A/N - Okay, this one is shorter, I hope you all don't mind, but hopefully it will be a nice break from some of the longer ones.

Chapter 8

Bridget was thinking about boys.

More specifically, about the effect she had on them. She could keep them going for ages, even unintentionally. Even after he had moved on from mooning over Bee, a boy could never say no to her.

This was the case with Billy, who had apparently moved on to longing for Carmen, as he privately confided to Bee. While Bee felt a little bit of loss, she was relieved overall. But because of this mysterious charm about Bee, he'd never say no if she chose him, Carmen or no Carmen. Bee'd had a boy once describe her as a sickness, this euphoria that got into your veins and lingered forever, you never recovered and you never wanted to.

"Did you leave any pizza, Bee?" Perry wanted to know, coming into the kitchen.

Here was the reason that Bridget was deeply interested in what would happen when Carmabelle came home – Perry'd had a thing for her for ages, and with Win out of the picture, sparks might fly with two guys vying for Carmen's affections.

"There's some left in the box," Bee answered, contemplatively chewing her current mouthful of pizza. She didn't know who she'd root for when the time came... of course it would turn into a competition. Bee wasn't sure she knew how to remain neutral.

"Nicky's on the computer," Perry said, sitting down across from Bridget with his own slice of pizza. "He'll be fine for awhile." Nicky and Perry had found each other kindred spirits - Nicky loved playing on the computer, and Perry was all about technology.

"He won't end up creating any crazy viruses that sweep the world?" Bee asked, helping herself to one of the mushrooms on Perry's slice of pizza.

"Not yet," Perry said, grinning. "Give him a few years."

The phone rang and Bee and Perry played the waiting game, each pretending to be occupied in their food, silently daring the other one to get up to go get it. Perry won, as usual - energetic Bee leapt from her seat to go get the phone.

When she returned, he looked at her inquisitively.

"It was Tibby," she said in response.

"Oh?"

"She's down in Carolina with Carmen and Lena," Bee continued.

"What!" This got his attention. "What's she doing down there?"

It took Bee awhile to explain, but Perry listened patiently. She'd given him a fair overview of the past couple summers, but it was beyond Perry why Tibby would get up to fly a guy they all had an obligatory dislike of to South Carolina to see the girl who never wanted to see him again.

"Let me guess," he said, making a steeple out of his fingers. "This is a girl thing?"

Bee laughed. "I guess so."

Shuffling footsteps entered the kitchen, and Bee turned to see her grandmother entering, holding Katherine's hand.

"She woke up," Greta explained with a smile. "She wanted some graham crackers." Katherine nodded with superiority, overseeing Bridget's search for the cookies and Perry pouring a glass of milk.

When Katherine had been comfortably installed on a throne at the head of the table, Greta settled in to talk with the other two.

"Who called?" she asked conversationally, leading Bee to retell the story.

None of them realized Katherine was listening until she piped up, "Did Tibby go away like Mommy?"

"Tibby had to help someone, she'll be home soon," Bee promised.

Katherine seemed to find this acceptable. "Tibby's a good helper," she said proudly.

The screen door slammed shut, then someone quietly cursed.

"I'm sorry, Bee," the voice called. "I forgot Katherine was napping."

"It's okay," she said, turning her face up to be kissed as Eric entered the room. She noticed Perry's face darken a bit... he wasn't overly fond of Eric, but he'd never much liked the people she dated. It was just Perry's brotherly way of looking out for her, and Bee liked that kind of security. Besides, even though Bee liked it when everyone got along, arguments did bring excitement and action... that much had to be said for them.

Lena liked it in the woods. She wasn't ordinarily one for roughing it - same as Carma - but she liked the quiet and the space to think, and the total separation from humanity that she was enjoying.

This morning she'd gone out on the dock with Paul to fish. They weren't really there to fish, just to enjoy the feeling of the cool water on their toes and watch the lines bobbing in the water. They weren't there to catch anything, but fishing was an excuse to be quiet and peaceful for hours. There had been a time when fishing would have reminded her - however indirectly - of Greece and Kostos, but now she was finally beginning to relax and let go and live here in the moment with Paul, no shadow of Kostos. And she was okay with that.

She heard the brush crash behind her, but she didn't turn around. She was basking in the sunlight, and whatever Al or Krista or Lydia wanted, they'd be here in a few seconds to tell her. She was too comfortable to be curious, her closed eyelids were glowing red in the bright sunlight.

"Lena." This was a man's voice, and not Carmen's father's. Lena shot upright and turned around.

"What are you doing here?" she said in measured tones.

"I have come to say goodbye, beautiful Lena," Kostos said, crouching down to her level. He turned to Paul. "Could I have a moment?"

Paul stood slowly, and Lena cast him a pleading look. He didn't look happy to leave, but what could he do if he stayed, Lena realized. He went far enough to be out of earshot, but stayed close enough that he could observe. Tactful but careful, thoroughly Paul. Lena watched as Carmen hurried out of the woods towards Paul and knelt near him, speaking animatedly.

"Lena," Kostos said, reminding her of his presence. She refused to meet his eyes. "Lena, I must say goodbye to you," he said earnestly, taking one of her hands in one of his. She resisted the urge to pull away as he gently massaged her hand with his thumb.

"I'm listening," she said, as coldly as she could muster - which wasn't very at all.

"My grandmother isn't well," he said quietly. "I'm returning to Greece, I have no more time to wait."

"What made you think I was coming to you?" she burst, furious tears running down her cheeks. "Why should I have come to you? I waited, I was done waiting, now that you're ready I'm supposed to be?"

"Lena," he said softly. "I know I have caused you so much pain. But I have never stopped loving you."

"You have a funny way of showing it!" she shouted. She let out a sob.

He pulled her to him, and she was too exhausted to resist. "Lena," he said into her hair. Everything he said, her name kept coming first, an agonizing reminder of when she used to love to hear those particular lips speak her name. "Lena, I told you once that I waited because I didn't want to scare you away."

"You already have," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not coming this time."

She felt him sag, but his hand didn't falter as he stroked her hair. "I still love you, Lena. I'm selfish and I know I can't give you what you deserve. But I still can't give up hoping, it's keeping me going."

She pushed herself back. He grabbed her wrists, cupping her hands in his. She looked at him pleadingly, still crying, but of pain now instead of fury. "I had to stop hoping. I had to see you and think of you and love you and know I could never have you, and then I realized you couldn't hold me anymore and make things all right again."

He gathered her back into his arms. "I wish I could," he whispered. "I wish I could hold you the way a person can who hasn't betrayed the trust of the person he most loves, I wish I could hold you the way you deserve to be held. I wish I could make everything all right for you again."

Lena sobbed. There were no arms to hold her to make things seem right in the world, and she was falling and falling and there were no hands to catch her. Kostos had caught her before, now he was gone. She had to fall on her own, tumbling through space, over and over, screaming all the while. No one left to catch her.

His hand still steadily stroked her hair.

"You left me twice. How long can I wait?" She whispered into his shirt.

"You don't have to wait anymore," he said gently. "That's all I can do for you now.AllI can giveyou now. I see that." His tone became bitter. "I never realized how true is the cliche that you must let go of what you love."

She clutched his free hand. "Then who's left?" she choked through her tears. "Who's left if you're leaving me again?"

"I have no hold over you, Lena," Kostos said. She heard tears in his voice too, and felt one drop onto her head. "I haven't had the right to ask for any for a long while. I wish I had realized that before I caused you so much pain."

"I don't understand," was all she could sob.

"You don't have to wait anymore," he repeated softly, kissing her forehead gently. "I love you, and I will always love you, so I'm asking you to take what you deserve, be free. You don't have to wait for me."

"I love you, Lena," Kostos said. "I wish I'd been a wise enough man to beas much to you as you have been to me." And he gently let go, taking away even the semblance of those strong hands she needed. And he was gone.

The warm day was colder, now that he'd left her for good. She couldn't halt her tears, but she managed to stand. She walked, erect, towards the grass at the end of the dock, fully unable to see through the haze of tears. She felt her foot touch down on air, wobbled dangerously, heard footsteps, then was pulled backwards onto the safe, warm wood. Arms encircled her and she leaned into Paul.

Arms that could catch her. The only ones left that could.