Title: Downfall
Type: 7th Heaven Fan Fiction
Rating: PG-13 (Sex, Alcohol, possible drug content)
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 Ten: Closer

Lucy knocked cautiously at the door. She had no luck at receiving a response. She opened the door slightly and her eyes came upon Nichol. He was sitting on his bed, cradling his pillow in his arms. Tears were streaming from his eyes, down his cheeks, and falling carelessly to wherever they decided to land.

"Nichol?" Lucy called, softly. He lifted his head slightly and half-smiled at Lucy. She entered the bedroom slowly, then closed the door behind her.

"Did they have anything else to say?" Nichol wanted to know. His voice was low and self-conscious. The happy, witty, smart Nichol that Lucy usually saw was replaced with a small, whimpering, fearful man that Lucy felt she'd known all of her life.

"Not really," She replied, wiping another fallen tear from her cheek. She sniffled, then added, "Kevin has a tattoo. He lied about the meaning of it. It's Amelia's initials. They were drunk and had it done. That's basically it." She sat beside him and grasped his hand into hers for support.

"I can't believe the things they said," Nichol stated, "Brutal." Lucy nodded.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about the baby. I should have," Lucy apologized. Nichol shook his head.

"Amelia was your friend. She confided in you, or so you thought. It's not your fault. We're the victims in this," Nichol replied, "Whether Amelia wants to let us be or not." Lucy nodded.

"Why did we even come out here?" Lucy asked, curiously. Nichol glanced at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Lucy began, "Me and Kevin, Kevin and I, we came out here to Albany with you and Amelia. If this was going on, why did we come here?"

"I-I don't know," Nichol answered, honestly.

"Who's idea was it to invite us along, with you guys, to Albany?" Lucy demanded, her voice as shaky as ever. Tears had stopped flowing from her eyes and were replaced with a bitter anger. The tears were beginning to soak into her skin, and when she felt a chill, her face became cold and clammy. Nichol's eyes met hers.

"Amelia's," Nichol answered.

"And why'd you go along with it?" Lucy pushed. Nichol shrugged.

"You guys had just been through such a horrible tragedy. I really liked you and Kevin. You're good people. I don't know. I didn't think it was such a bad offer," Nichol explained.

"I don't know why anyone would ever cheat on you," Lucy stated. Nichol smiled without emotion, then sighed.

"Apparently Kevin can fulfill my wife's sexual desires better than I can," Nichol replied, "I thought that Amelia was hiding something, I really did. I just didn't think it was anything this horrible."

"Yeah. Same here," Lucy agreed. There was a drawn out moment of silence between them. Lucy stared into Nichol's red, wet eyes. She felt herself being drawn to him. Their faces slowly came toward each other until they could feel each other's breath. Nichol boldly pressed his soft lips to Lucy's. Both closed their eyes immediately. Lucy slowly moved her tongue into Nichol's mouth; he followed her lead. After a few minutes of awkward, but intense kissing, Nichol found himself moving on top of Lucy. As if asking permission, he pulled from her and looked into her eyes. Lucy gulped, but said nothing.

"Is this, is this ok?" Nichol stuttered, "We could stop." Lucy shook her head.

"I don't think I want to stop," She whispered, then lifted her head to meet his lips again. The next few moments came as fast as lightening, in flashes. Lucy pulling back the covers, unbuttoning Nichol's shirt. The air, stiff and unforgiving. More tears shed. Nichol making love to her. Bouts of heavy breathing and muffled, incoherent words spoken.

When they'd finished, Nichol moved to the side of Lucy. Both laid under a sheet, staring at each other with mixed emotions. Both were crying, clinging to each other. Nichol's right leg rested over Lucy's hip and his hand caressed her wet face with tenderness. Both were completely silent except for slight whimpers as Lucy cried.

"Are we just as bad as they are?" Lucy asked, her voice low. Nichol thought.

"I don't know," He replied, "Was this a mistake?" Another tear rolled down his cheek and fell onto the pillow that his head rested on.

"I don't know," Lucy stated, "But I think I might love you. If this were something, it wouldn't be purely physical."

"I really like you, Lucy," Nichol told her, "I might love you; I don't know. It's hard to say. We shouldn't be saying things we're not sure of when we're in pain, but I can agree with you on one front. It wouldn't be purely physical." He kissed her sweetly, then looked into her eyes.

"I feel so connected to you," Lucy admitted, "Emotionally."

"Me too."

"But this is wrong," Lucy told him, "I was becoming assistant pastor at Dad's church. I seriously don't think God is smiling down on me right now."

"Do you regret this?" Nichol wanted to know.

"I'm not sure. I'm so confused right now," Lucy explained, "But I think I need to be alone for right now." She stood from the bed and gathered her clothes. She dressed, then left the room.