It took several days for Rahne to be released from ICU, but the first day that she could have non-family visitors, Sam decided to pay her a visit. He carefully juggled the balloon bouquet, the stuffed unicorn he'd picked up on a lark, and Rahne's schoolwork. Her professors hadn't been told if she would be returning this semester or not but, from the little Sam really knew about the woman, he was willing to bet she'd keep on going.

Much to his surprise, Logan was sitting outside the closed hospital room. "Thought I'd let the two have some time alone," he said in response to Sam's unasked question.

The blond man nodded, "How's Brigid doing?"

Logan shrugged, "She's going to stay in the country for a while because she's a witness in an ongoing criminal investigation, but she really lit up when the immigration lawyer stopped by to let her know the Cassidys are going to try and adopt her." It was still an uphill and costly legal battle, one that might involve both sides of the ocean, but Sean had communicated that the family was going to do right by the young girl.

After a period of not uncomfortable silence, a teary-eyed Brigid opened the door. "Can A come back tomorrow?" she asked Logan. Spotting Sam, she smiled shyly and said "Hi." Logan nodded.

Sam smiled back at the girl and impulsively handed her the unicorn, "Ah wanted ta stop by and check on ya." Brigid looked at the outstretched stuffed animal and back at him. "It's a tradition here, ta bring gifts ta those who had accidents."

Finally, with a bright smile on her face, Brigid took the unicorn and hugged it. "Thank ye," she said, stroking its mane.

Sam walked into the hospital room, wondering if he had missed something, and sat down in the small chair next to Rahne's bed. The room was filled with flowers and brightly colored cards. Rahne had traded the hospital gown for a Mickey Mouse dorm suit. From the pleased look on her face, he had done something very right. "We never had Christmas or birthday presents," she explained. "Brigid's mother believed a lot like Craig did, sae it's very likely that's the first time somebody's just given her something..." Then her voice got both wistful and amused, "Especially a pagan icon like a unicorn... or even a toy."

He didn't know what to say, so he took a lesson from his father and said nothing.

"A'm verra sorry A never insisted Mum follow up on Brigid," Rahne added softly. "But we believed–"

"Ya wanted ta believe the best for her, that she was with a momma who loved her, and happy," he said.

She nodded, and then changed the subject, "Those balloons are lovely. Thank you."

Sam smiled at the compliment. "Ah even brought ya yer assignments for the next couple of weeks."

This made Rahne laugh. She had two very swollen, black eyes, several fading bruises on her face and arms. "A'd have ta be able ta keep muh eyes open tae keep up on school work."

Sam looked carefully at her and, just for a second, saw a shimmering, sparkling spirit in her. "Ya look alive," he said gratefully.

"A'm not sure about these American courtship rituals," Rahne said with a laugh. "Aren't ya supposed tae say 'A look beautiful'?"

He answered with a mock-offended tone, "One date and ya want me ta lie ta ya?" He bit his tongue and added seriously, "When Ah found out you were gone... if Ah had allowed muhself ta think about how Ah expected ta find ya, believe me, alive is very, very beautiful." He squeezed her hand.

When he was younger, his grandfather had told him about his stay in Atlanta during World War II and his ride on a trolley car back to base one evening. There had only been one person on that car beside himself, a lovely young girl. His grandfather claimed to know in that one second that this was the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. By the time he got off the car, they were engaged. Sam had put that feeling down to sentimentality but, with that one touch, suddenly he understood what his grandfather was talking about.

There was silence in the room, warm wonderful silence. Then, Rahne leaned over and kissed him. "What was that for?" he asked, pleasantly surprised.

"In all the fairy tales," she explained, "After the prince saves the princess's life, he kisses her. A wanted tae be different."

This time, Sam laughed. He knew when the time came, the story he told his grandchildren would be very different than any they would find in a book. Looking at Rahne, he also knew that it would be a while before he could express what he was feeling. But, he also knew that they would share something in common with the fairy tales.

They would live happily ever after.