On my way back to my room my phone started buzzing.

Pulling it out, I recognized it as Gene's number. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby." He sounded happy.

I rolled my eyes. "Hey."

"What are you doing?"

"I just got back from the children's hospital. I'm on my way to my room."

"Good because I have a surprise for you." He said, and then hung up.

I put my phone back in my pocket and rounded the corner to see him holding a bouquet of pink roses. I smiled and thanked him.

"Well, the prettiest flowers for my girl." He pecked my lips and I was reminded of how Nick had suddenly kissed me.

"Well, thank you." I turned and opened my room door. Gene followed me in and shut the door behind us.

I found a tall glass and put some water in it, and then the roses. When I turned back around, I found Gene watching me, a smile playing on his lips.

I smiled in return. "What?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking of how awesome you are." He crossed the room and put his arms around my waist, leaning his forehead on mine.

I smiled wider and pecked his lips.

"So, what are we doing tonight?" He asked.

"Well, I'm all yours until five." I detached myself from his arms and went to sit on the couch.

He followed me like a lost puppy, a frown etched on his face. "Why only until five?"

"I'm collaborating with the Jonas Brothers for a duet." I leaned against him when he sat next to me.

"Oh. Okay. So what to do?"

"We could just lie around all day." I suggested.

"Hmmm…" He wrapped his arms around me, laid back and pulled me on top of him. "Okay, this could work."

I giggled, but inside I was wondering when he would change back to the way he used to be. This new Gene could only last so long.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, nothing." I said, guiltily. "Just when my tour is over."

"And when is that exactly?"

"In two months. I end in California." I said, and then just decided to tell him the rest. "My manager, Angie, thinks I should get a place out there. It's too expensive to keep flying from New Jersey every other week."

He was silent for a moment. "So, what about us?"

I sighed. "Is there an us, Gene?"

I got up, deciding to put distance between us just in case.

"I thought there was. I thought everything was back to normal." He sat up and gazed at me evenly. His phone started singing then, my song, Kicking and Screaming. It was just a text, so he slid it open and read it. When he was done, he looked up and said, "Is everything back to normal?"

"I don't know, Gene." I drug a hand through my hair, like I did when I didn't feel like dealing.

"Why don't you know?" He took a step towards me and his eyes clouded.

"I don't know if I want everything to be back to normal. Normal wasn't good with us." I glanced at my phone on the counter.

"I thought it was." He was only arm's length away now. He reached towards me, tentatively.

"Bruises? Bruises are normal?" I asked him, lowering my voice and almost pleading with him.

"I love you, Robyn." His hand slid up and down my arm. "I know you don't love me back, but I don't need you to. I just need you to like me, enough to be with me."

"I'm sorry, Gene."

"Don't be. I love you and that's all that matters." His voice was soft.

"No, I already told you. You don't deserve that. You need someone who loves you as much as you love them."

This time when he spoke, there was an edge to his voice. "But I want you."

I didn't say anything, just backed up a little more. That's when I felt the edge of the counter in my lower back.

"I want you, Robyn. And I will have you, one way or another."

"No, Gene. I'm sorry, but you won't." I said, unconsciously sticking out my chin.

I didn't realize he had hit me until I felt the sting. My head whipped to the side and my hand came up to my left cheek. I felt blood, from a gash that seemed pretty long. That's when I realized he was wearing the ring I gave him.

"Get out." I said, my voice shaking.

"Excuse me?" He looked at me, as if daring me to say it again.

I gained more power this time. "I said, get out."

"You think," He began and grabbed my arms towards my shoulders and brought my face closer to his. "That you can just tell me what to do?"

He shook me a little and I couldn't breathe, let alone answer.

"I don't take orders!" He yelled in my face and dug his fingers into my skin.

Then, just like in the movies, he swung around and threw me across the room. I hit the ground and slid into the opposite wall with a loud thud.

I heard my back pop and tears made their way to my eyes, breaking free. I did nothing to stop them, putting my head on my arm and trying to breath. He walked towards me and squatted down in front of me.

"I'll see you after your last concert. I'll be there to take you home."

"No." I coughed a little. "I'm not going home with you. After this, I won't go anywhere with you."

He stood and gave me a good kick, before squatting down again. I coughed a lot this time, taking slow deep breaths. When I didn't look at him, he got mad and grabbed my hair, forcing me to turn my head towards him. His phone was open and on it was a picture of Nick and me kissing in the nursery.

My eyes widened. "That…" I gasped for breath as he pulled my head up a little more. "He kissed me, and then apologized for it. It was nothing." I took another ragged breath.

He nodded, but I could tell he didn't believe me. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"There wasn't anything to find out." I squeezed my eyes shut. "It was nothing. And you and I aren't dating."

"I love you and you're mine. Always will be." He shoved my head back down and let go of my hair, and then stood up. "Remember that."

I curled up on my side, waiting for more abuse, but he walked out the door, slamming it behind him. I laid there for a good half hour, trying to breathe and stop crying. I slowly uncurled and winced when it hurt to move. But, I drug myself up to a sitting position and forced myself to stand. I grabbed my phone off the counter and walked out the door, clutching my stomach and chest. Throwing my hood over my head, I walked down the hallway and out of the building.

Ten minutes later I was knocking on room 1504 of the Rialto Hotel. I doubled over in pain and quickly retracted my hand. After a few minutes, I stood again, just in time to see Joe open the door.

I gave him a weak smile before grimacing in pain. I shut my eyes and willed it to go away.