A/N: Who's ready to cry? LOL. Enjoy xx Mariah

A week had past and Ned was back to work.

It's late at night, she was in bed writing. She was trying her best to wait up for Ned, who had been called away to a crime scene in the middle of dinner. This was the second time this week and he was already home two hours later than usual when he did sit down to eat with her.

It irritated her so much that she was writing in print. Her hands too rigid from stress to write in her usual cursive, despite the classical music she was playing to help.

When she tried now, it was pristine and perfect, from her years of practice. She wrote Ned's name out, smiling when she remembered the whole notebook she used to have of when she'd practice her signature as Mrs. Banks.

Marrying Ned had been a dream back then to her.

She wrote out their struggles now, which didn't come around often, but they'd been fighting so much lately. About stupid things. Ned was working late and Katie didn't like it. He didn't know why.

Mason's name was scribbled out in her journal then and she rested her head on the headboard, sighing as she reminisced in everything that had been going on between them.

Amber had been in and out, only wanting to cause more stress in her life right now. They'd found no leads on her son yet, her boyfriend had turned out to be dead as well. He'd hung himself now long after Amber died, leaving their son an orphan. She'd had been looking into as many records as she could while she was training at school to see if their son had come through the Grandview schooling system, to no avail.

Mason had returned too, with his text messages that Katie had been keeping from Ned. She didn't want to worry him, but that didn't help her when she tried to explain why didn't like being home alone at night. He'd reassure her every time that Mason had been gone from their life for some time now. Little did he know.

Her phone pinged then and she glanced over.

I'd never leave you alone like this

She wrote it down, writing how much she wished Mason would just leave her alone. Why couldn't anyone leave her alone?

The rest was a blur, she'd gotten up to fill Stitches water bowl and took another bath. It was near eleven when she finally got back into bed. At first, she'd worn a cute nightgown to bed. She'd cared enough to do that most nights, but especially tonight.

Their first anniversary was tomorrow.

So she'd tucked it away. For then. For tomorrow. If Ned ever came home to her.

Ned was at the new crime scene. It was the third one in this case. He'd climbed out of the car, flipping the emergency lights on as Jamison walked over to the county sheriff. Ned walked on the side of the road, bending down to get a look at the shoe. He pulled his mini notebook out, his pen in his front pocket. He grabbed that as well and began to take notes.

The fresh scene was just called in from a forest marshal and deputy sheriff. 12:34am on July 13th, 2032

A broken heel was found near a stopped car. Red, the heel bent to the right. A spot of blood and skin near the shoe on the road.

Ned stood, waving over a medical student. "Check for skin cells and blood. Any traceable DNA," he said, pulling out his flashlight. He shone it in the car, holding the small light in his mouth as he wrote in his notebook.

A blue suitcase has been rummaged through and tossed around in the backseat. A purse sat in the front passenger seat, the wallet tossed onto the floor and any IDs were taken. Any credit cards too or cash too.

He turned to the med student who had grabbed her superior to help collect all the possible DNA. "Check the wallet for prints. I didn't touch anything in here," he had moved the light from his mouth and closed the pad. "I'll just look through it once it goes to evidence." He moved away from the car, going to the trunk. He put the flashlight back and opened his notebook again, writing out what he saw as Jamison opened the trunk with gloved hands.

Mostly empty besides jumper cables, a jack, a spare tire and spare quart of oil. Was the victim planning to leave town? Or was her body just transported from Joe's? Was she just well prepared?

Ned glanced around, seeing the scene spread to the woods where the body was out on display. He continued to write.

A bloodied jacket was hung over a tree branch off to the side of the road. A body down below, jeans pulled down and blouse pulled off and tossed to the side. The other heel is on the victim's rightfoot. Muddied, but intact.

First DOA crime scene. Rape and homicide.

Both previous victims had been found alive with serious injuries consistent with their stories. They described a man that matched each other's stories with a scar and tattoo in the same place that was also sketched.

DNA found at both scenes matched as well. Not in CODA system

Jamison pulled Ned's eyes from his notebook, where his hand still wrote the end of his sentence, asking him "Where do you think he met this one?"

"Probably Joe's, just like the rest. Maybe the reason he killed this girl was that she was bringing him home? Did he use a ruse?" He muttered, writing his theory down quickly. "They never did fix any of those cameras did they?" He glanced down at his watch.

12:40 am

He was supposed to be home at nine. He looked up just in time to see Jamison shake his head about the cameras.

Damn. They really needed to do that.

"Your wife call yet?" Jamison said. It was still unusual for him to be around this late to his colleagues. To him too. He'd done it for a few days, but it never lasted. Ned always went back into a routine and that meant being home by nine, at the latest. "She usually does, f you're actually here this late."

"No," he bit back. "She hasn't."

"You know, I always fought with Amanda about working late. We could fight every day for some weeks, but it wasn't until when she was quiet when I knew I'd really done her wrong, you know?" Jamison seldom talked about his wife. He always said it was in the past. That he still loved her, but she was gone. The man had certainly never said her name before. "And I'm not trying to get on your case or anything, but did something happen?"

Ned checked his phone. There were no messages from Katie. Just one from his mother.

You best be home Ned Banks. I better not hear from Melinda that you were working as late as you were last night again.

He pushed his phone into his pocket. "Kind of," he answered. "I don't know what is happening between us. She has some family drama going on," his code language for ghosts to anyone who didn't know.

Amber had been relentless lately and Katie hardly slept in between all of her nightmares. They were never different. That same endless torture of giving birth and being yanked away from that child.

That was hardly easy for her. He knew that better than anyone.

He tried so hard to get her to talk to him about what was happening. He always did, but she pushed him away.

He didn't carry Charlie. He doesn't know what she feels. As if he didn't know what it was like to be yanked away from someone. He'd lost his father. He nearly lost Katie right after they'd lost their son.

"Go home," Jamison said, closing the notepad. "I'll head back with Romero. His partner is out sick anyway."

"See you in the morning," he cleared his throat and nodded. He shot Katie a text.

Got called away to another crime scene. On my way home. I love you. And now that it's past twelve, happy anniversary babe xo

He got back into the squad car, turning the overhead lights off and doing a quick U-turn. He drove down the county road, taking a right onto a back road that would take him behind the precinct. He parked the car, leaving the keys in the cup holder like he always did for Jamison and walked through the backdoor. He scanned his keycard and entered the bullpen, going to his desk.

LeTrai's light was on in his office, signaling he was still there too. That wasn't unusual. Captain hardly ever left the precinct. He could be caught sleeping on his couch from time to time when it came to the most difficult of cases.

Ned tossed his notebook in his top drawer, grabbing his wallet and truck keys before logging out of his computer and shutting the monitor off. He closed the top drawer and walked to the Captain's office, knocking.

"Come in," Ned opened the door and saw his boss scowl when he saw that he was still here too. LeTrai waved him in and he closed the door, sitting in the chair in front of the desk. "What are you still doing here? This is the third day, Ned. Not usual from you. Are you avoiding Katie?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" He sighed, leaning into the chair. "Can't a man work a little extra because a case is frustrating?"

"I suppose, but that's still not like you. You never work overtime because a case is frustrating. You go home and relax so that you can look at it differently tomorrow." LeTrai explained, tossing his bed down frustratedly as he rubbed his eyes. "Anything different at this scene?"

"The victim was dead on arrival," he said.

His boss looked up, studying every word he said to him. "A homicide? He's escalated… hmm..." LeTrai turned to his computer, typing in his passcode. "Anything else?"

"Injuries and body placement suggest rape just like before," he said, standing up. "We won't know anything more until tests are run. DNA will most likely match. It's the same sloppy work."

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow at eight sharp," LeTrai nodded and looked over him, waving him off. "Go home and apologize to your wife. I don't know what you did, but you have a guilty look on your face when you talk about her."

He nodded and turned to leave. He knew he needed to apologize, he just hoped Katie would hear him out.

Ned pulled into the driveway not long after one, his heart lightening at the sight of a light illuminating their bedroom window. He shut the car off and settled into his seat, grabbing the files he'd brought home with him off the passenger seat. He definitely wanted to be prepared for the brief tomorrow if he wanted to be put on this case permanently.

He hopped from the car with a purpose, running up the steps and opening the door. The house was quiet when he made his way up the stairs, having kicked his shoes off. The door creaked as he stepped into the room and the blankets stirred. Ned knew he'd woken up Katie. He started to unbutton his uniform, watching as a sleepy Katie sat up in bed, pushing the blankets off and yawning. The book fell off her chest as she rubbed her eyes, sitting up in bed a little.

He smiled, just seeing her made him feel all gooey inside. She was so beautiful. She reached for her glasses on the bedside table, and he bit his lip. She was wearing his plaid shirt, only one button done, and it gaped something huge. He could see everything for a brief moment.

Then her glasses were on. Moment over.

"Hey, baby," she whispered, voice husky with sleep.

"Hi," he replied, leaning to bop a quick kiss on her lips.

"Mm how was work?" she said, reaching for the water glass on her bedside table and taking a long drink. Another move that accentuated the gap in her shirt. "Even though it's late I feel like this is early for you lately."

"You're right on both counts," he said, sitting on the bed. "And I'm so sorry for having such late shifts. It's just this case..."

She shrugged, leaning over to kiss him briefly, both hands touched his face as she pulled away and smiled at him. "That's just our life, Ned. You work crazy shifts sometimes. I'll have to work late sometimes once school starts," she sighed, shifting so that the blankets fell off her lap as she moved to get out of bed. Her deliciously long legs were bare, and he couldn't tell if she was wearing panties or not.

Oh god. She would be the death of him.

Stitched hopped up onto his lap, rubbing up against him as he purred loudly. "Hey, Stitch. I missed you too buddy." He absentmindedly said, his eyes trailing up to her hips. Where the flannel parted he could see the beginnings of lace panties and he licked his lips, sucking in a breath as he made the rest of the way to her face.

"He's not the only one," she sighed, turning the side lamp off as she made her way out of bed. The moonlight shone on her legs as she turned toward the bathroom.

Stitches took his opportunity and leaped from Ned's legs to the warm spot Katie left, purring contently as he rolled onto his back and spread out. Ned stood and followed her to the bathroom.

"Hey," he came to the doorway as she stood up, flushing the toilet and coming up to him. She pressed a kiss into his chest and he basked in the warmth that spread through him as her hands curled around him and settled on his back. "I'm sorry for working so late, but the perp has escalated to homicide. It's going to pull me away from home even more now."

"More? I can't take more." She sighed and laid her head on his chest. "I miss you, Ned."

He knew that his hands slipping around her waist as he hugged her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I miss you too." He pressed his face into her neck, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. "So much Katie. After everything I have seen this week all I want to do is hold you close and keep you safe."

"Don't worry about me, okay?" She whispered, her tears present in her voice. "Mason hasn't been around much since Memorial Day. Maybe he lost interest."

"I don't know," he sighed into her, wrapping his arms around her even tighter. "Stalkers don't just stop Katie. Not when they are like Mason. He's cunning and manipulative. He's broke into our house and taken pictures of you while in the shower just to taunt you."

"I know." She stepped back, sighing. "And there are a few things I haven't told you. Mack had a dream about Mason and about Amber. They were two separate ones, but the one with Mason included me. And I forgot to mention it in all the chaos that happened that weekend."

He nodded, leaning on the counter. He folded his arms in front of his chest. He was so worried for her, yet he wanted to beat the hell out the man that was causing them all this stress.

"Anything else?" He asked.

She didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to say it but she knew he had to. She had to tell him. He was her husband.

"It'd be better if I just showed you," she sighed. She walked past him and he followed reluctantly, sitting on the bed as she grabbed her phone and walked over to his side. She sat down him as she unlocked her phone and opened her messages, showing him the few that had come in the last few weeks. "And I know it's been three weeks and I haven't told you, but you have more to worry about than just silly, jealous texts." When he didn't answer and just took her phone, sighed. "You're mad," she said then, wrapping her arm around him. "I'm sorry, Ned."

"I'm not mad, okay? I'm just frustrated," he reassured her and set the phone down. "And I'm so worried about you. You have both of these threats in your life. Amber, Mason… and now I'm investigating a murderer." He rubbed his chin, his hands going to run through his hair. "I just don't want to see you get hurt. I could never live with myself if you got hurt..." She wrapped her arms around him then, soothing him when he needed her to. "What happened in this dream that Mackenzie had, again, Katie?"

"Mack just said he was watching me from afar, and then in the second, he was there. I was sleeping and he touched my face. But then she woke up." She explained, pulling back from him to sit next to him. "Will we ever have normal lives?" He shrugged, taking his watch off and setting it on his side table. She stood up and grabbed her phone, walking over to her side of the bed and waiting for an answer as she got back into bed. He undressed on his side and got into bed wearing just a pair of warm pajama pants. "Well? What's your answer?"

"Normalcy is overrated," He said and contently pressed a light kiss to her lips. "Are we okay?" He asked sincerely, never wanting to go to bed if she was angry at him. He reached out for her hand, and he couldn't help the amount of comfort he was taking from just holding her hand. Her skin was so soft; she smelled so good and he loved her so much.

He'd married her today a year ago, and yet he loved her more than he did then. He didn't know that was even possible, but it was. Anything was with her. Why hadn't he tried harder these past few days?

"Not completely, but," she leaned toward him, a soft smile on her lips. "We're okay Ned. I understand how important this case is to you. If you're going to stay late please just tell me next time. You don't have to keep it from me okay?"

"I will tell you," he promised and kissed her cheek. "I will." She curled into his side, saying goodnight in a kiss to his chest. "Your birthday is around the corner," he whispered in the dark.

"Not excited," she sighed.

She'd told him a few weeks ago that she didn't want to do anything for her birthday. She'd surprisingly told him no gifts, but he wanted to get her something anyway. He knew the day only reminded her of when she started to get sick because she was pregnant with Charlie last year.

Her birthday had always been her favorite day before then, loving the extra attention he'd give her. He planned to do something small this year, just between them. He just didn't know what it yet.

"You know… it's after midnight." He reminded her softly of what that meant, kissing her forehead as he closed his eyes for sleep.

"Yes. We've been married a year today," she whispered, her hand moving down his chest and under the blanket. Her fingers slid into his pants and she cupped his length, his eyes flying open as he turned to look at her. He felt himself rise to the occasion, harding moments after her touch. "Mmmm… someone seems pretty happy to see me," she moved to his ear, pressing a kiss there as she slid her palm up and down with slow deliberate strokes.

An involuntary twitch of his hips had him thrusting into her hand, and the low moan in his throat sent a hard shiver through her. She tightened her grip experimentally and moved her hand down. Another moan, this one louder than the first.

"Katie," he gasped, looking at her as her lips pressed against the hard line of his jaw. She grazed the bone there with her teeth and reveled in the way his breath hissed out. Sex hadn't been on the menu since he started working later three days ago, so he'd been surprised at her eagerness and for some reason, pushed her hands away. "We have to talk. We have to figure out how to handle this first." This. This being them. Or their money problems, Mason, Amber or their son. And all of the stupid shitty problems they face every day. "We need to."

"I don't want to handle it yet. I just want you," she rasped, reaching for him again, her lips ghosting over his throat. He wanted her too, of course-desperately, and every second of the day, especially now-but he knew this wouldn't solve anything. "I can't talk about it. I don't want to even think about it. Can't you just do this for me?" Her voice was filled with sadness, and she touched him again, softer.

He took her by the arms and pushed her onto her back, harder than he intended to. "Why is it always about what you want?" He bit out.

She was glaring at him, her eyes flashing hot, and he could feel himself face growing warmer too. And he grew harder. He crushed her mouth with his, and she moaned so loud he thought he'd hurt her-until her hands grabbed his hips and roughly pulled him closer to her. He squeezed her breasts through her top and his fingers found her nipples; when he twisted them, her moans grew louder still. She pushed him onto his back, taking control again as she slid down to grasp him, his erection just inches from her face.

"Katie..." there was a warning tone behind his gasp this time.

"Ned?" She licked her lips and smiled at him.

There was a sound of protest, but it quickly turned into the deepest groan she'd ever heard him produce when she put out her tongue and took a tentative lick.

"Oh, yes," was his almost inaudible whisper, and when she rose her eyes, they found him immediately. His stare was full of both lust and disbelief.

His fingers slid in her hair as best as he could as she pulled off him moments later, not wanting their night to come to an end. She crawled back up to him, kissing him and from his quick intake of breath, she knew he understood what she wanted. And tonight, he refused to let himself rush anything.

When he woke the first time, Ned's nose was pressed into the pillow and his arms were wrapped around a warm body. Katie laid facing him, still asleep. Stitched lounged at the bottom of the bed, wide awake and just looking around. He grinned and slid his hand up her waist and to her face, bringing himself closer to her to kiss her pouted lips, letting his arm tighten around her and pull her closer.

It was still dark out and as he looked over her shoulder to see it was almost five in the morning. He laid exhausted from the day before and didn't want to leave bed yet. He definitely didn't want to leave her after a soft sigh escaped her lips and her leg curled around his in sleep.

She twisted a little closer to him, the next sigh of air skittering across his neck. His body gave an answering twitch and he groaned softly. As though hearing his thoughts and cruelly teasing out the reaction of his body, her hand shifted in her sleep from where she laid it on his stomach. Her fingers tickled just inches into his pants as his erection throbbed steadily in response.

He could not lay like this. He looked at her face, so peaceful and unaware. With slow, smooth movements, his hand moved into the front of his pants. He would never wake her up for something like this, but that first touch was a relief and a jolt all at once, and God he wished it had been her instead of himself. He clamped his jaw shut, knowing he must be quiet if he's to make sure she stayed asleep. His hand gently tugged himself free before beginning a slow rhythm

As the pace built and he struggled harder to keep himself quiet, a treacherous voice whispered through his mind: This was so much better with her so close.

Images of his wife flickered through his head. Different memories of kissing her, undressing her or doing the most erotic things to her. A groan caught at the back of his throat, but he managed to hold it down as his body began to tense.

Another twitch from the slumbering body beside him stilled him like an animal sensing prey. Her hand slid to his arm and down to his wrist. He eased his head to the side and saw that her eyes were open, a smile on her lips as she kissed his neck.

"Miss me?" She asked and curled into his side, her hand slipping down his wrist, looking to join his. "Still ready for more after last night?"

"I'm always going to be ready for more with you," he told her playfully, kissing her cheek gently as his hand moved down between her legs. She was slick and hot to his touch, her hips wiggling closer to his hand as he pulled away a little. "Looks like you're ready for more too baby."

"You should just wake me next time," she whispered to him.

"Duly noted," and then he pounced.

When he woke the second time, it was to the sound of his alarm at six. The other side of the bed was cold as he sat up to look around and gather his bearings. There wasn't a trace of Katie in the room or bathroom, but then he heard the sultry sound of her laugh coming from downstairs.

What was she laughing about at six in the morning?

He sat on the edge of the bed, stretching before he dressed quickly and then walked out of the room. He rubbed his eyes and made his way downstairs, seeing her in the kitchen, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee and already dressed in her clothes for the day. Her father leaned on the opposite side of the counter, in his running gear. Her face was still clean of make-up, but she looked beautifully radiant as she engaged in conversation with Jim.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and her father turned to shoot him a knowing smirk.

"Well, good morning, sunshine," Jim drawled, a spark in his eye from knowing he's caught him red-handed. "You ready for our run?"

She turned to him with a bright smile, biting down on her bottom lip. "Hey, you…" He came around the counter, kissing her. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Um...I'm all right," he scratched the back of his neck, suddenly feeling awkward in his own home. Fuck. He'd forgotten about the run. He wished her father wasn't here right now, as much as he wanted to get anniversary advice from him. "Uh. Yeah. Just let me go change and then we can get going." He saw her face fall, as though she'd forgotten about it too. She'd hoped he would use their anniversary as a reason to stay home a bit longer, but he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah," she sighed.

Jim shot him an unhappy look and then said something to Katie about her supreme coffee making skills. She smiled and nodded, but he could tell she felt awkward now too, with him standing there tongue-tied like a moron.

"Ok, well um...I should get going. I want to stop to get some time to eat and be able to get there in time for a comfier seat that yesterday in the auditorium." Katie shrugged, picking up her folder off the counter. "So I'll see you after work." She went to her dad, hugging him. "And I'll see you on my birthday for dinner?"

"Yes. Your birthday," her father hugged her, kissing her cheek. "Love you bug."

"I love you too dad." She smiled, going back around to kiss his cheek. He turned his head to capture her lips. "Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary," he said as she slipped out of him grasped as she walked out the side door.