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Disclaimer: I own nothing

You promised me everything
You promised me thick and thin
Now you just say
"Romeo, yeah, I used to have a scene with him!" – Dire Straits, "Romeo and Juliet"

Bella sat on a window seat in her living room watching the snow fall, snuggled up in her dad's old Yale Law sweatshirt and a huge comforter. She wanted to be outside playing in it, possibly tumbling around in it. And not by herself. But she was stuck inside because after the whole infection thing, her immune system was compromised and Cassie was being ridiculously protective.

"I brought you some books," Elisa said. Bella looked at her, "I figured since you're stuck inside."

"Sure," Bella said softly. "Thanks. When do you leave?"

"Tonight," Elisa said. "Christmas in Vegas seems somehow wrong." Bella smiled and then shivered and pulled the blanket tighter. "Do you feel OK?"

"Just chilly," Bella said. "What did you bring?"

"Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, Walk Around," Elisa shrugged.

"I have four copies of Walk Around," Bella raised her eyebrows, "and that's just in my room."

"I know," Elisa said. "But I saw it and read the dedication and I had to."

"For my beloved goddaughter," Bella said softly. "That she might grow to love deeply and madly as those who love her always have. I know it by heart." Elisa nodded. "I never understood why he picked me for the melodrama."

"You don't?" Elisa teased. Bella laughed. Elisa sat down with her and snuggled her head into her cousin's shoulder. Bella kissed her angelic blonde hair gently.

"I don't see why you couldn't just bring me some nice fluffy book where everyone lives happily every after," Bella sighed.

"Because," Elisa whispered. "I like messy love stories. You do too, really." Bella smiled.

"We do find ourselves in them, don't we?" Bella sighed. Elisa nodded. "I've always related to Catherine and Daisy. The two biggest bitches in the history of literature." They giggled a little and then Eddie walked in. "Hi," she said.

"Hi," he smiled. "Hey Ellie."

"Hi," Ellie said with her smile soft. Eddie couldn't help but grin. He'd had the dream of the two of them snuggling together before, but there hadn't been so much clothing involved.

"Ellie, sweetie," Cassie walked in, "your cab's here. Oh, Eddie, I didn't know you were here."

"Just stopping by," he shrugged. Cassie nodded and Elisa got up. She hugged him. "Have a good Christmas sweetheart."

"You too," she said and waved, "Bye Bella."

"Bye," Bella waved as she left. Cassie smiled and walked out. Eddie sat down and started kissing Bella, pulling her close. "Oh, Eddie," she whispered.

"I missed you so much this week," he said and kissed her. "It killed me to stay away."

"Eddie," she sighed. "I thought we agreed to wait until after Christmas," she looked at him. "Until I could talk to Gordon." He snorted. "Eddie, I love you, but he's my boyfriend. He deserves my respect at the very least."

"He had to know he would never keep you," Eddie whispered as she snuggled her head into his chest. She wished it could always be like this. That she could just have Eddie close, and Gordon as her boyfriend, her always. She'd never felt more like Catherine Earnshaw in her whole life. Knowing that she couldn't ever separate Eddie from herself, but wanting to, so badly, to spare herself and Gordon the pain, "that you were mine." She pulled back and looked at him.

"I'm not yours, Eddie," she said sharply. He looked at her. "I'm not Gordon's either. I don't belong to anybody."

"I didn't mean it like that," he insisted.

"Sure you didn't," she mumbled and crossed her arms. "I'd like it if you left now." He looked at her, and she stared back, not caring much about the wounded look on her face. This would be a good test. Eddie had promised things would be different this time, and one of those differences would be that he wouldn't indulge her anymore. If he stood his ground maybe he meant it.

"Fine," he said. "I'll go. You do belong to me though." She stared back out the window. She didn't like his attitude about them. She didn't belong to him. She belonged with him, maybe, but she wasn't even sure if she would extend it that far. She felt the warm and salty tears start to rise in her eyes and she sniffled. She wouldn't shed one more tear over Eddie Cole.

"I want to go," Casey Conway whined. Connie Vanderbilt sighed and looked at her little sister. Connie Moreau looked at her two daughters. "Mommy, can't I?"

"I'm sorry baby," the mother said simply. "Maybe in a few more years, when you're in high school."

"You'll come see me in England though, Casey," Connie said, wrapping her arms around the twelve year old. Casey pouted.

"Why don't you ever stay with us for Christmas?" Casey asked. Connie laughed.

"Because," she said. "You guys got me constantly for four years, I kind of owe my parents some time."

"It's stupid." Casey pouted and marched off. Connie smiled at her mother.

"I am so proud of you," Connie whispered and hugged her. "Have an amazing time."

"Thanks," she smiled gratefully. "I love you."

"Love you too."

"Oh," Gordon said walking downstairs. "You're going huh?"

"Uh huh," Connie nodded and hugged him. "I want you to email me as soon as you decided, OK? And remember, Ivy Football isn't what he's used to be, but there's something to be said for helming the oldest team in the country."

"Aw, Cons," he grinned, "I didn't realize you wanted me to go to Harvard so bad." She hit him in the chest. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said and hugged him.

"I'm going over to Bella's." Gordon said.

"Alright," Connie nodded. "Home by dinner, OK?"

"OK," he nodded.

"Drive safe," Casey teased.

"Oh, so funny little sister," Gordon rolled his eyes and walked outside. He drove for a while. When he got to the Riley's he noticed Eddie's car speeding away. He shook his head and walked into the house and noticed Bella sitting on the window seat. "Hey baby," he sat down. She looked at him and swallowed. "Are you alright?"

"Oh Gordon!" She sighed and hugged him and started crying.

"Hey," he laughed uncomfortably, "sweetie, what's wrong?" He wiped her eyes. "It's me, you can tell me."

"Not this," she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Gordon, I love you so much and I'm so sorry!"

"Bella," he said softly. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No," she said, "I mean, maybe, I was," she sighed.

"You were what?" He said. She swallowed. "Cole," he whispered.

"Gordon, please, just listen!" She sighed. "It's not like that, I mean it is for him, but not for me, I love you!"

"But not only me, right," he said coldly. "You've made that clear, many times." She swallowed. "Are you sleeping with him?"

"No!" She shook her head. "I told you it isn't like that!" He looked at her.

"Have you kissed him?" He asked. She looked down. "Have you?"

"Yes," she whispered. He nodded.

"So since when has this been happening?" He asked.

"Since I got sick," she whispered. "Apparently, I asked for him," Gordon stared at her. "While I had a fever. Gordie, I was scared and sick."

"Yeah," he nodded. "You were scared and sick and you asked for him. What am I supposed to think about that Bella?" She looked at him. "I bet he fed you all of his you two are meant to be crap right?" She swallowed and looked away.

"It's not crap!" She whispered

"It is crap!" He said. "Bella, you know he doesn't really believe that don't you? He uses it as a way to keep shitting on you." She swallowed. "Life doesn't work that way Bella. People don't really have soul mates and destinies."

"Don't they?" She asked. He shook his head. "Then why didn't I just tell you to fuck off in the diner that night? Why did you spend three years pining after me only to have me fall in love with you almost right after we met? If that's not destiny, then what is it?" He looked at her. "Do you have an answer for me?"

"No," he whispered, "I don't. I just know that it's different." She looked at him. "I love you, but I won't do this. I can't. It's not fair." She looked at him. "It's him or me Bella. I'm done with this." She swallowed. "I'll call you after Christmas." He walked out. She folded her lips inside of her mouth.

Anne and Hunter sat in his living room eating Chinese food and talking and laughing. Things were easy between them again and they were both glad for it. Maybe it was because they'd both decided to simply move past whatever it was between them and be happy with Kevin and Elisa respectively.

"Oh," Bonnie walked in. "I'm sorry, honey, I didn't realize you would be home today, I thought you weren't coming in until the morning, I would have been home for dinner."

"It's OK," Hunter said. "Cal decided to spend Christmas with his girlfriend in Miami, so Tammy and Steve transferred his ticket to me, I wasn't supposed to be home yet."

"Alright then," Bonnie said. "Hi Anne."

"Hi Mrs. Nichols," Anne smiled. "I can go if you two want to have like family time or whatever."

"Oh that's OK," Bonnie said. "I have a manuscript to read, like I said Hunter I'm sorry! We'll spend all day tomorrow together OK?"

"Mom, it's cool," he shrugged. "I'm not supposed to be here. Anne can keep me company, can't you Anne?"

"Sure," Anne shrugged. "My parents are at some boring gallery showing of my mom's new paintings."

"I didn't realize your mom was painting," Bonnie said.

"Yeah, they're not anything dark or cool like her early work," Anne shrugged. "They're mostly of like flowers and stuff. She's in her Georgia O'Keefe period."

"Leave the address," Bonnie said. "Maybe I'll buy and painting and your father can fight me for it." Hunter laughed. "Have a good night you two."

"She's seems happier," Anne said once she was gone. Hunter nodded.

"She is," he said. "Turns out it was all him. She stayed away from home because she was so miserable living with him and hated herself and stuff. Turns out they only got married because she was pregnant with me. So I guess Dad has a pattern."

"Are you going to see him at all, while you're here?" She asked, picking a dumpling out of a container.

"Yeah," Hunter said. "I'm spending New Years with him, I'm meeting her."

"Intense," Anne said. He nodded. "Wanna get high beforehand?"

"Nah," he shook his head. "If I get high I'll lose all my righteous anger. It's kind of all I've got."

"Mm," she nodded. "Good point. Plus I'll probably be in Vegas." He sighed.

"I wish I was going to Vegas," he mumbled. "Instead I'm having dinner with my dad and his mistress."

"It's very French," she shrugged. "Maybe you should go to Paris with all the Vanderbilts. My mom's ex lover, who was married to her lesbian muse will be there."

"You do always manage to make me feel better about my life, Callins," he laughed. "I appreciate that." She grinned.

"It's what I'm here for," she said. "We can watch a movie or something if you want."

"Really," he said, "it's kind of late, you should go to your mom's show."

"She knows I'm being there for you," Anne said. "She doesn't mind."

"I don't need you here, Anne," he said. "Really, I'm OK."

"OK," she nodded and hugged him. "I'm only a cab ride away, alright?"

"Alright," he said. "Love you."

"Love you too," she said as he walked her to the door. She sighed and wandered down the streets to the gallery where her mom was showing. She took an industrial elevator and rolled her eyes as a Brooklyn hipster type tried to avoid staring at her. She exited and walked over to the bar and got a bottle of water and looked around. "Daddy!" She called out. Steve Callins walked over and hugged his daughter.

"Hi baby," he said. "I didn't think you were coming."

"Oh, Hunter's mom came home," Anne shrugged. "It looks good." Steve nodded.

"Steve, I'm not sure about keeping the Forget me not," Tammy sighed walking over. "Anne! Oh good, I'm glad you came!" She hugged her. "How was your flight?"

"Fine," Anne said. "They look good Mom."

"Oh stop, I know you can't stand the flowers," Tammy sighed. "How's Hunter? Are he and Bonnie going to Boston for Christmas?"

"Um, no," Anne said. "It's just the two of them."

"Well, that's depressing!" Tammy said. "They should come over for dinner! I'll call her tomorrow." Tammy bounced away.

"Good for you," Steve said putting his arm around Anne. "You gave your mother a project for Christmas." Anne laughed.

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