The bed shifted and a familiar arm surrounded me. I was too afraid to open my eyes and realize it was all dream. But when his lips touched the nape of my neck and his fingers intertwined my own, I knew it had to be real.

"You're back," I said, my voice laced with sleep. "What time is it?"

"2 a.m." Alex sighed before kissing me again. "How are you feeling?"

"I thought you didn't want to see me."

We laid in silence for a long time. I could tell that he was probably as overwhelmed with everything he had learned about me. Somehow, it seemed as if my pain had lessened though. Now that I was no longer hiding my past from him my load felt lighter.

I could finally breathe.

"I talked to your father," he murmured. Alex knew I wasn't going to reply anything, so he continued speaking. "The hacking... It was Gerald. That's how he found your phone number and was able to call you, and more than likely also now has your address. You can't go back to your apartment."

My eyes closed and I nodded in agreement. We were no where near ready to move in together, but I wasn't afraid of being with him. Not anymore.

"Did he say anything else? How did you find him?"

Alex hesitated for a moment, then decided he'd speak. "Marty gave me his phone number. Well, Raymond will be here tomorrow. He wants to help us, Eileen. Given the fact that we can't really go to the cops he wants to give us the information that he can. He said he could speak with someone named Nicole, I believe."

"He's still in contact with her?" I asked. Nicole and my dad had been close for a long time. For a while I even suspected that he'd started a relationship with her after my mom left us. I liked her. Maybe I should have turned to her for help.

"Yes. He said that she's the one that was able to help him find you. He also said that it was probably someone from the tech department that helped Gerald hack into the system since he;s still in contact with a couple of officers. He mentioned that he tried to bring up the subject with the police department but they don't want a scandal. It seems he wants to help, Eileen, but only if you allow it. If you don't want him to then I wont let him intervene, but then I assure that Lucas and I will find that fucker and kill him."

"You wouldn't do that," I said quietly.

"You're right. First I'd torture the living shit out of him, then I'd probably get someone to do to him what he did to you, until he eventually dies."

I remained quiet, letting his words sink in. I wasn't sure if Alex had always been this vengeful or if learning what happened to me brought this part of him out.

"I don't want you getting your hands dirty."

"For you I wouldn't mind," he said.

The gentle patterns that he traced on my skin proved to be soothing. Before he arrived I had already started to think where I could go. I didn't think he would want me anymore. The way he was holding me erased any doubt in my mind; he wanted me as close to him as I needed him.

Even in the comfortable silence, there were unspoken words that hung in the air between us. I wasn't brave enough to ask questions and it was apparent that Alex was carefully considering what to say. Minutes passed until he turned me around so that I could face him. Only then did I notice how tired he was. In the state that I had arrived I didn't even notice the dark bags under his eyes, proof that he had not been resting much since our relationship ended. His eyes were bloodshot due to the lack of sleep.

"I'm sorry I left." Though his words were not much louder than a whisper, the fervor behind them was evident. "Lucas told me what you thought. And it's true Eileen, I don't look at you the same way."

Alex raised his hand, preventing me from saying anything. Instead, he cupped my check, his gentle touch easing my fear.

"I now think you're the strongest woman in the world," he said with a tender smile. "To raise a child on your own, a child that was conceived under such circumstances, I don't think there's anything more admirable than that, Eileen."

I felt my heart flutter at his words, so sincere that it made me question how it was possible that my luck had changed. How was it possible that after the hell I'd been through I had found a man willing to stay by my side regardless of all the baggage I carried? His soft lips met mine with a comforting kiss, one in which he poured all his emotion. It was one of protection, of devotion.

I broke the kiss to breathe, but what I saw in him left me far more speechless than anything he had said before. The storm in his eyes was breathtakingly beautiful. He was fighting with himself and I didn't know which part of him would win.

"I love you, Eileen," he said after a few seconds. "I'm in love with you."

I thought he would burst out laughing at any moment, that perhaps it was an evil prank he was playing on me, but there was nothing but a sweet smile on his face.

"You don't have to say it back," he murmured. "I don't need you to say it back if you don't feel it. I just thought you should know that I'm here for the long run. It doesn't matter what you've been through, I'm still here. I will always be here because I fucking love you, and I have for a while I think."

"You love me?" I asked, needing the hear the words again.

"I do."

"But... But I'm broken, Alex you deserve-"

"We can be broken together."

I rolled my eyes at his quick answer, but he didn't do much other than smile at me. It was as if now that he had come to realize his feelings, there was nothing that could end what was between us.

"We are worth it, Eileen. You and I, it's not meant to be easy, but as cliche as it sounds, we were supposed to run into each other for a reason. I love you, baby, and I want to walk through hell with you if necessary. It won't be easy and I'm going to fuck up, but I trust that we can get through everything together. I just need you to believe me."

He had done so much for me, and I knew there was a reason I felt safe with him. Despite my fear of being close to someone, he'd brought to life a part of me that I thought would never exist. He taught me that I could feel. He showed me that sex can be beautiful and magical. Alex had healed me with his caring words and gentle touch.

We are worth it.

"I love you too, Moretti."

His deep laugh echoed in the bedroom, followed by my own. Alex nuzzled into my neck, his smile adorning his handsome face and welcoming me into a world in which everything would be just fine.

"Jesus, Eileen. I never thought I was in need of anything until I met you. Now I'm never letting you go."

"Shh, dear, you're going to wake your mommy up."

I kept my eyes closed though I was already awake. The bed was bouncing and when I heard Angie giggle and Alex quietly shushing her, I knew exactly what was happening.

"But I want to jump Alex! Pleeeasseeee, your bed is bigger than mine and it's fun."

Alex chuckled softly and I felt the bed still.

"I know, darling. But your mom needs to rest, she hasn't gotten much sleep. Do you want me to cook something for you?"

"No. Can we wake her up? I promise she wont be mad, she never gets mad."

"Hmm, nope. Let's go downstairs and wake Lucas up instead?"

"Oh, I have an idea! Can I tell you? Please?"

"Go on."

I heard a whisper and then Alex laughing. Still, he agreed with whatever my daughter's evil plan was and I heard their footsteps slowly fading away. It wasn't but a few minutes when I head Lucas cursing much more than he should have been in front of a child, and Alex and Angie's laughter echoing throughout the house.

This was what peace was like.

This was my home.

As I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I took a look in the mirror. It's amazing how even your reflection can change when someone tells you they love you. There was sadness in my eyes, grief for what I had to overcome, or rather was still overcoming, but now there was a sparkle there. A hint of happiness. I felt it too.

I decided that I no longer was going to let my demons torment me. My past was always going to be there no matter what and I couldn't change it. But I sure as hell could grow from it.

After all, I had been strong enough to raise a child on my own for years. No one teaches you to be a parent but I considered that even with my circumstances, I'd managed to be a good mother. My daughter was happy and was loved by many, she was safe. I knew that the people surrounding me would help me keep it that way.

"You're up," came his deep voice from the doorway.

"I am."

"What did you do to Lucas?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.

"Angie decided that the best way to wake someone up is to throw freezing water at them," he said with a shrug. "It worked."

Alex clearly hadn't done anything to his tousled hair, but he looked like he'd gotten some much needed rest. He walked up to me, hugging me from behind and peppering kisses all over my neck and shoulders.

"Hmm, I could get used to this, you know? Having you here every morning, every day. I'd like that."

"Yeah?"

"Mhmm. I would love that," he murmured, turning my face towards him so he could kiss me.

His teeth nipped gently at my lips while his tongue and mine mating, giving us a glimpse of all the stars we could reach if we just allowed ourselves to let go. He sensed this, the sudden desperation with which I was now kissing him and groaned deep in his throat, lifting me up so that my legs would wrap around his waist.

Soon I was being set on a dresser in his bedroom, not once his mouth leaving mine.

It's fascinating, what a kiss can do to you. The pleasure that travels throughout your body when it's given with so much care, with so much love.

His mouth traveled down to my jaw, leaving wet kisses there and then moving down to my throbbing jugular vein. My fingers tangled in his soft hair, needing his lips back on mine which caused him to smirk. He didn't hesitate though, and kissed me until I was sure the world had stopped spinning. I felt his hand travel between my legs and I sighed in relief when he finally touched me where I needed it the most.

"A quickie, my love?"

I didn't have time to answer; soon we were soaring, flying to a world from which we never wanted to escape.