A/N: Hey!! Another chapter!! =D This one is DxC baby! So to everyone who has been waiting for it!! I have a couple of OC's. Courtney's grandma is like Lois' mum from 'Malcolm in the Middle'. Anyway... I've tried to keep everyone in character... this chapter has a harsh section and mentioning of someone being hit... just a warning. Reviews are appreciated. So on with the show!! R&R =D

Oh!! And congrats to CarmillaD for picking up on the 'Wings' reference!! XD

Dedication: I thought that I should dedicate this chapter to two people... Frank15 and CarmillaD!! Thanks for everything guys!! =D

Disclaimer: Same as previous.

With that she turned and made her way down the road, Duncan trailing behind.

As they continued down the path Duncan knew something was wrong. Courtney had given up far too easily, and even now was making no effort to chasitse him for dragging his feet and slouching. He gently grabbed her wrist forcing her to stop.

"Ugh! Let go of me!" She snapped, struggling to get out of his grip.

He grinned. "No can do Princess."

"Why not?" She growled still struggling to free her wrist.

"If you stop struggling I'll tell you." He waited until she stopped squirming before continuing. "Something's wrong and I wanna know what it is..."

Courtney stared at him with shock. "You want to know what's wrong?" She murmured quietly.

Duncan let her go and scratched the back of his neck. "Well yeah... I mean, you've been really quiet and it just seems like something is bothering you..." He chuckled nervously, "And I was just thinking I might be able to help... or whatever."

Courtney smiled sweetly, before covering it up with a scowl. "And why would I tell you? So you can make more fun of me or tell everyone in school?" Her voice was getting progresively louder with every word she spoke. "That way you could know that it was you who made my life so miserable. So even if there was something wrong... which there isn't... I wouldn't tell you!"

Duncan smirked. "You about done?"

The CIT shrieked in annoyance. "You absolute Ogre!"

Duncan chuckled. "Be fair babe... I've got a whole summer to make up for."

"You've tortured me ever since we've met! Can't you be nice for even one minute?"

Duncan groaned. "Well I was trying to, but you went and did your high and mighty routine on me! How am I supposed to be nice after you attack me for trying to help? I don't know why it's so hard for you to believe that I'm doing something without having some sinister plan behind it! God! I don't know why I bother!"

His last statement made Courtney's comeback catch in her throat.

"I don't know why I bother!"

She felt tears welling up in her eyes, so she turned on her heel and ran down the street, trying to put as much distance between her and Duncan as possible. She ignored him calling out her name as she continued to run. She couldn't stop the tears from falling and soon her vision was blurry, and she had trouble discerning one thing from another. Her steps became sloppy and before she knew it she was on her knees, sobbing on the footpath.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and without knowing who it was, threw herself onto them, wrapping her arms around their neck, the tears still falling. The person then wrapped their arms around her waist and held her tightly, as she continued to cry, her breathing coming in shaky, ragged breaths. One hand left her waist and began stroking her hair. She heard a voice whispering in her ear. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The hand continuing it's soothing rythm. "It's alright. Just let it out." It took five minutes before Courtney composed herself enough to stop the tears. She looked up to find herself face to face with...

"Duncan?"

He smiled softly and rubbed her back. "The one and only... You ok now Princess?"

She smiled and shakily got to her feet. "Umm yeah." She turned one foot from side to side. "Sorry about that."

He smirked placing his arm round her shoulder and walking in the direction of her house. "No problem..."

They were silent as they walked. Courtney decided that after all that had just occurred, she wouldn't remove his arm... not yet. After a few minutes Duncan spoke up.

"If you don't mind me asking... what did I do?"

Courtney cocked her head to the side, confusion spreading on her face. "Huh?"

He looked down. "What did I do to make you cry?"

"Oh..." She bit her bottom lip nervously. "Nothing."

He brought them both to a halt. "That wasn't nothing Courtney. Nobody breaks down like that over nothing. What did I do?"

Courtney wrung her hands, not wanting him to get mad at himself for what had occurred only five minutes ago.

That wasn't his fault... He shouldn't have to think that. I'll tell him...

She sighed and turned to him. "I'll tell you... but not here. My house is just round the corner." She then turned and walked to the house, Duncan following.

When they rounded the corner Duncan was surprised. Her house was a small one story, with a red tile roof and a rose garden out the front. It was nothing like the mansion that he had expected. He watched as she reached into her bag, extracting the keys and unlocked the front door. They dumped their bags in the lounge before making their way to the kitchen. Courtney rummaged around in the fridge before grabbing a Coke.

"Want one?" She asked holding up the beverage.

Duncan nodded and smirked as she gave him hers and went back in the fridge to find another. When she found one she sat on an empty bar stool next to him and had a sip of her Coke. She turned to find him looking at her expectantly.

Well... better get this over with.

She had a big gulp of her drink before turning to Duncan, a serious look plastered on her face.

"What I'm about to tell you, you can't say to anyone. Under any circumstances. Understand?"

The look on her face made unable to do anything but nod his agreement.

She took a deep breath and sighed. "Ok... It wasn't your fault that I cried... more the memories that one phrase brought to mind."

Duncan cocked an eyebrow. "One phrase?"

Courtney looked at the benchtop before looking deeply into Duncan's eyes. " 'I don't know why I bother...' "

Duncan was about to speak but Courtney interrupted. "Let me finish. Please?"

Duncan's nod prompted her to continue.

"All my life I've been raised to win. To be on top. And to be prepared to do anything to get that." She sighed. "Not only that, but to be who my parents want me to be. Their perfect girl. Their little angel..."

She stopped to gather herself.

"It's been hard. But I always thought that my parents and family were doing it because they love me. They want me to be successful so that I'll always have options... But that was my big mistake. Thinking I had options. That I would be able to choose who I wanted to be... When I was fifteen I found out just how little choice I actually have."

"My family was all over. It was Christmas and my grandparents and aunties and uncles and cousins and... you get the idea." She smiled sadly. "Everyone was there, the norm for every Christmas. And like normal everyone was boasting about their accomplishments. It's sickening really when I think about it now... I know better. But then it was acceptable. I thought all families did what we did, so I went along with it. Beaming proudly every time an accomplishment of mine was announced, gratiously accepting all the praise that came my way. Feeling superior to my cousins who hadn't done as well as I had." She shuddered softly. "I feel dirty when I think of it now."

She took a sip of her drink, and nibbled her bottom lip. She had trouble starting again until Duncan gently squeezed her hand in encouragment. She smiled and continued.

"The most important person to get praise of is my grandmother. My grandfather is gentle as a lamb. Always kind, always encouraging. But my grandmother is the matriarch. You need her blessing to be successful. It doesn't matter what you do. If 'Gran-mamma' doesn't approve, you're dead to the family. Her harsh nature is hard to take normally, but when she has had a sherry, like she does every Christmas, the comments are more brutal." She shook her head in anger. "They can make a grown man cry, and they have."

She shook her head, remembering the year when her uncle was forced to leave the room before everyone saw his tears.

"That year my favourite cousin was over. Catherine." She smiled a beautiful, genuine smile. "She's wonderful. She's a year older than me and has dreams of becoming an actress. She's starting uni this year." She grinned. "I think she'll do great!" She sighed. "Sadly not everyone agrees with me. See Gran-mamma thinks that acting and music are a waste of time. 'You'll never be successful!'" She exclaimed in an old woman's voice, before resuming the story. "Catherine had gotten the lead in her school's play. She was ecstatic. It was a production of 'The Sound of Music' and she was Maria." She grinned. "It's one of our favourite musicals! So for her to get the part was a dream come true. But for Gran-mamma..." She shook her head sadly. "It was the two things she had the least respect for put together. And to top it off, Catherine is the oldest of her grandchildren. So she didn't take it well."

She stopped talking and looked down. When she lifted her head her eyes were full of unshed tears, and her voice broke slightly as she spoke.

"When Catherine said that she got the part... all hell broke loose." She sobbed. "Gran-mamma went into a massive rage, screaming the most horrid things at her. How she was an abismal failure. How her straying from the 'right path' would only destroy the family bond."

She sobbed quietly.

"How she was no longer her granddaughter..."

She wiped away her tears and continued the story.

"But Catherine just stood there and took it. She didn't say a word until Gran-mamma had stopped screaming. And when she finally spoke she shocked everyone. She just turned to her and let out sixteen years of pain. She said she hated how our family revolved around the sadistic nature of a bitter old woman. She told us how she didn't care anymore. She was going to do what makes her happy. She wasn't going to put up with anymore pain, because she had to become a lawyer or a doctor to keep up the family name. And then she said that she didn't care if she was no longer her granddaughter."

She smiled slightly.

"Then she just grabbed her stuff from the other room and left. Out the front door and into the snow..." She rubbed her temples. "She had me so worried about her. But I couldn't go after her... I couldn't face Gran-mamma's wrath. I was a coward... But it turns out I didn't need to chase after her for that. When I came back from watching Catherine walk off I saw Gran-mamma staring at me with a sinsiter glint in her eyes. She then called me closer to her, patting the seat beside her. I was about to sit down when she smacked me across the face."

Duncan growled in anger, as Courtney continued.

"She started screaming about how I was following in Catherine's footsteps. How she had corrupted me. How if I knew what was good for me I wouldn't talk to her, and I would focus on my schoolwork. Become a lawyer just like my parents wanted. I could be in office someday if I did what was right."

"I was so scared I just agreed. From then on I studied harder. Aimed to please my family. I've tried so hard. But every time I stuff up, or don't get a perfect grade. It's always the same line. 'I don't know why I bother'... 'she'll never amount to anything.' 'Just like Catherine...' "

Courtney smiled, before beginning the lighter part of her story.

"Despite all that I keep in contact with Catherine. We meet up every Saturday to watch movies and stuff, and Bridgette always comes with us, so I can say I was hanging out with her. That way my parents don't have to know. So apart from you she's the only one who knows..."

She took another big drink and turned to Duncan.

"So that's what upset me. Not you... I can normally cope but today, after everything, and I'm tired..." She sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see it."

She was shocked when Duncan hopped off his seat and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry I made you go through that again." He smiled when he felt her returning the hug. He pulled back, still holding her, and continued. "Why don't you just stand up to your grandma? Do what you wanna do?"

Courtney smiled sadly and dropped her hands from his neck. "You're not the only one to say that. Both Bridgette and Catherine said the same thing... I think I will one day. But now??" She sighed. "I don't think I'm strong enough..." She smiled. "I do want to dance and sing and act. Or play my violin professionally..." She grinned at Duncan. "I want to do something where I can see people's appreciation. Being a lawyer might offer that... But I don't want to help murderers or other sickos get out of jail... I want to do good. Make people happy... Be allowed to go a little wild!"

Duncan chuckled. "I think you should."

Duncan smiled as he looked at her. His face looked calm, but his mind was a jumble of thoughts.

Dude! Do something! She's less than a metre away! You've wanted her for ages, and you know she wants you! Kiss her already! Make her yours!

He grinned at his thoughts, before running his thumb down Courtney's jaw line. "Have I ever told you how pretty you look when you smile?"

Courtney blushed bright red and lowered her head, mumbling out a reply.

He grinned. "What was that Princess?"

"I... I said that you... you're really sweet when you want to be... " She smiled raising her head. "And you look much better... when you sm... smile." She blushed harder lowering her head.

He grinned raising her head. "Really now?"

She giggled. "Yeah... Suits you much more than a scowl.

Duncan walked up to her chair, placing his hands on the bench either side of her, trapping the CIT in his arms.

"You think I look good when I smile?" He whispered, their eyes locked.

"Uh huh..." She breathed out.

"But you think I look damn fine all the time... don't you?"

"Mhmmm." She murmured.

He grinned. "That's what I thought." He said his lips inches away from hers.

"Just kiss me already!" She exclaimed.

He chuckled, before leaning in and pressing his lips to hers. The kiss lasted for a moment, before they broke apart.

"That... that didn't mean anything." Courtney whispered, staring at him through half-lidded eyes.

Duncan nodded his head in agreement. "No... And neither will this one."

Their lips met again, though this time with more urgency. Her arms snaking around his neck, his hands running through her hair. They broke apart when they heard a car pulling up in the driveway. Duncan rushed and got his bag from the lounge, while Courtney tried to fix her hair. They heard footsteps approaching the front door, so Courtney grabbed Duncan's hand and pushed him out the back door.

"You know that tomorrow will be the same as normal? Right?" Courtney whispered urgently.

"Yeah. This never happened." Duncan agreed.

"Ok..." Courtney sighed.

She turned to head back into the house when she was spun around. Duncan's lips smashed against her own with such a ferosity, she could hardly believe. She kissed back just as hard and whimpered slightly when he pulled away. He grinned before stealing another kiss.

"Bye Princess." He growled huskily, before jumping the fence and running off.

She stood there touching her slightly swollen lips. "Bye..."