Holding On

Season four is finally here! We hope you enjoy this one and don't forget to leave a review guys! It seriously makes our day to hear from you.

Chapter 21.

Henry looked at his father warily, "Can I….?"

Hermann still looked a little stunned but recovered himself, staring at Elizabeth, "Sure thing kid…"

Henry didn't need any more encouragement, he thanked Elizabeth again and gave her another kiss on the cheek and practically ran down the short street and got into his car.

"Do you think he likes it?" Claire mused with a laugh as Henry was just sitting in the front seat running his hand along the steering wheel with a look of awe on his face.

"Just a little bit." Connor answered.

"Oh I'm so glad." Elizabeth said, "First cars are so special, aren't they Chris?"

Hermann softened at her words. "Sure are Lizzie, they sure are."

They watched as Henry got back out the car and closed the door as gently as if it was a new born baby and locked it and ran back to them, thanking them all the time.

"Seriously, thank you so much, you really didn't have to, I love it, you shouldn't have, if you want to take it back I mean I don't deserve this, it's too much…" Henry rambled on.

"Just take the car Henry." Claire rolled her eyes, "And don't be stupid, you're family."

Henry looked like he might burst with happiness.

"Okay well I'm getting you all milkshakes or something, Liza, what will you have?"

Elizabeth looked up at him under heavy eyelids. "I appreciate the offer sweetheart, but I think I should be getting home, I'm afraid it's all the excitement I can take for one evening."

Henry's face dropped quickly, as if blaming himself for her feeling ill.

"But seeing your happy face just made my day. C'mon you can wheel me to the car." She told him.

"You can stay here Connor, I'll take Mom home." Claire told him as he went to follow Henry.

"Shouldn't you be at school?" He asked her.

She shrugged, "I have a lot to catch you up on, go on and stay here, I'll be home all evening." She offered him a smile.

"What'll you have Connor?" Hermann asked as he followed him to the counter. By the time Connor finished his order, Natalie had arrived, "I got here as quick as I could, Henry said it was important?"

"Yeah my Mom and Claire masterminded into getting him a car."

"Wow! Really?" She asked, "That's so cool. What does Hermann think?" She asked in a whisper.

Connor winced, "I'm not sure, he's gone along with it but…" He shrugged, "He did calm down when my Mom mentioned something about first cars, whatever that means."

"Oh." Nat said.

"Oh? Oh what?" Connor asked, "What does that mean?"

"Nothing." She said far too quickly.

"Nat…?"

"It's nothing." She broke under his stare, "Okay but I don't know anything, I'm just guessing. Do you think your Mom and Hermann ever, you know, dated or something?"

"What?"

"Nevermind, forget I said anything."

"Hold on, you can't just spill something like that and pretend it's nothing. What are you talking about?"

"Okay, but it's just, they're so close you know? And the bracelets, I mean Cindy doesn't have one and he's the only one that calls her Lizzie, I'm just guessing."

"Ew. My Mom and Hermann?" He reacted on instinct. "Huh, you know what? Now that you mention it, I would have preferred him as my Dad."

"Connor don't say that."

"Well it's true, c'mon Nat, my Dad is a complete jerk."

"Natalie, come see my car!" Henry blew right back into the diner like a hurricane and nearly dragged Nat out the door. Connor followed suit. Where they went, he followed.

When they came back inside, Natalie grabbed them a table and then took out her school bag, explaining her parents only let her out if she promised to do her homework.

Connor watched as Sarah's friends left an hour later after they chatted over their food and finished up. Sarah took her things and transferred tables.

"Can I join you?"

"Only after you see my new car." Henry retorted and Connor watched as his best friend led his girlfriend outside while talking animatedly.

The four of them stayed until the place was nearly empty. Connor kind of wished they hadn't. It was only when the place quieted down that they could hear Hermann slamming pots and pans and cursing to himself in the kitchen.

Sarah jumped as he let the kitchen door slam shut behind him as he cleaned another table.

"Is he okay?" She whispered to Connor.

"I'm not sure." He answered back, watching his Godfather.

Hermann's phone rang and he answered with a gravely hello and made his way back into the back. He didn't seem to notice that the door didn't shut behind him.

Claire was making her way up to check on her Mom when she heard her voice.

"Chris, come on you know I didn't mean it like that…" Elizabeth said. Claire stopped cold on her tracks. "Henry's like a son to me. All of your kids are, I just wanted to…."

Claire sighed. She'd noticed Chris at the diner, it wasn't hard to figure out he'd been taken out by the sudden gift.

By the very expensive gift.

"Of course I didn't… Chris, listen to me…"

Her mother was weary and tired and Chris was just… actually Claire had never seen him mad at Elizabeth.

Like ever.

"Alright, I'll see you soon."

Claire waited a moment to make her way inside her mother's room. "Mom?"

"Claire...how much of that did you hear?"

Claire bit her lip. "Not a lot but… is Chris mad?"

"Disappointed was the word he used." Claire raised an eyebrow as she took a seat next to her mom's bed.

"What? Because of the money? He needs to get over himself. It's just money."

Elizabeth smiled sadly. "Not to Chris. He and I… when we were kids, we didn't have a lot. He had to help his dad with the diner and grandpa was barely getting by at the store."

"Until he sold it to Grandad." Claire said, referring to the eldest Rhodes. Elizabeth nodded. "And then you came into a lot of money and Chris didn't."

"Connor… what are you doing?" Sarah asked behind her boyfriend. He ignored her, placing a finger on his lips.

"What I am going to tell Cindy, Lizzie?" They heard Hermann say. "You'll have to take the car back…"

They watched him pace back and forth and run his fingers through his short hair. "So I'm the only idiot who didn't know the whole car thing was happening, huh?"

Well Connor hadn't known either. "I've got all the kids here. Including Connor…Lizzie come on, I know your heart was in the right place, but you know how I feel about your husband's money.. or your husband in general for that matter."

Sarah and Connor held their breath. "Um… what are you guys doing?" Henry chided behind them and Natalie by his side. Sarah's heart was beating fast as she almost jumped. "I'm coming over Lizzie, just… I'm going to ask Henry to close early. No, I'll be there soon."

The kids froze for a second and then moved back into their table as Hermann came out of the kitchen.

"Dad…" Henry looked over. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah…" Hermann stared at them. "Mom just needs diapers and the baby's getting fussy again. I'm gonna head home, you think you could close for me?"

Henry nodded. "Oh alright. Sure."

"Okay but close up early you hear? Those weather reports aren't good and I don't want any of you caught out in that snow storm they're predicting."

Sarah watched as Connor tensed up beside her. "Alright, you kids take care. I'll see you?"

He didn't wait for them to reply before leaving.

"Man, I'm dead. I'm gonna ask Liza and Claire to take back the car." Henry was panicking. "I mean…"

"Connor?" Natalie's voice was a mere whisper.

"You know something, don't you?" He told Natalie. She bit her lip. "This isn't just about the car, is it?"

"It's none of my business…"

"But it's mine Nat, it's about my Mom…" he said, trying to control himself. "Please."

Sarah could see that look on his face. He couldn't bare people lying to him.

Not Elizabeth and Hermann, they were the only people in his life who'd never hurt him.

"Mr. Hermann, what a nice surprise, come in." Katie said as she opened the front door. "Mrs. Rhodes is upstairs with Claire. It's getting bad out there huh?"

"Sure is, I made sure to tell the kids to get home soon. Thank you Katie." Chris smiled. Hermann made his steps short, almost as he was afraid to reach the stairs.

He hated coming over to this house, it reminded him too much of Cornelius and it made his blood boil. He knocked on the door of the room and Claire opened it, shooting him a look.

"Claire, would you give us a minute…" Her mother said behind her. "Please." the girl nodded and closed the door, leaving them "Chris…" Elizabeth said softly.

"Why would you do that Lizzie?" He asked. "I can get my kid his own car, I don't need to be your charity case."

"It's not like that…."

"What did you say to Cindy, huh?"

"I wanted to do something nice for Henry, he's worked so hard for that car and when Connor told me…"

"What, you thought you could just buy it to him? He's my son." Elizabeth froze. Hermann paced back and forth, frustrated.

"I didn't mean anything by it Chris I swear, I wanted to help and Claire also insisted on it so we figured we could manage to get it to him, Cindy even said you'd pay us back but I asked her not to tell you because I knew you would have tried to stop me."

Hermann bit his lip. "I don't want his money Lizzie, I don't want to owe him anything. Not after all he's done…"

"So this is about Cornelius?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, it's about…"

"The affair?" She said, her voice low. "I can handle it."

"No, although I wish I could just bust his face…"

"Then what is it?"

"I don't need you fixing up my problems, I'm a big boy."

"It's about money then? Why does it always come down to that for us?"

"Lizzie…" Chris walked over to her, kneeling at her level on the bed. "You know it's not like that…"

"I don't have a lot of time left Chris…"

"Don't say that, the doctors said you can try that chemo stuff again, it can give you a little more time."

"I don't want to try Chris anymore, I already spend enough time in this bed as it is, I want to be able to enjoy my kids for the time that I have left…"

"Lizzie, please…"

"It's the truth and I just want to make the most of it, and today, the smile on Henry's face, that alone was worth it." She smile softly at him. "Please, you are already paying me back…"

Chris looked up at her, confused. "Taking care of Connor and Claire is enough…"

"You know I love them, I'd do anything for those two…"

"And I'd do anything for you and Cindy, you know that…"

Hermann nodded. "You know it's funny, right after we broke up and you and Cindy started dating I really thought it we'd be together and make all of those plans happen." She said sadly. "All those plans we've made looking out the stars at night in that old car." He eyed her carefully. "I just wanted Henry to be able to enjoy being a kid, to make the most of it, that's all I want for them really, that car meant so much to us, we put everything into it and I wanted Henry to be able to have that too."

"But I guess life had other plans?" Hermann put in.

"It did." They shared a small smile. "Please, can you just accept it? If it makes you feel any better, I used my father's money."

He sighed."But I'm still gonna pay you back."

"Fine."

"Good." He said. "I better go. I told Henry I was heading home…"

Elizabeth smiled. "Alright. I'll see you soon for Sophie's christening, Cindy did mention it…"

"Of course." He said, leaning to kiss her cheek. "I'll see you Lizzie."

Clare moved just in time so Hermann wouldn't catch her at the door, she had heard enough. She felt the urge to run away, that was a lot of information to process all at once.

"Connor, come on…" Sarah pleaded.

"No, she knows something…"

"Connor, dude, I think it's best if…"

Natalie was almost in the verge of tears. "I heard them talk about how they used to date."

"What?" Henry was the one to speak.

"I heard them talking over Christmas, I didn't believe it at first but…"

Connor couldn't move. He was sure that was not the whole story, Natalie wouldn't be so upset if that was all there was to it.

"There's more, isn't it?" He shot at Natalie. She bit her lip, almost afraid. Sarah touched his arm,

"C, I'm still trying to process the idea that you could have actually been my brother…" Henry put in. "Now I get why our Dads can't stand each other, it's like some kind of Hallmark movie."

"Natalie?"

"They know."

"What?" Natalie glanced at Sarah. "What do they know, Natalie?"

Sarah's heart dropped. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Connor, that was when Natalie understood that the other girl probably knew about the affair too.

"What do you mean they know?" Connor stood up and Henry paled.

"Connor, I'm sorry, I overheard them and…"

"And what? You thought you'd keep it from me?" He raved, understanding. "Great, that's just great Natalie."

"Connor, calm down." Sarah said, placing a hand on his arm.

Connor only looked at Sarah with heartbroken eyes, "My Mom and Chris know about my Dad. And now you're lying to me too?" He shot at Natalie.

"Hey! This is not Nat's fault." Henry stood up too.

"Did you know they knew?" Connor shot at him.

"No I didn't. But they must have their reasons…"

"Like hell…" Connor ranted, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

Henry blocked his path, he knew what his friend was capable of when he was upset. "Calm down, where are you going?"

"I'm going home." He gritted out but his voice shook, "I want to know why the hell my mother has to put up with that cheating lowlife and not tell me."

Sarah had never seen him so close to tears before.

"Just let me clean up, I'll come with you."

Connor shook his head, "I have to do this myself."

"I'm not letting you drive like this." Sarah said to him.

"Sarah…"

"No…" She tried to reach for his hand, he held it, playing with it for a minute.

"Can you take her home?" He asked Henry who nodded. "I'll call you, okay?"

He left without even glancing back at either Sarah or his friends.

The ride home was blurry, with thoughts scratching through his head.

How long had the affair been going on?

How did his Mom find out?

How long had his Mom known?

How long had Chris known?

How could the two of them play happy families when they knew what was going on?

Connor let himself in as he shook the snow from his jacket but was met with a pale looking Claire sitting on the bottom of the stairs with her arms around herself.

"Claire? What's wrong? Is it Mom?" He immediately panicked. What if there was something wrong with his Mom? And he was so mad at her. What if the last thing he thought of her was...

"Connor." Claire stood up. "No, she's fine. Chris just left though..."

"Well what's wrong?"

"I overheard them…I…" she groaned, putting her head in her hands. "I've somehow messed up again."

"What are you talking about?"

"I transferred school over the break because Dad is such a liar." She spat, "But it looks like he's not the only parent we have that lies. I'm sorry Connor, Mom knew about it all. And we were trying to protect her! And she lets us live with that slimeball and act like she's in love with him." Claire scoffed through her tears, "For all we know she's still in love with Chris or something, they certainly seem cozzy, I can't believe this."

Connor didn't know what to do so he just sunk on to the bottom step.

"She's never lied to us before." He said. "Ever." Even with all her diagnosis, she had always sat them down and told them the truth.

"Yeah that's what I was betting my education on." Claire ranted, throwing her hands up.

"Oh it's not all about you Claire, give it a rest." He said.

"Oh yeah because you're so damn selfless." She shot back on instinct.

"Could you not just focus on Mom for one second?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've spent years running after Dad and ignore Mom and now you decide you might actually care."

"You don't know anything."

"I know where you were when Mom was having treatment, you were anywhere but here. And now because Mom's been dishonest once, you decide to paint her with the same brush as Dad?"

"What is going on down there? Your mother needs her rest." Katie chided them, from the top of the stairs.

"Oh go run along to Mom, she always preferred you anyway." Claire said as her brother stood up and took a step up.

"Oh don't pretend like Dad doesn't eat out of your hand." Connor shot back.

Claire scoffed, "I've always known you were Dad's favorite. Now I'm just glad I know I have parents that just love to lie to me."

"Don't talk about Mom like that." He told her and ran up the stairs.

He didn't care if she was tired, he needed answers.

He appeared in her doorway and she must have woke up when she heard the sound.

He never cried anymore. He was Connor Rhodes.

But he stood in the doorway, the tears trickling down his face, "Why didn't you tell us you knew about Dad?"

Elizabeth's eyes tried to focus back on Connor. It had been so long since she'd seen her son cry.

"Connor, sweetheart I was just trying to…"

"What? Protect us, we're beyond protecting." He said, trying to control his emotions, but it'd been too long, too long of having to put up with her being sick and Cornelius…

"Come here…" He didn't move. "Connor, please listen to me, I was in no position to put you kids at risk, I've made my peace with it.."

"So, it's okay he cheats? Because you are sick and you can't, what? Be the perfect wife anymore?"

"It's not like that…" She replied, trying to regain her breath, Connor suddenly felt his heart sink. "Baby, please I need you to listen to me."

"I'm just… I need to go." He said, he didn't think he could aggravate her further. "I can't deal with this right now."

Claire stood by the door, staring at Elizabeth and watched Connor made his way downstairs, shutting the front door with a loud slam.

He drove across town to the Herman's. His mind racing, he parked right outside.

"Chris…" Cindy called from the kitchen. She'd recognize Connor's car anywhere.

"Yeah…" Hermann didn't need for his wife to tell him twice, he'd noticed but, confused, watched as Connor didn't get out of the car.

"Maybe something happened to Liz?" She said, her voice leaving her. Hermann had just come back from her house. If whatever he'd told her had made her upset enough for her to be admitted or something he'd never forgive himself. But if she was in the hospital, Connor wouldn't be here.

"No, something else is going on, I'll be back…"

"I'm going to go call her, make sure she knows he's here." Cindy said as Hermann grabbed his coat. The snow was coming down pretty heavy now.

Connor couldn't move, he'd never felt so betrayed before, not even by his father, he had to admit he sort of expected him to cheat, but have his Mom put up with it? He felt sick.

There was a knock on the window.

Sarah had been glancing at her phone for the past half an hour since Henry had dropped her off.

She hadn't dared to call or text Connor, although a million scenarios played in her mind, thank goodness her mother and Jason weren't home, because as she was making her way up the stairs, there was a knock on the door.

"Connor…" He stood in her doorway as the snow swirled around him, the flakes seeming to catch in every strand of his black hair. His voice was hoarse and his eyes were red.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go."

Awww poor Connor! And omg what about him showing up at Sarah's house? Stay tuned for more. Also, who else ships Hermann and Lizzie in a non romantic way?