Chapter 1

The screeching of the kettle finally brought them back to reality. Both so absorbed in each other, and their pain that at first the sound rang deaf upon their ears.

"Tell me what happened, Lizzy?" Asked a somber Darcy after moving the kettle from the heat.

"Darce, I hardly know what happened, it was like something inside me snapped, I couldn't take any more and if I did, it was going to be more then my own blood on me." She replied indicating the blood seeping from her hairline onto her smooth cheek.

That snapped his attention back to her face, the one he avoided looking at for fear of what he was going to see there. And she was right; her left temple had a gash about a finger's length near her hairline. His heart constricted painfully as she fought for the composure that she was determined to show him rather than the mess that was swirling through her. She was in shock, pure and simple. Will crossed the chasm and pulled her to him, holding her close, comforting her as he felt her tremble in his strong arms.

"Let's get that cleaned up, Lizzy. Follow me."

He steadied her gently, clasping his hands over her upper arms. The motion shook Lizzy out of her trance for but a moment, and then he was leading her down the hall through his bedroom into his spacious master bath. Sitting her softly on the edge of his sunken tub, Will turned to find his first aid supplies.

Discovering them some time later, in the far back of his bathroom cabinet, Darcy quietly cursed to himself over the amount of time it took to locate. Pulling out the antiseptic and a smooth cotton pad he turned to Elizabeth. Her eyes were closed and even though the blood had obscured her cheek and she had a rather nasty looking bruise forming, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He stood and stared for a moment, caught in a trance by her being there with him, even after all the hurtful things they had yelled all those years ago. The pain lingered even if the words had faded.

The silence in the room started to be deafening and Lizzy slowly opened her eyes. They caught Williams as he stared and she blushed as the thoughts in her head were most likely different from his. Little did she know was that while she had been reminiscing on the way he opened his door earlier, the way he looked and smelled was heaven to her senses. She couldn't fathom that his thoughts mirrored her own. Jarred from the memories, Will knelt down in front of her.

"This may sting a bit" declared Will

Sucking in her breath, he was right, it burned like hell. Grasping for composure she shut her eyes again and focused on her breathing.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry" he whispered brokenly.

"No, no it's fine, you warned me didn't you." Bit out Lizzy.

Darcy couldn't place what she meant by him warning her. Was it the warning issued now or the one that flew from his lips just a few short years past? Darcy chose not to dwell on that fact in this moment. No, what really mattered was that his Elizabeth was here, she chose him to run to when it had all fallen apart. He shook his head, even though in his heart he called her his, she was not. She had belonged to that man. That was the word belonged, owned. Not equal, valued, cherished, and priceless. Which she was, all those things and more. Returning his thoughts to the present he spoke to her.

"I'm sure the kettle is still hot, let's get a cup of tea in you. Mint still your favorite?" asked Darcy.

"You and your English sensibilities, no matter what is wrong a cup of tea will fix absolutely anything, right. Yes, mint is still my favorite, but you hate the stuff so I doubt you will have it" answered Lizzy.

"Don't doubt what you don't know, I'm a sentimental man, I keep mint stocked for this very reason. I knew some day you would be here." William stiffly replied.

Lizzy fumed at this. He knew she would show up beaten and bloody on his doorstep, he knew? Her marriage caused strife between them but his haughty attitude hadn't changed at all. Her former best friend, no Lizzy corrected this in her mind; he was still her best friend, they just hadn't agreed for a while now on the path of life she had chosen. But he was so sure he was right, he kept mint tea for when it had all crumbled on top of her.

Darcy recognized the silence, this was her tactic. She felt too many words were wasted when arguing. If a fight with her was long and drawn out it meant she was having a bit of fun at your expense, not truly angry just mildly miffed. Their last fight had been of the second variety, the one in which he could tell she was truly angry. It had lasted a few sentences and then years of silence ensued. It was the same strategy she was using tonight. He realized he must correct the situation before it got any worse.

Softening his tone Will spoke: "Actually, Giana likes the sampler boxes, I always end up with strange herbal mixes that the corporations pawn off in those, apparently mint is distasteful to the rest of the world as it is to Giana."

Lizzy chuckled at this. Giana always wanted to try something new. And also had a lack of decision making it seemed.

"Well for that I'm entirely grateful" replied Lizzy accepting the olive branch he had extended.

Opening the cabinet where his cups were located, Darcy could feel her eyes on him. Wishing it was better circumstances that she had appeared, he wondered what to do next. Besides her rather cryptic explanation earlier, he didn't truly know what had happened causing her to show up late at night at his apartment. He was guessing it dealt with her creep of a husband, but Darcy never liked to assume anything.

Turning around mug in hand he opened the drawer with his variety of tea. Like he said earlier he had mint, so pulling out the packet he tore off the top and plunked the bag into the empty cup. Next, he filled it almost to the brim with the scalding water. Sliding it to her on the island he warned her it was very hot and to be careful.

"Thanks, and thank you again for you know," Lizzy pointed to her forehead.

"Not a problem, not a problem at all, I'm glad it wasn't worse, it may still scar though. Is there anything else I can do, would you like to take a shower, maybe?"

Lizzy looked down, noticed her body was nicked and bruised and just a tinge dirty from rolling around on the floor. Then she noticed the tear in her dress, they had been at a party before the fight. She was still in her cherry red satin mini dress; he had insisted she wear, along with the too high for her sandals.

"A shower would be wonderful, but I would have to impose on your hospitality further, as I have forgotten my weekend bag," she replied wryly.

That was when Darcy noticed the dress; the dress was gorgeous on her. But the dress wasn't her style it was another dramatic change to the woman he knew before. It was too tight, too short and the heels looked painful. It wasn't something Lizzy would have picked out for herself, but she was still classy in it. Hell she could be classy in a garbage bag. Darcy shook himself out of the mental stupor he was caught in.

"No imposition, I'm glad you're here, really. Why don't you shower in the master I will get you a t-shirt and find some shorts of Giana's? Feel free to use anything, and the towels are on the top shelf of the cabinet."

"Thank you" she simply replied.

At that she set her empty mug down and retraced her steps to the bathroom. It was really gorgeous, almost like an in-home spa. Seeing the shower she was eager to feel the heat upon her skin and hopefully remove the soreness that had set in from her beating.

She turned on the shower, letting it get hot. As she reached for her zipper in the back, a shooting pain shot through her arm causing her to cry out. It was at that moment that Will had retrieved some articles of clothing.

"Elizabeth, are you ok? What's wrong?"

She opened the door, tears swimming in her eyes after her excursion to get out of the stupid dress left her arm throbbing.

"It seems I have injured my arm as well and can't seem to get out of this thing" she said indicating her dress.

"At your service milady, turn around and we will get you free." Darcy said trying to ease her pain and embarrassment.

Cautiously she turned around thinking that chivalry was not dead like they said. When she was turned around was when Darcy noticed the purpling bruise in the shape of a man's hand beginning to from on her porcelain shoulder. Anger boiled up inside him, her perfect skin was marred. Her husband had done this. The man that had sworn to cherish, honor and respect her had beaten her, used her, and she had barely gotten away. Gently pulling her to him, he wrapped his arms lightly across her middle, lest he hurt her more. Then, he buried his face in her hair. After a breath or two he moved her hair aside and placed tender kisses under her ear and along her neck, whispering the ways he would avenge her, telling her just how special she was and how thankful he was that she had chosen him to run to. He told her that he would give her anything, all she had to do was ask and it would be hers. And then there was silence both of them reminiscing on the past, what was done led to what happened now and how the future would be better now that the two lost souls had found each other.

After a time spent in quiet contemplation, Darcy moved back, unzipped her dress, like nothing had happened and said: "The shower is still hot, but it probably won't be for long, I suggest you get in."

Turning to face him, she was holding up her unzipped dress with her good hand. Instead of speaking, her eyes flashed the appreciation she felt.

He was right, the shower was still hot and it felt glorious. She examined her body, searching for more injuries. Each new one she found terrified her, thinking of what could have happened. The water had started to cool so she reluctantly gave up the search and finished up. Stepping out she realized that William had left some clothes for her on the edge of the sink. Choosing only to put her panties back on and ignoring her bra she gently put the clothes on. The shorts must have been Giana's since they were pink and had juicy written across the back. Expecting the same of the shirt she was surprised to discover it was one of Will's from college. It was soft and smelt deliciously like him. Slipping into it she sighed and couldn't believe how her life had gotten so bad. Padding her way out of the bathroom and into Will's bedroom she debated as to whether she should go find him or wait for him here. She didn't want to look like she was snooping so she crossed the room to the bed and set on the edge of it. Thinking that Will would eventually find her here.

She was very tired and it was very late, so she had moved from sitting on the edge to curl up in the middle. Waiting for Will seemed like an eternity, so she closed her eyes reassuring herself she was only resting them for a moment.

Ten minutes had passed, and Will approached his bedroom. He listened but didn't hear the shower so he hoped he wasn't going to surprise her by walking in. Going through the door, he stopped. There curled on his bed was his Lizzy. In his mind she was right where she was supposed to be. Not wanting to wake her up and knowing rest was the best thing for her, he got himself ready for bed as well. After he was done, he turned to the bed and pulled the covers loose and carefully moved Lizzy under them. With that he turned off the light and crawled in himself. Hoping to forget this day and chase his fantasy's revolving her into his dreams.