Days went by as Lucy Gray became ever slightly better. Her voice managed to clear up and her breathing was back to normal, despite the excruciating pain in her ribs. The doctor had laid it down plainly that it would take some time for her to begin moving on her own. Barb had made sure to bathe and dress her, which took hours. But for now, she was confined to that small raggedy mattress on the floor.

The sight depressed Coriolanus. He was back at the base and would not be able to see her for another week, but it's all he could picture. Just poor Lucy Gray rotting away in that house. Of course, the Covey were there to keep her company and he had no quarrels with them.

He just wished he could leave and never come back. To stay with Lucy Gray and be the one to nurse her back to health. But the risk was just too great. He had to accept that he could only see her on Saturdays, as painful as it was.

As he lay staring up at the ceiling from his bunk, he thought back to him and Lucy Gray kissing that day. Never would he have showed so much passion out in the open as he did with her. It would've never crossed his mind in the Capitol. But with the door off of its hinges and the risk of any of the Covey walking in, neither of them seemed to care. Just both glad to have each other alive, expressing it in the most intimate way they could.

Though Barb Azure eventually catching them sort of stunted that lack of care, it's much better than the idea of poor Maude Ivory being the one to walk in on them.

He made a mental note in his head to have more self control when he saw her next time, but a part of him really doubted that was possible. The truth was, he couldn't stop thinking about her day in and day out. And all that pent up longing would burst immediately the second he saw those big brown eyes.

The week went by slowly, but it was finally Saturday. He made his way off base and into town, making sure to keep his bunk mates at bay and opting to go rogue for a bit. He didn't even tell Sejanus what happened, for fear that he'd lose more time alone with Lucy Gray.

The walk through the Seam was quiet and dull. Wind chimes and a barking dog being the only sign of anything in the rather decrepit conditions. Exactly how people lived out here was anyone's guess. But Lucy Gray seemed to make out fine.

But was she really? He made it to the house, moving aside the bedsheet that temporarily replaced the door he had broken down. He promised Barb Azure and the rest of the Covey that he would pay them back somehow.

Lucy Gray lay motionless. She was wearing a dark orange sundress and looked much more comfortable than before. It took Coriolanus a second to realize she was sound asleep. How disappointing. But he wouldn't dare wake her.

"Hey, lover boy." Barb Azure muttered as she came through the sheet.

"Oh uh, hey."

"I'd leave her alone for now. She wasn't doing too good last night."

Coriolanus frowned. "Why what happened?"

Barb only responded by motioning him to come outside. He followed her and they made their way to the back porch.

"Well it was around supper time. I was cooking up some left over fish for the kids and started to hear her cry. Her ribs and back were just hurtin' so bad. Doc says she's getting better, but between these sudden jumps in energy, she just seems so drained and depressed."

The thought made Coriolanus' stomach twist in a knot. He hated seeing her cry, hated to even think about it. It hurt him in such a visceral way that he couldn't explain. And he could tell Barb felt the same.

She let out a long sigh and looked at Coriolanus square in the eyes.

"I'm gonna be honest with ya'. I didn't like you when she first brought you here. After what that asshole Billy Taupe did to her, last thing I needed was another boy breaking her heart and leaving her in the dust. And I will say that even now I ain't pulling down my precautions just yet. But when I tell you that I ain't ever seen that girl trust someone as much as she does you, I mean it. Trust is everything to her. And she don't take it lightly when someone breaks it."

Coriolanus knew as much. Lucy Gray had told him herself at the lake. Trust is more important to her than love. That without it, he might as well be dead to her. And she trusted him. And to such a degree that her love seemed to bring itself to the forefront.

Before he could reply, Barb continued.

"I've seen the way y'all look at each other. And the way y'all…You know, kiss. Never saw that with Billy Taupe. But you're different, and she sees that. I just…I guess what I'm trying to say is that she needs your company right now, Coriolanus. Yea she's getting better, sure, but I've noticed when she's not around you she just shuts down for the most part. And you know, I'd be willing to let you take over for a bit. Just to help her settle."

Coriolanus would do it in a heartbeat. He would be with her all day every day if he could. But it just wasn't feasible.

"I would, more than anything. But I'm a Peacekeeper and I'm only free on Saturdays. Trust me, I…I love her. I love her so much. But I can't be here to take care of her. And I hate that."

Tears began to well up in his eyes but he made sure to hold them back.

Barb nodded. "I understand."

They sat in silence for awhile, until a voice came from within the home.

"Barb!"

She rose to her feet and quickly rushed inside with Coriolanus slowly trailing behind.

Lucy Gray didn't even notice that he was behind her in the kitchen. She seemed a lot more out of it then when he brought her there. No doubt from being unable to move and, worst of all, unable to sing or play guitar.

Barb grabbed her a glass of water and gently raised it to her lips. She gulped it down in earnest.

"Thank you."

"Of course, sweetie. Now lay your head back"

She did as she was told and slowly drifted into her pillow.

Should he do it? Should he go up to her now? He once again felt that feeling that she would somehow flee his grasp if he weren't careful enough in approaching her. But he knew she was hurting. And he was too.

"Lucy Gray?"

Her face turned quickly in his direction and a bright smile appeared on her face. It was as if all the life drained from her came back.

"Coryo!"

He made his way around the kitchen table and to her side, taking her into his embrace.

"I missed you, girl" He whispered into her ear.

She stayed silent and only tightened her grasp around him. They remained in each others arms for a bit, until Coriolanus felt a growing heat on his chest.

Looking down, in the same place her blood had soaked his shirt days before, was a huge puddle of her tears.