A/N: Okay, I am so so sorry for the unbelievably large amount of time it took me to post this. It's been what? Ten, eleven months? I just had lost inspiration for this story until recently. I don't know even if you remember this but if you do thank you for reading this.A huge thank you to all my reviewers! You know who you are!

Disclaimer: I do not own From Hell or any of its characters. I only own my OC.

Chapter 26

Frederick's head was pounding as he made his way back to the house. He rubbed his temples after having clumsily bumped with another person on his way home and breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his home. A small smile formed on his handsome face when he remembered the woman who was waiting for him inside. He liked living with Bess. She was easy to live with and it was even easier to love her. Shaking his head in amusement he took out his keys and turned the lock.

"Bess? I am home." He called but then frowned when he found a letter resting just inside his doorstep. He leaned down and picked it up.

"Bess?" he called again before he closed the door and opened the envelope. His mind had easily pushed the last letter he had received from her to the back recesses of his subconscious and when he saw her handwriting again everything came flooding back. His eyes looked frantically around for Bess, fearing that she would see it but it seemed that she wasn't in the house. He quickly folded the letter and placed it in the inside of his pocket before he opened the door and exited the house, slamming it behind him. He needed a drink.

When Frederick returned to the house, Bess was already in bed under the covers, half asleep. He watched her as he removed his clothing and took off his shocks. Once he was in his nightshirt he sat down on the bed behind her and reached for her. His fingers trailed down her creamy shoulder gently and she stirred. He smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Fred?" she mumbled as she turned and snuggled into his inviting embrace.

"Sleep." He murmured as he leaned down to kiss her deeply. She responded but then frowned.

"Did you drink?" she asked as she looked up at him now awake.

"I just had a drink." He shrugged as he moved to kiss her again. She let him and he groaned into her mouth softly as his hand slid up to cup her breast through her clothing. She slid up her own hand and clasped his hand in her own to stop him.

"Fred." She broke the kiss and he opened his eyes to look down at her.

"Hmm."

"Why?" she asked and he licked his lips.

"Why what, love?"

"Why did you drink? Did something happen?"

"No. Nothing happened. Everything's fine, sweetheart."

"Then why did you drink?" She asked and he shook his head.

"No reason. I just felt like it. Nothing happened." He whispered as he nuzzled her and held her close to his chest.

"Okay…Are you sure?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled his chest.

"I'm sure. Close you eyes." He murmured as he buried his face in her hair and closed his eyes as well.

The sky was dark but Elizabeth stood still in front of the window, looking towards the street. She gazed at the clock and sighed. A quarter after ten. Two hours and he still hadn't come back.

She rubbed her arms against the cold and started pacing while trying to think of something else. He had been different lately. More uncertain, withdrawn. Distant. Like something was plaguing him. She had asked. Numerous times actually but he never said anything. He told her everything was fine but she knew it was a lie. A lie said for her benefit. That much she understood.

The sound of the key entering the lock broke her away from her thoughts and she turned sharply towards the door.

"Thank God!" she exclaimed and he looked up at her, his eyes widening in alarm at the tone in her voice.

"Bess." He smiled as if in relief and approached her after hanging up his coat, "I missed you." He murmured as he made to wrap his arms around her.

"Where have you been so late?" she asked as she moved out of his reach.

"I was held up at work." He said with a furrowed brow.

"I was worried." She said and her voice trembled as she spoke.

"I'm sorry. I…I couldn't help it." He said quietly as he moved towards her again and leaned down to kiss her. She allowed him to do so before she broke the kiss to look up at him.

"What is wrong?" she asked and he frowned, "Tell me."

"Nothing. Why do you think something is wrong?" he asked as he reached out to caress her cool cheek, "You're cold." He murmured as he rubbed her arms to warm them.

"Because you're different." She said slowly.

"I am not."

"Yes, you are. You are like this for weeks." She insisted.

"Bess…" he sighed as he closed his eyes and then opened them to look at her, "How am I exactly?" he asked quietly.

"Distant. Like you're in you own world." She responded immediately.

"We have problems at work. Nothing for you to worry about. I'm right here." He whispered the last part as he pulled her to him and reverently kissed the top of her head.

"If something's troubling you, you have to tell me." She said as she looked up at him hopefully.

"Maybe I can help." She continued and he opened his mouth as if to speak, his hands flexing around her back but at the last moment he closed his mouth and shook his head.

"If something is wrong I will let you know." He said instead and she stared at him.

"Promise?"

"I promise, love." He smiled and she returned it as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

Bess chuckled at the mess lying on Fred's desk. Envelopes, papers, pens and other things were spread haphazardly on his desk, making it impossible to find anything. Stifling another giggle she started picking up everything, tidying the various things into categories. She hummed as she took all the envelopes and opened the first drawer of the desk. She placed them inside before she moved on to the next category. Once everything was cleaned she started on the pens. She grabbed all six of them and opened the last drawer. When she did she paused. A pack of letters were inside, tied together by string. She frowned and reached for them, leaving the pens on the desk. She sat down and looked at the front.

Ireland?

She curiously picked one from the pack and read the name. Her eyes widened and she stood up, the chair scrapping the floor as she did so. She reached for the other letters and started reading their sender. All was from her.

Ireland, Ireland, Ireland. England, London. Mary stood there and stared at the last three ones. England, London. That meant she was back.

She heard the front door opening but she remained still, not even trying to hide the letters. She heard his voice calling for her but she didn't move or answer.

"Bess? I know you're home. I saw your coat!" he called and his voice was nervous.

"Bess? Oh, there you are." He was at the threshold. His face slightly paler than usual and his hair in disarray like he had ran his hand through too many times in one evening.

"Look, I want to tell you something." He laughed a bitter laugh and at last he really looked at her. His eyes widened when he spotted the letters on the desk, panic obvious in their brown depths.

"Bess…" he whispered with a sigh and closed his eyes briefly.

"I guess you already know then, right?" he whispered as they stared each other in desolation.

End of chapter 26

Author's note: Thank you for reading. I don't expect you to review after such a long time but if you do it will be helpful. I plan on finishing this story though!

Xxx Lina :)