A/N: Hello, loves. Sorry for the delay but the chapter is finally here.

I want to thank: xBelekinax, Makrciana, anastasia5991, DiaDeLosMuertos, TinkerbellxO, Avmir and Nelle07.

Review replies to anastasia5991: Hello. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I am glad you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own From Hell. I only own my OC.

Chapter 25

Frederick was frowning deeply as he carefully got out of the tub and reached for a towel. He dried up quickly before he reached for his robe.

"Bess? Are you still in there?" he asked worriedly, wondering why she wasn't answering his calls. He wrapped the robe around him and walked barefoot towards the parlor while tying a secure knot around his waist to keep the robe closed. He entered the parlor and saw Bess standing in front of the window with her hands crossed over stomach.

"Is something wrong? Bess?" he asked again as he walked over to her and placed his cool hands on her shoulders. He was shocked when she shrugged his hands off of her and pointed at the small table at the centre of the parlor.

"You tell me." She whispered shakily and once again moved away from his hands that tried to wrap themselves around her waist.

Frederick looked at the young woman's back in stupefaction and then quietly moved to the small table. He leaned down and saw the letter that was splayed out on the furniture. His eyes narrowed in confusion when he saw it.

"What is it? What does it say?" he asked as he took it in his hand.

"Why don't you read for yourself?" Bess asked softly as she tightened her right fist.

Frederick's eyes swept over the letter and as he kept reading his expression fell. His face went pale and his lips parted. His head shot up from the letter and focused on Bess's form.

"It's-it's only a letter, lov-…"

"Is it? Then what is this?" Bess asked as she turned around to face him and opened her fist for him to see. In her palm was a lock of vivid red hair. Frederick's breath hitched at the sight and he looked up at her.

"Was it…?"

"Inside the envelope." She confirmed as she leaned down and placed the hair on the table.

"I had no idea that she would-…"

"I think I should go." She cut him off and he froze.

"Go? Go where?" he asked her wide eyed.

"That's not important." She quickly answered.

"Bess, how should I have known that she would ever send me a letter?" he quickly asked and she raised a hand to stop him.

"Please, Frederick. I am not stupid." She snapped and he drew in a sharp breath at her words.

"I never said that."

"Do you really want me to believe that this is the first letter she ever sent you?" she asked sadly and he placed the letter down on the table before he approached her.

"It is the first she ever sent me since she left." He said through clenched teeth.

"Stop that." She muttered and he frowned.

"Stop what?"

"Stop lying."

"I am not lying! For God's sake, Bess!" he said, surprised at her disbelief.

"I am sorry I can't believe that. You don't write to someone for the first time what she has written to you." Bess said quietly and he rubbed his temples.

"Bess, I have not been exchanging letters with her. She hasn't written to me. Ever. The only letter she sent me was the one with which she informed me of her departure." He explained quietly.

"And the hair?" Bess asked and he blinked.

"Do I need to remind you that this woman loved me?" he asked and she nodded.

"And you love her back." She replied dully.

"I loved her back, you mean." He corrected and she sighed.

"Are you trying to tell me that this letter means nothing? Are you trying to make me believe that you haven't been waiting to hear from her? I am sorry, but I can't believe it's true. I've seen you. I've see how you were after she left. I am not blind neither am I stupid enough to believe that in the time of a few months your desire for that woman has magically disappeared and it has been replaced by feelings for me." She whispered hoarsely as she stood frozen in front of him.

"Then what do you think? That I have been in contact with her and I haven't told you?" he asked with a snort.

"Why would I not think that? Isn't it possible?"

"You know my feelings for you, Bess."

"No, I don't! It wouldn't be the first time you ignored my affection. In fact it would be the second." She answered quite hurt.

"Bess, you've been living in my house! With me. Why would I keep you here if I didn't love you?" he asked incredulously, ignoring the drops of water that fell from his wet hair to his cheeks.

"For a distraction perhaps." She whispered, hating even the thought of that possibility.

"Distraction? As in diversion? What kind of person do you think I am? I'd never do such a thing! Especially to you. I think you knew me by now." His voice grew louder and she looked up at him.

"Should I go? Can I go?" she asked, knowing that she had somehow to make the situation worse that it already was.

"No, you can't go!" Frederick snapped as his muscles tensed and his hands closed into tight fists to his side.

Bess jumped at the sound of his voice and recoiled. She had never seen him so angry.

"Frederick-…"

"Don't talk. I don't want to hear any of your idiotic ideas." He continued as he walked closer to her and looked at her half angrily, half sadly.

"Idiotic?" she asked with wide eyes as she straightened her posture a bit.

"Yes, idiotic. Whatever gave you the absurd idea that you should leave? That I would ever allow you to leave over a stupid letter?" he hissed and she swallowed hard.

"Frederick-…"

"The discussion is over, Bess." He cut her off once again as he walked to the table and took the letter in his hands. He grasped it with both of his hands and tore it in half before he dropped it back down onto the table top. He took the auburn lock of hair and threw it jerkily into the fireplace before he turned to face her stunned figure again.

"Satisfied now?" he asked and she was even more hurt at his assumption.

"No, I am not satisfied. If you just did this for me then there is no point in me staying here. I want you to do things because you want them. Not because you think that they'd make me happy." She replied quietly.

"Then stop pitying yourself." He snapped again and she gasped.

"I am not-…"

"Yes, you are. You still don't trust me and it hurts me to know that. It hurts me a lot, Bess." He said more calmly and she locked eyes with him.

"I don't want you to hurt." She whispered miserably and his face softened.

"Then stop making silly thoughts." He chided as he ran a hand through his still dripping hair and looked around the room.

"If you wish to take a bath there is more warm water. I'll be in the bedroom." He said quietly before he passed by her without another glance.

Elizabeth was sitting at the edge of the tub wrapped in her robe while biting on her bottom lip. She kept thinking Frederick's words and she came to realize that maybe, just maybe, she had gone a little too far. Maybe he was right, maybe she was having trouble trusting him but it wasn't remotely her fault. He had been coming and going into her life for months before he decided to be with her.

She knew that she had overreacted a little bit but it wasn't in her nature to have enormous amounts of self-assurance. Now, he was so mad at her. She didn't even know where she should go to sleep. Was she welcomed in the bedroom or she should stay in the parlor? She decided it would be safer to stay in the parlor so she dragged herself out of the bathroom and quietly tiptoed towards the couch. She hadn't been sitting there for five minutes when he came barging in with his hands on his narrow hips.

"What are you doing?" he demanded angrily and she almost gulped. It seemed like she had made the wrong choice again.

"I am…sitting?" she almost squeaked and his nostrils flared.

"Get up and come to bed. What's wrong with you today?" he asked as he threw his hands up in the air. Bess swallowed hard and gingerly stood up from the couch.

"I didn't know if I was welcomed." She said softly and Frederick's eyes closed briefly at the resigned tone in her sweet voice.

"Jesus Christ, Bess. Come here." He murmured at last as he pulled her to him and crushed her to his chest. Her hands slowly encircled his waist as she tucked her head under his chin. He repeatedly kissed the top of her head and squeezed her in his arms tightly.

"Whatever gave you the idea that I'd ever hurt you? You're always welcome to come to me. At any time. I am sorry I was so cross before but you're just…" he sighed, "You're just so stubborn sometimes." He finished with another desperate kiss to her hair.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was muffled by the fabric of his robe.

"Let's just forget about today." He murmured as he pulled back slightly and kissed her forehead and then her nose. Her eyes closed when his lips found hers and closed firmly over them. She slid one hand to his hair to keep him there while his hands pushed her more firmly against him. Without breaking the kiss he started walking them backwards, towards the bedroom. She laughed lightly against his lips and he chuckled too before he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the room. He laid her gently on top of the covers before he covered her body with his. His hands gripped her curvaceous hips before he kissed her again more passionately. His tongue parted her willing lips and he pressed his hips deeper to hers. He moaned at the sensation while she bucked under him and threaded her fingers to his locks.

"Frederick?" she whimpered and he looked down at her with desire filled eyes.

"Yes, darling?" he murmured as he pushed back her hair to see her better.

"I am sorry." She repeated her earlier words and he bit his lip.

"No, I am sorry for yelling at you." He whispered as he touched her face with his finger and leaned down to kiss her again. He had to earn her trust and he knew snapping at her wasn't the way to do that. She didn't deserve it anyway. With that thought he pulled her in his arms and held her there, trying to calm his racing heart.

End of chapter 25

Author's note: Thank you for reading. Do you think the problem's solved? Please review and tell me!

Xxx Lina :)