20. pity

"Why are you doing this?"

"I have done too much to lose you now," Philip says looking at me intensely.

"What have you done?"

"That does not matter now. We need to go to the courthouse now," Philip said finally.

"Let Rick go first," I demanded.

"No, if I do that you won't go through with the marriage," Philip said.

"If I marry you then you might not Rick go. You can't hurt him. This is between us," I said taking a deep breath.

"I will. But Rick is going to press charges against me. Probably kidnapping and assault. I need you to say that he is lying. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I'll even tell Rick not to contact the police. Just let him go," I begged.

I close my eyes, praying this was some terrible, unimaginable nightmare.

Maybe I was not in love with Philip, but I did love him. Seeing him losing it was too much. How could I not know that Philip was batshit crazy? How did I miss him taking those intimate pictures of Shane and I? I was under Philip's spell. Blinded by my lust, I thought sadly.

"I will eventually ," Philip reassured me.

"Let's get this over. I'll never love you. My heart will always belong to Shane. I feel nothing for you but pity," I said furiously.

"Too bad for you. Shane is dead. He was a motherfucking pussy. Couldn't defend himself," Philip said grabbing me by the arm.

"Your not half the man Shane was," I said under my breath.

"I would be nice to me, Andrea. Now go get dress, and give me that damn necklace. If you do that maybe I won't send you back to the hospital," Philip said point the gun at me. Sadly, I handed over Shane's necklace. I wanted something of Shane's to hold in my hands, I thought. With my wedding rings and the necklace gone I had nothing.

Walking into the bedroom I see Philip has his eyes on me. I notice as he watches me take a bath. There is a good chance, he is still going to kill me or Rick. Probably both.

"For what it's worth, I never sleep with Rick," I tell Philip as I get out of the bathtub. I towel myself off.

Why did I feel like I should even explain myself to him? He has kidnapped you and Rick. Keeping you with him by force. Because you are playing along with his games. You have no choice. This is the only way you can stay alive.

"I know. I have kept a close eye on you for a while now, but I know you want to sleep with him. That's just as bad," Philip says watching me get dressed.

I say nothing. I put on a mint green dress and gold sandals. I am getting married. Married to a murder, I thought my hands shaking.

"You're beautiful," Philip says gently as I walk into the living room. I know now he has switched back into loving boyfriend and father mode.

He walks over and kisses me. I put my arms around and kiss him back.

He takes my hand.

I watch as he puts the kids in the car sets. For the moment everything feels normal. We're a couple who is going to the courthouse to get married.

But I know that's not the case. Rick is tied up in the house, and I am being forced to marry Philip. Somehow I managed to say my vows to Philip and the sign the papers. He is trying to be sweet to be. As if he could somehow make up for kidnapping Rick and I.

21. Saving her

Being tied up was not going to stop me. I was going to save Andrea and myself. She was not safe with Philip. Neither were her children.

Philip had taken my cell phone, car keys, pocket knife, and everything else I had on me. Still I was able to break free from the rope while they were gone.

I hear them return before I am able to leave the house. Shit, Philip is going to come in here and it will all be over. I wait and wait. He does not enter the room. Suddenly I hear them arguing.

"I can't make love to you. Even if I wanted to. I just had a c-section three weeks doctor said I had to wait six weeks," Andrea pleads with him.

"You will be fine. Now get on the bed," Philip tells her.

"Please stop. It hurts," I hear Andrea sobbing in the background.

I had to do something to stop this. I couldn't allow him to hurt Andrea.

I started walking closer to the bedroom. I was not a lucky man, but today must have been my day. On the kitchen table there was gun along with other weapons. I take the gun and go in the bedroom. I am prepared to shoot if I have too.

"I believe she asked you to stop," I said pointing the gun at Philip.

"You won't shoot. You are not a killer Rick. Just go home to your wife, and leave Andrea here," Philip says showing me that he has a gun in hand. I see Andrea handcuffed and naked.

"No way in hell. I am not going to let you kill Andrea," I said out loud mostly to myself.

I don't have to time to think. He is moving closer with the gun. I pull the trigger shooting Philip's lower chest. I take the hand cuffs off of Andrea, and she wraps her arms around me.

"We have to call an ambulance and the police," I tell her. She moves away from my embrace and hands me the phone from Philip's pocket.

I dial the numbers while Andrea checks Philip's heartbeat. The ambulance arrives taking him away, and the police come in to ask us a lot of questions. After what seems like forever Andrea and I are allowed to leave the police station.

I look into her dark blue eyes and take her hand. I had no idea how I could comfort her after everything she has been through. But I would try.

21. The end

Rick was there, and everything felt right. Even though everything had fallen apart.

"Here, I thought you should have this back," Rick said handing me Shane's necklace that had the number twenty two on it. We are taking a walk outside.

The kids are with Beth and Daryl so I could have some time to calm down.

"Thank you. How did you get it back?" I said taking his hand as we walk on the same street Philip was chasing me on. I needed to get out of here, I thought to myself.

"It was on the kitchen table along with the weapons. I knew you want it back," Rick said looking at me with those blue-green eyes.

"You're amazing, and you opened my eyes to who Philip really is. I am so glad that he'll serve some jail time for kidnapping us," I said putting the necklace back on. Wearing it made me feel better somehow.

"I know. But some day we'll prove he killed Shane," Rick promises.

"God, just thinking about Shane being killed because of Philip. I feel like it's all my fault," I said moving closer to Rick.

"Don't Philip was charming. Anyone could have been fooled," Rick reassured me.

"I know, but living without Shane seems impossible. Well, it not so bad when you are around."

"You starting to be fond of me?"

"Rick, I love you. I realized that when Philip almost killed you. It's not the same love I had for Shane, but it's very real. And I know you have to go back to Lori now. I understand that, but I'll never stop wondering what might have been," I said honestly.

"I am not going back to Lori. She cheated on me again, and she is pregnant by her new boyfriend. I have filed for divorce. I want to be with you. I meant what I said the other day," Rick says taking my hand. His touch causes my whole body to get warm.

"Well, I am going to have to get an annulment myself," I said softly.

"I know. But I still want you to come home with me. We don't have to move fast. I Just can't say goodbye to you again. Not after everything we have been through," Rick said running his fingers through his dark blonde hair.

" I will," I said leaning in to kiss Rick.

His lips press against mine and wraps his arms all the around me, and suddenly it starts to rain. Even though it's pouring down rain we don't stop kissing. Our lips stay locked and his hands move all over my body. For the first time since Shane's death I actually feel something. Philip may have stopped me from committing suicide, but it took Rick to bring back to life.

We both, know our
Own limitations, and that's why we're strong
Now that we've spent some time apart
We're leading each other, out of the dark

- Gavin DeGraw