Fawn blinked and curled the blanket further around her body.

"Fawn, get up." Travis said, poking her nose. Fawn jerked back, completely awake now.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Twenty till six and we need to get to the airport by six, so get up." Fawn punched his hand away. He must be in a chipper mood. Maybe he'd come to the same realization she had last night. Fawn sat up, brushing her hair out of her eyes. She blinked, Travis was shirtless again, rustling through his dresser drawers for something. His jeans sat low on his hips.

"Is that supposed to tempt me?" She replied, thinking of last night. Her skin began to itch with warmth. Travis turned around and walked over to her.

"If you want it to." He purred placing his hands beside her on the bed. He was leaning over her. Fawn ignored his flirtatious mood and scooted around him, trying to get them image of his smooth chest hovering in front of her out of her head. She heard Travis chuckle as she closed the bathroom door. Her cheeks were flushed again and she splashed water on them. Fawn found her suitcase and pulled on her clothes for the day, taking her time to brush her hair and pull it into a braid. When she exited the bathroom, Travis was fully clothed and in the kitchen. He didn't look at her when he handed her a plate of eggs.

"How fancy." Fawn said playfully. She saw him smirk as he filled his plate.

"I figured you and I could both use a good breakfast today." Fawn wasn't sure how to interpret what he meant. She ate her eggs quickly. Travis looked at her.

"For all that's happened this weekend, it might not even change anything." Fawn froze in mid-bite. Of course he would bring it up, why wouldn't he?

"You don't know that." She said lowly. Travis put down his fork and ran a hand through his hair.

"It's basically a given, Fawn. If you both don't manage to get the throne somehow and he proposed to you, would you tell him no?" Fawn picked up her plate.

"I don't want to talk about this." She said tightly. Travis slid back and grabbed her arm.

"Would you?" He asked, a harsher tone entering his voice. Fawn squeezed her eyes shut.

"I don't know, okay?" She said and yanked her arm away from his. She heard him sigh as she set her plate in the sink. When she turned around his lips pressed softly against hers. He stroked her cheek lightly and Fawn saw the unsureness pass through his gaze.

"Fawn, I can't stand the thought of your being his wife. It will drive me crazy." He set his forehead against hers. Fawn touched his chest with her hand.

"Say you love me." She said softly. He had never said those words, even in their heated frenzy last night. She just wanted to hear him say it, if only once.

"I." Travis's lips touched her throat.

"Love." He kissed her jaw.

"You." They fluttered to her lips, barely brushing them. Fawn fit her lips to his, tasting the sweet warmth of them.

"I love you too." She said softly. Travis kissed her slowly, pulling her towards him. Fawn happened to notice the clock just as her eyes were closing.

"Travis, the time." She said as she pulled back. Travis let out an annoyed huff and grabbed his car keys off the table. Fawn grabbed her bag and followed him out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Travis pushed the speed limit, but they made it to the airport on time. Fawn handed her bag to the luggage boy who was carrying them to the plane. The light was breaking on the horizon, casting shadows everywhere. When Fawn spotted him, it was too late. The black suit, the mark on his left arm, the mask. He pulled if off, just as he raised his arm. Fawn saw the end of the gun from the spot she was at. He fired, twice. Time slowed and Fawn's body seemed sluggish to her commands, she dove for the ground. Someone shouted her name and a bullet flew by her head. Her face hit the pavement and her teeth clattered together painfully. Fawn closed her eyes as she heard another shot fire, praying it didn't hit her. Someone screamed and their was the sound of people running on the pavement.

"Fawn!" Travis reached her side and grabbed her arm. Fawn tried to stand, but her legs felt like they could give out anytime.

"Fawn, we have to leave, now." Travis pulled her into his chest and dragged her to the plane. Fawn was frozen, the world was spinning by her in a blur. Travis pushed her into the back seat of the plane, following close behind.

"Get us off the ground now!" He shouted at the pilot. Fawn hit the window as the plane lurched forward. Travis grabbed ahold of her, pulling her tight to his chest.

"Hey Fawn, look at me." Her eyes slowly found his face.

"Don't go into shock. Speak to me. Did he hurt you?" Fawn opened her mouth.

"No." She managed out.

"Thank God." He breathed out and pulled her even closer to him. Fawn felt her initial numbness wearing off.

"Did they catch him?" She asked, slowly pulling away from his grasp. Travis let her go, but kept one hand on her arm. She had never seen him so upset before.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"No, they didn't. The bloody bast-"

"I know who it was." Fawn said, cutting him off. Travis narrowed his eyes.

"The guard, the one from our tour of the weapons area. Before we left, he just gave me this eerie feeling. I felt like he was watching me." Travis leaned back in his seat.

"It would explain where he got the gun and the undershirt." Fawn noticed him tense a little.

"He was part of the Black Ivy, Travis." Travis glared at her, his demeanor changing in a second.

"I told you not to mention that group ever again." Fawn's numbness was turning to anger.

"Why? Because I'm right? Because you don't want to face the fact that they still exist." He didn't react and Fawn scoffed at him.

"You already knew that, didn't you?" Hatred grabbed at her insides.

"You knew before this even happened, you knew-"

"Fawn stop." Travis said, grabbing her hand. His eyes were cold.

"You knew they killed the king and queen!" Fawn suddenly exclaimed as the pieces clicked in her mind. Why he had stopped her from doing research on Alaska so abruptly and not wanting to hear anything about the group. Travis looked through her, refusing to acknowledge the truth and bite of her words.

"You lied!" Travis grabbed her roughly.

"What was I supposed to do, Fawn?! Go to Clay? Go ask the police for help?" He was yelling and Fawn flinched.

"They all despise us, Fawn! No one would have believed me." His voice quaked with anger and he let her go.

"You could have tried Travis! You could have told me! What did sitting around doing nothing do for this world?" He looked away from her and Fawn shook her head.

"You did try. You supplied your people with weapons and tried to take care of it on your own. That's why I found myself dealing with smugglers." Fawn's trust for him crumbled to bits.

"I thought it would work." Travis's voice was icy.

"Innocent people got killed because of what you tried to do Travis. Trent was shot!"

"Don't you think I know that!" Travis screamed at her.

"Do you know what it's like living every day with so much blood on my hands? No, you live in your tucked up home, while my people die and starve. I've watched children die in their mother's arms! What did you do?  Nothing. You sat in your pampered house, probably eating some fancy meal without a care in the world." Fawn felt as though she had been struck. Tears rimmed her eyes.

"Is that what you think of me? A pampered house pet?" She said bitterly. Fawn watched his eyes shadow with regret.

"Fawn, I didn't mean to-" He reached a hand toward her. Fawn yanked it away, distancing herself from him. She wiped her eyes quickly.

"You lied to me and I will never forgive you for it." Travis's confidence shriveled before her eyes.

"Maybe it's better that you and I weren't together." Travis shook his head.

"Fawn, don't say that, please." He was trying to get her to look at him. Anger rushed around Fawn like a tidal wave threatening to spill over.

"I didn't mean it. I love you."

"Well I don't." Fawn ground out through clenched teeth. She looked out the window so that he couldn't see the tears dripping down her face. She hated him, the same way she did when she first saw him and the sooner the plane ride was over the better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fawn practically jumped out of the plane as it landed on the White Palace lawn. She ran. Steady footsteps ran after her, but she didn't stop.

"Fawn, please!" Travis begged as he raced after her. Fawn ran through the building, seeking the only refuge that was in the palace, her room. In her blind running Fawn plowed straight into someone.

"Hey are you-Fawn?" Fawn looked up and recognized the brown eyes that she had longed to see the whole plane ride. Garth touched her face as she sniffed, trying to draw back the tears.

"You've been crying, what happened?" His voice took on a tenderness that made her want to collapse against him. The tenderness vanished within seconds and all of Garth's body tensed. Fawn knew Travis was there without even asking.

"Garth, let me talk to her." Travis said in a flat tone. Garth pushed Fawn behind him.

"No." He said in a tone that was filled with venom. Travis caught onto it immediately.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" He asked Garth.

"Leave her alone." Garth said. Travis took a step forward.

"This has been a long time coming and I'd hate to ruin that expensive suit." Travis threatened.

"I want you to leave and don't ever come near her again. I swear, you will regret it." Garth curled his fists.

"Why you little-" Fawn saw Travis's raised fist.

"Stop it!" She screamed and surged in-between them. Travis's hand dropped immediately and she could see the pain in his eyes. It was too late to apologize now.

"Don't ever speak to me again. I don't ever want to see you again." Fawn stood beside Garth.

"I've made my choice." Her voice was edged in steel. Travis leaned away and looked at them both.

"Alright, I'll give you what you want, but I want you to know," He glared at Fawn, "everything I did was for you." He turned on his heel and stalked down the hallway. Fawn watched him go, everything they had ever been was no more.

"Fawn?" Garth asked, his tone tentative. Fawn wiped her cheeks.

"I didn't want you to see me like this." She said with a sniff. Garth pulled her chin up so she could look them in the eyes.

"That's what I'm here for." Fawn felt her heart burst with affection for him. This was who she truly loved, who she truly belonged with. She pulled him into a kiss and he held her there, a strong hand arm around her.

"I have something else to tell you." Fawn looked at him.

"What is it?" Garth looked nervous suddenly.

"The council made their decision and," Fawn watched him bend one knee to the ground. Her heartbeat picked up. This wasn't really happening, "I know I'm not required to do this but." Fawn watched as he pulled a box from his jacket. It was happening.

"Fawn Simmons, would you make me the happiest man that ever lived and marry me? The fool that I am." Fawn felt the tears coming before she could stop them. She clamped a hand over her mouth, but mumbled out,

"Yes, yes, yes, yes." She repeated and threw herself into his arms. Garth pulled her close, but retreated, grabbing her hand. He slid the ring on it gingerly.

"They picked us?" Fawn asked when she could manage to talk. Garth nodded and his dark eyes gleamed with joy.

"They picked us!" He exclaimed. He kissed her and tilted his head back.

"We're getting married!" He laughed. Fawn nodded, her eyes blurry with tears.

"We're getting married." She murmured. Garth pulled her into a kiss that took her breath away.

"I love you so much." He said and rested his forehead against hers. Fawn wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I love you too. Till death do we part." She meant it, every word.