Hero?

67

Ana stands out in the gazebo staring unseeing at the garden around her. She'll be staying here at the estate. She should never have left. She holds back her tears. Damn hormones make her cry and she doesn't want to cry anymore.

Ana doesn't turn when she hears the footsteps. "It was a lovely funeral, thank you, Ana, I'm sure that he would have appreciated it." Calum says and Ana has to fight the tears all over again. He's gone, they couldn't save him.

Ana feels herself pulled into a warm hug and lets the tears fall. She misses him so much, he did so much for her and she couldn't save him, not even the body armor suit he was wearing could save him. She had tried so hard and she failed.

"I failed him. I should have done more and he'd be alive." Ana sobs out.

"This is on Snake and his cohort Javier. This isn't on you, Ana. You did everything you could." Damon says holding the sobbing girl to him. "The bullet's impact was stopped by the body armor but the kinetic force destroyed his heart. There was nothing anyone could have done."

Ana controls her crying enough to ask Damon a question, "Can we move Jenny into the mansion?"

"You want to move my ex into the mansion?" Damon is astounded at her petition.

"She's carrying Jacob's child and her father is now in jail since his crimes were uncovered. She needs someplace to live." Ana explains. Damon is poleaxed at Ana's generosity. Perhaps his little innocent ward isn't completely destroyed.

"If you wish." Damon gently caresses her back.

Once she has herself under full control Ana takes the handkerchief Damon hands her and cleans her face up. Then she turns to Calum. "Calum, Trina tells me that she is pregnant."  Calum's eyes go wide both with fright and surprise.

"I take it she hasn't told you yet. Perhaps that was smart of her. She tells me that you've proposed to her again and that she's turned you down, but offered a counter proposal. She will be living with you if that is what you choose. At the end of the year you two will decide if you wish to make things permanent once more. If not then she will leave and you won't have to deal with having your child cramp your style. If you do, than you better treat her right this time."

"Yes, Ana." Calum manages to choke out before leaving to find his girlfriend.

"When are we getting married?" Damon asks in the silence of the summer afternoon. The funeral for Jacob had been delayed since Damon was in the hospital for internal injuries. The blood Ana had seen on his chest was fake. The ass had planted it and given some to Jacob as well. No one could have foreseen how the events would turn out.

"I don't need a fancy wedding. A simple wedding here in the garden would be nice. Invite our men and their families perhaps? We could have it in a month if you wish. Or would you rather wait for me to have the children?"

Ana had found out that she is in fact pregnant with twins and doesn't wish to be a beached whale when saying her I do's.

Ana had Shandee buried next to her daughter. It makes her smile to know that two people that loathed each other will be spending eternity side by side. Jezey should have taken better care of herself and worried less about gaining weight. She refused to eat sufficient calories or healthy ones at that and wasn't strong enough to survive childbirth. Sadly the innocent baby didn't live very long either. The child is buried with its mother.

Ana looks at Damon waiting for her at the end of the aisle and her heart lightens. He's the only one that makes her smile anymore. One day the pain of losing Jacob will lessen, she hopes.

Ana walks to Damon and takes his hand. She doesn't hear much of what the justice has to say but she manages to get the words out when it's her turn and she hears Damon say his vows as well. That's all that matters to her.

She loved him ever since she woke up in the hospital room and found him at her side. He was worried about her, and for the first time she felt that she was worth something to someone. That he was good looking didn't hurt. The more time he spent with her the more she fell in love with him. She never thought that she would get him to herself though.

"Mrs. Phoenix, what are you thinking about?" Damon asks after he gives her the kiss that seals their marriage contract.

"How lucky I am to win your heart." Ana replies, knowing he thinks that she should have run from him. He tells her that every night.

Damon changes the subject. "You ready to go on our honeymoon?"

Ana smiles wickedly, "I love that you are taking me to Paris."

"We will return Javier's body to you. How you receive it will be determined by you." Damon says to the group of people meeting with him and Ana. Ana had been rather brutal with Javier when she found out Jacob wouldn't make it.

"What do you mean?" Javier's father says, his accent heavy.

Damon's sets his hand over Ana's silently asking her to let him speak. "I mean, either you sign this peace treaty and you get his body in recognizable shape, or you don't sign it and we send pieces of him back. One body part a week, until his whole body is returned."

The man scoffs at Damon's assertions," You wouldn't subject yourselves to that. Especially not your beautiful wife."

Damon smiles wickedly and hands photos over to the older man. "My beautiful wife is the one that did this. She was rather upset that Javier had just killed the man she considers her brother." Damon had taken the photos so that each and every wound that Ana inflicted would be visible. Ana had taken her time and did a thorough job with him.

"I see," the man before them ages in front of their eyes. "My son was headstrong and ambitious wanting to branch out to the States. He, it appears, bit off more than he could chew. We will sign the treaty and remain out of the States. He killed family and so his death was called for. I will keep my other son and daughter away from your territory and forbid any retaliation. I would appreciate it if you would allow me and my wife to pick up my sons remains."

"Of course, I have picked out a casket and had him embalmed," Ana pipes up now, "you are of course welcome to choose a different casket."

"My brother will escort you to the funeral home where your son is waiting for you," Damon assures the defeated man in front of them.

"You are most kind. Forgive me, but are you expecting?"

"Yes," Ana replies cautiously.

The man gives them both a small smile, "Congratulations, may your child bring you joy."

"Thank you." They say in return.

The man stands and makes his way out of the restaurant where they had met and his men soon follow him. Damon rolls up the paper with the signature of the man and offers Ana his hand as they too leave the restaurant.

"Now that the work is done, where to?" Damon asks smiling at his young bride. Ana smiles back at him and Damon chokes back a groan.