Au note: Hello! This xkindxofxmagic on SVH board and this is basically my version of SVC. Hope you enjoy! :)

"How could I be so stupid?"

As Elizabeth ran her finger over the edge of the magazine laying on her desk, she leaned back thinking about the past months. She cringed every time thinking back to the arguments when everything came out into the open.

"Did you do just do it for fun? Did you enjoy it?"

"Lizzie please listen to me!"

"Don't talk to me!"

Fighting back the tears, Elizabeth grabbed her glass of white wine on her desk and took a sip. She got up from her desk and walked over to the window pushing back the blinds looking out at the night traffic. She could see cars speeding down, people walking, cars honking, and people biking down the street. One thing she was getting used to is the bustling life of New York City.

Hearing a buzzing sound, she walked over to the kitchen to find her phone and the called id saying it was her brother, Steven. Smiling she picked up the phone and responded," Hello?"

"Lizzie, you still up?"

She smiled. "Yes."

"Good, I'm glad I was able to catch you."

She smiled. "Did you see something Steven?"

"What? Am I not allowed to call my own sister to see how she's doing?"

"Steven."

Steven sighed. "We miss you around here."

"Who is we exactly?"

"Elizabeth."

"Steven don't do this."

Elizabeth knew where this conversation was heading and she didn't like it. She sighed as he continued," Look, just come back to SV. You can live with me. I know Billie may not like it but you could live while looking for a place of your own."

Elizabeth sighed. "No and that's final."

Steven knew he was fighting a battle with no end, Elizabeth wasn't going to give in and he knew Jessica wasn't going to give in either. In the span of months, he watched his family fall apart. He watched his sisters go from being so close to not speaking and he thought he was the only sane person. His parents had no idea what to do and no matter how much they tried to convince Liz to stay she wouldn't.

After talking to Liz, Steven hung up the phone and walked out of his study. After college, he married Billie; his longtime girlfriend and the two had a boy and were expecting another baby and this time it would be a girl. On the outside, it looked as though Steven had it all. A wonderful job, an amazing wife and kids but on the inside he felt lost and stressed out about his family.

He walked down the hall and up the stairs to his son's bedroom, he peered in to see his son, Michael sleeping soundly nightlight on and all. Steven walked in and kissed his head and walked down to his bedroom and found Billie reading a magazine and she looked up and smiled at him as he rubbed her belly and kissed her head.

Billie smiled and asked," So how did that call go?"

"How did you know?"

"Steven, I'm a girl and girls know everything."

He laughed as he undressed as Billie responded," Steven, I know she's your sister but she's got to come to terms with this and accept it. I know the way she found out was awful but if this dragged out even further I can tell you it would've been ten times worse."

He nodded. "I know, she's my sister and she was so excited about marrying Todd and then to have it blow up in her face."

Billie smiled and rubbed his back as he turned around and kissed her softly and he responded," I feel like I'm the only sane one."

"Nope, I hate to tell this but you are just as crazy as the rest of them."

He laughed as she responded," Let's go to bed. I have to be up early for the doctors."

He nodded and laid down as she turned off the lights and while Billie fell into a deep sleep, Steven laid awake staring at the ceiling wondering how it got so complicated. None of this made sense, none of it.