A woman who hired a bodyguard after escaping an abusive relationship found herself falling love with him - now the pair are happily married with a family.<br /><br />Elise Stevens, 35, was left terrified for herself and her daughter, Gracie, 13, after fleeing a violent partner in November 2008. <br /><br />Friends recommended she hire a bodyguard for safety. Taking their advice, she sought the protective services of her friend Derek Stevens, 35, who moved into their new home in December 2008.<br /><br />But after spending so much time together Elise started falling in love with her bodyguard - like Whitney Houston in the classic film 'The Bodyguard' - and she admitted it to him.<br /><br />Due to her feelings and how attached her daughter was becoming with Derek, she gave him an ultimatum - to be in a relationship with her or to end the protection arrangement.<br /><br />At first Derek broke it off but he called back two weeks later confessing he was in love with Elise too. <br /><br />In March 2009, the pair were married, and they have since gone on to have their children - Rhilynn, 11, and Trask, eight.<br /><br />Elise, an autistic specialist, from Union, Oregon, US, said: "After being in abusive relationship it's drilled into you that you will never love again.<br /><br />"I never expected to have that again.<br /><br />"I was too proud to have someone help me, but I knew it was the right thing to do - so I hired Derek as a bodyguard. <br /><br />"But I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him.<br /><br />"He made me feel so safe, comfortable and protected.<br /><br />"People ask me if I would change the violence, I went through but I wouldn't because it gave me Derek and my family."<br /><br />Filmed within February 2022.
