Everyone had freshened up and sat around the table. Jessica and Travis sat next to their father in their respected seats. Travis being the oldest son put him in line after their father to do everything that needed to be done. Jess being the only daughter meant she knew way more than her other siblings being her father couldn't hide anything from her. It would be dumb to deny she wasn't the favorite; her dad trusted her and she took her role in his life very seriously. Janik cleared his throat and the chatter amongst everyone stopped. He held up his drink, "I would like to propose a toast." Everyone lifted their glasses and listened on to Janik. "As scary this month has been with my health, it has brought the most important people in my life around this table." Head nods came from everyone. "My sons," Janik gestured towards them. "Everything you guys have worked for in life is working out exactly how it should be. You all make me proud." Thank you dad came from the 3 boys. Janik turned towards Jessica, "And my one and only daughter." The eyes in the room shifted towards Jessica. "You make me so proud to be your father everything single day. You are becoming an amazing woman, like your mother." A tear started to come down Jess's cheek. "I love you my little girl, cheers."

Glasses clinked and everyone sat down. Travis cleared his throat. Everyone looked towards him. He spoke, "After a discussion with dad, and then discussing the conversation with Marie, we have decided that we will be going back with Jessica and dad for a month." Janik's face had an immediate smile. Travis put his hand on his fathers and gave him a quick squeeze. Travis put his other hand on Marie's and gave her a squeeze as well and continued, "Also, dad I think you forgot to talk about your grandchild during your pre dinner speech." Jess's mouth immediately fell open. Joe and Mike in unison, "What did you just say." Jess jumped up out of her seat and screamed, "you're having a baby?" Marie nodded her head and Jess ran over and hugged her. Janik too in shock, "I am going to be a grandfather?" Travis nodded his head. After all the hugs and congratulations everyone finally sat down. "So as Marie and I were saying, we are going to go back with Jess and Dad. Especially now that she is having a baby its better for us to go now then later on when she's farther along." Everybody nodded.

Marie looked up at Polly, "Polly so tell us about yourself. I am sorry, all we have been doing is talking about ourselves. Swavorski characteristic," they all started to laughed, "Surprisingly, Jess has told me so much about you guys I feel like I knew you all before I even got here." Joe with food in his mouth, "Polly I am sorry I forgot now you're subjected to my sisters constant chatter. Your poor ears!" he fist bumped with Mike. Jess rolled her eyes, "Please Polly ignore my annoying brothers." Polly smiled and continued, "I help run Shelby and Co. with my nephews. I am the certified accountant. I help make the tough decisions the men cant do," she laughed. "Life for me has drastically changed having Michael back with me. And with Michael brought your sister so life has been super exciting the past months. Minus a few hiccups here and there ya know." The room got slightly silent. Polly grabbed Michael's hand and squeezed it. Mike spoke up first, "Ya know Michael, we never got to thank you for taking care of things in the end with the Blakes." Jess cut him off, "Let's not talk about it." It was something they hadn't spoken about out loud. Michael turned and looked at Jess, "No it's ok. I am fine talking about it." Michael took a sip of his drink. "I know what this job entails. I know what can come with it. When I got shot that day going to see your sister, I remember a light as my eyes started to close." Jess started to tear up. Polly squeezing Michael's hand harder. "I heard her voice. And I wasn't going to die there knowing how bad I hurt her. And as for Greg Blake. Doing what needed to be done was easy. He asked for it the second he laid a hand on your sister." Jess wiped her face and looked up and got up from the table not being able to hear the conversation and went upstairs. Polly and Marie immediately got up, "We will go talk to her," and walked upstairs.

At the dinner table still, "I am sorry I upset her I should go up there," Michael said cleaning his face. "No stay here, your mom and Marie have it under control. I say this for all of us, thank you. That bastard touched my sister and he deserved everything you did to him. Our father hasn't even told us the full story," Mike said. Janik cut him off, "You don't need to hear it. Seeing your sister the way she was, was enough. It broke my heart and I don't need to break any of yours with the details. Just know Michael took care of everything." Michael quickly interjected, "Janik I'm sorry I convinced...," Janik put his hand up to stop talking. "Michael, you both need to stop blaming yourselves for each other's pain. I asked you to convince her to go to the meeting and you did just as I had asked. We need to move on and stop talking about it so she can move forward. Your sister has had a very rough few months. Who she was when mom died I saw that girl again. I saw the brokenness in her eyes. I saw the pain physical and emotional on her. My heart as you can see cannot take my little girl broken like that again." He stopped to rub his eyes, "I need everyone to treat her normal not like she is a broken doll. Your sister is much tougher than you think. She has just had a really rough few months and things have not gotten better ..." Janik took a sip of his drink and continued to eat. They all sat there in silence for a second. Janik was right. Between her shooting Brett to save Michaels life, coming home to Michael getting shot, and then her assaulted by Greg Blake. Janik started to question himself is this what he really wanted for his daughter.

Upstairs in Jessica's room, Jess heard a knock and the door open. Her back towards Marie and Polly when they had walked in. She quickly wiped the tears off of her face and turned to them. "I am sorry. Hearing his story always makes me feel terrible. It happened because he wanted to go see me. Polly I should have just called him while I was here." Jess's hands went to her face trying to stop the tears. She got up and walked towards the window that overlooked the city. Snow had begun to fall as winter was full swing in New York. Snow brought her comfort. It was a bandaid. It covered everything imperfect in the world, just for a little bit. Somewhat how she handled life. "I should have just called him and told him I wasn't mad at him. He wouldn't have been in a rush to get to me so quickly." She turned around to see Polly and Marie. Polly spoke first. "Jess, I know how bad you are hurting as I too felt that. Asking myself what if I told him our phone conversations included how much you missed him? But I have to remember, business is business and I have allowed Michael to be apart of this. You two cannot stop beating yourselves up over what has happened to both of you and blaming yourselves." Jess took a deep breath and sat down on the bed. "I was hoping being here I would get a break from the pain." She turned to look at Polly, "When does is stop?" Polly swallowed the pit in her throat. Then she looked at Marie, "Marie, does this life get any better?" Marie walked over and sat on the bed looking out at the snow falling. She all too well knew what this life was like. She loved Travis her whole life and had prepared herself. She spoke in a daze, "I'd like to say it does. This life is like a rollercoaster" She paused to turn and look at Jess,"You're going to be an aunt. Life is already getting better." Jess laid her head on Marie's shoulder. She knew Marie had to be right. Her life almost mimicked hers, minus all the death that has occurred in the short amount of time.

Marie and Polly left the room and Jess jumped in the shower. Her face felt dirty from all the crying. The warm water fell on her skin. She closed her eyes hoping to see something good. Lately, when she closed her eyes all she was Greg, Brett, or Michael getting shot. Hesitant, she started to let her sight get dark. Nothing. Nothing was there. All she could hear was the water falling and feeling the heat. She breathed heavily, a sigh of relief. The bedroom door closed and her eyes shot open. She stepped out of the shower and dried herself off and put on a robe. Jessica walked out to see Michael looking out the window watching the snow. By now, the trees lining the streets had been covered with snow. She walked up to him and hugged him from behind. He turned around and engulfed her with his arms. She spoke first, "I want to get to bed early." She looked down and said, "I uh want to go see my mom tomorrow. I want you to come." He took his finger to lift up her face so they were looking eye to eye. He kissed her lightly. "I would love to go see your mom tomorrow with you."

Jessica crawled into bed and watched Michael undress to join her. He got under the covers laying on his side as did she facing each other. She took her hand again and traced the bullet wounds on his chest. "Im sorry," she whispered. Michael's heart stung. How could she think it was her fault that he got shot. She really did blame herself. He got up off the bed. She look confused. He reached out for her hand and walked towards the window. He sat down on the reading chair that overlooked the street and had her sit in between his legs. He positioned her so she was looking at him so he could make sure she heard every word he was going to say. Michael brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "I know you don't want me to talk about that day, but I have to so you can understand none of this was your fault." She nodded her head for him to continue.

"The sound from the clock had been playing over and over in my head. My mom and Tommy told me at 12:00 I could leave. I remember seeing 11:55 and hoping the next five minutes would be the fastest 5 minutes of my life. 12:00 hit and I ran out the door." He looked down at her to make sure it was ok to continue. His hand went to her cheek again and she reached up to his hand to hold. "I fucked up Jess. I really messed up with you. I was insecure and all I wanted to do was convince you to forgive me. The streets were crowded around the office and I was pushing through everyone to get to you. It had gotten really cold here and I wondered if you even had the appropriate clothing to get off the boat and be warm." Jessica smiled and her heart warmed knowing he cared about wether she was cold or not that day. "I was outside of the the gate where the dock was when I heard my name called. I turned around to see, to see, "he stuttered, "to see Greg Blake standing there with a gun in his hand. I was scared. Not because I thought I was going to die, I was scared knowing you were going to be on the other side of that gate and Greg could get to you and I couldn't do anything." Tears began to fall from his eyes. "Within minutes I could see Tommy and Arthur. A light behind them getting brighter and brighter. I could hear yelling and then I was lifted up. Tommy said all I kept saying was your name. I remember him telling me you were going to be safe." He stopped and a tear fell on Jessica's cheek from Michael's face. "I was more scared to lose you then to lose myself. I love you Jessica and I need you to know none of this was your fault. None of this because regardless I would have been there waiting for you." She had been sitting up wiping away his tears. "I love you so much Michael Gray," she looked into his eyes.

Now it had been her turn to recount that day. She swallowed a big gulp and looked out into the window still sitting with him on the chair. "I remember getting off the boat and seeing my father, John and Isaiah. There were 20 men surrounding them with guns and no one could look me in the eye. I kept asking what was going on and no one would speak." She shook her head remembering her father. "My dad he began to cry and told me what happened to you." She closed her eyes envisioning, "My knees buckled to the ground when he said you got shot and Isaiah and John helped me up and took me to the car. John was driving so fast and yelling at everyone to get out of the way." She smiled remembering every single word coming out of his mouth being a curse word. She shook her head and continued, "I ran through the hospital yelling your name because I didn't know where you were. My head was spinning and I couldn't see clearly. I looked up and saw Polly and Finn and immediately ran towards them. I looked to the left and saw you on an operating table and I lunged forward and Tommy and Arthur had to hold me back. Last thing I remembered was sliding down the wall in your mom's arms." She too had been crying now and looked up at Michael. "I thought I lost you. I never want to feel like that ever again." Michael put jess up so she was sitting on his lap facing him. He grabbed her face with both of his hands. He looked at her in the eye. "It is going to be me and you forever for the rest of your life. I'm not going anywhere."