The Ruby in the Storm

Chapter 42: Hope will Find A Way

*** TRIGGER WARNING: THERE IS MENTION OF RAPE AND SUICIDE IN THIS CHAPTER. IF THESE SUBJECTS ARE SENSITIVE TO YOU OR TRIGGERING FOR YOU, DISCRETION IS HIGHLY ADVISED!!  ***

Chapter 42: Hope Will Find a Way

Lucy could hardly believe it. After what seemed like a lifetime of separation, of heartache, she was finally, in most respects, reunited with the man she loved. Oh, how she wished she could see him, touch him, kiss him, and just be with him. But if this was how fate dictated their reunion, then she would take it. After her trials and tribulations leading up to this point, this was a godsend.

"It's so good to hear your voice," she whispered, resting her forehead against the wall.

"And yours," he whispered back. Though there was a stone wall separating them, he sounded as though he was standing right before her, with no barriers. "I dreamt of this moment every night since we parted. Granted, we were not imprisoned when I imagined it."

Lucy laughed. "No, I daresay I did not think it would happen this way myself. I suppose we need to reconsider the vastness of our imaginations."

"Yes we do that," she could hear the smile in his voice. "Oh, Lucy, I am so sorry my love."

"Why?" She asked. "You've done nothing wrong."

"This all started because of me."

Lucy frowned and shook her head. "Ross, no. You played no hand in this. It was James. He did this to us."

"That is what I keep telling myself," he replied, "but had I not shot him. Had I simply pulled him off of you and beat him, or if I had focused on saving you instead of killing him..."

Lucy licked her lips and sighed. She had thought the same thing many, many times. There were nights when her own heartache pained her so much that she found herself blaming Ross for everything herself, but the blame was fueled by just how much she missed the life they had before. In all their pains and ills, surely they knew they were blaming the wrong people, surely the could remember who was truly at fault, but they didn't. Even though they knew to blame James for this debacle, their regrets outweighed their sense of reason.

"We can spend whatever time we have together thinking of ways you could have handled it differently," Lucy finally said, "or we can agree that James would have met his fate one way or the other, and accept what has been done. I do not want our reunion to be tainted with 'what ifs' and blame games, Ross, I have spent enough time on that on my own. Please," she looked up; wishing she could see his face, "let's not talk of it. Let's just speak of us."

Ross was silent after that, and Lucy wished she could tear the wall down with her own two hands so she could see him. What was he thinking? Was he happy? Was he sad? Was he harmed? How could she tell?

"Do you still have it?" He asked after what seemed like eons of silence. "The ring?"

Lucy's heart leapt in her chest and she reached for the chain around her neck which held the engagement ring he had given to her the night they parted. "I do." She replied, tears forming in her eyes. "I was never once rid of it, my love."

"Not even when your uncle betrothed you to another?"

Lucy stepped back, shocked. "How did you know..."

"I've been in Lanfore for some time, let's just say that your uncle and I have had words," Ross sighed. "I know he is your family, but Lucy I wanted to wring his neck when I heard him say that."

"He is not family to me, not anymore," she snarled. "God, Ross, I am so sorry. I wish I defied everyone and found you sooner. I wish I could have told you everything, but I did not know where you were until Charlotte told me."