Chapter Seven

Kendall had no idea how to get the words out that would break Zach's heart. It would be easier if she hated him, but she didn't. She cared about him, felt for him, could see that he was hurt on the inside in all the same ways she was. And all that added up to something...just not love...not anywhere near what her heart felt for Ryan.

She had waited too many years to hear Ryan say he loved her in just the way she loved him- a forever sort of way that neither of them could ever turn their backs on again.

This is my chance at real happiness, she told herself as she walked through the halls of the casino. Only Ryan can give me that.

Kendall planted a picture in her mind- her, Ryan and Spike laying on a white blanket under a Christmas tree, and on her finger was a gold band from her soul mate. She wanted to have that become her reality next year. But before that could happen she would have to fight, once more time.

As she stepped into Zach's office, she was finally ready to face the last battle.

"We need to talk," she said

He looked up from his paperwork and noted the expression on her face. "Did something happen? To Spike?"

"No. He's fine. But...something did happen...when I was away with Ryan...Zach," she took a deep breath and met his eyes. "I'm leaving you."

XXXXXXX

She felt as light as a feather when she walked up to Ryan's door later that afternoon.

The rest of her life was about to start and Kendall couldn't be more thrilled about it. She was desperate to get back to something good with Ryan, to feel his lips stroke over hers, to have his arms pull her in tight until her body could feel every inch of his.

She didn't bother to knock or ring the bell. She wore a magnificent smile as she strolled inside saying "I did it, Ryan!"

Her eyes took in him and the petite woman, such a dangerous force in a compact body, standing near his couch.

"What did you do this time, Kendall?" her sister asked. The woman's eyes were unreadable, but Kendall though she glimpsed a faint smile on the corners of her lips.

She came home, Kendall thought. She's back.

"Greenlee."

Ryan started to walk toward Kendall. "You did it?" he asked softly, his eyes locked on hers.

"Does it matter now?" asked Kendall.

She looked away from him and back to Greenlee. "Why are you here?"

"That's some Welcome Home, sis."

"Why are you here?"

"This town is as much my home as yours, Kendall." Greenlee's offended tone dropped away as she asked, with more than a little hurt in her voice "Did you really want me to stay away forever?"

Ryan had made it across the room to Kendall. His eyes locked in on her but she was still focused on Greenlee.

"Depends," Kendall said. "Are you here to be my sister again or to try and take away the man I love for the second time?"

"Zach. I never had any interest in him."

Kendall gave her a look and Greenlee said, "Oh, oh. I see."

She looked between Ryan and Kendall and then said "Just tell me this wasn't going on while I was married to him. Not like it matters now...but it sort of does to me."

"Of course it wasn't," said Kendall in a How could you even ask ? tone. "You're my best friend and sister...I thought about it sure...I mean who wouldn't..." she smiled.

After a second, Greenlee smiled back. "Any woman with eyes would, I suppose. Well, I have people to see...shoes to buy...you know how it is. Are you two coming to the Pine Valley Inn for my welcome home dinner tonight?"

"The family is sort of banned from that place," Ryan said.

"A few knock down drag out scream fests and suddenly they don't want us back, huh? Who would have thunk it?" asked Greenlee as she breezed toward the door. "Well, then we'll have it at my father's place. Erica should love that. I can hardly wait to tell her." She rolled her eyes. "See you there, sis? Eight o'clock."

"Since my mom might toss you out at 8:05, we'll come early," Kendall said. "You have to meet your nephew. God, Greenlee, you should see how beautiful he is..."

Greenlee smiled. "Bianca has sent pictures to me almost weekly. I'm already crazy about him."

Kendall, without thinking, gave Greenlee a quick hug before she left. "About time you came home...Monday morning you better be at Fusion kicking that tramp out...siccing Babe Chandler on me...that was just wrong...cruel and wrong, Greenlee."

Greenlee laughed. "And something you would had done to me if you would have thought of it first. See you tonight."

When she was gone, Ryan placed his hands on Kendall's arms and whispered "That's some smile you are wearing. You happy or something?"

"Tell me the truth. Did she want you back?"

"No. She came to warn me that she married someone else. But she didn't say who...I guess we'll find out tonight."

"Then I am very happy, Ryan. I'm thrilled actually." She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. "Everything is falling in place...you love me and nothing can go wrong now."

(Now I can rest my worries and always be sure
That I won't be alone anymore.

And if only I'd known you were there all the time
All this time) ( Richard Marx)

Against her ear he said, "I do love you, Hart. Now tell me that you are mine...all mine...now and forever."

She pulled back and looked in his eyes, "Whose else's could I ever be?"

Then she was kissing him, her lips opening immediately to take him back inside of her, where he belonged, where she had been missing him for too long.

And that was the way they began the last reunion they would ever have. Ryan and Kendall, with arms clutching each other, and mouths begging for more and more, and clothes falling to the ground, they came back together and vowed to make it stick this time.

Because, they both would later agree, there was something very wrong about two soulmates not being together.

And something very right in the way it felt when his body came against hers, and his heart beat out a steady rhythm that she could almost hear. For the first time in years it sounded less like a lonesome brokenhearted tune and more like

this is right, me and you, me and you, me and you,

for the rest of all time, me and you, me and you, me and you...

In a moan he told her, "Kendall, I love you. Don't ever doubt that...please believe in me...forever..."

"Forever is just the start for me and you, Ryan."

When his mouth caught hers in another kiss, tears came to her eyes.

He whispered, "You're really mine again?"

"I always was," she said, knowing it was the honest truth.

Ryan told her, "And I will always, Kendall, always be yours."

(Until the day the ocean doesn't touch the sand
Now and forever, I will be your man

Now and forever,

I will be your man)

The End

Thanks for reading,

Sara