The Ultimate Deception

Summary: Sebastian wakes up to a surprise that might turn everything around.

Authors Note: Sorry this took so long (stupid finals) but here it is and I think it came out ok. Anyway two more chapters after this.

Chapter 14: Together Again

"Kathryn?" Sebastian asked again in stunned disbelief. Although she was sitting there as real as could be his brain was screaming it was impossible. He honestly thought he might have finally snapped.

She said nothing at first only stared at him with a mixture of caution and concern. Finally she spoke, her voice soft "Sebastian..."

"No, no you're dead" his head fell down into his hands as he muttered "god what is wrong with me? I need to stop this."

"Sebastian it's me. I'm alive" she reached out and pulled his hands away forcing him to look up at her. "Nothings wrong with you. I am alive."

Still not believing he told her "prove it."

Kathryn looked momentarily perplexed by the request but then ever so slowly she leaned in and kissed him. Sebastian responded like he always had and was met by the familiar feeling of her lips. That taste, that softness it was Kathryn all right. No one tasted like her. It was her, she was alive.

Sebastian was so startled by this discovery that he pulled away for a moment and was met by Kathryn's confused expression. "It is you" he whispered.

She nodded but before she could say anything Sebastian pulled her back to him and kissed her. Only this time it was a real kiss, not a fragile, tentative one. It was deep and passionate and filled with months of heartache and longing. The kiss seemed to last for days, neither wanting to pull away from the other. Finally it was Kathryn who broke away and as she did she looked at him quite stunned.

Breathlessly Sebastian repeated "you're alive. How? What the fuck is going on Kathryn?"

"It's complicated" she muttered while avoiding his eyes.

Reaching out to her he caressed her soft hair "it doesn't matter."

Kathryn stared at him a moment before getting up suddenly from the bed and turning away from him. "Yes it does" she sighed.

"The doctors told everyone you didn't make it so what happened? Did they make a mistake? Did they-"

"No" turning back to face him she replied "they said that because I paid them to say it. I paid them to lie to you so you and everyone else would think I died."

The news hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. When he saw her he didn't really care how she survived only that she had. But the idea that she had purposely deceived him was painful. "You...you faked your death on purpose? You made me think...why? What the hell were you thinking?"

"What was I thinking?" She yelled at him eyes blazing. "I was thinking I would do just about anything to get the hell away from you!"

Sebastian recoiled "oh."

"No you don't get to be the victim here. After what you did to me," she shook her head "you're the reason I almost died in the first place."

"So you were trying to kill yourself" he said quietly.

Kathryn's eyes shot down to the floor "no I wasn't."

"Bullshit. I'm the one who found you Kathryn. I saw the drugs."

"I wasn't trying to kill myself. I was just..."

"Just what?"

She looked up at him sadly "just trying to avoid the pain. When I found out what you had done, that everything you felt for me was a lie I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to feel anything so I took some stuff and then I took some more but it didn't help." Kathryn sat back down on the bed as she continued "I must have passed out. When I awoke I was in the hospital and nothing had changed. The pain was worse"

"What happened next?"

She sighed "my mother came in and started to rip into me because of what I did. Of course she thought I did it on purpose to punish her. After she had calmed down she told me I had two options, I could either stay in New York and get counseling or I could leave and never come back. She would tell everyone I was dead, I could have my inheritance and I would leave my old life behind. So I agreed to leave."

Sebastian nodded as he realized who was really at fault for all of this. "Then it was Tiffani. She gave you no choice."

Kathryn scowled and shook her head "no it was my decision Sebastian. If she hadn't suggested leaving then I would have."

"You hated me that much?"

"No I loved you that much" she hissed back at him as a tear fell down his face. When Sebastian looked up at her in surprise Kathryn wiped her face and shook her head scornfully. "I left, I did all of this because I couldn't stand the idea of living in the same house with you. The idea of seeing you every day and most likely with her. I just couldn't do it Sebastian it would have killed me. Even the idea of paying you back wasn't appealing."

Sebastian laughed coldly "that's got to be a first. Why did you come back?"

"Do you wish I hadn't?"

"Of course not, christ Kathryn I'm in love with you. I always have been. You have no idea what this past year has been like for me. The things I've done...I chased someone last night who I thought was you."

"I know" she whispered.

His eyebrows shot up "it was you? What the hell were you doing?"

"I have no idea. For months I did everything I could think of to let go of you but none of it worked. So I thought that maybe if I could just see you once I would get over it. Last night I followed you to the restaurant and you looked so..."

"Miserable"

"Yeah, then you followed me so I hid and watched you come look for me. Then she game out after you" Kathryn told him with hurt filling her voice. "You two are seeing each other. It's good you're moving on."

"I'm not moving on Kathryn I can't. This past year I've been in hell. Nothing I did could help me let go of you. So yes I started seeing Annette again but she couldn't replace you. She was just a poor substitute."

"Still it doesn't change what you did."

"No it doesn't" he agreed. "You're right I am the reason this all happened. I've hurt you so badly and no amount of apologizing can make up for it but it I do love you Kathryn and you know that. You love me too or else you never would have came here this morning."

"I don't know why I came" she admitted.

"Yes you do" Sebastian forced her to look at him "you're in love with me."

"So what?"

She was trying her best to be cold but he wasn't buying it. "So that's everything."

Sebastian leaned in to kiss her but before he could Kathryn sprang up quickly from the bed. "I have to get going. I'm sorry but I never should have came here to begin with."

As she started for the door Sebastian got to his feet in a flash. Kathryn was opening the door when he came up from behind and slammed it shut trapping her between himself and the closed door. "You're insane if you think I'm letting you leave this room" he hissed in her ear.

"Sebastian I have a plane to catch" she told him with her back still to him.

"I love you and I'm not letting you go"

Spinning around she hissed "we are over with. Coming back here was obviously a mistake. Now I'm leaving and nothing you can do will stop me so just let me go."

"No!" he yelled pressing himself into her.

"Be quiet someone will here you"

He snickered "good. There's no way in hell I'm letting you walk out that door."

Kathryn laughed coldly "and how do you plan on stopping me?"

"You leave and I will tell anyone who will listen that you're really alive."

She shrugged "they'll never believe you."

"Maybe they will and maybe they won't. It doesn't matter but I promise I will spend the rest of my life if I have to looking for you."

"You think threatening me will make me change my mind?" When she was met with his cold expression she sighed "oh this is ridiculous I'm leaving."

"Like hell" he snarled as he grabbed her hand from the doorknob and spun her back around to face him.

"Let go!" Kathryn tried to pull out of his grasp but he held on tight. They struggled against the door until their mouths nearly touched. When she stopped struggling they stared at each other for one long intense moment before Sebastian kissed her with surprising force. Kathryn didn't try to pull away in fact she returned the kiss just as hard while pressing her body into his.

As their tongues clashed against each other furiously Sebastian slid his hands up her thighs and quickly picked her up. He carried her to the bed and climbed on top of her never breaking from her mouth. Kathryn moaned into his mouth when she felt his hands slid up her bare thighs and pull her black silk dress off leaving her in only a black lace bra and patching panties.

Pulling away Sebastian took in the sight in front of him. The girl he loved more than anything was right in front of him, barely clothed, hair mussed, looking as beautiful as he had ever scene her. With a lusty breath she asked "well?"

He smiled as he leaned forward and once again captured her mouth in a kiss then moved down to her neck. Sebastian kissed down her body until he came to her lace covered mounds. Nipping and licking her cleavage he didn't unclip her bra until Kathryn let out a low moan and whimpered "take it off."

Looking up at her with a smirk he obeyed and the quickly started sucking her tender flesh. Her nipples were hard and her breasts were firm in his hands making it impossible for Sebastian to get enough. Kathryn's hands played in her hair as he moved down her stomach until he got to her panties. In one quick motion he yanked them off and then felt Kathryn legs slid around his shoulders locking him in place. He looked up at her with a sly grin as she returned it.

Sebastian wasted no time going down of her. If it was possible Kathryn seemed more aroused than he did. She was practically dripping as he ate her out and she begged for him to continue. Just when she was on the verge of coming he felt her hand come down and grip his hair. "Come here" she murmured as she pulled him up to her.

Slowly Sebastian slid back up her body until they were once again face to face. By now Sebastian was as hard as could be and couldn't wait any longer to be inside of her so he plunged himself inside of her fast and deep. Kathryn's breath caught as her fingers dug into his skin. As he started thrusting ever so slightly into her she raised her knees and lifted her hips so he could go even deeper into her.

Grabbing her wrists Sebastian held her down as he forcefully kissed and nipped at her neck. "Ahh...yes" Kathryn hissed as she squeezed her muscles around him. At the feel of her wet core tightening around him Sebastian whimpered and continued to pump even harder into her as she met his thrusts easily.

It always amazed him how flawlessly their bodies seemed to melt into one another. When he was inside of her he sometimes couldn't tell where he began and where she ended it was so intense. Now as Sebastian pulled away from Kathryn's neck and looked into her eyes he honestly didn't think he could love anyone more. Somehow she had gone from the girl he loved to hate to the one person he couldn't live without.

"Please...Sebastian" she moaned in a voice of pure need that just made him want her even more. Tightening his grip on her Sebastian began to thrust harder and harder into her until the hardwood bed began to smack loudly into the wall and Kathryn moans erupted in his ears as she clenched her muscles around him. Finally after one last deep stroke he came quickly into her body as her shaking legs locked around his body pressing him to her.

Breathing heavily Sebastian collapsed on top of her. Kathryn caressed his neck and whispered "I missed this."

"I missed you" he told her pulling away from her neck.

She gave him a slow tentative smile "I love you."

Sebastian smirked "and I'm in love you. So will you stay?"

Kathryn's smile fell as she sighed "Sebastian even if I wanted to...I have to leave."

She pushed him off of her and got up from the bed. He grabbed her hand "why? You said you love me, you know I love you so why-"

"Because I have to!" she told him more sad than angry.

"That's not an answer"

Kathryn opened her mouth like she was going to give him an argument but then stopped. Instead she explained "it's part of the deal Sebastian. I leave town for good. My mother has no idea I came back and she might cut me off if she found out so I have to leave."

"Fine" he told her "then I'm going with you."

"No! I'm not letting you throw your life away."

Sebastian let out a hollow laugh "what life? In case it's escaped you I don't really have one anymore. Another month of pretending to be interested in school or a girl I don't love and I'll loose it. I'm going with you Kathryn."

A flicker of delight crossed her eyes as she smiled "you don't even know where I'm going."

He pulled her towards him "it doesn't matter."

Kathryn leaned into him and gave him a soft kiss. "All right then, but you should probably start packing soon."

Sebastian smiled as he continued to kiss her "is it necessary that we do it right now?"

"Well maybe not right now" she giggled before falling back into bed with him.

* * * * * *

A couple of hours later Sebastian stepped out of the shower and wasn't surprised to find himself alone. Before he went to get ready Kathryn herself was getting ready because she had some things to take care of, namely dealing with their travel plans. She promised to meet him later and that she would leave directions as to where. Like she promised there was a note waiting for him on his night side table. He picked it up and smiled as he read it. She wanted to meet at the country house where they spent that amazing night together.

After getting dressed Sebastian quickly began to pack. He had a million things to do before they left including pack and say a few quick goodbyes. As he was grabbing a bunch of suits from his closet his bedroom door opened and Annette walked in. Glancing at him curiously she asked "what's going on? Where are you going?"

With everything that had happened that morning Sebastian had completely forgotten about Annette. It hadn't even occurred to him how he would explain leaving to his parents and her. Sighing he set his clothes in the suitcase and told her "I'm leaving New York."

"What?" She asked stunned "but I-I thought you decided to hold off on going to Europe for awhile? You can't leave just like that. In case you forgot it's Christmas."

"Yes I can" Sebastian stopped packing and looked up at her. "I'm sorry Annette, you know I care about you but I think we should end this."

Annette stepped back for a second as if getting hit "so you're not only leaving town, you're leaving me."

"Oh come on Annette" he sighed "this hasn't been working for either of us and you know it."

"Do I?"

"Can you actually tell me you've been happy this last year?"

Wiping a tear from her face she said "no but you never gave it a chance Sebastian."

"I'm sorry" was all Sebastian could think to say. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Then can you at least tell me why you're doing this?"

Before he could answer there was a knock at his door. "Come in" he called out.

The maid opened the door "sir, there's a phone call for you in the main room."

He nodded then turned back to Annette once again apologizing "I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say."

As Sebastian walked out to answer his call Annette sat back down on the bed. Her head was spinning from all this information. She was positive after last night that Sebastian was starting to return to his old self but apparently she was wrong. Although she knew Sebastian was right Annette still couldn't help wanting to hold on to what they had even if it was now long gone.

Getting up she was about to leave when she noticed a piece of paper on the bed. Annette picked it up and read it but couldn't make much sense of it. It simply read:

Country house, 7:00 - love.

Annette tried to figure out what it could mean. The handwriting wasn't Sebastian's but it did look oddly familiar. Clutching the piece of paper Annette quickly left the house with one thought running through her mind. Who was Sebastian meeting?

* * * * * *

Against her better judgment and the voice screaming in her head not to Annette decided to take a drive up to the Valmont country home Borrowing her fathers Sedan she argued with herself the whole way there. It wasn't like she couldn't deal with the idea of Sebastian breaking up with her after all Annette had long ago realized that he didn't love her anymore. Still she cared about him and didn't want to see him do anything that would get him hurt.

So at about five to seven Annette drove up the long drive to the house. As she got out of the car she realized Sebastian's jag wasn't there but a town car was. She stared at it curiously as she started for the house. However before she went inside something out by the lake caught her attention. From where Annette was standing it looked like a person.

Thinking it might be Sebastian or at least someone who knew where he was Annette went out to investigate. Whoever it was, was standing on the edge of the dock with there back to her. Annette was about to call out but as soon as she got a few feet from the person she stopped in her tracks. She realized it was a woman by her slender form. Taking a step closer she took in her tiny stature and dark silky hair. Annette's hand flew to her mouth "oh my god!"

At the sound of her voice the girl turned around and Annette's heart stopped. "Kathryn you're alive."

- to be continued (Please Review)