Thirty minutes later Annika followed Jesse to the master bathroom where he pulled out a small bottle of peroxide and some bandages. She sat on the counter and allowed him to clean her head and put salve on it. His large body loomed close to hers and she couldn't resist resting her hands on his waist as he cleaned her up.

She'd seen Lizzy. She was real and she was out there, somewhere. She wasn't just gone. Despite the crash and her paranoid need to now never take her eyes off TJ, she felt strangely peaceful for the first time in over three years.

Jesse finished with her bandage and then opened a drawer and pulled out some aspirin. He dumped two into her hand and handed her a bottled water.

She snorted. "You don't even drink tap water anymore?"

He shrugged. "I'm a snob, what can I say?"

She shook her head, opened the bottle, and downed the aspirin. Setting the bottle on the counter Annika looked up into Jesse's face.

He cupped her cheek. "I didn't think you were coming and then when I found you slumped in the front seat of Bettie..."

She wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his hard chest. He pulled her in tight and she let the warmth of his body spread through her.

"I mean, I figured, wow, I've had all this food prepared and it's just going to go in the trash. What a waste."

Annika laughed and pushed him away.

He smiled and then his expression grew serious. He ran his fingers through her hair. "I thought I was going to lose you again."

"Well, you didn't. You were my knight in shining armor."

He looked deep into her eyes, making her stomach flutter. "I don't want to be in a world where you aren't in it."

"Jesse-"

"Anna, I love you. I've always loved you. I hurt you. More than hurt you. But I promise, if you'll give me one more chance-"

"Shut up." She pulled him close. "I love you too."

She kissed him soft, and he raked his fingers through her thick tresses locking his lips on hers tight. Her body tingled from head to toe as he kissed her harder. She wrapped her legs around his waist, molding her body around his. He lifted her off the counter and carried her toward the bedroom. They hit the doorway and his knee gave out and they fell in a tangle of bodies to the floor. Annika burst into giggles as her legs lay tangled with his, his weight on top of her.

"Wow. This is seriously embarrassing."

"Couldn't even make it to the end zone when the field was wide open."

"Ouch." He kissed her again and pulled her lip into his mouth. He kissed down the side of her neck. "Though I suppose the floor is as good a place as any. The carpet is brand new and I knew I invested in the upgraded padding for a reason."

"Very funny."

He tickled her side and she laughed. She tickled him back and he chuckled. His eyes connected with hers.

"No."

He poised over her, his fingers at the ready.

"Jess-"

It was too late. He reached in and the moment his fingers stroked her skin she began to howl with laughter.

"Jesse... stop.... Jesse..." she breathed.

"Nope. Not until you say it."

She laughed and giggled and howled. She knew exactly what he wanted her to say. He'd made her say it a hundred times in college.

"No."

"Say it."

"No!" She broke into a fit of laughter.

"Say it!"

"Jesse Winchester is the best football player ever."

He raised his hands in triumph. "Yes! I still win."

She smacked his chest. "Jerk."

He leaned over her and kissed her. "Beautiful."

Annika's heart fluttered at his kisses. She couldn't believe she was back in his arms, after all these years. All the pain, the loneliness, and the betrayals- she was right where she wanted to be.

"What are you guys doing?"

Jesse sat up quick and Annika looked over to find TJ in the doorway.

"I... uh..." Jesse's cheeks reddened.

"I'll tell you what we're doing," said Annika. "We're having a wrestling match. As you can see, Jesse has me pinned, but maybe with your help-"

She didn't even need to finish the sentence before TJ ran over and jumped on Jesse's back.

"No. No. Not El TJoe, the great wrestler of the seven seas," Jesse cried. Jesse fell on his side and TJ climbed on his chest.

"Yes, I am El TJoe and you are about to die."

"You can't kill me. I am the... Tickle monster!" Jesse reached in and tickled TJ.

Annika smiled as she watched them together. So natural, So much alike.

"Come on." Jesse got to his feet with TJ on his back. "Time for presents."

"Presents!" TJ yelled.

"Jesse, you didn't have to-"

He held out his hand for her and helped her up. He kissed the top of her head and together they walked out of his room and back down the stairs to the family room.

He plopped TJ in front of the tree and pointed out all the presents that were for him, then he sat on the couch next to her and she snuggled into him.

"You didn't have to do this."

TJ tore open his first gift.

"I don't have to do a lot of things," he replied. "But I liked doing this."

TJ held up his first present. "Look mom! A football signed by a million players!"

She smiled and nodded. "That's awesome. We'll have to figure out who they all are."

Jesse wrapped his arms around her as they watched TJ open present after present. Finally, TJ picked up a small box and held it out to her.

"Mom, this one has your name on it."

"Mine?"

TJ brought it over to her. Her heart raced.

"Open it," said TJ.

Her mouth dried as she opened the box to find a smaller box inside. She recognized it immediately and looked at Jesse who gave her a sheepish grin.

She carefully took out the small black box and held it in her hand.

"I want to see what's inside," TJ said.

"I already know what's inside," she whispered.

"You do?"

She nodded and handed the box to TJ. "Here, you open it."

TJ took the box and stared at the contents for a moment. "Wow!" he said. "That's tiny."

He turned the box to face Annika and she burst out laughing. The diamond was tiny. Less than half a carat.

TJ scrunched up his face. "I thought you could afford more than that."

Jesse barked with laughter. "It's all I could afford at the time. Here, lift the padding out."

Annika lifted out the black padding and underneath was a second ring, gorgeous, it had to be at least five carats. Annika gaped like a fish.

"Now that's more like it," said TJ. "Put it on Mom."

Annika lifted out the second ring.

"Look." Jesse lifted the smaller ring and twisted it into the larger ring. It fit perfectly on the side of the larger stone.

"Aren't you going to put it on," asked TJ.

Her chest squeezed as anxiety raced through her. She wanted to put it on. She wanted to say yes to Jesse with all her heart, but she needed to take a moment.

"It's okay," said Jesse. "Your mom can put it on whenever she feels it's time."

Annika looked at Jesse at a loss for words.

"So," Jesse said seriously to TJ, "I want to marry your mom. I've loved her for a very long time and I want her to be my wife. But I want your permission to marry her."

TJ's pushed up his glasses and he tilted his head to the side. "Don't you need to ask her that? I'm only a kid."

Annika laughed as a tear rolled down her face.

"Well, yes. I need to ask her too, but I want to make sure it's all right with you first."

TJ straightened his shoulders. "Do you promise not to hurt her?"

"I'll do my best."

"And do you promise not to make her cry?"

"I promise to bring her more smiles than tears."

TJ swallowed hard. "And do you promise that you won't have more kids and then not love me anymore?" His voice barely came out a whisper.

Annika burst from the couch and hugged TJ tight, kissing his face. "That would never happen baby. Not ever."

Jesse joined them. "Not ever, little man."

The three of them squeezed into a big group hug. This was how it should have always been. Her, Jesse and her kids.

Annika looked over at the Christmas tree. In the corner Lizzy stood in a white gown with bright white wings sprouting above her shoulder. She smiled at them. "Merry Christmas, Mommy."

Annika sniffled and pulled her guys in tighter. "Merry Christmas baby girl."