𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 — invisible ink

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 walking into the virgin river ranch home, and still in a state of shock from what they had witnessed back in the arena parking lot, the bella and dutch closed and locked the door behind them and she hung her coat on the coat rack.

turning around, dutch brought her in and held on to her as if she were his anchor, which is probably true, and she was going to be, as his tears began to fall on her shoulder. she had never seen him cry, not once. but it was like janet had always said, even the strong, can be weak, but doesn't mean they're not strong. "i'm so sorry bella. i'm so sorry about everything. i honestly thought kreese's teachings were right."

bella pulled back, but she rested her hands on both sides of his face and wiped his tears with her thumbs. "hey, you listen to me, none of this is your fault. i blame kreese, never you. i love you, always and forever. now, we're exhausted, there's a lot that has happened over the last twelve hours, c'mon honey, let's go to bed."

after doing their nightly routines, the couple laid down in the bed of bella's room. bella was dozing off and on, but dutch was restless and wide awake and she took notice. gently interlacing her fingers with his, she gently spoke, "you wanna talk about it?"

dutch sighed as he turned to face Bella, and held her close, as she laid her head on his pillow, their noses touching. "my old man used to tell me i would end up like him, an old drunk with nothing and i would never find anyone. i would be a loser."

"dutch, that's the farthest thing from the truth. Look at what all you have overcome." bella said as she caressed his cheek. "you know why I'm with you?" dutch shook his head no, as she saw the pain in his beautiful brown eyes, and bella continued. "i'm with you because i'm deeply in love with you. you treat me like a princess. i'm so lucky to have you. yes, you've made mistakes along the way, but we're human. we all do. our mistakes are forgivable. all the ink is invisible. give it time honey."

dutch gently rested his forehead against her's and gently spoke. "bella, i love you so much. i honestly don't know where i would be without you."

"you'll never have to find out. i promise." bella said, then kissed his lips. "i love you babe. goodnight."

"i love you more than you'll ever know bella."

as bella drifted back off to sleep, dutch laid there, holding the beautiful brunette in his arms, and thinking what she had just said: our mistakes are forgivable, all the ink is invisible. she truly was the most wonderful girl in the world. before he met her, he was headed down the wrong path. the night he met her, he knew he wanted to be a better person, especially given the way she had been treated by her ex-boyfriend, and he vowed to do so.

as for bella, she never imagined she would find true love like her parents had, one that was worth fighting for. one for the ages until she met dutch. the bad boy of the san fernando valley. she fell completely head over heels for him, and he fell even harder for her, and the truth of the matter was, he treated her better than any of the cowboys in the rodeo could have ever treated her.