"Henry told us you'd been with him in the tunnels," Jacob said, startling me with his silent entrance. "You should've stayed. The queen knighted us. You could've become a dame as well as a king and a queen."

I nodded, not looking up from my copy of Wuthering Heights. "I figured I'd just be in the way so I came back to the train."

"You know, Miss King, you have a nasty habit of leaving without saying good-bye." The bookshelf beside me creaked when he leaned against it. "Are you planning on doing it again?"

"London's free." I looked up from my book, knowing I was never going to finish it. "It's time for me to finish my mission."

He pushed off the shelf and moved closer. "And what about us, Gwen? Where do we stand now?"

I sighed as I looked at him, wanting to jump into his arms. "I don't know. It's not like we can go back to the way things were."

He nodded and stepped closer. "Agreed. Too much has changed."

"We're two different people now."

"Hardened, I suppose."

I nodded. "A little more jaded. And sadder."

"For our losses." He took the final step needed to stand over me. "I should've been honest with you. About everything."

"That's all I ever wanted."

"It's what you deserved." He knelt down in front of me. "I'm sorry, Gwen."

I dropped the book on the floor and took his hands in mine. "Me too. I wish things had been different, but I hope you still consider me a friend after all this."

He withdrew one hand and brushed aside a few stray hairs from my neck. "I consider you more than a friend. Could we, perhaps, start again? Give our love a fresh start?"

"You still love me?" I felt tears prick my eyes. "Really?"

He smiled. "Of course. You're the air I breathe, my every heartbeat. Since the moment we met, now and forever."

"Now and forever." I leaned my forward and pressed my forehead to his. "But I can't ask you to follow me. I don't even know where I'm going."

"It doesn't matter so long as we're together." He gave me a tender smile. "I belong with you, Gwen King."

I gave him a mischievous grin. "Where's Evie?"

His entire face lit up and, for the first time in a while, the smug smirk was back. "With Henry. Any particular reason why you ask?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I got up from my chair and took his hand. Leading him to the bed, I pushed him down on it. He propped himself on his elbows as he stared into my eyes. Slowly, I began to undress. His eyes were riveted to mine as each piece of clothing fell until I was standing stark naked in front of him. There, with my battered body on display, I let him take in everything: every bruise, scar, freckle, and dimple. I wanted him to see what was being offered so he could decide if it was really what he wanted.

"Come here," he whispered as he sat up and offered me his hand.

I stood between his open legs and smiled as our gaze locked again as he took me in his arms. He laid me down on the bed beside him and brushed my hair from my shoulder. His fingers trembled ever so slightly as he led my hands to each button, allowing me to remove his clothing as well, but we ended up laughing when I couldn't reach all the damned enclosures. Finally, he got up and finished undressing before joining me again. Facing each other, I traced the cuts and bruises along his body while he did the same to me.

There were scars I'd never noticed before and a single stray grey chest hair that made me smile. To me, it was paint on the perfect work of art that was Jacob Frye.

"I love you," I said as he pulled me close so I could nestle my face in the arch of his throat.

His Adam's apple bobbed as if he were trying to swallow and I knew he was fighting back tears. After several minutes, he said, "I trust you, Gwen."

Laying there being held by the man I loved, confident we were going to try and fix what was broken, I let myself fall asleep safe in the knowledge he'd be there when I woke up.

Two weeks after Evie came back to find us naked in her bed and informed us that we needed our own place, Jacob convinced me it was safe to go back to the train. After staying at the Crown and Thistle for so long and hardly getting any sleep due to the endless parties the Rooks seemed to have, I was glad to be going back.

"Evie wasn't angry, darling," he teased. "Disgusted, but not angry."

"Not as disgusted as I was to find out we never had permission to use her bed." I punched him in the arm. "I can't believe you lied to me all this time."

He laughed as he playfully rubbed the spot. "I'm impressed she never heard us. You're a very… boisterous lover."

"Jacob!"

He laughed again, full and rich like I remembered it. Looking at him, I was still in awe by how much two weeks of open, honest communication and love could make. We'd weathered one hell of a storm together and gotten battered, but somehow come out stronger for it. We weren't perfect, we never would be, but at least we'd work together from now on.

"What the hell?" I asked when Jacob tied a sash over my eyes once we were aboard. "What are you doing?"

"Hush, Miss King." He took my hand and started to lead me through the cars. "It's a – what did you call it? – Ah, yes: a trust exercise."

"I don't trust you," I teased.

"But I trust you, Gwen," he whispered before kissing me on the cheek. "C'mon now. I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" I asked, waving as I heard Rooks in the dining car call out their greetings.

"All you need to know is it's a surprise." He swatted my hand away as I pulled at the blindfold. "Stop it. Can you see anything?"

I giggled. "No, Mr. Frye."

"Are you sure?" He asked suspiciously, tugging it down a little to make sure.

"I already said no, but I'm about to take this thing off if you don't tell me where we're going. We're running out of train."

"You wouldn't dare." He grabbed my hand. "Just a little further."

"All right." I tilted my face toward his voice and received a kiss for my efforts. "Just don't throw me off, okay?"

"No promises."

Before I could comment, he wrapped both hands around my waist and lifted me off the last gangway. I screamed as he spun me around midair then set me down again.

"That's for torturing me with that lovely body of yours when you were too hurt to ravage," he teased as he opened a door. "You can look now."

The additional car, at least by train standards, was enormous. Of course, it had to be to house the massive four poster bed that took up most of the center. Near the head was a velveteen sofa and small bookshelf that housed my tiny. Closest to the entrance was a small table, two wooden chairs and a small stove on one wall while heavy drapes hid a wardrobe with a full-length mirror mounted on the back wall.

"It's not a proper home in Westminster like you wanted," he explained from the doorway while I walked around admiring everything. "But will it do for now?"

"It's perfect." I turned and smiled at him. "Thank you."

He shrugged, surprisingly self-conscience. "It's only until we destroy the Wheel. Afterward, I promise we'll have a mansion – a castle – if you like."

"We?" I teased, as I sat down on the bed, testing its bounce. It was nowhere near as comfortable as my synthetic in my other life, but still a million times better than the sofa. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"If you'll have me." He closed the door and started inching closer. "I know I'll never be worthy of your love, but I'd like to spend the rest of my life trying."

"Hmm," was all I said once he was in front of me, pretending to consider his proposal. Truthfully, there was nothing to consider. "I won't be property."

He dropped to one knee in front of me. "I understand."

"And I'll make my own decisions."

"Of course."

"I'm not like the women here. Just because the law is on your side, doesn't mean I'll abide by it." I smiled as he took my hand. "We're partners."

"I'd have it no other way." He kissed the back of my hand. "And, I hope, we'll make our decisions together."

I nodded, pleased. "Now you're getting it, Mr. Frye. There's just one more thing. If we commit, it's completely. No one else."

"Meaning?"

"I'm the only one that'll share your bed." I watched him for any hesitation. "We're together or not at all."

He nodded. "You're all I need."

I put my arms around his neck as I leaned in for a kiss. "All right, Jacob. I'll marry you once we've finished our mission."

"No."

I pulled away and glared at him. "Excuse me?"

"I want to do this properly." He straightened and, still holding my hand, declared, "I love you, Gwen. I don't want to lose you because of my thoughtlessness. Your happiness is the only thing that matters to me."

I smiled, seeing exactly where he was going. Playing along, I asked, "Why, Mr. Frye, what are you asking?"

Throwing himself into character, he clasped my hand between his as he puffed his chest. "I promise to honor and cherish you for the rest of my life if you, Miss Gwenevere Elizabeth King, will you do me the honor of being my wife."

"You're such a romantic, Jacob darling." I teased, raising an eyebrow in a weak attempt to mimic his smug expression. "Now, prove it."

He beamed as he eased up from the floor and onto the bed. His lips caught mine in a surrendering kiss as he pushed his way along my body until he was on top of me. Using one arm to support himself, he stared down at me soberly before brushing my hair from my shoulder.

"I really do love you, Gwen."

Six words. No more, no less.

Six words that meant he would always be there for me, hold me when I'm down, chase away my fears and demons. Six words that meant he would open himself to me and share everything he'd always been afraid to. They held the promise of a future of certainty and, though there'd be hard times, we'd face life together. We were going to try because of those words and that was enough.

"I know you do, Jacob." I stroked his cheek. "Now, please make love to me."

He shot me a smug grin. "I thought you'd never ask."