Chapter One

The steel drums played softly in the background while Will Traynor watched Louisa Clark walking in front of him and he couldn't help, but smile. He never thought he would find his soulmate. He never even knew he had one. Then this pixie of a woman with her wild outfits and her bad jokes came into his life and turned it upside down.

"Why are you looked at me like that?" Louisa asked while walking backwards and he stopped the wheelchair.

"You look amazing," Will said.

"Thank you," she said with a curtsy.

"Will you dance for me?"

She looked a little shocked as she softly laughed and took her sandals off. He watched her dancing on the sand as she slowly spun in a circle and he thought he could feel his heart thumping hard and fast in his chest.

"Come here," he said as he barely nodded his head and she walked to the wheelchair. She looked at him sitting there in a white linen shirt open up enough to show his light brown chest hair, white linen trousers and the brown leather sandals on his feet. "Sit on my lap."

Louisa carefully sat on his lap while sliding her arm around his shoulders and he looked deeply into her eyes. She knew this was their last night together, but she had to try one last time to stop him from going to Switzerland.

"I have something to tell you," she said.

"What is it?" he asked with a hint of a smile.

"I know about Switzerland."

"When…? When did you find out?" he asked with a stunned look.

"It was a few months ago," she said with a sigh. "I overheard your mother and sister talking about it."

"I see."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

"Isn't there anything I can do to talk you out of it?" she asked with a tremble to her voice.

"Clark…"

"I love you," she said and he smiled.

"I love you, too."

"Then don't go through with it," she said on the verge of tears.

"Oh, please, don't cry," he said and she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. "I need you to understand I'm just so tired of being in pain. I'm tired of being exhausted. I'm tired of waking up in the morning and wishing it was over."

"But killing yourself…"

"I tried that once already," he said and she lightly turned his left wrist over and moved her finger along the scar.

"But you're still here."

"I don't want to be here! Not like this!"

"You not being able to move…! Being in this chair…! That doesn't matter! Not to me!"

"It does matter to me! You never knew me before! I loved my life!" he said and rolled his eyes with a sigh. "I…really loved it!"

"Why can't you give this life a chance?!"

"I don't want to!"

"Why?!"

"Do you have any idea what it's like to see you walking around the annex in those crazy outfits or if I saw you…naked…and not be able to…!? God, Clark, you have no idea what I want to do to you right now!" he said with a shaky laugh.

"What do you want to do?" she asked and he swore she was blushing.

"I beg your pardon!?"

"What do you want to do to me?" she asked and he gave her a stunned look.

"I want to make love to you on the beach. I want the heavens to see how much I love you and how you are scored on my heart forever," he said and tears appeared in the corners of his blue/grey eyes.

"What else do you want to do?" she asked and used the pads of her thumb to wipe away his tears.

"I want to dance with you under the moonlight," he said and she looked up at the moon.

"Go ahead," she said and he blinked. He flicked the joystick with his finger as the wheelchair moved back and forth then in small circles and she placed her head against his head. He stopped the wheelchair a few minutes later as she smiled and saw the moonlight shimmering in his blue/grey eyes. She moved closer to kiss his lips as she held his face in her hands and he sighed through his nose. She moved back as he smiled while the dimples made deep dents in his cheeks and she frowned. "What's so funny?"

"All of this. All of this is funny. I want to die, but how can I die now that I've found my soulmate?"

"Maybe finding your soulmate means you are supposed to live."

"How can I live when I am never going to get any better than this?! My doctors know it! I know it!"

"You might not be getting better physically, but you are mentally. When I first met you, you were depressed and shut off. Now!? Now, you're happy and more open about what you want and how you feel," she said as she moved her fingers through his dark brown hair.

"If we go forward with this relationship, I don't want you to look back with the tiniest bit of regret of being with me…or pity me."

"I have never regret one second being with you nor would I pity you!"

"You don't know that."

"Will…."

"I want you to go to school."

"I do have an interview at the university I applied to before, but I was waiting to see if I could get you to change your mind before I decide if I was going or not."

"I want you to travel."

"What do you call this?!" she asked with a small grin and wide eyes and he gave her an amused look.

"I want you to be happy."

"I am happy!"

"I want you to have a life."

"I have lived more in these last six months than I have ever lived in my entire life and that's because of you!" she said and started crying again.

"I want you to have someone who can give you what I can't."

"What more do I need!? I have a nice place to live. I have the best job ever. I have the man I love. And I finally feel my life has purpose."

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes!"

He went silent for a few minutes as she watched his eyes darting around like he was arguing with himself then he looked deeply into her eyes.

"Then… Then I…."

"You've changed your mind!? You don't want to go to Switzerland!?"

"Yes, Clark, I changed my mind and, no, I don't want to go to Switzerland," he said and his eyes widened after she made a little squeal. "What was that?!"

"Sorry," she said and carefully hugged him. He leaned his head against her head then she moved back to look at him. He could see the tears in her eyes shimmering in the moonlight then he made a soft moan and she gave him a worried look.

"Don't look at me like that. I was yawning," he said then watched her carefully get off his lap and she walked behind the wheelchair. She put the wheelchair on manual as they headed down the path and Will grinned, half closing his eyes.

Nathan came in the room as Will glanced toward the doorway to Louisa's room and Nathan frowned.

"Hey, Mate," Nathan said as he walked to the bed and Will looked at him.

"Hello," Will said.

"Is everything alright?"

"It depends," Will said and noticed the confused look on Nathan's face. Nathan knew about Will going to Switzerland, but the idea of being a part of Will's dying tied a cold knot in his stomach. "Tell me something. If I wasn't going to Switzerland, would you still take care of me?"

"Yeah, I would."

"Have you called my doctors and specialists and told them to close my files?"

"I was going to do that once we got home."

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't to it."

"Are you…? Are you saying you've changed your mind?" Nathan asked and Will grinned. Nathan made the head of the bed rise until Will was sitting upright then sat down and hugged him. Will placed his head against Nathan's head as he swore his caregiver and best friend was crying and Nathan carefully placed Wil against the pillows. Nathan used the back of his hand to wipe the tears away and took some tissues out of the tissue box on the night table to wipe his nose.

"He told you?" Louisa asked as she came out of the bedroom and headed for the bed. She was wearing her Minnie Mouse t-shirt and white pajamas bottoms with pink polka dots and Will thought she looked adorable.

"Yeah, he did," Nathan said, using the hand sanitizer and she crawled onto the bed to sit next to Will. She watched Nathan examine Will then give him the nighttime medications when Nathan pushed the button and the head of the bed moved down until Will was lying back enough to sleep comfortably. Nathan left the room and closed the door behind him as Louisa carefully crawl under the covers, snuggled next to Will and placed her head in her hand.

"So, what do you want to do now that you're not going to die?" Louisa asked, brushing some hair behind his right ear.

"I don't know yet. I would like to see if I can go back to work," Will said. "I know I wouldn't be able to travel, but I might be able to handle a client or two."

"Would that guy who took your job mind you coming back?"

"Like I told you at Alicia and Rupert's wedding, he's been worried about me coming back for a while now," Will said with laugh. "What about you? Are you going to go to the interview?"

"Yes."

"You're finally breaking things off with Marathon Boy?" he asked and she lightly tapped her fingers on his chest. She knew he was teasing, but she wondered how Patrick will react to the news.

"I think he knows it's over, but it would be nice to talk to him and make a clean break."

"Want me to come with you?"

"No, I can handle it. Though I don't know how my sister is going to react once she finds out."

"What does she…?" he asked then figured something out. "You didn't tell her about me, did you?"

"I had to talk to someone about it," she said and he rolled his eyes.

"Do you have any idea how infuriating you can be sometimes?" he asked, softly laughing.

"But you still love me, right?"

"Oh yes!" he said then lightly moaned. "Sorry."

"That's alright. Go to sleep."

Sitting up, Louisa turned the lights off then snuggled down against him, placed her head against his shoulder and he looked out the window. He heard the soft sound of the ocean while the warn breeze moved the sheer curtains and he started to close his eyes. His breathing evened out after a few minutes as she kissed his cheek, closed her eyes and followed him into sleep.

The following day, Nathan pushed the luggage trolley while Will and Louisa followed him and Will looked straight ahead. He thought about how he was going to explain to his family about not going to Switzerland when the wheelchair stopped and he watched Louisa and Nathan walking away.

"Stop," Will said as Nathan stopped then turned to look at him and noticed the serious look on Will's face.

"What's wrong, Mate?" Nathan asked as he and Louisa walked back to him. Will looked at them then at the people going by when something clicked in his head and his thumb and index finger twitched.

"Clark, sit on my lap," Will said and Louisa carefully sat down. She slid her arm around his shoulders while placing her head against his head and he gave her a serious look. "No, sit up."

"Why?" Louisa asked, sitting up. She squeaked when he flicked the joystick with his finger and the wheelchair soared by the people walking by.

"Oh fuck," Nathan said with a laugh as he quickly pushed the luggage trolley and went to catch up with them.

Louisa laughed while she faced forward and Will was telling people to move out of the way as he looked over her shoulder. He was good at steering the wheelchair as he moved by people, luggage trolleys and a few very startled security guards.

"Slow down!" Louisa said as Will moved by the people carrier, but the wheelchair wasn't slowing down and she tried to keep her balance. Will laughed while some children chased after the wheelchair and Louisa covered her eyes with her hands. Suddenly three security guards appeared in front of them as Will slowed the wheelchair to a stop and grinned.

"Oh boy," Louisa sighed while Nathan stopped behind the wheelchair and panted.

"Hello," Will said as the tallest of the security guards walked closer and crossed his muscular arms over his chest.

"Just what do you think you were doing?" the security guard asked.

"I was having some fun with my friend and girlfriend."

"No, what you're doing is causing a disturbance."

"Look, Mate, give him a break," Nathan said.

"No, I am afraid I can't do that. And it has nothing to do with him being in a wheelchair."

"Would it matter if he was dying and this was one of the last things he wanted to do?" Louisa asked and the security guards look at each other.

"Uh…."

"Mike, let them go," the other security guard said and Mike moved back.

"Just be careful," Mike said and watched as them moved by him.

"Bloody hell! That was brilliant!" Will said after they were out of earshot as she looked back at the security guards and frowned.

"I wasn't being brilliant. I was just asking a question," Louisa said.

"Well, either way, it worked," Nathan said with grin. People walked by them while Louisa looked straight ahead as she sighed and Will stopped the wheelchair. Both of them didn't say a word as Louisa got off his lap then started walking away and they went to catch up with her.

Camilla Traynor watched while Will, Louisa and Nathan came closer and Will stopped the wheelchair a few feet in front of her. She noticed the sad look on Louisa's face as Louisa stood next to the wheelchair and held onto the handle of her suitcase. Camilla felt her heart breaking as she looked from Louisa to Will then back and felt the tears building in the corners of her eyes.

"Hello, William," Camilla said.

"Hello, Mother," he said and Louisa walked by her, heading for the door.

"Miss Clark, wait!" Camilla said as she followed Louisa outside and Louisa turned to look at her.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Traynor, but I… I have to go," Louisa said.

"What about my son!?" Camilla asked, but Louisa only turned and walked away. Sighing, Camilla went back inside then looked at Will and he gave her a blank look.

Will was quiet during the drive back to the annex as he looked straight ahead and Nathan glanced at him from the rearview mirror.

"You ok, Mate?" he asked and Will blinked.

"Yes," Will sighed and placed the back of his head against the headrest. "I just don't understand why she got so upset."

"Your mum's upset because…"

"I'm talking about Louisa."

"Oh," Nathan said as he watched the traffic and strummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "I think she got upset because of that stunt you pulled."

"She seemed to be having fun."

"She was until those security guards showed up."

"They let us go."

"Yeah, but only after she asked them to."

"She didn't ask them to. She asked…"

"She asked what if you were dying and what you were doing was one of the last things you wanted to do."

"Bugger," he said and half closed his eyes. The van moved up the drive then headed for the annex when Nathan smiled and parked the van. Nathan got out of the van, walked to the back of the van, opened the doors and the small lift lowered the wheelchair. Will pushed the joystick with his finger as the wheelchair moved then stopped when he saw Louisa leaning against the car she used to drive him places and she gave them a slightly smug look. Rolling his eyes, he smiled as she walked closer and gently sat on his lap. "Would it help if I said I'm sorry?"

"Yes," she said then took his face in her hands and kissed his lips. Moving back, she smiled at him as Will smiled back and she placed her forehead against his.

Camilla headed for the annex as her disappointment and anger boiled inside her and she tried hard not to cry. She was unable to reach Louisa when she called her phone and Camilla slid the sliding door open then closed the door behind her. Nathan was sitting at the dining room table as he typed on the keyboard of his laptop then looked up and Camilla folded her arms across her chest.

"Hey, Mrs. T," Nathan said.

"Where is William?" she asked, walking to the table.

"He's sleeping."

"Have you heard from Miss Clark?"

"I'm right here," Louisa said as she came out of the kitchen with a plate of biscuits, a pot of tea and two mugs on a tray. Camilla looked at her when Louisa placed the tray on the table and Nathan reached for one of the mugs.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"Will's sleeping."

"I know that."

"I'm sorry if I worried you, but I usually do that so he can have some peace and quiet," Louisa said as she sat down and poured the tea into the mugs. Camilla looked at them as Louisa opened her laptop and Camilla frowned.

"Clark!" suddenly came from the bedroom when Louisa got up and half-ran into the master bedroom. Will watched as she walked to the bed and she thought how cute he looked with slightly messy hair.

"Are you alright?" Louisa asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Yes, but I got scared when I woke up and you weren't here," Will said.

"Are you saying I am supposed to stay in here while you take a kip now?" she asked with an amused look.

"You did when I got sick," he said with a slightly hurt look.

"That was different. I had to make sure you were alright."

"I heard voices. Who are you talking to?"

"Your mother's here," she said and he glanced at the doorway. Camilla stood in doorway as she looked at them and he saw the hurt in her eyes.

"May I come in?" Camilla asked.

"Of course," Will said as she came in the room and stood next to Louisa.

"Do you want me to leave?" Louisa asked.

"No," he said then looked at his mother. "Did you want something, Mother?"

"I wish to discuss what you are going to do in a few days," Camilla said.

"I don't."

"William, please don't make this anymore difficult then it is."

"Do you know what I am going to do in a few days, Clark?" he asked, looking at Louisa.

"No, what are you going to do?" Louisa asked.

"I am going to Switzerland."

"Why are you going there?"

"Do you know what Dignitas is?"

"I've heard of it. Isn't that where people go to die?"

"Yes," he said and Camilla saw just a hint of a smile on their faces.

"Do you two think what he is about to do is some sort of joke?!" Camilla demanded with a crack to her voice.

"Maybe," Will said with a wide grin as Louisa took hold of his right hand and wrapped their fingers together. "Considering the fact that I've decided not to go to Switzerland."

Camilla felt like she was going to faint as she sat down next to Will after Louisa stood up and Camilla took his hand.

"You…? You changed your mind?"

"Yes."

"Did you call and tell them to cancel your appointment?"

"I did, but they wanted to know if I want to reapply in six months."

"I hope you told them no."

"I did."

"What about Nathan, Miss Clark and your doctors and specialists?"

"Nathan will still be taking care of me and told me my files are still open. Also, Louisa is moving in permanently."

"Do you promise to never put us through this again?"

"Yes, I promise this is the last time I try to end my life before my body decides to end it for me."

"William…"

"Sorry," he said as she moved closer and Louisa moved him forward so Camilla could hug him. Will leaned his head against his mother's head as she sniffed and Louisa saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. She leaned Will back against the pillows as Camilla wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, stood up and looked at Louisa. Louisa looked startled when Camilla hugged her then moved back, walked to the door and turned to watch Louisa sit down next to Will.

The rain fell while people walked along the pavement and Rupert Freshwell headed for the stairs. He quickly moved up the stairs then he opened the door and closed the brolly. He walked across the lobby as he headed for the lift and pushed the button on the panel near the lift doors. He watched the numbers going down then the lift doors opened and he waked in the lift car. He pushed the button for the ninth floor as he watched the lift doors close then the lift car moved upward and he looked at the parcel he had in his right hand. The lift doors opened as he walked out and headed down the hallway. He stood in front of the door with Darren H. Grey – Attorney painted on the frosted glass then opened the door and walked in the outer office.

"Good afternoon," the secretary said after she looked at him and Rupert smiled.

"Good afternoon. I am Rupert Freshwell. I have a three o'clock appointment with Mister Grey," Rupert said.

"Oh, yes. Hold on," she said when she picked the receiver off the cradle and pushed the button. "Yes, Mister Grey, you're three o'clock is here. Yes, Sir."

She placed the receiver back on the cradle as she looked at Rupert and he held the parcel in both hands.

"Mister Grey will see you now," she said and he nodded. He walked to the door as he opened the door then went in the inner office and the door closed silently behind him.