Trip On Love

Summary: Sebastian's attempts to distance himself from Kathryn fail as a looming threat against her mounts.

Authors Note: Morgaine le Fay you were right. That was the line from Sex and the City. Truth be told I've always had a soft spot for Mr. Big but Ross Geller is another story entirely..

Chapter 16: Friendship and Other Myths

Parents have this incredible knack of showing up at the exact wrong moment. Like when you come home after a long, frustrating day and all you want to do is be alone but you walk in to find your mother there. Arranging flowers.

A few weeks following the disaster of a weekend in the Hamptons I was back in the city staying at my old apartment. I came through the door only to be greeted by the sight of my mother playing with a bundle of hideous looking gardenias. Closing the door behind me I dropped the keys loudly onto the table to get her attention. "Mother what are you doing here?"

"Oh hello darling" she greeted happily as if it was completely normal for her to be hanging around my apartment. "I thought I'd stop in for a visit since I was in the neighborhood."

"In the neighborhood? You live two blocks away."

"Yes well is there anything wrong with a mother wanting to visit with her only child, especially when that child won't return her phone calls?" She narrowed her eyes accusingly at me but I just shook my head. The woman was still number one with a guilt trip. Turning her attention back her flowers she continued "I thought your classes ended at four. Where have you been?"

"I went for a walk." I went over to my answering machine and found I had three messages. One from Blaine alerting me to a party he was throwing that night and two from Megan. I made a mental note to actually call her back sometime soon. Walking back into the living room I found my mother still fussing around with pretend busy work. I knew as soon as I saw her that she had ulterior motives for being here. "All right mother, let's here it. Tell me what you're really doing here."

"Oh honestly Sebastian" she sighed as she picked up the vase and moved it to the piano. "Such paranoia. I just wanted to see how you are doing. Especially after all that unpleasantness in the country. Poor Kathryn she must have been so frightened. You know I never would have thought Jackson was that kind of boy. He always seemed so polite and good natured."

I rolled my eyes "yeah he was a real prince."

My mother shot me a quick look out of the corner of her eye then as casually as she could muster she asked "so have you seen Kathryn since? Spoken to her perhaps?"

"And there it is" I sighed lazily slumping back into an arm chair.

"What? It's just an innocent question"

"Yeah right. And People say I have a one track mind."

Ignoring my jab my mother continued to blabber on. I tried to tune her out. "Tiffani says Kathryn has been absolutely distraught since the incident. She hasn't been going to school and she skipped the Newport benefit last weekend."

"Alert the media" I quipped.

"I'm serious Sebastian. She's not well at all. She needs a friend. Perhaps an old friend..."

I knew Kathryn was likely over the whole window incident by now. What was really bothering her was how we ended things. How I treated her. I knew this because it was all I could think about. There had even been a few times when I picked up the phone to call her but I never followed through. I wouldn't know what to say. Besides which I knew my mother was exaggerating. Kathryn was fine. "She has enough friends. And nothing has changed between us so you can stop fishing around for clues. It's not going to happen."

"Fine then I'd at least like to know if she's safe. Have the police arrested that lunatic yet?"

I shook my head "no I talked to his agent. He's in California on location somewhere. Kathryn's not in any danger."

"Well all right then." Gathering her things she headed towards the door. "I'll leave you be then. Just consider what I've said though, please." My mother leaned forward and pecked my cheek. "I'll talk to you later darling."

As I watched her head towards the door I had a sudden thought. "Wait mom." She stopped and turned back to me curious. "How did you do it?" I asked.

"Do what dear?"

Getting to my feet I slowly approached her. "How did you forgive dad after everything he's done. He's cheated and lied to you forever and yet you still stay with him. Why?"

She thought about it a moment. "The short answer? I love him."

That's what I knew she would say and it was absolutely no help. Rolling my eyes I told her "I'm going to need more than that. He betrayed you mother. SEVERAL times, including with a women who was this close to becoming your in law. You can't just tell me you love him so to hell with everything wrong he's done. I know you mother. You are in no way that shallow or stupid."

I thought perhaps I had gone too far with my bitter diatribe when she didn't say anything right away. Turning she set her purse down on the end table then faced me, looking uncharacteristically serious. "You know there was another man who wanted to marry me."

That I wasn't expecting. "What?"

"Back when your father and I became engaged there was another man who was in love with me. Jonathan Pryce. He came from old money and a good family. He loved me and offered me the world if I married him instead of your father. Many people, my mother included, thought I should. Jon was a stable man with a good heart who would offer me a lot of security but it didn't happen. I was in love with your father. I never once regretted my decision, not even now."

"Yeah" I sighed "because you're so in love with him."

"No, it's more than just that dear. You see back then your father was a lot like you. Charming and...fickle when it came to women. I knew who your father was before I married him but it didn't matter."

I stared back at her in disbelief. "You're telling me you knew he would cheat but you married him anyway?"

My mother nodded "you can't choose who you fall in love with Sebastian. I knew I could have a good life if I married Jonathan full of security and worry free nights. However I also knew I would always regret not marrying your father. We shared a bond, he was the only one who understood me. The only one who could really make me laugh. I liked who I was when I was with him. I loved him, faults and all. And you're right things have not always been perfect. There were times when I wanted to divorce him but I knew no matter who he spent time with, it was always me he would love."

I could understand what my mother was getting at. Love was enough to make anything work but I didn't quite believe it. "I'm not sure it's that easy for me. I just can't forgive...what she did, no matter what I feel for her. I just can't."

"I understand sweetheart. All I can tell you is what I know from experience. It's harder to forgive that it is to forget and let go. I know Kathryn hurt you and if you can't get past that it's all right. Perhaps Megan or someone else is better for you, but let me ask you something. Can you ever see yourself happy with someone other than Kathryn?"

Before I could give her an answer there was a knock at my door. A moment later it opened and Megan came in. "Hey don't you answer your fucking..." She stopped in her tracks upon spotting my mother. Right away the anger melted from her face and was replaced by a phony smile. "Oh hello Mrs. Valmont. I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."

Yep I was still seeing her, but barely. Since the Hamptons I had been somewhat stringing Megan along with a phone call here and there. I should probably just break things off but I guess Megan was my security blanket. As long as she was around it gave me a viable excuse not to go back to Kathryn.

My mother did not look pleased at this development but she hid it well under a phony smile. "Hello dear nice to see you again. How are your parents doing?"

"They're well" Megan replied sounding every bit like the well bread east coast child she was. "Father has been working too hard and mother's been busy planning the Wilkinson ball."

"Yes so I've been hearing. Well you give them my best. I have to get going." Turning back to me her face lost the phoniness and she gave me a genuine smile. "I'll talk to you later Sebastian."

I waved a silent good-bye and waited for her to exit. When my mother was indeed gone I gave Megan my most charming smile as she started to approach me. "Look I'm sorry I haven't gotten back -"

She cut me off with a hard slap to the face. "Save it Valmont. Your cutsy bullshit isn't going to work on me."

Rubbing my reddening cheek I regarded her with surprise. Apparently Megan was more like Kathryn than I realized. "Okay first off there's no need to act mental okay? Would you let me explain?" Taking a deep breath she crossed her arms to her chest and waited for my explanation. "I'm sorry I've been distant these past couple of weeks but I've been busy. Registering for classes, dealing with disgruntled professors, and my family-"

"And HER!"

I flinched "who?"

"Who?" She parroted back. "Kathryn. Ever since we came back here all you've been doing is obsessing over your ex. Well you know what I don't come in second to anyone, even her!"

Megan started to depart when I blocked her way. "Wait you can't just go. Look I agree I've been unfair to you but it stops now okay? I promise you I am done with Kathryn."

Megan might be many things but stupid wasn't one of them. She also wasn't a pushover. She stared me down proclaiming "you still love her?"

I shook my head "it's over with. Kathryn is out of my life for good."

Weather it was true or not didn't matter. I needed Megan in my life a little longer, hell I needed anything at this point that might help me keep my mind off of Kathryn. Watching her as she seemed to think in over I wondered if perhaps she knew I was lying. Perhaps, as I said she wasn't dense. The more I got to thinking about it the more I almost wanted to tell her the truth. Give her an out now and save her the pain that was likely to follow later on. Just as I could feel the words getting ready to come out of my mouth Megan turned to me with a hesitant smile. "Okay I'm giving you one last chance. But one more fuck up Valmont and I'll walk."

I forced a smile and kissed her. "Thank you, I'll try to watch my step."

She wiped her lipstick off of mouth and asked "so what do you want to do tonight?"

I didn't even have to think about it. Right away I suggested "well Blaine's having this party..."

* * * * * *

"Where have you been?"

Placing Megan's martini down on the metallic table in front of her I let out a disgruntled sigh and then took a large sip of my own drink. "This place is a fucking zoo" I complained. "It took me ten minutes just to get to the bar. Tuttle's way over staffed and he invited too many god damn screw ups."

She arched an eyebrow. "Invited? More like conned. Who throws a party and then charges fucking admission to get inside?"

"Blaine does" I replied with a grin.

Megan rolled her eyes obviously no impressed. I let her slip of attitude pass without mention because for the most part so far she hadn't been complaining at all. It was safe to say that the party wasn't exactly her scene. It was being held in the un-glam but ultra trendy meat packing district in an old made over warehouse. Inside it was crowded mostly with people who weren't of the country club variety. My date wasn't in her natural habitat but so far she was going with the flow quite nicely.

"Hey" I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. "What do you say we stay another hour and then take off and get something to eat?"

"Hmm...it doesn't have to be someplace around here does it?"

I laughed "I'll take you to that Italian place you like of eighty first."

Megan rested her head on my shoulder and smiled contentedly. "That sounds perfect."

"Good. Now what do you say to a dance?"

She nodded and I led her out onto the crowded dance floor. Some loud techno music was playing as bodies jammed up close together. I gripped Megan tightly by the waist crushing her nubile body to mine. Our bodies grind together closely and I began kissing her neck inciting soft mews of pleasure from her mouth.

I was feeling myself start to let go and relax finally. Just as I was beginning to think my life was slipping back into some realm of normalcy and possibly I could stop feeling like two week old shit I looked up and spotted my past on the second floor balcony. Kathryn was pushing her way through the crowd clad in a silky red halter dress. As she was trying to get by she turned her head and looked down into the crowd. Her eyes were soon on me.

While I still continued to dance with Megan my attention was now fully on Kathryn. I wasn't exactly surprised to see her, I knew Blaine would most likely invite her but I wasn't prepared to see her again. Apparently neither was she because she took one look at me with my date and then quickly disappeared back into the crowd. I stopped dancing feeling as though I had been punched in stomach. Megan noticed and asked "what's wrong."

"Nothing" I replied still staring up at the balcony. "Let's leave, this party is getting stale."

She looked at me curiously but replied "sure let me just...oh look there's Jennifer Grant. I should probably go say hello. You don't mind do you?"

Actually I did. I wanted to get the hell out of that place as fast as possible. However I didn't say anything. "Yeah that's fine. I'm just going to get another drink."

Megan gave me a quick kiss and then disappeared into the crowd to go see her sorority sister. Turning I pushed through the hoards of people to get to the bar. I managed to squeeze my way up front but I found that the bartender was far too enamored with the blond with the big breasts to bother with his customer. When I failed at getting his attention I turned around and noticed there was another bar on the second floor. I quickly climbed the stairs but as I reached the top I ran smack into someone.

"Kathryn."

"Leave me alone!" she exclaimed seemingly not knowing it was me. When she looked up her eyes widened in surprise. "Sebastian. I-I didn't realize it was you."

"Are you sure?" I deadpanned.

She didn't even crack a smile. "I was just leaving."

"Yeah so were we."

Kathryn flinched and shook her head. "Good for you" she muttered under her breath as she pushed by me.

I was going to just let her pass by but something was bothering me. Kathryn wasn't acting like herself. Grabbing her arm I asked "what's going on?"

"Nothing"

"Yes something's wrong" I insisted. Even though the floor underneath our feet was pulsating thanks in part to the blaring music I could still feel her shaking underneath my grasp. "You're shaking and you practically attacked me when I bumped into you. What's wrong Kathryn?"

She pulled away from me and replied icily "it's none of your concern anymore. Just go back to your date."

Placing my hand on her waist I leaned in and whispered "it will always be my concern. Now, come on, what is it?"

Kathryn's eyes met mine and I could see her guard slowly starting to come down. I could tell she was debating weather to confide in me or not. Finally she said "it's...it's going to sound stupid and you're probably not going to believe me."

"Try me"

"I think somebody's been following me"

I couldn't help but smirk "and after how many lines of coke did you come to this conclusion?"

Her eyes narrowed angrily at me. "I quit doing that shit. I'm not paranoid-you know what just forget it. I knew I shouldn't have said anything."

Once again she tried to pass me but I blocked her way. "Okay, okay I'm sorry. What makes you think you're being followed."

"I don't know it's just a feeling I get like someone's watching me. Like today in the park when I was running I could have sworn someone was following me. And that's not the only thing. I've been getting messages too."

"Messages?"

Kathryn went into her purse and pulled out a couple of folded notes. She handed them over to me and I read them. One was a collage of pictures of Kathryn taken from newspapers and school photos. Another said "You never loved him did you? Not like me. He was never good enough for you. Unlike HIM I will never leave you." The third note just said "Miss me?"

I could feel myself start to tense as I read them. "When did you get these?"

"The last couple of weeks. They came in the mail with no forwarding address. I'm starting to get a little freaked out Valmont."

Wanting to calm her I insisted "look it could be nothing. I mean think about it, how many people have you pissed off? I'm sure it's just someone playing a joke on you."

"With what purpose? Do you really think it's a coincident that someone threw that statue through my window and I just happen to start getting creepy messages in the mail a week later."

"Wait are you thinking it might be Jackson?"

Kathryn nodded "it makes sense doesn't it?"

"Yeah but according to his agent he's out of town"

"Are you sure?"

I looked down into the crowd of people and realized I wasn't sure of anything anymore. It did look highly suspicious. "Maybe he just wants us to think he's out of town" I mused.

"It's possible" she agreed.

Before I could say more Blaine suddenly came up from behind us. "Hey there you two are. Together again I see. Well that didn't take long. Is the wedding back on? Shall I go inform Sebastian's latest little dish that she's been replaced."

I glared at him and sneered "not now Tuttle."

"I'm going home, see you later Blaine" Kathryn called over her shoulder as she started to head down the stairs.

"Hey wait a minute!" Blaine and I both called out in unison. I pulled her back and said "I'll take you."

Kathryn regarded me with surprise but quickly shook it off. "I'm fine Sebastian. Besides I brought my car and I don't intend to leave it around this shit hole."

"Hey thanks" Tuttle huffed.

"Since when do you drive?"

She shrugged "I do a lot of things you don't know about."

Kathryn started to leave but I blocked her way. "I'm walking you to your car. No arguments."

"Wait a minute, you're both leaving?" Blaine sighed "oh come on the strippers haven't even come out yet."

I regarded him with curiosity "you have strippers?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes and pushed past us. "Leaving now!"

"I'll call you later" I told Blaine as I followed quickly after Kathryn who was practically running out of the club. When I caught up with her I grabbed her by the back of the dress and halted her. "Hold on a second. I just have to tell Megan I'm leaving."

This elicited an eye roll and a huff of annoyance from her. "I'm not waiting around for you to-"

I pressed my fingers to her lips silencing her "just stay put. It will only take a minute."

When she didn't take off right away I figured it was safe to leave her a minute. Spotting Megan standing by the table we were at earlier I headed over. "Hey" I greeted her "did you talk with your friend?"

"Yeah" she replied all smiles. "I'm ready lets go."

"Um, yeah I'm just going to be a minute. I promised Blaine I would do something for him."

Megan's face fell in disappointment. "Blaine? What could he possibly want you to do?" Looking over my shoulder she spotted Kathryn and eyes filled with anger. "You fucking liar! You aren't doing your friend a favor, you want to go off with her!"

"No" I insisted even though she was right. "I'm just going to-"

"Save it Sebastian, I don't care. I'm going to catch a cab and go home. I'll talk to you later. Maybe." Grabbing her purse she charged past me and went straight to Kathryn. "You think he still loves you? Well he doesn't. It's taken months but he's finally over you and we're happy together. Unlike you I don't intend to let anything come between us. So just do everyone a favor and get it out of your system then leave him alone!"

Megan didn't give Kathryn a chance to respond. She quickly strut past her leaving us alone. Kathryn looked over at me and quipped sarcastically "charming."

"That was strange." It was seeing as Megan was so determined that I not mess things up with her again. Instead of breaking things off though she gives me a pass and tares into Kathryn for coming between us. It was very strange indeed. However I shrugged it off and decided I'd call her later and figure out what was going on with her then. "Let's go" I told my ex guiding her to the door.

We left the party and stepped out into the cool New York night. Walking in silence I tried to think of something to say that was witty or snarky or anything that would alleviate the tension between us. "Look Kathryn I-"

"You can leave now" she said suddenly as we reached the dark parking lot. "You did your duty, I'm fine. Now why don't you just go after your little girlfriend and we can go back to avoiding each other."

I shook my head "I'm not avoiding you."

"Sure you are" she replied. "Which is just fine by me. It's much better than pretending everything is normal between us when it's anything but."

I couldn't argue with that. Kathryn was right I should just get in my jag and go find Megan. It was stupid chasing after something that I could never get back. "Let me just walk you to your car."

"Fine" she sighed turning back around. Kathryn started towards the parking lot and I followed behind trying to avoid how nice her backside looked in that dress. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks and let out a loud shriek. "HOLY SHIT!"

"What?" I asked coming up beside her.

Not paying me any attention Kathryn ran over towards a red Porsche that looked practically new. Except for the fact that the windows were smashed in. "Holy shit" I repeated though a lot calmer than her.

Kathryn just stood there gapping in shock as if someone killed her puppy right in front of her. Slowly she stumbled over to the front seat and picked something up. It was another note. "Do I have your attention now, bitch?" She read aloud.

"Let me see it"

Ignoring me she crinkled the note into her hand and threw it to the ground with a loud shriek. "I am so fucking sick of this bullshit!"

Bending down I scooped up the piece of paper and replied calmly "I know."

"No Valmont you don't know!" She hollered back. "These past two weeks have been like a fucking nightmare. I'm afraid to go out of my house, I'm afraid when the mail comes, I'm afraid I'm going to run into you. I am not suppose to be afraid of anything! I am nobody's god damn victim! Well I'm not doing it anymore. Just bring it on and let's get it over with" she yelled into the night air. "Jackson or whoever is fucking with me just do your worse because I have nothing left to lose!"

Kathryn stumbled a little bit but I grabbed her before she hit the ground. "Okay" I said soothingly. "Just calm down. We'll just call the police-"

"NO! I do not need to be rescued and certainly not by you" she huffed pulling away from me.

She strut over to her car and leaned against the hood. I sighed walked back to her. "I wasn't volunteering to rescue you. Lord knows you don't need it. Trust me Kathryn I'm very much aware you can take care of yourself and of all the many things you are a victim is not one of them. I just wanted to help. I want to be your friend again."

Kathryn's expression softened as I sat beside her. "Friend?"

"Yeah we were friends, once upon a time. Before we decide to let sex, love, and rampant jealousy get in the way. Instead of trying to ignore each other maybe we can try to be friends again."

"What a novel concept" she replied sarcastically. "Well it has to be better than what we have now, right?"

I nodded "why don't you let me take you home. I'll have the car toed to an auto shop and we'll call the cops tomorrow."

"What about Megan?"

I smiled slightly "yeah I think I'll deal with her tomorrow too."

Kathryn snickered "coward."

"Victim"

She smirked back at me. "Where's your car?"

* * * * * *

A half an hour later I pulled my jag up to the front of Kathryn's townhouse or rather what would be her new townhouse. She had finally moved out of her mothers and into a place of her own but she was currently having it remodeled. "So why are you staying here if it's not even finished yet?"

"Mothers been driving me insane" she explained as she got out of the car. "Ever since we got back from the country she hasn't let up about..."

When she trailed off I finished for her. "Me?"

"Amongst other things." Kathryn climbed the stairs that led up to the front door and then turned back to me. "I'm okay Sebastian, honestly. You can go now."

I looked at the darkened house suspiciously. "Let me just come in for a minute. Make sure everything is okay."

She rolled her eyes but I could tell she was trying not to smile. I followed her inside and was greeted by white cloth draperies everywhere and the stench of paint. The place looked far from finished. "Jesus, Tiff really must be driving you nuts if you're staying here. How can you stand all the paint fumes?"

"It's not that bad" she sighed. Kathryn headed into the living room and turned on a few lights. "The workers say they're almost done."

I nodded "well just promise me that if it gets too bad you'll go stay at the Four Seasons or something."

She chuckled "I'm fine. It's perfectly safe now go."

I could feel myself start to go but I hesitated. "Maybe I should just check upstairs."

"Sebastian" Kathryn sighed. "You don't need to..." She trailed off and then suddenly a look past over her face like she was having a sudden revelation. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"You're getting off on this aren't you?"

"What?" I sputtered. "Getting off on what?"

"On playing the rescuer! You are, I can't believe I didn't realize it before! Walking me to my car, taking me home-"

"You're out of your mind! I was just trying to be a good friend!" It was ridiculous to think I was enjoying myself. I wasn't, if anything this whole thing was just a pain in my ass. Nothing more. Nothing at all.

Kathryn watched me with a look of pure amusement. Crossing her arms to her chest she smugly suggested "fine then why don't you leave then and go find that girlfriend of yours."

Turning away from me she walked over to the piano where a pitcher of water was sitting and poured herself a drink. This was my out but for some reason I couldn't make myself turn and leave. I found myself hesitating once again. Shaking my head in defiance I decided I wasn't going to let her chase me out. I took off my jacket and made myself comfortable on her sofa. "I'll leave when I want to."

"Oh okay" Kathryn replied obviously enjoying this. She walked over and took a seat on the arm chair across from me. "So why don't you tell me about her?"

"Who?"

"Who?" She repeated annoyed. "Megan retard, what's she like?"

So much for being comfortable. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair not sure how to respond. "Well what have you heard?"

Kathryn shrugged "I hear she's very nice. Smart, driven and all of that."

I nodded "well she is. She's...um...we have a lot of fun together."

"I'm sure you do. So what's she like in bed?"

I sat forward in my chair not sure I heard her right. "Excuse me?"

"Oh come on we're friends remember? We always use to talk about our sex lives to each other. In your case you liked to brag about it so lets hear it."

My mind went blank and I suddenly felt more uncomfortable than I ever had before. She was of course right, we always had discussed our bedroom antics together but I certainly couldn't do this now. I tried anyway. "Megan is very...we..." I trailed off when my own epiphany began to dawn on me. Quickly I got out of my chair "fuck it, I can't do this."

Kathryn stood up as well. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted to be friends again?"

"We are not friends" I exclaimed. "You and I Kathryn...I can love you and I can hate you but I can't just like you. I never have and I never will. We're more to each other than that."

"I know" she replied quietly.

I sighed "you knew all along didn't you? That's what this whole display about discussing my sex life was? You knew we could never be friends you just wanted me to realize it."

"Of course" she repeated calmly. "I feel many things towards you Sebastian but friendship isn't one of them. I don't think it ever was."

I nodded in understanding. "Even when we were friends I think I always loved you a little." Kathryn held my gaze and then looked away. "I should probably go"

"Okay"

I finally turned to leave but as I reached the doorway she called out to me. "Sebastian?" When I turned back to her she said "back at your aunt's house...what I said, I was wrong."

"About what?"

Kathryn took a few steps towards me. "I shouldn't have given you that ultimatum. It was stupid of me to think you could or should forgive me. It's just...after we had sex and you said it was a mistake, I guess I was angry and hurt. Anyway I know you can't love me like you use to but-"

"I do love you" I interrupted her. Kathryn's eyes grew big as I stood before her. "That's never changed Kathryn. I want to be with you again, I want things to be how they were, better in fact, but I want to feel I can trust you again. I need some time..."

"Okay" she started to turn away.

Coming up quickly behind her I whipped her back around to face me. "Until then" I crushed my lips to hers. Cupping her face I kissed her hard and deep.

Kathryn pulled away and looked up at me in surprise "what about Megan?"

"She was a poor substitute"

"Well no shit" she huffed "but are you still going to see her?"

I smirked back at her "I'll brake up with her tomorrow."

"Good" she pulled me back into a kiss.

Clutching her tiny waist we stumbled backwards falling against the side of the couch. As my hands went up her dress and rubbed her ass the way I knew she enjoyed, Kathryn began to pull the straps of her dress down but then stopped. "You know the bedroom is just upstairs."

"Yes but the couch is right here and it's been so long..."

* * * * * *

As it happened we did make it to the bedroom after all but not of course before christening the couch a few times. We had fallen asleep in her massive canopy bed exhausted but content. It had to be one of the best night sleeps I'd had in quite some time. When I awoke that morning I found Kathryn nestled beside me staring up at the ceiling. "Morning" I greeted her wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"Is it?"

I blinked at her "baby it's far to early for you to be bitchy already."

She looked stone cold serious. Turning on her side she asked "are you going to leave again?"

"Huh?"

"Are you?"

I shook my head at her and kissed her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

Kathryn softened slightly. "Then we didn't make a mistake?"

"Well I think maybe that position we tried last night might have been a bad way to go, my back is killing me."

She grabbed me gruffly by the hair and kissed my mouth. "You are a bastard" she sighed collapsing back on her pillows.

It was strange how much I missed this. Just being comfortable around her again was so easy and if felt like nothing had ever changed between us. Caressing her stomach I asked "so what were you thinking about earlier?"

"Jackson" she sighed.

Suddenly I stiffened at the name. "Okay forget I asked."

"No" Kathryn explained "I was thinking about what happened last night. I'm sure he was behind it."

"Maybe"

"What do you mean maybe? It's him Valmont" When I didn't agree right away she exclaimed "you cannot possibly still think it's a coincidence? Some random person didn't ruined my car AND leave a note for me?"

"I'm not saying anything. I just don't think we should jump to conclusions"

"Or follow the facts apparently."

Pulling away from me she got out of the bed and slipped a black silk robe on. "You're not pissed are you?"

Kathryn shook her head. "No I'm just going to get some coffee. While I'm doing that why don't you sit here and come up with a reasonable explanation for what's happening."

Rolling my eyes I laid back in bed determined to just forget the whole thing. Fuck Jackson, he didn't even matter anymore. I had every intention of drifting back to sleep when I heard Kathryn yell for me. "Sebastian! Sebastian come here!"

I immediately jolted out of bed and ran into the hallway. I found Kathryn standing at the bottom of the staircase. A moment later I discovered what it was she wanted me to see. All along the staircase and scattered along the first floor where hundreds of black and white photographs. Bending down I picked up one that was of Kathryn walking in the park. The second one was of us having sex. Another one of us having sex with the word WHORE written on it in bright red marker. "Jesus" I remarked.

"Someone was here last night Valmont" Kathryn remarked as she climbed the stairs a fist of photos in her hand. "Someone was here and they took pictures of us in bed together. He was here, in my house." She pushed a picture into my chest and demanded "do you still think it's all in my head?"

- to be continued (Please Review)