"Well, now you’ve found me. What can I do for you?" Ian asked, trying to mask his irritation.

"I’ve come to inform you that this investigation of your marriage to Arianna Shapour is being closed and filed away."

"And what brought this change of heart?"

"The Shapour family is satisfied with the investigation and feels there is no reason to continue it. So either you really married her for love, or you’re just a damn good actor. But I’d watch your step Thornhart, you may have convinced your wife’s family the marriage is for real, but there are still those of us at the INS who aren’t as easily fooled." After giving Ian a warning glare, Marika turned and left. Ian felt a sense of relief,

mixed with tension, it wasn’t totally over.

Ian thought about telling Eve right away, but decided against it and went off in search of breakfast for both him and Eve. As Ian began to walk down the hall, Karen rounded the corner, almost knocking into him. "Whoa there, where’s the fire?" Ian asked.

"I just heard about Eve and Ben, and well, you. Is she okay? How is she?"

"She is doing just fine. The cuts weren’t as deep as expected, she just lost some blood, regain her strength and let the stitches heal. She’ll be ready to be out of here by the end of the week."

"Wow, that’s good. I guess all the talk from the nurses got dramatized, sounded a lot worse than it turned out to be."

"Those nurses like to gossip."

"So where are you off to?" Karen asked.

"I was just going to head out to Kelly’s to get some breakfast for Eve. Tell her I’ll be back in a few."

"Okay, see you later." Karen smiled and went down the hall to Eve’s room.

"Knock, knock." Karen said as she opened the door. "This is the second time in less than five months I’ve seen you in this hospital as a patient, I hope you’re not making this a habit."

"Oh, you can bet I’m not. I wouldn’t last a week on the food here."

"Yeah, Ian told me, I ran into him out in the hall. So you care to tell me how you landed here for the second time?"

"Ben came back to Port Charles and decided on a new victim, instead of Arianna. He lured me into a hospital room and attacked me with a knife. Got stabbed in the back twice and once in the leg. But just in time, my night in shining armor came to my rescue."

"He tends to do that, be there for you at the right time, just when

you need him."

"And its a good thing too." Eve smiled. "He just has that uncanny ability to show up when ever I need him."

"So, how are things going with Arianna?"

"Things couldn’t be better with the Arianna situation. She left last night with Victor to a safe place where Ben or the rest of her family can’t get to her."

"That’s great news! I’m so happy for you Eve."

"So, how are things with you and Frank?"

"He’s spending most of his time in that old garage with Nellie. He

just can’t seem to get rid of that old thing. Pretty soon I’m gonna tell him its either me, or the computer."

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah, but enough of my troubles. Ian said that you should be out of here by the end of the week, that’s great. So you’re sure there isn’t anything that’s going to rear its ugly head to keep you two apart?"

"Nope, all is good from here on out. All though I’m sure we’ll have to be careful about the INS. They’ll be a little suspicious with Arianna’s sudden departure. But other than that, its just nothin’ but smooth salin’."

"Ready for some real food?" Ian asked as he poked his head in Eve’s room about fifteen minutes later.

"I’m starving." Ian brought over the food he picked up from Kelly’s and set it on the tray. He pulled it over and opened the bag. "I wasn’t sure what you wanted so I got pancakes and waffles, take your pick."

"Do the waffles come with whipped cream and strawberries?"

"Yep."

"Then waffles it is."

"Scoot over Lambert, make some room for me."

"Ha, you try moving after being stabbed in the back." Ian rolled his

eyes and smiled. He gently moved Eve over to the other side of the bed and sat down.

Almost five minutes passed before anyone said anything. Finally Eve broke the silence.

"Ian, is something wrong? You’ve been awfully quiet."

"That’s because I’ve been eating, which is exactly what you should

be doing. You’ve barely touched your food, you need your strength."

"Don’t change the subject, you can’t fool me Ian, I know when something is bothering you. Tell me what it is. I won’t eat until you do."

Ian set down his fork and finished chewing his pancakes. "You know me too well Lambert." Ian smiled. "All right, here it is. After I left to go get you some breakfast I ran into the INS."

"They didn’t question you, did they?"

"No, actually they stopped by to tell me they’ve stopped the investigation about my marriage."

"They did?! But that’s not what’s bothering you. What else did they say?"

"She warned me to watch my step. They weren’t the ones who dropped the investigation, the Shapours did. She hinted at the fact they still may be watching me."

"That doesn’t sound like anything you can’t handle, so what’s really getting you?"

"The fact that even though Arianna is safe, we still can’t be together. I’m still legally married to her. Victor told me a week from now I should get the divorce papers. But even after that, we’ll still have to take things slow."

"Well I’m not worried and neither should you be. What’s one more week?"

"I’m just be sorry this has gone on as long as it has. Ever since we escaped from Harris we’ve never been able to really be with each other."

"Except for when we were in the cabin." Eve felt chills go throughout her whole body as she remembered the cabin. "If waiting just one more week means we’ll be able to start on our life, like you promised me in the cabin, then I’ll wait as long as it takes."

Ian leaned his head on Eve’s as he slipped his arm around her. "I love you Eve, no matter what happens, know that. I will love you for the rest of my life. No one can take your place in my heart." Ian kissed Eve’s forehead and stood up off the bed. "I have to go make a few calls. Get some rest when you finish eating." Ian kissed Eve gently, his lips lingering on her bottom lip. "I’ll be back to check on you later." Ian turned to the door and opened it. Before leaving he turned and blew Eve a kiss good bye and winked at her.

"Hey, don’t you forget to get your hand looked at." Eve said

"I won’t." After Ian had left Eve said to herself, "How did I get so lucky?"

To be continued...