Kim paced slowly around the living room, pausing to look at the picture on the mantel. It was the picture of the whole wedding party from her and Shane's wedding nearly five years prior. Within a day after she and Shane had reconciled, the picture had appeared on the mantel, exactly where it had been before she had left him over a year ago.

She had asked Shane about it, but he had denied putting it back on the mantel. In fact, he had believed that Kim had been responsible. They had chuckled and Shane had decided that it must have been Simmons. He did always like things to be perfectly in order. Kim was less sure, because it seemed out of character for the ever-proper butler to make such an impulsive gesture. But she didn't have any better ideas.

Sighing, Kim picked up the picture and carried it to the couch. She lightly traced her finger down Shane's face. The day she had married Shane had been the happiest day of her life, aside from the births of Andrew and Jeannie. But even those days held a bittersweet edge as both times she had believed that the man she loved with all her heart was not the father of her children.

But their wedding day held nothing but love and joy. It had been too long in coming and despite the sudden, and somewhat chaotic, circumstances that brought the moment about, it had been perfect.

Kim idly wondered if things would ever be that perfect again. She and Shane had finally torn down all the walls they had built between them and were as close - no, closer - than they had ever been. But Kim couldn't help but feel that it was all about to be taken away from them.

Shane's trial was just two weeks away and she was now faced with the choice of watching the man she loved risk his life to bring down Lawrence Alamain or wait for him to be imprisoned for years.

It isn't fair, she screamed silently. They had been through so much, not just in the last year, but in the years before their divorce. They deserved a little peace and happiness, didn't they? Or were they being punished for some crime they could not escape.

A noise at the door startled Kim and she looked up to find Eve standing in the doorway. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and smiled.

"Hi, Eve. I didn't realize you were home this evening."

"I'm closing up at Wings tonight, so I don't have to be in for another hour or so," Eve explained, a question in her eyes. "Is something wrong Kimberly? It's not Dad is it?"

Kim quickly shook her head. "No, your father is fine. I guess I'm just feeling a little nostalgic this evening." She held up the picture. "Reliving old memories."

The concern left Eve's face and she offered a small smile as she walked into the room and sat down on the couch next to Kim. She looked at the picture and said, "You look so young. All of you."

Kim chuckled. "I guess we've all been through a lot these last few years."

Eve blushed slightly and looked away. "I didn't mean it that way. I . . . I just-"

"It's okay, Eve," Kim said quickly. "I know what you meant and you're right. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's been almost 5 years. And then sometimes it feels like forever."

"So where is Dad?" Eve asked. "The two of you have been almost inseparable lately."

Kim hesitated before answering. The truth was she did not really know where he was. She had returned home from work that afternoon to find Shane and John holed up in the study. She had stopped in for a brief hello, but it had been obvious that the two of them were preoccupied by something.

Not long after, a call had come in. Shane had offered an apologetic look as he asked Kim to excuse them. Just minutes later, both Shane and John had bolted from the study. Shane had stopped only to offer a brief kiss and to tell her that they had to leave and it might be late when he returned.

Before she could protest, Shane had pressed his fingers to her lips. He kissed her again and promised that it was nothing dangerous, just "some intelligence gathering." Then he was gone.

"Kim?" Eve pressed. "Where is Dad? Are you sure he's okay?"

Kim nodded. "I'm sure he's fine." She hesitated and then decided to be as honest as she could. "He's with John and they are working on something that might help him for his trial. He'll be home later tonight."

Eve stared at Kim for a moment as if deciding whether or not to press further. Then she sighed and said, "Okay. I guess if I need to know more than that, somebody will tell me."

Kim chuckled at the sarcastic edge to Eve's words. The young woman had changed a lot, but she was still Eve. "Don't worry, I feel the same way. It's never fun being on the outside looking in."

"I guess that's what you get for marrying a spy, huh?" Eve pointed to the wedding picture, then got a serious look on her face. "Would you do it all over again, Kim? Knowing everything that's happened, would you have married him back then?"

"In a heartbeat," Kim answered without hesitation. "Yes, we've had more than our fair share of problems and a long road to getting to where we are now. But I'd do every step over again if I had to. If that's what it took to get here, that's what I'd do."

Eve nodded. "You know . . . when I found out that he wasn't going to take the plea deal, I was really angry. I couldn't understand why he would risk a lifetime in prison just to save three years."

"And now?" Kim prompted, wondering where Eve was going with this.

Eve sighed. "Well, I still don't like it and maybe I still don't understand it completely, but I know he's doing it for you, and for Andrew and Jeannie. And I realized that he wouldn't be the father I know if he didn't try and fight it."

Kim smiled and took Eve's hand. "He's doing it for you as well, you know? You're his daughter and he loves you so much. He doesn't want to be separated from you any more than he does from Andrew or Jeannie."

Eve looked away and Kim could see a tear sliding down her cheek. "I don't deserve that kind of loyalty," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I've made so many mistakes and hurt him so badly."

"So have I." Kim placed her hand on Eve's chin and turned her so she was looking at Kim. "But your father has a big heart and he loves us both enough to forgive us. Just as we love him enough to forgive him when he makes mistakes." She smiled at Eve. "That's what love does. That's what family does."

Eve took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her face. "When Dad was in the hospital, Kayla told me that the only thing keeping me from being a part of this family was me. I didn't want to hear it. I was too busy pretending I didn't want to be a part of it."

"You are a part of it," Kim said firmly.

"I know that now." Eve faced Kim again. "I'm sorry for being so horrible to you when Dad was in the hospital and, well, pretty much ever since I came to Salem. Is there any chance you can give me a second, or third, or maybe fourth chance?"

Kim grinned and put her arms around Eve, pulling her into an embrace. After a second's hesitation, she felt Eve return the embrace. "I'll give you as many chances as it takes as long as you do the same for me," Kim said as they hugged. "Your father is going to need all of us supporting him, and each other."

"Then that's exactly what we'll do." Eve pulled away and stood up. "We'll make sure he knows his family - his whole family - is here for him no matter what."

"That's my girl," Kim agreed, standing up as well. "With a united Donovan family, nothing can defeat us."