Tobias leans over and presses his lips to mine in a reverential kiss full of love and affection then wheels me back to the auditorium just in time to see the redheaded psychopath being dragged up on stage.

"You're going to let them do this to me, Tobias?" she yells and my irritation level grows.

"Jack, she's mentally disturbed. If she thinks the things she says are true, will she be able to lie?" I ask.

"It's possible depending on how deep her delusions are," he says.

"That's what I'm afraid of," I say.

"If I have to, I can go under truth serum myself to set the record straight," Tobias says.

"Okay, let's get this started," Jack says. Tobias wheels me over by Dad and Caleb then joins him on stage.

"At Tris' request, the interrogations will continue today," he says as Jack readies the bitch for the serum. "Olivia Nelson, factionless, will be first followed by Molly Atwood, factionless, and finally Porter Hayes, Candor prisoner. The interrogations will be held in quick succession. You may attend one or all. There will only be a short recess between interviews and no lunch break. Once the interview is underway, we want no interruptions. Jack, are you ready?"

"I am," he says as he injects the light blue serum into the prisoner. Within seconds she wilts in the chair and Jack goes through the routine questions then he starts in on the relevant ones. "Why did Ethan Black ask you to try and break up Four and Tris Prior?"

"He wanted his children back, and he thought if Tobias and Beatrice separated the courts would award him custody."

"Why were you willing to help him?" he asks.

"He was my uncle," the bitch says. "You do things to help family."

"What things did you do to try and break up their marriage?"

"I faked some photos of me and Tobias in compromising positions but she wasn't convinced," she spits. "I snuck into their apartment and played little pranks, hoping to get them arguing but I'm not sure they even noticed. I told everyone I was having sex with Tobias. I tried to talk a few guys into spreading rumors that Beatrice was unfaithful but they were scared of Tobias." God, I wish she'd stop saying his name.

"First of all, who helped you with the photos?" Tobias asks. Her body visibly trembles as she tries not to answer.

"Grant and Sam."

"Simon, Tony, have Grant Clark arrested," he says and they take off through the door. Unfortunately, Sam got the death penalty. "Why did they help you?"

"Sami owed me a favor," she says, "and Grant would have done anything I asked. I let him have sex with me." I look at her father and idly wonder how many people in this room know she's his daughter. He must be so proud.

"It's nice to know you whored yourself out," Tobias mutters.

"Four, let's keep this civilized," Jack says.

"You're right. I'm sorry," he says then turns back to the confused redhead in the chair. "Did we ever have sex, Olivia?" Once again she rallies against the serum, not wanting to answer.

"No," she says. "But I really want to. I love you, Tobias. We could have a good life. I'll even consider helping you raise your brats."

"Enough," he roars, his voice bouncing off the walls and ceiling of the crowded room. "You may finish with this piece of trash, Jack." I think he's going to come sit next to me but instead he exits the stage door, needing some time to pull himself together.

"Did you have a hand in killing anyone?" Jack asks.

"No."

"Did you stab Tris multiple times in the Dauntless garage on Sunday, October 9?" he asks.

"Yes," she says.

"Were you acting under anyone's orders when you stabbed her?"

"Nope. I wanted her dead. Still do," she says.

"If Molly, Drew, Porter, or anyone else had asked you to kill for them, would you have?" Jack asks.

"Only if they had asked me to kill her. I would have killed Beatrice, no one else."

"A couple more questions? Are you in love with Four?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he's in love with you?"

"No, but if he'd just give me a chance he would love me. I know it. I'm very loveable."

"If you were to go free in the future, would you pursue Four?"

"Yes."

"Did anyone you not mention help Molly with her plan to hurt Tris and her friends?"

"Drew, Porter, and Lauren."

"My final question for you is what is your biggest regret?"

"That I didn't try harder to get Tobias to notice me," she says and I can't help but shake my head and roll my eyes. The Candor crowd half-assedly thanks her for her candor then two Dauntless guards I recognize but don't know drag her out of the chair, down the stairs, and out the stage door.

"How are you doing, Beatrice?" Dad asks.

"I'm fine," I say. "I think I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information we're learning though. Do either of you know anything about Christina?"

"She's resting in the infirmary," Tobias says. When I turn and see him standing there, I give him a smile, which he returns. "I'm sorry you had to see me lose my temper, Andrew, Caleb. That doesn't happen often but I'm tired of that girl calling my children names."

"I don't blame you, Four," Dad says. "You'll never outgrow protecting them."

"Is Christina going to be okay?" I ask, still wondering about my best friend and hero. I owe her so much.

"Yeah," Tobias says. "She got a couple stitches, and they're watching for a concussion but they don't think she has one. She might not even have to stay in the infirmary overnight."

"That's great," I say. "I was so worried when I came out of the stall and found her lying on the floor."

"She was awake for most of your exchange," he says. "She was just waiting to make a move. She's a bit irritated that you made that deal with Molly, too."

"I think we all are," Dad says.

"I already explained to Four. I never ever want to leave any of you but I would sacrifice myself in an instant if it meant keeping all of you safe, and that's what she was offering."

"What you did was noble but reckless at the same time," my brother says.

"Caleb," Tobias growls but I put my hand on his arm.

"It's alright," I say then look at Dad and Caleb. "It was reckless but I would do it again if it meant saving you, Four, the kids, and my friends." A commotion draws our attention as the men who took the bitch away come back literally fighting with Molly. I actually see her sink her teeth into the fleshy part of one man's biceps and he cries out. I didn't know she could be so feisty. After a huge struggle, they get her into the chair and handcuff her to the arms. She's going to bruise herself if she doesn't stop yanking on them.

"I'm not answering any questions," she says. "You can't make me." Then she screams, sounding much like a feral animal. This is going to be fun.

"Actually we can," Jack says as he skips the preliminaries and just jabs the needle into her vein on the side of her neck. I'm surprised he didn't miss with how she's thrashing about. I watch her eyes as he injects the serum, and I see the instant it takes effect. She's very tame now. After Jack asks her the mundane opening questions, he hands the interrogation over to Tobias.

"I'm not going to take up a lot of time here because we all know what you did," Tobias says. "My first question is why, why help Porter target Tris?"

"I hate her. I don't care that she told the truth and didn't cheat during initiation and didn't lie about dating you, she doesn't deserve all that she has. There's nothing special about her but she seems to live a charmed life. She placed first during initiation, she married you, she has three cute kids, she has my dream job. The way I look at it, she is living the life that was meant for me."

"Are you jealous of Tris?" he asks.

"Yes," Molly immediately answers, confusion on her face.

"Do you think Porter was justified in setting the plan in motion that killed three people and injured two?"

"Yes, I do," she says. "He was devastated by Peter's death. A lot of us were." She sniffles and I see tears in her eyes. How anyone can cry over that monster, I will never know.

"He was upset over the death of his violent, rapist son so that justified killing innocent people?" Tobias scoffs.

"Stop calling him that. He would never do such horrible things."

"You think Tris lied under truth serum?" he asks. I hold my breath because technically I did lie but not about that.

"No." It obviously pains her to say it. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"You broke into Harrison's home and office, Tori's home and office, and my office. What exactly were you looking for?"

"I was gathering information on your friends," she says. "The more I knew the easier it was to anticipate their movements. Some files I accessed just to mess with your minds though. I would never have physically hurt your children. That wasn't part of the plan."

"Why did you target Harrison and Tori?" Tobias asks.

"To make your lives harder. Will should have died also but I obviously didn't hit him hard enough." She was the one who struck Will? I'm actually shocked.

"Are you the one who left the cryptic notes on our car at the Navy Pier and on Will's body?" he asks.

"Yes. I liked messing with you any chance I got. It was fun to watch." She really is a sick, twisted bitch.

"Did you have plans to hurt anyone else?"

"We had a long list of victims prepared," she says. "I actually was very close to bumping Ciara off the path one day but someone came out of a hallway and started walking with her, and I lost my chance." James wraps his arms tightly around his wife as she cradles her protruding stomach lovingly between her arms. She has a look of pure terror on her face learning how close she and their unborn baby came to losing their lives. Guilt rears her ugly head, and I feel horrible that such a good friend nearly lost his family because of someone's grudge against me. I return my focus to the stage and look at my own husband. I catch his eye and I see pain behind his steady gaze. This is hard on him, too.

"Molly, are there any other people who helped you with Porter's plan besides Drew, Lauren, and Olivia?" Tobias asks.

"Niles' sister Neva Hampton gave us formulas to some hybrid serums Jeanine created a few years ago and the code to the door near the serum vault in Erudite. She also gave us instructions on how to get in and take the serums we needed," she says. "Marty Turner helped us at Lauren's request come and go through the fence."

"Did anyone in Amity help you hide?" he asks.

"No, we just picked an abandoned building and hid there. We knew no one would look for us outside the fence."

"Why kidnap Tori?"

"That was Drew's doing," she says. "We interrogated her for hours but we didn't learn anything useful. She kept screaming and bawling because Drew killed her boyfriend. I kept telling her that injection was meant for her and he would have been fine if he hadn't interfered but she didn't see it that way. Just to shut her up we gave her the memory serum. It was funny. One second she's crying over the loss of the love of her life and the next she didn't even remember his name. I have to admit I was surprised. I thought for sure she would keep it together better in a crisis. You should look into a new leader to replace her, Four. She really isn't Dauntless material."

"Like I would take advice from you," he mutters but loud enough that I can hear. "Jack, I'm done with her." He marches off stage and sits down beside me. I rest my hand on his thigh and he picks it up and kisses it before lacing our fingers together and setting them back down. I see him physically relax at the touch. I guess I have the same effect on him.

"I have one question, Molly," Jack says. "What is your biggest regret?"

"Following Peter to Dauntless. If I'd never done that then I never would have heard the name Tris Prior," she says. "I would have been happy in Candor." What is it with these people making my name sound like the dirtiest word in the dictionary?

"Thank you for your Candor," rings out and I swear I see some Dauntless and Erudite members saying it, too. Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo uncuff her from the chair and drag her away. I rest my head on Tobias' shoulder and close my eyes. I swear I'll sleep for days after this. I'm exhausted.

"You don't have to stay," he says then kisses the top of my head.

"Yes, I do," I say. "This is the most important one. We may know everything already but there's the slight chance that he'll drop a bombshell. Personally, I hope it's the former because I don't think I can handle any new information."

"I just want to make sure 100%, without a doubt that Ruth has nothing to do with it."

"She doesn't," I confidently say then raise my head. I search the crowd for her. "I'm kind of surprised she's not here."

"She is," he says, pointing to the far end of the auditorium by the set of double doors. When our eyes meet she gives me a small smile.

"Has she been here the whole time?" I ask. He nods. "It must kill her to hear what he did."

"It kills a lot of people," Tobias says. I move my eyes to my father and brother. Neither of them knew details of my attack before.

"Why does my family keep hearing personal details through truth serums?" I mutter mainly to myself.

"Because my lunatic wife feels the need to save the world," he says. He moves his lips to mine and butterflies flutter in my tummy. I run my fingers down his face as the tender kiss ends. "I love you."

"I love you, too." A hush falls over the room and when I look up, Porter is being escorted in by Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo. He's wearing a hateful scowl that takes my breath away and sends my heart racing. He looks just like his son. I've never really notice a resemblance before but it's striking right now. When his eyes meet mine, I have to force myself not to move. His stare can only be described as evil and now a roomful of people have seen it. He doesn't fight, scream, or curse. He just walks up the steps and sits down in the chair. When he settles in, he starts searching the crowds like he's looking for someone. I know he found whoever he's looking for when his eyes narrow. I follow their line of sight directly to Ruth. Instead of the shrinking violet she's always been around him, she sits straight and holds his glare until he looks away. I'm very proud of her. Jack quickly prepares him for the interrogation then injects the serum into his neck.

"Four would you like to do the honors?" Jack asks.

"It would be my pleasure," he says then he lowers his voice and speaks only to me. "We almost have all our answers. Hang in there, love." He kisses my forehead then gets up and joins Jack on stage. "Please state your full name for the record."

"Porter William Hayes," he says with characteristic confusion on his face.

"What are your parents' names?"

"Philip and Agnes Hayes," Porter says.

"Which faction were you born into?" he asks.

"I was born into and chose Candor both."

"Are you married?" Tobias asks.

"No, I'm divorced," he says. Oh! That's news to me, although it makes perfect sense.

"How long have you been divorced?"

"About three months," Porter says.

"Who instigated the divorce?" he asks.

"My wife, ex-wife, Ruth."

"Do you have any children?" Tobias asks.

"You damn well know I had a son you sonofabitch," he spits but Tobias only smiles.

"My mother wasn't perfect but I would like you to refrain from calling her names." A chuckle moves through the crowd, and I can tell Porter doesn't like being laughed at. "Tell me what you think happened to your son."

"He got mixed up with your whore of a wife," Porter says with a smirk, erasing the one off of Tobias' face. I swear I see his hands twitch in the bastard's direction but he controls himself. "He was murdered."

"Are you an active Candor member now?"

"No," he says after fighting with the serum for a moment.

"Why not?" Tobias asks.

"I am serving a 6-month jail sentence for aiding and abetting my son with Beatrice Prior's kidnapping then I'll be factionless," he says.

"What have you done these past four months while you've sat in jail?"

"Thought of ways to destroy you and your wife," Porter hisses. "There hasn't been one minute of one day that you haven't been on my mind. Why should you be out there in the city laughing it up with friends, making love, running a faction, and raising a family when my poor boy didn't even see his 18th birthday?"

"Please detail your plan to get even," he says.

"I contacted my niece, Molly. She was always close to Peter. I knew she would help me. I told her to enlist some friends, anyone who hated Beatrice as much as I did to help destroy her happy life. First, I wanted her career in shambles, and then I wanted her friends decimated. Finally, I wanted you and her torn apart … permanently. No happy ending for your whore." Tobias grabs him up by the throat and gets in his face.

"Stop calling her that," he spits. Jack, Purple-Hair, and Snake-Tattoo surround him.

"Four, put him down," Jack says.

"Yeah, you don't want to kill him," Purple-Hair says. Tobias releases his grip on his throat and he falls into his chair sputtering, spitting and trying to take air into his lungs. Jack puts his hand on Tobias' shoulder and he shrugs it off. He leans over and puts his face in Porter's, and I see him shrink back into his seat.

"I'm not going to rehash the details of Peter's attack on my wife. You know what he did to her because one, you helped him arrange to kidnapping and wedding and two, she gave you all the details of what he did. Instead of saying you're sorry and making amends you send an unstable girl who was in love with her very own cousin by the way and her band of unhinged misfits to terrorize Dauntless. Did you think she was lying to you?"

"No," Porter says. "I believed every word she said."

"And yet you still hold her accountable for the death of your son even though the perpetrators have been dealt with?" he asks.

"If he'd never have met her, he would still be here."

"I'm sick and tired of that fucking excuse," Tobias roars. The auditorium goes quiet. "It is not Tris' fault that she made one of the hardest decisions in her life and joined Dauntless the same year that Peter, Molly, Drew, and Al made the same choice. It's not her fault that she turned Peter's head. It's not her fault that they attacked her at the chasm and tried to kill her. It's not her fault that she's been the best initiate Dauntless has ever seen. It's sure as hell not her fault that your monster of a son kidnapped her, gave her memory serum, and then raped her. It's not her fault that he helped Maria and then got himself killed. And it's not her fault that you are in the situation you're in. You are a grown ass man who makes his own fucking decisions. Own them. Don't blame others. It's not Tris' or Jack's or Ruth's fault. Be a fucking man for just once in your life instead of a worthless piece of shit and own up to what you did." Holy shit! I wonder if he feels better now. He stomps down the stage stairs and plops down in the chair beside me. He leans forward and buries his face in his hands, and I drape my arm across his shoulder and kiss his arm.

"That was … wow," I whisper. He turns his head and looks at me. "You always look out for me."

"I meant every word," he says. I suddenly realize that the entire room is looking at us and I blush. I glance at Jack and motion for him to finish with the trash.

"Porter, please name every person who helped you with your plot against Tris," he says.

"Molly Atwood, Drew Boyd, Olivia Nelson, Niles Murphy, Neva Hampton, Lauren Jones, and some Dauntless fence worker whose name I don't recall."

"Did Ruth Hayes help you in any way with this plan?" Jack asks.

"No," he says. "She had no knowledge of my plan. She's innocent in all this."

"I have one final question. What is your biggest regret?"

"That my son died before me," Porter says. "No parent should outlive their child."

"Thank you for your Candor," the Candor members say. As Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo drag Porter off the stage, everyone starts clearing out of the auditorium.

"I can't believe this," I say. "It's over." Tobias wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my hair. He's still upset. I grip him tightly, wishing there was more I could do for him.

"It is over," he says. One hand trails up my back and into my hair, holding me tightly to him. It's like he doesn't ever want to let go, which I'm fine with.

"Mommy! Daddy!" I hear called and Tobias and I look toward our names. Tyler's standing beside my mom who has Tessa and Teagan in her arms.

"I better help your mom," Tobias says as he reluctantly lets me go. I hold my arms out to Tyler and he runs to me, dodging several members who are milling about. He climbs up onto my lap and gives me a hug.

"Hi, buddy," I say as I kiss his head. "What are you doing here?"

"Gwamma and me and Tess and Teags was going to have ice cweam," he says. "But we find out you done. Come with us. Peas! I want you to come. I miss you."

"I've missed you, too, but Mommy isn't feeling up to it," I say. "Maybe you can eat some ice cream for me." He sticks his lip out and pouts.

"What's that look for, Tyler?" Tobias asks coming up to me with a very happy Tessa in his arms. Peanut, on the other hand, looks distressed.

"Has she eaten?" I ask.

"Very little," Mom says.

"I want Mommy to come fo ice cweam. I miss hew," he says.

"What if we get ice cream and eat it in Mommy's room. She's really tired and needs her rest but I think she'd be up for that. What do you say, Mommy?"

"That sounds like an absolutely wonderful idea," I say. "That way I can feed your sister."

"She'll eat when she's ready, Beatrice," Mom says.

"I know but I hate seeing her so unhappy when I can fix her problem," I say.

"Tyler, why don't you come with me and your sister, and we'll get enough ice cream for everyone."

"Otay!" He will do anything for ice cream. He turns back to me and days, "I be wight back. Otay?"

"Okay," I say. He grabs ahold of his father's hand, and I watch them walk toward the exit. "I'll take her, Mom. Can you push me back to my room? I need to get back in bed." She gently places my beautiful girl in my arms. She coos a little and even smiles a couple times before she starts crying. "Are you hungry?" She nuzzles my breast and even tries to find my nipple through my shirt. I caress her cheek and she keeps turning her head toward it. "Do you have a diaper bag with you?"

"Yes," she says as Dad pushes my wheelchair back to the infirmary. "Would you like a blanket?"

"Please." After a minute she hands me a soft pink blanket and I toss it over my shoulder then free my breast from my shirt. Peanut latches onto my nipple easily and suckles hungrily. "Thanks, Mom. Not only for the blanket but for watching her all day. I hope she wasn't too much trouble."

"My grandchildren are never any trouble," she says with a happy smile. "I love them very much. It's one of my greatest pleasures. I didn't know it would be this way. I love every minute with them."

"They are pretty special," I say as I peek at Peanut. She smiles when she sees me then goes back to eating. The minute I get back to the infirmary, Isobel takes me from my parents and tells them she'll be right back then wheels me into a different room. It has a queen-size adjustable bed, a toddler bed, a baby bed big enough for two, a dresser, and a changing table. It also has a kitchenette, couch, TV, and what looks to be large bathroom.

"Surprise!" she says. "Your very own suite so your family can be together."

"Thank you," I say.

"I heard the interrogations were pretty rough," she says and I know what she's referring to, the constant mention of the rape.

"Yes, they were," I say. "Can I still call you if I need to talk?"

"Of course," she says. "Day or night, Tris. I'll go get your Mom and Dad and bring them in. I'm glad that psycho didn't hurt you."

"Can you tell me how Christina is?" I've been so wrapped up in myself that I forgot about her assault.

"She's tough," she says. "No permanent damage was done."

"I'm so relieved," I say. "I was worried when I came out of the stall and found her on the floor."

"She was lucky," she says before she leaves me alone with Peanut. I move the blanket and pull her away from my breast then put her to my shoulder and pat her back. She holds her head up strong and proud, not even a little wobble.

"You're getting so big," I say then kiss her cheek, eliciting a big toothless grin. "Are you happy that Mommy can take care of you a little? I'm happy about that." When Mom and Dad come through the door I'm surprised to find Tobias, Tyler, Tessa, and Caleb with them, also. "Hi."

"We stopped and got a couple pizzas," Tobias says. "We'll have the ice cream for dessert."

"Cheese and peppewoni," Tyler says. "It my favowite."

"I know."

"Look at this room, Pebbles," he says as he puts the ice cream in the small refrigerator-freezer. We all get to sleep together tonight." She kicks and squeals then sticks her tongue out and blows raspberries.

"You're silly."

"I think we should be getting back to Abnegation," my Dad says.

"I bought enough pizza for everyone," Tobias says. "Please stay."

"Alright." Tobias sits Tyler on the end of the bed while Mom, Dad, and Caleb pull chairs up around it. He sits the pizza boxes in my lap and opens them up. He takes a slice for Tyler and everyone digs in. We chat about everything under the sun, except for the interrogations. We laugh, joke, tease, and laugh some more. I can't remember a time when we were all together and everyone was this much at ease. After bowls of ice cream all around, Mom, Dad, and Caleb say their goodbyes. As much as I hate to see them go, I know they all need a good night's sleep in their own beds. Mom promises to come back tomorrow to help with the kids and after some minimal back and forth, we agree that we need the help, especially since Dauntless leadership is very shorthanded at the moment.

"What do you want to do tonight, Tyler?" I ask.

"Anything?" he asks.

"Anything that can be done in this room," Tobias says. He looks around and his eyes light up when he sees the TV.

"Can we watch movie?"

"That sounds like a great idea," I say. Tobias opens the cabinet holding the TV and DVD player and finds hundreds of titles. Tyler picks a couple since it's relatively early and hands them to Tobias then crawls up the side of the bed and snuggles into my left side. Tobias puts Tessa next to him after handing me Peanut then gets in beside Tyler. I don't get much out of the two animated films but I love every minute of it. Tyler laughs, which sets off Tessa's little giggles. They are more entertaining than any blockbuster.

"How are you?" Tobias asks once the kids are asleep, and we're alone. I'm cuddled up in his arms with my head lying on his bare chest.

"I have to be honest. All the talk of what Peter did has brought up a lot of feelings I thought I'd dealt with."

"I figured as much," he says as he plays with my hair.

"What I wouldn't give to make love right now," I murmur as I trace my name over his heart.

"I don't mind you screaming in pleasure. As a matter of fact I love it but you'd be crying out in pain and you know what that does to me."

"Instant mood killer," I say and he's right. I'm in no shape for sex and probably won't be for weeks. The thought depresses me. He tilts my chin back and gazes in my eyes.

"I nearly had a heart attack when Molly put that gun to your head. All I could think was I can't live without you. I've never been more thankful to see your best friend than this afternoon when she snuck on stage and grabbed her gun away. She saved your life. I owe her. I'll forever be in her debt."

"I have to remember to thank her," I say. "I was very confused at that time."

"I know," he chuckles. "You basically told your Dad and brother you wanted to take me to bed. I couldn't get you to shut up. For as comical as it was, it was terrifying also."

"I know. Once my mouth engaged, my brain shut off. I'm surprised I didn't say something that got us in trouble. I didn't, did I?"

"No," he says. "Although Jack gave me an odd look when you told the roomful of strangers that we fell in love during initiation."

"That slipped out," I say. "It's obviously the truth."

"Yes, it is." He kisses my head then sighs.

"We keep talking about me," I say. "How are you?"

"If I'm being honest…"

"I always want you to be honest," I interrupt.

"I don't really know yet," he says. "I have a lot of information to process and it's going to take some time."

"Believe me I understand. I can't believe it's over, Tobias," I say. "It is over, right?"

"Yes," he says. "We can both sleep easy tonight and things will be better tomorrow."

"And even better the day after that," I giggle.

"God, I love that sound," he says. He moves so we're looking in each other's eyes. "And I love you, Mrs. Eaton. I don't ever want to lose you. You are too precious to me. I can't breathe, I can't think when you are hurt, sick, or in danger. I think part of me would like to lock you up in a tower someplace just like in that movie we watched tonight."

"I don't have to grow my hair that long do I?" I tease.

"No, you are absolutely perfect just the way you are," he says. We wrap our arms around each other and move our lips together until I groan. My body is really starting to let me know it's had a very long day. He carefully moves then presses the button alerting the nurse that I need assistance. Marlene comes in, and I tell her I'm finally ready for the dose of pain medication that she's tried to give me twice before. She just smiles then comes back with the largest needle I've seen and injects it into the IV port still in the back of my hand. Its effects are instantaneous. Not only do I feel pain relief but I also feel its sedating effects. I close my eyes and for the first time in months I don't think about who might hurt us tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to making plans again.

"Baby," I mutter.

"Yeah, love?" he says, his lips against my ear.

"No more looking over our shoulders," I murmur. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to all our tomorrows."

"Love you so much."

"Love you more," he says then kisses my lips as I fall into a peaceful sleep.