Warning: Rated a high T for scenes of a sexual nature. If the scene becomes too much for you, skip down to the next scene break.

A/N: Yes, most of this is a rewrite of the previous chapter, but from Zack's PoV instead. Enjoy...

Chapter 2: The Coward

I stand over the newborn, his eyes bright as the sun, soft hair so silky smooth and his smile abounds with life.

He's beautiful, I say, taking in fully the little ball of life, the few seconds of holding him far from enough.

Maybe one day you can make one, my brother replies.

Nah, too much work, I quickly add.

Says the one who hasn't had a relationship last a month since Maya.

We continue to argue, though at least try to keep it down in here.

But he doesn't know me. He doesn't know the girls I've been with or what's become of them.

There are a lot of girls out there, some good, some bad, and some that should be sent to another planet.

My brother was a lucky one, finding a jewel from Kansas that fit perfectly with him.

I haven't been so lucky. True, not all of the broken hearts were their fault, and there are some I wish I hadn't let get away.

But I'm here for my family and the newest addition to it. Not to reminisce on what could have been.

Bailey looks up at me with a gaze I ignore as Cody holds little Brandon.

I sigh, though not even Bailey hears it. She probably thinks I'm just trying to run from her fears.

I'm not stupid.

I know the timing.

Nine months to the day.

I remember that night clearly even if she can't.

Even though I wish I could forget.

It was the biggest party I had ever been invited to. Great wine, food, music—it was all awesome.

All for my little brother's one year anniversary with that beautiful girl from Kansas.

There were hundreds of people. Family, of course, old friends, and probably more old businessmen than anything else. Apparently Cody wanted to make some connections or whatever. I didn't bother to notice what they were talking about, instead choosing to spend most of my time catching up with Woody and enjoying the free food.

I would have liked to talk to Cody more, but he was busy with Bailey so I didn't worry about it. It was their night together, and I was but a guest (though sometimes felt as though I was just around to clean up the mess).

Soon the drinks caught up to my little bro and the wave of intoxication reduced him to an uncoordinated loud rambler. When he finally had succumbed to the point of being unable to walk, London and I stepped in and carried Cody upstairs. In hindsight, I wish I'd had some duct tape to shut him up. It would have been entertaining if his mouth wasn't right next to my ear.

It was well past one in the morning at that point and people had started to leave. But Bailey was far from done. She commanded the DJ to play more music, louder, faster, and she danced for all it was worth. Friends, strangers, it didn't seem to matter which. And it wasn't like it was just a calm professional engagement either.

She was wild, powerful, and dare I say, hot.

I tried to get her to calm down several times, but it was futile. I'll never forget the look on Woody's face when she spontaneously planted one on him. I thought he was going to faint on the spot.

But Bailey moved on to other guys (and I think a girl too) so I just stood back at watched. Part of me was worried about what would happen if word got out of this—what it would do to Codes' reputation—but if the others were half as drunk as they looked, they wouldn't remember any of this.

Soon, even the alcohol-fueled party goers had to quit and cabs were called for the most drunken of men.

Come on Kansas, I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder.

She stared at me blankly, like when I use a word with more than six letters when talking with London.

But after grabbing her hand, she followed me.

Looking back, I probably should have called a cab for her, much less myself, but I didn't want to leave my brother's wife in the hands of a stranger.

So I drove her back to my place, knowing she'd probably yell at me later for driving drunk, but it was far from the first time I had done so.

Eventually we made it, with her half-asleep and half-babbling on the way.

After fumbling with my keys I let her in, rummaging through the closet for some blankets for her.

What makes you think I'd want to sleep there? she asked after I offered her the couch.

Maybe I could have done the chivalrous thing and given her my bed, but I was tired, I like my bed, and she should be happy I let her in my house.

Because I told you to.

Probably not the best thing to say, but after all I did for her, you'd think she'd be a little grateful. Oh well, it's not like this is the first time I've tried to be nice but got yelled at because I missed a spot of their mess I had to clean up.

I don't want to.

She tried staring at me, like a drunken gaze would scare me when it's my house.

Deal with it, I said, reminding her that she was a guest in my house.

Though apparently she wasn't quite satisfied by that answer. She stumbled back, raised her hand and brought it down, ready to slap me.

But with her drunken stupor, I easily caught it.

I pulled her close, wanting to get it through her pompous little mind that she was in no place to boss me around.

But then as I glared at her, I saw it.

A sole tear sliding down her cheek.

Cute.

Yeah, this crazy drunken wife of my brother is cute.

I really need to have better taste in women.

But then our eyes locked, and I saw something in them. Something primal, something exciting, something hidden behind the mask she shows the world.

And we kissed.

You know those soft gentle kisses from those Disney fairy tales?

It wasn't anything like that.

Our lips locked, mouths engulfing each other. Hands flew along the other's body, exploring every crevice we could. A chill erupted along my body as she squeezed my butt. My hands found their way up her deliciously smooth legs, soon moving into the confines of her little black dress.

I soon pulled away, knowing she didn't mean that and that it had been so long since I got to kiss a girl like that. It was just a moment of weakness, an exhilarating, indescribable moment of weakness, but that's all. I mean, I couldn't truly love her.

Even after all those years of dreams filled with her tender smile and the way things could have been.

It was just a fantasy.

One that couldn't be.

But then, as I turned to walk away, to get away before things got any worse, she placed her hand upon my shoulder and our eyes locked once more. And with a gentle nod and a ferocious kiss, all my self-restraint left, leaving only an animalistic, lustful desire remaining.

I moved my hands once more beneath her dress, this time needing to get rid of the obstructive cloth. And with a swift motion the black fabric flew across the room. I stood back for a second, unable to do anything but stop and stare at the reality of the figure that had invaded my dreams so many times.

Wow.

She smiled at the comment, before removing her bra and underwear. And with a swift motion her heels flew across the floor and she ran toward me.

I couldn't embrace her soon enough. I felt her bare body against my still-clothed one, a problem she quickly took to solving. With her knocking off my jacket and her lips against my neck, all those dreams faded away. This was something more, something real. Not some construction of my imagination. And I wanted to give her the night someone like her deserves.

Not here babe, I said gently, lifting her in my arms. Her bare body rested so easily in my arms as she gazed up at me, a look of confusion and curiosity present.

I took her to the bedroom, and gently placed her on my bed.

She smiled as she lunged at me, my clothes quickly falling to the side, leaving me in only my boxers. I laid down beside her, our skin touching, sending shivers along both of our bodies. And then she rolled me over, staring over me on all fours, with a wild smile across her face as I took in every facet of that amazing body. Her hands danced along my skin, and began making their way lower.

And I knew exactly what she wanted.

I took her hand in mine and led her down to my waist.

But then she fell over me.

Cody, she said, her face down in my mattress.

What was that? I asked, sure—or at least hopeful—that I had misheard her.

She turned over, our eyes locking once more.

Nothing, just take me, she pleaded through heavy eyes.

And as I felt her breast resting in my hand, I wanted nothing more to comply, to take her queue and live this life for all it's worth.

But I knew her.

Not so different than all those drunken girls I've met.

Fueled by lust and loneliness, they say their 'I love you's' to anyone willing to hold them for a moment, to give them what they need, only to forget them the next day.

And despite my raging hormones telling me to continue, to love a girl so beautiful, so unpredictable, so perfect…I can't.

Cody, please, she said again, though her movement had become more sluggish, more tiring.

And I knew what I had to do.

Run.

I got up from the bed, bolted out the door, and slammed it behind me before running to the bathroom. I purged the desire from my body, trying to focus my mind on anything other than the beautiful girl in my bed.

Yeah, that's right. Zack Martin, self-proclaimed ladies' man had a beautiful, naked, willing girl in his bed while he was jacking off in his bathroom, hoping and praying she didn't come looking.

Pathetic…right?

Damn conscience.

After the deed was done, I waited a while longer, just sitting on the toilet thinking about what kind of mess I got myself in. Or maybe I was waiting to hope she fell asleep and didn't come looking for me. I mean, I'm a guy; how can I resist that? And she wasn't willing to take no for an answer.

But maybe that was okay. It would only be for one night, and then we could have everything go back to normal. Cody wouldn't have to know. Heck, after taking care of his drunk wife because he passed out, I deserved it. And it's not like I forced her to do anything. No, she started it. She wanted it. How is that wrong?

But she didn't even know what she was doing. Saying Cody…she was lost and confused. And here I was, a guy perfectly willing to take someone like that.

I'm better than that.

Despite some mistakes I had made before.

So I hid in the bathroom for a while, hoping she'd fall asleep and leave me alone.

Yep…so much for mister macho.

But then, once I figured it was safe, I finally got out, and as quietly as I could, I peeked into my room. And there she was, passed out on my bed, snoring ever so softly, and as beautiful as she was before. I stared at her for a moment longer than I probably should have, and noticed her shivering. So I grabbed some old blankets out of the closet and draped them over him, trying not to stare at her exposed figure.

And then I left the room, deciding after a night like this it was time for some rest. I grabbed the blankets I got out for her earlier and took my place on the couch.

Funny, she got my bed and I got the couch. Damn women always seem to get what they want.

I didn't sleep well that night. Didn't surprise me much though; the couch was lumpy so I couldn't find a good position to lay, but most of all, I couldn't stop thinking about Bailey.

I kept thinking about what I could have done differently. If I should have slept with her, who would know? She was way too out of it to remember, and really, I wanted it. I couldn't believe I'd just let it get away like that.

But maybe she would have remembered. She would have told Cody, and then, what would that mean?

Could I have stopped her sooner? Maybe I should have taken her back to Cody's house. I mean, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded me picking the lock this time. I could have carried her to the bed like I did here, and then left, and none of this would have happened.

I gazed at the clock, seeing it was five in the morning, and I had, maybe gotten an hour of sleep. One thing was for sure, there is no way in hell I was going in to work after a night like that. After calling in sick, I turned the news on, the suffocating blanket of my thoughts too much to bear alone.

I really didn't pay attention to the news, just taking in the sound and the pictures they showed. Eventually the drunkenness from the night before faded and I discovered the hangover that was bound to follow. If it didn't hurt so much I would have walked to the bathroom and taken something, but I was afraid that any movement would have caused my head to fall apart.

Zack?

I heard the voice call out, soft and afraid.

You're awake? I asked, the answer obvious, but couldn't think of anything else to say. I got up, my head still spinning and I saw she was still naked (and still quite hot) so I quickly stared down at the floor.

Your clothes are by the couch. Get dressed and I'll take you home.

I ran by her, not wanting to look at her, to see something that couldn't be mine.

After taking about a dozen aspirin for my head, I got dressed, making a note that I needed to clean up my room even more than usual. The bed was a mess, the blanket I gave her last night was on the floor and I was pretty sure I saw the remnants of last Tuesday's dinner hiding behind my dresser. We then got back in the car, awkward silence filling the air instead of the annoying conversations of last night. Part of me wanted to say something, but really, what do you say to someone like that. 'How are you feeling after we made out and nearly slept together last night?' Yeah, that wouldn't make things any less awkward.

So instead we rode in silence, and after the longest five-minute drive of my life, we made it to Cody's house. It was funny; we lived so close, but still hardly saw each other. When we were younger, I remember freaking out when he left for math camp for a week. Now it was hardly unusual for us to go a month without talking. We both had our own lives, so I guess that made sense.

Thanks for taking care of her, Cody said, rubbing his head, obviously still having a worse hangover than me. He never was one to do things in moderation. He was either all school, or all business, or in this case, all party.

Not a problem, that's what brothers are for, I answer, trying to act like this was no big deal. Nothing really happened, so I decided to just leave out the details.

Yeah, I think I might have drunk a bit much last night.

A bit? Bro, you were trying to convince London to invest in a public force of killer penguins to stop the furbies from starting another Spanish Inquisition.

I still had no idea where that one came from, but the drunken mind works in some strange ways. As we talked, like everything was normal, I noticed Bailey slowly slink away, and from the hurt hidden behind those eyes, I knew all too well what was going through her mind.

That I had slept with her, taken advantage of her.

And while I came close, and will never forget that beautiful body or that wild kiss, I stepped away from Cody's house knowing that I wasn't a total bum.

And now, nine months later, I walk away from the hospital, knowing that was one night I can never run from. I see her glance back again as I walk by, the question burying its way into my skull, and I want nothing more than to yell that I wasn't that type of person.

But what would that solve?

No, this is easier for us all; Cody can live happily ever after none the wiser of what might have been. Maybe I should have straightened things out with Bailey, told her what really happened, but I doubt she'd believe me. Heck, she'd probably think that I was just lying to make things right.

Self-righteous little bitch.

She probably thinks I'm the one who started this whole thing, not the one who gave her drunk-ass my bed and did the noble things despite the fact that she didn't give a damn who I was.

But that's in the past.

Though that kid isn't.

And as he grows, I'll see her heart break that day he'll call me Dad.

I'll smile when he asks his mom why me and her don't talk much.

I'll stand back as the family falls apart.

And I'll cry for that innocent soul as the lies shatter the marriage around him.

A/N: It might have taken a while, but I'm really happy with how this turned out. Thanks once again to the-lovely-anomaly for betaing this.

While this story is officially over now, I would like to do a sequel, and have already thought quite a bit about it.

Anyway, please review, and I will see you soon...