Kendall squealed with excitement when she saw Bianca and Miranda waiting for them at the terminal. Zach followed, carrying Kendall's bags while she raced ahead and had a three-way hug with her sister and niece. As Zach approached, Miranda reached out her arms for Zach to take her, which he did quickly… kissing her on the forehead and bouncing her until Kendall was ready for another hug. Bianca led the way to a limo as Zach carried Miranda and the driver brought the luggage, with Kendall chattering to the baby as they walked.

As they relaxed in the limo, Zach commented, "A little extravagant, eh Bianca?"

Kendall nudged him and said laughingly, "Don't you listen to him… he made sure we limoed to the airport back home as well… you just have to get used to that weird sense of humor…"

Zach laughed out loud and was joined by Kendall and Bianca. The limo delivered them to the door of Bianca's new apartment, which had been completed since their last visit. When the car stopped, Zach said, "I'll just ride on to the hotel and join you for dinner?"

Kendall looked questioningly at Bianca, who quickly said, "No, Zach… please come in and see the apartment. You can check in later." Zach shrugged his shoulders and joined them without further comment.

After they had received the grand tour, they sat together in the living room while Miranda went down for a nap and Maggie joined them. Bianca said, "I hope you don't mind… but I've filled her in on the news. I promise that neither of us will pressure you in any way… but we just don't have those kinds of secrets from each other."

Kendall looked at Bianca with an unspoken question, but Bianca simply shook her head and Kendall didn't pursue it. Zach had spent enough time with Bianca to realize that the two women were exploring the boundaries of their relationship, and merely nodded assent. He leaned back against the sofa, and waited for the assembled women to tell him just exactly what they expected of him during this visit.

Bianca announced, "Okay… we've got some ground rules to be observed and they're pretty simple. Number one, we do not interfere with Miranda's schedule, although ample time and opportunity will be provided for spoiling.

"Number two—Zach—no work is to be done on this trip, it is a vacation for Auntie Kendall and Uncle Zach. If I have to, I will confiscate telephones, computers, or any other work-related paraphernalia."

"Hey!" Zach interrupted. "You brought me out on this trip with barely a moment's notice… there's a few things I'll need to take care of… I can't just drop everything, you know."

"Actually, Zach, I don't know that… and neither does Kendall," Bianca answered quietly. She looked at him with that stern, cold look that he had come to dread… and he realized that he was going to have very little say in what happened over the next few days.

He held out his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Okay… but I will be taking care of some pressing business when Kendall is napping or otherwise indisposed."

"Agreed," Bianca and Kendall said simultaneously. Kendall giggled and said, "Jinx, Binks!" to which everyone laughed.

Zach rested his head against the sofa half closing his eyes to better observe Kendall. Where was the woman who had been so shocked and mortified by news of her pregnancy? Had that been just a day earlier? Here she was laughing and enjoying herself… totally in the moment as if she hadn't a care in the world. If he knew her for a lifetime, he still wouldn't be able to figure her out, he decided.

Bianca continued, "Three, Kendall will be sleeping in my mom's bedroom and Zach will be using the room we planned for Kendall."

Zach's eyes popped wide open at that, and he sat up straight… but decided not to bother protesting. Instead he answered, "Thank you… I don't think I would have been very comfortable knowing I was sleeping in Erica's bed."

"You're very welcome," Maggie interjected, "it was my idea."

"Are there any other rules that I need to be aware of, or can I settle into my room? It's been a long and tiring flight… and only one of us got a nap out of it," Zach said as he rose from the sofa.

Bianca smiled sweetly, "No… no other rules, except to point out that you are the only man in an apartment full of women…"

Zach smiled broadly, "And I wouldn't have it any other way."


After Zach had been showed to his room, Kendall and Bianca sat together in the kitchen talking.

"I don't know, Binks… this doesn't make any sense… yesterday I was terrified of being pregnant, but now…" Kendall mused.

"Now what? What happened on the flight over to make you so happy?" Bianca asked.

"Nothing… not one damn thing! We talked about you and Miranda and the weather… he made some tea and let me sleep… it was no different than any number of conversations we've had over the last couple of months," she answered in confusion. "Am I losing my mind? Or am I just relieved to be out of Pine Valley and away from everyone who would want to make me feel guilty for letting this happen?"

"Oh, I'm certain that escaping from Pine Valley is part of it… it's hard to be on mom's radar when you're an ocean away. But I think its Zach, too… he's not like most men… and I think he really does care about you," Bianca answered. "I don't know what he wants from you, but he only wants the best for you… if that makes any sense."

"It does make sense… and if we both understand Zach…" Kendall said with a laugh.

"Then it may be that we're the ones in trouble," Bianca finished. "We were all so wrong about him and Ethan… we let Ethan completely deceive us… and even when Zach was lying to us, he was honest about the things that matter."

"I hope he knows that we like and trust him now… I mean, I totally understand what motivated him… but… do you think he trusts me? Or is he expecting me to treat him like Maria did?" Kendall said softly.

"If anyone knows what it's like to be misunderstood, it's Zach. I think he'll give you the benefit of the doubt," Bianca answered. "Now… what do you want to do while you're here? I think Zach would be an excellent tour guide… he knows the language and I believe he lived here some of the time when he was growing up. Or do you have something else in mind?"

"I'm sure that would be an excellent idea… but vacations and touristy stuff are not why we're here. Binks… can I tell you a secret?" Kendall whispered conspiratorially.

At Bianca's nod, Kendall continued, "I want this baby… heaven help me, I want to have a baby with Zach Slater… he treats me like… like no one else has ever done… he takes care of me, he protects me… but he never makes me feel like I'm stupid or weak. He respects my mind and my need for independence…"

"I know… I've seen that in the way he treats me, too. He loves Miranda so much, and I know he loves me. But even when I tried to shut him out of our lives, he never pushed back… he just stood back and loved us anyway," Bianca explained. "I think he'll make a wonderful father… and even if you don't love each other, I think respect might just be enough."

"I don't know why, but I keep feeling like friendship with Zach is going to be so much more fulfilling than love with any other man," Kendall replied. "Maybe this trip wasn't necessary…"

"Take your time, Kendall… you don't have to decide anything tonight. Zach is a patient man and he'll wait until you're ready… let him be patient for you."

"Thanks, Binks… I love you," Kendall said as she rose and hugged her sister. "I'm going to bed now, see you later."

Zach turned around and quietly slipped back into his bedroom. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but had followed the sound of voices to the kitchen. When he realized they were talking about him, he decided to find out what Kendall was thinking… and had been surprised by their conversation. Whoever said eavesdroppers never hear anything good certainly didn't know what they were talking about, he thought to himself.


Zach had been up most of the night… getting used to the time change and taking care of some pressing business. His thoughts kept wandering to Kendall and Bianca's conversation, though. He wondered to himself if he should just continue doing what he had been, or if it was time to actively court her. A week ago he would have denied even wanting to be in a relationship with Kendall, and now he was trying to figure out how to make her a part of his life. When he finally drifted off to sleep, he decided to let Kendall set the pace and follow her lead… and just hoped that they ended up in the same place.

They enjoyed a relaxed breakfast with Miranda and found that Bianca had left several guidebooks for their use. Zach asked Kendall if she was up to being a tourist, and she said she'd try. They left the apartment on foot, with Zach leading the way to major attractions, but found themselves wandering the Jardin de Plantes near the Seine instead. As always, Zach was kind and considerate; making sure that Kendall was not overtired or hungry. At one point she became so overwhelmed by his care that she snapped at him… but he merely gave her some space by making an excuse to check on something. When he returned, she apologized although he smiled and said it was unnecessary. Returning to the apartment in the late afternoon, they dined with Bianca, Maggie and Miranda before retiring early to their respective bedrooms—Kendall to sleep and Zach to spend several hours on business.

As the days blended into each other, Zach and Kendall spent a great deal of time with each other. They talked about everything except the reason they were in Paris… each waiting for the other one to bring up the subject. The stalemate lasted for more than a week before Kendall finally broached the subject in exasperation.

"Aren't you ever going to ask me?" she snapped.

"No… I told you that it was your decision… when you're ready, you'll tell me," Zach answered quietly.

"Oh! You!" Kendall retorted.

Zach merely chuckled and offered his hand to assist her from the bench where she'd been resting. That only made her angrier and she refused his help, rising by herself and stomping ahead of him. When she realized that only Zach knew where they were headed, she paused and waited impatiently for him to catch up.

He smiled tolerantly and waited for her to calm down before speaking, "I'd be very interested to hear any decisions you've reached."

Kendall gave him a startled look, "I'm never going to figure you out, am I?"

"I hope not… it would make things very uninteresting," he answered softly.

They continued to walk in silence until they happened upon a sidewalk café and Kendall pulled him in. After being seated, and Zach ordering for them both, Kendall placed her hand over his, "Do you think you could stand to be part of my life? I mean, forever? Because I really think I want this baby."

Zach had to work very hard to keep the joy from showing on his face, but couldn't keep it from shining out of his eyes, "I think we can find a way to make it work… after all, six months ago you thought I was the scum of the earth… look at us now."

"Six months ago you were framing me for Greenlee's poisoning," Kendall quipped.

"I didn't frame you… I merely accessed your private medical records…" Zach smiled.

She laughed and kicked him beneath the table as their coffee was served. They sat quietly holding hands, without any conversation. Kendall felt so comfortable with him… he was the only man in her life that she could be quiet with, and not have to explain why.