Chapter 1 – How it happened.

Hilary had taken all she could take. She never loved Neil, she had reasons for marrying him but she was not in love with him and she knew she never would be. Her heart was with Devon, she knew that now. If she didn't get herself out of this situation she thought she would explode. So she ran, no explanation, she didn't even think about it. Neil was screaming her name pleading with her to tell him what was going on but she couldn't, all she thought about was getting to Devon as soon as humanly possible.

Devon arrived to his private floor at the hotel/athletic club still reeling from Neil's confession. He and Hilary had been waiting patiently for him to regain his sight so they could reveal their secret relationship to him and the rest of GC. The admission that he'd been told it would never happen was too much for him to handle. He told Hilary to be strong and hold on for just a little while longer to give Neil time to process this terrible news.

"Once he gets used to the idea of not getting his sight back, we will tell him together, I promise" He told the love of his life before he left her with Neil.

Hilary arrived at the club and rushed through the revolving door like a hurricane, she knew Cane saw her heading for Devon's private floor but she did not care. She was ready for this, all of this, to be over. When Devon opened the door she hurriedly entered the room and told him what she was feeling. Of course, they ended up not telling Neil but taking out their frustrations in a more physical way which she always enjoyed.

"Devon, I am ready for this to be over. I want nothing more than to stay here with you, just like this. I don't want to leave you." Hilary pleaded with him as she lay in his arms.

"I would love for us to be able to stay this way baby, but you know we can't." he retorted.

Hilary sighed, "You don't get it Devon, what I am telling you is that I am not going anywhere."

"What?" he replied dumbfounded.

"I told you I am done with lying about this. I AM NOT LEAVING THIS ROOM!" she replied as she gripped the covers and turned over.

Shit! He thought to himself. Now what am I going to do? He searched his mind for the answer and came up blank.

"Hilary…."

"This is not up for discussion, Devon" she interrupted.

As he came to the realization that he had no say in the matter, his phone started to buzz.

"It's Neil" he whispered.

"Hey dad"

"Hello son, I apologize for calling so late but I'm in a bit of a dilemma."

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Hilary left. We were in the middle of a discussion, she was trying to tell me something and she just bolted out the door. I can't find her and I am really worried about her. Have you seen her or heard from her?" There was urgency in his voice as he spoke and Devon took a deep breath and cleared his throat before he lied to his father again.

"Uh, no dad I haven't seen or heard from her. But if I do..."

"Yea, thanks son." Neil interrupted

He hung up the phone, turned over and stared at the beautiful woman he was in love with who just happened to be married to his father. They made love again… and again and again. Each time was better, more intense than the last. Devon had never felt a connection to anyone like the connection he and Hilary shared. It was electric, and he knew without a doubt that he and Hilary were meant to be. It was an impossible situation, he had no idea what his next move would be but there was nothing he could do at the present time. He decided to sleep on it and deal with whatever the following day would bring.

He awoke the next morning to an empty bed. He could still smell her scent on the pillow next to him and anticipated the day when he could wake up and stare at her beautiful sleeping face beside him. He went downstairs and found Neil having a cup of tea.

He greeted his father. "Hey dad"

"Hello Son, how are you doing this morning?" He questioned.

"I'm great, how about you? Did you find Hilary last night?" He knew damn well Neil had not.

"Nah, I was hoping she came by here though, maybe after we spoke?"

"Nope. Didn't see her. Why would you think she would come by here though?" he asked.

"Well son, you two have gotten rather close as far as I can tell and I was sure that if something were bothering her you would be the one she would confide in." Neil replied.

"We have, but I'm afraid I can't help you. I have not seen her." he said.

Neil chuckled. "I have some errands to run so I'm going to take off. Take care son. We'll talk soon, real soon."

Devon ran into Cane and Lily later at the bar as they were discussing Valentine's Day and Chancellor Business. Cane and Jill were going to Chicago on a business trip and had planned to take Colin and Lily along. As he was leaving the bar and processing this information Hilary flew into the club like a bat out of hell and was clearly upset.

"What's wrong baby? " He asked.

"I can't do this anymore Devon, I just can't. This has all become too much, I am in love with you but have to pretend to be in love with your father, who I foolishly married. I am stuck in an impossible situation and I want nothing more than to be free. Now Neil tells me he has this big elaborate Valentine's Day celebration for me and it makes me physically ill to think about it. We HAVE to tell the truth Devon. Now!" she frantically explained.

"Look, I know you want to be honest, but we cannot do this to Neil so soon after his bad news." Devon retorted.

"How about what this is doing to me? Haven't you heard anything I have said?" she questioned.

"Calm down baby. I promise you we will tell him soon, together. I have an idea that I think will help."

Hilary listened as Devon explained about the Chancellor Business trip and agreed to talk Neil into going. She hated the idea of spending even part of her day with Neil but she had promised Devon she would wait to reveal their relationship for a few more days.

As she sat on the private jet making eye contact every few minutes with the man she loved, she couldn't help but wonder how she got herself into this predicament. How could she marry a man she had so vehemently hated? Why in the world had she let her need for vindication cloud her judgment so?

She walked to the back of the plane for a bottle of water and was joined by her sweetheart. They made small talk and looked up when Lily shouted "Dad, NO!"

Neil had a bottle of alcohol in his hands and as he was reading the label he was pouring a drink…

Hilary woke up in the snow. She was freezing but could not feel anything. She had no idea how long she had been lying in the snow or any recollection of how she came to be there. She heard voices; Devon's, calling her name.

"Here, I'm here Devon" she said weakly.

After what seemed like forever, but couldn't have been more than a few moments he was at her side reassuring her she would be okay. She also heard Neil's voice, and she couldn't be sure but she could have sworn she heard him calling her baby and assuring her everything would be alright. She decided to push that to the back of her mind and concentrate on her current dilemma. As Devon attempted to keep her warm and Neil dug her out of the snow she thought about what had happened on the plane after Neil had poured himself that drink.

She and Devon had listened, speechless and dumbfounded as Neil had revealed to everyone on the plane that he had walked in on their previous lovemaking session.

When Hilary had regained her ability to speak she had asked Neil if they could talk privately, he was not having it. He wanted nothing more than to humiliate Devon and herself as much as humanly possible.

"How long has this been going on?" he asked.

"A while." She quietly replied.

"How long is a while, a week, a few months, before my accident?" Before she could answer, Devon chimed in.

"Why does it matter how long?"

"Because I deserve to know, that's why"

Devon had tried to convince him to calm down and that there was a better time to discuss this, in private instead of in front of everyone. Neil on the other hand wanted everyone to know that he had walked in on the lovers.

Devon had decided that it was time for everyone to know that they were in love, and had planned on being together once Neil regained his eyesight. Neil had told the pair that would never happen.

Of course sanctimonious Lily had chimed in telling her brother that he was disgusting and that she would never forgive him for committing such an atrocious act. Hilary listened as family member after family damn member chastised her and Devon for being horrible people and just when she thought she couldn't listen to another word the plane ran into turbulence. Colin reported that they were in the middle of a storm and they should all strap in to their seats.

That was the last thing she remembered before waking up in the snow. She heard Devon struggling to lift the piece of plane off of her. When he finally did, she finally felt that she could breathe. She still could not feel her legs as they legs were still numb, she guessed partly because of the large piece of plane that landed on her and partly because of the freezing snow. Devon was with her now trying to get her warm and reassuring her that she would be okay. She was so tired and sleepy. Cane had told the group that they needed to stay awake but she was too weak and needed to rest….

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of Neil's voice begging her to wake up and stay with him. As she regained consciousness and became aware of where she was she spoke.

"Devon?" It was more of a question than a statement.

She did not see him and could not feel his presence, but she saw Neil and felt what must have been his hand holding hers.

Neil spoke. "Devon isn't here baby, but I am."

"Where is Devon?" She asked again.

"Hilary, you don't need him, I am here with you and I won't let anything happen to you."

Hilary shook her head. All she wanted was for Devon to be with her. If this was the end for her she wanted to be with the man that she truly loved.

"Neil." She began

"Shhhh… Don't talk, save your strength." He interrupted

"But, there is something that I need to say. Please just let me say it." She begged.

She felt his hands caressing her head. She felt the bile rising up in her throat and she prayed that she would be able to hold it together long enough to say what she knew she needed to say.

"I need for you to know that I never meant to hurt you but I shouldn't have married you. Not while I knew I had feelings for Devon, and I am not entirely sure why I did."

He interrupted again "What are you saying?"
"I love him Neil." She felt her heart racing and the tears coming but she knew this had to be done.

"What." He asked shockingly.

"I love him more than I have ever loved anyone, more than myself. I cannot live another day and not be with him. And I don't want to live without him."

He let go of her hand and backed away from her with a look of sheer confusion on his face.

"NO, I can't be hearing this. What?" he kept repeating the words over and over.

She knew it wouldn't be easy and she could sympathize with Devon and why he wanted to wait, he was clearly afraid of his family turning their backs on him but she felt they had waited long enough and she was just tired of being in the situation.

"Neil." She tried to get his attention

"Neil, please." She pleaded

He sighed before he knelt beside her and very sweetly asked. "What is it sweetheart?"

"Where is Devon?"