A/N :) I wrote this chapter what seems like a hundred years ago - seriously, it was about the same time I wrote Chapter One. Hope it's the ending y'all wanted. (heehee Katie - I just said "y'all". LOL!)

Until 52...enjoy! xox - G

Chapter Fifty-one

The plane touched down and Ethan stood there, clutching a large bouquet in his hand. Since she'd sent him a letter telling him she was coming home his heart hadn't stopped pounding.

Chloe and Kate came over and helped him to clean the house, which he had to admit he'd let go a bit since Lynnie had left. He was so grateful to them for their help. He wanted everything to be perfect for her when she was finally back where she belonged.

The scene today reminded him of the last time he'd seen her on the jet, the day she said goodbye to him in Romania. There was a moment as she kissed him when he thought would be the last time he'd ever get to hold her.

Ethan would never have guessed he'd feel that way again, but that's just what had happened the morning she left him.

The plane rolled to a stop. Ethan smiled widely as the door opened. He wanted to run to the stairs but decided to wait until he saw her.

The flight attendant came out first, and then the pilot. Ethan shifted his weight back and forth impatiently, fear sneaking up his spine as he heard Abby's voice behind him.

"Ethan…"

He continued to stare straight ahead. "She must just be gathering her luggage – right?" He asked, his voice shaking.

"Ethan. No. I'm sorry…" Abby whispered.

"No." He shook his head and blinked back tears. "She sent me a letter." He patted the pocket of his coat. He carried the letter everywhere he went since she'd sent it to him. "She said she was better now. She said she missed me. She said she was finally coming home."

"I think she had every intention to…" Abby sighed, knowing that there was no way to take the look off of Ethan's face. Her heart broke as she gazed at him.

"I don't understand. What could have changed her mind? She was on her way home. Is she sick? Is she hurt?" Ethan turned to face Abby and Cameron as he continued to ask questions. A thought flew his mind and he hung his head as he whispered. "Is it me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Ethan. It's not you. I just think she needs a little more time…" Cam tried to reason with him even though he himself didn't understand how two people so in love could spend so much time apart.

Ethan shook his head not at all willing to give up this easily. Suddenly it all made sense. He'd been so blinded before. His face filled with determination. "She's at your parent's right? In Colorado. That's where she's been this whole time isn't it?"

"Yes." Cam nodded, unable to hold back the truth any longer.

"Get the pilot back." He ordered as he walked towards the plane.

"Ethan…" Abby tried to grab hold of his sleeve, stunned when he turned and glared at her.

"Go get the pilot or I swear to God I'll fly the plane on my own." He warned her.

Knowing there'd be no reasoning with him, Cam walked towards the hangar as Abby stood by stunned, her heart soaring for the first time in months.

Still clutching the flowers in his hand Ethan made his way up the stairs and into the cabin. As he settled in his seat he vowed to himself. "Times up Lynnie. You're coming home, if I have to drag you back here myself."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She stood by the window, hugging her arms around herself.

"What do you see?" Her grandmother asked as she watched her.

"He's mad. He's had enough." Lynnie whispered in reply. She shook her head as she answered. "I've never really seen him mad – at least not in person…"

"Ethan's been very patient. Your grandfather would have chased me down months ago." Sheila smiled.

"He is patient…" Lynnie sniffled. "But even he's reached his limit. He's coming here, Gram." She said sadly. "I bet he's on his way now."

"About damn time." Sheila grumbled as she walked towards her. She kissed her temple and patted her on the back. "Good luck."

Lynnie's eyes flew open wide. "Gram. You can't leave me here by myself." She gasped, horrified at the thought.

"I very well can and I am." Her grandmother replied. "It's time you two had it out."

"But I can't…I don't know what to say…" Lynnie sputtered.

"You'll figure it out." Sheila shrugged. "We'll be back later tonight,give you little lovebirds some time alone."

"Gram…please…" Lynnie's voice was laced with desperation as suddenly a figure filled the doorway of her room.

"Oh Ethan, love." Sheila said with a bright smile as she caught sight of him. "Look at you - you are just so handsome. If I were younger I'd give Gwynnie a run for her money." She said with a wink.

She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek as he just stood there, silent, mesmerized as he gazed at his wife. "We'll see you both later." Sheila called out as she nudged Ethan into the room and closed the door behind her.

A few long moments passed as Lynnie stared at her feet and tried to find her voice. She was thankful when Ethan finally spoke first.

"You don't look surprised to see me." Ethan said, his voice dangerously soft. "Was it something you saw?"

"No…" She shook her head at him. "I haven't seen much at all lately."

He looked at her, his eyes full of pain. "Don't." He warned her. "Don't lie to me Lynnie."

Lynnie bowed her head again, thoroughly ashamed.

"I'm here to ask you to come home." He said then. "That is…if you even want to."

"Ethan…" She whispered, knowing in her heart she couldn't do what he asked.

He could tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn't going to go with him. Despite the promises he made to himself the words came tumbling out, his voice rising and shaking with anger. "I can't believe you did that. I can't believe you just left me like that – without even a word – without at least a note telling me you were all right."

"I know you were worried Ethan and I'm so sorry. I just didn't know what to say." She began, still staring at her feet. And the point is I'm not all right. She thought to herself. That's why I left.

All the rage he'd been keeping inside was unleashed in an instant. His words assaulted her, stinging as much as a slap to the face "How about – I think I need some time alone. Or – I'd like to visit my grandparents for a while or you know what Lynnie? How about you just told me the truth? A simple sentence - I don't need you anymore, Ethan."

Her head shot up at his last statement. "Ethan…" She gasped. "That's not…"

His mouth hung open as he stared at her. "Are you trying to say that's not true? You still need me? Is that why you've shut me out for months? You needed me so much you flew thousands of miles away from me?"

"Please. Let me explain." Lynnie tried again. "If you'd just let me talk…"

Ethan's eyes flew open wide as he cut her off. "Oh." He said sarcastically. "Now you want to talk. That's fantastic Lynnie. Go ahead, talk. Tell me why you just snuck out that morning why don't you do that? Tell me why you haven't so much as called me in months, tell me how you've sworn your entire family to secrecy so that no one would tell me anything more than 'She just needs time, Ethan.' I am dying to hear your explanation for all of that – because I'm sure it's a great one."

"Ethan…" She whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

It was like he didn't even hear her. "Just so you know...your friends and family are very loyal, Lynn. They kept your little secret from me all this time." His eyes were full of anger as he continued to stare at her. "Don't worry. Your worthless husband was clueless until this morning, when he finally figured it out on his own."

"Ethan…" Her head snapped up, horrified by his words. "Don't say that. Is that what you thought? I can't believe…"

His eyes were full of sadness as he looked into hers. His voice was bitter. "You obviously don't need me anymore. I shouldn't have come here. This was probably a mistake. I should just go and leave you alone. But you know what? I think I need to hear you say it so I can finally move on. Tell me to go, Lynnie. That's what you want isn't it? Stop lying to me and just tell me already. Get it over with…"

She couldn't take anymore. Lynnie sank onto the ground and cried, her voice broken. "Stop. Please. I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to fight with you."

His heart ached as he watched her, his anger draining the moment he saw her fall. He took a deep breath to calm himself and moved to sit beside her.

"You're lying again, Lynnie." He whispered as he ran a hand over her hair. "You've been fighting me ever since we lost her."

"I don't know what to do. I know how hard you tried. I know you were trying to fix this Ethan..." Lynnie continued to sob. "I didn't know how to tell you…"

His heart broke for the thousandth time in the span of a few short months. Tenderly he brushed her hair away from her face. "Tell me what?"

She finally met his eyes, her own full of incredible sadness. "That I don't think you can."

Finally. Ethan sighed. It had been months and now finally she was talking and crying and showing some sort of emotion. He had waited so long for her to come to this point he was afraid to say anything in case she stopped so he simply sat there and watched her closely.

She turned to face him and stared into his eyes. "I'm supposed to be able to tell people what happens next. But I didn't see this coming Ethan and I should have."

"Lynnie…" He shook his head at her. "Even if you had, there's nothing you could have done."

It was as if she didn't hear him. "I should have gotten more rest – you were always trying to get me to and I wouldn't listen. I should have eaten better. There were days you know when I just completely forgot. I was so busy writing that before I knew it it'd be time for dinner. I'd always forget those vitamins too. I always forget things. It's no wonder…"

Unable to let her go on, Ethan reached out and pulled her to him. Involuntarily she sank against him, her arms closing around him and clinging tight. She kept talking, her words flooding out, her tears showing no sign of stopping. "That day – when I woke up I knew something was wrong and I tried to pretend everything was fine. Maybe if I went to the hospital sooner I could have done something…"

He should have known this was what she'd been thinking. He couldn't believe she'd gotten it so wrong. "No. Lynnie. It's not your fault. Not at all."

She simply sobbed and began to let him hold her, unable to find her voice.

Finally feeling back in control, Ethan held her tighter as he promised. "OK. It's alright now. We're going to be OK. Shh. Lynnie. Shh."

His words fell on deaf ears. "I was going to come home – I promise you I was but I just can't now. Don't you understand? I know this isn't going to work. I won't be a good mother Ethan. I can't do this…" She said as she tried to move away.

"Lynnie. What are you talking about? You'll be an amazing mother." He whispered into her hair.

"You shouldn't be here. I don't deserve you…" Her words were still protesting even as she finally surrendered, letting him hold her and rock her back and forth the way he always had. Since they lost Lilly she'd missed this most of all – the way he'd always been there for her – it had been that way ever since they first met. She sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you wanted her. I - I don't want you to have to go through it all again."

She was beside herself and as much as he knew that she was grieving for Lilly, he could tell that now her tears were for him.

"I can't…I don't know how…" Lynnie continued to sob as she tried to inch closer to him. "I can't do this again – Ethan. I can't watch you go through all that a second time. I can't have us both dream and hope again and then find out it won't come true."

"Shh. OK. We have plenty of time. You don't need worry about that right now." Ethan tried desperately to soothe her. "We'll do whatever you want Lynnie."

"I don't know what I want. And now - it's too late, Ethan." She whispered, still weeping. "It's too late…"

He thought that she was giving up hope, but then something else dawned on him. He started to focus on her words.

"Wait…" Ethan fought to find his voice. "What are you saying?"

She pulled back and looked at him and as soon as she did he knew. It was the same look she'd given him all those months before.

He took a steadying breath and framed her face in his hands. "What are you saying? Oh my God. Lynnie? Are you?" He swallowed and asked. "Are we?"

"I'm sorry…" She said again and again through her tears. "I'm so, so sorry."

"No." He demanded softly. "Don't you dare be sorry – about anything." He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, desperately trying to dry them. He couldn't believe it was true. "Lynnie. Oh my God." Elated by the news he was unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face.

Her beautiful blue eyes gazed up into his as she wept. "I can't do this again – Ethan. I'm too scared. What if something happens? It'll be worse the second time and that's not fair to you. You should be with someone who can give you what you want."

"Shh." He pleaded as he smiled back at her. "Lynnie, please. You have to know. All I want..." Ethan promised as he pressed his lips to hers in a desperate kiss.."All I've ever wanted is you."