It felt like just a typical day at the Boar Hat, waking up next to Meliodas always brought a warm and tingly feeling to her body. Oh, she understood what it meant but in no way would she ever act on it. Meliodas doesn't look at her like that. She's just a fellow comrade, and a kind of useless one at that. So, when he suggested that she work with Ban and him she was quite surprised and elated to be included.

"Elizabeth, I need you to concentrate on me," Meliodas said breaking into her daydream. "You need to put all of your focus on sending healing energy to me as I'm fighting Ban. It's very important that you keep your thoughts and feelings centered on the one you're healing."

Elizabeth blushed thinking that her attention usually was on Meliodas so he had nothing to worry about there. "Yyy-yes Sir Melidoas I will I promise." As the men started to fight she focused on Meliodas and how much she wanted him to be healed. She felt warmth flow through her, and it was almost like there was a rope binding her to Meliodas. She felt so connected to him at that moment. As she concentrated on healing him she didn't notice Diane coming up behind her.

"Elizabeth!" Diane said startling her, "I'm sorry I scared you but if we don't go now we're going to be late." Elizabeth had completely forgotten about having lunch with her sisters. She looked over to Meliodas and saw that while he had taken quite a beating he looked almost untouched. This was amazing! She was so happy that she could do this that she almost felt like she could have a real place with the Sins.

"Sir Meliodas I have to leave. It's time I went to the castle to meet with my sisters and I'm going to stay and have dinner with my father. Oh, and I promise I'll have a word with him about you needing to speak with him." Elizabeth said in a rush. Meliodas only smirked at her and told her to be safe on her walk.

Elizabeth got up and started to walk away when she whirled around and ran for Meliodas. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you Sir Meliodas. You have no idea what it means to me that you would trust me to do this for you." With that she turned and caught up with Diane to return to that Boar Hat to change. She didn't think her father would appreciate the uniform that Meliodas had picked out. What she didn't see was the shocked look on Meliodas's face.

After changing Diane and she left the Boar Hat and headed into Liones. She couldn't concentrate on what Diane was saying because she couldn't believe what she had done! She threw herself at Meliodas! Oh God! What must he think of her now? And he must have been in shock because he didn't even try to cop a feel! Oh, dear what was she going to do? She was glad that she was going to have some time to figure out what she was going to say to him when she got back.

"Elizabeth are you listening?', Diane asked.

"I'm sorry I must be a little scattered after using my abilities so much this morning." Elizabeth lied. Although Diane was with King now, she didn't want to burden her friend with this. She had to figure this out on her own.

"That's ok I understand. I'm the same way after I train for a long time. It should get easier the more you do it don't worry." Diane said. Elizabeth sighed at this, and she wished that she had asked Meliodas how he felt before she left. He looked pretty unhurt but there could be internal injuries, broken bones, brain or spine injuries that take a while to show up...

"Elizabeth stop!" Diane shouted. Elizabeth had started to turn pale with her worrying. "He's fine! He has some of his own healing power you know that. He's ok stop worrying." Diane had turned to her and grabbed her arms to shake her a bit. "You need to take a deep breath and calm down." Diane tried to soothe her.

As Elizabeth breathed and tried to calm her mind she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. It looked like someone ducking behind a shop next to them. Shaking her head, she thought that she was seeing things that weren't there. She decided not to mention it to Diane. Smiling up at her friend Elizabeth thanked her and they continued on their way to the castle.

Popping his head out from the shop he dove behind he thought that that was close. She almost saw him. Everything would have been ruined if she noticed him and he had planned this for too long for it to be over so soon. She would understand soon enough, and then she would have to choose.

Lunch with her sisters was as enjoyable as ever. After much teasing between all four of them they started to reminisce about when they were younger. Laughter and tears filled the hours until it was time to meet her father.

"Diane are you returning to the Boar Hat?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. I have a date with King that I need to get ready for..." Diane sighed. "I love how flustered he gets when I get all dressed up for him." Diane said with a giggle.

"Ok then have fun and I'll see you tomorrow!" Elizabeth hugged her friend and walked her out. Upon returning to the dining room her father had arrived and was talking quietly but firmly to Margret and Veronica. When he noticed her, he ceased speaking and turned to sit at the table. Margret and Veronica looked quite angry but turned away without another word to their father.

They both approached her and gave her hugs and kisses good night. "Elizabeth, I just want you to know that we don't agree with-" Margret started to say but was cut off by Bartra shouting, "Margret that is enough!" Turning away from her, her sisters left the room.

"Elizabeth it is so good to see you. Even when you're so close we still don't see near enough of you." Barta softly admonished his youngest daughter. Elizabeth felt the blush bloom on her face. "I understand that you had to do what you did, but I want you to know that I worry about you being out there with them. It's so very dangerous-" Bartra stopped speaking getting choked up thinking of his little girl in danger.

"Father you don't need to worry. The Sins take such good care of me, and Sir Meliodas wouldn't let anything happen to me." Elizabeth said emphatically. "They are such brave, good people that I feel very safe with them."

Bartra looked away as she spoke, unable to look at her as she spoke of him. "Elizabeth I am going to be honest with you and I want you to understand that what I'm saying and doing is for your own good." He looked at her with such a serious expression that Elizabeth started to get worried.

"Father I don't understand. Did something happen while I was gone?" Elizabeth asked nervously.

"Yes, something happened. I realized that I was allowing my youngest daughter to roam around the country with some of the most dangerous people in the world. Living in a bar, WORKING as a waitress! It has also come to my attention that you are also sharing a bed with Captain Meliodas. Please tell me this isn't true?" Bartra begged her.

"Yes, it is true. But father you have to understand there's nothing untoward happening between us. Sir Meliodas has been a gentleman." Elizabeth said with a blush. Bartra slammed his fist down on the table startling her.

"NO MORE! You will not be returning there! As of this moment you are restricted to the castle and no further! I will not have my daughter cavorting with that man! Shaming herself by sleeping with him and serving a bunch of commoners in a bar. People have been talking about you Elizabeth, saying things that would damage your chances at a good marriage." Bartra shouted at her.

Elizabeth sat there staring at her father white faced and unable to believe what he was saying. Gathering her courage, she started to say, "But father you don't understand-' Elizabeth flinched as Bartra slammed his fist down again.

"Not another word! What I say is final and you will no longer associate with the Seven Deadly Sins. Most importantly you will never see Meliodas again. Do you understand?" Bartra asked.

"No, I don't-" Elizabeth was again cut off by her father.

"Enough! You will do as I say. Now go to your room, and don't try to leave, the guards will stop you." Bartra said coldly. "And Elizabeth, tomorrow we will be discussing the requests I have for your hand in marriage. You have your choice of respectable suitors and you will choose one or I will choose for you. You will be 18 next week and you will attend your birthday ball and we will announce your upcoming marriage then. Now leave."

Elizabeth stood slowly unable to function quickly with how heartbroken she was. Walking away she couldn't believe that her father would do this to her. This was insane! As tears poured down her face she began to make her way towards her bedroom. Outside her room stood her sisters in their pajamas. One look at her and they knew that their father had made his decree. They were so mad at him for this that they have barely spoken to him for a week.

They guided Elizabeth through her room and into the adjoining washroom. After gently stripping her and putting her in a tub they sat in the room with her just trying to calm her heavy sobs. After a long time, she finally started to quiet so they quickly got her out and dried her off, putting her in her most comfortable nightgown. They tried repeatedly to get her to talk to them but she wouldn't say a word. They finally left sometime after midnight.

As Elizabeth lay numbly in bed, her eyes heavy but mind racing, she heard a sound coming from the other side of the room. Thinking it was her sisters she closed her eyes to try to pretend to sleep. After a minute she felt the bed move as if someone was sitting next to her. Laying there playing possum she didn't notice the hand coming down over her mouth. Opening her eyes on a scream she couldn't see the person holding the cloth over her mouth.

"Shhh. It's ok now. You're going to be just fine. I'm here and I'm taking you away from this place." Elizabeth didn't recognize the voice speaking although it did sound familiar. Struggling but getting nowhere she started to get sleepier. No! She thought. Please someone help! But as darkness filled her vision and her body went limp no one came to save her. The last thing she felt was a soft kiss on her forehead.

Kissing her skin all I could think was finally! Now she will be free. Now she will see what he has done and she will make her choice. I just hope for her sake it's the right one.

I hope you enjoyed the new chapter. I will try to keep up the momentum but I am moving for the next few days so I may or may not have the energy to write. BUT I will darn well try!