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Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,
And therefore have I little talk'd of love;
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears. – Paris, Romeo and Juliet, Act IV, Scene I

Eva plopped angrily onto the bed and David looked at her.

"I thought you'd be in a good mood today," he said simply. "With Bella better and everything."

"I was," she said. He looked at her. "You know I love you, right?"

"Of course," he said. "What's wrong?"

"Mike said some things," she sighed. "He's been saying some things."

"Mike's been saying things for years," David frowned. "It's never bothered you this much before."

"We've never been four months from the altar before," she pointed out. David nodded. "I just don't want you to think that because Mike says things that I listen."

"I know, sweetheart," he said brushing her hair off of her face. "I know how you two are. Especially him. I feel bad for Denise, she's been having a really hard time with him lately."

"Oh Denise," Eva groaned. "That girl is a saint." She kissed him. "So are you."

"Nah," he said, "I mean, Denise is, but if I ever actually thought you'd leave me for Mikey Gaffney, you'd see how much of a saint I'm not."

"Well, either way," she whispered, "I'm marrying you, and I love you, and if he can't deal with it that's his issue."

"I know you are but what am I?" He tickled her side and she giggled. "I love you." She kissed him. "I'm glad Bella's OK."

"Me too," she smiled. "You've been so good this week."

"So what time do you have to sneak in tomorrow?" He asked.

"No, with all the relatives in I volunteered to clear out," she shrugged. "Tommy and Diane are in my room." He nodded. "There is nothing illicit about tonight." They kissed some more.

Denise sat outside shivering. Mikey walked out and wrapped a blanket around her and sat down next to her.

"If you're going to break up with me, I think you should do it," she whispered. "I'm tired, Mike. I'm tired of acting like things are normal when they haven't been for a while."

"Denise," he sighed, "look, this week has been hard."

"It's not just this week," she shook her head. "It's been months. You barely look at me, and we like never have sex. You're unhappy and you won't talk to me," he swallowed. "I miss you. I love you so much, but if you don't love me, just tell me!"

"I love you," he said. "I just," he looked down. "I'm not who I was supposed to be." She looked at him. "When we met, I was going to be an agent, and you were going to be a rock star." She nodded. "And that's not where we are, and I don't know how to deal with that." She kissed him.

"I fell in love with you," she said. "With Michael James Gaffney, not the plans we made. Yes, if you'd stayed with Josh it would have been the plan, but you were unhappy, and I like playing in clubs," he swallowed. "Maybe," she sighed, "maybe we're going about it wrong."

"What?" He said.

"Well," she sighed. "Maybe we could do the Vegas thing."

"Huh?" He said. "What are you talking about?"

"Julie's opening the new restaurant," she swallowed, "and it's Vegas there's plenty for me to do. Maybe we could even talk her into making it more clubby, since it won't technically be Julia's and I could headline."

"You've lost me," he said. "You want to move to Vegas to run Julie's new restaurant?" She nodded.

"The change might be good for us," she said. "And Vegas is still warm, like home and, I'm not saying I wouldn't rather, I mean, if we were going to change things I'd rather it be because you went to school, but," he kissed her.

"You're amazing," he said. "I love you. I'm sorry." She nodded. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?"

"Yeah," she whispered. "But none of it means anything if I'm not the one you want to be with." He looked at her. "I can deal with coming in second, I have for years, but I won't stick around if you're actively pining. That's not fair to me. Do you understand the difference?"

"Yeah," he said. "I think so."

Eddie hurriedly started towards his car. He'd finally gotten the message that Bella was awake.

"Eddie!" Erica ran up to him. "Where are you going?" He looked at her.

"To the hospital," he said simply. "Bella woke up." She nodded. "What's up?"

"I called you," she said. "I mean, you just left on Saturday, I understand why, but you could have called."

"Yeah," he sighed, "I know, I should have, I'm sorry." She looked at him and nodded. "Is that it?"

"Um, I guess so," she sighed. "Eddie, are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" He laughed. She looked at him.

"She almost died," Erica said. "We're all shaken up. And you're in love with her," he sighed. "Just know that I'm here, alright? If you need to talk or whatever," she kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Thanks Erica," he said and hugged her. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Aren't you going with your parents?" She asked.

"Well, yeah," he nodded. "But they know you, I think it'll be easier with you there." She smiled. "Plus, you and Bella are friends." Erica smiled.

Trina and Dean lay quietly in each other's arms.

"Dean," she said softly.

"Mm," he said, his eyes closed.

"I'm glad we did," she said. "I'm glad you were my first."

"Me too," he said. "Of course being your only boyfriend, I'd be worried if I wasn't." She hit him playfully in the shoulder. "I really am sorry, about not being here. I wanted to be, but I just couldn't, I didn't want to think about Bella in that bed, or if she hadn't woken up."

"I know," she kissed his chest softly. "I was just worried about you. About us. I miss you."

"I miss you too," he said. "All the time," she rolled over onto her stomach. "I know I've kind of been a sucky boyfriend lately, I mean since gala."

"No," she said. "I was punishing you. You were right, I mean this was different, but I was just afraid that you'd be at school and you'd decide that you were tired of me." He looked at her.

"Tired of you?" He said. She nodded. "You thought I would be tired of you?"

"Not tired of me," she said. "But I thought you'd meet some smart sophisticated college girl, who wasn't a virgin and you'd realize how stupid it was to be dating a sixteen year old." He laughed.

"Any girl that I've met," he said. "Be they sophisticated college non virgins or not, would never make me not want you. Because no matter who they were they wouldn't be Katrina Vanderbilt." She smiled. He kissed her. "Of course now that we've had sex I'll never call you again."

"God, I hate you," she rolled her eyes.

Eddie and Erica walked into the hospital and up to Bella's room, when they walked in, she looked up and smiled.

"Took you two long enough," she teased. Erica smiled and hugged her.

"I'm glad you're OK," Erica said. "Had Gordon been drinking? Because my parents are like totally freaked that his will press charges."

"He was sober," Bella said. Eddie snorted. "Hi Eddie."

"Hi," he said and kissed her forehead. "You feel OK?"

"I'm kind of sore," she said. "But I'm alright."

"Do you need anything?" Erica asked, "Water, or something?" Bella shook her head. "I'll go anyway then." She walked away. Eddie sat down and hugged Bella tightly.

"Eddie," she whispered and he kissed her. "Mm," she whimpered. "Eddie."

"I'm sorry," he said and pushed her hair off of her face. "I just had to. God, you're OK," he kissed her. "I love you so much Bella, I was so afraid." She pushed him away.

"If you kiss me again I'll press the page button, I swear to God!" She said. He nodded. "Where were you?"

"School," he said. "And now I'm here."

"I didn't mean today," she said. "Where were you?"

"Your mom told me to go," he said bitterly. "Conway was here."

"Well, yeah," she said and crossed her arms. "He loves me. I thought you did too." He looked at her.

"I do love you!" He said. She looked away. "What was I supposed to do? Sit here and watch you sleep, when your parents said they didn't want me here?" She stared out the window, her arms folded. "Did you want me here?"

"Of course I did," she whispered. "I needed you. You're my oldest friend, and that you didn't come, it made me feel like you didn't care."

"I didn't come because I do care," he sat down. "I didn't want to upset you." He took her hand. "Bella, you know how I feel about you." She looked at him.

Gordon walked happily towards Bella's room, holding some flowers he'd picked up. He stopped looking in the window seeing Eddie and Bella holding hands. He stopped took a deep breath and walked in.

"Hey there," he said.

"You're back," Bella said simply. She slipped her hand out of Eddie's, he stood up. "I thought you were going home for the night."

"Obviously," Gordon nodded. "How's it going Cole?"

"I've been better," Eddie stood up. "I should go find Erica and get home. Glad you're feeling better Bella." He kissed her on the forehead. Bella looked at Gordon pleasantly.

"I'm glad you came back," Bella said. "But you should get some sleep Gordie, I'm worried about you."

"You're in a hospital bed and you're worried about me?" He laughed. "You really hit that head hard huh?" She giggled.

Rick stood quietly at the cemetery. He hadn't been there in ages.

"Shouldn't you be with you daughter?" He turned and smiled seeing Scooter.

"Shouldn't you mind your own business?" Rick said. Scooter laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"No one could find you," Scooter shrugged. "I figured this was a good bet. You always come here when you're upset." Rick nodded. "Kelly's been thinking about her a lot too this week."

"I could have used her," Rick mumbled. "I was driving myself insane."

"She's fine," Scooter said. "She's going to be fine." Rick nodded. "Is this about Bella, or is it about her boyfriend?" Rick smiled.

"You know me too well," he said. Scooter laughed. "He's a good kid, but I can't get past,"

"He was driving," Scooter said. Rick nodded. "If this happened to Trina, I'd lose it too man, but accidents happen. If he's actually a good kid, he's been beating himself up over it." Rick nodded. "You should either go home and get some sleep, get some of the food that Julie made at the big house, or be at the hospital with Bella."

"Right," Rick nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

"It's what I'm here for," Scooter shrugged. "That and keeping your sister satisfied."

"Yeah, twenty years later, that's still not something I need to know anything about," Rick nodded and turned around. Scooter laughed and smiled at Evelyn's grave.

"You're welcome," he said, kissing his fingers and then pressing it against the stone.

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