The temperature in Orion's apartment wasn't exactly warm, but it was enough for Elizabeth and her children. After the crowd had dispersed, Justin had informed the family that, for the time being, they would be staying with Orion and Sarah. He had two motives for the arrangement: he didn't want the Brisbys to be left on their own, and he felt that by staying with Orion and Sarah, they would feel more comfortable with being in a strange environment. They were two of the friendliest people he could think of, and he trusted them both; there wasn't a better household for the mice to stay in. His second reason was for Sarah's well being. He felt the situation provided the ideal setting for comforting her nerves. Sarah was great with children, and would love spending time with Elizabeth's, and he also thought it would be the perfect opportunity for the two to bond. Both women had faced hard times without a peer to comfort them, and Justin hoped pairing them together would benefit both of them.
Unfortunately, when Justin and Orion had arrived at the apartment with the Brisby family, Sarah was nowhere to be found. Orion guessed she must have stopped back by the schoolrooms for something after the meeting. They hadn't told her yet, so she had no reason to head directly home once it was over. They went looking for her separately, in hopes of finding her more quickly, then planned to meet back at the apartment. Justin told the family to relax and get comfortable.
"We won't be long," he'd said, just before leaving. His words floated through Elizabeth's mind like clouds, but then she thought of his words from the meeting. The clouds turned to rain. Just thinking of it made her heart sink, him going back to that farmhouse, to who-knows-what by now. The men from NIMH could've set dozens of traps, waiting for any animal that passed by. What if they weren't careful and stumbled upon one? What did they plan to do at all? What could a group of rats do against one human, let alone a dozen? The thought of what might happen to Justin at the hands of that cruel woman, Dr. Schultz, made Elizabeth shiver.
"Mommy?" Cynthia's voice snapped Elizabeth back to reality.
"Yes, dear?" she was somewhat surprised, as Cynthia had hardly spoken a word since they'd reached the valley. The five of them were sitting around the wood-burning stove, watching the tiny flames dance within. Cynthia was closest to her when she spoke up.
"Are we going to be okay?"
"Of course we are," Elizabeth pulled her close, rubbing her arm. "The rats were very good friends with your father, you know that, and they'll take extra good care of us, as long as we're here."
"But what about our home?" the child said desperately. The sound of her voice almost sent Elizabeth to tears. Her children were scared and confused, and she wanted to comfort them any way she could.
"I don't know," she said at last.
"We're not going back, are we," said Martin. By the tone of his voice, it was a statement, not a question.
"It's dangerous back there, now," said Elizabeth. "We'll have to wait and see what the rats say when they get back."
"If they get back," Martin hissed under his breath.
"They'll be back," Timothy shot at him. He was the farthest from Elizabeth, sitting with his arms around his knees in front of him, his chin resting on top of them. Martin threw him an ugly look, but was too tired to start a fight.
"The other rats think they'll be back," said Teresa.
"It doesn't matter," said Timothy. After seeing the looks on their faces, he explained. "About what they say, I mean. If it is safe to go back, would you want to?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Martin.
Timothy made a sweeping gesture with his arm. "This place," he said. "We belong here. We're like them, the rats. We're not like other animals. Dad was one of them, and now we are too; think about it."
The thought threw them all into silence, the only sound in the room crackling wood.
"You like him, don't you?" Timothy said suddenly. Elizabeth sat quietly, then realized the question was for her.
"What?" she asked, surprised.
"Justin," her son clarified. "You like him."
Elizabeth wasn't sure she understood his tone of voice, but felt no reason to hide the truth from them, either. She realized she'd never thought about telling them. "Yes, Timmy," she said at last. "I like him very much."
Timothy's eyes seemed to narrow, but she couldn't tell what his expression meant. Martin and Teresa sat with blank faces, as if they'd already been informed of the subject, but she couldn't tell if they were just hearing about it, or if they had figured it out long ago.
"Do you like him like you liked daddy?" Cynthia blurted.
Justin stopped short of the door. He'd been a step away from going through when he'd heard Cynthia's voice, almost stumbling at her question. He got as close as he could to the door without making a sound, listening in on the conversation. He could tell Elizabeth had been taken aback by the bluntness of her daughter's question, as it was a moment before she spoke again.
"I don't know, Cynthia," she said. "I would like to, I really would."
"Will he take daddy's place?"
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh a bit at the pure innocence of the question. "Cynthia, all of you," she began. "I think you know that your daddy was very special to me. I miss him just as much as you do, and I will always have a special place for him in my heart, just like you do. Your daddy cannot be replaced by anyone. And yes, I have very special feelings for Justin, and I hope he does also for me. No matter what happens though, I will never forget your father, and I hope none of you do either. But I think your father would want what's best for us as a family, and if Justin wants to be there for us, just think of it as…him taking over for now. He's not going to replace your daddy, but if he wants to be there because your daddy can't then…well, oh, I don't know what I'm trying to say anymore…"
Justin smiled at her words.
"I guess what I want to say is," she continued. "Your daddy will always be with us in our hearts, and he will always be special to us, but there is still room in our hearts for others."
Justin saw Orion and Sarah coming towards him. Orion was about to speak when Justin signaled him to be silent. He listened a bit more, and once he thought the children were satisfied with Elizabeth's answer, he whispered to Orion, "Okay, go on."
"What about you?"
"No, I think I should be absent for now," Justin straightened. "Go on without me, tell them I had some things to do. I'll be in my office, though," with that, he patted the guard on the shoulder, nodding at Sarah before jogging off into the darkness.
"What was that about?" asked Sarah.
Orion shrugged, not letting it puzzle him for long. "I don't know, but come on, let's introduce ourselves."
(****)
Cameron was one of the highest-ranking rats on the council. He'd practically been second in command before the old ways had been abolished several years earlier. That was back before they'd had a large council deciding the colony's fate. Nicodemus had abolished the feudal-like system, because he'd felt too many people like Cameron were abusing their power. He'd been right, but after the old system had broken up, most of the rats who'd had a lot of power had simply assumed their roles in the new government without much complaint, but Cameron could not accept his powerlessness. He had grown too accustomed to it, and he wanted it back. That was why he'd secretly aligned himself with Jenner, who'd also lost power with the destruction of the old ways.
What angered Cameron the most was that, while he'd decreased in rank, Justin and Arthur, two rats he'd once been equal to, had maintained their power and influence with Nicodemus. And now Justin was Governor, and Orion, who'd been a private-nothing back in the rosebush, now had greater power than he did. He was eager to meet with Jenner, but nervous as well. The two had been conspiring for a long time, but he'd always thought of Jenner as a usurper. He feared that, if they ever did gain power, that Jenner would cast him aside. Unfortunately, he had little choice but to go along with it anyway, because if he didn't, and Jenner attained power without him, he'd definitely never have a chance of anything then.
He was escorted to the midnight gathering by his wife Sasha, Pollux, and Mason; it wasn't far from the lair, but enough that it remained secret. This was to be the group's first meeting since before Jenner had tried to kill Nicodemus. No one had been informed of his plan that night, and while it wasn't unheard-of for Jenner to do things without the group's consent or input, he'd never attempted something that drastic, and that angered Cameron.
"He's got a lot of explaining to do," Cameron told his wife as they walked. He almost always wore his silk councilman robes, no matter what he did, even if such a garment was completely unsuited for the task he was doing. But at any meeting, there was one thing everyone had in common: a red sash over their right shoulder, signifying their rightful membership to the group. The only one who made them was Jenner, and he was also the only one who could give them out, to those he deemed fit.
"He doesn't have to explain anything to you, Cameron," Sasha said coolly. Cameron shot her a sidelong glance, one she easily countered with her own look. He said nothing to her comment. In a few minutes they reached an incline, and below, spread out at the bottom of the hill, was the group. They were gathered around a small fire burning in the center, and it looked like most of them were already there. The majority of them were high-ranking, or semi high-ranking, with guards such as Castor, Pollux, Dietrich, and Mason, as well as council members like Cameron. Sasha was head schoolteacher, in charge of every activity involving students, an important position, since she had control over future generations. There were also the heads of a few other departments, or their high-ranking assistants. However, there were no representatives from the farming community or sanitation department; though it was no accident they hadn't been included. There were even a handful of Jenner's trophy wives, women who wanted his limelight, and did anything for him. They had little purpose, and hardly anyone recognized them, but Jenner insisted they be there, just so he could keep an eye on them. They were little more than his concubines, and he had total control over them. They either wouldn't betray him because they'd been convinced by his rhetoric, or they were afraid of what he would do to them.
It wasn't unusual for him to "loan" one of his ladies to another member for an evening, and it was also common for him to take multiple women to his chambers for his own pleasure. There were even rarer occasions where he would share his women with another member, at the same time, but they were few and far between. All in all, the group numbered near seventy, a third of them guards, most sitting or kneeling in circles around the blaze. A few stood in the back, but everyone stayed in plain sight.
"Well," said Jenner, not bothering to hide his irritation. "Not that we're all here, we can begin."
Cameron stopped on the opposite side and found a seat, but Sasha proceeded around the fire, to the large stone where Jenner was sitting. She walked right up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. They shared a deep, passionate kiss, Jenner's hands running down her body, pausing to squeeze her rear. It was hard enough she winced, but it also made her smile. It was the customary display for any woman belonging to the group, one he was quick to brutally enforce if they refused. He didn't trust women, and this was his way of controlling them.
"You haven't changed," Sasha said slyly. Jenner simply grinned devilishly, Cameron's eyes blazing at the scene. He'd grown used to the sight of his wife fornicating with Jenner, but he'd always despised it. However, unlike Jenner's other ladies, Sasha knelt right by his side, her arm around his waist. The sight didn't surprise anybody.
"Before we begin," Jenner wiped off his chin. "Does anyone have any business to bring up?"
"Yes, I do," Cameron spoke up.
Jenner nodded concession to him. "Then speak."
"What the hell were you thinking that night at the rosebush, Jenner?" Cameron shouted in anger. "And why in God's name did you have Sullivan helping you? He wasn't even one of us, and you didn't tell anybody about your plan. Just what got into your head, Jenner?"
"Calm down, Cameron," Jenner told him. "Don't get your panties in a bunch."
Several rats laughed.
"In hindsight, the plan I made was flawed," Jenner continued. "But I saw an opportunity and took it; there was no time for us to meet. I also used the chance to test Sullivan, to see if he was really fit for the group. Had that Brisby woman not gotten involved, I would have accomplished my task."
"You seem to forget, Jenner," the councilman argued. "That had it not been for that Brisby woman, we would all be dead. NIMH was there bright and early to exterminate us all."
"A small detail, Cameron," Jenner said calmly. "We would have escaped anyway. Just the sight of the trucks arriving would've alerted us. There might have been some casualties. I understand one of the decoys did indeed die from the fumes, but in any event, a loss of population would only have benefited us. Now, are you finished bellyaching?"
Cameron was silent.
"Good, we can begin, then."
"Ladies and gentlemen," he addressed the crowd. "Our time has come. As fate would have it, NIMH has commandeered the old farmhouse. This is almost perfect timing for our efforts. Tomorrow, when the expedition leaves for the farm, Castor will have already loaded half of the crew with our men. I have no illusions that Justin will not be successful; he is just the type of rat to accomplish such a great task. We should be thankful we have such a useful…tool at our disposal. Once Justin accomplishes his mission, which I'm sure he will, Castor's men will dispose of him and the others; martyrs to cause."
His grin stretched from ear to ear.
"And with Justin out of the way, we will only be left with Orion and Nicodemus as our greatest threats, and perhaps Arthur, to a lesser extent, both of which should be more than easy enough to dispose of. Once they are out of the way, the lair will be ours."
"And just how do you plan on getting rid of Nicodemus and Orion?" asked Cameron.
Jenner gazed at him hard, eyes glowing in the fire's shifting light. "Leave that to me…"
(****)
The Brisby children were lying on a mattress that had been brought to Orion's apartment. They'd finally fallen asleep and Elizabeth was watching them from the couch in a far corner of the room. Sarah had joined her, and now they were speaking in hushed tones.
"You're very god with them," said Elizabeth.
Sarah shrugged. "Well, it helps to be."
"Did you say you're a teacher?"
"Yes, but I mostly work with children Cynthia's age," Sarah chuckled. "Sometimes the bigger kids are too much to handle."
Elizabeth laughed. "I know what you mean."
There was some noise from the bedroom. She'd almost forgotten Orion was there.
"Do you have any children?" she asked.
"Oh, no, I don't," Sarah glanced at the bedroom door. "I think I'd like to, though. Orion would make a great daddy."
"Yes, he would," there was a far-off tone to her voice. "I could tell the children loved them. He's naturally good with them; not too many people are like that. You two seem to have something very special."
"Well, Orion and I just happened to be there for each other at very important moments in our lives," she exhaled. "Actually, he's been there for me more than anything, but I like to think I've meant as much to him as he has to me."
Elizabeth could detect a trace of sorrow in her words, as if there was much more than what she said. But the mouse wasn't one to prod. "Maybe its just because he's Captain of the Guard now," she started. "Heaven knows they don't look like each other, but in a way, Orion reminds me of Justin."
Sarah smiled, reached over and put her hand on Elizabeth's. "Elizabeth, I don't think anyone has something as special as what you and Justin have."
The mouse blushed. "Oh, I hope there's something. It's been a long time since someone's made me feel the way he makes me feel."
"You should go see him."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"But it's so late…"
"Believe me, Elizabeth, Justin is still wide awake. He's a real night owl, probably even more now that you're here."
Elizabeth remembered vaguely where his apartment was; Arthur had pointed it out to them earlier during her family's tour of the lair. Sarah refreshed her memory with a few simple directions.
"You should really go," Sarah told her. "You might regret it; he could be gone for a while."
Elizabeth looked like she was trying to decide what to do.
"But make up your own mind," Sarah said. "I'm going to bed now, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night."
Elizabeth watched as Sarah quietly left, going to the bedroom. She sat on the couch a few moments longer, then stood up and made her way to the front door.
"Mom?"
Startled, Elizabeth turned to see Timothy, still awake, and knelt beside him. "Yes, what is it, dear?" she asked. "Have you been awake this whole time?"
"Yeah, I've been thinking." He half sat up.
She ran her nails through his hair. "About what?"
"What you said earlier, about Justin."
"Timmy, you should try to get some sleep-"
"I think I understand now, why you like him," he said. "And I think we belong here, in Thorn Valley. I mean, we are like them, aren't we?"
"Yes, Timmy," his mother agreed. "You are like them. But you're young now, and when you get a bit older, I think you'll truly understand about Justin and I."
He paused in thought, then, "You should go," he said. "Before it gets any later."
Elizabeth patted him softly on the head, then silently left the room. Her son's words puzzled her, somewhat. Obviously, he'd been listening in on her conversation with Sarah, but she couldn't blame him. She'd caught herself listening to her children talking, from time to time. However, what she thought was strange was his acceptance of life in Thorn Valley. She wondered just much thought he'd put into the statement. Had he just come up with the idea, or had he been thinking about it for the past few weeks, after she'd explained their father's connection to the rats? She knew Timothy was the brightest of her children, but she wasn't sure just how much brighter he was. Would the others reach the same conclusions in their minds? What if some wanted to stay, but the others did not? A million variations of the questions came to her at once, and she stopped in thought. It wasn't until then she'd realized she'd taken a wrong turn…somewhere.
The hallway she was in now didn't look familiar at all, and when she backtracked in what she thought was the right direction, she found it wasn't the right way at all. It all looked the same to her, and she soon lost her sense of direction. She eventually found a group of apartments, but it wasn't the cluster she'd left earlier. At last, she went back the way she'd come, trying to find where she'd gone wrong, and she felt panic start to set in.
She rounded a corner, and had walked a short distance before realizing it was the wrong way. It had a slope to it, and all the halls she'd been in had been level. She spun and bounded back, only to have the earth come out from under her, and she fell on her left shoulder; hard, though not enough to be damaging. A sharp bolt of pain flashed across her back as she tried to lift herself, then she realized something held her foot. Frightened, she began kicking furiously, trying to get loose, but the struggle only seemed to tighten the grip of whatever held her. She fell back on her shoulder, causing more pain, and for a moment she forgot about her foot as she rolled on her right side, clutching the spot with her right hand. Then she looked down, seeing a bundle of wires sticking out from the wall. Apparently, they hadn't been secured properly, and hung at just the right angle for her foot to slip through. She reached out, freeing herself from the tangled mess, then headed back the way she came. She ended up in the spot where she'd originally found she was lost, and though the realization calmed her a bit, the ache in her shoulder reminded her to watch where she stepped.
"Mrs. Brisby?"
Her heart skipped a beat, and she nearly leapt from her skin. Had the voice not been vaguely familiar, she would have leapt through the roof. She slowly turned to see who it was, gasping as she stepped back.
"No, no!" Sullivan waved his hands. "Don't be afraid."
She didn't run like he'd thought she might, and once it looked like she'd settled down, he added, "Do you remember me?"
"Yes, I do," her voice was soft, hesitant. "You were there the night my house was moved."
He stepped closer to her. "Yes, yes I was."
"You killed Jenner," she said bluntly, and he stopped in his tracks. He looked like a child who didn't know if he was in trouble or not. "You're name is Sullivan, isn't it?"
He looked exactly as she remembered him: big and stocky, wearing a dark shirt and thick bands around his wrists. He nodded.
"Mrs. Brisby, I…" his voice cracked a bit. She was trying to read his face, as he looked for the words he wanted, when he was suddenly on his knees, his face buried in his hands. Elizabeth took a reflexive step back. He held his arms out to her, and it looked like there were tears in his eyes. "Mrs. Brisby, forgive me."
She was slightly stunned. "Forgive you for what?" she asked.
Sullivan wiped his nose, sniffling. "I was there that night," he began. "With Jenner. He planned to kill Nicodemus by cutting the ropes and dropping your house on top of him, and I was there to help him do it."
"Sullivan," she tried to be delicate. "I know all of this; Justin told me about it. You were there, but you didn't go through with it."
"I know I didn't," he said emotionally. "But I almost did!" his eyes showed rings of exhaustion. "I was ready to cut that line, use your family. I was willing to sacrifice them for Jenner's gain. But I stopped and defied him; that's when he cut me."
He made a slashing motion across his stomach.
"I would've been dead that night, had it not been for you. You saved my life with that stone he wanted so badly; you saved my life after I almost killed your family, and Nicodemus."
"I don't understand," she said quietly.
"Every night since," he continued. I've tanked the heavens for the second chance you gave me, and every time, I try to figure out if I deserve it. I think of how I stopped just short of going through with Jenner's mad scheme, how I almost did go through with it. I feel like there's a monster inside me, and that no matter what I do to try and redeem myself, it'll come back. It kills me to think I'd be so willing to sacrifice a life for what I thought I wanted, when it's not what I want at all. I'm scared of the fact that I might not be in control of my actions, and that I'll throw away this life you've given me."
He pounded his fist on the ground and leaned over, once more coving his face with his hands. Elizabeth was touched by his words and, in a strange way she found she could understand his feelings of uncertainty and confusion. She stepped closer and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Sullivan," she began. "No matter what happened, you have to remember that you did the right thing. You saved Justin's life, and most likely mine too, when you threw Justin your sword, and you saved it again when you threw your knife. Jenner may have tricked you into something you knew wasn't right, but you stopped yourself from going too far. You should think about what you did, not what you might have done."
Sullivan looked at her, his face stained with tears. "I know you're right," he started quietly. "But I guess what I have to say is…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for believing in Jenner, for what I almost did, and I could never thank you enough for giving me a second chance."
"And I should thank you," she said. "For saving my life as well, but you shouldn't dwell on what saddens you. Lord knows I've done my share of that, and I can tell you it doesn't make anything better. You have to take what's good for you and be thankful of that and forget about the past because it's gone. All you can think about is what lies ahead, and have to courage to face it.
He stared at her, soaking in the words, then, "I think," he began. "That you have a more courageous heart than I ever will."
(****)
Justin looked at the time, rubbing his eyes. He'd been taking notes of various events, writing them all in a large volume that chronicled the community's history. It was one of the many duties he'd inherited from Nicodemus, but he hadn't gotten was good handwriting and a poetic style. He waited for the ink to dry before closing it, stretching his arms over his head and yawning loudly. It had been a very long day, after being awakened in the small hours of morning with the news of Jessica's disappearance from her post, then his encounter with Cameron and the arrival of the Brisby family. All had been detailed to some extent in the journal.
He was surprised by a knock on his door. He'd long since made himself comfortable, and was in the middle of disrobing. He left his shirt partway open as he went to answer the call, stunned to see who stood outside.
"Elizabeth…" he looked both ways to see if anyone was with her.
She giggled slightly. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"No, it's just, I…" he shook his head. "Come in, please."
Elizabeth had her cape pulled tightly around her, to fight off the chill in the tunnels. He closed the door quietly behind her, suddenly feeling uncomfortably warm.
"I saw Sullivan a moment ago," she said softly.
"Really?" he asked, almost to himself. "I wonder what he was doing, wondering around so late…probably going to get something to eat…" he focused on her, his tone becoming abruptly serious. "He didn't do anything, did he?"
She looked confused, then realized what he meant. "Oh, no; he was polite enough. He actually helped me get here, as I got myself lost in all these hallways."
"Huh, that's odd," he said. "Sullivan doesn't usually go out of his way for anyone unless he has to, I usually have to remind him to be polite. Funny that he did it for you."
"He did more than that," she said. "He started crying in front of me."
"What?"
"He felt guilty for everything that had happened, asking for my forgiveness."
"Sullivan cried?" he asked. "What did you tell him?"
"I told him not to worry about the past, and to just try to be a better person, but please don't let him know I told you. He seemed terribly upset."
The idea of Sullivan crying seemed like good ammunition to tease him with, but the look on her face convinced him to keep the secret.
"What brings you here?" he asked, feeling giddy. He noticed her looking away, toward a bag he had in the corner, full of rope, tools, and clothes. His sword leaned against the wall beside it.
"It's about tomorrow," she said, downhearted.
"Oh," his voice was soft. "Why don't we sit down?"
He led her to a small couch against another wall, picking her up by the waist to help her on the cushion. Then he sat beside her, taking her hands firmly in his.
"You're worried about us, aren't you?" he asked.
For a moment, she was lost in his eyes, the dark orbs round and full of life, only for her. She suddenly felt the same way she had their first encounter in the rosebush. "Justin, I…" she paused for words. "Did you mean what you said?"
"About what?"
"You made a promise, to everyone, that you'd return unharmed," she sighed. "Was that the truth, or were you just saying that to make everyone feel better?"
He ran a hand through her hair. "I would never lie to you."
"My husband lied to me," she said sullenly. "I'd believed him, too, and expected him back, but he never came. Justin," her hands curled further in his. "I can't go through that again. I lost Jonathan, my children lost their father, and today I lost my home." She lost her fight to hold back tears. "I don't want to lose you as well."
He reached up, wiping them gently away. "I swear I won't leave you," he said firmly. "I'm going to be here for you and your family, as soon as this is over."
"But why do you have to go?" she sniffed, moving closer to him. "Surely there are others just as capable. What about Orion, or that other guard, Castor…why do you have to be the one going?"
He smiled. "They're all good men, but I have to go," the grin faded. "I don't know how to explain it to you, but I promise, with all my heart, that I'll return safe and sound; we won't do anything too risky. If a situation becomes too dangerous, we'll back off and find a new approach. We won't do this recklessly. We have to worry about the fate of this colony. We can't afford to take any risks."
She sniffed again, more softly. "When do you leave?"
"Early," he stroked her hand again. "You'll be asleep when we leave. We'll arrive under the cover of darkness, probably before the men from NIMH are even awake."
"My children need a father, Justin," she started, and looked down at his chest. "Ever since Jonathan died, I've had to be both mother and father to them. It's been very hard to stay strong. Sometimes, it's just too much for me and I break down," she sighed, shaking her head. "They're growing up so fast, and they need someone that can help them understand this new world. They're more like you than me, and they need guidance.
She looked back up. "Ever since we met, I've dreamt of you as a father to them, and I've grown too attached to the idea to let it go now. I knew, somewhere, that you'd return, but I…I needed to hear it from you to be sure."
"Do you only think of me as being a father?" he asked.
"No, I think of you as more, much more than just a father. It's just that…"
"What?"
"I think of how I'm…different from my children, and from you. I think about what Nicodemus said, about the way you age, and I worry that I might not…"
"Elizabeth," his voice was solemn. "I have a confession to make. There is more to this mission than keeping an eye on NIMH and discovering their plans."
"What do you mean?"
"Elizabeth, I, uh…" he cleared his throat. "When Mr. Ages introduced us in the rosebush, that wasn't the first time we had met," he saw her eyes widen. "When Jonathan and I were friends and we talked, he hardly ever brought up you or the children in front of us. We knew where he lived, and we had some idea about your family, but he never discussed it. It wasn't that he was trying to hide you, or that he was ashamed, I think he was only trying to protect you in some way, though what that was, only he knew, but every once and a while, he would let something slip. Not much, but there was just enough to intrigue me; he never even said your name, that's why I never knew it until you told me.
"But after he died, I felt sorry for you without really knowing you. I became so grief-stricken, it made me sick with guilt, and I began sneaking out of the rosebush, and I'd watch you and your family from a distance. I never said anything, because I felt it wasn't my business to intrude, even if it meant telling you the truth about your family; it just made me feel better, watching your family, keeping an eye on you and making sure everyone was okay. I felt I owed it to Jonathan
"I watched all the time, and at first, I just kept an eye on everyone, picking up little pieces of everyone's personalities, but after a while I started to just focus on you. I watched your every movement, every gesture, every expression on your face. I would hang on every word you said. Then I picked up your scent, this incredibly beautiful scent that just lifted me off the ground. It was intoxicating. I could never get enough of you, and I could never wait for the next chance I had to see you."
He paused, smiling at her, grip tightening on her hands.
"I fell in love, Elizabeth, from afar. I fell in love without even realizing it. I began to imagine what it would be like to live as a couple, and to take care of your children."
She was stunned. She began examining many of the things she'd done in the past year, trying to envision Justin watching her. She didn't know whether to be angry, or embarrassed.
"Why didn't you ever take a chance?" she asked.
He sighed. "I think what I feared was that I'd only fallen in love with the idea of loving you, and that in fact it might not work out. I was afraid of the rejection I might bring, had I said anything. I then began to question myself, wondering if I was doing the right thing. I'd become so used to watching you it became part of a routine for me, and I felt I had to do something about it, or else I'd be living in a fantasy world all my life. I weighed the idea of stepping forward, saying something and facing a possible rejection, or stepping away, hoping you would fade gracefully from my mind. I felt certain you'd reject me, and I didn't want to face the pain of it, so I forced myself to stay away, to remove myself from your life.
"When I first saw you in the rosebush, I panicked, thinking you had somehow seen me and knew who I was, and would report what I was doing. So I jumped right in, hoping if that was the case I could convince you not to. I didn't have to worry about Ages finding out, since he already knew, and once I realized you had come there for a different reason, I let my guard down. I tried to act normal, but I couldn't help from acting affectionate towards you, because I'd already fallen in love with you."
She smiled, touching his cheek. "Justin, that is so beautiful…"
"You're not mad?" he asked.
"No, how could I be?"
"There's more," he touched her hand again. "I'd suspected Jonathan of having personal meetings with Mr. Ages. After he died, I went to the old man and asked him about it. You see, Jonathan had been concerned with the aging process, and feared that it would catch up to you too soon. So he asked Ages to see if he could somehow duplicate the serum NIMH used on us. I prodded him to continue the research, and I even asked Ash, our doctor and chemist, to try as well, but to keep it a secret, a favor, just for me." he cleared his throat again. "Not too long ago, Ages said he felt he was getting close, and began working feverishly, day and night, to perfect it."
"That's what he was working on?" asked Elizabeth. "That day I spoke to him, about Timothy, he said he was working on something very important, but I didn't realize…"
"Ages felt he was close, but I'm afraid having NIMH so close could threaten his safety, and all the work he's accomplished. One of our objectives is to ensure his safety, even if it means bringing him, and all his notes, here."
The thought was overwhelming. "You…you mean that…that I could be like you…that I could live as long and watch my children grow?"
"Yes or at least something close to it. We don't have access to the types of machines the scientists from NIMH do, but he feels he can come close enough to it," his face moved closer to hers. "That is how you know I'll return, because I have the greatest incentive to come back to you. And once this is all over, all we'll have is each other to grow old with, no more danger, no more threats. It'll just be us, now and forever."
They closed the distance in a tight embrace.
"I hope you return soon, Justin," she whispered. His body was a warm blanket next to hers.
"I'll be back before you know it," he whispered, then Elizabeth abruptly jerked back.
"Ow," she said softly.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Oh, I tripped over some wires on my way here and fell on my shoulder. It's nothing, really."
"No, no, let me look." He took her left arm in his hands. "It's this one, right?"
She nodded as he moved it slowly back and forth.
"Now, does it hurt, or does it just feel stiff?"
"It was hurting at first," she said, unable to resist him. "But now it just feels a bit stiff."
"Oh, well," he smiled. "That I can fix, or at least make better." He pulled her a bit closer, taking her cape and folding it over her right side. "Just relax," he whispered, then gripped her shoulders, softly working his fingers on the muscles of her back, releasing the stiffness and tension. She let out a deep breath and closed her eyes, barely resisting the urge to lift her arms. He was gradually increasing the pressure of his fingers, all her uncertainties taken away by his firm hands. His movements were magic, doing more than relieving tension on the outside, warming her body to the very core.
His hands moved steadily from her neck, down to her shoulder blades and along the length of her spine, to the small of her back. The tips of his claws were lightly scratching the surface of her skin, and she understood his fascination with her scent. She had become overwhelmed by the tantalizing aroma of his own pheromones, nearly able to taste it with her tongue. Her mouth began watering, breaths growing heavier with each stroke of his hands, and she realized she was living one of her dreams.
She breathed sharply, feeling his lips on her neck, and the soft touch sent waves reverberating through every inch of her body. His kisses continued down her neck, to her once sore shoulder, before moving to her jaw and cheek, and each kiss sent a small tremor coursing through her. Her temperature rose, but what filled her was a warmth comfortable and inviting. Then his hands slipped around her waist, holding her tightly against him. She tilted her head back, and his hand moved to her cheek. He gazed in her eyes, leaning closer until their lips touched, the kiss moist and tender. It deepened slowly, as they invited each other inside, and Elizabeth lost herself in their embrace. Her slim hand moved to his chest. She loved the hardness of his body. His strength made her feel safe.
His arms wrapped around her, caressed her from her soft belly to her curved neck. He ran one hand through the tuft of fur on her breast, venturing along her side with the other, from the outside of her hip to her thigh, then slowly between. Elizabeth moaned softly in their kiss, ready to give herself over to Justin forever. The world no longer mattered. All she cared about was him, the fire of his kiss, his chest against the bare skin of her back, his legs touching her hips. His arms were tight around her body, his hands caressing the most delicate parts of her flesh.
She broke away from their kiss to catch her breath, leaning her head back as he once again kissed the base of her neck. Her breaths became ragged, drawn to the rhythm of his hands. Then he brought his hand up, undoing the knot in her cape, laying it on the couch, the air cold against her bare skin. He stood and cradled her in his arms, all in one fluid movement. She let her eyes stare into his, the dark orbs blazing with passion as he carried her into the dimly lit bedroom. The only source of light was the soft glow from the living room. He then lowered her tenderly to his bed.
The soft mattress enveloped her body, the fabric cold, comforting to her skin. She remembered, vaguely, undoing the fastened buttons of his shirt, and now he pulled it slowly off before crawling over her, letting the cloth flutter to the floor. He gazed at the dim outline of her in the darkness, reveling in anticipation. He longed to savor the moment, yet at the same time was unable to resist her. Prodding him, Elizabeth reached up and gripped his shoulders, pulling him down to her.
Their bodies met, becoming flush with each other. That's when she truly felt it press against her, hard and stiff, their skin pressed so tightly she could feel it throbbing. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he began sliding his body against hers. His eyes gleamed with immense concentration, as he carefully calculated each and every movement. She felt his stiffened flesh between them, and ran her nails softly down his back. He leaned down and kissed her, their tongues finding each other quickly, and he reached beneath her body, groping the soft skin at the base of her back, pulling up her tail as he pushed down with his hips.
Again, she moaned softly as they kissed, fingers dragging across his back, their bodies equally hot and sweating. Several beads dropped from his forehead as they swayed. Her body had grown wet and slippery, where he'd rubbed between her legs, and now the juices soaked into both of their fur.
He finally relented, slightly lifting his body from hers. Their eyes once more connected, expressing what didn't need to be said. He traced the line of her lips with his nails, moving his hand down from her chin to her neck, from her chest down to her abdomen, then slowly began to guide himself within her.
She gasped as he pushed the head inside her. He paused, letting her relax, then went a bit further, stopping when she bit her lip. The warmth was sensational, inviting, but he didn't want to hurt her. It had been a very long time since her last. What he didn't expect was her hands on his rear, or her pushing him to keep going. He continued, holding his breath, waiting for her to stop his decent at any moment, but she never did. She pulled him forward, until he could go no further. The feeling was impossibly intense.
Justin loudly exhaled, Elizabeth purring softly beneath him, and he let loose a growl of his own, lost in ecstasy as her body gripped his sensitive skin like a warm hand. They kissed several times, never for too long, as both were breathing heavily.
Elizabeth hissed pleasurably, as he again began sliding his body rhythmically against hers, only now he was inside her. Their bodies may have been different sizes, but they moved in perfect unison, moved as one. She'd kept thinking Justin was too big for her, that her body couldn't bear his load, but it somehow did. She felt as though he filled every inch of her body and soul, pushing from the inside out. As impossible as it should have been, it worked, and what magic it was.
Justin gripped hard on her shoulders, pushing his body faster. Her breath left in quick bursts with each trust, bolts of electrified bliss firing through her body. His grip tightened on her shoulders, the pain of his claws only adding to the pleasure she felt. He arched his back, pushing himself even harder, faster than before. Elizabeth's head fell back as far as it could go, voice sounding with every breath and thrust. She glanced up to see him gritting his teeth, just before a chain of rapid thrusts, and one hard, final push within her.
She felt it flow inside her, hot and tingling. Again and again, it filled her for several seconds. Justin growled again, sounding ragged, animal-like, and Elizabeth let go of her final moans of pleasure, chest rising and falling with her panting breath.
Once again, they looked deeply in each other's eyes, each noticing a glow that hadn't been there before. They lay there, drenched in sweat and liquid passion, each staring intently at the other. At last, Justin's arm fell around her, pulling her right up against him.
"I love you," he hissed hoarsely. She snuggled deeper into the fur on his chest.
"And I love you," she replied softly. "Now and forever…"
(****)
Later that night, he awoke from a dream. He wondered what time it was, thinking it was around three or four in the morning. He looked around, realizing he was alone.
"Elizabeth?" he asked the darkness.
No response.
Had it all been a dream? One sniff of the air, and he knew what'd happened had most definitely been real. He noticed the sheet was still slightly damp beneath him. He shook his head, getting out the cobwebs, realizing she must've left to go back to her children, all without waking him up, and the thought made him smile. He fell back down, wanting to get a little more sleep before having to get up for the mission. He reached up, scratching his head when he noticed something on his wrist. At first, he thought it was a torn sheet or pillowcase, but then he looked closer, realizing what the fabric was: a strip of Elizabeth's cape.
Well I'll be…he stared at the cloth. She had somehow tied it to him in his sleep, probably right before she'd left. It was a small piece, wrapped around twice, tied with a small knot, a good luck charm for his mission.
Now and forever…that thought in his mind, he drifted back into sleep.