It had been three months now since I went to the General that day. He told me that he was shipping off Josh and I to a small lodge in Utah. It would be in the middle of nowhere, quiet and peaceful. There was a beautiful lake outside surrounded by emerald green forests and a gorgeous view of the snowy mountains. Food was dropped in for us every week but other than that, we were completely on our own. We collected fire wood and went for walks in the woods. Josh never really spoke much to me on the first day. He even tried to avoid me but I didn't push him. He needed some time and if he wanted to tell me then he would. It turns out, it was a plan by the General to try and fix Josh. It mostly worked out but there were some scars that never faded.

On our first night there, I woke up to the sound of footsteps. I was on guard in an instant but reminded myself that everything was okay and I was safe. I opened my door just a bit to see Josh stumbling out of the lodge into the howling storm outside. I followed him and rushed out despite the rain.

He had collapsed onto his hands and knees in the mud, wheezing and sobbing. He was having his first panic attack of many at the lodge. I was on my knees next to him, wrapping my arms around him as he threw up into the mud. He was shaking and struggling to breath, turning his face upwards so the rain mixed with the tears. I held him as he leaned against me, keeping my arms locked tight around his chest. We stayed there hours after the rain stopped and the storm cleared. Josh's breathing calmed and his thudding heart slowed. A little after dawn, he gently disengaged from me and walked slowly around the lake and into the forest. I got changed, made myself breakfast and sat out of the swinging bench for the rest of the day.

Josh didn't return until an hour after dark. He came in, caked with mud, but gave me a faint smile before retreating to his room to get changed. The next night, I heard him again. I slipped into his room and stayed with him until the panic attack was over. It happened almost every night and each time I was there with him.

It was only three weeks later did he tell me why they kept happening. It was a warm day with a cool breeze. We sat on the swing, looking out at the lake and the sunset over the mountains. "I'm sorry that you're stuck here with me, Erin," Josh said quietly. He was barely audible.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him. "I'm not stuck here at all. I want to be here with you, Josh."

"But I know I make your life miserable," he said. "With all my...with all my panic attacks, it isn't easy for you. But I just can't stop thinking that one day, the Master will come over those mountains and turn me into a monster again. I hardly trust myself any more not to hurt you..."

"Josh-"

"I almost killed you, Erin," Josh said, leaning forwards and staring at his hands. "Every time I see that in my nightmares, it rips me apart even more. I feel like I'm becoming a monster again. It was only because you stopped me that I didn't kill the Master and Kieran. Do you have any idea what it's like to not be able to trust yourself with the person you love the most?" I moved up closer to him and took his hand.

"You're not going to hurt me, Josh," I said softly. "You've never hurt me and you never will."

"But how can you be so sure?" he whispered. "How can you trust me so much if I can't even trust myself?" I placed my hand on his cheek and turned his face towards me.

"Because I know the Josh I love," I said. That's when he kissed me, his hands cupping my face. I relaxed into him as he picked me up, his lips never leaving mine, and carried me into the lodge.

That night, he had no panic attacks at all. He slept soundly, his arms holding me to his chest and his soft breathing on my neck. I smiled to myself. Maybe things would be all right after all.

***
A few months later, I got a visit from Harry. A helicopter dropped him in at about twelve in the afternoon. Josh had gone out to hike in the mountains as he usually did during the day. He had discovered so many amazing sights and had seen some incredible animals in their natural habitat. It helped him relax and recover.

Harry pushed himself in his wheelchair to the front door. "Hey Harry!" I greeted him, hugging his shoulders. I handed him a hot chocolate and we sat outside. Josh came back a little while later, said a hello but mostly skimmed stones on the other side of the lake.

"How has he been?" Harry asked me. I sighed.

"Okay," I said. "He'll never be completely okay ever again but...he's doing all right. He's a lot better than he has been."

"And how have you  been?" he said. I smiled and laughed a little.

"Okay," I replied. "What about you?"

"Okay," he said, smiling. "I guess we're all okay then."

"But seriously, Harry," I said. "How have you been? What's going on at the World United Army?"

"It's been difficult," Harry said, his cheeky smile faltering a little. "Trying to get used to this." He gestured his hands at his legs. "But Charlie's been around to help me and it's not like I haven't had stuff to do." Josh skimmed another stone across the lake; it bounced six times before sinking.

"Have they had the trial yet?" I asked. Harry pressed his lips together.

"No," he admitted. "It's in two days time. But that's why I've come here, Erin."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...with the world going back to how it was, a lot of the world leaders are coming out of hiding," Harry explained, rocking his chair back and forwards. "They've seen all the footage and read all the reports..."

"Do they want to arrest Josh and I?" I said, my tone flat.

"No!" Harry cried. "God, no, the General and Charlie wouldn't allow it. They want to hear the whole story from you and Josh, for one thing but they also what to take blood samples, skin cells...that kind of thing. You know where that's going, Erin."

"They want to know how to make more GE's," I said. "Well tell them to-"

"Erin," Harry said sternly.

"I'm serious, Harry," I said, looking over at Josh who skimmed another stone. "He can't go back. He's only just started to settle. If we go back now, I might lose him forever. Facing the Master, Lucy or even poor Austin would completely destroy him. We can't go back for anything now." Harry looked down.

"I thought as much," he said. "We haven't given anyone your location so no one should bother you. And the General isn't letting anyone near T11."

"What about Austin?" I asked. Harry grinned.

"He's doing fine," he said. "Some people wanted to punish him but most people saw how bravely he acted so, just to make sure we had no uprisings, he's doing some community service."

"That's still a thing?" I laughed.

"Oh yeah," Harry chuckled. "Charlie's taking as much pleasure as he can out of it. But Austin seems quite happy. We're keeping him away from the leaders as well."

"It's like their trying to start another war," I muttered.

"Yeah, well, they won't," Harry said, shifting in his seat. "Everyone is just being a little cautious. It won't last."

"I hope you're right," I sighed, looking over at Josh who had sat down in the shingle. Harry took my hand.

"It'll all be all right, Erin," he said. "There's nothing anyone can do to hurt him now." I smiled and squeezed his hand.

"We'll never forget it," I said. "In fact, I don't think we should ever forget it. People like your world leaders need to know what happened. They need to know what Josh and I went through, why GE's should never be made again. Nobody should go through that pain."

"It won't ever happen again," Harry said. "Humanity can be stupid sometimes, but we remembered never to fire a nuclear weapon again. I think we'll remember this." Josh came over and planted a kiss on my head. Harry smiled.

"What did I tell you, mate?" he said. "Spend every moment you can with her. You both deserve it."

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And there I conclude 'Only Each Other'. I really hope you've enjoyed it. It's been quite a journey so hopefully the ending was satisfactory for you.

So, as I said last chapter, I shall be introducing my new original story: 'Survive'!!!!!! Here's the blurb for it, let me know what you think:

'She woke up. She woke up in the middle of the desert. She woke up in the middle of the desert with no memory at all. The only thing she had was a rucksack with a few small supplies with strange symbols plastered all over them. But more importantly, a flare gun. But to shoot the flare gun leads you into the unknown. Does she shoot it and face an uncertain doom? Or try and survive the brutal conditions? What she doesn't know is that she isn't alone in that desert. There is something more complicated going on in the world than just a girl with amnesia. What were all the strange symbols? What took every person who shot their flare gun? There is only one way to find out.'

So, I hope you enjoyed 'Only Each Other'. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought!!! Hopefully I'll see you in my next story! Let me know what you think of that from the blurb!

Thank you so much for your support! You guys have been amazing!

Love y'all!