co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo.

Ellie sat on the corner of the bed, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt as she ate. She and Mike hadn't said anything to each other in a little while and she was beginning to dread the silence. It reminded her too much of the way the house had sounded the night Phil died and it gave her too much time to think. About how much she missed Finn and Allie and how she cursed the day she ever met Drew.

"We have to discuss our plan." Mike said.

"What plan?" She asked.

"I'm not turning you in. I'm going to help clear your name as are other people too. So, I think we should talk. We need a plan and a cover story for Canada. But first let's talk about your case." He placed his plate on the table. "So, do you have any ideas who would want to frame you for murder?"

"The only one who would benefit from framing me would be Drew. He's wanted custody of Finn since we split up before he was born."

"Why'd you split up?" Ellie shrugged but Mike noticed the way she pulled at the sleeves of her shirt.

"Lots of reasons."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Allie and I pretty much took care of ourselves after our parents split. Allie went off to college and there was nobody there to tell me Drew was bad news. By the time I figured it out, Finn was on his way. Allie and Randy helped me get away from him."

"Why didn't you go to college too? If you don't mind me asking."

"I wasn't into the college thing. That was more Allie's thing. I just wanted to experience life." She laughed bitterly. "And I guess I got the experience of a lifetime didn't I? Drew went nuts when I left. Vowed he'd get me back. At first I thought it was by torturing me with the custody battle. Now I guess I know what he meant."

"How did you meet Phil?"

"I was working. Allie and Randy offered to take care of us for a while but I didn't want that. I wanted to be able to take care of my own baby. So I started waiting tables as this restaurant. Phil worked there too. He'd cover my tables when I needed a break. Slip his tips in my jacket pocket at the end of the night. He drove me home or waited with me while I waited on Allie. He was so different from Drew. So kind, sweet. Before I knew it, I was in love with him. The first time he kissed me, I felt like I could fly. Like I'd finally found something good in all the misery I had dealt with before. We moved in together right before Finn was born. He asked me to marry him when Finn was six months old. Talked about having kids and one day opening up a restaurant of our own."

"Sounds like you had it all planned."

"We did." She said sadly. "Now, I have nothing. I'm on the run and I can't see my son or sister."

"We're going to prove you didn't do this. I promise you we are." He said to her. Listening to her talk about Phil, he like John didn't believe she killed him.

John sat in his office looking over the files he had on Ellie, Allie and the case. He was looking for anything that might point to Drew as the murderer. As he looked over everything in Ellie's file, he picked up Allie's. Something about her caught his attention. He had watched her since the moment her sister was arrested. He watched the trial and how hard she worked to get her sister acquitted and how hard she fought for custody of her nephew. She was dedicated. Not only to her profession but to her family as well. And somehow, during the course of the case, he'd fallen for her. And that's what made this so much more personal. And why, he figured, it bothered him when her ex-husband showed up.

"You should have gone home." Stephen said walking in.

"I came back after I left Allie's apartment. Apparently, her sister's ex and the father of Finn, was harassing her on her job. So I told her I would check on her and have extra patrols in the area."

"Something else going on? Because I know you."

John sighed. "While I was there, her ex-husband, Randy Orton, showed up."

"Randy Orton, the baseball player?"

"Yep. He showed up and they headed into her apartment. It bothered me to see him there. To see him with her."

"So I was right in my assumption. You love her." He smiled. "And seeing her with her ex made you so jealous."

"Yes, already. I admit it now. I have fallen in love with her. Which is weird because we haven't really spent a great deal amount of time together. I mean we have spent some time when she was looking over the evidence for trial."

"It can happen that fast. And I'm guessing that's one of the reason you want to prove her sister innocence?"

"Its one of them but the main reason is I truly believe she's innocence. And I feel we are missing something."

"Well, why don't you go talk to Allie and Randy tomorrow? He and Allie were married while her sister was with Drew right?" John nodded. "Well go talk to him then. You can find out if he knows anything and if he and Allie are getting back together which is what you fear right?"

"Yes okay. I do. He's rich, famous and handsome. Why wouldn't she go back to him?"

"If she was so happy with him, she'd have stayed with him to begin with." John nodded.

"Maybe."

"Go home. We'll start this again in the morning." He nodded and headed out. His mind on Allie and Randy. He couldn't help the thoughts about them.

Allie quietly left the room after Finn was asleep. She sighed as she walked into the kitchen. She saw Randy at the table. "Hey, I thought you headed back to the guest room."

"I couldn't sleep. The collarbone." He replied. "Finn finally go down."

"Yes." She replied as she got out a bottle of water. "This all has been so hard on him."

"It has been on you too, Allie."

"The main ones are Finn and Ellie. I know Drew had something to do with Phil's death. I just feel it."

Randy got up from the table and walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. "We will figure this out. Something will happen to help her. You have to have faith."

"I'm not sure I have any left. I filed the appeal but I don't know what good it will do."

"You have more faith in this system than anyone I know. The truth will come out." He couldn't stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her. He regretted the divorce but they had wanted different things. He was working his way up through the minor leagues and she was busy in law school. Then she had wanted a baby and he didn't. He told her that he had work hard in the minor leagues and the show was just around the corner. He didn't want a baby to ruin that. He felt it wasn't the right time. They argued about it and fought hard about it. Finally, it all came to a head and Allie filed for divorce. They agreed to all the terms and it was very amicable. She pulled away and looked at him. "I'm sorry."

"We've been through this. We want different things out of life. I want a family and you think that they'd be a distraction. I love you Randy. I do. And part of me always will but we can't go down that road again and waste each other's time. "She walked toward her bedroom.

"What if I told you that I'd changed my mind?"

"What?"

"I want it Al. Everything you want. A family, kids. All of it. And I want it with you."

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