So much had taken place. Despite the conflicts I can safely say I would go through all I went through again – minus the fake death part to be sitting in front of this vanity mirror.

After learning about all that had happened without my knowledge, I can't help but laugh at the twisted sense of humour life seemed to have. Just when I was set on choosing to just survive, love came in to revive me once more. Nicky had made good on his aim to make it up to David and I. I was pretty sure all his enemies would be shocked to see the dangerous man turn into a ball of mush anytime his son was near. With a level of serenity in our lives, each day we spent never had to feel like our last.

Without the pressures of having to look over our shoulders it was a relief never having to feel the need to carry a gun around with me again.

"Ali," turning around in my seat at the sound of my name being called I found my mother standing by the door. Her hands were clasped tightly as tears swelled in her eyes that made a slow perusal over the white Oscar de la Renta dress. "It's time," she mumbled softly. Standing up I ran a hand across the fabric that felt like a second skin for any stitch out of place, "You look beautiful, baby," she assured grasping my hand.

I smiled at her grateful to have her here on this day. It had not been easy to finally come clean to both my parents over everything especially with having to explain how Nicky was alive. For me to say they were unimpressed at the fact I had hid such crucial details of my life would be an understatement to the fact they were pissed. My father had been prepared to rip his throat out but after some gentle coaxing done on both our parts we got them to see where we were coming from. In the end they grew to accept that this was the life I wanted.

My father clad in a tux smiled broadly when he saw me. The sight of his smile helped to control the butterflies swirling in my stomach, "My, my... you look absolutely beautiful. The spitting image of your mother," he said winking cheekily at his wife who smacked his chest playfully when she came to stand by his side.

As my gaze switched between them I couldn't help but marvel at their willingness to understand, their willingness to love. The good they both held gave me hope despite the things I saw that there was still a lot in this life to hold on to.

Grasping the bouquet of flowers handed my way from my mother who excused herself to go join everyone, I took the arm offered by my father.

"How are you feeling?" he asked staring down at me. Though the temptation to lie was present, looking up into his warm brown eyes the truth slipped out.

"I'm scared shitless," I admitted causing the man to laugh.

"It's only natural, but promise me one thing, don't keep anything from me at least in relation to whether it threatens your life... please," he groaned eliciting a small giggle out of me. I knew the request was fair.

I had broken a few promises with my parents and the last thing I would ever want is for David to do the same to me and without wasting another second I said, "I promise."

Nodding his head firmly in relief once the doors opened to reveal the small intimate group of family as the string quartet played the only thing I could focus on was the man standing down the aisle smiling at me. With the sun shining down upon us it seemed all the days and nights spent with bullets raining upon us had passed. As I walked my eyes shifted for a second to smile at Eva. She had been angry at what her son had done when he called her but she had put it aside when it came to ensuring I got on that plane. But best believe once she finally saw him, she smacked him at having been deceived.

Once Nicky was an arm's length away I turned to give my father a quick peck on the cheek only to hear him whisper lowly, "If he ever does anything, you just say the word and I'll kill him for real."

Pulling back I chuckled lightly at the comment which I knew to be true. Though I don't want to get ahead of myself as I placed my hand in his and stared into his eyes despite feeling scared I knew as far as anything was concerned... I was safe and truly loved.

***

Releasing a satisfied moan at the taste of the beverage slipping down my throat his eyes lifted up at me in shock. The sight of a naughty grin forming on his lips had me rolling my eyes, "You're such a perv."

"And yet you married me," he noted leaning back in his seat, the sight of him looking at ease caused the world once again to melt away.

After we said our 'I do's' we headed off to one of the places we had spoken of, Greece. We had already been in Athens for barely a week and I could already feel myself falling in love with one of the oldest cities in the world that opened its arms to welcome us.

"There's always divorce, you know?" I playfully challenged shifting forward to see how he'd react at the daunting word only to see his brow rise.

"Don't think that just because we're in public I won't reach across this table to show you how much I don't plan on letting you go, Liyah," he said, the words triggering an ache that would only be soothed by him.

Tightening my legs I cleared my throat to detach myself from the feeling. I was immediately grateful when he went on to change the subject to steer my mind from the naughty thoughts that always formed whenever he was near, "I've been thinking... I never did get a chance to name David. Don't get me wrong I love that you gave him one of my names," he said pushing his empty cup aside to place his full attention on me, "But I was thinking that since he doesn't have a middle name I could..."

He left the sentence hanging looking at me with uncertainty as to whether I would agree. Chuckling at the unexpected times he was nervous the sight of him in such a state was adorable to say the least.

"He's yours just as much as he's mine. What name do you have in mind?" I asked grabbing his hand. Staring at our joined hands he lifted my hand placing a small kiss on my knuckles, "I'm really happy to hear you say that... I love the name Malik. Since he's a little combination of both of us... I figured it would only be appropriate if he had a name that's also Arabic."

"Like mine," I chuckled lightly when he nodded his head. The explanation caused my heart to trip and miss a beat. "I love it, I find it quite cute how much thought you put into the name."

"We didn't know what we were having at the time and I figured if we had a girl, we'd name her after you," he replied blushing profusely to the point I found myself giggling at the innocent look he wore.

Unfortunately the look was short lived as he stood up to come stand by my side holding his hand out to me.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" I asked accepting the hand to stand in front of him.

He leaned forward allowing his lips to brush against my earlobe, "Just thinking of the position to put you in for another baby." He began chuckling when he saw a look of shock flash across my face. Slapping his chest playfully I walked past him to hear him cackling at my expense, "Oh c'mon, now that we're on the topic it wouldn't hurt to have another child. Let's give Dave a sibling," he offered placing his hands on my hips as we walked out of the little café.

Choosing not to immediately respond we reached the bike. I waited patiently for him to grab the keys from his pocket that he handed towards me, "You drive," he said pecking my forehead.

"Thank you, baby," I replied suddenly growing giddy as I took a seat. Once he occupied the seat behind me, I looked back at him for a moment to go on to say, "I'm going to need a lot more convincing on the whole sibling front, you know?" I said watching him from the corner of my eye to see a sly grin appear on his face. "Fine by me, I'm pretty convincing when I truly want to be."

Indeed he could.

Turning on the bike the way he had shown me it wasn't long before we were on the road with the world before us.

All the troubles faced have now come and gone with still so many things on the road ahead waiting for us. After facing so much and still surviving the taste to live had grown that much sweeter.

It had been a risk falling for Nicky but choosing love beyond the danger that lingered around him was the best decision I had ever made from that city.