Part 3

Kevin opened his eyes and looked for Eve. When he realized he was alone in bed, he sat up and looked at the clock. 6AM. Eve hadn't come home last night. Guilt went through him when he realized the first thing he felt was relief. In the hours between Eve had left and he'd finally gone to bed, he'd come to the conclusion that things weren't going to get any better between them. Whatever it had been to bring them together, it obviously wasn't enough to keep them going. He had to talk to her, and tell her what he was thinking. It wasn't fair to either of them to keep this going.

*****************

Eve rolled over and looked at Scott. ''I can't believe I did this.''

''We. You can't believe we did this.'' Pulling her to him, he sighed. ''I know you feel guilty about Kevin. But if you're right about him and Lucy, what is it going to get you to stand back and wait for him to tell you it's over?''

''What if I'm wrong? What if I'm just being paranoid?''

Scott stared at her. ''If you really thought you could be wrong, you wouldn't be here. I know you well enough for that. I wish I could tell you that I think Kevin really loved you and that this just happened, but I don't believe it. I think Lucy and Kevin fought it as hard as you and I did.''

''How did we make such a mess out of this? I don't get it, Scott.'

' ''Neither do I. But all we can do now is go from here. The hell with Lucy and Kevin. They deserve each other. '' Leaning over her, Scott kissed her again.

**************

''Monk, you need to take a break. Eve will tell you what's going on when she's ready.''

''I just don't get it, Victor. All she said was that we had to talk, and she would see me tomorrow. But why did she call from Scott's?'' Kevin stared at Victor, knowing that he didn't know. But Kevin did know. Eve was with Scott. He knew it wasn't that simple, but he also knew he wasn't as upset as he should have been if he really loved Eve as much as he'd been telling himself he did.

His first thought had been to call Lucy, but that wasn't fair to her. She was his friend, not his emotional dumping ground. So he'd called Victor.

Victor had spent the entire afternoon alternating between trying to get Kevin out of the house, and trying to get him to call Lucy. Since the thought of Lucy sent Kevin off on rant that Lucy herself would have been proud of, Victor gave up on that one. ''How about a little blues?''

''Blues? What do you mean?''

''I mean the blues. I mean dinner and a few drinks at Luke's.'' Victor liked Luke, and he secretly hoped that Lucy would be there. There was always the possibility.

The same thought went through Kevin's mind. His first instinct was to say no, but Victor was either going to hound him about going out, or calling Lucy. And, the fact was, seeing her wouldn't be the worst thing that happened to him.

*************************

Jerry brought back the drinks and sat down across from Lucy.''So, what should we drink to?''

''How about the end of Rachel Locke?''

''I'm not sure how much help I've been. I mean, I don't have anything concrete on her.''

''You've made her paranoid.'' Smiling, he saw her eyes drift towards the door, and suddenly she stopped smiling for a moment. Turning, Jerry saw Kevin and Victor coming through the door. Leaning towards her, he spoke softly. ''Must be a sad story behind that.''

She looked at him. ''Yep. But it's a long one, and very depressing.'' She hoped they didn't see her. As much as she would love to spend time with Victor, seeing Kevin reminded her of everything she'd lost. The fact that Eve had left Kevin, at least according to Scott, and seemed to prefer being alone to being with her only made it worse.

''Then it can wait for another time. We can trade sob stories. Tonight is for having fun.''

They'd been sitting there for almost two hours, drinking themselves into a rather comfortable state of not quite drunkeness when a voice from behind them startled them both. ''Do you ever get tired of it, Lucy?''

Turning, Lucy stood when she saw Bobbie. ''Tired of what?''

''Games. Throwing yourself at men just because you can't hang on to the one you had?''

Lucy turned to Jerry. ''You told me it was over between the two of you!''

''She told me it was! I told you that, Lucy!''

Bobbie looked at Jerry. ''So you couldn't wait to run out and jump the first thing that came along?''

''Jump the first THING that came along? Who in the hell do you think you are, Bobbie?'' Lucy stepped towards Bobbie, but Luke appeared out of nowhere and got between the two of them.

''This isn't going to happen, ladies. Bobbie, you did tell him to get out. I know that because you broke three glasses while you told me about it. If you wanted to talk to him, you could have just asked. You're not going to attack Lucy because Jerry sat down and bought her a few drinks.'' Pushing Bobbie towards Jerry, Luke took Lucy's arm and pulled her away.

Lucy wasn't going quietly. ''Luke, she called me a-''

''I know, darlin', and I'm sorry. But she's Bobbie, and she wants to get into it with Jerry. You don't have anything to do with it. Unless you stay here and continue it.'' As Luke started to sit her down at the bar, the door opened again.

''Oh, my day just keeps getting better and better.'' Lucy stared right into Rachel Locke's eyes. ''You have a hell of a nerve showing up here.''

Rachel smiled. ''Lucy, the last time I checked, this was a public place.''

''Not that public.'' Pulling away from Luke, Lucy approached her. ''After everything you've done, what do you think everyone's going to be happy to see you?''

''I reunited a mother with her baby. I would think you would understand that, considering-''

''DON'T! Don't you dare compare what happened between me, Scott, and Serena to what you, Chris, and Julie pulled.''

Lucy's voice was steadily rising, and Mike tapped on Luke's shoulder. ''This could turn out to be a problem.''

''Nah. Luce can take her.'' Luke smiled. ''Besides, I don't like her myself. Not to mention the fact that I've already stopped Lucy once tonight. I step in again, and I could find myself on the receiving end of that.'' He nodded toward a furious and nearly screaming Lucy. ''Relax, Mike. I won't let it turn into a catfight. At least not without the mud.''

''That could actually turn into a major attraction.'' Mike looked appreciatively at Lucy for a moment and laughed.

''Why not, Lucy? Scott took your baby, and disappeared for seven years, I-''

''I never lied to anyone about who she was! Scott never lied to me about her! I never pretended to be someone's friend to get close to her.''

Now Rachel smiled. ''Isn't that why you ran to Scott? Why you were so quick to jump into a relationship with him? Isn't that part of why you broke up?''

''You don't know the first thing about me and Scott. Losing Christina was a big part of it, never let it be said that I don't give credit where credit was due. YOU caused that. You manipulated us into a position of helping Julie get her life together so she could turn around and wreck ours.''

Staring into Lucy's eyes, Rachel knew it wouldn't take much to set her off. Deliberately keeping her voice low, she smiled again. ''Losing Christina ended it? You're saying the fact that you cheated on him with his own father wasn't part of it?''

''I've had it with you, Rachel!'' Shrieking, Lucy shoved her back into the bar.

The room grew silent, drawing Victor and Kevin's attention. Kevin was the first to see what was going on. ''This can't be good.''

''What?''

Kevin pointed to the women. ''Lucy's going off on Rachel.''

As Kevin started towards them, Victor followed. ''It could be good. I'm cheering for Lucy.''

Luke had stepped closer, but Lucy appeared satisfied to scream at Rachel. ''I've learned a lot in the last few years, and the one thing that has really stuck with me is that I don't do good very well. I tried, but, you know, I always screwed up, and blew it. Trying to be good got me nothing. Worse than nothing, it got me hurt worse than I ever imagined I could be hurt. And I'm telling you this to warn you, Rachel. I'm tired of trying to be good. You think you're bad?'' She laughed. ''I'm at my best when I'm bad. Don't think you haven't met your match, Livvy.''

Rachel's eyes narrowed. ''I take it you've been talking to Kevin.'' Over Lucy's shoulder, she saw Kevin approaching. ''Or maybe it's pillow talk.''

''Give it up, Rachel! You really don't want to mess with me. Or the people I care about. You pulled one over on Scott and me. We don't forgive, and we don't forget. And you can forget about that little stalking complaint against Kevin.''

''I'm not the first woman he's stalked.''

''I know what he did. And let me fill you in on something. When it comes to stalking, I mean REALLY stalking someone: he's an amateur compared to some of the people I hang out with. You're going to lose this one. Didn't they teach you in shrink school that the people who have nothing to lose are the ones you should fear the most? You're hiding something. That means you have something to lose.''

''And you don't?'' Rachel was beginning to realize she didn't have the advantage she thought she had. Not one person in that bar would care if Lucy decked her. And from the looks of her, she might. But Rachel had no doubt that everyone would care if she hit Lucy back.

''Nothing you can take away from me. To be brutally honest, which I'm usually not, but I'm feeling generous tonight, I've already lost almost everything I care about. Short of Serena and Jax, I have nothing. So if you want to whine about someone stalking you, I'LL give you something to whine about. You have no idea what stalking is, yet. But I think I've given you a pretty good taste of what's coming.'' Lucy decided to REALLY take the blame away from Kevin.

''Oh, I don't know, Lucy. Jail can be a bad place. Why don't you ask Kevin what it was like?''

Lucy still hadn't picked up on the fact that Kevin was standing right behind her, listening to every word she said. Her anger went beyond her control. ''I guess I'd just have to get Scott to be my lawyer, and find a shrink that cares more about setting me free than anyone else's life. Someone like you, actually. It would be worth it to me to do whatever I had to do to stop you from destroying the man I love.''

''You love him? Is that why Scott threw you out?''

Lucy moved toward Rachel with her arm drawn back. As she started to swing, Kevin finally came out of the shock her words had sent him in to and grabbed her.

When she turned to yell at whoever grabbed her, she stopped short when she realized it was Kevin. ''Doc.''

Before he could say anything, she pushed him away from her and stormed out the door.

Staring at Rachel, everything Lucy had said went through his mind. She had publicly threatened Rachel, and basically told Rachel she'd been the one stalking her to protect him. She was willing to go to jail for him. Scott had thrown her out because she loved him. His eyes met Luke's and Luke nodded. It was all he needed and he ran out the door after her.

Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling you heart beat with mine
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our love be so blind?
We sailed off together, and drifted apart
And here you are by my side


Lucy ran around the corner of the building, tears streaming down her face. The storm was over, but the rain pelted her as she realized she had nowhere to run. She'd let Rachel trick her into telling Kevin how she felt. Feeling stupid, and embarrassed, she stood in the alley next to the building, shaking.

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I said
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms


Kevin ran into the rain, instantly getting soaked. The only thing going through his mind was that he had to find her. Running around the corner, he finally spotted her. ''Lucy!'' She turned to look at him, and his heart stopped. She was still the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes on. And she loved him. In two steps he reached her. When he stood in front of her, she expected him to be angry. She expected him to tell her to keep her mouth shut. She expected him to tell her to leave Rachel Locke alone. The one thing she didn't expect was what he did. Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Living without you, living alone
This empty house, so cold
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near
How much I wanted you home


After a moment of shock, Lucy responded to his kiss. The rain came down harder as their bodies said what neither of them had been able to say out loud. Standing in front of him, she reached up and touched his face. ''Is this real? I mean, are you really here, kissing me? Does this mean...''

''It means I've been trying to get over you for so long that all I've done is forgotten what it was like to be loved by you. And how easy it is to love you.''

''Kevin, I meant what I said. About trying to be good. I can't promise I'll never screw up again.''

''I screwed up, Lucy. I left without a word. And when I realized what I'D DONE, I thought it was too late.''

Lucy started to question him, but realized she could wonder all she wanted. In the morning. ''Never. I love you, Doc. I always have. No matter how hard I tried to pretend I didn't.''

But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay


So now I come to you with open arms
nothing to hide, believe what I said
So here I am, with open arms
Hoping you'll see, what your love means to me
Open arms.


Holding each other with no intention of ever letting go, Lucy and Kevin finally went back inside to get their keys. At the door, they passed Bobbie and Jerry, who were hanging onto each other and beaming. Bobbie looked at Lucy. ''I.... I'm.... you didn't deserve what I said. This time.''

Lucy laughed. ''That hurt.''

''You know it.'' The women smiled at each other.

Jerry looked from Lucy to Kevin. ''It looks like your sad story had a happy ending, too.''

Shaking her head, she pulled Kevin closer to her. ''No. It's the end of the sad story, and the beginning of the happy one.'' Arm and arm, dripping wet, they walked inside to find Victor and Luke waiting for them. Both men were smiling, and they had Lucy's and Kevin's car keys and coats.

''I bought the witch a drink and put her in a cab.'' Luke smiled, then turned serious for a moment. ''I called Sonny. He's always up for a minor distraction or two. Rachel Locke won't know what hit her when we're done with her.''

Lucy laughed. ''I could almost feel sorry for her.'' Then she shook her head. ''Nah.''

''We won't tell her you owe her one.'' Luke pointedly looked from her to Kevin.

Victor was too happy to contain himself. He hugged both of them. ''Yes, I couldn't have set the two of you up better myself.''

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