Telling Lulu that I loved her, and really meaning it, changed everything. It seemed life had been doing that a lot lately, changing on me. At first, I wasn't sure that it was what I wanted, and now, I can't imagine having it any other way. Looking down into her soft blue eyes in that moment, I knew that I had found everything I had ever wanted in her. The family I never had, the ability to believe that someone would always be there for me, the sense of home.

And in the next moment, I realized that I had to go take that away from someone else. I had spent the majority of the last four years in love with Georgie Jones, and as easily as it had come to me, our relationship had come to pass. I never imagined a time when I wouldn't be in love with the gentle, intelligent brunette, but it was here. I cared about her; I knew that I always would because she was my first love. However, as most first loves do, our love had faded.

"I have to go tell her," I said simply, twisting a long tendril of Lulu's hair between my fingers as she leaned against me. She smiled and nodded silently, understanding the weight of the impending moment without me having to voice it. Standing on her tip toes, she brushed a gentle kiss over my lips and wrapped her arms around my neck tightly. Inhaling deeply, I took the intoxicating scent of honey and vanilla infiltrate my senses.

"Be careful," she whispered as she stepped away. "Come home to us soon."

I'm a Spencer, we learn from our mistakes.

As I headed toward the garage to get my car, I let the image of Lulu fill my mind. It was that image that would have to get me through the next hour, to remind me that although this was hard, this was the right thing.

"Get it together, Quartermaine," I chided myself as I slid behind the steering wheel of my black convertible. A Mercedes, it was a gift from Grandfather for graduating from high school. Georgie had never liked the car, calling it ostentatious. Lulu had always loved it, appreciating the speed and power of such a vehicle. They were so different in nearly every way. In fact, the only thing that connected them was the fact that I had fallen in love with both of them. And they had fallen in love with me.

I know that I made the right choice. It's just that something inside of me changed.

The drive across town to Kelly's was the shortest of my life. What usually took at least ten minutes passed in a matter of seconds. The lights were all green as I passed through them, fate seemed to be on my side. As I pulled my car into the back parking lot, I could see Georgie through the window in the kitchen. Her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, she was pouring over a book while sitting at the counter. Every once in awhile, she would take a long sip of coffee and lick her upper lip. It was classic Georgie behavior when she was deep in study mode. Mike said something, breaking her concentration but eliciting a laugh.

"HehE

Hey, Dillon. What can I get you?" Mike asked as I slipped in the back door.

"Just a glass of water. I have a feeling that I won't be here very long," I told him as I walked by.

Georgie looked up and smiled when I came in the diner. "Hey. Where have you been?"

"I got here as soon as I could," I replied, feeling guilty for my half lie. "Can we get a private table?"

"Sure, let's take that one in the corner. I'll be right over."

I sat down with my back facing the window, well aware that if I had anything to distract me, I would avoid her gaze when I broke the bad news. She deserved to have me look her in the eyes and tell her the truth. When she finally sat down across from me, I fingered the red and white checkered tablecloth, took a deep breath and started to tear her world apart one word at a time.

"We have to talk."

"Uh oh."

My first impulse was to reassure her, but I knew that wouldn't help anything in the end. "Georgie, Lulu kept the baby. She didn't go through with the abortion. We're going to have a child together."

"Oh, wow." Her jaw dropped, her eyes were wide. She looked at me, stunned, struggling to find the right words. "Well, congratulations? I mean, I know that this is what you wanted."

"It is," I emphasized. "This baby is a part of me. I wouldn't have wanted to live my life without it, to be honest. I had made peace with the choice, but it was never what I wanted."

I'm so confused. I don't even know where to begin. I want to make my life count for something. I mean, I have to after the choices that I've made.

"It's also a part of Lulu," she realized aloud.

I nodded. "She's a big part of why I am here. Georgie, I have to try this with her."

"Dillon, she doesn't want you to be with her out of obligation."

"It wouldn't be."

"What does that mean?"

"It would be because I want to be with her."

"Do you love her, Dillon?" I was silent, we both knew that I did. "How could you do this to me? How could you fall in love with her?"

"I'm sorry."

"So am I," she whispered, pushing back her chair and running out the door behind me. I turned around just in time to see her pass by the window in a lavender blur. Her book was still open on the table in front of me. I picked it up and carried it over to Mike. Handing it to him along with a ten dollar bill, I asked him to return it to her next time she came in. He nodded, and I disappeared back in the kitchen to get to my car.

When I got back outside, everything bad that had just happened left me. Leaning against the hood of my car, her face turned toward the sun, was the woman I loved. Her back arched seductively, her long legs stretched out, she looked like a pinup girl from the 50s in her short sundress. "Wow."

"Exactly the reaction I was looking to get," she murmured as she slid easily off the hood. "Even pregnant, I still look good."

"That you do," I told her as our lips met. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought you could use the support. I know this wasn't easy."

I shook my head. "It wasn't, but it's over. Now what?"

"Well, I know we have a lot to work out, but first, I think I have an idea you'll like very much."

"Oh, yeah?" I asked with an arched eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Take me home," she purred.

You know, a child -- even the thought of one -- makes a connection between two people even when there's nothing else there.