Kendall opened her eyes and sat up straight when she heard a key in the lock of their front door. She didn't want Zach to see her resting with her eyes closed, he needed her to be strong for him right now – and he wouldn't let her do that if he saw any sign of pain or fatigue. She pasted a bright smile on her face as he walked into the door, "Hi!"

"Hey," he answered. He immediately sat next to her and pulled her into his arms. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Zach. Everybody gets headaches… you worry too much," she answered, noting the concern on his face and in his voice.

"Turn around," he said. She looked at him quizzically and he motioned with his hands for her to turn around. He then helped her remove her jacket so that she was wearing only a light camisole. Before she could question him, he lifted her hair off of her shoulders and pulled it to one side, placing his fingers on her shoulders and massaging gently.

"Mmm-mmm… that feels so good," Kendall purred as she hung her head forward and allowed him to continue his ministrations. They sat quietly for several moments as he worked the tension from her shoulders, back and arms. When he had finished, she relaxed against his chest, feeling as if her bones and muscle had turned to liquid and also feeling a distinct relief to the pounding in her head.

"Better?" he whispered against her ear.

"Mm-hmm," she said without opening her eyes. After another moment she sat up to look into his eyes as she shared her news. "While you were… at the cemetery… I went to see Maria."

At her words, the color drained from Zach's face, "What is it? What's wrong? Why didn't you tell me you were seeing a doctor?"

Kendall's face broke into a broad smile at the joy she felt from Zach's reaction. She had gone to see his ex-lover and all he was concerned about was the fact that she had seen a doctor… it had not even occurred to him that there could be a cause for her visit to Maria other than her own health. Just as she had been surprised at the revelation of her own love for Zach… in that moment she knew that he loved her, too. Without a word, and feeling an absolute urgency to do so, she pulled him to her in a deeply passionate kiss. After a moment, he pulled away and looked at her in complete confusion.

"I'm fine, Zach. I went to talk to Maria," she answered.

He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Oh." After another moment, though, he looked at her with concern at why she had needed to visit Maria for a talk.

She laughed lightly, "Don't worry… it wasn't anything bad. She noticed something about Ethan that we missed… and… we needed to discuss it."

"Something we missed?" he queried.

"Yeah… Zach… when was the last time you saw Hannah Nichols?" she asked him abruptly.

He sat back against the sofa cushions, placing his hands behind his head and looked at her thoughtfully, "I should probably ask why you want to know… but I'll be patient. The last time I saw Hannah. I was leaving for school and she was crying. I wonder if she knew even then that she was pregnant."

"Maybe not, Zach… do you remember the date?" Kendall urged softly.

"The date? No… it was a very long time ago. Why does it matter now… after all these years?" he said looking even more confused.

"You said you'd be patient… the month, you do remember the month?" she said cryptically.

"It had to be August… probably late August because term always started at the beginning of September. Is that good enough?" he answered.

"Yeah… that's good enough. Did you ever know Ethan's birthday?" she continued, hoping that he would go along with her random questions for a few minutes more.

Zach thought for a moment and realized that he had not even known this basic fact about his son. He had known that they shared DNA, he had attended school at Oxford, and where he was raised in London… but he had never even asked about the boy's birth date. What a sad testament to their relationship, and further proof at his failings as a parent. "No… I never asked and he never offered," Zach answered morosely.

"Just as I thought… you're too smart a man not to have noticed," Kendall answered him.

"Not to have noticed what? That I'm such a terrible father that I didn't even bother to find out my child's birth date? I think my deficiencies as a father have already been well established," he said in annoyance. "Kendall… my patience is at an end."

"August 10," Kendall barely whispered.

Zach looked at her and said "August 10?" She nodded her head and sat quietly waiting for the realization to reach his brain just as it had hers when Maria had pointed it out. She was relieved when he processed the information quickly.

"If that is correct, then…" he began and paused in complete surprise.

"… you are not his father," Kendall answered. "I don't know who made up this lie… I don't know if Ethan had any idea… but Maria realized it when she saw the birth date on his passport and came to me."

Zach found himself unable to even process the many emotions that were washing over him in that moment. Shock, relief, pain, release, grief, liberation… Ethan was not his son, Ethan had never been his son. He had not been a terrible father… he had not just buried his son. "But… the DNA… we know…" Zach finally uttered.

"I've been thinking about this… we know that Ethan was a Cambias. He's still related to you. Unless you have some other relatives that you haven't mentioned before, then he was either your nephew… or your brother," Kendall said quietly.

He reached out and pulled Kendall close against him, smoothing her hair before laying his cheek against it, "What do I… how do we… I don't know..."

Kendall pulled Zach tightly against her, smoothing her hands over the broad expanse of his back, "I don't know either… but we'll worry about that later. Just hold me now."

"With pleasure," he answered as he reclined on the sofa with her against him. For the first time since he had heard of Ethan's death he felt a small measure of peace.

They lay quietly together for a few minutes before Zach spoke again, "We need to tell Derek… and Livia. It can't end like this… someone somewhere has to have an answer. We need to go through his things that are stored at The Seasons; perhaps we'll find a name or a number that will help."

"I agree… that's why I called Edie and asked her to messenger Ethan's things here. I put them over in my condo, and we can go through them whenever you're ready," Kendall said before changing the subject. "Bianca? How badly did it go with her?"

Zach tightened his arms around Kendall, appreciating once again the tender care she had shown him since Ethan's death. He sighed before answering, "She said she was wrong…"

Kendall sat up and looked at Zach wonderingly, "She said that? Oh, Zach… that's fantastic!"

He smiled, "Yes, it is… and she's going to bring Miranda over after dinner… to see Auntie Kendall and Uncle Zach… and to talk."

"Then she'll help us figure all this out," she mumbled sleepily as she relaxed against him once again. She was quiet for a moment before commenting, "You're wearing too many clothes…"

He laughed softly as she loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. Once they were completely unfastened, he leaned forward so that she could push them off of his shoulders and arms while he helped her remove her camisole. Cupping her face in his hands, he laid his lips against hers and allowed the fire between them to smolder and burn as her hands traveled with loving intention over his skin. All thoughts were swept aside in their quest for the joy they always felt in their physical union… giving and taking with complete abandon, the air they breathed intoxicating them as they experienced the pleasure and satisfaction each had only experienced in the other's arms… drifting into a much needed slumber at their release.