"You have a boyfriend!" I hissed.

"Doesn't mean I can't look." She said sheepishly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Hello!" Devlin said. He shook Nathan's hand along with Brian's and Jeff's. He gave me a peck on the cheek and lingered for half a second but it was noticeable. He pecked Linda's and Maya's as well. "I'm Devlin O'Brian."

"This is Linda, Maya, Jeff and Brian, Melinda's friends from California." Nathan said.

"A pleasure to meet you all." Devlin said. "These are my lads, Shane and Kane." Kane and Shane waved at them. "Sit, order whatever you want. It's all on me."

Jeff and Brian were extremely happy about that. Devlin sat next to Nathan and I. I switched from beer to just plain water. I didn't want anything happening like something getting slipped in my drink.

"How are you two?" Devlin asked.

"Fine." I said.

"I wanted to thank you about telling us about Lucy's and Peter's plan." Nathan said.

He was in on it! But I kept my mouth shut.

"Yeah, once I found out Lucy was just using me I had to tell Melinda and it was a good thing I ran into her in the hospital." Devlin had his eyes on me but I was looking away.

"She's always been a heartless bitch." Nathan said.

"We're lucky to have made it out." Devlin said.

"I have Melinda and that's all I need." Nathan said to me and I smiled just for him.

------------

[Christmas Eve]

I applied my eyeliner. It was the final touch for my makeup. I saw myself in the mirror and smiled. I checked the back of the dress and made sure everything was in place. I slipped into my heels. I picked up my brush and put some of the hairs down. After putting the brush down I looked at my hand with the ring and grinned.

Things were well. Things were extremely well.

Minus the whole 'cheating' on Nathan with Devlin thing it was all good. Devlin has remained MIA since the club.

I walked out of my room to join the party I was hosting. Dr. Albright was speaking to my parents. Manuel and Victor were watching something on TV. My friends from here were mingling with my friends from California. It looked like one big happy family. There was also some nurses and staff from the hospital and some workers from Nathan's office.

He surprised me from behind and wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck.

I giggled at this.

"It's wonderful. You look... I don't have the words for it." He said turning me around so he could look at me.

"Thank you and you look absolutely handsome." I said getting him by his jacket and kissed him long, hard and deep. His lips were perfect for mine.

He knew how to kiss me. He knew what made me weak.

I love the taste of him and the feel of him against me.

I was getting myself worked on. I needed to stop. We pulled from the kiss grinning like fools.

He and I went around meeting his friends from his work. He introduced me to his boss. His boss told him all those cliché lines like 'Lucky catch' and 'Don't you let her go'. I laughed lightly at that. They were all friendly. I spotted Charles and I excused myself from Nathan's group of friends and sneaked behind Charles and covered his eyes.

"You're about to be raped." I said in a deep voice.

"Ooh," Charles said in a falsetto voice, "do remember to use the whip, sire."

I laughed hard and put my hands to the sides and Charles turns around and gives me a hug.

"Merry Christmas, ho, ho, ho!" He said impersonating Santa Claus.

"You too." I said.

"Look at you." Charles said looking me up and down and I twirled around just for him. "You're gorgeous. Nathan is one lucky bastard."

I smirked. "He is, isn't he?"

"I would jump your bones right now, if it wasn't for Nathan's scary punches and kicks." Charles joked.

I laughed.

"Are you here by yourself?" I asked.

"Nope, I have my," he whispers this part, "girlfriend of the week."

A pretty redhead girl appeared next to him. She had freckles but it wasn't that noticeable and it made her kind of cute looking. I extended my hand.

"I'm Melinda." I said.

"Cheryl." She said with a shy smile. "You're the host, right?"

I nodded.

"It's a great party." She said. "And Charles has talked a lot about you."

"Yeah, he and I go way back." I smirked towards Charles.

"That's nice." Cheryl said with a hint of jealousy.

I smiled. "You should meet my boyfriend, Nathan, he's Charles best friend."

"Oh yeah!" Charles said. "Nathan! Mate, come over here!" Charles called Nathan.

I saw as Nathan walked over to us and he wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Evening." Nathan said extending his hand to Cheryl and placing a soft peck on the top of her hand.

Cheryl blushed and stared at Nathan.

"This is Cheryl, Charles' girlfriend." I said. I'm not jealous... okay a little because she was staring at him like he was a God. She was undressing him with her eyes!

"Lovely to meet you." Nathan said. "I'm Nathan Fullerton."

Cheryl snapped out of it. "Nice to meet you too."

"Well, we should go before she starts raping Nathan." Charles said as he whisked Cheryl away.

I turned to Nathan with a grin.

"See? You're irresistible, baby."

"As are you. I saw as my friends checked you out."

I chuckled. "But she was totally undressing you with her eyes."

"That she was, like you used to." He smirked.

I blushed. "Yeah... I still do... when you're not looking."

He tickled my sides and I squealed.

We went to the kitchen and got something to eat. Soon everyone was leaving to join their families. Cheryl and Charles stayed.

We watched a couple of movies that were on TV. There was the usual The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and A Christmas Carol. In our family we didn't wait until the next day to open presents. We did it at midnight.

The tree in my apartment was full of presents.

At midnight Manuel and Victor attacked the tree and went for their presents. They opened Nathan's first which was Guitar Hero III for each one. They opened my parents which was a hundred bucks because they had no idea what they wanted. They opened mine and they got I-Pod Nano with recording camera. Jeff and Brian got them an X-Box 360 and Linda and Maya got them shirts from Hot Topic.

I went for my presents. Linda got me the new edition of A Nightmare Before Christmas that came with a Jack Skellington necklace. Maya got me a bag of toys to use for sex. I mean it had lubricant, a book about different positions, message oil and flavored condoms. I can truly say I was expecting this from Jeff or Brian but not Maya. I didn't show it to my parents, duh!

My parents got me a camera. It was the one with Ashton Kutcher (yummy) advertised on TV with the whole touching thing. Manuel and Victor got me an awesome mash up CD from all of my favorite songs. It was touching.

Then came Nathan's present. He told me to close my eyes and I did. A necklace? A ring? A bracelet?

Bark! Bark!

I opened my eyes and a small dog licked my face. Everyone aw-ed. He got me a puppy.

-------------------

My brothers went all wild with the puppy. Linda and Maya loved him. Nathan looked at me.

"You're the best." I said pecking his lips. He pecked them back.

"Yes, yes I am." He said.

I punched him playfully.

The best Christmas of my life because I was with Nathan, my family and friends because the last Christmases have been horrible and always awkward because my family would look at me like I would break any second.

But now I was with Nathan and happier than ever. After much more talking and drinking everyone went to sleep. Nathan and I went to my room and undressed and got into our PJ's. I think we were both too tired since it was four in the morning. He wrapped his arms around me and kept me close as we went to sleep.

I had a beautiful dream. Nathan and I were old and living in the country where there were hills for miles and miles. The smell of the air was fresh and so beautiful. I felt so complete and happy. His eyes were as bright as they always have been. His hair was gray and so was mine and our hands was so wrinkly but there was so much love in his eyes and mine as well. We loved each other even as this old.

I was awakened by the feel of something going down my cheek. I fluttered my eyes open and I was staring right into his crystal blue eyes. I immediately smiled.

"Hey there gorgeous." Nathan said.

I scoffed. "I must look like hell."

"Hmm, a little." He joked and I scoffed again and punched him again. "I'm joking, pet; you've never looked so beautiful."

"Now you're a liar." I said as I stretched and I felt something heavy at the end of the bed. I looked over to see the puppy sleeping. I smiled. "I haven't named him yet."

"What would you like to call him?" He asked.

"Rodrigo." I said.

"Love it." Nathan said.

We stayed in bed until my room was raided by my little brothers. They came for Rodrigo. They weren't surprised when I named him Rodrigo. Nathan and I got up. I changed into something and then went to brush my hair. Nathan came up behind me and then bit my neck.

I laughed because it tickled. "What the hell was that for?"

"What? Girls are into the whole vampire thing."

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Vampire thing?" I asked.

"Twilight and shit."

"I can honestly say I have no idea what you're talking about." I said sincerely.

"You're joking, right?" Nathan said.

"Uh no, what's Twilight?" I asked.

"What's Twilight?!" Linda said from my door. "Only the best book ever!"

"Is it good?" I asked.

"Good?" Linda scoffed offended. "It's brilliant. I've talked about it for months!"

"I don't really pay attention." I said shamefully.

Linda rolls her eyes. "Figures."

"So Twilight is about vampires?" I asked.

"I feel kind of weird that I know about it." Nathan said.

I laughed and shrugged. "I don't really care."

"How are you a Harry Potter fan and not a Twi-hard?" Linda said with her hands on her hips.

"Twi-what?" I asked.

"The guy that plays Cedric... something-"

"Diggory." I corrected her.

"Well that guy, Robert Pattinson, plays the beautiful and mysterious Edward Cullen."

"Are they blood thirsty vampires?" I said hopeful.

"No, he's a vegetarian vampire that only feeds on animals and instead of burning the sunlight he shines like diamonds and his eyes are topaz colors because he feeds on animals." Linda said a little too excited.

"Okay," I said extending the word and laughed nervously, "that sounds nothing what Ann Rice has written and she's the best vampire writer I know."

"Get with the 21st century, Mels." Linda said. "Breakfast is ready... even though it's like two in the afternoon." She laughed and walked away.

"Twilight is confusing. I rather stick to my blood thirsty vampire from Interview with a Vampire." I grinned.

Nathan hugs me. "My weird, weird girlfriend."

"Would you like me all over some... fictional character?"

"Hmm, good point." Nathan said and we walked out of my room.

[A Week Later and a half]

My family and friends were ready to go back to California. School was going to start again for Maya and Linda.

I hugged my brothers and my parents and my friends. I was going to need their support for what was going to come. Devlin has made no contact with me which makes me uneasy. I asked Nathan about him and he told me Devlin left to Ireland to be with his family for the New Year which was only about three days ago.

I was relieved but I knew he was going to come back and that was the bad part. He could rot in Ireland for all I cared. I hugged Linda and Maya tightly and promised them that next time I would go over to California.

On the ride back to my apartment I looked out the window and thought about just life in general. I kept complaining how I had it bad when other girls were suffering a lot more than I. I just wished life was simple. I wanted problems to be solved on their own and I didn't have to work too hard on getting my life together.

Back at my apartment Nathan and I talked about what we were going to do for the rest of the day. I told him all I wanted to do was stay in. He agreed and cancelled his day for me. We went to the living room and started to get cozy when the doorbell rang. I groaned.

Nathan laughed and kissed the top of my head. "I'll get it love."

I pulled the covers over me and turned on the TV. I heard as Nathan spoke to someone. Rodrigo jumped on the couch with me and I hugged him tightly.

"Love, come here for a second." Nathan called me.

I put Rodrigo down and walked over to the front door. I was surprised to see Cesar standing at my door. He looked different. He wasn't drunk for once and he was tidy up and clean.

"Hey," I said and looked over to Nathan for an answer, "what's up?" Then two men appear behind Cesar. One of them stepped up.

"I'm Agent Ganong, are you two Melinda Gomez and Nathan Fullerton?" Agent Ganong asked.

I nodded. "Yes."

"We need to speak to you immediately." Agent Ganong said in a very serious tone. I looked over to Nathan.

"Let me see your credentials." Nathan said.

Agent Ganong showed Nathan his badge and Nathan examined it careful. Nathan nodded towards me and we let the three men come in. Rodrigo barked at them.

"Shush, Rodrigo." I told the puppy nicely but of course, it's only a puppy and it didn't. So I picked him up and took him to my room. I went back to the living room wondering what possible could the FBI want with Nathan and I.

I sat down next to Nathan and we held hands. It was all very like in the cop shows. I thought we were about to receive some kind of very bad news.

"A week ago Juan Rodriguez escaped from prison in California and has been spotted here in London." Agent Ganong said.

Juan Rodriguez, Cesar's father, the man who shot Nathan and almost forced me to marry Cesar. He was the one responsible for the whole thing. If Nathan had not been shot then we wouldn't have been in the accident in the ambulance and he wouldn't have been in a coma. Things would've been so differently if it weren't for that man.

Nathan wrapped his arm around me and held me close to him as if Juan was going to jump out any second and kill us.

"You think he's after me." Nathan said.

Agent Ganong nodded, "We think he's here for the both of you."

I looked over to Cesar and he had an actually concerned look.

"How do you know he's after us?" I asked.

"He was spotted in the hospital you're working Ms. Gomez." The other Agent said she was at least thirty and had a polite tone. "I'm Agent Shuester and I'll be here to protect you."

I looked to Nathan and he had that old mobster look in his face. Fuck, just keep on piling to the piece of shit I have to deal with. I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Why are you here?" I asked towards Cesar.

"I'm a different man, Melinda; I wanted to make sure nothing happens to any of you." Cesar said. "I helped the FBI track down my father."

"What happens now?" Nathan asked with gritted teeth. He was holding back anger.

"We have someone posted outside this building at all times and you will have protection wherever you go, both of you."

"I don't need it." Nathan said. "Melinda is already being taken care of."

He spoke of his own bodyguard that followed me everywhere.

"Still this is a matter of the government and the British government has given us authority to station a couple of agents here and at your work place." Agent Ganong said. "This man is dangerous."

"We know." I said. "Do you know how long this might take?"

"We think he's going to make his move soon." Agent Shuester said.

After a couple of minutes of being filled in the Agents left. I looked outside my window and sure enough there were about two black cars that definitely looked government like.

"This can't be happening." I groaned as I rubbed my face in frustration.

Nathan hugged me. "Don't worry, that son of a bitch isn't going to come fifty feet near you. I promise." Nathan cupped my face and pecked my lips. "I need to go, you'll be fine."

"Nathan... don't do anything... mobster-y." I pleaded him.

He looked into my eyes and saw what I meant.

He kissed me deep and long.

"I can't allow anyone to hurt you."

"But there are agents all around. We are safe, plus your men. Nathan... let them take care of this and stay with me."

Nathan was having an internal struggle about staying or leaving. He decided to leave even though I was against it.

I was left alone. I bet the agents already had my phones tapped, probably had it tapped for a while. I went to my room and got Rodrigo and went back to the living room. The sound of the TV was the only one in the apartment. My cell phone went off.

The phone didn't recognize the number but I still answered it.

"Hello?"

There was only heavy breathing on the other line. It had to Juan Rodriguez.

"Juan Rodriguez?" I asked and there was a click he hung up on me.

Goose bumps formed on my arms.