We're curled up together later that day, lounging on the couch and reading. My feet are resting on your lap and you're massaging them, your hands working miracles on my arches. I've missed this, having the time to just lie down and read a book and have you give me a foot rub.

"Liv," you suddenly say, startling me away from my novel.

"Yeah, baby?"

Your eyes adopt that faraway look I've grown accustomed to. "When I was in Wisconsin, before, I volunteered at a woman's shelter." You hold my gaze then, your eyes focussing on mine. "It made me feel closer to you. To myself, really."

I feel my heart constrict and reach over to intertwine my hand with yours. I give yours a squeeze and feel you relax slightly.

"I'd like to do that again, with you. If you want to. Just to . . . to hold onto something, you know?"

Yes, I do know. Or at least I'm starting to. "I'd like that, sweetheart."

You give me a grateful smile, then say quietly, "I don't want to forget who we are."

I give your hand another squeeze. "I'll never let you forget who we are."

"I know." You hold my gaze. "You're with me. We'll be okay."

"Yeah, we will be." I lean over to kiss your cheek. "Someday, this will be over," I whisper against your soft skin.

You smile as my breath tickles your cheek. "Sooner rather than later, I hope."

I give you another kiss. "We're going to get through this together, Alex."

You go back to rubbing my feet, pressing your thumbs into them and making me close my eyes in pleasure. I never knew a simple foot massage could be so . . . stimulating. I can't help the low moan that escapes my lips at your touch.

You look up at me and smile in amusement. "Yes?"

"Nothing. That just feels nice."

You chuckle. "Glad you're enjoying yourself."

I reach out to thread my fingers through your hair as you continue to knead the arches of my feet. "I'm so lucky to have you," I whisper.

You press your lips to the top of my right foot. "Me, too, Olivia. And I know sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but I do appreciate everything you've done for me. More than I can even express."

I gently lift your chin and kiss your cheek, trying to convey as much tenderness and love and affection as I possibly can.

You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and take my hands in yours, gently caressing the sides of my thumbs. I give you another kiss and your eyes open, a tear escaping from one of those resplendent baby blues and slipping down your cheek.

"What is it, princess? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Another tear runs down your face. "Nothing's wrong. It's just – just –" You let go of one of my hands and wipe your eyes. "God, I'm sorry. Let's go out for a walk. Let's not talk anymore. Let's just go get some fresh air."

"Okay, baby." I kiss your cheek again and take your hands. "Come on." I help you to your feet. "Do I need a map or do you know where we're going?"

"I know my way. You're the one who always gets us lost."

"Oh, please. Remember when we were up at your parents' place and you insisted that we turn left when I knew we should have turned right and we ended up in the middle of nowhere?"

"That was actually your fault, because –" Your voice catches and I know it's just sunk in, that we're not going to be able to see your parents for a very, very long time. I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have reminded you of your pain.

"I'm sorry, Alex."

To my surprise, you smile slightly and reach out to caress my cheek. "Say that again, Liv."

I smile back, relieved that there's something I can do for you right now. "Alex," I say again, tenderly, with as much fondness in my voice as I can put into it. "Alexandra Cabot, ADA extraordinaire." I wrap my arms around you and pull you close to me, holding you against my body and taking in the warmth of your skin. "You will always be my Alex," I whisper into your ear, and I feel your arms tighten around my waist as you bury your face in my chest, letting me hold you and accepting the comfort I want to give.

You take a moment to compose yourself, and once you pull away, there's a smile quirking your lips. "So did I massage your feet adequately enough for you to walk on, Liv?"

I chuckle and take your hand. "You did more than adequately." We step out the front door and start up the street. "I think you'll have to do that for me every day."

"No objection."

"So back to the topic at hand – do you know where we're going?"

You shrug. "The mall?"

"There's a mall around here?"

"A small one, but still, a mall. We can even get some food. I know you love the food court," you say, winking.

"New York fries?"

"Doused with poutine." You make a face.

"Oh, please. I know you love them just as much as I do."

"I do not!"

"Uh huh," I say with a knowing smile.

You lightly punch my arm.

I loop my arm through yours, partly so you won't hit it again. "So where's this mall we're going to?"

"A twenty minute walk or so."

I feel my heart skip a beat as an SUV turns onto our street. Your body stiffens and your eyes widen minutely.

"Liv –"

I quickly move to your other side so you're further from the curb. "It's fine, Alex," I say as the car passes us. "No one's going to hurt you, I promise."

You drop your eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about."

I take your trembling hand in mine and squeeze it tightly. "We're okay, Alex. We are."

You nod and don't say anything else.

We get to the mall, which isn't actually as small as I expected it to be. First stop is the food court, where we find a table and get a plate of French fries drowning in poutine. You wrinkle your nose at it, but after a few moments, you pick up a fry and bring it to your lips. You take a delicate bite, and I force myself not to smile. You're actually eating, without me forcing you to do so. I can't even begin to express my relief.

You finish off the French fry and take another one. "Disgusting," you say, quirking an eyebrow as you put that fry into your mouth, too.

"Sure," I say as you polish off half the plate.

Review for chapter twenty-seven!