She met my eyes and burst into tears, hugging me tightly. Hugging her back just as tight, I let her cry for a few minutes. "You bastard!" she sobbed, "You fucking bastard!"

"That's the reaction I was expecting," I replied, adding a touch of humour.

"But you saved me too. Mum and Dad okay?"

"They're okay."

"I mourned you for so long, Nate. And I still love you despite you being a bastard."

"I still love you too, Amy," I whispered, "I've never stopped, no matter what I was doing."

Standing up, I helped Amy to her feet and led her upstairs on unsteady feet. Ensuring she didn't see any...