Title: Downfall
Type: 7th Heaven Fan Fiction
Rating: PG-13 (Sex, Mature Themes)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of 7th Heaven. I do own all my original characters and this story, though. Don't take.
Summary: Tragedy strikes Lucy and Kevin, who then must decide what to do with their lives.

Downfall

Chapter Six: Storytelling

"It was our wedding day," Amelia began, as she helped Kevin load another box into the very large U-Haul. The two were at Amelia and Nichol's apartment. A week had already passed, so most of the stuff was already packed.

"When did you guys get married?" Kevin asked, as he picked up a heavy box and carefully placed it in the back of the U-Haul.

"2001, but we'd been dating since 99'. I actually dated Nichol's brother before I dated him, but he kind of creeped me out. He was too old for me anyway," Amelia replied, "I fell for Nichol's charm, I think. I mean, he's sweet, but he's not the nicest person ever. He can be the most persuasive, though."

"Yeah," Kevin agreed, loading the last box, "Where is Nichol anyway?"

"Chiropractor," Amelia answered, a tinge of anger and sarcasm in her voice. Kevin noticed.

"Ah, for the whole police thing?" He asked. Amelia nodded.

"He doesn't need a chiropractor. It's been months since he was on the force. I don't give one shit if he had some problems with his back. It's been months ago and I don't think he needs to be racking up the bills like that when it's unnecessary. I mean, we already spend enough money on cigarettes each month," Amelia spat, then softened her voice, "I'm sorry, Kevin. I shouldn't be rude to you because of Nichol." Kevin shrugged, then sat on the porch.

"It's fine," He assured her, "Sometimes you need to get things in the open."

"I know you must get annoyed with me complaining about him all the time. Our talks used to be about more than my spousal problems," Amelia explained, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, really. I'm sure I've talked about my problems before; I don't mind discussing yours," Kevin replied. Amelia smiled.

"I'm so glad that we talk," She commented, "I love Nichol, but he's not the easiest to talk to. You're different than that. I guess that's why I like you so much. Anyway, what was I talking about?" Kevin smiled.

"Your wedding," He reminded her.

"Oh yeah. It was our wedding day and everything was supposed to be perfect. I had the most beautiful dress ever and Nichol looked so good in his tux. The flower girl, who was Nichol's little niece, was sick and we didn't know what was wrong with her. It came on really sudden, you know? She didn't have any symptoms, but she said she just didn't feel good and didn't want to be in the wedding. We didn't make her and had to completely renovate our plans for the wedding," Amelia told him.

"What was wrong with her?" Kevin wanted to know. Amelia shrugged.

"We never found out. The point of the story isn't what was wrong with Nichol's niece. It was the fact that because of one thing, we had to change our plans that we'd worked at so meticulously. It kind of relates to your situation. You and Lucy had a plan of how you were going to raise Gabriella to be the best person that she could be, despite your problems. You had these plans and were so sure that life had finally given you a break, but then this happens and completely throws everything off. Life is going to do that every day of our lives. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm really glad that you and Lucy are coming with me and Nichol. I feel really blessed to be close with you guys," Amelia explained. Kevin smiled.

"You're a great friend to have," Kevin replied.

-

Meanwhile, at Lucy and Kevin's apartment, Lucy packed her things into a box. She was trying to get as much as she could into a box without overstuffing it. When she'd realized she'd gotten as much as she was going to in her box, she closed it, taped it, and pulled out her marker. On the box, she wrote 'kitchen'. She heard a knock on the door, and went to answer it. She opened the door and saw her father standing in the doorway, a smile on his face.

"Dad! I was expecting Nichol," Lucy stated, a little shocked. Eric smiled and let himself in. Lucy closed the door and followed her father as he paced.

"Honey, we need to talk," Eric began. Lucy grinned.

"Uh oh," She laughed. Eric wasn't smiling.

"Are you sure you want to move to Albany? I mean, you sprang it on us so suddenly," Eric told her, recalling how she'd just told him that they were leaving a few days ago.

"It was sudden," Lucy replied, "I mean, Nichol and Amelia just asked us to move with them last week. They gave us a week to think about it and we decided that it could be good for us."

"I'm not sure that Nichol and Amelia are the best people to be moving in with," Eric commented, which confused Lucy. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"What are you talking about? Nichol and Amelia are really good people," Lucy argued.

"They're nice, but they're not a good influence on you. Nichol smokes like it's going out of style, Amelia yells at him all the time. I don't think their family life is the best," Eric explained. Lucy shook her head and uncrossed her arms.

"Nichol smokes cigarettes; it's not like he's a pot dealer or anything. Amelia gets ticked off a little to easily, but she's just trying to make their family life better. They at least have goals for their life. Not everything is perfect for everyone, Dad. It sure isn't for us," Lucy reminded him. Before Eric could say anything, there was a pounding at the door. Lucy began walking to the door.

"Let me in and we can make dirty, filthy, violent love!" The person yelled, obviously putting on a fake Texan accent, "Hurry up now or you'll be too late." The person continued to pound on the door. Lucy opened it to reveal Nichol in the doorway, smiling wickedly.

"Hey Nichol," Lucy greeted him, smiling.

"Sorry I'm late. I was at the chiropractor," Nichol explained.

"Nichol," Eric greeted, a little uneasy. Nichol's eyes went wide when he saw the reverend in the apartment.

"Reverend Camden, I'm really sorry," Nichol apologized, "I was just kidding about what I said earlier. I'm not really sleeping with your daughter and if I was, it wouldn't be dirty or, or violent. I'm not uh - like that." Nichol noticed Eric's face turn to interest. "I'm going to shut up now."

"That'd be a good idea, Nichol," Eric agreed. Nichol nodded. An uncomfortable silence passed.

"Dad was just leaving," Lucy stated, "Right Dad?" Eric stared at Lucy, then understood.

"Oh, right. Right," He agreed, then headed for the door. Before he left, he turned back around to Nichol to say, "Nice to see you again, Nichol." Nichol smiled.

"You too, sir," He replied. Eric smiled and left the apartment. As soon as Eric left, Nichol fell back on Lucy's bed and sighed with relief. Lucy laughed and sat beside him.

"Your dad makes me so nervous. I can't imagine how Kevin feels," Nichol told her. Lucy smiled.

"I think it's the minister thing," Lucy stated, "He freaks a lot of people out." Nichol shook his head as he sat up beside Lucy.

"I think it's the fact that he hates me," Nichol told her. Lucy's face indicated that he was crazy.

"My dad doesn't hate you!" Lucy exclaimed, "What gave you that idea?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe because of the way we met."

"How you met? Didn't you meet through Kevin? Like you met me?" Lucy asked. Nichol shook his head.

"No," He replied, "It was much more unusual."

"How so?"

"It was in about the year 2000. Amelia and I were seeking counseling before we got married. You know, to make sure we were ready. We'd heard a lot about your dad and called him. We met with him and I totally flubbed everything."

"How'd you 'totally flub everything?'" Lucy wanted to know. Nichol grinned.

"You know me. I can't keep my mouth shut. First off, I saw a picture of your sister and said she was hot."

"Ruthie?"

"No! I'm not a pervert, you pervert," Nichol replied, laughing, then got back to his story, "Mary. He said that it was his daughter and I said that he must have a beautiful wife. He took that the wrong way because when I said it, it came out that I was calling him hideous because if Mary turned out beautiful, her mother must be equally beautiful. Amelia was getting pissed, so I told her I was sorry and lit a cigarette right there in your dad's office. He asked me to put it out, and I wondered why, and he said because it was a church and was God's house and he hated the smell of cigarettes anyway. I remember this so remarkably well. I said, 'What are you, afraid you'll get some sort of second-hand smoke cancer? I've been with Amelia long enough and she hasn't gotten any diseases.' By then, Amelia was about as embarrassed as she could possibly be, and you know Amelia, she can get embarrassed. I made some sort of smart remark to your dad about how I wasn't talking about STD's or anything when I said I hadn't given Amelia any diseases, and he asked what I said, and I was like, 'What? You think I have no right to mention sex in the house of God? Well me and Amelia just did it last night at her parent's house. Twice.' He tells me that he wasn't being rude and just couldn't understand me because of my accent. I apologized, but we didn't go back." Lucy's smile was wide and her eyes were lit.

"That's hilarious!" She exclaimed, cracking up, "Why didn't you ever tell me this before?" Nichol shrugged.

"I don't know, it never came up," Nichol replied, smiling.

"When are Kevin and Amelia bringing over the U-Haul? I have almost everything packed," Lucy informed him. Nichol fell back on the bed again and stared at the ceiling.

"I'm not sure," He answered, "Amelia never tells me anything. She's been so angry with me lately."

"Why?" Lucy asked. Nichol shrugged.

"Things with her have been so weird lately. I mean, for about a year now, but more after Gabriella's death. It's as if she's not telling me something," He explained, "Ah well. Forget it. It's not a big deal." Lucy nodded, but her mind raced to figure out what was wrong with Amelia.