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4

The Next Day, Morning
Abandoned Cabin

Jason had woken her up many times throughout the night, the look in his eyes enough to jolt liquid heat to her core in an instant. They'd made love in the warm glow of lantern light between bouts of conversation, sometimes hard and frenzied until her throat became raw from screaming, and slow and unhurried until it had felt like she would combust from the overload of passion intensifying between them. It had felt like Jason had still been pursuing her even though she was willingly sleeping with him, or like he was determined to solidify the connection they had tried and failed to fight.

It was one of the best nights of her life.

Elizabeth awakens first this time, seeing the glimmering hues of morning light through the boards. The weight of his arm over her waist, his chest to her back, and his chin resting atop of her head fills her stomach with flutters. She feels deliciously sore all over, and deliriously happy, having to bite her lip to try and contain her cheek hurting smile.

Out of place in her emotions is the burbling tar-like dread rooted in the pit of her belly. Her mind drifts to Franco, wondering if the feeling stems from her broken commitment. Sighing, she brings her left hand up towards her face. Her ring rests on her fourth finger, a forgotten band of vows she chose to break repeatedly. Pinching it between her thumb and forefinger she starts to twist it in a familiar motion. And freezes.

Something's not right.

The rays of sunlight catch the small diamond, but instead of the usual rainbow of reflected light, it looks bright and clear like glass.

'Closer than you think.'

She nearly jumps up, but wrangles the knee-jerk response down with steel control. She tenses, her pounding in her ears. Jason remains asleep behind her. Taking in a shaky breath, she pinches the faux diamond and tugs. A beat later, it pops free revealing the smallest 'vial' she's ever seen, with a black stopper holding the vital and precious antidote in place.

Steadying her breathing seems impossible, her hands trembling with urgency. I have to-I need to give this to him but how? Her mind is drawing blanks, too filled with tangled anxiety to think clearly, so she makes the effort to take several deep, slow breaths. An idea gradually takes shape.

With careful movements, she extracts herself from his hold and the bed altogether, pausing to look at him to be sure of his continued slumber. Dark golden lashes brush his cheeks, his soft mouth set in a gentle pout, and his hair is wildly disheveled from her fingers. The features of what most believe to be a stone cold killer make up the man of her dreams, an invaluable part of her being she refuses to have taken from this world.

Her resolve solidifies as she stabilizes. Picking his long sleeved shirt up to cover herself in the drafty cabin, she rolls up the sleeves and makes her way to the opened jar of strawberries. She unscrews the lid first, then plucks the vial up from her palm. Pinching the topper off, she takes the red fruit and presses it to the opening. Twisting so that the vial punctures the fruit, she then flips it and watches unblinking as the fluid within is gradually absorbed.

She stands there for several moments making sure every drop is soaked up. Only then does she remove the vial and place it on the counter. She looks at the innocuous fruit between her fingers. The key to his life in an unassuming shell. Jitters nearly revive under her skin, but she stamps them down as her job is only halfway done. Collecting the jar of ordinary strawberries, she climbs back into bed, purposefully jostling the still occupant.

His eyes peel open, revealing clear blue, never having been one to experience the grogginess associated with waking up after his accident. When his gaze finds hers, a love stricken smile breaks out across her lips unbidden, the backs of her eyes stinging with the flood of emotion. She forces herself to keep her tears at bay. He sits up, moving into her space with bright happy eyes reminiscent of that of a school boy's. His beauty never ceases to take her breath away.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" he asks just above a whisper, voice husky as he brushes his knuckles down her cheek.

She feels the rapid flush bloom across her face, helpless to stop the way her heart hammers, singing out for him through every vein in her body. "I feel good. Happy. Hopelessly in love," she breathes honestly.

His eyes lower to her mouth, his fingers curling behind her ear to cup the back of her neck, leaving trails of fire in their wake. "No regrets?" he rumbles, nose brushing hers, his air becoming her own.

Her eyes become heavy, tingles shaking every inch of her. "No regrets."

Their mouths join like magnets unable to be kept apart for long. It's perfect. Hot, firm, and consuming. Her thoughts begin to fade until she jerks back with sheer force of will, determined not to be pulled under the shroud of need that now exists unsuppressed around them whenever she's within so much as viewing distance of him. His brows crease and his eyes filling with confusion especially when she brings the strawberry into view.

"I thought we could fuel up first," she rushes to explain. Then lifting the fruit, she starts to teasingly trace the shape of his lips with the tip, her eyes meeting his under her lashes as her voice takes on a more husky tone. "Besides, I kind of felt like feeding you. You wouldn't deny me, would you?"

His eyes darken to molten pools. His lips part around the strawberry, drawing it and the tip of her fingers into his mouth in answer. His hand settles like a band of titillating currents around her wrist holding her fingers in place as he consumes the fruit, then runs his tongue over her finger pads. She gasps at the heat surging down to her moistening core. She notices something else too. The sickening dread in her stomach has dissipated. She could cry from relief.

Instead, she shivers and moans as he suckles and nips each of her fingertips one after the other before placing his lips on her palm, her wrist, working his way up as her breathing becomes raspy gasps and his face hovers before hers. His fanning breaths tingle her lips, driving her mad as the tension jumping between their gazes fill with a charge that pulls tighter and tighter.

Then snaps.

They barely have the forethought to move the jar of strawberries before he's peeling his shirt from her skin and worshipping her with an unquenchable devotion.

It's afterwards when she's enfolded in his arms, her head tucked under his chin that she decides to be honest with him. If she's going to break her promise to never lie to him, she may as well be honest when she does keep the truth from him.

Elizabeth takes a shaky breath and closes her eyes. "Jason... I lied to you."

He goes from pliant warmth to frigid stone in a blink. His tone is even and cautious. "What... What do you mean?"

She keeps her eyes closed because it's easier to talk this way. She doesn't have to see the hurt in his gaze when he pulls away to look at her. "When you made me promise to take the vial when we found it, I lied."

His silence in response is telling. She gathers her courage and opens her eyes. His eyes are blank, masking his thoughts. The only clue to his upset is the flaring of his nostrils. He's probably already putting the pieces together, but she chargers on, wanting to get everything out in the open. She wets her lips. "I realized the diamond in my wedding ring had been replaced, this morning. I put the antidote in the strawberry and—"

He turns from her in an abrupt movement climbing from the bed to snatch up his boxers and jeans, putting them on.

She sits up, mouth opening and shutting before words begin flooding forth. "I woke up with this-this horrible feeling Jason! I don't think," her breath hitches as her throat begins to tighten, the true fact of the matter being too much to swallow. "I don't think you would've made it through the day. And if we hadn't made love, I wouldn't have even thought to look at my ring."

He pulls on his shirt and picks up his gun, sliding it back into place at his back without giving her so much as a glance.

Her clawing anxiety towards his continued silence shifts then to simmering anger. Her voice turns hard. "Do you really think I'd let you die if I had the chance to save you?"

His eyes land on hers diamond sharp, but still blank, internalizing everything. "Get dressed. We're leaving. Now." He orders, ignoring her question.

Her jaw tenses as a flash of heat burns up her neck. She does as he says, sliding out of bed and feeling his eyes trail over her nude form. With controlled motions she dresses, overcome with the threads of her temper snapping loose. Shoes in place, she marches up to him, glaring him down, uncaring of the height distance. "I made a promise to you to never lie to you again, which I intend to keep. But you better believe if it comes to saving your life," she looks between his eyes, making damn sure he's listening, "I will lie through my teeth," she hisses, bolstered by her justification and unfaltering love for him.

His eyes hold hers for a moment longer before sliding over her shoulder, his feet carrying him towards the bed. She watches him in silence as he divests the pillows of their slips and proceeds to fill them with the remaining food jars, feeling her anger simmer down at realizing he's not going to blow up at her because he does understand.

Sidling up to him she peers at his face waiting for him to meet her eyes. When he doesn't, she huffs and captures his face between her palms. Bringing him down, she kisses him, not the least bit surprised when he responds instantly. Her kisses are soft, chaste almost, but the spark of connection that winds down her bones still leaves her breathless when she pulls away. He's quiet, eyes still blank, but no longer radiating distance. Thumbing his cheeks, she murmurs, "I love you. Remember that."

When she turns to grab the blanket, his hand curls under her elbow tugging her back to face him. He dips down and sweeps her mouth up in a deep kiss. His mouth slants over hers, his tongue caressing hers in knee weakening degrees. He feasts on her mouth for glorious moments leaving her trembling in pleasure when he pulls back. She can read in his tentative look that he's still swallowing what she did, but he's not backing away from them.

A radiant smile shapes her lips and she turns to finish folding up the blanket.

—

They're five minutes into their trek, having decided to take the direction leading straight from the front door, when Elizabeth feels his palm press to her own. Their fingers slot, then curl around the others - his warm hand enveloping her cold one. Heart flipping, she looks up to see his gaze is soft, brimming with adoration. His small smile framed with apology.

He looks down for a moment, eyes centering on their hands before she's transfixed by his tender look. "I, uh know why you did it, I just—"

"You're scared," she answers in understanding.

He looks down again letting out a tremulous breath wrought with emotion before allowing her to see the terror streaking through his eyes. "It would… it would kill me if something were to happen to you because of me."

She turns into his path, bringing them to a stop, so she can focus entirely on assuaging his worry. "I know in my gut that that antidote was for you." She lifts their joined hands and kisses the back of his before pressing it to her cheek. "Don't worry, I'm fine. And now you are too."

He exhales sharply the breath seeming to expel the visible uncertainty in his eyes. He gives a firm nod. "Okay."

She grins pressing another kiss to his hand and turns back to the sprawling woods when he gives her hand a little squeeze.

"Elizabeth."

Confused at the somber timbre of his voice, she waits for him to continue.

He ducks his head for a moment and feels his hold tightening a smidge. "When we get back, we won't-we can't go public just yet."

Her eyes narrow, disguising the barbed knot of panic currently twisting and ripping her insides to ribbons. His grip is the only thing keeping her hand locked with his. "What do you mean?"

"Renault is dangerous, Elizabeth. You were brought into this by accident. If he found out what you mean to me, he would go after Cameron, Jake, and Aiden."

The tendrils of terror for her boys warring with heartbreak threatening to drown her keep her silent.

"He kidnapped Cameron and Trina before. He would have killed them," he tells her with eyes conveying the graveness of his words.

She tugs her hand and he lets her free, pain pinching his eyes. She crosses her arms with the blanket pressed to her chest as if she can physically hold herself together. "What are you saying?" she bites out knowing what's coming. He's done this before. Why did I trust him? I can't believe I-Oh god—

"I'm saying... I want to take out Renault before we go public."

Her whirlwind thoughts halt, then, bit by bit, disperse enough for her to think. To listen.

He steps closer, seeing into her with ease. "Jake and Aiden are still young, and Cameron-they've all been through enough. I don't want them thrown into this just yet," he explains in a soothing tone, his gaze imploring.

Words drift through her mind that she hasn't thought of in over a decade, helping to put her worries at ease. She sweeps her hair behind her ear as a crisp breeze passes through raising goosebumps across her skin further aligning her thoughts. "You know, Robin told me something once that assures me every time that wanting a family with you is the right choice." She offers a loving smile at the wonder rounding his eyes. "She said that amidst all the danger surrounding her when growing up, what she remembers the most is the love. And Jason," she extends her hand back to his and he snatches it up, latching on tightly. "I know how much love you have to give. And I know you'd do everything in your power to keep us safe."

A quick breath rushes past his lips as elation lights up his expression brighter than any star. It's beautiful and endearing, but he maintains hesitance in the way he doesn't immediately respond. She understands. It's one of the many reasons she loves him - his capacity to love and protect her boys even though two of them aren't his by blood.

She sighs, conceding to his point. "But... we'll wait like you want." She narrows her eyes. "But the moment he's gone, you can't back out. I mean it. I want a life with you."

He nods slowly, sincerity twinkling in his eyes. "I want a life with you too. That's-that's all I've ever wanted with you," he murmurs before leaning down and sealing his mouth to hers.

And this time she can feel it in the core of her being, in the jubilant wisps of her soul, that they'll make it. Their thread has tangled and snagged over the years, but they always wind up crashing back into each other in the end.

She smiles into his kiss. Because we're meant to be.

—

Elizabeth groans into his chest, using Jason as support as her legs drag like dead weights. They had taken to following a faint foot trail they'd discovered deeper in the woods, only breaking occasionally. But as the looming pine trees darken with the last rays of sunlight, she's ready to suggest they stop for the night.

His arm around her shoulders squeezes briefly. "Look," he speaks into the crown of her hair.

She does and feels a rush of renewed energy flood her veins. The trees thin out over a short incline and a road bisects their path; down the road are buildings of a town. Salvation. "Oh, thank god! I was getting sick of fruit and dried meat," she exclaims with a touch of dramatics, feeling downright giddy as she grins. "I swear, when we get back, I never want to go camping again."

He bends so his mouth is right against her ear, treating her to the husky dip in his voice.. "I don't know, you and I had a good time reconnecting last night..."

She feels her face practically steam in the cold air as her stomach gives a delighted jump at his flirting. She backhands his chest lightly while giggling. "Oh, shut up."

He chuckles, the warm sound traveling through her skin and making her feel as if she's floating on air as he presses a kiss to her temple.

She sobers up after a moment as they step on the road and start towards the town. "But seriously, when we get home, I can't wait to hug my boys. I know they must be worried to death about me," she confesses in a hushed voice, finally allowing the barricade keeping her concern at bay crash down. She knows in general they're okay. Safe and sound at home. But Cam, with her wild streak in him, probably got it in his head to try and go out and find her. Biting her lip until pain burns through her mouth, she prays Franco convinced him it would be better for him to be there for his brothers instead.

Fingers curl under her chin and the rough pad of a thumb tugs her lip free. Her vision clears of her boys as she gradually emerges from her mind. Jason's brows are furrowed, his eyes blanketed in concern. "Hey. Everything's going to be fine. We're going to use a phone and I'm going to make a call. We'll be home by the end of the night, okay?"

She lets out a rattled breath, watching it steam in the dropping temperatures. "Okay."

Led by his hand, they come upon a quaint looking one story house at the edge of town, the next house being a little ways off. She's relieved to see a dark sedan in the driveway and the glow of lights through the curtains. Up the one step porch, she observes the burnt red and pumpkin orange leaf twined reef hung on the door while Jason knocks.

Several beats pass before the locks unlatch and the door opens. A woman half a head taller than her peaks out. Plain faced with blond hair twisted up in a bun and glasses perched on her nose. Blue and green eyes stare wide at them - probably the most unique feature about her.

Elizabeth doesn't blame the woman's wariness. She and Jason probably look like they crawled out of the woods after a week long stay which is not necessarily untrue. Still, she does her best to come off as unthreatening in her smile, taking the lead. Jason is a lot of things, but a people person is not one. "Hi, sorry to disturb you. My... husband and I decided to take a spur of the moment vacation to a nice little cabin we rented in the woods, but we had car troubles and had to walk," she explains with an air of disappointment. Ignoring the prickle of Jason's stare on her skin, she tucks a wayward lock behind her ear. "New to the area, we got a little lost, so can you tell us where we are please?"

The woman's eyes still gleam with suspicion, but she opens the door a little wider revealing a living room furnished to the brim with knick knacks and decorative pine cones. "This is Perth, Ontario," she states with a rich accent somewhat similar to mid-westerners.

Elizabeth internalizes her wince. Doubtful she's referring to California, it would seem they were taken across the border to Canada. Expression twisting into apology, Elizabeth makes their request. "We'd hate to inconvenience you, but could we use your phone? Ours died on the walk, and we have three boys to get home to," she adds, hoping the sound of children will broker a little trust and understanding.

The woman's eyes round and she nods her head opening the door fully. "Of course, come in!"

Elizabeth steps over the threshold with Jason behind her, instantly becoming enveloped by toasty warmth and the smell of gingerbread. She almost moans in rejoice as the heat sinks into her bones, so used to the cold at this point. Instead, she expresses her gratitude, a genuine smile overtaking her lips. "I'm Elizabeth and this is Jason. Thank you so much for helping us."

The woman scurries across the room picking up a slim phone from her desk laden with papers and a few picture frames. "I'm Melanie and I'm happy to help." She crosses the room and hands the unlocked phone to Jason.

He takes it with a quiet thanks and stands in the corner by the door, turning from them.

Elizabeth follows Melanie deeper into the living room while he makes the call, stopping at the crackling fireplace while Melanie returns to her desk. Her eyes are drawn to the picture frames above the fireplace, studying Melanie with two blond men a few years older than her. Older brothers maybe? "We really appreciate your generosity. Our boys are no doubt worried since we've missed a few check in calls."

The rattling of a desk drawer being opened mixes faintly with Jason's hushed tone.

"It's no problem at all. In fact, it makes my job easier."

A stab of ice drives through her heart at the loss of accent to Melanie's murmured words.

Head snapping in Melanie's direction, the air leaves her lungs at the sight of a gun with a silencer pointed right at Jason, her former doe eyed gaze now as sharp as blades. Elizabeth doesn't have to look to know his back is turned with his attention on the phone call. There's no way he would react in time to dodge or even draw his gun. Still, somehow, time seems to churn forward at a molasses' pace, giving her ample time to feel the blanket tumble from her hands and her legs moving without command. To hear the indistinct hiss as the bullet exits the chamber. To know she doesn't regret it when pain starbursts from the center of her chest, dragging her into blackened depths in a blink.

She'd do anything for him, after all.