Kendall held tight onto Francie as tears slipped down his face. He had no idea what he'll do if Marley wasn't his daughter. With Francie in James' life now, Marley is his entire world.

"Hearing her call me Daddy really just blew my mind. I wasn't ready for that. I mean, I want it more than anything but I wasn't prepared for it."

Kendall felt Francie's body shake with her crying. He kissed her forehead and rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her.

"Freckles, you alright?"

"I'm sorry, Kendall." Francie couldn't meet Kendall's eyes; she kept her head on his chest. "I should have found a way to tell you about Marley. She should have been calling you daddy this whole time. Kendall, I know she's yours…in my heart, I know it. She has so much of your personality, your mannerisms. She has to be yours. Oh God, Kendall, I'm so, so sorry."

"It's okay. It's okay, we'll find out Tuesday for sure."

Hoping that she is his daughter, Kendall dreamed of taking Marley to meet his mom, dad and brothers. Oh Lord, his mom would be thrilled to have a little girl around, finally. As his tears dried on his cheeks, Kendall grinned at the thought of the abundance of pink and frilly things his mom would buy for her granddaughter, Marley.

"Come on, Francie," Kendall lifted her face and brushed away her tears. "Those beautiful brown eyes aren't mean to cry." He cupped her face in his hands. Oh God, I want to kiss her. No, no, no Kendall…stop it! Friendship only.

Francie giggled in spite of herself. "Sounds like a song."

Kendall raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. "Hmmm, not a bad idea." He smiled at Francie and pulled her body back into his, wrapping his arms around her tightly. God, she feels good. Aw, dammit.

James turned and walked down the few stairs that he had climbed before being frozen in place by the sight of Kendall holding Francie in his arms and kissing her temple. He saw Kendall's lips moving but couldn't hear what he was saying, it was probably for the better anyway. Kendall and Francie admitted that they'd always love each other, and if Marley is Kendall's daughter that would forge an even stronger connection.

Maybe I did the wrong thing. Maybe I should have stepped back and gave them a shot at being a family. I don't know if I could let her go. Kendall says we're cool, but I can see it all over his face that he wants Francie back. Why does this have to be so difficult? I guess we'll see what Tuesday brings.

James returned to the front room, and Nikki looked up from the couch she was snuggled on with Logan and smiled at James. He grinned back, plopped down on the oversized chair and propped his feet up on the ottoman.

Hmmm, what's up with him? Nikki studied him for a moment before she asked, "Did you find them?" No answer. "James!" Nikki said louder this time. His head snapped up and he met her eyes.

"Huh?" James raised his eyebrows.

"I said did you find them?" What is going on, James?

"Oh yeah, um, they'll be right down." James looked back to the television but he wasn't watching it. His mind was deep in 'what-ifs'.

What if I never kissed her? What if I never fell in love with her? What if Kendall didn't get drunk at the club? What I never slept with her? What if Kendall proposed? What if Marley is Kendall's daughter? What if the sun was green? What if Columbus never discovered America? What if we had wings? What if, what if, what if…Dammit!

James stood quickly and went into the kitchen. He stopped at the refrigerator, grabbed and opened a beer then strolled out to the patio towards the pool. His towel from this afternoon was hanging over a lounge chair air drying in the summer breeze.

James grabbed the towel with his free hand and walked to the edge of the pool. He tossed the towel, and his shirt, onto a chair that was close to the pool for easy access when he decided it was time to get out. He sat on the edge of the pool, stretching his long legs and letting his feet dangle in the cool water. James drank his beer as he sat looking at the ripples and waves he made in the illuminated pool.

James liked the water, any water – ocean, pool, hot tub, shower - it helped him think. He certainly had some thinking to do right now. It's just that it hurts too much to think about it. The only way this situation doesn't hurt him directly is if he stays with Francie but if he does, then he could be indirectly hurting Francie, Marley and Kendall, robbing them at a chance of happiness as a family. Let's be real about this, hurting Francie, Marley or Kendall WILL hurt James directly.

Basically I have two options: stay with Francie or let her be with Kendall…wait, that's IF she wants to go back to Kendall. Shit, she may find someone else – someone like Ryan…

"Ciao, Bello." Francie kneeled behind him, draped her arms over his shoulders, and playfully caressed his bare chest while she nibbled at his earlobe. James drew in a deep breath and placed one large hand over one of Francie's, lacing their fingers together.

"Ciao, Bella." James turned his head to place his lips to Francie's.

"What are you doing out here?" She held him tightly, hugging him from behind.

"Thinking."

He took his last sip of the pale amber and set the empty bottle beside him. From the top of his line of vision another beer bottle floated down held by a small, feminine hand with glossy, red nails. James reached up and plucked the bottle from Francie's hand and took a sip.

"You're too good to me, you know?" He grinned.

"Oh, I know." Francie laughed at his pout. She took her index finger and played with his protruding bottom lip.

James swiftly wrapped his lips around her finger gently sucking as she withdrew it from his mouth. A veil of lust dropped over Francie's face. Her eyes became heavy-lidded; her tongue darted out and ran along her bottom lip, as it curled up at the ends in a seductive smile.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You."

James made sure his beer was a safely on his right side as he reached around with his left hand, turned slightly and pulled Francie into his arms, setting her across his lap. He noticed that she was in her swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts had been shed somewhere…and, really, James didn't care where.

Francie remembered their very first conversation on the phone after James had rescued her from Ryan, and she and James shared that amazing first kiss on the couch. Her next line was, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really." James smiled, recalling that same conversation, and played along, glancing down to the black fabric pulled taut across Francie's chest.

"What about me?" She placed her arms around his neck and cocked her head to the side. A few dark curls fell onto her face. James reached up to push them behind her ear. He let his hand trail down along her neck then down her cheekbone to her jaw.

"Oh, I see, so our first 'alone by the pool' conversation will be about sex, huh? Alright you little minx, I'll play." James kissed her. It was a long, deep passionate kiss that took Francie's breath away. She melted into his arms aware of every touch he placed on her body. She pulled away, teasingly biting her bottom lips and grinned.

"Whew, better than being on the phone with each other, huh?"

"Absolutely," James nodded.

"So, do you, uh, wanna slip in?" Francie asked with a seductiveness that she appeared to be very comfortable with. Confidence. That's a turn-on…big time. Wait…what?

James, startled by what he heard asked, "I-I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Do you want to slip in?" Wearing a very cheeky grin, Francie stood and pointed down. "The pool?" She dove in with a small splash causing gentle ripples to ride across the top of the water. When she broke the surface she smiled at James. "What did you think I meant?"

James stood shaking his head slowly with his hands crossed over his chest. "You're a saucy little thing, aren't you?"

Francie laughed a melodic laugh and effortlessly brought her legs up to float on her back. Her arms rose over her head, then she forced them down to her sides allowing her to glide over the water. "I can be."

James dove into the pool joining Francie. "Come here, my little water nymph."

James pulled her towards him. Francie wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. James held her derrière with one hand and the back of her head with the other. He kissed her as he walked towards the wall of the pool. When he got to his destination he pressed his body up against Francie's pinning her between himself and the wall of the pool, his lips still locked onto hers.

James' hands traveled up to the straps of Francie's one piece. He slid them off her shoulders and down her arms, tickling her skin and causing goosebumps to rise on her wet flesh.

"This suit looks great on you, Sweetness," James kissed her neck, "don't get me wrong...," his lips played across her collarbone, "…but where's your red bikini?"

"I'm not wearing it in front of anyone." Francie's lips found James' once again.

"I like it."

"When you come back we'll spend the day here by the pool and I'll wear it just for you. Mmmmm…" Francie sighed heavily as James mouthed her neck and pushed her suit further down.

"It's a date, Sweetness."

"James," Francie urgently whispered. "You know everyone is just inside the house."

"Uh-huh, and you know that means you have to be quiet," James murmured into the swell of her right breast.

"I can't…,"

In one fluid motion, James pulled the suit down to her waist and his warm, wet mouth surrounded her sensitive nipple. Francie whimpered quietly. "Oh God, James, I can't."

"Try." James said, breathing heavily.

Francie's hands went to the drawstring on James' waistband and untied it as quickly as she could. Once they were untied, James pulled his swim shorts off and removed Francie's suit, as well. He placed both suits on the edge of the pool, close at hand.

James pressed himself against her entrance. As he slowly pushed his full length into her, Francie's head fell back and her mouth dropped open. James' hand slid over her mouth in time to muffle her cries of ecstasy.

Kendall turned from the kitchen window, his heart breaking, unable to witness anymore of the lovemaking in the pool.

After their tryst in the pool, Francie and James returned to the house. Francie noticed the time on the microwave read ten twenty-five. A car would be coming for the guys at eleven tomorrow morning.

Nikki and Logan were getting ready to turn in for the night. Carlos thought he'd get ready for bed and watch some TV in his room. Kendall sat quietly on the couch with his head resting on his fist, staring off into space.

Francie sat next to Kendall and rubbed the top of his thigh. "Earth to Kendall...come in Kendall."

Kendall looked at Francie but had to look away quickly, all he could envision was Francie and James in the throes of passion. He shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, yeah?"

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just tired. I should probably turn in for the night." Kendall stood up and told Nikki, Logan, and Carlos goodnight. He waved goodnight to James, standing at the bar opening a bottle of water. As Kendall's eyes moved over the bar he saw the yellow roses he bought for Francie…yellow for friendship.

Dammit Kendall, don't fuck this up. Francie loves James and he loves her. Suck it up and get over it. You're going to lose both of them if you don't get your shit together.

Kendall walked to Francie taking a deep, calming breath on the way. He held out his arms and hugged her.

"Thank you for everything, Freckles – your hospitality, forgiveness, friendship, and support. All of it. You're a hell of a gal." Kendall kissed Francie's forehead.

"You're very welcome. Goodnight Kenny."

"Night, Fay. Night all."

Everyone made their way to their rooms and Francie and James locked up for the night. After all doors were checked and the alarm set, James went to Francie's bedroom while Francie checked on Marley and Piper. Soon she joined James under the covers and snuggled into his warm, muscular body while releasing a content sigh.

James rested his lips on Francie's shoulders and spoke into her skin. "Hey, I want you and Marley to meet my family. Maybe we can take a trip when we wrap up the tour. What do you say?"

"Drop the bomb on them, huh? Hey y'all…this is my girlfriend, oh and this is her and Kendall's daughter…Ugh. I can just imagine."

"They'll understand. Even if they don't, I'm happy, I'm in love – that's what's important."

"Are you really, James?" Francie rolled over and ran her hand over his stubble, cupping his handsome face.

"Sweetness, I can honestly tell you that I have never, EVER, been happier - or more in love – than I am with you right now." They shared a tender kiss.

"I love you, I love Marley, I love your family, I love that your mom wants me to, um, ya know…" James flashed a smirk to the blushing brunette in his arms.

"I love how you blush, how you laugh, how you talk, I really love how you shower." James laughed out loud as Francie's color deepened.

"James!" She swatted at his strong arm and laughed.

James rolled over on top of Francie. He placed his lips into the curve where her neck and shoulder meet and murmured into it.

"I love how you speak Italian, how you cook, I love your sass – and your ass, I love your beauty - inside and out." James kissed Francie slowly and deeply stealing her breath and her heart. James lifted his lips from Francie's and gazed into her eyes with a sincere expression on his beautiful face.

"Do you know what I love the most about you, Francie?"

Francie, drowning in the love emanating from his eyes, could only whisper, "What?"

"I love how you love me, emotionally and physically. You are my world, I can't even imagine my life without you in it."

"I can't either, James. You mean everything to me. I love you so much, Bello."

"I love you, too, Sweetness." God forgive me, I can't let her go. Kendall, I'm so sorry.