A/N: I am soooo sorry it has taken me this long to update. I never intended to drop the bomb on you guys and then leave you all hanging. I have been having issues with the writers block lately. I have a good idea where this story is going, but I need more ideas. If you all can give me ideas, please do. I promise I will give you all credit if I use those ideas. Help your girl out here guys…this chapter isn't the best and its steamy…hehe but I ran out of ideas. Please help! Lol much love guys! Thanks for all the awesome reviews! Keep them coming!

Ramona was startled awake as her phone buzzed on the night stand by her bed. It vibrated across the table and her eyes popped open. She jerked forward to grab it so it wouldn't wake Michael and she tumbled off of the bed. She grumbled as she shut off the alarm and peaked her head over the side of the bed. Michael barely moved. It didn't wake him. Thank God. Ramona sighed and ran a hand through her messy hair and checked the time on her phone. 5 AM. Perfect. She shut her phone off and set it back on the table before looking again at Michael.

He was lying on his chest with his hands tucked underneath the pillow his head was buried in. He had just as messy hair as she did, but through those frizzy yet somehow still adorable curls, she could see a sweet smile on his face. She smiled brightly as she remembered the night of pure bliss. Was this real? Was she finally with Michael like she'd always desired from the start?

She frowned as she ran through all possibilities. What if he woke up thinking this was all a mistake. She shook her head and stood to her feet. She would just have to wait and see. She was going to prove to Michael she wasn't like Lisa.

Lisa. She growled at the name as she went into the bathroom and got dressed for the day. How could she have been so blind? Lisa and Luke were behind it. They were behind it all. Luke of all people is the one who shot that gun. She winced as her scar began to burn.

Ramona turned around to look in the mirror and gasped. Her entire shoulder was a blend of red and purple, her face was no better. She had dried blood on her head and in her hair. She grumbled and decided to shower. That was horrible in itself. She had small cuts on her head and the shampoo burned the wounds she couldn't even see. She painfully combed through her hair and let it fall to her shoulders wet.

She felt dizzy from the pain. She hadn't realized how much pain she was in because Michael had numbed it all. Then again, the soreness usually comes a day later. Ramona winced at her reflection and snuck out to the kitchen to start breakfast. Just because she was in pain didn't mean she couldn't still spoil Michael. She loved him after all.

She grinned at the thought as she pulled the eggs from the fridge. She paused when she heard a foot tapping behind her. She turned to find Michael standing in her kitchen doorway, leaning against the wall with the bed sheet wrapped loosely around his waist. She bit her lip.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Um…" she mumbled. "Making breakfast?"

Michael glanced at the clock over her head. "You do know it's not even dawn yet, right?"

"So?" she asked as she turned to the stove.

Michael moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "So…you need to come back to bed," he whispered against her neck.

Her knees trembled. "Don't you want something to eat?" she asked innocently.

"Later," he said almost seductively in her ear. She gripped the counter and closed her eyes. "Come on, babygirl…" he said, pulling her by her hips backward into him. He spun her around and kissed her passionately. She mumbled against his lips and he licked her tongue lightly, teasing her.

Ramona couldn't speak. She stumbled forward, following him back into the bedroom. He pulled at her clothes and she found herself naked except for her panties. "Are you sure you're not hungry?"

Michael paused and looked at her strangely. "Why are you so worried about cooking breakfast before the sun rises?"

Ramona shrugged. "Force of habit I suppose."

"That habit dies right here, right now," he said. Ramona began to argue but Michael hushed her with a fierce kiss and moved her hands up over her head. She was numb once again and she was loving it.

"Okay, so when do you want to eat?" she panted.

Michael rolled his eyes and then grinned evilly. He began humming a familiar tune and moving his hips to the rhythm he created. Ramona eyed him as he began moving around her and touching her slightly, licking his lips, his piercing brown eyes burning into hers.

Then he began to sing with his movements.

"Hold my hand, feel the touch of your body cling to mine
You and me, makin' love all the way through another night
I remember you and I walking though the park at night
Kiss and touch, nothing much, let it blow just touch and go…"

He sang as he moved his body against hers. She moved with him, closing her eyes at his touch. He moved her slowly against the wall and pressed his body against hers and she moaned low in her throat.

"Love me more, never leave me alone by house of love
People talk, people say what we have is just a game
Oh, I'll never let you go, come here girl
Just got to make sweet love 'til the break of dawn…"

He pulled her against him and almost moaned himself when he felt her bare chest pressing tightly against his. He was almost glad the sheet was still wrapped around his waist. Ramona was having a hard enough time already, his voice and movements making it worse by the minute.

"I don't want the sun to shine I wanna make love
Just this magic in your eyes and in my heart
I don't know what I'm gonna do I can't stop lovin' you
I won't stop 'til break of dawn makin' love…"

"You're not playing fair," she panted as she moved her body against his, dancing with him slowly and seductively. He smirked and pushed her toward the bed. He pushed her back onto the bed and crawled over the top of her. He licked her lips lightly and moved his way down her body. She shivered as his breath blew against every inch of her.

"Hold my hand, feel the sweat, yes you've got me nervous yet
Let me groove, let me soothe, let me take you on a cruise
There's imagination I bet you've never been there before
Have you ever wanted to dream about those places you've never known…"

He sang breathlessly against her thighs purposely so she would feel his hot breath on her skin. Her legs shook and she let out a moan. Michael stopped and bit his lip, knowing he's the one that caused that sound. Ramona took advantage of this hesitation and grabbed him, flipping him onto his back. She straddled his waist and moved her body over his waist as if she were already connected with him. She moved her body like an ocean wave and began to sing where he left off.

"Let's not wait, the sun is out, let's get up and let's get out
It's the day, a brand new day, let's both go outside and play
Let us walk down the park, makin' love 'til it's dark
Let me move, let me soothe, 'til the break of dawn and you know it's true, oh…"

She groaned the last part as she ground herself into his manhood. He growled and tackled her, pulling her under the covers with him, seconds later losing his bed sheet and her panties. By the time they were finished, the sun was well up into the sky.

Ramona panted next to Michael and he chuckled. She slapped his bare chest lightly and sat up. "So…I try to make my man breakfast, and I am tortured? Seriously?" she said.

Michael sat up next to her and kissed her. "I'll break you of your bad habits yet," he winked.

"Yea well you might have just started a new one," she grinned.

"What?" he asked. She quirked a brow and looked down at his crotch and then wiggled her eyebrows. Michael followed her gaze and then covered himself and nudged her. "Don't get that used to it, woman. I'm not a machine."

Ramona rolled her eyes. "You kind of are, actually."

Michael made a face at her and she giggled. "So…how about that breakfast?" he said almost child-like.

Ramona laughed and jumped out of bed. She ignored the instant pain that shot through her body. Michael was her priority right now. She didn't want to worry him or he wouldn't eat.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yea, just stood up too fast," she joked. She threw on her clothes and made her way into the kitchen.

Michael and Ramona sat together for the first time as a real couple at the dinner table. "This is really good, babygirl. I didn't know you could cook like this."

"Well, now you know," she smiled and stood to clean her plate in the sink.

"Hang on," Michael frowned as he watched Ramona stand up. He noticed she winced when she stood.

"What?" she asked. Michael grabbed her plate from her hand and set it aside. He flipped on the light in the kitchen and then moved Ramona's hair to the other side of her face. He winced when he saw how bruised she was.

"Oh my God," he breathed.

"I'm okay…"

"Don't say that. Where else are you hurt?" he asked. Ramona didn't fight it anymore. Michael was with her now and she was safe. He knew her big secret. She sighed and took his hand, leading him to the bathroom. She shut the door behind him and took off her clothes. Michael watched her intently and then gasped when she pulled her hair up into a high ponytail, letting him see her whole body in the light. Michael's eyes glazed over as he lightly ran his fingertips across ever bruise. He placed a hand lightly over her scar and then kissed it as gently as he could. "How badly are you hurting?"

"It's not so bad right now…" Ramona whispered, leaning her forehead against his shoulder.

Michael tilted her chin up to look into his eyes. "On a scale of 1 to 10."

"Right now, it's a 6," she said weakly. "When I got up this morning, it was a 12."

"Get dressed. I'm taking you to a doctor," Michael said as he looked down at his feet. He turned and walked out of the room leaving Ramona alone in the bathroom. She didn't argue with him. She trusted him more than she trusted herself at this point.

Moments later as she fixed her hair in the mirror to cover her scars, Michael walked in with her coat. She dug through her makeup bag and Michael put his hands on hers to stop her.

"Don't wear makeup. No one will notice," he said softly.

"I don't see how they wouldn't. I wouldn't want people to think I was abused and judge me…" she mumbled.

"They won't dare judge my girl," he smiled weakly at her and she smiled and nodded. He led her outside and handed her his aviators. It covered most of her bruises. They walked out and met Derek in the driveway.

"Hey girl, how are you?" he asked as she hugged him lightly.

"I'm good, how are you?" she smiled sweetly at him.

"Oh you know me, I can't complain," he winked and opened the door for her and Michael.

"You never do," she teased. He stuck his tongue at her and then closed the door, making her laugh again. The ride to town was a little too silent for Ramona. Michael sat still, holding her hand lightly in his and staring out the window. "Please say something," Ramona pleaded quietly.

Michael was almost surprised at her voice. "Baby, I'm not upset with you, if that's what you're thinking," he said sincerely. Ramona looked at him sadly and he gave her a sideways smile and kissed the back of her hand. "I'm just sorry I wasn't there."

"But you were…" she argued.

"Not when I should've been. And I promise you neither of those 2 will ever come near you again. If they do, Luke will have a few bullets in his ass…literally," Michael said angrily.

Ramona bit her lip to keep from giggling. She looked out the window and a little chuckle snuck out. Michael pulled her hand closer to him and she looked back at him.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked.

"You should see your face, tomcat," she giggled.

He raised a brow at her and then smiled at her. "I was being serious."

"I know, I'm sorry. I believe you, it's just so cute when you get mad," she pinched his chin like a kid and he scrunched his face at her. She giggled again. "I love you."

He smiled brightly and kissed her. "I love you more."

"I love you most," she tested him and stuck her tongue out at him.

He grabbed her tongue and smirked. "I love you mostest, therefore I win," he winked.

Ramona pulled her head back and bit his finger. "Cheater."

"Never," he said. He leaned forward and went to whisper in her ear. "And sweetheart, never bite if you cant handle being bitten," he whispered seductively in her ear and then bit down on her neck. Ramona's toes curled instantly and she closed her eyes.

"And never bite back unless you plan to finish what you started later," she groaned.

"I never said I wouldn't finish it," he winked and she rolled her eyes.

Once they got to the doctor, they sat together in the exam room. Ramona was stripped down to a gown and she had gotten cold. Michael pulled her into his lap and wrapped his jacket around her as they waited.

"I'm scared, Michael," she whispered against his chest.

Michael kissed her head. "I know you are, but I will be right here with you."

"I know. Thank you," she said. "I couldn't do any of this without you," she kissed him lightly and he kissed her more passionately. He smirked against her lips and turned her body into his. She straddled his waist and she could feel him getting excited underneath her gown. Michael let out a breath and kissed her neck.

"We shouldn't do this here," he panted.

"Right, sorry…" Ramona moved back to her previous position in his lap and then winced. She stood up and grabbed her shoulder.

"What is it?" Michael stood with her and put his hand over hers.

"Just another pain spell," she swayed a bit and Michael picked her up and carried her to the exam table to lay her down. He placed her on her side and brushed her hair from her face.

"I'm sorry baby. I wish it were me instead of you," he said quietly.

"Don't say that," she winced again and grabbed his hand. "If it had been you, you wouldn't be here with me, and we wouldn't be together right now. I wouldn't know what real love felt like," she smiled at him and he finally smiled back.

Moments later, the doctor came in to examine her. They did several tests on her and drew blood, and took a few x-rays. Nothing seemed broken, but the x-ray did show the bullet buried in her shoulder.

"So, Miss Greene, this here is the cause of the pain," the doctor said, pointing at the bullet on the film. "According to your records from Bucharest, the bullet has burrowed itself into your tendons and tissues. The pain is most likely scar tissue mixed with your body trying to push the bullet out itself."

Ramona winced. "But it can't, can it?"

"I'm afraid not," he said.

Michael paced the room. "What about surgery?"

"I would have to get further advice from a plastic surgeon to see if it can be done, but according to her records from Bucharest, the doctors were unable to retrieve the bullet during the first repair," the doctor said.

Ramona looked at Michael. "What are my options then?"

The doctor took a look at the x-rays again and thought for a moment. "I will meet with some specialists and go over your records with them to see if surgery is possible. Until then, I can prescribe you some strong pain medications and some rehab to help you learn how to work that shoulder to ease the tension of the scar tissue," he suggested.

"Pain meds? You want me to be on…" Ramona choked a bit and looked away. Michael's mouth dropped slightly and he put his arm around Ramona.

"Could you give us a moment, doctor?" he asked. The doctor nodded and stepped out. Michael hugged Ramona tightly and let her cry. "I wish I could say it's alright, but I can't," he whispered.

"Pain meds, Mike? I don't want to risk becoming an addict. I've seen what it does to perfectly good people!" Ramona said.

"Shh," Michael hugged her again and rocked her gently. "I know how you feel, but sometimes the pain gets so unbareable that you won't have much of a choice."

"Given the option of becoming a freaking zombie or sober but in pain, I would rather stay sober," she said almost angrily. She looked away from Michael. She didn't want to take this out on him. She knew why she was freaking out. She saw what her brother went through with pain killers. He became addicted and he was never the same after that. "If I become an addict, I can never dance again."

"You won't become an addict," he said. "I know your will power is stronger than that. And you're too stubborn to stop dancing," he said jokingly. Ramona wouldn't listen. He sighed and took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. She melted instantly against him. 'Works every time,' he thought.

When he finally broke the kiss, she panted a bit and then looked at him. "Okay, what would you suggest?" she asked after a moment.

"Honestly, I would take the medication for backup. Take the rehab to work with it and see if you can work through the pain. I will help you any way I can, you know I will. If the pain gets too out of hand, you will have the medication on hand," he suggested.

Ramona turned this over in her mind a few times. "What if I…"

"You won't become addicted, babygirl. I won't leave you alone in this, I promise."

Ramona stared into his eyes for a long moment before smiling slightly and then nodded. Michael brushed a hair behind her ear and kissed her softly before letting the doctor know what they've decided.

He wrote the prescriptions for her and handed them to Michael. "Alright, if the pain gets out of control, heat and ice works. Hot baths do wonders as well. Sometimes distraction of the mind does the best. I will have the rehab center call you to set up an appointment and I will call you as soon as I speak with the other specialists," he shook her hand and she nodded. Michael and the doctor stepped out so Ramona could get dressed again. "Mr. Jackson, if her pain should get bad and she won't take the medication, you can bring her to my office. She is no stranger to injections that ease her pain."

Michael nodded and shook his head. "Thank you so much for all your help."

"No problem. Oh may I ask you for your autograph? My wife and I are big fans," the doctor said quietly.

Michael chuckled. "Sure, no problem," he smiled as he signed his autograph for the doctor. He thanked him again and Michael shook his head and went back into the exam room to get Ramona.

"What's so funny?" she asked as she slipped on her shoes.

Michael shook his head and helped her put her jacket on. "The doctor asked me for an autograph," he giggled. "Better get used to this life, babygirl. My fans are everywhere," he winked.

She smiled and shrugged. "Yep, I know. I happen to be one of them."

Michael smiled and kissed her, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they headed out to the parking lot. "One of my favorites."