Steven stood up from the island and started to leave. I didn’t hear the whole conversation but I did catch the end when he returned from the foyer.

“Forgot something.” He said quickly as he walked to Tiffany. He boldly kissed her on the lips but then was quickly out the door. Shane and I chuckled as we listened to Tiffany stammer. I looked at Shane.

“She doesn’t remember, does she?” I asked quietly.

“Nope.” He said making the word pop. I smiled again as we sat in peaceful comfort. Mom and Molly left as well shortly after they had breakfast. Tiffany left in a daze right behind them.

My attention went to Alison when she made another plate and handed it to Marcus with a smile on her face. I knew that smile so leaning to Shane I whispered “Watch what happens next” Shane looked at me funny but did as told.

Alison filled a pitcher with ice water before she headed upstairs. Shane nudged me and I just chuckled. “Just wait.” I said holding back my laughter. Soon enough the bellow occurred.

“ALISON!!!” Jake roared. Alison came running down the foyer with Jake hot on her heels but she quickly hid behind Marcus who lifted the plate to Jake. He stopped in his tracks instantly as his eyes never left the plate.

“Are those your blueberry pancakes?” he growled.

“Yes.” Alison said at the same time Jake ripped the plate from Marcus’ hands.

“Wow, what did you do?” Marcus said astonished.

“She tossed a pitcher of ice water on me… Again!” he glared daggers at our sister but I sat and silently laughed as Shane held my hand. I saw the laughter in his eyes when I looked in them, the others’ conversation was drowned out as I saw the feelings Shane had for me flash through his eyes. Smiling I sat closer to him and squeezed his hand. Our connection was broken when a scream shook the house.

“OH NO HE DIDN’T!!”

“Mary’s up.” Shane said smiling. Everyone’s eyes went to the stairs as Mary pounded up them.

“Where is he!” she snapped at Jake.

“Gone before I woke.” Jake snapped back before he went back to eating.

“Ali!” Alison just smiled at her. I ignored the little ruffled Tinkerbell and looked at Shane. He was listening to the conversation, but I already knew what had happened.

“He is brave.” Shane whispered.

“No, he has found the right girl this time.” Shane frowned at me. I just smiled as I sipped my coffee again.

“He left a note if I’m not mistaking.” Shane looked around me and nodded since Alison was explaining the note to Mary who had finally stopped yelling.

“What does that have to do with him leaving?” Shane was seriously confused.

I smiled. “Jason told all the girls in high school and college that if he left a note behind then they were ‘the one’. No one ever got one. I’ve been watching them as well as my sister. Jason knows the little Tinkerbell is his one. Temper and all. It’s the only reason he would leave a note..”I looked at Mary and I could easily see the mark on her neck from his hickey. “and a mark.” I finished. Looking back at Shane I saw his eyebrows raise.

“Well I’ll be, are all of you like that?” He said with humor in his voice. “I wouldn’t mind being marked by you.” I blushed at his comment but shook my head.

“No, it’s just Jason. We each have our own way.” I mumbled as I drank my coffee, which was sadly empty. Shane’s eyes narrowed as a grin took his lips.

“What’s yours?” he asked quietly. I looked away and shook my head.

“Jason was the only one who voiced his. The rest of us didn’t have that type of way of doing it so it didn’t need to be voiced.”

Shane’s phone buzzed and I watched as his features paled.

“Shit! I’m late! Thanks Ali!” he kissed me before he ran out the door. I wondered for a moment what that was about.

“Huh, he must have forgotten that he had to go back in.” Marcus said from the kitchen. I sighed in relief and let a small smile slip as I got up and went to gather my things. I said bye to Alison before I went to my bike and headed home. Last night was definitely one that would be in my dreams for a long time.

Once home I started a load of laundry, but I kept the shirt I had on out. Whatever cologne Shane wore it was embedded in the shirt. I kept in on as I walked to the computer.

Once the system was up I looked at the file I had made for Shane. Opening it I looked at the picture of him and Quinn. After a little thought I printed the photo out and decided that I would frame it for Shane. I deleted the file afterward and felt a weight lifted off my chest.

Noticing that a group chat popped up on my normal chatting network, I saw that Brown, Giles, and Hawthorn were happy to see me on. I then remembered that I haven’t been on in a while. Smiling I joined their conversation.

Willow: Hello boys.

Brown: took him long enough to sign on.

Giles: where the hell have you been dude?

Hawthorn: ditto.

Willow: Busy.

Giles: well that’s a moot answer.

Brown: How was thanksgiving?

Willow: Great. Alison can through a good party.

Hawthorn: really?

Giles: Wow, so I take it she is doing better?

Willow: as much as I hate to say this…

Giles: What?!

Willow: She is like her old self again and it’s all because of a guy that used to tease her when she was little.

Brown: and he is breathing why?

Willow: he has changed and gave us his reasons. He has always loved her. Still loves her. Respects her deceased husband, and loves Molly.

Hawthorn: Clearwater? Really?

Willow: Yep. I forgot I told you about him.

Hawthorn: Yea, I’m surprised she didn’t rip him a new one.

Willow: lol, I think she did but we weren’t present.

Brown: What about you?

Willow: Pain free and happy.

Giles: wow, who is she and does she have a sister?

Hawthorn: Giles, shut up.

Brown: You going to tell them or should i?

Willow: I’ll throw a party one of these days and let you all meet the person that has made me remember who I was before. Until then I still have dates to go on, and a niece to spoil, a soon to be brother in law to mess with and a house to clean.

Hawthorn: Luke?...

Willow: don’t say anything, just know that I’ve probably known since high school, but didn’t get a chance to realize it.

Hawthorn: Okay. So you are done blaming yourself about me?

Willow: I haven’t talked about it yet, but I plan too. Somewhere in me I know it was partially my fault but at the same time, I didn’t just let you die.

Giles: wow…

Brown: Tell S that I approve.

Giles: S? who the hell is S?

Willow: Bye.

I quickly signed off and sent Brown a private message to not tell them yet. They would get introduced soon enough.

Beeping went off and told me that my phone was going off. I quickly searched my bag and found the blessed phone. Opening it up I saw I had a message from Shane.

Sorry I left so abruptly. Alarms didn’t go off and I had a shift I was supposed to cover. I was an hour late going in and my co-worker had texted me, asking where I was. I don’t regret it though. See you soon.

Smiling from the text I sent one back.

It’s okay. I understand.

After I sent the message my phone rang. Answering it I heard sirens in the back making the hairs on my neck rise.

“Luke!” Lucas almost yelled over the sirens.

“Lucas?” I said concerned.

“Molly and mom were in an accident! Usual hospital. See you there!” Lucas hung up and I sat there for a moment before what he said clicked.

“SHIT!” I yelled as I shoved my phone in my pocket and then put fresh clothes in the bag. I swung it on and then ran to my bike. I sped down the road and made it to the hospital we all knew by heart. It was where we got treated as kids for broken limbs, and where dad died.

I ran inside the hospital and met with Lucas in the emergency room. Jake was shortly behind me. We all went to the ICU waiting room. Eventually Jason joined us looking ashen.  Lucas left then to check in on Alison and Molly. We all waited until a female doctor filled us in on our mom. She was fine. They just wanted to make sure she didn’t have a heart attack.

The chest pain was just from the seatbelt constricting her chest. We then went to where Alison was waiting. Lucas joined us, I barely noticed that he looked shocked and not from the accident. I decided to save it for another occasion.

“How is mom?” Alison croaked to Jason.

“She is out of ICU. They thought she had a heart attack but the chest pain was from the seat belt locking on her in the car. She had some bruising and a concussion, but she should be fine in a few days.” Jason spoke softly.

Suddenly a doctor in scrubs walked in looking tired and overworked. He then led everyone to Molly’s room. Alison almost fainted at the sight of Molly, but I don’t blame her. I felt all blood leave my face from the casts and bruising on her. Soon Alison was holding Molly in the bed. Molly only woke briefly before they both fell asleep.

I sat on the window bench and watched two of the most important women in my life sleep soundly through the day. Mid afternoon a nurse walked in and frowned at Alison. I immediately got up and joined my brothers.

“I need one of you to move her off the bed. She is hurting Miss Blaze.” The nurse said pointing to Alison. Jake was the one that spoke for all of us.

“Alison, Molly’s mom I might remind you, would never harm a single hair on that child’s head, even in her sleep.” He growled in a whisper. The nurse straightened her short self and narrowed her eyes at Jake. I looked at Jake and saw a flicker of confusion in his eyes. And I knew what was going through his head. No one could stand up to his eyes when he’s pissed. But this little thing of a nurse just stood her ground.

“Mr. Blaze-“

“Willow” Jake corrected. The nurse’s eyes widened a little but went back to even more narrowed if possible.

“Mr. Willow, Mrs. Blaze needs to be removed from that bed so that I can make sure she hasn’t ripped open molly’s stitches.”

“you can work around her.” He snarled.

“Give me three good reasons that I shouldn’t have her removed completely from that bed.”

“You can’t move our sister. One she is asleep. Two she’s been to hell and back because of the accident, and three I don’t even think anyone could remove her from Molly with everything she’s been through.” Jake argued. I had to hand it to him. Those were three good reasons.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but I need her to move so I can change Molly’s bandage on her side and make sure that your sister sleeping with her didn’t open the stitches there from the surgery. That and you niece is probably in pain with her mother holding her so tight.” She said with her voice rising from the whispered conversation.

“No she isn’t” Molly’s little voice filled the room. “Mommy is an EMT and wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Molly you’re awake?” the nurse went to molly’s side.

“Yes. And don’t move mommy. I made her sad, I want to make her happy. Just move her arm if it’s in the way.”

“Okay sweetie.” I heard Jake huff beside me and had to smile. She had gotten under Jake’s skin with that little battle. “Well you were right sweetie. Your mommy didn’t reopen you stitches.” The nurse walked back to us.

“is her father here?” she asked us all. Pain shot through us all at the reminder.

“No, he passed away earlier this year.” Jason spoke softly.

“Oh. I’m sorry.” The nurse put a hand over her heart. “If I may ask? How?”

“He gave his life saving two kids from a burning building. Molly is all that is left of him. So do you understand a little now why it’s not smart to move Ali from molly?” Jason explained.

“She already broke down just from hearing molly being hurt.” Marcus said from the chair beside Ali’s side of the bed.

“I’m sorry. I will pass this on to the other nursing staff.”

“What you going to tell them that Molly has an unstable mother holding her?” Jake sneered. Wow, he really didn’t like this nurse getting under his skin. I laughed on the inside. The nurse spun on her heels and glared at Jake.

“No.” she snapped. “I’m going to tell them a mother almost lost her daughter, after losing her husband. Please excuse me.” she turned and stormed out of the room.