Disclaimer: I don't own ABC or AMC. If I did, do you think the show would be in the state that it is? Plus, it would be Zendall 24/7!
Title: The Dance That We Do
Author: Jayta
Rating: PG13
Show: All My Children
A/N: The beginning. Here it is. Hopefully I'll be able to find the end. Stupid creative muse! Shoutout to all at the Zach and Kendall Message board. You guys stoked my love of Zendall to this point...damn you! But big huge shoutout to Gidget and her Zendall video clips! I dedicate this fic to you!

Chapter One: Booked Up

"So are you ready to go?" Zach shifted his weight from foot to foot, as he met Kendall along the courtyard path. He glanced down at the small bag she had with her.

"U-uh, no," Kendall stammered. Greenlee had dropped her off before heading over to Fusion. The obsessive girl had wanted to walk her to her door, but Kendall had managed to convince her otherwise. "I-I just got out of the hospital."

"I-I'm not trying to rush you," he apologized. "I didn't know today was when you were getting discharged, or otherwise I would have sent a limo to pick you up."

"No, that's fine," she lowered her gaze to the tiled floor beneath her feet. "Greenlee picked me up and dropped me off."

"She's well enough to drive?" Zach was disturbed at the thought that a woman who had also been in the hospital with his wife, had driven her home.

"Oh, yeah," Kendall dismissed with a wave. "She actually got discharged before me."

She stared at him curiously. What was the big deal? Kendall was amused at what she had thought was a look of distress on his face when Zach had heard she was driven home by Greenlee.

"Well, uh, the jet is fueled and ready to go." Zach motioned towards the running car, out front. "Traded in your ticket for a personal jet," he quipped.

"But I haven't even had a chance to pack," Kendall said incredulously. "Can't you wait a few minutes?"

"Why?"

"Why what?" she asked, puzzled.

"We're going to be there and back within a day," he explained. "So why do you need a change of clothes?"

"I'm not riding on that plane for who knows how long, without a change of clothing," she stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, you're one to talk." She pointed down to the medium-sized carry-on in his hand. Raising a knowing brow, Kendall folded her arms across her chest and waited for him to talk his way out of this one.

"I've got business," Zach said casually. "So I'll be staying longer."

"You're not coming back with me?" she blurted out before she knew what she was saying. Kendall cursed herself for not being able to control her tongue. It sounded like she was keeping tabs on him.

Zach felt the corners of his lips curl at the unexpected show of emotion. She was so vibrant and alive. She was outspoken and allowed her emotions to dictate her words and actions. It was always unpredictable and refreshing.

"No," he said, clearing his throat, pulling his eyes away from her face. He always found his gaze coming to rest upon the intriguing woman. The large pools of green were like windows into her soul, entrancing those who would dare to peek. "I'm sorry to make you take this flight home alone. But it is somewhat fitting, wouldn't you say?"

Kendall bit the inside of her lip. The thought of everything ending that afternoon made her ill; and suddenly she was overwhelmed with a sense of nausea. Dropping her bag, she ducked into her house and made a mad dash to the bathroom.

Zach was alarmed, not quite understanding what had just happened. On her heels, he followed Kendall into her place and watched as she disappeared into one of the back rooms. He had no idea what was going on. And then he heard gagging noises. iT was then he was able to relax - somewhat. Amidst all the commotion, he had almost forgotten about the child growing inside of her.

Morning sickness.

As he stood pacing back and forth in the living room, Zach couldn't help but feel useless. The strangled gasps for air were enough to make him want to barge through the closed door and find out if she was all right; yet he felt helpless to do anything. Suddenly he heard the jiggle of a doorknob, as Kendall emerged from the dimly lit hallway. "Are you all right?" he asked, rushing to her side. With one hand he grasped hers, while his free arm slipped around her waist, as he guided her to the couch. Her face was pale and she looked miserable.

"Thank you," Kendall said softly. She couldn't believe how fast the morning sickness had come upon her. It wasn't really even morning. It was early afternoon. And she wasn't even three weeks into her pregnancy.

"Are you okay?" he repeated his question again, as he laid her back on the couch. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"No," she protested, sitting up. "I'm fine. Really."

"Here, I'll get you a glass of water," he offered, ignoring her declarations of wellness. He had never gone through a pregnancy with a woman before. As Ethan could attest to, he certainly hadn't been there for his mother,Hannah.

Kendall felt the blood rushing to her cheeks...well, the blood that hadn't gone there from regurgitating this morning's hospital breakfast. Definitely a good last image for her to be leaving him. Silently she groaned, hating the fact that God had to punish all women with this thing called 'morning sickness'. Didn't they already have PMS?

"Here," Zach held out a glass of water, "drink this."

Kendall couldn't believe what she was seeing. Zach Slater hovering...over her. It was an unusual sight. But he did tell me he would be there for me through this pregnancy. Part of her now wondered if that promise would remain. "Thank you," she whispered, taking the glass from him. She held the glass in her hand a moment, pausing to turn and meet Zach's concerned gaze. "Really Zach. I mean it. Thanks for being here."

Kneeling beside her, Zach smiled at her, reaching out to brush a stray curl from her eyes. "It's my pleasure," he answered sincerely. His lips parted to say more, but he decided otherwise.

"You know," she said hesitantly. "Just now, I'd say you would have made a good husband to somebody.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah." Kendall nodded, setting down the glass of water on the coffee table in front of her. "You didn't come into the bathroom," she pointed out, "which was a good thing, because running out on you was embarrassing enough, but doing it because you're throwing up is a whole other matter."

"So I did good then?" Zach said, amused at Kendall's ramblings. He had missed them since their huge argument, which took place here in this house.

"Very," she confirmed. "I'd say I'd give you an eight out of ten?"

"Only an eight?" he asked, raising a questioning brow.

"Well, there is the fact that you didn't come in and hold my hair, like you promised to," she explained. "And as well, you have been hovering ever since I got out of the bathroom."

"And hovering is a bad thing?" he asked curiously. "Because I thought we, husbands, were supposed to hover over our pregnant wives?"

Their eyes met and they both laughed out loud at the absurd conversation they were having. The laughter died after a few moments and they sat in silence.

"Well," coughed Kendall, "I guess we should get going."

"I guess so." Zach plastered on a smile and nodded. As he helped Kendall up off the couch, he asked, "Are you sure you're up for this trip? I mean, we can postpone?"

Kendall almost gave pause to the suggestion, but knew if she did not press on, she would give Zach the opportunity to prove that he had been correct in his assumption that she did not, in fact, want to divorce him. Which is so not true. "No," she said firmly. "Now's a good of a time as any. I mean, it probably will only get worse, right?"

"True," Zach agreed half-heartedly. "The chances are your morning sickness will get worse."

"Oh thanks for that note of encouragement," she scoffed, slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Like I'm not dreading it enough already, after that first bout of nausea."

"I do what I can," he teased.

"But seriously," she sighed. "We better get going. I told Greenlee that this would take no more than two days, max."

"Ladies first." Zach bowed, holding the door open for her.

For a moment Kendall wished she had accepted his offer to postpone. There was just something about him...It made her weak in the knees. She didn't know whether it was his dark brooding eyes, his boyish grin, or his penchant for always 'being right'. Maybe it was the combination of the three. "Thank you," she said politely. Stopping short of being out the door, Kendall turned to him and locked gazes with those dark brown eyes, which she had grown accustom to staring into. "I guess this is it, then, huh?"

Zach was caught off guard. He didn't think she'd become sentimental. "I guess," he replied with a nod. She was only a inches away now. He took a step closer. "Unless you want to change your mind."

Her lips parted, as if to say something, but everything seemed clear as she pulled away from him. He wanted to reach out and make her change her mind. He wanted to tell her that he knew she wanted him to stay - she wanted to remain with him. But things had changed that day in his office, when she told him she hated him and walked out on him.

He became unsure.

"Nice try," she chuckled, convinced it was his horrible sense of humor. "But we're going through with it." As she said those words her heart broke.

Why was she doomed to remain alone and miserable?

----&----

"What's the delay?" Kendall frowned, as she peered around Zach towards the cockpit.

"Apparantly there's been a problem on the runway," Zach explained, settling back down in his seat. "So we're being forced to be patient about the whole thing."

"Are we getting off the runway soon?" she asked irritably. The long opportunities to retract her demand for a divorce were wearing her down, especially after Zach became so attentive and caring after her bout with morning sickness. Even on the ride over, he didn't go three minutes without checking how she was feeling. And when they had boarded the plane, he made sure she was seated closer to the washroom. "It's been almost a half an hour."

"Should be soon," he said reassuringly. "Are you in that much of a hurry to divorce me?" He tilted his head and waited for an answer. It was to tease her, maybe even to evoke some sort of reaction.

His question caught her off guard slightly. They hadn't mentioned it since they left her place. It was like neither of them wanted to speak about it. She supposed it was indicative of their entire relationship. They probably went through their entire marriage without speaking about their feelings, unless it was in times of crisis. And even in those times, they were feelings of annoyance and hints of subtle attachment. "Aren't you?" she retorted.

"I wasn't the one who made requested the divorce, if I recall correctly."

Kendall swallowed hard. What was she supposed to say to that? "Things happen and circumstances have arisen that has made it impossible for us to...to do this." Lies. How ironic? This relationship which was based on mutual loathing and business, honesty and detachment, had turned into something more complicated and involved. "Why are you fighting this?"

"I'm not," Zach answered. "I'm here on this plane, ready to give you a divorce."

"But you're not making this easy," she said knowingly. "You're making it harder than it has to be. It's like..."

"It's like I care?" He finished her sentence for her.

"Yeah."

"I never said I didn't. In fact, I remember a conversation where I specifically told you to shut up and open your eyes to see that I care," Zach said matter-of-factly. "So how does that come as a surprise."

"I didn't think you were serious." Another lie. She knew he cared. But what did that mean? "I thought you just s-said that," she paused, "because I caught you in a lie that tore mine and Greenlee's lives apart."

"You know," he said, leaning over, closer to her. "I think that you know why I did what I did. And I'll say it again...I wasn't wrong. Ryan Lavery was a ticking bomb ready to go off."

"Stop, right there." Ryan wasn't perfect, but he had been so messed up because of Jonathan and Braeden. How could she blame him for the way he reacted when he thought he had killed his brother? And Zach had no right to judge him for it or do the things he did...even if it was to protect her and Greenlee. "We're not going to go there," she said stiffly. "Because it might want to make me haul off and smack you, and that would be straining myself. And that wouldn't be good for the baby."

Zach watched as she ran her hand absentmindedly over her stomach. He resented Ryan. Everything that had happened was because of him. He and Kendall were doing just fine until Ryan decided to lose it. He brought chaos into his perfectly self-contained life. "I can't say that I understand your complete worship and adoration of Ryan Lavery," he said darkly. "I don't want to. It's a screwed up fantasy that at least Greenlee has figured out isn't real. But I won't say anything else."

"If you think this man is so horrible," she spat, as the words he spoke pushed her buttons. "Then why the hell did you tell Greenlee that she should allow this child to know his father. That Ryan should know this child?"

"Because whether Ryan has reformed or gotten some kind of lobotomy, he should know that you're carrying his child." His experience about this exact situation came to the forefront of his mind. Too many what ifs and regrets.

"But if he's such a danger...?" She wanted an answer.

"It doesn't matter, because he wouldn't go near you," Zach declared darkly. "I would never let him hurt you or this child."

"This protective thing you do," Kendall waved her finger at him, "can end now. I mean, as soon as we sign those papers, I'm no longer your problem. You do know that? You're free."

"Marriage license or not, I'm still going to keep you and this child safe," he said firmly. "I made you a promise."

Why? Why was he doing this to her? The man could have made this a clean break, but here he was telling her that he would protect her and her baby from Ryan. Her head swirled. Did he care about her in a different way? "But I'm releasing you of all promises made under the guise of our marriage," she said uneasily. "I mean it. You're in the free and clear."

"And I'm tellling you that you're not going to make me a person who breaks a promise." Zach reached across the small table in between them and grasped her hand. "I'll be there if you need me."

Kendall tried to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip. Her heart was racing and she felt a small lump developing in her throat. The man was exasperating and stubborn. Couldn't he take a hint? "And I told you that I'll be fine."

"I know you will." Zach smiled knowingly, while his thumb caressed the back of her hand. "Because I'm going to make sure of that."

----&----

The flight had been long and tiring. Zach knew Kendall resented the fact that he continued to assert his will in her life, even though they were parting ways. Part of him wasn't quite sure why he was. It was as if she was testing him, seeing if he would fold - pack up his bags and desert her.

Over the years he had developed a warped code of conduct. Most of the time it was what he wanted and what was best for him, but he had his moments. For the most part, he gauged the desire to help people on whether it would affect him. Some said it was a mask that he hid behind. A handful of people said they saw past it and knew that he really was a good man at heart. There weren't too many people he let get that close.

"It's about time we got here," Kendall said wearily. "I thought we'd never get off the ground."

"I told you, you just need a little patience."

By the time they arrived in Haiti, it was dark and the stars were out. He arranged for the driver to take them to the resort he would be staying at during his stay. It was a small secluded place on the outskirts of the island.

"So, where's the nearest place you can get a divorce around here?" she quipped lightly, glancing around the lobby.

"You know," he hedged. "It's late and we're jet-lagged. Perhaps it would be best if we just got a good night's sleep and search for the courthouse in the morning?"

"Stay the night?" Kendall asked a little trepidatiously. "Greenlee is expecting me back tonight."

"You did say one or two days, right?"

"Y-yes," she said anxiously. "But I know she and I would prefer it take the one day."

"Well," Zach sighed. "We're not going to find a courthouse opened this late. And I'm bushed. You can phone Greenlee and explain the situation."

"I'd rather you phone Greenlee and tell her the situation," she muttered under her breath, knowing she would hear a mouthful from the feisty blonde.

"Well?"

"Fine," Kendall sighed. She was about ready to drop at that moment; and Greenlee did say to take care of herself. Traveling back tonight would have exhausted her too much. That's right. I'm just thinking about the baby. Never mind the fact that she didn't mind having one more night as being known as Mrs. Zach Slater. "Let's just check-in and go to sleep."

Arriving at the front desk, Zach and Kendall were greeted by a native of the island; he was short in stature and wore a loose button-shirt, which in design seemed native to the island. "How may I help you?" he asked with a heavy accent.

"I have a reservation under Slater," Zach informed the man.

"And this is your lovely wife?" he said, pointing to their rings.

"Yes," Zach answered, under Kendall's disapproving gaze.

"Hmmm," the front desk agent said thoughtfully. "We have a reservation for one? In one of our business suites?"

"Ah yes," he sighed. "There has been a change of plans. We will be needing two rooms instead of one."

"Two?" The front desk agent looked curiously between the two.

"Two," Kendall confirmed, not wanting to state their personal business to the stranger in front of them.

"Oh, well, unfortunately we do not have two rooms available," the man apologized. "But what I can do is upgrade you to one of our honeymoon suites? There would be more room for you than in our business suites."

"Why don't we just take both?" Kendall asked uncomfortably. "Money isn't an problem."

"I'm sorry, we are completely booked. You have the choice of the business-class suite or the honeymoon suite," he explained. "Will this be a problem?"

"Problem?" Kendall glanced over at Zach, who seemed slightly ruffled at the situation.

"Is there another hotel with accomodations for two?" Zach inquired awkwardly.

"Actually this is a bad week for you to be looking for extra accommodations," the front desk agent answered sympathetically. "All hotels and accommodations are booked months in advance. There is a big celebration marking the 200th anniversary of Dessaline's reign here in Haiti."

"No where else?" Zach pressed on, noticing Kendall's growing discomfort at the notion.

"I am very sorry," he apologized. "But I do highly recommend the honeymoon suite for a married couple such as the two of you."

"Problem," Kendall said horrified at the idea of staying in the same room as Zach.

"Fine, we'll take it," Zach agreed, handing over his credit card.

Kendall felt slightly nauseous hearing those words. What was she going to do? How would she explain this to Greenlee?

Every hotel was full. What were the odds? Zach wondered whether he shouldn't make a few calls and find someone to open the courthouse at this time of night. The reason for their staying the night was to get a good night's rest, but as he watched Kendall out of the corner of his eye, he knew he would be getting no sleep at all.

What have I gotten myself into?