When

Abby was in the woods. Jimmy was ahead of her, laughing and hiding behind trees. She laughed and ran after him.

He looked back and smiled her favorite lopsided grin. She smiled back and ran to catch up.

But she couldn't. No matter how fast she ran, or how far she got, she couldn't reach him.

"Jimmy! Wait!" she called out. He turned back once, but the grin was gone. His face was serious.

"Abby, I love you. Be careful." The words were whispered, but she heard every syllable. She froze in her tracks, then doubled her speed.

"No! Don't leave me!" she cried, running to the tree he was standing under. Abby ran as fast as she could to him, falling to her hands and knees when she got there. She was too late, though; Jimmy was gone.

She looked up and saw the Tree of Woe.

--

Abby woke up with a start and looked around. The room was unfamiliar at first...then it all came rushing back—the past week, the past twelve hours—and she wished she hadn't.

Even if the dream wasn't particularly good, Jimmy was there, the only place she'd ever see him again: her dreams.

--

Henry's breath caught as he watched Abby come down the stairs. She never ceased to amaze him with her quiet, unaware grace.

"Hi," he said, smiling. She nodded vaguely in his direction and started wandering around. That's when it occurred to him, she'd never gotten the tour of the house.

"Would you like a tour?" he called after her. "Or maybe something to eat first? I made your favorite: lasagna, with tomato and mozzarella salad," he added.

"I'd rather just get in done and over with, actually," she said flatly, coming back around.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"No more games, Henry, remember? We both know it's coming, so can we just get it done?" He blinked and shook his head.

"I don't understand. Get what done?"

"Killing me. Both of us know you're going to do it sooner or later, and I don't want to wait around, worrying. Please?" Henry's eyes widened as he crossed the room and took her in his arms. The way she flinched and stiffened almost killed him.

"Abby, I could never do that. I meant it when I said I could never hurt you. You're my home; I didn't go through all of this trouble just to kill you! I love you. I want to be with you forever," he told her, pulling back to look in her eyes and placing one hand on her cheek, caressing it lightly with his thumb. Her eyes searched his for a few long moments, and he lowered his head a few inches. Just as his nose grazed hers, she pulled away roughly.

"I don't believe you," she said. It wasn't in an accusatory tone, just fact: she didn't want to believe it, to let herself feel the emotions he knew were there.

"I know; you're not ready yet. But I'll do anything to prove it to you—I don't care what I have to do, or how long it takes. We have all the time in the world, just the two of us," he said with a small smile, raising his arms and going toward her again. She backed away from him, and he dropped his arms reluctantly.

She needed more time, and he would give it to her. For now.

--

Abby stared at Henry, wondering how it had come to this. Tears burned behind her eyes, threatening to fall. She shook her head minutely, blinking them back defiantly.

"No, I'm not ready. I'll never be ready," she said. "You killed them. Everyone I ever really cared about is gone. Because of you."

"I did it for you! You wanted us to be alone. You...you said it," he said. His eyes probed hers, pleading with her to understand.

"No, I didn't! How on earth could you think I'd want this?"

He didn't say anything. Clearly, he hadn't thought it through this far. He couldn't really believe this was what she wanted, could he? No...the Henry she knew was still in there somewhere, and he knew this wasn't the way she wanted it. He had to be. Henry couldn't be gone; she wouldn't believe it.

"You took my friends and family from me. They're all gone now, because of you! I...I don't have anyone left," she choked out, the blasted tears coming back again.

"You have me! Isn't that enough?" he asked.

"You stole...my life," she said slowly. "I can never go home again, because of you. How could I want you after that?" The look on his face told her she'd cut him, deeply. Then his face went blank, and the monster was back again.

"Because you don't have anyone else. Sooner or later, you'll realize. And I'll wait, for as long as it takes," he replied simply, meeting her gaze with a calmness made her blood run cold

In his mind, it wasn't a question of 'if'; it was a question of 'when'. She couldn't help but wonder if he was right.