So I was going to make this into a couple of chapters, but I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer than you already have. SO for the last time, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

The room was too white, with nothing on the wall to distract from the blandness. The only thing to take away from the whiteness were the bright flowers that sat on the table next to the young girl in the too white hospital bed. The brunette dye was fading from her hair and her blonde roots had started to show, but that was the only indication that anything had changed from the night they had brought her in.

The doctors hadn't given the team much hope, but Alex kept doing what she always had done, surviving. Dom was sitting next to Alex as he always did holding her hand and reading Car and Driver magazine to her. He figured whenever she did wake up she'd be a gear head for sure.

The others came in constantly to check up on Alex's condition, but also Dom's. The first few days he was there they realized that Dom wasn't moving from his seat, no matter what they said. Not even Mia could make Dom budge from his chair. Mia soon was delivering food to Dom to make sure he'd get his needed three meals a day. When it wasn't Mia bringing food it was the guys bringing more magazines or just sitting with him trying to talk. Dom wasn't much for talking these days though.

It wasn't like Dom was intentionally trying to alienate his family. He really did try, especially when it came to Mia. He ate the food despite the fact that he'd rather let it sit and grow fungus than eat it. But he knew she was worried for him, she'd said so herself. The guys tried to talk with him, but besides a slight nod and grunt they didn't couldn't get much more out of him, he just didn't feel like speaking with the girl he loved hooked up to so many machines, fighting for her life.

Brian had temporarily taken over the team, surprisingly Vince hadn't put up much of a fight despite the fact that his arm had healed. Vince seemed to be the one that shared Dom's outlook when it came to Alex. He'd sit with Dom for hours not saying much at all, just being there for the both of them.

After the ninth week of Alex's struggle Vince came in, he pulled up a chair across from Dom, and took a seat like always. This time though, he took Alex hand. Dom gave him a short glare, but when Vince did nothing but look at Alex; Dom continued stroking her hand, waiting for her to wake.

"Did I ever tell you how she saved me?" Dom nearly jumped as Vince broke the thirty minute silence.

"No." He said gruffly in his unused voice.

"They had us. We were in the car and this mother fucker from behind us in an SUV shot me right through the back windshield through my shoulder. I couldn't move, I couldn't get us out of there. Whoever shot me knew what the hell he was doing. We were dead." Dom clenched Alex's hand tighter as he took a deep breath.

"I told Alex to run, I figured they wouldn't shoot her and she might be able to get away to some place. But she wouldn't. Stubborn brat wouldn't get out of the car." He gave a small chuckle as he tightened the grip on her hand. "She shocked the hell out of me by jumping into my lap and grabbing the shifter from me. She got us out of there alive. At first I was controlling everything but the shifter, everything was smooth and then I passed out. I did everything that I could to stay awake, but I couldn't do it. I honestly don't know how she got me to the hospital. The whole time I could tell she was terrified, but she just kept going. She's a fighter Dom. She's going to make it out of this."

Dom gave Vince a small nod of thanks. He knew that Alex had gotten Vince to the hospital but never the details. His Alex had saved his best friend. "I'm sorry I couldn't look after her better man." Vince said finally as his voice cracked. He quickly cleared his throat to try and hide it Dom knew that he was extremely torn up that Alex was here.

"Vince, I don't blame you. You did what you could and I couldn't ask for anything more than that."

"It should be me in that bed."

"So what it could be Letty in this chair and Alex over there blaming herself for shit that wasn't her fault?" He glared at Vince. "Vince you did everything you could to try and keep her safe. Hell if I blame anyone for what happened it's me."

"And he was two steps ahead of me the whole time! I had us all split up, and for what? My grand plan went to shit!" He yelled to Vince as quietly as he could. "Alex was here in danger and I was too far away to do anything about it because I had this wonderful plan."

"It should have worked Dom." Vince said softly.

"But it didn't." Dom dropped back into the chair, he hadn't realized that he had even stood up in his anger. "Instead she took a fucking bullet for me."

"Do you know how many people have a love like that?" Dom shook his head. "Like I said Dom, she's a tough little scrapper, she's going to make it out of here." Dom just nodded his head unable to do much else in his exhausted state. Vince stood from his chair giving Dom a nod as he gave Alex's hand a squeeze before he left.

Once Vince was gone Dom flipped out another car magazine and opened it to the page he had earmarked. He cleared his throat, "So where were we." He scanned the page and started from where they had left off on the new review on the Honda Prelude. He'd gotten two pages read but his mind kept going back to what Vince had said, maybe he was right. He prayed he was right about Alex. He knew she was a fighter, he knew she was a lot stronger than what people gave her credit for. She could pull herself out of this coma, she had to.

"Dom, I know you're not really in the mood for celebrating, but it's two days before Christmas. You already skipped Thanksgiving, please come home for just one day." Mia asked holding Dom's hand that wasn't holding Alex's. She sat on Alex's bed facing Dom pleading for him to come home.

"This was supposed to be her first Christmas, Mia." Dom said softly.

"She wouldn't want you to miss out Dom." Brian said from the other side of Alex's bed. Dom knew it was true, but how was he supposed to go and enjoy his day knowing that she was here in this hospital bed.

"I don't know guys." It's what he always said when he didn't want to argue with Mia but really didn't want to do what she wanted him to. "I'll think about it." He said when he saw the doubt in Mia's eyes. She knew that was going to be the best she was going to get out of him, so with a nod she sat up from the bed. She leaned over and kissed her brother's cheek before she turned and gave Alex a kiss on the forehead as she always did before leaving.

"Hey Mia, I'll meet you in a minute." Brian said as Mia waited for him at the door. She gave Brian a confused look but nodded and left. Dom looked at Brian waiting for him to plead his case and leave so he could get back to his story of his first humiliating day in Jr. High that he was telling Alex before they were interrupted.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell you all the reasons that you should come, you already know them. I just wanted to let you know that I understand why you don't want to. You love Alex, and you planned on spending this day with her and being able to show her why it's like the greatest holiday ever. You wanted her to enjoy all the special Christmas food that Mia makes. You wanted to share your traditions with her, and watch her eyes light up at the present that you got for her months ago."

"You know about-"

"Sshh" Brian smirked, "you don't want to give away the surprise." He gestured his head to the sleeping Alex knowing that Dom believed she could hear what they said despite what all the doctors told him.

Dom gave a small smile. "Thanks." Brian nodded.

"I understand why you don't want to Dom, but I also know that Alex really would want you to enjoy yourself. And if you missed it she'll just blame herself for it when she wakes up." Dom nodded, it was true that she would, she always did blame herself for things that weren't her fault. "Please do think it over."

Dom nodded giving Brian the biggest smile he had given since Alex had gone missing, it still didn't reach his eyes, but it was the best any of them had gotten. "I'll seriously think about it."

"Okay man. I'll see you tomorrow. You too, Alex." Dom waited until the door was closed.

"I don't know Alex, what do you think?" Dom asked her as he stared down at her. He wasn't crazy, he didn't expect her to sit up and answer him, so why was he so disappointed when she didn't. He brushed back a strand of her hair over her ear and let his hand rest on her cheek.

It was now past visiting hours but the staff had finally realized that visiting hours didn't apply to Dom when it came to Alex. It was late and he was tired so with a sigh turned off the light and laid on his side next to her, curled up as best as he could without disturbing her. He reached behind him and turned on the nightlight that Alex had first used at the house. He didn't want her to wake up in the middle of the night and think she was still in that basement.

"Alex baby, you've got to wake up." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "At least give me some sign that you're fighting to get back to me, please." Dom yanked his hand back when he felt her cheek move under his hand.

"Alex?" It had seemed that she had nuzzled his hand just the slightest bit. That couldn't have been though, he was imagining it, right? "Alex baby was that you?" The girl laid there motionless as she had for weeks now, no it wasn't his imagination though. "You always were my little fighter." He muttered to her as he kissed her cheek. It was decided he'd have to skip Christmas this year. There was no way he was going to miss Alex waking up. He'd have plenty more of them to spend with her anyways. He smiled at the thought of being able to spend Christmas mornings with her.

"Happy Christmas Eve! Are you coming home for Christmas?" The text woke Dom up making him shake his head.

"Thanks for giving me time to think it over, Mia." He said out loud looking at the time, it was only five in the morning. What the hell she was doing up at this time was beyond him. He laid down but this time gently set his head on Alex's shoulder. "I'm not crazy, right Alex? You did move, didn't you?" He was so sure of it last night but with the morning sun came doubts, he was pretty tired last night; he was always tired recently.

He decided to let Mia think he was still sleeping like he wanted to be, like he should be. He very gently placed his arm around her waist. "Alex I don't know what to do." He put his face down to her shoulder and sighed. "I know what I want to do, I want to stay here. But Mia wants me to go, I know you'd probably want me to go. You'd tell me the staff would let me know if you woke up. You'd tell me I should enjoy my family. But that's the thing. You are my family. How could I even think about Christmas joy when you are my joy? I love you Alex. I don't care if you don't have a last name. I don't care about your past, I'm only concerned about your future and me being in it." Dom finished off his speech with a sleepy sigh and fell back to sleep without realizing it.

It was dark, so dark. Alex tried to move but couldn't feel anything. She tried to open her eyes but they were too heavy. Where was she? Suddenly she saw a bright light, she still couldn't open her eyes but she could tell she was out of the darkness now. She felt warm, and safe. She felt secure, which was so unfamiliar to her without Dom being there that it scared her.

"Alex, it's okay baby. Everything is going to be okay." It was Dom's voice, she knew it too well. She tried to jump up, tried to see where he was, to tell him that she was okay, but she wasn't. She felt so heavy, and yet so weightless. It was like being underwater, but not being able to reach the surface.

"Dom I'm here!" She tried to call out but it was as if he lips were stitched together. Her hands seem trapped to her body, but no matter what she did she couldn't move. She didn't panic either though. It was such a strange sensation. She felt so imprisoned and yet she had such a peace. She wanted to find Dom, but she knew that she would find him eventually so she didn't have to worry.

"Get better soon kid, he needs you." It was Letty's voice this time, where had Dom gone? Even though she knew it was Letty's voice it seemed so foreign with the crack that gave away the fact that she was trying to keep back the tears. What had happened to her?

"I'm trying Letty." She wanted to tell her. She wanted to let her know that she was fighting to get out of whatever this limbo was between being asleep and wherever they were. She then felt soft lips on her forehead that she knew belonged to Mia.

"Please wake up honey." Alex felt the tear drops on her skin and wanted to wipe them away but without the use of her arms it was useless. Why couldn't they help her? She was trying to wake up, couldn't they open her eyes, pour water on her, something anything!

"She's a tough little scrapper, she'll make it out." She wanted to smile at Vince's compliment but her lips were still non cooperative. She was growing so frustrated of not being able to do anything. How long had she been like this anyways? It didn't seem that long, but the way everyone kept going on maybe it was longer than she thought.

"It's two days before Christmas." Christmas? Wait she'd missed Thanksgiving and Halloween! No she didn't want to miss the holidays, and she really didn't want to miss Christmas! Wake up, stupid! She wished that she could hit herself, pinch herself something!

"Alex wouldn't want you to miss out." Dom wasn't going to spend Christmas with his family? What the hell was he thinking? Of course he needed to go, the doctors would call if she woke up! Alex didn't want Dom missing anything just because she was too weak to wake up. She felt the warmth and serenity again that usually only came when Dom held her.

"At least give me some sign that you're fighting to get back to me, please." "Dom I am fighting!" She tried to scream at him. Alex felt as if Dom's hand was on her cheek and turned to nuzzle into him. But just like that the warmth was gone. Maybe she had imagined it. But she had moved! At least it seemed like she had. Everything seemed so different in this whatever you wanted to call it, this in-between?

Alex felt the warmth again and she tried her hardest to turn into Dom and tell him that she was fighting but the more she tried the more immobile she became. "Dom, I'm here. Please don't give up! Just go be happy with your family, I'll get back to you… somehow." It was quiet again, she didn't like the quiet. Sometimes she could hear Dom talking about cars, she didn't know why her would do that but she liked it. It made her feel normal as if he was reading to her out of one of his magazines that he had cluttered all around his room that they'd randomly read when he wanted to teach her something that he couldn't show her. She just liked hearing him speak.

"I know you'd probably want me to go." Alex nearly smiled when she heard him again. It was like he was on a radio station that was constantly changing and she had to adjust her frequency to hear him. "You'd tell me the staff would let me know if you woke up." She wanted to smile at that too since she already tried to tell him that. He knew her too well she decided. "You'd tell me I should enjoy my family." Alex frowned at that. She didn't want him to miss out on his family. "But that's the thing. You are my family." Alex felt as if her heart had stopped. "How could I even think about Christmas joy when you are my joy? I love you Alex. I don't care if you don't have a last name. I don't care about your past, I'm only concerned about your future and me being in it."

Alex felt the tear slid down her cheek but could do nothing to wipe it away. "I love you." He mumbled in his sleep.

"I love you too, Dom." Alex said out loud without realizing it.

Dom woke up with a groan remembering it was Christmas Eve. Usually he'd be excited by that news, but it just made him feel more depressed today. He looked down at his beautiful girlfriend. He loved this time because he could almost pretend that they were back at the house and he had just woken up before her. He could almost imagine that she was just sleeping and she'd wake up once he nudged her. It never worked though and the illusion was ruined when she didn't stir.

With a sigh Dom moved back a strand of hair from her cheek and put it behind her ear. That's when he saw it, a small drop of water on her cheek; almost like a tear. Dom then saw the very subtle white streak that ran from her eye down to the drop of water. Salt! Dom nearly fell off the bed.

"Nurse!" He jumped out and opened the door. "Nurse!" A woman that Dom had known as Alice ran into the room. She was young and sweet, she always was careful with Alex where some of the other nurses didn't really care since they said "she couldn't feel anything anyways".

"Dominic, is everything okay?"

"She's crying!" Dom usually couldn't stand when Alex cried, but this was progress. He didn't want her to be in pain, but if she was in pain that that meant she was feeling something. If she could feel it meant that she might be close to waking, right?

Alice looked down and the young girl with a small sad smile. "I see." She sighed before turning to Dom with that same sad smile. "Dom, I know that you want this to be a good sign, but I don't want you to get your hopes up." She took Alex's hand and smiled down at her.

"But it is a good sign, right?" Dom reasoned.

"It could be a good sign." She said softly. "It could mean that she's going to wake up. But Dom, we don't know when. It could be today, tomorrow, it could be decades from now. I know you love her Dom, that's pretty obvious. I'm just afraid of what would happen if she doesn't wake up. Are you prepared for that?" Dom glared down at the floor. He was furious at this girl who'd taken his ecstatic spirit and crushed it. But maybe she was right, maybe he was getting his hopes up.

Alice placed her hand on his shoulder, "I don't want you to think that I'm telling you to give up. Hell, I don't think it would do much good even if I did tell you that. I just don't want you to get your hopes up. But what do I know? It's nearly Christmas after all, a time for miracles, right?" Dom nodded his head but still refused to look up at her. His former happiness was already too far gone to be brought back by a little Christmas cheer.

"I'm sorry, Dom." He could tell that she wasn't just apologizing for dashing his spirits but for him having to be here in the first place. He knew that she was one of the nurses that really did care, she hadn't lost her empathy yet.

"Thanks Alice." He gave her a tight lipped smile that he hoped showed her that he had no hard feelings towards her. It wasn't her that put Alex in this bed, no he was in a cell not even all his money could get him out off after everyone had seen the gruesome video of him killing Ms. Roberts. All his followers had quickly abandoned ship. But that didn't stop Officer Dawes from rounding up a few that knew what had been happening. Officer Reynold's for instance. He was being investigated for a number of charges and would soon be bunking with Father Campbell. Father Campbell's trail though was being put on hold as long as it could be to try and get Alex's testimony since at this time all that Dom could do was tell them what Alex had told him. All hear say.

Dom sighed and turned back to Alex. He pulled out his phone and looked at the text his younger sister had sent him a few hours ago. He started to reply before shaking his head and putting his phone back in his pocket.

"Hello nurse." Dom heard Jesse flirt with Alice in the halls as he took his seat. Since the accident Jesse had frequently visited to bring Dom magazines and paperwork from the shop, and of course check on his favorite computer student. In that time though he'd grown to like the petite brunette. He heard her giggle and couldn't help but be a little jealous that it had been weeks since he'd been able to hear Alex giggle like that.

"Hey Dominic!" Jesse said loudly. He was so much on cloud nine that he'd forgotten they were in a hospital and were supposed to be quiet.

"Hey Jesse." He gave him a small smile at Jesse's obvious joy.

"How's she doing?" Jesse asked looking down at the girl's sleeping form. Dom thought about what Alice had said, maybe she was right, maybe they shouldn't get their hopes up. Dom looked down at Jesse who was watching Alex with a solemn look on his once happy face. Maybe this team needed hope, even if it was a little false.

"Really good, I think." Jesse's head snapped up to Dom, he wasn't expecting that, the only thing that Dom had ever said when he asked was "same."

"Really?"

"I think so, this morning she had a tear on her cheek." He said crossing his arms.

"No shit." Jesse's eyes got big as he looked back to Alex. "You don't think she's in pain do you?"

"I don't know." Dom admitted. "But any change is good at this point, right?" Jesse smiled and nodded looking down at Alex.

"Yeah, yeah defiantly man." He smiled up at Dom and his joy was contagious. "When do they think it'll be?" Dom shrugged.

"You know the doctors, they don't know shit. No offence to Nurse Alice of course." Dom smirked at the younger man. The rest of the day was spent talking about new designs and parts that were needed. Jesse could see a complete difference in Dom and he hoped to God that Alex would wake up soon before he lost his happiness again. Jesse left a couple hours later and Dom was left alone with Alex again.

"I know you can hear me, Alex. Everyone is worried about you, please wake up." He gently rested his forehead on Alex's. "Please, Alexis."

Alex listened to Dom's words and did everything she could to reach out to him, to tell him she was trying to wake up. But like before the more she struggled the harder it seemed to do anything. "I'm trying, Dom. UGH!" She threw her head back in frustration. Why couldn't she just wake up?

The lights dimmed again and she was stuck in darkness. She didn't like the darkness, she wasn't afraid of it like before Dom, but she still didn't like it. She could almost feel Dom, not his skin or heat, just the essence of him. "I'm going to miss Christmas, and worse, I'm going to make Dom miss Christmas. Wake up Alex! Stop being weak open your eyes, move!" But it didn't matter what she shouted at herself, she couldn't seem to have the strength.

"You're so strong, Alex." Dom's words seemed to hit her directly in the heart. "Don't worry baby, I'm going to be right here when you wake up, no matter how long it takes."

"Dom you can't! Can't you see you've already wasted so much time so me? I'm not good for you, I'm only going to bring you down. I'm going to make you miss your life, your family. And then one day you're going to realize that you missed so much and you're going to resent me. You're going to hate me like everyone else. Please Dom, just go. I'm fighting so hard and nothing seems to be working. Please I love you, I don't want you to hate me. I want you to be happy."

"Alex, before I met you I used to be so angry. I use to have such rage in me, I nearly killed a man once. But when I'm with you, I just feel happiness. I know they think that I'm wasting my time sitting here, but the truth is all the time before you was a waste if you ask me. I want you to wake up, but even just being in this room with you I'm far better off than being without you. I don't want to be that angry person I was before, I want to be with you." Alex felt a warmth in her soul as Dom touched it with his speech. She didn't know what to say, she didn't know what to do. She wanted to hold him close to her and tell her that she'd always be there for him. She wanted to let him know she'd always love him. But she couldn't, she was stuck.

Alex's eyes hurt as the light got brighter again. She was still in the bed, held down by a heavy weight that she couldn't seem to release her. As her eyes adjusted to the light she realized that it was in the shape of a cross. Alex couldn't hold back the tear that ran down her cheek as she realized that Dom had brought the nightlight from the house so she wouldn't be alone in the dark. So she would know she wasn't back at that awful house.

"I love you, Dom." She smiled fondly at the light remembering when he'd first gotten it out of the closet for her. She remembered the night that she had asked him to stay with her. How he'd gently held her so soft, yet he was so strong, so comforting. She loved the strength that she gained whenever he was near her.

"I love you too, Alexis." Dom answered groggily. Alex froze. Dom stiffened.

"Alex?" Dom looked up at her with large eyes that seemed to be begging her to answer.

"Can you hear me?" Alex prayed that he could.

"Yes, Alex. Please tell me I'm not dreaming. Please tell me this is real." Dom pleaded with her wrapping his arms around her tighter, afraid that if he loosened his grip she'd slip through his fingers.

"No Dom, you're not dreaming! I'm awake." Alex laughed through the tears that had now gathered in her eyes. Dom loosened his grip just enough so that he could lift his head up and bring it to hers. He put his hand on her cheek and Alex closed her eyes relishing in his touch.

"No!" Alex opened her eyes jumping at his sharp command. "I'm sorry but please, please don't close your eyes. I never want you to close your eyes again, Alex. I always want to be able to see those beautiful sapphire eyes of yours; I've missed them so much."

"I've missed you, Dom." Alex answered back gently placing her hand on his cheek. "I've been trying so hard to get back to you. You have to believe that I never stopped trying."

"I know baby." Dom smiled putting his forehead onto hers. "You've always been so strong, I knew you'd be able to get back to me." He kissed her forehead loving the sound of her giggling. The hand that was resting on Dom's cheek ran back to his neck pulling him down to her lips.

The second their lips touched Alex felt a heat flow threw her body. The tears of bliss that she had been trying to contain, over flooded and ran down her cheeks to where Dom's fingers laid. "Are you okay? I'm not hurting you am I?" Alex shook her head not being able to speak. She pulled Dom back to her in a kiss to show him everything that she couldn't say. In that kiss she conveyed how much she truly loved him, needed him, was grateful for him. She told him how much she missed how, how she never wanted to be without him, how she'd always come back to him.

"I love you." She whispered into his lips as they pulled apart. They were both breathing heavily but neither wanting to pull far away from the other.

"I love you too, Alex. I love you so much." Alex looked into Dom's dark eyes and saw the unshed tears in them. He understood everything that he was trying to tell her when she kissed him. He knew everything that she'd always been too afraid to tell him, everything that she didn't have the words to tell him. He understood what she couldn't.

Alex clung to Dom never wanting to be out of his presence again. "I'm so sorry, Dom! I ruined everything."

"No, no baby." He pulled her face back to look at him. "You beat him! Because of you that monster is going to rot in jail for the rest of his pathetic life" He smiled down at her. "… if he doesn't get the chair that is." Dom added with an indifferent shrug. Alex didn't know what that meant, but she did know that him being in jail meant that he couldn't hurt her or her family any longer.

"Is he really gone?" Alex asked hopeful.

"They're going to need your testimony, but yes. With the evidence that you got by recording him and what he did to Ms. Roberts, he's not going to be able to worm his way out. That by the way was absolute genius!" Alex gave a little wince.

"Yeah, I didn't mean to do that. I have no idea how it kept recording after I filmed him threatening her when she was tied up."

"I kind of figured that, looks like someone was listening to our prayers. From their though Jesse was able to put it was the video and uploaded the film you were shooting in your pocket." He gave her a small smile. "I can't wait to tell the others you're okay." Just then they heard a small cough.

"About that." They both looked to the corner of the room that was bathed in near complete darkness. Dom stood from the bed reaching for the light. The bulbs blinded Alex momentarily so when she felt someone pounce on her she gave a cry.

"I'm sorry Alex, are you okay?" Once Alex realized that it was just Mia she wrapped her arms around the woman tightly.

"Oh, Mia! I missed you so much." Mia gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I missed you too, Mija." She gave the young girl a watery smile as she pulled away. As she pulled away she saw that the entire gang was in the room, along with a small plastic tree and some presents.

"What's all this?" She asked with a smile.

"Well, we figured if Dom wouldn't come to us for Christmas, we'd bring the Christmas to him. And we didn't want you to miss out on your first Christmas." Letty answered sauntering from her place on the couch to give her a hug. "Thank you, Alex." She whispered in her ear. Alex pulled back giving a confused look. Letty looked back to her spot on the couch where Vince stood.

"Vince! You're okay!" She shouted in delight.

"Thanks to you." He said giving her a playful punch to the chin. "I knew you'd make it out."

"I know. I heard you tell Dom." She smirked.

"You could hear what we said?" Dom asked. Alex smiled up at Dom.

"Yes. I just couldn't get to you, I couldn't pull myself out of that sleep. But I heard you, Dom. I heard what all of you said." Jesse, Leon, and Brian had come up to her bed now. "I want you to know that you all saved me. You gave me shelter and food, but most importantly you gave me love. You opened up your home, and your hearts to me." Alex choked up as the tears formed in her eyes again. "You all let me be a part of your family. That's something that I've never had before, It's something that I was so desperate for even though I didn't know it. Thank you all so much." She took Dom's hand and looked at him.

"Thank you for loving me." She whispered as he bent down to kiss her. That Christmas day was filled with so much joy and happiness that the past few months didn't seem to exist. The doctors were called in and exams. They said she'd be leaving in a matter of days to everyone's delight. They all showed Alex a wonderful Christmas that she'd never forget. Alex was given a locket from Dom that had a picture of them in it that she swore she'd never remove. And she didn't.

She left the hospital in good health. She bravely gave her testimony and had Father Campbell thrown into a maximum security mental asylum when she had revealed to the court that Father Campbell, Marcus and Mr. Thompson were all the same person. The atrocious things that James couldn't do, he let Mr. Thomas take care of. And Marcus, as in his middle name, was the in between. What James had been right after the death of his wife. With much studying and help from Mia she even went on to earn her G.E.D and was considering going to college to take a course on Mental Illnesses to try and get a better understanding. She had grown into her own person, but never away from her family. Every day it seemed that she loved them more.

She stood at the counter of the restaurant where she was supposed to be helping Mia but was instead watching Dom. It had been a year since she'd gotten out of the hospital but she still hated to have him out of her sight for more than a few hours. She watched as he spoke with the team about the last victory and laughed at how animated he was. Today was a good day, and she suspected it was about to get better.

"Hey Dom." She called out to him once she saw that he was done with his conversation. He looked up at her with a smile that always seemed to melt her heart. "Can I talk with you for a minute?" She laughed as he hopped over the bar with a practice easy.

"Anything for you, beautiful." He smiled tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. She lead him to the caged area where he usually looked over the paperwork.

"I've got something to tell you."

"Yeah, figured that." He smiled warily. "Is everything okay?"

"You like kids, right?" Dom sighed lowering his head.

"Baby, is this about Mia being pregnant? I know you've been hurting ever since they told us, but it's okay baby. It's okay that we can't have a baby. You and me make the perfect family, we're complete as we are." He smiled taking her hand.

"And what if I told you the doctors were wrong?" She asked with a small smile.

"What are you talking about, Alex? They said that with your gun shot injury that you wouldn't be able to."

"Yeah, they also said I wouldn't be able to hear you spill your guts about how head over heels you are about me, but they got that one wrong too didn't they?" She joked with him to lighten the mood.

"Alex, if you want to have a baby I understand, but I don't want you to get your hopes up okay? If you can't you can't, and that's alright."

"Dom, I'm pregnant." Alex gushed.

"You're what?" Dom asked with his eyes going large.

"I'm pregnant!" Alex smiled up at him. Dom laughed softly.

"Are you sure?" Alex nodded.

"I've known now for a while, but I wanted to make sure." Dom wrapped his arms around Alex tightly.

"How far along are you?" He asked with such joy that it made Alex tear up.

"About ten weeks. Think you can take the rest of the day off with me to go to the hospital and get my first ultra sound?" Dom brought his hand to her neck and kissed her lips deeply and passionately. All of Dom's elation was put into that one strong kiss.

"Nothing would make me happier." He answered sincerely. "I want to go tell everyone!" He pulled her threw to the restaurant and everyone was ecstatic about the news giving her hugs and congratulations. The very pregnant and very emotional Mia even broke down in tears at the news.

Alex though could do nothing more than smile up at the wonderful man who had made all of her dreams come true. She knew that this man would love her and her child. She knew that he would do everything to protect their baby, and never let any harm come to it. As she held his hand her finger ran over his large silver ring on his left hand with the inscription.

"Thank you for loving me." She glanced down at her own ring in pride. The same silver with a beautifully cut diamond on it, but the most important inscription on the inside band.

"Thank you for chasing the star that lead you to me."

Well there you go ladies and gentlemen! Dom and Alex end up with a happy family of their own. I want to thank everyone so much for your continued love and support. This year has been met with some challenges for me, but each of your reviews 118 reviews and the 198 of you that followed me have given me so much encouragement! Thank you for your patients, I hope it was worth it and I really hope everyone enjoyed it!