light in it. Even if I attempted to picture myself in another life. As our dreams come true, it would still be you standing next to me. It's you that makes me ready to drop everything and take off for a weekend. It's you waiting at home that makes me get annoyed with my co-workers when I can't leave on time. After a hard case, it is your voice that cheers me up. It's your encouragement that makes me able to work through a tough case."

"Kathleen Faith Boyd, will you make the luckiest man and marry me?" Luke asks as he looks at her.

"Yes," she says as tears fill her eyes.

They had spent the rest of the evening curled up in bed. She hadn't even told her cousins about the latest news. She knew her parental figures in her life and knew all about the engagement because of who Luke was. He dedicated himself to his work, charming and sometimes stubborn. He believed in playing fair and going by the rules. Of course, that didn't mean that he didn't have a naughty streak to him.

There comes a knock at the door that startles Kathleen out of her thoughts as she moves to open the door.

"Hey," Gail says from the other side as she holds up a bag of takeout. "Chinese?"

"Studying too much," she says as she opens the door wider for her cousin to enter.

"Something like that," Gail says as she leads the way into the great room of their apartment. "How was the lake?"

"It was good," she says as she follows and her cousin places the food on the dining room table. "Luke was right. We needed that time after the move and everything."

"That's good. How are you two doing?" Gail asks as she both takes a seat at the table and spreads out the food. "I mean, last time we talked, you were feeling frustrated that he was still shy about touching you."

"He was waiting for me to approach him," she says after grabbing plates and silverware. "He wanted me to prove that I wasn't doing it for him. So it was a very fun weekend, plus a few surprises."

"Did you seduce him as we planned?" Gail asks as Kathleen sits at the table and hands her the plate and utensils. "Wait, what was that?" she asks as she grabs her hand. "This is a surprise. When did this happen?"

"Saturday, after we got physical," she replies as she takes her hand back and fills up her plate. "He's been carrying it around since before we got back together."

"Guess he wasn't ready to lose you," Gail comments as she also fills up her plate. "What else did you two discuss this weekend?"

"We were thinking about getting a puppy. We have finalized nothing," she says as she takes bites of her food. "Mmm, I've missed Cherry Garden's food. Luke's been taking me to different places around the city, but nothing beats their Chinese."

"Trust me, I know. Which other foods have you tried?"

"We did Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Polish, Jamaican, Greek, and the Caribbean. We also hit a few different Italian and Chinese restaurants. Of course, all had excellent vegetarian selections. We also hit a few new farmer's markets and tested recipes we found."

"It sounds like it was a nice vacation away from everything. I mean, besides the trips to doctors to get your cast removed and to check your ribs."

"Exactly. It was nice to spend that time together. I never thought that Luke would take that much time away from work and not go a little stir-crazy."

"He knew was helping you recover. That is a job he finds important, though."

"That is true. He is looking into seeing how long till it all goes to trial."

"When I talked to my mom, she said they were hoping before the New Year. The case is pretty solid, with enough evidence and witness statements."

"True, but you know how sometimes these things go. It's all up to him and how many pre-trial motions he is going to have his lawyer get through. I need time to prepare myself for facing that again."

"Mammy will know the second the date is scheduled. She's hoping for six months, but it could take up to 18 before it sees the inside of a courtroom."

"Enough about that. How did your midterms go?"

"They went excellent. I talked to my academic counsellor. She says the way I am working they are saying I should graduate by the end of the fall term. That would give me enough time to take the prep course for the academy."

"See, things work out when you buckle down."

"Bite me, dear cousin. What time is Luke getting off tonight?"

"He started at 6, so his shift should end around 6 tonight. He works 4 days and then is off 4 days. This starts his first of 8 weeks of working days, then he'll do eight weeks of nights."

"What about patrol?"

"Depends on if you are working 10 or 8 hours shifts. If you are working 10, then it's 4 days on and 3 days off and you switch every 6 weeks between the three shifts. For 8, then it's 4 days on and 2 days off and you switch every 6 weeks between the shifts."

"You also work 8-hour shifts?"

"No, I am also on the 12-hour swing shift. I start at 8 instead of 6, but it's still the same 6-week rotation."

"Why don't you apply for a straight shift?"

"I don't mind the swing shift; it keeps my days different. A straight shift is 8 hours for five days but you switch weekends off and it's only days that are offered."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I don't need that. We save that for workers with kids or elderly family members. The day shift works for young families. If you have to be home at night to take care of an elderly parent, the afternoon works well. Those going back to school will benefit from the night shift. Plus, I don't mind the swing shift. It works when the family works it as well. Plus, my boss is friendly about giving me time off to fall in line with you guys."

"True. When do you start back up?"

"I have the next week off. I'll be starting back on days again, which I find easiest to transition into. We are about a week behind the department's schedule."

"Yeah, a puppy would not fit your lifestyle," Gail says as they hear the front door open. "Guess he is back."

"Hey, what are we thinking for dinner?" Luke asks as they can hear him in the entrance closet. "I'm thinking to order in if you hadn't cooked, possibly from a Mediterranean restaurant."

"Gail beat you to it," she calls out as Gail smiles. "She grabbed Chinese from Cherry Garden. Don't worry, she brought lots."

"Yum," he says as he appears at the entrance of the large room. "Needed a break from studying, or did you have a feeling there was something you didn't know about?"

"No, you've been hogging her," Gail says as she watches him kiss her cousin hello before sitting down next to her. "I came over to catch up and noticed her newest accessory. Not too shabby."

"What can I say? I thought she deserved something timeless," he says as grabs food. "What is new with you?"

"She is on track to graduate before the prep course," Kathleen says as she finishes her dinner. "I bet your parents are quite pleased with these new results."

"Don't I know it?" Gail says almost grinning like a Cheshire cat. "They are talking about going out after graduation, doing a fancy dinner. They are making reservations at Blu."

"Yes, they remembered," Kathleen says as Luke looks at her confused.

"Nine out of ten times, my parents forget to pick a restaurant that has vegetarian entrees. Poor Kit Kat ends up eating a salad," Gail explains. "They have some amazing vegetarian pasta options."

"How do your parents forget she's a vegetarian?" Luke asks, confused. "She has been for as long as I've known her."

"They forget to ask about it when they receive recommendations," Gail elaborates. "When Steve or I go out, we also see what their vegetarian options are. Uncle Donny does and the rest, but my parents always forget to ask. You'd think after 15 years they would be used to it."

"Nine," Luke asks. "you were nine when you made the switch."

"Hunting trip with Dad, Uncle Donny, Gramps, and Grumps," Gail mentions.

"Nevermind," Luke says as he looks at her. "That would scare anyone off of meat."

"Mom kept telling them it was a bad idea," Kathleen says as she shakes her head. "She kept trying to tell them all week long. I was already an avid animal lover."

"Steve and I were fine," Gail says as she looks at her. "She had nightmares for weeks after the trip."

"Thank you, big mouth," Kathleen mutters as she looks at her cousin. "It was the complete cleaning process that threw me for a loop. That and the sight of blood has always made me want to vomit."

"Somehow this all is making sense," Luke says as he looks at the two. "You prefer blood and become a cop, which means you could see a fair bit. You who can't stand blood, take care of those who are dying, but never have to come in contact with blood."

"That or she is more sensitive than the rest of us," Gail concludes.

"Bite me," Kathleen says before sticking her tongue out at her.

Luke shakes his head and laughs at their childish bickering.