"I am always going to get lost. I really need to download a GPS or map" I muttered to myself.

I just walked out of my appointment with Dr. Paxton. For my sessions, I made a point that I would go by myself. I wanted to do this independently and not worry about anyone eavesdropping.

Joke was on me though, since I kept getting lost in this large house. I stood in the hallway, uncertain if I had been in this area of the house, when a voice called out to me.

"Are you lost, Rosaline?" Erik called out as he walked toward me.

I smiled in embarrassment.

While I had lived here for a while, I still didn't really know Erik. Besides a few greetings, he was always busy and we never had a full conversation before.

"Hi, Erik. Is it sad that I have no idea where I am? Kind of pathetic." I laughed at myself.

Erik shook his head with a smile.

"This place is basically a labyrinth. How about I lead you to Maria's room?" he offered.

I gave him a grateful smile.

"That would be great. Thanks."

Erik silently gestured for me to follow him as he led me through the halls.

We walked in silence for a few minutes until we made it to a familiar area.

"I know where I am now, thanks." I said with appreciation.

"No problem." Erik said when his tablet made a notification sound. Erik immediately went to check it.

Standing there, I was finally able to get a good look at Erik. His face was pale and unshaven, dark bags underneath his eyes. His hair was oily and ruffled, like he kept running his hair through it.

Suddenly, I saw myself in him. I remembered that one night in my old apartment, when I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a lost and tortured soul.

Erik reminded me of the times where I felt too tired to stand up.

"Are you doing okay, Erik?" I asked tentatively.

Erik made a noise of vague acknowledgement as he rapidly started typing something in. Carefully, I placed my hands on top of his. Erik practically jumped ten feet in the air at the contact.

"Erik, do you need to rest?" I asked more firmly.

Erik dismissed me. "No, I just have a load of work that I need to get done. The case we are all working on is important. Of course, you would know–"

"When was the last time you fully rested?"

Erik seemed to be thinking back. After a few moments, I knew that it had been a while. The poor man was going to collapse in on himself.

"I think the guys can wait a few hours for you to rest–"

"No, they can't Rosaline," Erik interrupted, starting to get agitated. "I'm in charge of our tech department and I don't trust anyone to work on some of the software. I've already cracked the code for Angelo's system and I need to prepare for an event we're planning. Don't tell me to rest when there is no time for that."

Usually when someone acted like this, I would have shied away. But this seemed different. Being brave, I pulled him to a cushioned couch on the side of the wall, sitting next to him.

But I was definitely going to hound Damon about Erik cracking Angelo's thumbdrive. That was definitely new information he had not disclosed yet.

"I'm sorry for being in your business, but you just seem overwhelmed."

Erik rubbed his face in exhaustion, letting his device rest on his lap.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. There's just a lot going on at the moment. All of this conspiracy and Angelo's death is just starting to grate my nerves."

"Were you close to Angelo?"

Erik chuckled sadly. "We were friends for years. We actually joined the O Project around the same time. Angelo was a ginormous asshole, but loyal to a fault. With everything going on, I haven't had the time to mourn him properly. But I can't rest until we get the guys that did that to him. I wouldn't have even gotten this far if it weren't for you."

We sat in silence for a while, contemplating our thoughts. The hallways were empty, leaving us in private. It was Erik that spoke first.

"I never had the chance to thank you. What you witnessed and what you did– thank you. You're a hero."

I shook my head, feeling my eyes burn at the gratitude I saw on his features. "I don't feel like one most of the time."

"Then that's bullshit."

I snorted at that. "Then we can be full of bull together."

I tried to gather some more courage to bring up a question I had been dying to ask.

"Would you mind telling me about him?" I asked quietly, silently wanting to know more about the man that changed my life. I wanted to know who he was before I met him, the one in pain and desperate for someone to hear his pleas. Erik seemed the closest I was going to get to knowing Angelo De Luca. "I'd really like to know him as a person, not a victim. The good and the bad. Please."

Erik looked down at me, searching for something. Whatever he seemed to find made him let out a heavy sigh, slumping himself against the couch.

Erik slowly began telling me stories about Angelo, the man who loved collecting CDs and doing ridiculous puzzles. He told me about the man who was in the foster system his entire childhood but wanted to do good for others.

I watched as Erik relaxed little by little, getting lost in his memories. He talked about joining the Organization, how they both slowly made their way up as rookies.

In the empty corridor, we silently cried together, mourning a man that didn't deserve such a gruesome ending.

But we would get the people who did this. We had too.

~*~

"Do I look okay?" I asked Maria as I spun around quickly to show her my outfit. I wore a dark maroon long-sleeved dress with thick black leggings underneath. While winter was coming to an end in New York, it was still freezing.

With a cream scarf around my neck and my mother's bracelet, I finished the look with some boots.

"For the third time, you look great! Damon's parents aren't going to care about what you're wearing. They are going to love you." Maria drawled out as she laid on the couch, rubbing her stomach lazily.

Maria was around five months pregnant now and her belly had grown a lot. Since then, her energy levels have varied. One moment she was ready to re-decorate an entire room, and then in another, she was passed out on her bed with a bucket of popcorn all over her.

Maria and Xavier had also decided to keep the gender of the baby a surprise– mostly Maria. Xavier kept badgering her to let the doctor spill the beans, but Maria wasn't having it.

Just then, she was being lazy, watching me panic as I was about to meet Damon's parents. Apparently, Damon's mom was the head chef of the formal event they were pulling off, some sort of charity or party. I hadn't seen Jasmine the last couple of weeks because she was planning the entire thing.

"I never had to meet my boyfriend's parents before," I admitted, pulling on the end of my braid that I created to tame my hair. "I just want them to like me."

"And they will," Maria waved off my concerns easily. She slowly stood up and adjusted her shirt so it covered her stomach. "They are some of the kindest people I have ever met. As long as you aren't a killer or a threat to their family, everything will be fine."

I gulped.

A threat?

Maria saw the look on my face right away. "I shouldn't have said that. Just know that they are going to love you and will want to squish that cute little face of yours. You've already met my mom and survived; Damon's parents are nothing. Besides, I doubt Damon will let them push you around. I'm surprised he even went to pick them up from the airport."

I blushed. Damon had been glued to my side for the last few days. Once Xavier told him that the Men in Black were asking about my whereabouts, he has gone on overprotective mode.

He was with me for most of the day, which I didn't mind at all. I loved spending time with Damon and knowing more about him– life and body-wise.

Make-out sessions are incredible.

I shrugged to push away the distracting thoughts of all the bonding time we have been doing. Now wasn't the time to get flustered in a different way.

"You look great, ma'am!" Josh called as he stuffed his face with chips. His twin was fiddling with one of the steak knives.

"Drop the knife!" I ordered and Julian pouted, trying to give me the puppy eyes, but at this point I was immune to them. At my stern look, he reluctantly put it back in the holder with a huff.

"You never let me have any fun!" Julian threw his hands in the hair. "No one lets me do anything!"

Maria and I rolled our eyes. The twins were beginning to go stir crazy. While they were in charge of guarding us, Julian and Josh were used to going on missions.

From the stories they shared– which Maria made sure they censored– there was a lot of action and gunfire involved. The looks on their faces as they told us only confirmed what I already knew– they were hardcore adrenaline junkies. I couldn't believe half of what they told me, but knowing them they probably did do those crazy things.

"Hush, child. Liz is coming and she won't hesitate to whip your ass." Maria tutted.

"You're damned right."

I jolted at the new voice and spun around, only to crash into Damon's chest. He wrapped his arms around my waist, giving me a small smile. He pulled me closer, our bodies flush against one another's.

"Hello, Flower," Damon greeted as he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. I returned it happily and rested my hands against his chest. "I missed you."

I laughed against him. "You were probably gone for two hours tops," I argued playfully.

"Still too long. I should have just said 'fuck it' and called them a driver," Damon growled and I shivered at the tone in his voice.

"I am really feeling the love. Enough, Damon. I'd like to meet this young lady."

I froze at the woman's voice and Damon pulled back, looking annoyed. "I was getting there, Mom."

"Not quick enough. Now move your big ass out of the way." A warm hand took my arm and pried me away from Damon. I was spun around and the hands placed them on my cheeks.

I blinked as I looked at Damon's mother. She was absolutely stunning. Looking into her kind green eyes, there was no doubt that Damon was her son. Her dark blonde hair was pulled up in a neat bun and she wore a gray pantsuit. She hummed as she inspected me. "Damon was right. You are absolutely beautiful."

My face flushed and Elizabeth tutted.

"There's no need to be embarrassed. I'm Elizabeth, but you can call me Liz. My son hasn't stopped talking about you and I'm so happy that I can finally meet his little Flower."

I peeked around to see Damon staring at me, unashamed that he talked about me with his mother. "It's nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you too."

Liz pulled back to smile at me sweetly before pulling back to bring an older gentleman forward. My eyes widened as I practically saw an older version of Damon. The only difference was that his eyes were a hazel color. "This is my husband, Lincoln."

I offered my hand, but I was shocked when he brought me in for a gentle hug.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Rosaline. We've been waiting for someone to handle Damon for years. Liz was worried that he would end up as the loner living in Xavier's home. The boys always had a clingy relationship with each other."

Maria and I giggled at the declaration. Damon rolled his eyes but didn't say anything as he pulled me back to his side.

"It's great to see you guys again. I hope your trip here was good." Maria exclaimed as she walked closer to hug the couple.

"Yes, traveling around the world is great, but we missed out on so much! Maria, you're glowing!" Liz exclaimed as she patted Maria's stomach lovingly.

"I'm happy for you, kid," Lincoln said and gave Maria a proud smile.

Julian fake coughed and Liz rolled her eyes playfully.

"Did you bring any treats for your favorite twins?" Josh asked innocently while Julian started to bounce on his toes.

"Are you saying you only want me for my food?" Liz teased. She took off the large red purse that was resting on her shoulder and pulled out a container. "I may have brought some leftover éclairs I made last night."

The twins beamed and were about to lunge for the container when Liz put her hand up. "Wait! Have you two been behaving? No explosions or stabbing of any kind?"

Josh and Julian shook their heads, wanting to please her in order to get the treats. Damon and Maria scoffed, but Liz seemed to approve and handed the container over.

The twins almost squealed with excitement. They both rushed out of the room, not wanting Liz to change her mind.

Liz turned to Lincoln. "That was probably a mistake, wasn't it?"

Lincoln shrugged. "They may have a sugar rush, but the others can handle them just fine. I heard there was a protocol for it. Let it be Xavier's problem."

"To be fair, the last explosion they were in wasn't their fault, and that was weeks ago." Maria assured Liz.

Liz waved her hand dismissively.

"Josh and Julian would have gotten the treats one way or another. It will at least give them an hour to distract themselves"

"Mom, Dad, why don't you settle in and we can meet later? You still needed to talk to Jasmine about the event anyway." Damon said, wrapping a piece of my hair around his fingers.

Liz clapped eagerly.

"Yes, I want to make sure everything is set. I hope we can all have dinner together and chat. I would like to know more about my future daughter-in-law."

I choked at the title, my body heating up in embarrassment.

"Rosaline, I've heard Damon has been teaching you to cook. Maybe we can make a meal together?" Liz said in a hopeful voice.

I smiled shyly and nodded. "I'm not the best cook, but Damon has been teaching me a few things," I looked up at Damon, who nodded in agreement. "I'd love to learn some more tips."

"Perfect! We can start in a few hours. Come on, Maria, let's leave these two lovebirds alone." Liz spoke with authority. She grabbed both Maria's and Lincoln's hands and pulled them out of the wing.

Maria looked back to give me a wink before the door closed behind them.

"I thought they would never leave." Damon muttered. I let out a squeak as Damon scooped me up and carried me bridal style to the couch. I smacked him playfully.

"Those are your parents. You should spend some time with them." I scolded, though I was smiling as he settled on the couch and placed me on his lap.

"Yes and I love them, but I don't appreciate the idea of sharing you with them. It will probably be for a couple of weeks. They travel a lot." Damon explained and began peppering kisses along my jawline.

He slowly pulled my scarf off my shoulders, exposing my neck.

"I-I have a question," I sighed as Damon moved his lips across my skin. Damon hummed absentmindedly, somewhat acknowledging the conversation. "Everyone has been talking about the– oh my..." I trailed off as his teeth scraped my neck.

I closed my eyes for a few moments, enjoying the sensation before grabbing his shoulders to push him back gently. Damon grunted but retreated, his green eyes focusing on me.

"You need to stop or else I can't focus."

Damon let out a small smirk but conceded, deciding to rub his hands along my back.

"Sorry, Flower. Please continue."

"Why thank you. As I was saying, everyone has been talking about this formal event you guys are pulling. What is it about?"

Damon sighed. "Monroe Protective Services is orchestrating a formal ball. It's a large charity event for cancer research. A lot of famous businessmen and celebrities are going to be there with sponsors. Since we decided to form this event at the last minute, Jasmine isn't very happy with us."

"Why was everything planned last minute? Are we both going to the event?" I asked curiously, wanting to go but at the same time I didn't. The idea of dressing up would be fun, but I couldn't imagine being with so many famous people.

"I will be going to the event, but you aren't."

I furrowed my brow at the tone of his voice.

Seeing my expression, Damon continued. "While I wish I could take you to be my human shield, you need to stay here. You're safe here and Lorenzo is still looking for you. Erik may be leaving a false trail, but if one of his men spots you, it could be game over. Lorenzo may connect you with us and we will lose any leeway we have."

Thinking his words through, I nodded sadly. "I wish I could go with you. I just hate staying here and feeling useless."

"None of that," Damon said sternly, holding my chin firmly. "We wouldn't have made it this far without you. We wouldn't have gotten any closer to Angelo's killer if you hadn't witnessed it, or gotten the intel. You are not useless. Not to me. Do you understand that?"

I sighed but nodded. "I understand."

"You're my partner in crime, remember?" Damon said, knowing it would make me smile. Once I did he groaned.

"If I didn't have to go, I wouldn't. But I need to work and gather intel."

I struggled not to laugh. The man was an introvert at heart, but always had to deal with people.

"What intel are you trying to get?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting his body engulf mine.

"Xavier and I are inviting some people on Angelo's list that we consider a higher priority. While they're there, we can find out what they know and ferret out any weaknesses we can exploit. After that, we'll start releasing some information to the public or the feds. Not enough to fully expose them, but enough for the government to start investigating. We don't want to expose the entire network at once or they'll all flee."

My eyes widened. While I didn't know everything that was on Angelo's flash drive, I knew it had information on people the Diablos had in their pocket. I could hardly get Damon to tell me more about Lorenzo or anything else. Remembering the warnings about getting too involved, I was grateful that I didn't know everything. I was already scared enough and I don't think Damon would appreciate it if I hyperventilated all day.

"Aren't you worried that inviting these people will only connect you all? It could give you guys bad press and spotlight."

"It shouldn't be an issue. Monroe Protective Services is well known and one of the most powerful organizations in the country. We have a lot of people who want to invest or have stocks in the company. We also have other sponsors and people coming to the party, so the main focus will not be on the Diablos," Damon finished with a kiss. "Now that we cleared that up, how about we spend more quality time together before my parents steal you away from me?"

I laughed, which was cut off as he devoured me. All thoughts of the party dissolved until all I could think about was him.

~*~

"It's in the wrist, it's all in the wrist," I murmured as I swirled the frosting on the cupcake. I pulled back quickly and did a small fist pump. The frosting looked fluffy and was placed perfectly on the chocolate pastry.

"Perfect!"

"Well done, hon. You are becoming quite a pro!" Liz told me. I preened at the motherly smile she gave me.

"I'm just happy that I can help a little bit for this gala tonight." I admitted sadly.

Tonight was the charity ball for Monroe Protective Services and while everyone else got to go to the charity event–including the twins– I had to stay home.

I looked at the clock. The event started in a few hours and everyone was leaving to set up soon.

"Don't be sad, Rosaline. These events aren't as fun as you think. A lot of snobby people wanting to talk about snobby things. You need to be with the right people in order to have fun," Liz reassured me and gave my hand a squeeze.

She grabbed the tray of cupcakes we created together. "I need to get ready, but I will make sure these cupcakes get handed to only the best. See you later, hon."

I gave her a quick wave before she left the wing and I sighed before plopping on the couch and grabbing a textbook.

I was slowly going through Xavier's collection of psychology books and looking at different schools to get a degree in criminal psychology. I shyly told Damon about the idea and he strongly encouraged me to go for it, saying that I can start applying when all the drama was over.

I was immersed in the book, only looking up as the bedroom door opened. I was sure my jaw dropped as Damon exited in a fitted tux.

Holy guacamole.

He radiated an energy that was almost lethal, a scowl on his face as he fidgeted with his tie.

"I hate this damn thing." Damon muttered as he failed to create a knot.

I stood up shakily and walked towards him, pushing his hands away.

"Don't worry, I gotcha." I murmured as I slowly fixed his tie, wrapping it around and then tightening it around his neck. I looked up into his green eyes that were staring intently at mine.

I smiled sweetly and went on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He instantly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer as he nuzzled my neck.

"I would rather stay here with you than dress like a clown." Damon complained and pressed his lips to my flushed skin.

"I don't think you look like a clown. You look very James Bond-ish in my opinion. A spy undercover to take down the bad guys and whatnot."

Damon snorted at my input and pulled away with an amused expression.

"What? You are my partner in crime, remember? The Bonnie to my Clyde!"

"You are Bonnie." Damon retorted but I waved him off, running my fingers through his gelled back hair.

"Sure. Sure," I paused before frowning. "I wish I could go with you guys. I hate crowds, but I think it would have been fun to be with everyone. I'd get to wear a pretty dress instead of my sweatpants." I gestured to my baggy attire that was covered in frosting.

Damon shook his head. "And I wish the same thing. However, where I am going isn't for pleasure. How about when there aren't people after you? Then you can come with me so these events aren't pure torture. People expect me to make conversation and kiss their asses. I can use you as a shield."

I giggled but nodded.

"Well how thoughtful of you– but I'm holding you to that. But I think your scowl is enough to ward people away."

A loud knock echoed through the room before Xavier barged in, beaming, also dressed up in a tux.

"We're here! Hey, Ro-Ro! Come along, Asshole, the game's afoot!"

Maria trailed behind him, rolling her eyes. She looked remarkable in a dark navy gown, her belly showing proudly.

"Don't mind this idiot. Let's go, Damon, before Jasmine tracks me down." Maria said, exasperated.

Damon gave me one more kiss before pulling back.

"If anything happens, call me, all right? I'll come running if I have to." Damon said, sounding worried.

I smiled and booped his nose.

"I will be perfectly safe with John. I'll see you when you get back. Be safe, or I will kick your butt into next week."

Damon still stood there, not in any hurry to leave my side. I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"You look very handsome. I didn't get to say that yet," I whispered shyly into his ear. I pulled back to see the tips of his ears turn pink.

"Damn it, Asshole, let's gooooo!"

Damon scowled at his best friend but walked out, storming past Xavier.

"Don't worry Ro, I'll bring him back by midnight and keep the drinking to a minimum!" Xavier sang before closing the door, Maria shouting her goodbyes as they left.

I finally pouted as I was left alone to my own devices. I hoped they didn't have too much fun without me.

~*~

I wandered down the halls, headed to Xavier's office. I planned to snoop through his books for entertainment or maybe find his collection of The Mentalist.

He's seen the show thousands of times. I think I can watch a few episodes without him.

I opened the door to find John settled in a chair, staring at the large screens attached to the wall.

"Hi, John." I called out, skipping toward him with a smile. I really liked John– he reminded me of my father. Well, aside from being part of the military and a large organization.

While he seemed strict and hard, he was actually very kind and attentive– except when Josh and Julian were involved.

John turned and gave me a warm smile.

"How are you, Rosaline?"

"Bored– everyone is at the ball so I decided to find something to read or watch. Why didn't you go?" I asked curiously.

"While I usually go as security, I received a special request to stay here. I sent some of my best men to keep an eye out. However, there are certain people who prefer that I stayed here to protect you personally." John gave me a wink.

I let a small smile escape.

"Besides, I can see everything from right here. I'm practically at the gala myself."

I looked at the screens and saw what had to be the ballroom from multiple angles. It was beautiful, with ribbons and fine decor. There was a large stage where a band played while people danced. There had to be hundreds of people there.

"Wow. Jasmine did a great job. I'm sure Damon is jealous of you right now."

John chuckled. "If he wasn't vice president, I'm sure Damon would have insisted on staying behind the scenes."

"Can you hear anything?" I asked John, who pointed at his ear. He pulled out an earpiece.

"I can tune into anything. Right now I am focused on the others' intercoms. Using this equipment, I can record or locate other sound waves." John gestured to the different devices on the desk.

I looked back at the bank of screens in awe. "Can I stay and watch? This can be my way of attending the ball– just without the pretty dress." I gave John a pleading look.

John pulled up a chair that was near him, gesturing for me to have a seat. I sat down eagerly.

"Where is everyone?"

John leaned back and started pointing. "There's Maria and Xavier, talking to a few representatives from Octavia's Shelter and Foundation. It's a non-profit in the city that was started by Xaver's mother to help homeless people. While Xavier's dad, Alexander, left MPS, he's on the board for Octavia's and is sponsoring the event as well."

My heart warmed when John shared that information with me. I didn't know a lot about Octavia, but I knew she was still an important part of everyone's lives, even though she passed away. None of this would have existed if it weren't for her.

I would be dead if it weren't for Octavia.

Pushing away the somber thought, I watched them smile at the reps, shaking hands and laughing. It was strange seeing them in a professional setting. Maria smiled broadly and talked animatedly, none of her exhaustion from her pregnancy being seen.

"Jasmine is right there. She's in a wig and green dress, pretending to be another donor." I held back a giggle as I saw her strut around the room, gaining a following of people.

"And then Damon is the one in the corner sulking but watching the event from the second floor."

I smiled, tilting my head at the scowl on his face, warning others away from him.

Yep. That's my Clyde.

This was so exciting. I was like a spy! I pointed giddily.

"Oh look! There are the twins at the food table. I'm not surprised to be honest...are they spiking the punch?"

"Damn it ," John growled before pressing a button. "Andersons! You better move your asses to a different part of the room. Do not put alcohol in any beverages, understood?"

Josh and Julian jumped at the boom in John's voice before scurrying away from the table. I couldn't help but laugh.

"They act like little kids sometimes." I shook my head in amusement.

"They do." John muttered.

I peeked a look at him. "They see you as a father figure you know."

John sighed and rubbed his face, not taking his attention away from the screens. "They remind me of my own kids sometimes. I had a son and two daughters– they drove me nuts but I loved them all the same. The familial chaos."

I looked down, not knowing what to say. But I knew and shared grief with him. Although I never had children, I couldn't imagine the pain he was still going through.

Coming home to seeing your family gone like that...it's something you can never recover from.

But I really examined him as he watched the camera views. While he held grief, he was able to transform it into something useful. He was stronger, tougher, and more resilient.

While a part of him died with his family, there were some qualities that would never do. There was still a spark in his eyes, determined to right wrongs and protect others.

He was someone I could talk to and depend on. Even the twins had a bond with him that was different compared to the others.

He reminded me of my father before mom died– the father that I wished had fought to be here with me.

I pushed away these feelings of resentment. There was nothing I could do about that and it's not worth dwelling on. Thoughts like that would only pull me down when everyone else was here.

I opened my mouth to say something when someone caught my eye.

"Can you zoom in on this?" I pointed at a specific screen, standing up.

John gave me a confused look but did it anyway. The camera zoomed on a group of people on the side. "There...there!" I mumbled as I examined the faces of the men huddled together.

"What is it, Rosaline?" John said worriedly.

I pointed a shaky finger against the screen. My mind flashed as I heard Angelo's screams echoing in my ears as they beat him down. My heart began to race.

"That's them. The Men in Black. The men who were in the alley. They were the shooters."