DisclaimerI own nothing, JE owns everything. Im not making any money off of this story, unfortunately!

**Warningthis is neither a babe nor cupcake. Im kind to both.

^^A BIG thank you to , my partner in crime. Thanks for being a great friend. I couldnt have finished this without you!

Crossing the Line

Chapter 14

Eddies POV

As soon as I heard the shots ring out I surveyed the room trying to figure out where they came from. I didnt have time to because I suddenly heard Ranger screaming Someone call 911, Stephs been shot!

The room was in utter chaos, people running towards the exits, while others were rushing to Stephanies side. I couldnt get to her fast enough. I fell to my knees in front of her. Steph, can you hear me? Oh please Steph, I cant lose you now.

Ranger was holding his tux jacket over the wound, trying to keep her from bleeding everywhere. Shes unconscious Eddie. The EMTs are in their way in. He seemed eerily calm. I dont know how he wasnt freaking out like I was. Im usually calm and collected, but the thought of losing Steph was more than I could bear. Wait. Who would shoot Steph? None of her skips would be able to get in here unannounced. I stood up and looked around and noticed a commotion by the door leading outside the banquet room. Morelli and several of Rangers men had a woman detained.

She was shouting at the top of her lungs. That slut had it coming! She was trying to take my kids from me!

No, it couldnt be. Shirley?

She looked straight at me. This is your fault Eddie! I wouldnt have had to do this if you just stayed away from her like I told you! Shes trying to take my babies from me! No one will ever be their mother except for me! Do you hear me Eddie! No one!

Ive never seen Shirley act this way, not even when she told me she was leaving me.

By now the EMTs had Steph on a stretcher rolling her towards the ambulance outside the hotel.

Ranger motioned me towards the ambulance doors. You go ahead in the ambulance, the guys and I will meet you at the hospital. I still hold her power of attorneyIll have it transferred over to you when we get there.

As we drove away, I could see Morelli putting Shirley in the back of a squad car. How did I go from being on the top of the world to almost losing everything?

The doctors removed the bullet from her back. It missed her lungs by an inch. They said she was incredibly lucky it didnt do more damage.

Its been two days since the incident and Steph still hasnt woken up. The doctors have kept her in a drug induced coma so that she can heal properly.

Shirley was immediately taken into custody and charged with attempted murder. When questioned further she admitted that leaving me had been a mistake and she wanted Stephanie out of the picture so that she could get me back.

Theres no way in hell Id ever get back with her now. She practically ripped my heart out and stomped on it when she left me taking my boys. In a way Ill always love her, but Im not in love with her anymore. I love Stephanie Plum with all my heart and cant wait to spend the rest of my life with her. Now all she had to do was wake I hope she wakes up. I dont know what Ill do without her.

I could hear people talking softly, but when I opened my mouth to say something I couldnt. Something was stuck in my throat preventing me from speaking. I must be in the hospital; I can smell the familiar antiseptic and hear the beeping of the machines.

Great, just great! I wonder what happened this time. Did someone bomb my apartment? Did someone shoot me? What the hell happened?!?

Crap. Its all coming back to me now. The ball, the proposal, and the sudden pain in my back.

Some son of a bitch must have shot me! I dont remember having any out of the ordinary skips lately...who could have shot me?

My eyes fluttered open and I could see Eddie slumped over in a chair asleep. I looked over to the other side of me and saw my dad reclined back in a chair reading the paper.

I moved my arm slightly and touched his knee. He immediately jerked up and threw the paper aside.

Hey Pumpkin, Its good to see you back to the land of the living.

I guess there must have been a change in the machines because a nurse glided through the room and began to speak to me softly. Dont try to talk dear. Just take a deep breath and dont release it until I have the tube out of your throat. It will only hurt for a moment.

Obviously she didnt know Ive been through this before. I could do this stuff in my sleep!

Eddie awoke with a start at the sound of the nurse and my father talking. He jumped up and was at my side at once. I thought I lost you Steph. He said choking up. There were tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.

I cracked a half smile. You cant get rid of me that easily Gazzara. Youre stuck with me forever.

He gave me a wary laugh. Youre stuck with me too.

I looked around and found that my dad had left. He must have gone to get my mom and grandma.

As much as I wanted to sit here and chat about how we were stuck with one another, I want answers.

How did I end up here? Whats wrong with me? When can I go home?

He looked nervous. Whoa, slow down. Ill answer all your questions; you just cant get yourself worked up.

You were shot in the back just after I proposed.

I grimaced. Which one of my skips was it? Was it Richards? He kept threatening to kill me, but I didnt think he was serious.

He began playing with one of my curls. It was Shirley. She thought you were trying to take the boys away from her.

My mouth nearly dropped to the floor. What? Why would she think that? Ive only been around them a few times since you two split up.

He frowned. I wondered the same thing, but she admitted to the detectives on the case that she was jealous of you and wanted to get back together with me. Shes in jail awaiting a trial for your attempted murder. No one would post her bail. Not even Les Sebring would bail her out. He said that anyone who would try to kill you isnt worth bailing out.

I guess its always the person you least expect. I tried to feel bad for her, but I couldnt. She tried to kill me and it seems she didnt feel one ounce of remorse.

My mom is probably ironing everything not nailed down. Eddie must have sensed my worry because he took my hand in his and squeezed reassuringly. Your mom isnt freaking out Steph. Shes down in the cafeteria getting some coffee with your grandma. She actually called up Shirleys mom and gave her an earful. I dont think anyones going to give you trouble.

I blew a sigh of relief. Thats a first for my mother. She never defends me.

Wait, what about the boys? Where are your boys Eddie? Do they know about their mother? I said frantically.

Theyre at my parents. As soon as you get out of here, well pick them up. Shirleys new beau apparently doesnt want anything to do with the situation. He dropped them off at the police station before running for the hills. Cant say I blame him. When you get out of here, well find a place that will fit all of us.

Wait. He still wanted to be with me? After I caused his family so much hardship?

He laughed. Crap, I must have said that out loud!

Of course I still want to be with you. I want to marry you, I want to see your belly grow with my child, and I want us to be together forever. Im in love with you Stephanie Plum. Youre stuck with me.

By now I had tears running down my face. I love you Eddie.

He bent down and placed a soft kiss to my lips. Its not going to be easy, but well get through it. Im glad I crossed the line with you.

The end

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story! I had fun writing it!

There may be an Epilogue in the future; it depends on how long it takes me to finish my other stories.