Thank you all!

Linny

Two Worlds

Chapter Thirty Three

"You sent for me, Sire?" Pitts's nasal voice pierced through the calm serenity surrounding Edward as he read over Dimitrius's familiar script once more. But, even Randy and his surly attitude could do little to put a damper of his high spirits. He was on top of the world, right now and not even his royal adviser and his unusual habit of disappearing as of late could make him fall from his perch.

"There you are, Randy! I've been looking for you everywhere... where have you been anyway?" Since the night of Sue's kidnapping, the man had been more difficult to locate than that strange Fines man who lingered about the kitchens on occasion. He was never around when he was needed most.

"I was attending to a prisoner in the dungeon, my Lord. You know those criminal types... treat them too kindly and they'll walk all over you." He rubbed his hands together as if rubbing some undesirable residue from his palms. Edward's eyes narrowed, but whether it was in suspicion or anger, Randy could decipher. "The fiend tried to escape and I assisted the dungeon master in locking the ruffian up. A pair of strong chains should do the trick." An evil smirk formed at the corner of his mouth as he recounted the terrified look in the servant girl's eyes as he threatened her within an inch of her life. She would think twice about revealing his and Lord Frederick's actions to anyone.

Speaking of which... he should have heard back from that numbskull by now with word of the treasure. He didn't want to have to ride out after him, but he would do it if his companion could not fulfill his task. And if he couldn't, Pitts would gladly rid himself of the nuisance and take the gold and jewels all for himself.

Edward cleared his throat as he eyed the other man, which seemed to knock Pitts out of his reverie. He didn't like the expression on the man's face and would have to remember to investigate the dungeons once the "adviser" was detained. "Very good," he tried to sound collected and nonchalant, but he feared his instincts were audible through his voice. When Randy didn't show any indication that he'd heard, he continued. "I want you to collect the fastest three messengers you can locate to send word to my generals."

An eyebrow raised in question, Randy tried to peer over at the parchment in the King's hand, but it moved away too quickly to catch him to read anything. "Sire?" By the neutral expression on Edward's face, he couldn't determine if this was good news or bad.

A smile graced Edward's face as the worry simply seemed to lift from his shoulders, yet he didn't reveal the truth. "Just call them back," he ordered to which Randy merely bowed and sent of to fulfill the task.

Sitting back in his chair, he let his eyes scan the scrawl once more. Tears sprang to his eyes and they slipped unheedingly down his cheeks. Dimitrius's words brought new meaning to his life. His little Sue was alive and now that he knew she was safe, he silently vowed to never hurt her again.

"This seems strange to me," Jack said softly as he knelt in front of his mother and father's grave markers.

Sue remained close, offering her silent support as she bowed her head in respect for the kind, generous people who'd tragically lost their lives that fateful night. As Jack continued to say his goodbyes, she sent a silent prayer of thank you up to the Heavens. She was thankful that Jack had not been taken away from her as well that day and that he'd been raised to be a good man within the walls of the orphanage. She was thankful that his natural-born leadership qualities hadn't escaped him because otherwise, neither of them would have been graced with the friendship of this group of offbeat characters.

And most importantly, she was thankful for the love of such a wonderful man.

A tear streaked down her pale cheek, which she hastily brushed away as she watched him say his grand farewell.

"Ten years of my life is still lost in a cloud of smoke, but I want you both to know that I'm finding my way through. I know that you were good people and I know that you loved me and each other very much. And I also know that the love and compassion you shared for others was passed on to me. If I never fully regain my memory, I know I'll be all right, because I'll know that you never stopped caring for others." He paused as a tear escaped from his eyes and he barely felt Sue's gentle touch as she brushed it away, yet he wasn't ignorant to the fact.

He drew in a breath to calm the pain that had suddenly struck in his heart, letting it out slowly with a few more tears. "I'll know that when anyone speaks of you that it is the truth they speak. Your kindness is still not forgotten in the people's hearts and I promise to do right by you. I promise to make you proud of me." He could no longer keep his emotions and tears at bay.

Silent sobs wracked his body, his head bent lower to the ground. He still knew very little about these people and yet he openly grieved over their resting places. Jack had never felt so whole and so human in all his life. This experience had been humbling and he had the woman at his side to thank for that.

Sue's arms were like a warm blanket enveloping his shoulders to shield him from a frigid winter. A warming calm surrounded him until his painful sobs were nothing but sniffles. He could have pulled out of her embrace when he was no longer shaking from his emotional tremors, but he found it felt so right in her embrace. It felt like he home he'd never known and wished he was allowed to sink more into her; to be surrounded by her always.

This wasn't just a feeling of love vibrating through him, but something much greater. Something he couldn't quite give a name to. He only knew that he never wanted this feeling to end.

"I'm sure they are proud of you, Jack," Sue whispered into his hair as her fingers gently ran through its thickness. There was so much more she wanted to say, but she found it impossible to find the words.

He pulled from her embrace and allowed his eyes to gaze into hers. He didn't need to hear anymore, he only needed to see it. And what he saw was more than just a few encouraging words. He now realized why he'd asked her to stay with him. It wasn't because he'd needed her by his side-for her to comfort him-but it was because he needed her to see the words, to show her that he was a man of honor.

Up until now, he hadn't been. His feelings for Sue had always surpassed the meaningless lust and desire of most women, yet he'd never truly showed her. Still, she stood by his side until he was ready. He loved her more now than he did five minutes ago. It was time he told her.

Gently cupping her chin, he placed a chaste kiss upon her pouting lips. She whimpered when he pulled away too early for her liking, so he treated her with another. This time he lingered for a bit longer, letting his tongue dance across the seam of her lips. "Thank you," was all he could bring himself to say as his gaze returned to her eyes. They stared up in wonder at him, their hazel depths twinkling with delight. Her desire for him to kiss her again was clearly visible and he so wanted to appease her, but knew if he did, he would never say those words that his heart was constantly singing.

"For what?" she asked softly. She smiled when that irresistible crooked grin curled to his lips.

"For being here with me today. I don't think I would have been able to do this without you." He noted the soft blush creeping to her cheeks and smiled with the pride of a man in love. "When I was a boy, she-my mother," he explained with a motion of his head toward the wooden marker, "she would always tell me that 'your destiny is before your eyes'. I never understood what she meant... until I met you. I realize that you are my destiny, Sue. You are my future, you are my life. You are the woman I want to wake up next to for the rest of my life. And most importantly, you are the woman I love more than anything."

He paused to see the tears shining within Sue's eyes. Her chin quivered with emotions and he couldn't resist kissing the slight tremor into oblivion. When his lips touched, the soft flesh relaxed under his gentle ministrations and she allowed him to surround her in his strong embrace. "I love you," he whispered into the softness of her hair, despite the fact that he knew she wouldn't hear. It just felt good to say the words.

She felt the tickle of his breath dance through her long tresses and knew the words he'd finally just said to her. She wanted to cry. She wanted to jump for joy. Her heart was singing and her mind just would not settle as she pulled back in his embrace. Following his lead, she mimicked his previous actions and cupped his cheek in her hand. The rough bristles of his unshaven facial hair tickled her palm, which she couldn't resist running her thumb over to let the tingling sensation dance over her hand, down her arm and throughout the rest of her body.

Tears momentarily clouded her vision. She was able to blink them away, but more quickly took their place. "I love you too," she replied.

The breath Jack hadn't realized he'd been holding rushed out of him. It felt like he'd just been sucker-punched in the gut and it hurt. It hurt in that very good way. Sue loved him. He knew it for a fact now. It wasn't just speculation on his own love-laden heart, but fact.

He couldn't resist swooping in to claim her lips with his, feeling her instant reaction and willingness to deepen the kiss, to allow their tongues to dance a fiery tango with each other. He nipped and suckled at her luscious lower lip and she responded with the same ardor as she allowed herself to drown in all the love he was offering her with his kiss.

She wanted what he wanted. She wanted him in her life; she wanted to create a future with this man, to build a family and to rule with him by her side. She wanted all of that and so much more and she knew that the heir of Hudson could offer her all she asked and the things she could never dream of having.

He loved her and she loved him. Now, nothing could separate them.

"Aww," Lucy found herself saying as she couldn't resist taking a peek at the couple. She looked to Tara whose gaze was just as focused on Jack and Sue as hers was.

"They're so cute together," the petite woman sighed with a romantic air.

"Do you have any idea what they've just said to one another, though?" Myles asked as he allowed his hands to snake around Lucy's small waist. This adventure made him feel free and granted him permission to appreciate the finest things in life. And for the first time, that had very little to do with possessions and everything to do with the love of a good woman. He and his father would be having a serious talk upon his return, but there was nothing the elder Leland could say to ever make him give up Lucy. Not anymore.

"Well... no, but look at them, Myles. They're obviously in love," the dark-skinned woman pointed out while placing her hands comfortably over his, enjoying the way his embrace comforted her and made her feel protected. It was ironic, really. She'd been sworn to protect him, yet he was the one really doing the protecting.

"It is kind of... mushy... when you think about it," Bobby added with a chuckle as he pulled his wife into his strong embrace. Tara instantly melted into him with a content sigh. "What'dya think, D?" He turned his gaze around, expecting to see Dimitrius still standing with them, but he wasn't there. "D?" he asked when he noticed the man was no longer in the clearing.