Title: Desperate Measures
Chapter 14 – Starting Over

Pain…waves of throbbing pain…his head…neck…chest…thigh…heart. Am I dead…maybe…all I see is darkness. I can't move…can't breathe…can't hear…can't call for help…can't move…where am I? Hell? Must be hell.

Ed's mind swims with panicked thoughts, his ears, although stuffed with the buffering foam was starting to pick up faint calls in the distance. Call out to them! His brain commands. Who? I can't hear anyone. Trust me…call out! But as much as he wanted to try to open his lips…he was unable…shooting pains from his leg, reverberating throughout his entire frame kept him fixed in place; it was the lesser of two evils. I don't move and maybe she'll think she's won and leave. I know those voices – help is here, his brain tries to reason. Help…it's not coming. Donna…I'm so sorry…he inwardly laments. She's here – HOLD ON!

But then…movement. Something at his side…touching him…frantic touches…what the…PAIN! Shooting bursts of pain as his eyes finally become aware of the light, squeezing shut as the damp blindfold is removed and wrapped around this throbbing thigh, his brain acknowledging the lifesaving tourniquet, his ears, now free of the stuffing, finally picking up his best friends voice, his lips free of the tape able to utter a few strained words. He feels his wrists finally able to move, his arms throbbing as well, movement around his wrists painful. Make the pain stop…please make it stop.

Wordy…where's Donna, his mind utters in torment as his lips are finally unsealed and a small breath of fresh air is taken.

"Ed…buddy hold on okay…just hold on."

"Donna…" Ed manages a soft whisper with a very dry breath. "Wordy…" he feels a small sting to his face, knowing his best friend was only trying to keep him alert and conscious. He squints into the face hovering over him and then frowns.

"She's coming. Just stay with me okay. Ed!"

"Tired," Ed manages, drawing Sam's concerned gaze back down.

"Hey Ed…just stay with us okay," Sam also tries just before he leaves Wordy to go and help Greg and Donna; Gary arriving to stand guard just in case.

"Cold."

"He's shaking bad," Gary, who had replaced Sam as lookout now mentions.

"I know. Damn I'm sorry…Jules! We need a blanket up here ASAP."

"I see you now and coming up. Medivac is about five minutes out."

"Want me to take off my vest? Ed…come on now, stay with me," Wordy gently pats his face again, looking at the blood soaked tourniquet in a panic. "Seriously Ed…you hafta stay with me."

"Donna…"

"She's taking care of…" is all Wordy manages before the final gunshot is heard, instantly jolting Ed awake, forcing his watery eyes to snap open and look up at Wordy for an explanation; as his body jerks in response. "Hey just lie still. Ida's been arrested."

"Heard…a shot," Ed tries just as Jules rushes toward them, two of the island medics in tow.

"Okay help's here."

"No…wait," Ed tries with a painful, dry cough.

"You're gonna be fine, I'm gonna be right here and Donna's on her way back."

"Okay buddy just hol…" the medic starts as his fingers touch the tourniquet and Ed's lips utter an anguished groan.

"His name is Ed," Wordy interjects kindly.

"Okay Ed, we're just gonna get you on some oxygen and keep you warm unt…"

"Ahhh…"

"I know it hurts okay. But deep breath okay Ed…we gotta take care of that leg," the other medic instructs.

Ed blinks his watery eyes several times, the drugs in his system slow to dissipate and his mind cursing the fact that he felt sluggish and unable to even move or really express what he wanted. Damn you Ida, he laments inwardly. His face cringes as one of the medics starts to tend to the wound on his leg, the other covering his damp shivering frame with a blanket and then working on the oxygen mask.

"Ed!" Donna's voice is finally heard, making him instantly exhale a sigh of relief as she hurries to his side and drops to her knees. "Thank god you're alive," she whispers as she tries to wipe away a fresh onslaught of tears, kissing his forehead before planting a small kiss on his lips, impeding the progress of the medic; pushing his hand away.

"Offic…"

"I'm his wife!" Donna lightly snaps and then quickly shakes her head. "Sorry..I'm sorry. Please…just do what you need to help him," she earnestly entreats as she watches them affix the fresh oxygen mask over Ed's mouth and nose. Her fingers instantly snake under the blanket, clutching his cold hand and holding it tightly as she watches the medics in silence. She gazes upon the cut on his thigh and then looks down at the tormented expression on his handsome face. "We got her…it's over. Ed it's over, I promise."

Ed merely nods and blinks a few times, his lungs hungrily gulping down the fresh oxygen but still finding it dry and painful to swallow. But his heart rate was still racing at a dangerous level as his internal systems struggled to keep one of his main vital arteries in working order.

"His heart rate is still very high. Ed…you gotta just relax. We've contained the bleeding but I need you just to relax. I know this hurts but you're gonna feel the pressure on that artery until the bleeding stops completely. So just take deep breaths and concentrate on your wife okay."

"Just relax okay…for me…please," she whispers as her fingers brush up against his rough cheek, Greg now hovering over as well. Sam, Jules, Spike and Rachel had gathered up the remaining Logan baddies, including Ida herself and were waiting for help; the only medi-vac reserved for Ed, the others would have to wait for the still journeying ambulances and coroner's van for the deceased on the ferry. She looks at the dark dye residue around his eyes, giving his face a rougher appearance than it actually was. Help finally arrives.

"Medi-vac is here," Spike's voice is heard over the headset, much to the relief of everyone on each team.

A few minutes later, the area was converged upon by two medics with a stretcher, all hands on deck to help get Ed's soaked and shaking, battle weary frame onto the dry stretcher, his chest cuts quickly tended to for transport and his entire frame covered by two thick, warm blankets. Donna slowly follows behind as all the male members of team one and team three come to Ed's aid to help get the stretcher down the stairs without doing further damage to their precious cargo.

Knowing the cleanup was in good hands, Donna hurries after Ed; Greg and Tom being the last ones off the island after everything was done.

"I'm sorry I can't hold your hand," Donna frowns as she looks down at Ed; his arms strapped to his sides under the warm blankets; the two of them now seated in the belly of the moving helicopter. She looks at the dried blood on his face and feels her eyes instantly water again, prompting her hands to reach for the nearest cloth and gently wipe what she could away, revealing just chaffed stubble and not an actual cut. "No cut…" she literally breathes a sigh of relief as she looks up at the medic. "And the um…other cuts?"

"His leg will need surgery, it was a deep cut but it appears the femoral artery is still in tact but we can't know that for sure. Hard to tell if there is pooling inside the leg, sorry. The rest appear to be superficial and will heal normally."

"Okay," is all Donna manages knowing that her beloved husband was still not out of the woods just yet. Not wanting to say too much in front of the medics, her hand lingers around his face, his eyes closing at her comforting touch and his mind telling him it was really over and he was safe; they both were and he now just needed to relax.

They finally arrive at the hospital, Ed being immediately taken into surgery, Donna forced to wait outside, slowly pacing most of the time as sitting down was proving to be a painful and fruitless task. About an hour later, Greg arrives, giving her a hug and then making her finally sit down to talk.

"I never got to thank you for the help with Ida."

"I knew you'd do the right thing."

"Greg, I nearly crossed the line," Donna admits with a small sigh.

"Well I can't say I blame you for being tempted but I had faith," Greg assures her with a small smile. "Any word on our boy?"

"Still in surgery," Donna replies and then looks away.

"Don't beat yourself up over this. In the end you made the right call and she can't hold anything over you now. She wanted you both destroyed one way or another. But in the end…you were right. She did lose – everything. Be happy with that."

"Just didn't seem enough."

"I know…not for all the damage she inflicted. But she'll get life and that'll be it. You two just need to concentrate on you two now and making this all work out."

"Yeah…that's true," Donna agrees with a small smile as the surgeon finally exits the operating room and walks up to them.

"Mrs. Lane?" The doctor asks, Donna's heart instantly comforting at the sound of her married name.

"How is he?"

"A small cut to the main artery resulted in some internal hemorrhage but we cleaned it all out, repaired the leg and with the proper care it will heal just fine."

"Thank you," Donna replies with a soft smile. "And the other cuts?"

"Superficial. I am almost afraid to ask what he had to endure, but they looked worse because of the liquid substance that was thrown on them; a mixture of cold water and vinegar. In effect it did help to keep the cuts clean but it made the skin swell and look worse than it was. Only a few needed dissolving stitches, the rest just need to heal on their own without much abrasion against them and I didn't want to stitch them all; the rest I used tape. I'll give you instructions for the wrappings and tape. His heart's been through quite the order as well. We took x-rays and there were a few bruised ribs but nothing internal was damaged or punctured, but we do want to keep him overnight for observations."

"Of course…can I see him now?"

"We are taking him to a recovery room. Give us about twenty minutes and then I'll send a nurse to get you."

"Take care of him," Greg gently instructs as he gives Donna a hug and then takes his leave; Wordy calling for an update and relieved that his best friend was gonna be okay. Tom briefly shows up to also lend a supportive hug, telling her a bit more about the final arrests and then letting her get to her husband's side. She nears the doorway and enters, pausing for a moment, until her presence alerts him and he looks in her direction.

"Hey," she offers softly as she approaches the bed, his face still pale and still holding residue of dried blood and dirt. "Hold on…"

"Donna…" Ed's voice cracks, instantly bringing her back to his side. His holds out his hand for her to take, her fingers closing around it, delighting in the fact it felt warmer than the last time she felt it; her face leaning in closer at his request. "I love you," he manages softly, making her eyes water once more and her lips instantly press against his.

"I love you too…damn I love you so much," she whispers as her face presses against his a few moments longer. She remains in place, afraid to let go, her face still resting on his as a few tears escape the corner of her eye and slide down his forehead. "When I first saw you…and you didn't move…Ed I thought…I thought I'd lost you for good."

"I know…I know…I thought when I felt that knife cut on my leg…I thought I was dead," he manages with a hoarse tone.

"I love you so much," Donna tells him again as she kisses his lips once more and then pulls back; his lips curling into a smile. She pushes herself back up and then heads for the small sink, dousing a cloth with warm water and then bringing it back to his bed; her fingers starting to gently erase the residue of Ida's evil handiwork; the blood, dirt and dye residue.

"I think I'll have a few permanent scars," Ed laments with a heavy frown.

"Just on your thigh, but if you want I can kiss it better…later," she smirks and his face instantly relaxes. "The rest the doctor said should heal up nicely. You beat her."

"Barely," he huffs hoarsely as he shows her the beds of his short nails and her face cringes. She brings his ringed finger to her hand and plants a kiss on it.

"A win's a win," she reminds him as her fingers tenderly stroke his face; her hand gently pushing his back down to rest and holding it. "I want you just to rest now okay? I'm gonna stay here all night."

"Don't want to sleep," Ed confesses with a hint of misery in his tone.

"I know…I'll be having nightmares as well for….well for a while at least. But at least we can get through them together right?"

"Right," he agrees with a small yawn. "Donna…"

"We can talk more in the morning. Please just rest now. I need you to rest," she insists as his heart monitor starts to beep a bit more steadily. He quickly glances up and then back down and nods but frowns.

"Every time I close my eyes…" he manages with a tormented tone. "I feel them…the cuts…I hear their taunts, the laughter…feel their blows," he continues as her hand squeezes his in automatic response; her eyes watering further and a lump catching in her throat.

"I'm so sorry…Ed I'm sorry. The was my f…"

"No…no it was her fault," he interjects. "Not you…never you," he tries to assure her.

"Seeing you like this. How can you not expect me to feel guilty?" She lightly challenges. "She did this to you because of me."

"Because I love you and don't blame you."

"I blame me," she shakes her head and then stops, looking back at his weary expression.

"Please don't…" he begs in a tone that instantly shatters her heart. "Please?"

"Okay," she replies, mostly to ease his mind rather than hers. "Time for rest," she lovingly insists as she kisses him one last time and then tucks his hand under the blanket to preserve his building body heat; turning off the light and leaning in closer until he had finally fallen asleep. As suspected the night ahead was fraught with terrifying nightmares for both of them, Ed's body switching between bouts of sweat and chills as he replayed his ordeal over and over in his mind; Donna's mind offering her Ed's dead body and Ida laughing as she walked away a free woman. But true to Donna's words, she was there to help him with his nightmares, offering him a cool cloth or a glass of water, and him to offer loving reassurance she wasn't responsible for this, so they could try again to sleep until the next interruption.

The next morning, Ed slowly opens his weary eyes, gazing upon Donna standing by the window, looking out and muttering to herself.

"It's over right?" Ed asks softly, bringing her soft blue gaze, hurrying in his direction.

"For a moment I could have killed her."

"What do you mean?" Ed inquires as she eases herself back into the chair beside his bed, offering his hand for added support.

"I had her on the ground…gun out of her hand and I wanted to kill her but um…Ed, Greg had to talk me down."

"The last shot…"

"It was a warning. I had to prove to her that I wasn't afraid but inside…Ed I wanted to kill her," she admits looking up at him with a tormented expression. "I have never felt such…such hatred and anger."

"She made it that personal for you."

"I wanted to kill her for what she did to you…I kept hearing your voice to make things right," Donna confesses softly. "I was ready; seriously ready to kill her right there. If Greg hadn't been there…"

"You wouldn't have…"

"No…how do you know?" Donna insists.

"Because I know you. Sure you were tempted, I would have been also. When I found you in the laundry room…I swear I wanted to kill her right there with my bare hands. You didn't cross that line. You didn't."

"Barely," Donna huffs. "Maybe I don't…"

"No…don't question. You gave her a warning and she lost. She lost."

"She ruined so much though."

"She did, but it's over."

"And now we can concentrate on what really matters," she states more than asks.

"Exactly," he nods in agreement. "I need to ask you something and I know…well this might not be the place you want to hear this but…I want to say this now."

"What's going on?"

"I love you. I do with everything I am and have to offer. I nearly lost you and I…Donna I don't want to ever feel that again. I know we were forced to rush things but…but even if we didn't I think the outcome would have been the same. So I'm asking you now…officially. Will you marry me?"

Donna feels her eyes instantly tear at his heartfelt proposal, her mind and heart both stopping and words unable to form one simple single syllable word. Yes.

"I know it's not the down on one knee, romant…" is all he manages before she leans in and silences him with a heated kiss.

"The answer is yes. I love you and that's all I need," she replies honestly, pulling back and lingering in his loving gaze. "Besides we aren't exactly a typical couple when it comes to typical romantic confessions."

"Nope, we're special," Ed teases.

"You make me special," she whispers as she leans in once more. Ed revels in the feeling of her tender love, his mind already knowing the store and ring he wants to buy, but cursing the fact that he wasn't able to give her a proper, romantic proposal as he feels she deserves. They are finally broken apart by the doctor, coming to check on Ed's overnight progress, before giving him his walking papers; complete with some pain medication and instructions for wound care.

"Here," Donna helps him with his hospital gown, finally getting a good look at his chest as he dresses to go home. She gazes upon the few stitches and then feels his gaze upon her, drawing her eyes upward to his. "Perfect," she whispers and his frown disappears. She gently lifts the sweatshirt over his head and then helps him with the black sweatpants, standing back as he slowly stands up.

"Ahhh," he grimaces as he finally is able to take her into his arms and just hold her close for a few moments longer. "Feels good to hold you," he confesses as he kisses the top of her head. "Was kinda worried I'd never get to do this again."

"Me too. Come on let's get home and I'll make us some breakfast."

"I actually like the sound of that."

XXXXXXXX

They arrive home to find their apartment filled with flowers, food in the fridge and a note from Rachel and Jules, the two in charge of the SRU welcome home brigade. Knowing he wasn't able to have a shower until the following day to give the surgical stitches time to really heal and both of them feeling more fatigue than hunger, they head into their bedroom and literally collapse on the bed, Donna pulling the top blanket over them and allowing them to sleep for as long as was possible before nightmares ripped them back to reality.

A few hours later, Donna slowly stirs, looking over at Ed's sleeping expression and thankful that he was getting the rest his body was so desperately craving; a small helping hand from the sleeping pill also doing its job. Her mind thinks to his proposal, but much like her expression of heartfelt love, it didn't need a staged setup; sure it's what every woman wanted, the most romantic proposal to brag about, but in the end she would be marrying the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, him asking was a formality. 'sides, her mind muses, technically we already are married, him asking when he wanted was the icing on the cake – literally.

With that happy thought, she regrettably removes herself from the warm nest of covers, his body slightly stirring at her instant absence; and heads into the kitchen to see what she could make them for a late lunch, the day zooming past. Ida and Miles were still in the hospital under watch, Mickey in a jail cell; a hearing being arranged to determine their fates. She thinks back to her time undercover with the Logan clan, their world twisted and evil; the members of her team, distant and cold. Joining the SRU and meeting Ed, literally saved her life and that was part of the reason she was so desperate to hold onto both of them; fearing losing them would ultimately mean losing her life.

She allows her mind to wander to how this all started and instantly she feels regret starting to creep into her mind for her actions resulting in Ed almost losing his life; the one person who risked everything to save hers. Her mind flashes to when she first found out he had been kidnapped and then zooms to the moment she saw him in the warehouse; restrained, unmoving and appearing dead. In that moment, she finally feels herself caving into fluid emotion, sinking to her knees and cradling herself as she sobs, her mind unable to hold back the onslaught of tears that had been damned up for the past few days. A few moments later, Donna feels Ed's strong arms around her, holding her close, kissing her cheek and whispering that he was okay and it was indeed over. Her heart first off berates her for pulling him from his sleep and making him put undue pressure on his leg after but then settles after she realizes she needed his comforting touch and giving in to his tender embrace was actually therapeutic.

"Ed, I'm sorry," she slightly whimpers as the two of them slowly sag to the kitchen floor in a seated position, Donna wanting him to take the pressure off his bent leg and post-surgery injury. His arm pulls her closer to him, his head resting on hers, no words forthcoming. There was nothing to say, she just needed him to be there and listen; and that was what his love for her was compelling him to do. He could only assure her so many times she wasn't to blame and that he didn't resent her in any way, in fact his love for her was stronger than the day he made the rash decision to marry that altered their futures. But right now she needed to get out all the grief Ida had caused her, get it out and then move on and that's what he could offer and help her with.

The two of them sit together for a while longer until she asks if he's hungry and he somewhat surprises her by saying yes. Since he had suffered no internal injuries, the only thing he had to change at the moment was his physical routine, eating was on the menu.

"From the team," she tells him, pulling out the tray of assorted meats, cheeses, veggies and sweets. She puts on a pot of coffee and the two of them sit down at the table to enjoy their light but late lunch. "You know…"

"Yeah?"

"There is something else I'd like for us."

"You mean besides a new apartment?"

"A real wedding. Nothing too big or fancy or…but just something you know…official," she mentions lightly, her heart picking up the pace at the thought of her in a creamy dress walking toward her destiny. His hand leaves the food tray and reaches out and covers her as he nods. "Yes?"

"Sure…love the idea," he confesses in truth. "You plan it and I'll show up," he teases, getting a small giggle from her in return; the mood continuing to lift. "Just kidding…when?"

"This weekend?"

"Really?"

"Unless…you have other plans?" She playfully retorts.

"This weekend will be perfect. Just means we'll be busy the next two days," Ed assures her with a smile. Donna goes on to explain what things she'd like for their simple but official wedding, a small intimate gathering of close friends, an elegant meal and then a night at five star hotel – just the two of them.

"How about I pick the hotel and you do the rest."

"You pick the hotel and I just show up?" She teases him in return.

"For dinner I was thinking Bob's Burger barn."

"Tonight? No I thought…"

"No for the wedding," he smirks, earning a small playful pinch on the top of his arm from his wife. "No?"

"Not unless you wanna spend the night in that hotel alone...with a burger," she winks.

"Ouch," he feigns a hurt frown.

They talk a bit longer about other details before Donna is on the phone making some reservations and Ed's on the couch getting some much needed rest. Later that afternoon, Tom and Greg both phone, news that Ida's hearing was now confirmed and that she indeed was facing serious, career ending charges; something they could worry about when they were both back in action. Donna tells Tom about the wedding and promises an email to all the teams and their closest friends within the next few days. Ed texting Wordy the same news.

"So Tom was happy for us?" Ed inquires as they both stand in the kitchen making a light dinner; a day of inactivity ensuring neither had worked up much of an appetite.

"He gave me the it's about time line once again," Donna replies as she looks down at the band of gold on her finger and then up at Ed with a tender smile. "It is about time."

"That we got married officially?"

"No that we are both happy and in love," she whispers as she leans in and kisses him directly on the lips. "With each other."

"Ah…I agree," he grins as she pulls back. Dinner is a casual affair around the TV, the two of them watching a movie and enjoying being close, marital relations on hold until his chest and leg and mostly healed and there was no danger of the stitches ripping due to unorthodox movement.

"How do they um…look?" Ed asks with some hesitation as he lays in bed later that night, wearing only his underwear as Donna inspects his leg bandage and chest wrappings.

"They um…" she pauses with a small swallow of emotion. "Sorry hard to look at them and not feel anger toward…they're fine…you didn't strain them today and there is no…they're fine," she insists as she looks up at him from her kneeling position as his side on the bed. Her fingers linger on his chest, gently moving through the soft dark hair and then landing on the cut along the top of his breastbone. "They will heal. Do they hurt?"

"Itch a little but I know the doc said that was normal and good…just as long as they don't feel hot or tingle."

"Right," she huffs as she quickly covers him with a blanket and then turns away, making Ed look up at her in wonder.

"But they…are they that bad to look upon?" He asks in uncertainty, making her turn around in an instant.

"Hardly. But you lying there with only your underwear on and I can't do much else but admire then…well that's hard to look upon," she pauses as she leans in and kisses him on the lips. "You're perfect Ed Lane in every way and I want you but…I know I can't so why keep looking," she pulls back with a knowing expression. "So time for sleep. We can have sex tomorrow," she giggles, making his face break into a wide smile.

With the mood lighter than the night before and both of them praying for less nightmares, they turn off the light, settle into each other's arms and try to get some sleep. But the night wasn't to be that kind to them, as once again each of them see the other's demise at the hands of Ida Logan, waking up in a cold or heated sweat and then trying to convince the other it was only a nightmare and they really were safe.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning the two wake up at the same time, no workouts, just a relaxed breakfast and a plan set in motion for the day; each of them with busy agenda's to carry out – Donna to buy her dress and Ed to pick out the rings.

"So…can I see them?" Wordy ask as he meets Ed in a small diner for lunch. Ed pulls out the rings and shows his best friend; Wordy instantly approving.

"I must say…this whole husband stuff…suits you."

"I married the right woman."

"Yeah…you really did," Wordy smiles as he hesitates to hand the box back. "Best man gets to keep them safe right?"

"I trust you with them," Ed assures him. "Trust you with my future."

"Just glad you are here to experience that future with the right woman."

"Thanks to you both."

"That's what friends are for," Wordy smiles. "So now about the suits…"

"Tuxes…nice try."

"What? Really?"

"Donna says tuxes," Ed shrugs. "What? You blame Shelly all the time for stuff like that," he chuckles.

"Okay and after the tuxes?" Wordy groans.

"I'm going grocery shopping."

XXXXXXXX

"Seriously it's perfect," Rachel praises; her and Donna on the other side of the city in a small boutique wedding dress shop that Rachel's mother had actually recommended. "It's cream…it's simple but elegant…it's you. Seriously you are going to take his breath away."

"I feel like a teenager going to my very first prom…seriously it's so silly," Donna looks at Rachel with a small sheepish smile. "But I can't help it. I have waited so long for this day and now to make it official with Ed…it really is a dream come true. I love it. I'll take it."

"Okay it only needs a few minor alterations…when it the wedding?"

"This weekend," Donna replies impishly.

"As in two days away?"

"Uh yeah. Is that okay?"

"It will be close and there will be an extra small fee but it shouldn't be a bit deal. Okay now just wait here and I'll get what I need."

The rest of the day is spent finalizing all the last minute details; it was to be a small intimate affair, a restaurant with a patio overlooking the bay was booked, the ceremony held on the patio outside and then inside for the dinner and dancing. The restaurant would provide the food, drinks, cake, music and even recommended a photographer they use on a regular basis; they would just have to provide the confirmed number of attendees and whatever else they needed to personalize, since nothing official would need to be signed this time around.

"Is that it?" Ed asks as Donna enters their apartment around dinner time with a black garment bag draped over her arm.

"It is…" she smiles as she pulls it back out of reach. "Nice try. I want it to be a surprise. Plus I am really hoping you'll love it as much as me."

"Trust me you could wear nothing and…actually I think I'd like nothing better," he flirts as he kisses her the lips, getting a small eye roll from his wife before moving to her ear. "I'm sure you'll look amazing."

"I hope so," she looks at him with a warm smile. "Actually getting excited now."

"And before with me in SRU gear and you in…"

"Prison wear? Trust me I love the uniform on you…prison wear on me…not so much," she retorts with a small wrinkle of her nose. "This is real and I'm excited."

"Me to."

"You started dinner?" She asks, finally smelling the aroma wafting out from the kitchen.

"I promised right? Plus I didn't have that much to do today."

Donna puts the dress away in her side of the closet and then heads into the kitchen to help set the table and do a few extra things. Ed had taken the opportunity to find the recipe he had picked out before Ida's final act of revenge distracted them, picked up the items he needed and then got home early to start dinner; wanting to surprise her.

"Well?" He asks with some uncertainty. He had chosen a rather simple steak dinner, with roasted potatoes, grilled veggies and a homemade Caesar salad.

"Canada's Next Top Chef contender right here," she praises. "It's wonderful." The steak was cooked to perfection on the barbeque as she had suspected but the rest needed work; however, to her it was the effort he had put forth to surprise her that made it amazing; the mere fact he wanted to. Ed's face relaxes as they settle into the rest of their meal, Donna telling him all about the restaurant they had picked, who was left to confirm and where they would be going on a honeymoon, if at all. The weekend couldn't come soon enough.

A/N: Okay so you'll all learn Ida's fate up next but I wanted this chapter to be dedicated to our couple getting their lives back without any further interference and there were a few key things in here to their healing and future that I just didn't want to rush. So there will be at least one more chapter coming to wrap this all up! I hope that's okay. So please leave your thoughts before you go and thanks so much in advance!

PS: Hope you all liked my latest Ed/Donna M OS - Dessert :D