The Infirmary

"Are we still...engaged? A lot has happened since you asked me to marry you and we've been working a lot of things out...I'm just wondering."

I turned my head and looked at her. "Do you still want to marry me?"

I nodded, looking up at him "More than anything."

"Then as soon as I can walk, we will. There's nothing I want more. I've wanted you as my wife for a long time."

I smiled "I'd like to try for a family again."

I smiled. "Really? You're ready for that?"

"I've been thinking about it a lot. It's just going to hurt worse if I keep sitting around going over the what if's and never try again."

"That doesn't mean we have to try so soon though baby. There's no rush. We wait until you're ready," I said and kissed her softly. "If you're ready now, great. If not, that's okay too."

"I'm ready to just live life without all of the hurt and drama."

I nodded a little. "Me too."

"Do you think it's possible?"

"I think, that as long as you're right here with me, anything in the world is possible."

"Me too." I smiled.

"How can you think that about me? I've been nothing but bad luck from the beginning."

"That isn't true. If not for you I wouldn't be here at all."

"Yes you would. If I hadn't met you... none of what's happened to you... ever would've happened. You'd be better off without me. I'm just... too selfish to let you go. I love you too much."

"What do you think you've done to me that's so bad?" I asked him as I set up in the bed carefully and looked down at him. "If it wasn't for you I could have drowned...been raped or beaten by Peacekeepers that time I followed Raine into the woods. You looked after my family when I went into the games..." I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair "The baby wasn't your fault. It was bound to happen...it was just...bad timing."

"Yeah, right after I beat the shit out of Diego. I got you all stressed out and... and I left you... right before our wedding and... made you think I was dead... and I came back like this... and then that shit that happened and..." I stopped and sighed, feeling like I wasn't making much sense.

"You didn't mean to be gone as long as you were...I understand now why you went back."

"She's my little sister... I promised her... I had to do it. I never... never wanted to leave you though," I whispered, staring up into her eyes. I felt tears and blinked them back quickly, thinking about how, while the threat to my family of Jasper and Cade and Marco and Jamal was gone, I had to wonder how much more damage I had done in leaving... than if I'd just stayed...

"Don't cry, baby." I whispered and caressed his face "I'm fine." I told him but I wasn't sure if it was the truth or a lie.

I reached up slowly and caressed her cheek. "Are you really? Cause I can see in your eyes... I don't think you are," I whispered.

"I am. I don't want you worrying about me, I want you to heal and get better."

"No matter what ever happens baby... I'm always gonna worry about you."

"I guess there isn't much I can do about that, I'll always worry about you too."