I was so confused.

For one moment there I actually thought she was going to forgive me.

I guessed that I just waited too long.

I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left. The fact is, I was afraid.

Yes, CDC was actually afraid.

I thought that those picture's were real and I was afraid that if I talked to her, I'd have found out that I was all a game. Or that James was better then me.

Man that sounds wimpy!

I was going over those thoughts when Tawnie walked in, carrying a very fussy Autumn.

This was the second time our fighting had caused Autumn to cry.

I felt kind of guilty about that. After seeing my parents fight all the time (and eventually divorce) I swore I would never let my kids see or hear me fight with their mom.

It didn't matter to me that Autumn had no idea what we were saying or what was going on, our fighting had still upset her.

Then I looked at Tawnie. She had this manner about her, as if she was pretending not to notice me.

"Alright." I started as I straightened up (from bending over, sweeping up the pieces of porcelain). "How much did you hear?"

"What me?!" She faked laughed. "I just came in to fix Autumn another bottle… she likes the eat! But anyway… I didn't hear any…" Her voice drifted away as I shot her a look of disbelief.

"Everything…" she said softly.

I sighed. "Well that's just great… The whole world might has well know it now! Chad Dylan Cooper was stupid and jealous and could think straight! He was to stupid to talk to anyone! So he just give up the best things he ever had!"

Tawnie had been looking down the whole time I'd been ranting, but then she looked up through her lashes. "You really mean that don't you?"

Then she walked over to there counter, and all while keeping her eyes on me, began to expertly make a bottle, using one hand.

"Chad, you know… when you first left, I hated you for it… for what you did to her… That song 'Today' was mostly stuff I told her. But I… I don't know why but for some reason, I believe you… I believe you really feel stupid about what you did…" She sighed as she screwed the lid on the bottle. There was not one drop of formula, anywhere in the kitchen, or on her leopard print pants.

"Chad… It's one thing for me to believe you, but for Sonny… She cried for days straight at first, she had trusted you so much… had loved you so much. And though she won't admit it to me, I know she still loves you. She's just looking out for Autumn she doesn't want to try and be comforting a ten-year-old while her heart is broken, again."

I started to protest. "But that won't ever happen ag-"

She raised her free and up in the air, signaling me to be quiet.

"Regardless! She has a scar from it… and I guess that scar is a constant reminder that you are capable of leaving her. You are going to have to prove yourself… and your whole CDC-Charming-crap isn't going to cut it. Because overall, you broke her."

She picked up the bottle and turned to leave, he heels making loud clicking sounds against the tile floor.

She stopped at the doorway, only long enough to tell me one last thing.

"And the dirty dish."

Thank you, Iworkintheattic for that line about breaking Sonny and the dirty dish!

Sorry for the wait! Life is crazy here!