ONE NORMAL LIFE / TWO EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

CHAPTER 191 – WHATEVER IT TAKES

“No! I don’t believe that for a second, and you shouldn’t either!” Buffy said; a cold chill slowly crept down Buffy’s spine, despite her reassuring words.

Ashamed, William looked away from her while he spoke. “I think it...the thing...the evil, is still inside me; there just like it was in Spike. Or maybe it’s always been there; that’s why it was so easy for Dru to...”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” Buffy said, getting off the bed and kneeling down in front of him, as she grabbed his hands. She waited until he looked up at her before continuing. “Listen to me, William. By the time you -- rather Spike --died, he hadn’t been evil for a very long time. And if evil wasn’t in him when he died, then how can you believe it’s in you now, like some sort of inherent thing? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Elizabeth...” William sighed.

With her hands still in his, he brought them upward to his face and rested his head in them. Buffy reached up, and softly kissed his forehead.

“It’s late and I think we’ve had enough talk for one night. Just know this; we’re in this together. No more going it alone, okay?”

He didn’t answer.

“Okay?” Buffy asked a second time, pulling his face up to look at hers. She saw tears spring to his eyes in exhaustion and despair. Finally, he nodded.

“I...I should go,” he said, starting to rise.

“No!” Buffy said standing up as well.

“You said it was late, I thought you wanted to...” he said, unconsciously swaying side to side from fatigue.

“I do, but with you here. Please William,” she said, lightly touching his arm to steady him. “I don’t want anything from you, but I think we both need...not to be alone right now.”

Words were failing her, so she let her actions speak. Buffy stood and pulled back the covers, then crawled into bed and patted the empty space next to her.

Longingly he stared at the beckoning tableau before him, before finally shaking his head.

“Elizabeth, I don’t know if my sleeping here with you is such a good idea...”

"Why?"

He didn't reply, or look at her, just shook his head.

Suddenly, it all became clear to her. When Buffy had finally convinced Clem to tell her what he knew about where William had gone and why, he'd also divulged that William had been terrified of the nightmares he'd been having; nightmares where he hurt or killed her. In all honestly, she hadn't given it too much thought. He'd been having nightmares in one form or another ever since he'd been back. From the hallucinogenic 'awakemare’ at the Grand Canyon, to the one he’d had right after the first time he'd met Edna, which had him physically and mentally pulling away from her in the days that followed. That and all the other various nightmares he’d had since then.

As awful as she’d felt for him when he would awaken shaking from them, she’d only attributed them to the unconscious memories of Spike coming out, before William knew about his past. It was now clear to Buffy that he was still plagued by them, and more importantly, thought of them as some sort of harbinger.

Combined with what Giles told her about William not sleeping, and the way he looked so haunted when she first saw him, it all made a terrible sort of sense to her. Now she understood the reasons he'd left, his shock at seeing her tonight, and the lengths he'd gone to make her jealous. More than guilt or regret over his past, if William had the slightest doubt that he was in any way capable of hurting her, that would be the deciding factor for him. How could she not have realized that his actions always, always reflected his deep abiding love for her, and his determination to keep her safe no matter the cost to him? Her heart broke for them both, but most of all for him; for her not remembering this one simple fact, was all the more time he’d spent alone and scared.

“Then we won’t sleep,” she said as lightly as she could muster. “We’ll just hold each other for a while. Okay?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know...”

“Look, I’m not really tired. I had all sorts of sleep on the plane,” Buffy said, hoping she sounded convincing. “Besides, with the time change it feels more like it’s the middle of the afternoon to me. So, that’s two reasons I won’t be going to sleep anytime soon, and if I think that you are, I’ll wake you. How’s that?”

“Well I guess that would be alright...for a while.”

She opened her arms to him.

Tentatively, William lay down next to her, and let her wrap her waiting arms around him. Utterly exhausted as he was, it didn’t take long for all the emotions he’d been trying so hard to have control over; not just tonight, but for months; to come rushing to the fore. Soon, he was weeping against her breasts, feeling ashamed, but also relieved.

“I’m so sorry...haven’t been there for you...had to leave...afraid I’ll...can’t sleep, can’t sleep...” he repeated, as he crushed her to him.

“Shhh,” Buffy soothed, rocking him against her. “It’s all going to be alright now.”

“Is it?” William asked, his voice small and child-like, as he searched her face for even the smallest glimmer of hope.

“It is,” she said solemnly, softly leaning over and kissing the top of his head.
“I promise, and you won’t be alone.”

With a small shudder, he closed his eyes once more, relaxing into her soft embrace.

“Can’t sleep...don’t let me...sleep...”

“I won’t, William. Just close your eyes and rest.”

Buffy could sense the last vestiges of his fight against slumber begin to wane as his body relaxed against hers, and his breathing became more regular.

“Don’t let go of me!” he mumbled half-asleep. “Don’t let go...please...”

Buffy felt her eyes tearing up once more, as the poignancy in William’s voice conveyed so much more to her than his immediate request of comfort did. The message, although cloaked, was loud and clear.

“I won’t. I won’t let go. I promise,” Buffy said, as she tightened her grip on him.

“I won’t,” Buffy said, tightening her arms and holding him closer still. “I won’t let you go. I promise.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DECEMBER 24, 2009
WEDNESDAY
8:00AM

On her way back to her bedroom, pajamas and robe hung over one arm, a freshly showered and dressed Willow stopped in front of Buffy’s door, and knocked softly. She waited a few moments, then knocked again. Hesitatingly, she started to open the door, then thought better of it. Yesterday had been a very long and difficult day for her; might as well let her sleep in.

Willow put her things back in her room, and went downstairs to the dining room. Giles was already seated.

“Good morning, Willow,” he said.

“Morning, Giles.”

Giles stood up and pulled out a chair for her.

“Sleep well?”

“Like a rock,” she replied, reaching for the plate of toast, as the housekeeper bustled in from the kitchen to put another place setting in front of her.

“This is Willow Rosenberg, Mrs. Grieves. She and her friend, Buffy Summers just arrived last night. They’ll be staying with us over the holidays,” Giles said, looking at Willow to verify his presumption.

Willow just nodded, as her mouth was already stuffed with toast.

“Very well, Mr. Giles,” said the housekeeper stiffly, giving Willow a rather suspicious once over.

Willow looked at Giles questioningly when she’d left the room.

“Pay her no mind, Willow. She’s had a bit of a rough time lately, and is taking it out on everyone, including myself.”

Willow just shrugged and went back to eating.

“I knocked on Buffy’s door, but I guess she was still asleep.”

Giles nodded, as he skimmed over the morning newspaper, teacup in hand.

“I don’t suppose William is up, either, is he?”

“I’d rather suspect not, since you said you didn’t hear anything when you knocked,” he said without looking up.

Willow rolled her eyes, figuring that the watcher hadn’t really been paying attention.

“I said I didn’t hear anything at Buffy’s door. I didn’t go upstairs to William’s room to check. Heck, I don’t even know where his room is.”

Giles looked up from the newspaper, his brow furrowed.

“What?” Willow asked.

“Why would I think you’d have gone up to his room? William was in Buffy’s room last night.”

“I don’t think so, Giles. I was in the hall when they came upstairs. They were going their separate ways.”

“Well, they may have gone their separate ways at the time you saw them, Willow, but I assure you I heard them together last night.”

“Oh? You did? Really? Oh...” Willow stammered, her cheeks suddenly blushing scarlet.

“Oh...no, no. Not like that,” Giles quickly clarified, silently thanking the gods for small favors on that count. He didn't see any reason to mention to her that he'd awakened to the sound of their mingled sobs coming from Buffy’s room. "I heard them talking, I just assumed they spent the whole night together."

“Oh. Well... that's good that they're talking.”

“Yes, I should think so. Long past due, I'd say.”

"I agree," Willow said, thoughtfully taking a bite of her scrambled eggs and potatoes.

“Though I suppose some of that blame can be placed on my shoulders.”

“They weren’t talking even before he came here, Giles. At least not much.”

“I suppose you’re right. Still, I knew Buffy was going to think I just went behind her back again, without any consideration for her.”

“You gave William an option, and he took it,” Willow said.

“I suppose, though I honestly can’t say if his staying here has helped him; don’t know if I’ve helped him.”

"Giles?"

"Yes, Willow?"

"Do you think they’re going to be okay? Do you think William is ever going to be okay, after all he's been through?”

Giles sighed, taking off his glasses as he pondered the question. “I don’t know, Willow. I honestly don’t. However, Spike was always a survivor, and I tend to believe that some of that self-preservation that Spike showed, was and is, something that exists in William as well. And as for Buffy...well, we know that she is.”

"She's not the same person as she was Giles. She's...softer, know what I mean?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, it’s just that Buffy spent so many years having to turn off her emotions in order to do her job, or rather, not let her emotions get in the way of doing her job. Then, after Spike died, she lived as though she'd never been the slayer; didn't stay in contact with any of us, went and lived in his house in Julian. You know..."

"What's your point, Willow?"

"My point is that in the past year, Buffy really gave herself over to this love she had locked away inside her all along. If somehow this doesn't work out, if William can't come back from all of this, I'm afraid it'll destroy her. Oh sure, she'll probably go back to her life in Julian, but she’ll never try to love again. She'll just become this little old schoolmarm until the day she dies," Willow said with a sniffle.

"There, there," Giles said, reaching across the table to pat Willow's hand. "I don't think the situation is quite that dire as of yet. Besides, I have a feeling that the chances of that happening are much less, now that they're here together to work on their problems. Don't you?"

"I sure hope so. That, and I really don't think schoolmarm gray is Buffy's best color."

Giles laughed at the image of his slayer in an old-fashioned long gray dress with matching bonnet. Sackcloth and ashes.

They went back to their breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DECEMBER 24, 2009
WEDNESDAY
11:30AM

The first thing William was conscious of upon waking was an inconceivable sense of warmth and solace infusing his whole being. Knowing that it must be a dream, he desperately tried to go back to it, to put off what he knew was bound to be cruel disappointment when he had to once more face the harsh reality of his waking.

Except he wasn’t dreaming. Slowly, he became aware of the soft, warm breasts that his head was nuzzled against, of the legs that were intertwined with his, of one arm touching his arm, the other firmly around his back, and of a chin resting on top of his head.

Elizabeth!

Finally, he dared to open his eyes to test this extraordinary reality. He smiled. It was so. William pulled himself up onto his elbow, so he could see her face - the face of his salvation. With a sudden clarity, he realized that he couldn’t remember having a single nightmare last night. Elizabeth had come, was here with him, and not only had he slept -- really slept --but slept nightmare free for the first time in what seemed like forever.

He clamped his hand tightly over his mouth, as an unbidden, hysterical laugh threatened to erupt.

William settled onto his back and gently pulled her towards him. Still asleep, she sighed contentedly and nestled into his shoulder, her arm going around his neck, in a possessive and lovingly familiar way.

“My angel, my precious, precious angel,” he whispered, tears springing to his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11:00AM

Mrs. Grieves was just leaving for the day, when Willow and Giles returned from having been at the Council for a couple of hours.

“Ah, Mrs. Grieves. I’m glad I caught you. I can’t believe I forgot to give you this earlier,” Giles said, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out an envelope. He handed it to her. She took it with a shy smile, and placed it into her pocket.

“Thank you, Mr. Giles. I left you a note, but I’ll go over this with you since you’re here. As you know, the turkey is in the large oven. You should check the temperature around three; if it’s below 130 degrees, you’ll probably have another two hours before you can eat. If it’s over that, then you can plan on having dinner around four. Just make sure you watch the temperature closely once it goes over 150 degrees, if you don’t want a dry bird. All the dishes are prepared; all you have to do is pop them into the oven or microwave, or take them out of the refrigerator.”

“That sounds just splendid. Thank you for taking care of all that for me.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Giles.”

“Happy Christmas, Mrs. Grieves. I hope it beckons good things for the New Year ahead for you.”

She just nodded, head down, then turned to walk away.

“Oh, Mrs. Grieves. Was William and my other guest up yet?”

“Not a peep, Mr. Giles. And don’t worry, I didn’t bother to vacuum the second floor, like you requested.”

“I wasn’t worried, but thank you.”

“Happy Christmas, Mr. Giles. And to you, Miss Rosenberg.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOON

Like a butterfly coming out of it's warm, enveloping cocoon, Buffy awoke and stretched as far as her intertwined limbs could. As the realization of exactly why that was came to her, she opened her eyes. Intense blue eyes met her expectant gaze, staring at her with something like awe.

“Hey,” she said softly, smiling.

“Morning,” William returned, as he gently brushed a strand of hair off of her face. “Afternoon is probably more apt.”

“You’re kidding? What time is it?”

“Dunno,” he said, lifting himself up a bit to look around the room for a clock. There was a small one next to her. Still entwined, he partially leaned over her to turn it so they could see the time. After verifying the time, she then turned back, expecting William to do the same. He didn’t. Buffy froze as she looked up at his face, and his eyes, and his lips so tantalizingly close.

“I...I think I should be fired,” she said, a little breathlessly.

“What do you mean, luv? William asked, his forehead burrowing in sudden concern. “Something happen with your job?”

“No, not that,” Buffy said, with a nervous laugh. “I mean fired here, by you. I told you that I wouldn’t let you sleep, and that I wouldn’t, and here it is...”

“Shhh, it’s alright. Guess we both needed it more than we suspected, eh?”

Buffy nodded, relieved that he didn’t seem upset. In fact, he appeared almost dare she say it, ‘normal’ this morning. At least as far as ‘normal’ was defined in her world. Whatever it was that he was feeling, it was a far cry from the absolute grief and anguish he’d exhibited last night. She shook her head in wonderment, just savoring the moment.

“What?” William asked softly, tilting his head to look at her with a puzzled smile.

“Nothing. I’m just...” she started, the train of thought soon lost to her as she stared into his eyes. There were so many things she wanted to tell him; how she’d missed him so, how she worried about him, and how much she loved him still.

“I know. Me, too,” he whispered, at a loss for words himself by the delectable and distracting nearness of her. Deciding that this was the perfect moment to do what he’d been wanting to all morning, he’d just moved in to kiss her, when they heard someone knocking.

William looked as though someone had just thrown ice water over him, waking him up from what had been a lovely start to the day. With a sigh, he withdrew to his side of the bed. Buffy silently swore at the very stinky timing of the person on the other side of the door. Still, she supposed she ought to answer.

“Yes?”

“Hey, Buffy. It’s me. Can I come in?” Willow called.

Buffy glanced at William. He nodded, as he sat up against the headboard. She followed suit, running her hands through her hair.

“Sure, come on in.”

“Um...can’t, have my hands full.”

William looked over at her. Buffy shrugged, then reluctantly got up to let her in.
At the door, Buffy tried to warn Willow, by motioning with her eyes, that William was with her.

“I know,” Willow said with an unfazed smile, handing Buffy a coffee cup; then walked over to the bed and handed the other one to William.

“Hey, guys, I come bearing coffee; and to let you know that Giles and I are going to do some last minute Christmas shopping if you want to come along. He said most of the regular stores have already closed for Christmas Eve, but this outdoor place called Greenwich Market is open for another few hours.”

Buffy and William looked at each other, mirroring what the other was thinking - Christmas! They both nodded.

“Well, good then. We’ll be leaving in about half an hour. Is that enough time for you two to get ready?”

“Um...forty-five might be better. I need to take a shower first. In fact, I think I’ve needed to take one for the past twenty-four hours...”

“And Elizabeth has to eat something first, as well. I’m sure she’s got to be hungry.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“And you can eat something first,” William repeated.

“Then we can eat something first,” Buffy replied.

“Okay, shower, dress, eat...how much time do you think you’ll need then?” Willow asked, grinning at the little exchange. It made her happy to see them acting so caring towards each other this morning.

William looked at Willow, while putting his hand on Buffy’s arm. She turned to look at him, not knowing what to expect.

“Instead of us holding you up while we get ready, why don’t we meet you there? It’s not very far to walk, if Elizabeth doesn’t mind,” he said looking at her.

Buffy shook her head. “I’d love it,” she said, smiling at him. “That is, if you don’t mind, Willow. It would give us a bit more time.”

“Sure, no problem. Just call me on my cell when you guys get there.”

“We will,” Buffy said, as Willow let herself out.

“I imagine you’d like to take a shower first,” William said, as soon as Willow had gone.

“Okay,” Buffy said, a bit disappointed. She was going to suggest that they take one together, but despite the morning going quite well so far, she didn’t want to push the situation.

William sat on the side of the bed, as she got her stuff ready for the shower. After being so bereft for so long, just watching her perform this most simple of acts, warmed his heart more than he could say.

Items in hand, Buffy walked back over to the bed and stood before him. “Well, I guess I’m off to the shower then. I won’t be long.”

Taking her free hand in his, he brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. “I’ll be right here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1:30PM

By the time Buffy had come back from the shower, William had brought up a big plate of food for her and a pot of tea for them to share. She’d insisted that he eat, too. Reluctantly, he ceded to her wishes.

It had started to drizzle before they left Giles’ flat, so William had asked her if she’d rather they take a cab or the bus to their destination.

“Is it far?”

“A twenty-minute walk, if that,” he’d replied.

“Then let’s walk.”

“Very well,” he replied, smiling at her.

Now, walking through Greenwich Park on their way to their destination, with a solicitous William holding a large umbrella over their heads and his arm securely around her waist, Buffy couldn’t complain about a little rain.

Just being with him like this; arms around each other as any other couple might do was so much more than could have hoped for only yesterday. Ever since Willow had interrupted the almost-kiss this morning he’d seemed a bit shy around her, but she understood. Buffy felt like she was at a crossroads with William without a map herself. A shy William was okay with her; she knew this part of him. When he’d first come back, a very shy William is whom she’d met. Shy wasn’t being indifferent, or angry and hurt, or terrified. Shy wasn’t leaving her or trying to get her to leave for her own good. Shy she could live with.

However, when William started telling her all about the history of Greenwich and its famous landmarks as they made their way through the park he was elucidating, eloquent even, and Buffy was enthralled. Before they met up with Giles and Willow, she’d gotten him to promise to take her on a real tour of the places another day.

As for William, he hadn’t felt so much like his old self for months. He struggled trying to tamp down the almost giddy joy he was feeling, on the one hand, and control the all-consuming anxiety that this was all just some sort of wonderful dream which would come to a screeching halt, on the other. The result of those two warring emotions was the retiring one he wore on the outside. Only when he had been caught up telling Elizabeth about Greenwich’s history, her quick mind taking it all in, encouraging him, did it all fall away – the pretense, the worry, and the giddiness. He loved her for that almost most of all, for letting him feel himself.

They met up with Giles and Willow at a food kiosk not far from the entrance to the market. Willow waved to them when she saw them, her cheeks were flushed from the cold air, making them almost match her hair color peeking out from underneath her cheerily green cap.

“Buffy! William! Over here!”

They made their way through the crowds until they got to Willow.

“Hey,” Buffy said, sniffing the drink Willow held in her matching green mittens. “Smells good, what is it?”

“Only the best hot chocolate ever. Here, have a taste,” Willow said, handing Buffy her mucho grande extra supremo cup.

Buffy took a sip, a sigh of delight escaping her. “Oh my God, it’s a chocolategasm in a cup,” she said, then blushed as she looked at William, suddenly remembering a night where chocolate syrup and rocky road ice cream had figured prominently in their mutual debauchery.

“Sounds...interesting. However, the more important question would be does it come with those little marshmallows?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Why is this so hard?" Buffy muttered, as she looked at the umpteenth shopping stall. She’d managed to buy a few things; a small teakwood jar for Willow with a star carved on the front of it that almost looked Wiccan, and for Giles an old book on ancient mariners and astronomy. However, finding anything for William wasn’t so easy.


“What’s that?” Willow asked.

Buffy looked around her. William was a couple of booths away, seemingly engaged in his own shopping. Giles had left to get a few things ready for their dinner, but really she suspected he just didn’t have much of a shopping gene. She was beginning to doubt her own at this point.

“I can’t find anything for William. Nothing seems...right,” she said, sadly shaking her head. “Still, I feel so awful. I can’t believe that I didn’t get him something before I came. Or you guys, either. I just couldn’t deal.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that too much, Buffy. I’m sure William is just happy you’re here.”

“Me, too,” Buffy said, smiling softly.

“I’m happy for you. I don’t know what happened between last night and today, but it’s like you’re back to the old Spike and Buffy. Or William and Buffy, that is,” Willow said.

Buffy looked over at William, who glanced up at that moment and smiled warmly at her and waved. She waved back, returning his smile. Then she turned to back to Willow.

“It feels good, you know? But I’m not deluding myself that everything is just going to be clear sailing from here on out. He’s got so much he’s dealing with; stuff I didn’t even realize. I feel like I was so blind,” she said, shaking her head.

“Hey,” Willow said, putting a hand on Buffy’s arm. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. You haven’t exactly had it easy yourself.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not, and I didn’t. I’m just saying that I’m taking this a step at a time. There’s still a lot for us to work out.”

Willow nodded. “I get that, but you seem to be on the right track at least.”

“Yeah; finally,” Buffy said, starting to walk away from the stall when something caught her eye...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Find anything interesting?” Buffy asked, walking up to where William was looking at a stall full of antiques.

William shook his head sadly. He looked at the sack she was carrying with a raised eyebrow. “Guess you did better than I did.”

“Just a few things, nothing great,“ she said, unconsciously patting the front of her jeans. Wrapped in a small piece of tissue paper and securely tucked into her pocket, was William’s gift.

“I did find something I think Dawn might like, though.” William said, showing her a small, framed etching of London that was on one of the tables.

“It’s lovely,” Buffy said, admiring the detailed work on the small picture. “It looks old.”

“It is. It says late 1800’s on the back, though I could tell that already.”

“Maybe you should buy it for yourself then.”

“You don’t think Dawn will like it, do you?” William asked, frowning.

“No, I think she’d love it. I just though maybe since it reminded you of that time...”

“Don’t need a reminder, got it all up here,” William replied, pointing to his head.

“In that case, get it for her. She’ll love it.”

At the same stall, they found a small, black leather case that was filled with old medical instruments from around the same period. William was familiar with many of them having seen the doctors of his day carry them on house calls. They decided to get this for John.

Afterwards, they wandered into a stall selling Christmas tree decorations. William and Buffy stopped to stare at a tree whose primary theme were birds.

“They’re pretty, reminds me of...” Buffy said softly.

“Ours,” he said, as guilt and regret coursed through him as he remembered the joy he’d felt last season. Everything about the season had been perfect; from picking out the tree and finding ornaments, to just basking in the love and warmth he’d never experienced before and never thought he would.

“Yeah.”

“Missed it this year, didn’t I?” he said sadly, his eyes cast downwards.

“I didn’t even put one up. There didn’t seem any point,” Buffy said, regretting her choice of words as soon as they’d left her lips, because William had immediately looked chagrined.

“I’m so sorry, luv. All I ever seem to do is bollix up everything I’ve ever touched, hurt everyone I’ve ever cared about. Or worse.”

Her hand stole across the short distance to take his, and to give it a reassuring squeeze.

“Elizabeth...”

“Please don’t, William. We’re here now, together now. Right?” Buffy asked in a voice that commanded his attention.

That and her touch, seemed to ground him; brought him back to the present, and allowed his runaway thoughts to slow and fade. William took a deep breath as he looked into her eyes, in which he found nothing but warmth and affection. He nodded, more grateful to her than she could ever understand. He straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat.

“Which one do you fancy?”

Buffy looked at the tree, finally pointing to a red cardinal near the top. He reached up and took it down for her. Another, whose hanger was entangled with the cardinal came down as well.

“How about you?”

“This one, I should think. Seems like they’re meant to be together,” William said, choosing the indigo bunting that had been connected to hers. He held it up to examine it, the deep blue color shimmering when he held it up to a ray of sunlight. He started to take out his wallet, when her hand stayed his. He looked at her questioningly.

“What’s going to become of them?” Buffy asked, taking the birds out of his hand and holding them up, eye level.

“What do you mean, luv?”

“What I mean they probably didn’t start out their lives together. After all, they’re not the same types. They might have even been enemies at one time; who knows? But things obviously changed for them; lots of things, and they’re together now, trying to make things work. It’s just...I don’t think either of them will be happy, or satisfied, or whole, if they’re apart.”

Staring into her eyes, William’s hand drifted over her hair in a soft caress. “No, they couldn’t bear it, could they?”

“No,” she whispered, as she held her breath.

“Then this fellow,” he said, holding up the bunting, “must do whatever he can so he’ll never be apart from this one. And he will.”

“Does he promise?”

“He does; I do,” William said solemnly. “Whatever it takes,”

END CHAPTER 191