To say I was happy would be a huge understatement. I was ridiculously happy with Alley.

We spent the first couple of days after getting out of the hospital barely being able to get out of bed, but on the third day she had to go back to work.

I guess I get it she has lives to save and all, but I just wanted to enjoy shutting out the outside world for a little longer.

I heard her alarm go off and she moaned a little not wanting to get up. I held her a little tighter and told her to take a sick day.

"You know I can't. As much as I would love two, I have three patients coming in for consultations" she says turning over and smiling.

"I know", I say kissing her softly. "You make people better and that's what I admire about you."

"Thanks. I won't be too late today. I just have those 3 appointments. So I should be done around 3:00", she says getting out of bed and heading for the shower.

I jump up and walk into the bathroom with her.

"Ry, I don't have time for any distractions", she says turning on the water.

"I promise no distractions. I just want to save you money on your water bill", I say smirking. Needless to say I was quite the big distraction.

She got out and dried off. "You said no distractions."

"I really couldn't help myself. You made it hard for me not to," I say drying off and slipping on a pair of boxer shorts.

She shakes her head and starts to get ready for day.

"Don't forget you physiotherapist is coming by today at 2:30 to work with you," she says.

"Got it Doc. I'll be ready," I say smiling.

I give her a kiss and then she is out the door.

After she leaves I get some breakfast and try to bond somewhat with Finn. I take him outside and play with him for a while.

I start to do my stretches that Alley so nicely taped to the refrigerator for me.

Before I know it I hear the door bell ring. I glance at the clock and know it must be the physiotherapist.

I open the door and say hi to then woman at the door.

"Hi, I'm Natalie, the clinic sent me to work with you", she says giving me a flirty smile as she extends her hand.

Now I am not gonna lie, she is exactly the type who the old Ryan would love to take out and add her name to the list of several other women that I have dated, but this Ryan doesn't even think of going there now that Alley is back in my life.

I shake her hand "I'm Ryan."

"Oh I know who you are", she says coming in and looking around the place.

"I knew who you were as soon as I saw the name", she winks at me.

I back away a little as she bushes by me, not trying to move at all.

"So where did you want me to set up?" She asks.

"Ah the living room is fine", I say pointing.

"Alright so lets get to it so we can get you back on the ice," she say giving me a flirty smile.

"Okay".

"So I am going to need you to take off your shirt so I can see your shoulder joint and how it's working during the exercises," she says standing in front of me.

I take it off and put it over the back of the couch. She gives me some exercises to do and when I wince a little she helps guide me through them. It doesn't go unnoticed by me that she rests her other hand on my side with her fingers landing over my abs. I try really hard to concentrate on the exercises.

"Okay I think I got it Natalie", I say stepping back.

"Let me just make sure", she says grabbing onto me again.

"No really it's okay. I've got this" I say as I rotate the weight the way she wants me too.

"So this is a nice place. Although I expected it to be bigger and maybe more guyish", she says laughing.

"Well this isn't my place, it's my."

I think for a minute how to answer this. Is Alley my friend? My girlfriend? We really didn't talk about this. I make a mental note to talk about it later with her.

"It's my girlfriend's place. I'm staying here and she is helping me recover from surgery," I say smiling and liking the way it sounds coming out of my mouth.

"Oh is she here?" She asks.

"No she is out for a bit," I say getting back to the exercises.

"Shopping? She really should be here helping you. You shouldn't be straining you shoulder too much", she says moving a little closer to me.

I step back from her a little. "She's actually." I get cut off by Alley's voice.

"Working thank you very much," Alley says coming into the living room.

Natalie looks up Alley and sizes her up and smiles. "This is your girlfriend?" She says packing up her stuff. "Call me Ryan when you want to upgrade", slipping me her card with her number on the back.

I see the fire in Alley's eyes. "Excuse me, what's your name," she demands from Natalie.

"Natalie", she says giving Alley a cocky smile.

"Well Natalie why would he down grade to ground beef, when he has prime rib right here?" She says pointing at herself.

I smile to myself and love this Alley. Confident and sexy as hell.

"Oh and by the way Natalie, I suggest you look for another job cause I know Dan, your boss. We are colleagues. That's right honey it's Doctor Alison Hudson," she says looking right at Natalie and smiling.

"Oh shit", I hear Natalie say. "I didn't know, I'm sorry Dr. Hudson."

"Yea well so am I that the standards at the hospital have gotten so low that they hire women like you," Alley says handing Natalie her things. She shuts the door and walks down into the kitchen.

I stand there in shock at what happened, but cannot stop how turned on I got from watching Alley.

I head into the kitchen after her. "Hey are you okay?" I ask.

Her back is to me, but I can tell she is upset.

"Alley please talk to me," I say putting my hand on her shoulder.

She turns around and she has tears all down her face.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't let people like her get to me, but it just hit me that this is how people will see you and me being together." I can just see what they'll say. Ryan Anderson slumming it with his fat girlfriend. Wow he could do so much better," she says and I can see the hurt in her eyes.

"I don't fucking care what anyone has to say about us. They only person's opinion that counts is ours and don't you dare talk about yourself like that. You are incredibly sexy and beautiful. Also that was the most fucking hottest thing I have ever seen a woman do when you put that girl in her place," I say giving her a smile and wiping her tears.

I wrap her up in my arms. "I'm not going to lie to you, the press and tabloids are ruthless. You have seen what they write about me, but we know what we have and that is all the matters," I say holding onto her tighter and just praying she won't walk away.

She hangs onto me a little tighter.

"You are and always will be the best thing that has ever happened to me," I say kissing her forehead.

She lifts her head and smiles. "Thanks Ry, I needed to hear that," she says sniffing a little.

"But seriously that was hot as fuck you putting that girl in her place. I was ready to take you right there", I say with a smirk.

"So maybe we should talk about what this is," she says motioning between us.

"I am only assuming that it's only a matter of time before someone catches on about us", she says sitting at the kitchen table.

"Well I kind of called you my girlfriend, when Natalie asked who's house this was. Is that alright? I would really like you to because I think it sounds silly calling you just my friend," I say looking into her eyes to gauge her reaction.

She smiles and says, "I am very okay with you calling me that."

"Another thing we'll have to let my agent know so he can let my publicist know so she can handle the media once it's out," I say holding her hand.

"Fuck. I just want to lead a normal private life with you, but I know it's not the realistic to assume that," she says sighing a little.

"I'm sorry. I am going to keep this as quiet as possible, but someone is bound to see us out together and it's better to get a head of it," I say.

"I know," she says quietly.

"Tonight though can we pretend that we have a normal quiet relationship? Enjoy the last of us just knowing before it all goes public," she says moving closer to me.

"I would really like that", I said leaning in to kiss her slowly.

She moans a little into the kiss and I pull her onto my lap. She hesitates at first, but I pull her again and she sits down.

I kiss down her neck to the collar of her blouse and start to undo her buttons. Exposing more of her perfect skin until I get to her red lace bra.

I kiss over top of her breasts, which earns me and even louder moan. I slip her blouse off her shoulders and it falls to the ground.

I look at this beautiful woman before me and thank god that she gave me a chance to make things right between us.

The words that I want to say so badly to her are right there on the tip of my tongue. Those three words I should have said to her when I was 18 and stupid and let her slip away.

"Ry are you okay?" she asks me.

I look up at her and smile.

"I couldn't be better," I say with a smile.

"Okay good, because you kind of zoned out a little and I was wondering if I did something," she says.

"No you did nothing wrong Alley. I was just thinking about something I should have said to you back when I was 18 and stupid," I say smiling.

"Oh and just what would have you said to me Ryan?" she ask, placing her hand on my cheek.

All I can feel at this moment is how I am right where I belong and all those other women who i thought were right for me, were so very wrong. I take a deep breath and let those words roll off my tongue.

"I love you Alison. I think I always have," I say looking into her eyes.

I see tears forming in her eyes and she licks her lips and smiles.

"I can't remember a time when I didn't love you and hearing you say you love me back is everything," she says hugging me tightly and burring her face in my neck.

I hold her tightly as my heart beat quickens at the admission she just told me.

She gets off my lap and I take her hand and lead her upstairs to the bedroom and make love to the woman who has captured my heart forever.

Afterwards I fall asleep holding her tightly and enjoy what would be the last of bit of our quiet relationship. Back to the real world tomorrow.