Disclaimer: I'm wearing socks. I own them. But these characters? Not so much.

A/N: WOW, I suck. Sorry.

Thanks to Diamond and Stars, dares to dream, animegrlsteph, Cheryl, IrishShamrock86, Trust Deceit for reviewing!

Enjoy:


"I cannot believe him," Joe growled. "How sick can he get? I mean, I thought it was pretty bad already…but this is just insane!"

"This guy…" Frank shook his head slowly. "We have got to put a stop to this."

"I don't know how much more Amy can take," Nancy said softly, her eyes tearing up again. "I don't know how much more I can take."

"What should we do?" Joe asked after a moment. "I mean…she's obviously not safe here, not even with four other people watching her. Do we send her back to L.A.?"

Nancy stared at the floor.

"Nan?" Frank took a step forward. Nancy looked up quickly and moved a little bit backwards.

"I really don't know what to do," Nancy sighed. "I don't see where she could go where he wouldn't find her."

"Witness Protection, maybe," Joe suggested, shrugging his shoulders. "You can't find someone who doesn't exist anymore."

"That would just stress her out," Nancy told him, crossing her arms. "I mean, she's already freaked about all this Seth stuff, plus the fact that she's due to have the baby in three weeks."

"Exactly," Joe pointed out. "That's stressful too."

"But we've already taken her away from her home, Joe," Frank said slowly. "We can't just take her away from her identity too."

"Maybe," a voice came from the kitchen, "you could ask Amy what she wants to do!"

Nancy, Joe and Frank turned. Amy was standing in the doorway, her hands folded over her stomach.

"Okay…" Nancy replied quietly. "Amy, what do you want to do?"

"I want to stay here," Amy said, appearing completely calm. "There's no way we can track him down if I leave. He'll go wherever I go, no matter what it takes."

The three detectives looked at her in surprise.

"Are…you sure?" Joe walked over to her, grabbing her arms gently. "Because…"

"Joe," Amy smiled shakily, "I just want him to go away. And he won't go away until he's put away. Please."

Hayden came up behind Amy suddenly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Amy tensed slightly from all the contact. Joe must have seen this in her eyes, because he backed away immediately.

"I'm staying here," Amy told them, relieved that Joe backed off. "End of story. I mean…if it's okay with you, Nancy."

"You can stay as long as you like," Nancy told her quickly. "As long as you feel safe here, it's fine with me."

"Thanks," Amy smiled, smoothing down her shirt before looking up at Hayden. She spoke softly when she said, "Can I speak to you for a minute?"

Hayden paused, and then nodded. He led her out of the room, his arm still around her shoulder. When the door shut behind them, Joe looked to Nancy.

"I don't know about this," he told her. "I don't know how I feel about this."

"Me neither," Nancy admitted. "But I guess it's ultimately her choice."

"I guess so," Joe said, trailing off. Nancy sighed and walked towards the living room, falling down on the couch.

"This day has been too stressful," she wiped a hand over her face.

"Tell me about it," Frank replied, rolling his eyes.

"Other than this, what's going on?" Nancy sat up, running a hand through her hair.

"We, uh…" Joe looked over at Frank. "We need a place to stay."

"What about your hotel?" Nancy asked, surprised. "Not that you aren't welcome here; you can stay any time you want. I'm just curious about the sudden change."

"Seth kinda…jacked my room key," Joe told her. "It just shows me not to leave my pockets unlocked while I pass out."

"Leave…leave your pockets unlocked?" Nancy raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"Okay, Nance, I'm having trouble thinking right now. I have to go to the bathroom," Joe explained, crossing his legs.

"There's a bush outside," Nancy told him, mock-helpfully.

"Not funny," Joe growled before dashing up the stairs to the bathroom.

Then, there were two.

Nancy purposely ignored Frank, staring down at the giant blow-up of Seth's back.

"It's crazy," Frank leaned over her shoulder, staring down at the picture. Nancy shivered as she felt Frank's breath on her neck. "I can't believe anyone is this insane."

"I know," Nancy shook her head, folding the photo in two. "I mean, he's made it clear he loves her. Wouldn't he have gotten the hint that she doesn't feel the same way about him by now?"

Ouch. Frank winced internally. Was that some sort of clue that she didn't love him back? He swallowed hard and nodded.

"Y-yeah. I can't believe he hasn't realized it," he stammered, looking down at his shoes.

"Seriously, I just can't fathom how someone can delusion themselves into believing that someone loves them that much."

Frank looked up, his cheeks pink. Nancy bit her tongue and closed her eyes, realizing what she had said.

"Frank…"

"Nancy," Frank looked directly at her, clearly expecting her answer.

"I…it's…there are extra blankets in the hall closet," Nancy mumbled. "Help yourself."

Frank pressed his lips tightly together and nodded. "Yeah. Okay, thanks."

He turned and walked away slowly, and it was obvious he was still expecting her to tell him something. But she didn't say a word, so he quickened his pace and dashed up the stairs, nearly knocking into Joe, who was on his way down.

"What's wrong with him?" Joe asked Nancy, looking over his shoulder to where Frank had disappeared.

"He thinks I don't love him," Nancy whispered, staring up the stairs, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright.

"Do you love him?" Joe lowered his voice. "Really, Nancy. You can tell me. I understand if you don't want to tell him, but…you hit me with your car. It's the least you can do."

Nancy winced.

"I do," Nancy moaned, leaning forward and crashing her head onto Joe's shoulder. "I'm just so confused. I mean, I know I do, but I also know that nothing can happen until all this Amy-Seth stuff is over. But on the other hand, when Ned came onto me…I don't know. I felt so...I don't know. I just…"

"Don't know," Joe nodded sympathetically, rubbing her back. "I understand. It feels like you love them both, right?"

Nancy nodded into his shoulder. "Ned was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, love, my first…uh…"

"No need to venture that far," Joe told her quickly, wincing at the mental image his over-active imagination had conjured against his will.

"But Frank…I feel like…it's hard to explain," Nancy mumbled, taking a step closer to wrap her arms around Joe. "He makes my head spin. I get butterflies. It's weird…but amazing."

"I get it," Joe told her.

"I do love Ned," Nancy told him quietly. "I love him a lot. But I feel like part of the reason I broke up with him was because of Frank."

Joe nodded again.

"But that day…I almost felt like I wanted to kiss him," Nancy went on, feeling her breath catch in her throat. "God, I make no sense. I wanted him to, but I really, really didn't."

Joe furrowed his brow. "Okay. So Ned came on to you, and…"

Footsteps on the stairs broke them apart, ending the conversation effectively.

Nancy looked at Frank, he looked back. His eyes were serious, his mouth set in a firm line.

"I'm going out for a while," Frank announced. Joe nodded.

"D-do you need a car?" Nancy asked, crossing her arms across her chest and looking down. "I mean, I obviously don't have mine, but Hannah said you were welcomed to hers. And she's out on a walk, so…"

"Where are the keys?" Frank cut her off. Nancy gestured towards the kitchen.

"Thanks," Frank said curtly, knocking into her shoulder by accident as he passed. Two seconds later, he swerved to avoid her as he walked by again.

"Bye, Joe," he said, slamming the door behind him.

Nancy stared after him, confused. Joe looked at Nancy, and felt his heart swell for her.

She didn't ask for one, but he gave her a hug.

--

"What do you want to talk about?" Hayden asked, sitting down on her bed. Amy stood in front of him. With him sitting and her standing, they were almost exactly the same height.

"Hayden," she said his name quietly. His heart skipped a beat. "I'm really scared."

"I know you are," Hayden told her. "And I hate it."

Amy looked down at him, her blue eyes bright with something he couldn't identify.

"Hayden," she said his name again.

"Amy," he stood to his full height, holding her arms gently.

"Promise me something," she whispered, tucking her face into his chest.

"Anything," he told her, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.

"Don't leave me, okay?" she asked him, looking all the way up into his eyes. Her neck was practically at a ninety degree angle.

"Never," he told her, smiling. She smiled back, hugging him close.

"Hayden?"

"Yes, Amy," Hayden laughed a little. Amy felt her heart pound with sudden bravery.

"Do you love me?" she asked, squeezing her eyes shut as she spoke.

"You know I do," Hayden replied after a moment.

"I mean," she spoke again, "do you really love me? Like Ross loved Rachel? Like Luke loved Lorelai?"

"Amy," he whispered. "I love you more than you could even imagine."

Amy accepted this answer, feeling her heart swell.

"Do you, uh…love me?" he asked, fearing the worst.

"I…I think I always have," she said truthfully. "I honestly can't imagine living without you."

"Oh. Good," he said, and she laughed quietly. He pulled her close, and she let him, forgetting about her problems for a moment. Right now, she needed someone who loved her. Real love, not crazy obsessed love.

And when his lips came down gently, hesitantly on hers, she didn't resist that either.

--

Frank drove furiously. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. 'So Ned came on to you …so Ned came on to you…so Ned came on to you…'

He hadn't heard much of the conversation except for that. He had barely heard Nancy say she really, really didn't want him to, and he had seen Joe holding her protectively. When they backed up, her face had been flushed, sad. It could only have to do with Ned.

So he drove.

With each second that passed, he forgot the hurt he had felt when Nancy had made that comment about Seth. After all, was she even talking about him? He didn't know; it wasn't important right now.

He didn't bother turning the car off; he didn't even come to a complete stop before hopping out. He marched up to the front door and knocked as hard as he could, the door swinging open mid knock.

"Frank," Ned said, confused. "What are you…?"

Frank's fist shot out and hit him square in the nose. Ned stumbled backwards, looked up and began walking forward. He stopped when he saw Frank shaking his head menacingly, his expression serious.

"Stay away from Nancy," he spat, turning on his heel and getting back in the car.

And that was that.

--

Barely two seconds after they had started kissing, Hayden broke away.

"I'm sorry, Amy," he shook his head sadly, "I'm so, so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Amy asked, genuinely confused.

"Because this is the last thing you need right now," Hayden told her, pacing the length of the room.

"Hayden," Amy broke in.

"No, Amy," he replied, stopping. "I'm a jerk. I just, what, kiss you? How could I do that? You have enough on your mind! You're being stalked! You're pregnant! It's not even my kid! Oh, my God!"

"Hayden, I asked you," Amy laughed. "You don't have to freak!"

"Yes, I do!" Hayden cried, running his hands through his hair. "I'm in love with my best friend, who is pregnant by her stalker!"

Amy just stared at him.

"I can't sleep with you," Hayden blurted out. Amy jerked back in shock.

"I'm not asking you to sleep with me," she replied incredulously.

"I really, really can't," Hayden continued as if he hadn't heard her. "I can't sleep with you when you're pregnant with his kid."

"Hey!" Amy spat out. "It's mine, too!"

Suddenly, it was as if his mind was working by itself, and he finally spit out the words he had been thinking for the past eight months: "Why didn't you just get rid of it?"

Amy stared up at him, her eyes wide with hurt.

"Because," she said slowly, her look changing from shock to anger, "it is my child, Hayden, and I couldn't give it away if I wanted to. It may be Seth's, but it's mine and despite how it was conceived, I love it. I'm sorry if you can't understand that."

Amy's eyes were filled with tears and Hayden felt sick to his stomach at the pain he had caused her. He took a step forward, and she jerked away quickly.

"No," she bit out. "I don't think I can even look at you right now." With that, she turned to leave the room, one hand on her stomach.

"Amy," Hayden said, putting a hand on her shoulder, not feeling her tense up. "I really love you."

Amy felt something dark and cold bubble up in her chest.

"Don't…touch me…" she whispered, her eyes wide. She felt the heat radiating from his hand, something that was comforting, but right now it repulsed her. A faded memory drifted to the surface, painfully, slowly…

'I really love you, Amy.' She could hear his voice, but every bit of her hurt and she couldn't even bare to open her eyes. 'I am sorry it had to be like this.'

"Amy?"

Amy flinched, blinking. She jerked her shoulder, making him lose his grip and dashed out of the room and up the stairs. The bathroom door closed, but he could still hear her crying.

It hurt more than anything ever had before.

--

Seth sat on the bed in his motel room. In his hands, he held a small digital camera. The screen flickered for a moment before changing to the image of Amy's bedroom. The picture was bad; he could see the reflection of the camera in the window and Amy wasn't in there at the moment.

He sighed and fast-forwarded. At the first bit of motion at the door, he pressed play. A smile spread over his face when Amy entered the room. It disappeared when he saw Hayden following her.

He wasn't able to hear anything except for low murmurings, but he could tell they were in a deep conversation.

He brought the camera close to his face, watching with the utmost intensity. After a moment of hugging…they kissed.

His heart turned cold and he paused the tape. Hayden. Was. Kissing. Amy. Amy. Amy, the girl he was engaged to. Amy, the mother of his unborn child.

And that meant Hayden had to die.

--

Frank slammed the car door and took big strides up to the Drew's front door. He let himself in, surprised that the door was unlocked, and shook his fist out.

"Where did you go?" Joe's voice came.

"Joe?" Frank called. "Where are you?"

"Marco?" Joe called out.

Frank rolled his eyes before blandly replying, "Polo…"

"Marco!" Joe cried exuberantly. Frank followed his voice to the living room. His brother was sitting on the couch, a book open in his lap.

"Hey," Frank said, sitting in a chair opposite from his brother.

"Where did you go?" Joe pronounced clearly.

"Ned's," Frank replied, trying to look non-chalant. Joe sat up straight quickly.

"Why?" Joe asked quickly.

"Because I heard Nancy say he came onto her," Frank replied honestly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Frank, no!" Joe groaned. "Tell me you just sat outside his house like a creeper."

"I hit him," Frank looked down at his lap.

"Gee, aren't we feeling violent this week," Joe groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Maybe next time, Frank, you could bother to find out what actually happened."

"What happened?" Frank asked, feeling his gut sink. His thoughts were starting to clear, and he was realizing the extent of what he had done.

"Don't ask me," Joe shook his head slowly, standing up. "Ask Nancy."

A/N: I really, really don't think I like that chapter, but I couldn't post-pone writing it any longer. Something really big happens in the next chapter, and I think it'll be much easier after that.

Reviews?