Thank you guys for the love and reviews. I didn't know how you guys would respond because I had been gone for so long. I was battling cancer and Thank God, I've won! So I kinda wanted to finish this story. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of the story. Please leave plenty of reviews and critiques.

Taylor was outside early the next morning working up a nice sweat. Apparently her father had put in a nice sized basketball court in the backyard with two brand new basketballs right next to the hoop; one for Troy and one for her. Basketball had become her new way of relieving stress along with just sitting in one place and starring pointlessly into space. She figured working on her current favorite sport would be much better than looking crazy.

She didn't get much sleep the night before; it's hard enough to sleep in a new place but top that with the conversations she had with Troy and her dad and Taylor was certain there would be plenty of more sleepless nights in store.

Taylor shot the ball and heard the hoop make the swish sound she had become so accustomed to. Unbeknownst to her, she was being watched intently while she worked on her shot. He watched as she always used the perfect form to shoot, as at least ninety percent of the baskets went through the hoop. Noting that Troy and her other coaches did an outstanding job on her, it was then he realized what should have been done a long time ago. Something to end this family dispute that he was the cause of.

Walking away from the door, he strode downstairs to his office located in the basement. Opening his desk, he took out an envelope and signed the copy of papers that were sent to him by Stephen's lawyer. Folding the papers back up, he made a quick phone call and walked upstairs to the back door where he stood and watched his first born continue her morning practice. After about five minutes he decided it was time to face the music, he opened the door and walked out to the court he had built for her and Troy.

Clearing his throat, he got Taylor's attention just before she let go of the basketball for a shot. Taylor starred at the man who conceived her, and even though she shouldn't, she instantly felt guilt for the way she spoke to him the previous night. Kevin broke his eyes away from his only daughter and focused them on the envelope he had, which he unknowingly was tapping against his fingers.

"Taylor" he began, "uh…what you said last night had me thinking and kept me from sleeping at all. A lot of what you said was true and it's time I fully face the consequences for the decisions I've made. Not only face them but live with them" he paused glancing at Taylor quickly. "So this morning while I was watching you practice, it dawned on me how different your life is now and how I'm one hundred percent responsible for that" he said clearing his throat.

Taylor shuffled her feet as she held the basketball in her hands. "Tay" continued her father, "you do deserve a chance to move on and live your own life. I just selfishly thought I could be a part of it still and I know that not to be true, especially since I'm the one who messed it up in the first place. I apologize for my part in it, I apologize for being an horrible father" he said as his voice started to break, "but mostly I'm sorry for hurting you, not only me but your mother because she only did what she did because I left…and because I left the way I did, I hope me signing these adoption papers will be the start of you one day forgiving me" he said holding out the envelope for Taylor, while not giving her eye contact.

Taylor hesitantly grabbed for the adoption papers. Her whole goal for being here had been realized but yet she felt hurt more than joyous. This is what she wanted all along right? To be free and start over; to move on. Why such feeling of guilt and sudden despair? Is it because this was the final nail in the coffin on her family? What use to be was suddenly no more with her father's signature; as if her family never existed, maybe it never did and she just didn't realize it. "Th…thanks dad" she said quietly.

"Sure" he replied almost inaudibly. Kevin turned suddenly and proceeded to walk away, "If you want me to call Stephen to come and pick you up I will" he said as he walked back into the house. Taylor stood there and an almost stunned silence; she couldn't believe that with just one argument he signed the papers. She figured they would at least be battling for a week before he even thought about signing those papers. Whatever it was, Taylor was at least happy the hard part was over. Now she had to decide whether to stay here for the rest of her break or stick around for Troy, even if he was behaving like a total douche.

Troy sat at the edge of his bed, staring into space. He was pondering over the events from last night, and the more he thought about it the more embarrassed he became. His behavior last night was almost the exact same as a toddler who was having a tantrum because they couldn't have their way. Not only was he embarrassed but he was sure he had screwed things up with Taylor. He didn't know how long she was going to keep putting up with his crap but he knew his days were numbered with her if he continued on this path. A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts, as his mother walked…more like waddled in before waiting for a response. She walked right over to Troy and sat beside him. Troy's body automatically tensed up with the addition of his mom.

"Rough night" said his mother quietly.

"Yeah" sighed out Troy quietly. Lucille shook her head in acknowledgement; she could honestly say she hadn't gotten much rest herself. Being under this constant stress couldn't be good for the baby.

"Troy, I know you've been disgusted and surely disappointed with my decisions as of late. I haven't been the best mother to you and I'm truly sorry about all the pain I caused you…and your father. Looking back I would have done a lot of things differently instead of hurting one of the most important people in my life. But I've made these decisions and I have to live with them even though I don't want to. I really thought I could have you in my life Troy but it's obvious you want nothing to do with me and honestly I don't blame you. Kevin and I decided that you should go back home to your dad and we shouldn't force either one of you to stay somewhere you obviously don't want to be" she said quietly while unconsciously rubbing her belly.

Troy remained quiet as his body became less tense. Not really knowing why he felt himself grab his mom into a hug and he began to cry. It's like all the emotion he felt over the last months came pouring out and all he wanted in the end was his mom. Lucille felt that instant connection again between mother and child and she rocked her son in her arms as she continued to apologize for her failure as a parent. Troy knew in that moment that his healing process of forgiveness was really starting to began. Maybe there was some truth to what Ms. Peterson had been saying all along; all Troy wanted was his mom back and he wanted to stop being so angry; to stop hurting.

Lucille continued to hold her son until his crying had calmed down tremendously. Troy let go as he wiped away some tears that were still stained on his face. He let his breathing become steadier before he responded to his mother. "You said you would have done things differently…what would you have changed?" asked Troy with his voice still a little shaky.

Lucille inhaled and exhaled deeply as she thought about Troy's question. "I think I would have told you how I felt about Kevin, I would have told you the truth and been honest with not only you but your dad Troy. You both deserved that and I was being selfish when I ran off with Kevin. I would have asked your dad for a divorce first and did things the proper way instead of looking for an easy way out because in the end it only caused people more pain" she said quietly. "I would have been more honest with myself about my feelings for Kevin from the jump".

"It still would have hurt though" said Troy quietly. "Why did you do it anyway?"

"I was in love…more in love than I have ever been with a man in my life" she said looking off into space.

"How did you and he start anyway?" Troy asked a little angrier than he intended.

"I think some things should stay private Troy out of respect for everyone involved" she sighed heavily, "but if I was honest from the beginning none of this would have ever gotten this far".

"You said you should have been honest but you won't even tell me how all this started" said Troy irritably, "just tell me the truth for once mom".

Lucille was quiet for sometime as she pondered whether or not to tell her son everything. "There are some things that children shouldn't know about their parents" she thought to herself. "Troy…it's a really complicated past. I can tell you some things but certain things have to remain private for the sake of others" she said softly.

Troy nodded his head in comprehension and waited quietly for his mother to continue.

"Kevin and I aren't something that just happened…it's a relationship that spanned over twenty years. We were young teens who were so deep in love that it hurt to be apart from one another. We dated for a few years and we made our own reality and could care less about what people thought of us being in an interracial relationship; it helped that another couple was in the same boat we were so we ended up hanging around each other all the time. Even though Kevin and I couldn't care about what our friends and strangers thought about our relationship, we ended up hiding it from our family more so our parents" she said quietly.

"It was our private ecstasy and escape from everything, but reality had a way of creeping up as it tends to do and our relationship was exposed to the world. Not only was our relationship exposed but so was our friends relationship" she said getting a little teary eyed. "It was devastating to all involved but it was made clear by all of our parents that the relationships was to end that instant…so we did".

"So you guys just stopped being together" said Troy clearly shocked by the revelation his mom had loved a guy since her teen years that wasn't his father...a guy that he clearly hated, "I mean I don't understand if you loved Kevin so much, than why give him up so easily?" asked Troy looking bewildered. It wasn't as if Troy condoned the relationship between his mom and Kevin but he couldn't fathom someone forcing him to dump Taylor.

"It's complicated Troy. Let's just say it was best for everyone involved that our relationship ended, as well as our friends" she said quietly as Troy shook his head partly in disbelief and partly in disapproval. "Sacrificing our happiness ensured that unnecessary actions wouldn't have to be taken. So I moved on, I met your dad a year later and we got married and had you. Kevin found Sharon and moved on also with his family. We thought we were doing the right thing…I mean everything was working out until one day at one of the community parties, Kevin just gave me this look…and that was the beginning of the end for us".

Troy was quiet because he knew all about the look and how that one look could change everything.

"So there you have it, I should have been honest with you and your dad once I realized those feelings for Kevin I thought I had put away came resurfacing with a vengeance. I'm sorry for hurting you Troy and I can't apologize enough, I just hope you forgive me. I really want you to be a part of our lives, especially when the baby comes" she said.

Troy got up and started to pace around the room. In his heart he really wanted to forgive his mom, especially knowing some of what happened but it still hurt. "You know mom, you choose Kevin over me, your son. I understand that you sacrificed your own happiness for years…I really do, but you just left me in the balance. It hurts mama" he said looking his mom square in the eyes.

Lucille felt tears fall out of her eyes. The magnitude of her decision to run away with Kevin had all come to this moment. Seeing her son vulnerable and hurt and knowing she could have prevented it all with just being honest. "I know it still hurts and I feel like I will be paying for my actions for the rest of my life but…somehow I think you understand what it's like to be in love with a McKessie" she said knowingly while wiping her face, "but I know for a fact you understanding that doesn't excuse my behavior".

Troy looked at his mother as he arched his eyebrow, "How did you know?" he asked.

"I heard you guys talking in the bathroom when you first got here…I was spying" she said slightly ashamed.

Troy chortled slightly as he walked up to his mom and gave her a bear hug, gently of course because of the baby. "I miss you mom" he said giving her a peck on the cheek, "I miss you a whole lot and I'm really trying here but I have to be honest it might take me awhile to get use to this. Not to mention dad…he was hurt if not more by all this. Does he even know what you just told me?" questioned Troy releasing his mother.

"No he doesn't, but hopefully one day he will allow me to explain it to him when his anger subsides, until then can you keep it between us?" she asked, "Not even Taylor should know".

"Yeah I can do that" he sighed. Troy reached down again and embraced the woman that gave him life, until a knock on the door startled them both. "Come in" said Troy. Taylor opened the door and was a little surprised Troy and his mom relaxed and not yelling at one another…or more like Troy yelling at her. "I didn't mean to interrupt…I can come back later" said Taylor.

"Nonsense, I was on my way downstairs to force your dad to fix breakfast. By the look of you, it looks like you could use some also" said Lucille sweetly.

Taylor looked down and noticed how sweaty she was. After her dad walked away she stayed on the court to play and try to clear her head about her dad signing the adoption papers. "Yeah some breakfast would be great actually, since I didn't eat much last night either" said Taylor quietly not really making eye contact with Lucille.

"Well I'll leave you two alone" said Lucille as Troy helped her up off of the bed. Lucille waddled her way to the bedroom door as Taylor moved out of her way. Lucille shut the door behind her as she made her way down to her husband feeling like a weight had been lifted. "Finally things look like it's for the better around here" she thought to herself.

Troy went to sit down on the bed and patted the space next to him indicating he wanted Taylor to sit down. Taylor instead walked across the room and stood in front of him leaning back against his new desk while crossing her hands across her chest, indicating to Troy that he was still in deep crap from the night before. Troy looked down and sighed; "Look Tay, I'm sorry about last night…" he began.

"Troy I honestly can't take another apology today, let's just chalk it up to a stressful situation and move on please" she said a little exasperated.

"I would but you won't sit down next to me" said Troy getting a little irritated.

"I didn't want to sit down because I'm still sweaty from this morning and I'm still a little agitated with you" she said rolling her eyes. "I don't want to turn this into a big deal. I just came in to tell you that I'm going back home. Kevin called my dad and I'm just gonna go".

Troy was taken aback by the news. Not only that she planned on leaving but that she was now calling her biological father by his first name and calling her adoptive father dad, "I thought you said you weren't gonna leave until he signed the papers" said Troy looking at Taylor intently. Taylor reached down into her shorts pocket and pulled out the envelope and handed it to Troy.

Troy took the envelope and read the contents inside, his mouth dropping when he saw Kevin's signature at the bottom indicating he gave all parental rights to The Danforths. "Wow Tay…this is shocking yet amazing" he said folding the paper back up and placing it inside the envelope.

"Yeah" she responded quietly, "I haven't fully processed everything and I don't think I can do that here, so I asked him to call my dad to come and pick me up. He said he already made the phone call earlier this morning…so I'm gone".

There was a sudden and tense stillness that encompassed the room. Taylor just made her decision without even bothering to ask Troy what he thought she should do. Taylor knew she was hurting Troy by making this sudden decision, but the longer she stayed in this house the more angrier and unhappy she became. It was best if she just left.

"I mean you couldn't come to me and talk to me Taylor before you made this choice" said Troy a little angry. "I thought we were gonna talk about things".

"You mean the way we talked about things last night when you practically ignored me" said Taylor clearly upset. Troy sucked in air as he tried to control his anger before he blew up at Taylor, he had to remind himself that she was his girlfriend and in just as much pain as he was. "I tried apologizing for that Tay" he said through clenched teeth.

"I know, I know" she said as tears just suddenly poured down her face and she began gasping for air. Troy scrambled from his bed and pulled Taylor into him immediately, "Hey calm down Tay" said Troy as he rubbed her back. But the more he tried to soothe her, the more upset she became. Instead of telling her to calm down he just let her have her moment as he continued to stroke her back gently. Once she was a little calmer he shuffled her over to his bed and positioned her to continue to lie on his chest as he continued to comfort her.

Once Taylor had finally settled herself, she looked into Troy's eyes and gently gave him a soft kiss as her face was still stained with tears. "Troy" she said brokenly while breaking away from him, "I'm so afraid I'm going to lose you" she said sniffling slightly.

"Taylor" Troy said seriously, "you're not gonna lose me".

"I never thought in a million years that I would lose my family…but I did. Troy if I stay here, I can guarantee you, that we won't survive this. This place is toxic for our relationship, and I love you too much to give you up…especially to people and a situation that was screwed up to begin with" rushed out Taylor.

"I understand your fear Tay, but I just honestly made a break through with my mom and we are finally beginning to work on the mother son thing" said Troy quietly. "Tay there is so much more to the situation than you and I ever thought".

"It still doesn't excuse what they did" said Taylor quietly.

"No it doesn't, but it helps me to understand even if it's just a little bit" he said.

"So where does that leave us?" asked Taylor.

"If you can't stay here because of the drama Tay then I guess we're going home" said Troy matter-of-factly.

"But Troy, it's obvious you want to work things out with your mom…I think it's better if you stay and I go" said Taylor. She cut Troy off as he began to protest, "My family is beyond saving right now, I'm officially adopted, my moms an alcoholic with a tendency for violence, and I'm dating a boy who I'm totally in love with but we are about to share the same sibling in less than a couple months…basically put, it's a done deal on my end. You might have a chance to at least salvage something with your mom, plus you still have your dad" said Taylor.

"Well when you put it like that, it sounds like we should be on an episode of Maury" chuckled Troy. Taylor broke into the first genuine smile she felt like she had in a couple of weeks. "I guess you're right" she laughed out.

"I don't know about being away from you for these next couple of weeks" said Troy.

"I rather lose you for a couple of weeks than lose you forever" said Taylor quietly while given Troy that look that always weakened him to his core. Troy gently grabbed Taylor's face and began placing soft kisses on her lips. Taylor gripped the back of Troy's head as she deepened the kiss. The two unlikely lovers continue to kiss but not in a passionate way, in a way that was meant by true love and true love only…with tenderness and complete compassion.

They were so engrossed in their kiss that they didn't hear the door open. They heard a familiar voice shout out their names but Taylor couldn't believe what she was hearing, she turned towards the door and was completely stunned by who was standing there "Chad! What are you doing here?" she asked clearly in shock as she stood up.

Chad stood in the doorway with his mouth half opened looking between Taylor and Troy. It took him awhile to register Taylor's question, and he stammered slightly as he tried to answer, "I…I came with dad, your dad called this morning and said you wanted to come home, but I see you're a little preoccupied. I'll go downstairs and wait" said Chad clearly hurt as he walked away slowly from the door.

Taylor looked at Troy as he stood, "Troy" she said close to tears again.

"Yeah Tay…I know" he sighed heavily. "So much for drama free" thought Troy to himself.