Pulled from the Wreckage - One Shot after Jake's death

His timing was never quite right.

It was never more apparent then standing in her living room on the day her son died and realizing that he's still as much in love with her as the day she gave birth to their son.

Fingertips ache to reach out, cup her palm, touch her, to try and will her pain onto his body…instead he shoves his hands into his pockets. He doesn't quite understand how they got here…in the midst of broken lives and shambled dreams they were always each others rocks; how could he have destroyed that?

"Liz"

Their eyes meet and the urge to touch her overcame him as she fell into him, winding her arms tightly around him as a sob wracked her tiny frame. His arms held her against him; one hand wound in her hair as his lips murmured soothing words against her temple.

They stayed for a long time, connected, hearts beating against each other, tears intermingling as they fell to the floor, saying all the words their mouths had failed for all those months they spent running in circles.

When she finally pulls away, he takes her hands in his as they sit on the couch, "I'm so sorry" he admits his voice raspier.

Shaking her head she lets the tears slide down her face, "You don't…"

Everything seems to fall away in that moment and his hands leave her hands to cup her cheeks, "I should have been here, and I will be from now on"

OoO

"You still love her?"

The question isn't asked in anger but her blue eyes are huge when they ask and he hates that he's hurt someone else.

Rubbing his jaw he makes himself look her in the eyes, "I'm sorry"

He can tell she's trying to mask her emotions as she swallows hard and looks up to blink away a couple of tears, "I don't regret anything"

"I don't either"

Blowing a breath of air out they looked at each other, "It's actually good timing…the band I've been working with; they want me to go on tour with them. I had said no but…"

"Brook"

Shaking her head she came close to him, their torsos almost touching, that spark of electricity still there but a slow hum instead of the usual crackle, "You gave me my life back, and I will always be grateful for the time we had" she told him bringing her lips to his.

It's not their usual kiss of hunger or passion but something inherently sad.

When she pulled away he ran a finger down her cheek, "You gave me my life back also"

A single tear slid down her cheek, "I'm gonna go…but, I'm going to come back to say goodbye to Spencer"

"He'd like that"

"And Nikolas…if it doesn't work out, and you're ever in SoHo looking for a dance partner"

"I know just who to call"

Nodding she offered a forlorn smile and wave before walking up the stairs.

Swallowing hard he swiped away the lone errant tear.

OoO

"I was honored every day to be called Daddy by Jake"

She leans into him as Lucky speaks, burying her head in his chest as his chin rests on her head. When it's over, he pulls her away from the crowd. He knows they mean well but her eyes are dimmed, and her shoulders sag with the weight of the world upon them. Lesley takes the boys and he watches as she squeezes them extra tightly before letting them go.

Her eyes are closed as they drive home and when they pull to the house he realizes that she drifted off. Turning the car off he slides out and walks up onto the porch. Pulling the extra key from behind the lamppost, opens the door, then goes back to the car.

After gently unbuckling her seatbelt he slides his arms under her thighs and pulls her up to him. The exhaustion must have finally overwhelmed her because she only protests for a moment before lying her head on his chest and falling back to sleep. She's lighter then he remembers and feels so fragile in his arms. As they make it over the threshold he kicks the door closed and makes his way up the stairs to her bedroom.

Slowly he slides her down on the bed as her eyes open to meet his. Their gaze meets for a couple long moments as her eyes puddle with the endless flow of tears, "Hold me" she whispers her lip quivering. It's neither a question nor a request but something that slips from the pain in her soul.

Sliding off his loafers, he climbs on top of the bed and she crawls into his arms, her head on his chest as his arms wind tightly around her slight body. The smell of her hair is so familiar yet intoxicating. He had ached to be this close to her before and yet this was not how he wanted it to happen. He would give up everything to give her Jake back, to put that wide smile back on her face, to take this ache he knew she felt inside. He couldn't imagine it; losing Spencer or Aidan…the thought alone enough to have his heart constrict inside his chest. They would get through this…and he wasn't going to leave her side.

It was dark when he opened his eyes. He hadn't meant to fall asleep but the comfort of having her against him proved too much for his exhausted bones. She's lying on his chest, her turquoise eyes swirled, shining with tears that seemed unrelenting.

Her finger rises to run along his cheek and he tries not to feel the rush of blood to skin but it's futile and it's like his nerve endings have been lit on fire.

"Liz" he manages to whisper.

"I just want to stop hurting"

Rising up he pulls her towards him, his hands coming to cup her face, their eyes locked before he pulls her close running his lips across her forehead. A whimper escapes her lips before she falls into his chest. He cannot be the man who uses her weakness against her, he has to be a better man because that's what she deserves.

His lips meet her hair as he holds her shaking body against him and he prays to someone somewhere for the strength to pull them through this.