Alright everyone Chapter 18 is here. I'm sorry for the wait, but I finally got a Beta (she is AMAZING ya'll need to send lots of thank you's to her) so it's going to take a little more time between me finishing a chapter and it getting uploaded. BUT the chapters will be of better quality from now on and maybe down the road we can redo the previous chapters. Anyway thank you for being patient I will try and start getting one chapter a week down, but I can't make any promises. So as I have said like 3 times now The long awaited chapter 18. Lila is HOME and has told everyone what happened and Adam, Hoss and Isabelle start out first thing in 19 to rescue Kathleen woo she is almost free. And for the Adleen fans I hope you enjoy the ending. Shoutout to my Beta Mirnava

CA: You girl make my day every time you review. That patience quote had me laughing in class and I had to explain to my professor what was so funny. (Sadly she is not a Bonanza fan) Kathleen will get through this in time with the help of her family and a new character.

AureaD: You are amazing and I have to say I look forward to hearing from you every time I upload. Duke will get what is coming to him. But it won't be by who you think. (Spoiler)

Everyone was sitting around the fire at home after supper. They had been out searching all day without any luck. The tracks disappeared about a mile down. Ben had been to town, but the Sheriff was out of town and wouldn't be back until the next morning. They were all taking this hard, but none more so than Adam. He blamed himself for this. All day and night the same phrase repeated itself in his head; if only I hadn't left them. If only he hadn't, but he had. If anything has happened to Lila or Kathleen he knew he would never be able to forgive himself. Adam cupped his face in his hands as he let out an exhausted sigh and he rose to head for bed. He was just about to head up the second flight when there was crash outside. Ben jumped up along with Hoss as Joe grabbed a nearby pistol. Adam headed downstairs as Ben went to the door. He hesitated at the door. Who would come here at this hour?

"Joe, who do ya think it could be?" Hoss looked to Joe; there was a hint of concern in his blue eyes. Isabelle had heard the commotion and she peeked her head from the upper stairwell.

"Is everything alright down there?"

"Yeah, Is everything is alright. You just go on back to bed and we will take care of everything." Hoss looked up to Isabelle and nodded to assure her that everything was alright.

Ben opened the door to find a bruised Lila standing back with a smile. Her bright red hair had a brown color from the filth of her journey, but her bright hazel eyes were shining with a golden fire you couldn't put out. Ben's mouth dropped as he realized who it was. Before he could tell anyone ,Lila ran toward him with her arms wide open and hugged him. Ben wrapped her in his arms as he brought her in. Hoss ran toward them as Ben finished hugging released her and lifted her up and into a bear hug.

"Lila, you're okay! Did they hurt you?"

"Little bit. You're back? Well dad gum you got away!"

Adam came down and looked around for Kathleen. Surely if Lila made it back then Kathleen would have as well, he thought.

"Lila, where's Kathleen?" Lila's face fell. Hoss noticed and put her down as Lila fell to the floor.

"She stayed behind. She is the reason I got away. I tried-"

"Lila?" Isabelle was standing at the top of the staircase with wide eyes as she saw her little sister.

"Lila you're alright?" Her voice broke as she ran down the stairs two by two.

"Izzy?" Lila looked like she was about to cry as she got up and ran to her sister. Lila ran into open arms and the girls held onto each other like they would never get another chance. Isabelle had tears streaming down her face as they pulled back.

"I can't believe you're actually home, Lila. I mean you're really here." She patted her up and down stroked Lila's hair, trying to convince herself that it was really her little sister in front of her. Lila laughed and smiled at her sister's motherly actions and took hold of Isabelle's hands, and held them "I'm really here Izzy and I assure you I'm alright. Just a little beat up. Those guys got worse." Ben approached and put a firm hand on Lila's back. "It's good to have you back, Lila. It's been a little too calm around here without you."

No one had noticed that Joe had gotten up and had made his way behind the group. Lila was chattering away when she saw him. She stopped almost immediately, as she took taking a step toward him, and then all at once she had dashed into his open arms. Joe only stood with a champion's smile on his face as he held her. He had won.

"Joe, you're alive! When I found you that night you were so pale, and I had this awful feeling you weren't going to make it. What are you doing down here though? Shouldn't you still be in bed resting?" Lila looked at Joe with worry in her eyes. Joe only smiled as he bent down and kissed her head. "I'm fine. I just have to take it easy. You don't know how much convincing it took to let get them to let me come down here."

"Which is why, son, you need to go back and sit down. Or head back to bed," Ben warned smilingly.

"Lila, you gotta tell us everything!" Hoss had taken a seat on the settee with Isabelle next to him. Adam was in his favorite chair with a new light in his eyes as he peered into the fire. Ben guided the two back into the sitting room where they took their seats.

Lila told the whole story, from where Adam had taken Joe back home to Duke showing up and kidnapping Kathleen and her and of their time at the cabin. No one asked questions; their gazes remained unchanged for the most part. The one part Lila made sure to leave out was the fact Duke killed their parents. She knew how sensitive Isabelle could be and although she seemed alright for now, Lila knew that she was still worried and upset that Kathleen was still gone. Everyone was, so Lila finished and tried to think the best of her sister's fate.

"That's just like Kathleen to sacrifice herself to save us, but staying behind to marry Duke? Ughhh I never liked that man!" Isabelle shuddered.

"Me neither, Isabelle, and I had that sickening feeling from the moment he came out from behind that rock. I should have done something."

"So it was Duke that sent all them flowers and gifts for Kathleen?" Hoss looked around still trying to process everything.

"Wait a minute. You took on how many men at once?" Of course, Joe was still hung up on Lila's fight.

"Joe, for the last time, there were five."

Adam leaned back in his chair. She stayed behind to marry that freak? Who knows what he might try to do to her. What if he tries to force himself on her? No. Come on Adam, you can't think like that. You will find her in time. He spoke up, "Could you take us to where he kept y'all, Lila?"

"I think I could. We would need to start from where he grabbed us, but he didn't blindfold us or anything. We need to hurry though! He's he was planning on taking off in a few days."

"Then it's settled then. Adam and Hoss, you will go with Lila to find Kathleen tomorrow morning. I will ride into town, and get the sheriff and follow behind. If y'all can rescue her before we get there, it will be safer than when the posse arrives."

"Oh no y'all are not leaving me out of this. I am going with them to find my sister," Isabelle spoke up.

"Isabelle it just ain't safe."

"I don't give a damn, Hoss. She is my sister! I left once before and that was where this all started. I won't take that chance again. You just try and stop me." No one had been expecting Isabelle to go off. It was a new surprise; in all of their five months here she had never once angered, and for all it counted no one dared question her.

"Wait a minute, why don't I get to go?"

"Joseph, you were shot and almost died just days ago. You aren't even supposed to be out of bed, but we are trying to be nice. Don't push me." Joe crossed his arms with a huff, which only resulted in a shot of pain through his chest, making him wince and proving his father's point.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Lila got up. She was having trouble sleeping; the same images of her capture kept flashing through her mind. She headed downstairs where she found Adam sitting by the fire.

"Can't sleep?" His voice startled her as she was not expecting him to have noticed her presence.

"No. Too many nightmares."

"Lila?" Adam's voice was soft. Almost as if he was afraid to ask.

"Yeah, Adam?"

"Was Kathleen alright when you left?"

Lila gave a short bark of laughter. "Adam, you have known my sister for about six months now. She can handle her own. She is the strongest woman I know and I know she will be fine. "After a pause Lila looked over to Adam."You love her, don't you?" she asked quietly.

The question caught Adam off guard. Did he love her? He sat back thinking about the past few months. The moment he first met her, their first few fights, bringing her home, her birthday party, and taking her to the dance. He closed his eyes and thought about all the things he loved about her. From the way she wouldn't back down, to the almost black shade of brown her eyes turned when she was mad at him, the fresh pine smell of her hair when she hugged him to and the feeling of her skin against his. He loved the sound of her laugh and that the amazing rush he felt when he kissed her that made him never want to stop. He loved her. Without a doubt. He turned his head to Lila and took in a deep breath before nodding. "I do. Now I just have to get her back so I can tell her."

Lila smiled and chuckled to herself.

"What's so funny?"

"Just remembering the last time we thought you two were getting married and Isabelle and Hoss went engagement ring shopping."

"We aren't getting married. And if we do, they won't be picking out the ring!"

"You mean 'when,' Adam. It's only a matter of time now!" Lila got up, smiling to herself as she headed back to bed, leaving Adam to his thoughts.

'When we get married…' Hang on Kathleen. I'll be there soon and everything will be alright; we will finally be together.

Did anyone else catch the 3 dates joke I made?

ADAM FINALLY ADMITS HE LOVES HER! YESSSSS! I don't know about ya'll but I have been sooo waiting on that. And marriage gasp I hear wedding bells in the future. Now Kathleen loves Adam, Adam loves Kathleen which means awesomesappyohsosweet reunion… Or will it?