Title: Scars

Author: xECCENTRIC

Rating: PG-13 for language and subject matter

Note: Has elements of Kate/Miranda slash. Don't like it, don't read. Simple as that.

Loud screams come from the room and I run to it, run to you. The bedsheets are everywhere and you're screaming loudly and twitching, obviously disturbed. I run to you and wake you up and you open your eyes, tears pouring down your face. "She was here, she was here!" You yell, crying, shaking. I kiss your forehead and rock you softly.

"It's ok, it's ok. I'm here. She isn't. You're safe." You continue to sob and shudder, and I feel the usual hate in me boil over as I think of the source of your nightmares and sleepless nights. I kiss your forehead again. "Do you think you'll be able to go back to sleep?"

"I don't know," you reply weakly. "I don't know."

"Do you want to come downstairs with me?" I ask. You nod. I let you go and you follow me out of the bedroom and down the stairs. We stop at the kitchen where I had been before, drinking hot milk and thinking. I sit down on a stool and you acquire one next to me.

"I'm sorry, do you want something to drink or eat?" I ask. You shake your head.

"That's ok," you say quietly. There's silence for awhile before I start talking.

"She's in jail now Kate. She can't hurt you." You look me in the eyes and then down at the floor. You sigh.

"It doesn't stop the nightmares Miranda. It doesn't stop the pain. It won't take away the scars." My mind floats to the scars that she put on your beautiful skin, scars that can be covered but never taken away. I put down my milk and hug you.

"I'm so sorry that it happened to you," I say, sobbing into her hair. "I'm so sorry that I can't take your pain away." You hug me back and sigh.

"You didn't do this to me. You don't have to be sorry about a damn thing." Still embracing you I nod, but only to humor you. I will always feel that what happened to you was my fault.

The day promised to be beautiful as Kate sat out on the porch of the tiny ranch home she shared with her girlfriend. It was warm and sunny, a day good enough to eat. She smiled to herself as she thought of Miranda coming home to share the beautiful day with her. Miranda had went traveling, visiting with distant friends and would be back later that day. Kate couldn't wait.

She grabbed the glass that held her cool lemonade and drank. Content with the taste she smacked and tasted her lips before sitting the glass back down on the table. She sighed. "This is what dreams are made of," she said to herself. She sighed again.

Kate heard something break within the house and stood up, her face puzzled. "What the hell…" she said to herself as she walked back into the house, walking slowly and looking around. She found nothing until she got into the living room and saw the source of the noise.

"What the hell are you doing?" she yelled as she saw Lizzie McGuire standing amidst a broken vase, it's pieces scattered all about her. Lizzie didn't reply, just twisted her face into a scowl, lifted a gun at Kate, and fired.