"He's alive. I'll put your worries to rest now. He's alive. There were a couple complications such as the muscle had formed over the shattered bone so we did have to cut into it remove the bones and put the metal in but he is alive. Everything else went great and he's in recovery and you can go see him." Belle sighed gratefully and shook the doctor's hand.

"Thank you so much." The doctor nodded, gave them the room number, and walked away. The family walked down the hall to Adam's room. They walked in and saw Adam lying in the bed, still asleep while his leg was elevated in a sling attached to the ceiling by a wire. Belle sat down and took Adam's hand in her. It felt foreign to feel his hand and not the two rings he wore; his wedding ring and the pinky ring with the large white stone in the center. She picked them up from the table and took them out of the bag. She slipped the white stone one on first than his wedding ring. She kissed her fingers and smiled. "There, that's better. We're all here. We're waiting for you to wake up. Please do Adam. Please wake up." She held his hand to her mouth just as she did for six days after he was shot. "Did we ever tell you guys what happened after your father was shot?"

"No." Bria said excited to hear more of the story.

"Get comfortable. I'll tell you while we wait for your dad to wake up." The kids did as they were told and Belle began to tell them the next part of the story.

Flashback

Belle sat by Adam's bedside for six days only leaving his side to shower or eat. The doctors and nurses had started calling her by her first name and had friendly conversation when they came by the check Adam's vitals. On the sixth day when Adam opened his eyes, Belle almost screaming for joy but kept her voice calm.

"Hey, welcome back." She whispered as she ran a hand over his cheek. He turned to her and smiled. She grabbed a cup of water and a straw knowing he would thirsty. She was right for as soon as the cup was close enough, he hungrily gulped the water down. "Slow down, slow down, Adam, you're going to get sick." She put the cup to the side as he finished and pressed a light and gentle kiss to his lips.

"I'll take that over water any day." Belle smiled and sat down. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. What do you remember, Adam?"

"Everything. Miranda and Gaston are lucky that I'm confined to this bed. What happened to me?"

"Well, after you were shot Bae hit Miranda with a bat so she wouldn't hurt anyone else. The police showed up shortly after. They took Miranda into custody and brought us to the hospital. Your mom must have heard something because she took the kids so they wouldn't have to see any of it. She did quite a number on you. She shattered your knee cap and broke your ankle. They told me you'll have to use a cane to walk."

"So now I'm a cripple." He wretched his hand out of Belle's.

"Not to me Adam. You know I'll be there with you every step of the way."

"I can't let you do that. You deserve better than that. I love you too much to let you do that. I'm sorry Belle but it's over."

"Adam, don't say things like that. I love you."

"Please leave Belle." He turned his head away from her."

"Adam…"

"Get out!" Belle let out a sob as he threw her out of his room. She walked out of the room and leaned against the wall outside his room. She slid down and buried her face in her arms resting on her knees. She felt a hand on her arm and looked up. She saw Ruby standing over her and she knelt.

"What happened?"

"He broke up with me after he found out he won't be able to walk without a cane. He said I deserve better than a cripple. I love him Ruby."

"I'm sure he's just confused right now. He just got shot by his crazy ex-wife for crying out loud. He probably needs to think things over. I bet he'll come to his senses and beg you to come to him." Belle smiles at that and wipes her eyes. "Why don't you go to the diner and see the two rugrats." Belle smiles wider and gets to leave.

"Will you just tell him I love him and will here whenever he needs me?"

"Of course." Belle went to Granny's looking for the two children she considered her own.

"Belle!" Bae yelled and ran towards her. After not seeing him for six days, she wanted to hold him in her arms and never let go. He rammed into her chest and she ignored the pain and wrapped her arms around the young boy. "Is Papa okay?"

"Yes, he woke up and we'll go see him tomorrow. He needs to rest."

"But he resting for a long time."

"I know baby, but he needs just a little more than we'll go see him. Okay?"

"Okay. I make him lots of pictures." He pulled Belle over to the section of the counter that was covered in pictures showing him, Hannah, Adam, and Belle. Belle smiled and kissed his head.

"Where's Granny and Hannah?"

"Kitchen. Granny feeding her." Belle nodded and went into the kitchen. Granny was burping Hannah and when Hannah saw Belle she reached for her.

"Hi princess. I missed you." She said taking Hannah from Granny letting to older woman stand. "Thank you so much for taking care of them."

"They're my grandchildren of course I would take care of them. How is he?"

"He woke up but that's when the problems started. I had to tell him what happened to his knee and ankle and how he won't be able to walk without a cane. He broke up with me. He told me I deserve better than a cripple. I would walk through hell for him. I love him so much I would do anything and he thinks I deserve better."

"Well, in his mind he's less of a man now. He's told himself though he would give up every dime he's ever made to make himself the man you want."

"All I want is him. I love you so much. If he asked me to marry him on his death bed I would marry him a moment. I thought I was going to lose him in these six days. As corny as this is going to sound, he's my true love. The only man for me."

"Well, are you telling me instead of telling him?" Granny asked with a smirk.

End flashback

"Wow, Mom, corniest line ever!" Lucas said. Belle blushed.

"I think it's sweet that she loves Dad that much." Bria said punching her brother's shoulder.

"It is." They heard from the bed and looked over. Adam's eyes were open and he was smiling at his family.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Since I broke up with you. I'm glad my mother knocked some sense into me." Belle laughed and stood up. She pressed her lips to his and placed a hand on the side of his neck. He brought the hand that wasn't holding hers to the back to her head and kissed her back.

"We'll stop them when Mom climbs on top of him." Bae said. The kids laughed and Belle broke away from her husband.

"Everything went great and soon you start therapy." Adam nodded. "We're almost done with the story."

"We'll never be done because they story is still being written." Adam said. Belle laughed and leaned her head and his chest.

"Dad, can you tell us more? Please, we can tell we're close to the ending." Hannah said. Adam looked at Belle.

"We're good." Belle answered Adam's unasked question referring to her and Hannah. Adam sighed and nodded. The kid cheered and came closer to the bed.

Flashback

It took a couple days but Adam was finally out of the hospital and the first thing he did was apologize to Belle. Belle, having the big heart she does, accepted it and moved in with him and the kids. The happiest day of Adam's life was when he got out of the hospital. Not because he was out but because Hannah said her first word that day. She said 'Papa'. Adam had never felt so much pride for his daughter since she survived when the odds were against her. As the months went by, Adam got stronger and used to the cane. Soon it was Hannah's first birthday. The day was filled with happiness celebrating Hannah's life and that she made it. It was also filled something else. Adam had proposed to Belle on that day and she accepted. The one day that almost marked the end of one life was now marking a life that was it not for faith would not be with them and the end of one book but the start of another. Another where Adam was marrying someone who loved him and loved his kids and that he loved.

End flashback

"Seriously? That's it?" Bria asked.

"Well not quite. There's still the part you and your brother come into the picture." Adam said. "That's a story for after I get out of the hospital." The kids all gasped.

"You're so mean!" Bria and Lucas yelled making everyone in the room but them laugh.