Disclaimer: I would love to own the stories of all the books I read, but I don't even have my own characters in my fic to own. I own my ideas and nothing more, unfortunately.

A/N: Well, I'm back! I am finally on Spring Break, meaning school is letting me rest. Writing this has been a wonderful break from studying for APs and looking at colleges. I have stayed within my deadline (nearly). Thanks for all your support. Please review! Actually, my break has just finished and I've taken one of my APs…one more to go.

Thanks to my original reviewers: xkiroxshinobix, Stillhopeful, Stasya, Steph, MIDNIGHT-PIXIE, Bac, Taima1, Latinachikita, and Bethany.

Chapter 11: To Tell the Truth

It was all over.

Kit sat, stunned. In less than an hour, her whole life had changed. She was still slightly reeling from the shock of it all. She thought back to when it all began, not that long ago. William had entered the kitchen…

William entered the kitchen to see Kit turned with her back towards him. She did not seem to notice him.

"Kit," he uttered to make her aware of his presence, closing the door from the hallway into the kitchen. "Was there something you wanted to say to me?"

She spun around. There was a slightly frenzied look about her and her eyes shone with passion, but when she spoke, her voice was calm and deliberate. "Yes, there is," she began. She took a deep breath before saying, "I'm sorry, but I can't marry you, William."

William simply stood there for a moment, silent and still. Then he said, "I've been expecting this, Kit."

Kit blinked. Did he know? She had been expecting an attempt to win her over, or angry words, or something. But not this.

He continued, "I have been told that it is often common for one to feel as you do before a marriage. Nerves, that's all. 'Tis natural. I'm sure they will all be gone in a – " He stopped abruptly.

Kit was shaking her head. She had realized what William was referring to and knew she had to stop him from holding onto hope any longer.

She took a step closer to him. "William," she said, looking hard into his eyes, willing him to believe her. "I cannot marry you."

William saw the resolution in her eyes and knew nothing he could say would change her mind. He visibly wilted. Suddenly, the whole atmosphere of the room became oppressive and was pushing down on him. He found it difficult to remain standing. He dragged his feet forward to collapse onto a chair at the kitchen table, where he sat slumped over.

After a moment in which he tried to compose himself, he looked up and asked, "Why not, Kit?"

The obvious pain he was in shone through his eyes and caused his voice to tremble when he forced himself to ask the question he had to ask, as much as he knew he would hate any answer he was given. Seeing him like that made Kit hate herself for doing this to him. Should she tell him the truth – that she was in love, not with her fiancé, but with another man? A man she did not see for months at a time and who always managed to infuriate her no matter what he did? A man who broke her heart every time he left and who always brought a smile to her face when he reappeared? A man who could torture her and drive her nearly out of her mind with his stubbornness and fierce pride, but who was so complex he could challenge and interest her? A man whose piercing blue eyes were so deep she could drown in them as easily as if they were the ocean? No, of course she should not. Another answer would suffice.

Kit took a deep breath. "I don't love you," she began. Seeing an exasperated look on his face and knowing he was going to interrupt her, she continued hurriedly. "I know you know this, but I realized something today. I cannot marry someone if I do not love him."

Kit stopped pacing, which she had not realized she was doing, and turned to face William, who was following her with his eyes from his seat at the kitchen table. She went to the seat directly across from him, sat, and looked deep into his eyes, which looked slightly bewildered.

She smiled slightly. "There is another reason for why I cannot marry you."

Even though he did not say anything, William's eyes plainly asked, "There's more?"

Kit nodded. "You don't love me either, William."

William's reaction startled Kit. She had not expected him to do anything other than try to convince her of his affections. She had never seen him like this. He stood up so quickly that Kit was amazed. Now it was he who was pacing. He looked very agitated and upset.

"William," Kit began in a consoling tone, intent on calming him. She did not know what to do with this William.

"No. No, Kit," William snapped, not seeming to hear her. "'Tis one matter to tell me you cannot marry me because you don't love me, but to tell me that you will not marry me because I don't love you!" His voice was rising heatedly with passion. "Oh, no, that is another matter entirely. I know people think you a witch for you peculiar behavior, for knowing things you should not. But to tell me I'm not in love. You do not know what I am feeling. I know what is in my heart. And I know that I am in love!"

"Yes, you are," Kit said quietly, gently. Her serenity surprised him. "I did not say that you were not in love, just not in love with me. There is a difference between admiring and loving someone."

William had stopped pacing and was now simply staring at Kit.

"You admire me, William, for my old lifestyle, for my individuality, maybe even for my oddities that you mentioned earlier," Kit continued, a little light in her eyes. "You have been loyal and, I admit, I have loved your admiration and devotion. You were kind to me when I first arrived here and you never ran even when my ways continually shocked you. But that is not love. Love is something much more than kindness and admiration. You know this. You are in love, William, but not with me."

While Kit was explaining herself, William managed to calm down. He was gazing at Kit with a look of wonder. Then he abruptly turned, opened the door, and walked out of the kitchen without a word.

"William?" Kit called after him, tentatively.

He did not turn around, but he said, "I must go. I need to think. Goodbye, Kit."

William continued to the front door. Before pulling it open, he looked into the company room, where Judith was still, intent upon her knitting. He looked at her a moment, his face quietly lighting up with understanding. There was no visible difference on the stoic face other than a subtle change in his eyes, but Kit saw it. This time William did turn around. He saw Kit through the open door of the kitchen. She had not moved, but sat, watching him from the table. She gave a small tired, knowing smile that showed William she understood. He returned the look, and then opened the front door.

He was gone.

Kit heard a soft thumping noise approaching her across the wooden floor of the kitchen. She did not pick her head up from its resting place on her arm on the table. Mercy put her hand gently on Kit's shoulder.

"Is everything all right, Kit?" she asked tentatively. She never knew what to expect from her cousin nowadays. Sometimes she simply looked into hollow eyes, eyes that were not really seeing anything. At other times, she experienced Kit's wrath, something she did not try to provoke and never deserved. Mercy was never sure about what Kit would do next. She had not been herself lately. To Mercy, this tragedy was like a beautiful spring day without the chirruping of the birds to wake one up in the morning. Something was missing. Kit had always been unique, different from everyone she had ever met. She added something to everybody's lives to make them interesting. Once Kit had been in Wethersfield for a few months and the necessary adjustments had been made, most people had come to love her for being herself, her strange ways included. Mercy certainly had and she had had a hard time imagining her life before Kit's arrival and what it would be like without her passionate spirit. Unquestionably, it would have been dull. However, these last few days had given her idea of what it would have been like. She did not like it. Worst of all, when Kit was not, well, Kit, it was a bit frightening. If she was not being herself, she completely stopped being. Mercy hated to see her beloved cousin in such a state.

However, this time, when Kit looked up, Mercy was relieved to see the real Kit looking back at her out of those dark eyes. True, they were sadder and more tired than the eyes that belonged to the Kit she had known before. But they were Kit's eyes. They were wiser and more mature now, not as innocent, but they were definitely hers.

Kit gave Mercy a little smile. "Yes, dear. Everything is all right now."

A/N: Yes, another chapter finished! I'm sorry it's so short. I would like to thank you all for being so patient with me. You are the best. I have no major news that I feel I must share, so you are all spared for the time being. I will skip ahead to beg you all to review, something I have not done in a while. I have politely requested and hinted (oh, so subtly, may I add) the past few chapters, but I am now on my knees begging. If you read this story, please, please, review! I love all reviews. Thank you in advance. I will try to update before summer, but you must be patient. My offer on threats is still up for grabs if you want to take advantage of it (for an example of a good and entertaining threat, look to Taima1's review for Chapter 10). Once again, please review! Until next time…

Thanks to: Singingperson, ffgirlmoonie, Sarralyn Numairsri, and Halli-Raye.

Author's Note: Do you all hate me now? I'm sorry it took so long to update, but I think I have good reason. I've moved into my dorm room, had Welcome Week, and I have classes pretty much everyday. I am not sleeping at college. I'm so exhausted. So please review and make me feel better!