Even though there were tears, it seemed he was underestimating her strength as they spoke. She was blissfully unaware of course that there was a brief comparison to girls considered tougher than her. She was about to make the toughest decision of her life. She stiffened her spine, then slowly pushed herself up and gave him a measured look. There was something about her eyes that might make him reconsider his comparison. She was just tired, for things had happened in quick succession. First, her family was murdered, which he didn't know that yet... then the murderer turned on her in a chilling threat... then she fled to England, got her job, found him, got pregnant, and was just about to make the scariest choice of her life. The men in her life owed her a little more credit than what was given.

"You don't want to marry me, though," she said flatly, "And I am cannot force you." She reached out and touched his arm. "And you probably will not if you knew just what was happening... There is more to tell you, Viktre." And then she took a deep breath.

"I'm running from the man who killed my family." And she slowly told the whole story from her perspective and pausing every now and then to give him a chance to respond.