March 5, 1994

Becky's POV

Miracle's birthday was four days ago, and she is now a year old. The time has flown by like mad; it doesn't seem like five minutes ago, she was in my arms for the first time in the park.

However, today, Michael and I are going out together, for a picnic in the fields in the countryside. The local park is always way too busy, and we want to be alone, so we're travelling a little further afield.

The kids are going to be babysat by Michael's parents, because they feel like my parents have done way too much for us, and they've done nothing at all to help. That's not the case at all; everyone has been wonderful.

At this moment in time, Michael and I are driving to the countryside. There's a park-sort-thing not far from our home, which strangely, no one ever really goes to. They're missing out big time; it's beautiful there.

As Michael drives, his hand reaches across and rests on my thigh. It's just these simple little gestures that make me realise how much I mean to him; I mean, come on, we're engaged!

That's a point, actually – when will our wedding be? We've been so busy worrying about me and my health that the wedding planning has been forgotten. I won't broach the subject with Michael though, because maybe he's got enough on his mind already.

"Ah, here we are." His hand moves away from my thigh, his index finger pointing over at the large fields in the near distance, "Gosh, it's been a while since I've been here. It's beautiful like you, Becky."

His compliment is simply to get a reaction from me, so you know what? I'll give it to him.

"Whatever you say, Michael," I chuckle softly, shaking my head in amusement.

He beams at me, kissing my lips, before opening his car door and getting out. He walks around to my side, opening the passenger door for me, holding it open for me to get out as well.

"Such a gentleman," I smile politely.

As I walk past him, I feel him smack my backside, making me gasp in shock. After the initial startled feeling, a small laugh escapes my lips, as I turn around to see him smirking like mad.

"Still a gentleman?" he questions, biting his lip to contain his amusement. My eyes shoot playful daggers at him, so he raises his hands in surrender, before taking my hand in his, "So ... let's enjoy this picnic, shall we?"

After we've got the food from out the car, we start the short walk to the field together. I hear the rustling of tree branches behind me, despite there being no breeze at all, which confuses me. My head turns to see if anyone is there, but there's no one visible.

"Oh," I say under my breath, turning my head back around and continuing to walk normally.

Michael comes to a stop when we reach the perfect spot in the fields. He sets the picnic basket down on the grass, helping me to sit down. After all, my operation wound is still healing a little, so I have to be careful now – and Michael has to help me with some things.

Once I'm sat down, he joins me, crossing his legs and opening the basket. He brings out food like sandwiches, cupcakes, and my favourite ... cookies. If there's one thing that hasn't changed these past couple years, it's my love of cookies. It's cute that after everything that's happened, Michael hasn't forgotten my love for them.

My eyes wander over to the little plate of cookies; I'm waiting for Michael to say we can start eating, so I can make a grab for the biggest one there. Michael soon notices my longing gaze, and laughs cutely, "Go on, you have first dibs," he offers, using his hand to gesture in the direction of the plate.

A grin spread across my face as I choose the largest cookie from the bunch. Then I hear another sound in the near distance, so I whip my head around – only to find nothing again – so I shake my head and go to take a bite of my cookie. However, before I can take a bite of it, Michael takes it from my hands. My eyes avert to him, and I pout, giving him the puppy dog eyes.

He snickers, breaking a small piece off of it, "You want the cookie?" he asks, his voice small and sweet. I nod frantically, so he pats the area next to him, "Come here, sweetheart." After moving over to him, he drops the little piece of cookie into my mouth, "There you go, then. Want me to feed you the rest?" he asks.

With a nod of my head, he snaps another little piece off, placing it gently into my mouth, watching me chew. He sighs, "Gosh, you're so cute ... " he breathes, almost sounding in awe of my looks.

As I swallow, an embarrassed smile forms on my face, "It looks like you want me to say my phrase again, doesn't it?" I tease.

He nods, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind, pulling me closer to him, "Hell, yes. I'm in love with it – as much as I'm in love with you. Well, maybe not as much as I'm in love with you, but it's a really really close second—"

"You're starting a mini rant, you silly thing," I point out, tilting my head so that our noses touch.

A small, seductive smile tugs at Michael's lips, "But you know the reason why, don't you?" he quizzes. A moment passes where I stop to think of a potential answer, but having no idea, I shake my head timidly, causing him to tut jokily, "You really don't know?" My head shakes again, so he exhales a jokey sigh of frustration, "Well, it looks like I'm gonna have to tell you then, doesn't it?"

"Yeah ... perhaps," I giggle, much like a little school girl.

He leans his head lightly against mine, his eyes locked on my own, "Well ... I can't help but rant about how much I love you because ... you give me such fever, girl ... "

A sudden feeling of stupidity fills me. How could I not have guessed that reason? That line is his special line!

He slowly starts to rock us side-to-side, as my eyes avert downwards, to our intertwined fingers. Within moments, I hear the song that I've been wanting to hear for so very long.

"And maybe the walls will tumble ...
... And the sun may refuse to shine ...
... But when I say "I love you" ...
... Baby you gotta know that's For All Time ... " Michael sings to me sweetly.

His voice sends shivers running down my spine, it really does. It wouldn't bother me at all if he sang that song to me all day, every day.

My gaze shifts up to Michael's face, our noses still touching by the tip. Then, his head tilts slightly, and his lips touch upon mine in a kiss. My arms immediately reach up to coil around his neck, pulling him closer to me to make the kiss more intimate.

But then, without warning, I hear that rustling noise once more, making me jump so badly that I end up biting Michael's lip. He pulls away, squealing in pain, "Oaw!" he hisses, sliding his tongue over his bottom lip, "What's wrong, Becky?"

"There's a noise coming from the trees over there, Michael. There's no breeze, so it can't be the leaves rustling cos of that. What if there's someone ... or something there!"

A slight feeling of panic washes over me, causing me to clutch tightly to Michael's shirt collar. He places my hands in his, lifting them to kiss my knuckles in reassurance, "There's no one there, sweetheart. You're just getting paranoid. And if there is someone, or something, I'll make sure they don't hurt you at all ... okay?"

"Okay." I try to calm myself down, but there's still a terrible feeling in my stomach at the notion that there's someone or something out there, "What if it's a ... tiger, or a lion?" I suggest.

He laughs, "In a park? I highly doubt it," he answers. But then, he looks behind me, his eyes widening.

"What's wrong, Michael?" I ask, feeling slightly nervous.

Without answering, he stands up, pushing me behind him. As soon as I look out from behind Michael, I see it.

Oh ... my ... God.

"What are you doing here, Alex!" Michael hisses angrily, "Becky, go to the car ... go to the car now!"

As much as I want to get out of here, something within me is keeping me in place. I can't explain what it is, or what it's doing, but it's stopping me from moving away right now. Perhaps it's nervousness, or numbness – I'm probably too overwhelmed to move.

"I followed you here! Nice seeing you again, fellas," Alex laughs, pacing around us in a circle, "So ... it's been a while, hasn't it?" He continues his little circle around us, making me feel more anxious with each step he takes.

It's been a year and a half since we last saw him; he's changed a little. His once-blonde hair is now black, and his eyebrows have been darkened to match. But his face hasn't changed a single bit – still the same face I fell in love with a few years back. I honestly can't believe I ever loved this man.

"Oh! I'm so looking forward to the trial. Police not got in touch with you about it?" Alex quizzes slyly.

That's a point – they've not told us anything about Alex and Lisa's trial. Maybe it'll be happening soon, so I'll never have to see him or Lisa ever again.

"Becky ... I just told you to get in the car," Michael tells me, "Now go!" His voice is angered, but not because I disobeyed him – because he cares for my safety.

"Okay." My feet finally let me move, so I make a dash for the car, running as fast as my legs will carry me, but then I hear Alex's voice.

"If she runs another step, she won't even make it back to the car."

I stop in my tracks, turning my body around to see Alex and Michael. Michael has a look of pure fear plastered across his face, whereas Alex has a look of triumph.

You guessed it – Alex has a gun.

"Oh, my God," I gasp, remaining completely still, not moving a single muscle.

"Don't dare shoot that gun, Alex," Michael demands, his voice calm, yet his expression suggesting otherwise.

"You're not the boss of me," Alex laughs, setting the trigger on the gun, aiming it in my direction.

"Do it and you're dead," Michael threatens.

Alex seems not to care about Michael's threat, as he snickers nastily, almost like a cackle. He takes slow, steady steps towards me, and the fear on Michael's face visibly increases with each second. Once Alex is around a meter away from me, he stops, his eyes locking on my own intently.

"So ... you remembered my little promise? The one I made to you on Halloween in 1992? Yeah, I remember it too. Knocked Michael clean out, then made that special little promise to you," he grins darkly, "I promised that you hadn't seen the last of me. And it looks like I kept that promise."

"Alex ... please!" I cry, tears starting to form in my eyes, "When will you leave me alone!"

He shakes his head, taking a final step closer to me, pressing the gun to my temple, "I'll leave you alone in about a minute, when you're dead," he replies.

"Don't dare!" Michael screams, advancing on Alex, "You leave her alone!" He reaches us both, but then Alex quickly turns and points the gun at Michael. Michael widens his eyes, raising his arms in surrender for real this time.

"No! Not Michael!" I shriek. My heart is pounding out of my chest; it's almost the only noise I can hear right now.

Just then, we all hear a thunder crack in the distance, then it begins to rain. It wasn't very sunny before now, but at least it wasn't raining. That's just made this a hundred times worse; one slip of the fingers – Alex's in particular – could result in one or more of us dead.

Alex smirks, his eyes flitting between Michael and I, "Well, this is interesting, isn't it?" he questions rhetorically, "Both of you are wrapped around my little finger!" That's when he returns the gun to my head, causing my breathing to become even heavier than before.

"Please ... don't hurt us ... " I plead, no louder than a whisper. My hair is soaked with rain water now, as well as my entire body. Before too long, I'll probably catch a chill – that's if I live long enough.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Alex raises his voice, throwing me off guard.

"Please!" I scream out, tears streaming down my face by now.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you!" he commands.

"Because I have terminal cancer!" My voice then gives out, making it pathetic and weak, "I'm going to die soon anyway ... "

Then, Alex's anger somehow subsides. He lowers the gun down to his side, dropping to his knees in grief, "Oh, my God ... " he murmurs, "I-I didn't know," he explains quietly. He buries his head into his hands, the gun falling at his side.

Michael gives him a dirty look, knowing Alex can't see it, "She shouldn't have even had to tell you. What kind of man threatens someone with a gun anyway – especially a female! You're a disgrace, Alex." Michael then spits on him, very unlike his character, "A disgrace!"

From under his hands, I hear Alex's breathing getting heavier, "You're right," he mutters, "I'm a disgrace; have been since day one. All I do is wreck people's lives. I'm a monster. A monster!" Then, he lifts his head, reaching down to take the gun in his hand, "So ... forget the trials. Forget Lisa. Forget everything. I don't deserve to be on this planet."

It's then that he raises the gun to his own temple, lifting his head. Tears are visible in his eyes; his normally-spiked hair drooping over his forehead from the rain. He furrows his eyebrows, swallowing in preparation for shooting himself.

"Alex ... you don't have to do this to yourself," I find myself assuring him, "Just ... just leave us alone, okay? Never disturb our lives again." My hand reaches down to touch his shaking shoulder, the contact causing him to look up at me.

"I'm sorry Becky. I should have treated you right. Lisa is nothing on you, and she never will be. Michael, I'm sorry to you, too. I've wrecked your lives, so now it's time for me to end the injustice."

"No, Alex, don't do this," I demand quietly, "If you just leave us alone, it'll be okay."

He shakes his head, "I've done too much. Just know that I'm really, truly, genuinely sorry for ruining everything. And never ever forget that – despite everything I've done – I love you still; I always have ... and I always will."

"Put the gun down Alex." Michael begins to intervene, coming forward to try and stop Alex from pulling the trigger.

"Tell Lisa I love her, too," Alex requests softly, completely ignoring me and Michael's desperate attempts to stop him.

"You can tell her yourself," I respond, "Lower the gun Alex."

He laughs mockingly, "You can't tell me what to do, Becky," he smiles up at me, his eyes glazed-over slightly, "Now ... I'll see you in the afterlife."

His finger touches upon the trigger of the gun, and a single tear runs down his cheek as he pulls it.

"No!" I cry out, as if it'll erase the past. But it won't erase this.

The crash of the shot rolls through the fields, echoing in every possible area of the park. Alex jars, before the gun slips from his fingers. His eyes roll up as his body falls face-first to the floor, but then it remains dead still in the grass.

I can't believe what I've just seen. Tears are forming thickly in my eyes, whilst a horrible numb feeling fills my stomach. Michael quickly takes me into his arms, comforting me, stroking my hair with his fingers.

"Shh ... it's over now. He can't hurt you any more."

This one sentence is both wonderful and terrible. Alex is never going to hurt me again ... but he's dead. This is one of the most overwhelming feelings I've ever experienced in my life.

Before either of us can dwell too much on Alex's death, my hand presses against my shirt, only for me to feel pain, as well as a damp patch – right near to my operation wound.

"M-Michael," I gasp, tightly grasping his shirt with my free hand.

"What?" He looks down on me.

"I-I think my operation scar has opened up."

My voice is calm, but then suddenly, an agonising rush of pain causes me to collapse to the ground, bringing Michael down with me because I'm clutching tightly to his shirt. He lifts me up into his arms, carrying me to the car – completely forgetting about Alex.

"Don't worry sweetheart ... I'm not letting anyone or anything hurt you ever again ... as long as you live."

Okay ... so that chapter was rather eventful ... but were you expecting that plot twist? :3
The rest of the Alex stuff will come in future chapters – the stuff concerning his downfall. :o
I hope you liked this chapter. :)