Gareth rubbed her back.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista still continued to sip at the elixir, holding the decanter with shaky hands. The cool liquid soothed her parched and raw throat, numbing the soreness as her cough slowly started to abate.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth sighed in relief.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Once Calista finally finished drinking the elixir, James took the decanter from her and set it aside.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Feel better." Gareth asked.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"A-a little..." Calista murmured, her voice hoarse as she just rested against him.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Good." Gareth said.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista gave him a wan smile as she turned her head so she could gaze up at him, love reflected in her eyes. "Thank...you...for everything..." she murmured.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"You don't have to thank me."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista gave Gareth a gentle smile at his words. He truly was the best man she had known. After she had married Julius, she had all but forgotten what love and kindness were truly like. Her husband found fault with every little thing she did. When it came to mending, he said her stitches were too big and when she made them so small that they were barely noticeable he complained about the pattern or that she was too slow. And when she made small treats, though she was a lady and did not have to do such tasks, he found fault with the taste, or the presentation or the texture of the food. If she asked a question, he told her to be silent and at times if she remained silent he slapped her for her stupidity. If anything was out of place---whether it be a piece of fabric or thread just lying about---he would pour his anger out on her and beat her until she lay unconscious at his feet and a servant carried her to bed.
Not wanting to dwell on memories of her past, Calista Sighed softly as she leaned against Gareth and just drew in a deep breath. "You are just so good to me," she whispered.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth sighed. "You desrve to have happyness."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista gave Gareth a weak smile at his words, hardly feeling that she deserved any happiness. She couldn't protect her sister against her husband and then she managed to mess up her sister's relationship with Darius---nearly getting the man killed. Julius was right, she was just a woman that could only ruin things for everyone. "Thank...you for saying...that..." Calista murmured. "But...I hardly think....that is true..."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Don't let your husbands words posion your thoughts. What I say is true."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista just Gareth a small smile. "You are a good man, Gareth," she whispered before raising her head and kissed him lightly on the lips.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth sighed and gently kissed her back.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Smiling against his lips, Calista just continued to kiss Gareth, her heart filled with love for him.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!