**A/N**~ Sorry for the delay. I've been really busy, and I haven't had much sleep these past few days. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, all of you make my day and encourage me to write more!!

The four friends could feel the tension blocking them from Will. He sat rigidly, eating his soup continually, and did not look around him.

Kate was eyeing him suspiciously from her spot near the counter. She was unknowingly wringing her dishcloth, not sure as to what was working inside his head. He had not spoken a word to them.

Wat and Geoff sat next to Will, uncomfortable by the silence. Geoff was most curious, knowing that only hours before he had been laughing with William. He had been a good sport, a good friend. Now he was isolating himself, again. He did not want to lose Will in the same manner again.

Roland was sitting near the fireplace, mending a shirt, and quietly humming to himself. Will's sour mood was not going to interrupt his day.

Will set his spoon down and Kate walked up behind his chair, picking up his bowl.

"Do you want more?"

"No."

"Well would you like me to save the rest for later?"

"No."

"You sure? I can save it for later, if you become hungry I'll-"

Will pounded his palms on the table and stood up. Everyone jumped, and he turned around quickly to look Kate in the eyes. She took a step back, unsure what he was going to do. Wat stood up from his chair also, making sure he could reach Kate in case Will should snap.

"I said no." He said between clenched teeth. He brushed past her, and made way for the door. She let out a sigh of relief, but Roland stopped him before he left.

"You owe Kate an apology, Will."

Will gave a hard stare at Roland, and tried to leave. Roland put his arm across the door.

"You scared her and us half to death. I don't know what your problem is, Will, but you better damn well fix it."

Will looked at Roland for a moment more, and then turned around.

Will bowed deeply, exaggerating the movement, and looked at Kate.

"I am sorry, Kathryn. I didn't mean to worry you." His voice was sarcastic, but she nodded her head, and Will looked once again at Roland.

"Your arm, Roland."

Roland shook his head in disbelief, but let Will pass. It wasn't even Will. He had never known his friend to be like this. He could hardly even call him his friend, anymore.

It wasn't things that Will was saying. His actions were forced, rough. He looked lost, but did not want to be saved. He hadn't looked that way since Jocelyn had died.

"He deserves a good fonging, that one!" Wat said loudly, breaking the tension and setting his dish near the washbasin. "The nerve of him!"

"Are you all right, Kate?" Geoff asked.

She nodded. She still looked scared as she set her towel down, and took off her apron, declaring that she needed to go for a walk. The men let her go.

"I thought you said he was fine earlier?" Wat asked Geoff.

"He was. I don't know what happened."

"That wasn't our Will that just went through that door." Roland said. The other men nodded, and Wat sat down again.

"Wherever he is, I hope he's feeling real bad about what he did."

Will walked quickly through the halls. Tears were springing to his eyes, although none fell. He had hardly done anything wrong, but he felt extremely regretful. No one, least of all Kate, deserved to be treated like they did not matter. He had scared her, that he was sure of. He could hear her in her bedroom, walking, and sniffling. He paused. Sniffling? He had never known her to cry. She was always so strong, so self-assured. Had he really hurt her that deeply?

Part of him wanted to keep walking, to remember that he had made a promise to himself to become detached, to not let feelings get in the way. But the other part of him caused him to stand in front of Kate's bedroom door before his feet had known what had happened.

He knocked on the large wooden door. The tapping noise inside stopped, and then resumed as she moved closer to the door.

"Yes?"

"Kate?"

"Will?"

"Yes. I. I need to speak with you."

"I don't want to talk to you!" She hit the door, the sound making Will jump back, startled.

"Please, I feel awful."

"Get used to it."

"Just for a moment, please. the door is too strong for me to break down!"

After a few moments pause, the door opened, and Kate stuck her face out.

"What do you want, Will?" Her voice was shaky.

"I. I didn't mean to frighten you. It didn't seem like much to me, but with my attitude lately. you had no idea what I was going to do. And I promise you, I wasn't going to do anything." He added quickly. "Can I come in?" He asked.

"You sure you're feeling better?"

He nodded. She stepped back from the door, and he let himself in.

"Wow." He looked around himself. He had never been in her bedroom before. It had always felt inappropriate. It still did. Hammers were lying about, half-finished pieces of jewelry sat on tables. Random pieces of armor lie on the floor, and a candleholder was sitting on her nightstand.

"You. made all this yourself?" He asked.

She nodded.

"You're truly a talent, Kate."

She looked down at her feet, and then sat down in a nearby chair while he looked around some more. Once he was done, he stood near her.

"I." He paused. "This seems to be like a secret of yours."

"It was." She said.

"I didn't mean anything I did earlier." He said quickly.

"I know, Will." She took hold of his hand, reassuring him.

He looked down at her hand holding his, and then looked at her face.

"You know. I have a secret in my old room, too. Would you like to see?"

She gave him a wide-eyed curious look, but he smiled and tugged gently on her hand.

"Come on. You'll be the first person besides me and Jocelyn to see it."

She grudgingly let him take her towards his bedroom. Once inside, she felt the excitement of the important secret. He moved toward the wall, and she raised her eyebrows.

"Please tell me this is something important." She said.

He did not answer, but instead pushed on a stone in the wall. She let out a soft gasp as the stone pushed around. She leaned in towards the wall, and began to read.

Once she was done, she looked at Will.

"She loved you very much."

It was his turn to look down at his feet. He nodded, and turned the stone back around.

"I love her very much, too." He said.

There was a moment of awkward silence, increased when Kate realized her and Will were still holding hands. He let his go, and wrapped her arms around herself.

"I better go. I have work to do."

He nodded, letting his free hand hang at his side.

She walked towards the door, but paused once she was in its frame.

"Don't ever act like you did again, Will. I mean it. Apologies don't work twice."

"I won't Kate. Trust me."

"I do." She said, and walked out.

Will let out a long sigh, and turned the stone to read it, one more time.