Author's Note: I said I had lots of time with my computer and I couldn't resist another update since I have it done! So this is another short chapter, but again it felt important enough to have it's own chapter. As I said before, I write based on the scenes playing in my head, and well... when I wrote this one I was really crying. I had a friend read this chapter and she was openly bawling as she handed me back my notebook. So if you don't at least feel sad, you don't have a heart! LOL I'm just saying is all... it is pretty sad.

Shoutouts: OMG- Glad to hear from you again. I'm glad you enjoyed their first kiss. I myself thought it was really sweet. Hope you liked the chapter right after that too ;) If you nearly died over a kiss... LOL Anyway, thanks for reading and sticking with me. Hope you enjoy!

Ghostwriter- Yay for getting their heads on straight! Darn Kat and her insecurities, although with her background I can't really blame her for hesitating. I always find my heroes or heroines a bit more interesting with sometype of horrible incident in their past that they have to fight to overcome. Anyway... suspensions will deepen and this story is about to grow darker after the next chapter. Just warning ya'll. Chapter 19 scared the crap out of one of my friends who's been proof reading for me. Okay so anyway, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 17

Ten years ago...

The weather certainly fit the mood, at least in Katherine's opinion. The rain was pouring down outside as if the heavens were crying, and the thunder rolled loudly. Inside the small church, there wasn't a lack of waterworks either. Katherine stood in the viewing room, next to the tiny casket, as her tears streamed down her face. Tommy had been trying so hard to comfort her, but she kept pushing him away. Even her father, whom she was very close to, was having a hard time offering her a shoulder.

Micheal Hillard stood behind his fragile daughter, with a hand on her shoulder. Tommy stood a couple feet away, unsure of what he should be doing. Friends and family streamed through the small room offering condolences to the mourning parents and grandparents, taking their first and last look at the tiny baby who never had a chance to live.

After a while the attendants came into the room to take the casket to the front to begin the service. Katherine shrugged off her father and rushed over to the casket before they closed the lid. "We can't do this Tommy! He's going to all alone, in the dark!" Kat cried hysterically. She brushed a hand over her son's cold cheek. Charlie was dressed in a pair of soft fuzzy pajamas with tigers on them, a tribute to his father. "It's so dark." Kat voice fell to whisper as she continued to stroke Charlie's tiny cheek.

The attendants back away, allowing Katherine a few more minutes with her son. Of all the funerals they had to work, any child's funeral was the hardest, especially babies.

Tommy sighed heavily and moved next to Katherine, taking her free hand in his. "It'll be okay Kat, Charlie will watch over us, always."

"He's all alone Tommy!" Kat's tears fell harder and Tommy wrapped his arms tightly around her. "He'll be alone in the dark!" She repeated against his neck.

"Liz and I have something that might help that." Jason said from the doorway. Liz stepped forward offering a small tan teddy bear to the grieving mother. Jason held up a small electric lantern with teddy bears painted on it. "So he won't be alone in the dark."

"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Kat cried as she hugged both her friends. She turned back to the casket and laid the teddy bear next to the tiny infant. "You won't be so alone now Charlie." Kat gently rubbed his cheek again. Jason stepped up next to her and set the lantern down above his head. He switched it on, and shadowed bears began to dance around the inside the casket.

"That'll keep the darkness away baby boy." Kat said softly.

"Thanks man." Tommy clapped a hand on Jason's shoulder.

"It was Liz's idea." Jason said as he gestured toward his wife. Katherine finally turned away from her baby and hugged Liz.

"Thank you Liz, you don't know what this means to me."

"You're welcome Kat." Liz nodded sadly. "Just remember that Charlie will always be with you, no matter what. He knows that you would have given anything to have been able to save him. You have to keep moving forward in life Kat, that's the only way to honor him. Keep living."

"It's just so hard." Kat sobbed. She quickly pulled away and ran toward her father. "Daddy!"

"Shh, I know Kitty. I know." Micheal gently rubbed his daughter's back. He looked up at Tommy, offering a silent apology that Katherine seemed to be practically ignoring his presence. Tommy nodded to his future father-in-law, trying to convey the fact that he understood. Katherine's mother placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. The Hillards stood together for a few moments, drawing strength and comfort from one another. Tommy's mother and father stood next to him, each with a hand on his shoulder. Jason and Liz stood back from the families, with Liz leaning back into Jason's embrace.

"I never... never got to hold him!" Katherine hiccuped.

"None of us did, Kitty." Sophia soothed as she tried to wipe away her own tears, knowing she needed to be strong for her daughter, to get her through this.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt..." the minister began.

"It's okay, we understand." Tommy nodded. He stepped away from his parents and walked to the casket one last time. He stroked the top of his tiny son's head. "I love you Charlie. Mommy and Daddy will never ever forget you. Rest in peace my little man." Silent tears fell down his tanned face. They dripped off his chin, leaving wet stains on his dark red dress shirt. He had been so strong, holding in his tears, trying to be the rock that Katherine needed at that time, but saying his final good-bye to Charlie finally broke his rock solid exterior.

Kat watched him, biting on her bottom lip, before she rushed across the room and hugged him close. She buried her head into the crook of his neck as he buried his into her soft hair. Tremors overtook both their bodies as they cried together. After a few moments, Tommy regained his composure and moved himself and Katherine away from the casket. The attendants carefully closed the lid and followed the minister to the front. Kat and Tommy walked behind their son, his arms wrapped around her shoulders.

The service was short, but beautiful. Katherine sat between her father and Tommy. Her father's arms around her shoulders and Tommy's around her waist. Afterward, everyone filed from the church and made their way to the cemetery. Tommy and Kat rode with her parents.

Micheal parked the car, and Kat got out and started toward the gravesite without an umbrella or even her jacket, not caring that the freezing cold rain was soaking through her black dress. Her hair clung to her face as the water poured over her. Tommy quickly moved behind her with an umbrella and placed his dry jacket over her trembling shoulders.

They waited in silence as their friends carried the tiny casket toward it's final resting place. Jason, Adam, Billy, and Rocky had been chosen for this honor. The minister said a few words and shared a prayer, before allowing everyone to lay a single rose on the top of Charlie's casket. Tommy and Kat were the last ones to approach.

Kat dropped to her knees in the wet grass, her arms wrapped around herself as she openly sobbed in front of everyone. Tommy dropped the umbrella and knelt down next to her, taking her into his arms. He slowly rocked her back and forth in the freezing rain and pressed soft kisses into her hair. He wasn't used seeing Katherine so broken or emotional in public. She usually held her feelings close and put on a strong front for everyone.

They remained on the ground, holding each other, as the crowd of friends and family dispersed. Together, with their parents, they watched as Charlie was lowered into the ground. Tommy finally stood and pulled Katherine to her feet. He started to led her away when she broke free of him and turned back to the grave.

"I can't leave him Tommy!" She cried.

"Kat! You can't stay here!" Tommy argued as he took hold of her again and tried to led her away.

"Tommy! Please!"

"Katherine Lynn! Listen to Tommy!" Micheal cut in as he took hold of her as well. She tried to fight against the two men, but they quickly overpowered her. Kat dropped to her knees in frustration.

"I can't..." Kat whispered. Tommy wasted no time and scooped her up into her arms and carried her toward the car as she continued to struggle to get free.

"Kat! Stop!" Tommy said harshly against her ear. "Freezing yourself to death won't bring Charlie back, and I can't... I can't bury you too. Please Kat, stop." His voice softened and broke as he spoke to her, Kat stopped struggling and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry Tommy." She sobbed. "I keep thinking that my little boy is all alone down there. I can't stand it!"

"I know Angel Eyes." Tommy nodded. Micheal opened the door to the backseat and Tommy gently sat Katherine inside the car before climbing in next to her. She curled herself against his side as her body began shivering. Micheal made sure to turn the heater on full blast as they started to drive away.

Katherine picked her head up off Tommy's shoulder and glanced out the window at Charlie's grave. "At least he's not in the dark." Kat smiled sadly as she remembered the lantern that Jason and Liz had given Charlie. She silently reminded herself to thank Jason and Liz for that.

Present Day... November

Kat stood in front of Charlie's grave with a single red rose. She knelt down on the ground and set it on the headstone. She slowly traced her baby's name with her fingertips. CHARLES EDWARD OLIVER

"Ten years." She whispered. "Has it been that long? I think about you all the time. I always wonder if you would have had your father's dark eyes and hair, my love of music, your father's natural fighting ability... The list can go on and on Charlie."

Kat fell silent as she closed her eyes, fighting back the tears. "You are my driving force." She continued. "I do this job because I don't want anyone else to suffer like I have. I want to make sure that anyone who does these bad things are served justice... but... but now..."

Kat gave a heavy sigh before shaking her head and standing up. "Maybe it is time to let you go... I will always love you Charlie, I just wish it wasn't so hard. Stay out of the dark baby boy."

Kat turned on her heel and started toward her car as a gentle breeze blew around her. She paused in her steps and closed her eyes. In the distance she could hear a child's laugh, and she stopped fighting back the tears. In her heart she knew that Charlie wanted this for her, to live.

"Thank you Charlie." she whispered. She opened her eyes and continued to her car. She drove away from the cemetery to Jason's house, a place she was beginning to feel more and more at home in.