{Chapter … I forget. 9, yes let's say 9}
Ryan and Julia's House
Julia is packing the last few boxes. "I'm sorry Ryan, really I am."
Ryan just shakes his head. "Yeah, me too."
"I hope one day that you can forgive me but I think its best that we don't see each other for a while."
Ryan nods. "Other than seeing him, I want nothing to do with you Julia."
"Ryan I uh I don't think that's a good idea."
"What? You're not serious?"
"I told his father – his real father. Besides he's getting older, I don't want him to be confused about this."
"Confused? You are the reason we're in this situation. I left my wife for you… for us. I am his father."
Julia stands there silent for a moment. "Why don't you cool down for a couple of weeks, and we can talk later?"
"If you're going to keep him from me, I will fight you on this. I won't give up."
"You don't want to push me on this. I said we'd talk later after you cooled down. We're leaving now."
"This isn't over Julia. When I get back from seeing Lux, I'm not going to give up."
Julia rolls her eyes. "Running off to be with your ex-wife again. Something's never change."
"This isn't about Cate. It's about us. I stayed here because I knew you were going to be here. I wanted to try to make this work, Julia. It killed me waiting here, not knowing about Lux when it happened. You know that."
"I have to go. Goodbye, Ryan."
Ryan stretches his neck and clenches his fist as Julia walks out. Ryan picks up the phone and calls the one person that he knows might be able to help him. "Hi Dad – I think I need your help." Calling his Dad was a last resort for Ryan but his options are narrowing because of Julia.
Eugene Memorial Hospital
Eric and Lux look at each other.
"Eric – outside, please." Cate says again.
"I'll be waiting." Lux says with a pause. "Not like I can really go anywhere."
Eric smiles nervously and walks out with Cate.
"I'm sorry Cate. I know that you don't support us."
Cate nods. "I asked you to leave her alone, Eric."
"I know." Eric looks down.
"What would you do? If you were me?"
Eric shakes his head. "I don't know. I would hope that she would find someone that loved her, that she loved. I'm that guy. I want to prove to you that I can be that guy."
"You're 7 years older than her. You were her teacher."
Eric nods. "I know, believe me I know but there's more important things than age. Lux has been through a lot. You can trust that I only want what's best for her."
"You say all the right things Eric, but this is wrong. It's always been wrong and it always will be."
"I'm going to be with her Cate." Eric says and walks back into Lux's room. Cate stands there stunned. She has never seen Eric be defiant towards her. She was accustomed to him doing what she says and for him to say no, struck a nerve within her that made her realize that dealing with Eric and Lux's relationship isn't going to be easy and that Eric isn't going to walk away.
Cate's phone rings.
She sees his name popup. "Ryan, Hi."
"How is Lux?" Ryan asks.
"She seems ok, hell bent on being with Eric."
"Well she is a headstrong yet vulnerable girl. You should know that she isn't going to back off easily."
Cate nods. "I know. I thought that I could trust Eric to stay away from her, but he basically told me I can't do a damn thing about it."
"What does Baze have to say about it?"
"He drove back to Portland, something about the bar. One moment he's beating Eric up and the next I don't know."
Wanting to take Cate's mind of things, Ryan changes the subject. "Sex, Marry, or Kill the Ryan edition. Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, and Ryan Murphy?"
"What are you doing?" Cate asks.
"Humor me, Cate."
Cate smiles. "Ryan Murphy? Seriously? Isn't he the producer of Glee? And Gay?"
"You never know – he might introduce you to one of those 35 year old seniors they have on the show." Ryan says laughing.
"Well Ryan, I would marry Ryan Reynolds, spend my nights with Ryan Gosling, and kill Ryan Murphy. I can't deal with someone bitchier than me.
"No one could."
"Hey." Cate says.
"I miss you, Cate."
"So get down here then. Lux would love to see you. I would too." Cate says with a smile.
"I'm glad you said that because I'm sort of behind you."
"What?" Cate says as she turns around.
"Hey" Ryan says stepping closer to Cate.
Cate hugs him. "I'm glad you're here."
Ryan smiles. "Me too."
"Do you want to grab some coffee? Or you can totally go in and see Lux right now; I mean that's why you're here. Eric's with her."
"Do you want me to kick his ass Cate? I will. I've got a lot of built up aggression coursing through my veins so I will."
"How are you doing with… things?" Cate says unsure of how to phrase that.
Ryan shakes his head. "She just changed overnight. I don't know how to get through to her. I called my Dad to see what my options are. I don't want to fight her, but she's going to keep me from my son. I'm the only father he knows."
"I just don't get her Ryan. How she could do that to you?
