A/N: Read till the end. I really love the end of this chapter :)

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Alison had sat next to Ed's bed on a chair. She had pulled up her legs into her chest and was reading a book. It was almost night and Ed was going to wake up soon based on what Rich had told her.

The curtains pulled away a bit and Catherine walked in. "Hi." she greeted Alison with a smile.

Alison smiled back. She has already liked the beautiful nurse. "Hi, Catherine." she said and put her legs down and closed her book.

"Please call me, Cate. That's what everyone calls me." said Catherine softly and Alison nodded. "Sorry to disturb you, honey. But I have to change the IV and check on your friend."

"Thank you." said Alison and watched Cate doing her job. "How old are you?"

"I'm 22." answered Cate. "And if you are wondering, I'm recently starting to work here."

"You are at Rich's age." said Alison with a huge grin and Cate nodded and blushed a bit. Alison giggled inwardly. They were so oblivious. She had caught Rich during the day staring at her and glaring at every man who was talking or laughing with her and even saw her smiling at him or blushing when she caught him staring.

"How do you come to work here?" asked Alison curious. "You know what I mean."

"Oh, yes." said Cate and waved her hand nonchalantly. "My father works here. They needed more trusted nurses and he offered me. It was a great offer for me as well. I can learn many things here and earn enough money to pay for my studies myself."

Alison nodded. Just then she heard a grumble and her head snapped toward Ed who was slowly waking up. In instant, she was standing and was holding his hand. "Ed?" she asked worriedly as she saw him opening his eyes. "Oh goodness me, Ed." tears of happiness welled up in her eyes.

"Alison. Where am I?" said Ed with a raspy voice and tried to sit up but grunted in pain immediately and fall back.

Catherine was quick to steady him. "Easy there, mister." she said softly and checked a few things. "You can't move suddenly. You should take care of your ribs."

Ed opened his eyes and looked at Alison. "What happened?" he asked and coughed and once again withered in pain. Alison felt her heart clenched. She quickly took a glass of water and a straw and helped him drink once Cate brought his bed a little bit up so he was in a semi-sitting position.

Ed drank the water gratefully while Cate injected him with something. "I injected you with painkillers a bit to ease your pain." she said. "Take it easy. I'm going to find the doctor." she then walked out and leave Alison and Ed alone.

"Everything is fine, Ed." said Alison softly and ran a hand through his black hair. "You are safe. You are in my brother's private clinic. Mason took care of your father. Unfortunately, he is alive but he is going to spend the rest of his life in prison for selling drugs."

Ed sighed in relief and closed his eyes. "Thank you." he whispered relieved. "For everything."

Alison smiled and kissed his forehead. "You don't need to thank me. You are my brother, my family. I will do anything for you." she smiled.

Catherine returned with Rich a moment later. Rich checked Ed's conditions and then explained to Ed his health condition. "We are going to keep you here tonight. It's better you be under watch. You should take it easy for a few days and after a month you will the same." explained Rich. "We will sedate you again so you can rest easy. Tell us if you feel uncomfortable so we can check what's the problem."

"Thank you." said Ed gratefully.

"Your welcome." said Rich with a smile. "I should go now." he then ruffled Alison's hair and went outside.

"Okay, I will bring you a light dinner, and then I will sedate you so you can sleep." said Catherine and left only to return a few minutes later with a tray of food. A male nurse came too and helped Ed to go to the bathroom. Alison insisted that she will feed him. So after she fed him and they talked a bit with Logan and Ashley, Cate returned and sedated Ed and left again.

"I'm happy that you are fine." whispered Alison and squeezed Ed's hand. "It was a horrible day, but at least your father won't be bothering you ever again."

"Yeah, you are right. I think it worth breaking a few ribs." said Ed and winced as he moved a bit. He was moving better much to Alison's happiness. "I'm sorry to make you worried, Al."

Alison smiled warmly at him. "It's alright. This event somehow helped me as well." she said and continued to explain when she saw Ed's frown. "I found out how much my new family cares for me." she then explained to him what had happened and her talk with Albert. She left the part when she talked to Alex and blushed a bit.

"Well, thanks to heavens that I somehow helped you." said Ed and looked at her warily. "But what else has happened? You are blushing like an idiot."

"Alex was here as well. He was worried that I had not shown at school." said Alison and bit her lip while smiling. "He asked me out on a date."

"That bastard," mumbled Ed under his breath angrily. "And you accepted like a fool? Did you easily forget what he did?"

"Hey!" frowned Alison and crossed her arms on her chest. "I didn't forget what he did. But I decided to give him a chance. He has done so much to do as I asked. He deserves it."

"That asshole should be careful. If he hurts you again, I will kill him." growled Ed angrily.

Alison huffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." she said annoyed.

Ed closed his eyes and rubbed them. The drugs were affecting him slowly. "Don't fight it, Ed." said Alison. "You need your rest."

Ed nodded and sighed and a moment later he was fast asleep again. Alison smiled and kissed his forehead. She adjust his blanket and left him, knowing that he will not wake up until morning. Feeling hungry she walked around searching for something to eat.

She saw so many men and women on her way who were nodding to her with respect. The news of the King's princess in the warehouse has spread and everyone knew who she was. She entered what was like a cafeteria and found Damien, Xander, and Hunter sitting there, eating. She picked a Cesar salad from the refrigerator and walked to their table and sat next to Hunter who glared at her, still pissed about the fact that she was going on a date with West.

"We heard from Rich that your friend has woken up." said Damien. He had a ghost of a smile on his face at seeing her happy and calm face after days.

"Yes, but he slept again. He needs to rest." said Alison. "You guys won't go home?"

"You are staying, so we will stay as well." answered Xander without looking at her while stuffing his face with his food.

Alison nodded shyly. "You don't need to do this." she said quietly.

Hunter slammed his fork on the table. "Are you going to ignore the fact that she is going on a date with West tomorrow night?" he spat angrily.

"Get over it, Hunter." said Damien dismissively. "He is her boyfriend and Mason and dad have approved him as much as we don't like it."

Hunter whispered a string of profanities under his breath and Alison chuckled while eating her salad. When she was done, Xander suddenly stood. "Alison, come with me." he said and then turned on his heels and walked to the exit. Alison looked at the other two nervously. Hunter shrugged. "Go with him." said Damien.

Alison nodded and stood and almost ran to keep up with Xander's long strides. They went out of the building and toward another one behind it. They entered and Alison jumped startled when she heard the sound of bullets. Xander felt her hesitance and grabbed her hand. "Come." he said and dragged her toward a door at the end of the corridor. He opened it and Alison winced and covered her ears quickly. It was a shooting range. A few people who were there stopped and looked at them. "Everyone, out!" ordered Xander sternly.

No one opposed him. They took their guns and left the room. Xander closed the door behind them and turned to Alison who was standing there awkwardly. "Well," she said breaking the silence. "If you want to kill me, do it fast. I don't want to suffer pain. A headshot will be great."

Xander chuckled under his breath and walked to one of the tables there. "Come here, Alison." he said and she walked over to him confused. She panicked when he offered her a gun. She took a step back. "Is it real?" she asked as she eyed the gun suspiciously.

Xander rolled his eyes and walked to her side. He grabbed her hand and shoved the gun in her hand. "Wow." said Alison shocked as she weighed the heavy weapon. "It's heavy." she said and looked at Xander.

Xander nodded. "If you want to use one you have to first learn how to assemble and disassemble a gun alone with load and unload it." he said.

"Why should I want to use one?" asked Alison but Xander ignored her and began to explain different parts of the gun and how she should put different pieces together. Alison listened silently. It was the first time they were talking like civil people and she didn't want to ruin it. Besides the gun has really fascinated her.

When she finally assembled a gun successfully, Xander nodded satisfied and then guided her behind a table and showed her a target shaped like a human on the other side. "Now ready the gun and aim the target. Aim for the vital parts."

Alison nodded excitedly and raised the gun. She felt Xander standing behind her and he corrected her posture a bit. "Now, pull the trigger." said Xander. Alison did as he said and her body jerked back violently. Her back collided with Xander's chest who steadied her and chuckled. He instructed a bit and helped her to aim and after a few other shots, she got the hang of it and even once hit where she aimed a few times. She patted her back proudly. She was a fast learner.

Xander let her put aside the gun after an hour of practice. "Xander!" called Alison and Xander hummed in response as he put the now unloaded gun away. "What was tonight? Why am I here? You know that I never want and can shoot someone."

Xander looked at her and sighed. He pulled out a gun from the back of his waistband and handed it to her. Alison looked at the gun in awe. It was beautiful. A few carvings shaped like branches of trees were running on its silver handle. There were small initials carved at the end of the handle in curvy writing. A.K, Alison King.

"This is Colt Cobra." explained Xander and Alison looked up. "It's light and handy and won't be too much of a bother for you."

Alison tilted her head to a side and watched him confused. Xander stepped closer to her and put his hands on her delicate shoulders. "What happened last night, can happen again while you live with us, Al." he said and Alison could see the concern in his eyes. "Alison, I'm sorry for whatever I have done and said to you. I was wrong all the time and acted like a dick. You are one amazing and strong girl." he paused a few seconds before continuing. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but listen to me just this time. I want you to always carry this gun with yourself when you are out of home and to promise me that if you were ever in a dangerous situation when a bad guy wanted to hurt you, you will use it to protect yourself. Okay?"

"Xander!" whispered Alison. Her heart ached at the sight of his worry and desperate eyes.

"Promise me, Alie." he pleaded and squeezed her shoulders gently. "You are so precious for us. We can't afford to lose you."

Alison stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "I will forgive you, Xander." she said softly and saw his eyes softened as well. "And if it calms you down, then okay. I promise to have this with me as much as I can and use it if I see it necessary."

Xander smiled down at her. It was the first time she was seeing his smile and she liked it alot. He then caught her off guard and hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Alison." he whispered. "I swear I will protect you with my life, so you won't ever need to use that gun."

Alison smiled and hugged him back. Her happiness couldn't be more at that moment.

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The next morning, Rich released Ed from the bed. Oliver and Nilson were also there ready to take the two teenagers to Logan's house where Ashley and Logan were waiting for them. When Ed was comfortably resting in Logan's room and Alison was sure everything was fine, she left for her house, promising her friends to visit them soon.

Mason had told her that Bella had arrived that morning and was at home. Alison was so eager to meet her sister. She had missed her a lot and was happy that she was going to see her. She thanked Oliver and Nilson and jumped out of the car when they pulled over in front of the house.

Mason, Rich, and Ben had just arrived as well and were standing on the porch ready to enter when Alison arrived. "Hi, cupcake." said Ben as Alison ran up the stairs. "Hello." she squeaked happily and ran inside of the house. Rich and Ben chuckled. "Someone's a bit excited." joked Ben as the two followed Mason into the house.

Mason was not in a good mood. He had not found any firm lead to Volkov and it had become frustrating for him. He had done his best to keep his men and shipments safe and it was taking a lot of his time and energy. He was also tired because he would sleep for two or three hours every day and that had a bad effect on his mood. No one dared to get close to him at work and bother him or he would turn into a beast.

He heard Alison's happy squealing from the living room and walked in the direction, knowing that the new Harris must be there. He had not seen her, not even her image and he was a bit curious. He entered the living room and immediately froze in his place and looked ahead with wide eyes as his heart did an odd somersault.

Right in front of him had stood an angel at arm's length from Alison. She was certainly another Harris from her resemblance with Alison and Eva, yet she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life and he had seen his fair share of them. Her mid-waist brown hair had fallen around her in waves, creating a smooth river of melted chocolate that he wanted badly to run a hand through it, feeling its silkiness. Her deep blue eyes were twinkling from happiness and were shining from unshed tears. The tip of her nose and her cheeks had an adorable rosy color from crying and her plump kissable lips had been stretched to the most beautiful smile he had ever seen that could light up his dark world. Her petite fragile figure was covered with a loose white shirt and skinny blue jeans. He wanted to feel her in his arms, yet he was afraid that if he touches her, she would break into pieces. She was the definition of perfection in his eyes.

His heart skipped a bit when the girl turn to him and her eyes met his. His cold heart suddenly melted when he heard her angelic voice talking softly and he immediately knew that he was lost. "Hello, I'm Bella."

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A/N: Okay guys :) now tell me what do you think. Things are slowly getting interesting. I'm so excited.