Prologue

As he pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket, Virgil noticed Scott's name across the screen.

He indicated to Dana that he would just be a minute as he disappeared out of the door. However, on his way out he caught a glimpse of his fiancée as she moved back to sit up against the bed's headboard once again; the sheets had again fallen down revealing more of her naked body and he inwardly cursed Scott for the interruption.

"This better be good Scott," he snapped down the phone, not even bothering with the usual pleasantries.

"Well hello to you too," Scott said in response, chuckling at his brother's abrupt way of answering the phone.

"What do you want? This isn't really a good time," Virgil answered. He really hoped that his brother wasn't calling him because he was needed for a rescue.

"Does that mean things went well?" Scott asked eagerly.

"Well, she said yes so…" Virgil replied with a shrug even though he knew his brother couldn't see him.

"Congratulations bro, I'm so happy for both of you…I know you were nervous about asking her, but it seems I was right," he gloated proudly.

"Yeah yeah, I know…you were right to say I didn't have anything to worry about. So did you just call to gloat or was there an actual reason for this interruption?"

"Sorry Virg, did I interrupt your celebrations?" he asked with a laugh.

Ignoring his big brother's attempts at teasing, Virgil told him "Actually I was getting myself ready to tell her about the family 'business'," he replied through gritted teeth. That wasn't entirely accurate, there was something else he needed to take care of first, but then he was going to come clean with her once they were done. Virgil knew that now he had asked Dana to marry him that he would have to tell her everything, to explain to her what it was he really did for a living. All Dana knew was that Virgil worked for his father; so when he talked about working in the family business he knew she thought it meant he worked within Tracy Industries. Although that was partially true as he and his brothers did have an active role within the 'official' side of his father's work, he knew he was going to have to be honest about his work as a member of International Rescue.

But he knew that that wasn't the only secret that existed between them, or the only truth that needed to be revealed.

He was determined that their engagement wasn't going to begin with a lie, so he had planned on telling her about everything tonight. So the last thing he needed was to have to run out on her and make up an excuse for his sudden disappearing act…again.

"Sorry Virg but that's going to have to wait, you need to come home as soon as possible."

"Surely the three of you can manage a call out without me," he hissed.

"It's not that Virgil," Scott told him, his voice suddenly taking on a serious tone, "We've had an unexpected visitor to the island…"

"So?" he asked, interrupting before Scott had a chance to explain.

"No Virg you don't understand… it's Avery. She's back."

There was a long pause and for a moment, Scott wondered if their connection had been cut off.

"Virgil? You still there?"

"What do you mean she's back?" Virgil asked finally, ignoring Scott's question.

"I mean she's here on the island…and she's not alone," Scott explained somewhat cryptically.

"Why who else…?"

"Scott…and her son."

"She had a son?" He said softly, more to himself than to his brother. He had always wondered about Avery's baby, whether she had had a son or a daughter, what the baby looked like. He had thought about them often and had hoped that the two of them were okay.

"Virgil?" Scott's voice brought him back to the moment.

"Yeah I'm here," he replied. "What's going on why are they here?"

"That's why you need to come home, let them explain. Besides this isn't something you want to discuss over the phone." Scott said.

"Yeah, you're right…wait, what about Dana?"

"I think it might be best to bring her with you. This impacts her too."

"Okay, sure," Virgil acknowledged reluctantly. "Guess I'll see you soon." He hung up the phone and taking a deep breath slowly made his way back into the bedroom.

"When are you leaving?" Dana asked as entered the room.

"How did you…?"

"I know you, Virgil, besides it's written all over your face."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly as he sat back down beside her on the bed.

"It's okay; I know what your family means to you and they wouldn't have called you if it wasn't important."

Virgil gave a nod.

"It's okay," she added genuinely, "We can celebrate another time. I mean we do have our whole lives to…"

Dana's words were cut off as Virgil's lips crashed over hers, devouring hers in a hungry passionate kiss. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have found her. As he deepened the kiss a primal need took him over; a need to memorize the feel and taste of her. His body cried out for more but he ignored it. In the end, he knew he was only postponing the inevitable and with that thought a wave of fear swept through him.

A fear, that this was the beginning of the end.

He had run into burning buildings and saved people from collapsing bridges and mountainsides, not to mention the other disasters that would make most run away scared. But right now, at this moment, he felt a fear unlike any he had ever faced in his life.

The fear that what was about to happen would mean that he would lose her for good. Yet he knew it was a fear he had to face. He couldn't run away from it. He reluctantly broke the kiss and forced some distance between them.

"What was that for?" she asked when their lips finally parted and she had gotten her breath back. But he didn't answer.

"Virgil, is everything okay?" she asked; the concern in her voice almost destroying his resolve. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to steady the pounding in his chest.

Virgil?" she asked again.

Slowly he opened his eyes and looked at her and in that moment he could have sworn he saw the same fear he felt reflected in her eyes; he hated that he was the reason that it was there.

"I'm okay," he reassured her, "But there's something I need to tell you…"