A/N: I'm SOOO sorry I haven't updated in such a long time, but it was kind of a crazy semester. One more chapter after this one, and then onto the next phase of the Littles...I swear.

Author's Note: I own nothing

Chapter 20: Reckoning

"Thanks for helping me move," Connie said, and Stephanie shrugged, ripping open a box. "Stephie, you don't think I'm being crazy, do you?"

"Honestly?" Steph shrugged. "No, I mean, if you and Kevin really think that you'll make each other happy, I'm happy for you. But you really," her phone rang. "Hold on," she picked it up. "Hello?"

"Stephie?" She heard Jimmy's voice. "Baby, are you alone?"

"No," she said, "um I'm with Connie, is everything OK?" He sighed. "Jimmy, you're freaking me out."

"Jaime um," he said softly. "It's over," he managed to say.

"I don't understand," Stephanie said.

"She was admitted to the hospital with a fever last night," he said. "She's on life support now."

"Oh God," Stephanie said. "Is Julie alright? What about Ellie? When's the next flight?"

"Steph," Jimmy said. "Please relax, OK? What we need right now is for you and Mikey to go to Maine, that's where the funeral is going to be, she's going to be buried with your parents." Steph swallowed. "Can you,"

"Anything that Julie needs," Steph said softly. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said and she hung up. Connie looked at her.

"Are you alright?" Connie asked.

"Jaime's dying," she said. "Like not in the vague way she was before. She's actually about to die. She's on life support." Connie looked at her. "I have to go to Maine, I'm sorry."

"It's OK," Connie said. "Of course you do. If you need anything let me know, OK?" Steph nodded and grabbed her purse and walked outside.

Anne was running down the street to get a coffee for Cal and a few of the others on the set that day.

"Anne?" She froze in her tracks hearing the voice behind her. She wondered if maybe she was losing it like Bella and was hallucinating. "God damn it, Callins, your ass is as fine as ever." She grinned and turned around and saw Kevin Reed standing there.

"You're a father," she said walking over. "You shouldn't talk like that." Kevin laughed and she hugged him. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm moving here," he said. She looked at him wide eyed. "To be closer to Gabriel."

"Sure," she nodded. "Cal's filming a few blocks away." He nodded. "I'm his manager, but the PA's were busy hence the coffee."

"Ah," He nodded. "How are things?"

"Good," she said, "I mean, alright, Hunter and I are kind of broken up, so that sucks." He looked at her. "Um, Bella mentioned you and Connie got back together." He nodded.

"Yeah, it's um," he shrugged. "It's great actually." Anne nodded. "Sucks about you and Hunter though."

"Yes it does." She nodded. He grinned. "What?"

"Just that you're not ever going to be like other girls," he said. "Anyone else on the planet would be all, 'it's fine, it was mutual, I'm hanging in there.'" She laughed. "But not Anne Callins, a simple, it sucks will suffice."

"So you were looking to get back in with one of your exes and you went right to Connie," she sighed. "Can't say I'm not disappointed, I mean, Hunter and I broke up because I cheated on him with Shawn that would have been way more worth it with you." He looked at her. "Sorry that sounded stupid." He looked at her.

"You didn't sleep with that loser again did you?" He groaned. "Jeez, Anne, if you're going to make self-destructive decisions do it with strangers."

"Right," she laughed. "Yeah, so do you have Gabriel this weekend?"

"No, um, no I don't," he said. She grinned.

"So then do you want to get a drink or something?" She asked. He looked at her. "I get it if you're busy, but I'd like to catch up."

"Yeah," he nodded. "I'd like that."

"Cool," she smiled. "Let me drop these off, you can come with me and then we'll go." He nodded and walked with her. She walked over to Cal's seat and handed him the coffee. He looked over and saw Kevin.

"Oh good," he nodded. "This is healthy."

"You're about to shoot a scene where Carmen removes her panties in a cab and shoves her tongue down your throat," she said. He rolled his eyes. "I ran into him. He's moving here so we're going out for a drink."

"Do not sleep with him," Cal instructed.

"He's with Connie again," Anne rolled her eyes. "I can't compete with that even if I wanted to." Cal sighed. "I'll be good."

"I hope so," he shook his head and she walked away. Carmen walked over wearing a simple black dress. Their characters were supposed to be leaving a black tie benefit.

"Is Anne with Kevin?" She asked. Cal nodded. "Wow, we're making out in a car with it leading nowhere, you said last night that Elisa is back with Eddie Cole, if Anne and Kevin do it on a couch, Hunter whines and Trina makes a sarcastic comment about it this would be just like high school." He laughed.

"Yes, it would," he nodded. "Anne got you coffee." She smiled. "Listen, um, my dad called earlier, and um, Elisa's grandma, the one we don't share, she's dying, she has been for a while, and she's actually going to die in the next few days which means I'll have to go back to California, just to make sure that Elle's alright. I told Jack, but I wanted to make sure you were OK, I know you and him,"

"Oh, yeah," she nodded, "I'm fine. I'll just strategically make sure Terry's visiting any time I have to get naked." He smiled.

"Sounds good," he said.

Elisa sat quietly with her feet in the pool at her grandparent's house. Josh's nephew Casey sat down next to her and put his arm around her.

"Do you want to go back to the hospital?" He asked. She shook her head. "Do you want me to call that boyfriend of yours? What's his name, Clark?"

"I'm not with Clark anymore," she said softly. "I'm with Eddie, and I don't want him here." Casey nodded. "Is it over? Is that why you're here?"

"It's over," he nodded. "Your dad just called. Your mom's with Josh, he's not doing great." She wiped her eyes.

"I'm going to miss her," she whispered.

"Me too," he nodded and turned. Elisa sat with her feet in the water and took out her phone and called Hunter.

"Hello?" He picked up.

"Jaime died," she whispered. "She died and you're not here!"

"I'm always here," he said. "Are you OK? Is Eddie with you?"

"I told him to stay away," she whispered. "I just can't. How are you?"

"I've been better," he said softly. "Do you want me to get on a plane? I will, I'll be on the next one!"

"No," she said, "no, um, we're going to Maine tomorrow, that's where the funeral is. She wants to be buried with my grandpa."

"Sure," he whispered. "I'll be there, then. I'm in Boston anyway."

"Yeah?" She said. "Um, Hunter, I'm sorry, I should have heard you out. I mean, I can't be with you, but we are supposed to be best friends right?"

"Right," he said. "You had every right to not hear me out. I've been awful these past few years, and, look, I just, I miss Anne, and I'm trying to figure this all out. But are you OK? I mean, I knew you knew this was coming, but still."

"It's hard," she said. "I'm by myself which is easier. I told Eddie I didn't want him here, and for once he's listening." He laughed.

"How are you two doing?" He asked. "Same old story? Mind blowing sex and distrust about Bella?"

"No," she laughed, "no, except for the sex. It's different this time, he's different, it's like he's all there, for once and it's nice. I didn't even realize how much I missed him. You know he doesn't drink now?"

"Really?" Hunter said.

"Nope," she shrugged. "He went on some kind of a bender after we broke up, and because of his family's history, he decided to stop."

"Wow," he said. "That is different." She smiled.

"Elisa," Casey called, "Marissa's here."

"Hunter, I gotta go," she said softly. "Mari's here."

"OK," he said. "I love you, call me if you need to talk."

"I will, I love you too," she hung up and stood up. Marissa smiled at her from the kitchen door and they hugged. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Marissa nodded, "yeah, it's just weird, you know?"

"I know," Elisa nodded. "You're coming to Maine right?"

"Yeah," Marissa said, "I called Cal and told him not to fly here tonight, is it OK if I go with you guys?"

"Of course," Elisa nodded.

"Where's Eddie?" Marissa asked, looking around.

"Not here," Elisa shook her head. "I'm not quite at the point where I want him around for this kind of thing." Marissa nodded. "My mom made lasagna last night when she couldn't sleep, do you want some?"

"Yeah, it sounds good," Marissa nodded.

Denise, Stephanie, TJ and Mike all sat in Julia's, the original location in Bangor.

"Do you remember when Jimmy bought this place," Stephanie asked. TJ laughed.

"Sure," he said. "I was still going through my moody sullen phase."

"That was just a phase?" Denise grinned. "I was under the impression that it was your personality."

"Oh no Denise, this was much worse than anything you ever saw," Stephanie shook her head. "All he did was mope and sit with the dog. It was awful."

"Mm, Ponyboy," Mikey nodded. "He was the only one who understood me."

"God you were lame," TJ shook his head. "Remember when we all used to sit in the freezer and eat ice cream?" They laughed.

"I can't believe Jaime's gone," Denise whispered. They were all quiet. "When I moved to California, and she found out my mom stayed behind, she was horrified and insisted on taking care of me."

"She had a lot of pent up Mommy guilt," Steph nodded, "after Julie and everything. That's why she was always so good to all of us." TJ put his arm around her. "Poor Julie, now she's an orphan like us."

"Yeah," TJ said. "Listen Aaron and Reese just texted me. I'm going to go pick them up, OK?"

"OK," she whispered and kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said and walked out.

"When are you two getting married?" Denise asked.

"When are you two having a baby?" Stephanie spit back and Mikey choked on his drink.

"Not anytime soon, that's for damn sure," he said.

"Wow," Denise nodded, "so I know your opinion on that." She stretched. "When are Davey and Eva getting here?"

"Sometime tomorrow," Mike shrugged. "She's going to call me from the plane."

"Good," Stephanie said softly. "I just want us all to be together again."

"I know baby," Mikey hugged her. "I know."

Anne giggled, sitting on Kevin's couch. He was telling stories about Gabriel. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder.

"You're flirting," he grinned.

"I am not!" She insisted. "He sounds great."

"You must have been around him a little," he said. "You're family and everything."

"Yeah," she nodded, "Bella never exactly welcomed me into his life. I see him at Christmas or family reunions and stuff, but nothing beyond that." He nodded.

"So, you and Hunter broke up," he said. She nodded. "You two were always so epically bad for each other." She laughed.

"Until about six months ago he was still sleeping with Ellie," she said. "It was so messed up. How did you not kill me?"

"Anne, we were kids," he laughed. "Plus I'm hardly qualified to condemn anyone. My son is the result of a one night stand with my best friend's girlfriend and then I cheated on the mother of my child with you in a DC hotel room like some kind of,"

"Congressman?" She tried. He laughed.

"Yes," he nodded. "Exactly like that." Then the door opened. "Connie," he said. She crossed her arms.

"That is absolutely my cue to leave," Anne said. She hugged Kevin. "It was really good to see you. Don't be stranger. Hi Connie."

"Hello Anne," Connie said as she left. She stared at Kevin. "So, that's there."

"Cons, it's nothing," he shrugged. "We ran into each other and we wanted to catch up."

"So naturally you brought her back to your apartment," she nodded. "We're not in New York City, and there aren't a million coffee shops or bars to go to." He sighed.

"You're freaking out," he said, "over nothing."

"It's not nothing!" She said firmly. "I left my life for you Kevin. I left a man who I loved and who loved me! I left a job and everything in England, to come to here and be with you, and if that doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does to me, then fine, but don't," he kissed her.

"I swear," he said, "I want you and only you." She looked at him. "God, this is so not how I wanted to do this," he muttered and walked into the bedroom and grabbed a box and threw it to her. She caught it and opened it.

"This is an engagement ring," she said.

"Yuh huh, " he nodded. "I wanted to take you out to a nice dinner, maybe ask your dad for his blessing, but since you're being a pain in the ass, I have to do it like this." She laughed and kissed him.

"I love you," she said softly. "I have to go though, Julie Gaffney's mother died and I have to go to Maine to be with Steph and everybody."

"Sure," he said, "go be with your friends." She smiled and kissed him.

"We'll talk when I get back," she said. "I'm sorry I freaked." He squeezed her to him. "And yes." She whispered in his ear before walking away.

Please Review, I swear I won't take so long to update next time.