Hello Everyone!

Thank you all so much for the kind concerns and messages I've been receiving. I know it's been a while since the last update but it's been crazy! However, I do plan on finishing this story for you guys so don't be worried about that! Hope everyone is staying safe during these tough times. Missed you guys!!

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Fire.

Fire is all I see.

Its warm hues ignited before me. Setting the tone to panic. I could not catch my breath. Its flames bursted through the roof of what once's known to be my home. Windows came crashing down, glass everywhere. All I could see in that moment was the end. The end of an era.. My family home. The end of my family... If they were inside.

My eyes scavenged the premises, aimlessly trying to spot anyone. An officer, fireman, a nearby neighbor that might've seen the whole thing... Anyone.

"Ma'me," One officer stepped before me. Arms stretched wide out before me. "I'm sorry but you can't be here... I'm going to have to ask you step behind the tape."

"You don't understand." I panicked in the officer's arms, eyes looking up at the bits of home crashing down behind him. "That's my house." I cried.

The officer's eyes widened with my remark. Immediately he turned his head, calling out for other officers to come.

"Please... My mom and sister..." I cried. In that second I felt another body come from behind me. His strong arms needed no introduction, I knew exactly who it was.

"Sir, are you with her?" The officer asked Jack. Noticing I could barely stand on my own, he allowed for Jack to take over me. He held me from my back, nodding his head at the officer as I wept nothing but cries and tears.

"Please, officer... Her mom and her sister aren't returning her calls." Jack spoke up.

"They're okay." The officer nodded. "Come now. Come with me."

Instantly, my cries had stopped. Jack and I looked at each other before following the officer who was now calling out for the rest of us to make some space. Jack held me the whole walk over to the parked ambulance. Upon turning to the open back, there they were.

"Mom!" I cried.

"Lizzy!"

It was as if a wave of relief came crashing down on me. My legs felt weak, both my mom and Mandy were sitting in the back with a few firefighters. They seemed okay, covered in blankets and breathing through an oxygen mask.

I couldn't put this feeling into words. But it was the best feeling.

"Mom." I cried over her shoulder.

"It's okay, Elizabeth." She brushed my hair. "We're okay."

Oh mom, always so calm. I couldn't possibly imagine what kind of night they had.

"I, I thought I had lost you." I cried, pulling back from her. I glanced at my sister and held her cheek. God they are so precious to me. Just the split second of losing them for good made me go insane.

"No baby," Mom shook her head. "Our time is not over yet.."

* * *

As the fire slowly diminished, so did the crowd. I remained in the back of the ambulance holding my mom. Mandy had fallen asleep in my lap by now.

We were all exhausted.

I couldn't bare to look at the mess left of my home. Everything was gone... All the memories.. My whole life.. Just vanished. It was all too painful.

My vision then turned to Jack, hoping for a distraction of the mess. But seeing him pace around back and forth as he spoke on the phone didn't help either. It made it worse...

"Elizabeth!"

The sound of my name made my head turn to my left. Without a moment of doubt, no other than James Strider himself rushing in.

"Oh God." His arms wrapped around the two of us, both my mother and I, kissing our foreheads before stepping back. "Liz.. Tori... Are you okay? I rushed out of the station the second I heard."

"We're..." My Mom stopped and looked down at us then back at the house. There really was no word to describe the emotion we felt. "Okay." She ended up smiling back at him.

James, who stood before us still in his uniform, looked down at Mandy, his hand gently meeting her arm.

"You don't have to lie to me." He shook his head. "Do you have any idea how this happen? We're you in the house?" He looked back at me.

"Only Mandy and I were inside." My mother spoke. "Thankfully we got out just in time, and Liz... Well, thank God she wasn't home." She gave me a small squeeze.

Sighing, James stood before us. "I can't believe this happened... How did this happen? Was there a power fuse? Candle? Curling iron?"

Mom only shook her head. Before she could reply, another figure joined us.

"James.. Hey." Jack approached. James saluted back.

"Everything okay?" My eyes wandered off to meet his own. Jack only looked at me and softly smiled, nodding his head. I knew then he was lying... He didn't want to say anything in front of my family.

Not before long of the small talk between us, yet another figure came to view. The man was a cop, one who was familiar with James.

"Strider? Is that you?" The cop asked.

"Rogers.. These are my neighbors.. Family. Do you have any lead on the incident?"

The cop looked back at my mom and I. "Mrs. Viera... As of now we have no information on what caused the fire, but judging from the rapid growth of the fire.. It doesn't appear to be an accident. But I can assure you, I'll have my finest men working on this case first thing in the morning." The cop explained. "As for tonight... Is there another place you can spend the night? A family member perhaps? If you don't, we can provide a hotel for girls."

"Forget the hotel, you can stay with me." James offered.

"Right next to the place where their home burned?" Jack questioned. "No, you guys can come stay with me." He looked back at me with concerned eyes. "There's more than enough space." I knew it wasn't just for the space. It was the safest place too and I for one was not about to reject that after this invasion of privacy happened for the night.

Looking back at my mom, I watched her only smile back at me. Her fingers traced a strand of hair behind my ear before she looked back down at my sister.

"My two beautiful girls." She softly spoke.

You could see the tears slowly beginning to form in her eyes. But yet with everything, she held it together.. For us. I knew right then and there the power my mother had. She is the strongest woman I've ever met.

Deeply inhaling, my mother turned back to the men standing before us. "James. My boy, you are always so kind to us." She smiled, reaching out for his hand. "Thank you for always looking out for us, but I think I'm going to pass up on that offer, at least for tonight." She turned to look over his shoulder, her eyes tearing up once again at the sight of our family home now burned to the ground.

Nodding his head, James too tried his best to hold in his tears. Without another moment to waste, he brought her into his embrace. My mom smiled over his shoulder, rubbing his back before he let go.

"You must be tired.. I know how hard you've been working at the station." My mom smiled, holding up his chin. "You should get some sleep... Take advantage that Zach is away with your parents on their business trip." She chuckled.

That's my mother for you, always putting a smile on people's faces.. Never the victim, even when she is. She stroked her hand over his hair before drying his tears. "I love you, Jamie." She smiled. "Thank you."

With a nod of his head, my mother pulled him into an embrace once more. "I love you too, Tori.." He smiled.

Pulling back from their embrace, James then turned to me. No words were exchanged. Everything we needed to hear from each other was expressed in our hug. God knows how much I love this boy.

"I know you'll be safe with him." He whispered into my ear. "But please, please don't hesitate to call me if you're ever in danger." He gave me a gentle squeeze as he spoke. "Please.."

"I won't." I spoke back, kissing his cheek before pulling away. I didn't allow him to wander very far. My fingers interlocking with each other behind his neck. I smiled as I looked into his eyes. You could see the worry in them, the pain. He took on such a role after my father passed away. One he never had to obey to, but he did, because James has always been a man of his word. "I love you, Jamie." I smiled.

His lips softly curled into a small smile. Bringing his hand back over to meet my own, he pulled the palm of my hands out before him and against his lips. He placed a small kiss in them before looking back up at me. "I love you, Elizabeth." He softly whispered.

I held my tears as James gave my hands a gentle squeeze before releasing them back over my lap. He then turned to Mandy who was sound asleep thanks to all the Valium they had to give her. He placed another kiss to her forehead before standing up again. He then turned to Jack.

"Jack, I know you'll take good care of my girls." He reach a hand out to him to shake.

Jack only looked at James before taking his hand and pulling him into an embrace.

All in the moment, I noticed James whisper something in Jack's ear. The message had Jack staring blankly into space until he pulled away. They patted each other's shoulders once more and finally, they all parted ways.

James had left with the other officer, claimed he was going to ask around a few more questions. Jack on the hand, started walking up to us.

"Here, let me take Mandy." He started lifting her up from my lap.

My mother stayed behind to sign a few papers with the paramedic. After assuring that she was okay, I followed behind Jack to reach him across the street in his car.

I helped open the door for him as he carefully laid my sister in the backseat and strapped her on. She moaned a little as she was beginning to wake up, but I shed her back into her calm state of rest. I didn't waste my time though, upon closing that door, I turned to Jack.

Before I could ask him the question I had in mind, he pulled me close.

I didn't know I needed it, but his embrace meant everything right now.

"Jack..." I started.

"Shh..." He brushed the back of my hair. "Let's talk about this at home.."

Home...

What is that, anymore?

* * *

We arrived at the house and immediately my mom's jaw dropped. She had the same reaction I did, only she did not have to wander far as to where he came up with the money to afford such luxury.

Mandy was still half asleep but walking down besides my mom. The rest happened just as expected. Jack opened the door for us and showed my mom and Mandy one of his spare rooms. He showed them to the shower and I stayed behind to find some clothes for them. He asked if we were hungry, but the three of us denied. All we looked forward to now was some sleep.

Jack stood with us until he saw my mom and Mandy climbing into the bed.

"Is there anything else I can get you before you go to sleep?" He asked.

"That's alright." Mom kindly denied. "Thank you, Jack. For everything. I'll be calling my sister tomorrow... See if she can take us in for a while."

"Wherever you feel more comfortable, Tori." He softly smiled back at my mom. "Just know you are welcomed here for as long as you need. Always."

Smiling again, my mom nodded her head before dozing off besides my sister.

I smiled at the thought of them.

Before we left the room, I turned around to Jack. "Jack? Do you think it's okay if I stay with them tonight?" I asked.

Without saying a word, he turned back to me, hand reaching out to pull me closer. "Of course, Baby."

Placing a long and warm kiss to my forehead, Jack gave me one gentle squeeze before releasing me.

"I'm right upstairs if you need me."

My eyes fluttered open again as I felt him slowly pull away. Gently, he closed the door between us leaving me and my little family alone in the room once more.

Looking back at them, my eyes filled tears. I can't believe this happened to them.. To us. It was no accident, I know that for sure. And I now understand the dangers of this world both my father and now boyfriend tried so hard to keep me away from it. It's deadly.

* * *

I woke up in bed to the sound of thunder. My heart beat out of my chest startled, immediately looking around the room for my mom and sister.

There they were, still sound asleep. Mandy in the middle with my mother's hand over her waist.

I was having a horrible nightmare, but what's new? This time it was family in danger, the thunder was the gunshot that fired at them...

I couldn't sleep, not after what happened tonight. Finding myself wandering off the bed, I quietly existed the room in search for the only other person who didn't have pain pills to help them sleep off the traumatic night...

I didn't have to wander off far. Upon entering the living room, there he was, standing right by the tall fireplace. Back turned towards me.

I took a moment to take in the sight before me. Jack's arm stretched over the modern fireplace. He wore a plain black t shirt and jeans. A glass of his favorite bourbon on his other hand besides him.

I tried not to make a sound, but it was as if he felt my presence. Turning his head over his shoulder, my name fell in a whisper from his mouth before his whole body turned to me. He laid his glass down on the coffee table before him as he walked up to me. Concern filled his eyes.

"Liz, are you okay?" His hands grabbed either side of my arms, eyes looking into mine.

I only shook my head. "Couldn't sleep..." I admitted.

"Join the club.." He gave me a half smile, urging for me to feel better. It worked for the second, but then I had to let it out of me..

"Do you think.." I paused, looking into his eyes. "Blade?" Was all I had to say.

Jack immediately sighed, not the response I was hoping for.

"If there is one thing you should know about Blade, is that he doesn't take his work to the public.. That's how he remains unknown, unfollowed." He explained. "And besides.. Why would he blow up the only place that would hold any evidence to finding the Red Venom... Just what he wants us to find for him to take?"

"So you don't think this was Blade's doing?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

Jack only looked at me and shook his head. "I've been thinking about it the whole time... This had to have been someone that didn't want the last puzzle piece to be found... Maybe for your own protection.. For your whole family's good."

He didn't have to say anything else... "Wait.. You think this was Dominic?" I asked.

The answer scared me even more than Blade, yet it for the puzzle perfectly. "We know he's still alive.. And we know he's always protected you and your mother.. Maybe he wanted to get rid of everything so Blade won't have something to pull you towards."

"But we both know that won't happen." I stated. There's too much of a history between my family and Blade's. Too much was lost. This rage he has with my family name goes beyond the Red Venom. He's looking for revenge.. For what happened to his father, his own brother.

Jack remained silent. I knew he didn't want to admit that Blade wants to kill me for what my father did.

Instead, he just pulled away, turning his back towards me and back to the fireplace. I watched him stressfully grip his curls, scratching his head.

"I just..." He paused to look back at me. "I wish we could only find him.. Talk to him.. Get some answers.." He spoke. "He's the only one we can trust to give us the truth.."

"What about Veronica?" I asked. "She seemed to have all the answers on my family history.."

"All the more reason to raise those red flags," Jack nodded. "I don't trust her intentions.."

His honesty left me a little in shock. Veronica seemed honest, trustworthy.. After all, she is family.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, I've been in this business way too long." He explained. "Which means, I've picked up on a few things. One of them being that family is sometimes the first to betray you. I've seen brothers kill brothers.. Sisters turn their back on sisters." He explained.

"She's on our side, Jack." I assured. "She protected us in Dominican Republic.. Kept us safe and gave us the break we deserved. No one else has done that." I explained, stepping closer to him with my hand over his cheek. "I know trusting someone doesn't come easy for you.. But trust me when I say she's not a threat."

His eyes looked back up to me, wanting to trust but not fully there.

"If there is one thing I learned from David is that there is nothing like family. I'm sure Dominic is like that too and so is Veronica." I urged again.

"I know.." He looked down. "It's just weird to explain. There's more to the story... That's why we need Dominic."

"Are you suggesting we find my father?" I asked him.

"Find him? No one has found him in years.." He paused. "Not even his own family. He doesn't want to be found."

"So we lure him." I explained. "Make him come out of hiding."

"How?" He asked me.

I didn't take long for the answer to come to me. It was always there...

"Us. His family." I answered. "Like I said before, family is everything to us... What if one of us was in danger?"

Jacks eyes immediately went wide.

"No. I'm not putting you in any more danger." He claimed.

"It won't be real." I denied. "We could stage something..."

Jack only looked at me, not too sure of this idea.

"Think about it? I might just do the trick." I replied, wanting him to understand.

Nodding his head, Jack looked back at me and smiled. "I gotta call the guys."

* * *

The morning was rather quick. After mom and Mandy woke up, we ate breakfast together in Jack's dinning room. Mom and Mandy were still quiet, however New York is not where they wanted to be. Mom called in to work this morning and took a few days off. With Mandy, they drove down to the police station for more questioning. I decided against it. There was much to do here in the city.

Upon their absence, Jack didn't a waste a moment to go and call the guys. Little by little, they all started showing up at the door, Andrew included. Once all were here, we moved upstairs to the conference room.

The room was brightly lit by the wall of glass facing the mountains in the backyard. A long table was centered in the middle with all of us in a seat. Jack of course was at the end.

"So what's the reason for this urgent meeting?" Ethan wondered, spinning in his chair.

"Is everything okay?" Justin wondered.

Jack only looked at them. In minutes they were caught up. After replying to their concerns towards my family, we moved on to the real reason for the meeting...

"You want to find Dominic Baines?" Ethan arched a brow. "The Dominic Baines?"

"You got any other bright ideas?" Jack wondered.

"Uh yeah.." He paused.. "Find the Red Venom. We won't find Dominic Baines because he doesn't want to be found. It'll be like searching for a needle in a haystack."

"I understand our odds are rather low." Jack continued.

"Try, impossible." Andrew jumped in.

"But there's still a chance." Jack finished anyways. "I can contact Ramsey.. He found out about you and Liz in less than a week. The guy is good..."

"But impossible to reach, and not to mention... Way too over priced." Andrew scolded. "Dominic Baines... William Viera... Whatever his name is now, does not want to be found. That I can assure you of." Andrew answered.

"Do you have something else to suggest? By all means, the floor is yours." Jack responded with both his hands in the air.

Andrew did not speak again.

"Maybe there is still a way to track down the missing piece..." Justin paused. "Elizabeth, think.." He now turned to me. "Is there anything... Anything at all that you could think of that was your fathers that you probably still have on hand?" He asked. "When he passed away, did you give anything of his away to anyone close to you guys?"

I stopped to think for a second. The only person I could think of was James.

There were a few of his clothes we gave out to Mark Strider, James' father. At the time of David's passing, we were only kids so there wasn't much of my dad's belongings that made any sense to give to James. Except...

"Oh my God... His watch." I looked back up at them.

Sitting up from my seat, my hands slapped onto the hardwood of the table. "James.. I gave him my father's watch. It belonged to his father before that.." I spoke. "James was the closest thing to a son David ever had."

"That'a perfect!" Jack explained. "Lets go get it!"

"Hold on!" Andrew stood up, halting the rest of the group from proceeding to do so. "That watch doesn't fill the prophecy... It had to be given to Liz from Dom... Not something from David that Liz gave to someone who isn't even blood."

"I get it, it doesn't seem perfect." Jack grinned back at Andrew. "But right now we don't have a lot to work with.. So we take what we can get." Looking around, Jack's face formed into somewhat of a grimace. "Now c'mon... We gotta pay a visit to Strider."

* * *

The front door of the Strider home was opened, revealing a still tired James in just a pair of joggers and a white long sleeve shirt.

"Liz? Jack?" His voice was still tired.

I felt bad as he continued to rub his tired eyes and the other guys just bashed in with no warning whatsoever. James became alert of the situation, immediately rambling on questions as to what they were doing. Jack, Justin, Andrew and I were the only ones who stayed behind.

Instantly, he turned to me.

"Liz? What is this? What's going on?" He asked me.

"I'm sorry, James... It's just we're in a bit of a short leash." I tried to explain.

"Short leash?" His questionable eyes suddenly turned over to Jack, more so deadly than ever.

"What did you get her in now?" He stepped up to Jack, hands fisting over his leather jacket.

Jack made no movements. I quickly reacted and jumped in between them.

"Hey.." I urged for him to bring his hands away from him. "James, I'm fine. This has to do with the Red Venom."

"Red Venom?" He looked back at us. "What does that shit have to do with me?" He paused to turn around at the group of people, basically trashing his house in efforts to find the object of interest. "And why the Hell are these people trashing my home!?" He shouted back at them, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Our groups didn't stop what they were doing, just simply ignored James.

"We believe the last missing piece to finding this thing belonged to the watch I gave you." I started to explain.

"You mean your dad's watch?" He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to better understand.

I nodded my head.

"Tell us where it is, and our people with stop searching your home." Andrew blurted out.

All three of us just looked at him as if he crossed a line. This is no way to be speaking to James, especially in his own home. Andrew just shrugged as if he had no idea what he just so mindlessly shouted.

"Ignore him." I apologized, turning back to my friend. "James, please... Would you let us take a look at it?"

Once again, he turned over to look back at the guys.

"Well it's definitely not in my mother's China cabinet!" He sarcastically dripped back at the guys.

Ethan sighed and closed the door.

"Stay here." James urged. "And don't touch anything else!" He warned back at the guys scavenging through his belongings.

James spun in his heals and raced upstairs leaving the rest of us to ponder alone, but not for long. We heard a few drawers open and close before we heard him rush back down the stairs. The watch in his hands.

"Is this what you were looking for?" He wondered, handing the piece back to me. Everyone around us jolted on their feet, racing over to stand around James and I.

I observed the watch with caution. Praying to the heavens there would be an answer here. Any answer.

"Why is it not ticking?" Jack curiously noted.

"Never worked." James shrugged. "All the jewelers I've taken it to say it's too rare, so none of the pieces they have on hand never worked to get it fixed. So I just left it as a vintage. It's still a really nice watch."

Jack didn't hesitate to look back at me. It was as if our prayers have finally been answered.

"This is it. The missing piece." He spoke.

My eyes widened up to his, nodding my head.

"I'm sorry.. Missing what?" James wondered.

We were quick to update James on the details, only things still weren't matching up to him.

"The pieces you're talking about were given to you by Dominic in way or another, this is David's watch? Doesn't it have to come from Dominic?" He asked.

"I can study it." Cameron looked up, taking the watch in his hands. "I've worked with many watches before, plus, I might just know another person with a little more experience who could help us take a closer look inside."

"Perfect." Jack nodded his head, placing his hand over Cam's shoulder. "Go, we'll meet up again tomorrow."

Nodding his head, Cameron gracefully took the watch.

"Hey, wait..." James calles out a bit disturbed. "I didn't say you could just walk away to dismantle my watch!"

Cam stopped in his tracks, turning to look back at Jack, waiting for a response. Jack only looked back my way.

"James... Believe me, this hurts me too. I'm sorry, but this is the only lead we have. W-What do you want me to do?" I asked him.

James looked at me and said nothing. Just breathed out heavily.

"Whatever, do what you have to do." He finally spoke.

Deciding not to waste another moment, Cameron took the watch and the rest of the group followed behind him. Only Jack and Andrew stayed with me.

I couldn't possibly leave James like this. Not after everything.

"Could you guys give us a moment?" I asked, turning around to Jack and Andrew. They looked at each other and understood.

Nodding their heads, they exited the house, shutting the door behind them.

I still didn't speak, watching as James turned around to look at the mess the guys left in his house. God I felt so bad for this. Immediately I began to clean up.

I started putting back throw pillows on the couch, picking up magazines from the floor and back onto the coffee table.

James turned around upon hearing me raffle through the stuff. Instantly, his arm reach out to me.

"Don't worry, Liz. I can clean it up." He offered.

"No, James." I denied. "This is all my fault."

"Don't say that." He shook his head.

"There you go again!" I exclaimed. "James, you don't have to defend me. I can take some responsibility, you know?"

"Responsibility for what, Liz?" He quickly spun around. "For getting involved in this world!?" He paused. "News flash, you didn't ask for it!"

"I am not going to have this argument again." I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

James paused for a second, deeply inhaling before stepping up to me again in frustration.

"No, you know what?" He paused. "Let's go there. Let's talk about this."

"What is there to talk about?" I asked him.

His voice got sturdier.

"Why are you letting yourself get so involved?" He asked me.

"Because it does involve me, James. My father—"

"Yeah, yeah, your father has his history." He interrupted. "But his history should not be your future, Elizabeth."

"Jack is my future, James." I explained. "Don't you get that I'm doing all of this for him? So that we can leave this mess behind and move on with our lives?"

"It's not that easy, Liz." He shook his head.

"But it is." I nodded. "Over the course of these last few months, I've seen an experienced the indescribable. I've seen people come back from the dead, I've discovered my birth father is still alive... That I have a brother. James, all of this is crazy! But life without Jack would be even crazier. Don't you get it?"

"Maybe I don't, but Liz...That's just putting me in a far out better position than the one that you're in right now. Okay?" His arms reached out to my own. "I am not influenced by the emotions you're feeling. I get that you love him. And I get that you want answers.. But Liz... Your entire house was blown up!" He stepped away, feet carrying him to the end of the living room where his arm drew out the curtain for the spot where my home once used to sit.

"This isn't just about you anymore, Liz. Your mom and sister were inside!" He shouted. "Who will be next?"

"You don't think I've thought about that?" I asked him. "That I haven't cried myself to sleep just thinking of the slightest possibility of losing them? Of losing You?"

James remained silent. Only his hands ran over his face, grunting at the thought of everything.

I hated this. I hated having to fight for James. He doesn't see how much this is to me. How important it is for me to get some clarity. Get some closure.

Find my peace.

It's the least anyone deserves and I'm dreading that out of everyone, he's making this hardest on me.

James only looked at me as my eyes began to water. I blinked and the tears started falling down the side of my cheek. I held in my cries, just the thought of losing them.. My family... Tore me apart. That's when he reacted.

"You're not going to lose me, okay?" His arms reached out to me, holding me closer into his embrace. "Don't ever say that." He softly whispered. "It hurts me seeing you like this."

"I'm so sorry, James." I hugged him tighter.

"I just... I don't get it, Liz. You're a smart girl." He started to speak again. "You're so smart and so good, and this isn't where you're suppose to be. You're not suppose to go through this."

"James..."

"This can't be what your father wanted for you... What David left behind for you." He kept speaking. "It doesn't make any sense?"

I had to catch him up. I knew I had to. But right now, I couldn't speak. I just wanted to be held in his arms. I felt so safe with him. For a moment, I needed to cry and I needed to cry in his hold.

For a good moment, that's just what happened.

I had to pull away when I felt the door behind me open again. I turned only to see Jack standing by the door.

"Liz? Are you okay?" He asked with concern in his tone.

I smiled, wiping away the tears as I turned over to him.

"I'm good." I nodded, "Just needed to air some things out."

Jack's eyes turned over to look at James for reassurance. From the look in Jack's eyes, he trusted James' word for it.

"The guys and I were gonna go back to my place to wait for Cam's call on the watch." He spoke. "James, do you wanna come by and wait with us?"

"I actually have a shift at the station today.." He spoke. I turned around with hope in my eyes, I still wanted him to be there. James saw my expression and finished my thoughts for me. "But, I'll stop by as soon as I'm done... Promise." He looked down at me and gave me a small smile.

"Alright." Jack nodded.

We said our last goodbyes for the time being and apologized again for the mess the guys made. Of course, being the guy he is, James only shrugged it off.

Taking my by the hand, Jack walked us over to his car.

The car ride was quiet and the dark clouds hovering over us for the entire afternoon finally reached their peak as it started pouring over us.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jack asked as he glanced to his side as he steered up the mountain.

I only looked down at my knees, fiddling with my fingers over my lap.

Not saying anything, his right hand met my nervous fingers. His fingers intertwined with my own and I caught him looking down at me.

Pain vivid in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth.." He paused. "For everything."