Breakeven (Lanedon and LilyAnn)

[Cham]

She felt Lane pulling her back. The little nicknames calming her. She was startled at first that Jacob was running, alone. But heard Lanes rushed whisper in her ear. She listened, and did as he instructed. Slipping off and catching up to a chest heaving Jacob after a moment. Kneeling down beside him, asking question upon question, hugging and kissing the small boy. He smiled and didnt seem to mind the attention after being starved of it at the Orphanage.

Finally Lane caught up, and she scooped Jacob into her arm, following him quickly. Where they were off to, she had no idea, but anywhere was better than there.

[Hero]

He stopped them at a corner. He looked back as the Peacekeepers turned and noticed that they were nowhere to be seen. Momentarily safe. "Lily. Our tickets are still good. Even if we don't go to District 3, we can still get out of here." He took Jacob from her arm and carried him. He took her hand walked down the street together. Once, a Peacekeeper recognized them. He pulled them into a shop where they isappeared as street rats and came out looking like they were remotely from the Capitol. He began to whisper words into Jacob's ear. "Listen, mommy and daddy might have to go away for a while. Not now but later, okay?" Jacob nodded. "You need to be brave for us, okay? If anything happens to us, go back and stay with the other boys. They'll protect you." He let Jacob go back to Lily. "Lily, we may not make it. They'll take you from me. They'll take our son. So, what happens now? I just want you to be happy." He walked a few yards away, dangerously thinking. "If only I had never been on the street that day.."

[Cham]

She felt Lane yanking her into the shop. Letting out a little yelp. But the peacekeeper didnt seem to notice. Lane was all of the sudden whispering to Jacob, telling him what to do. Then instructing her. She was frightened. As he turned to walk away, she grabbed his arm, pulling him back to kiss him hard and passionatly. When she pulled away, she whispered "I love you... be safe... And come back to me..."

Then he was off. She took a different route with two tickets, hoping to meet up with him back at the station. They hid this time. Pulling up their hoods. She forced herself to use what seemed to be a busted arm. She couldnt give her identity away as she carried Jacob through the crowds, covertly looking for her fiancee...

[Hero]

He desperately looked around for her. He pushed people around an out of his way. He pulled his good per his head so he couldn't be recognize as easily, which gave him a now mysterious look which he somewhat enjoyed. He made his way to the station in time to see what looked like his fiancée and child. Thank god they're safe. he walked over to then and out his hand on her arm, just to make sure it really was them. Before he could register what was happening, he looked down at her beautiful eyes and just knew. He took Jacob and set him down next to them. Then he pulled we into a passionate kiss. He lightly cupped her face, making sure not to hurt her anymore than he already had been. He broke the kiss only to say: "I love you Lily."

[Cham]

She felt a touch on her arm. A tender one. One that made her turn desperatly. Looking up into his face. The one she had been searching for. He scooped Jacob from her arms, and before she could register where he had gone, Lane pulled her to him. Professing his love. Half way through she finished for him "I love you too..." His lips on hers hard, but gentle. Longing. Needful. His hand carefully on her jaw, a light, tender touch that made her shiver.

But Jacobs soft pull on her arm sent pain rippling through her. Whincing, but trying to not let him know how badly it hurt. She turned to him, and helped him stand. Looking around, now so aware of the danger they were in. The blissful bubble popped, and anxiety filled her eyes. "Lane, what are we going to do? Where are we going to go?" She whispered, a soft, pleading voice.

[Hero]

He watched as Jacob pulled on her broken arm and her wince in pain. He knew they probably wouldn't last long if they stayed. Te odds weren't the best in their case. He knew what they did wasn't great but it was needed. Someone would have to understand. But understanding and sympathy weren't part of the Capitols forte. He put a comforting hand on the other arm and pulled her in for a hug. He wanted to tell we that it would eventually be alight but he knew it never would. Maybe it would, but they probably wouldn't live to see it. Once on his arms, he tried telling we that it was going to be just fine. "Lil, you know we could just stay here you know. Odd are, they'll think we've gone somewhere else and they'll just stop looking for us." He pulled away and awaited her reaction to his very not-well-thought plan.

[Cham]

STAY???

Had she heard him correctly? He wanted to stay in the Capitol... Lay low for a while, and leave once they gave up the search? For a moment she gave him a look like he was crazy. But as she thought about it... It made more sence... Now they wouldnt have problems with reapings. They would just have to be really good until they left. Not draw any attention to themselves...

Biting her lower lip, she contemplated. Thinking hard before finally nodding her head "Yes" She said softly "Lets do it."

[Hero]

He was so excited that she thought maybe for once he was right. They didn't agree on most things. In fact, they could've even described as divine opposites. And you couldn't blame anyone. "I told you it might've been a good idea. But I think I have an even better one." He began to lead her to the apartment they shared only weeks ago, and to his surprise, to find it still in tact. Jacob ran into his room and he just stood by the door, having the idea of ending their relationship together. It wouldn't be fair to Jacob. But then again, ever since she came along, he rarely spent any alone time wit her or Jacob. So thinking for the best, he went into his room silently, and began packing.

[Cham]

Lily held Lanes hand tightle as he lead her to the apartment. They hadnt really spent a lot of time together, but this was a chance to. Leading Jacob into his room, and helping him unpack. Heck, he didnt even need her help. There was so little to do, and he was so efficient. Besides, she wasnt much use. Any movement sent pains shooting up her arm.

Minutes later she was in the room she had shared with Lane. But he was putting things INTO suitcases... Not pulling them out. What the hell was going on?

Walking up behind him, she ran a gentle hand down his back, softly saying "Babe, what are you doing?" Confused. He was leaving them???

[Hero]

He didnt want to do this. He didnt want to abandon them like this. But he was the reason all of this had happened. They were fugitives now. If he went away, then maybe they could at least be happy. Plus, it's mot like Jacob loved him much anyways. Lily might have but there was a slim chance.

"Lily, you have to understand. They want me. Not you." He took into consideration as to what to say next but he simply mumbled it with no meaning. "It's not like you want me either." He then just continued packing.

[Cham]

Lily stood there appalled. "You- They- But-" She stammered, not understanding his thought process. "But... But theyre after me right? My dad wants me home... And... Me not want... but..."

She moved beside him and with her good hand pushed the suitcase off the bed "Dont say another word" Frowning, clearly angry. Instructing, "Just stand there for a moment" She walked to the bedroom door, and locked it, then came back to him. With one hand on his chest she pushed him to a sitting position on the bed, moving her leg up so she was half-standing, half-straddling his lap. Then she kissed him. Hard. Passionatly. Trying to pour her feelings into it. When she pulled back she was slightly out of breath "I love you more than life itself Lane. Clearly more than myself or i ould have left." After a moment, and another heated kiss, she pulled away, and asked a disturbing question.

"Or is it that you no longer love me..?"

[Hero]

"I know. Then go home. It'll be safer for you. Believe me." After she threw his bag down, he picked it back up as continued packing. He finsihed with the pictures of them into the bag. He paused and turned to face her just as she pushed him on the bed and kissed him. She straddled him and put a hand on his chest. He put a hand around her waist and she just pulled away and asked the question he prayed she wouldn't ask.

"Or is it that you no longer love me?"

"Lily, I still love you. You'd just be better off without me." He finished packing and zipped his suitcase shut. He took one last look at his now empty room. He kissed Lily passionately one last time before setting his suitcase in the living room. He went into Jacob's room and kissed him goodbye. He went back into the living room, picked up his suitcase, and walked out the door. Halfway down the hall, whispered Lily a goodbye.

[Cham]

He pushed her away... Seconds later he was sweeping her back into his arms, but then all of the sudden was out the door. What the hell was going on!

She stood agaisnt the doorway, leaning for support, a tearful Jacob by her side. She thought for once she was going to have a family. For once that she thought she could make a difference. But apparently she couldnt. She yelled down the hall "Lane!" He turned to look back, but that was all she needed. Calling out "If you love me... Prove it..."

[Hero]

He wanted to stay. He wanted to run back to her and tell her he was sorry. He simply turned back away, his back now to her. He set down his suitcase and began rolling it down he long, barren hallway. "Lily, I would prove it if I really did love you!" He looked back t her with a sorry look on his face. He wished he hadn't said it. But she had to let him go. She was safer without him. Jacob was better off with a mom. He loved her more anyways. But Lane loved her too. He didnt want to leave. But if he didnt, he might as well be dead.

[Cham]

She felt like someone has stabbed her

'If i really did love you'

The words played over and over in her mind. He didnt want her... She left everything, fell in love when he didnt even want her. Risked life and limb for a man who threw her away when times got tough.

This was all too much for her to process. She tried to usher Jacob back into the apartment, but Her body slipped to the floor with a 'thud' as the world became darker, fuzzier. She heard child-like screams coming from Jacob, but not even that could penetrate where her mind took her seconds later...

[Hero]

He heard the heart-wrenching cries from Jacob. Despite his instincts, he kept on walking. He knew tht this would be better for the both of them. They didn't need him. Then he heard the gut wrenching thump of Lily's body against the floor. He dropped his bag on the floor and ran over to her limp body. He pulled her head into his lap and just say there rocking her. He told Jacob to go get some water. Once he bought it to me, he sprinkled some on her face. She began coughing in his lap. He held her. He picked her up and went inside and laid her on the bed. Before he closed the door to their apartment again, she hasn't registered what happened yet so he simply said, "You'll better without me." And shut the door. He ran down the hall and gathered his things. He decided to take the stairs, hoping she would actually come running for him.

[Cham]

Everything seemed to flash before her. The most confusing thing was distinguishing memories from reality as she woke. First he was there, then he wasnt. Finding herself on his bed, she tried to console Jacob for a moment, but knew the only way to really calm anyone was to bring her fiancee back.

Rushing out the door she yelled for Jacob to stay in the apartment. He was left crying on the floor as she bolted down the steps, slamming into each wall from the force of motion. Crying out at the impact between her arm and the hardness of the sheetrock. Flying down after him until she finally saw him. Reaching out an grabbing his arm, screaming as her body was whipped forward, stopping his. She moved, standing infront of him.

"NO!" She shouted, tears raising to her eyes, a hand on his chest, gasping for breath. "Your NOT leaving us like this" Trying to keep the despiration from her voice. After a moment she whispered "Yes, or No. Do you even care? Do you love us? Why are you really leaving?" Then painfully "Theres someone else isnt there?"

A small gasp as she figured she understood. There was another woman. Perhaps even another child. "I knew you were too good to be true... No one could really love a capitolite like me..." She muttered.

[Hero]

There were thundering footsteps coming down the stairs after him. Lily. he knew what she was going to say. She was going to accuse him of everything possible. Cheating. Lying. Maybe another child. It was all lies. He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted to tell her that he was just being stupid and not thinking clearly. And he really wasn't. But in his mind, it was not his own selfish move. It was for the bettering of their lives. Maybe not together, but definitely for them.

Then came the accusation of whether he really loved her. Then of whether he really had cared. Whether there was another woman. Then another child. "Lily, " he painfully began, "I did love you. I did care. But ask anyone. We are total opposites and face it. You've some a better job of raising Jacob better than I have. I mean, he practically worships you." He pondered over whether he should lie about another woman but decided strongly against it. "There is no other woman and there isn't another child. I swear Lil." And too good to be true? Maybe so. But when he met her, he thought so too. What would someone like her see in someone like him then? It didn't make sense to him at all. "And if its too good to be true, then how come you didn't leave! You're all I ever wanted but why me? You could have anyone else! Why! Was it because I was an orphan? You felt sorry for me." He fell silent for a moment. "That's what it was. You felt sorry for me. That was it. You give me a false sense of hope. A false chance that I might actually be happy! Well I would've been happier if we had never even met!" He practically screamed the last part, storming down the stairs. He looked on last time at her. "I thought it was you who lived me. But I was wrong wasn't I?"

[Cham]

"NO!!!!" Lily screamed over and over "NO NO NO NO NO!!!!" Rushing after him "I came with you BEFORE I knew you were an orphan. And besides, your not anymore. You HAVE a family. But your too concerned with saving your own ass, that your leaving ours. I left my life because i LOVE you. I STILL DO"

She pulled him around again, shoving the ring on her hand into his face. "This means something to me. It means i love you for who you are. Not because of your status or your past. It means we were going to be together, raise a family, be happy. It didnt matter if we were rich, poor, homeless, if i was barren..."

Sighing, she gave up the fight. Shoulders slumping. He didnt love her. She knew he didnt at this point. He was going to walk away and never come back. And she was going to let him. She couldnt, and wouldnt force him to stay with someone, and somewhere he didnt want to be.

"If you love us at all... You would stay..."

She slowly got out of his face, and proceeded to walk back up the stairs, crying softly, shoulders shaking. Pitiful. She was just pitiful.

[Hero]

She wanted him to stay. Out of the many times he had run from the orphanage, the boys had wanted him to come back. That's how it always was. He couldn't stay away and allow them to fend for themselves. He was never going to leave them. This moment was the same it had been all those times with the boys. She wanted him to stay. But why? She didn't really love him. Jacob might have before he got so attached to Lily. "Listen, you may think you love me. I know you don't. I'm just another 'poor orphan boy that you just had to help to put your name on,' That was just it wasn't it? That's all you wanted to do!" He just continued walking when she shoved the ring in his face. Her engagement ring.

"And If you really did love me then you wouldn't have cared. You think you don't but making it better is everything to you. What about me?" She began to walk up the stairs crying softly. He still heard it.

"Lily, you know I wouldn't do this unless it helped you and Jacob. And I'm the biggest burden you've had to carry since we met. I know that." He realized that this was the real reason he was leaving. The reason he was going somewhere that wasn't with his family. "And what about me? I'm doing this for you," he whispered, "I love you." He started walking down the stairs again, praying that she may forgive his stupidity. But no. He had really screwed up this time. And he may have lost the best thing in the world to him.

[Cham]

She just continued up, walking quickly. Reaching the appartment and softly knocking on the door. Jacob peeked his little head out and reaching to be pulled up. She obliged, and he curled up in her arms. Walking in and shutting the door behind her. Sitting on the couch and trying to console the child. "Hush..." She whispered, but it seemed to have no effect. So she sang. The only song that came to mind.

"What am i supposed to do? When the best part of me was always you..."

She choked on the words, but continued anyways. Jacobs little sobs turning to snuffles. Then deep, even breaths as he fell asleep in her arms. Standing and walking to his room, she laid him in his bed, his arms spasming, clenching around her neck until she placed the teddy bear in his arms. He curled up and looked so peaceful. But she knew better. He was probably dreaming of better times. Before she wrecked his life. Before she came into Lanes life and ruined everything...

[Hero]

He continued walking downstairs until he reached the main lobby. The mere elegance of it surprised him every time he had come down here. He tried to forget those last few words that she had told him before she left him. "What am I supposed to do? When the best part of me was always you?" He didn't want to think of the memory behind that stupid song. But without thinking, he sang: "And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay." Granted, he got a few weird stares from those enjoying the leisure but at that one moment, he wished one of those stares could've been Lily's. Maybe she would come to stay. Maybe she would beg him to come back. And this time, he would comply. He would stay. But he knew it was too late.

He walked out on the sidewalk and tried to dins the red room he had for Jacob. He knew it had a window. Once he found it, he saw Lily laying him to sleep and setting a teddy bear in his arms. So peaceful. Please Lily. Come here. Tell me you love me. Tell me you forgive me for my foolishness. And I'll tell you that I love you too. I'll tell you that I'll stay. He wanted to say all things but had missed his chance dearly.

[Cham]

The one glance changed everything. She saw a movement outside the window. Lanes face. He looked so desperate, so needy. But she was sure hers did as well. Her face fell, and tears formed. She had to shut the curtains... Stepping slowly toward the window as tears fell down her cheeks. But the temptation was just too much. Cracking the window open enough to whisper "Please... We cant live without you... We love you... I... I love you..."

But he wouldnt reciprocate. His words were empty. He didnt love her because he didnt stay. He was a liar, he would just move onto the next woman he found who would believe him. She looked down, unable to make eyecontact now as she began to seal the window shut. "Goodbye my love..." She managed to choke out...

[Hero]

He watched at the curtains open. There she was. He didn't need to be up close to tell that she was close to tears. He knew her better than that. Then the window cracked a bit. That's when he took his chance. That was the decision that meant it all. "Lily! I'm here! I'll stay. I'm sorry. " He could barely say the last part as tears began to form in his own eyes. "I love you." Now she probably wouldn't believe it, He had left and she thought he didn't care. But what she refused to see was that it was for their own good. It was to keep them safe and she wouldn't see that. Just as he realized what he had lost, he was approached by another woman. Skimpy clothes. Over done make-up. Too many tattoos. She practically screamed prostitute. She started talking to him but he didn't hear. He was away from everyone else. She grabbed his hand and hailed a cab and tried to throw him in it. He protested greatly and threw himself out of the car as it went rumbling down the street. He landed those 4 blocks from where he lived. The Orphanage. Despite all his injures which consisted of a pretty messed up wrist, which he soon popped back into place. He made it front of the apartment complex with bags in hand and up to their room. He knocked lightly, hoping not to wake anyone. They wouldn't take him back, he knew it. But maybe they could just forgive and forget him. That's all.

[Cham]

Her eyes lifted, excited as he said he would stay, but a skimpily dressed woman strutted up, taking his hand and pulling him into a car. She whimpered and slammed the window shut, Jacob sat up startled. But thankfully missed seeing Lane driving away with that.... woman. Lily bit her lip, and roughly wiped away the tears before turning to him and laying him back down, holding his hand until he once again dremt peacefully.

She walked out, shutting the door quietly before making her way to the bathroom. The stress had built up in her stomach, and she felt sick. But she hadnt eaten anything in hours. Kneeling infront of the toilet, she heard a soft rapping at the door. Momentarily her spirits rose, then fell once again. Harder and lower than they had ever been. She didnt want to answer the door. She didnt want to see anyone. But the sliver of hope that the only person to come knocking at this hour made her stand and make her way to the door.

Opening it she saw a bedraggled looking Lane. Confusion, pain, and worry were easily detectable on her face. "Why. But..." she didnt have time to be angry before she forced her way into his arms. Holding tightly to his chest. "Please tell me your staying?" she muttered