Alexander stood stiffly at the altar. He didn't even care about appearances, it was basically a shotgun waiting, Nancy couldn't expect him to smile and laugh about it. She'd gone out of her way to make everything perfect, though, even invited his family and friends. It was supposed to be an event to remember for years to come.

The church was packed, there were all kinds of guests – from family to friends, to distant relatives and acquaintances, co-workers. Nancy wanted to make it look like the perfect epitome of a perfect relationship, hence it couldn't be any less than a fairy tale wedding.

Alexander checked his phone out of habit. He'd been doing the same every day for the past 3 months, but had never received one single message from Emma. On one side, it was good, it meant his sacrifice wasn't in vain. On the other side, what assured him that Nancy hadn't done something to her?

Not even Daniel could find her, with all his resources. Although, Alexander believed her ex had indeed found her, but since he was – obviously – on her side, she'd probably asked not to be outed, and he'd complied.

When he met Delilah's gaze, Alexander forced a smile on his face. There was no reason his family should know what was really going, what were his real motives for marrying Nancy. All he'd told them was that she was pregnant, and he was taking his responsibilities. Delilah didn't believe him, but she couldn't find proof to contradict him.

In the end, Alexander thought, it didn't matter. Emma was gone, and so was every hope for a better, brighter, happier future. They'd tried to fight it, and they'd failed, might as well make peace with it. At the very least, she was who knows where safe and sound. She'd probably changed name again, shredding her skin once more.

When the wedding march started, Alexander clenched his fists at his side, as well as his jaw. A lifetime beside Nancy wasn't that scary, a lifetime without Emma was appalling. He closed his eyes, and nodded to himself. "It's for a greater good," he murmured, "it's for a greater good." For Emma.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, right when Nancy reached him at the altar. Without thinking twice, Alexander immediately grabbed it, and unlocked it. "Emma." He whispered, disbelieving. As if on cue, the whole church heard the loud noise of a motorcycle roaring.

All the message said was: Run. Now. He didn't need to read it twice. Before Nancy could say a word, Alexander launched for the exit, amongst general confusion and gulps.

Outside the church, he found indeed a motorcycle waiting, engine on. Due to the helmet, he could only see her eyes, but when she handed him another helmet, he was sure she smiled. He would recognize those brown eyes anywhere.

Hearing the ruckus behind them, Emma urged him: "Get on, now. We'll talk later."

Without a doubt, Alexander put on the helmet, and obeyed, leaving behind a raging Nancy that was yelling all the curses she could think of. She could scream all she wanted, this time nothing would separate them, both thought at the same time.

"Alaska?" Alexander frowned once they got off the motorcycle. "Who in their right mind would drive to Alaska in Winter?"

"March is somewhat warmer. And I mean, it's not like New York is the Bahamas in Winter." Emma chuckled, heading to the cabin on whose driveway she'd parked the motorcycle.

"It's still not freaking Alaska." He braced himself. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm only wearing this stupid wedding suit."

She rolled her eyes, unlocking the door to the cabin. "Come on, get in. It's warm inside and there's clean clothes for you."

"You really thought of everything, huh?" He teased, surprised but happy.

Emma shrugged. "If there's one thing I'm good at, that's running away and hiding."

"A cabin in the woods is very cliché." Alexander mocked, following her inside.

"You don't exactly have much of a choice but to drop off the grid when you're running from a psycho rich lawyer with a lot of resources and connections." She reminded him, entering the kitchen to put on a tea kettle. "Clothes are on the couch. It's not fancy, but it'll be enough for one night."

"Then what?"

"Then ..." she leaned against the counter, "St. Petersburg."

He frowned. "Wait what? Russia? Why Russia?"

Emma shrugged. "No extradition in Russia." She pursed her lips. "It's not forever anyway, just until ..." she took a deep breath, "look, it's better if you get changed first. I'll light up the fireplace, then we can talk."

Alexander nodded, yet walking to her. "Ok, but first," he smirked, cupping her cheeks, "hello." He said, kissing her deeply. "I missed you."

Emma smiled against his mouth. "I missed you, too." She pecked his lips. "Now go get changed. I'll warm up dinner, too."

"So, why Alaska?" Alexander asked once they'd sat on the couch before the fireplace. Now that the latter had been lit, the cabin felt a lot cozier.

Emma criss-crossed her legs, sitting at the other side of the sofa not to be tempted to jump him. "Where else would a fugitive go?" She joked.

"You've spent the past 3 months here?"

She nodded. "It's quiet. Gives a lot of time to think and plan ahead."

"No offense, baby, but it looks expensive." He argued, looking around. It wasn't really a large cabin, but it was comfortable and clearly not very cheap.

She chuckled. "It's an Airbnb. The owner's kind of doing me a favor."

Alexander rolled his eyes, guessing her next words before she uttered them. "Right," he slumped against the sofa's arm, "Almighty Daniel to the rescue again."

"No." Emma shook her head. "I haven't talked to him since he got me out of prison. "This place belongs to someone I work for. She comes here only around hunting season." Seeing him confused, she went on explaining: "I had to provide for myself, don't you think? Once I'd come all the way to Alaska, I had to find a job, invent a new life."

"What's your name here?"

"Emma ..." she bit on her lips, mildly embarrassed, "Adams." When he gulped, taken aback, she quickly explained: "I was about to take that name anyway, after all, right? So, I thought, why not?"

"I won't deny it, I'm really surprised." He admitted, yet scooched a bit closer to her. "I thought you'd skipped the country or something. Daniel said he couldn't find you, I thought he was just helping you remain hidden."

"He almost found me, yes." Emma nodded. "But luckily I may have found an actually loyal friend."

"She sounds great."

"She is." Emma grinned. "And no, I haven't slept with her." She teased.

He frowned. "Why would you ... wait ... you mean ..."

"Delilah."

"How ... what ... I don't understand."

Emma smiled. "Remember Millie? That girl she was sort of seeing?"

"Yeah, but how do you know?"

"It doesn't matter. Well, Millie's aunt lives in Alaska, she owns a few Airbnb, and Millie convinced her to let me live here on condition I help her out in any way I can – like with cleaning etc."

Alexander blinked his eyes, marveled. "This is a lot to take in, I won't deny it."

"The thing is, that day, when I was supposed to meet you at the city clerk office, Nancy showed up at the apartment." Emma confessed. "She claimed she was going to sue us for damages because she lost millions due to us." She pursed her lips, lowering her glance. "She said she was going to ruin you, Alexander. You were going to lose everything, even your Nana's house, and I ... I couldn't allow it."

"So, you left." He filled in lowly, uncrossing her legs so that he could sit closer to her.

Emma nodded, gladly sitting on his lap. "I thought it would save you. She said that the only way she would not proceed with the lawsuit, the only way she would leave you alone once and for all, was if I left and never came back."

His eyes shot to hers, betraying commotion. "Emma, you picked me over yourself?"

She hid her face behind his neck as tears began to streak her cheeks. "You almost lost everything because of me. The only thing I could do was at least try to save you." She heaved a deep sigh. "But then Delilah told me about the wedding, and I realized what a fool I had been, thinking Nancy would stay true to her word."

"I'm glad you didn't think I was doing it willingly." He kissed her temple. "I never would."

"I know that. And Delilah thought the same, she just didn't have enough info to piece it all together, but I did."

Alexander smiled, moving her hair to the side to bare her neck and caress it. "I guess you do know me, after all."

"The only certainty I have in this life is you." Emma declared, kissing him. Those 3 months had been hellish, but it was all worth it just to get here. When Delilah had contacted her through Millie's aunt, to tell her about the wedding, Emma had immediately started working on a plan to get him out of it. The easiest solution had been the most cliché one.

"So, now we learn Russian?" Alexander teased, letting himself take in her scent, which he'd missed just as dearly.

"It's just a precaution. Until everything's done."

"Everything?"

"Well, Delilah pointed out that as long as she's free, Nancy is going to come after us, so, the only way to get rid of her is ... to make her pay for her crimes. I highly doubt you and I are the only ones she was willing to stomp over to get what she wanted."

"Certainly not. Her entire career is paved in victims of her greed."

"Exactly. And she's good at covering her tracks, but you know, even the most perfect crime isn't really perfect."

"FBI is on her case?"

"And a few others. With any luck, she'll be in prison by summer. But ... we may have to spend at least the rest of Winter in St. Petersburg." Emma half smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I promise it's not going to be forever. We just need to cover our bases."

Alexander grinned. "Russia, no, it's not going to be forever," he said, kissing her temple, "but us? That's a forever and beyond."

"Oh," Emma pursed her lips, "there's another reason why I had to come get you," she pulled back, and placed a hand over her belly. "Nancy's pregnancy may have been a hoax, but this one ... I'm afraid this one's very real."

"Wait, really?" He gulped. "How ... I mean, I know how, but ..."

"Doctor says it's precisely 3 months." Emma pecked his lips. "You do remember Christmas Eve at Nana's, when she and Delilah went to church, right?"

"I remember a lot of chocolate involved." He smirked. "Tell me you still have that lingerie hidden somewhere."

She laughed. "Of course. But I doubt it'll be much sexy with a 13 weeks pregnant belly."

"Nonsense. You're perfect every day no matter what." He stated solemnly.

"Cheesy."

"But true."

As they kissed, Emma grinned against his lips, "I love you to the moon and beyond, and I will never leave you again."

"You better not." Alexander reminded her. "Remember, wherever you go, I go. Whatever you fight against, I fight against. Nothing will separate us."