JJ looked up so fast I thought he might have whiplash.

It was the first time we've said that in a long while and actually meant it, not just another thing people in a relationship say to each other.

And I did mean it. A lot actually.

JJ put both of his hands on my face and pulled me closer to him. He kissed me but not before whispering "I love you too."

Good lord I missed that kiss, his lips, his touch.

I moved my hands to his hair, pulling him closer into me. One of his hands went down my body, tracing the places he hasn't touched in so long.

And we stayed like that for a while, savoring each other because we missed this.

If I'm honest I cant even remember when or how we slept, but I woke up in my bedroom, JJ curled into my stomach and his arms wrapped around my waist. My hand was tangled in his hair, another resting on his neck and back.

He didn't have a shirt on which was extremely distracting. I always thought I'd get over that since I've seen him without a shirt since 3rd grade but I never have.

It was something about the curves on his back, his muscles that made a distinct shape, or maybe his tan like it wasn't too pale or too burnt but his skin looked just golden.

It was kind of perfect. There was sun shining into my window and hitting our body's perfectly enough so it gave off a bit of heat but didn't get in our eyes. And of course JJ was there with me.

If I'm honest, I complete forgot about the thing with Rafe until John B threw the door open. He stood there for a second but didn't say anything, decided to throw a pillow on top of us even tho I was awake and then went, "Come on lovebirds we gotta go."

I'm pretty sure I heard Sarah slap him and say, "John B!", but I could be wrong and I just wanted it to happen.

He shut the door and JJ groaned awake. He woke up and put together where he was but then just curled back into my stomach, wrapping his arms tighter around my waist. "You're warm.", was all he said.

"Come on." I laughed, trying to get up but J just tightened his grip around me. "Please just a little longer." He whined. "I wish, but we can't." I said in a soft tone.

I would stay there forever if I could.

JJ placed his hands on each side of my waist, just holding me. I had a shirt on but it had come up a bit so there was enough skin showing that JJ kissed my stomach lightly.

That was one of the things I will never get over about JJ. He remembers little things. In like 7th grade we were playing a truth or dare game and one of them was where is the best place to kiss someone besides the lips. I said neck, collarbone, forehead, or stomach. (thighs also but we're not gonna get into that part)

"Fine." He grumbled after leaving his lips on my skin for a while and quite literally rolled out of bed, somehow managing to stick it on his feet.

I sat up in the bed finally after laying there for another second. JJ picked up a shirt off of the ground and put it on.

"Hey, we think Pope and Kie are almost back, be ready to leave." JB yelled from what sounded like the kitchen.

"Alright!" I yelled back as I pulled new clothes out of my closet.

JJ came over to me and kissed my forehead, not saying a word, and then just left the room. I just smiled to myself and got changed into very loose blue jeans, a black cropped shirt, and a white button down over it.

When I went out, JB and JJ were outside talking and waiting for Kie and Pope. Sarah was getting ready to leave.

A second after Sarah came out, John B poked his head into the house and yelled, "They're here!" J was already on the way down to the dock.

Sarah and I went out, Sarah before me. JB stopped me by grabbing me by the arm. "I don't care whatever you guys do now." He said. Great start. "But, don't. I seriously mean it, don't hurt yourself again. If you know it's gonna end up bad don't do it."

I looked out at the dock, where JJ was helping Sarah walk because of her shot wound. It didn't bug me that he had his arm around a girl, that's the thing. I trusted him so much.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes mom." I replied and walked down the dock. I knew he genuinely meant it but he also knew that was the most genuine reply he'd get from me.

Sarah and JJ were explaining to them why we had to go by the time we got there.

~~~

We went to a place on the island that no one really knows of, just a place where there's no houses. We go there a lot just to chill

"If Rafe and Barry know, it's just a matter of time." Kie said after we told them more about what happened. "Before everyone knows." Pope finished for her.

"I told you. We should've just gone south, man." JJ told John B. "Just stop it." John B replied. They started arguing but again I was blocking them out.

"I have an idea." Sarah said, putting all of our attention on her. "With me back, my dads going to have to choose between me and Rafe."

"Sarah. Sarah-" John B started but Sarah cut him off. "He's gonna choose me," she said. "Just please, listen. Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah." John B explained to her.

"Sarah he's not going to agree after everything that's happened." I added. "No. I know it sound crazy." Sarah said. "Yeah it does!" Kie exclaimed. "I know!" Sarah replied.

"But he's my dad. And I know him, and I know he loves me. I'm just asking for two hours." Sarah told us. None of us wanted to let her go but we didn't stop her when she stood up and walked away. John B went to talk to her but didn't stop her.

So we waited for her to come back. John B and I we're talking on the sand. "So Pope heard it?" He asked after I told him about the Limbreys. "Yeah he said he did. Said it's definitely Gavin. He thinks Ward might have betrayed Limbrey like he did dad." I said.

"Do you think Limbrey and him were working together?" I added. John B didn't say anything but was kind of shaking his head in a 'I have no clue' way.

Then JJ and Kie ran up, carrying wood. "Hey, there she is." JJ said as Sarah drove up on the boat. They put wood down.

"Sarah!" Kie said, her hands waving in the air. We all ran down to her. "What happened?" JB yelled. "You guys were right, it didn't work." Sarah said after getting off the boat.

"I'm sorry." She added. "Well then that settles it, guys. Now y'all need to load up the paddy wagon and get the heck out of Dodge right now." JJ told them.

"Right, you'll need supplies, and you'll have to split as soon as possible." Pope agreed. "Guys, I think it's too late." Kie said, staring out into the ocean.

We all turned immediately. There were a ton of police boats heading toward us. "They followed you here." John B said to Sarah.

"We have to find another way out." Pope told us. They started yelling to stand on the beach with hands in the air. Why no one was looking, I pulled the gun out of my bag and then ditched the bag.

"Go!" I yelled, all of us starting to run. We ran through water and trees and grass. John B was helping Sarah.

Then we came to a big thing of water. "(Y/N) grab her hand." John B told me, which I already was helping Sarah down.

We swam across it all while the cops were behind us. There was a huge tree that we hid behind but there wasn't a way out of this. We cant out-run them or hide.

"We're trapped." JJ said. "We're surrounded." I said at the same time. "What do we do?" Pope asked.

"There's no getting out of this, we gotta make a stand." I said, getting the gun out and drying it off with my button up.

No one said anything. John B was the only one I made eye contact with. I wasn't going to lose him again. I don't know if I can.

I dried off the gun enough but before going out, John B stoped me, running in front of me and holding my wrist. He saw the silent plea in my eyes but still took the gun out of my hands.

He threw it to the ground and covered it up.

"It's gonna be alright." He told me, kind of slapping my face but in a reassuring way. I was going to lose him again.

I wanted to scream fuck as loud as I could but decided not to.

Grabbing onto his shirt, I hugged him. Tighter than I ever have before. And he hugged me back. We didn't know what was going to happen but we have been through so much shit.

We stayed like that, gripping onto each other, until cop cars pulled up. It was only seconds but felt like forever. "John B!" Shoupe yelled. We let go at the same time.

"Here we go." JB whispered, looking at Sarah and then the rest of the Pogues.

I didn't cry, there weren't tears in my eyes. But when John B started walking out into the opening I had never gripped onto JJ's hand tighter.