A/N: Yeah, just so you know, I wasn't planning on waiting so long for the next update, but life got a little in the way. Anyway, I realize that the story has yet to develop, but thank you to all who reviewed. Love to all!

Chapter Two

Gordo sat at his desk, trying to think about what he could write. After thinking about the check, he came to realize that his conscience would not easily allow him to sit there and take the money. Yes, he needed the money, but knowing it came from Lizzie changed everything.

What does one write to someone to explain this kind of thing, though? He stared down at his stationary, trying to gather words that made sense. Before he knew it, he was thinking of things to say that might make things okay. While he was mad at what Lizzie did, when he was sober, he sort of sympathized with her. Maybe he wasn't ready to completely come to terms with what was done in the past, but he felt that he could find forgiveness in his heart.

If he let himself think about it too much, though, he became depressed and drank, though, and this wasn't solving anything. Now that he'd woken up sober this morning, he felt the need to right some wrongs.

Thirty minutes later, he got up from his desk and took a shower. He'd written something, but now he decided if he was ready to send it.

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After crying herself to sleep the night before, as she had pretty much since she'd gotten home, Lizzie decided that it was time to talk to someone. She knew she couldn't call Miranda because Miranda seemed to appear nervous every time she saw her and it made Lizzie uncomfortable. So she called Ethan.

The next thing she knew, two days later, Ethan was sitting with Lizzie in her living room analyzing Lizzie's situation. "It's not that I regret what I did," Lizzie said, for maybe the fifth time since he got there, "In fact, I blocked that from my mind until I saw him. Then, when I saw him, I was so overwhelmed that I didn't stop to think about the abortion."

"I know, Lizzie," Ethan assured her, "I can understand why you chose to keep it all a secret."

"Can you, though?" Lizzie asked, "Because, I don't really think anyone understands. Even Miranda, my best friend, doesn't know what to say."

"She's just a little upset and shocked, that's all. She'll come around eventually."

"Why aren't you upset that I didn't tell you?"

"Well," Ethan said, reaching out for her hand to comfort her, "I think part of me is a little upset, but my being upset nowhere compares to how you feel and frankly, I don't think being upset will solve anything."

"How did you get to be so smart?" Lizzie asked.

Ethan grinned, "I took a special class in college. It's called 'Getting Smart and Getting Real," and I challenge you to show me another person that needed that class as much as I."

Lizzie shook her head, "Well, I liked you in high school, but you just seem so mature."

Ethan didn't say anything for a minute, "Lizzie," he finally said, leaning forward, "when something traumatic happens to someone, sometimes it forces people to come to terms with who they are and start to realize who they want to be. After my dad died, things kind of fell into place. I realized that I wanted to make my father proud now that he could watch me from Heaven."

"Well, you did a good job."

Ethan grinned, "Thanks. I worked really hard…In fact, I'm still working hard. Now that I'm going through graduate school, life is becoming more and more of a reality. Pretty soon, I'll actually have to look for a real job."

Lizzie sighed, "I have so much admiration for you, Ethan. I always wondered what it would have been like if you and I dated seriously during high school."

Ethan chuckled, "You are such a liar, Lizzie."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know…Besides, you and I would have made each other miserable. I had no motivation and you had so much drive, I always wondered how I got lucky enough to be your friend."

Lizzie smiled, "Well, maybe in another lifetime."

"Yeah, perhaps," Ethan said.

Lizzie sighed and got up to pour herself some more tea, "Thank you for coming down here. You really are the best friend I could ever ask for."

Ethan nodded as he waited for Lizzie to come back to the living room and sit down, "Well, when we saw each other in Hawaii, I was worried that it would be another five years until we saw each other again."

Lizzie grinned, "Well, that's probably true…damn, I was so sure that Gordo and I were going to get back together."

"Did you ever talk to him after I left?"

"Yeah," Lizzie said, then she conceded, "Well, not really. We were going to talk, though. I knew hope was somewhere around the corner."

Ethan shook her head, "Well, I'm sure this won't make you feel any better, Lizzie, but if I were in the same situation as Gordo is now, it would take a while, but I would eventually come around," he said, and he paused, "If I thought it would help, I would fly to Chicago in a minute and talk to him…"

"But that wouldn't help," Lizzie said, grumbling inwardly, "Damn, I love that man."

"Yeah, I know," Ethan said, "but you did the right thing when you told him. It doesn't matter that it was five years too late. It was better to tell him before you started all over again than having it haunt you later."

Lizzie shrugged, "Yeah, I guess."

Ethan reached over and tugged a piece of hanging hair behind Lizzie's ear, "I hate to see you like this, Lizzie. I wish there was something I could do to make all of this go away. I wish that I could tell you that Gordo will come around eventually and beg for your hand in marriage, but I can't. This has to be Gordo's to deal with. I'd give anything to drag him here, but he needs to realize what is happening on his own terms. If you really love him, and I know you do, you'll have to wait. It may take years and you might find that it's not worth the wait, but both of you have to figure some things out."

A tear streamed down Lizzie's face. Somehow she managed to smile, "I hate it when you are right."

Ethan nodded, "I know, I know. And as for Miranda, give her time. I'm willing to talk to her about it, but what you really need is a nice, long talk with her yourself. Tell her everything you told me and all of your feelings, and she'll come around."

Lizzie nodded, "I know I need to talk to her. I need to talk to Caroline, too. I think I owe her an explanation."

Ethan shrugged, "You can tell her if you want, but don't tell her because you feel like you have to. She deserves nothing more than a, 'thank you and I'm sorry it didn't work out.'"

Lizzie considered this for a minute, "I guess you are right. I don't know if I could tell her the truth, anyway. It'll only embarrass me and bring me to more tears."

"Don't do that to yourself, Lizzie. Give this time. Life will go on and if Gordo doesn't see that he's the one that's missing out on this, then that is his loss and he's not worth the trouble."

After a few more minutes of talking, Ethan announced that it was time that he left. As they walked to the door, Ethan said, "By the way, Lizzie, I also came to see you because I need to tell you something. I'm engaged and I'm getting married next month. I really want you to come to the wedding and I really want you to meet my fiancée," Ethan said, and he reached in his coat pocket and pulled out an invitation, "Please try to come."

Lizzie took the invitation and nodded, trying to take in what Ethan had told her, "I'll try," she finally said, and forced a smile, "Congratulations…I can't wait to meet her."

The old friends hugged and Ethan left. She couldn't believe he was getting married. It seemed so surreal.

When she returned to the living room all by herself, she thought about what Ethan said. He was right. She would have to give it time.

The next day, Lizzie received a check in the mail for 25,000. The note that came with it read, "After thinking about it, I didn't think it was right that you had to pay me because of what happened. I promise that your secret is still safe with me, but here's half of what I got. Good luck and I'm sorry about what happened. –Rachel Miller, a.k.a. Elizabeth."

Lizzie found herself at a loss for words.

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Gordo sat in the chair across the man in his apartment, wary and bewildered. What could Mr. McGuire possibly have to say to him? Why did Mr. McGuire fly nearly 2,000 miles to Chicago just to talk to Gordo?

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