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It was the next morning and Katie was washing up in the kitchen. She still couldn't get over Grace's change. And it was all down to Jake. Having him by her side through this gave her strength. In a matter of days Jake had managed to get through to Grace. She found herself gazing out the window of her back garden while cleaning a plate.

"You do realize everything i told her about you was true...it just took someone who knows you and cares about you to show her" Jake's voice took her out of her daze. Sometimes it was like he was in her head. Knowing what she was thinking about.

She cleared her throat and placed the plate on the drying rack and turned to him, "But that's taken 11 years Jake..."

Jake was leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, hands in his pockets, only in jeans and a black t-shirt, he shrugged causally, "Then i feel extremely lucky to know you the way i do...others have missed out"

Katie softly smiled at his sweet comment, before wiping her hands dry and walking over to him, he pulled himself off the frame and enveloped her in a hug, kissing her exposed shoulder from the off the shoulder top she was wearing.

"I guess before you...i didn't really let people in...i was guarded, worried about people judging me for my past" she whispered, her head rested against his chest as they stood holding eachother. She still remembers the day in the Cordon he did the sweet thing of cheering her up with trying on all the lost and found clothes. When she told him about her past. And he accepted it like it was nothing.

"We all have our crosses" he replied into her hair, giving her a soft kiss on her temple. Obviously also remember that moment too.

She smiled against his chest. Exactly what he had told her in response to her what her life was like before, "You look handsome today" she spoke quietly but sweetly, rubbing the back of his neck, "you look handsome everyday"

Jake chuckled against her hair, "Thanks babe. And i have to say..." he pulled away from her, and her her to twirl for him, "you look incredible everyday...so good to see you in something other than that darn cardigan" he chuckled.

Along with the off the shoulder top which was a soft orange, she was wearing it tucked into her denim skinny jeans with brown sandles. She smiled and did a little tippy toe motion back to the sink and picked up a wash cloth and started drying the dishes, "Hey...i love that cardigan...although i haven't worn it since we got back..."

"That's because you left it there..."Jake said quietly.

She stopped what she was doing and looked down at her clothes. Her own clothes. Not borrowed ones from the hospital. Nurse Helen...the other staff. All of the other people in there. She sighed and looked up at Jake who had the same expression on his face. Guilt.

"We've been so wrapped up in being out..." Katie started to speak and Jake nodded, taking a seat at the breakfast counter, "we need to do something Jake. Focus on those in the Cordon"

Jake agreed quickly, "I know. I guess we needed to catch our breaths for a moment, getting back to normal life" he leaned over and took his phone off of charging on the counter and started to scroll through it, "Friday night. We are out with Lex and Jana. We talk about it then. Its better if we work together on this. See what Lex thinks is our next step"

Katie nodded, "How are we meant to find a cure, Cannerts..." the memory of Doctor Cannerts in the hallway with Trey. Both infected, "he was working on it...inside of the Cordon"

"Then maybe we find someone else to help, hes not the only Doctor out there" Jake responded.

"He's the one that started it" Katie simply stated, "he knew what it came from, he knew what was required for a vaccine"

Jake stood up off the stool, "We'll figure it out Katie" he nodded taking her hand that was on the kitchen counter and they joined together.

"People have got to be able to have the freedom to do the simplest things Jake" she stated looking down at their fingers as Jake's thumb rubbed her hand.

He nodded, "They will. We'll make sure of it"

They had promised themselves that they were given the gift of freedom, therefore they would help those still left in the Cordon. She didn't want to think about the amount of people that had perished since it all started. Jake had already cremated hundreds of bodies. Now they had left, she didn't want to think about the number rising.

"Hey where's Quentin?" Jake asked, pulling her mind back to their reality.

"Erm playing with Sally next door" Katie replied, finishing off the dishes.

"Ahh i see" Jake said from behind her, leaning on the counter and crossing his arms.

"What?"

Jake shrugged, "For someone who thinks girls are gross..."

"Er i think if i recall your the one that said girls were gross, he just agreed. Probably to impress you" Katie smiled putting away the dishes in the cabinet.

Jake chuckled next to her, "We gonna look at some places today?" he asked.

She stopped and turned to him, "Should we do that now? I mean, shouldn't we focus our attention on the Cordon?"

Jake took a moment, "Katie believe it or not the world didn't stop when we were in there. We cant even do anything until we see Lex. Surely looking at places today isn't going to hurt...especially when its about our future"

Katie understood. He was right. Of course he was. There was just now this underlining guilt of living their lives when people they knew were still suffering. She nodded, "Sure. Yeah. We can look online...the laptop...damn" she shook her head, "is broken, i completely forgot" was another thing she completely forgot about. Something insignificant really in the scheme of things.

"No worries. I'll go over to the apartment now and pick up mine. Need to get a few more shirts anyway" he stated grabbing his keys from the counter, then walked over to her and kissed her cheek, "see you in a bit"

Natural. A couple thing to do. Katie smiles softly at the gesture, before he walked out the door she had to asked, "Is it ok that i tell Quentin. If your still out that is?"

"Yeah why wouldn't it be?" he asked with a beaming smile. Obviously excited about looking for places.

"I thought you might want to do it together...but..."

"I understand if you want to tell him yourself Katie...trust me. Over these 11 years its just been you and him. I get it." he gave her a warm smile, "You tell him when he gets back from his girlfriends house" he smiled jokingly while tossing the keys up in the air and leaving the kitchen with Katie giggling and ready to tell Quentin the news.