Months had flown by as Jarod had slowly recovered. And indeed he had recovered. His head, that had been shaven for surgery, was now covered by short hairs that finally covered his shiny scalp.

Sitting on the bench in front of the ocean as the sun rose he couldn't stop the smile from coming onto his face. Life was different for him now. Many things had changed in the last few months.

He had rented an apartment here in Maine, close to the ocean. It had taken little effort for Jarod to figure this to be the best place to recover. Ben lived a few miles from here in case of anything, and it would be easier for Parker to slip away and come visit him since she was staying with Ben.

As the months had passed she had come up more and more.

They still hadn't consummated there relationship, he had needed real time to be able to physically heal and even more so to…mentally heal.

Sydney would come every now and then with Parker and make sure Jarod really was ok. Jarod of course relished every second.

Sydney had moved closer to Michele and Nicholas, but still maintained his closeness with Jarod. Having taken in Angelo, Sydney sometimes brought him along as well.

Oddly, Angelo had given Parker a gift, one that had shocked everyone. Angelo had led them one day to a small location on the outskirts of Maine, close to New York. Both he and Parker had been confused by Angelo's actions until both had seen him.

They had been across the street from a small building, when a familiar looking car drove up

Broots and Debbie lived further away than anyone, but made it down on certain weekends when everyone would gather for a Sunday dinner.

It was nice.

He smiled to himself as he heard the familiar clicking of heels coming towards him. He turned his head slightly and muttered a 'hey' towards her.

Parker's long legs that seemed to stretch forever were covered in leggings due to the cold. As she sat down next to him, he saw the tight leather jacket that covered her was slightly open.

As she settled down onto the bench, Jarod reached over and zipped up the jacket as far as it went.

Parker said nothing as she watched his hand float above her chest and then slowly descend to grab the zipper and pull it up to just under her chin.

Looking over she could see an intense emotion in his beautiful brown eyes.

"Has today been a good day…or a bad day?" She asked him softly.

Jarod smirked.

"It's been an 'ok' day." He said to her in an oh so slow way.

They stared into each others eyes for maybe a minute before Parker leaned over and slowly – achingly slowly – kissed Jarod. All Jarod could do was to surrender to the kiss. It was still so new to them both - the sensations that made there bodies tingle like nothing else they had ever experienced.

When they pulled apart both were breathing heavily.

Jarod opened his eyes and found those beautiful crystal blue eyes staring back at him. The best part about her eyes…is that they now held love for him.

"I have a surprise for you." Jarod whispered with a coy smirk on his handsome face.

As he expected Parker's eyes turned from bright blue to dark night sky. Her face turning into a stern scowl. A low 'Jarod' came from her lips. But before she could say anything else he leaned over and kissed her in the most passionate way he could. A kiss that could be defined as the most passionate sexual kiss that he had ever had been privileged to give or receive.

It left both panting and lungs burning.

Pulling away from her he slipped something into her hand.

It took a second or two before she realized exactly what it was. Her heart started to beat wildly. Her palms began to sweat. The fear in her increased ten fold.

Opening her hand slowly, nothing could have prepared her for it.

Slowly she opened her had to reveal the beautiful diamond ring she now held in her shaking hands.

Parker looked up at Jarod with the most incredible look she had ever bestowed upon him. Her stare holding so many emotions that he was sure that if he didn't explain soon she would turn all of the emotions into something he was sure wasn't appropriate for this moment.

So he slowly decided to act.

He moved off the bench and down on one knee, the whole time staring into her beautiful face. A little smile playing across his face.

"I know you already asked me and all but...I wanted to do this....to show you that I want it...just as much as you do...and.(letting out a sigh)...because I've never been so sure of anything in my life."

Parker's mind was jumping to every event that had ever occurred between the two of them, remembering every horrible thing that ever occurred in her life, and the small great moments in her life. It was odd how it all led to this moment.

This moment of looking into Jarod's eyes...and realizing that she didn't want to ever look away.

Getting as close as he could as he kneeled in front of her he spoke in a hushed voice.

"I know you may think I'm crazy, that...that this could never work...but...(he stopped as he just stared at her)...I know that whatever happens in the future...whether its finding my mother...the scrolls or...or just staying here..."

Parker couldn't look away from his beautiful eyes. The way she felt in this moment...she had never felt before. And it was all because of him.

"I just know I want to be with you.....till I breathe my last breath."

Parker had to remind herself to not cry. She couldn't cry in front of him, but it was no use. Tears started to pool in her eyes.

After everything, after all that they had both caused each other...he still wanted her. Jarod wanted to marry her...and the only thing she could whisper out was...

"That could be arranged..." and a small pathetic glare from her eyes.

Jarod's face slowly and quite handsomely formed into the most beautiful smile that she had ever seen. A face which moved towards her and engaged her in another hormone riling kiss. Causing her to let out a sensuous laugh followed by Jarod's own.

Slowly pulling away form each other Parker gave him a pointed stare.

"This means no more pranks or secrets!" Parker warned...not asked.

Jarod just gave her his patented 'gotcha' smile. "No more secrets."

But Parker then glared as she reiterated, "and no pranks!"

Still Jarod smiled. "Now I can't promise that!!"

Parker's eyes widened and then she punched Jarod, cauisng him to grunt out with a laugh but grab her arms and lean up and continue to make both of there bodies rage with the unknown touch of the other. And Parker was more than happy to allow it.

And then she tried to speak between kisses, but only succeeded in mumbling words.

"We, need, to, find, the......scrolls."

"And, my, mother." Jarod continued.

"Iloveyou." Parker mumbled against his lips.

"I'll, take, that, as, a yes." Jarod said as they continued to kiss.

Many things happened after this moment in there lives. Many of which took place a few short weeks later.

Jarod found his brother Ethan...and with his help...Jarod's mother, who apparently had found the scrolls herself.

Months would pass before Jarod and Parker brought down the Centre, together, and just in time. Not long after they had a child. A little girl...named Liberty...in honor of what their love had given them.

Of course the secrets that the two had kept from each other had vanished before they married one another...but when issues would surface......they would quickly put it all behind them.

Because both would look up to a little box hanging up on the wall of there home.....one that a good friend Kathy gave them a short time after they were married. A souvenir if you will - something that she had found when Jarod had been in the hospital.

Something that had changed all of there lives in the most unexpected of ways.

A little black box....that held one dull copper piece.

One Bullet.

THE END

Author's Note: I hope everyone that read this story have enjoyed the journey. I hope to read some good reviews! Thanks for reading!!