Every time I put a Chapter in I bite my nails until I get a review! It's the readers that make this story awesome, not me! Thanks for the great reviews and support! I am really juggling this story around to make it go the way I want so... I hope you continue to enjoy it! Serendipity This one is a long one... but I am trying to make it all gel... hope ya'll like it!

CHAPTER TEN

Erica sat looking around the cottage. She could see different things lying around that reflected her daughter's different tastes. Instead of clashing however, everything seemed to compliment each other.

She tried not to look as nervous as she felt, but her hands were shaking and she kept fighting the urge to run. But, she wasn't going to run anymore... her daughters needed her and more than that she needed them.

"The cottage is really cute... very homey..." Brushing a stray hair out of her face Erica attempted to ease the tension in the room.

"Thanks... we're still putting things together, but so far everything is working out well," Bianca knew that avoiding the subject wouldn't make it go away, so she decided to jump right in.

"Mom... what I said in the hospital... it was wrong... I shouldn't have blamed you for everything..."

"No... Bianca what you said was so right... "Erica took her daughter's hand and smiled through her tears, "I needed someone to make me see how bitter I was... how hurt... both of you... you were entitled to how you felt and what you said... I just wish I would have handled it better..."

"Mother, no matter what you or anyone else thinks, you are not perfect... Bianca, is right though, it wasn't right for us to blame you..."

Kendall sat on the coffee table in front of her mother and sister and took their hands.

"From now on girls... things will be better. I am going to do better... I kept so much anger inside of me for so long... but now it's gone... After my father's funeral... I was so angry... at everything... and I just couldn't face my life here... But, I want to try... if you both will help me... I want to try and make things right... for all of us."

Tears began to fall down Erica's cheeks, she did know how she was going to get through tomorrow...let alone the future.

"Mom, Kendall and I, we love you. You... not someone that you seem to think you should be. Just let us love you... and let Jackson in, don't be scared... together we can do anything!"

"Oh Bianca.... Kendall... my girls... when did you two get so wise... so strong..."

Erica pulled her daughters into a hug. This felt right... her holding her daughters against her. Maybe there was hope for her after all.

Sitting there in that cottage, two women listened to their mother and forgave her and another little piece of their hearts began to heal.

It was later that night when Kendall was sitting on the porch again just thinking about everything and how they all came to be where they were today.

"Penny for your thoughts..." David walked up carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers... some he had obviously picked off the side of the road.

"My thoughts... are worth far more than a penny... who are those for?" Kendall felt happier than she had all day. I mean talking to her mom and Bianca made her happy, but there was always that fear that the peace wouldn't last.

"These, my lady, are for you... how was your day?" David sat down across from her and handed her the flowers.

"Erica is back... and things are better. Funny how easy it was to forgive her and to let go of all the anger I was feeling... does this mean I am growing up?"

David laughed and pulled her in for a kiss, "Ms. Hart, I think you are growing up to be quite a beautiful and tempting woman."

Kendall laughed and let him kiss her. It felt so right for them to be out here like this, relaxed and together.

"Bianca?" David kissed her cheek, her forehead, her neck... He wanted to kiss every inch of her...

"Uh... she took mom home... she's going to stay for awhile and talk to mom about Jackson... why?"

"Well, I have this enoromous urge to make love to you right here on the back porch... right now... do you have a problem with that?" David pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Nope... not a one... and your in luck... I have a blanket and everything!" Laughing Kendall wrapped her legs around him and pulled him towards her. An hour later lying in each other's arms underneath the blanket they sat completely sated.

"I guess we should get dressed now, huh? We might shock Bianca..." David laughed and gave Kendall a squeeze.

"Actually I was thinking we should streak around the house like maniacs..." Kendall leaned back and gave him a huge smack on the lips laughing.

"Kendall?!?"

David and Kendall broke a part and Kendall stared in horror as her eyes met Ryan's. Talk about your worst nightmare.

"I was hoping we could talk... but I see you are busy..." Ryan turned to leave and Kendall jumped up, "Ryan wait... go around front... I'll be a second ok..."

David felt his heart drop, what had started out as a perfect even was dying fast... "I guess I'll go home... I wouldn't want to interrupt anything..."

"David... no, it's not like that... I was kind of hoping you would stay the night..." Kendall was all confused inside, but she knew she didn't want David to go.

"I don't think that's a good idea," David pulled on his clothes in a frustrated hurry, "We are trying not to complicate things... and this looks a little complicated if you ask me... you go and talk to Lavery... we'll talk tomorrow... I am going to talk to Krystal about the crash after work... so it'll probably be tomorrow night before I can talk... ok."

"Sure... whatever you want..." Kendall felt like she was going to throw up, she didn't want him to go and she definitley, didn't want to face Ryan right now.

After David left, Kendall pulled her clothes on and walked around to the front.

Ryan was sitting on the steps with his head resting on his arms.

"Ryan... why are you here?" Kendall walked up and stood in front of him.

"I don't know... I just can't make myself stay away... so... you and Hayward, huh? It didn't take you long to get over your so-called love for me..." Ryan looked up at the woman he loved more than he had imagined.

"Ryan... get over yourself! Or did you forget that you married Greenlee right after you told me you still loved me... because I seem to remember that quite clearly... and what David and I do... it's none of your business..."

"Don't you think I know that! That every morning I get up and realize that I can't hold you anymore... that I messed up... If we could just go back..." "But, we can't Ryan. I'll always love you, but I can't be that person anymore... that girl who waits for you to want her and then throw her away again... It's not who I am... and maybe that is why we didn't work... because I never was..."

"Please... don't say that. I want to try... to make things right... Please..."

Ryan stood up and pulled her into his arms and kissed her... and maybe once it had curled her toes... but now all it did was leave her cold.

Pushing away Kendall stepped away from him, "I can't do this Ryan... I am not the girl you wanted... You and I... just go... go home, please!" Kendall was so confused... she felt tears flooding down her cheeks as she ran past him into the house. Running into her room she threw herself down on her bed and let the tears fall. She cried for the dreams that she had shared with Ryan... for the girl that she had been... and as she fell asleep she thought about David... about how he wanted her, and not someone she could never be...

David walked into the bar and ordered a beer. Maybe he was wrong to be so harsh with Kendall, but then he knew the way she worked... Right now she was probably all curled up with Lavery... it was a never ending cycle... and he was damned if he would let himself get hurt being in the middle...

"Well, hello there handsome. I was hoping I might run into you here."

David turned and came face to face with Krystal. Maybe once he had been attracted to her, but after sharing so much time with Kendall seeing her didn't do a thing for him... but maybe that was what he needed.

"Pull up a stool Krystal... you want a beer?" David waited for the blonde to sit down.

"I sure do... where have you been lately... I haven't heard from you and I was dying to ask you to accompany me to the big nuptuials next Saturday." Looking up at him threw her eyelashes she tried to look seductive.

David tried not to laugh at the attempt, "Sure... why not? I wouldn't miss it for the world..." He took a long swallow of his beer.

"Great! I knew I could count on you... so are you wanting to hang out here, or would you like to go somewhere a little more cozy..."

David remembered that he was supposed to talk to Krystal about the crash.

"Sure... I was hoping I could talk to you about something anyway..." Grabbing her purse Krystal ushered David toward the door, "Your place or mine?"

David couldn't stand to think of taking her to his place, so he quickly agreed to head over to the "Chandler compound".

Sitting next to her and watching her try not so subtle hints of seduction on him, David decided it would be better to just get to the point.

"I was wondering if you could tell me your opinion of the helicopter accident... and that pilot that... Kramer guy... I mean you seem to have pretty good judgment when it comes to men... I mean, you're here with me and not Tad...right?"

There that should feed her ego and lure her into a false sense of security...

"Now why do you want to talk about that... I mean, can't we just let sleeping dogs lie... I mean it's so hard on everyone to keep going over this stuff..."

"Well, I promised Kendall and Bianca I would look into it... you know, investigate, so to speak..."

"Why? Why cause that poor girl more pain?" Krystal got up and started pacing.

David thought it was weird that she seemed to get so aggitated.

"Well, because Bianca's daughter is dead... and she deserves to know why... I mean what do you know about Kramer?"

"Me... nothing... that snake... I wouldn't get near him with a four foot pole!" Walking over to the bar she refilled her glass and took a swallow.

"The way you said that makes me think that you know this guy a little better than I thought..."

"No... I just don't care for him... he almost go my baby girl and my grandbaby killed... why would I like him... or care one way or the other...He just better stay away from my little girl, that is all I know..."

There was defintiley something here, David thought.

"Anyway, did you come over here to talk about Paul Kramer, or did you have something more friendly in mind...." Krystal sat back down and leaned forward to give David a kiss.

David considered giving in for a moment... but then he remembered the passion he had just shared with Kendall and he wanted nothing more than to run out of there...

"Well, sorry to interrupt the moment kids, but I was hoping I could talk to you Krystal..." David had never been so glad to see Tad in his whole life...

"I was heading home anyway, we'll talk later, ok..." David jumped up and headed for the door.

He was about to walk out when he remembered his jacket and turned back to get it...

"What's he want with Kramer?" David could hear Tad talking to Krystal and decided maybe now would be a good time to ease drop.

"He wanted to know about the crash... my opinion... that's all. It's really none of your business and I resent your interference..."

"I don't think he bought that you don't know Kramer... he's smarter than you think..."

David smiled at that.

"Look... I will do what I have to do to protect Babe... I'll make sure he doesn't get suspicious... you just let me handle the good doctor..."

"Oh please! If you think he wants what you are offering you are mistaken... I can't believe I ever did..."

"Tad... come on! Don't be jealous... after what you tried to pull, how could we ever have had something..."

David had heard enough to know that something was going on... something big... and he would just have to look into it further... but right now there was somewhere else he wanted to be.

As David walked up to the porch, he saw a figure sitting in the same chair he and Kendall had shared earlier... but it was only Bianca.

"Hey David! What's up?" Bianca sat up and smiled at him.

"Not much... I, umm.... Is Kendall here?" This was kind of awkward.

"Yeah... but she's asleep." Curiously she stared David.

"Oh... I guess... I'll give her a call tomorrow..." Turning he started to walk away.

"You know... for two smart people, you two are pretty stupid. Go on in... you know where her room is... lock the door behind you after you pick your jaw up..."

Winking at David she told him goodnight and went in side.

How the hell she knew... he had no idea... but it was obvious she approved...

Grinning, he went inside, remembering to lock the door behind him and headed for Kendall's room.

Kendall didn't know how she knew he was there, but she did...

Opening her eyes she smiled, "You came back..."

Walking over to stand beside her he reached down and gave her a kiss, "I can't seem to stay away..."