This chapter and the several after it are all dedicated to ZaraShade because her video 'Perfect' (which I frequently reference as amazing, I know) is totally responsible for me making this the way it is. You'll understand that statement soon enough.

Also, I want to point out that from this point until the end of the letters, there will be no additional scenes. There are three but they come after Nikola's final letter. Which won't be what you think it is but still, don't go hanging out for them just yet :P

Thank you to those reviewing, it's for you that I've powered through!

xx

"Have you got everything?" Helen asked quietly as they stood in the corner, huddled together to keep out of the rain.

"Of course," he retorted quietly. "Since when have you known me to forget something? Plus it isn't as if I have much to take with me."

Helen smiled tightly in response, shuffling a little closer to him as she looked around.

"Are you certain?" she asked again, looking up to him with wide eyes and Nikola couldn't help but smile.

"I shall be fine Helen," he replied, placing one hand on her cheek. "This is me we're talking about."

"Which is why I'm worried," she retorted with a glimmer of a smile before casting her eyes over the bustling platform on which they stood. Steam filled the frosty morning air, sounds of goodbyes filling the air as rickety old luggage trolleys were slowly weaved through the crowd.

"Don't be," he said quietly, drawing her attention back to him. "I'm going to be perfectly alright Helen. Thanks to you anyway."

She sighed but smiled, reaching up to wind her arms around his neck, holding him tightly to her.

"Please don't do anything too reckless," she whispered as he pulled her close.

"Only if you promise not to let James sweep you off your feet again," he replied with a chuckled and she pulled back, making a face at him.

"How did you know about James and I?" she asked, blatantly ignoring the fact that, regardless of how her and James' relationship was progressing, she'd effectively thrown herself at Nikola the previous evening. Same old Helen, he thought with an internal sigh.

"You mean aside from the way you were both gushing about each other's achievements in your last set of letters?"

She frowned at that but before she could respond, Nikola raised a hand, pressing a gloved finger to her lips.

"Whatever it is you fought about, you shouldn't be so harsh on the poor man," he said with a smile. "After all, he's practically senile and we must be kind to the old."

"Don't you be so nasty," she chastised, prodding his stomach as she tried to hide a smile. Pleased to have brightened her up a little, Nikola glanced down at his watch, alarmed to see just how close it was to the train's departure.

"You'd best leave," he said sadly, looking down to her.

Helen sighed as she looked at the watch but nodded.

"You must write to me," she ordered suddenly, eyes blazing. "As long as it is safe, I want to know where you are and what you are doing, understand?"

"I shall try my very hardest to write to you from beyond the grave," he said solemnly, earning himself another slap on the chest.

"And you aren't to go creating any more world wars," she continued sternly. "No world domination either, alright?"

"If you're quite finished?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as she sighed.

"Just... just be safe?" she said softly, her voice lilting enough to make it a question.

"Only if you promise the same," he replied warmly, cupping her cheek. "No abnormals or beasties that could eat you for breakfast?"

"I can't promise that," she said with a huff, crossing her arms.

"And nor can I promise that my work won't take me on a path that you may end up being unhappy with," he continued smoothly. She opened her mouth to protest but Nikola spoke first.

"But I will promise to try, alright?" She contemplated it for a moment before nodding and smiling.

A moment passed between them and Nikola realised that this was it, this was goodbye.

"I'll miss you," he said impulsively and she grinned.

"I shan't miss having to clean up your messes," she responded before throwing her arms around his neck once more.

He heard the distinct sound of a sniffle against his shoulder and hugged her tighter in response.

"Don't be so down," he whispered. "This isn't forever, I'll be back to annoy you before you can blink."

"Don't forget me," she mumbled, holding him tighter.

"Never," he whispered in response. For a moment they didn't move, arms wound around each other but soon enough Helen slipped from his embrace, hastily wiping her cheeks with the sleeve of her coat.

"I have to go now," she said softly, giving him a small smile. "Before I lose it completely."

"Go," he urged, despite the growing need within him to reach out and pull her back. "I'll write to you as soon as I'm settled."

She smiled faintly and stepped back, far enough away that he couldn't touch her.

"Good bye Nikola," she said, her voice surprisingly firm. She looked for a second as if she were about to say something else but then, with one last smile that took his breath away, she turned on her heel and melted into the crowd. Nikola watched until he could no longer see her red hair among the sea of people, fighting the urge to run after her.

It would be fine, he told himself, turning towards the train, heading up to the first class section of the train. They'd see each other soon enough, probably with more frequency than when he was simply living in New York. Maybe he could come for a visit, pop across to London and stay for a few months? Surely she'd be alright with that, he mused as he kept walking, barely paying attention to the hoards of people around him.

And Helen would be fine, he reminded himself. She had James to look after her and even if they rekindled whatever relationship they had, she'd not stop talking to him, he was certain of it. Not that he liked the idea of James getting his mitts on her but at least James would be able to protect her, keep her from running away and getting herself killed. Well, theoretically at least.

Nikola was just beginning to compose a letter to James in his head when a hand wrapped around his arm, dragging him through the crowd to a small alcove along the platform.

"Get off me," he snarled at the stranger, rude remark at being so mishandled ready on his tongue but as she looked up to him with bright blue eyes and a quivering bottom lip, he found himself speechless. They were pressed together, indecently close and her hands rested on his chest, an envelope between her hand and his jacket.

"Helen," he breathed, voice breaking. He knew in an instant that this was his Helen, the one who loved him, the one who kept him going when he felt like nothing could ever go right again.

"Nikola," she whispered, her lips curling into a faint smile as her eyes began to water.

"Oh god," he gushed, grabbing her shoulders. "I've been waiting for this day, I can't tell you how much so. I thought you'd forgotten about me, it's been so long but god here you are and, Helen I... I... I am so glad you're here, I've been waiting for too long, I'd almost given up hope."

She smiled faintly again before opening her mouth to respond.

"You have to tell me everything," he continued, words tumbling from his lips in excitement. "You have to explain this all to me because I don't get it, I was just with you, you were in my arms but you're here! And I just promised to see you again soon but if I am with you, how can I visit you?"

"This was a mistake," she blurted out suddenly, eyes widening. "I... I shouldn't. We can't..."

She tried to push him backwards, to escape from their hideout but he wouldn't let her, capturing her by the waist.

"Nikola please," she whimpered, eye fluttering shut with a pain he knew had nothing to do with the way he held her to him. "I can't..."

"No," he said emphatically. "No, you can't! I mean, I just found you... You can't, please Helen!"

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, a single tear spilling down her cheek. "This was a bad idea, I shouldn't have... Oh God, I'm so sorry." She fought his hold, biting her lip as she did so, refusing to look him in the eye.

"No," he growled, holding her even more tightly. "You can't, I love you Helen. I love you."

She let loose a small sob at his words, half collapsing into his chest.

"You have to go," she breathed, her words barely audible over the hubbub of the station. "Please Niko."

"No Helen, no don't do this," he pleaded, well aware his voice was breaking but he didn't care. He couldn't lose her, not again. "Please don't do this to me Helen, I need you, I love you."

The words again made her choke back a sob as the hand not pressed to the envelope fisted in his coat.

"Nikola," she breathed, eyes screwed shut. "Please, let me go, you have to let me go."

"I can't," he muttered, grabbing her shoulders. "Helen I can't. You're here... You're here. Please don't do this... I can't..."

She swallowed heavily, taking a deep breath before she began to fight him once more.

"You have to let me go Nikola," she ordered, looking him straight in the eye.

"No," he began in protest, hoping just how much this was hurting him didn't show.

"Yes," she said, her voice as stern as her counterparts had been only minutes ago. "Now Nikola, go catch your train."

Her eyes were blazing in a way he knew meant her resolve would not falter.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice dipping but she closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly and her resolve returned.

"Never," he growled. "You can't leave me like this, not now!"

"Nikola I-."

"NO!" he almost yelled, shaking her. "Not like this, not after all this time!"

"I have to," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"Tell me I'll see you soon, tell me you'll be there when I arrive," he pleaded, ducking down to look her straight in the eye.

"I..."

"Please?" he all but whimpered. "Please Helen?"

"It's... We..."

"Please?"

"I..." she swallowed heavily. "I'll be there, you'll see me soon."

"Really?" he asked, his heart leaping at the idea of fake death with her by his side.

"Really," she said, nodding as she gave him a small smile. "But you have to let me go, alright?"

"You'll be there?" he asked again. "Truly Helen, you'll be with me? You'll let me love you?"

"Yes, yes," she choked out, the words distorted by tears. "I'll be there Nikola, I'll be yours, I promise love, I promise."

"Promise?" he asked again, unable to keep from grinning at the prospect.

"Promise," she insisted with a smile, her eyes not quite meeting his. Of course, he didn't notice that, his entire being struggling to keep from dragging her into his private, first class cabin.

"I love you," he said suddenly, smile dropping. "I love you Helen, I always have, I swear on my life, I lo-."

"I know," she insisted, her voice low and rough. "I love you too now go, quickly. You have to catch that train."

"But will y-."

"Yes, of course. I'll be there Nikola, I will, you'll see me soon but please go," she insisted, her voice low and quiet as she finally looked him in the eye once more. "Go."

He nodded but, before he could begin to say goodbye, she kissed him, her mouth harsh and bruising against his. It was quick, over before he could do more than understand the action but as she broke away, breathing heavily, he smiled. She was his.

"Quickly," she insisted once more, hand cupping his cheek before she stepped back and her brought a hand up to take the letter still against his chest. He reached for her, just before she could step back, still smiling brilliantly as she fought her tears.

"You'll catch a death like that," he whispered hurriedly, tugging his dark blue scarf from his neck. "Here, take it."

She tried to wave it off, tugging her arm free of his hold but before she could talk he draped it around her shoulders and stepped back.

"I'll see you soon?" he asked once more, still smiling.

She nodded, holding his scarf to her mouth as he continued walking backwards only to bump into something. Turning, he gave a quick apology to the man but, when he turned back, Helen was gone. He scouted the area for a moment but she and her dark brown locks were nowhere to be seen.

"Nikola!"

Then he heard her, her voice distinguishable to him above the din. Spinning on his heel, he prepared to offer her a spot in his cabin, after all sneaking her in was a much better option than her making her own way across the border but the red headed woman who greeted him wasn't the one he had in mind.

"Forget this," the breathless woman said, eyes twinkling. "Come back to London with me, James and I can keep you safe."

"I... I can't," he stuttered, slightly shocked at his own words. Minutes ago he'd have accepted the offer wholeheartedly but now, with his Helen waiting for him, he couldn't fathom giving her up for a woman who didn't love him the way he loved her.

Her face dropped at his words and he saw the hurt.

"You know I can't Helen," he insisted, reaching for her only to have her flinch away. "I can't endanger you or the Sanctuary like that, I'm sorry."

She nodded, her face cold and closed as she contemplated his shoes.

"Helen," he continued, reaching for her once again, cupping her cheek gently. "We'll see each other very soon, alright? I promise I won't forget you."

She met his gaze briefly and nodded.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I just... What happened to your scarf?"

"Uh, I put it in my bag," he covered quickly, shaking his single suitcase in example.

Helen frowned at his explanation but, as the announcement came to all remaining passengers that it was time to board, she said nothing, shooting him a pitiful look that made him want to scoop her up.

"Soon," he promised with a smile, walking backwards. "Soon!"

He jogged backwards for a few paces until he saw her smile before turning and hurrying to where he was supposed to be boarding. She may not like him right now but he knew, one day she'd love him and forgive him for turning down her offer. Grinning like an idiot, he tapped the letter stowed in his pocket. She'd love him. After all, in her cursive writing across the front of the envelope she'd written

Za moju ljubav...

Meanwhile:

Helen scrambled for the taxi, throwing herself into the backseat as she barked out an address to the driver. His scarf was still around his neck and she pulled it up, burying her face in the soft wool that smelt so strongly of him. She tried to hold back her tears as she pressed herself into the corner but it was no use, her heart was breaking and it was entirely her own fault.

She never should have come like this, never should have tempted fate like this but she hadn't been able to resist seeing him one last time. Truly she had no idea where he'd go from here and, while she wanted to track him down, she knew she couldn't even if she had the time.

She never should have come, she cursed as she immersed herself in his scent. He was going to hate her just as much as she hated herself.