"What?" James whispered, in shock, dropping Francie's hand to hang at her side.
Francie looked at the box on the floor, in front of James, then closed her eyes tightly as a small sigh escaped her lips.
Nikki, jaw opened, held tight to Logan who couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Carlos was stunned at what was going down.
"Yeah, I was going to put a ring on her finger." Kendall looked at Francie pain flooding his beautiful green eyes. "I was going to do it last night but then I was tossed into the friend-zone. I thought we'd have a great night, have some fun, then when we got back here, I'd propose."
Francie just looked away. She was angry at Kendall for the horrid things he just said to her but her heart was also breaking for him. She was more confused than ever.
Holy hell, he was going to propose to me?! Surely, this has more to do with Marley than me…it has to. Dammit!
Kendall stepped towards Francie, his eyes pleaded with her. "I wanted to take you and Marley and start a life somewhere together – the three of us. I wanted us to have a family, to start a family. You know, even though I realized last night that you were interested in James, I was still determined to win you back. I held out hope that you wanted us to be 'us' again."
"Kendall, we just can't go back to where we left off. Things have changed."
"Yeah, that's obvious." Kendall bit back as he glowered at James.
"I don't need your snarky ass comments, Kendall. I'm really pissed at you, right now."
"You're pissed at me?! Are you kidding?"
"You said some horrible things to me just a minute ago and now you tell me how you wanted us to be a family!" Francie shook her head in disbelief. "You were going to propose to me?! Do you know how badly I wanted to hear that seven fucking years ago?! Where in the hell were you then?!"
"I – I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you, Freckles. I was hurt and angry. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize what you meant to me. I love you."
James stood gazing at Francie's profile and praying that she didn't feel the same for Kendall.
Francie shook her head, "I think you're in love with the idea of a family, of being a dad…and that's great. But don't confuse those feelings with feelings for me. I don't think you're in love with me, Kendall." Francie stepped to James' side and held firm to his bicep. "But I know James is…," she looked up at James smiling at her and her heart flip-flopped in her chest "…and I love him, too."
YES! She loves me! James wanted to jump up and down. He wanted to pick up Francie and spin around the room with her in his arms. He wanted to yell it from the rooftops. But he couldn't…his friend was hurting. James did allow himself to place his hand over Francie's and to bestow upon her his million dollar smile.
"What about Marley?" Kendall asked.
"What about her?" Francie met Kendall's stare.
"What if I'm her father?"
"Then you'll be the best father she could ever ask for…but that's all you'll be to me, Kendall – Marley's father."
Francie bent down and retrieved the small box off of the floor in front of James, walked over to Kendall, and handed it to him.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you, I never meant to," Francie whispered. "But you hurt me, too. I never intended to fall in love with your best friend, I didn't. I wanted you in my life. I missed your humor, your smile, your friendship...oh Kendall, I missed you." Tears ran down Francie's freckled cheeks and her voice broke, "Right now, I'm so angry, and disappointed, and hurt, that I don't even know if I want to call you my friend."
Kendall shook his head and tightened his jaw. "Freckles, don't say that. I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Me, too." Francie turned and walked up the stairs to her room. She stopped about halfway up and turned to speak at Kendall.
"I would never keep you from Marley, so you're welcome to stay and spend time with her today, but I'd appreciate it if did your best to keep your distance from me."
Francie turned and finished her way up the stairs. Nikki squeezed Logan's hand then released it to follow Francie.
After Nikki blew past them, Kendall turned towards James. "So," his eyes met James', "you had to have her, huh? All of the women in the world and you had to choose her?"
James lifted one shoulder toward his ear, "I don't know what to tell you, Ken. I'm sorry if we hurt you."
Kendall raised his hand into the open air. "Save it. You win. Congratulations." The bitterness was evident in his voice.
"Come on, Kendall." James shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"What, James?!" Kendall raised his hands, "What do you want from me?! You already took Francie, what else do you want?! You want me to forgive and forget?! Do you want me to tell you that we'll be OK?! I can't, James…I can't."
"Kendall, if you want me to apologize for my feelings for Francie, I won't do it. I will apologize for hurting you…but that's all. I love her, Kendall, I really do. I hope we can get past this."
Kendal crossed his arms and gave James an icy glare.
"You may not believe it but I, uh, I really do hope Marley's your daughter. I know you'll be a great dad." James turned and followed the same route Francie did.
Francie made it to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed crying. Nikki walked in a moment after, crawled on the bed with her little sister and rubbed her back, allowing Francie to let it all out.
"Nikki, he's an asshole!"
"Aw, Fay, he's pissed. He spouted off. Give him some time to realize what he said and he'll come groveling back."
"I don't want him to. That's not MY Kendall, Nik. My Kendall would have never said those things to me."
"What did I miss earlier…what did he say?" Francie repeat the hurtful words that were aimed at her.
"Let things settle and see what happens," Nikki said as she held Francie and let her cry.
A soft knock on the door caused Francie to raise her head and say, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Sweetness."
"Come in."
James entered the room and, looking between the sisters, asked, "Am I interrupting?"
"Nope, I think we're done. Your turn, Pretty Boy." Nikki stood and placed a hand on James' arm. He smiled and patted her back as she walked by, to exit the room.
"Are you okay, Sweetness?" James sat on the bed next to her and wrapped his loving arms around her.
"I'm better now." Francie snuggled into his chest.
"Hey, hey, hey…guess what?" James was as exuberant as a kid on Christmas morning.
Francie couldn't help but laugh at his playfulness and his bright smile. "What?"
"I love you, Francie." Say it, Sweetness...SAY IT! James has waited to hear this for a while.
Francie looked up at him through her lashes, raised her hands to cup his smiling face, and said with such love in her voice, "I love you, too, James."
"Ha-ha! Yes!" James kissed Francie and lay her down on the bed. "I knew you did!"
"You did, huh?
"Yep, I did."
"Well, I do. I love you so much."
"I love you, too, Francie."
They stayed there in each other's arms for a few minutes just enjoying the comfort and the closeness. The warmth of James' body made Francie's heart ache less. Unfortunately, she knew that she had to get up. She had to get ready for Marley to come home and get lunch ready for everyone. James didn't want to let her go but lost the battle.
Francie called for Nikki from upstairs and found out that she and Logan brought clothes to change into but need to use the shower. Carlos had packed clothes for James last night, too. Nikki brought those up when she came.
James unpacked the bag that Carlos had brought for him. He had a pair of worn jeans, a blue t-shirt, a black tank, and black and white swim shorts.
I wonder if we're getting in the pool after lunch?
"Hey, Sweetness," James called through the bathroom door. "Are you planning to get in the pool today?" There was no answer from Francie. "Francie? Sweetness?" James placed his hand on the doorknob and gently pushed the lever down.