A/N: Thanks for reviewing. I actually wrote a scene to explain a vibe from the last chapter and to answer Mali's review. But mostly this chapter is about Hunter. Which was really fun to write.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

There is no world without Verona walls,
But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
Hence-banished is banish'd from the world,
And world's exile is death: then banished. – Romeo, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene II

Hunter smiled as Elisa looked around getting out of the cab from JFK Airport to his house. He'd realized after gala that Anne was not leaving Kevin, and since Elisa's family spent Thanksgiving in California, but Stephanie couldn't fly out until the day before, he'd invited her to come to New York with him to wait out the four days. They'd flown with Anne and Cal, who, sturdy downtown kids that they were, got on a subway as soon as possible.

"This is your house?" Elisa said, pointing to the large building.

"God, you're adorable," he said and kissed her. "This is my building, I mean, yes, my grandpa owns it, but we're just on the top floor."

"Oh, just the top floor," she rolled her eyes. He laughed and kissed her, they walked into the building. Hunter greeted the doorman and left their bags there to be brought up. They stood on the elevator. "Hunter, um, I'm glad you invited me and everything, but I guess, I was just wondering what this means for us."

"I love you," he said and kissed her. "I thought this made things very clear. I want to be with you." She smiled and the elevator stopped. "Mom?" He called out. "She's probably not here."

"Hunter?" Bonnie walked out.

"Hi," Hunter said. "Um, you remember Elisa?"

"Of course I do," Bonnie said.

"Hi Mrs. Nichols," Elisa said. "Thanks for having me."

"It's no problem," Bonnie said. "Although, I guess I forgot you were coming, if I hadn't, Hunter, I would have," she sighed.

"Is everything OK?" Hunter asked. "Where's Dad?" Bonnie pressed her lips inside of her mouth.

"You know, I should probably call my parents anyway," Elisa said and kissed Hunter.

"The guest room is the third door down the hall," Bonnie pointed. Elisa nodded and walked in.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Hunter said carefully. "Is he working, or travelling?"

"Hunter, your father moved out," she said. He looked at her. "Only a few days ago, and I figured it would easier to tell you when you got here, I forgot about Elisa, I'm sorry." He sat down and she followed him. "Baby, I know,"

"Why now?" He asked. "Why right before Thanksgiving? You two have been dancing around this for a year and," she wiped her eyes. "It's her, isn't it?"

"She's pregnant," Bonnie spit out venomously, "he wants to marry her." Hunter's hands formed fists.

"I hate him," he mumbled.

"Don't," Bonnie said, "be angry, Hunter, but don't hate your father. Trust me, it isn't worth it." He nodded and stood up. "What are you doing?"

"Sending Elisa to her Aunt's," he shrugged. "She'll understand." Bonnie nodded and he walked into the guest room.

"Is everything OK?" Elisa said, he walked over and sat down and started crying. "Oh Hunter!" She hugged him.

"He left," he mumbled, "my father, he moved out," she looked at him wide eyed. "He got her pregnant, he's going to marry her." She kissed him.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Do you want me to go? I can call Stephie, or Aunt Tammy, or even get on a train and go to Maine. I don't mind."

"No," he shook his head, "I mean, I was going to, but don't go," he kissed her. "Please don't."

"Of course not," she whispered as they lay down. "I love you."

"Hey sweetie," Tammy said walking into Anne's room.

"Hi Mom," Anne smiled.

"Is it just you and Cal?" Tammy asked.

"Uh huh," Anne nodded, "who else would be here?"

"Well, I thought Elisa," Tammy frowned.

"She went to Hunter's," Anne said simply. "That was the point of her coming here."

"I know, but I would have thought that," Tammy said. "Are you sure? She didn't go to Stephie and TJ's?"

"Not as far as I know," Anne said. "You're being weird. Did Aunt Julie and Uncle Jimmy ask you to look out for Elisa's virtue or something?"

"No," Tammy sighed, "Anne, Liam left Bonnie last week." Anne stared at her mother. "I was expecting Elisa to come to us or go to Stephie instead." Anne immediately grabbed her coat. "What are you doing?"

"I have to go uptown," Anne said. "Hunter needs me," Tammy looked at her.

"He's with his mother and his girlfriend," Tammy said. "He would call you if he needs you." Anne looked at her.

"How did you know this?" Anne said.

"Bonnie and I had lunch," Tammy explained.

"Since when are you friends with Hunter's mom?" Anne squished her face.

"Bonnie and I have been friends for years," Tammy said. "And believe it or not I had some unique insights on what she's going through."

"Because of Grandma?" Anne said. Tammy nodded.

"And because of my relationship with Dave," Tammy explained. Anne looked at her.

"Dave Vanderbilt?" Anne said. Tammy nodded. "You dated a divorced guy for a few months?"

"You're old enough to know this now," Tammy said simply. "He wasn't technically divorced yet." Anne stared at her. "Oh he was separated, and Janet was already well on the road to full time lesbian." Anne plopped on her bed, shocked. "Anyway, my point is, if Hunter wants you, he'll call you."

"But he doesn't even talk to Elisa about the stuff with his parents," Anne said. "That's my stuff." Tammy looked at her. "Right, sorry, it's not my stuff, it's Hunter's stuff."

"Exactly," Tammy said. "So how's Kevin?"

"He's good," Anne said. "Can I ask you something?" Tammy nodded. "Why did you and Fulton break up?"

"Oh," Tammy said. "Well, it's complicated," she sighed. Anne looked at her. "You know we went out all through high school," Anne nodded. "But I guess when we were a little older than you, things changed and we ignored it for a long time, but then when I moved here and he moved to Chicago, we couldn't ignore it anymore. Plus I met your father and he met Tanya." Anne nodded.

"Do you ever regret it?" Anne asked.

"No," Tammy said. "I regret other things that happened later, Dave springs to mind," Anne laughed. "But no, not Fulton, none of it. He's a very important part of who I am."

"More important than Dad?" Anne asked.

"In some ways," Tammy nodded. "But not the really important ones."

Bella and Gordon were sitting on the couch in her basement watching a movie. She was curled up and her head was resting against his chest. He kissed her head softly. He loved nights like this best, when it was just the two of them, just him and his Leigh.

"Hey," she said and rolled over and looked at him. "Are you nervous?"

"About what?" He said. "I don't know anything to be nervous about right now, you're right here with me, Leigh, you're all I need." She kissed him.

"Mm, you haven't called me Leigh in a while," she whispered. He smiled. "I missed it." He pushed her hair off of her face. "But are you nervous about the State Championship?"

"Cake walk," he said confidently. She giggled. "I'm bred from champions, in case you forgot."

"That's Kevin talk," she said. He laughed and kissed her. "Aren't you at all?"

"A little," he said, "but it can only help, even if we lose, as long as I play well I'll get a scholarship." She nodded. "And you won't dump me, will you?" She shook her head and kissed him. He groaned softly as she straddled him and they kissed hard.

"Never," she whispered. "I need you." He sat up and pulled the Eden Hall sweatshirt she was wearing over her head. She was just wearing a bra underneath it.

"Bella, don't," he said. "You know you're dad's going to be down here in a minute telling me to go home. If we get all worked up," she sighed and rolled off him pulling the sweatshirt back on.

"I hate that he does that," she grumbled. He smiled and kissed her.

"When are you going to Connecticut?" He asked.

"Monday," she said, "I wish I could just stay here with you."

"Yeah," he said, "I wish you could too."

"Bella," Rick came downstairs, "it's eleven thirty. Time for Gordon to go home." The young couple looked at each other.

"Good night Bella," he said and kissed her.

"Good night, Gordon," she said.

"Night Mr. Riley," Gordon smiled walking past. "Thank Mrs. Riley for dinner." He pulled his jacket on and walked upstairs. Rick looked at Bella.

"Don't start," she said marching upstairs.

"Hunter, it's not a big deal," Elisa said softly. He looked at her. "It doesn't have to be tonight."

"That was the point of you coming this weekend wasn't it?" He said.

"Yeah, but you're upset," she kissed him. "That's all this is." He nodded. "I'll go to Stephanie's tonight. I don't mind."

"You really don't?" He said. "I mean, I should probably be with my mom and maybe I'll feel better tomorrow."

"Even if you don't," she said, "I understand." She kissed him and got dressed. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said softly, they walked outside and he hailed her a cab. "I'll call you in the morning."

"If you feel like it," she said and kissed him again getting into a cab. He watched it drive off. He pulled out his phone.

"Hello?" Anne answered.

"Hey," he said. "I think I need a distraction. Are you up for it?"

"Come over," she said. "I've got a bottle of Bacardi stashed in the old apartment."

"Awesome," he said. "I'll be right down."

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