"I'm sure Alyssa wouldn't mind letting you babysit when you're suddenly having baby fever. Until then, you're all mine." Luke threw an arm around Olivia's shoulders and carefully pulled her to him and kissed her cheek. The love between Olivia and Luke was felt all around the room. True love like that happened once in a while.

"So are you two finally tying the knot then?" John asked. When Olivia looked up, she didn't answer, only pursed her lips together.

Diane walked into the room. "What's going on?"

Olivia elbowed Luke playfully. "Nothing is going on here. Luke knows I would be his wife in a heartbeat, he just won't ask me!"

Luke barked out a laugh. "How can I ask you when you remind me all the time? It has to be a surprise, baby."

"Aw, come on Luke. Put a ring on it." John wiggled his eyebrows.

"She reminds you?" Clark asked.

"No I don't!"

No one was listening to Olivia. It was quite comical at this point.

"She leaves magazines flipped open to pictures of rings that she likes. As if I don't know what she's doing."

Clark tried to keep a straight face. "She does?"

"And flowers that she likes . . ." Luke was grinning like a fool. "She has it all planned out. All she's missing is the groom."

With an exaggerated sigh, Olivia said, "I take back everything nice I have ever said about you. I don't want to marry you now."

"Well, that's good because I never asked."

"Luke Jackson!" his mother yelled.

"I'm just playin', Ma. Calm down." Looking at his father, Luke asked, "Dad, tell her to relax, will ya?"

"Relax, sugar."

Olivia pinched Luke's arm and glared at him. "You take that back, Luke."

"Nope." She pinched him harder and Luke winced with a grin.

"Well, as much as I'd love to watch you two love birds, we need to hit the road. We have a few hours of driving ahead of us." John looked at Alyssa. "Can I talk to you before we leave?"

She nodded. "Can I leave Brooke with you for a few more minutes?" she asked Olivia.

"I suggest you doing so, Alyssa," Luke cut in. "Olivia won't be holding a baby for a long time after today," he teased.

"I swear on all that is Holy . . ."

John laughed then laced his fingers through Alyssa's and walked her out to his truck. He dropped the tailgate, jumped to sit, and patted the seat next to him. She lifted herself up then looked at him expectantly.

"What's up?"

"So are you okay with my mom watching Brooke? She only wants to help."

Alyssa answered honestly. "At first I was caught off guard. I wasn't sure what to think about it. I thought it would be too much for her so when she suggested once a month, I agreed. Then I brought up paying her and she had a fit."

John knew his mother would never accept money for offering to help.

"What did she say?"

"That she would only do it if I didn't pay her. I could tell she really wanted to be with Brooke, but I can't not pay her. So I stuck to my guns and I said no. She caved and agreed with me."

"You're kidding?" An amused grin lit up his face.

"I'm serious. I got my way."

"Well, I'm glad you guys worked it out. This is going to make her so happy. Do you have any idea how much she loves babies?"

Alyssa smiled and shook her head.

"You just wait." John leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Alright, honey, we need to get going. I want to spend as much time as I can with you girls, but I have to head back to base. I probably won't see you until next weekend."

The flutter in her belly caused her to swallow hard. "Will you, though? Are you really coming over next weekend again?" For some reason it was hard for her to believe that he was.

"You'll see. I'll be there late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Either way, Sunday you're mine."

"Johnny . . ." she mumbled under her breath.

John placed a finger under her chin and tipped it up. Looking deep into her eyes, John asked, "What is it?"

"I just don't understand why you're so nice to me." Tightness griped her chest. "Why you're going out of your way when you could spend the weekends with friends. Why your mom is so willing to help me . . . I don't understand it all."

"There's nothing to understand."

"I don't deserve your generosity or your mom's kindness. I almost don't know what to do with it."

"Hey, don't start that. You deserve it all and more. Now let's go get our girl and say goodbye."

Alyssa never once corrected John when he called Brooke his. She couldn't bring herself to because deep down it felt right. In some way, regardless of who her biological father was, Brooke had always belonged to John. It was going to be tough on her, but Alyssa was going to give John a chance. She was going to risk everything for him, her heart and all. She just prayed he wouldn't break it.

Looking into the mirror, Alyssa hooked an earring in her ear.

Four months passed since that day at his parents' house, and everything was going really well between her and John. Almost too well. Alyssa was worried that something would cause strife between them, but nothing had. Once she stopped doubting John, he was everything he said he would beher strength, her rock, a father to her daughter, and most of all, her other half.

She loved him so much. Now all she had to do was tell him that she did.

Alyssa reached out to her mother once more, but she declined any kind of relationship. Lauren told Alyssa that she wasn't ready and hung up on her. Ready for what, though? Brooke was the light in her life. She never knew how much joy a child could bring until Brooke was born, which made it hard for her to understand her mother's rejection. The pain was still fresh, but John worked to erase it every chance he got. Maybe one day she would come around.

John . . . just thinking about him made her heart soar so high. He was a true gift, one she didn't know she needed so much in her life. He was her best friend, her confidant and she couldn't imagine her life without him. While they hadn't officially become a couple, they were definitely more than friends. They just didn't have the label. She was so completely caught up in John that it was only a matter of time before she gave him everything he wanted.

When the anniversary of Jace's death came, it was a rough few days for John. Just as he'd been there for her, Alyssa stepped up and became his rock during that difficult time. He held his emotions in as he was forced to relive the tragic day. It was so fresh and real. John had driven down to South Fork to visit Maryanne and Ford while Alyssa and Brooke stayed with Diane. That night when he returned, Alyssa had never seen him so drained. She ran to him with opened arms and he nearly collapsed into her. He was suffering, the anguish in his eyes evident. It consumed her entire being, rocking her to the core.

Alyssa stared at herself in the mirror. Curls cascaded down her back and she wore a smoky eye look with nude lipstick. A black satin, rouched dress with lace high heels and she was ready to go. The eye makeup and black dress made her blue eyes pop. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this beautiful.

Today was Olivia and Luke's wedding day and she was attending it with John. Luke proposed soon after that day he teased her at Diane and Clark's house. From what she was told, Olivia wanted more time to plan her wedding, but Luke wanted to marry her as soon as possible, so he hired wedding planners to get the ball rolling. When Alyssa asked Olivia how the proposal happened, she smiled dreamily and said, "It's a story for another day."

The bathroom door opened and John sauntered in looking more attractive than ever before. Her heart speedup and her lips parted as she scanned the length of his body, desire hitting her hard. He sure knew how to clean up well. A form fitted tux with one hand in his pocket, coupled with that grin, and she was done for. She remembered the first day she met him covered in dirt and riding a four wheeler with Jace by his side. Alyssa smiled. A lot had happened since then.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked, bending over to kiss her forehead.

"Just thinking about the first day we met."

John grinned. "You were so reluctant to get dirty that I made it my mission to get you as filthy as I could."

"I knew you did!" she laughed. Standing up, she slapped his chest playfully. "I guess your persistence paid off."

John grabbed her waist and pulled her in close so they were inches apart. "Not yet. You're still not mine completely . . ."

Alyssa puckered her lips. "All in time, Johnny." John's hand skimmed her backside and cupped her. He pressed his hips into her and groaned. "You're not allowed to wear this dress."

"What? Why?"

"Because you look so damn good I could eat you." John wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. "Turn around so I can see how you look."

Alyssa spun around slowly and John whistled in approval. "Yeah . . . I'm going to need you to change, babe. You look too damn good and I don't want to fight anyone who puts their hands on you. Hell, I don't want anyone to even glance at you. You look stunning."

Alyssa just looked at him. She flattened her hands on the lapel and said, "Johnny, whose bed am I in at the end of the night?"

He grinned. "Mine."

"And who's the most amazing father my daughter could have?"

"Me."

"Who's my best friend . . . with benefits?" she chuckled.

He lifted a brow and yanked her to him. "It better be just me, baby" he muttered against her lips.

"Who has the ability to render me speechless with just a kiss, make me forget everything around me?"

This time John's dimples appeared with his grin. "I do?"

"Sure do. Each time."

"Is that so," he said before pressing a kiss to her. He cupped her face and lapped at her lips lovingly. Thanks to her high heels, Alyssa wrapped her arms around John's neck with ease, feeling the passion just as much as he was.

Breaking the kiss, he said, "As much as I would love to continue, we need to get going."

"You're right. Thank you for inviting me to your brother's wedding. I've never been to a wedding before and I'm excited to go."

"I wouldn't dream of going with anyone else, honey."

Alyssa smiled and pressed a quick peck to his mouth before turning to leave.

"Are you swaying those hips on purpose to tease me?" John ran after her. Alyssa giggled when he grabbed her from behind pressing his chest to her back. Alyssa sucked in a breath. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said innocently.

"Right," he drawled against her neck. "As much as I'm looking forward to my brother's wedding, I cannot wait to be alone with you tonight. The things I'm going to do to you . . ."

Alyssa shivered. She could only imagine what he planned to do. "You have to work for it."

"That's nothing new. It just gives me incentive to win since I know the prize will be worth it."

"I want a love like that," Alyssa whispered as she watched Luke and Olivia dance to their wedding song. He held her close and focused solely on her. Two hearts beating as one. It was a beautiful moment between them that she almost felt like she was intruding on. It was bone deep love that even she could feel all the way where she was standing.

"Me too." John looked at Alyssa.

She was lost in the moment that she didn't know what John was talking about. "What?"

Softly cupping her cheek, he looked at her mouth and almost bent down to kiss her, but he held himself back. Biting his lip, he repeated what she said. "You said you want a love like that," he looked her in the eyes. "I said, me too."

"I said that out loud? Oh my God . . ."

"Dance with me."

Alyssa looked down trying to suppress her grin. John? Dancing? "Johnny . . ."

"Come on. Take my hand. The bridal party is going up there, and since you're my date I want to dance with you."

"Go," Diane said when Alyssa looked over her shoulder at a sleeping Brooke in her stroller. "I'll watch Brooke sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Go dance, sweetie."

Before she had a chance to respond, John pulled her on to the dance floor and spun her around to his chest. Closing his eyes, he wrapped an arm around her lower back and embraced her intimately, chest to chest, cheek to cheek. He let out a satisfied breath, and they began swaying slowly to the music in the background. She fit perfectly against him. John's heart hammered in his chest that he couldn't stop the emotions pouring out of him. He pulled her a little closer to him.

He loved this girl.

No, he really loved her hard.

Life is too short and unpredictable. He had to take what was thrown at him and work with it the best he could. It hasn't been easy keeping his head above the water, but he did what he could to survive so he wouldn't drown. John learned the hard way, but now he was going to live each day with people he loved and would make sure they knew it. Jace went away unexpectedly, and if something ever happened to Alyssa and she didn't know the depth of his love for her, he would never forgive himself.

He dipped his chin and got closer to her ear. "I love you, Alyssa," he breathed as they swayed. At the word love, Alyssa squeezed his shoulder. The quick brushing of her eyelashes against his cheek had John wondering what was going through her mind. "I love you so much. You're my heart, so is Brooke. You both are. There isn't a minute that goes by when I don't think of both of you. I love waking up next to you on the weekends." John sighed. His chest ached with the weight of his words and prayed they wouldn't backfire on him. "I just needed you to know this. After tonight, after watching my brother and Livy, I won't push you anymore. I've tried to show you how much I care, but I don't know if I can do it anymore. I told you I would always be here for you and Brooke, and I will, I'm not leaving, but I don't know how much more my heart can take knowing you're not fully mine. I'm no sap, but sometimes this love thing hurts. After Jace died, it forced things into perspective for me. I want us. You're what I want. You and Brooke Elyse, but I don't think I'm what you want in the end. And that's okay because I'll still be here regardless until you're ready to be on your own."

The hammering in his chest was back and beating harder than ever. The pounding beat against the tightness, breaking him open. It was a risky move, but he had to. John had to tell her how he felt.

He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her and kissed the edge of her jaw. "I needed you to know this." Then he turned and fled the dance floor leaving Alyssa by herself.

John had to get out of there, he needed fresh air. Exposing himself felt more like he was suffocating.

But it was a chance he was willing to take.