Dakota turned the knob to his and Julia's bedroom and pushed it open quietly. He stepped carefully in the darkness, trying very hard not to wake his wife up. The moon poured out through the window onto her figure that lay in the bed. But a smile spread across her face and she rolled onto her back. Dakota grinned too.

"You thought I was asleep didn't you?" She said. Her green eyes opened and fell on her husband. They immediately noticed the blood that still slightly covered his jaw.

"Babe what happened?" She sat up making a move to get out of bed.

But Dakota waved his hand telling her not worry. He explained what happened between him and Alex and then dramatically fell onto the bed with a little groan.

"Aw, baby," Julia said guiding his head onto her lap. She stroked it.

Dakota sighed. Just being near her made his heart race. He felt connected with her somehow, even at a young age. All through junior high he hid it but pursued when he realized how much he loved her. And when she explained to him about what Bip had done to save her he understood why he felt connected with Stephanie.

Bip. He suddenly remembered Paul and Bip. The depth of it all sunk in, hard and heavy. He groaned again, this time the real pain and frustration coming out.

"What's wrong sweet heart?" Julia asked pushing the white blond hair from his forehead.

Dakota decided honesty was best, Julia would find out eventually and it should come from him. He sat up and held her hand. He explained to her what David had told him, in slightly less detail, but he did not tell her what he had figured out, he did not have to, she made the connection herself. Her eyes welled up, two green pools, and she sunk into his chest sobbing. Dakota had nothing to say, no words of comfort, no reassurance, no hope. He had none to give for he did not have any himself. A shudder went through him at the thought of all those who had risked their lives for him, all those who died. His parents died, he thought Julia had, Alex had hidden him from the Counsel, Riley and David had both taken on two of the most powerful beings on earth, and now Bip had been murdered. He could not handle the death much longer. Julia stopped sobbing. She took a deep breath and slid a hand up to her husband's heart. Just to feel the beat, the life, that filled him. She looked up into his lavender eyes and smiled.

"I love you." Then, she rose up and met his lips with hers.