Sob- read this chapter.

Ch 20

James heard a loud splash in the river behind him. He turned around to see a dark form sinking. He looked around for Anita and remembered footsteps behind him.

" Anita!" He yelled.

When she didn't appear he ran down to the riverbank and saw her form at the bottom. He dove in and slipped his arm around her waist air escape his mouth as he dragged her to the surface. He gasped, as he broke free of the water's death grip and pulled her to shore.

" Anita." He said feeling for a pulse.

He looked sighed and looked at her gown.

" The Colonel is going to kill me." He groaned as he pulled out his dagger.

He cut through to her corset and cut the strings. She began to cough immediately and spit up water.

" Thank God." He sighed with relief.

" William!" She cried looking around. Then she remembered that he was gone.

" Why am I still here!" she wept.

" You tried to commit suicide." James said.

" I know what I tried to do!" She snapped as he put her cloak around her.

" Anita you need to change the water was freezing," He said helping her up.

She was dripping from head to toe and then she noticed her dress.

" I can't go inside looking like this!" She shrieked covering herself.

" It was the only way to save you." James protested.

She pulled her cloak all the away around herself and began to walk away.

" That's it? No thank you?" He asked standing there in his wet uniform.

" I didn't want to be saved, nothing can save me now." She said.

" Look, stay right here, I'll be right back.

James went around through the entrance on the other side. He went down to the Colonel's quarters and knocked on the door. William opened it and looked Bordon in the eye.

" Sir, Anita is-" he was cut off when William punched him in the jaw.

James staggered back and regained his composure.

" Get the hell away from me!" William hissed.

" Fine, I just wanted to let you know you've made the biggest mistake of your life and that Anita almost paid for it with her's," Bordon said

William was in the process of shutting the door when James had given him new information.

" What?" he asked opening the door again.

" She tried to kill herself." James said.

" Is she all right?" William asked.

" Well she could use your support right now." James said.

" Why does she need me when she has you?" He sneered.

" First of all I kissed her, she told me she loved you and I refused to believe her. James said.

" Secondly the child is yours and yes she tried to drown herself in the river." James finished.

" Where is she?" William demanded.

"Outside on the bench."

William wasted no time in going to her, he ran outside and found her shivering by a rose bush.

He walked slowly over to her.

" You know, the roses won't last forever," He said.

She looked up and smiled sadly.

" They aren't as good as what I've lost."

" Well perhaps you never lost it after all." He replied embracing her.

He didn't say anything as he held her. It didn't matter that she was wet or that his jacket was undone they had each other. He kissed her softly and led her back into the house. James stood there silently in the shadows then disappeared.

One year later.

Anita stood in front of her mirror and checked her gown again. She smiled as she pulled the veil over her hair.

" Ma'am you don't want to keep the groom waiting do you?" Ebony asked.

Anita accepted her bouquet and they walked down to the garden.

The music started and Ebony walked down the aisle and Anita followed in lavender gown and came to stand by William's side.

Lady Sullivan held the baby, a boy named Joseph.

" Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to rejoin this man and this woman in Holy matrimony." The priest said.

" So I guess this is Happily ever after?" William whispered to her.

" I guess so." She replied.

The End

And yes I am thinking about making a sequel.