Chapter 3

4 year earlier

The dress was exquisite. It was incredibly soft against her skin, well, all the parts it covered that is. How Darcy new her so well would undoubtedly remain a mystery. The creaminess of the dress contrasted nicely with her auburn hair and hazel eyes. She had fixed her polish to a beautiful shade of red that looked like the color of roses. Putting the last touches to her lipstick she heard the bell announcing that William was there.

"It's open!" cried Lizzy from her room.

She heard the door swing open already knowing the lecture she would receive from him about announcing to the world that she was home and her door was unlocked.

"Save it for another time, I know what you're thinking," stated Lizzy, when she realized William was watching her from the doorway.

"I don't think you do, this thought probably never crossed your mind" William huskily relied.

"You are about to tell me how unwise it is for a single woman to leave her door unlocked and not check the peep hole when somebody rings the bell.

Even though that thought had crossed his mind it wasn't the one that had him so thoroughly engaged. No, that would be Lizzy standing before him in the dress he chose. She transfixed him with how amazing she looked in the cream dress that was missing a good portion of the back.

"See I was right, you're trying to figure out a way to tell me I'm wrong without actually lying to my face. I know Darce that I'm supposed to be careful but it was a ninety percent possibility that it would be you coming through that door," she babbled.

"Shut up Lizzy, otherwise I won't be able to tell you how gorgeous you look."

"So tonight it's gorgeous and not just tolerable," smirked Lizzy

"Are you ever going to let that go, I mean seriously it's been five years!"

"Somebody's in a touchy mood, do I have to spend all night with a grumpysaurus."

"No, just take the compliment Lizzy, you look great."

"Thank you, kind sir. Now let me grab my wrap and we will be on our way."

"Finally, thank you!" replied Darcy

As she picked up her wrap and clutch and rummaged through looking for her keys, she felt William place a warm hand upon the small of her back and chose not to say anything because of how nice it had felt.

Present Day

Getting herself ready wasn't the hard part. Pants, shirt, shoes, all went on in the same order. No the hard part was when she had to face William again, the hard part was walking out the front door into the scary world that she had run from.

"Are you ready, can I get you anything? Do you want breakfast, do you want to stop for coffee, or maybe you want a lunch item, I know you don't particularly like eggs," rambled Darcy.

"Darce, I'm fine. Maybe we can stop for coffee before we get there. I'd like to be more alert once we arrive," answered Lizzy.

"Ok, we can do that. Do you have the camera, I don't know where I put it."

"I do, remember you gave it to me after we took the pictures."

The pictures had been hard, but they both had agreed that it would be more comfortable for Lizzy to have them taken now then at the police station. William was having a hard time stomaching some of her injuries and hence that was why he was a bumbling mess of emotion and awkwardness. What her husband had done to her was unthinkable and the bruises were now scars upon his heart and they ached with anger towards the man that did this and compassion and longing for the woman before him.

William asked once again "are you ready?"

"I am, I'm ready to do this." Lizzy answered softly.

As they reached the door she once again felt the warmth of his hand against her back, and felt at peace for the first time in a long while.

A/N: Hello everyone! First, I want to reiterate my gratitude over the response this story has generated, to all those who have followed, favorite, and reviewed thanks again. My joy at have a full email inbox is profound! Second, I know where this story is going in my head but I have a few key details I need to work out and now have a wonderful sounding board so this story should keep progressing. One of the key details is I haven't decided who her husband shall be quite yet, so any ideas or suggestion would be really helpful! So once again THANK YOU!