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For the next week Anna didn't get to be alone for a second. There was always someone with her even after she was discharged from the hospital. It was mostly Polly, Imogen and Isiah who couldn't leave Anna alone but even Michael started to spend more and more time with his sister ― apparently her near-to-death call had opened his eyes and he wanted to make more of an effort.

Anna was grateful for the love and support her friends and family gave her but the constant worrying they projected did made her a little tense. However she didn't have the heart to say this to them so whenever she had a chance, she would go and sneak out to the garden's of Imogen's townhouse to be alone.

According to the doctors, Anna was fine now. She had been just under too much stress which affected her body in ways they couldn't explain. Anna was fine with this answer but her mother and Imogen did not share this sentiment and kept going to the hospital every single day to see if they've come with a new answer.

Anna however did not care and tried her very best to enjoy her new chance as some called it. She didn't think so ― she thought surviving Spring Fever was her new chance.

"Are you following me?"

Isiah stopped on his tracks, his cheeks flushing like the rose bushes behind him. He had noticed Anna leaving the house earlier and decided to go after her.

"No," he shook his head innocently.

"You sure?" Frowned Anna and turned to look at him. "So you just decided to take a walk here?"

"Yes. I wanted to take a little walk," said Isiah.

He didn't know why he felt like he needed to lie ― it was clear that Isiah was there to look after Anna. He wanted to believe Anna was all well and nothing bad will never happen to her again but the world has shown how unfair it is towards Anna.

Anna looked calm and there was a sense of serenity around her. Her unruly hair was open and whenever the wind blew, her hair would dance around her face. Her face was still a little pale but not in a sick way ― Anna has always been quite pale. But that sparkle in her eyes which had made Isiah fall for her in the first place was finally back. It had disappeared when Polly and the rest of the family were arrested.

"All right then," grinned Anna and walked to Isiah. "Or are you here to make sure I won't faint again? Or are you here just to keep me outside because Thomas will be here soon?"

Thomas' arrival was supposed to be a secret, a secret from Anna. No one wanted Anna to see her cousin ― they were worried that she would get too worked up and something bad would happen again.

Isiah swallowed, his fingers brushing against Anna's but he didn't take her hand.

"Thomas won't bother you," said Isiah sternly.

If Anna was being honest, she wouldn't mind seeing Thomas. She wanted to talk to him, have a word or two. Her family and friends were protecting her from that encounter though ― they worried that meeting Thomas might be too much for Anna.

From the moment Anna had woken up, the people around started to treat her some fragile flower or a shattered vase. She understood where the people who cared about her were coming from, where their worries were coming from but she was growing a little tired of them.

"I wouldn't mind talking to him," said Anna and her words surprised Isiah. She saw his confused look and added. "According to Sir Anthony, Thomas did have a plan to save everyone but the execution was set earlier than he was told. It doesn't excuse his actions though but it's somewhat comforting to know that he wasn't going to let them just die."

Ever since meeting Anna, Isiah had thought she was too good. Too forgiving and generous. Isiah personally didn't think Thomas should have anyone's forgiveness but he knew the Shelbys and was quite sure they will forgive him in some state and form. Isiah wasn't going to forgive Thomas though ― he blamed Thomas for everything. He blamed him for Anna's dead-alike sleep.

It was funny how once, not too long ago, Isiah looked up to Thomas but the hero, the powerful man he once saw in him was gone now.

"Your mother doesn't want you to speak with him," Isiah said while his fingers tracked the outlines of Anna's arms.

"I can handle it," argued Anna. "I want to talk to him. Make him realize that I was the one who saved his son and the rest of his family."

When Anna had first met Thomas, she thought they would be great friends. At first they were that although they didn't spend so much time together ― Thomas was the only one who actually let Anna be and didn't hunt her with millions of questions ― but now whatever friendship had been between the two was gone.

"Your mother will have my head if I let you see Thomas," mumbled Isiah.

"Well then it's good it isn't up to you. I can decided who I see and talk to," Anna declared with confidence. "Besides, my mother can come up with a million other reasons to have your head."

Isiah smirked at Anna's truth-filled words. Though Polly had made a promise to accept her daughter and Isiah's relationship, they were both quite sure she was not going to do that. Neither of them cared if they receive goggly eyes or judging looks ― they found them quite funny.

"Now that is true. But I'm afraid you can't see Thomas. Not yet at least," said Isiah and tried to keep his stance which was incredibly hard when Anna was looking at him with those big brown eyes.

"Then what do you suggest we do instead?" Anna asked but her voice was now quiet, just above a whisper.

Her breath felt hot against his face like the fading flames of a fireplace. Thoughts ran through her mind and by the look in Isiah's eyes, she could tell he was thinking the same. But they were in the gardens of Imogen's property and such things should not be mentioned. 

Anna was a smart girl and her judgment ― rational and righteous ― was shaking like the leaves during a windy day. She felt how Isiah's hands moved to rest on her waist, pulling her closer so that their foreheads touched.

"You will be the death of me," whispered Isiah.

"Not unless I die first," Anna said, a smile pulling to her lips. 

Isiah shook his head, his forehead still resting against Anna's. "Still not funny," he said.

"I wasn't trying to be funny," said Anna and pulled away from Isiah so that she could move her head and kiss him. 

The kiss lasted long and the only reason they broke it up was to catch a breath. All the colors and sounds around them were so much clearer like they were brighter and louder. They could hear each other's hearts beating faster than ever. The familiar scent of Anna's perfume ― one Imogen had given her ― made Isiah smile and looking at her, he could not imagine anything better than getting to look at Anna for the rest of his life. 

It was obvious Anna felt the same way. She loved how Isiah had this way of looking tough and like he does not care while all along he is probably the sweetest person she has ever met. He looks at her like she is the only thing in the world and it made her feel special ― and she knew she was the only one. She was the only one who could make Isiah Jesus so love sick. 

"I need you to let go of me or I swear the people looking at us are going to have show," Isiah muttered against Anna's lips.

Anna frowned and as she pulled away, she saw some of Imogen's maids looking at them from the second floor's windows. She rolled her eyes and though she did not want to let go of him, she knew she had to.

"What a gentleman," she said to him and grinned.

"Of course," said Isiah and bowed a little. "Whatever the lady needs or wants."

"Well..." chuckled Anna, her one hand's fingers resting on Isiah's lips. "The lady didn't want to stop."

Isiah exhaled slowly. "But I bet she doesn't need any gossip. I heard maids do that."

"They do," smirked Anna. "So maybe we wait. Let's not give my mother and Imogen yet another reason to have you killed."

"I like the way you're thinking," Isiah said.

"Then we should probably go inside," Anna continued and she smiled when Isiah rolled his eyes. "I know I know, I shouldn't go because of Thomas but I want to. I nearly died so I think I have the right to go and yell at him about it."

To see Anna yell at Thomas was something Isiah wouldn't want to miss but he also didn't want to risk Anna's health and feared that seeing Thomas will do that. 

"I'm sure Polly will yell at him," he said. 

"And so am I. But still, I want him to look at me in the eyes and see regret in his."

Anna didn't wait for Isiah to answer but turned around, her hair bouncing against her back and shoulders as she started to run towards the open double doors of the patio. Isiah shook his head but he wasn't annoyed by Anna's behavior but amused. At least he could tell Polly he did try to keep Anna away from Thomas ― maybe he won't mention how exactly as he was quite sure Polly did not want to hear how he was basically tongue wrestling with her daughter.

If Anna would have to, she could walk around Imogen's house with her eyes closed and find whatever she needs to. The first days she spent at Imogen's, she made sure she knew every single corner of the house in case she would had to hide ― trust didn't come easy back then. 

She walked down a corridor and turned to her right where she found the library doors closed ― they were never closed. It didn't take a genius to realize that whatever was behind those closed doors was the someone or something people didn't want Anna to see. She didn't open the doors right away but stood still for a moment, wondering if she should just let it go but there was still this dark, bubbling feeling of rage and anger in her which she imagined would leave only if she does face to face with her cousin.

Everyone in the library turned to look at Anna when she opened the doors. You would think something was very much wrong with her as the looks she received were one's of disbelief. 

Polly immediately hurried to her daughter and took a hold of the girl's shoulders.

"You shouldn't be here," she said with her eyes soft but voice stern. "Go and wait in the hall."

"I want to speak with him," Anna said and looked over her mother's shoulder to see Thomas. "I want him to explain me how the hell did he manage to make such a big mistake."

Thomas stared at his young cousin and knew exactly what she was talking about. He had made a mistake ― several actually ― but she meant a certain one. He did have all the intensions to free his family but he had failed due a stupid reason; he had missed the date of the hanging. 

"We can talk to him about it, not you," said Polly and tried to gain her daughter's attention but her efforts were for nothing. Anna shrugged herself from her mother's hold and marched towards her cousin.

There was anger in her eyes no one in the room has ever seen. Anna was often a sweet girl with a mischievous nature but she was never really angry. But now she was angry and the hot, red mark of her palm on Thomas' cheek proved her point.

Everyone stayed quiet for a second, trying to wrap their heads around the clash between Anna and Thomas. The latter however didn't react to the act of violence towards him but just nodded his head like it was nothing.

"You really are a Shelby," said Thomas after a while. "You hit like one too."

Anna huffed. "You almost had everyone killed. I saved your son and in that very moment, you imprisoned my mother. My brother and cousins."

"It was the only way," Thomas argued.

"Imagine if I had let you handle it. I would had let you handle their release. They would be dead now," Anna said, her forefinger pointed at Polly. "Their blood would be on your hands right now if it wasn't for me and my people."

Thomas scoffed but smiled like he agreed with his cousin.

"Yes. That would had been my mistake and fault. But luckily you were there to prevent that from happening," he said. 

"And that nearly killed her," Imogen entered the conversation and Thomas glanced at her.

"I apologize for that. It was never my intention," Thomas said. 

Anna narrowed her eyes the way Polly does whenever she was angry or upset with someone. The way she looked at Thomas, he could swore it was his aunt instead of his cousin. It made him feel a little stupid ― how he had not seen it the moment he first met Anna. He nodded his head once again, acknowledging Anna and maybe even thanked her for salvaging the family. 

He left without another word and some might think this was it ― he will never see his family again ― but he knew this was not the case. They were Shelbys and blood is thicker than water, mistakes can be washed away but blood cannot. 

"I told Isiah to keep you away," sighed Polly and walked to her daughter. She caressed the younger woman's cheek with one hand, looking for any signs of distress.

"I know but even he can't do that," said Anna and decided to leave out the details of Isiah's attempt to keep her from the house. "Besides I needed to see Thomas."

"It is not your battle to fight," Polly said.

Anna didn't agree with her mother. "You would be dead if it wasn't for my meddling."

"But you almost died because of it," reminded Polly although picturing her pale daughter on her death bed wasn't her favorite thing to remember. 

"Can we all just agree that I'm fine?" Anna asked from her mother we the sweetest smile she could possibly make. "Imogen thinks so though she doesn't want to say aloud, she thinks she will jinx it. Everyone here thinks I am fine but you."

What Anna didn't notice was Isiah. He had made his way to the library right after Anna but chose to stay quiet when watching her confront her cousin. Isiah thought he couldn't possibly feel any more love or adoration towards the young Gray woman but she had proved him wrong. 

"I just can't loose you again," Polly whispered and pressed a sweet kiss on her daughter's forehead. "Not ever."

Anna rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around Polly.

"You won't," she promised her and with her chin rested on her mother's shoulder, she was Isiah. "None of you will."

i survived the great war! (if you know you know)