For a fleeting moment, Gordo considered hightailing it out of there. He was so shaken up that he could barely breathe, let alone speak, and his forehead was drenched with cold, nervous sweat. He closed his eyes, summoning up all his courage. He knocked on the door and went back to clenching his shirt with unease.

He knocked once.

This was a bad idea, Gordon… You could never go through with anything. It never works. You always run away.

Twice…

She's probably not even home. Getting a marriage proposition from her long-time boyfriend, no doubt. Again, you are too late.

Feeling sick to his stomach, Gordo raised his hand to knock again, when the door flew open, revealing a dazed, tired-looking Lizzie. Gordo was speechless. He licked the inside of his mouth, trying not to stare at his best friend, who had, indeed, become a fine-looking woman. Lizzie was still looking at his feet, and when no response came from this unknown guest, she raised her dull eyes questioningly.

When her hazel lifted towards his face, a chill crept up his spine. Her eyes, when he last left, were bright and cheery. Now, they looked like ghostly lanterns on Halloween night. He couldn't stand to see her like that, but, alas, his breath caught in his throat as he tried to comfort her.

Gordo's heart beat rapidly as he involuntarily continued to take in her beautiful features… watching the sunlight reflect upon her golden-blonde hair, which, Gordo realized, she had attempted to tame just before he got there. He noticed those things about her. He couldn't help but notice.

Lizzie stared at the man standing in front of her, feeling confused. He was obviously shaken; there was no doubt about that. But, her confusion came not from his nervousness, but from his familiarity. Everything was the same. Everything. Lizzie's eyes began to fill with tears as she turned away from the young man. Before he could say a word, she shut the door and ran to the couch, sobbing.

"God… why must you torture me like this? Why do you have to do this to me? I haven't done you any wrong… why must you hurt me?" Lizzie wept, tears spilling from her eyes onto the vacuumed carpet. "You don't have to taunt me, God. I know where Gordo really is. He's at Harvard, okay!? Not here! Because if he was here, he would -,"

"Do this?" a new voice finished. The man put his arms around Lizzie and pulled her to him, holding her close. He rocked her gently, feeling her shake and shiver beneath his touch. He stroked her hair soothingly, placing his head on top of hers as he parted her mangy hair with his fingers. As Lizzie relaxed into his embrace, her sobbing ceased, and she raised her head, looking into his azure eyes. He smiled, and Lizzie's heart leapt.

"Gordo," she breathed. It was not a question. It was a statement, a realization. "Oh-my-god."

"Hey McGuire," Gordo managed to say weakly. Before he could say anything else, Lizzie put her shaking hands to his face. She needed to touch him, to make sure he was real. It was the most important task Lizzie had ever been given, and she needed to do it: for her sake and his.

Her delicate fingers traced along his cheek as she still stared, transfixed, into his eyes. The two lovers didn't even notice as Lizzie's searching hands ran through his hair, pulling through the chocolate curls. They were absorbed in each other, having been separated from each other for - which seemed to them like – an eternity. Nothing was processed in their minds. Not the microwave beeping, not even a lonely stray dog barking loudly outside the door. Everything was background noise – nothing else was as important as that dawning moment, the one gaze that Gordo and Lizzie shared.

"Gordo?" Lizzie questioned, tears streaming down her face.

"Yeah?"

"Gordo…" She broke into gasping sobs and buried her head on his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You're here."

He chuckled softly, and rubbed his hands along her back. "I'm not going anywhere, Liz."

Suddenly, Lizzie lifted up her head. A trace of a smile played at the corners of her eyes and lips. She began to laugh nervously, removing her hands from around Gordo's waist. Gordo stared at her, reminded vividly of the love-struck teenager she had once been; how she had always come to him with problems.

"What?" he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Lizzie blushed furiously.

"I don't know." She ran a hand through her hair, pushing it behind her. Her heart was pounding, and she was dizzy with the sight of Gordo. She suddenly felt nauseous. For what reason, she didn't know. She blinked, trying to refocus her eyes.

"I-I feel…"

Everything went black.

************

When Lizzie came to, she was lying on her back, feeling the warm light from the sun upon her face. Was she outside? Lizzie couldn't remember. She moaned slightly and furrowed her brow, eyes still shut tight. Suddenly, her ears picked up the sound of footsteps, and she huddled deeper under the blankets, which were piled high over her sore body. A soft, cool hand touched her cheek and slid a washcloth to rest on her forehead. Lizzie cringed a little as the water ran down her face, but she welcomed the hand. As she opened her eyes – with difficulty – a pair of cerulean orbs stared anxiously back at her.

"You're awake," a masculine voice said, sounding relieved. Lizzie smiled as she remembered.

"Hey Gordo." She lifted up into a sitting position, resting her back against the pillows. "What happened, if I may ask?"

Gordo shrugged, and rubbed the washcloth over her forehead and cheeks. "You fainted, I think." Lizzie laughed, feeling stupid.

"Jeez."

"Yeah, jeez is right Liz. You're skin and bones. It's a wonder you didn't pass out when nobody else was here." Gordo sounded really worried, and his tense voice startled Lizzie. She shrunk back, feeling ashamed.

"I-I didn't think –"

Gordo looked like he was about to cry. "That's just the problem, Lizzie. You didn't think. What would've happened if you got hurt? How would your friends react? Your family? Me…?" he trailed off, looking away. Lizzie put a slender hand on his shoulder, looking deep into his eyes.

"But I didn't get hurt, did I? Gordo, I made some mistakes, but… let's please not dwell in the past." Lizzie turned her face, remembering all of the horrible years, the years without him…

She sighed. "Everything is fine now." Gordo, who had gotten quite a scare at seeing his best friend faint so quickly, grinned tentatively. Lizzie found his hand and squeezed it. "There we go. There's the Gordo I know."

She raised her eyebrows and grinned playfully. "Maybe I should faint more often. This sure is good treatment." Gordo laughed.

"I always treat you good, McGuire," Gordo responded, smiling widely. Lizzie shrugged, turning a light pink.

"Yeah. Yeah, you do." Lizzie sighed heavily, and staring up at the ceiling, shaking her head.

"I still can't believe you're back, Gordo. I mean, three years…"

She looked at him in confusion. "But, why did you come back?"

Gordo rubbed his hand along the back of his neck, suddenly feeling himself turn crimson. This is what he was afraid of. "The guilt factor, I guess."

Lizzie's expression fell. He didn't come back for her? He came back because he felt… "Guilty?" Lizzie breathed.

"Yeah," Gordo replied, frowning slightly at Lizzie's downcast face. Did he say something wrong? "I missed you guys. A lot," he added, looking hopeful. Lizzie looked away.

"Oh. Nothing else, then?"

Gordo wrung his hands. Should he say anything? "I-I really – " – Gordo licked his lips – " – I um…"

Lizzie frowned. "You don't have to tell me, you know." Gordo gulped, heart fluttering madly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the perfume-filled air. This is your chance, his mind kept singing. And then, suddenly, his mind was made up.

Just as he had done with Leo, Gordo took a leap of faith, trusting that he had a place to land.

"I really don't know how to say this," he began, feeling extremely nervous. He took Lizzie's hand in his own and smiled diffidently. "I-I understand if you feel uncomfortable, I really do. At first, I was too…" – he grinned and Lizzie smiled – "Now… it just feels right. I guess I just came to accept it as part of my life; I couldn't avoid it any longer. I tried, I really did – I didn't really want to get rid of it, I just wanted to put it aside. But now, when I look at you, I feel… different. Important. Accepted… cared for. I don't know how it happened, but, Elizabeth McGuire, I am truly, deeply, in love with you, and I have always been. At Harvard, I was not happy, because I longed to see you again, to look deep into your eyes…" – Gordo turned his head away – "No words could express my admiration and love for you."

He looked back at his best friend. Lizzie had tears in her eyes, and he could tell she had been wiping her nose on her shirt. Gordo was alarmed at her reaction, and immediately felt ashamed.

"Lizzie…I'm really, really sorry…" he whispered, his heart breaking. "I'll just go now… you probably won't want to see me again…"

He turned to go, but Lizzie put a hand on his arm. Her cool touch sent a tiny shiver of pleasure through Gordo, and his heart felt as if it were going to burst. She reached over to the table and grabbed a tissue, dabbing her glistening cheeks. She smiled through her tears.

"That was beautiful, what you said," she breathed, her eyes shining brightly. "Amazing."

Lizzie's hand traveled up his arm to his cheek, and she traced the lines etched there. She grinned playfully, and in one swift moment, she pressed her lips against his in a chaste kiss. She pulled away and smiled. "Amazing."

Gordo was dazed. Her lips had been so warm, so full. He felt dizzy, and he grinned back in astonishment. Before he could recover, Lizzie was kissing him again, harder this time. She opened her eyes and sighed, feeling content.

"That was for coming back," she whispered. She cradled his face and kissed him passionately, feeling warm all over as she realized he was kissing her back.

She sighed and came up for air. "That was for sticking with me and being such a wonderful friend."

"One more?" Gordo pleaded, panting from lack of sufficient oxygen. Lizzie smiled and laid her hands on his chest, looking deep into his eyes.

"Definitely."

O jeez… a lot of fluff in that chapter. Don't worry. I don't think it's done, unless everybody truly thinks it should be… *shrug* please review! I expect reviews! *hehe* as long as you guys enjoy it, I'm happy. ^_^ I just love to write, and finding fanfiction was like a dream coming true. Stop me if this is getting too cliché… lol

Please review, and I hope you guys like this chapter!

Much luv to all –

Tic-Tac  ^_~