My eyes felt heavy with sleep. It took a few moments but I was finally able to open them. I was still in Paul's caravan, snuggled in his warm and comfortable bed.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I looked around and saw a sight that made my heart swell.

Paul was in a chair pushed up all the way against the bed. His head, turn on his side, rested on one arm while the other was resting on my stomach. He was in a deep and peaceful sleep. I wondered how long he had been by my side since I had been asleep? Craning my neck I glanced out the window to find the first streaks of daybreak. I must have slept through the evening into the whole night.

And Paul stayed by my side the entire time. A smile appeared onto my lips as a watched the rise and fall of his chest. Slowly I lifted my hand to his hair and began to lazily pet it. This was the first time I had felt things were normal again since what had happened almost twenty-four hours ago. I wished this moment would last forever.

However when I moved to stroke Paul's face he began to stir. His eyes opened and in what seemed like less than a second he registered that I was awake.

In a flash he was upright in his chair.

"Darling how are you? Do you need anything? Can I get you something? How long have you been awake?" His words tumbled out of his mouth at such a speed I was amazed I could understand him.

"I am okay. I could use some water if that is alright? And I only just woke up a few minutes ago." Telling him as he sprang up at the mention of my needing water. He walked over to his dining table and picked up an already poured glass for me.

Paul was careful in his movements in getting the glass over to me. I knew I should be annoyed at how slow he was being but I found the whole scene so caring it made me love him even more.

Paul never took his eyes off me as I raised the glass to my lips and watched me drink my water until I was content.

Letting out a sigh I put my glass down "Paul I know I have given you a terrible fright but you do not need to watch my every move."

"I'm sorry love but you can't blame me for worrying about you after what's happened."

"I never meant to add to your worry my dear." Reaching up and cupping his cheek in my hand. "Everyone has a breaking point and it looks like I had reached mine."

"You know you have people here who love you don't you?" Paul leaned into my touch.

"Of course I know Paul and I know that you are one of them."

Pausing I reflected on a thought that had popped into my mind.

"I actually feel...alright. If that makes any sense. I mean I still feel pain, I will always feel pain after what happened to me but it is sort of a relief that everyone knows now. I mean I am nervous to face everyone but it feels as if a weight has been lifted from me." Explaining to him.

"It is odd I suppose." Concluding, but he shook his head.

"No dear it is not odd. It makes perfect sense." Paul smiled at me and I leaned over to place a soft kiss on his lips.

When we broke away I spoke "If there is a reason that I am still alive when almost everyone who has loved me has died then I am willing to wait for it. I am willing to wait for it with you."

Paul smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

A new thought came to my mind.

"Paul will you marry me?"

He stilled for a moment his eyes frozen on me. My chest constricted as my head swimmed with horrible thoughts. Was this a foolish idea to propose?

Paul stood up abruptly and without speaking went over to wooden chest on the right side of his caravan. Immediately he began to rummage through it like a madman while I still remained in bed sweating through my nightgown wondering what an imbecile I was.

Paul made an sound of exclamation as a pulled a small box from the wooden chest. In a rush he walked back over to me and sat down on the bed close to me.

Paul was cradling the small box in his hands like it was his own child. He looked up and smiled at me.

I smiled back at him but I was sill so unsure of what was happening. He held up his hands "This was my mum's." He opened the box to reveal a ring with a small ruby stone with little diamonds around it.

Gasping "Paul."

"Before she died she told me to give her ring to the woman I was going to marry." He grinned at me.

Tears welled up in my eyes as he took the ring from the box "Now I know that the man usually does this but you've sort of beaten me to the punch love." Paul laughed and I chuckled.

My heart was full to bursting.

"But just for the sake of my pride I'll ask you myself."

Paul stood up straight and held the ring up to me "Madalina Lekeman will you marry me?" His smile spread ear to ear as I saw tears in his eyes.

"Yes." Sobbing out in a smile as he slide the ring onto my ring.

"Perfect fit." Paul said as he leaned over to kiss me.

A little while later Miss Ethel came in to check up on us and to bring me some hot soup.

"Here you go darlin' now just eat that and get your rest." She mothered me as she sat the tray down on my lap.

"Thank you very much Miss Ethel." Giving her a small smile as I lifted the spoon and inhaled the mouth-watering aroma before putting it in my mouth.

The soup lasted like heaven as it slid down my throat. I had not eaten in almost two days and I was starving.

"Now I want everything in that bowl to be gone when I come back in a little while." She waged a finger at me.

Her actions made me smile brighter. She reminded me of my aunts.

Reaching out I grabbed her hand in mine "Thank you Miss Ethel." Telling her sincerely.

A small smile formed on her lips. She lifted her other hand and pushed some hair behind my ear. My heart ached at the motherly action.

With that she left us in peace.

After a little while I had emptied the bowl and I was still laying in Paul's bed. I was starting to drift off when a knock at the door stirred me awake.

"Must be Ethel. Come in." Paul said in a raised voice.

But it was not Miss Ethel who opened the door but someone else.

Jimmy carefully popped his head in the doorway "Is it alright if I come in?"

Paul said nothing but looked at me to see what I wanted. I nodded to him.

"You may come in Jimmy." Answering him.

Jimmy closed the door as Paul scooted closer to me.

Jimmy tentatively made his way towards us "How are you feeling?"

"I am feeling alright. It was a lot to process, all that pain coming out at once but slowly I will be back on my feet."

Jimmy rubbed the back of neck "Lina I feel like shit." He blushed at his cursing "Sorry about that."

"It is alright Jimmy." My lips twitching at his embarrassment.

"What I am trying to say is I feel terrible about what happened. It if wasn't for me and Dell and us actin' like drunken idiots no one would have ever have found out about you and...what happened to you." He trailed off avoiding my face.

"Jimmy come closer." Commanding him. Slowly he came closer to us.

"Sit down." He did as he was told like a child.

"Jimmy look at me." Telling him.

Shame and regret was all I saw when he lifted his face to look at me.

"Jimmy I am not angry with you because of what happened." Earnestly telling him.

His shoulders slumped in relief.

Reaching towards Paul I grabbed his hand and he kissed my forehead "After several years of living with pain, guilt and the pressure to be okay I have learned something important in coming back from my...emotional episode yesterday."

Staring down I looked at my tattoo "I have learned that it is okay not to be okay. I do not have to be perfect or have everything together. I am not in the camps anymore. My guilt has been eating at my soul for years and it has kept me from being happy."

Looking up from my tattoo I found Paul's eyes and grinned at him "But coming here to Jupiter I believe it was meant to be. Here I have found my happiness." He lifted my hand and kissed it.

"However" I narrowed my eyes and turned back to him "I am angry that you acted the way that you did, and with Dell of all people."

"The man who you were, the way you acted with him is not the man you are. Do not let him corrupt you. I know that he is your father but you are better than him." Sternly speaking "This is not your path and this is not the man who you are supposed to be."

The guilt on his face grew larger.

"Promise me that there will never be a repeat of last night, ever."

"I promise." He spoke lowly, his tone laced in regret.

"Sweetheart if looks could kill he'd be dead by now." Paul quipped breaking the tension.

Jimmy cracked a small smile "That's for sure."

"Well I do not give out threats idly." Coolly telling the both of them but my eyes held a smile.

Jimmy picked up my empty tray "I should get this back to ma and Eve and give them a report. Everyone wants to see you. They want to know you're okay."

"I imagine they have questions." Answering.

Of course they were bound to have questions. How could anyone make sense of something they had never experienced.

"Yeah they...do but no one wants to press you." Cautiously replying with a wary stare.

Turning my head I stared at Paul and pressed his hand gently "I'll do whatever you want love." He spoke in clear devotion. I stared down at the ring on my left hand for a moment before giving him a sweet smile.

I took a deep breath and turned back to Jimmy "I think it is time I tell my story."