Daylight

PROLOGUE

"So, are you going to tell me your name?"

"Elizabeth." She said bluntly.

"Your full name?"

"I'm not dumb." She spat, "It doesn't matter anyway." She mumbled.

Aaron got up from his crouching position and sat I front of her in the recliner. She was still shivering, even while she tugged the thick blanket tighter around her body.

Aaron sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked back at the blonde haired girl, and she stared back at him. Then it all clicked. It all made sense.

Aaron sat in front of her, now with his hands on either side of the chair.

"Elizabeth, why do you want to live with us? We took you from the streets and to our home."

"But you helped me. Only a good person would do that. Or a seriously messed up kinky bastard with a hero complex."

Aaron tried his best not to laugh. A joke combined with her British accent really had an effect.

"Do you think I'm a seriously messed up bastard with a hero complex?" He asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you have family," she said, "And I think you can give me one too."

Aaron nodded his head, almost subconsciously.

"I can hand you into social services, they can get you a new home."

"A home. Not family." She mumbled, but Aaron heard it loud and clear. She spoke up, "Can't you be my family?"

"No," Aaron snapped back sharply, "No. You wouldn't be safe, or have a normal life with us. You saw what we did."

"You killed a man." Elizabeth responded, "And you can kill me too, but you wont, I know it! You're strong. Teach me how to be strong as well?"

Aaron shifted, feeling uncomfortable under her stare. She had big blue eyes, like snowglobes on a sunny day. His heart beat at a slightly faster pace. His thoughts ran through him like a cheetah. He was nervous. No one, no one had ever made him this nervous before.

"If I take you in, you're going to have to follow some rules, okay?"

She nodded.

"Rule one : the most important rule I could ever give you... do not mess with our work. I know you know, but from now on, don't mention it, and don't tell anyone. You don't have to be okay with it, but just don't talk about it."

Elizabeth nodded, knowing that she didn't mind at all. She knew a thing or two about the kind of life they lived. They had to do whatever it took to keep their lives, their home, their food. She knew.

"Rule two : Don't touch any of the weapons. I will show you where the rest of them are, but under no circumstances will you ever touch them. Not unless we tell you it's okay, which we won't. Unless your life is on the line, of course."

Elizabeth nodded again. She thought she was getting whiplash.

"And rule three : Trust us. You made this choice, the choice to be with us... so I want you to trust us. Trust your instincts, if it makes it any easier."

Elizabeth nodded again. Aaron nodded, and just as he was about to leave, Elizabeth stopped him with one touch. The grip of a hand, so gentle, yet so demanding.

"I have a rule too," she whispered, and Aaron sat back down. He gestured her to go on. "Never... never, please, never, try to find out who I am. Okay? Please don't try to find out my last name, please."

Aaron sat there, no emotion on his face. He nodded wordlessly. He couldn't have said no. She was only asking for one thing. Family came at no price, there shouldn't be one. So Aaron agreed to the only term she requested.

To become Elizabeth Cruz.

...

Elizabeth looked into the spare room that would be her own soon. Aaron smiled as he watched her eyes light up.

"This is mine?" She asked.

"Yep it's all yours. I'm right across, and David is right next to you."

Thank you," she smiled, and strolled around the space, "I mean it,

Thank you."

Aaron crossed his brows in confusion. It was sudden. Sweet, but sudden.

"What for? The soup or dessert later?" Aaron asked, genuinely curious. The thanks came out of no where.

"No, for everything."

Aaron looked deeper, now a slight glare going her way. Elizabeth didn't notice though, she was too busy in her own thoughts. Something about them made her smile, at least that's what Aaron thought.

For a moment, right before she turned back, Aaron saw a little sadness in her smile. Regret. Guilt.

"Right... is everything okay, Liz?"

Elizabeth almost jumped at the nickname. Strange. Aaron shook it off.

"Yeah. I couldn't have asked for better. I love you, Aaron." She said, as she opened the front door.

"I love you-" the door slammed shut. "-too"

...

The Cruz brothers stood around the casket in the dry grass. Elizabeth's grave was made close to their home, in an open feild where nothing grew.

Something inside Aaron, something silly, made him wonder if her death would bring life back into the earth. He waited.

Liam threw his flower into the casket and then left with the others. Aaron could hear their broken sobs a mile away. He blocked them out.

Now it was only him and the wind. It blew through his hair, and it made the brunet shiver. The wind was only half of the equation.

Aaron would come back to the grave every now and then to talk to Elizabeth. He would tell her about his day, and sometimes he would retell their days, of when she was still alive.

"I guess I just can't move on, huh Liz?" He whispered. He wiped away his tear.

On her stone, the only thing, was her name. The name she had bargained for. The name she forced Aaron to give her. The name that she would define herself with, no matter who thought otherwise.

Elizabeth Cruz

Aaron had kept his promise.

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