Alex was standing next to Hope looking down at him while he placed the flowers on his mother’s grave and was trying to figure what he ever did with his life before Hope was brought into it.  He had been trying not to let Hope know that it had been him that took care of his mother’s arrangements, but it sort of slipped out.  Alex about lost his balance when Hope threw his arms around his neck and could not help put place his own arms around Hope.<br/><br/>Alex was sitting on the bench looking out to the pond just pondering the last few weeks’ events.  Alex could not help but sigh a little as he heard Hope talk to his mom about his feelings for Alex.  Alex was not sure how long it was going to take him to get used to the fact that Hope had these deep feelings for him.  He was really afraid that he was going to let him down.  Alex was being one way right now, but when he has had a bad day he could be a real ass.  Hope is just catching Alex on a good week.<br/><br/>Alex was sitting there waiting for Hope to let him know when he was done when his phone rang.  He noticed that it was Jamie so he answered it and when Jamie told him what was going on he could not help but look around spotting the guy that Jamie was talking to so he got up to protect Hope.  He moved the phone to his blue tooth device that was built into the sunglasses he was wearing.  He came up behind Hope placing his arms around him holding tight to his chest.<br/><br/>Alex was listening to everything that Jamie was saying to him in the ear piece as he watched this man get closer to them.  He was also watching as Jamie got closer to the man.  “You realize that Rexus or you do not stand a chance in hell to take Hope anywhere.”  With that Alex grabbed Hope’s hand and pulled Hope behind him to shelter him with his own body.<br/><br/>Jamie had finally got close enough to take a shot and said as much to Alex in his ear. Alex watched as the man in front of them pulls out a gun.  “Now you are going to hand Hope over to me, and everything will go very nicely.”  Alex glanced over where Jamie was and gave a slight nod.  “I believe I will pass at that.”  Alex said and pulled Hope down on the ground with him as the sound of gunfire goes off.   Alex glanced over finally and found the man flat on the ground dead and that was good for them.  Alex didn’t notice the blood that was on his sleeve at first and his sleeve was soaked.