The sun touched her cheek, warming it and she stirred as he watched her. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded near his lips on the plush cream colored armchair in the corner of his room facing the bed. He was properly shaved now and dressed, just waiting for her to awaken.

Thoughts raced through his head the night before which prevented sleep from coming easily. He hoped he wasn't making a mistake. He ran through all of the repercussions that could come from kidnapping the fiancé of the most powerful man in New York. And he still hadn't told his father. He could imagine the disappointment his father would lay on him. Not to mention, Evan.

Zane had thought about going to Sylvia's and hiding out there for a while, but that would just make matters worse when he did return home. He didn't want to bring trouble to Sylvia and her mother anyway. He knew no matter where they went Desmond would find them. She had told him what Desmond did to her without her consent, but they both knew no jury in the world would convict Desmond Aurelius. They'd just as soon arrest him for taking her. Zane was not a stupid man, he knew that Desmond had friends everywhere and he did not.

Still, the look of peace on her face while she slept in front of him was enough to make it all worthwhile. He did love her. He was certain of that now. She was safe now. In the short time that he'd known her he already knew that he could not be without her. And it changed him.

Shy stirred again and opened her eyes, slowly. She was wearing a shirt of his and her hair was loose. She glanced over at him and her eyes smiled. He put his hands down from his lips and watched as she reached her hands out to him. He grabbed them and climbed in the bed next to her.

"What are you doing awake?" She asked as he stroked her hair gently and looked at her forehead.

"You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you up." Zane said and kissed her forehead. "Are you okay?"

Shy nodded. "Better now."

Zane's eyes were blank as he continued to rub her hair. Shy took notice and kissed his cheek.

"Where are you?" She asked.

Zane looked in her eyes and said, "I'm here. With you."

"No." Shy said quietly getting up from the bed. "You're not."

"Shy." Zane reached out to her as she walked away from the bed to retrieve her pants.

"I understand." Shy said buttoning her jeans.

Zane stood up and went to her. Then, there was a knock at the door. Shy looked at Zane whose eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the door. He looked at her then swallowed hard. He left her for the door and put his ear up to it.

"Yeah?" Zane said as normally as he could.

"Zane, can I talk to you?" Evan's voice came through the door.

Zane looked at Shy who swallowed hard. "Go in the closet. I'll take care of him."

Shy did as she was told and went into Zane's closet, sliding the door over to hide. Zane opened the bedroom door and saw his brother standing there. Evan walked into the room and started to speak.

"Zane, I'm sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have been so hard on you." Evan said as he took a spot across from the closet.

Evan looked disheveled like he had been planning this all night and it took a lot out of him. No doubt Layla had something to do with the suddenly apologetic Evan. His brother did not have a way with words like Zane did. He often was brutish when addressing people which was where Layla came in handy. She softened his words for him. Evan was a passionate person. Passionate about his family especially and often made a statement with conviction even if it wasn't quite as sugary as most would present it. Zane looked at the closet nervously as his brother continued.

"I was selfish, too. It's hard to meet someone and I know you liked her, but you do understand that I know you better than anyone." Evan said.

Zane stopped him before he could continue. "You love me, right, Evan?"

Evan stopped and looked at the worried expression on his brother's face. His eyebrow arched instinctively and he chuckled. "The last time you asked me that, you were fourteen and you had taken father's car for a joyride and wrecked it." Evan realized what he had just said and his smile faded but his eyebrow remained arched. "What have you taken now?"

Zane looked to the closet and Evan followed his gaze.

"Zane." Evan said evenly.

Zane walked over to the closet and opened it. Shy looked up at Evan with worry in her eyes. Evan looked at Zane who took Shy by the hand.

"You kidnapped her?" Evan yelled in disbelief.

Zane put his finger up to his lips. "Shh! I didn't kidnap anyone."

"I came by myself." Shy interjected.

Zane looked at her. "No you didn't." Then, he looked at Evan who was still waiting for an answer. "I picked her up last night. She's staying."

"You really don't get it, do you two?" Evan stepped closer to his brother and Shy. "You think this is a game. Shy you can't stay here."

"Father will decide that." Zane interrupted, defensively.

"Oh and you think father is going to be happy about this and just make us all one, big happy family. She…can't…stay." Evan lingered on his words.

Shy watched the verbal match between them and felt her heart sink.

"She's not going back, Evan. She can't go back." Zane said struggling to find a way to explain without explaining.

"Oh yes she can. She can say she spent a night at a friend's house. I'll even take her." Evan offered.

"I don't have any friends." Shy replied quietly.

Evan's eyes drooped. Zane rolled his eyes. Shy looked around the room silently and realized how this must have looked. She looked like a whore. Leaving with a man she hardly knew and spending the night in the room in his father's house. Leaving a perfectly and seemingly good fiancé behind. Once Desmond found out, he would exploit the facts and rally everyone against her. Her image would be tainted. The women at the Country Club would have a field day with the gossip and the story of the Angelis harlot would make its way in and out of offices.

"I'll go back." Shy let go of Zane's hand and started towards the door.

"Shy, no." Zane followed her to the door.

"That's settled then." Evan said going to the door behind his brother who grabbed Shy by the wrist before she could reach for the knob.

"You can't go back there, Shy." Zane said softly to her as tears filled her eyes.

Evan watched them interact. He had never seen them together. He had never seen his brother's face in so much pain and concern. He never saw him care this much about anyone and he knew it had nothing to do with just having her. It was apparent on Zane's face that he needed her.

"I can't cause trouble for you, Zane. I'll just go back. I'll tell him I was with my father." Shy tried to keep her composure.

"You think he didn't check there already? If you go back, he's won. He'll be able to do whatever he wants to you." Zane pleaded with her.

Evan looked at Shy. "What is he talking about Shy?"

"Nothing." She replied quickly to avoid the subject.

"He raped you!" Zane yelled out.

Evan's eyes widened. A tear escaped Shy's eye.

"I'll deal with it, Zane." Shy said, releasing her wrist from his grasp gently.

Zane opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"No, you won't." Evan said without realizing it.

Zane turned to look at his brother. Shy's eyes faced up at Evan and he felt his chest tighten. There was no way he could send this girl away like this. He knew now what his brother had seen from the beginning and everyone else had ignored. He felt worthless. He spent his whole life protecting the dignity of the women in his life, from his mother to Layla. He knew that if anyone had laid a hand on his wife, even if it was before him, he would not think twice before killing them in the spot where they stood. He understood now that Shy was one of those women in his life now. She was his brother's which made her his sister. Just as Zane would do anything to protect Layla without a question, Evan had to step up and do the same.

"We'll talk to father. You won't go back to that." Evan said evenly, trying not to let the rage he felt for Desmond come through in his voice. "Go to my room, Layla is in there getting ready. You can clean up, borrow some clothes if you need to, she has a lot of hair stuff."

Shy sprung on Evan and hugged him with a sigh. "Thank you."

Evan hugged her back, first awkwardly, then comfortably, looking at his brother over her shoulder. Zane nodded his head at his brother.

"Go ahead. We'll be over in a minute." Evan said releasing her and looking in her tear stained eyes.

Shy looked at Zane who took her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks, laying a gentle kiss on her lips. The most lovingly Evan had ever seen him behave. Shy left them and shut the door behind her. Evan looked at Zane who let a deep breath escape him.

"Thank you, Evan." Zane said.

"She has to go to the police, Zane." Evan started.

"She doesn't want to. She's scared and it won't matter, Evan. You know that." Zane replied shaking his head.

Evan nodded. "This is gonna be hard, Zane. You know that."

Zane nodded. "Yeah, I do. But she's everything, Evan, like Layla is to you. I understand now. And I'll kill him if he ever touches her again. I can't let that happen again."

"I know , man, I know." Evan said quietly.

"Where is she!" Desmond growled as he tore through the upstairs of the Angelis mansion from Shy's room to her father's where Delia was cleaning.

He raced in and grabbed Delia by her throat when she spun around to see what the fuss was about. He slammed her against the wall with enough force to make the bureau shake beside them. Delia's eyes bulged in fear as some of the other workers in the house congregated at the door to watch.

"Where is she!" He repeated shaking her.

"Who, Desmond?" Delia choked out.

"Don't play your dumb games with me!" He slammed her again. "Her clothes are gone! She couldn't have moved without you knowing! Tell me where she is or by god I will choke the life from you!"

Delia stared into his eyes that were wild with rage and felt tears burn her eyes as he tightened his grip on her throat.

At that moment, one of the maids stepped into the room. "Mr. Aurelius, I know where she went."

Desmond released Delia and she fell to the floor gasping and choking for breath. She looked up exhaustedly at the maid as she held her sore throat. Desmond turned to look at his informant.

"Where?" He asked calmly.

"I saw Mr. Nikolias's car leaving the grounds late last night." The maid said with her voice quivering.

Desmond turned back to Delia and squatted in front of her. He lowered his voice, "I swear if you had anything to do with this, you'll pay."

Desmond then stood up and marched towards the door making everyone scatter. Delia leaned back on the wall and put her hand to her forehead, sobbing.

Zane led Shy downstairs to his father's den with Layla and Evan behind for support. Zane held her hand and felt her hold on a little tighter when they reached the entrance and Zander was in view. Zane stopped and knocked to get his father's attention.

Zander looked up from his writing, saw his youngest son and smiled fondly at him. He looked beside him and saw Shy and stood up from his seat. He looked at them approach him with their hands intertwined and looked at Evan who exhaled deeply.

"Shy?" Zander asked, then looking at his son who seemed apprehensive.

"Father, we have something to tell you." Zane offered, swallowing hard.

"I'm eager to hear." He said calmly, no trace of anger on his face. "From you, Zane."

Zane looked at Shy and nodded his head. He lead her to the door along with Evan and Layla and shut it so he and his father could speak alone. The door clicked shut and Zane took a deep breath before turning to join his father.

"I'm sorry, father." Zane said, facing the floor immediately.

"You've always apologized before admitting what you've done." Zander said.

"Because I know that it looks bad and I want you to know it's not what it looks like." Zane rambled as he approached his father's sofa on the side of the room.

Zander came around his desk to sit next to his son on the plush burgundy sofa. "It looks as if you've fallen in-love."

Zane looked over at his father and wrinkled his brow. "There's going to be difficulties, father. If you want me to leave, I will. I won't bring trouble to the house."

"Do you love her?" Zander interjected, peering into his son's eyes.

Zane looked away and found a photograph of his mother, Evan and himself when he was little. "You love mother. She's gone and you still love her. Every good thing along with every bad thing. You love Evan and Layla like she was your own. You love every single stone that goes into every project that we've done together." Zane paused. "You love me. No matter how many times I have disappointed you and I never understood why. That is how I love Shy. With all that passion and I know now, that this is what it's all about and if she can't be with me then I will go wherever she is. He does not deserve her."

He swallowed hard and faced the floor again, awaiting his father's decision.

Zander took a breath. "You have never disappointed me, Zane. Everyday that I watch you, from the time you were young, you have made me proud. The situation now that you come to me with is going to be difficult, but love isn't meant to be easy."

Shy leaned on the wall next to the office outside of the door biting her fingernail as Evan and Layla sat on the steps closeby.

The door opened suddenly and Shy straightened up her form. Evan stood on the step and helped Layla up beside him. Zander emerged from the office with Zane behind him. He stood in front of Shy and she inhaled sharply.

He took her face in his hands and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You're a daughter of Nikolias now."

Shy closed her eyes and exhaled as Zander let her go and Zane smiled. Zander took her hand and led her to the dining room.

"How about some of your famous eggs, Evan?" Zander said.

Evan sighed and Layla smiled as she placed a hand on the swell in her belly. Shy looked back at Zane, with a warm smile.

"I love you." Zane mouthed to her as she walked ahead and he gazed upon her fondly.

"I love you, too." She mouthed back then turned to his father again.

Desmond holds his cell phone up to his ear as he sits behind Peter's desk in the Angelis house staring at the contract in his hand that Zander had just signed the day before.

The line clicks open. "911 Emergency."

"Yes, I'd like to report a kidnapping." Desmond said evenly, tossing the contract on the desktop.