Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure, just Elizabeth and this particular plot idea.

Chapter Seven

Elizabeth cocked her head to one side. "What's a... fiancée?" she asked, perplexed.
Ian blinked. 'I thought this would be easier.' he thought wearily.
"A fiancée is someone who you promise to be with forever before you marry. When you marry, you legally promise to be with the other person forever. It's an act of love." he murmured, continuing to stroke her hair.
"What's love?" she asked. This whole business was confusing to her.
Ian bit back a groan. He couldn't get frustrated with her: it was a fresh start. He had to make this count.
"Love, is the strong affection you feel towards a person. And you only feel it for them. It's a special feeling that when you see that person, you get really happy and want them to be happy." he said softly.

Elizabeth bit her lip and closed her eyes. She racked her brain for any memories... After a minute, her head began to hurt so she opened her eyes: nothing. She couldn't remember anything. So she examined her heart: did she feel anything for anyone? She took a deep breath: all she felt was confusion and apprehension.

"...Why don't I remember anything...?" she whispered, fearing the answer. She clutched his shirt, not making eye contact.
Ian let slip a smirk: now she was asking the right questions. He quickly donned the saddened fiancée mask to tell of a strange story.

He told her how he had been searching for this mysterious treasure with two men, Ben Gates and Riley Poole. Neither of the names struck a chord with her, much to Ian's pleasure. He told her how he had been betrayed by them and how he had to steal a document, which was very important to some country, in order to keep it safe. He said that she and her sister had been kidnapped by the two men and how Abigail had fallen in love with Ben. He told her that Riley had a sick obsession with her but she didn't like him, instead, when given the choice to be with Riley or Ian, she chose Ian. He told her about how the two of them ran around trying to figure out the clues, only to be duped in the end. Ian told her that when they found the treasure, they would start a new life and became fiancées. He described how she had hit her head when they were escaping and Ian couldn't leave her so he was sent to jail and she had been in a coma until recently. He explained that he had broken out of jail and taken her away until she could recover without the threat of jail time.

Elizabeth listened with wide eyes. Was this really all true? She chewed on the inside of her cheek, it felt... right. It seemed familiar, just not tangible yet. She continued to ponder the information she had just been told while Ian watched her with a calculating gaze.

He had been told that to stick as close to the truth was the best way to go. He truly hoped it worked because he really wanted her. This past week had been a nightmare and he couldn't bear that she had been so terrified of him.

To Elizabeth's brain, the story was clicking, nothing was neither definite, nor coming back, but it just felt right. Her heart was a different matter; it was balking at the thought of loving this man. It whispered softly that not all was right as Ian suggested it was. That something was amiss. However, that was all the explanation she got. Therefore, Elizabeth hesitantly decided to listen to her head. After all, if that was the only reason her heart could give, then it must not be that important... right?

She looked up at Ian and smiled. This was right, she had decided. This was the man she loved... and she would learn to love him again.

"Sir, sorry to interrupt, but we have news." a man said, walking into the room.

Elizabeth regarded him curiously. Obviously, her fiancée was an important man. Ian sighed and picked her up. She squeaked in protest, throwing her arms around his neck to keep herself stable. Ian chuckled and deposited her on the bed.

"Stay here and relax. There are some books over on the shelf there if you want to read. I should be back soon." he murmured, and planted a kiss on her forehead.

She blushed but smiled up at him.

Once he had left, she leaned back against her pillow, with a thoughtful look on her face...