Thought I uploaded this earlier. Sorry.

The bright lights, god, how Booker was starting to hate them. Every time he'd open his eyes those lights would shine over him, reminding him of Elizabeth getting poked and prodded. Those screams. Booker shook his head, trying to purge them from his memory. But he couldn't, poor o' innocent Elizabeth had been tortured for six months. He could've been faster, no, he should've been faster. How could've cut down the time, he could've done something. Booker's mind drifted else where, a man. The man. The one who offered him this job, tasked with providing over watch and watching one guy. He failed, he'd gotten shot, but worse. Elizabeth had gotten injured. His fault. He should've known he'd been set up.

Yet. His mind told him that he just didn't have all the pieces. The gentleman was dapper, held himself high and possessed a intelligence he'd only came across a handful of times. Elizabeth, and... and the Lutece twins. Could they have? When they went through the tear, Elizabeth had told them that they no longer existed. But, maybe the red headed twins they had met where gone. Instead replaced by a different entity that was still them? Booker wanted answers, want reassurance. But here he was, isolated in this room. Slowly going insane. He had to do something.

Booker was slated to be released tomorrow, with Elizabeth a day after that. He hadn't seen her since he passed out. His mind drifted back towards her. She'd hit him with the metal flask. Pain was something she felt vividly, despite going through continuous torture. Booker on the other hand could push it from his mind, head into a sort of numbness that allowed him to continue on. Allowed him to keep Elizabeth safe, despite the fact that he had multiple gunshot wounds and shrapnel all buried inside his skin.

The following morning he'd gotten back to the apartment, set on getting a surprise for Elizabeth. As soon as he got released he went to her room and delivered some flowers and actual food. He wanted to stay the rest of the day with her, but something about her scared him. The doctor had told him that she had gotten sick. They thought it was a stomach bug, as she had thrown up this morning. That thought tore his mind apart. She couldn't be. right? He shook his head, clearing it. He had an idea. Elizabeth had mentioned to him several nights ago that'd she'd like to have a pet. First words that went into his mind when he heard of pet? Songbird. Her guardian up until Booker came and whisked her away. He'd give her a dog. Man's best friend, loyal and protective.

—-

As the water hit his back, washing him of the sweat and grime of the previous week's engagement, he let out a sigh. It'd been too long since he felt this good. He'd head to the pet store in down town Paris and find the perfect dog. Everytime the word Paris ran through his head, he couldn't help but feel grateful. He'd succeed where past Bookers failed. He'd gotten to Paris, Elizabeth's one goal. Of course he fell in love with her, but that idea never ran through his head. Until they shed blood together, for each other, to keep each other safe.

Only time he felt the need to keep another human completely out of harm's way? Anna. Pain flashed through his entire body, invisible knives slicing his bare skin. He let out a choked sob. Anna was not something he'd ever forget, atleast for a while. He wanted some closure, something to put Anna to rest. Give her that final send off, so that Booker could stop wanting to shoot himself whenever her name was mentioned.

Booker's shaking hand grabbed the handle to the shower and turned it off. He let out a groan. He stepped out, toweled himself off and let out a gasp. Cold air hit his body. It felt so good to feel. Before he'd met Elizabeth, he slipped into depression. He turned to the bottle. After Anna was gone, there wasn't any need for him to try to better himself. There wasn't anyone there to say, "Hey, you're doing a great job and I love you." There wasn't anybody who said that to Booker since Annabelle. Even she didn't say it often, or show much affection. She'd been young too, with life goals she set. Milestones she wanted to reach. Booker shattered all of those, crushing her dreams. Instead, she was a mother to a daughter she never got to see and married to a man who struggled with demons she couldn't comprehend.

Booker didn't even know he was in the kitchen. His shaking hand squeezing a wooden handle. A knife's handle. The sharp end laying on the top of his wrist. Laying there, dormant. Ready for his next move. Ready for orders. His right hand seemed to take the lead, slowly pushing downwards. Booker let out a shaky breath. Maybe he deserved this, feel some pain for your losses, you old fuck. His mind shouted at him.

No.

Yes.

Booker pulled away, knocking the knife to the floor. He let out a sob. "Elizabeth?" He called out, knowing he'd get no response, yet a tiny bit wishing she would turn the corner with the answer to all his problems. "I miss you... you always knew how to fix me." He didn't try to hold the tears back. He slumped to the floor, his back against the snow colored cabinets. He felt the bronze ornaments pushing into his back. He didn't care, let himself be hurt. He deserved it.

That's where he lay: Driplets of blood coming from the cut on his left wrist, back bruising from the cabniets, tears flowing like a river from his eyes.

"I miss you."

I miss you.

Those words rammed into her head. Elizabeth groaned. She got a response. She'd gotten hit with thoughts not belonging to her own. "Booker?" She called into the pitch black room. Nobody called back. She sighed, she shifted on her bed. She pulled off the creme colored sheets and sat upright on her bed. She closed her eyes, she couldn't sleep. Not after she'd called out in her mind that she missed Booker, and had gotten a response. She tried, Booker? I... I hate it here. Do you remember the promise you made me on the first day we arrived?

She sighed contently, remembering the afternoon they'd spent together. The aroma of coffee beans slowly churned through the air. They sat outside the cafe, enjoying the sun on their backs. The view of the Eiffel Tower, the landmark of Paris, France. The symbol of love. Booker sat, drinking his black coffee, not taking his eyes of her. He'd finished a sip and let out, "Hmm, the people here don't smell that bad." She'd let out a giggle and slapped his arm.

I promise, to stay by your side. To keep you safe. Forever.

Those words rang through her head. Was this the connection that the Lutece Twins had mentioned? God how she missed them. Despite the fact they'd come and go, not moving a muscle during her captivity. She knew she still loved them. She wished they were here to explain away the questions she had running through her head.

Do you remember what you said to me?

Another hit of words jutted into her mind. She smiled. She'd looked at Booker after he'd let out his vow. She was shocked. How could anyone love her? How could Booker know about her imperfections, yet love her even more for them. He deserved better, she was sure. All those thoughts coursed through her mind again, just like they had on that fateful day. A string of words had took her out of her head. I love you. Words she tried to say as often as she could to the man that deserved to hear them the most.

She let out another sigh of contentment. She thought again, sending her response. Till death do us part.

There we go, another chapter out for you all to enjoy. I wanted to make this chapter as long as the last, but this one just ended perfectly and I didn't have it inside me to disrupt that flow. Should have another chapter out in the coming days. Till then, cya ~ PepoClap