Forrest wandered upstairs that afternoon, his heart sinking at the fact that he hadn't seen Evie since that morning when they discovered the body on the porch. All day he and Howard had been working with their allies to try and find whoever had sold out their cousin, who it was that tortured and deformed him that way. The anger that Forrest felt was beyond words.

Special Deputy Rakes was a monster, they all knew that by now, but the Bondurants were not afraid. Rakes was getting closer to them, drawing them out, making them desperate, and they weren't going to play his game.

Pushing open the bedroom door, Forrest spotted his wife in the corner of the room, swaying in the rocking chair that faced out at the evening sun and the busyness outside, Annabelle sleeping soundly in her arms. Evie's hand gently patted against Annabelle's side soothingly, reassuring the baby that they were in safe hands. But it was more reassuring the Evie that her daughter was protected.

When she turned to look at her husband approaching, Forrest could see the redness around her eyes. The worry, the fear.

"He almost killed you once Forrest," Evie shook her head, looking back down at Annabelle. "That was close enough, I don't ever want to feel that again,"

"You ain't gonna," he assured, taking a seat on the edge of their bed to look her in the eyes. "That piece of shit is not gonna get that chance again,"

Evie felt Annabelle squirm in her arms at the sound of Forrest's voice, immediately cooing to settle her back to sleep.

"I told you he did horrible things," she reminded. "And that...it was so easy for that to have been you. If you were out there, if any of you were out there-"

"We ain't gonna let him get near us, you hear me? Not near me, not Howard or Jack and especially not you and Annabelle. Over my dead body would he hurt either of you,"

"That's what I'm afraid of Forrest," she admit. "I can't live without you,"

Forrest's heart ached at her words and he gulped down the lump he felt in his throat. It was one thing for Evie to be frightened of being hurt, but to constantly fear for his safety more than her own was exhausting and he could tell it was taking it's toll.

"I'm gonna be fine," he assured. "Ain't no one takin' me down,"

Annabelle had finally had enough of being rocked to sleep, instead beginning to whine and wail no matter what Evie did to soothe her. She knew what the baby wanted. Ever since she heard her father's voice, she wanted to be in his arms.

Forrest accepted the baby from Evie's grasp into his own, cradling his daughter as if she was made of glass. To Forrest, she was. She was just as fragile and pure. The baby made noises in his arms, moving around and stretching her arms to make herself comfortable. Forrest leaned down and pressed the softest of kisses to her forehead, watching as her eyes fluttered closed.

Evie's heart swelled at the sight.

Right here was everything Forrest ever needed. And it was everything that would always bring him home.

It was over two months later when Evie and Forrest laid their eyes on Special Deputy Rakes. They were in the town for a few hours, taking Annabelle to the doctor for a checkup and grabbing some essentials for the farm.

"Forrest," Evie whispered, Annabelle in her arms as Forrest carried a crate of groceries.

He followed Evie's glaring eyes over to a man standing across the street, his black hair slicked back without a wisp out of place. He was dressed in a fancy suit, smoking a cigarette and staring at the family.

Evie could read Forrest's body language perfectly and could tell just how hard he was trying to keep himself from marching over to the man. Forrest was a man of very few words, but his body could speak for itself. The glare that came from his eyes, the defensiveness that came from his stance, the hatred that was so obvious.

Each week Rakes was knocking down bootleggers, one by one, slowly and thoroughly.

"I don't want him looking at her," Evie spoke softly, holding their daughter closer and wrapping her arms around her little body.

"Don't worry about him," Forrest muttered, still staring over at the deputy.

Forrest wished he could end that man right now at that moment. His eyes were watching his family in a way that made his blood boil. Rakes was here to end the distribution of illegal substances and the production of alcohol, but he had long since crossed the line that made his goal personal.

"He's walking over," Evie warned. "Forrest, don't-"

Before Rakes could make it across the road, Forrest dropped the crate he was loading into the car and met him halfway. Rakes had a satisfied grin on his face, but Forrest held a completely blank expression, his body rigid and threatening.

Evie stood back over by the car with Annabelle in her arms, her little hat pulled over her head and keeping her face away from the sight of Rakes. Evie's body was shaking with anger just looking at the man.

"Do not take another step," Forrest warned gravely.

Rakes's lips pulled into a bigger grin, his hands slipping to the ends of his coat to pull tightly and stand tall.

"Mr. Bondurant," he greeted. "I wanted to give my congratulations on the birth of your child,"

In response, Forrest continued to stare at the man with hard, unrelenting eyes. Just facing Forrest's glare was enough to make most men fear him, but Rakes enjoyed the game that he was so sure they were playing.

"I see she's a little girl," he continued. "A beautiful daughter, a beautiful woman. Quite a life you've made for yourself Forrest,"

"You look their way one more time and I will rip your goddamn throat out," Forrest threatened lowly.

With one more smile, Rakes chuckled.

"I'll be seeing you Forrest," he nodded before turning.

Forrest kept his gaze on the Deputy until he was back on the other side of the street, strolling away as if not a thing had happened.

Evie walked downstairs with heavy eyes, a yawn escaping her lips as the sun began to set outside. Five months of putting Annabelle down for a nap and it still hadn't become any easier. The baby just wanted to be awake and in her parents' arms all day and night long. They spoiled her though, always happy to hold her as she slept against their chest, but parting with the infant when putting her in the cot was always a struggle.

"If anyone raises their voice or makes a commotion, then they can try and get her back to sleep," she warned, taking a seat around the table.

Maggie chuckled as she sat down, placing another pitcher of lemonade in the middle of the table for the boys and Evie to drink. Forrest looked over to his wife lovingly, although his face showed no emotion, Evie could tell just how thankful he was for everything she did. Leaning over, Evie laid her head against his shoulder for a moment before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Jack still out?" she asked, noticing his obvious absence.

Howard shook his head.

"Out doin' some deal with Cricket," he muttered. "Gonna get himself in a whole heap of shit,"

Evie groaned, rubbing her temples.

"No, none of that," she announced. "No business talk, no trouble talk,"

"Well that don't leave me with much else Evie," Howard scoffed.

Maggie smirked.

"I'm sure you'll think of somethin' proper to talk about,"

"You got a suggestion?" he asked with a grin.

Over the past few months, as much as Rake's threat loomed over them all and they witnessed more and more bootleggers killed and their stills blown up, there were positives. The biggest being Annabelle growing before their eyes, and the other was the blossoming romance between Maggie and Howard.

Evie had noticed it long ago, but Forrest refused to talk about it. He liked Maggie and he wanted his brother to be happy, but he wasn't about to go talking about their private lives. Even to his wife.

"Don't you think they'd be great together? They're so happy when they're around each other," Evie had admit.

"It's none of our business what they do," was always Forrest's response.

But now Forrest could see the admiration among the almost-couple in front of him, Evie couldn't help look at him with a knowing glance.

"I'm gonna take a walk in the fresh air," Evie suggested, standing and looking toward her husband.

"Mm, 'spose I could use some fresh air too," he grunted, moving to stand as well.

"Mind keeping an ear out for Annabelle?"

"Of course not," Maggie smiled. ''Enjoy your walk,"

Evie stepped out onto the porch and breathed in the cool evening air, feeling it blow against her skin, feeling Forrest's arm go around her waist. It had been so long since they had a moment together alone.

Weaving her arm into his, Evie walked alongside her husband off the porch and into the grassy paddocks of the farm.

"You doin' this just to leave them two alone back there?" Forrest asked.

"That and I wanted you all to myself for a while," she admit. "Remember when we used to lay out here and look for shooting stars?"

Forrest grinned slightly, nodding.

"Mm, you always thought you seen 'em," he recalled. "Most were moths,"

"Were not," she denied, folding her arms cheekily.

Forrest grabbed her hand and led them into the thicker grass, flattening out a patch in the middle and gesturing for them to lay together. Side by side, they felt just like teenagers again. Forrest's arm was spread out, Evie resting her head back against it, as they stared up at the sky.

So much had changed since the last time they did this.

"Y'know, when I came back, I told myself not to see you," Evie whispered after a few moments of silence. "Don't go near the Bondurant farm, don't go lookin' for Forrest, don't do that to him,"

Forrest turned slightly to look at her, his eyes watching for any signs of sadness on her face. Talking about leaving always upset her and reminded Forrest of a time he would rather forget. But she didn't look sad, instead she had a small smile on her lips.

"And on my first night back you found me," she continued. "And soon enough I was right back here again,"

Forrest remembered that night as if it were years ago. As soon as Evie came back into his life, those years apart almost vanished.

"This is your home," he reminded. "No where else,"

They remained in silence for a while longer, watching the stars all around the sky, enjoying the cool breeze that swept over them both. From the house they could hear the faint cries of their daughter that were being soothed by either Maggie or Howard.

"I never thought I'd be a mother," she admit.

"Never thought I'd be a father," Forrest echoed. "Never thought I'd want that. But I 'spose I just didn't want that with anyone but you,"

Evie grinned and rolled to lay on top of Forrest, pressing a kiss to his chest as she laid her head against him. His arms wound around her and held her close, suddenly forgetting about the stars in the sky.

It wasn't until they heard Annabelle's cries once again that they realized how long they had been out here.

"Mm, somethin' tells me we ain't gonna get much sleep tonight," Forrest murmured as Evie stood up.

"Well your daughter took on all your stubbornness," she quipped.

Forrest chuckled.

"That right?"