Liz just sat there on the kitchen floor, face throbbing and heart completely shattered. She couldn't help but wonder if this was God's way of punishing her for all her sins she committed. Give her someone who she thinks loves her back, have a family with them and then snatch it away in an instant. Deep down she knew people like her don't get a happy ending.

She slowly stood up, stretching her jaw muscles and started to pick the glass up from the floor, not wanting any accidents. When all of the bigger pieces were picked up she threw them in the trash and went for the broom and dust pan. Once everything was cleaned up and put away she sat back down in the chair with a heavy sigh.

"You said tomorrow, that's when my brothers' are supposed to come. Merrick and Keegan too probably. You want us all in one spot to make it easier. Clever."

He tossed the washcloth aside and sat back down across from her. "That or I might just kill them all in front of you and keep you alive. Then you're stuck here until the day you die."

"I wouldn't put it past you to do something like that." She tapped her fingers on the table, thinking about what would be a better outcome. Her dying with her family, or them dying and her living a life as his personal toy. She'd pick the latter. "I also know you. You wouldn't give up the chance to get your dick wet at any given opportunity. You'll kill them all in front of me."

"You'll just have to wait and see."

Liz rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I just want to know one thing, just one thing. Why? I did nothing to you, that was all my dad. Hell I didn't know you existed until I got captured."

Rorke let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair. "You want the truth?"

"Yes! I want to understand."

"Alright, only if I get the truth from you too."

"What?"

"Why did you so willingly spread your legs for me?"

"I've told you why…"

"Part of it, I know there's more. Tell me and I'll tell you."

Liz sighed in defeat. "Because I was scared alright. That's all I've ever been since the war started. Scared. I was fourteen when it started, a year later I was raped by one of the soldiers on base and I learned. I learned that it's better to give myself willingly than let people take. Then I got captured by the Federation and raped again. I saw you and saw how the men acted around you, and I thought, maybe I'll be safe if I sleep with him. I was, at least until recently."

"So your whole, acting like a harlot is to protect yourself?" He hummed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "The world hasn't been kind to either of us, you more so."

"Yeah. War isn't kind, especially to young girls. No it hasn't and now it's your turn."

The look on his face shifted drastically, going from annoyed and angry to… how he always looked at her before everything went to shit. And that pulled at her heart.

"I didn't want to do any of this, to break your heart. Hit you. But I had to use you. And I'm sorry, I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"What do you mean?"

"A few months ago the leader wanted me to finish the job I started, to kill the Ghosts. He's becoming impatient and I was afraid he would use you and the kids as leverage. The only thing I could think of.. Was to make you think I didn't love you."

"I should've figured it was the fucking leader." She looked down at the table and sighed, then back to him. "So all this bullshit was to make me think you didn't want me anymore so I could get the Ghosts all here. Clever. But a part of me doesn't believe you."

"Well, it's true Liz. Did you really think I would put up that facade for that long if I didn't care about you? You were the first person I ever loved, you have given me three amazing kids I never thought I would have."

Tears started to well in her eyes again and her bottom lip began to quiver. She didn't know how she felt, too many emotions were combined together. Anger, hurt, sadness ...fear, so much has happened in the past few months that Liz was now just tired of everything. And just wanted the truth.

"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? Instead of tearing my heart out and stomping on it." She wiped her eyes and sighed. "I was happy, content and now I'm not sure if I can trust you anymore. And I don't think I can stay here either, I want to go in front of JSOC."

Shock showed on his face and his heart skipped a beat. He was dumb for what he did, he should've just told her the truth from the beginning and now he's lost her for good.

"You really want to die?"

"Yes." The words came out strong and sure, probably for the first time in a long time. "I can't live like this anymore, I just can't. I'm so goddamn depressed, I barely eat anymore, let alone sleep. The thing is, I died a long time ago, now it'll be more permanent."

"What about the children? They need their mother."

"They'll be fine without me."

"No they won't. You grew up without a mom, do you really want them too as well?"

Liz looked over at him in disbelief and defeat. He was right of course, she doesn't want to leave the kids motherless but what was she supposed to do? Act like everything is alright? Live under the same roof with the man who broke her heart just because of the kids? None of those sounded good and she knew she couldn't live on her own, the Federation doesn't trust her that much.

"What the hell am I supposed to do Gabriel? I can't trust you, not after this and it's not fair to the kids if we live under the same roof and I'm depressed. But I can't leave because I'm dependent on you."

He sighed in defeat and threw his hands up in the air. "Fine Liz, just...fine."

She wasn't expecting him to give up so easily, she expected him to fight more, or at least make a fuss out of it. "You act like this is my fault? I wasn't the one who started this. I loved you, and I trusted you. Now you're just another person who let me down."

"I know and I'm sorry okay? I wish I could take it back but I can't, none of this was supposed to happen."

Silence fell upon the room and she wasn't sure what to say or if she should just get up and go back upstairs. She wasn't sure if he was meaning what he said or if this was his spiel, all she knows is that she still loves him and life just got a hell of a lot harder.

"Yet it did. All you had to do was tell me from the get go and we could've figured something out." She scrubbed a hand down her face and sighed. "Now I think I know what needs to happen."

"And what's that?" He leaned back against his chair and crossed his arms.

"We both give ourselves over to the Ghosts. Let this war end and have our children live a happy life."

Rorke's face faltered and he sat up a bit straighter, letting his arms fall to his lap. "Without us. You know we'll be executed, we're both traitors."

"I know that and maybe it's for the best. We'll never go back to the way it was, not after the shit you pulled. And it's not like I can move out and get my own place, the leader doesn't trust me that much. I grew up without a mother, but that's a lot better than growing up with parents who are going to fight all the time."

He went silent again, sighing through his nose and leaned forward - resting his arms on the table. He knew he fucked up big time and Liz was right, they would never go back to the way things were. They would live under the same roof, most likely turning out to hate one another and the children didn't deserve that.

"Fine...just. Fine."

"You think this is easy for me? I loved you Gabriel, I was happy and content. Then you had to fuck things up." She sighed and leaned back in her chair, calming her rising anger. "If you just came to me and told me the truth to begin with, things would be different."

He let out a loud sigh and scrubbed a hand down his face before leaning back in his chair. "I know that, I know. Maybe you are right, maybe it's time to just give up."

She didn't say anything to that, just leaned back in her chair and sighed. Years of happiness went up in flames because he couldn't tell her the truth. The truth that would've kept the whole family together.

"We should get some sleep. Tomorrow morning I'll pack the kids things."

She got up after that and left the kitchen to go to her bedroom, leaving Rorke alone with his thoughts.

He sighed and got up from the table, going to the fridge to grab the bottle of whisky that resides in the back of it. He placed it on the counter and went for a glass in the cupboards, placing that too on the counter. But he didn't open the bottle of whisky, not yet. He just stood there, watching his life come tumbling down right in front of his eyes and it was all his fault. If he was smarter and just told her the truth, everything would be fine and normal. His family would still be together if he wasn't so foolish. And he'll never forgive himself for that.

xXx

Sleep never came for Liz, she just kept tossing and turning until Cooper came to wake her up. And since she wasn't sure when her brothers' would get there, she got on with packing up the children's belongings while Rorke made them breakfast. She wanted the kids to have a full stomach before traveling.

As she got the boys' stuff she looked around their room, reminiscing on all the good times. Moving into this home, finding out they were expecting Sadie not long after and how happy she was. She finally had what she wanted all along, a happy family of her own. Except it didn't end that way and the tears started to flood her eyes. She's been holding everything in for months and it was now coming out and she collapsed onto the floor, hands covering her face to muffle her cries.

"Liz?"

The sound of her voice made her lift her head, expecting to see Rorke but no. It was Hesh and Logan. She should've recognized their voices, somehow she didn't. She wiped her eyes and sat down on her butt with a sigh. "You came early."

They both walked into the room and sat down beside her. Both of them could see how depleted she was, how depressed she was. "Of course, you needed us."

"Like I needed you years ago? No I'm sorry."

Hesh and Logan glanced at each other, both feeling immense guilt. They should've better brothers', not ignoring their little sister's cries for help. If they just helped her, she never would've been captured by the federation and she never would've married Rorke. She wouldn't be on death row if they were just better brothers'.

"It's okay Liz, we deserve it anyways." said Hesh. "Rorke told us he's turning himself in, how'd you do it?"

"With all this shit that has happened it made me open my eyes to what needs to happen. We give ourselves up and let this war end. He knows I'll never forgive him for this, especially when he knows about my past. We'll never be that happy family again and it's not fair to the kids."

"I'm sorry Liz, truly, truly sorry. I should've been a better brother, not selfish and only caring about myself." His voice began to break and that made her face soften. "I just didn't understand or maybe I didn't want to. You never wanted this life, then the war happened and instead of being there for you….we just weren't. We helped dig your grave and we'll have to live with it."

Liz sighed through her nose and relaxed her shoulders. For over ten years all she wanted was for her family to apologize and now she's got it. And it actually sounds sincere.

"Thank you! Even though I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you, I'm happy I am. If I didn't go through what I did, I never would've had my kids and they mean the world to me."

"Speaking of your kids, they're adorable." said Logan. "And very polite. You've raised them well."

"They are and thanks! I just want them to be good people and surprisingly Gabe and I had the same morals and how we wanted to raise our children."

"You guys did good. I'm looking forward to getting to know them more."

She smiled, though it didn't stay on her face and stood up, going back to packing the boys things. "Is it just you two or did Merrick come too?"

"Yeah Merrick's here. He's talking with Rorke."

The next moment they heard the door open, all of them turning to see Elliott walking through the door. "Mommy?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"What's going on?"

Liz smiled over at him and crouched down to his level. "We're going on a little vacation. This is your uncle Hesh and Logan and we're going to be spending time with them."

She hated lying to them, but knew he would learn the truth when he gets older. There was no way she would tell her three year old son what was really going on.

"Okay. Can I bring teddy?"

"Of course you can!" He ran to get his teddy off his bed and stood next to her while she packed. "Why don't you say hi to your uncles."

He mumbled hi and waved his hand at them, still clutching her leg. He was always the timid one. Logan and Hesh waved back and said hi, Logan even asked if his teddy had a name. Elliott only replies with 'yeah, it's teddy', making them all chuckle.

"Hey Logan, can you go next door to Sadie's room to get her bags? I left them near her crib."

"Yeah, I'll be back in a moment."

He left the room, leaving Liz alone with Elliott and Hesh. She finished up packing the boys things and sat down with a sigh. This was it, her last day in her own home. So many memories were made here, good, bad, the whole lot, but she's grateful. Those memories will stay with her until she dies, unfortunately the children won't remember and she hopes they have good memories with her uncles.

Logan returned a moment later with both the bags in hand and she stood up, grabbing both of the boys bags, along with Cooper's stuffed dinosaur that he loved. "Alright."

They all left the room after that, and with one last look, Liz shut off the light. As they made their way down the stairs she heard Rorke and Merrick talking. In a surprisingly non-hostile way, she was glad, not wanting to scare the kids. She placed the bags on the floor and walked over to get Sadie out of her pack n' play before walking over to where Rorke and Merrick are.

"Everything is ready."

Merrick nodded and Liz went to go get the baby carrier, it was a lot easier to carry Sadie in that than her arms. And it also gave her free reign to carry things and help with the twins. She wasn't sure how traveling would go with three young kids, but she was ready. Ready to get this over with.

Without saying a word, they grabbed the bags and headed for the door. Liz takes a quick moment to take one last look at the house. It was bittersweet, leaving behind the home she had so many memories in, but it was time to go and she sighed as she closed the door behind her.