Luke hadn't slept well through the night. The knowledge of what he had to do weighed heavily upon him. He knew she would fight him, but in the end it was for the best. They had one day, perhaps two left together, and then he would be sending the love of his life away. Although it was for her safety and ultimate wellbeing, it tore him to pieces. He wasn't a magnanimous person my nature, and he wanted her close to him always. But after the scare over the weekend he couldn't risk her again. He needed to know that she had every service and benefit available to her, and he needed to accept that hiding from the law was not an acceptable way for her to live.

He spent longer in the kitchen than he needed just to perfect the breakfast tray. He didn't know how to face her and tell her his decision was final, so he continued to arrange the flowers in the small vase and move the setting around the top. Recognizing he was just prolonging the inevitable, he picked up the tray and walked up the stairs. Everything felt like a death march, he realized as his heart began to beat more quickly.

As he turned around the corner he saw her sitting up in bed, working on her laptop. Steeling himself he put on his most convincing smile and walked towards her.

"Mornin', Beautiful. How did you sleep?"

"Very well, thanks to you."

Luke found himself with a genuine smile for the first time that morning. Making her happy had become the focus of his day, and if her greeting was any indication he was becoming more accomplished all the time.

"Nice to be of service, Ma'am", he said with a mock bow. "Here's our breakfast, so why don't you push that aside so we can get our nourishment for the next round."

A smile slowly crept up Tracy's face and danced through her eyes. She knew he was up to something but she didn't want these moments to disappear either. There would be enough time later to convince him she should stay. Right now she wanted to bask in the sunlight and share breakfast with her husband.

"My, you do know how to take care of me, don't you Husband."

"It is my greatest pleasure to serve and adore, Wife."

Her eyes snapped with amusement as she reached for her juice glass. Sitting across from her, Luke picked up his own glass and clinked hers.

"So what are we toasting?"

"Oh I don't know, how about mornings and sunshine and being able to gaze into the eyes of the woman I love more than my own life."

Tracy's glass stopped midway to her lips and hovered in the air as she stared hard at her husband.

"Do you want to do this now?"

Luke realized the moment he had been dreading had arrived. Then it all came crashing together. He had found her reading the blog and she saw what he intended to do. Damn it. Why hadn't he been more selective with his words? She was going to fight him and was rallying her defences as she waited. The time for games was over, he knew.

"No Baby, I don't want to do it at all."

"Then why are you?"

"I almost lost you this weekend, Tracy. You have no idea how close you came. I am so grateful you didn't have a seizure, but you could have at any moment. And then what, Tracy? Just hold you while you slipped away? Knowing that it's because of me that you were sick in the first place? If I was responsible for your death, they may as well just shoot me and throw me into the ground with you, 'cause I'm not going on without you. You are the reason I live, Tracy. If you're not breathing I'm not breathing."

Tracy sat there for a few moments trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She knew the terror of watching someone she loved more than life slipping away before her eyes. He had done that to her last fall and it nearly killed her. Life wasn't worth living without him. But he had made his own choices then, and she deserved the right to make her own as well.

"Luke. I don't have to imagine how terrifying that is to watch. I lived with you through three heart attacks and your complete conviction that living life your way meant no medical intervention. I had to see you growing weaker day after day, and we were in a place where you could have been helped if only your stubbornness wasn't so firmly in place. But if you were going to die, I wasn't about to miss one moment of our time together. You're the one who told me life is a ride and we only pass by this way once. I had to let you make your choices then. All I'm asking for is that you allow me to make my choices now, and I choose to remain with you."

"But Tracy, what if you get sick again?"

"And what if you have another heart attack and I'm not there to help you?"

"Tracy, the longer you are with me the more I only want to focus on you and not get the evidence I need. You are my beautiful distraction. I want to be able to care for you and protect you and play with you and love you where everyone can see. I don't want to be in the shadows worrying about what comes next. Don't you see, if you go then I can get this thing done and get back to you faster."

"Luke, you're talking in circles. A few days ago you said I was the best help you could have, now you're saying I'm a distraction. Which is it?"

Reaching over to stroke her face and wipe the hair out of her eyes, he sadly smiled at her. "Both".

"I don't want to fight about this, Luke. You need me."

"Yes, I do need you, that's why I'm begging you to go home. I can move a lot faster on my own and I'll know you are where you need to be."

"I need to be by your side."

"And you will be. You always are."

"Luke, that's not what I mean."

"Tracy, please. You told me we were doing this my way, well this is my way. I need to make this right so I can come home to you as soon as possible."

"And I'm just supposed to walk back into my life as if I was on vacation, not knowing if anyone has found you? You want me to pretend I don't know you will be in this loft, risking capture?"

"I won't be here, Tracy."

"What do you mean, where are you going?"

"I don't know yet, but I can't stay here without you. This used to be my secret hideaway place, and now it's our special home. I can't be here when you're not here."

"So I'm just supposed to obediently go home, pretend I know nothing and wait for god knows how long for you to show up again? I don't think I can do that."

"Listen. Sweetheart, you won't be able to tell them anything because you don't know anything. There is no proof that you've even been with me."

"The blog, all of our family and most of your friends know. Alexis knows."

"Yeah, and if anyone was going to say anything it would have happened by now. Even my law-inflicted son knew about my leaving and didn't stop me. And we do have that blog. I'll keep in touch, I promise."

"You promise? That's a good one."

"Tracy, please."

"No, I don't agree with you. Its better I'm here. You might be able to move faster on your own, but I can identify the evidence better. I might even be able to pull in a few favours."

Luke watched his wife, tears ever threatening to escape from his tight hold. He was prepared for an all out yelling fight, but the emotional tug-of-war they were having was so much harder. Reaching for her hand he brought it to her lips and kissed it.

"We aren't going to settle this right now. How about we finish our breakfast and just cuddle for awhile. Maybe the answers will come later. I just don't want to spend this time arguing."

Tracy nodded and pulled him closer. Breakfast was forgotten as they settled down in bed and held each other, both lost in the turmoil of their personal thoughts.