Paul was in the apartment, she was sure of it. Fear gripped every centimeter of Lindy's body and she had to force her body to reach over and shake Carter. She almost hadn't asked him to stay over - they hadn't spent the night together yet - but now she was glad she had.

Her hand kept reaching, but Carter wasn't there anymore. She didn't know where he'd gone, but Lindy was sure if she screamed Paul would find her before Carter did. She sat up and pulled the covers up to her chin. The bedroom door was open; strange, since she usually shut it when she went to bed. Maybe Carter had left it open when he got up from the bed.

"Lindy," Paul's voice said. It was the tone that tipped her off that he was up to no good - that tone that's sweet but evil at the same time. The tone that precedes events that never end well. "Go away," she whispered. "Go away, go away, go away."

All too soon, Paul's shadow appeared on the carpet just outside her bedroom door. Oh, where was Carter? She was still deciding whether or not to scream for Carter when Paul appeared at her bedroom door.

"Carter!" Lindy yelled, but with no result. Wherever her boyfriend had gone, he wasn't within hearing distance.

"You made a mistake, Lindy," Paul told her. "You were supposed to be mine, forever. You can't keep me away. Don't you know that?"

"Go away! I don't want you hear! I'll call the police."

"You let me know how that works out for you," Paul chuckled morbidly while creeping over to her bed.

Lindy tried to scurry away, but he was too quick for her. His strong hand gripped her ankle and pulled her to the side of the bed where he was standing. She didn't know what he was going to do, as he just stood over her smiling for a few moments before his face turned to the scowl she had come to expect just before the violence started.

Paul gripped her upper arms and threw her to the ground before kicking her repeatedly in the stomach. It knocked the wind out of her and before she could catch her breath, his hands wrapped around her throat and squeezed. She shut her eyes and tried to pull his hands away so that she could breathe, but it was no use. He was so much stronger than her, always had been.

Just as things started to go black, Carter's voice broke through her mind. "Lindy! Baby, wake up!"

Wake up? What did he mean, wake up? She opened her eyes, and Paul's figure slowly disappeared as Carter's concerned features hovered over her slowly filled her vision. She pushed him away and sat up quickly, trying to process that the dreaded scene was nothing more than a nightmare.

"You were screaming," Carter said quietly.

"I'm sorry," Lindy said, taking deep breaths. "It was a nightmare. It was so real."

"It's okay, don't apologize." Carter swallowed and chanced moving closer to her, but not touching. "You were screaming his name."

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. "I was dreaming that he was here."

Carter's heart broke for her. Although she was slightly distant the first couple of days that he was back in town, after she found out that he knew Paul Carpenter was her the ex-boyfriend who had abused her, tonight had been different. After two nights of going out, they opted to stay in at Lindy's apartment, and rented a moved and ordered take out. Lindy was much more affectionate than she had been before; almost clingy, but not in an obnoxious way. She certainly seemed to tense any time Carter was out of her sight. When he'd asked her if she wanted him to stay - no pressure - she hesitated only briefly, making it clear that despite the tickling incident before he left for training, she wasn't going to agree to anything more than cuddling and kissing. Now, her desires to have him around made more sense.

"How long have you been having nightmares like this?"

"Since I left him. They stopped for awhile, but the last few weeks, they've started up again." She made eye contact with him and grabbed for his hand. "That's not the only reason, even the main reason, why I wanted you to stay. I swear."

He wrapped his arms around her, and Lindy seemed to relax. "And if it was, that would be okay. Means you feel safe with me, and I like that."

Lindy smiled. "Me too. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"No, it's all right. I'd rather you wake me up than suffer through yourself."

"Yeah."

Her breathing normalized but Carter could tell she wasn't back to sleep. He had a question he was waiting until the next day to ask her, but he figured it was now or never.

"I was thinking, if you want to, maybe we could have dinner at my house tomorrow night."

Lindy sat up and looked at him. "Like, with your family?"

"With my family," Carter smiled. "It will be fine, they'll love you. And it's not like you haven't met them yet."

"True. Okay, we'll go to your house for dinner."

"Great. You won't regret it."

"I guess we'll find out," Lindy mumbled. Carter just settled her back in next to him and kissed her forehead.

The next day was pretty easygoing. They woke up when they felt like it and hit the gym for a couple of hours. Lindy was polishing her basketball game and Carter could tell the difference from the first time they played. After a quick lunch out, Lindy took Carter back to the apartment and excused herself to go shopping with Elise.

"Sure you don't want me to go?" Carter asked when she got out of the shower, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck. "I could be of some really good help in the fitting room."

Lindy giggled and pushed him away. "I'm sure you could, but don't you think you'll be bored?"

"Oh, come on, what guy would be bored following his girlfriend and her sister around the mall for a couple hours?" he answered sarcastically. "I just want to be around you."

"A couple of hours? You've never shopped with Elise before."

"Please," he begged, pulling her to him where he sat on the bed while she gathered her clean clothes. "If I get bored I'll leave and Elise can drop you back over here."

"Fine," she finally agreed. Leaning over to kiss him, she squealed as Carter flipped them so that he was hovering over her on the bed.

He kissed her sweetly at first before deepening the gesture. His hand ran along her bare arm, still wet from the shower. Every bit as wanting as Carter was, Lindy pulled his shirt off and threw it on the floor. She'd seen him without a shirt a few times before at the gym, but having that muscular, bare chest so close to her was almost too much to handle.

Carter's mouth traveled from hers to her jaw and down her neck. He ended up just above the towel, but hesitated before removing it.

"It's okay. I want to," Lindy whispered.

"All right, but if you want to stop -" His words were interrupted by another passionate kiss from Lindy.

"Yeah, I know. Just move the damn towel, would you?"

He chuckled and re-traced over the line he'd just kissed on her body. His let his hands travel from her hands up to her shoulder then floated over her collarbone before slowly pushing the towel to one side and then the other. He sucked in a breath as her full body came into view, completely overwhelmed. All that working out had done her very well.

He kissed down between her breasts and all the way to her belly button before letting his hand slip between her legs. Lindy bit her lip in pleasure and tried to keep her moans to herself.

"Listen, I really wanted this first time to last longer, and I don't want to rush you, but I haven't even taken my pants off and, um, well …" Carter stumbled.

Lindy smiled and shook her head. She didn't reply, just pushed off his sweats and boxers, then crawled back on the bed to the pillows. Carter crawled over her and settled between her legs. Although her body language read confidence, he could see the nervousness in her eyes and the deep breaths she was taking. It was the first time it entered his mind to tell her that he loved her, but that might have been more than either of them could handle just then. So, he kept his mouth shut and pressed his lips against hers.

She gripped his shoulders when he entered her, asking him to take it slowly at first. He complied, not wanting to hurt her. As he built up a steady rhythm, she relaxed and the anxiety left her features completely. Carter watched as her eyes fluttered shut and her body began to move along with his. He sped up, but only slightly. His desires slowed, but only because he wanted to know that she got as much out the experience as he did before he completely let go.

The way Lindy called his name when she was close to the edge, however, proved to be his undoing. He held her as close as he could, and finished just after she did. When he moved to her side, Lindy pulled him back to her for a few more moments.

When she finally let him go, he pushed the wet hair back from her face and kissed her chastely. It took a few minutes for the both of them to catch their breaths, but all they could both do is smile.

"You all right?" Carter asked.

"Oh, yes," Lindy replied. "I'm just fine."

"Good. I promise next time will be better."

"I don't know if I can handle better yet," she laughed. "But we'll see."

Carter rolled over her once more, cradling her face. "You are amazing, Lindy."

"You're not so bad yourself."

He smiled and kissed her, then she reached for the towel again. Her modesty as she moved about the room to gather her clothes again told him that this first time was just an icebreaker. Still, he was glad that she was becoming more comfortable with him. He just had to let the rest happen.

She came back from the bathroom fully clothed, running a brush through her hair. Love again entered Carter's mind, and one end of his mouth turned up at the thought. He had no doubts that he was falling for Lindy, but he'd just have to let her get more comfortable with him before he let the words leave his mouth.

The shopping trip actually proved to be somewhat entertaining for Carter. He enjoyed seeing the two sisters interact with each other; they were so different but still similar at the same time. The girls left with just a couple of bags to each of them, and then they parted ways with hugs between both Elise and Lindy and Elise and Carter.

"Ready for dinner, then?" Carter asked.

"Well, I'd like to go back and change, but then I suppose I'll be as ready as I can be."

"You don't have to dress up, you know."

"I know, but I want to look nice."

She picked out the coral cotton dress she'd purchased that day, and completed it with a pair of white sandals. She looked casual but still dressed to impress, and Carter thought she looked positively adorable.

By the time they pulled into his parents' drive, though, she looked ready to hyperventilate. Carter told her to just relax, but Lindy replied that was easier said than done.

Keith greeted them at the door with a handshake for Carter and a hug for Lindy. "It's nice to see you again, Lindy."

"You too, Mr. McKinney."

"Please, call me Keith. We'd better get in here, Trina's been cooking up a storm."

Lindy followed him into the kitchen, Carter trailing behind them. "Mom, you remember Lindy?"

Trina turned around from the stove and smiled. "Yes, of course. How are you?"

"I'm doing fine, thank you. Everything smells so good in here!" Lindy exclaimed.

"Thank you." She glanced out the kitchen window. "Carter, your sister and JP just got here. Why don't you see if you can help bring the baby in."

Carter's brow rose. "Carrie and JP are here together?"

Keith smirked. "Apparently since the hospital they've been spending quite a bit of time together."

Carter looked at Lindy who just shrugged, and then headed outside to greet his sister and friend. Lindy stood awkwardly for a moment until Keith offered her a drink.

"Just water, please."

"My thoughts, too." He filled two glasses with water and ice, and then motioned for her to sit with him at the dining room table. "Carter tells me you two have been having a good week."

Her thoughts chased back to the memory of the afternoon's event in her bed, and she tried not to blush. "Yes, I think we have. I'm glad we're getting to spend more time together."

"My son's a good man. He takes good care of us." It seemed Keith had more to say, but Carter came back in with the baby carrier and immediately removed Remy from her seat.

"Oh, I remember this little one," Lindy smiled. "How's the arm doing, baby girl?"

"Doctor says she should need just a few more weeks in the cast," Carrie answered. She leaned over to hug Lindy with a smile. "It's good to see you again."

"You, too. And JP, you were at the hospital that day, too, right?"

The other man nodded. "I was indeed. Thanks for keeping ol' Carter here in line."

"Not a problem," Lindy smiled. Carter sat next to her at the table with the baby while Carrie and JP went to greet Trina.

"Apparently they've been hitting it off," Carter said quietly to her. "My best friend and my twin sister. Who would've thought."

"Does it bother you?" Lindy asked.

Carter shrugged. "Not really. JP's a good man. He'd take good care of both Carrie and Remy."

Remy babbled at Lindy before grinning and reaching out to the woman. Lindy eagerly took the child into her lap and played with her until Trina was ready to serve dinner.

For Lindy, the dinner actually turned out to be more of a good thing than something to be nervous about. It had been just her and Elise for so long, and she missed being part of a family. Maybe things were just getting started with Carter, but for the first time since she had lost her parents, Lindy felt like she was part of a family again. She told Carter as much as they laid in bed later that night after another round of pleasure - which, as Carter promised, was actually better than the first.

"I'm glad you feel that way because I don't plan on letting you go anywhere anytime soon," he told her.

"Good. I don't want to go anywhere."

Carter smiled. "And you thought you'd never fall for another fighter."

"Who says I'm falling for you?"

"Well, I'm falling for you." The words just kind of slipped from his mouth, and he looked at her with worry.

"I guess maybe I'm falling for you, too," Lindy sighed, pretending as though it was a pain to admit it, before breaking out into a smile. "You're just different, Carter. You're not like … like him, at all."

"You'll never have to worry about that again," Carter promised, kissing her.

They settled in together, both drifting off to sleep. For the first time since the nightmares had started again, Lindy slept through the night without a single frightening image playing through her mind.