Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of updates. I've had limited internet access until quite recently, as well as little time to write, due to family issues and a hurricane.

This chapter is for Marissa, whose kind letter gave me the kick in the butt I needed to update this.


AJ silently pushed the box of tissues across his desk, his brow furrowed. Ophelia tugged several tissues from the box, tears rolling down her face. Cy gently squeezed Ophelia's hand, then looked over at AJ.

“Is there anything that can be done?” Cy asked softly.

AJ looked quietly at Ophelia, whose red-rimmed eyes were focused on him, almost pleadingly. He took a slow breath. “Well,” he finally said, “there are options... surrogates, for instance--”

“--No!” Ophelia interrupted, rubbing hard at her eyes. “I'm not giving up this easily.”

“Lia,” Cy whispered, “be reasonable. Your mom was lucky to carry you and Nathaniel to term.”

“But she was able to,” Ophelia argued. “The doctors were wrong then. Who's to say that the same won't happen again?”

“As both your friend and a doctor, I strongly advise against it,” AJ spoke up. “There are too many risks to your health. Believe me, we ran every test I could think of, to find some way...”

Ophelia shook her head. “This can't be it; it just can't.”


Emily stared silently at the stack of documents, biting her lip. I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry, she thought, trying to will herself not to react. It didn't work; one fat, hot tear ran down her face, followed by another, then another.

Emily lowered her head to her arms. “What am I going to do now?” she whispered.


“I thank you all for attending this meeting,” Julia began, looking at the members of her organization. “I know it was difficult for some of you to attend, but given the circumstances, I felt that it could not wait for the next meeting. I have something of the utmost importance to bring to the attention of each of you.”

She paused, letting this information sink in, then continued. “I am disappointed to announce that we have yet another traitor in our midst. Yes, we thought we were free of traitors, after the incident with that person whom we shall not name. However, it seems that her poison has spread to... others.” Here, she focused her attention on a specific person before her. “Stand up.”


“She's taking things hard,” Cy said worriedly, biting her lip. “She hasn't left the house in a week.”

“That's not normal,” Emily replied.

“For her family, it seems to be. Any time something happens that one of them doesn't want to deal with, they just hole themselves up in their rooms. Charise did that all the time when she was a teen.”

“Maybe I should stop in and check on her,” Emily suggested. “Has she been eating much?”

“Not like she should be.”

“If I bring her favorite ice cream, maybe that will help.”

“I hope so. This isn't like Lia. But then again, lately she's been more depressed than usual.”

“More than... Cy, you don't think she's going to...?”

Cy shook her head worriedly. “I really hope not.” She paused, then peered worriedly at Emily. “Are you feeling okay?” Cy asked, concerned. “You don't look like yourself.”

Emily shook her head, not wanting to answer.

“What is it? Tell me. What happened, Em?”

Tears began to form in Emily's eyes. “Louie...” she finally responded. “He wants a divorce. Apparently, he's decided that it's a dealbreaker, my not wanting kids. He said he was okay with it before we got married. But now, I guess he feels like his biological clock is ticking or something.”

“Oh, geez, really?” Cy responded, eyes wide. She immediately felt horrible. Here I am, whining about my problems and Lia's problems with not having kids, and here Em is, losing her husband specifically because she doesn't want any. I'm a creep. “I... I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault, Cy,” Emily replied, lowering her eyes. “It's okay.”