Sanem had decided to work on getting her studio in order, since she wasn't meeting Leyla for lunch, she had plenty of time to clean and get all her supplies arranged. While she was out shopping with Deniz over the weekend, she found a floor lamp, a small table lamp and a loveseat that would fit nicely in the studio. Bulut had told her there were extra chairs in one of the storage areas and she had found a chair that was perfect to use at the table while making her creams or writing.

She was putting some final touches in the room when her phone pinged with a message. She smiled as she seen Can's text. "I could really use a friend right now."

She dialed his number and he answered on the first ring "Babek"

"Can, are you ok?" she asked "Leyla told me that Huma was at the agency but she didn't have time to tell me much else."

"I need you Sanem, I need to hold your hand, hold you in my arms and feel your goodness."

She sighed at his words, he sounded so devastated "Please can you meet me at the mountain hut?"

She didn't give it a second thought "Evet, I need to shower and change then I will meet you there." "Thank you" he whispered.

She finished what she was doing, then quickly went to her cabin, showered and changed. She packed a small bag just on case, knowing that it would be cooler at night, she packed a heavy sweater and a change of clothes for the next day.

While she was waiting for her taxi to arrive, she wrote a note to Mirhiban so that she wouldn't worry. she knew if she spent the night away without saying so that the others would be concerned. She slipped the note under the door and then walked to the drive as the taxi pulled up.

She arrived at the hut, but she didn't notice Can's truck so she thought she must have beat him there but as she rounded the corner she heard the sound of the ax hitting the logs. She stood and watched him for a few minutes then coughed to let him know she was there. He dropped the ax as he turned toward her, she walked swiftly into his arms and let him hold her for a long time.

Can held her as tight as he could without hurting her, playing with her hair and placing his nose in the crook of her neck. Her warmth and scent making him feel as if he were no longer lost. Sanem didn't say a word, just stood there while Can held her in his arms. She could feel him trembling, whether with anger or hurt she wasn't sure but she knew he needed her. Needed her arms for protection, to know someone cared, to feel love.

She wasn't sure what had happened but she knew it must have been really bad, Can was the strongest person she knew and he looked defeated. Finally he loosened his hold on her and kissed both cheeks. The afternoon air was cooling ever so slightly so he led her to the fire he had already started and helped her sit down.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" "No, not yet. I just want to keep the ugliest out of this place for as long as I can."

"Then we shall sit and do just that, let me go make us some tea and then we can sat and doing nothing for as long as you need."

She stood up to go into the hut, Can grabbed her hands "Sanem, thank you." was all he said, she nodded and smiled and then walked inside. The thoughts in her head going a thousand miles a minute.

It was at this time her inner voice spoke "I have never seen him this way. Be gentle with him today Sanem." She looked up at her voice only able to shake her head in agreement. She found some cheese and grapes, added them to the tray of tea and walked back out to Can.

She stopped to look at him, his shoulders slumped, his head down, she could feel the anger coming off him in waves but that wasn't all she felt, she felt his sadness and hurt. What had Huma possibly done to him this time. She went over and sat down beside him, offered him the cup of tea and did just what he wanted, sat with him, holding his hand, trying to make him feel her love.

Can had grabbed a blanket and a couple of pillows and was now laying with his head in Sanem's lap. He had finally dosed off and she was about to do the same when both their phones pinged with a message, Can didn't move, so she grabbed both phones, looking at the messages. She text Leyla back that she would call her later then read Can's message from Emre, asking if Can was ok and where was he? She text him back only stating that she was with Can and he was sleeping at the moment, she would have him call when he woke up. Emre asked if they were at the hut, she knew Can wanted to be alone so she lied and answered no. She knew that Emre wouldn't believe her but maybe she bought them a little time.

After a while, Can stirred and with sleepy eyes looked at her and smiled. "Sorry, I am not very good company."

"No, you are fine company, you apparently needed the rest. I hope you don't mind but Emre text you and I answered that you would call him back." "Thanks," "Hmm, Can he asked if we were at the mountain hut and I told him no but I am not sure if he believed me. He may still try to come here."

"Ok, I will call him and maybe he won't come." Can stood and with phone in hand walked a little bit away from Sanem. This hurt her feelings that he didn't want her to hear what was being said, maybe he wasn't calling Emre. Her inner voice scolded her for not trusting him, maybe he only wanted to keep the problems away from her a little while longer. She stood and started cleaning up the dishes from the tea they had earlier, she was hungry now, since Can seemed better she would probably just go back home.

When she walked back out, Can was irritated again. "Is everything ok?" she asked.

"No, Huma isn't going to leave either Emre or I alone. She keeps calling Emre, trying to find out where I am." "Why isn't she calling you?"

"Because I blocked her number, she cannot reach out to me."

"I see, so what is Emre going to do?"

"I told him to block her number also but he thinks she will just harass Deren or some of the other employees."

"Where is Emre?"

"He was at home but I am afraid he may be coming here. I need to leave, I am not ready to deal with all this. I am sorry Sanem, I brought you out here and now I am going to find a hotel somewhere to hide out." He started putting out the fire, so Sanem started picking up the things they had used, she folded the blanket and carried it along with the pillows back inside. She had already cleaned their dishes so all he had to do was lock up and they could leave.

"I can drive you home or where ever you want to go." She jumped at his words as she had been sending a text.

She looked at him sadly, thinking he was trying to get rid of her, she looked away before he saw the tears in her eyes.

"I can call a taxi, it is ok."

"Sanem." she turned to look at him, his eyes were filled with sadness and hurt "I really don't want you to leave but I can't get you mixed up in what Huma is trying to do."

"I know you are trying to protect me Can." she looked at her phone when it pinged, took a deep breath and looked up at him. "I am ready when you are, do you mind driving me closer to town, then I can get a taxi."

He shook his head yes but she could tell he didn't want to leave her anymore than she wanted to leave him. He helped her into the truck, then placed her bag along side his in the back seat. They rode for a little while in silence then she asked him if they could take a detour. He was surprised but told her yes. She started to give him directions "I want to show you this beautiful place I come to when I need some time alone. He only shook his head and kept driving.

"Turn here,' she said suddenly " this road will be pretty bumpy because it isn't used much but if you go slow it should be ok." she smiled at him when they were about to turn the corner, she watched him, she wanted to see his face when he saw the place she had brought him. When he drove around the next bend, it opened up to this sea, the water bluer than the sky and the sands white as snow. He looked at her and smiled.

"It's beautiful isn't it?"

"Evet, How did you find this place?"

"A friend of mine. She brought me here because she knew I loved sitting on the coast and when I need alone time, need some peace I come here." she placed her hand on his, "Come on, let's walk a little, there is a dock just a little bit further down but the road doesn't go that far."

So they got out of the truck and hand in hand walked toward the dock.

"Someone have boats they dock here?" he asked when they were closer to the pier.

"No, not usually." she answered "I do believe that my friend has allowed a few of her friends to dock here a time or two when needed. This is part of her mother's property." she didn't want to tell Can about Mirhiban just yet but at least she was telling him the truth, this was owned by Mirhiban's anne at one time and actually was still listed partly in her name.

They sat at the pier, Can finally looking a little more at peace, she knew he wasn't thinking about Huma, at least not right at this moment. Neither one of them spoke a word just sat, holding hands, listening to the sound of the waves coming to shore. He was watching her, he could tell she felt safe here, she was relaxed and smiling, just tilting her face to the sun with her eyes close. He bent over and kissed her cheek, she blushed but smiled at him, questions in her eyes.

"Thank you for bringing me here for sharing this piece of your sanctuary with me."

"No one else I would share it with, it seems you need this place as much as I do."

"Evet and now since Emre knows where the hut is I can't just hide away there anymore."

"I am sorry I told them about your hut."

"I think he knew anyway, I had the feeling he just let me be, knowing I needed that place to myself but now too many people know about it." he shrugged.

"Do you think you will be able to remember how to get here? I will share this place with you."

"I think I could find it with no problem after I have been here a time or two." he smiled at her, he felt even though he had had a horrible day, this day was somehow bringing them closer together. Wouldn't Huma have a cow if she knew?

The sky was starting to grow darker and Can's phone pinged again. He looked at it and laughed "Emre, wanting to know why I am not at the hut."

"I" she started to say but stopped.

"What it is, Sanem?"

"I want to show you one more place, but"

"But, you aren't sure you are ready to share, correct?"

"It's not that, it's just, and don't get me wrong, I know I can trust you to keep my secret, it's just I wanted, no, I needed to keep this place to myself a little longer." "I understand, and, you don't have to feel that you need to show me anything right now."

"I just feel selfish!"

"You don't have a selfish bone in your body." he looked at her "I understand more than anyone about needing a place to hide away, a place that no one knows about. Believe me, you don't have to show me anything else until you feel ready, don't rush, share with me in your own time."

"What are you going to do about the mountain hut?"

"I will keep it for now, it has too many good memories for me, far more better memories than sad ones but I am going to look for another place. I like, you, need that." He once again helped her into the truck, not knowing that his words had led her to a decision about the two of them.

After he climbed into the truck, he thanked her again and asked if she was sure she was ok if he came to the coast again. She smiled at him and told him any time he needed.