After RJ had left Michael and then Natalie had come to visit her. John was supposed to come to see her in a minute. While she waited for him Willow was still in shock at what RJ had just said. Wow! She thought. She had had maybe 10 conversations with the man and he had said that? She smiled to her self. Maybe people could change after all. After all hadn't she changed the most since coming to Lanview?

Before coming to Lanview she hadn't bothered to make many friends and she lived for her work. Now she had her family, Natalie, Jess, and She had Rex. Rex was one of the best things that she had ever had. One of the best people she knew.

Closing her eyes Willow wondered how Rex was handling her getting shot. She wondered how John was handling it for that matter. As if summoned by her thoughts John cam into the room looking nervous.

"Hey," John said softly in case she was asleep.

Willow's eyes flew open and she smiled. "Hi, John."

"How are you feeling?" John asked taking a seat next in the chair at the side of the bed.

"Like I got shot in the back." Willow said with a slight chuckle.

John looked down and said "I'm sorry"

"John, it's not your fault."

"You took a bullet meant for me how can you say it is not my fault?" John asked incredulously.

John it was my choice. I could have let him shoot you or tried to take him out. But I didn't. I made the choice to take that bullet. Not Haver and Not YOU." Willow stated in a matter of fact voice.

"I should have seen Haver I should have taken him out before he had time to get a shot off."

"John, It's not your fault. If its anyone's fault its my own. If I had just gone to you instead of going off alone then maybe no one would have gotten hurt. You need to stop blaming your self for everything. Your not god and you can't control everything that happens to those you love." Willow argued gently. Thinking that if she hadn't gone off half cocked and in a rage maybe Diana would still be alive.

John saw the look on her face and knew what she was thinking. "Will, you know its not your fault that your friend was killed. Haver would have had her killed anyway. You can't blame your self for that."

Willow sighed, "I guess. But I can never be sure." Looking at him she said, "Ok how about this? You stop blaming your self for my getting shot and I'll stop blaming my self for Diana."

"I never realized how much a like we are," John said. "Blaming ourselves for everything must be a McBain trait."

"We can deal with our guilt issues together." Sticking out her hand she said, "Deal?"

John laughed and shook her hand. "Deal." There was a short pause and then a soft, "Thank you."

"For what?" Willow said.

"For taking a bullet for me, for saving my life, for not letting me blame myself" John said softly but sincerely. "Now I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise? I love surprises." Willow said with a smile. "And your welcome."

John went to the door and motioned for someone to come in. Willow was trying to see around him when Natalie came in with a little girl on her hand. Willow's eyes widened when she recognized the little girl. "Isis!" She gasped out.

Isis looked up and smiled widely. Running to the bed she jumped up on it and wrapped her arms around Willow's neck. "Aunt Willow! I missed you so much!"

Willow winced as Isis squeezed her arms tight around her neck. Looking at John with tears in her eyes she said, "Who..? How..?"

John smiled but it was Natalie who said, "John went after her yesterday while you were in surgery."

Isis pulled back and said, "Uncle John said you needed me. Some mean man came and took away Aunt Diana and I hid. Then Uncle John came. He found me and gave me this." Holding out her hand she showed Willow the hair clip. "See, its just like mine." Isis said reaching into her pocket and bringing out a smaller version of Willow's hair clip.

Willow reached up to stroke Isis's hair and said, "Yes, I know. Remember when I gave that to you? I said we would always have each other no matter where we were."

Isis nodded and said tearfully, "Aunt Diana is in heaven, with Mommy."

"Yes, she is honey. She and Mommy are happy together now."

"Am I going to live with you now?" Isis asked with all the innocence of youth.

Willow looked at John and Natalie, who were smiling and holding hands, before asking Isis, "Do you want to?"

Isis nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! I wanna live with you and Rex. I wanna stay in Lanview with uncle John and Uncle Mike."

"Ok then, Just as soon as I get out of here, You are staying with me." Willow said and Isis squealed with happiness and threw her arms around Willow again. John and Natalie laughed and smiled at each other.

John looked at Willow and said, "She can stay with us till you got out of here." Willow smiled gratefully at them and said, "Thank you!"

As the nurse came in and shooed them out of the room saying that Willow needed her rest, Willow asked John to send Rex in for a quick visit. He said he would and then he, Natalie and Isis left the room.

A week later Willow was getting ready to leave the hospital when Rex came in with a dozen red roses. "Hey, Those for me?" she asked. He had hardly left her side all week. John, Natalie, Isis and Jess had been frequent visitors but Rex had been there all the time. He had slept at the hospital right next to her bed the first 3 nights after she woke up. He only went home on the 4th night to be with Isis who had moved into Willow's apartment that day. Rex had been looking after her when John and Natalie had to go to work so they all had decided that it was time for her to move in.

"No they are for the other amazing woman I love. The one who took a bullet for her brother and told me she loves me and can't live with out me." He said and then laughed at her pouting expression. "Of course they are baby. I love you."

"I know you do Rex. I love you too." Sniffing the roses she smiled. "Now lets get me out of here."

Rex looked at her. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe how close he had come to loosing her. He never wanted to go through that kind of fear again. Thinking about it Rex wondered how John did it. As much trouble as Natty got into John must freak out every other day.

As Rex was getting her stuff together Antonio came into the room looking very happy. Seeing that Willow and Rex looked busy he turned to leave saying, "Sorry didn't know you were busy."

"No wait." Willow said. "I am just getting ready to leave. I'm busting out of this joint today." She joked.

Antonio smiled, happy for her. "I can come back later." He said.

Rex looked at Willow and then at Antonio. It was obvious that Antonio wanted to talk to willow alone. He nodded to Antonio and gave Willow a quick peck on the lips before saying, "No stay. I was just going to take these out to the car," grabbing Willow's bag he left them alone to talk.

"So what's up?" Willow asked curiously. Antonio had only stopped by once during the week she had been there. Which was fine as they weren't all that close anyway.

"I just got done talking with RJ." Antonio said happily.

"Oh?" Willow said. She could guess what had happened. RJ had stopped by almost every day to see how she was doing. Willow felt that he thought they had a bond now that she had his blood in her body. And in truth Willow did feel a kind of connection with him. She genuinely liked the man and was extremely grateful to him. They had talked a lot about forgiveness and family.

"He agreed to drop the custody suit if he could have Jamie visit him and he could visit Jamie as often as he wanted. When I asked him what changed his mind all he said was 'Thank Willow'. So what ever you did to make him drop the suit thank you!" Antonio declared pulling her into a brief hug.

Hugging him back, "Your welcome but I didn't do anything. He isn't a bad guy. We have become friends and I just helped him realize that Jamie is the one that loses if you 2 don't drop this feud you have going."

Rex came back into the room to see them hugging and cleared his throat. He jokingly said to Antonio, "Hey, that's my girl. She's taken already."

Antonio laughed and said, "ok, ok I'm leaving now anyway." He headed for the door. Looking back, "thank you," he said again and then was out the door.

Helping Willow into a wheelchair they headed out of the room and to Rex's car. "so do I need to worry?" Rex asked her, pretending to be worried.

Willow laughed and said, "No, I think you can rest easy tonight."

As Rex helped Willow into the car Willow noticed he was a bit anxious.

"What's the matter."

"Nothing." Rex said nervously. He had something planned and he was nervous. He laughed to himself. And he thought it was funny when John had went through this.

"Ok, if you say so," she said as they left the hospital parking lot. After about 5 minutes Willow noticed that they were headed towards Rodi's and not to their apartment. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"Oh, Natalie wanted to have a little get together at Rodi's for you. She knows how much you have missed their burgers." Rex said only telling half the truth. Rodi's was Natty's favorite place in town so naturally she and Willow had come there a lot and Willow loved the place as well. Besides the firing range, the gym and their offices it was her favorite place as well.

As they pulled into the parking lot Willow noticed that there were a lot of cars in the parking lot. She didn't say anything but suspected that this 'little' get together that Natalie had planed was a more like a huge get together.

Rex got out of the car and went around to the other side to open Willow's door for her. As Willow turned and swung her feet to the ground Rex reached into his pocket and knelt to the ground.

Willow looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing?" she questioned then caught her breath as he took out a beautiful princess cut 3 caret sapphire ring.

Rex took her hand in his and said, "Willow, I love you more then I have ever loved anyone in my life. Will you marry me?"

Willow looked at the ring then back at Rex with tears in her eyes. "Yes!" was all she could manage to get out before Rex was off his knees and kissing her senseless. As he pulled back Rex was reaching for her hand to put the ring on her finger.

"I hope you like the ring. Natalie helped me pick it out. I wanted something to match your eyes." He explained.

Holding up her hand and gazing at the ring she said, "I love it!. Its beautiful!" She paused then asked, "is there really party going on inside?"

Rex blushed a bit and nodded. "Yeah, Natty planed it when I told her I was gonna ask you. Apparently I was the only one not sure what you would say."

Inside Rodi's Natalie and John were standing close together talking about the couple outside.

"I don't think I have ever seen Rex so nervous." Natalie said to him.

"Well you ladies don't know how hard it is to propose to you. I was so nervous I thought I would swallow my tongue." John told her giving a mock shudder. "What do you think she'll say?" He asked.

"John, have you seen them together? She'll say yes, of course." Natalie said smiling. Willow was so in love with Rex she couldn't see straight.

John nodded and thought about Rex. He and Rex had come to an understanding while Willow had been in the hospital. John would stay out of their relationship and Rex wouldn't hurt Willow. If Rex hurt his baby sister there would be hell to pay. But Natalie was right. He could see how much they loved each other just by looking at them.

It reminded him of Natalie and himself, of how practically the whole town knew they were in love before they did. As Bo often reminded him you can't help who you love. And John loved Natalie more then he ever thought it was possible to love anyone. With that thought John wrapped his arms around Natalie and hugged her close. "I love you Natalie." He said. Natalie smiled and said, "I love you to John." And pulled him close for a kiss.

As they were kissing a cheer went up through the crowd and they pulled apart. Looking towards the door Natalie and John saw Rex and Willow walk in. Rex had a huge grin on his face. "Guess she said yes," John murmured to Natalie taking hold of her hand and running his fingers absently over her engagement ring.

"She said yes!" Rex yelled to the crowd as Willow blushed furiously.

As the crowd cheered and roared with laughter John held Natalie close to him and whispered, "I hope Rex makes Willow as happy as you make me." Natalie smiled at him and replied, "I think after all that they have been through they will make each other happy. They have each other and love. What else do they need? Love conquers all you know. Just look at us." As the party went on around them John kissed Natalie and they forgot that there was anyone else in the room. Love truly did conquer all.