Catching Mr Ripper

Part Ten

Elizabeth moved down the hallway, the pain in her stomach and her lower body only growing with each step that she took. She managed to get to William's room and knock on the door despite her entire body feeling weak. When he opened the door that she was half-leaning against she fell into his arms, letting him catch her.
"Beth, your dress. What happened?" he studied her looking over the rips in her dress, to her messy hair and the tears flowing from her eyes.
"You can't tell anyone" she tried to sound as serious as she could despite the shake in her voice.
"What happened?"
"Michael attacked me" His eyes fell lower, seeing where her dress was held up in her hands so that he could see the blood that had dripped down her legs.
"Oh Beth"
"I need to call Mary and tell her what happened. If my father finds out, he'll make me marry him" he nodded.
"You get cleaned up, I'll call her" she nodded, he moved towards the door but she grabbed his arm, bringing his eyes to hers.
"Thank you Will"
"Of course. You're my friend Beth, If you want me to duel with him at dawn I would for you" he assured her as he left the room, muttering to himself "First Edmund and now this"
Mary bought Elizabeth a new dress and helped her clean up before she took her home. Elizabeth went straight up to her room, feigning illness and stayed there for four days.

A five days later Elizabeth stood in front of her mirror as Mary dressed her that morning but she couldn't focus on anything except for how much tighter her dress was than usual.
"Thank you Mary, that's all" Elizabeth managed a small smile in the mirror, she watched Mary close the door behind her as she left. As she looked herself over in the mirror her hand went to her stomach.
"Shit" she cursed, feeling her tears beginning to form.
Elizabeth spent the whole day unfocused, her mind was racing in circles with no end in sight. She only had one option.
At the end of the day, Elizabeth went to William's door, her fist hammering on it, hoping that he would answer it. He pulled open the door surprise covering his face as his eyes met hers.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing up here? If you get caught-"
"Will, I need help" he could see the pain in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"Come in" Elizabeth moved into his room as William closed the door and joined her.
"What happened? He didn't do anything again did he? I swear if he-"
"I'm pregnant" His face fell.
"Who's is it? Edmund or Michael's?" her eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know" she cried, her tears falling freely down her cheeks.
"Oh Beth" he pulled her into his arms, letting her cry into his chest. When her tears had subsided she pulled away from his chest to meet his eyes.
"Will you help me get rid of it?"
"Beth-"
"I can't. My father will make me marry Michael and I will wonder who's baby it is. Every day I'll wonder if it's his. Every day I'm going to wonder if my baby's father is the one that held me down, kicking and screaming. Please Will" she begged, her tears falling once again.
"I could hurt you, you could die, you might never be able to have children again"
"It's better than wondering all my life if it came from a man that forced himself onto me" William pulled her to his chest once again.
"Okay, Beth. Okay"
They waited a few hours until they were sure that the school was empty before they found a classroom that they could use. He helped her onto the workbench before he began collecting the tools that he would need.
"You need to take your underthing's off"
"Oh" he saw her hands shaking. His placed one of his over her shaking ones.
"I'll keep your secret if you keep mine"
"What's your secret?"
"I don't like women the same way that most men do"
"Oh" she nodded.
"Does that change anything?"
"No, you're still my friend and I have to do this" she assured him, her eyes filling with tears once again. He gave her a kind smile before he went back to gathering his equipment, Elizabeth slipped off her bloomers and lay back on the workbench.
"This is going to hurt" he warned her.
"I'm ready" she nodded. He lifted her legs onto the table and began to get to work, the lack of pain medication soon became known as her screams filled the room. And echoed down the hallway.

Edmund was shown into Elizabeth's hospital room for what could be the final time he would get to see her. She lay there, looking like a ghost, surrounded by even more equally pale sheets and her long honey brown hair.
Edmund moved to her side, taking her hand in his as his tears began to fall.
"Lizzie. I'm so sorry. I've failed you. I should've married you when I had the chance" he muttered, lying his head on their joined hands "I'm so, so sorry" he muttered through tears.
"It was my choice" She groaned hoarsely.
"What did you say?" Edmund asked in shock, looking down at Elizabeth who still had her eyes closed.
"I made the choice to go after him, not you. This is my own fault" She groaned.
"I should've protected you-"
"I should've taken greater care when chasing after a serial killer" she smirked, her eyes still closed. Elizabeth opened her eyes, and they landed directly on Edmund, taking in his puffy red eyes and his crumpled attire "Oh Edmund. I'm so sorry" she said, taking his face into her hands, wiping his wet cheeks.
"You were right. You're always right. I should've married you and condemned you to our home-"
"You and I both know that I wouldn't have stayed there. I'm too stubborn"
"You're admitting to being stubborn? You must be feeling very guilty" Edmund smirked the way that she loved.
"Yes I am. I'm sorry that I hurt you. We seem to be good at hurting one another but I don't want to do that anymore. I'll go back to America if that makes you happy. I'll do anything-"
"No" he said quickly.
"No what?"
"Don't go. Don't ever leave me. Not again. I won't survive it. I'm in love with you Lizzie and that won't ever change. I want to be annoyed by you. I want to be angry with you. I want us to be happy and cry but more importantly I want to be with you and be able to love you"
"Edmund what are you saying?"
"With or without your father and society I'm still going to love you, that won't ever change no matter how hard we have both tried. Only your opinion matters to me so, Elizabeth Mary Vance, I want to be your husband, if you'll let me and I hope you'll be my wife"
"Edmund, you have no idea how long I've waited for you to ask me that" she smiled "Of course I'll marry you" they both smiled, connecting their lips. Edmund tried not to put any weight onto Elizabeth, in fear of hurting her.
"Remove yourself from my daughter at once or I shall do it for you" Came Zebulon's angered tone from the doorway.
"Father-"
"Don't. I should've taken you back to America when I had the chance. I should've had you married off to a respectable man the minute I rejected his proposal" Vance glared at the pair.
"No" Elizabeth said defiantly.
"What?"
"I said no. I love Edmund and you should've allowed me to marry him when he so kindly asked for your blessing-"
"I-"
"I am not finished" Elizabeth glared at him "It was not Edmund's fault that I ended up in his hospital bed. It was my own will and my stubbornness that landed me here because being raised a woman in this society is not easy. It is always sit up straight and smile, and not learn with passion or fall in love. I've found a vocation that I love, and I have found a man that loves every part of me from my bad attitude to my relentless character. What more could a parent want for their child other than unconditional love? We have spent years trying to forget one another, but it is damn near impossible for me to forget the way he smiles or the way he looks at me when I speak about science or even the fact that he wears the pocket watch I bought him every day without fail. If I could love someone else, I would and believe me I've tried but no one measures up to Edmund. He may be in a lower class but at least he has worked for everything he has. It's not as if I'm asking to marry one of your slaves or one of the household staff. At least he doesn't frequent prostitutes like every other man in this town. Edmund is more worthy than anyone of our class. To me he is worthy and that is all that matters" Zebulon sighed deeply "I don't want or need your approval, but Edmund wants to marry me with your approval because he is a good man. I have never asked for anything like I am asking for this. Father, please" Elizabeth pleaded.
Zebulon turned towards the door but didn't leave.
"You have my blessing to marry. But I won't celebrate your nuptials with you, I won't act happy in others company when they ask about you. I will take away your allowance. I no longer wish to see you" Zebulon said before leaving the room. Edmund turned back to Elizabeth, seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh Lizzie, I'm so sorry" Edmund frowned deeply.
"Who knew that getting stabbed would finally convince my father to let us be together" Elizabeth smiled widely "I'm so happy, Eddie" She smiled squeezing his hand tightly.
"You have to get divorced first" he reminded her.
"As long as you're willing to marry me I don't care what I have to do to get there" she smiled up at him before she pulled his head down to hers, bringing their lips together gently.