It'd been days since he'd heard from her. He'd called her countless times. Left messages and she hadn't answered. He was slightly angry at her. This was the thanks he got from stopping her from getting hurt at the Bar & Grill. That's cool, he thought. He decided it was time to see her. He hauled a cab to her apartment at the Palace Hotel and knocked on her door.

Lily walked to the door with poise and grace, even though she felt like she was breaking.

"Rufus, what are you doing here?" She had been avoiding him for days now because she didn't want to have to admit that her life just wasn't complete without him. She knew that if she lied, he'd see right through her. So, she'd attempted to put this moment off as long as possible. She didn't want to admit why she'd gone to see him, but more importantly, she didn't want to admit to him why she'd been upset enough to get drunk.

"You haven't returned my calls," he said dryly.

"I've been really busy."

"Too busy for me, Lil?"

"My life doesn't revolve around you, Rufus."

"Clearly." The way in which he said that cut her like a thousand knives. She heard the hurt in his voice and it made her hurt.

"Rufus…"

"Maybe it was mistake to come here. Maybe you aren't worth talking to." He began to walk towards the door.

"Rufus, wait. I'm sorry. I just—I didn't know what to say to you."

He turned back around and looked at her. Really looked at her. He could tell that she had been crying for her eyes were slightly red and blotchy. She had obviously put make-up to cover it up, but he could still see it. Her eyes didn't have a sparkle in them. He realized that her arms were wrapped around her as if she was holding herself together. Honestly, it frightened him. He hated seeing his Lily hurt.

"Why did you come to see me last night?" Rufus asked once again, knowing this time she would answer.

"Because I missed you." Feeling as if she needed to further explain herself, she continued, "I miss consulting you on my life. I miss just talking to you. I miss calling you when I'm having what you call 'a Lily crisis. I miss your friendship, Rufus."

"I miss you too, Lil. But I wish you'd stop doing this to me."

"What do you mean, Rufus?"

"You tell me you miss me and that you want to work things out then you choose somebody else. All I am is a second option to you. I'm trying to move on, Lily. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't get in the way. Because, Lil, you aren't an easy person to get over. It took me years to forget about you, then you enter my life and—it's just really hard, Lil. Sure, I still love you and care about you, but honestly there's only so much someone who loves you can take before I have to let go because I'm at my breaking point," he was upset now.

"So we can't be friends?" Tears were in Lily's eyes now. She couldn't just quit him cold turkey. She needed him around even if it was only sporadically.

"I don't think I can be friends with you, Lil. Not for a while, at least."

She took a deep breath in. She understood why he was saying these things, but that didn't make it hurt any less. "When did things get so complicated, Rufus?"

"I don't know, Lil. I don't know."

"Things used to be so much easier."

"I know. Why was that?"

"Because I had you," Lily said, her breath catching in her throat.

And suddenly Rufus couldn't stop himself. He leaned forward and his lips crashed on hers. Everything was forgotten. Their children. Bart. Bex. Nothing else mattered at this moment, except each other. The truth was the fire of passion between them had never gone out. It had just been dimmed for a while. All it had needed was a little rekindling and firewood to be added. Soon there kiss grew into pure and utter ardor and the kisses began trailing to the neck and before they knew it they had stumbled into the bedroom.

Unbeknownst to both, Lily and Rufus, Eric had witnessed the entire thing. Now, he was torn. Should he tell Serena? Or should he confront his mother? Great, another thing for him to worry about.