A/N: OHHHH BOYYY. What a week it's been so far! And still more craziness to come... *wipes forehead* I apologize for taking so long to update! I know this is way way waaaaay later than normal, but I really haven't had a chance to work on it at all until today. Thank you for your patience! And I believe you will all enjoy this chapter ;-)

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02 - 10 - 2089

The sun has fallen beneath the earth and we are still running. Cade's hand is still locked in mine, warm even in the freezing temperatures. We managed to slip in a department store and purchase warm clothes with the money Enzo gave us before we had to continue on. The soldiers after us had caught up only a few blocks from the store, and Cade had to knock one out before we lost them in the back alley behind the main street. I recognized it from where we had first entered town, and the restaurant where someone first noticed me.

Now, as the sky fades from blue to orange, and then to dark gray, we keep running. I don't know where we are headed, but I know my legs won't let me go on for much longer. The ache running up and down in my veins can only be tolerated for so long.

As if noticing my discomfort, Cade slows to a walk. "We should be able to rest soon," he promises me. "I think we've lost them by now, but I want to be sure." He finds my hand, wrapping it in his own. I lift my eyes to his face, taking in the familiar features I feel like I've known for so long. Dark scruff lines his mouth and chin, though, hair that is beginning to grow in from our adventure away from the facility.

I stroke the prickly hairs lightly, stopping when Cade lets out a short laugh, his face lighting up. "What?" I ask, frowning.

"Nothing." He shakes his head. "Let's keep going."

-

Once the night has officially begun, Cade finds us a room to stay in at a quaint inn and locks the door behind us. The room we have is small, with a simple platform bed, table and chairs, and a door leading off to a bathroom. It reminds me of my room back at the facility, only this room feels more alive. My room felt empty, and cold.

"We can stay here for now. You can use the restroom if you'd like. I'll go find us something to eat." Cade heads for the door, and I watch him leave before turning to the bathroom.

Inside, I finish relieving myself and then turn to the small square mirror hanging on the wall. I pause there, taking in my disorderly appearance. Back at the facility I was always clean and smelled of antiseptic, but now I smell like mud and sweat.

I curl my nose, trying to smooth a bit of hair that insists on sticking straight up. The black locks refuse to stay down, and eventually I give up the task. I cast one more glance in the mirror at my gaunt, pale face, when I hear Cade returning.

I step out of the bathroom just as he enters, holding a paper bag. He sets it down on the table and stands in front of me. "Are you hungry?" He asks, leading me over to the table. I sit down, waiting while he pulls out two wrapped sandwiches and a large cranapple. The fruit is bright yellow, telling me it isn't quite ripe.

"I thought cranapples only grew in warmer places," I say, picking up the fruit and admiring the vibrant color.

"They do. It was shipped here." He takes a seat and offers me a sandwich. The bread is still warm, and when I take a bite cheese strings from my mouth, still connecting to the sandwich. I let out a small moan, never having tasted something so delicious.

-

Once the meal is finished, I climb onto the bed, pulling the blankets over my legs. I watch as Cade puts the leftovers from our meal into the bag and then comes and sits down on the side of the bed. In that moment, he seems so weary. His head sags forward, his shoulders slump. I watch him for several seconds, trying to come up with something to say.

"You don't have to help me anymore." It's the only thing I can think of to say, and at the moment it feels right.

He lifts his head, slowly at first, then all at once. Surprise is clear in his eyes, and he looks at me with a sudden, unspoken question. "What?"

I squirm under his heavy gaze. "I'm a burden, I get it. And... and you've done enough." Ugh, why can't I think clearly?

"You're not a burden. On the contrary, I want to help you." He sounds hurt, and that makes me wish I had never said anything in the first place.

I wring my hands and stare at the soft blanket pooled around my waist. A strong, firm hand forces my gaze upwards only seconds later, and I meet Cade's blue eyes. We're inches apart, so close I can see the tiny streaks of silver in his irises.

"Gis, listen to me," he says, his voice low and careful. "I chose to help you. And I'm not leaving you. Ever." He tilts his head, his hair thick and mussed. I want to run my hands through it, but I hold myself back.

"Promise?" I say, but it barely comes out as more than a whisper. He doesn't do anything, or respond, and for a moment I wonder if he even heard me.

But then, before I can speak again, Cade closes the distance between us, wrapping a hand around my head and pressing his lips against mine in a flurry of heat. I'm so surprised I don't know what to do at first, so I let him kiss me. His lips are warm, and the heat I feel from where we touch is indescribable.

When he finally pulls away, I can only stare: at his eyes, his lips, and then the arm that is wrapped around my waist. How did it get there?

"Are you okay?" Cade asks after a moment.

I blink, focusing back on his face. "I... I've never been kissed before." My neck immediately warms and I cover my face, though I don't know why I feel embarrassed.

Cade doesn't laugh. Instead, he wraps his arms around me and I feel him smile against my hair. "Then I am honored to have been your first."

-

Hours later, I'm curled up on the bed while Cade sleeps on the floor. I can hear his breathing, soft and even, while I lie awake. I just can't seem to fall asleep, no matter how hard I try. The kiss keeps running through my mind on repeat, over and over. What does it mean? Why did he do it? What happens now?

I hate not knowing.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Cade's voice startles me, and I shift in bed, leaning my head over the side to see his eyes open in the dim light.

"I can't sleep," I whisper.

"Why not?"

I shrug. "I don't know."

"Is there anything I can do?" Cade leans up on his elbows, tilting his neck to look up at me. His hair is even messier now that he's been sleeping on it, but I still think it looks nice. Personally, I think he always looks nice, no matter what is going on. Even with the bruise on his face still prominent, I think he looks handsome. Even with the heavy, unspoken words in his eyes, I think he looks kind, and handsome, and... and... and...

Cade is looking at me funny, and I realize I haven't answered him. Instead, I've been staring at him for who knows how long. Thank you, brain, for drifting off, I think sourly. I scramble to come up with an answer, and then I end up blurting out, "Can you tell me about your family?" It comes out before I can think about what weight it carries. Instantly, I can see Cade's expression harden, flattening to a hard exterior.

"There's not much to tell."

I don't respond, and I don't press him. There must be something in that question to hurt him, but I don't know what. I wish I knew what haunted him, and why such a simple question would carry such burdens.

A moment of silence passes, and I'm ready to turn and try to sleep, when I catch his voice again. "I grew up with my parents, as an only child." He heaves in a breath, as if it pains him to speak. I open my mouth to tell him he doesn't need to continue, but he speaks again, stopping me.

"My father... he was always at work. I don't know him well. He and my mother, they never got along. And so I always felt so... torn. I felt like I needed to choose a side." He hesitates. "So I did." After that, the room falls into silence.

I want to ask him what he means, whose side he picked, but I know to hold my tongue. I can tell this isn't an easy topic for him to speak of, and I'm honored he would share it with me.

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