After All

Hey my name is Tanya. I have been writing fanfiction for almost a year now and wanted to try something new. So I thought I would try a fictional story. I have been working in this story for a while now. NO one outside of my family and a good friend of mine has seen this story. So please read and let me know what you think.

A little summery. Two years ago Ashley Parker lost the most important person in her life and she thought her life was over. She had spent the last two years picking up the pieces. She is getting thought when She witness a murder and save a little girl in the process she falls in love with the little girl her name is Zoe and they have to go into hiding to stay live. What happens when the last person she ever expected shows up to be her and Zoe's bodyguard. Can she deal with this twist of fate and keep her new life together.

Prologue

It was after midnight and he should have been home hours ago. Ashley thought as she finally gave up and blew out candles on what was suppose to be her and Cage's romantic dinner in their new house. Eithan had given them there dream house as an early wedding present. Her and Cage are getting married in two weeks. Thing have been real crazy with work and last minute plans for the wedding. He knew how much tonight had meant to her. That she had something important to tell him and he didn't ever bother to call and say that he was going to be late.

"Damn it Cage I hope what ever it was that happen was more important then what I had to tell you." Ashley said as she pushed a lock of her long blond hair behind her ear and started to put dinner way. She was upset that head not bother to call. She knew that he kept long hours. He worked with her half brother Eithan and her in the private investigating firm and they call kept long hours but he usually called if he was going to be late and tonight he had not that was what has her pissed of.

She finished putting dinner way and headed into the living room and up the step that lead t to the front door. She entered the six digit code for the alarm system and was just started up the stairs when there was a knock on the front door. She laughed as she turned round and shut the alarm off again and yanked the front door open.

"Were the hell have - Oh Eithan it you is Cage with you?" Ashley asked as she looked past her brother to see if Cage was with him.

"Ash we need to talk." Eithan said just standing there looking at Ashley as her eyes filled with disappointment and concern. It broke his heart and he closed his eyes to fight the tears that were that. This was not the time to break down. He thought to himself.

"Please tell me why you are here and where is Cage?" Ashley demanded to know. It was not normal to see Eithan and not see Cage. They were always together. They were best friends. Hell more like brothers if truth be told

"Please Eithan you are starting to scar me?" Ashley pleaded when he did not answer her. Eithan Jude stood there asking god to please help him tell his little sister the hardest thing she was ever going to have to hear.

"Let's go into the living room and talk." Eithan said as he walked into the house and shut the door.

"No plea-" Ashley started to say but Eithan cut her off.

"Ash for once in your life please do as I ask." He said pulling her into the living room.

"Okay we are in the living room. Now will you please tell me what the hell is going on?" Ashley asked when Eithan let go of her arm.

"Ashley it Cage." Eithan said shaking his head as if to try and clear it.

"What do you mean it Cage, damn it just tell me what is going on please?" Ashley begged her heart filling with fear.

"Ashley, Cage is dead. He was killed in an explosion at a warehouse. BY the time had happened it was too late." Eithan said finally letting the tears of sorrow fall. The tears for the loss of him brother, his best friend, but most of all for his little sister.

"How did the explosion happen?" Ashley asked as she sat down on the couch be for her knees buckled. Eithan stood there watching Ashley try to process what she was had just been told, and not trying not to fall apart. He wish to god he could take some of the pain away, but he knew that he could not. All he could do was be here for her when she needed him.

"Ashley you are in no condition to hear this. At least not now maybe later. Right now all you need is to go up stairs and go to bed." Eithan said as he walked over to her and tried to pull her up off the couch.

"NO! I want to know what happen and how something like this could happen to Cage. I mean he was always so careful and there is not way in hell I am going to be able to sleep now. So just tell me what happen." Ashley demanded as she pulled way from Eithan.

"All right about a month ago Nick Thomas came to Cage and me and asked us to help him get the evidence he needed to nail a man by the name of Alex Markell." Eithan said to Ashley as he walked over to the mini bar and pored himself a glass of scotch and took a long drink.

"Why did Nick come to you and Cage for help? Why not go to his caption or the commissioner?" Ashley asked filling numb.

"Because there was a leak in the police department and Nick did not know how high up it was in the force. Eithan said finishing of his drink and running his hands through his hair. Eithan was half Native American Indian and he had thick long silky black hair that went clear down to the middle of his back. Ashley and Eithan are legally other and sister. Ashley's mom met Eithan's dad when she went to teach school on the Indian reservation. They fell in love and got married. Eithan and Ashley have been inseparable after that He was the best big brother any girl would love to have.

"What do you mean there was? Did you find the leak?" Ashley asked still not believing everything she was hearing.

"Let's just say the mayor will be looking for a new Police Commissioner." Eithan said as he looked over at Ashley and wished he had not. She was pail and rocking back and forth where she sat. He know that she was going to fall apart at any moment.

"Okay who is Alex Markell?" Ashley asked getting up off the couch and walking over to the window she opened the curtain. So much was going through her head and she wasn't sure how she was going to deal with Cage's death. She felt full of pain and hurt. She was not sure if she wanted to deal with is at all. She just wanted it all to go away and she wanted Cage back. If he was here then everything was fine and she was safe.

"He is a hit man for the mob." Eithan said as he watched Ashley. He knew that she was strong but he did not know how much more of this she was going to be able to take before she fell apart completely.

"How is he responsible for Cage's death?" Ashley asked staring out into the night sky. It was so clear you could see the big dipper and the little dipper. Cage loved night like this. They had often taken long walks on the beach together on night like this. So they could look up at the stars and enjoy the cool ocean breeze and each other. It was on a night like this that they had conceived their baby. Ashley thought as she placed her hand on her still flat stomach.

"Some how the police commissioner found out that we were going to bust Alex tonight at the warehouse and the called Alex and told him. Alex was ready for us he already had the place rigged to explode. We all agreed to go in together but I for got something in the hummer and had to go back and get it. Cage and Nick went head with out me. Then I hear then loud boom. The next thing I know I am waking up and the warehouse was nothing but a ball of flames." Eithan said as he looked over at a picture of Ashley and Cage together. It was taken the night of their engagement party. They looked so happy together. He wished he could turn back the clock to just before the explosion so he could have stopped Cage from going into the Warehouse.

"So he felt no pain?" Ashley asked finally letting the first tear fall down her check.

"NO Ash he felt no pain. I don't even think he knew what happen." Eithan said walking over to Ashley and gathered her into his arms as she cried.

Ashley kept hoping this was a nightmare and that any moment she was going to wake up and find Cage laying next to her in their bed, but it wasn't and Ashley didn't know how she was going to make it through this with out him. She loved him more than anything or anyone in this world and next to Eithan he was the most important person in her life and god help her she really needed him right now more than anything but he was dead.

"Is this really happening?" Ashley asked Eithan as she cried.

"I'm afraid so Ash." Eithan said when she laid her head on his shoulder.

"No, no please Eithan tell me this is a dream and that at any moment I will wake up and Cage will be here, Please what am I going to do with out him please Eithan." Ashley cried as Eithan turned her around and held her. She was in so much pain and there was nothing he could do to make it better.

"I wish I could tell you this was all I dream but I can't because is not. I wish I could take away the pain you are felling but again I can't no one can." Eithan said as he walked her over to the couch and held her.

"I need you help or I am not going to be able to ma- OH GOD!!" Ashley cried as she doubled over in pain.

"Ashley what wrong?" Eithan said grabbing her before she fell over onto the floor.

"My baby oh god my baby Eithan I can't lose it to please help me please don't let me lose my baby to. Not now it the only thing of Cage I have left." Ashley sobbed as Eithan picked her up and carried her to the Hummer. Later that morning another tragic thing happened. Not only did Ashley lose her one and only love she lost their unborn child as well.

A/N That it for this chapter now please click on the little box below and let me know what you think. I love the reviews and l live for them.

Tanya