Months had gone by with that quiet peace and the pair getting closer, working together to complete Luther's mission. It was the happiest Eliza had ever been, and Luther could just relax. Neither of them had to worry about not fulfilling expectations. This was a beautiful time for them.
On the morning of the year anniversary of the crash Luther woke up with Eliza in the crook of his arm. This was the first time this had happened, that they shared the same sleep space but they had just slept so that her nightmares would be eased. She opened her eyes and smiled, "Good morning."
He answered, "Good morning. How did you sleep?"
"I am hopeful that we found a way that my nightmares won't disturb us every night." Then gave him a look that he knew to be joking, "That is if my fellow test subject will agree to further attempts."
Fighting back a laugh he answered, "This is the most agreeable testing I have ever been in."
"Me too." Then they laughed. Then she continued, "I guess that we should get up."
He nodded, "That might be good."
They went back to the system of her making breakfast while he looked at the equipment before setting the table. After finishing and taking out the trash they watched the sunrise over the earth. It was beautiful to see their entire world turn into white glass.
A few more months of this quiet bliss with no one knowing that they were there. And it seemed that the moment of perfection would never end. But then it did. Twenty months and twenty eight days after Luther found her, Eight got a message from the Others. It was a simple message, in three days she would be gathered from the moon.
Luther walked in to find her just staring numbly at the screen. "What's wrong?"
She handed him the message that signaled the end of their time. "This." After watching him read the short message to the end she spoke, "I will have to go."
He shook his head, "You don't."
"Yes I do." She looked at him, "if I don't accept it they will kill you. And I can't let that happen."
He shook his head, "I can't let you just go back to that pain."
She smiled, "But now I have something that they can never take away from me."
"What do you mean?"
She stepped straight into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder, "I had a choice. I chose this, and I chose you. Now I choose to let you go. Isn't that what you do when you love someone?"
He stroked her hair, "That's what they say." After a moment, "Eliza…"
She put her hand over his mouth, "Don't. Just hold me, ok." He nodded.
They spent their last few days in each others company as much as possible. Finally the last night came and she settled under his arm. "Thank you."
He looked down at her, "For what?"
"Caring, this is the happiest and most peaceful that I have ever been in my life." She took his hand and traced the lines on the back of it, "The others will make it so that I will forget."
He squeezed her hand gently, "Then why did you let yourself feel it if you could never remember?"
She gave him a mournful smile, "Because it was my choice. And to live that even for the smallest amount of time is the greatest gift that a Number ever can have."
He looked at her, "You said a few days ago that when you love someone you let them go." She nodded, "Well, I love you enough to let you go, and hope that someday we'll find each other again."
Her soft smile, "Someday." And holding on to each other they fell asleep.