Author Note: Thanks goes to marvinanaconda96 for becoming a follower of this story. Thanks also goes to Slytherin Studios, LindaPipeBomb, DeeMarie426, and The Kid Hardy for the reviews. All of you are simply amazing. We are coming down the last couple chapters, so a lot of things are going to take place. I really hope you like the newest installment.

"Tell me what it takes to let you go

Tell me how the pain's supposed to go

Tell me how is that you can sleep at night

Without thinking you lost everything that was

good in your life to the toss of the dice?

Tell me what it takes to let you go"

'What It Takes' by: Aerosmith

Chapter 39: Broken

November 3rd, 9:30 am

"Why didn't you tell us you had all your memories back?" Mia asked pleadingly.

Rydia sat down on the edge of the bed in her hotel room. Running a hand through her long hair was a symbol of her guilt; but it changed nothing inside her head. She really was trying to protect all of them by not telling anyone. "Put yourself in my place. Would you have told anyone if you knew it would keep the people you love safe?" Rydia asked folding her hands across her lap.

"No matter what you say or what Nick does, none of us would walk away from you and have to know that by now." Skye stated sitting down next to her best friend.

Seth crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the far wall away from the group. He honestly didn't want to be there. He felt that they all had problems with him. Knowing that Skye was never going to forgive him made the reality sink in that much harder.

Rydia looked up from her lap and glanced in his direction. She could see the despair on his face and the guilt in his eyes. It broke her heart to see him so down on life and on himself. "All of you have been great to me during all the chaos. I know that none of you would abandon me; but it won't take Nick long to figure out that I don't have amnesia anymore."

"Then we will protect you." Roman stated standing up from the folding chair he had been sitting on.

"Roman...I can't..."

"Don't! Nothing you say will change my mind. I love you and no one will ever come between us, believe that baby girl."

Rydia's eyes filled with moisture almost immediately upon hearing his declaration. She looked around at the others. Their determination was clearly not going to go away; but Seth remained emotionless. Dean turned to see his distraught friend hiding in the back. "What's wrong with you?" He asked sensing something was definitely off with him.

"I'm done..." He whispered pushing himself away from the wall and began to move towards the door.

"Seth..." Rydia called.

He stopped for a moment to turn his head to meet her pleading gaze. Seeing her tears tore him to pieces; but there was nothing left for him within the group. Returning his head forward, he continued to walk away. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Skye snapped.

"What's it look like? I'm leaving." Seth replied not bothering to look at her.

"So you're just going to abandon her now. After the trouble you went through to help track down Nick while she was asleep?"

"It went nowhere and there is nothing to show for it. We still don't know where he is or even how to prevent him from harming her again. I'm not going to sit here and watch anymore."

Skye understood the helpless feeling he had, because she felt it herself. There was more to his actions than Nick. She want to dive in deeper, risking his anger towards her. Rydia needed him just like she needed all of them in one way or another. "You're a coward!" She yelled standing up from the bed and took a couple steps close to him.

"Skye, that's enough..." Mia stated.

"No! He's walking away because he's not getting what he wants."

Her words stung deep. He really knew then that she didn't want anything more to do with him. Skye kept quiet, waiting to see if he'd continue to walk and sure enough that's exactly what he did. Rydia's heart dropped. Panic was starting to set in. Her hands began to tremble. "I don't understand why he'd just walk away." Rydia whispered choking on the words in between sobs of tears.

"Don't bother to concern yourself over him. We are better off without him anyway." Skye answered.

"Says who? You have been extremely bitter since you two split up. Face it, maybe my sister has more loveable qualities than you do." Mia countered harshly.

Rydia didn't want to see anymore arguments between the people she cared about most. She stood up swiftly and started after Seth. Roman watched as his girlfriend chased after the man he felt most threatened by when it came to her. The door slammed shut behind her and Mia instantly glared at Skye. "What the hell is wrong with you? There was no reason to say any of that to him." Mia snapped.

"I have every right! Did you forget that he tore my heart out?"

"You never let anyone forget." Dean interrupted reaching out for Mia's arm in attempts to calm her.

"Whatever, you have your opinions and I have mine. Seth isn't worth our time."

Mia took a step back and felt a sudden gush of fluid run down her leg and connect with the carpeted floor. Her startled look concerned Roman and that's when he saw the large wet spot on the floor. "Mia, what's wrong?" He asked closing the distance between them. Dean shifted to see what his friend was referring to.

"I think my water broke..." She replied with a touch of fear etched into her voice.

"No, you're not due for another eight weeks." Dean commented with concern.

"We need Emilee. Where is she?" Skye asked.

"I'll call her." Roman offered.

Hotel Lobby, 12:00 PM

Rydia raced out of the elevator in search of Seth. Dozens of people crowded her view of the large room. Turning her head from side to side, she finally caught sight of his multicolored hair exiting the hotel. Her legs began to run after him, hoping to catch up. There were so many things inside her mind, things that needed to be said before it was too late to say them.

Outside the hotel, Seth stood in the parking lot staring out at the large amount of vehicles. Rydia turned the corner and found him. He shifted his head and met her gaze from a distance. He was surprised to see her standing there; but was hesitant in acknowledging her presence at all.

"Seth..." She called slowly walking closer to him.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Don't do this, please..."

Seth wondered why she was pleading with him. There was nothing special about him being a part of the group. There was no need for him to be a part of it and yet here she was closing the distance between them, pleading with him to stay. "Rydia, I'm sorry; but you and I both know that there is no need for me."

"That's not true. I need you."

"You don't have to pretend to give a damn about me."

The frustration of his constant self pity behavior was getting to her. Her hand connect with the side of his face. She didn't want to hear anymore excuses. She wanted the truth as to why he was acting the way he was towards her. Her blue eyes narrowed and gave him one of the most harsh stares he had ever seen. "Don't give me that shit! Seth, be honest with me...what is wrong?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does matter. It matters to me."

He shook his head and took a step backwards. Rydia felt like he was slipping away even further than she originally thought. Something happened while she had been in the coma that changed things between them. It tore her to pieces to think that they'd never be able to talk to each other. She didn't want him to abandon her.

"What happened when I was asleep that changed things between us? I thought we were friends."

"I never gave up on when everyone else pretty much did. I came to see you every week and I even met with Nick's father to see if I could track him down."

"I know and I'm forever grateful to that fact that you didn't give up; but why leave me now?"

Seth took several cautious steps towards the woman his heart soared for upon sight. He hated the fact that she could make him crumble so easily. It reminded him of his relationship with Skye the first time. His hand reached out to cup her cheek gently in his palm. "It hurts too much to be around you and Skye right now. I broke her heart and now she completely hates me. I fell for you without meaning to..."

"She doesn't hate you. She loves you. Dolph is unfortunately the rebound guy she picked to ease her pain. As far as you falling for me, I don't believe that's true. You feel connected to me because we understand each other and have a lot in common; but I think the real reason is that you are afraid to really love Skye again after the first time she broke your heart."

He took her words into consideration. Most of it made sense to him. He knew that he had been afraid to get close to Skye again after the night she walked away from him. Rydia was the easy escape. His hand dropped from her face and he hung his head low in shame. The guilt of pushing Skye away weighed heavy on his heart.

Rydia's cell phone rung interrupting the conversation. She looked down to see Dean's name, which alarmed her instantly. He never called her unless there was something wrong. Her finger swiped across the screen to answer the call. "Hello?" She greeted.

"Ry, Mia is in labor. We are at the hospital. I'm freaking out...it's too early for her to have the baby. What if something is wrong?" Dean replied.

"Calm down...everything will be fine. I'll be there shortly."

"Okay...please hurry. She's crying for you."

She ended the call and looked up at Seth. He had heard the entire conversation. Knowing that she was upset, he pulled her into a comforting embrace. Her sobs were easily heard and felt against his chest. He leaned down to kiss her forehead when she moved her head up. His lips caught hers accidentally.

Rydia bolted away swiftly. She knew that it had been an accident; but it still didn't ease the tension between them. "I need to go. Are you coming or are you going to just walk away? I said my piece the choice is yours now." She confirmed and started to walk deeper into the parking lot.

"Wait up!" Seth yelled running after her.

She slowed down; but didn't turn back to look at him. A smile glistened on her lips. A sense of relief washed over her to know that he wasn't going to give up on her or stop being the friend he always had been to her. Her biggest challenge now was to talk to Skye about things, now that all of her memories returned.

The Hospital, 2:00 PM

Mia lay in a medical bed breathing deeply, trying to drown out the pain she was feeling in her lower abdomen. Each and every contraction took her breath away for a split second. Dean stood next to her, holding her hand. She squeezed it every time pain took over. When the nurse revealed that her water had indeed broke, her fear was relived. Fear for her baby was overwhelming. Eight weeks early was dangerous for the lung development.

"I'm scared..." She cried.

"I know baby...so am I..." Dean replied.