Readers: Sorry I was late posting this! Hope you enjoy and remember to review! You reviews help me with my ideas for these stories =)

Mark's Pain

When we got back to Mark's place, his truck wasn't there so I knew he wasn't home. Rachel helped me into the house and then helped me get a bath. After that she went on to bed. I knew she was real stressed and that wasn't good for the baby. As for me, I put on a white beater and some black shorts and went back down to the living room to watch TV. We all needed some time to just relax after today.

I ended up watching a few movies before finally falling asleep on the couch. I wasn't too sure how long I was asleep before I heard Mark coming in. I waited for him to come into the living room before I sat up. He still looked really pissed off so I simply waved at him. He waved back and then took a seat on his chair. I figured he wanted to be alone so I pushed myself up and went to grab my crutches.

"Where you going?" he asked.

I looked back at him, "I didn't want to bother you so, I was going to head to bed."

He chuckled, "You're not bothering me pup. You could never bother me."

I nodded and sat back against the couch. He sighed and then looked at me with so much pain in his eyes. Though he had been an ass towards me…I couldn't find it in my heart to be a heartless bitch in return. So much for being a bad girl again…

"Come here Mark." I said as I opened my arms.

He looked down at his lap, fighting back fresh tears.

"Come on." I said again.

He sighed and came to sit next to me. When he did, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me. He buried his face into the side of my neck and wrapped his arms around my waist and silently cried. I simply rubbed his head gently and let him pour out the emotions he was hiding for so long. The entire time he cried I felt the wall around my heart beginning to break. Soon, I started crying with him. He pulled away and looked at me as he wiped his eyes.

"What's wrong pup?"

I sniffled, "I'm sorry, I just feel so bad."

He shrugged, "There's no reason for you to feel bad. I've been an asshole to you so…I deserve this."

I shook my head, "No you don't Mark. No one deserves to be hurt...not even you."

He nodded and then wiped a tear from my face. "Puppy…I need to tell you something."

I sighed, "Oh boy more secrets."

He laughed, "Just listen…I knew Christine was cheating on me the entire time I was with her. That's part of the reason I allowed myself to sleep with you."

I nodded taking in everything he was saying.

"That night in my truck…I did have my heart in it…in all honesty..." he grabbed my hands and held them in his own. "…I fell in love with you that night."

I blushed slightly, "You did?"

"Yea…that's why I pushed you away. When we…made love...I felt different." He said.

"How so?" I asked, smiling at the fact that he referred to us making love and not just having sex.

He thought about it for a second and then responded. "It's like this…when I had sex with Christine, I didn't feel the same emotions that I did for you. I felt like she wasn't into it at all you know? Like she wasn't there with me."

I nodded, "I understand."

"But with you…I felt so much passion even when we kissed."

I shrugged, "Well what did you expect? I was giving up my virginity to you and plus I was in the process of becoming someone different."

"I know." He said.

I looked away from him and started crying again, "Mark why did you do that to me? Why couldn't it be someone else?"

He sighed and buried his face in his hands. "Serena I'm so sorry. If I could take it back…you know what…I wouldn't."

"Why?" I asked as I wiped tears from my face.

"Because I love you."

I laughed, "No way."

"Yes way…I developed feelings for you every time I spent time with you…and that night I felt like I needed to really show you how I was really feeling."

I sniffled, "So what happened? Why did you just pretend like everything was normal?"

"Because I was scared…I knew I'd be hurting you but I couldn't let you get into trouble with Steve or not follow your dreams because of me."

I smiled, "Mark I would have followed my dreams with or without you. I really fell in love with you and it pissed me off that you handled that situation by forcing me out of your life."

"I know puppy, and I'm sorry. I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me because…I can't see my life without you in it, even if we're just friends."

I nodded and wiped another tear from my eye. "I do forgive you now that you've come clean about that…but we'll have to remain friends for awhile. At this point, every time I look at you I think of you hurting me like that."

"I understand. In fact I don't think I'm ready to fully be committed to anyone just yet."

"I don't think so either. Goodness I can't believe my brother right now. Not only did he hurt you but he impregnated Rachel."

He looked at me with his eyebrow raised. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope. Apparently he and Rachel have been seeing each other from time to time…I guess he went too far this time."

"Hell yea he did. It's going to take him a real long time to regain my trust." He said.

I looked over at a clock and saw that it was about eleven at night. "True, but can we continue this in the morning? I need to take my meds and head to bed."

"Sure pup, do you need help?" he asked.

I nodded, "Just to get up the steps."

He nodded and helped me up onto my feet. I then took my crutches and adjusted them so I could get to the stairs.

"Um Pup?"

"Yea?"

He smiled and took the crutches from me. "I'll carry you."

"Oh no it's alright Mark. I'll be ok." I said.

He shook his head, "Stubborn girl…Serena you're tired put down the crutches and let me carry you."

I sighed, knowing he wasn't going to let me win. "Fine."

He took the crutches from me and leaned them against the wall. Then, with a swift movement, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me to my room and sat me on the bed.

"Thank you." I said.

"no problem, do you need anything else?" he asked.

I looked around the room and then pointed to my pill bottle that was on the dresser. He gladly walked over to it and grabbed it for me. "Here you go."

I smiled as I took them from him. "Thanks again."

"You're welcome. Now get your rest and I'll see you in the morning." He said.

I nodded as he turned and left my room. I wasn't sure what was going to happen with me and Mark, but I knew our friendship would be taking some time to fully rebuild itself.