Hi all, so sorry for the wait... My life went for a tailspin over the summer, so I couldn't focus on much else but trying to sort things out... which to be honest, I'm only half way there...
Anyway, I'm back and I fully intend to carry on and finish the story, and I shall thank you all for your patience in advance.
Part 31
"What happened?"
How could she read him so well? Or better yet, how exactly should he respond?
Let's see… Well Liv, Mellie is going to make our lives together a living hell, or worse… your father tried to kill me earlier, but it's okay… Huck intervened just in time, however whether or not Eli is still alive himself- I can't say…
Either response is going to break her. Maybe he shouldn't have come, maybe he should have waited until he at least knew the status on Eli. But where else could he go, he felt at such a loss himself- he needed to hold her, he needed her to hold him too, a subtle reassurance as to why their sacrifices were worth it. What he found in Liv was priceless, a one in a million, in truth not many people were fortunate enough to find their soul mate, and his love for her was as urgent as the need to breathe. Without her, Eli might as well have pulled the trigger, because life wouldn't be worth living.
However, as she looks up at him with worry and concern, he forgoes the words to explain the day's events which were turbulent and unsure, nor does he voice the implications they will have on their relationship, instead he lets his overwrought emotions get the better of him, and physically breaks down before her; as unbidden tears begin to grace his cheeks and face.
She instantly wraps him in her arms, cocooning him in her warmth and console. "Fitz, my goodness, you're scaring me…" He's shaking with sobs, so she squeezes him tighter still… "Sssh, sssh…" She coos… "It's okay, I've got you… I've got you…"
Somehow she maneuvers them to the sofa, his head now resting in her lap as she holds him close, protectively even. Whatever has happened, it's big and as much as she wants to know the cause of such a powerful response in him, she realises that he needs to have this cleansing of tears first. So patiently she gives him this moment to emotionally offload, whilst he seeks refuge in her arms…
Bad news is coming her way, she's certain of it, although she clings to one comforting thought, at least he was here with her now.
After what seems a life time, he finally sits up. He's looking down at his hands, avoiding eye contact, it's obvious that he's struggling to decide where to begin…
"I'm sorry…" he starts. "As you know, when I left you, I had planned on talking with Mellie…"
"Yes… And I take it, it didn't go too well… what did she say?"
"She wasn't happy, although when I think about it I don't think she was too shocked… It was if she already knew, maybe she suspected it, but she hadn't let on… I don't know… but I digress…" He takes a deep breath… "Liv, before I go into what happened with Mellie, there's something else I need to tell you… I went to see your father."
"You did what?!"
Her shock and disapproval- that was why he only spoke to Huck about approaching Eli, because he knew that Liv would not agree to it. "I know you said stay away, but I couldn't… the idea of him coming round here, and threatening our relationship, scaring you, I couldn't stand by and do nothing…"
"My father wants you dead! Tell me- what exactly did you not understand from that statement?" She then suddenly looks at him with trepidation… "What happened?"
"I don't know… well I do, but… Huck showed up, he showed up just in time. Your dad pulled a gun on me…"
She gasps audibly… "A gun?"
"But then Huck stopped him, and then suddenly the tables were turned."
She glares at him accusingly… "How, how exactly did that happen? Because I know my father, he's not the type to give in so easily… what did you do?"
"I didn't… well I suppose I did, given the advantage I managed to turn the gun on him…" He can see what she's thinking and so he's quick to halt her in her tracks… "I wasn't planning on using it, I swear, I was simply defending myself, whilst warning him to stay away from us…"
"And then you walked out- is that it?"
"In a way, yes…"
"And Huck?"
He looks downwards, as he confesses… "I left him with your father…"
She rises to her feet- unable to comprehend it all and starts frantically pacing the room. He calls to her, gently… "Liv..."
She shakes her head, tears brewing, along with her mounting fears… "Is he dead? Is my father dead- Did Huck kill him?!"
He feels so guilty and blames himself entirely… "I honestly don't know." He goes to her, and tries to comfort her but she shirks away from him… "Don't!"
"Liv please..."
"No, I warned you, you was supposed to keep away from him… And now look what has happened… you've made it even worst… I don't even know if my father is alive…"
She's trembling. "This is all too much, I can't… Where is Huck… why aren't you out there looking for him… I need to know!"
"I don't know where Huck is?"
"You shouldn't have left him with my Dad, if Huck believes him to be a threat God knows what he could do… but instead you drive to Mellie's, I don't get it, I don't get you?"
"I don't either, I was in a daze Liv… When your father pulled that gun out on me, my whole life flashed before my eyes, and then all I could think of was you, and our baby… and a future we could never have… then Huck came along, he saved my life… and then everything happened so fast, Huck was in control, I followed suit… When Huck told me to leave, I wasn't even thinking straight, I was in shock… And before I knew it, I was in front of Mellie, telling her I was leaving her for someone else, to which she then threatened to take my kids away from me…"
She pauses. Everything was falling apart…
Her breath starts to become laboured, first her father, then Mellie and the kids… it's far too much to process; as she starts to hyperventilate… "I can't do this anymore… I can't… too many lives… too many… what have I done, what have we done… my father, if he's… NO! I can't… not again… not again…"
Fitz is beside her in a flash, despite her earlier protest, holding her, trying his best to get through to her. "Liv… you need to calm down, please, this is not good for you or the baby… Look at me, that's it… let's take some deep breathes together…"
But Fitz's efforts are futile, because she can't focus on anything but the pounding of her heart and the sick feeling building up in the pit of her stomach. Light headed and on the verge of passing out it seems, it's the intrusive shrill of the doorbell that finally breaks through her reverie, snapping her out of fevered trance, as she looks at Fitz absolutely terrified…
Who could it be?
"Wait here", Fitz tells her, belying his own fears as he cautiously approaches the door. He takes a look through the peep hole; he doesn't know if he feels relieved or not…
"It's Huck…"
Liv rushes to the door, as Fitz quickly unlocks the bolt and opens it… Both of them desperately seeking answers…
"Is he?"
"He's alive," Huck answers knowingly.
"Liv!"
Fitz catches her, just before she hits the ground.
