And Then... They Fell

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Lilly

"It doesn't matter." I say dismissively, just wanting to forget. Forget what I had to go through, forget that he left, forget everything.  

"It does, Lilly," David says it so convincingly I have to look into his eyes to make sure this is real, to make sure he isn't lying to me because I don't think I could handle it. He places his hand on my cheek gently and I lean into it just a little while he places the other on my hip. "I have loved you since the day I met you on that hill. I love your sass, your courage, you loyalty."

It doesn't matter, though. I can't focus on that right now. I don't have time for me, I have to be there Charlie- without distractions. David is a distraction. I go to pull away but before I can completely, his head is pressed against mine and his eyes are closed, leaving hopeful wrinkles in their wake. He opens them when I don't pull away before speaking again. 

"I love you Lilly, and I would do anything to go back and save you from that awful place. I would do anything to go back and be there to comfort you. To hug you while you cry."

I am crying harder at each word but when he says he wished he could have hugs me while I cried, I break and I forget everything that was holding me back. I forget the past and the future and all the bad and good in the world because right now all I want is to be with David and leave the rest of the world alone. I just want to hug him and cry like I wish I could have all those years ago. 

"I'm so sorry Lilly." He pulls me in closer and I feel the wetness of his cheek pressed against mine. 

We stay like that for what feels like hours, at some point falling to the ground, with me still in his arms sitting and taking in everything we've went through, before I am met with darkness. 

Eventually I wake up to David helping me into my sleeping bag, but I am too tired to do anything but go back to sleep. 

Asher

I open my eyes when I hear rustling near me to see David helping Lilly into her sleeping bag. I start to sit up and when he's done he sees me watching. His eyes flash with shock before going back to normal. He sits down between me and Lilly, with his knees up and arms relaxed on top of them. 

"I'm glad she was able to fall asleep, she really needed it." I say to David. 

"Yeah."

He looks exhausted as well. I decide to just bite the bullet and ask what I've been thinking since I saw them fighting in the woods, "What happened between you guys, man?"

He is silent for a good while before answering me. "I wasn't there for her when she needed me." 

I can tell its a tough subject but I can't let it go completely. Not yet; i have more that needs to be said.

"I really like her, man. I really do. I know she likes me too but it would be naïve of me to believe she didn't like you as well." I know its bold to say and we both want to ignore it but it needs to be said. 

"Yeah."

"She doesn't need us fighting for her, I think she just needs us to be there for her right now. Honestly I don't even know if I could be with her. She wouldn't want to be with a prin- a King because of the harm it would put Charlie in. That doesn't stop how I feel though. I've never met anyone like her before." I started to ramble half way through and scratch my neck when I realize everything I just said. 

"I know what you mean. She needs someone better than me. Some one that can provide for her and Charlie but she is really is something. She can fight better than most of your soldiers and has gone through so much hell I don't even know how she can keep going but she is so strong and- and just perfect." David finishes and runs a hand through his hair. At another time I would have laughed at our similar actions. 

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"Honestly, I don't even know if she would go for either of us because she wants so bad to keep Charlie safe she would forfeit her own happiness." He lets out a snort at this. 

"Her greatest quality and downfall." Its my turn to laugh, because he is so right. It's part of what I love about her and even more a part of what I wish was different. 

We sit in silence for a while before either of us speak again. 

"Either way, we need to give it to her. We need to give her he happiness she deserves and if that involves walking away we have to do it. For her." I know he is right but it hurts me to think about. 

"Agreed. We can't compete each other for her, because she doesn't need to handle it. We let her take the shots and we have to be okay with it. Its the least we can do."

He gives a small nod but I can see his teeth clenched and I can't help but feel the same. The anger at the world and the situation of not being able to be with the person I want because of everything all of us have been through. The anger at letting go of my own happiness to allow her to choose hers. There is so much anger, but there is also relief because I know both of us would give her the world if we could, and she needs people like that in her life when she has been that person for everyone else for so long. Relief that she might finally get what she deserves: Everything.