Chapter Twenty One:

Bo looked over Matthew’s shoulder and saw Nora standing in the doorway. He smiled and nodded his head, telling her everything was going to be just fine. Bo once again set Matthew down on his lap, this time reaching out to wipe the tears off his cheeks. Bo looked over at Nora once again. Matthew noticed where his father’s eyes had turned and he looked over at his mom, “Hi mom.” He said quietly.

Nora walked over, as Bo stood up, picking Matthew up. She stood in front of them, placing her hand on Matthew’s damp cheek, “You two okay now?”

Matthew nodded and looked at his father, “Yeah, we’re okay.” He looked back at his mother, “I’m sorry I told daddy to go away.”

Bo reached out and took her hand; pulling her close against him, still holding Matthew in his other arm. Nora looked up at Matthew and brushed a few strands of hair off his forehead, pushing a few more pieces behind his ear, “We both”, she looks over at Bo for a moment, “we both know you didn’t mean it.” She leaned in and kissed his forehead, “So how about we go get your sister and Aunt Susannah from the playroom and go down and see your baby brother.”

Matthew wiggled out of his father’s arms and grabbed his hand and then Nora’s, “Let’s go.”.

They walked down the hallway with Matthew in between them. They walked into the playroom together. Destiny turned when she heard her father’s voice. She stood up and ran over to him, falling down a few times on the way. Bo knelt down and scooped her up in his arms, raising her high above his head. He looked over at Susannah and smiled, “Thank you, Suze. Thank you so much for taking care of them.”

Susannah walked over and the two embrace, Destiny still in his arms, “Welcome home, Bo.”

Bo looked over at his wife and son, “It’s good to be home.”

The following day the four of them were walking through the doors of their home for the first time since Bo had come back. They had to leave their son behind, their little Michael, who was improving every day.

They lay together on the couch later that night, after spending time playing with Matthew and Destiny and having a quiet “take-out” dinner at home. Matthew and Destiny were sound asleep in their rooms and the house was silent. After a half hour of laying in silence, enjoying the feel of each other’s arms around the other Nora spoke up, “You’re going to go after James, aren’t you?” she asked as she continued to trace circles on his chest.

Bo sighed deeply before he spoke, “I have to,” he said quietly.

Nora sat up, fighting the tears, “Why? He’s not Llanview’s problem anymore.”

“He tore our lives apart, Nora. He had it in his power to bring me home. He knew I was alive the whole time. He left me up there in that shack alone, without my memory, without any means of survival. Not to mention he tried to take over my life.”

She stands up and walks over the fireplace, “So it’s personal.”

He looks over at her and stands up. He walks up behind her and lays his hand on her shoulders, “Of course part of its personal, honey…”

“Only a part of it?”

“Yeah, I mean he’s a dirty agent, Nora and if I have it in my power to bring him down than I have to do it.”

She shakes her head, “No…no, see that’s what I don’t understand. Why do you always think you’re the one that has to do this? You thought that 9 years ago when you got involved with the Men of 21, because it was personal and it almost cost you your life. This time around it cost you 8 months of your life, Bo, of our lives. For 8 months we thought you were dead,” she moves out of his touch and turns to face him, “I thought my life was over Bo and I honestly have to tell you that if I didn’t have Matthew and Destiny, or finding out I was pregnant with Michael, I wouldn’t have survived this. They became my only reason for living, Bo, without them I would’ve ended it…ended it all. I can’t go through that again. I can’t spend night after sleepless night holding our daughter as she cries out, not understanding what is happening in her little world. I can’t live with chasing after our son day after day when he just runs off and disappears, only to find him sitting at your grave, his face smudged with tears and dirt. I can’t…” she turned and ran up the stairs, no longer able to keep the tears from falling.

Bo ran his hand through his hair in frustration and ran up the stairs after her taking them two at a time. He found her standing in front of the window, her shoulders shaking as she cried. He walked up behind her and pulled her against him. She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against his chest. He could feel her tears as they soaked through his shirt as he held her. He kissed her head and sighed, “Okay, Red. Okay. I’ll leave it to the FBI…I’ll let it go. I’m not going anywhere, I promise…I promise.” He whispers as he caresses her hair.

She lifted her head off his chest and stared deep into his eyes; eyes she thought she’d never see again. He reached out and wiped the tears off her face. He kissed her cheeks where her tears and fallen, finally pressing his lips to hers. Their kiss turned passionate as they began to undress the other. He picked her up and carried her over to the bed where they held each other all night long. They fell asleep that night, perfectly spooned together, both knowing that what they had been given was a special gift, a love so strong, one that is so deep, that it’s truly unforgettable.

*~*