AN:
So this is REALLY angsty, but important for the story. I'm sorry if its turning into a debbie-downer, but I promise the future holds a lot of fluffy little bunnies and cute puppies and sunshine and rainbows. Just bare with me for a few more chapters until we get there.

Chapter 7

Lizzie opened the door to his room. "Can I come in?"

William shifted in his bed and sat up. "Sure, Lizzie."

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?" Her voice was shaking as she stepped inside his room and closed the door.

"Yeah. Look, Lizzie, I'm sorry about tonight. I promise I won't leave you alone with him again." William was desperate for her not to be mad at him. Why do you care if she's mad at you or not? You've never cared before. Oh, right, you love her.

"Oh. No. Thats fine. That wasn't your fault. It's about something that happened during high school."

William relaxed. High school. Okay, I can do this. "Yeah. Sure. Come on in." She sat down and crossed her legs. She shifted around, and William felt the weight of the mattress shift with every move she made.

"Do you remember how I graduated early and went abroad for second semester and college?" William nodded. "That wasn't exactly true. I did graduate early, but I didn't go abroad. Do you remember the boyfriend I had before that, George Wickham? The boxer?" William nodded again. "Okay. Well, the day we broke up, he wasn't very happy about it. I don't think he was used to being dumped. Anyway, when I started to walk away from him, he chased after me. When he caught me, he grabbed me by the wrist and threw me into the boys locker room. I couldn't keep him off of me." William noticed her going to another place and a tear falling down her cheek. He brushed it off and she jumped back into the real world. "Well, two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant, and," she took a deep breath, "and my parents being who they were, locked me in a youth home and made me have the baby."

"What? Wait, you have a kid?" William was shocked. No wonder she didn't start dating again until after college.

"Yeah." Lizzie sniffled and shook the hair out of her face. "A little girl. She was adopted shortly after she was born. I've kept in touch with the mother. Apparently she loves to paint." William saw a quick smile flash across her face. "Her birthday was today. I get a letter and a picture every year on her birthday. This came today." She turned and handed him a picture of a little girl, around eight years old. "I wish that I could meet her. Just once. Tell her I never stopped thinking about her. Answer any of the questions that she might have. Or just talk to her about painting. Just so that I could know her for a little while..." She sighed.

"She looks just like you." He smiled and handed the picture back. "Look," he brushed some hair behind her ear, "Lizzie, I... I don't know... What I'm trying to say is..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Lizzie leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek again.

"I know. I'm glad you're my best friend." She smiled and pulled herself in for a hug. He laid the two of them down and she rested her head down on his chest. She smiled at the way it felt. Warm and comfortable.

And safe. She felt safe.