Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Erica was already seated as she walked in. Erica looked and smiled brightly and Kendall tried to return the sentiment, but knew she was failing miserably.

Erica gave her daughter a hug and squeezed her hand. "Kendall, darling, are you alright?"

Kendall just shrugged. "Oh, I'm just in a mood today – I'm fine."

Erica stared at her daughter. "C'mon Kendall. Tell me about it, let me make it better, see if I can bring some happiness to that face of yours."

"You know what? Sometimes life takes you by surprise, and no one's more surprised than us."

"Surely you don't expect me to congratulate you on your surprise?"

"I expect you to be happy for your daughter, because she's happy."

Kendall shook her head. "Mother, I'm fine. There's nothing you can do, really. I'm just in one of those moods." Kendall put on her best smile but she could tell by the look on Erica's face that she wasn't buying it. Thankfully, the waiter came over at this point and took their order. After the waiter left, Kendall looked back at her mother and immediately recognized that look on her face – that look of determination and resolve and she knew she needed to get away before Erica really started laying it on.

Kendall shot out of her chair and grabbed her purse. "I have to… the bathroom…" Erica just smiled. "Go on dear – I remember those days." Kendall took a deep breath and walked away, knowing she was avoiding her mother's probing questions.

Kendall washed her hands and patted her cheeks, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Come to view the remains?"

"After what you took from your friends and family, I'm surprised you're still standing. And impressed."

"Don't be. If I collapse in a heap, I'll never get up."

"Oh, yes, you will. You're the champ."

"No, I'm not. I'm scum of the earth."

"You got to be exhausted. Let me take you home. Let's take the back door. You've taken enough flak for one day."

"If its any sign of how the baby shower's going to go, I'll pass."

"Not a torch or a pitchfork in sight."

"What's the catch?"

"Why would there be a catch?"

"When I told you that I was Ryan and Greenlee's surrogate, you freaked out. And now, you know that I used my own egg. So where is the yelling and screaming, and "What the hell were you thinking?""

"Let's go home and talk about it."

"No, I want to talk about it now. Why are you all of a sudden Mr. Feel-good about my baby?"

"I'm not really supposed to be here, this being the girl's bathroom. Let's go home, make you feel comfortable –"

"No, I'm not going to go anywhere until you tell me why you're being so nice."

"Jackass" she said to herself, laughing through her tears. Not that she would have been anymore accepting of what he had to say then than she was a few hours later. Kendall took a couple of deep breaths and steadied herself. She walked out of the bathroom and headed back to the dining room. She noticed the food was on the table and sent up a quick and silent prayer, thanking God for putting a distraction in front of her.

TBC…