This is just an ending to the drama and filler before I get to more. But right now, we have to get a certain someone to work for a long time and my OC needs therapy! No worries though, I am working on the next chapter on pen and paper tomorrow!

Chapter 17

Bailey screaming wrestles away from John's grasp to go to Nick whom had been shot in the head. Gia who is trapped under a lifeless Nick, struggles to get up. As Bailey comes closer with anger and sorrow in her eyes, Gia struggles harder. As Bailey approached Nick, she grabbed him and cradled him in her arms while sobbing. "Don't die, we will get you some help. You will be ok. Please come back!" Bailey sobs. John rushes to catch Gia trying to slip away and he grabs her. Swinging her around, and settling her on the chair he was seated in, he ties her quickly with the speed of a life long crabber. She struggles as John ties her to the chair.

"Johnny, please listen to me. We could be so happy together. You and me, we could get married and live happily ever after." Gia whines.

"Never! The only woman I could see spending the rest of my life with is Bailey." John said as he looked over at Bailey cradling an already dead Nick.

Bailey paused and looked up at John with questions in her eyes. Bailey had never thought about marriage with him. In fact, after Paul pushed her out of his life, she had resolved to never remarry. She couldn't imagine taking care of another man. She would have to cook regularly, clean more, give up her nights of relaxation with girly shows and replace them with sports. She would also have to deal with another man's ego. There were many other reasons Bailey doesn't want to remarry. Aside from the whole giving up your life to a man thing. Marriage was a big disappointment to Bailey and now as she sat cradling Nick thinking about marriage, the room started to feel smaller and have less air.

Bailey let Nick's body fall to the floor with a thump. Her limbs were like jelly, and her thoughts racing. "Wha?" Was all Bailey could get out of her mouth. The thought of marrying anyone was crippling. Bailey turned and rushed for the door.

"Bailey, wait!" John called after her.

1

As John called after Bailey, Gia laughed a crazy high-pitched laugh. "You think she will marry you? You are beyond mistaken, we belong together and you know it! Let me go Johnny, and we could have the perfect life together." Gia cooed while batting her eyes.

John rolled his eyes and left the cabin to find Bailey. He was determined to find her and explain. Maybe ask her to spend the holidays with him and his family. No pressure, no proposal.

John didn't notice Bailey slip back in to the cabin after he left. Before he went looking for Bailey, he checked the van where the girls had dragged Paul off while chaos ensued. They sat in the back of the van fearfully waiting. John waved and held his index finger up and told them to stay in there, that he was going to go find Bailey. John turned to the woods to the left and went to look for Bailey. He walked for a short ways and gave up, "She could find her way back," he thought. He decided to turn around and head back when he heard the gun shot. He suddenly had a sick feeling something really bad had happened and turned to run back to the cabin.

2

Bailey slipped into the cabin as John left. She had murderous thoughts and didn't want to let Gia live any longer. This was all her fault. She took advantage of Nick and his confused feelings, now he's dead. Nick was the only man she trusted and now that he was dead, Bailey didn't care any more. Bailey walked towards Gia in a haze. Gia grinning and saying something Bailey couldn't hear.

Wanting Gia to fight for her life, Bailey untied her to let her have a fair shot. " You can leave, or you can fight. Your choice." Bailey said flatly.

"You shouldn't have done that, you know. John isn't here to protect you." Gia smirked.

Bailey smiled and flipped her hair back and laughed. "I don't need a man to protect me. I can do fine by myself."

Gia reached around to grab the gun she had in the waist of her pants at the same time Bailey reached for the one she found. Both women stood at an impasse. Who was going to shoot first? Bailey smiled and said, "Goodbye." Gia only had time to jump when Bailey pulled the trigger and shot Gia in the heart. Shocked, Gia dropped her gun and fell to the ground. "Guess you won't be marrying John." Bailey smirked as she dropped her own gun. Bailey stood over Gia and watched her gasp her last breath as John came rushing in.

"Oh my…" John said as he rushed to Bailey. "Did you…? What…?"

Bailey turned to John and said, "I gave her a chance to run and leave you alone, and she took that as a chance to try to kill me. I had to defend myself. What if she had tried to hurt my kids too?"

John thought for a few seconds and wrapped his arms around Bailey and sighed. "I guess as long as you are ok, that is all that matters." But he was very worried about Bailey's mental capacity.

They turned to leave to call the police and report the incident.

3

Two weeks later after the police cordoned off the scene and started their investigation, it was determined that Gia killed Nick and Gia was killed in self-defense. The police made both Bailey and John stay in town while they investigated. So John's family met in Homer to celebrate the holidays. John wanted Bailey to meet his family, but with Paul in town she pushed away from him a little. She reasoned with him that she wanted to have the girls spend time with Paul and she wanted to make things special for them all. This concerned John. John feared she would want to go back to Paul and called her frequently.

Though John was worried about his relationship, he still had fun with his family and friends. Andy was often staring at his older brother who was brooding in a corner from time to time. After everyone but Andy piled in their cars and left John's house, John picked his phone out of his pocket and dialed Bailey's home number. Getting no answer, he texted Bailey's cell.

Just checking where you are and wondering if you and the girls wanted to come by. Everyone but Andy is gone. See you in an hour?

John locked his I phone and turned to Andy who was sitting in the living room staring John down.

"Sit and tell me everything." Andy demanded.

John sighed and sat across from Andy. "Ok, you have a while?" John chuckled.

Andy smiled and nodded. "I have all day, brotha!"

John reached back in his memory to when he met Bailey and told Andy everything. He and the family knew about Gia and the whole ordeal, but not the full romance and the Bailey part of the story. He had a lot to get off his chest. He went on and on about Bailey and his dream about marrying her and his concerns about Paul now that he is back. Thirty minutes later, Andy whistled a low whistle.

"Wow, what are you going to do?" Andy asked John.

"I have no idea, Andy. No idea at all."

4

Bailey checked her messages and sighed. John had sent her the hundredth message of the day.

Just checking where you are and wondering if you and the girls wanted to come by. Everyone but Andy is gone. See you in an hour?

She had just finished a big holiday meal with the girls and Paul. They sat in her living room talking and enjoying their time together for the first time in years. After an hour, the girls went to their room to put their presents away and take a nap.

"So, where is your boyfriend?" Paul asked.

"He's with his family." Bailey replied. "He wanted me to meet his family, but I think it's too early."

Paul scoffed, "Bull, you are scared to death this will turn out to be more than boyfriend/girlfriend. You don't fool me. You had doubts before our wedding too. Remember, you tried to call it off and I talked you in to thinking it through."

Bailey grunted. "Yeah, I should have listened to my gut."

Paul sighed and rose carefully from the chair. "Bailey, are you going to run from commitment your whole life because of your childhood?"

Bailey looked at Paul and sighed, "No. I don't want to."

"Then go get your man. I will stay with the girls, I promise I won't take them." Paul chided.

"Haha…" Bailey faked a laugh as she rose from the couch and pulled her shoes on. "I guess you are right. But I refuse to get married, not ever again."