A/N: Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Happy September 1st, everyone! I hope you all had lovely summers! Here's one of the longest chapters in this story (the last 3 are all considerable shorter). I've got to get up early for my first day of teaching this year (it's amazing that the nerves are there, without fail, every year), but I wanted to get this out first. Like I said before, September's mental, so I make no guarantees on an update schedule. The only guarantee I can make is that I WILL have this story completely posted by Halloween. Anyway, here we go again! :)

*** 28 – Another Fight ***

Things had gone surprisingly well so far in their plan of attack. The crews from the three facilities that were attacked at midnight had proven to be very little trouble, and the crews that finished at 8am were even less so. Draco, Harry and Ron had led the attacks so far, and still had everyone in excellent fighting form. During the time in between the shift changes, their teams had all been allowed a few hours sleep, but the three of them, as well as Remus, Kingsley and Dumbledore had stayed awake, just incase something unexpected were to happen.

Nothing out of the ordinary did happen, and so they all settled in to wait for the final fight, which would surely give them the most grief. Everyone was just hoping that everything went all right with the facility in France. That was where there would be trouble, if anywhere. Kingsley had called in a few more Aurors to aid that team, on the off chance that they would need the extra help. It had also been silently decided among the teams in Canada and China that once their fight was over, they would apparate to the compound in France to provide extra support.

Draco had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something in his gut was trying to deliver a message to his brain, but his mind just wasn't picking it up. He was concerned for his family back home, especially if Moore discovered that it wasn't Isabel that was being delivered to them, but Tonks instead. He knew that his daughter would be safe with Ginny Potter back at Grimmauld Place, but with his wife planning on entering the battle, he could not be so certain about her.

While Draco's stomach churned with anxiety, Hermione and Tonks were putting the finishing touches on their slightly altered plan. Keeping the changes just between them was the key, as they had no doubt that Molly would put up a fight, as would everyone else once they found out about the changes. The morning was spent running around, ensuring that they had everything they needed to pull off the changes.

Around two o'clock, Hermione went into her daughter's room to spend a little time with her before they set the wheels in motion. They giggled as Isabel told her stories of Draco while she'd been away, and Hermione exchanged them for the stories about him from their time at Hogwarts. But soon after the giggles started, Isabel turned to her mother with a serious face.

"Are you and Daddy going to leave me again?"

Hermione was stunned. She wanted desperately to tell her that everything would be ok, and that she and Draco would be back before they knew it. But as always, there was the slight possibility that one or both of them might not make it out of it. She took a deep breath before responding.

"Daddy and I have to go stop a bad man from doing something terrible."

"What's he going to do?"

She sighed. "He's trying to get rid of all the magic in the world."

"But we're all magic."

Hermione smiled at her daughter's quick logic. "Which is why we have to stop him. There's no way I'm letting him get rid of you, or Daddy, or Uncle Harry, or Aunt Ginny, or any of us."

Isabel looked up at her, pride and fear evident in her eyes. She quickly crawled into Hermione's lap, and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Be careful Mummie."

Hermione breathed in her daughter's sweet lilac scent. "I will 'Bel, I promise."

After a few more minutes of quiet comfort, Ginny came in to let Hermione know that it was almost time to go. Hermione detached herself from her daughter with one final hug and kiss, and then proceeded to Tonks' room, where the pink-haired woman was waiting.

"Ready?" Hermione asked her.

"As I'll ever be," Tonks replied as Hermione shut the door behind her.

A few minutes later, Hermione re-opened the door, and came out with her small daughter. They went down to the study where Molly was waiting for them. She smiled sadly and hugged Hermione as she took Isabel's hand and walked out the front door. Throwing on the disillusionment charm and grabbing a nearby broomstick, Hermione quickly followed them out the door, and down the street to the market. She muttered a few quick words under her breath and felt herself wrapped even tighter in the cloak as it swept around her legs and feet. Hermione lifted herself off the ground with the broom, and gently floated along the wind to follow Molly.

The market was crowded as always, but Hermione had a perfect view of her family as she hung in mid-air. She watched as Molly led Isabel through the masses of people towards the fruit vendors first. She smiled as the jolly-looking man behind the display reached out and handed an apple to the little girl, who gave a quick curtsey as thanks.

Suddenly, Hermione's eyes whipped to the right, shifting her gaze from Isabel's innocent face to the man in the black cloak that was moving towards her and Molly. Hermione couldn't see the man's face, but her insides were buzzing with warning.

The man slowly made his way through the crowd, dodging market patrons and vendors. Hermione could tell that, despite her relaxed demeanour, Molly had also noticed the man as he neared. Playing along, she took Isabel's hand and led her to another cart. Hermione nearly slipped off her broom as she tried to get within hearing range of them.

Molly kept a firm grip on her charge, but suddenly felt her sharply yanked away. She whirled around and let out a cry when she saw the cloaked man hiding behind an old Death Eater mask. He was holding a struggling Isabel by her upper arm, twisting it at an awkward angle.

"Who are you?" Molly demanded, carefully layering her voice with fear. "Let her go!"

"I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon," the masked man replied evilly. "She's got big plans ahead where she's going."

"Leave her alone, she's only a child!" Molly pleaded.

"All of you freaks start out as children, and look what you become!" he spat angrily.

Molly felt her fury rise to her heart. "That's rich, considering what you're wearing!" She heard the man laugh sinisterly as he tightened his grip on the young girl.

"This child is a freak; a mixing of the bloodlines!"

"So are half of the witches and wizards in the world," Molly countered.

"No matter. Soon it won't make a difference." Another laugh as he held Isabel tight and pulled her through the crowd and away from Molly. Molly chased after them as slowly as she could without looking suspicious. Hermione stayed low as she flew overhead, keeping a firm gaze on the masked man with Isabel. She watched as he dragged her through the droves of people to a small grouping of trees. She lowered herself enough to see below the branches, and saw the man drag Isabel over to two other men who were hiding in the brush. One of them grabbed Isabel's other arm, and all three of them turned on the spot, disapparating away.

Hermione dropped down to touch her feet on the ground as Molly ran into the trees. Freeing herself from the disillusionment charm, she spoke quickly to Molly.

"How'd they transport her?" Molly demanded.

"Disapparation," was Hermione's speedy reply as she dismounted her broom. "Time to split up," she muttered as she herself vanished on the spot.

Molly stared at the spot where her almost-daughter had stood a second before. Shaking her head, she prepared to transport herself to meet up with her team. As she reappeared next to Arthur in China, she couldn't shake the strange feeling that had formed in her chest at the sight of Hermione on the broom. She'd never seen that girl on a broom before, and from what she'd overheard from Ron, Harry and Draco, Hermione had sworn off riding since she was young…

On the other side of the world, Hermione reappeared and tripped over her own broomstick, which was still clutched tightly in her hand.

"Mi, are you alright?" Draco's hissed query caught her attention as she stumbled to her feet, but she didn't reply.

"What's the status?" she inquired. Draco, taking in the sight of her holding the broom as well as noting the fall she just took, fixed her with a curious gaze as Remus answered her.

"They're bringing Isabel in now."

"I apparated here as soon as they left."

"They just called at the gate for someone."

"How soon do we move in?"

"As soon as she's inside the gates. Blaise isn't coming out with the person in charge, but he'll be right inside the door of the building incase he's needed when she goes in."

"He'll get her out of the way."

"Who are you?" Draco demanded. He had watched the exchange between Remus and Hermione with great interest, and knew that something was up.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, a mischievous smirk starting on her face.

"Who are you?" Draco repeated. "I know my wife and her mannerisms, and you're not showing any of them."

"Draco, there isn't time for this," she tried.

"No! I want to know why my wife, who has not flown a broom since her first year at school, came soaring in here holding onto one for dear life! And the only explanation is that you're not my wife!"

"She's not, she's mine."

Draco and Hermione's eyes flew to Remus at his comment. "What?" Draco asked in shock.

"I said that she's my wife."

Draco looked perplexed while Hermione grinned. "How'd you know?"

"Because I know my wife as well as Draco knows his, and no one falls as easily as you. Not to mention the fact that you're verbally sparring with me over tactics as per usual."

"But we're not even fighting."

"Doesn't matter. I still know your style."

"As fascinating as this is," Draco began, "If Tonks is here as Hermione, then where is my Hermione?"

Tonks bit her lip in true Hermione fashion, and stayed silent. Draco stared at her as his mind went through the plan. His eyes widened as he realized what was going on. "How?"

"Polyjuice potion," was her soft and honest reply. "She said that she had a bad feeling about the plan as it stood, so she wanted to switch it up a bit."

Allowing her words to sink in, he whirled around to see a group of cloaked men leading a small child up to the front gate. Fear clutched at his heart a little tighter. It was hard enough to see the form of his daughter in the clutches of Moore's men, but knowing that it was actually his wife who was in the thick of things made it even more difficult. Draco had to take a few steadying breaths before he could speak. "We can't make any changes at this point," he admitted sadly. "The plan goes ahead as is."

"Should we tell the others about the change?" Remus asked.

Draco thought for a moment before an idea popped into his head. "No, we aren't going to tell them. And Tonks, I want you to stay disguised as Hermione as long as you can." When he was met with two puzzled stares, he elaborated. "The Polyjuice potion probably won't last much longer, and if these people see two Hermiones, they won't know what to do. This could work in our favour." She nodded enthusiastically as all of them turned their attention back to the front gate of the complex.

A group of men had appeared inside the compound walls, and Draco felt his blood boil with anger at the sight of Dr. Moore. Even with the distance between them, Draco could see Moore's eyes light up when he saw Isabel in front of him. Draco couldn't help but smile at the shock Moore would get when 'Isabel' turned back into Hermione.

Meanwhile, Hermione was fuming and forcing herself to stay calm and in character. She wanted nothing more than to hex Moore until he was nothing more than a puddle of mud, but she knew that she couldn't…not yet anyway.

The gates opened, and Hermione felt herself pushed forward. Moore knelt as she advanced, with a gentle expression on his face, but Hermione could see his eyes raking over her excitedly. "Hello Isabel," he said calmly.

"Hello," she replied softly and shyly, as her daughter would.

"My name is Dr. Moore. Your parents have told me so much about you, that I just had to meet you myself."

"You know Mummie and Daddy?" she asked, delight in her eyes.

"Very well," he replied. "We're old friends."

"They've never talked about you before."

A look of slight anger passed quickly over his face, but vanished just as fast. "We hadn't seen each other in a long time, and just met up again a few weeks ago."

"Oh."

"Why don't you come inside so we can chat?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she replied smartly.

"Even if Mummie and Daddy say it's ok?"

"They did?"

"They did."

"Well." She hesitated for a few seconds to irritate Moore. "I guess it's ok then."

"Good girl. Come, now."

Hermione was pushed further into the gates, and they started to close behind her. It was then that she heard, in her mind clearly, Draco's command.

~ Now! ~

Loud pops could be heard all around her, as Aurors and her friends appeared to begin the attack. Hermione felt a hand grab her arm and yank her close to a body. Struggling, she looked up to see Moore's manic face.

"You're not going anywhere," he said coldly.

"Moore!" Both of them turned to see Draco and 'Hermione' staring at them with venom in their eyes. "Let her go," Draco said angrily.

"I don't think so, Mr. Malfoy. You see, this little girl is very important to the work I'm doing here."

"She's just a child," came from Hermione/Tonks. "What could you possibly want her for?"

"You have no idea what her presence here will mean to this project."

"You can't actually think we're going to let you have her, do you?" Draco asked. Moore shoved Isabel's body behind him and advanced towards the angry blond man.

"No matter what you and your friends think, you cannot win here. I have weapons that you could only dream about, as well as some surprises up my sleeve. And now I've got your daughter." He stopped moving when he was a foot away from Draco. "What are you going to do about it?"

Draco kept his eyes fixed on Moore, even when he noticed movement behind him. Knowing full well what it meant, he gave Moore the trademark Malfoy smirk that no one could ever match. "You may have weapons, but so do we. And believe me when I say that we have some surprises for you as well. And one of those is my response to your third statement."

"And what's that?"

"That you don't have my daughter." Moore gave him a puzzled yet confident look. Wondering what he meant by his comment, Moore turned to see the young girl behind him, but she wasn't there.

Where he had left little Isabel, not stood a much taller version of her. Honey-brown curls fluttered around her face and her chocolate eyes sparked red with rage.

Hermione Malfoy was ready for a fight.

"Surprise," she said, showing off her own smirk to match her husband's, as well as her wand.

"Impossible," Moore whispered, the colour and triumph disappearing from his face.

"I assure you that nothing is impossible," Hermione replied.

Moore glanced back at Draco, and his eyes shifted to the woman standing next to him. He turned and looked behind him once more, then turned back again.

"You've lost, Moore," Draco told him. "Give it up."

"I've worked too hard and too long to let you freaks get in my way," he snarled, reaching into his coat and producing a handgun.

Hermione paled slightly as he levelled the gun in the direction of her husband. Without thinking, she raised her wand. "Protego," she whispered.

A stream of sparks flew from her wand and created a shimmering forcefield in between Draco and Moore as the gun went off. The bullet froze as it came into contact with the shield, and dropped harmlessly to the ground.

"Expelliarmus!" Remus shouted, knocking the gun from Moore's hand.

Moore stared at Remus in disbelief, before an angry expression flashed on his face. "Get them!" The men who had been standing around them drew their weapons (some guns, some wands). As Moore's fighters charged the Light Side, an alarm went off inside the facility.

Hermione and Tonks raced for the compound, while Draco and Remus stayed in the fray. The identical women slipped under the invisibility cloak as more fighters came pouring from the doors of the facility. Hermione thought about apparating them inside, but didn't want to get stuck in a crowd. So they waited until the constant stream of people through the doors became just a trickle, and then slid inside.

They found Blaise quickly, standing outside a set of steel doors. Not fully knowing the revised plan, he gave the pair a shocked and confused look when they removed the cloak. Offering to give an explanation once the fight was over, Hermione let him nod before turning back to the doors. The three of them burst into the room and started stunning anyone inside. Once they were finished, Hermione looked at her surroundings.

The room was filled with television monitors that showed various parts of the compound. They didn't know where to look, but Hermione's eyes were drawn to the monitor that showed the front gate. She saw Draco stun someone and then physically punch another, while Remus set his Patronus loose on the newly-arrived Dementors.

"Where do we go?" Tonks demanded of Blaise as a handful of Obliviators came into the room to deal with the unconscious scientists and security guards.

"All of the information for the project is held in four separate rooms. One for all the documents, one for the computers, one for the taped recordings and then the main hard drive itself," Blaise informed them. "When it's not being used, everything is in one of those four places. We need to destroy it all."

"Split up?" Hermione suggested.

"We'll have to, but there's more. They've brought in some witches and wizards to experiment on since you and Draco escaped. We need to get them out too, and get them to St. Mungo's to make sure they're ok."

"Ok, how about this: Blaise, show me to one of the information rooms and I'll get started on that. Then, take Tonks and some of the Obliviators and Aurors to get everyone out. After they're safe, you two come back and help me finish the job."

Blaise and Tonks nodded at Hermione's suggestion. Taking a few Obliviators with them, the trio set out through the halls on their mission.

Outside the compound, Draco and Remus were fighting side-by-side. Stunners, Body Binds, Rope Bindings and Disarming spells flew from the two men, aiming at anything that was threatening them.

Out of nowhere, Draco grabbed Remus' arm and threw the pair of them to the ground. A green jet of light sailed right past where their heads had just been, and Remus threw Draco a quick look of thanks as they both shot stunners at the source.

"Merlin, Moore's a bloody hypocrite!" Remus declared. "Trying to rid the world of magic, but using Dark Wizards to protect himself!"

"Oh trust me, he's going to pay for this!" Draco shouted back, slinging a Body Bind at one of his attackers.

Remus shot a disarming spell, and glanced around him. "Where is he, anyway?"

Draco also noticed that Moore had disappeared. "Probably cowering in a corner somewhere!"

Remus threw off his latest attacker and turned to his friend. "He wouldn't go after the girls, would he?"

Draco knocked his opponent away with a spinning kick, and faced Remus, dread suddenly settling in his heart. "He wants to stop Isabel's power. He'll go after Hermione."

"But he won't know which one she is, so he'll go after both her and Tonks."

"We need to get in there!" While he spoke, Draco landed another punch, and headed for the entrance to the compound. Remus fired off another Stunner and followed him, leaving the Aurors and Obliviators to their task.

Inside, Blaise had shown Hermione to the first two rooms: Documentation, and Recordings. After giving her a quick description of where the other rooms were, he, Tonks and the Obliviators hurried off to help the imprisoned wizards. Hermione Alohomora'd the door quickly, and found herself in a room full of file cabinets. Waving her wand frantically, she hurried to get all of the paper into the middle of the room. A quick 'Incendio', and the paper was ablaze. She kept her wand ready to catch any out of control flames, but the paper burned quickly so she didn't have to. She put the fire out with her wand, turned the ashes into bubbles that popped almost immediately, and then reduced all of the file cabinets into clothespins.

Satisfied, she hurried to the next room and repeated the process. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she watched the cassettes and videotapes melt down. Two more rooms, and there would be no information left for Moore's work. She was so close to having her family safe. As she transfigured the cabinets into spools of thread, she started to get excited. She doused the last of the flames, reattached her wand to her leg, and bolted out the door for another room.

- BANG -

A sharp, loud sound could be heard around the corner from where she was. Recognizing the sound, she broke into an even faster run. As she rounded the corner, her pounding heart stopped dead along with her feet as she took in the sight in front of her.

Moore was standing just in front of her, but with his back to her and he was pointing something at the crouched figure of Tonks. Her disguise was still up, but the curly hair was now a glaring red with her anger. Hermione could see the fire in her eyes as she maintained her protective stance over the figure that lay sprawled on the floor.

Blaise.

The colour left Hermione's face as she saw the blood on the side of Blaise's head. His fae was ashen and he wasn't moving.

"Cowardly traitor."

Moore's words drew her attention, and she pulled her wand out of her leg holster. She aimed it at his back with fury in her eyes.

"Expelliarmus!" she shouted, and watched proudly as Moore's gun flew from his grip and into her own hand. Holding it in her right and her wand in her left, she advanced on Moore as he turned to face her.

"Miss Granger, what a pleasant surprise."

"It's Mrs. Malfoy actually, and you'd do well to remember it." Hermione turned her attention to Tonks. "Is he alive?"

"Barely."

"Get him to St. Mungo's. They'll help him." Tonks nodded and levitated Blaise's body towards an exit so they could apparate away. Once they were out of sight, Hermione turned her murderous gaze back to Moore.

"So he's one of yours," Moore commented. "He played the part well."

"Fooled you, didn't he?" Hermione's tone was icy.

"Hermione, dear, what are you planning to do with those?" Moore inquired innocently.

"Use your imagination." She flicked her wand and pushed him up against a wall. Advancing on him again, her angry face came into full view. "You threatened my family and tried to kidnap my daughter."

"A necessary evil."

"Necessary? How is trying to destroy a family considered necessary? And since when is a little girl considered an evil?"

"It's for the good of mankind. Magic is an atrocity."

"Maybe for you."

"It's destroying my life!" Moore shouted, finally losing his cool demeanour.

"How do you figure that?"

"Because more and more of your kind are infiltrating my world and turning it on its head! They're taking all scientific advancements and modifying them for their own good! My life's work has been taken over by your kind, and my entire world, my life, has been ruined!"

So you choose to destroy my family instead?"

"If I have to. According to a source of mine, your daughter is the key to either magic's advancement or its downfall. And once I have her under my control, I'll obliterate it."

"You're despicable."

"Thank you."

"Hermione!" Draco's distant shout caught her attention, but she didn't move from her place. Sensing a slight shift in her concentration, Moore took a chance and grabbed for his gun. She held it firm, but he twisted her arm at an awkward angle. She let go of the Muggle weapon, opting to instead hold onto her beloved wand that had protected her so well in the past.

"Now what are you going to do?" Moore grinned maniacally.

"Whatever I have to," she hissed. Suddenly, Draco and Remus came sprinting around the corner to her right, but stopped cold at the sight of her and Moore. Moore's grin widened as he moved the gun to aim it at the newcomers. Hermione's stomach dropped, and her mind went blank. Blaise's crumpled form flashed through her head, and she knew that she couldn't let anything like that happen to her husband or the man who was like a father to her.

Wordlessly, her wand slipped from her grasp as she raced towards them. Time seemed to slow as she grabbed onto their arms and shoved them out of the way, back around the corner as Moore pulled the trigger.

- BANG -

Draco, breathing hard, held his wife close as he swung her around the corner with them, Remus grabbing her arm and pulling to get her out of harm's way faster. "What were you thinking?!" Remus demanded of her.

She shot him a weak smile from her place in Draco's arms. "Just trying to help."

"That was the craziest thing you've ever done!"

"As long as it worked." Draco gazed down into Hermione's colourless face, and felt his heart clench. Something was very wrong.

"Mi?"

She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes clouded. She gave him another weak smile, but it faded as her knees gave out beneath her.

"Mi!" Draco shouted as he stopped her fall. Feeling something wet on his stomach, he glanced down horrified to see both of their shirts soaked with blood. He gently lowered them both to the ground, keeping his nestled safely in his arms. Remus crouched next to them, much like Tonks had done with Blaise.

"We need to get her to St. Mungo's, quick," Remus said quietly, shock and fear evident in his voice.

"You're not going anywhere." Draco's head whipped around and Remus raised his eyes to see Moore aiming at them. But before he could do anything, Remus had stood, raised his wand at Moore and put all his rage into his curse.

"STUPEFY!" Moore flew back into the wall hard, the gun flying from his grasp. There was a sickening crack as his head smashed into the cement, and there was a spot of blood left on the wall as he slumped to the ground.

Draco, though impressed by Remus' display of power, had turned to focus all his attention on Hermione. She lay limp in his arms, gasping weakly. Remus knelt back down and muttered a few soft words as he waved his wand over her wounded stomach.

"I've bought us a few minutes, but we need to move," he told Draco, as Draco's hands pressed against his wife's stomach in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"No," Hermione gasped. "Please, no."

"Mi, we need to get you some help, now." She turned to gaze at Draco's face, and heard a distant pop in the background as she raised her fingers to stroke his cheek.

"Draco, there's isn't enough time, even with Remus' help." Her voice was faint, but she forced it to remain steady. "And I'd rather spend the last few minutes staring at you instead of the ceiling at St. Mungo's."

"Don't talk like that."

"It's ok."

"No, it's not! I just got you back, and I'm not about to lose you again!" he exclaimed, putting more pressure on the wound at the side of her stomach.

"I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough." She smiled softly at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a voice in his head.

~ Draco? ~

~ Harry? ~

~ We're done here. It's over. ~

~ We've just finished with the last of them here, too. ~

~ Ron, is that you? ~

~ Yeah, how's it going there? ~

~ Hermione's been shot. ~

~ WHAT?! ~

~ Keep it down guys. ~

~ What happened? ~

~ Moore. ~

~ I'll kill him. ~

~ I think Remus already did. ~

~ Is she going to St. Mungo's? ~

~ She won't let me take her. ~

~ Why? ~

~ Not enough time. ~

~ Mione, please, you can't just give up like that! ~

~ What about Isabel? ~

~ I'm not giving up, I'm just accepting reality. I don't want to leave Isabel, but it's out of my hands now. ~

~ She just got you back! We just got you back… ~

~ I know, and I'm sorry. I love you guys. ~

~ We love you too, Mione. ~

~ Ginny? ~

~ Please don't leave us again. ~

~ Hermione? ~

~ Mione?! ~

~ Mi! ~

Draco pulled himself from the mental conversation to see Hermione's eyes at half-mast. She'd lost the strength to maintain the connection. "Mi," he whispered as he clutched her tighter.

"I love you," she uttered softly, her eyes opening as much as they could.

"Don't."

"Take care of Isabel for me. Tell her I'm sorry I couldn't stay, but that I'll always be watching her."

"Mi, don't do this."

"And tell everyone in the Order that I've never been more proud to be a part of something, than I was when I was a member."

"Mi, stop it, I won't let you go."

"Draco," she whispered, weakly stroking his cheek as she gazed lovingly into his eyes. "You've been more incredible to me than I ever could have imagined. I've been so happy with you, and I'm so sorry that we were apart for so long."

"I love you," he declared, tears running down his face at her fading voice. He leaned over and pressed his lips to hers gently. She kissed him back weakly, and he held her tight to him. Suddenly, felt the soft pressure of her lips disappear and the hand drop from his face as two pops sounded somewhere behind him. "Mi, please don't leave me again," he begged as her head fell back limply. "I can't do this again." He buried his face in her hair and sobbed as he cradled her close.