A/N: As this one comes to an end (no this isn't the last chapter), I thought I'd let you all in to the secret as to why there are so many of these:

The characters wouldn't shut up.

The character enters my mind, I tell them "How great a story would it be if we went from Point A to Point B?"

They say, "Sounds great! Let's do it."

Then the buggers get distracted along the way and Point B comes in Story 3 or 4 instead of 1.

Example: What would have been Point B in this will now be the premise of Story 8, and none of you even know all the key players in Point B yet.

Gabby was supposed to be a minor character Kane failed at flirting with when young Scout was being adorable in a Theme. You all see how that turned out.

I never set out thinking, "I'll maim Lina". She was supposed to die when she fell so that the story could end and shift to Scout, but...you all see how that worked out.

David was supposed to be the child of Gilan's who never married or had kids. Dalby was set to marry one of his mother's apprentices and David would be the doting uncle. They swapped because I invited some of you to do Themes and Raider introduced a character who wouldn't leave me alone. She turned out perfect for David, so...you all see how that worked out.

TheRanger'sDaughter: Lorelei's family is unlike Gabe's in many ways. Haha...when I read 'house call' I immediately thought of Dr. House and how his 'house calls' almost always involved breaking and entering.

Aubrey: Well...Elizabet just lost her new husband. Tends to be a difficult thing to deal with.

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.

Elizabet sat at a table in a garden forcing herself to eat lunch. A boiled egg, a hunk of buttered bread, a piece of sliced ham, and a cup of tea. That was what she had to stomach. There was more, of course. Tammy had collected a variety of nuts, vegetables, fruits, and even sweets for her and Noah. However, Elizabet wasn't interested in any of that. She made a deal with Noah that both would eat three pieces of food the other chose. Noah made her plate with the egg, bread, and ham. She gave him an apple, a pile of green salad, and a portion of baked salmon. Neither of them wanted to eat and Elizabet knew the only way to get food into Noah was to eat herself. Every bite made her nauseous, but Elizabet kept going until every bite Noah picked for her was gone. Tammy sat with them eating her own lunch. She kept a hawk-like watch over both.

"Done," Noah announced, pushing his empty plate away. "Can I go now?"

The tone was snappy. Neil would have scolded such an attitude and demanded an apology right then and there. He may have even gone so far as to make Noah wash the dishes for such rudeness. A glance from Tammy made it clear she would gladly do all that if Elizabet wished. Elizabet, however, couldn't find it in herself to punish Noah. He'd eaten a full meal. That was enough…for now. She waved him away and off he went, the guard assigned to him sprinting to keep up.

Tammy reached for his plate and stacked it on top of hers. "Elizabet, I know he's grieving but…Lizzie!"

Tammy dropped the plates back on the table and rushed around to Elizabet's side. The moment Noah cleared the corner she could no longer hold back the churning of her stomach. Tammy wasn't able to catch her in time. She grabbed a cloth napkin and motioned for a nearby maid to come help. Elizabet suddenly felt dizzy and her vision blurred, as it had the evening she learned of Neil's death. Everything rushed back watching Noah leave. He looked too much like his brother. It was like watching Neil leave.

As the sorrow overtook her a new wave of nausea hit. Tammy helped her to the ground and held her hair until she finished. Elizabet wept into her aunt's shoulder while Tammy cleaned what she could.

"Come," Tammy ordered. "You need to change before you meet with Queen Scout."

Elizabet became an empty shell once more as Tammy led her back to her bedroom. Tammy brought a new dress from the wardrobe and worked quickly helping her change.

"I'm sorry," Elizabet managed to whisper.

"Don't apologize," Tammy said as she put the old dress in a basket to be collected by a laundress. "You did nothing wrong."

"I hate this," Elizabet replied, her voice hoarse. She fought the sobs growing in her throat. All she wanted to do was lay in her bed and weep, but if she couldn't be in bed she wanted to hold herself together.

"There," Tammy said with a small smile. "All fixed."

Tammy took Elizabet's arm and led her outside. Elizabet hated her bedroom. It still felt as though Neil could walk back in at any moment.

"Elizabet?" Tammy asked.

"Hm?"

"I just want you to know that I'll be here for you no matter what happens in the coming weeks."

Elizabet nodded. "I should get to Scout."

The two walked towards the courtroom. Elizabet hugged herself as she walked. Tammy kept an arm around her, steadying her steps. They went directly to Scout's office, where the queen was hard at work minding the paperwork that came with an invasion. She stood when Elizabet and Tammy entered.

"How are you, Elizabet?" Scout asked quietly. Elizabet simply hugged herself.

"She's unsteady and can't keep food down," Tammy ousted her. Elizabet didn't even attempt to defend herself. She didn't have the energy to.

Scout nodded and waved Tammy away. Tammy, always so formal, gave a short curtsy and left the office. She shut the door behind her without needing to be asked. Scout crossed over to Elizabet and immediately wrapped her arms around her. Elizabet broke down all over again. She wept into Scout's shoulder, her vision blurred. There was nothing left in her stomach to make it churn. She felt dizzy. Scout led her to a chair and sat her down. She pulled a second up so she could sit facing her.

"I know you're hurting," Scout whispered to her. "I wanted to ask how involved you wanted to be in planning the funeral."

Elizabet froze. She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't even deal with Neil's death properly. How could she attend his funeral, let alone plan it?

"That's what I thought," Scout went on. She brought Elizabet into another hug. "I know. It's hard to say goodbye."

"It hurts," Elizabet sobbed through gritted teeth.

Scout stroked her hair. The office door opened once more. Elizabet was so accustomed to Alicia interrupting at the worst possible moments she continued crying into Scout's shoulder without even considering it may be someone welcome. At least, she did this until she felt a large hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Scout's father standing over her. He stared down at her with a knowing sorrow. He'd abruptly lost his spouse once. Elizabet stared from him to Scout, then back to him.

"I will handle the arrangements," Scout promised her. "Papa can help you prepare yourself for them."

Elizabet knew she didn't have a choice. She stood and went with Liam outside. He took her to the stables and saddled his horse. Elizabet leaned against the wall while he worked, her eyes once again full with tears she refused to shed in front of onlookers. Liam didn't push her. He mounted his horse and then put his hand down for her to climb up behind him. They left the city, Liam purposefully taking a longer route to avoid the bridge over the ravine Neil had been found in.

They went to the woods. Liam helped Elizabet down. He caught her in her arms when she gave out and pulled her back in, taking her weight so she could collapse safely. He lowered to the ground and held her as she, once again, wept. The sobs caught in her throat so harshly she began to gag.

"I did the same when I lost Lina," Liam told her once the fit passed.

Elizabet lay down on the grass. She clutched her chest, as though that would keep away the void of Neil. "Does it ever stop hurting?" she whispered.

"No," Liam answered. "Not really."

Elizabet's sobs turned to dry heaves.

"You've got to be strong for Noah."

"I'm trying."

Liam rest his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to try right now."

Elizabet bit down on her lip. She wiped her eyes. "Lina was a good person."

Liam nodded. "As was Neil," he told her softly. "You've got a long ways to go, Elizabet. Now, listen to me. You can learn from my mistakes so you don't have to make them yourself, understood? Go to his funeral and say goodbye. Finish raising Noah. Caitlyn wasn't much older than him when she lost her mother. It almost wrecked her."

"I remember," Elizabet whispered.

"Tammy will help you. I will too. Mason and Scout support you, as do your parents and Gabe."

Elizabet took a deep breath. "Lorelei…I can't let this happen to Gabe. He's not ready…he's…"

"You weren't either," Liam pointed out. "No one is when it happens to them."

Elizabet shook her head furiously. "This can't happen to Gabe."

"Elizabet…"

"No," Elizabet insisted. "This can't happen to my brother too. Please, Liam…what do we do for Lorelei?"

"Lorelei is in Gabby's hands."

"So was Lina!"

Liam took her arms firmly. "And so was Scout. And your mother. Gabby's a good healer, Elizabet. She will ensure Lorelei has her best chance."

Elizabet jerked out of his grip. "Then what do I do?"

"You focus on Noah. You also focus on yourself," Liam answered. "Elizabet, you have to eat."

Elizabet sighed. "I tried."

"I got sick too right after I found out about Lina," Liam told her gently. He produced a flask from somewhere inside his cloak. "Broth. Drink it."

Elizabet obeyed. The broth would have a chance at staying in her stomach while the solid food she attempted earlier came back up. "Thank you, Liam."

"Your parents know you're with me," Liam whispered to her while she drank. "Everyone who needs to know does, including Noah. Tammy and Talia will watch over him until we return. This is your chance to be vulnerable, Elizabet. Do whatever it is you need to do. I'll watch over you and when you're ready I'll take you home."