Breakeven (Lanedon and LilyAnn)

[Hero]

Once the door was open, she rushed into his arms. He gratefully opened them to her. He had a hand on the back of her head, pressing it to his chest right over his heart. "Yes Lily. I'm staying. But I may have to go. Not now. But later. You have to accept that." He pulled her back into the tight embrace and slowly began to sway with her, slow dancing with her. He set his bag down with one hand and pulled her out into the hall where he really began to dance. He twirled and dipped and just danced with her. " You do know that I had no idea who that woman was, right? I threw myself out of the car and landed in front of the orphanage. That'll be the moment if she finds me. She won't. I promise." He pulled her and his stuff back in the apartment. He kissed her like he hadn't in days. Once he pulled away, he only talked. "I'm sorry." He pulled the ring she had thrown at him out of his pocket and got down on one knee, again. " Lily, will you marry me, you know, again?"

[Cham]

Lily finally breathed easily as they began to move so gently. His touch was tender, and his kiss passionate. She kissed hom back vigorously. But as he knelt down her mind came back to her. He said he would leave again... He was going to leave again, and maybe this time was going to be longer... She couldnt handle that.

So as he held her hand, her silent, his face growing more desperate by the moment, she shook her head, whispering the word she never thought she would ever say to him. "No..." He looked shocked, and she rushed to explain "I cant if your going to leave us again. I cant handle you running away, and coming back. I just... I cant" Looking down at him with tears i her eyes she continued. "I thought about just killing myself. Throwing myself off the roof. Turning myself in. Something." She felt his hand tighten around hers "There were two things that stopped me though... That you might come back... And Jacob..."

Kneeling down with him, she took his second hand. "Honey, he needs us... He loves you so much... He wouldnt stop crying, and pleading for you. Asking how long you would be gone, if he could visit you there... Baby your his daddy..."

[Hero]

He backed away shocked when she told him no. It's like when a mother tells a child no. That's how felt within that moment. "Listen, I know you may not be able to handle it but you have to accept it. Regardless. I'll have to leave at some point. and if you took the stupid ring, then that would show me that it didn't matter!" He took the ring, opened the window, and tossed it out. He waited until he heard the small tink of the ring against the ground before returning to her. "I know I'm his dad but it's not like you're leaving. If I told him, he would understand. You underestimate him. Back before I adopted him, I traveled a lot. He wouldn't be happy that I had to leave but he would understand why. Sometimes I was gone for months. Sometimes it was only days. But either way, he understood. You don't seem to." He grabbed his stuff once more and stormed down the hall. He pressed the elevator button and just waited, hoping that she wouldn't run out after him.

[Cham]

He tossed out the ring out the window, and she stood gobsmacked. turning from him and into the kitchen where she pulled out a knife. "You wont tell me why... It is that woman isnt it?" She yelled. Then turning and walking into their bedroom, slamming and locking the door. Curled up on the bed she sobbed hard. She thought she had hit rock bottom, but she was wrong. On her injurred arm, she slowly traced the letters, small trickles of blood ran down her arm, puddling in her lap. "L.... A.... N.... and E..." she whispered. Then went over the smaller cuts, deeper, mutilating her skin, the pain was nearly unbearable, but it was better than the flood of emotions she felt. That was truely torture...

[Hero]

"No. It isn't her. I don't know her. It's you who does know and you refuse to see why! It's to keep you safe. I'm the reason you're in this mess in the first place!" After he stormed out, he heard the slam of a door. He kept wanting to say he was sorry but saying that then going away again would only tee her apart more. He wondered what he had done to get over the emotion. He was honestly afraid to find out. He didnt want to be the reason for her pain but he knew that he was the core of it. And he hated it. He waited 5 more minutes before the door finally opened to reveal the same woman as before. She tried to pull him inside but he pushed her away. He went back down the hall and three himself against their door before just sitting down. Giving up.

[Cham]

Lily didnt know what to do. The emotion, crying, screaming, and caring for Jacob had exhausted her. So she wrapped her now bloody arm up in the covers, and lay there, trying to calm her nerves enough to sleep. But it wouldnt come easily. The blood continued to trickle from her arm, her face paled, and she got colder, wrapping up in the blanket. Finally she was able to sleep...

But not for long as she felt arms wrapping around her. Startled, she jumped and nearly pushed the person out of the bed. But looking over to see Jacob she sighed softly, her shoulders slumping. His tender little voice saying "Can i have a Popsicle mommy?" How could she refuse?

Standing, and hiding her injury, she pulled on a jacket, freezing. Her face was white, and she stood to walk into the kitchen. Coming back moments later saying "There is none, but if you go back to bed, Mommy can go get some?" She rifled through her suitcase, and pulled out her wallet. Slipping out several bills, and shoving them into her pocket.

She didnt care what she looked like as she opened the door, probably dirty, hair sticking out everywhere, exhausted, and pale. Several clots had ripped in her arm, and the letters leaked out blood, staining her lovers name onto the jacket...

[Hero]

Despite their hurting, Jacob managed to brighten up their day ever time they saw him. Even through the door, he heard his son ask Liy for a Popsicle. Sweet kid. He knew they didn't have any. He head Lily offer to go get some for him. When she came out, she nearly tripped over him. Before she could fall, he was on his feet steadying her. "I'm sorry about that. Didnt realize you would be going. I should be going shouldn't, shouldn't I? Sorry bout that." He gave her his usual half smile before stopping himself, realizing she had left Jacob alone. "You wan me to watch Jacob? I mean, just until you get back. That's all." He didn't even wait for her response. He bolted into the apartment to an excited Jacob. Jacob ran into his arms, crying that his daddy was home.

[Cham]

Lily stood there for a moment positioning her arm away from him so he couldnt see the injury she had caused herself. One hand on her forehead, trying to think through. "I... I guess thats fine..." She whispered. Jacob scampering to her to kiss her goodbye, and shut the door.

With tearful eyes she walked outside, eyes on the ground until she saw a shimmer of gold. Looking closely she saw the band Lane had tossed out the window. Gently she slipped it onto her finger, wiping her eyes and smiling a bit as she continued to the store to make her purchase, then making ehr way back home.

Rapping softly on the door, once again turning her arm to hide the now dry and crusted blood on her sleeve.

[Hero]

While Lily was gone, Jacob had proceeded to run around the home yelling, "Dadddy! You can't catch me!" He chased him around letting him him get a few feet in front of him before he picked him up and spun him around. "I got you!" Their game had to end wen a knock came from the door. They were both wearing the biggest smiles they have ever seen (( cheesy, I know )) and he opened the door. With Jacob on his hip, he found Lily with their Popsicles and one thing he hasn't expected. She had found the ring and out it bak on. He also saw flecks of bright scarlet in her arm. He wasn't sure. He set Jacob down and led her into the apartment, closing the door after her. "Than you Lily." He tore te bag open and handed one to Jacob, took one for himself, and offered one to Lily. "Lily," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "Waht happened to your arm?" He pointed where the red was, asking her to explain.

[Cham]

Lane took the box of frozen treats, and handed one to their son, taking on for himself, and offering one to her, which she refused. Then his eyes flickered down and his eyebrows furrowed a little. He leaned forward and asked the one thing she didnt want to explain. She didnt want him to ask, know, see, or anything to do with it. Ashamed she shrugged. But a glance at his face let her know he would find out one way or another. Looking over her shoulder to see Jacob was occupied, she slowly rolled up the sleeve.

Lane's name was carved in, deep and red. The skin around was puffy and slightly discoloured. Her whole body was paler showing the large amount of blood loss. She whispered "Just dont go into the bedroom until after i clean it up..." referring to the mess of the sheets and blankets. The knife she had already taken care of. it was cleaned and in the sink...

[Hero]

A shrug. That's all whe had to explain his name carved in her lower arm. He gently took it in his hands and led her to the sink. He knew that was her bad arm so he was sure to be careful. He turned the water in warm and told Jaco to go get a cloth. He put her arm under it and scrubbed a bit with his hands until Jacob brought him the cloth. He rubbed lightly, making sure to be thorough until all the blood was from her arm. He gave her his jacket to put over it. He scoffed at her remark not to go into bedroom. He went inside and found blood everywhere. He took the sheets off the bed and preceded to washing them with the little help from Jacob. "Why Lily?"

[Cham]

She whinced as he took her arm, But his touch was tender as he washed it. Turning the wound away from Jocob who tried to crane his neck to see. But she wouldnt allow it... There was no way she would let her baby see what she had done to herself. At the mention of the bedroom, Lane went in, and began cleaning it. She tried to help, but couldnt do much.

He finally asked "Why Lily"

The only way she could reply was with the truth "It hurt less than the thought of losing you... And It made a new pain, and for a moment made me forget the old pain..."

[Hero]

He went back out to the kitchen and filled the sink with water and plugged it. He gathered the blood soaked sheets and set them in the sink. He went back into the bedroom and found her still sanding there. He shut and locked the door. He pulled her into his arms and just hugged her. He gently kissed her forehead. "Lil, you know I would never go away unless I had too. I did it to keep you and Jacob safe. I mean, I was the one who got you in to all of this. I figured if I left, then you would forget about me and move on with your life with Jacob. And forget me. I caused so much and I didn't want to hurt you anymore." He wasn't one to admit defeat very easily. But he decided there's a first time for everything. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm so sorry."

[Cham]

She stood there alone for several minutes until Lane came in and held her. Lily treasured the moment in his arms, trying to remember everything about him. His build, scent, the feel. Everything.

But listening to him take fault was torture. She silenced him leaning up on tip toe, and kissing him deeply. "Baby, my father just wants me home... Even if you left, he would still try and hunt me down..." She held tight to him, ready to drag herself along wherever he went. "Dont you remember... Once he had me, he left you and Jacob alone..."

As though she had an epiphany, she leaned back. "He only wants me..." she pushed him away and grabbed his suitcase, unzipping it, and dumping everything out. Quickly transfering her own thing in, tears running down her cheeks. "I understand now... Ill just leave and you will both be better off. Besides, you dont really need me, im clearly only endangering you, and you can run off to that woman of yours once im gone." Trying to keep her composure as she shoved everything in. It only filled about half way. After a moment of thought, she took out her wallet, and emptied it of all the bills. "For anything you guys need" She whispered as with her good arm, she clutched onto the suitcase, giving him a watery smile.

[Hero]

He watched gratefully as she dumped his suitcase out. Then her rambling began. It was tw rambling about her father. He only wanted her. Once e did have her, true, he did leave him and Jacob alone. But she didnt understand. But looked in horror asshe began packing. She emptied her wallet and gave him the remaining bills. She practically told him to off with that woman. He didnt want too and he never would go anywhere with wit anyone but her. He had to get that across. "Lily, there is no other woman I want to be with. And true, your father may leave us alone but I won't be happy. I won't want to live. You can Jacob are the only reason I haven't thrown myself off a building yet. And what woman? That sour that fired me into a far? I don't do that! I've been through enough in that life and you know that better than anyone. And if I can't convince you, think about Jacob. He's only 3. He needs a mother. He loves you too!"he put the bills back into her hand and dumped her suitcase out. "You wouldn't let me leave, so I'll do the same. As how do I know you aren't leaving because you have another man, maybe another child. Maybe not because your dad wants you home. But because you're done with us. That's why, isn't it! Don't lie to me. Why are you really leaving?"

[Cham]

Lily stood firm until he accused her of having someone else. She stepped toward him, and wrapped her good arm around him "Honey, ill never love again... I swear to you. There will never be another man i could possibly love. Ever. How can i make you understand that?" She buried her head into his chest, and breathed easily for only a moment.

[Hero]

"Well I want to believe that. But how can I when you accused me as well! And you still seem pretty certain of it! So why shouldn't u be able to wonder if you're doing the same. How do I know that there isn't another man. Another child even!" He took another step back and started pacing the room. He eventually went and unlocked the door. He took the sheets out of the sink and hung them out to dry. Without even really thinking, he took off his ring and put it in his pocket. How could she even think he would cheat on her? She had been the one to accept him. She cared for him when no one ever had. What makes her think that he would give that up? He went back inside the bedroom and gathered a few more things before placing them around the living room. "And you're dad still hate me. What makes you think the second he did have you back that he wouldn't just kill me and make you have his child! It's you he wants. Once he gets you, he could hurt you. But that doesn't mean he still can't send other people after me!"

[Cham]

He walked out of the room before Lily could even explain anything. She put her head in her hands and began picking her things up, replacing them in the bag while she heard him wringing out the laundry and hanging it. Leaving the money on the bed side table. She slid the bag under the bed, and stepped out of the room, pulling his jacket around him tightly. She watched him pulling off his ring, but she clenched her hand. She wanted to marry him... More than anything... But she had to tell him that. He stepped in, and she shut the door behind him.

"Ill tell you what..." She began. "I will stay, if you promise you will stay" stepping forward and taking his hand. Tracing where a ring should be. "Marry me?" She whispered this time. Wondering if he would turn her down just to spite her. "I love you more than anything." Flexing her injured arm she said softly "If that isnt clear, im sorry... But i cant live without you. I cant do this alone... I dont want to either..."

[Hero]

He knew that she saw everything he had done. Including the removal of his ring. Once he got back into the room, he watched as she shut the door again behind him. She would promise to stay of he would promise as well. He put his hands on her arms. "You know I wish I could do that. I can't. And I would marry you but...." Thankfully, there was a knock at the door. He took the leisure to answer it. He looked into the chest of another man. He looked up to his face. Older, definitely. But not her dad, thank gosh. The other man pushed past him and ransacked the apartment screaming for Lily. Lane went into the apartment and confronted her. "Lily. Who's your friend?" He pointed to the man in their living room.

[Cham]

Lily looked down to Lanes chest as he basically told her he wouldnt stay.. He didnt love her enough.

But he was spared from having to say the actual words when Lane left the room to answer the door. She sat on the bed and waitedd, but heard smashing, doors opening and closing, Jacob screaming. Lane came up to her, asking what was going on. She peaked out, and saw Jacob crying on the floor, holding his teddy.

The man saw her, and her face ran white. She began shaking hard. Turning to Lane and whispering quietly, but quickly "Lane, take Jacob, and RUN, get out of the Capitol, anywher-" She was cut short as the man gripped her long blonde hair and pulled her backwards. Screaming and holding her head, slamming her body against a doorframe and crying out in pain.

Jacob screamed, terrified, and ran to Lane. Grabbing his leg. The second man took her and threw her over his shoulder "Should be nice to f*** this one again right?" He said with a smile. Lily looked terrified, beating her fists into his bulging back muscles, screaming for Lane and Jacob to get out. That she loved them.

[Hero]

Despite her screaming protests to leave, he ushered Jacob into his room. He ran back out to find Lily slung over one of their large shoulders. Lane ran at the other one, who was spitting threats at her. Luckily, he caught the man by surprise and pushed him to the ground. Lane pinned his arm behind him and pushed until he heard the crack of bone breaking. He left the man writhing in pain long enough to distract the man holding Lily. The man holding looked in shock as a man of Lane's build could do such a thing. The man set Lily down and cuffed her, then he set off at a charge towards Lane. He slammed him into the wall with ground-breaking force. The man threw punches into his gut, one at his eye, and one at his nose. By the time that man let up, the other was one his feet.

Despite the broken arm, he could still throw a mean left. That man set it off and that left hand of his found its destination. The eye that had already begun to swell. Lane barely had sight in his left eye anymore and what sight he did have was blurry. He ran at the one that was closest to Lily, pushing his against the wall. He kicked the man's knees out from under him and began laying punches wherever he could hit. They just happened to land close to Jacob's door. Lane heard him crying behind the door. This was the motivation he needed.

The man he was attacking had another set of cuffs on him. Lane stole them off his belt and cuffed him to the nearest thing he could find. Both hands to the man were now wrapped around the pole with a small set of cuffs. One thing Lane realized he would need was the key. He gave the other man a dark stare, just as he was about to start 'dealing' with Lily. He let up and made a rush for the door. Lane ran after him and drove him towards the stairs. He got close enough to where he could push, but he didn't. The other man simply threw himself of the hundreds of flights of stairs. He now laid at the bottom, blood pooling around him.

He ran back into the apartment to find Lily crying. He went and found some duck tape to put over the man's mouth. Once shut, Lane went to Jacob's room and unlocked it, allowing a crying Jacob to run into his father's arms. He went over to Lily with the child on his hip and sat down next to her. "You alright?"

[Cham]

Lily looked shocked at Lane, who seemed to be fighting with a power she didnt know he had. Hit after hit he took, and yet he still didnt go down. Driving the two from their previously peaceful abode.

Once they were out of the apartment, Lily curled up. She hadnt seen these men since she was little and a 'naughty' child who needed to be taught a 'lesson'. The terrifying memories she had blocked out came flooding back. Laid out on a bed... The man standing naked over her. Then the unspeakable. Tortured, stripped of her innocence, her virtue gone. all at the age of 6. At the hand of her fathers friends.

She cringed at the next touch she felt. Lanes hand on her shoulder. She didnt hear the words, just curled up like a frightened child, terrified. Reliving the memories. "Pleas, no m-more... It hur-rts" she whimpered like a little girl "Pain.... owwwiee" she began sobbing, leaning against the wall, as far from Lane as she could get. "Bad men... You Band men do bad things... Hurt me..." After a second, she realized she was no longer 6... The memories beginning to fade as she realized she hadnt been violated. Looking up at Lane who looked gobsmacked, she whispered with her eyes closed

"I was raped..."

[Hero]

He walked over to where she had put herself against the wall and sat down next to her. He pulled her closer into his arms. He let Jacob go back to his room and make something for her since her birthday was coming up, even though it wasn't. He simply listened to her ramblings as if she was a child. That's probably when it happened. When everything good thing was stolen from her. "Lily, I don't care. You're safe. They won't hurt you. O-One of them is dead. And it took 2, right? They won't come back." He sat there and put her head on his chest. Slowly, he began to rock her while humming any song he could think of to calm her down. "I promise I'll stay. Forever."

[Cham]

She jumped at first when she felt the hands on her, whimpering. But she realized after a moment that they were tender and loving. A gentle caress, not forced at all. When they retracted, she fell into his arms. Curling up with him. Listening to his steady heart beat. Calming and collecting herself. His songs nearly put her to sleep which she needed desperatly after the night before. Closing her eyes and letting the rocking carry her away.

But he said it. He promised. Sitting up, she lay a hand on his chest. Whispering "Really?" softly. Glancing down, she put a hand in his pocket, pulling out his wedding band. Taking his hand and trying to slip it on. But his fingers were swollen and scratched. Finally something to really take her mind off everything.

She slipped out of his lap, and gently helped him stand as well. Dragging a chair into the kitchen she directed him to sit as she tenderly cleaned the wounds. Applying ice to his eye, bandaging cuts and icing down bruises. Once she was finished, she led him into his bedroom. Placing the ring on his bedside table. "Sleep darling... You need to rest..."

[Hero]

He simply let her clean him up. One arm screamed bit in pain. He definitely couldn't see out of one eye now. And there were scrapes and cuts all over him. He watched her light up at the sound of him promising. When she found his wedding band, he knew it wasn't going to fit by any means. He simply took it from her and set it aside. Once she led him to their bedroom, he made a break for the bed. But before she could leave, he took the hand of her good arm and pulled her down over him. He rolled over to where they were both on their side. he stood and grabbed some spare blankets and put them over her. "Well you do too my love." He put her head on his chest and softly sung her to sleep.