Disclaimer: I don't own RFR.

Chapter 2: On your own

The two started loading the boxes into their new apartment. It was hard to do with just the two of them, especially since most little girls don't feel like moving boxes.

"Mommy!" Rose whined. "Can I take a break?"

"Yeah, go inside and get something to drink," Lily replied. She watched as her daughter ran into their new apartment.

Lily pulled a few boxes from her car and set them outside. "Thank god that this apartment is on the first floor," she muttered to herself.

Then she heard a voice behind her. "Need a hand?" The voice asked.

"Oh my god, that would be so gre-" She became quiet once she turned around and saw who was speaking. "No, I don't need help," she said coldly.

"Lily, you look like you could use some help," he answered. "It's hard moving things by yourself."

She turned on him and stepped forward. "I said I don't need help, Ray, and I don't." She turned back around and took another box from her car.

Ray took one from the trunk as well but Lily stopped him. "I said I don't need help."

"C'mon, you can't do this alone."

At that moment, Rose ran out yelling, "Mom!" She skid to a stop as she saw Ray. "Who's he?"

She went over and put an arm around her daughter. "Honey, this is an old friend of mine, Ray." She paused as Rose waved. "Ray, this is my daughter, Rose."

Ray choked on his own words. "Y-your daughter?"

Lily nodded in response. "That's what I said."

Ray looked Lily over. "What'd you do? Hook up with River while you were in L.A.?"

"Go back inside, Rose," she said stiffly.

"Why?" She whined.

"Because I'm about to say something you shouldn't hear." Lily waited until Rose got back inside before she turned on Ray. "Ray Brennan! What the hell is wrong with you? You know for a fact that I haven't seen River since high school! And the fact that you would even think differently! I can't believe you! You are a stubborn jackass that hasn't learned anything since high school!" She let out a growl. "Get out of here, Ray."

"I'm not going anywhere…"

Lily turned to him almost in tears at this point. "Ray! You caused most of the trouble in my life! You're the reason I left! You're the reason I've never ever come back!"

"But I'm not the reason that you became pregnant!"

"Enough! You know nothing about that! You have no idea what happened to me in L.A.! All you know is what you saw for those split five seconds when you visited!"

"If you hated L.A. so much, then why did you stay there?"

"Because it was hundreds of miles away from you!"

Ray stood there speechless, not sure of what to say. He turned around without another word and walked away.

Lily went back to unloading boxes from her car. She could still feel tears rolling down her cheeks. Running into Ray had left her more frazzled than she wanted to be. Seeing him reminded her of why she wanted to stay away for so long. Why she had the intention of never returning. Why she was going to forget Roscoe even existed.

But she had forgotten to forget and she returned. She now knew it was a mistake. She should've known not to return. But she ignored her instincts, which was a big mistake, she could feel it.

Rose came out a few minutes later. "Mom, can I come out now?" She asked cautiously.

"Yes, Rose, you can come out now. I need you to start hauling these boxes in, okay?"

"Alright, Mom." The little girl picked up the nearest box and started towards the apartment.

Lily looked in the direction that Ray had gone off in. It was almost as if she could sense that he had been there. It had always been that way with him. And it was never going to change.

AN: Thanks for the reviews I got so far. I'm working hard on this and I appreciate it. Anyways, please R&R!