I wanted to say thank you to all my constant reviewers! It really has made writing more fun, although I like to do it just for myself as well. I just want to say thank you for the support and sticking with this story even though it seems like it was dead at times. No, this isn't the conclusion, just wanted to thank you guys!

Lissa

Chapter 29

One week later, Hannah was discharged from the hospital.

Max had returned to work the Thursday before not knowing how to handle Liz for so long. He continued to visit Hannah regularly while she was in the hospital but he wasn't sure how that was going to continue on now that she was home.

Hannah insisted on trying to walk up the stairs by herself but halfway up she was breathing too hard and it was hurting her stitches. She had bruises on her arm from where the IVs had been. Her voice was still very hoarse but she gained new strength everyday.

The doctor had told Liz that within the next week she'd be ready for school, which was perfect since her vacation was going to end soon anyway.

Max had been loathe to leave them but he knew he would have to. After a tearful goodbye from Hannah Max had glanced at Liz then left them alone in their little world.

Serena opened the door to the apartment with her nose stuck in a book. It was a really good one and she didn't want to put it down.

"Still an avid reader, I see." The voice said.

She jumped and almost dropped the book. "Kyle!"

"Hi, Serena, didn't think I'd get quite that reaction but I think it'll work." He stepped into the apartment without invitation.

"Hannah and Liz are over at Alex and Maria's." She set the book down after marking the page she was in. She slid her glasses off her face and walked into the kitchen.

"I know. That's why I came to see you, we need to talk" He followed her.

"Alright, so talk." She sat at the table.

"We'll start at the beginning. I loved...love you."

"That's quite a shocker there, Kyle." She rubbed her hands down her thighs.

"I'm just being truthful. You know I thought the world rose and set in you, I don't understand how you thought I was cheating on you." He shook his head.

"I was young, and I was stupid, and I was in love."

"Love should have given you a certain amount of trust." Kyle said, sitting opposite of her.

"Well, yes, but it also tends to make a girl extremely jealous." She said delicately. "All I knew was that girl was infatuated with you, and that you were her tutor. You spent God knows how many hours with her, and she came back to class with all sorts of ungodly tales of what you two had done. Sure, my heart told me they were lies, but my brain told me otherwise." She explained.

"You should have asked me."

"I tried, but the second I asked you were insulted that I would ever think such a thing like that. We both started yelling, and that was that. We didn't even try to make it work after that, and it fell apart two months later."

"I know." He nodded. "I'm sorry. You came to me in your time of need and I shook it off and turned it on you. I should have explained, we should have tried to work it out or something, instead of this hell we've been living in for five years. All the time we've wasted."

Serena smiled. "There's a little girl across the hall who adores you because of it."

"No, I think she adores Max even more now." He rubbed a hand over his face.

"He's her father, Kyle." Serena said gently.

"He wasn't there for five years!" He stormed.

"Well he's here now, and think about it, love. If Max had stayed, Liz wouldn't have come to LA. She wouldn't have met Maria and Alex, so in chance not met you. Liz would never have the urge to move out on her own and so I wouldn't be her roommate. We would never have been thrown together so much and bam, we'd still be pining away for each other." Serena explained proud of herself. "So in a way we came full circle."

"Did you really pine for me?" Kyle asked.

"Yes, I pined." Serena said honestly. "I don't want to feel that way again."

"We'll give it another go?"

"If you're willing."

"Serena, I'm more than willing." He pulled her into a hug and finally a kissed. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she sighed into his mouth.

Liz knew she was going to have to talk to Kyle before anything further was going to happen between her and Max, which she had already decided probably, would.

She was forced to do it sooner than later when she had walked in on Kyle and Serena the next night.

Luckily she had left Hannah across the way with Alex and Maria who had promised to return her when she appeared to get too tired.

They were locked in an embrace and surprisingly Liz felt nothing. Should she feel rage at Kyle or Serena, jealousy, any sort of emotion? Oh, she did feel one emotion, that of happiness but once again she wondered if that was what she was suppose to feel.

The jumped apart and Serena trembled, tears streaming down her face. Kyle pulled her closer to his body and stared at Liz. "We need to talk."

Liz nodded and sat, her head still swimming, trying to sort out if she was feeling any anger.

"I'm not mad at you." Liz spoke before she realized she was going to.

Serena looked up startled. "You have every right to be, Liz." Her accent was thick through her tears.

"I don't have a right to be angry. I've kissed Max twice since he's been back." She looked up at Kyle, there was no hint of surprise "I've never really spoken to you, Kyle, about anything that's been going on between us, but there is, we're not sure what, but there is."

Kyle's eyes flashed with hurt for a moment, then thought that he hadn't really been truthful with her either.

"I was going to ask you to marry me, the night Max returned." Kyle started. Serena trembled against him, and tears poured from her eyes. "I love you, Liz, it'd be impossible for a guy not to, but now that I realize, it's more of a friendship love, what I feel for Serena, is different."

"I understand." Liz nodded. "I don't know if I would have said yes, to be truthful."

"We just had ourselves in good tangle didn't we?" Serena whispered.

"So, how long have you guys been apart, before I came into the picture?" Liz tucked her hair behind her ear.

"One year." Kyle answered.

"How long had you been together prior to that?"

"Three years." Serena answered with a smile.

"What was the reason for the breakup?"

It sounded like an inquisition, even to her own ears, but she needed to know. Her and Kyle were over, but she had a right to know what had been going on for the past few years.

"Miscommunication."

"Failure to trust."

They both answered at the same time.

"I think it was a little bit of both." Serena smiled and gripped Kyle's hand, "I think we worked it out."

Kyle nodded at her. "We're going to give it another go."

"I think you guys should." Liz nodded. "I'm truly happy for you, question though," she held up a finger. "Do I get to be godmother to your firstborn?"

Serena blushed and pushed her head into Kyle's shoulder but nodded a yes.

Kyle kissed Serena's hair lovingly. "We'll think about it. We're going to go out for a while, if you'll excuse us."

She moved out of the way. But before she got too far, Kyle grabbed her arm. "Be careful with Max, Liz. For Hannah's sake, and mostly yours." He told her seriously.

"I will. Be good to Serena." She leaned up on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek. She didn't really need to tell him that, he would be the most tentative boyfriend/partner/fiancé/husband any girl could hope for. Except herself of course.

She wanted Max.

This is just a super short part that I wanted to post before I dash off to Europe. I hope you like it!

TBC