Stone's thumb rubbed back and forth across the back of Sam's hand. That feels so nice, She thought. She loved the way Stone touched her, so gentle, yet strong, solid. She turned her head towards him and opened her eyes. "Samantha?" His voice was gruff with emotion.

Why is he looking at me...

Oh. In a rush, the memories flooded into her mind.

James and Norman had drugged her, tied her to the hotel room chair, and waited for her to regain consciousness. She could still feel the sting, the ache, where James backhanded her across her cheek. The two men had escaped their transport, assisted by a police officer whom they bribed. Sam couldn't say she was surprised by that. What was a shock however, was the woman, who sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, smiling in pleasure as James and Norman tried their hands at pain-inducing negotiating tactics.

"You will sign a retraction and state our innocence, Samantha." James snarled at her while dragging her head backward with a fistful of her hair. 

"The evidence is stacked against you two." She replied coolly, struggling to keep her voice strong. "No matter what you do, you will never be free men."

"We may not be free, but we'll be free from you." It was then that Norman raised the gun he'd been waving around, pointing it directly at her."

"Don't kill her yet." Javier’s mother interrupted. "I want to see her suffer. The way I've suffered all these years."

Sam's blood chilled at the insanity swimming in the woman's eyes. James and Norman she could deal with, but this lady had completely fallen off the edge.

When Sam realized she was going to die, there in that hotel room, she decided to fight on her way out. Norman liked to get close, to whisper in her ear the things he would do to her, so when he lowered the gun to lean in, Sam threw her forehead into his jaw with all the speed and force she could invoke. 

It worked. The man must have had a glass jaw, because he dropped like a rag doll, unconscious to the floor. 

Sam didn’t have time to acknowledge the small victory, because James was lunging for her, and she was pushing up with her legs, spinning to land a blow to him with the chair she was tied to. She heard the thud of wood meeting flesh, then his angry growl. Her momentum and lack of ability to balance, threw her to the floor where her rib cage met the angry boot of Javier's mother. The woman screamed and kicked her until James pulled her away, then gave her a violent kick of his own, sending her into unconsciousness. 

Sam blinked, taking shallow breaths, because the pain radiating through her body wouldn't allow anything more. 

“Stone, I’m so sorry. Jasper… How did you..." She squeezed her eyes tightly as tears rushed from the corners of her eyes. “Stone, they shot him. I’m…”

"Sshh." He soothed, then cleared his throat. “Jasper’s okay. He’s going to be okay. I paid off your pilot, followed you. You disappeared on me though." He tried for a smile. "Nice work using that alias. If Nora hadn't had pity on me, told me where to find you…” He choked up, pressed his forehead to her shoulder. "I almost lost you, Sam.” He whispered hoarsely against the hospital gown covering her skin.

Stone raised his head to look into her eyes. “Cameron tried to call you, to warn you. He knew they’d be heading for you, even though we didn’t know where you were.”

“Are they… Did you get them?” Sam winced as she spoke, every breath sending stabbing pain into her chest.

“We got them, Baby. James and Norman both had weapons. DeLuc and his men shot them, they’re gone, sweetheart. Those two will never lay a hand on you again.”

“Cynthia?” Sam croaked.

Stone rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand again, then brushed a tear from his cheek. “She was taken to a psychiatric facility. She’ll stand trial, but I think she’ll be there for a while.”

“Stone,” Sam’s mouth felt like a dessert, but she needed to say it to him. “I’m sorry…”

“Shh.” He interrupted, placing his hand gently on her forehead. “Shh. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry I hurt you, betrayed your trust. I’m sorry I didn’t have faith…”

Sam shook her head slowly. “Stone, it doesn’t matter now.”

He let his gaze fall to the floor. The medication coursing through her veins was making everything fuzzy, but it looked like he was getting up. She reached for him, panicked he might leave.

"Stay with me.”

It was an ask and a prayer. Sam needed Isaiah Stone Montgomery in a way she didn’t know was possible. She’d never wanted to need anyone. She’d thought that needing another person made you weak, but she needed him like she needed her next breath. He was the water that cooled her fire, the light that chased the darkness away.

He showed her that love was so much more than just a word, that it didn’t make you weak. Stone showed her that love gives you strength. Strength to overcome your demons. Strength to be more than you thought you could be. Love was the thing she’d been searching for and running from. Well, she wasn’t running anymore and damm, but this medication was making her dizzy. She didn’t care, she had to say it, had to ask it. If he said no, she didn’t know what she would do.

Stone’s eyes met hers and what she saw terrified her.

He's going to say no, he’s not going to stay.

She saw it, felt it.

Sam dropped her eyes, fighting the lump in her throat.

“It's ok." She told him in a shaky voice.

“It's ok. You don't have to. I just.... I need you to know. I need to tell you." She swallowed hard, working without success to keep the tears from falling.

“I love you Stone. I love you, and I need you, and I don't want this life without you in it. I’m asking you to stay. Stay with me."

Stone reached a hand to cup her face and she let her eyes close, leaning into his touch with a sigh. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the falling tears.

"How long, Samantha?"

She blinked, confused.

"What? What do you mean?"

His eyes bored into hers, looking at her as though he saw into her very soul.

"How long do you want me to stay?” He asked gruffly. “A week? A month? A year? How long do you want me with you? I told you before that I loved you. That I wanted to marry you, but it's your choice. It’s always been your choice, Sweetness."

He's letting me choose, she thought hazily, making it my decision, giving me all the power.

She crumbled, unable to stop her tears, despite the pain shooting through her. Stone wrapped his arms gently around her, resting his forehead against hers, and she realized that he was her safe haven. Her home. Her heart.

"Forever Stone. I want you forever. Don't leave me. Don't ever leave me."

He gently stroked the top of her head and moved so his lips met hers in the sweetest kiss. She tasted the salt of her tears mingled with the sweetness of his mouth as he moved over her so tenderly. When he pulled back, rested his forehead against hers again, the words that fell from his lips were the sweetest she’d ever heard.

"Marry me Samantha. Marry me. Stay with me and I'll stay with you forever. Nothing will separate us."

There was no question what her answer would be. “Yes, Stone, a thousand times yes."

Sam lifted her lips to find his again. This time he took her mouth like a starving man. His kiss was fierce and hungry, passionate and promising. He shifted, and the IV tugged at her hand. Sam whimpered, causing him to pull back.

"I'm sorry."

Stone adjusted her hand on the bed, making sure all her lines were straight, then he crawled his massive frame up beside her and pulled her close.

"Stone,” She protested. “This bed is too small. The nurse is going to be angry.”

"Sweetness, I don't much care what the nurse thinks. I need to hold onto my fiancé for bit. Close your eyes. I’m not going anywhere."

She couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as her eyes drifted shut. Even the pain in her body subsided under his warm embrace, and for the first time in a long time, Sam drifted away and slept in peace.