Chapter 1

When Kate Moretti opened the door to the apartment, her heart and trust was ripped into shreds… again. Donnie had not expected Kate home; she had called him earlier to tell him she was going to go to visit her father. Kate had postponed the visit because of a long day at work that had very nearly drained her. Donnie didn't see her come and go because he was distracted by the woman he was rolling around with.

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Kate left the apartment as fast as she could; leaving behind the engagement ring Donnie gave her on the dining table, and sat in her car. Her emotions were similar to shards of glass that she was trying to swallow. They flooded her and at one point, she could feel her heart refusing beat correctly. When at last she turned on the engine and started to drive, she felt numb to the point where she didn't know where she was going, she felt like she was on autopilot. It wasn't until she pulled up into Daniel Pierce's driveway, that she realized the route she took. She didn't want to bother them, it was late but she found herself walking up to the door.

I should just turn and leave, She thought, I can't pester them with my STUPID problems. It's bad enough that I disrupt their routine during the day.

When she got to the door, she felt herself crash down and weep again. After a few minutes of debating, she stood up and hesitantly knocked on the door. She waited and was about to get in her car and leave, when Daniel opened the door and worry instantly clouded his eyes.

"Kate," he spoke as he dragged her into the house by her arm, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Daniel…" she couldn't continue because her tears were overwhelming her. Daniel led her to the sofa and sat her down. Before the both knew it, he was holding her in his arms while she cried. It seemed like a while before her tears subsided but even then, they still remained in each other's arms, refusing to let go.

After Daniel was sure she had gained some control over her emotions, he softly said, "What happened, Kate?"

"I don't… I'm not sure how to explain it."

Daniel broke the position they were in he wanted to see her watery eyes and her sorrowful expression instead of just imagining it. He wiped away another tear that had adamantly fallen and softly caressed her cheek.

Kate breathed shakily before saying, "Donnie… He… I saw him… he was cheating on me, again… I don't know… How could I have been so STUPID in believing he changed? How could I have been so blind?"

Daniel listened patiently but underneath his cool and attentive composure, his rage was boiling. He couldn't understand how Donnie could selfishly hurt such an amazing woman like Kate… twice. He couldn't believe that Donnie would be reckless enough to cheat on her… again.

"You are NOT stupid or blind. He's the one who should be ashamed, not you, never you. If he was foolish for believing he could cheat on you again, then it's clear that he doesn't deserve you."

You are an amazing woman and should never feel this way, he thought.

"Tell her!" Natalie chastised him, "Tell her how you feel about her!"

Daniel just ignored Natalie, he was holding Kate while another round of tears commenced.

After she stopped crying again, she briskly wiped away at her cheeks, stood from the sofa, and made her way towards the front door. Daniel grabber her wrist to stop her from leaving, and when she turned to look at him he couldn't control himself and kissed her. Kate was shocked and surprised but returned his kiss with the same energy and passion as he did. As the kiss went deeper and deeper, electricity and fire coursed through both of their bodies. Soon they broke the kiss breathless and Daniel pulled Kate towards him in a strong and comforting embrace. The embrace was more for him than for her, he wanted to make sure she was not a cruel hallucination.

When they regained their breath, they sat back down on the sofa, and decided to talk some more. Kate looked at him puzzled and when she gained some confidence she said, "Daniel, do you feel anything for me?"

Daniel was momentarily speechless before replying, "Of course I feel something for you, Kate, and I love you."

Kate could feel her heart palpitating, she smiled at him before asking, "Why did it take you so long to tell me or to show me?"

"You were with Donnie, besides, you deserve someone better than I am."

"I would've dropped Donnie in a heartbeat, had I known that the feeling was mutual."

"What do you mean?"

"I love you, Daniel… I always have."

Daniel smiled at her, leaned in and kissed her again; soon they were making their way towards his bedroom.

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Daniel woke up, stretched but couldn't find Kate anywhere. He was thinking it was all a malicious hallucination when he spotted one of Kate's undergarments on the floor. He then began to reprimand himself for actually believing she felt the same, when the door opened and she stood there with breakfast in a tray and wearing his shirt and bathrobe. She pushed the door closed, placed the tray on the bedside table, and kissed him.

"Good morning," she told him when they broke the kiss.

"Good morning, Kate… How'd Lewicki react when he saw you in my shirt and bathrobe?"

"He couldn't stop laughing… and he gave me a high-five." She explained to him in-between his kisses.

"Hmm… I should give him a raise, don't you think?" he teased her.

"I think so." She smiled before kissing him.

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When Donnie saw the engagement ring on the dining table, he froze. Was she here last night? Did she see me? Does she know? Who am I kidding? She'll just forgive me and take me back. He thought smugly, as he turned and decided to tussle some more with the woman on his bed.

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Kate was on her way to her lawyer's office while Daniel and Lewicki were on their way towards class. Kate entered her lawyer's office and requested for an arrangement of her clothes and personal effects to be removed from the apartment. Goodbye, Donnie.

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Daniel was doing some paperwork in his office when Natalie appeared with a huge grin on her face.

"What?" he asked her.

"You finally did it." She smiled, "You told Kate how you feel."

"Yeah." He mused, memory going back to the restless night they both shared.

"So?" she asked expectantly.

"So, what?" he asked.

"How do you feel?"

"How do I feel about what?"

"How do you feel, now that you don't have to hide from Kate anymore?"

"Great." He smiled and watched as she disappeared and continued to work.