A lesser woman in Hannah Solice's position would want Audrey dead. Even as Alexander moved her into their home, citing that she had no one else, begging her to let her stay.

Hannah didn't budge.

Audrey, who did not protest, merely because she couldn't, her mouth tied up with tubes, her body too exhausted to protest, said nothing. She pleaded with her eyes to Hannah, shaking her head pitifully, begging her to deny him.

But Hannah could not. If she took her stand here, and told him to get this woman out of their house, he would blame her for Audrey's demise, and excuse his loathing of her.

And so, the woman he loved moved into their home, and he took time off work to care for her personally as he worked furiously to get her a new a heart. As the weeks went by however, the outlook became grim. Audrey rarely opened her eyes, the only indicator of life the lifeless beeps of machines.

Alexander sat in the room he'd made for her. The door opened with a small creak.

The familiar roll of wheels into the room snapped Alexander's attention. In the chair was a frail older man, with shaggy black hair.

"You," Alexander accused, standing. "How dare you show your face at a time like this! This is your fault. If you'd taken responsibility instead of making her work like a dog—"

Alexander stopped, noting that the man was silent, his eyes on his daughter.

He sighed and sat down.

"Just get the hell out old man. You didn't take care of her before. I'll do it. Like I've been doing," he grunted.

"Who was that woman?" James asked, his eyes on his daughters rising chest.

"Hannah? She's my fiancé?" Alexander grumbled.

"Hm. I thought you two would've been together by now. You've got her in the house you live in with your fiancé? That's some audacity," James remarked.

"Just shut the hell up."

"But you love her right? I mean...why else would you take care of her like this? So...why are you with someone else in her face like that?" James asked.

Alexander opened his mouth to curse but paused. "We couldn't have been together. She...she thought she loved me but she just needed me. And I couldn't take advantage of that. Not like you," he cut his eyes. "She thought she loved me but...she didn't really like me. It wouldn't have worked—"

James chuckled. "Well of course you could've been together. For all her sharpness and her smart mouth, and her insults...she didn't know how to act. She's never seen love. She was just scared. And you might not know this, but as sharp as she acts, she likes to run. Like her mother."

Alexander's eyes widened, swallowing roughly.

James turned around, wheeling himself out.

"That's it? You're not gonna stay with her? Even now? Even like this?" Alexander demanded. "You're gonna abandon her again?!"

James looked back. "What can I say? We're a family of runners, that girl, her mother and I. It's all we know how to do."

James left quietly, his presence usurped by his wife to be.

"So?" She asked softly. "What are you doing?"

Alexander sighed, holding Audrey's hand. "What do you mean?"

Hannah squeezed her eyes tightly. "Havent I given enough? Hasn't she? You need to pick someone. Please."

Alexander shook his head. "She is dying, Hannah. I...I have to save her. I owe it."

Hannah raised her brows. "To who?"

He shook his head putting her cold hand against his forehead.

"What can I do Hannah? Abandon her? Leave her to die alone in a bed? Is that what you're asking?"

Hannah stood, shuffling. "No," she said softly. She smiled and looked at Audrey. "I'm heading to bed."

Alexander heaved a sigh, kissing Audrey's hand. "I'll find a way to make you better, Audrey. I promise."

Audrey shifted, her face scrunching up in pain. She pulled at the mask over her face, pulling it down.

Alexander leaned forward in anticipation. Her lips moved but no sound came out. He leaned closer.

"What are you telling me?" He asked desperately.

She grabbed the back of his neck, making the hair stand up on end, his eyes widening.

"Let...me...go." She whispered.

Alexander clenched his jaw, pulling back. "Never."