Lulu took off running immediately. I watched as the heavy door slammed shut, causing my body to involuntarily flinch at the loud sound. Salty tears prickled my eyes as I squeezed them tight, willing them not to fall. I couldn't believe that I had just said such a horrible thing to her. I knew all her insecurities, weaknesses and fears. Rather than treat her with any sort of respect or compassion, I had used them to try to get what I want. I had never been more of a Quartermaine.

Dillon's the father. He deserves to know.

I knew even before she told me what she was going to do, and I guess I should be grateful that she had the decency to even let me in on her decision. She knew that I would try to fight it, but she told me anyhow. Even in such an awkward situation, she was looking out for my best interests. I tried to play it off that she was being selfish, but she made the best decision she could for both of us. I wasn't ready to raise a child, no matter how much I tried to pretend. Half out of obligation and half out of family pressure, I had pushed for her to have the baby. Yet, I still felt relief when she finally told me.

Well, I didn't take it lightly, and I hope you both know that. I'm going to terminate this pregnancy.

It was only later when I was with Georgie, cleaning out the boathouse that I had been able to admit it out loud. I had allowed her to comfort me, knowing that it was someone else I wanted to share this grief with. No matter how much she tried to be there for me, Georgie couldn't understand what I was going through. The only person who could understand was the person that I wanted to hate the most. And needed more than anything.

Do you think that saying horrible things to me is going to make me want to have this baby?

Lulu was the strongest woman I had ever met. She tried so hard to put on this big front that she didn't need anyone, but inside, she was just a little girl who wanted someone to love her. She had never had that stability. With her mother sick and her father always on the run, she'd had it as bad as I had in the parental department. Sure, she had her two brothers, but they had been kids themselves. And try as they might, her grandmother and aunt were never enough for Lulu. She wanted a family, and she could have used this baby to have one. She could have used our baby to trap me. I would have given in. I'd promised her that I would marry her if that was what she needed. I know she loves me, and she proved it when she didn't use the situation to get to me.

How the hell would you know? You never even met my mother! If you want to have a baby so badly, go out and have one with Georgie!

More than anything I said tonight, I regret bringing up her mother the most. She was right, I don't know her mother. It wasn't fair for me to go to such a malicious place intentionally. Desperation definitely does not bring out the best in me. It only creates this stifling darkness that is too heavy to bear. She had fainted a moment later, and it scared me. Look at the person you have become, I thought to myself. No matter what she had done, she didn't deserve this.

I flipped off the overhead light and headed out of the boathouse. The dark sky was so black that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. The moon had slipped behind a cloud, leaving it even darker than normal. Past the lake, I looked up at the mansion before me. One lone light in the majestic house shone brightly, illuminating a graceful silhouette behind a curtain. I watched the figure for a moment as it paced slowly across the floor. It stopped, dropping its head. Hands covered the face for a minute longer until reaching timidly for the sheer material hanging over the bay window. As the curtain pulled away, a haunted Lulu looked out across the darkened estate.

I wanted to go to her, to tell her that everything would be alright. I wanted to tell her that I supported her decision, to let her know that I would be there to help her in any way that I can. I had promised that when she found out that she was pregnant, and I know now that I should have promised the same thing when she decided that she didn't want to be pregnant anymore. I had always declared that we were in this together, and I needed to be responsible enough to see it to the end.

I took off running, I had to get to her. The cool grass was wet beneath my bare feet as I ran toward the house at full speed. I kept my eyes glued on her standing in the window until I reached the front door. I knew that I was loud as I slipped up the staircase quickly, but I didn't care. I had to see her, I had to feel her, I had to tell her everything.

"Lulu, let me in," I called through the locked door. I knocked twice, loudly enough to elicit a glare from Alice as she stood in the doorway of her bedroom down the hallway. I waved her off dismissively.

"What do you want?" Lulu demanded from the other side. "I don't want to see you, and if you came here to tell me how horrible I am yet again, I don't want to talk to you either. I'm tired, and it's been a hard day. Just give me a break."

"Please, Lu, let me in." I could hear her pause at the door as I spoke to her softly. Her dark shadow blocked some of the light under the door. I reached for the doorknob, knowing that her delicate fingers were resting on the same metal fixture on the other side. "Please, Lu, let me in," I repeated.

Slowly, she pulled the door open and gazed back at me. I knew she wanted to put on an angry façade, but it was already faltering. She turned wordlessly and walked back toward the window. I stood silently, still gripping the knob tightly. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. Before I could even give it another thought, I took a leap of faith and crossed the room in three steps. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her firmly against me. She was crying, her body racked with tears as I held her.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who should be sorry. I am so ashamed of the way I spoke to you today, Lulu. You didn't deserve to be treated that way, and I hope that you can forgive me."

"I have to do this, Dillon. Don't you see that? Please tell me you see that."

I wanted to tell her that I did, but I couldn't. Instead, I turned her around in my arms and buried my face in her long golden hair. Her tears soaked the collar of my tee shirt, her nails digging into my back as she clung to me desperately. "This will be okay, Lu. I'm not sure how or when, but I promise you that it will somehow be okay in the end."