The big city.

Lance was frowning deeply. "Then think of it as borrowing, pay me back when you are better off."

"And how is that going to happen?" Laurinda asked. "If I don't have a home, I can't get a job. I'll be on the streets forever," She mumbled, looking away now.
~!!~
Cora kissed him back, keeping her arms around him.

"Then let me help you get better off." He said. "And then you can slowly pay me back." He said.

Every part of Carlisle's body wanted more, his kisses began to show it. He then realized that both Ashley and Rose were home and Rose had left their bedroom door wide open. He kissed her lustfully before his brain made his lips unwillingly pull away from hers, "We can't." he told himself but his hands didn't agree, they both still held her waist in them. He looked in to her eyes, his own still sparkling happily with her home coming

"I don't understand," Laurinda said quietly. "How?"
~!!~
Cora pulled back willingly, and nodded. She closed her eyes for a moment, fully content to just be next to him.

Carlisle sighed happily, his body tingling with small thrills of holding her again. He shut his eyes briefly and they shot back open with a gasp. He saw it again, her body burning at the stake. He shook his head to remove the thoughts but had little success.

"I have my ways." He said. "Just please, let me help you."

Cora jumped when she heard him gasp. "What's wrong??" She asked quickly, her voice laced with concern.
~!!~
Laurinda slowly shook her head. "I can't," She mumbled. "I just can't."

Carlisle clenched his jaw briefly, unable to look at her he looked away. "I keep seeing you when I close my eyes, usually I wouldn't mind but I keep watching you die... I haven't slept much since..." he told her.

"Why?" Lance said. "Why can't you?" He sighed. "I can't froce anything you don't want. But I really don't want to see you on the streets forever."

Cora looked down. "The same thing has been happening to me, with you," She said quietly.
~!!~
Laurinda closed her eyes, taking a deep breathe. "How can you help, though?" She asked quietly.

"I'm sorry you keep watching that." Carlisle said, he had coped with his own death and he was ultimately happy it had happened because it released him from the life he never wanted and also was the reason he was holding Cora now. He knew that if that had not happened to her he would not be where he was now but the images haunted him daily, making every part of him shiver at the thought of losing her.

"I'm a Sapprow." Lance said. "Even at a young age, I have a high influence."

Cora nodded slowly. She thought about her own death. It no longer bothered her; it had been far too long for that. But she didn't want him to have to see it, either.
~!!~
Laurinda looked down at the table. "I don't want to be weak," She said quietly. "I can't rely on others."

"Your not weak." Lance said. He was mad she would say such a thing. "Accpeting help isn't weak." He said.

Laurinda nodded slowly. That was just the way she had been thinking for the past year. She couldn't help it. But Lance was slowly changing the way she looked at things.

Lance smiled. "Will you please let me help?"

Carlisle finally loosened his muscle's and looked down at her. "Well at least we can be here like this without the threat of our past lives." he said in soft voice.

Laurinda nodded slowly. "Yeah," She said quietly. "I will."
~!!~
Cora nodded slowly. She tried to keep the thoughts of what could happen out of her mind, and just focus on the here and now.

Lance hugged her again. "Thank you." HYe said.

Carlisle hummed a nameless tune lightly, it was one of happiness. He moved as close to her as he could and tightened the grip he had on her waist slowly. He was wmjoying their moment, pushing any negative thoughts about the past and the possible future away.

Laurinda blinked in surprise, and slowly hugged him back. She closed her eyes tightly. "Thanks," She whispered. "I....." She didn't finish.
~!!~
Cora smiled slightly as she heard him humming. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

Lance pulled away. "You, what?" He asked.

"I'm glad I have a friend," Laurinda said quietly, looking at the ground now, embarrassed.

"I'm gald to be your friend." He said.