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863 Words
Elizabeth's tone had been so stern that the mood shifted immediately, and she regretted not just ignoring Sawyer's half-serious suggestion that they might actually get married.
"You've definitely made your mind up about that - I don't need to wait for your hormones to die down to know that for sure."
She sighed, and moved a little further away from him.
"It's not that I don't want to marry you - I hope you know that. We just can't leave behind a trail of paperwork with our names on; it could put the others in danger."
"I know."
"I'm not saying that we'll never be able to... just...not when things are so uncertain."
"Elizabeth, I think Cordelia would have found us by now if that was her intention. I think she's convinced I'm dead."
"And you want to risk her coming across evidence that you're not? And that we're still happy?"
He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair.
He really didn't want to think about Cordelia, but Elizabeth was right - it was best not to risk her finding out that he was still alive.
"I guess you're right..."
"I am...and I know it's difficult for you, because you can't look for her and find out what she's doing."
Elizabeth was clearly walking on eggshells, and Sawyer sat up a little straighter and tried to show her he wasn't upset.
"I'm not interested in what she's doing anyway; I'm interested in the people I care about, not the people I hate."
Elizabeth smiled - she knew that wasn't entirely true. He wanted to kill Cordelia.
"Things are going to be difficult for a while. I know neither of us has wanted to talk about it, but we need to be careful... I think we can give up a couple of things like getting married for the sake of keeping Saga safe, can't we? I think we can make a good life here if we're willing to do things to protect it."
"I'm glad you think so," he leaned in to kiss her, and she nuzzled against his neck affectionately. "I do want to get married, though. I want people to know that you're mine."
"Possessive," she laughed, and he smiled warmly.
"You're mine," he said seriously, "I want everyone to know that."
"I'm yours," she pressed her forehead against his, "you're my Alpha, and my mate, and one day -when things are different- you'll be my husband."
"You better make sure you belong to me, then," he growled a little as he spoke, and her heart fluttered.
"I'll do my best."
"You do that," he leaned in to kiss her, and she tried to pull him back into an embrace - he wouldn't let her, though, and he pulled away from her.
"What are you..."
"We should go back to the house," he said firmly, and Elizabeth couldn't help but frown.
"You want to leave right now?"
"We should talk to the others, and then I want to spend some time with you."
"You mean you want to have s*x," she raised her eyebrow and he smiled but shook his head.
"No, I mean I want to spend time with you; I want us to spend time together, because I love you, and... Elizabeth, why did you call me your Alpha just now?"
She swallowed nervously; she didn't know why she had said it, and she hadn't even thought about it until he brought it up.
"Because... you are."
"I'm not," he frowned, "I'm your mate, but-"
"You don't want to be Alpha again some day?"
He took a deep breath, and held it for a few seconds, trying to collect his thoughts.
"I have been significantly happier since turning my back on that, and you know it. You know I don't think I was good at it, and that I don't like the idea of it. I don't know where this has come from - you've never spoken like that before."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I've just...obviously something is going on in my head that I'm not aware of."
"I know."
They were silent for a while, but Elizabeth was watching Sawyer and in the end she broke the silence between them.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm wondering if this is some kind of instinctive thing - maybe it's the same thing that's making you want to settle down. I just want you to be happy."
"I am happy."
"Then that's good," he smiled warmly, "we should get back to the others."
"What will we tell them?"
"The truth," he held her gaze and Elizabeth already knew he was serious. "We have to tell them what we've decided."
"What have we decided?"
He laughed, and pulled her onto his lap because he was starting to find her irresistible again.
"That we want to stay here, if they'll let us. And we want to make sure the place is safe for everyone."
"And that we want a family?"
"You want to ask them about that already?"
Elizabeth blushed, and nuzzled her cheek against Sawyer's neck as she breathed in his scent.
"I don't want to wait."
"I don't, either."
- Writer
