Isabel waits until she's sure Tom is asleep before getting up and going to the bathroom. She closes the door and leans against the wood, taking in a very deep, shaky breath. With tears still in her eyes she limps over to the sink and turns on the faucet. Taking a wash cloth and wetting it with the cold water coming from the tap. Why did he do this? She didn't think she did anything that terrible to make him act this way towards her.

She glances at the mirror and immediately looks away. There's a large bruise on her left cheek, her bottom lip is busted, and there are painful bite marks and hickeys covering the top half of her body. He's always been terrible, he's always been mean but he had been so sweet lately and she almost allowed herself to believe that he was changing. He definitely proved her wrong tonight.

She wrings out the water from the wash cloth and brings it down between her legs to wipe away the blood. A sob escapes her lips again as the cool material touches her skin. It burns and it hurts. Her body wasn't prepared for his intrusion and because of that he basically tore her up with his painful thrusts. He's never done that before, he's always made sure she was ready for him before he did anything like that… She drops the wash cloth and brings her hands up to cover her face as she cries. Cursing the stupid locket around her neck that she can't take off.

She catches her breath and goes over to the bath tub to fill it with water, thinking a nice warm bath might ease her pain. Grabbing a towel to wrap her naked body in she turns the handles by the tap and watches as the clear water pours out. She winces every time she moves and as the tub becomes fuller she starts thinking about her daughter. Where is she and will he let her see her again? Is she crying? Does she want her mother and did Tom treat her as badly as he was treating Isabel tonight? A whole new onslaught of tears stings her eyes. She sits down on her knees because it hurts to sit any other way and allows herself to cry.

A knock at the door startles her and she looks at it fearfully "Isabel?" Tom's cool voice comes through to her and she closes her eyes in pain just from hearing it.

"Yes, Master?" she says brokenly, not wanting to upset him anymore.

The door handle turns and he walks in wearing his dark trousers. She looks down at the floor as he watches her. "What are you doing?" he asks in a light voice and she hates that he sounds nicer now. His mood swings are ridiculous.

She licks her lips nervously before responding. "I was just going to take a bath." She almost whispers, totally afraid of him now. There's silent pause for a few moments. She can feel his eyes on her and she starts crying again. "Can I just be alone?" she asks quietly with out moving from her spot on the floor. She looks up at him as he watches her with a furrowed brow. "Please, Master?" It doesn't sound right coming from her mouth but she doesn't want him to hurt her again. That's all he does.

Something close to guilt flashes in his eyes as he takes a step closer to her and she involuntarily flinches away from him… like Calpurnia did to him earlier in his study. "It's alright." He says comfortingly and she narrows her eyes at the floor because of it. "I can heal you."

She shakes her head with out looking at him. "I don't want to be healed." She says because she doesn't want to forget what he's done… and she doesn't want him to forget it either. He can't keep on doing horrible things and think they can be fixed so easily with a flick of his wand.

"That's just silly." He says, taking a seat on the edge of the bath tub and taking his wand from his pocket. "Come here."

She hesitates a moment before standing up. She doesn't want to be anywhere near him right now but she's afraid of what will happen if she doesn't do what he says. She slowly walks over to him, trying not to limp in front of him. When she's standing in front of him he puts his hands on her hips to pull her closer so she's standing in between his open legs. Her body begins to shake as he removes the towel and lets it fall to the floor.

His wand plays across her skin as he heals all of her wounds that he caused. He heals everything but the pain between her legs but she's too proud to tell him. Just when she thinks he's done he runs his hand between her legs and up her inner thigh.

"Does it hurt here too?" he asks softly. So unlike the mad man he was before.

She nods her head tightly and he lifts his wand, mumbling a nice healing spell that soothes the ache there. She doesn't say thank you. He doesn't deserve it. He looks into her eyes for a few moments and she turns her head away from him, unable to look at his dark blue eyes with out wanting to cry.

"I hurt you." He says, more to himself then to her as he brings his hands up to touch her newly healed body.

"You always hurt me." She says quietly and then she clenches her eyes shut thinking he was going to do something bad to her again.

Instead he sighs and places his forehead against her stomach. She refuses to touch him and almost wants to push him off of her. He shouldn't touch her so gently after what he just did.

"I know." He says, before lifting his head and reaching to turn off the water from the bathtub. "You're the only person who can make me feel bad about the things that I do." He admits in a voice that shows he hates to say it.

"Then why do you do them?" she asks softly, looking down at him.

His handsome face looks up to hers and he looks down again so all that she can see is his thick black hair. "I don't know." He says and that's the first time she has ever heard him say something like that.

"Can I take my bath now?" she asks kind of sadly. Not wanting to be around him any longer while he decides if he should be nice to her or not.

He stands up and nods his head tightly. He walks back over to the doorway and as she's lowering herself into the warm water he looks over his shoulder. "Families always forgive each other, don't they?" he asks and she knows that's his horrible attempt at an apology.

She doesn't even look at him. "No." she says as her answer and sinks her head in the water. When she reemerges he's no longer there. She relaxes her body and closes her eyes. She'll never forgive him again.

X

What did she mean by no? Tom stomps down the hallway with his wand gripped tightly in his hand. His other he runs through his hair with a frustrated growl. He hates not feeling in control and right now he feels like he's being pulled a million different ways. Is there a way to balance the two lives he's trying to run right now?

He's tired, but his anger overrides it as he grabs his dark cloak and apparates to Azkaban where most of the war criminals are being held.

With a flick of his wand he's inside and all of the guards stumble around and mumble greetings with wide eyes and pale faces.

"M-My Lord, what are you doing here?" one of them asks.

Tom flicks his wand and the guard goes flying across the room. "I want ten prisoners lined up in front of me right now." He barks out and the others scurry to fulfill his order.

Once the ten chained and dirty men are before him he lifts his wand and goes down the line. Killing them each in a different way, feeling a little bit better as they all fall to the ground with a thud. He leaves with out a word, letting the guards there to clean up his mess. When he gets home he calls for the house elf to bring him a whole bottle of firewhiskey and then he gets drunk.

X

She doesn't even look at him anymore. Her eyes stay downcast when she speaks to him… if she speaks to him. That seems to be few and far between. He didn't think before he acted he just let himself become blinded by what other people were saying. Now she's doing exactly what he told her to and he can't stand it. They're eating dinner together in the dinning hall but he hasn't touched his food. He keeps staring at her.

"What have you done today?" he asks, trying to start a conversation.

She keeps her eyes down to her plate. "Nothing, Master." She says quietly. She doesn't say it sarcastically or with a sneer like she use to in the beginning. Now she says it sadly, almost hopelessly. With a jolt Tom realizes that he's broken her.

"Isabel," he says quietly. "Look at me." She lifts her head to look into his eyes and Tom sees nothing there. She's cold now, indifferent. He touches her hand, she doesn't even move. "Talk to me." He says gently, not realizing how much he missed it until she didn't do it anymore.

She keeps her face a picture of indifference. "What would you like me to say?"

"Anything." He answers, almost desperately.

She looks down again and frowns. "I'm full." She says. "Can I go to bed now?" he narrows his eyes at her. "Please, Master."

"No, you can't go to bed." He snaps hatefully. "Not until you stop acting like this."

"Acting like what?" she asks quietly.

He stands up in frustration. "Like this." He says gesturing towards her. "Like some lifeless doll."

She turns her head away from him completely. "I'm just doing what you told me to." She says quietly. And then adds "Master."

He bangs his fist on the table and she jumps. Pleased that he got a reaction out of her he grabs her arm and forces her stand in front of him. She stares at his throat, not even looking afraid. His hand tightens because of this but she doesn't respond.

"Do you still love me?" he asks darkly, not knowing why he wants to know.

She hesitates a moment before answering. "What do you want me to say, Master?"

"Goddamnit." He says and pushes her against the table. "I want you to tell me that you love me, I want you to stop being this way, and…" he grabs her chin so she'll look at him. "I want you to look at me when I talk to you."

He's almost relieved to see tears forming in her eyes. It means she's not made of stone now. "What do you want from me?" she asks pitifully. "I'm doing what you want aren't I? Are you deciding to treat me nicely today and then tomorrow you'll beat me up again? I never know what you're going to do… I only know that whatever it is you're always going to be terrible to me one way or another."

"I'm not always bad to you." He says gently, staring into her eyes.

She closes them and lets tears fall. "No, you aren't and that's what makes it worse when you're so mean to me."

He lets go of her completely and turns away. "If I told you I was sorry would that change anything?" he asks uncomfortably. He's never apologized for anything in his life but he fears this may be the only way to rectify this situation.

"What thing are you sorry for?" she asks, emotion working it's way into her once flat voice. "You've done so many horrid things to me. Which would this cover, Tom?" she asks fiercely and he's almost happy to hear the anger in her voice.

"Let's just forget this." He says, turning towards her again and pressing himself against her body with his hands on her hips. "Let's just forget this and move on."

He goes to kiss her but she turns away. "Maybe you can do that… but I can't."

"Why not?" he asks sharply. He's not use to not getting his way.

"Are you going to hit me if I don't agree to do what you want?"

"No."

"What about tomorrow, if Bellatrix Lestrange tells you that I tried to kiss another man. Would you hit me then?"

He doesn't answer that because he knows that his temper wouldn't allow it. She shakes her head and lowers her head. "I knew it." She whispers to herself. "Why do you keep me here? You obviously don't like me that much."

"That's not true." He says. Grabbing her face again so she'll look at him. "I wouldn't have gone to all that trouble to have you if I didn't."

"When our daughter grows up do you want her boyfriend or husband to treat her the way you treat me?" she asks, looking him deeply in the eyes. "Would you be ok with him doing the things you did to me, to her?"

He doesn't say anything because he knows he'd kill the first person who ever made his daughter cry… like he's made Isabel cry. With a sigh he steps away from her and runs his fingers through his thick hair. "You can go to your room now." He says tiredly.

He watches with a heavy heart as she makes her way out of the room. Once the door shuts he sits back down and stares at his plate. Unable to do anything else he throws his hand across the table and stands up as everything shatters to the ground.

X

After putting Calpurnia down for the night Isabel brushes a few stands of black hair away from the baby's face. She sighs tiredly and runs her fingers down the smooth skin of her daughter's cheek, tracing the delicate curves and tilts of the little ones face.

"You are going to need so much therapy when you grow up." She says sadly before bending down and kissing her head. "but you'll away be safe with me." She whispers against her skin. After a few moments hesitation she whispers. "I'm sorry, honey." She says it because she feels like she should… because it's a terrible feeling not being able to rightly protect your own child the way a parent is suppose to.

She stands up straight and walks out of the nursery, closing the door softly so she doesn't wake her. She goes into her bedroom and strips off her clothes to take a shower. As the waters banging down on her body she thinks back on how Tom used to be. How ruthless he was back in Hogwarts, after she broke up with him.

In her seventh year they were made head boy and girl, much to her dismay because Tom had been acting so hateful towards her after the break up. It started with angered words and threats, and then escalated to violence. Like shoves in the hallway and random conversations while being pushed into a wall until someone walked by.

She had done well in avoiding him; she even enlisted the help of her friends so she would never have to be alone. When she wasn't hanging out with them, or dodging Tom and his followers in the hallways she was helping Dumbledore do random things like clean his class room, grading papers, or helping him plan his next class. For some reason Tom didn't go near Dumbledore… she never understood why.

She turns off the water in the shower but doesn't move, still stuck in remembering that day, the day he told her that if she went to the Halloween Ball with Samuel Higgins then she would live to regret it. She didn't know what he meant then… but now she does.

She was sitting in the library, reading a book with one of her friends sitting beside her. She knew he was watching her… she could feel his eyes on her as she gently turned a page.

"I'm going to the restroom." Her friend had announced and stood to get up.

Isabel grabbed her arm. "Can't you hold it?"

Her friend rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Tom Riddle is not going to do anything to you in the middle of the library. You can come with me if you'd like."

She chews on her lower lip while she decided. She was about to stand up when she saw Sam walk through the doors. She smiled at him in relief. "No," she said happily. "You can go."

Her friend left her then and Samuel gave her a warm grin before walking towards her.

"Hey there." He says gently. He looked around him to make sure that no one was looking, then he bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She blushed. "What have you been up to?"

He lowered his bag to the floor and took the seat opposite of her. "I was just reading up for transfiguration." She told him.

He gave her a lopsided smile. "No wonder you're head girl. All you do is study."

"Now that's not fair." She said with a fake pout. "I hang out with you quite often."

His legs went to tangle with hers and she smiled. "Yes, I am glad you've been able to pencil me in now and then."

She laughed and shook her head. After a few more words he took some homework out of his bag and started to study. A few moments later she heard him make an annoyed groaning sound.

"What is it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What are the ingredients to that one healing potion thing?"

"Healing potion thing?" she repeated back to him with a sly smile.

"You know, that one we did in the class the other day."

"Oh," she says in a fake voice. "That healing potion thing…. We've only done a million of them this year. How could I have possibly forgotten?"

He sent a sharp look at her then and she laughed. "Do you know the ingredients?"

Of course she did, but she wasn't going to tell him. She had helped him enough with his class work this year. "You'll have to look them up."

With another annoyed groan he stood up to find the book that told about the "healing potion thing.' Once he disappeared among a row of books Isabel put her head down and smiled into her book.

"That was disgusting." A smooth voice sneered from behind her. She didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Tom. So she stayed facing forward, intending to ignore him. He pulled a strand of her hair painfully hard so she would face her. She didn't, instead she gathered up her long hair and put it in front of her shoulder. "I'm talking to you." He said sharply.

Again she ignored him so he placed his hands on either side of her body on the table. His body was towering over hers and caging her in underneath him. "Don't ignore me." He said hatefully into her ear.

Trying to act like it didn't matter she turned a page and pretended to read. "Sam will be back any second now. You should leave." She stated flatly.

"He won't be back for a while." He said and her eyes snapped up to the book case that Sam had gone behind. She made to stand up but since he was hovering over her she couldn't move. "We've got a few minutes to talk."

"What do you want?" she asked sharply, turning her head to look up at him.

"I thought it was obvious." Was his answer. He touched her cheek and then let his hand lower to her neck. Her face reddened and her heart beat sped up. His fingers started to undo the first few buttons of her blouse but she was too shocked that he was doing it in the first place to move. "Are you going to the ball Friday?" he asked lightly as his hand started to move inside her shirt.

She panicked and looked around the room. There were only a couple other people in there and they weren't paying attention to what was happening. She went to move away from him but his other hand clamped on her shoulder so she couldn't move.

"Yes, I am." She says steadily. His fingers played with the lining of her bra and she tried to pull his hand away but he was too strong.

"I assume you want to go with the mudblood."

"Don't call him that." She says fiercely. "And yes I'm going with him. He is my boyfriend."

His hand moved aside the cloth of her bra and grabbed her breast. She sucked in a breath as his hands touched her sensitive skin there. "Stop it." She said quietly, completely embarrassed that he was touching her there.

"You are not going with him." he says in a harsh tone as his hand played with her breast. "If I see you there with the disgusting waste of a wand I will make you regret it."

"Let go of me or I'll scream."

He pinched her nipple and she whimpered. He removed his hand and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I'm serious, Kitten. You do not want to know what I will do."

With that he left and Sam came stumbling out from the book cases, muttering angrily about Slytherins and how all they do is waste his time.

The conversation they had during dinner would never have happened when he was younger, or even when this whole thing between them started. She thinks a part of him must be changing if he was willing to say he was sorry.

But sorry is just a word.

With a sigh she steps out of the shower and wraps herself in a nice warm robe. Realizing how tired she is she doesn't even dress before falling down on the bed and nestling under the covers. She's asleep within a few minutes but is woken up not much later by light kisses moving along her body.

She groggily opens her eyes and sees Tom kissing her stomach. He has opened her robe and he's naked too, his hands are touching her sides. She doesn't even move and she refuses to touch him so she closes her eyes and pretends to sleep again.

"I'm sorry." He says quietly, working his way up her body. "I'm sorry." He repeats again when he reaches her neck. "I know you're awake." He says softly by her ear. "look at me."

Reluctantly she opens her eyes and stares at him. He's looking at her closely with a strange gleam in his eyes. "What?" she whispers.

He kisses her on the mouth and settles himself on top of her body. When he pulls back he looks her in the eyes again. "I love you."

"What?"

He narrows his eyes. "I won't say it again." He says harshly. She heard him the first time but was too shocked to believe it.

That was something she never thought she'd ever hear him say and she's amazed, and a little suspicious. "I thought you said you could never love anyone." She says slowly with a furrowed brow.

"I'm a liar too." He admits and she almost wants to laugh.

"How do I know you're not lying to me right now?"

"You don't." he says solidly but the uneasy look in his eyes tells her that he means it.

She can't decide if it's a good thing.