"You fugging lie' to me!" Tiff screamed at Kendall, pointing the busted edge of the guitar neck at him.

"Honey," Ry moved toward Tiff, her hands outstretched to protect herself. "Calm down and give that to me."

Tiff paid no heed to her friend. "You sai' you waz o'er her! You sai' dat song wazn' 'bout her!"

"What song?" Nikki asked.

"It's nothing," Kendall played it off. Looking to his girlfriend, Kendall tried to reason with her. "Tiff, I am over her."

"No! You slep' wit 'er!"

"I did and you don't even know how sorry I am that it happened like that."

"Why?!" Still gripping Kendall's shirt, James shook his friend. "Because you got caught?!"

Kendall was exhausted, mentally and physically, the nights activities were taking their toll on him. His face was sore, his split lip throbbed, his knee was killing him, Kendall just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep, hoping when he awoke he'd realize this whole debacle had been nothing more than a horrific nightmare.

Turning weary eyes to his best friend, Kendall sadly shook his head, "No, because I've ruined something that was so very important to me."

"Wha'? Yer chanz wit' yer Fregles?!"

Kendall never took his eyes from James'. "No, one of the best friendships I've ever had."

Even though he was furious, the remorse Kendall showed touched James. The friendship they had was special to him, as well. Over the years, the two had been through a lot together - good and bad - and the realization that they may never share that bond again, crushed James.

Releasing Kendall's shirt, James dropped his hand to his side and the rigidness drained from his body. His face softened and he looked from Kendall to Francie. James loved her, more than anything or anyone. She was his sanctuary, his world, his forever...now she was his Judas. James knew Francie hadn't remembered her night with Kendall, he believed that, but what hurt was that she doubted him in the first place, she questioned his love for her, and found comfort in Kendall's arms.

The momentary calm within him was over. The rage, jealousy, hurt, and sorrow began to build again. He had to go, he had to get away from everyone in that room. James quickly fled from Kendall's bedroom and was halfway down the stairs when the first tear fell.

Francie stood rooted in place, torn between wanting to follow James and explain the best she could, and fear of his anger and the consequences of her actions the night of the ice storm.

"I'm so sorry, Freckles." Kendall's eyes were full of regret, "I didn't mean for -"

"You lied to me," the calmness in her voice frightened Kendall. "And to him." Francie ran out of the room after her fiancé, praying their relationship was salvageable.

Ry took what was left of Kendall's guitar from Tiff's hands and the blonde collapsed onto the mattress, sobbing.

"I need to talk to Tiff alone," Kendall's eyes were glued to the body on his bed.

"Yeah...sure, man. Come on, Niña." Carlos wrapped his arms around Ry and lead her to the door. Logan and Nikki followed without a word spoken. Nikki was still in shock after the revelation and Logan was pissed at himself and Kendall.

"Are you sure you're ready to deal with her?" Linda couldn't help but feel sorry for the devestated woman. She may be a hot mess but she's hurting.

"Yeah," Kendall shifted his gaze from Tiff to Linda and felt butterflies in his stomach. "Listen, don't leave yet. I want to talk to you when I'm done here, if that's okay with you." A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth making him winced a bit as it pulled at his busted lip.

"Sure," Linda returned a small smile. "I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Thanks," Kendall watched her walk away, enjoying the sway of her hips before one last precautionary thought popped into his mind. "Hey, Lin?"

"Yeah?" Linda glanced over her shoulder.

"Could you make sure 'Los and Ry stay, too?"

"Sure thing." Closing the bedroom door behind her, Linda knew why Kendall made that request and her heart swelled with anticipation. Someone will need to take Tiff home.


Francie ran through the snow covered yard between her house and Kendall's, leaving footprints in the soft powder. She had tried to walk in the tracks James had made but being considerably shorter, her legs didn't have the long stride that James' do.

Not bothering to knock the snow from her feet, Francie burst through the front door, pausing to unzip and kick off her black boots. She didn't see James but she heard him, rather, she heard the demolition of items from the living room and a choked moan.

Hesitantly peeking around the corner she saw James standing in front of the fireplace. With his head bowed forward and his feet planted at the base of the hearth, the weight of James' long body was supported by his strong arms. The hands that have gently caressed Francie's body were now white-knuckled, gripping the bare mantle. Items that once had a home perched above the fireplace - a statuette, a clock, and a framed picture of the two of them - now lay in pieces yards away from where James stood immobile except for his chest which heaved with every struggling breath.

"James?" Francie received no reply. "James, we need to talk."

"Talk? Really?" James remained fixed in place, not moving a single muscle. "So now we need to talk? It seems to me, we should have talked a long time ago."

Fighting the urge to run to him and fall into the tall brunet's arms while apologizing profusely, Francie slowly stepped next to him. "Yeah, we should have. I should have asked what was wrong, why were you so distant, when you were out in L.A."

"You mean you should have asked if I was sleeping around?"

Francie looked down at her feet, ashamed for thinking the worst of the man she loved. She knew that most of the blame was hers, but some belonged to Kendall and James. This wasn't entirely all her doing.

"Would you have told me about Amber's part in the movie if I pressed you for answers?"

James mulled that question over. Would I have admited to her that Amber was my co-star? Probably not...over the phone wasn't how I wanted to break that kind of news, but if she questioned my loyalty...that's entirely different.

"If you would have asked me if I was cheating on you, and I knew that by skirting the subject I would have only caused you to distrust me more, then yes, I would have told you."

"You know, if you would have been a little more forthcoming with the information in the first -"

James snapped his head to the side, glaring at Francie. All his composure was lost and the rage returned. "You sound just like Kendall, blaming me for your...your indiscretion!" The poison with which his words were spoken momentarily paralyzed Francie. She understood that he was hurt but he'd never used that tone with her before, and she had no idea how to process it.


Crawling on the bed, Kendall sat next to Tiff. "Sunny?" Her sobs were the only response he received. "Can we talk?"

"N-n-nuttin' to t-talk 'bout." Tiff dried her tears on her shirt sleeve.

"There is," Kendall leaned over the side of the bed and stretched his arm to grab the box of tissues that lay on the floor, knocked from the nightstand when he toppled it over earlier, starting this whole mess. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, I didn't mean to."

"Y-you slep' wit h-her," Tiff pulled a Kleenex from the box and dabbed at her eyes.

"I did, but you and I weren't together. You left me, remember?"

"I 'member, b-but her an' James w-was t'geher."

"But we thought-"

Tiff interrupted his attempt to explain."Ya lie'." Her hazel eyes brimmed with disappointment.

Kendall had let her down, he'd let everyone down, but he had only done what he thought best. "I did, but only to protect Francie."

"'N' you."

Kendall nodded, "Yeah, and me, too, I guess. If James found out..."

"Well, 'e did."

"He sure did. Everyone did."

"He's pisse'."

"Yeah, he's pissed alright, and he's got every right to be. I'll have to deal with that."

Quiet blanketed the room for a moment before Tiff found the courage to ask her question. "Dat song?"

Kendall reached for her hand. "It was about Francie," he admitted.

"I though' so. Ya love 'er?" Tiffs voice was quiet and hesitant, like she really didn't want to know.

"I do, but not like you think. I love her as my friend, and as Marley's mother. Look, Tiff, I know I've said it before, but this time I mean it. She's my friend." At least I hope she's still my friend.

"Sex didn' change nuttin'?"

"I won't lie to you, it did, but only until I saw the way Francie reacted when she found out James didn't sleep with Amber, I knew she still loved him. Then when James got into town and I saw them together...I knew, they love each other, they're meant to be together."

"They were." Tiff's alcoholic honestly was brutal but accurate, leaving Kendall to ponder how much damage had been done to his friends' relationship. Deep in thought, Kendall almost didn't hear Tiff's inquiry.

"You love me?" She was surprised to realize that her tears had dried and she didn't feel anymore coming. She knew this relationship hasn't been right for some time.

Blinking several times, trying to push his thoughts of Francie and James aside, he knew he had to address the situation of his relationship with the woman everyone considered his girlfriend. "I thought I loved you, please believe that, but I was so desperate to put Francie behind me, I jumped in this relationship with both feet."

The saddness in Tiff's eyes crushed Kendall, he officially felt like a first-class ass, but he was being honest with her and that felt damn good.

"Things have been strained between us for awhile. There's this...this distance. I don't if it's you or me but it's there. I know you've felt it, too."

"I jus'ssumed it was Francie or your feelinks for 'er."

"No, those are gone now," Kendall reinforced his earlier point. But I do have feelings for someone else.

Hearing Kendall say that, she knew the distance he referred to was from her. Ever since she got the offer from Emily Burgess at St. Michael's, her mind had been elsewhere a lot. Tiff decided it was time to expose her secret to Kendall. "I been of'ered a job in Chicago. Assist'nt Principal."

Wide eyes stared at her in surprise, "You did? When?"

"Few weegs ago," she slurred. "Decide' today wasn' gonna tage it...was gonna stay wit' you. Think I jus' change' ma min'."

"Oh! Well, that's great!" Kendall was relieved that Tiff wouldn't be out in the cold, sort of speak. She had a purpose and she was going to excel in her new position. "Um, congratulations!" He wrapped his arms around her and Tiff huddled in, knowing she'd miss the warmth of his hugs.

"Thanks."

"You'll do a great job." Kendall's encouragement was heartfelt.

To distract herself from the comfortableness of his embrace, Tiff decided now was a good time to apologize for her sin...the death of his beloved six string. "I'm sorry 'bout yer guitar."

She felt him shake his head and was relieved to hear his response. "I can buy another." With everything else going on, Kendall's guitar was the least of his concerns.

Their situation may have been resolved but he wasn't out of the woods yet. Tiff knew the next obstacle would be the harder one for Kendall to conquer. "Too bad you can' buy 'nudder frien', cuz you coul' use one."


"I can't believe she slept with him," Ry sat on the couch and shook her head trying to sort this mess out.

Carlos rubbed his girlfriend's shoulder in an attempt to soothe her. He glanced at Logan, knowing his friend was ready to explode. Logan had struggled for weeks with the gut feeling that Kendall and Francie had found their way into each other's arms, and now he's finally been proven right but there was no satisfaction in that.

Nervously pacing the floor, Nikk chewed on her thumbnail. "I need to do something. I'm going after Francie." She spun on her heels toward the door but Logan jumped off the couch to block her way.

"No, let her be, she's with James."

"But what if she needs me, Logan?!"

He understood Nikki's fierce protectiveness of her sister, he felt the same way about James, but he knew that the two needed time together to sort things out. "Nik, she needs James right now."

"They need each other," Linda pointed out, zoning out on a photo of Kendall and Marley on a side table.

"I hope they know they need each other," Ry leaned into Carlos. "What if this is it, Papi? What if they're done?"

"They're not done, Niña. If there's one thing I'm sure of it's that James loves Francie."

"And she loves him," Nikki was quick to add.

"That's all true," Logan agreed. "But come on guys, how forgiving do you think James can be?"

Nikki glared at her fiancé, angry that he would decide to play the devil's advocate right now. "You're not helping!"

"I'm just trying to be realistic." Logan wrapped an arm around her, "She slept with Kendall."

"We know," Nikki's agitation rose. "We heard!"

"Francie and James aren't the only ones who need to make peace with this," Carlos stated. "Kendall does, too. James is pissed and hurt, that's not going to be easy to fix."

"Yeah." Ry added, "Francie didn't look happy with him either."

"She's not!" Nikki's arms flew into the air in exasperation. "Kendall lied to her!"

Hearing the blame put on Kendall, Linda's eyes darted from the picture she was staring at to Nikki. "You know, she wasn't innocent in all this. It takes two -"

"I never said she was innocent!" Nikki knew she couldn't defend her sister and it broke her heart. "I said Kendall lied to her. She'll own up to her mistake, she would have earlier if she hadn't gotten in that accident and lost her memory." Addressing Logan, Nikki turned to him, "Francie always said it felt like there was something important she felt she needed to remember. I guess she was right."


"So, this is where it happened, am I right?" James stood tall in their living room and held his hands out indicating the area in front of the fireplace. "Here in front of the fire? I mean, this is where the blankets and pillows were laid out when my best friend brought me home from the hospital after my unconcious girlfriend finally came to!"

Using all her will and strength to not cry, Francie didn't interrupt James' rant.

"The ice storm knocked out the power, and consequently the heat," he squinted loathsome eyes at Francie, "so, what did you do, cuddle first or did you just fuck him?!"

"James!" Taken aback by James' rude outburst and lack of tact, fury glowed in Francie's dark eyes effectively turning up the burn James felt for her.

He was surprised to discover that, even as pissed off and devestated as he was by the betrayal of his fiancée, he still loved her, and wanted her. Attempting to thwart those feelings Francie stirred in his heart, he pushed on, digging deeper. "Was that it? No romance, no foreplay? You two just got right to it, down and dirty, huh?!"

"No!"

"No?! So there was romance and foreplay?! Well, kudos to Kendall!" The phony congratulatory excitement James played up made his stomach churn! The though of Kendall laying hands on Francie infuriated him!

Not willing to justify James' question with a response, and unable to look at him, Francie turned her face away, instinctively folding her arms across her chest, attempting to protect herself from his verbal assault.

Stepping closer and towering above her, James had a grand view of the soft, pillowy, swell of her breasts through the dip of her v-neck. He felt his pants grow tighter as his desire for her continued to grow.

"Let me guess...he pulled you into his arms," James' wrapped a strong arm around her and drew her body fast into his. A finger of his free hand caressed her bottom lip, "and placed kisses on your lips that reached deep into your soul, then he told you that he never stopped loving you." Because that's exactly what I want to do right now. I can't believe after what she and Kendall did, I still love her, I want to make her mine...forever...again!

"Quit it," Francie whispered her plea. The truth was she didn't want James to completely quit. Quit talking, yes...quit touching her, no. The feel of his hands on her skin and his hard body pressed against hers thrilled her. She just wanted him to stop making her remember how she ruined the best thing - besides her daughter - that had ever happened to her.

Consumed by his need, James payed no attention to her request. Winding a dark curl of Francie's hair around his finger, he brushed it against his cheek, feeling the softness tickle his skin and inhaled the familiar scent of coconut. His body ached for her, his betrayer.


Leaving Tiff alone to rest in his bedroom, Kendall made his way downstairs to face the music with the others. He owed them an apology and it wouldn't be easy.

As he reached the top of the steps he overheard the discussion downstairs.

"Let's just hear what he has to say, Nikki. We still don't know everything that happened." Carlos, always the peacemaker, Kendall thought to himself.

"I think we know plenty, don't you?" And Nikki, always the sassy one. Kendall knew she was going to be a tough one to make understand.

"No, I don't. I want to hear it from Kendall." Hearing Linda's voice, Kendall got those butterflies again. Will she ever be able to trust me after this? Have I blown my chance before I ever got it?!

"So do I," Logan grumbled. Kendall knew he was fucked with Logan. He knew what Francie and I did the entire time. He just wanted my honesty and I couldn't give him that. Now I have to.

Hearing the creak of a loose board, all eyes turned to see Kendall descending the stairs looking like a beaten down dog.

"How's Tiff?" Ry asked.

"She's okay," Kendall nodded. "She's upstairs resting."

"Good," Carlos spoke up. "We can take her home with us." He gripped Ry's hand, knowing she was concerned for her drunk, heartbroken friend.

"Yeah, I'm sure she doesn't want to stay here." Ry's tone was full of hate, Kendall expected that.

"She, uh, she got a job offer in Chicago. Assistant Principal." Kendall raised a shoulder to his ear in a half hearted shrug. "Don't know if any of you knew that or not." He scanned the surprised faces, glad to know that he wasn't the only one who didn't know. Then his eyes rested on Ry. The knowing look on her face told Kendall that Tiff had confided her secret to someone. "She told you?"

"Yeah, earlier. Said she wasn't going to take it." Ry's eyes shot daggers at the green eyed man, "I guess things changed, huh?"

Kendall hung his head in shame, "I guess they did."