WOO HOO! FINALLY AN UPDATE FOR YA'LL! I'm sorry for taking so long to publish this. Life has been crazy hectic lately with work, adulting in general, and ... wait for it ... becoming an AUNT to a precious little nugget this past weekend! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I'm definitely getting ready to wrap this story up (sad :( ) so ya'lls' feedback is so, so important right now! Let me know what direction you want Tellison to go! :D

"It's finished," Tom's voice called from the doorway, pulling Ellison away from her thoughts.

She had descended the staircase nearly a half hour ago, leaving Tom alone to obliviate Avery and implant new memories in his mind. She had decided to make herself a cup of tea, but upon opening the cupboard, had pulled down the flask of Fire Whiskey Tom had left on his previous visit instead. With a shaking hand, she had poured herself a generous glass and had sat down at the kitchen table, her mind racing with a million thoughts, each one more agonizing than the last.

"I've called my father and informed him," She replied, keeping her eyes trained on the glass cupped between her hands. "He's on his way."

"Are you okay?" Tom asked, closing the gap between them. Though she refused to meet his gaze, she could practically hear his eyebrows furrow in concern.

"I'm fine," She shook her head slightly, rubbing her thumb over the rim of her glass.

"You're hurt..." He said, placing a hand against her bruised cheek, running a gentle fingertip over her busted lip.

"I'm fine," She repeated, flinching away from his touch.

"What's wrong?" He took a step back, his eyes studying her expression intently. "What is it you're not telling me?"

Pushing herself away from the table, she stood to her feet, the chair screeching as it scraped against the hardwood. Walking over to the window, she stared out at the barren street in front of her flat.

"I can't do this Tom..." She said flatly, finally mustering up the courage to say what was on her mind.

"Do what?" He asked, his tone thick with genuine confusion.

"This," She said, turning around and looking at him for the first time since he had entered the room. "You and me ... Whatever this is," She added, throwing her hands up to gesture at the pair of them.

"Ellison-," He began, taking a step towards her, but she cut him off, backing out of his reach.

"I've been naïve for far too long," She said, shaking her head. "I thought that I could look past the things you do ... The danger that being close to you puts me in. And once upon a time, I could ... I did." She shook her head, her eyes stinging from the tears she fought desperately to keep at bay. "But it's not just me anymore, and I won't put them in danger again."

"I've told you," Tom began again, taking another step towards her. "I'll protect you ... all three of you."

"He would've killed them," She cut him off, her tone harsher this time. "He was going to murder them right in front of me! If that would've been Calla and Ella who walked through the door instead of you..." She trailed off, hot tears streaming down her face now at the thought of what had come too close to happening.

"It wasn't," He argued.

"But what if it had been?" She asked, wiping at her cheeks fiercely, willing herself to stop crying. "What if next time you don't make it before ... before something awful happens?"

"There won't be a next time," He said earnestly, his eyes filled with a desperation she rarely saw in them.

"Can you promise me that? I mean really promise me?" Ellison asked, the surge of anger she had felt moments before morphing into a heavy sadness as the realization of what she was about to do hit her. She stared into his eyes, searching them intently, though for what she didn't know. She had made her decision the moment she had walked out of her bedroom ... Nothing would change her mind, not even the false hope she sought in Tom's eyes now. "Because I think deep down, you know you can't keep that promise," She added, her tone thick with the grief she felt.

"What are you saying?" He asked, refusing to meet her gaze, his eyes staring past her, out the window instead.

"I'm saying you have to choose," She replied, swallowing hard before continuing. "What do you love more Tom? Me ... Or this power you so desperately seek?" She watched, with bated breath, for his reaction to her ultimatum.

"Ellison..." He began, his gaze shifting back to her.

"Until you decide," She cut him off, too afraid to hear the words she was certain would follow. "I think you should leave." She knew the decision he would make ... She had been naïve, but not that naïve. He hadn't chosen her the first time, why would he choose her now? The only reason their relationship had carried on as long as it had was because Tom thought he could have it both ways. She needed time before hearing it for herself though ... Time to come to terms with the inevitability of losing him again ... Time to prepare for the paralyzing pain of a broken heart.

"Ellison, please-," Tom said, his tone desperate now. He stepped towards her with an outstretching hand, but she stepped away, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Before the girls get home," She said, straining to keep her voice even, the tears that had brimmed moments before, threatening to fall again. Keeping her gaze trained on the half empty glass of Fire Whiskey still sitting on the table, she watched out of the corner of her eye as Tom stood there looking at her, studying her for some sign that she might change her mind. When she gave none, he took a few steps backwards towards the door, before turning slowly on his heel and walking out of the kitchen. After a moment she heard a light thud as the front door closed behind him, the tears she had been biting back, flowing freely.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I know this chap is on the shorter side, but I wanted to get *something* out for ya'll! Let me know what you think! 

Peace up, August out!