*Thank-you for all the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.

Tessa and me pulled up into Tessa's driveway after our getaway together to see Ryan and Dave sitting outside awaiting our arrival. "Shit," I said.

"What the hell," said Tessa.

"Aww you two said bad words that's a quarter for each of you in the swear jar," said Scarlet.

"Not now, Scarlet," said Tessa as she put the car in park. "How did they know?"

"My mom," I said. "This isn't going to be good."

"Why would she say something?" she asked.

"I don't know, Tess," I said. I couldn't believe that they were both there waiting for us. I had no idea what was about to happen but I was actually pretty scared at what could happen. I knew we were caught and there was no way out of it now. I was starting to panic and I could tell by Tessa's face that she was panicking too. We didn't have to say another word to each other to know that we were going to stay in the car for a couple minutes longer to gain composure and prepare ourselves for what was about to happen.

After sitting in the car for an extra 10 minutes in silence Scarlet said, "Mommy, are we going to get out of the car. I have to go pee!"

"Can you hold it for another few minutes?" asked Tessa.

"No, Mommy, I have to go real bad. I'm about to have an accident," she said as she held herself.

"Scarlet, I need you to hold it for a couple more minutes. Mommy needs to think."

"I don't have a couple minutes," she said as she rocked the car from rocking in her carseat. "I'm about to have an accident."

"Tess, I think you should take her," I said. "I don't think it's fair for her to wait because of something we did. You take her to the bathroom and I'll handle Ryan."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I'm sure," I said. "She's your daughter. You have to do what you have to do. Don't make her wait."

"All right," said Tessa as she opened the car door. "I'll see you later."

"I'll see you later," I said. "Bye."

"Bye," she said as she got Scarlet out of the carseat to take her inside to use the bathroom. I got out of the car after I saw her walk in past Dave without saying a word. Dave walked in behind her and now it was my turn. I got out of the car, grabbed my stuff and walked over to where Ryan was standing.

"Let's go," said Ryan as she grabbed me by the ear like I was a little boy. We walked over to her car, got in and headed home. The car ride was done in silence neither of us really had anything to say until we were inside the privacy of our own home. That's when Ryan let loose. "And where the hell were you?"

"West Newbury," I said.

"With Tessa?"

I knew it was better to tell the truth then to lie because Ryan was in no mood for my games. "Yes," I said.

"So your mom wasn't sick?"

"No," I said. "Tessa's parents died, Ryan."

"I don't give a shit, John. You lied to me. You lied saying you were going to be with your mom then I find out you're spending the time with your ex-girlfriend and her kid. The same ex-girlfriend I told you to stay away from."

"She needed me," I said.

"I needed you. It is one thing to go up there for your parents but to go up there for your ex-girlfriend is another. Did her parents really die or is that just another lie to cover up your affair?"

"Ryan, her parents really died. They were killed by a drunk driver. Tessa needed comfort. Her parents meant everything to her. That's why I went."

"And you were alone with her?"

"Scarlet was there," I said.

"Scarlet is 4 years old she goes to bed at 8 that leaves you and Tessa alone for hours. Where did you sleep?"

"In a bed," I said. I didn't want to tell her that I had slept with Tessa for one night only other than that I stayed in a spare bedroom in the house while Tessa stayed in her parents' room.

"Did you sleep with her? Is that what it was all about? You get a few days away from your nagging wife to be with the woman you want to be with? Is that what happened?"

"It was about her parents dying," I said. "I think you're blowing this out of proportion."

"You lied to me, John. You just spent a few days in a house alone with your ex-girlfriend that you still love. I don't think I'm blowing anything out of proportion."

"And if I told you the truth would you have let me gone?"

"Absolutely not. You don't need to be alone with her," she said.

"And that's why I lied to you because you don't trust me."

"How can I trust you when you're lying to me? John, a marriage takes two people to work together and to communicate. It doesn't work if only one person is working and communicating. If I can't trust you how do you think this marriage is going to work?"

"I haven't done anything for you not to trust me," I said. "You are jealous of Tessa and you always have been. You're so jealous you're getting upset because I went to West Newbury to be there for my best friend."

"I don't' believe you. I think something happened."

"Nothing happened, Ryan," I said. I know I was lying but there was no need to tell her the truth especially when she was supposed to be taking it easy. It was never going to happen again so there was no need to tell her about the one time. "I would never do that to you. You know I love you."

"How do I know you're telling me the truth?"

"Because I'm not this guy that goes out and cheats on his wife. I know the pain and suffering that can occur from someone cheating on the person they love. I lived it. I felt that pain. I would NEVER do the same thing to someone. I NEVER want someone to go through the pain that I went through. I love you, Ryan and I shouldn't have lied to you. I should have told the truth about the West Newbury visit and I'm sorry. It's just Tessa needed someone to be there for her and I knew if I told you the truth you never would have let me go. I'm sorry. I did the wrong thing and I hope that you can find it in you to forgive me. I love you, Ryan and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you." I officially felt like crap lying to my wife. I don't' know what had gotten into me but I was getting more and more deceitful. In fact I was starting to believe myself I was so good at lying to my wife. It's nothing to be proud of but I was actually starting to believe myself that I didn't sleep with Tessa. I know that I did but I honestly felt that if I didn't actually know the truth I would have believed my own lies. "I'm sorry, Ry."

Ryan was silent for a minute before saying, "I'm sorry too, John. I know that you would never cheat on me. I am really sorry but I just wish that you could tell me the truth. If you would have explained the situation I would have let you go. You didn't need to lie to me."

"I know and I'm sorry," I said, "I will be more honest with you and honesty will never be an issue again. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, John. Just don't lie to me again," she said. I could hear the seriousness mixed with a warning in her voice.

"I won't," I said as I wrapped my arms around her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said with a smile before I softly kissed her lips. "And just so you know Zola is going to be excited that you're home. She missed your cooking. She wasn't happy with my providing of food for her."

"Cereal and take out?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said with a smile. "So anyway since you're home, Zola is at school and I haven't seen you for days and I really missed you. How about we have some time together?"

"Time for what?" I asked with a smile.

"Time for me to show you how much I missed you," she said.

"I'm okay with that," I said as I picked her up and carried her up to our bedroom where we spent time together making love.

*TESSA'S POINT OF VIEW*

I had taken Scarlet into the house to use the bathroom and avoided any eye contact with Dave or Ryan. I didn't know what to say to either of them. All I knew was that I was caught and things weren't going to be good. After I got Scarlet into the bathroom I went out to the living room where I was quickly greeted by Dave. "Hey," I said trying to ease things over if I could ease them over that is.

"Hey?" asked Dave. "That's all you have to say after your escapades?"

"What escapades?" I asked.

"Going to West Newbury with John," he said. "YOu know Tessa I just don't get you. 6 years ago you were preaching how much you hated John and how much you hated the way he treated you so you came to me and cheated on him with me. You said you never wanted anything to do with him again and I know I told you that you could be friends with him but now I don't know. Tess, I just don't get it. You went years without talking to him or even needing him in your life and now it's like you turn to him for everything. Was I not good enough to go to West Newbury with you? I am your husband, Tessa. I should have been there NOT John. 4-5 years ago that guy was nothing to us he wasn't in our lives at all and then now all of a sudden here he is in our lives and we have problem after problem. First you won't have anymore kids with me but then you offer to carry their baby. Why would you do that, Tessa?"

"Because he is my best friend, Dave. My best friend needed my help so I helped him. I never ruled out not having more kids with you. If you want to have more kids we'll have more kids. Is that what you want, Dave? I just thought our family was perfect. One boy and one girl."

"Two boys and one girl," he said, "don't forget about Max even though his mother doesn't allow him to see me anymore doesn't make him any less my son. And when I suggested having another baby you told me no because your career was skyrocketing and you have book signing after book signing and you were traveling. You didn't have time to be pregnant, Tessa, You didn't have time to have another baby. Hell, you barely had time for the kids you did have which is why I don't work because you need someone to take care of the kids."

"Dave, that is not true. I love my kids more than anything and you know that. I could have had a baby after my book signings and my tours. It was you that decided you were too old to have a baby."

"Tessa, you're lying. It was you that said no about more kids because of your career but your career meant nothing to you when you offered to carry that kid for John. You gave up the rest of your tour to carry his baby but you could not do that for your own husband? Your priorities are out of whack. And when is the last time you spent time with your children in the last year? Tell me, Tessa."

"I have and you know it, Dave, you're just trying to start more shit than what you have to," I said. I had never chosen my career over my children. I am not that kind of person and I did not appreciate Dave saying that I did. "I did what I could to help my friend. Like I said if having a baby means that much to you then after I have this baby you and me can try. I don't care. If that's what you want then why shouldn't you get it?"

"I want a wife that puts her husband first. For 4-5 years, Tessa we were fine then John shows up and everything starts changing. You carry his child for him and now you're gallivanting off with him to West Newbury for a couple days. I came back to give you another chance. I could have gotten past that pregnancy but I can't get past you lying to me, Tessa. You had no reason to lie to me. I could have been there and you know it. You just didn't want me there."

"Dave, when I said something to you about it you just offered to come back here and stay with the kids while I went. Why are you making me out to be the bad person?"

"Because you are off in West Newbury with your ex-boyfriend," he said.

"Stop fighting," said Scarlet.

"We're not fighting," I said.

"Yes we are," said Dave.

"No we're not," I said.

"Yes you are," said Scarlet. "Stop it!"

"See what you're doing?" I said.

"Yep, Tessa, I fuck everything up," he said. "It's always me. Yet you're off fucking your ex-boyfriend while I am here thinking you're distraught over your parents dying."

"I did not fuck anyone, Dave," I said. "Why do you have to be like this? What happened to us? We used to love each other. Remember? Remember that, Dave? Remember our love and our passion for each other? Remember Zachary is the representation of that passion and love? We had so much love and now it's like we have nothing," I said as I began to cry. I hated what Dave and I had become. We used to love each other so much and now it was like we were always fighting about something. That's not what I wanted. I wanted my husband back and I wanted our happiness back.

"John happened to us, Tessa because you can't get over him. I remember how we came to be. We came to be because you cheated on John with me. That's how we came to be. I am not going to deny that love and that passion, Tessa but right now you are NOT the woman I married. You don't love me like you used to and you know it, Tessa. I don't know what it is but you're not the same."

"I am the same. I just want us to be happy," I said.

"You want us to be happy?" he asked. "Then stay away from Romeo. Have that baby, give it to them and walk away. Never look back, Tessa. End it. All ties with him. Have that kid and give it to its parents and we will be fine. Can you do that, Tessa? Can you give them that baby and just walk away to never look back? Can you do that?" he asked.

I paused before I answered the question, "but he is my friend."

"And I am your husband," he said. "It's either you walk away and never look back to keep me here or you stay friends with him and lose me. It's a simple choice, Tessa. Do what you need to do but I am not going to stand back here letting you sleep with him behind my back pretending to be friends with him. I'm not going to let it happen. I have always told you I will let you do what you want to do and not force you to do something you don't want to do so if you don't' want to be married and you want to be with John more power to you. Do what you need to do. Just divorce me first. I will not stand in your way, Tessa."

"Why are you making me choose between my best friend and you? That's not fair."

"It is fair, Tessa. Look what it's doing to us. Do you want this marriage or not?"

"I do," I said. "I do."

"Then you know what you need to do," he said, "and until you know what you want to do I'm leaving again. I can't be in a marriage where my own wife doesn't know if she loves me or not."

"Dave, I love you," I said crying harder. "I love you more than anything."

"Then leave Romeo out of our lives," he said. "I love you, Tessa. I love you more than anything but unless you can walk away and never look back we're never going to work. You need to make the choice," he said he started walking to the door.

"Don't leave me, Dave. Please," I said begging and pleading with him through my tears.

"I'm done with this, Tessa," he said as he opened the door. "I'm sorry." He shut the door behind him.

"DAVE!" I yelled but I was too weak to chase after him. I fell apart at that moment by the front door as I had lost my husband because of my best friend. I lost my husband because I chose my best friend over him. It wasn't' fair. I was doing a good thing for John but Dave didn't understand that. I didn't know what else to do so I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and started dialing a number…..

*JOHN'S POINT OF VIEW*

I was laying in bed with Ryan after making love to her when my cell phone started going off. I reached over to the nightstand to grab it. When I had it in hand I looked at the screen to see Tessa's name lit up. I thought about not answering it but at the same time she was carrying mine and Ryan's baby. I had no other choice but to answer it and Ryan was asleep. "Hello."

"John…" she said as she cried. "I need you."

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"No. Can you come over?"

"Tess, I don't think that's a good idea," I said.

"John, please. I need you right now. Please come over."

As much as I didn't want to I had to. She was still my best friend and she sounded like she was hurting so I said, "I'll be right there."

"Thank-you," she said.

"You're welcome," I said before hanging up the phone. I got out of bed and put my clothes back on.

I softly kissed Ryan's head causing her to stir. "Where are you going?" she asked.

"I have to run out for a little bit. I will be back. You just rest."

"Okay," she said. "Be careful."

"I will," I said. "Love you."

"I love you too," she said before I kissed her lips. I hurried downstairs and took Ryan's car over to Tessa's house to see what she needed. I wasn't sure how I felt at that moment but I think for the first time in a few days I was feeling overwhelmed with guilt…

*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for taking the time to read.