AN: Listening to Craig Morgan as I write this. So, some parts might be kinda sappy! Next chapter shall be the last one. I was actually kinda surprised I lasted this long. But, some of you wanted a few more parts, so, I delivered. :) Without further ado:


Jane and Frankie sat at the edge of the river, both dangling their toes into the clear brook. They definitely had a lot of catching up to do.

"So, you mean to tell me that you managed to hunt down our family's killer and you didn't finish that bastard off? Even after what he did to our family and your hands?" Frankie asked incredulously.

"Yeah."

Frankie laid down on the grass and sighed. "Wow. Why not? After all you've been through, after all he's done, and you just let him go with a busted back."

"It's 'broken.'"

"Whaaat?"

"The correct adjective would be 'broken' not 'busted.'" When Jane realised that she was correcting someone's grammar, and that Frankie was guffawing, she groaned. "Oh, shoot! Just kill me now."

Frankie wiped a tear out of his eye. "Since when did you become a sucker for correct grammar? Ma used to have to rap you over the knuckles every time you used improper grammar, but you never learned."

"Blame it on Maura," Jane muttered.

"It's okay, I still love you, sis. That wife of yours has got you so whipped."

Jane rolled her eyes and punched Frankie in his arm, but did not bother to retaliate for she knew that that was the truth.

"But, seriously, Jane, why didn't you kill Hoyt?"

Jane breathed in deeply. She knew the kind of pain Frankie was feeling. After all, Frankie had suffered the same loss she had, had gone through the same emotions – except, he had a different way of channelling it. He was more calm, cool, and collected. Jane didn't blame him for being like that.

"Frankie, it's different when the person you want to kill is a helpless baby." Jane shuddered slightly as she recounted the story that nearly cost Maura her life. "I had the gun in my hand, I could have just blown Hoyt's brains out, but I didn't. I couldn't do it. He was grovelling on the ground like a worm, he wouldn't even be able to defend himself if he wanted. I don't kill people just like that, it would make me no more a coward and a monster like Hoyt. And, I always believed in giving people second chances."

Frankie stared at Jane in mild surprise. "You've changed, Jane. You're different from that wildcat that used to lash out at people. The one that went all out to make sure she had everything the way she wanted it to be."

"I know, and I am sorry for all the times I took it out on you too. Maura, she's made a better person out of me. She knew how to still the tempest, how to tame the bull, how to – how to – " Jane didn't bother to continue as her voice broke.

Putting an arm around his older sister, Frankie just silently embraced her and said nothing. "I am glad you had everything settled. I am sorry I was of no help with Hoyt. But, you know I am not the kind that can just track down someone. I am not cut out for it."

Jane looked at her brother and smiled through her damp eyes. "It's okay, Frankie, you are the way you are, and that is perfect enough. And I think I have enough of this mushiness!" Jane straightened up and gave Frankie a playful shove, causing him to fall back onto the grass. "Let's talk about you. I've settled down, and I don't plan on moving anywhere soon. What about you? The war's over, and Hoyt's over with."

Blushing slightly, Frankie cleared his throat. "I think I just met someone. If you and Maura don't mind, I would like to stay here for a while and see how things progresses."

"Oooohhhh," Jane cooed. "Has Frankie found someone to settle down and have chicks with?"

"Gross! Don't put it that way. And, besides, we only just met."

Jane laughed as she saw Frankie's face grow redder. "I'm just kidding, brother. Come, Maura should have dinner all done, and you wouldn't want to miss any of her good cooking."


I looked at the calendar. Joyce should have reached her destination already. I couldn't wait for my plans to start coming together. Jane should be here pretty soon.

I sighed when I heard another noise of something dropping. The caretaker, that Joyce had hired when she was gone, was one dolt. A good thing she only spent the afternoons here and went back to her own place at night. She could barely string a proper sentence together, even though she looked to be in her mid-thirties. But, at least she got her job done, including emptying the bedpan, the job she detested the most.

I heard her enter in, shuffling her massive frame into the room. She carried a tray that held a bowl of soup and a loaf of bread. I knew the motions that would happen afterwards: she would set the tray down, pull a chair up, sit down heavily and sigh, then start to watch me as I slowly ate my meal, ever ready should I need help, and also hoping that I wouldn't make a mess.

I smirked when everything happened as I knew it would.


Budding romance was in the air as the days flitted past. Frankie continued to see the one named Joyce and tried to make some headway into forming a relationship. And things finally reached a climax when Joyce accepted Frankie's invitation to come visit his "brother" and his wife.

Frankie peered into the parlour mirror, fussing at his already impeccably groomed hair. Jane laughed at the nervousness of Frankie. "It's fine, Frankie, if you touch it anymore, your hair is going to rebel."

Jane was saved from a retort from Frankie when someone knocked on the wooden door. Taking a deep breath, Frankie walked over to answer the door. "Joyce! Come in, come in."

Jane stood up when she Frankie led a stunning woman into the parlour. "Joyce, this is my brother, Jedidiah. Jedidiah, this is Joyce."

Jane kissed the back of Joyce's proffered hand. "Nice to finally meet you, ma'am. Frankie couldn't seem to stop talking about you." Jane's eyes gleamed with mischief when she say Frankie's death glare aimed at her.

"Nice to meet you too," Joyce's melodious voice answered.

"I know Frankie told you that my wife would be here. But, she got called out to act as a midwife to a woman who only wanted a female helping her."

Joyce's eyes fell slightly, and she looked genuinely disappointed. "Oh, that's all right. I hope I will get to meet her soon then."