A/N: I told you guys you'd be in for a treat this week, and I was write. A very smutty love scene (you are all warned ;D), along with a GREAT, AWESOME ending ;D And nearly a 10,000 word chapter. I hope you all enjoy, and please review!

I wanna give a special thanks to my NEW reviewers :) I hope you guys all keep reading and reviewing! It makes me SO very happy!

And of course, here it is, a snippet from Past The Sorrow an AMAZING story by my best fanfic friend waterwicca:

"Stay here. I'm going to get you some ice," he kissed her one last time, pausing in the doorway to take in the sight of her before he left as if he thought she would disappear the second he was gone. He thought the separation was bad before, but it was a million times worse now that he had something to actually worry about.

Kendall ran downstairs as quietly as he could, grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, and then hurried back up to happily see Sage right where he had left her. He approached with the ice and gave her a 'hello' kiss. Kendall lifted the hem of her shirt, with Sage's assistance, and held it up with one hand and pressed the ice against her skin with the other.

"Here…" Sage spoke softly and pulled away to lift the torn shirt fully over her head and threw it onto the floor.

Kendall forced himself not to stare at her for too long. She wore a black bra that complimented the bruising on her skin. In the bright lighting, he could see several small scars along different parts of her arms and torso. He knew that they were most likely caused by Elliot, but even with all of the evidence of abuse marring her skin, she was still the most perfect, beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"I bet this isn't how you imagined the first time seeing me topless," Sage joked half heartedly with a sly smile.

"Shut up…" Kendall murmured with a grin as he used his free hand to hold one of hers. "You do look pretty hot though…" he added with a confident smirk.

"Take yours off… Fair is fair…" she smiled playfully and wrapped her fingers in the fabric of his shirt before lifting it over his head. Now they stood equal, just the way they preferred it. Sage's eyes shamelessly took in the sight of his defined muscles.

"You're staring," Kendall teased with a playful poke to the side of her torso that wasn't injured.

"So are you," she insisted with a light laugh. He chuckled back and stepped forward to stand between her legs. He embraced her delicately as she placed a soft kiss to his heart.

The pair were always intimate like this, but it was the first time with the lesser amount of clothing. Sexual tension constantly flowed between them, but they never felt pressured to do anything. They knew it would happen when the time was right. For now, they would just enjoy their quiet moment together.

"Now everything is starting to make sense."

Yup. I know you want to read it, so go do it! :D And remember to read and review!

Chapter Nineteen: Doubts

After their meeting at the pond, Kendall had no choice but to confide in Bryan Tregger his secret about Stella. At this point, Kendall didn't really care, seeing as the fact that his mother was proved wrong, and Stella was up here floating around in his mind, soaking up every last ounce of his thoughts,

"What do you mean?"

"Remember at breakfast the first morning you were here, you asked me if I knew a Stella who lived next door? And the way she kissed you at the General Store?"

"Oh, yeah."

Kendall and Bryan Tregger sat on the burnt orange couch in Kendall's room at midnight that night, Kendall letting all the skeletons out of his closet with a smile. If his best friends at home didn't believe in him at all, maybe Bryan would. At least Bryan Tregger had a girlfriend whom he loved unlike Logan, Carlos and James who didn't know the first thing about love. Kendall needed someone to tell about all of this. The fact that he and Stella were back together in the same place was a dream, and he still couldn't believe it was happening. It racked his brain, and made him feel like anything was possible.

"So, you're gonna see her tomorrow?" Bryan asked, the two watching some stupid MTV show neither was really paying attention to. Kendall nodded, and fixed himself on the couch to his own comfort with a smile on a face as he chuckled.

"I can't wait," he said smiling widely. Bryan chuckled and sat back on the couch, with a deep sigh.

"She really is a beautiful girl, Kendall," Bryan said his eyes going wide as he stumbled over his words. "I-I mean for you, I have a girlfriend," he said awkwardly, knowing how possessive and protective Kendall was over Stella firsthand.

"She is. It hurt to leave her tonight," Kendall spoke softly, his green eyes weighted with a bit of sadness. Jenny wanted them home for dinner, especially since it was a dinner in Kendall's honor of staying the week. Kendall had begged Stella to come with them, seeing as she looked like she hadn't eaten in days, and he never wanted her out of his sight again. However, she politely declined him, but telling him tomorrow at noon, she would be on Main Street, and that they could spend the day together. Taking anytime he could get with her, Kendall agreed with a soft, passionate kiss on the lips, she tore herself away from him, escaping into the night, lying to him and telling her she had shelter when she really didn't. Truthfully, Kendall hadn't stopped thinking of her for a second since they had parted hand, lips and eyes. The second she had left his sight, his heart sunk and immediately ceased its rapid fire beat, as if it was the last time he would ever see her again.

"Well, you'll see her tomorrow, dude. I'll tell my mom we're going out to Main Street, and playing hockey and shit like that. You go with Stella, and I'll go with Lisa," Bryan said with a smile, an agreement being made between the two boys.

"Thanks man, I appreciate it," Kendall said with a smile. Bryan nodded, and the two boys began to turn their attention to the TV. Kendall's hand lay in his pocket, fidgeting with his cell phone, his mind going from Stella to Logan. Kendall bit his lower lip and wondered how things were going at the Mitchell house. He imagined that everything was going fine, and that Logan was okay, but in his heart he knew there was no way that was possible.

He felt bad about not responding to Logan's message, especially since he was supposed to be there for his best friends. Kendall had always been there for his brothers, just like they had always been there for him, well, except this time. He had gotten a few texts from Carlos and James this morning about how sorry they were, and that they wanted to text. But during dinner, he had gotten a few angry texts like "you're a jerk" and "Logan needs you". As much as Kendall really wanted to answer them, he couldn't help but feel so hurt, and destroyed by his brother's words. Not only was he the closest to Kendall in the group, Logan was the only one who had seen Kendall at his absolute lowest when his father passed away.

Logan walked into Kendall's room, not knowing what to expect. Kelly Mitchell had gotten a tearful, heartbreaking phone call from Kim, asking even though it was eleven on a school night, if Logan could come over and talk to a destructive, depressed Kendall. It had been only two weeks since his father's death, and Kendall was more than devastated. Katie was afraid to come near him, Kim was afraid to come near him, heck, Logan was a bit worried what resided behind the door.

He poked his head in the dark room, and saw Kendall huddled up on his bed, leaning back against the pillows in the darkness, his eyes staring blankly ahead of him. Just by the light from the moon and stars on this brisk Minnesota night, Logan could see half of Kendall's wrecked face. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, hair mussed, dried tears were down his cheeks, and his face looked aggravated as could be.

"K-kendall?" Logan stuttered out nervously, walking more into the room. Kendall looked at Logan with fierce, dark green eyes, and then back straight ahead where his eyes lay before. Logan closed the door behind him, taking more steps onto the white carpet of the room. Logan felt as if he were in some horror movie and some killer clown was going to pop up any second and take his life.

"Logan, help me," Kendall said stoically, biting his lip in heartache, his voice cracking a bit. Just the tone of Kendall's voice was enough for Logan's heart to drop to the depths of his body.

"What's wrong, bud?" Logan asked lightly, desperately trying to create some sort of easiness between the two. He approached the bed with a thin lipped expression looking at his broken best friend. Kendall shook his head, tears falling down his cheeks his voice weak and defeated.

"I wanted to kill myself today. I actually…I actually thought about it," Kendall spoke with a twisted face, hanging his head in shame, beginning to cry all over again. His back started to rise and fall with quiet muffled sobs. Logan's heart started beating faster and faster hearing the words come out of Kendall's mouth. Kendall was the strongest out of all four of them, and not even Logan had ever had serious suicidal thoughts. It made Logan afraid to talk to Kendall in that moment, thinking he could set him off or something like that.

"S-suicide? Really, Kendall?" Logan asked afraid, sitting down on the bed next to his friend. Kendall swallowed hard, and brought his face back up to stare blankly ahead nodding.

"Yes. Really. I thought about…taking a lot of pills. I-I head a headache, and I went to take some aspirin, and I looked at the pills in my hand…and I just..I-I got these thoughts in my head," Kendall said closing his eyes tightly, as Logan rested his hand on his best friend's forearm. "I could be back with my dad again, and—I wouldn't have to hurt anymore. I can't take anymore hurt Logan, I can't do it," he cried out. "Everyone is scared of me." Logan looked at Kendall, who looked at him in the eyes, brown meeting green in a stare of intensity and helplessness. "I'm scared of me."

Logan had no idea what to say to his fallen friend, squeezing his arm tightly. "You have so much to live for Kendall. Your mom, Katie, me, Carlos, James, and everyone else who loves you," Logan spoke softly with a sad demeanor. "If something were ever to happen to you, everyone would be affected." Kendall looked at Logan and scoffed a bit, thinning his lips out and blinking out some more tears.

"I hurt so bad, Logan. I can't do this, I'm not strong enough. I'm-I'm not as strong without him, he is what made me strong in the first place. I can't hurt anymore," Kendall cried out helplessly, as Logan looked him in the eye with a stern, confident expression.

"Kendall Knight, you are the strongest person I know. And if you think that taking yourself off this Earth is going to help anyone, then you are just being stupid. You think you hurt bad now? Imagine what'd it would be like looking down from Heaven, seeing us, your mom and Katie, and everyone else who knows you hurting like you hurt now," Logan asked him with a bit of waver in his voice. Logan swallowed hard and Kendall looked at him with a confused, upset expression, furrowing his brows together. "We need you here, man. I need you here."

Kendall looked at Logan and smiled a bit, tears falling down his face as he pulled his best friend into a tight hug, something the boys didn't do very often. "I just wanna be okay again," Kendall whispered into Logan's ear, as the last of his warm tears fell down his face.

"I know, Kendall. It just takes time. Everything takes time," Logan whispered into his ear, as he looked out the window towards the moon and stars, squeezing his best friend a bit tighter.

Kendall swallowed hard at the memory, and thought back at how it was nearly a year ago that Logan had caught him with those horrible, scary thoughts in his head. It had been nearly a year since his father had died. As if it hit him as a flash of lightning, he instantly became depressed, his entire body sinking down, not realizing where he was for a few seconds, his hands getting clammy and uncomfortable. He remained nearly lifeless for a few seconds, as Bryan looked over at him with a chuckle.

"Dude? You okay?" Bryan asked with a raised eyebrow. Kendall looked back at him with sadness skewed all over his face as he shook his head yes, trying his best to think of Stella and how he was going to get to see her tomorrow. It was the only thing that was going to get him through this. Kendall's brain was split in thirds at the moment. One third Stella, one third his father, and one third Logan.

At this moment, Kendall couldn't decide which was most important.

"A…date? What do you mean by a date?"

Kendall held his beautiful angel in his arms walking down Main Street, with a smirk on his face. He turned to look at her, holding her warm body closer to him and smiling like the happiest idiot in all of Thief River Falls. His arm was slung around her neck, her blonde hair framing her face beautifully and a small embarrassed smile on her lips. Kendall chuckled, proudly striding down the asphalt with Stella by his side.

"I'm taking you out, love. On a date," Kendall said with a chuckle, confidently using the nickname for his girlfriend he had been planning out since the second he had left her. He didn't want to call her "baby," feeling that was too impersonal and objectifying, and he didn't want to use sweetheart, seeing as Stella was more than a sweetheart to him. Stella's face instantly lit up at the reciprocation of the name and her face turned a bit red, not being used to it.

"I've…never been on a date," Stella said almost embarrassed as Kendall looked at how her entire face seemed to be twisted into excitement, and disappointment of herself. He chuckled and held her closer to him, as her arms slung around his thin waist, nestling herself into his neck as they walked through the crowded sidewalk.

"There is a first time for everything," Kendall spoke out, as he stopped in front of the restaurant that Stella had come into on New Year's Eve. Kendall looked down at her, pushing the hair from her face and kissing her lips softly, immediately smiling into them when they parted. He opened the door for her, motioning her forward as she thanked him with a smile, walking into the bar, everything about New Year's rushing back to her. There were people crowding the bar of course, but not anything like New Years. There were different sports games, and news channels on the televisions, and people were more dispersed sitting at tables and on barstools, rather than at the center of the floor having a rowdy party. Stella took a deep breath as the same hostess came up to her and politely led her and Kendall to their table. Halfway through their descent to the back, Kendall's fingers found Stella's, and he tightly grabbed her hand, giving it a warm squeeze as they made their way to the small little table in the corner, a small candle in the center that was lit, giving a touch of romance to the night.

Kendall went to Stella's chair, and pulled it out for her smiling. "For you, my dear." Stella smiled at him widely and took her seat shyly, tucking her chair in as Kendall sat across from her.

"So, is this what normal people do on dates?" Stella asked curiously, picking up the all too familiar menu and flipping it open.

"No, this is what I do on dates," Kendall spoke out with a smile. "And I'm nowhere near normal." Stella looked up at him and laughed, getting caught in his green eyes, and absolutely adorable dimples. Kendall looked genuinely happy, and she knew he was from the way his mouth turned vertical at the corners, and how the inside corners of his eyes were wide open. Stella closed her eyes and took this all in for a minute. She was here, on a date. She didn't end up here so she could shelter from the cold, or because she was so hungry her head had began to spin, but because her boyfriend had decided to take her to dinner. It made her smile and

It made her feel normal.

Kendall, figuring out what he wanted, immediately put his menu down and grabbed Stella's hand from across the table, interlacing their fingers in wonder and comfort. Stella sighed at the contact, as Kendall's thumb ran across the back of her hand easily; stroking the white skin like it was the finest velvet of a king's crown. Stella looked at him a bit confused, and then down at her hand, eyebrow arched at him.

"Why are you holding my hand?" she asked giggling, trying her best to fish for compliments from Kendall, knowing he was going to be chock full of 'em. Kendall looked in her eyes and swallowed hard, his heart racing inside his chest. He was surprised Stella couldn't hear it, as he sighed deeply, his voice wavering a bit from the sincerity of his statement.

"B-because I don't wanna let go again," Kendall spoke from the heart, smiling through his nervousness like any good gentlemen would.

Stella looked at him in awe, her heart breaking into a million tiny pieces from beautiful shock and magical awe, and quickly melding together again with a smile and gentle kiss on the hand from him.

She couldn't believe Kendall Knight actually loved her.

She couldn't believe she actually loved Kendall Knight.

Stella put her menu down and smiled at her boyfriend with bright blue eyes, feeling the absolutely amazing connection between their hands. As much as kissing, and all the other fun stuff was pleasurable, Stella felt that nothing really beat holding Kendall's hand. It made her feel so connected to him, in a way that she never had felt before meeting him just two months ago.

"You're too sweet, Kendall Knight. Are you sure you don't have another Minnesota girlfriend back home?" Stella asked. Kendall looked at her and sighed deeply, with a small smile on his face, biting his lips. He looked down and chuckled a bit, deciding to really show Stella just how much she meant to him. He had been debating telling her this if he planned on seeing her, but he felt it honest and appropriate.

"I asked a girl out on a date before Christmastime, and after I came back from here, she mentioned it, and we went out to the movies," Kendall said softly. Stella's heart dropped a bit into the pits of her stomach. She hadn't expected her question to actually be truthful. She was just trying her own hand of flirting which obviously wasn't working in her favor. Her hand tensed a bit, and Kendall immediately sensed it with a closed lipped smile on his face, stroking the skin easily again. "We went to the movies, and we didn't talk, or touch, and when I dropped her off, I told her it would never work, because I was in love with someone else, Stella," he spoke softly. "I couldn't even concentrate on her while thinking of you."

He chuckled and looked in her eyes like she was the only thing he could see, ignoring every other sound around him except the musicality of her breathing, and how her chest rose and fell slightly with each breath. He saw how the blue in her eyes returned from a dull blue to a bright shining blue, and that the shadows on her face turned from those of frown to smile.

"You have no idea what you do to me, love," he whispered out with a sly smile and chuckle, bringing her hand up so her arm rested on her elbow on the table, threading his fingers through hers. He kissed the back of her hand again and stared at her for a few seconds, and then immediately looked down at his menu, trying to decide what to get.

Stella was in complete and utter awe.

"Why me, Kendall Knight? Why do I get to love you, and nobody else does?" Stella spoke out in amazement, wanting to know the answer. Kendall looked at her and shrugged with a smile.

"We met on the deck for a reason, Stella. And that's the only explanation I'll ever need for you and me," he said with a smile, holding her hand tightly. Stella smiled at her boyfriend brightly, biting her lower lip in sheer happiness.

She had never in her wildest dreams imagined someone like Kendall Knight coming into her life, but Stella couldn't object anymore.

Kendall and Stella's hands were tightly interlaced with one another as they walked through the small, suburban streets of Thief River Falls. The street lights had begun to turn on as the sun set behind the large mountains, Kendall and Stella insignificantly walking down the street giggling and talking like any other ordinary teenage couple would on a wintry snow day when school was closed.

"It's so weird how we both came back here on the same day," Kendall spoke suspiciously, in a small voice. Stella had told him of her excursions to Cumberland, of course leaving out Cooper, and how she had wandered to pond for some strange reason she couldn't explain. She also had never fully explained to Kendall why she left, and she didn't think he needed to know. She loved him now, with no doubts, and that's all he needed to know.

"Not weird. Just right," Stella said confidently changing the subject, as their hands swung flirtily in time with their steps. They looked to their rights and lefts, seeing all the lights inside the houses click on as the sun disappeared more and more from the sky, the stars coming out to play in the chilly night. Stella hugged her sweater to her frame, and Kendall squeezed her hand as they made their way down the block in silence, just enjoying each other's presence in the nice wintry dusk.

"Wow, that house looks old," Kendall said, motioning his chin to a once beautiful colonial house just a few feet away on the right side of the street, tucked behind some barren trees. It had stark white, dirty siding, beautiful, glassy windows that were boarded up and a few other dents and scratches on it. There was a dusty, broken For Sale sign on the lawn which hadn't looked taken care of in ages, some patches of brown grass peeking up from the previous white snow that had fallen.

"It's still really nice," Stella said with admiration. She turned back to Kendall with a knowing smirk. "Don't judge a book by its cover, Kendall Knight." Kendall looked at her with an arched eyebrow and smile, and then back at the house with his signature Knight grin. His eyes connected with Stella's and she affirmed his suspicion, as the two looked around, and began to descent towards the old house giddily. The path leading up to it was asphalt, and still a little icy.

"Watch your step, love," Kendall spoke out gently, leading the way, holding Stella's hand close behind him as they walked forward.

Luckily for them it wasn't locked, so Kendall opened the large powder blue door, Stella trailing behind him with their hands connected. It was a bit dusty inside, looking like no one had really showed it, or entered it, in months. There was a small living room set up with a couch, coffee table and fire place, all sitting atop a big, floral area rug. In the back was a kitchen, and to the left was a dining room. Right in front of the door as you walked in were wooden stairs with a thick layer of dust on them, leading up into darkness of a second floor. Kendall closed the door behind them, hands still attached as they took a few steps forward in awe, the wood floor slightly squeaky.

"This is so quaint," Stella spoke out joyfully, her head looking upwards at the lighting fixtures offered on the ceiling. Kendall swept his finger against the musty pink couch, picking up a large, layer of dust and he blew it off with a chuckle.

"Quaint, and unsanitary," he said with a furrowed brow, looking around the room with a smile. He gently coiled Stella back into his arms with a small snicker, and pressed his lips to hers chastely, her hands resting on his chest playfully.

His arms were wrapped around her tiny waist, his forehead against hers as his hands roamed her back. He snuck his hands under the warm fabric of her shirt, touching her icy white skin, massaging small circles on her spine and waist line as she smiled and sighed contently.

"What do you think of me and you living in a house like this someday?" Kendall spoke out in a whisper, looking into her eyes. Stella chuckled and slid her arms around Kendall's neck tenderly, pulling him closer to her. The heat between the two began to radiate in the large, abandoned house, Stella pushing her body closer to Kendall's. It was the first time the two had acknowledged any sort of future together, and while Stella seemed a bit hesitant at first, she couldn't resist Kendall's boyish charm.

"A house like this? Don't you think we should get one a little cleaner?" she giggled, her eyes darting to Kendall's lips every so often. Kendall looked around rolling his eyes with a smile, hands still rubbing her back.

"Yes of course, but…don't you think it would be fun to play house?" Kendall asked her.

Stella looked around, Kendall's hands moving higher on her back as she pondered the thought playfully, melting into his embrace. Home. She had been in so many homes since she could last remember. Whether it was an orphanage, a foster home, or a beautiful mansion, the word had never had meaning to her, not like it had to Kendall. He gently began to drag her into the adjoining kitchen and smiled as she looked on confused. He gently nudged her towards the counter, slowly biting his lip and maneuvering his arms around her waist, through her own arms so his hands touched hers on the counter.

"We can cook dinner together, me grilling outside," he said, motioning his chin to the patio outside, "and your pretty little self chopping up vegetables," Kendall spoke out with a smile, touching Stella's hands gently, pantomiming a subtle chopping motion. She chuckled and he kissed her neck slyly, pushing her backside closer into him, peppering her skin with light kisses.

"Maybe. It'd be nice to…actually have a home," she said with a light laugh as Kendall's face dropped a bit. He had almost forgotten that she was a runaway. He held her closer out of instinct and smiled, allowing her to bring his fingers up to her lips kissing them.

"It'd be nice to walk in the door and see you in my home," he said softly into her ear, blowing away small strands of blonde hair. Stella swallowed hard a bit, biting her lower lip nervously, as she turned to Kendall with a smile on her face, and her eyes shining brightly.

"Pity the future, Kendall Knight. I'm here now, aren't I?" she asked softly, her hand going to his cheekbone and stroking it gently with soft fingertips. Kendall looked down in her eyes and swallowed hard, closing his, overcome with a sudden burst of heat. A firework seemed to have exploded, as their hands shook with desire over each other's bodies. His hands gripped her tighter to him, and his entire body seemed to be overcome with hot blood. There was nothing left to do now but what came naturally. The tension had begun the second they had first kissed, and they had just been waiting to release it at the right time.

Kendall suddenly pushed Stella up against the counter of the musty old house, as his lips instantly attacked hers with more than desire. Stella let out a slight moan, slipping her hands around Kendall's broad shoulders as their tongues wriggled against each other for dominance in the kiss. Stella let down her guard, and Kendall took full control of her body, his hands going down to her backside and giving it a squeeze as he grinded against her, his mind in a frenzy of passion. Their lips messily rubbed against each other, the warmth and moist feeling intoxicating Kendall's entire body beyond his wildest beliefs.

"You don't know how many nights I pleased myself to you," Kendall spoke out with a strained, breathy voice against her lips, his sexual confidence on a high from the tension. "How many nights I dreamed of being inside of you," he chuckled.

It was true. There had been many a night where Kendall would close his eyes, and shamefully pleasure himself to the image of the beautiful blonde. But Kendall didn't feel embarrassed or awkward when he did it, as he imagined being inside of her more than anything. It was comforting to him, and allowed him to be content with their separation for a bit. Stella chuckled into his lips deviously, as she grinded her thigh against the beginnings of his erection, barely prominent in his jeans. Kendall licked her lips daintily, as their noses messily collided, moans escaping their lips as they breathed heavily in sync.

"You're flattering me, Kendall Knight," Stella spoke with labored breaths with a sly smile on her face, as he abandoned her lips, and concentrated on grinding her lower half into his.

Not feeling enough of her beautiful body, Kendall shakily brought his hands down to her jeans and unbuttoned them quickly, then going to his with a thought in mind and a sly smile on his red, flushed face. He quickly pushed both of their jeans pushed down past their knees, so they remained clad in just undergarments. Kendall pressed his body onto Stella's and began grinding her even harder, as she bucked her hips into him. The fabric of Kendall's boxers was damp at the head of his length, as the friction from the fabric provided elusive pleasure for both of the lovers. Kendall's hands pressed up against the counter as he licked and bit his lips in a passionate daze, his hardening erection straining against the thin material of his boxers, and against the delicate lacy material of Stella's delicate briefs. He could feel the dampness from both of their bodies as they continually bucked into each other against the counter, tight lipped moans coming from each of their mouths. Stella wriggled her hips every so often, providing a scapegoat of ecstasy in Kendall's favor, sending chills up and down his spine. He quickly stripped of his shirt, letting it fall to the floor without a sound.

Stella breathed heavily, as she held onto Kendall's shoulders tightly, his hardened length passing her clothed center teasingly, her knees going weak with each buck of his slim hips. Her nails dug into his hips and she let out a loud, yelp of a moan. Kendall immediately brought his lips to her neck, sucking harshly at the delicious white skin of her neck, as he ceased movement of his hips. He pulled off her neck, moist saliva coating his lips, as Stella immediately pulled his face towards hers, Kendall's fingers tracing the stark purple mark he had made under her jaw line as they kissed.

Their tongues wriggled against each other, Kendall's hands going to the hem of Stella's underwear. He smirked at her, and in a fluid motion dropped his boxers to the floor, letting them pool at his lower calves with his jeans. He fumbled with hers, successfully dropping them to the floor and taking them and her jeans off her ankles as their lips smacked rushedly, the feeling of Stella underneath him amazingly beautiful. He wasted no time in bringing his hand between her legs maneuvering past her slick folds of skin to her center where he stroked achingly, causing Stella's legs to shiver at the slightest touch. She moaned into Kendall's lips, smiling as she sighed deeply, thankful for the return of raw pleasure.

"Mmm," Stella moaned out breathily, as Kendall worked her hard, their tongues still intertwined, as he nibbled on her lips delicately. Her back was pressed tight against the counter as her hips moved in circles with his touch, Kendall not being able to hold back as she grabbed his hips tighter and closer to her body, letting out a small, tight lipped moan. His thumb and forefinger moved faster along her center as Stella held onto him tighter, sighing loudly and biting down on his shoulder from the pleasure.

Stella adventurously brought her hands down between them and fastened her grip around his length, her thumb giving one achingly strong stroke on the underside, as Kendall hissed in pleasure, and ceased his own hands movements for the time being. He hung his head in pleasure as her thumb followed the same path, setting every nerve in Kendall's body on fire. She stuck her finger in the slit of his head, causing the boy to go weak at the knees.

"So fucking good," Kendall moaned out as Stella's tongue and teeth went to his jaw line, where she licked and sucked the white skin to her boyfriend's liking.

Kendall sighed out deeply, his hands at her bare backside kneading the firm skin as Stella's entire body melted into Kendall's. She ran her hand along him, kneading the tip between her thumb and forefinger as Kendall breathed heavily, eyes closed. Their lips met again, Stella's hand still wrapped around his erection firmly as he dipped his hand into her sweater. Without fear, he exposed her left breast and instantly brought it to his mouth, making sure to fully take her nipple between his moist lips, where he ran his tongue around the sensitive bud. Stella moaned softly, her hand taken away from Kendall's length, and ran it up through his soft blonde locks, gripping them in the heat of the moment. Kendall kissed and licked the tight skin of her breast as Stella sighed and breathed heavily, her eyes closed, eyelashes fluttering as she pulled him closer.

"I'm so wet," she barely spoke out in a helpless moan, Kendall wasting no time as he brought his hand to her center again, taking no mercy out on her this time. Her legs shook a bit as he navigated his thumb to her center roughly to please her, her hands grabbing onto his hips tightly, tracing the deep cut of his hipbones. He maneuvered her sweater off with one hand, and gave her other breast the same treatment, his hands tracing her soft skin like velvet.

"I need you inside me, babe," Stella panted out between kisses, one hand going to his wrist to stop his movements, the sounds of their lips locking echoing throughout the dirty house, along with heavy breaths and small moans. "I wanna come with you."

"I thought you'd never ask," Kendall groaned out against her skin, powerfully picking her up by her bare thighs and placing her on the counter. Stella shivered a bit at the cold tile on her bare backside, but quickly ignored it as Kendall placed two warm hands on her thighs smiling, his hardened length nearly twitching in front of her as Stella opened her bare legs, confident and comfortable as could be with him. Kendall smiled at how beautiful and flawless her body was, knowing he needed to explore all of it. He slowly descended down his knees, Stella quite curious about what he was doing.

"Kendall?" she asked breathy, breasts moving up and down, swallowing hard."What are—are…oh GOD!" Stella cried out in pleasure, as he nibbled and kissed her center gently.

Her hands instantly went to his hair and threaded through it as Kendall sloshed his tongue inside of her, hands spreading out her thighs as he gently worked her with his tongue, his scruff tickling the inside of her thigh. Stella leaned back on the counter, breathing heavier than before, head against the cabinet as she closed her eyes, looking up at the ceiling. Kendall's hands went to where her torso and thighs met, as he massaged them gently, his humid bangs sweeping against her smooth skin. His lips molded around her center as he sucked, nipped and licked to her ultimate delight. Her hips bucked up a bit as her legs spread even wider, biting her lower lip white.

"Baby, please. I—I wanna come with you," Stella begged ruthlessly. Kendall ceased, kissing her swollen center lightly one last time before heading back up past her navel, kissing each of her breasts, and then her lips. Stella could taste herself in his lips, and giggled in the kiss, Kendall's hands resting on her thighs.

Stella parted and looked at him with a small smile, a bit of sweat sticking to the back of her neck, and under her breasts, as Kendall chuckled, his hands on her thighs gently, as he leaned in and feverishly kissed her again. Kendall spread her legs a bit more, his hands trickling up the insides of her thighs, as she scooted closer to him, their naked bodies in close range.

"Ready?" he asked with a smile. She nodded. He powerfully thrust into her, his eyes rolling up in pleasure of the warmth and wet that instantly surrounded his length. Stella's mouth hung open in ecstasy as he slid further into her, the feeling of him laying inside of her absolutely heavenly. He was buried to the hilt, looking down at their interconnected bodies and smiling a bit. It was like home to him, full of comfort.

"Ngh, So good," Kendall moaned in pleasure with a large sigh, as he hung his head down.

Stella shifted her body a bit, feeling his large self in her still fairly tight body. Kendall took a few deep breaths, remembering just how good it felt to be with Stella like this, and he touched her knees gently as she became again used to the intrusion. Stella went to Kendall's ear, breathing heavily and nibbling his ear lobe, loving how he felt inside of her and wanting to freeze this moment forever. Them being connected as one was amazing. It was the closest that Kendall could ever get to Stella.

"Take me roughly," she whispered softly in his hear, her breaths short and staccato, her fingertips rubbing the nape of his neck tenderly.

He swallowed hard and nodded as she played the frays of hair at the back of his neck, his hands rubbing her bare back gently. He swiftly pulled out of her, and then pushed back in again as Stella's legs spread wider, breaths getting heavier. She let out a small moan into his neck, holding on tightly to his neck like she was in some sort of pain.

"I don't wanna be too rough, love," Kendall spoke in her ear as he remained inside of her, his fingers tracing her slim abdomen. Stella slowly suckled on his earlobe and blew in his ear, her hands at his lower back, massaging it gently.

"Don't hold back, Kendall," she spoke with a small smile.

Kendall looked in the eyes of Stella, and saw they were shining blue with excitement. He wanted to be rough with her, and he wanted to give her all the pleasure he could in this moment. He wanted to show her how he felt about her with holding nothing back.

"Okay," he said softly with a small, adorable smile.

Kendall spread Stella's legs wider, his tip still laying inside of her, as he thrust into her roughly, and she let out a loud moan. His lips went to hers and he fiercely kissed her, as he pulled from her and roughly entered her again. Her entire body seemed to move as he pounded her, their lips fiercely intertwined, tongues dancing across each other's teeth. Stella moaned softly into Kendall's lips, as he swallowed it, moving his harder and faster. Her nails scratched his sweaty back, as it moved with each thrust.

"Kendall," Stella moaned wantonly against his slight scruff, as her legs spread even wider. She quickly locked her legs around him, as his hands kneaded her breast gently, giving her gentle body the utmost care he could possibly find in the depths of his heart.

"You feel so good," Kendall grunted out through his thrusts, his legs beginning to turn to putty. Stella chuckled a bit as Kendall went to her neck, and softly suckled the skin where he had marked her earlier, the bittersweet pain and pleasure creating an intense mix for the blonde girl.

The only thing that was going through Stella and Kendall's minds was how much they wanted this closeness. How much they wanted to lose sight of everything else in the world, lost in each other's beauty and captivating complexes. They needed this. They needed to be one person, to have that one moment where nothing else matters, and you forget where you are. One moment to be one with the person you love.

"Harder," Stella moaned out, feeling her lower half begin to tighten up with pleasure. Kendall licked his lips with determination and went harder, as she held onto him tightly, her eyes closing and face contorting. He nuzzled her nose with his and kissed under her eyes tenderly, still fiercely pounding into her shaking legs to which were spread as wide as they could be.

"Look at me," Kendall spoke out softly, his breaths heavy, and heart beating from his chest. Stella swallowed hard and opened her eyes, looking at Kendall's beautiful eyes, his face shiny from sweat, and his hair matted to his forehead with humidity. He looked beautiful.

Their bodies moved together roughly, Kendall's hips moving faster and faster as both parties began to lose control of their actions. Grips on hair and skin were tightened as the end neared, their eyes stuck on each other.

"Stella, you're so fucking warm," Kendall whispered in a strained moan, his hips moving faster, breaking the staring contest at the warmth enveloping his length. "It feels so fuckin' good baby." She moaned into him and licked at his neck, biting on his loose skin and bucking her hips back into him, allowing him to be buried even further into her, his breaths pantingly exhausting.

"Mhm, Kendall, come hard, please," Stella muttered like a little girl into his messed up hair, her hands on his bare backside massaging the soft skin beneath her clammy palms. "Come as hard as you can, baby."

"Ngh, Stellaahhh," Kendall moaned out in pain and pleasure, grabbing her thighs painfully as he felt himself release inside of her, each wave of pleasure accompanied by a harsh sucking in of breath.

Exhausted, their foreheads leaning against each other, bodies trembling as they slowly and tenderly worked the other through their orgasm, their hands interlocked resting on Stella's thighs with eyes wide open. Their breathing was heavy, as they looked into each other's eyes, totally spent and exhausted as Kendall's hips moved slower and slower until they finally stopped. Stella touched Kendall's face in absolute awe, staring up at him like he was a painting in a gallery, her blue eyes shining hopefully. She needed to hear him say it again as she leaned against his rising, smooth, slick chest and he kissed her hair, his hands moving up and down her bare back.

"I love you so much, Stella."

She sighed content with his words and moved herself on the counter, feeling that Kendall was still hard inside of her, and her breathing picked up again.

"You're still…" Stella breathed out heavily, kissing Kendall's heart gently. He nuzzled into her hair and chuckled.

"Are you up for more?" he asked her with a soft chuckle, his breaths still dying down from their first escapade. Stella looked up at him with a small smile, chastely pecking his lips and nodding.

"You betcha."

Time flew incredibly fast when Stella and Kendall were together.

It had been nearly a week since his arrival, and he was to leave tomorrow. As he walked through the freshly fallen snow with Stella, he couldn't help but feel his heart totally and completely break on this day. It was the same feeling he had so many weeks ago when he had left Stella the first time, but even worse. The two, with hands tightly interlocked, walked through the snow by the pond, with mostly Stella talking about their plans to stay in touch.

"How about I'll send you the letter this time. You're not going anywhere, right?" Stella asked with a smile, her knit cap and blonde hair hanging freely over her shoulders as she squeezed Kendall's hand tightly.

"Nope. I promise," Kendall said with a sad smile. He stood a little further away from her than usual, his head down, his black beanie on, bangs covering his eyes.

It was February 21st.

It had been 365 days since Kendall had last saw his father walk out of the house that fateful morning, never to return again.

Kendall had been quiet and on edge all day, even though Stella was in his presence. He had laid in bed holding back fits of tears as the clock struck twelve. Kendall wished more than anything he could just stay in bed crying, singing his father's favorite song. But he knew that was going to help anyone, especially himself. He was only here for another day, and then God knows when the next time he would see Stella would be. Kendall hadn't mentioned the significance of the day yet although, not wanting to ruin their time apart.

Stella sighed, studying Kendall's motions and biting her lower lip. She whipped around in front of him, grabbing his other gloved hand tightly and pushing herself into him a bit, leaning her lips up to his with a smile. Kendall chastely pushed his lips against hers, not lingering like he usually would. He swallowed hard and sighed as Stella tipped his chin up so he was looking in her eyes. Stella saw how his eyes were weighted down with sadness, a dark brown obstructing the beautiful emerald around the iris.

"What's wrong, Kendall Knight?" Stella asked him sadly, her hands touching his. Kendall looked in her beaming blue eyes and sighed deeply, trying his best to smile, knowing Stella would see right past it.

"My father," Kendall spoke softly, swallowing hard and clearing his throat, "my father died a year ago today." Kendall looked away from Stella's eyes, out into the snowy landscape in front of him, tears coming to his eyes. He chuckled a bit, but his face instantly scrunched up, lips thinning, his hands in his pockets as he looked down, shaking his head. "I miss him so much," he cracked out, his voice weak. He had tried his best not to break down in front of Stella but it was inevitable on a snowy day like this.

Stella said nothing, but leaned into Kendall and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck, kissing it lightly as he cried silently. His arms went around her and hugged her closer as Stella kissed his jaw line gently.

"It's okay," Stella whispered softly, hugging him to her, her hands rubbing his back under his coat. Kendall parted from her, wiping his eyes ashamed and walking away from her a few steps, trying to gain his composure back. Stella walked over to him, the snow crunching underneath her boots, her hand touching Kendall's arm gently.

"I understand, Kendall Knight. Believe me I do," Stella said sympathetically, her voice in a sweet tone. Kendall chuckled out of annoyance, and swallowed hard, rolling his eyes.

"No one understands what I've gone through," Kendall spoke coldly. Stella looked at him a bit upset, with furrowed eyebrows, at his sudden change of attitude.

"Of course I understand what you are going through," Stella spoke, as if it was a fact and he was blatantly wrong. "I've never really had real parents, and the only ones I did have I lost." Kendall should've accepted Stella's help, and he should've taken her into his arms, nodded, and dropped the subject so they could have one nice day together. But that didn't happen.

"No one understands what I am going through, Stella. Not you, not my mom, not my sister, okay? No one understands that I lost my father, and that—that I've been fucked up ever since," Kendall spoke out loud, his voice beginning to echo a bit with anger. Stella swallowed hard at Kendall's outburst and was confused. She had never seen him angry like this.

"I'm just trying to help," she said softly, Kendall turned away from her again scoffing.

"No one can help me. Therapy won't work, my best friends don't give a shit, my mom doesn't know what to do with me, I'm helpless," he spoke out angrily, his voice shaking with fear and anxiety. Stella touched his arm again.

"You are not hopeless, Kendall Knight. You're wonderful. I think you're wonderful. And I wanna help you, I want to make you feel better," she said. Kendall nudged her away and took a few steps from her in the snow shaking his head.

"No. You can't help me. You'll never be able to help me. You can't bring my father back, Stella. No one can," he said upset, turning to her with a stern set face, and red, flushed cheeks. She approached him again and sighed, swallowing hard, getting the confidence for what needed to come out.

"You can't dwell on your father, okay? He's gone, and you're right no one can bring him back, but you can't tell people they can't help you because they can't bring him back. That's unrealistic. You need to let people in, like me. I can help you, let me help you," Stella spoke out helpless, puffs of fog passing her lips with each word.

"No one can help me!" he yelled at her angrily. Stella looked at him surprised, taken aback by his booming voice. He had never really raised his voice at her before, and she didn't like it all. Her heart began to beat fast and she bit her lower lip in determination, trying to get through to him.

"You won't let anyone help you!" she said back, her eyes alive with blue venom, like they had been in the stockroom when she had yelled at him and told him she was just a runaway. "You're stubborn, Kendall Knight! You're making your life miserable, thinking the only way you are going to be happy again is to see your father! You're not gonna see him again, okay? You have to stop dwelling on this, its tearing you apart," she cried out, extending her arms towards him in annoyance. Kendall's eyes began to grow dark at the blonde girl, and he looked at her in awe.

"And I'm supposed to take advice from you? You wouldn't even let me in at first," Kendall said disgusted with her comment, moving closer to her. "You were the one who didn't even want to be in love with me. You were the one who left after I sent you my letter," Kendall yelled at her angrily. Stella's heart beat into her throat, and she stepped closer to him, her face red with anger and embarrassment.

"My house was gone! What else was I supposed to do?" she told him upset. Kendall looked at her breathing heavily. He shook his head at her, anger boiling up at how stubborn and annoying she was being.

"Why'd you leave, Stella? You're a runaway, you spent nights on the fucking street all the time, but this time you couldn't just stay? I thought I was your reason to stay," he spoke out angrily, eyes alive with fire, fists in a fighting position. Deep seated in him since his best friend's doubts, he couldn't help but bring them up. From the beginning of their visit, Kendall had known Stella was much more inclined to him than before, and wondered why. He wondered why she had never brought up his letter, and how she was so upset she missed out on it. "You know, all my friends told me I was stupid for loving you, and none of them believed me, and I defended you to the fucking death. They told me I wasn't in love that, and that you didn't love me back! Do you know how fucking stupid I felt that I didn't get a letter back from you? I waited every fucking day for something back, and it never came. I thought you were sick, or dead, or back in an orphanage where you were getting smacked around. I prayed for you every night that you would be okay, and that you thought of me when you looked up at the stars. The least you could've done was wait here an extra day for my letter that you knewI was sending the day I got home," Kendall yelled out at her, his breaths heavy, fog spewing from between his pink lips. "I don't understand why, Stella."

Stella looked at Kendall in awe, and everything started rushing back to her. How empty, and undeserving she felt of Kendall after he left, how she had run away, not wanting to hear from him ever again. Her heart broke into pieces with his words as he stood before her. It seemed like he was going back on his promise about how he would always love her, and Stella couldn't have felt more betrayed by his notions. She had to tell him everything that was bottled up inside of her.

"I ran away from you, alright?" she screamed out loud, tears pricking her eyes. Kendall looked at her confused, watching her smile turn into a frown, her blue eyes glassy from salty tears. "I felt I didn't deserve you, and that you were too good for me, and I-I ran away from you cause I didn't want your letter," she cried out to him. "I tried to forget you and I-I had sex with this other runaway who didn't care about me at all, and he didn't tell me he loved me like you did after we were done, and—and it made me realize how much I loved you, Kendall Knight. I love you so much, and I do understand, okay? I'm fucked up too," Stella cried in one long breath. "I'm so fucked up." She had hoped Kendall had understood what she had said, but he had stopped listening after she mentioned Cooper.

Upon hearing that Stella had sex with someone else, Kendall had never felt so angry, and so absolutely horrible in all his life. Not even when he had scored in the Hawks own net during a championship tournament match two years ago. His entire heart seemed to break into a million pieces, and he felt the weight of the world come down on his shoulders. His eyes got wide, his lips dry, and he felt tears to start to come to the surface.

"You—you slept with someone else?" Kendall asked softly and stoically. Stella looked at him, grabbing his hand, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I-I wanted to forget about you, I felt I didn't deserve you and I just wanted to see if I could weed you out, but I couldn't. You were always there, and it didn't mean anything, I promise," she cried out, squeezing his hand tightly. He pulled his hand away from hers in absolute shock and disgust. He didn't even want to touch her right now. He took a few steps backward in the snow, hands in pockets, not knowing what to do next, and slowly turned around and began to walk away from her. Had Carlos, James and Logan been right along? Jesus, Logan, Kendall thought. He hadn't even been on his cell phone this whole week, and who knew what was going on at the Mitchell's. Tears began to fall from his eyes as he walked away completely shattered, anger boiling through his veins at a dangerous temperature.

"Kendall, wait!" Stella called, using his first name only. She ran in front of him and pushed her arms against his chest, stopping his movement as he nudged her aside, not saying a word. "Listen to me!" she said to him, eyes full of tears, grabbing at his jacket again. He pushed her off once more shaking his head. "Get the fuck away from me," he muttered out viciously and heartbroken. She stood in front of him, grabbing him by his collar hopelessly one last time, begging him to listen to her. "Listen to me!" she screamed out angrily.

Kendall didn't know what came over him, and didn't really realize what he was doing, until his felt his hand come in contact with Stella's face.

Stella fell back a bit, bringing her hand to her face as Kendall stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widened in horror as he looked at his girlfriend's terrified face. Her hand rested on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, falling down on her plump pink lips, her eyes a dark, dingy, cadet grey. Kendall breathed heavily, his hand not moved from the open palm position it had been when he had hit her. Stella looked at him like he was a monster under the bed she never had. She slowly took her hand away from her face, and Kendall's entire body did a once over when he saw the red mark on her fair white skin, with already a bit of purple bruising in the center.

Neither lover said a thing, as Stella burst out into tears, slowly nodding her head and walking away from Kendall in sobs. Kendall wanted nothing more than to chase after her, hold her in his arms and tell her that everything was going to be alright, and that he was sorry, but the day was too much for him. He sadly and painstakingly watched Stella walk away from him, and stood there absolutely hopeless, the sound of his heart breaking echoing throughout the mountainous landscape of Thief River Falls.