Here we are... 😭 Go listen to Ready for it by Taylor Swift for this chapter again, and also Never Tear Us Apart by Bishop Briggs (you can find all the songs in the Love Bug Playlist 😉)

"Can you access the leaders' area since you're a soldier?"

Anastasia doesn't wait for Darrell's reply, as she is already walking down the hallway, leaving him no choice but to follow after her.

Nothing will stop her, not even the tall figure she crashes into at the end turn, not even the impact as the man is rushing as fast in the opposite direction, and even less the sight of a typical gray fabric and a loaded gun as her feet restart faster. However, his hand does pull her back, halting her steps.

"What's the fuck are you doing?!"

If she hasn't recognized him with his improbable attire and his tattoos concealed, there is no mistaking at the sound of his sharp tone and soon, the piercing gaze meeting hers.

"They're using a jammer, Nate is already escorted to his sentence, Sacha is down there, but he can't do anything, and–" Hadi freezes in the middle of his rant when a silhouette appears behind Anastasia, and he tries a military salute, which doesn't look really credible.

Luckily, it is just Darrell.

"He's on our side," she informs quickly, not bothering with introductions. "We have another plan, and we need to reach the leaders."

Another hand stops her again, though. "Wait, to answer your question, I can go to the leaders' area, but we can't get near them 'cause they have personal bodyguards, and they're an impassable wall."

"We have to find a way to get around them because I need to reach the leaders directly for my plan to work." She shakes her head, the movement as restless as her legs are growing, as she is stuck between Darrell's firm grip and Hadi's even more unwavering lifted eyebrow.

"And what are you gonna do?! As great as your arguments are, you won't convince them about love and freedom."

"No, but with a great argument, I can make them cancel Nathaniel's sentence."

And for once, her plea won't include words. Yet as her gaze trails meaningfully to the gun in his hand, she believes her request for sentence review could be the first one to be heard.

"That's why we need to go near the leaders."

"How?"

It's the question in everyone's mind, and as Darrell speaks it up, she takes the opportunity of his grip wavering to pull her arm away and run again.

"I don't know yet, but we'll figure it out along the way."

"Oh, no! You don't go headfirst! You promised!" Andy exclaims, almost choking on whatever he is chewing.

She will never understand how he can be hacking, stressing, and eating, all at the same time, and even less how he can find appetite in such circumstances, as Hadi has said earlier when– Her rush of steps and thoughts stops abruptly as the image of the food trolleys flashes in her mind with Hadi's words.

"I know!" she announces, already resuming her course down the stairs while Darrell and Hadi quickly catch up with her. "Do the waitresses have access to the leaders' area to serve them?"

"Yes, I think they're checked before, but yes." Darrell nods, her idea slowly lighting in his blue eyes.

And in case someone hasn't understood, she stops at the end of the stairs, pointing in the opposite direction of the courtyard as she adjusts her ponytail, making it clear that no one can change her mind now. "Then I think I'm gonna switch jobs!"

"Girl, you're a genius!" Andy claps, almost piercing her eardrums with his cheers.

"Thanks, but we don't have time for compliments. Can you find where they keep the trolleys on the map?" She grips her pendant tighter to stop the nervous shakes of her hands, and of her whole body actually, when Hadi nods his chin to the other end of the hallway.

"I have something better."

Someone coming out of the elevator, more exactly, and Darrell is already pulling out his sedative gun as he walks towards the poor waitress, glancing over his shoulder at Anastasia.

"You sure?"

"Yes." She swallows the sourness in the back of her throat when she meets the young woman's eyes widening at the sight of the gun, and her own aghast gaze turns away before Darrell can shoot, preferring Hadi's cocked eyebrow to this scene.

"Having second thoughts?"

"No, I'll do anything to save Nathaniel. I just don't like to use those... techniques."

"We're not the bad ones," Hadi repeats the same words he has told her the first time she has talked to him. Though at the time, she would have never imagined she would believe him, neither that his tone could be something else than disdainful.

"And don't worry, she'll just do a little nap and wake up groggy with a headache." Darrell shrugs, catching the woman in his arms before she can collapse on the floor, surely more swiftly than her 'fiancé' has handled Anastasia yesterday.

She is by the way blaming the remaining pang through her skull and the rest of her being for her slip, as she mumbles an 'I know', and all the heads turn to her, Andy's mouth already opening with a question.

"Let's get ready!" She doesn't leave them time to connect the dots or ask anything as she opens the closest door.

They don't have time, and thus, she doesn't bother looking at which room they are entering, only taking in that it's empty and there is a bench for Darrell to lay the woman on.

She doesn't try to understand either if it's only the seconds ticking that make him so fast to slide off the waitress's shirt when he hands it to her.

Yet she still stops him before the poor woman gets stripped in front of those two men. "Thanks, I'll manage with the skirt."

"So we only do the boring job?" Darrell huffs as Hadi pushes him to the door, though he quickly turns serious as he takes a small gun from the inside of his jacket and adds, "Here, put it inside your pants."

"What?!" Her eyes almost pop out of their sockets as she glances between the dangerous weapon and the unblinking man.

"Yes, in your panties. Remember that you'll be checked with a detector. We'll try to do it." He nods at Hadi, who looks as puzzled by his words. "But with everyone around, we can't skip it, so you put it there, and I'll just avoid this area discreetly. We could put it in your shoes, but it won't fit into your sneakers."

"Why not the trolley?" she asks, not at ease with the thought of having a deadly weapon in her pants, when in the artillery room with Nathaniel, she couldn't even graze the cold metal of a gun without being frozen with chills.

"No, they won't let you get in with it."

"And the covered plates?" Hadi suggests, lifting one of the shiny cloches on the trolley.

"The bodyguards will check everything. It's too risky."

"If you're sure..." And if it's her only way to save Nathaniel...

Her fingers reach carefully for the gun in Darrell's hand, the black item heavy in her trembling grasp, although it almost jumps with her when he adds with a wicked smirk,

"Come on, it's not like you never had other things in your pants!"

"He has a point!" Andy cackles in her earpiece, everyone laughing at the expense of her 'pants', and she starts to wonder if it is a good idea to trust these people to help her, when they leave her alone with her red cheeks to save her dignity.

Thankfully, between the burn of tears, despair, and fire, they can't notice the embarrassment bringing more warmth as she argues, "It isn't the same, and here, I'm supposed to walk in the lions' den."

"I'm sure you can do it!"

Even with a remaining hint of laughter in his voice, her best friend's cheers are always there to motivate her, and he isn't the only one she can count on.

"Here, you have the switch to put the safety on and off." Darrell points with a knowing smile to the button under the gun.

The gun, which she has dreaded so much to touch. The gun, which she has almost forgotten. The gun, she is now gripping as tightly as the small item in her other hand, and her fingers are even grazing the lever when he adds,

"And the trigger is here. Be careful 'cause it's a real gun, and if you shoot, it's–"

"Deadly." She nods, the word echoing inside her chest as the bangs there are more dangerous.

***

'Just kill me already', a little voice is growing louder in the pounding of Nate's head as the general Perry is repeating the same things again and again, perfectly scripted with the announcements of a supposedly 'fair' judge to form a solid brainwashing.

It seems like an eternity since they've started going over his crimes from 'advocating dangerous ways of the past' to 'spreading libels' and 'attacking innocent people', and at the same time, they also manage to preach the matchmaking application and the law, and demonize the rebels.

Nate would have never thought it would be such torture to hear those words. Yet as the loud lies are ringing through a mic and rebounding against the tall four walls surrounding the courtyard to pervade and fill people's minds, a fire of revolt – which doesn't resemble him – is searing every part of his body more than whiplashes.

All those hundreds of people listening attentively and believing every word, haven't they seen the Love Bug? Hasn't it reached their heart and resonated louder with every beat?

Maybe it's a good thing that he won't have to witness all of that for much longer if the Love Bug hasn't made the world change.

Still, each time his gaze goes to the single rope waiting for him, he finds himself glancing away, looking everywhere for an escape because he can't abandon Anastasia alone in this dark world, and even less in the hands of that evil man.

The loud and on-loop brainwashing around does nothing to erase the dreadful scenarios of what Fergus can be doing to his angel, neither it reduces the echoes of the last time he's heard her voice, in cries.

He hasn't seen Darrell or anyone that could save her in the few hours he's stayed in his cell, and with the shortened time he has left, finding a way out of this crowded place, surrounded by weapons already aimed at him, is impossible and hopeless.

He would need a miracle, a divine apparition, and he still gazes up at the dark sky for it, his last prayer not being for himself.

He has no answer from up there; however, something does happen down on earth.

First, he believes it's his heart giving up under the pressure on his chest, or an imperceptible earthquake. But no, it comes from his compass pendant, the only thing he'll keep until the end.

People will see, like the general Perry has said so well, that Nate has thrown away his captain uniform and wedding ring for a criminal attire and chains. While Nate knows he's wearing proudly the symbol of his infinite love for Anastasia and the proof that he's listened to and fought with his heart. Right now, he can even feel it as the compass starts spinning.

He quickly glances down to be sure, although there is no doubt, and it only means one thing.

She is here.

He has no idea how, why, and even less if it's good or bad news. The physical phenomenon could probably have a more rational cause. Yet as the needle is spinning out of control, taking his heart along, he is sure Anastasia is here.

He senses it in his bones, or more exactly in his sore muscles as a soothing warmth is tickling there, replacing the incessant throbbing, and his movements are as fast as the needle of his pendant when his head shoots up to search frantically around.

He doesn't care if he looks crazy or desperate with all those eyes on him. He needs to see her. He needs to make sure she's okay, and maybe a selfish little part of him just needs to meet her eyes one last time, like a desperate instinct to have her angelic image accompany him until the end.

But all he can glimpse is gray all around, a wall of uniforms as thick as smoke, and he's already suffocating when soldiers approach him, too soon leading him to the rope, to his end, as the general's speech has finally changed.

It sounds like a last question now, which Nate can't hear over the loud beats of his heart screaming Anastasia's name, and it's almost on the tip of his tongue when he catches sight of a familiar pair of eyes.

It isn't Anastasia's mystical ones; nevertheless, the wink from Sacha helps him take a breath before he can do something stupid and more irreversible than what's waiting in front of him.

Something is happening. He averts his gaze from his friend to not bring attention to him, yet the micro-second that his wink has lasted has left Nate no doubt.

Something is happening, and even if his pendant isn't moving anymore, there is still this intangible rumbling arising from somewhere in the crowd, maybe reinforced by something outside those walls, something as powerful as a tornado, a fire, or a mix of both.

***

'Fight for it', Anastasia repeats in her head, her grip tightening on her pendant, so much that it is burning her skin.

She doesn't dare to look up. She knows the sky is still dark, in spite of all the lights around making it bright as day, and dawn isn't the point of reference anymore.

So she only focuses on her steps, one after the other, as she battles with the pull on all her muscles spurring her to lift her head. She doesn't know what can happen if she meets his penetrating gaze, and it is her reaction that she is dreading more than Nathaniel's because she could forget everything and run headfirst once again, and right now, she has no one to stop her. Darrell and Hadi are ahead of her to take a shift in the leaders' area and not arise suspicions by arriving all together.

"The criminal doesn't have any last words apparently. Therefore, it'll go faster," the same stern voice that has been echoing around for some minutes already announces, and if she hasn't paid the nonstop lies any attention, those words are pervading inside her chest as all her muscles are painfully tensing.

She doesn't slow down though. She is too close, and she can't ruin this chance, the last one. 

"You can come," as if perfectly on cue, Hadi informs in her earpieces, since Andy has finally fixed the communications, and everyone knows about the plan now.

There are people waiting outside, and it is just a matter of time, of seconds. She tries to save a few as she walks as fast as she can, while still looking normal she hopes, and she is passing the door where Hadi is standing before she even realizes.

In fact, she almost mistakes him with all the soldiers around, although she won't tell him when he is nice enough to help with this risky plan – this impossible plan, more exactly.

As he lets her in, the stakes are hitting again with the consciousness of where she is: in the lion's den.

Her gaze runs all around in one second, and nothing is much different from outside. There are soldiers and their weapons everywhere, some eyeing her carefully as she steps in, while others are scanning the area for any source of danger, and in all of them, she spots only a few key rings.

Yet the importance of this area can be felt all around, from the luxury of some basic items like the chairs, lights, and even the plates of food, to the tension filling the air and prickling her skin in dreadful shivers.

With the bulletproof walls shielding three sides from the outside, the atmosphere is suffocating. Though it is the open part with a perfect overhanging view on the platform and the large rope that makes her choke on her breath before a tall figure in gray appears in front of her, blocking her sight, and if she can't let out a sigh of relief, it feels like it when she meets Darrell's blue eyes.

Exactly like he has explained, he pulls out a gun detector, and she tries to act as casually as she can, when she is sure the hammering of her heart counting each micro-second can be heard all around the arena.

A voice resonates louder, nonetheless, as the same man, who seems to take a great delight in bringing Nathaniel down, continues, "You're certain you don't want to denounce some of your dangerous accomplices, who must be threatening innocent people right now, to redeem yourself?"

She curses Nathaniel in her head for the silence following, making the detector slower, especially when Darrell nears the much-talked area of her 'pants'.

It barely lasts one second, two heartbeats, but also a thousand possibilities for the detector to beep at the slightest movement of a hair. Although she is so tense that it is more probable she would blow their whole cover by triggering the gun.

Thus, the 'RTN' that leaves Darrell's lips sounds like a miracle, and her muscles instantly move through determined steps forwards... and shakes as she faces one of the bodyguards, who are indeed forming an impassable wall.

They are putting all the strong and tall soldiers around to shame, and even if she doesn't like to judge a book by its cover – the two men who are having her back literally and figuratively are proof of it – the bodyguard in front of her seems to be as menacing as his looks when he throws her a disdainful, almost aggressive once-over.

"RTN," Darrell repeats behind her, and the large man finally steps aside, only leaving room for her slim figure to pass, and not the trolley, of course.

So she grabs one of the covered plates, praying to not tremble too much, or at least that it can pass as the nervousness of a novice. The second option appears more feasible, when the bodyguard stops her again, and she jumps, almost dropping the platter at his feet.

In fact, she is already picturing him arresting her, or even shooting as he leans down. But her prayers must have been heard because he only lifts the cloche off the plate, without a word, nor a less hostile expression, while she feels Darrell's gaze shouting an 'I told you so!' in her back, and she makes a mental note to thank him – if she ever makes it out alive, that is.

She doesn't give too much thought about what will happen after, yet as she passes the bodyguards' wall, she knows there are only two possibilities for the future: either it will be the end for Nathaniel and her or a fresh start for everyone.

All of that depending on her and the five men she spots instantly.

Their faces are unmistakable, as she has seen them many times on TV and in school books, except that without the 'impassable wall' sheltering them, they aren't as impressive as she has imagined. It is certainly because no one can look as imposing as the armed bodyguards.

Not that it stops the shakes of her hands, and her whole body is trembling until her heart as she walks closer, not even trying for an impossible breath. Instead, when she nears the edge of the balcony, her gaze sets on Nathaniel, like a faraway goal to keep her balance and not trip on her wobbly stray kitten's legs.

The sight of the rope already around his neck and his resigned look down could make her collapse, yet it's also her strongest motivation as she almost leaps forward to reach a particular leader, the one who has chosen Nathaniel's sentence and who is also about to announce the countdown to his end.

She is stepping in front of him with her plate of cookies and pastries, which is miraculously still full, right before he can take the mic.

"It's not the time, sweetie." The America's leader dismisses her with a gesture of his hand and a light shove, and for a stray kitten, she is surprised by her composure.

Despite the fire bursting inside, her attitude remains calm and composed as she puts the platter down on the small table, and mostly, she sneaks her hand under her skirt, inside her 'pants'.

However, the most shocking is what happens next.

"I think it's the perfect time, on the contrary, sweetie."

She doesn't know how, but the gun is pulled out, the safety switched off, and the muzzle pointed at the man's temple in less than a second, her movements as swift as blows of wind, and without attracting any attention on top of that. At least, until all eyes turn to her aimed gun, setting the adrenaline alight in her veins and accelerating everything inside and outside.

"Anyone moves and I shoot," she announces, barely recognizing her voice, as it holds all the emotions that have overwhelmed her in the last 24 hours.

She doesn't dare to analyze everything happening inside, though. Her focus is on keeping the control of everything outside, and once everyone has stilled their movements, it is solely on the man before her gun.

"Make them drop their weapons."

"You heard her," he mutters through his ticking jaw, his smugness fully ground-up under tensed features, when she pokes the gun further on his temple, and clangs of metal and plastic are finally echoing on the floor until only two men are staying armed.

Darrell and Hadi are cornering everyone, while all the other people: the five other leaders, the menacing bodyguards, and all the soldiers in the room are, white as sheets, staring at her. The stray kitten now scaring all the lions and big cats.

The sparkling of victory springs through the million ardent emotions inside, yet she doesn't take a second to relish it.

"Now, you're gonna cancel Nathaniel's sentence and release him."

***

That's it. Nate has imagined something else facing his death. People always say that their whole life would flash before their eyes, but Nate only sees the last minutes replaying again and again: Sacha's wink, his compass pendant spinning out of control, and Anastasia's image appearing like a faraway tornado that he can't reach.

He's trying to make sense out of all of this, find an answer to reassure him or frighten him more, yet it seems impossible as this same rumbling is echoing louder inside.

So much so that he doesn't hear the words resounding from the leader's area as he closes his eyes slowly, keeping a stoic and resigned attitude on the outside, even if it's just a facade to hold back the screams of his heart.

With every beat, there are all the words he's wanted to say to Anastasia, maybe also to a few other people, friends who have become his family, and as much as he tries to be a hero, terrified 'no!' are also resonating with a primal instinct every living being has in that final moment.

His last thoughts will be of fear for Anastasia and mourning everything he's had yet to live: the promises he's made to her and what he's dreamed himself for the future. He's already looked for fancy restaurants for their first date. He's wanted to travel to France with her, let her be his personal guide, and even try those snails she's talked so much about. He's already pictured how he would get down on one knee and propose to her like in these old movies he's watched.

Most importantly, he's just wished to share a life with Anastasia, something now impossible as he's waiting for the floor to disappear under his feet and the chaos of his heart to be stifled in an excruciating pain.

Yet if the screams inside are indeed silenced, it's by a loud 'What?!' arising around, and his feet are still planted on the ground as he reopens his eyes to bright lights directed towards him.

Although he can't see much through the flashing dots of glare, he recognizes the general Perry's gasp, and then...

"I said release him. It's an order." The voice sounds anything but confident, tremors of fear lacing through the angry shout, and Nate follows everyone's disbelieving eyes to the direction where all commands are coming from, to the leaders' area, his gaze finally adjusting to the lighting to settle on a blond ponytail he would recognize anywhere.

His angel, and her divine apparition. His heart actually stops at this instant, though it quickly resumes in erratic bangs at the sight of the gun in her hand, leaving him awestruck but not surprised. She is his tornado of fire, and he's felt she has been coming.

Sacha is by the way approaching him with a few other soldiers to release him, while his gaze stays glued to Anastasia, who is alone in the evils' den.

He might glimpse the typical blond buzz-cut of his best friend behind her and someone resembling Hadi in an out-of-character gray uniform, but it isn't enough for him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He knows her fire, and if it takes over, she can get blown away in the flames, especially with guns and the rulers of hell around her.

That's why, when the noose loosens around his neck, he's suffocating even more.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Anastasia's throat is opening with a shaky breath when the rope is removed from around Nathaniel's neck, even if the air has trouble reaching her burning lungs through her laced ribs, nonetheless. Nathaniel isn't safe yet.

"You got what you wanted. You can let me go," the America's leader spits, not daring to give more than a quick sideways glance at the gun she is still holding and pushing against his temple.

"I'm not stupid." At least, Fergus has taught her something, and she won't neglect any detail now. "I won't let you go until he's out of there and safe with all the people waiting outside."

Andy is ready in the street, and she can count on him, although she hasn't heard him for a few minutes, as he, too, is holding his breath.

After that, she has no idea how she will get out, but the only thing that matters is to put Nathaniel out of this death trap.

It shouldn't be long until she breathes again.

Her heart is already ticking the seconds, which are slowing down when she instinctively trails her gaze to Nathaniel, finding him still on that same platform, exposed to everyone and every risk.

First, her frown tightens as she focuses on what he is doing, discussing something with Sacha and shaking his head vigorously, and since she easily guesses the matter, it is soon her chest that constricts.

She is about to burst, watching them exchange something, when finally, her grip on the gun stiffens again, and there is indeed an explosion: in her chest.

"Ana..."

She hasn't realized how tense she has been until his soothing voice opens her ribcage with bursts of sparks and love, and the air finally reaches her lungs.

But she doesn't get to reply or even exhale as she catches movements out of the corner of her eye, and she turns her head in time to watch Hadi leaping on a man.

'Watching', that's all she can do when the real explosion happens in less than a second with the loud bang of a gun, Hadi pushing the man's arm up too late, and the detonation stops everything, especially her heart as the impact hits deep inside her chest.

Yet even if all her strength is leaving her, the gun isn't pointed in her direction. It's towards the platform, where she snaps her spinning head, and while it is all a blur around, she catches too clearly Nathaniel on the floor.

In one second, everything flashes before her eyes: every step they have battled to save him, every part of the Love Bug, every precious moment Nathaniel and she have shared, and finally, the first time she has opened her eyes to meet his tenebrous ones is appearing as she starts to run, her ears still ringing with the echo of the bang.

She doesn't care about the leader in front of her. She doesn't care about anything but Nathaniel as she leaves everyone behind, mistily glimpsing Darrell shooting almost every person with his sedative gun and Hadi tackling the man who has shot and who, from his uniform, must be another leader.

The next thing she sees is red beyond Sacha's and another soldier's kneeling figures, and the unmistakable fabric is her only point of reference as she arrives on the platform like a tornado, pushing everyone off her way until she glimpses those chocolate shades in his hair and... his eyes.

Her legs give out the second she crosses these tenebrous colors, and then, it's his heart-melting smile, the same he always offers her in reply to her 'je t'aime', yet her heart is still frozen as she runs frantically her gaze and her shaky hands over his silhouette.

"I'm fine." He pulls her into his arms before she can react, as she is the one limp and trembling, and there, in his strong embrace, she finally spots the darker shade of crimson on his uniform so close.

"Oh mon dieu! Nathaniel!"

"It's nothing. It just brushed my shoulder," he explains, not even flinching as he hugs her closer, and the coziness of his embrace is already reaching every frozen part of her body.

Still, her frown stays tense and focused on his wound, and even if it is indeed on the outside of his shoulder, the large circle of blood on the red fabric is clearly from something deeper than a brush.

She might not be an expert in bullet injuries, yet no detail escapes her, and when her piercing lawyer gaze travels to Sacha, who has been trying to bandage the wound when she has arrived, she doesn't need to ask. He immediately replies,

"He'll need a few stitches, but yes, he's fine."

"Okay, we need to get you to the hospital or call an ambulance." She leans away, her eyes, her words, and her heart going in every direction, but at least, the latter is beating again, strong uneven thumps thanks to all the people who have their back, like Sacha reminds her with a reassuring smile.

"They're coming. Andy called them."

"I'm fine, don't worry. It can wait a few minutes." Nathaniel grabs her chin, stopping her frantic movements as much with his soft caresses as with his words. "It could have been worse..."

Even in a whisper, those are already too loud as they both take in what could have happened, his eyes trailing to the rope that has been around his neck and to the balcony that seems now quiet.

It has been so close to the worst from the exact moment she has entered the leaders' area seconds away from the countdown to the inches Hadi has managed to deflect from the gun's aim, and she still can't believe it.

Therefore, even blurred, her own gaze stays fixed on Nathaniel like he could still disappear in just a blink. "You're here? You won't go away?"

All the emotions she has trapped inside are now climbing up to her eyes in a warm rush, and when he nods, they are breaking free in an overwhelming flow of tears.

"I'm here, and I won't ever let you go."

The first smile breaks into her pale features, and not even the tears can dim it. On the contrary, the gleaming reflections are making her eyes more dazzling, and for him, it's like the rays of sunshine peeking out on the horizon, when he hasn't been supposed to see sunrise. Even the throbbing pain spreading through his shoulder becomes a nice reminder that he's alive.

"I think I owe you a mug!" He grins as her eyebrows slightly furrow before a giggle slips through her cascading tears when he adds, "To thank you for saving my life."

Only Nathaniel can do this: make her feel an infinity of emotions with just the right words. Nonetheless, one is growing more intense with every thud of her heart, and it is leading her as she leans closer and imitates his request from what feels like a lifetime ago.

"Kiss me. This is what I want."

Like their pendants are finding each other again, his large smile titillates her lips instantly, and then, it is his words. "Gladly, every day for the rest of my life."

Of course, he seals his right words, his mouth melting on hers in a soft and delicate kiss, as if afraid it could only be a dream. Yet the sparks erupting from the simple contact of their lips can never be imagined, and each tingling travels deep until their bones to settle the realization that they are really together.

Her hands roam from his light stubble tickling her fingers to the softness of his curls, taking in every part of him, while still being careful to not hurt him more. He doesn't care about his wounds though, his lips growing more passionate, and his hands pulling her closer as she lets him invade her mouth.

It is like coming back to life, and she finds all these sensations she has lost one after the other in the last 24 hours. The energy is flooding back to every part of her body, buzzing until her toes. Her nerve-endings are awakening under his warm touch, and her chest is swelling with more than oxygen.

All of this is coming from her heart, which is finally whole again, pumping with love and happiness.

When they pull away, she has forgotten everything they have ever been through, in the past hours and even before.

Nothing exists but Nathaniel, their safe bubble becoming her whole world. It is infinite as his dazed tenebrous eyes meet hers again, and she licks her lips to savor the unique taste of their kisses, while his fingers are brushing her skin tenderly, instinctively slipping under the fabric of her shirt to reach the bruised skin of her shoulders.

"Ahem..."

A tug on her arm reminds her that there are people outside their safe bubble, and the blood is rushing around her blissful smile as she blinks at Sacha.

"Everyone wants to hear the one who's pulled all of this."

Everyone... Her wide gaze grows larger as it travels from the mic he is handing her to the paramedics' car behind him, to Andy, Hadi, Darrell, Molly, and Khloe joining on the platform – thankfully all looking safe and sound – and to all the people smiling and cheering around.

She is speechless when she glances back at Nathaniel, whom she is still half-straddling, and he offers her an encouraging smile. He doesn't say anything, but she can read his eyes whispering 'speak with your heart'.

Well, her heart is currently unavailable, floating on cloud nine and enjoying some well-deserved rest as she is still tingling everywhere from the kiss.

The kiss, it hits her at this instant that they have kissed in front of all those people, and there is no siren, just cheers and applause, which makes it even more special, although it doesn't help her to form words.

"Thank you." This is what her heart is saying, screaming through bursts of joy, as she looks at every person around.

There are so many people, maybe ten times more than when she has first entered the already crowded arena. Yet it isn't suffocating. It feels safe, especially when she glimpses some soldiers with keyrings escorting the leaders and a few other people with handcuffs.

Her glance around the courtyard doesn't linger there however, and when she catches sight of the paramedics leading Nathaniel to their ambulance, it is her only preoccupation, the mic in her hand thrown at the first person her gaze lands on.

"Hadi, you continue. You contributed as much to everything, so you can talk."

"Me?!" For once, both his eyebrows lift up, making him hard to recognize in his soldier uniform, and before he can find his comeback, she rushes away, calling,

"You proved that if someone can do it, it's you!"

Like a whirlwind, she passes by the whole Love Bug dream team without slowing down, only throwing Andy a high-five, as the few feet separating her from her injured hero are already tearing on her sore muscles again.

But she promises herself that she will thank everyone properly with hugs, tons of chocolates, and maybe mugs after.

For now, nothing can stop her. At least, nothing until she arrives at the van, and the simple question of a smiling middle-aged woman, who from the tag on her clothes is a paramedic nurse, halts her steps and heart.

"You're coming with us?"

Anastasia isn't Nathaniel's wife, nor his family, so normally, she would have no right to come. Yet now, they are free to be whatever they want, and this little freedom unleashes another overflow of emotions, annihilating her voice in the process.

Luckily, she doesn't need to say anything when Darrell and Sacha push her inside the van, and there, Nathaniel instantly grabs her trembling hand.

"Yeah, I need my angel."

As if it was meant for her, she takes a seat beside his half-laying figure on a stretcher, risking a glance at his shoulder as the nurses are cleaning and tending the wound, and like she has guessed and feared, under his clothes, it is once again worse than what he has described.

"Don't worry, we'll remove the bullet, and with a few stitches and some rest, he'll be as fresh as a daisy," the same nurse tells Anastasia, probably noticing her deep frown. "Your man is strong, don't worry!"

This woman seems to have the words to leave Anastasia speechless, and in front of the knowing glint in her eyes, a warm rush is spreading to Anastasia's cheeks, as fast as her smile.

"I know... he's my hero." Her gaze finds Nathaniel, who, despite the tiredness and pain drawing on his features, is still grinning at her.

Her strong hero. Most people would have already fainted with the sharp pain and the amount of blood he has lost; some would faint just looking at his wound, but not him. It is clear that he is used to those battle wounds, and this time, she can really hope that it will be the last scar added to his godly body.

"Speaking of that, my heroine... I want to know how you fought for everything. You can tell me everything while they operate on my shoulder to distract me?"

How she has fought? She isn't sure herself, and the last thing she wants to do is reminisce.

But as his eyes shine at her with so much belief and love, only blinking when the nurses are applying disinfectant on the wound and he tries to hold back his jump, she can't refuse. For these teddy brown shades, she would go through the excruciating past hours a thousand times.

"I've only been able to fight because I wasn't alone," she starts, squeezing his hand as much to give him strength as to take some because if he wishes to hear it, she will tell him everything, and then, they will talk about all their dreams, their projects for the future.

Perfectly on cue – and she still wonders how – they can hear Andy's voice sounding through a speaker at this instant. "For freedom!"

"For justice!" The echo following is louder, as it is an ensemble of voices, and the strength emanating from them easily reaches through her ribcage, even as the car is driving away.

"For life!"

Nathaniel and she are staring at each other with wide, shining eyes, as they slowly realize what is happening. Everyone, including the paramedics around, is chanting their rebel yell, and she breathlessly joins them as she whispers,

"For love."

It vibrates powerfully in the air around, and when she gazes at the light in Nathaniel's dark eyes, the same warmth as always is tingling every part of her body, except that today, it is infinite.

They have grown their bubble of happiness into a world.

"Love Bug," Nathaniel finishes, his smooth voice resonating stronger in her chest than all the others around as he pulls her to his lips with one hand.

Finally, he has got another idea to distract himself from the pain. A crazy idea, as their mouths move clumsily against each other, since he can't move much with his shoulder, and she is afraid to lean too close and hurt him more. Still, it is one of the most meaningful kisses they have ever shared.

Although it may not be exactly the happy ending they have dreamed of, it is a fresh start for everyone, and she can't wait to start this journey with Nathaniel.

Who is crying? I'm sharing tissues 😭🤧 But it's happy tears because Ana and Nate have got their happy ending, well, their fresh start 😉😍 and there's still the epilogue coming 😉

Tell me all your thoughts on this chapter!!! I wanna hear everything!! I REALLY NEED MY LITTLE RAYS OF SUNSHINE!!! 🤩🌞

Did you expect this from Ana? And the Love Bug that has worked so well? And everyone helping them? Tell me! 

Also, tell me what you imagine for their future 😉 we might get a glimpse in the epilogue 🤭🤫

In the meantime, vote ⭐ if you liked this chapter and are excited for the epilogue! 

And, I'll finish with a JE VOUS AIME, MY LITTLE RAYS OF SUNSHINE!! ❤🌞😘