Morning broke and Ruechari awoke to find everyone except Jasper fast asleep. He was standing watch at the mouth of the cave. She thought it odd that he was in his human form. "Hey, how long have you been standing watch?"

"I've gotten enough sleep if that is what you're worried about. I'm a cat remember. We can fall asleep almost instantly to conserve our energy, get a nap in and wake up completely revived."

"You're much more than a cat, Jasper. You're my friend."

He looked at her with sad eyes. "Rue, Doc filled me in last night. I'm worried about what you are going up against. This Drake fellow, his charms and abilities, I just... I don't want anything to happen to you."

Rue looked out to the horizon the sun was starting to rise. "No one is promised tomorrow, Jasper. We only have today, and this moment. I don't know what the future holds in store for me. I can only hope."

Jasper looked back at the others who were still sleeping. He turned back to Rue, at the sunrise, and thought of her words. She was right. There was only this one moment. He made up his mind. "Rue, I love you."

Ruechari turned to him and smiled, "I love you, too."

Jasper shook his head. "No, you don't understand." He turned her so that she had to look into those piercing blue eyes of his and see the truth of his words, behind them. His grip tightened as he proclaimed ...

"I love you. I have loved you from the first moment we met. It was the reason I couldn't kill you back when Ruby would have expected me too. Why I made our agreement. Why I followed you back to the Gulch and put up with living in the Tent City everyday. I didn't need Billy to send me here. I was already packed to follow you."

He wished he did not mention Billy's name, the very word seemed to produce her physical pain that caused her features to cloud over and her to turn away from him.

"I can't be what you want me to be. I can't be that person for anyone it would seem. As time moves on and I see my place in all this, well...I understand why my mother chose to run from it. There are times I wish to run myself."

Jasper turned her back to him. "Then let's. You and me, we leave this place, hell we leave the west, we can leave everything and everyone behind. I will stay by your side. I will never leave you. You can trust in that, and over time perhaps..."

Rue was already shaking her head, no. And Jasper's hands fell away from his grip on her shoulders. "I'm sorry, " she said, though it sounds more like a strangled whisper. Jasper turned away, and looked at the sunrise, he felt his heart eclipse.

"Jasper please you must understand..." Ruechari stopped upon hearing movement in the cave it would seem the others were up now too and she quickly swiped at the tear that managed to escape.

She was meant to save. It was what she was born to do, yet there were so many who became harmed because of her. Her mother and father who gave their lives for her, her grandfather who was murdered trying to protect her, Jujube, Billy and now Jasper she just wished there was a way to do this on her own, where no one else got hurt.

"We should reach Crimsondale by the day's end. In this town, the vampires are still loyal to the Queen. We'll be safe there until we make our next move," Doc said, as he doused the embers and saddled his horse.

Ruechari looked at Jasper, she wanted to say more but ran out of time. "Right then. I'm giving you both one last out. I understand and I will not hold it against either of you should you choose to leave."

Jujube who was already packed with reins in hand looked at Rue strangely. Why was she saying this? They had settled the matter last night or so he thought. Then he noticed Jasper standing at the front of the cave the only one not moving, and wondered.

Rue too stood still and waited. Doc oblivious to what was going on or just not caring, walked his horse out of the cave causing Rue and Jasper to move apart. Not certain what to do next Jujube decided to follow, figuring the two may need a moment. He stopped only briefly to look at Ruechari and say, "I go where you go."

Ruechari smiled at him weakly and nodded. When he passed by she was forced to look at Jasper and those eyes damning eyes of his. "Jasper?"

He didn't say a word he only looked at her and then looked away. Ruechari, pressed her lips together and nodded her head, packed her belongings and grabbed her horse. As she walked past him, she paused only a moment, to say, "Good-bye Jasper. I hope one day you find what you are looking for."

Rue refused to look back but once again a piece of her heart went missing. So many pieces were lost she did not feel whole anymore. She caught up to Jujube and Doc.

"Where's Jasper?" Jujube asked.

"He's not coming," Ruechari said. "Let's ride."

"What? He's abandoning you?" Jujube was furious, he turned his horse around to go back up the path but Ruechari stopped him.

"No, Jujube. I said it was his choice and that I wouldn't hold it against him no matter what he chose. Let him go."

Jujube so wanted to hurt him for hurting Ruechari. He could see it in he face. Damn him! The trio road along in silence there was so much Jujube wished to discuss with Ruechari but now did not seem the right time.

"How much further?" Ruechari asked Doc who was leading the way.

"We still have another half a day's ride."

"Then let's stop here. The horses are tired and I need to think."

Doc sighed, humans are so fragile. He would have preferred to press on but seeing the look of determination upon Jujube's face, realized he was out voted. "Fine, but keep you're eyes open. The myth of Vampires only coming out at night is just that, a myth. They may be weakened by sunlight but it will not kill them. And my kind? They do change with the moon except those of who are the alpha's of their packs. They change with the moon but can change at will too."

"Noted," Ruechari said. "This is just a quick respite. Don't get too comfortable," she said to Jujube. He nodded and kept watch as to where she was headed.

Ruechari needed some time to think.

She walked with SixStar to the creek so that the horse could get a drink. She sat by the water wondering how she would defeat Drake and take back the kingdom for the Queen to rule. She wasn't even sure if Long Leg Liz was still alive. Doc seemed hopeful but that may be more his heart than reason.

She still felt drained from her transformation and battle last night. She missed Jasper he was such a help to her, in guiding her in the ways of magic. There was so much her grandfather neglected to teach her about her powers. Yet, she felt she was only scratching the surface. She will have to do without his help now.

She found herself wishing Billy were here. Things felt so shaky, and she felt so lost without him, maybe she was wrong to force him to stay away. She dipped her hands in the water and splashed her face. When the ripples settled she'd seen him standing behind her.

"Billy?"

She turned and saw him standing there.  "But how?" He smiled and held his arms open to her and she did not hesitate. She ran into them.

"Oh, Billy! I'm so sorry I forced you to stay in the Gulch. I should have never...?"

His smile grew and he tucked her hair behind her ear and she nuzzled her cheek into his palm. "I've missed you so much."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek, her eyes, her lips, she felt lost in his kisses. "I want you to be mine forever, Rue. Tell me you want that too."

"Yes, I want nothing more."

"Just as I thought," he chuckled, and held her close. She melted into him. He looked into her eyes and knew he had her. She belonged to him. He ran his fingers into her hair, he tilted her head back and then right before he claimed her, she heard...

"Get away from her!"

Her eyes flew open and she watched with horror as Jujube drew his bow and shot Billy right in the back with his bow. The shot was true but he only hissed at the pain.

Jujube drew his bow again, but Ruechari jumped in front of him causing him to stay his hand.

"Stop. Don't!"

"Get out of the way, Ruechari!" Jujube yelled.

Billy's hands grasped Rue's shoulder and push her aside. "She's mine!" he said and he stormed up to JuJube who let another arrow fly and it too made contact but he was in too close proximity to ready a third and Billy was upon him and with one blow knocked him to the ground.

Billy raised his hand to strike again, and Rue ran forward to stop him but gun shot rang out, from somewhere unseen and Billy fell to his knees and then to the ground. Rue ran over to him, turned him over, and screamed.