Kristina woke to the smell of bacon. The palm of her hand went straight to her forehead when she tried to sit up too quickly. Her head was throbbing. She got out of bed, careful not to put too much pressure on her ankle. To her surprise it wasn't as painful as she thought it would be, just a bit sore. She slightly limped her way to the steps of the kitchen. Ethan stood with his back to her at the stove scrambling eggs. "You went shopping?"

Ethan whipped his head around. "Hey, good morning. Yeah, the couch kept trying to fight with my back last night so I finally decided to just get up and get some supplies for this place."

"Oh, Ethan, I am so sorry." Kristina said as she walked up to him.

"I'm fine, really. How are you feeling? That is the more important question. I bought some aspirin, they're on the counter and I put some orange juice on the table."

"Oh my god, thank you. My head hurts way worse than my ankle." She grabbed two aspirin from the bottle and headed over to the table where Ethan already had it prepared with juice, plates and napkins. "Can I help you with anything?" She asked.

Ethan came over with the skillet full of eggs and started dividing them between the two plates. "Nope, all done." He enjoyed seeing Kristina smile as she took her seat. He proceeded to bring over the bacon and hash browns and even buttered some toast before taking a seat himself.

Kristina was so hungry she couldn't wait to take her first bite of the eggs. "How come I didn't know that you could cook?"

"Ah, Krissy, this is just bacon and eggs. You should try my dinner menu."

"Is that an invitation?" She asked playfully.

Ethan grinned. "I don't know… maybe. But right now just eat your breakfast."

Kristina watched Ethan as he began to shake out hot sauce onto his eggs. "That looks so good. Can I have some of that?"

One eyebrow rose up on Ethan. "Really? I wouldn't have taken you for a hot sauce kind of girl."

"Well I guess there's still a lot we don't know about each other."

Ethan handed over the hot sauce and watched Kristina as she added it to her eggs. He thought he knew enough about her. Before he knew her to be smart, pretty, a good listener as well as friend and above everything, she was very persistent. But now, in this moment, he wondered what else he didn't know about her. Did she like hot sauce on other foods? What was her favorite color? And did she always look this beautiful first thing in the morning?

"Hello? Ethan?" Kristina had asked Ethan a question and when he didn't respond she realized he was in some sort of daze. The poor man must be so tired from his rough night on the couch. She would have to find a way to make that up to him.

Ethan's eyes widened when he heard her call his name. "Sorry, what?"

"I asked you what you have planned for the day."

"Well, I'll probably go see Lulu and Luke. I made a pretty penny on poker games while I was away so I'm not in desperate need of a job yet. So I guess I'll spend most of the day just getting reacquainted with the city. I feel like I've been gone forever."

Kristina hung her head as her fork played around with her remaining eggs. "I wondered sometimes if I would ever see you again."

Ethan once again heard the pain in her voice. He had missed her too, but he truly had no idea that him leaving would have hurt her so much. "Krissy, you know I had no choice, right? It wasn't one of Helena's petty little games. She was out for blood… my blood. I had to leave. I should've called you. I'm so sorry that I didn't. I just thought that with you gone at college you would be too busy meeting new friends that you would have quickly forgotten about some loser friend you once had a small crush on."

Kristina sighed and carried their plates to the sink. "It wasn't a small crush, Ethan." She ran the hot water. "I mean, I know it was only one sided, but you were my first love."

Ethan was stunned at her words, but he also felt honored at them. He walked over and turned the water off, resulting in her attention turning to look at him. "I had no idea that you considered me your first love, Kristina. Of course I knew that you had feelings for me. You let me know that every chance you got." They both smiled as they thought of the memories. "But never did I think that you loved me."

"You were everything to me, Ethan. Every night I would pray that the next day would be the day that you would suddenly open your eyes and realize that you loved me too. I know, that sounds so stupid." Suddenly feeling shy, she turned her head toward the floor.

Ethan gently lifted her chin back up with his finger and she met with his eyes. "Krissy, there is nothing stupid about that. It's not your fault that I was a blind idiot who used every excuse in the book to keep you at a distance."

Looking deep into his eyes, Kristina felt her heart speed up as all her old feelings for this man came rushing back through her veins. It was hitting her like a ton of bricks. Her body was burning with just the touch of his finger on her face. Kiss me. She screamed in her head. Please kiss me!

Ethan's body froze with fear. His feelings for Kristina had grown by the time she left for school, but there had never been a moment like this. One where he wanted to lunge forward and kiss her so passionately. Partly because he would never allow a moment like this to have been created. She has finally moved on from you Ethan, she deserves better than you. He thought. But what if you never get this chance again? Don't over think it, just do it already!

Kristina suddenly turned away. She didn't want to push Ethan away again. He was being nice and trying to lift her spirits again, like he always did. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable anymore. "I should really get these dishes done. I have a lot to do today."

It was now official to him. Kristina had not only grown into a beautiful woman, she had also moved on from her first love. His stomach sank with emptiness. A feeling he had never felt before. He tried to shake it off and grabbed a dry towel and took the first clean plate from Kristina. "Oh yeah? What's on your agenda today?"

Kristina let the confusing moment pass her and while her heart still slightly raced, she was able to regain control of her shaky hands. "Well first I have to go by Trey's apartment and get my things. And then I have to find a place to put those things."

"What do you mean? You're not going back to your moms?" Ethan asked.

"I can't go back there. I'll find an apartment of my own. It shouldn't be that hard. Look, you found this place in one day."

"And how are you going to pay for your new apartment?" Ethan asked.

Kristina realized just how much they had to catch up on. "I may have suddenly dropped out of school, but I'm not a complete idiot. I have a job." She paused for a second. "At least I think I still have a job. Kate gave me a job as one of her assistants at Crimson, but that was before Connie showed up."

"Connie?"

"Yeah, Kate's other personality."

"Her what? I'm not sure I'm following."

"Kate has multiple personalities, but that's a story of a day where we have more time. Anyway, I haven't been working for a couple weeks but I've saved enough to get me by for a while. Hopefully Kate will be back soon and I'll be back to work."

"Sounds like you've got it all worked out then. But, listen, do me a favor and when you go to Trey's, give me a call and I'll meet you there."

Kristina giggled. "Ethan, I am not having you meet me at Trey's."

"Why not? You might need me to help you carry some stuff." Ethan offered while he put the plates away into the cabinets.

"Believe me, I can fit all the things I have over there in one box. I'll be in and out in minutes. Besides, Trey should be away at work."

"Well good, because I have to tell you, I don't trust the guy."

Kristina once again found herself trying to resist the urge to laugh. "What do you mean you don't trust him? Ethan, you don't even know him."

"He's a con man!" Ethan shouted.

"And so are you!" She was quick to reply.

"Kristina…" Ethan was thrown back for a second. Was she really drawing a parallel between the two of them? Yeah, he really didn't know this Trey character at all, but he could feel that there was something off with him. He never would have used Kristina like Trey did. Ethan might be a con man, but he knew he was nothing like Trey.

"Listen, what Trey did to me was awful. I don't know, maybe it's me being naïve, but there's part of me that has to believe that there was some parts of Trey that were sincere."

"Like the part that said that he loved you?"

Kristina sighed heavily and turned off the water and began to dry her hands as she thought about Ethan's question. She shook her head and walked over to her purse. "I don't know."

Ethan followed her. "Kristina, please don't tell me that you're going to take him back."

She continued to walk to the door with Ethan right behind her. "Regardless of how he feels about me now, he hurt me and humiliated me. I promised myself that I would never be a victim again and I'm going to keep that promise."

Ethan found himself happy at her reply. "Well then, good luck on your apartment hunting. I'm sure you'll find something wonderful."

"Thank you Ethan… for everything."

"It was just breakfast."

"You know what I'm talking about. Not just breakfast. For taking care of me even when I tried to push you away. I've really missed this."

"Me too." Ethan watched Kristina walked out the door and down the stairs. He didn't really realize how much he had missed their conversations until now. Thankfully they were able to fall right back into things again. He liked this closeness between them and for the first time ever he found himself wanting to get even closer.

Ethan woke in the morning on the couch and his body was aching. He stood up and tried his best to stretch out the pain. It didn't help that he ran a late night poker game downstairs at the Rib that ran into the early hours of the morning. Much alcohol had been consumed. He shuffled his way to the bathroom feeling that an immediate shower would help. He leaned both arms on the pedestal sink and tried forcing his eyes to open completely when he looked into the mirror. He had finally focused in on his tired faced when he noticed the articles hanging over the shower rod behind him. "What the hell?" He slowly pulled down each bra, one by one. Black, red, purple and hot pink. He turned to the side and seen matching panties laid out over the heater. "Kristina." He called, but she didn't answer. "Kristina!"

"What's the matter?" She came rushing into the bathroom.

"What are these?" He held up all four bras.

"They're bras, Ethan. Geez, how long has it been since you've seen one?" She pushed past him and grabbed her panties.

Ethan found himself actually pondering the question. It had been awhile. "I know what they are, Kristina. I'm just wondering what they are doing in the bathroom."

"Sorry, Ethan, but you can't just throw them in the dryer, you know. They're delicates." Kristina walked to the bedroom and placed the items in a drawer.

For a split second as Ethan looked at Kristina all dressed ready for work wearing a black fitted dress, he wondered what her "delicates" looked like underneath.

"Ethan, I know I have been here a little longer than expected, but you were the one that offered, remember?"

Ethan thought back to the phone conversation that he and Kristina had had that night after she first went apartment hunting. Nothing was available for immediate occupancy. He didn't want her to have to go back to either of her parents and he for sure didn't want her to be tempted to go back to Trey's. So here it is, seven days later and still no apartment. "Yeah, I remember."

"I'm meeting with another realtor after work. I promise, if I don't find anything tonight, I will go back to my moms."

Ethan sighed. Truth was, even with the bras and panties taking over his bathroom, he was starting to like having her there. He had to work some shifts at the Floating Rib in order for Coleman to allow his after hour parties, but knowing Kristina was safe upstairs made him very happy. "Don't worry about it. I told you that you could stay as long as you needed and I meant it."

"You've already done so much. I don't want to be a burden anymore."

"You are definitely not a burden." Ethan replied as the door bell rang and Kristina disappeared into the bedroom. "A little open with your delicates, but not a burden." He opened the door. "Johnny, hey man. What brings you here so early? Come in. I've been missing you at the poker nights."

"Yeah, I've been really busy with the club. Listen, I got a visitor up there last night." Johnny said as he looked around the loft.

"Oh yeah, who?"

"Trey."

"Huh, what did that dirt bag want?" Ethan asked while he popped two Advil into his mouth.

"Well he wanted to know how Kristina was since she still hasn't been returning his phone calls."

"So? Don't tell me that you think she should forgive him?"

"No, not at all. But it was what he said next that had me interested."

"What was that?" Ethan sat back on one of the kitchen chairs.

"She said that he heard Kristina was staying here with you." He waited for a reaction from Ethan, but got nothing but Ethan clearing his throat. "I said it must just be a rumor, because Ethan would never let Kristina move in with him and send her any kind of mixed signals. He wouldn't do that to her again, that is unless of course he was finally ready to admit he has real feelings for her."

Ethan was having a hard time deciphering his feeling for Kristina to himself, how was he going to explain them to Johnny? Before he could even try, Kristina came walking out of the bedroom. "Oh hi, Johnny!"

"And there's my confirmation… on both counts." Johnny said right before giving Kristina a hug.

"Sorry, I can't stay and talk, but I got to get to work."

"Kate's back?" Johnny asked.

"For now, but you never know when Connie is going to appear, so I got to make some money while I can." Kristina put on her coat and looked over at Ethan. "If I end up having to stay here another day, I promise all bras and panties stay in the bedroom." She smiled and gave a half wave before leaving.

Ethan's head didn't move, but his eyes shifted toward Johnny who he knew would be waiting for an explanation.

"What's going on, man? Bras and panties in the bedroom?"

Ethan groaned as he stood up and went to the fridge. "Is it too early for alcohol?" He asked, but settled for juice instead.

"Ethan, are you and Kristina hooking up?"

"No, man, it's not like that. She needed a place to stay while she searched for her own apartment."

"And the man who once wanted nothing to do with being her knight in shining armor, was once again available to be her rescuer."

"It appears so…"

Johnny knew better, this wasn't Ethan just being a good friend to Kristina. This was much more than that. "Have you told her yet?"

Ethan knew exactly what Johnny was asking. He took a deep breath. "No and I don't plan on it either."

"Why not? I'm sure Kristina would be ecstatic to hear that you finally can admit you really like her."

Ethan ran his fingers firmly over his head. "I can barely understand what's going on myself. I mean the last thing I was expecting was to come home and fall for Kristina."

"It didn't happen overnight, Ethan. I called this why back then. Come to think of it so did she."

"She was too young then."

"Oh that's just what you told yourself. You were just too afraid that you would hurt her."

"And I still don't want to hurt her. Besides, Kristina has moved on." Ethan thought of the morning after her first night over. Her pulling away right before he was going to kiss her.

"What, with Trey?"

"It doesn't matter who. She's pretty much made it clear that she's over me and just wants to be friends."

"She told you that?"

"She didn't have too. I'll just tell you that there was a moment when I just knew. I was too late. But that's alright, mine and Kristina's friendship is very important to me. I realize that now and I don't want to mess that up again. So I will continue to be there for her whenever she needs me."

Johnny was hearing Ethan, but he just couldn't picture how this could turn out very good. "And what happens when she meets some new guy and she wants to tell her good pal Ethan all about it? How are you going to deal with that?"

Ethan hadn't thought that far ahead yet. It had been hard enough to think that she had shared a bed with Trey. "I'll be there for her."

Johnny made his way back to the door. "Alright, but you know more than anyone all the heartbreak that girl has gone through over the years. Kristina's a good girl, don't lead her on again if you have no intentions of seeing it through this time."

"Advice taken, mate."

"Call me when you get your next game together. I'll see if I can make it."

Ethan smiled at his friend. "You mean if Carly says it's okay?"

"Don't even go there. I love Carly, but she is not in charge of me. At least not outside of the bedroom, that is." Johnny joked.

"Alright, man, get out of here. Keep those thoughts to yourself." Ethan said as Johnny laughed his way down the stairs.

Ethan's headache was just about gone and he headed back to the bathroom for his shower. He looked at the rod where Kristina's bras hung only moments ago and then at the now bare heater. No matter what, she could always bring a smile to his face even if his thoughts right now aren't as pure as they once were. He could handle this. This friendship can remain just as innocent as it's always been.