(I own only plot.)

A/N: Well, here's your next chapter. Enjoy. (P.S. Everything in brackets and italics (italics) are Amber's thoughts.)

Trigger warning: Suicide. This is T for a reason.

It had been a week and Amber was about to put her plan into motion. She checked on Trudy, who was singing quietly to herself as she did the washing. She picked up her phone and typed It's time. "Amber, love, could you pass me the tea towel, please?"

Amber gave Trudy the tea towel and there was knock at the door. Amber went to answer it. "Hi."

"Hi. Where is she?"

"Laundry room. Now, remember the plan?"

"I do. I know what to do."

Amber let her guest go. Moments later, there was a gasp and the sound of running. A whirl of black hair and lilac shot past her and there was a loud slam. Amber could hear sobs and something suspiciously like searching. She rushed upstairs to the housekeeper's room, to find that the door was locked. "Trudy?"

"No!" Trudy yelled, clearly distressed. She was choking on sobs.

"Trudy, open the door!" Amber shouted, worried now.

"No!" Trudy yelled again, not wanting to talk to Amber.

"Help!" Amber yelled downstairs, desperately wanting someone to help her with the stuck door.

"What's she doing?"

"She's locked herself up! She's searching for something! Come up here, please!" Amber's terrified tone caused the visitor to run upstairs and hear the searching sounds stop.

"Trudy? Open up!"

"No...!" Trudy's sob almost killed Amber. "I won't open this door until you're gone!"

"I'm not leaving until you get out!"

"It's hopeless! I refuse to leave!" Trudy yelled. In her room, tears were streaming down her face and she wished that she could be strong and brave enough to leave the room.

"I will break this door down, Trudy! I don't care what it takes!"

"Fine! Break my door!" She yelled, then picked up the sharpest knife she had.

She pressed the blade into her arm and swallowed, before pushing it further in, blood swelling around the blade until it was engulfed. Her hand pressed further and she felt the blade sink deeper. She hit her target and swiped the blade across her wrist. There was a crash as she dropped and two voices screamed "Trudy!"

Amber crouched beside the rapidly paling and bleeding housekeeper. "Trudy... Talk to me!"

"I'm sorry. I couldn't keep it together..."

"Why would you do this?" Amber sobbed, holding the older woman's hand.

Trudy's dark eyes were full of tears. "Because I did what I was supposed to do. I saved you from yourself."

Amber sobbed "But... Jasper. He came all this way to see you. He loves you. Don't you, Jasper?"

He crouched beside Trudy and took her hand, not minding the blood. "I do. I love you. I always have. You're a beautiful, gentle, kind woman. It's just a shame that I missed my opportunity with you."

He leaned down and kissed her lips gently. (He kissed her! He kissed her! It's so sad and romantic, why did this have to happen now? She's one of the sweetest people alive! Even if she won't be for much longer.) As Amber thought these words, Trudy gave a weak gasp. "I wish we could have had the rest of our lives together, Jasper... Look after Amber for me, darling... Don't let her do this to herself."

To Amber's heartache, Jasper was crying. "I promise you, she won't suffer like this, my lovely Trudy."

"Thank you. I love... Both... Of... You..."

With those words, the dark eyes that both Amber and Jasper loved turned glassy and Trudy stopped breathing. A silence beyond all others fell in the room as they held her lifeless hands. The horrific reality crashed around them. They'd just lost the one thing that they'd loved most in the world.

And that's this chapter. I hope that this was good enough and I will try to update quickly. Until next time, hugs for everyone! C. xx