Nick read the coroner's report. Carl Patton was killed in the summer of 2000, a few months after that night. He was found buried at a construction site, the cause of death was a blunt force trauma, he had a broken nose, his ribs were in a terrible state, someone beat him to death. They found a blonde hair on the body, the DNA test proved it was Amanda's. They had some statements from witnesses, schoolmates. He recognized the name Ashley, they went to her party.

This didn't seem like enough. They had DNA evidence, but a single hair?

Nick had no idea what to think and gave her a puzzled look when he was done.

"Well?" she was staring as he read.

"What does the lawyer say?"

"He knows it's weak but it's been years so…that's their excuse" she let him know.

"But he has investigators, I'm sure he's going to talk to everyone on the list" there was a name missing, his "what about me?"

"What about you?"

"You know what I'm talking about, the night I left Atlanta, it was a few months before…"

"Are you saying you killed him?" Amanda said a bit harshly "let's tell everyone how I hit a guy with a pipe, that will do a lot for my case"

"Maybe not, but…"

"Look Nick, I just…" she shrugged "I wanna go to bed"

"I'll join you in a few minutes, ok?" he wanted to do something first. He didn't mention the man he met outside, Amanda would ask him to leave and there was no way he'd do that now.

She didn't reply and shut the door behind her. Nick waited a few minutes before reaching for his phone and dialing.

"Amaro, nice to know you're still alive" the captain answered.

"I need your help captain" he said, it was time to tell her the truth, or most of it, he wasn't going to be able to handle this by himself.

"What is it?"

"Do you remember detective Rollins?" he kept his voice low, not wanting Amanda to hear the conversation.

"From Atlanta, right?" she replied after a few seconds.

"Yes, well, she's the one I've been seeing" he confessed.

She was silent for a few moments "alright, and?" his relationships weren't really her business as long as it wasn't interfering with his work, and all this time he's been with this secret girlfriend of his, he was doing a great job.

"It's a long story" he didn't want to tell her everything at this moment "but, she's being charged with something and she's innocent, I have no doubt of that…but the problem is that the people who want her behind bars have power, we're talking about a chief and…"

"What is she being charged with?"

"Murder" he couldn't believe he used this word, how could it happen?

"Murder?" captain Berg coughed, she did not expect that "are you saying that a chief is trying to frame one of his detectives for murder?"

"Listen, I was outside and someone told me to go back to New York, this is not exactly a good sign. I need your help, I'll send you what I have and maybe you could double check it…she didn't kill anyone"

"I don't appreciate it when someone threatens a member of my squad so I will look into it, send me what you have tomorrow"

"Thanks captain"

"But Amaro, I can't promise anything"

"I want the truth, that's all" the captain was always fair, she cared about her detectives, but if they made a mistake she had no problem scolding them. Nick knew he could trust her.

He hung up and walked to the bedroom. She was under the covers and Nick joined her.

"Who were you talking to?" Amanda asked.

"My captain" he hoped she didn't hear everything, especially not the part about the threat.

"Oh" Amanda turned to him and he smiled.

"She's gonna help out, with the report"

"Thanks" she rested her head on his chest and took a deep breath "tell me something good"

"Something good?" Nick wrapped his arm around her, he wasn't sure what she wanted him to talk about.

"Like that cute photo, the one with that bow tie, when you were five" her hand moved on his chest a little.

"That one?" he smiled "ok. We were going to this wedding. My mom's cousin I think. I was the ring bearer"

"Yeah?" Amanda looked at him.

"Yes, and I took it very seriously" he let her know "walked with a pillow around the house, I put toys on it and tried not to drop them"

"That must have been so cute" she could picture five year old Nick doing that.

She asked for something good, so Nick left the part where his dad got annoyed and hit him with the pillow.

"The wedding day arrived and I was excited, I felt like it was the most important job…I was in charge of the most important part"

"Did you screw it up?" she raised her brows.

"You will soon find out" he smiled "I was dressed, my mom combed my hair, took that picture, and we waited at the church, they gave me the pillow and I was waiting, the groom was already at the altar" he paused for a second and she gave him a pleading look "they gave me the ring and I was so excited. The flower girl started walking and I was right next to her and they sent us down the aisle. She threw all of her flowers the moment we walked in and she was upset. So she took the ring and threw it away"

"She threw it away?"

"Threw it away, with the pillow" Amanda laughed "and I was standing there…everyone were staring at us…"

"Oh, were you sad?" Amanda caressed his chest.

"I walked to the altar with tears and I told the priest I was sorry, it was my responsibility to deliver it safely"

"Poor baby"

"They found the ring quickly and the wedding continued…" he pulled her a little closer and gave her a quick peck "so I didn't ruin it, but I refused to talk to that girl the whole night"

Amanda rested her head on the pillow and Nick looked at her "how about you tell me a story? A good one"

She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds without saying a word. She turned her back to him, wanting Nick to spoon her, his touch made her feel better. He was a good thing in her life.

"I love you" she said once his chest was against her back.

"I love you too" Nick was afraid she'd push him away, but it seemed like Amanda wanted him to be close to her. He didn't care about the man's warning, he wasn't leaving.

When Nick opened his eyes Amanda wasn't in bed, he remembered her walking out of the bedroom in the middle of the night but he must have fallen back to sleep before she got back, if she even did that.

"Good morning" Nick said, she was lying on the couch, watching TV "when did you get up?"

"I just couldn't fall asleep so I stayed here" she shrugged and turned her attention back to the screen "watched this thing the whole night and it's official…I'm a terrible detective"

"What?"

"I couldn't figure out who was the killer once!" she got up and made herself a cup of coffee.

"That's the official exam…" Nick chuckled and gave her a peck on the cheek "I missed waking up next to you"

"It's not like we do that a lot anyway" she felt bad about saying it, not wanting to make Nick feel bad. He flew over to Atlanta, said he'd stay with her, believed her. He loved her. Amanda placed her mug on the counter and wrapped her arms around his body, leaning her forehead against his back.

The gesture made Nick smile, one day they will get to do that, they will wake up together almost every morning. No more long distance, no more missing one another.

"You have a meeting with the lawyer today?" Nick turned around and she grabbed her coffee.

"Yeah, I have to be there in a few hours" she let him know.

"Can I go with you? I need to send a copy of the report to my captain" the sooner she gets it the better.

"Sure, if you want to"

"But I can't listen to what you're talking about…" Nick hoped she'd give him a hint.

"It's just in case they want you to testify" she shrugged.

"If testifying helps your case…"

"I don't think so" she shook her head and turned away.

Nick watched her as she took a piece of bread and was about to take a bite "let's make breakfast" he offered, Amanda had lousy breakfast habits but when they spent the mornings together he usually cooked them something. Not that he was very talented at the kitchen, but he was better than her.

"I'm not really hungry" she finished chewing "I'm gonna take a shower"

Nick took a step towards her and caressed her cheek "want me to join you?"

"Not this time, ok?" she shook her head "sorry"

She walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Nick wasn't sure what to think, Amanda wasn't pushing him away. She hugged him, wanted his presence. But there was still something, he hoped he was wrong, maybe it was his imagination, his worries. Maybe it was the fact he knew she was keeping something from him, but he was going to trust her.

Nick ate a sandwich and smiled when she emerged, wearing nothing but the towel. Amanda walked straight to the bedroom. He loved inhaling her after she had a shower, he'd pull her to him and burry his nose in her hair.

Nick gave her a few minutes to get dressed before walking into the bedroom.

"You had a healthy breakfast?" she smiled at him.

"Very healthy" he nodded, looking at her, she was about to straighten her hair "don't do that" he asked.

"Do what?"

"Your hair" he sat down next to her "I love it when it curls up a little" he moved some of it behind her shoulder.

"Fine" she let her hair be, it's not like she had work.

"You still owe me a story" he let her know, caressing her back "last night I told you one, now it's your turn"

"How about I tell you how I met this guy and six years later…" Amanda looked into his eyes.

"I'd love to hear about him more, but I want something else, something I don't know yet" he placed his hand on hers.

"What makes you think I'm talking about you? Where do you think I'm going when I'm not spending the weekend in New York?"

"Very funny" Nick gave her a serious look, she told him things about her family, but they were often generic. Nick knew her dad was a gambler, her mom didn't care much. He wanted to hear something more personal.

"Fine" she nodded "I'll tell you a story" she leaned against the headboard and Nick followed, looking curious.

"When I was eight my dad got me a bike, I was so excited about it…he kinda forgot I had no idea how to ride and I fell a couple of times but…I told him I can't ride so he taught me how and then…I learned"

"That's a good one, you should turn this into a book" she was really skimpy on the details so he decided to probe "you liked riding that bike?"

"I guess" she shrugged "I sold it for twenty bucks after a few months"

"Really? What did you buy with the money?"

"I gave it to my dad, he complained about needing money so I tried to help out, that's the whole story…good enough?"

"Would have been if he hadn't needed money because of gambling" Nick's reply earned him an angry stare and he felt bad "I mean…" but he said exactly what he meant. She told him about her father's gambling but hearing that she gave up something she loved for that upset Nick.

"Yeah well…that's my good story, sorry you didn't like it" she stood up, a bit pissed.

"I'm sorry" he walked after her and this time he was embraced her. He could smell her shampoo and allowed himself to linger, kissing the back of her head.

"Don't worry about it" she turned around in his arms and gave him a quick kiss "it's just a crazy time right now and I don't know…" she shrugged "but I'm glad you're here"

"I love that you want me to be here" his fingers played with her hair and he suddenly stopped moving and stared at it.

"Nick?" Amanda looked at him with a confused expression "you don't have a bizarre fetish with my hair, right?"

Nick didn't hear her, he ran his fingers through her hair a few more times and abruptly let go of her, quickly walking to the living room.

"Nick?" Amanda followed him.

"Your hair" he opened the file "look at this" he pointed at the report "your hair was shorter in 2000, it's been five years…this can't be a hair from then"

Amanda took a few steps to him and looked at the page in his hand, he was right. They faked the evidence, it was a single hair, they could have gotten in from her chair.

"I'll show this to Washington, they must have..." she grazed her hair.

"It's a good thing Amanda, they can't deny it, the judge won't let them use it and they will drop the charges"

Amanda smiled widely, grabbing his hand and kissing it "thank god you love my hair"

"I love you" he grabbed her in his arms "it won't take long, you'll be free of all of this and…" he wasn't sure about the future, he wanted her to move to New York and leave everything behind. He put her down and kissed her soft lips, his heart was overflowing with joy. Things were going to work out.

Nick still decided to send the report to his captain, she sent him a text wondering why he was delaying. He used the fax machine to send her the information and waited while Amanda spoke to the lawyer.

Washington had a fancy office and Nick felt out of place. Amanda told him he was a famous lawyer it Atlanta, defended a lot of rich and guilty people. She was lucky Alice could afford to pay him, he had no idea what she and her husband were doing, but they cared enough about Amanda to pay her bail and the legal fees.

But they won't be needing his help anymore, not with what they had.

The lawyer told them he'd call the judge and let them know as soon as he gets an answer.

"How about we grab a pizza?" Nick offered, he was hungry and knew she had to be too. They had a few hours to burn so food seemed like a good idea.

"Yeah, ok" Amanda led him to a place not far from Washington's office, but she could barely eat, took a couple of bites and placed it back on the plate.

"Not that good?" he asked.

"I just can't, I'm too tense" she stood up and he smiled.

"Let's go back, he must have an answer for us by now" even though it hasn't been that long, he wanted to know just as much as she did.

Washington's secretary led them to his office and made Amanda a cup of coffee "he's gonna be here in a few minutes, he's on his way back from the courthouse" she left the door open and returned to her seat.

"What are you thinking about?" he noticed she was staring at the mug, a slight smile on her lips.

Amanda raised her eyes and met his "how I'm going to miss my bathtub when I move to New York"

"Yeah?" he couldn't control his own grin "you're moving in with me?"

"Well, you still haven't asked but…"

"I'm asking now, move in with me" he placed his hand on her knee.

This wasn't how they planed this, but her career in Atlanta was over no matter what, she had nothing waiting for her in Georgia. Nick was in New York, and she wanted to be with him. He was a good thing in her life.

"Ok" she nodded and placed her palm on his.

"Now I'm gonna make you breakfast every morning"

"I already agreed" she laughed "you don't have to sell it"

She took a sip of the coffee and Nick smiled "you're gonna miss the coffee, won't you?"

"It's so good" she nodded "I love it"

This wasn't the first time Amanda allowed herself to imagine a life in New York with Nick. But this was it, she was going to leave and live happily ever after. It wasn't going to be a fairytale ending, she wasn't kidding herself, but she really loved him. They were going to be happy.

"Sorry you had to wait" Washington walked into the office and sat down, Nick and Amanda exchanged a look, he wasn't smiling.

"Well, Ms. Rollins" he took a deep breath "I'm afraid I have some bad news"

Amanda looked concerned and placed the coffee on the edge of the table.

"What?" Nick asked.

"I let the judge and DA know about this and the prosecutor returned and explained there was a typo on the report…that the length of the hair is shorter"

"A typo?" Amanda stood up, knocking the cup down, the hot liquid spilling on her "fuck..."

"You're ok?" Nick tried to reach for her but she didn't let him touch her.

"What happened?" Amanda didn't seem to care about the pain and just looked at the lawyer.

"The judge will not disqualify the DNA evidence" Washington said "the trial will proceed as planed"

"That makes no sense" Nick raised his voice.

"No, it doesn't" the other man nodded "let me tell you, I've tried my entire arsenal but the judge…"

"They must have cut it then" Amanda sat back down "I…"

"This is not our last word, I'm going to pile them with paper work until they will not be able to breath. But the thing is, Ms. Rollins, they want you to go down for this, no matter what"

This is my favorite story, even though it doesn't get much love. But I will finish it the way I planned, so for those of you who do enjoy it, there are still few more chapters left.