A/N: I AM SO SORRY! This took forever to write, I'm sorry! I haven't had a lot of motivation lately, and depression is tearing me down. I kept trying to get back to this and finish it for you guys but I felt too broken to focus:( But, it's done and I think you'll really like this one! It's a lot longer than the other ones, to make up for how long I took. I hope you really like it! Please, read and review!

I rushed up the stairs, regretting not asking how she was earlier. How could I miss the quiet sniffling? The fact that she was surrounded by letters when I came down? How could I be such a bad friend?

Not now, John, you can self-deprecate later. Right now, 'Liza needs you.

I near-sprinted down the hall, sliding to a stop in front of her shut door. I raised my hand to knock, but froze at the sound of light sobbing. I stepped forward, pressing my ear against the cool wood door. Oh, she's crying, how do I help with that? Chocolate? Hitting Alexander? Whiskey? Wait, it stopped.

Soft footfalls replaced the sobbing, startling me into straightening up and stepping backwards. The door knob slowly turned, the old door creaking open. Eliza, her hair a mess and her face tear-stained, looked up at me with such sadness in her eyes. She opened the door the rest of the way, clinging onto the doorway for support.

"I'm okay, I jus—"

"No, you're not, Elizabeth." I interrupted. She glanced nervously into the hallway, before ushering me into her room. Shutting the door behind me, she turned around and leaned her back against it.

Woah.

Her bedroom floor was covered in papers, hiding the wooden planks underneath the flurry of words. Dozens of crumpled up balls of paper were scattered across her blue-sheeted bed. Her pillows had large, dried stains on the cases, the distance between them making it obvious they were because of tears. Her blankets were thrown off the side of her bed. Quills were lying, broken, on top of her vanity. Almost everything was bloodied with streaks of ink, including several dresses that were haphazardly thrown across the back of the sofa.

"You're judging me." Eliza flatly stated, arms wrapped around herself. I scoffed.

"I judge everyone, it's a hobby of mine." I gave her a small smile, grateful when she returned it.

"Well… stop it." She told me, raising a hand to cover her growing grin. I full out laughed, startling both of us. She could be such a kid sometimes, it was an absolute wonder that she was the adult in the house.

Her smile spread, my boisterous laughter proving to be contagious. Slowly, she began to softly giggle.
"You're odd, John." She whispered between chuckles. I nodded.

"It's taken you this long to realize?" I retorted. She chuckled once more, then straightened up. Her arms gripped tighter, almost as though she wanted to disappear into herself. Her face sobered, any traces of her previous smile gone. Her eyes flickered across the room, landing on mine with hesitation.

"I… I never told him." She murmured, closing her eyes. I raised an eyebrow, curious as to what she meant. "Never told him… just… let him go…."

"Dearest?" I furrowed my brows at her mutterings, hoping she would respond to my nickname for her. "Are you okay?"

She ran a hand through her loose black hair, eyes still closed. A slight sigh slipped between her lips as she leaned her head back onto the door.

"Eliza?" I tried again. Her head tilted forward the tiniest bit, her mouth trembling.

"I… am under no obligation to make sense to you." She choked, tears revealing themselves as she opened her eyes. She screwed her eyes shut again, her hands flying to her face. She covered her face, curling her hands into fists, while sobs wracked her body. I took a step towards her, filling the small space between us. My hands immediately placed themselves over her smaller ones, gently uncurling them. She let me, and we stood there for a moment, just holding hands. After a few heartbeats, her tears renewed and she choked out a rough sob. I threw my arms around her, pulling her flush against my chest. Her arms snaked around my waist, fists gripping my shirt. I tucked my head onto hers, shushing into her hair.

"It's okay, 'Liza, you're okay." I assured, slowly rocking us. She just sobbed harder, pulling me closer. I turned my head so my lips were nearer to her ear.

"Hear my heartbeat? Focus on that, okay, Eliza?" I murmured, feeling a slight nod against my chest.

Her crying eventually slowed, replaced with occasional sniffles and quiet hiccups.

"I'm sorry…" Her words were muffled. One more sniffle and she pulled away, keeping her arms around my middle. She looked up at me, tears filling her already swollen eyes.

"Why? Why would he not write back?" She breathed, her hiccups ceasing. My mouth parted slightly, unsure as to what I should say.

"I'm not sure. Contrary to popular belief, I don't always know the answer." I winked, trying to lighten the mood. Her mood.

She frowned, "John… I don't know what to do." Her voice cracked, cracking my heart in the process.

"Eliza, I'm honestly not sure either. Alex is going to write Mulligan's brother, maybe we can find out what's been going on through him." I told her, internally praying that Alex had finished his muffins and started on the letter to Hugh. Then again, he may have forgotten about writing, and gotten lost in the deliciousness of the muffins…

A knock rapped against the door, startling us both. I stepped back, pulling Eliza with me. She turned around, keeping a hand in the crook of my arm.

"Come in." She softly called, wiping invisible dirt off her dress. The door creaked open, a crack of light coming in from the lit hallway. Alexander poked his head through, worry etched in his face.

"Eliza? Are you okay?" He asked, slowly inching into the bedroom. She raised her head by a fraction, looking him in the eyes.

"I miss Hercules… but I don't think he misses me." She whispered, Alexanders eyes widening at the vulnerability engraved on her pale face. He pouted, which looked ridiculous on a grown-ass man.

"I'm sorry, you think what?" He raised an eyebrow, dropping his pout and shaping an o with his lips. "Did you say that you don't think Herc misses you?"

She gave a slight nod, bringing a hand to her cheek. Her head dipped down, pink coloring her face.

"I know, Alex, he's incredibly loyal, but…" She began. "He hasn't written me for almost a week now!"

She yelled the last part, making Alex cower back a bit. She continued her tirade.

"The bastard is ignoring me! What if he met someone else?!" She started gesturing wildly. "What if he's off in Ireland with some girl who's better than me!?"

"Eliz-" Alex and I both spoke at the same time, but were interrupted by a clap of thunder. I hadn't even realized it was storming outside. We all jumped at the sudden noise, whipping around to look out the window. Water was pouring out of the heavens; wind was hurtling around the trees, knocking branches off left and right.

A flash of lightening shuddered across the darkening sky. Blinking the pain of the bright light out of my eyes, I glanced over at my friends. Eliza's eyes were saucers, unblinking as they watched the rain pit-patter against the window pane. Alexander was fidgeting; he was always nervous during storms, something about a hurricane when he was a kid.

A crash downstairs woke us all from our thinking. Alex and I shared a look, silently agreeing to check it out together and leave Eliza in the room with something to protect herself with. Just in case.

"Eliza, stay here," Alex instructed. "and grab a candle holder, in case they get past us."

She snickered. "Yeah, like I can't take some guy without a piece of bronze."

We both glared at her, and she rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll stay."

Alex smiled at me and I returned it before we opened the door. He went out in front of me, and I pulled the door until I heard the soft click. We snuck down the corridor, halting at the top of the stairs. Alex put up a hand, waving me forward. I quietly stepped in front of him, turning so he could tell me the plan. He put a finger to his lips, pointing with his other hand to the front door. Something was knocking on the outside of the door, thud, over and over again.

Alexander looked at me, "What do you think it is?"

I shook my head; it could be anything. It could be a branch that broke off the front lawn tree and gotten stuck on the porch. It could be an animal, trying to get inside a warm place. It could be a drunkard who got lost on his way back from the bar and thought this was his house.

"I don't know, should we open it?" I suggested. He pursed his lips and swallowed heavily.

"Okay, but if it turns out to be a monster," He started. "then I'm leaving you behind and running."

I nodded with a smile, and began to descend the staircase. He stayed about a half a foot behind me, I could feel his warm, shaky breath on the back of my neck. We made it to the bottom, creeping towards the large door. My left hand gently gripped the door knob, my right hand signaling Alex to stay hidden behind me.

I turned the knob slowly, and pulled it open. Lightening flashed across the background at the same time, illuminating the large figure kneeling on the porch. Hand poised to knock once again, the figure froze at the sight of me.

"J..John?"

"Hercules?"