'One word frees us

Of all the weight and pain in life,

That word is love.'

Socrates


When neither answered, Lilly repeated her question with just a little exasperation.

"What would I be perfect at?" Lilly's glance passed slowly from her husband to her girlfriend and back again. Seeing them talking together had been a big shock for her but the fact that they were now refusing to tell her what they had been talking about, were in fact sharing a secret, hiding something from her, scared her even more. They had obviously been talking about her, but what had they been saying?

"C'mon! Was it that bad? All she got was a grin from Travis and a pained look from Miley.

Lilly could tell that Miley desperately wanted to leave. But Lilly was determined that none of them were going anywhere until she found out what they had been saying.

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me." She stated as Miley's panic-stricken eyes shot to her own.

"Says who?" she asked with a defiant toss of her head. "See you later, Travis. Lilly." With a nod to them both she turned and moving as fast as her legs would carry her, headed straight for the stairs ignoring both the calls for her to come back, and the elevators. There was no way that she was waiting, no way.

She couldn't deal with Travis right now and she sure as hell couldn't deal with Lilly.

If Lilly became pregnant then that was the end of them. She was no home-wrecker, wife and mother stealer. What she had been doing was bad enough but if she allowed it to continue it would be a hundred times worse. She loved Lilly too much to take her this away from her.

Miley's mind was whirling at an uncontrollable rate as she ran down the stairs, ignoring the pain in her feet from her high heeled mules, ignoring the pain in her thighs from the speed that she was negotiating the ten flights of concrete steps, but unable to ignore the pain in her heart.

Was Travis telling Lilly right now? Painting a picture, giving her what she had always dreamed of…the perfect family.

Where they going to be planning for the future, picking out names..

Was Lilly already planning how to break it off with her, running through scenarios in her head, trying to work out the least painful way to do it?

Was she wishing that she had never got involved with her in the first place?

Or had she already forgotten about her?

Unable to continue, Miley slumped against the railings, lowering herself uneasily to the ground until she was sat on the cold steps with tears cascading freely down her cheeks. She was unable to stop them and for once she didn't even want to.

She had lost Lilly. She could feel it in her bones. She was alone again.

When she finally recovered some time later, she wasn't sure when, she carefully stood up and wiping her eyes pulled her compact out of her bag to fix her smudged makeup and then located her brush to tame her tousled hair. Straightening her clothes she opened the door to the ground floor of the hospital and with a deep breath walked unsteadily towards the main doors. A forceful hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Miley wait! Why'd you run off like that?" Without even looking at her Miley answered quietly

"Because it's over between us Lilly. It's over."

For a second Lilly didn't answer, then swiftly she spun Miley round and stated firmly.

"No."

Miley's mouth opened incredulously.

"No?"

"No. I don't accept that." Lilly's hands were planted on Miley's shoulders, preventing her from walking away again but what was really stopping her from leaving was the look in her eyes, the way she was staring at her. It was almost as if she knew something that Miley didn't and all it did was make her mad.

"If I want to end this then there's not a damn thing you can do about it!" She snapped angrily, pushing the blonde away from her and sidestepping her quickly.

But Lilly was quicker than she was and easily grabbed hold of her a second time, pulling her close to whisper in her ear.

"I won't let you go."

"Lilly." Shivering, Miley closed her eyes briefly, desperately trying to find the strength to walk away from her again.

"I won't let you go Miles." Lilly repeated slowly, precisely and determinedly. She was not arguing with her, she was stating a fact and Miley found her resolve weakening almost immediately.

"What are you gonna do, Lilly? Miley's southern accent becoming more apparent the more upset she became. "Marry me? In case you've forgotten you already are. What excuse did you give him for running after me anyway?" she asked reluctantly meeting Lilly's light blue eyes for the first time since she had followed her down to the ground floor.

"The truth. That I was worried about you. He is too." Letting go of Miley's arm Lilly waited nervously to see what her response would be. Miley had become so unpredictable these days that she had no idea what her mood would be from one minute to the next.

"Well he shouldn't be. I'm in love with his wife for God's sake." More angry with herself than anything, Miley resumed walking but this time Lilly was right beside her.

"You're in love with me? You never said…" As soon as the words were out of her mouth Miley had realized her mistake. She had never told Lilly that she loved her before just as Lilly had never said the words to her. But now they were out in the open, those three little words which spelt the end of everything. By admitting her true feelings she was pushing Lilly into a corner, pushing her to commit. Asking her to choose between her and her husband. She was making Lilly responsible for her.

"SHIT!" Abruptly changing direction she attempted to escape, rushing through the hospital doors and out into the busy street but once again Lilly was right behind her.

"Miley wait!" Placing her body in front of hers she forced her to stop and look at her.

"No! I shouldn't have said that. Forget it, forget everything! Forget me!" Close to tears, Miley tried unsuccessfully to get away from Lilly again as the blonde replied forcefully.

"Not a chance in hell, perfect girl! Why are you so determined to walk away from us? What did Travis say to you?" Shaking her head, Miley answered quietly

"Nothing. He's your husband Lilly. That's all there is to it."

Placing her hand softly on Miley's cheek, lifting her head so that their faces were just inches apart Lilly replied gently

"You're lying. What did he say to you Miley? What did she say that's made you so determined to leave me? Asked the Lilly desperately, "I love you too Miley, I promise I do." she looked directly into Miley's eyes, "I don't want lose you. I won't. So please, please tell me the truth."