Chapter Fourteen

"Please don't cry, Hon."

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth whimpered breathlessly "I'm sorry for everything."

"It's not your fault."

"I had to do it...I had to. ...forgive me."

"Hush, there is nothing to forgive." Peter assured as he held her tighter. "I love you, I've never been prouder to have a new owner."

"I don't want to be your owner, Peter, I don't want anyone to own you."

Having no good response Peter just kissed the top of Elizabeth's head as she buried her face against his chest. Sitting on the couch with Elizabeth in his lap Peter hugged her closer and rocked gently. Elizabeth was doing her best to calm herself, after a few minutes she managed to stop her tears but her breath was still ragged from the emotional storm. Peter hated to see her so upset, particularly since he wasn't sure how to help.

With his arm still irritated by the fresh tattoo Peter wasn't entirely sure that Elizabeth purchasing him was a good idea, but Renner had started to make serious moves to have Peter involved in an upcoming trade. There was always the chance that the trade wouldn't go through, but if they had waited until they knew for sure it would have been too late to do anything about it. Fairly certain that Renner would just try again if he couldn't get rid of Peter on this trade Elizabeth had gone over Renner's head and made a bid to buy Peter herself to avoid being separated.

The only other option would have been running, which Peter wasn't going to allow. Not only were the penalties for Animula 'theft' steep, but such a life would be difficult on them both, and Peter doubted that they would get far. Peter had never been outside the city and he worried about how more rural humans would react to him. People in the city didn't often come across Animula, but they were at least used to them. Outside the city Peter wasn't certain that he would be tolerated as well, not everyone saw him as property, there were those that saw him as a demon.

Elizabeth had been starting to mention lately that she really wanted to take a trip with him out into the countryside. She said it was an innocent vacation idea, but Peter suspected that it was her looking to show him what life outside the city could be like if they did run. He had always been able to remind her that he belonged to the company and couldn't be taken from city limits. However now that she owned him outright it would be harder to turn her down. He desperately wanted to see what it was like away from the noise and chaos of the city, but at the same time he wanted to keep Elizabeth safe to the best of his ability. Out away from the shelter of the city he wasn't sure that he could prevent the worst if someone with a strong hatred of Animula discovered them.

At the moment Peter feel like he wasn't doing a particularly good job of just keeping her happy, let alone safe. Keeping her close with one arm Peter reached up with his other hand and loosened his tie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. Taking Elizabeth's hand he brought it up and placed it on his throat. Elizabeth looked up at him confused at first as he held his hand over hers. When she realized that he was pointing out to her that he wasn't wearing his collar a warm smile touched her lips.

"You're my owner on paper, but I have never felt so free."

Tears slipped down Elizabeth's face once more but this time Peter had the feeling that it was a good thing. She sat up a little straighter to offer Peter a kiss that he gladly accepted and returned. Pulling away slightly Elizabeth's expression clouded over once more.

"You're going to have to wear it when we are at work, company policy."

"I was wondering if we'd get to still work together or if I was going to end up getting fat lounging around the house all day." Peter chuckled.

"It would drive you crazy to laze around the house." Elizabeth teased.

"It really would. How did you talk Renner into letting me continue to work there?"

"It was part of my purchase agreement, I'm leasing you back to them during the day to help pay for you."

"...you can afford me, right?" Peter asked hesitantly.

"Barely." Elizabeth admitted. "But we can always sell the house."

"I don't want you losing everything trying to pay the taxes on me."

"I would spend every last dime I have to keep you out of the hands of the Market and I'd do it gladly." Elizabeth smiled. "As far as I'm concerned I stole you, they have no idea what you're really worth. If they did no one would ever be able to afford you."

Peter smiled and leaned in for another quick kiss. Elizabeth squawked in surprise when Peter suddenly gathered her up in his arms and lifted her up as he got to his feet. Laughing she hugged her arms around his neck as carried her across the living room. Elizabeth expected him to take her up the stairs towards the bedroom, but instead he took her through the kitchen to the back door.

Awkwardly opening the back door Peter carried Elizabeth out into the small well tended back yard. The sun had set an hour ago, but the scene was well lit by the silver moon. The high wooden fence offered them privacy from the neighbors. Peter walked out next to the garden by the small deck and finally put her down. Before she could ask him what they were doing in the yard Peter took one of her hands in his own and knelt down on one knee. Elizabeth gasped sharply at the move as her heart raced.

"Elizabeth Ann Mitchell, will you marry me?"

Rendered completely speechless Elizabeth just stared down at him.

"I don't have much, I don't even have a last name to offer you, but you can have all of my heart and soul."

Still unable to find her voice Elizabeth tugged on Peter's hands to encourage him to stand back up. He did as he was asked and she threw her arms around his neck again to pulled him into a passionate kiss. She didn't release him until they were both breathless. Peter wrapped his arms around her lower back to keep her close as he smiled at her.

"Is that a 'yes'?" Peter teased.

"Yes."

Half dreaming, half just thinking back on better times Peter hovered between sleep and waking. As the searing pain from the cuts across his shoulders began to increasingly invade his thoughts Peter was pulled further from the peace of the past and into an unpleasant present. Fearing he wasn't safe Peter fought against fever and fatigue to wake. He didn't remember anything that had happened recently, it even took him a while to recall how he'd been injured in the first place.

The out of place sound of running water brought Peter closer to the surface. Fluttering his eyes open he was greeted by sights both real and hallucinatory. Nothing in the distance focused very well making it difficult to determine the size or nature of the room he was in. The air felt cold and there was a harsh light in the edge of his vision. Trying to piece together his situation Peter caught sight of numerous towels near by that were stained in blood. When he realized he wasn't alone Peter stared in horror at the man by the sink who turned around and revealed that he was drenched in blood up to his elbows. Reaching up he wiped his gory hands casually against his shirt as if he was just drying off clean water.

Convinced by the powerful hallucination Peter came to the conclusion that he'd been returned to the Market to be hollowed out for organs. He had given them a life time of service and now they were after the only thing he had left to give. With his heart pounding painfully Peter struggled to stay awake to fight back. He feared that if he lost consciousness now he might never find it again. When the butcher noticed his eyes were open he stepped closer and knelt down to bring himself down to eye level. Peter tried desperately to pull away as the man with disturbingly blue eyes reached out with a bloody hand to touch him, but his muscles simply wouldn't respond.

"Peter?" Neal asked softly. "Are you awake?"

Peter tried to snarl an insult at his tormentor but he could only manage a low growl.

"I'm so sorry, I can't really do anything about the pain. There is a vet on the way, he'll be able to make you more comfortable."

The concern in the young man's tone didn't match the visual of the blood smeared across his shirt and dripping off his hands. Peter furrowed his brow and fought to piece together where he'd seen the human before. With fever and infection clouding his thoughts his memory felt shattered. When the man pulled away he still had a small amount of blood on his shirt but the illusion of his hands also being coated in crimson had vanished. Confused by the delusions Peter weld his eyes shut and whimpered.

A sudden cool contact across his forehead forced Peter to open his eyes again. Looking worried the human was pressing a wet wash cloth against his heated skin. Peter hadn't even really realized how high his fever was until he was offered a small amount of relief from it. He still couldn't remember who the human was, but he seemed genuinely compassionate. As far as Peter was concerned it was a rare trait to find in a human, but he was grateful for it at the moment. Exhausted and tired of being in pain Peter closed his eyes and hoped to pass out once more.

"It's going to be okay, help will be her soon. Just stay with me."

'I don't know if I can.' Peter thought to himself. 'I don't even know if I want to...'