Outlaws to the End (HotCider & heartofcourage)

Elizabeth turned to grab her dress, intent on coving herself up since she was playing nurse now. Ian might be disappointed, but she had to be practical about things. Once she was buttoned up again, she turned back to watch Ian stare out the window. He was certainly a dreamer. She wondered if in another time and place Ian might not have thrived as an artist or a writer.

"We'll take things as they come." She said as he swore that they were going to ride straight through to Vegas. "You know that all of our plans get derailed in some way or another."

Once the bed was out and Ian was settled back down, she smiled and turned to soak another rag in cool water. When talked turned to marriage, she dropped the rag back into the sink, looking at Ian as he asked her what her dream wedding would be. That talk seemed incredibly serious, but the more that she thought about it, the more welcome it seemed.

"Hmmmm....my ideal wedding?" She asked as she picked up the rag again and returned to Ian's side, sitting down gently to not disturb him. "I don't want a lot of people there watching us. I'd like to at least be a blonde again. As far as where...I guess I never really thought about it that much."

"Stephen insisted that we get married in a big church in Chicago so he could invite all of his business associates. I'm sure he would have picked out the dress, the flowers, everything. I always imagined something small. Maybe outdoors. Somewhere sunny and warm."

Elizabeth listened to his beautiful little dream of what their wedding would be like. She believed him. he had so much conviction in his voice that she knew that he would make it happen, come hell or high water. She snuggled against his side with a sigh, her tired eyes closing as he continued to talk about their future together.

It was only a few moments later that she was asleep, dreaming about a beautiful wedding on a sunny day in a field of wild flowers. Her handsome coffee eyed groom was dressed to the nines and she was in a dress that she had picked out herself. That was what should be, she thought to herself. That was the wedding of her dreams.

Ian had talked to Elizabeth until she fell asleep against his side. He turned his lips to her forehead and gave it a kiss before he exhaled a deep sigh and stared up at the ceiling of the train car until his eyes grew heavy and he had joined her in dream land. The following morning, Ian slept longer than usual, which wasn’t too unusual until when it came time for meals. His wounds, although having stopped bleeding, were aching and his body trying so desperately to recover left him feeling exhausted. Ian had lost his appetite, and at times would even refuse sips of water. All he did was sleep, and he hadn’t meant to leave his lady alone.

The trip had taken roughly two days and for those two days, Ian had barely functioned. He would at times rise to use the chamber pot, and then would be back to lying across the bed. When the train finally stopped in Denver, they weren’t able to do what Ian had wished. Even in his weak state, he tried to persuade Elizabeth to keep going, and of course, didn’t win. Ian ended up back in the hospital, lying in a bed on drugs as he continued his gradual recovery.

The bank robber was scowling up at the hospital ceiling as the steady beat of his heart monitor melded into background noise. An IV had kept him well-hydrated and he was back to eating. Regardless, like with his last hospital stay, he wanted to leave. The days he had wasted there were grating on his nerves. They needed to get to Vegas and then he needed to marry her. It had always been the pain killers that made Ian feel somewhat like his old self. Once the pain was numbed, he felt as though he could do anything, but his body had shown otherwise. He wasn’t as strong as he had been before the bank robbery. He had become so thin and light that he might have weighed less than Elizabeth.

“I wanna get out of here,” Ian told Elizabeth, and it was something he seemed to tell her every day for every day he tried to convince her that he was better and wasn’t going to be sick anymore. “If you’re worried, we can take some medicine with us. There’s nothin’ special that these nurses do that you or I can’t do ourselves. I’m not gettin’ any healthier layin’ here all day.”

Elizabeth cared and nursed Ian to the best of her abilities. The problem was she didn't have what he needed at her disposal. He was in pain, he was listless, and he was weak. She made him eat, forcing water down him when he was stubborn. She was terrified. She thought that she might lose him on that train ride to Denver.

When they finally got off the train, she forced him back into the hospital. They had plans, that much as true, but having Ian healthy again was what was most important to her. He was grumpy and growled at her all the time, but she refused to budge. He would not be getting out of that bed until he was able to function without her help.

"I don't want to hear it, Ian." Elizabeth said as he started in on her again. "You talked me out of a hospital once already. We aren't leaving until the doctor says you can."

Elizabeth had occupied her time with books. She was reading Pride and Prejudice that day, losing herself in the love story between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. It, at the very least, drowned out Ian's constant grumbling.

Ian had eventually given in when his girlfriend resorted to ignoring him. He sat there quietly in the hospital bed, staring across the room with a look as though he were slowly wasting away, and every now and then he’d fall asleep just to pass time, hoping that for every day that rolled by he would grow closer to recovery. She had no idea what laying in a hospital bed did to him. It made him feel useless—useless to her and a burden. After countless past speeches however, he knew that she didn’t see him that way. She was worried sick about him, and he had to learn how to appreciate it for not long ago, there wasn’t a single person on this earth that had given a damn.

His brown eyes rolled from the wall to settle on the book that she had been reading. She had been engrossed in it for a few days now and having no other entertainment, he couldn’t help but feel a little desperate.

“Whatcha’ readin’?” Ian questioned.

Elizabeth's blue gaze looked over the top of the book as Ian asked her what she was reading. She ragarded him for a moment, wondering if he was about to launch into another session of begging to leave. It looked like he was calm, she thought, as she slowly let the book lower from her face.

"Pride and Prejudice." She said softly as she pushed herself out of her seat, her new blue dress falling around her legs as she made her way to the bed. "Ever read it?"

She sat on the edge of his bed before carefully lifting her legs to lay along side him. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, giving him a smile. She was proud of how he was handling himself. She refused to let him suffer anymore when they had the time and the resources to make sure that he healed well. He had almost died, multiple times, but he had pulled through each and every time.

"It's about a woman named Elizabeth Bennett who meets a man named Mr. Darcy. At first, she thinks that he's stuffy and pompous, but then she starts to realize that there is more to him then she ever thought." Elizabeth said as she grinned at Ian, pleased to see the smile on his own grin.

She let out a sigh as she placed his hand on her hip, his warm fingers trailing down her thigh. She missed the man that she had come to love on their journey together and in that very moment, she knew that he was returning to her. The compliment that he offered her made her grin even wider. Slowly, she reached over to place the book on his bedside table, giving him her full attention.

"I miss my gold locks." She said softly as he made comment about her blonde coming back. "I know it's dangerous to look like myself, but I miss being your sunshine."

Elizabeth couldn't help but grin as Ian mentioned that she didn't need her blonde hair to be his sunshine. "Well, look at you getting all sappy and sentimental."

It had been a long, hard road to recovery for Ian. This situation was something that she never wanted to be put in again. While they hadn't discussed it yet, she was prepared to tell him that his bank robbing days were over. They would settle down somewhere, have a nice little life with actual careers. When the time was right, she would reach back out to her family and perhaps they could be a part of the new life that she wanted so much.

"I'll stay, but the first time the doctor says that it isn't good for your health, I'm right back in my chair over there." She finally agreed, leaning forward across the hospital bed to kiss him gently. "And I mean that, Ian. Your health and you getting better means so much more to me than our creature comforts."

As the two of them stepped out of the hospital on that bright morning, Elizabeth watched as Ian dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. She let out a sigh, watching as he over exaggerated like normal. He had been moody and agitated in the hospital, but now that he was healed, she hoped that things would get better for him.

"You are such a big baby." Elizabeth teased, as she watched him lift his head from the sidewalk and look out towards the city.

Denver was truly beautiful and the mountains in the background seemed to shine purple in the sunlight. She wouldn't have minded spending some more time in the city, but Ian chimed in right then, telling her he wanted a hamburger and a train ticket.

"We'll get you the burger. Then, we're going to get you some new clothes that actually fit. After that, we're checking into a hotel. I want one night in a nice soft bed before I get back on a train." Elizabeth insisted, looking down at him with an upward tilt to her lips. "Besides, if you're really good, I might let you take me for a spin in that nice soft bed."

Elizabeth grinned as Ian rose and came towards her, running his hand through her hair. "Well, I'm not so sure you can keep up with me now either, but I'll let you have a shot."

She was a little disappointed when he talked about the hair dye, but she knew that he had a point. She needed to hide for the time being. If she were caught now, their nice little life would be over and she would be back in a gilded prison. The idea was made all the more pleasant as Ian pressed a slow kiss against her lips, a sigh leaving her lips as he showed the whole world just how much he loved her.

"As long as I get to be your sunshine again some time soon, I really don't care what color we choose." She said as he wrapped his arm around her.

Her head threw back and she laughed as he threatened to loosen his belt right then and there. Ian was a man that very well might do that. He held her tightly as they walked, her head resting against his shoulder. He truly was the love of her life. She had never met a more honest and loving man as Ian Darcy before. She would have done anything for him and she knew that he would have done the same for her.

Once they had found a spot for shopping, she allowed Ian to pick out his own clothing. She looked through the racks for something for herself. She had her eye out for another yellow sundress, one like Ian had first picked out for her when they had started their journey. When he was dressed, she turned from her search and gave him a grin as she looked him over from head to toes.

"Well, don't you look handsome." She said as she reached to straighten his collar. "Don't worry, Ian. I'll make sure that you fill it out. All the good food that you can handle."

"Are you blushing, Mr. Darcy? I never thought I'd see the day when little ole me made you blush." Elizabeth murmured as his fingers settled against her hips in the most familiar way, squeezing them until the blush appeared on her own cheek.

Then he was leaning forward, his bristled cheek pressing against her own as his deep voice whispered against her ear a scandalous suggestion. "If you bought them, I'd wear them for you tonight."

She couldn't believe that those words had actually left her mouth but her blue eyes looked deeply into his coffee colored gaze and she gave him a knowing and slightly sly grin. "But only if you buy me a pretty dress to wear in the mean time as well."

"I mean it." Elizabeth said as she watched Ian's eyes light up in a way that she'd never seen before.

She smiled as a look came to his dark eyes like he was a kid in a candy store. As she had watched over him during his recovery she never thought that she would see that look in his eyes ever again. There he was though, bright, alert, and the man that she loved so completely. She wanted to wrap him in her arms and hold him tight, kissing him until neither of them could breathe. Instead, she turned towards the rack of clothing that he was pawing through on the search for a pretty dress.

Tears came to her eyes as he pulled out a flowing yellow dress, his eyes looking over it critically before he finally turned towards her. She sucked in a breath, looking at him with a soft smile on her lips as she thought about all that they had been through in such a short amount of time. Even through it all, he still remembered what made her smile.

"No. I'll never get tired of it." She said softly, leaning in to press her lips against his scratchy cheek. "And I'll never get tired of you."

She meant it. Every single word. Ian meant more to her than anything else in her life and she would never tire of his moody, loving, tempestuous nature. She reached up and wiped a tear out of her eye as she looked back at the dress with a smile on her lips.

"Well, let's get this on and paid for so we can go looking for some garters." She murmured, trying not to be too sentimental in the moment.

Elizabeth laughed softly as she took the dress back into the dressing room and put it on. It fit beautifully and certainly made her feel beautiful. When she emerged, she saw the look in Ian's eyes and actually blushed. Yes, she blushed at the way that he looked her body up and down. Ian had a way about him that made her feel warm and fuzzy inside and she wondered if this wasn't what being in love was like.

"Thank you, Ian." She said softly as he murmured that it didn't matter what color her hair was, that she would always be his sunshine.

Taking his hand, she let him pull her closer, his eyes running over the peaks and valleys of the dress again until he grinned at her with that satisfied smile. He was near to bursting with excitement as he drug her out onto the street, searching up and down the street for the one store that would carry the lingerie that she had promised to wear for him.

Ian was huffing and puffing by the time that they found a store and he looked like the wind had certainly been taken out of his sails. She could see the change come over him as they sat on a bench outside the store, her hand still holding his tightly. She was worried about him, but she knew making a comment about his weakness would only make him upset and angry.

"Food would be good." She said softly, squeezing his hand as she saw all the self doubt and loathing in his eyes. "But...I don't know. Would you mind if I went in to just have a look around?"

Ian felt Elizabeth squeeze his hand and knew why she was doing it. Without words, he knew that she was concerned about him. He didn’t wish to discuss it or have her continue to worry about him.

But…I don’t know. Would you mind if I went in to just have a look around?

He was a little hesitant to answer. He had made such a big commotion searching for the store, it seemed only fair that he allowed her to have a look inside. He, however, wouldn’t have been able to follow her even if she dragged him. Staring at all that underwear just made him angry.

“Sure, go ahead. I’m gonna go find us a burger place and then I’ll come back here and get you,” Ian informed as he rose off the bench and without meeting her eyes once started down the street. He needed to walk to cool his head and to stop thinking about how unfit he was.

You’ll get it back, he tried to encourage himself.

He never liked exposing Elizabeth to his dark moods. It made him feel like a rain cloud on her sunny day. He was done bank robbing, and his focus was to conserve the loot they had and start over with his woman. He was a free man. Ian Darcy was only alive in the heart of Elizabeth Darrow. The thought put a somewhat content smile on his face.

"Alright." Elizabeth said as his little plan unfolded and he stood off the bench to go in search of a burger place.

He wouldn't even look at her as he walked down the street, the defeated nature of his thoughts showing in the way he carried himself. His dark moods were a part of him that she simply accepted. She couldn't have the lovable Ian without the dark Ian as well. She just wished that he wouldn't be so hard on himself. He had been to hell and back and perhaps she was being inconsiderate to try and push him into something that he obviously wasn't ready for. Suddenly the idea of going into the store to look at panties didn't seem so appealing anymore.

A long, drawn out sigh escaped her lips as she stood and forced herself to go inside. The little bell above the door tinkled cheerfully as she pushed it open. A petite woman behind the counter looked in her direction and Elizabeth was quick to tell her that she was just looking. The thought of buying had long since been squashed by Ian's sudden change in mood.

Inside that store there was every manner of underwear that Elizabeth could imagine. Some things were sensible and others put a blush on her Catholic cheeks. She tried to imagine what Ian would say about each piece that she had shown an interest in. Perhaps he would like it. Perhaps she could get his engine running again.

"It's just a waste of money." She said to herself with a quiet sigh, glancing out the window every so often to see if Ian had returned just yet.

Elizabeth glanced over at the slight commotion coming from the back of the store. She saw two people, a man and a woman, and the woman was dressed in an almost obscene pair of underwear. Trying her hardest not to stare, she glanced back at the rack of garments in front of her, their words and playful tone reaching her ears. It made her sad. She wanted to be sharing a moment like that with Ian instead of standing alone in front of a bunch of undergarments.

She wanted to be the one being felt up in that dressing room. She wanted to be the one with a man who looked at her as if she hung the sun and moon. Instead, he had stormed away to save her from his dark and dreary mood. He couldn't help the fact that he'd been laid up in a hospital for weeks. She couldn't give him back the strength that he was so sorely missing.

"Rough day?" The lady behind the counter asked, startling her out of her thoughts as she suddenly appeared beside her.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Elizabeth said softly, her eyes never straying from the rack in front of her.

She wanted to cry. It was silly, she knew, but she felt like all of her hopes for that day had been dashed the moment that Ian walked away from her to find a burger joint. Food had a greater calling than sex and dammit, she wanted to feel needed.

"Is that your fella outside?" The lady asked, motioning towards the front window where Ian was waiting almost impatiently.

"Guess I better get going then, huh?" Elizabeth murmured, letting out a long sigh as she finally turned from shopping, pausing when the woman placed her hand on her forearm.

"Pick out something for yourself, dear. I'm not letting you walk out of here with that long look on your face. A man as fine as him deserves to see something cheerful." The woman said, pulling Elizabeth back towards the rack and making her look again. "This right here is simple, useful, and guaranteed to get his blood pumping."

A black, silk nightie was pulled off the rack for Elizabeth to look at. It didn't have the frills and ribbons of some of the other things in the store and she had to admit that it was very pretty. Still, she didn't think Ian would appreciate her spending their money on something like that. After all, he hadn't even wanted to go into the store with her.

"I don't know..." Elizabeth said as the woman turned with the nightie in her hands and walked back to the counter, placing it in a pretty little bag and handing it towards her.

"On the house, dear." She was stunned by those words and her hands shook slightly as she reached for the bag. "Now, don't keep a man like him waiting."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said softly as she gave the woman a smile and turned to leave the store, the bell jingling behind her as her eyes locked onto Ian's. "So, did you find a place to eat?"