Lillian was leaning against the car door as Ryan drove to a neighborhood where those houses all look the same. The ones where really rich people live and their yards are always nice and neat cause they have people to do them.

He pulled up to a nice large house and Hanna leaned up to the middle of their seats, "Thanks for the ride, Ryan. Nice to see you again, Lillian.".

Lillian gave her a stiff smile and Hannah climbed out of the car. She ran to her house from the cold winter air and Ryan drove off. Lillian turned to the back seat and Zane dead asleep. He was all party out from Julianna party where she never seen him so happy.

She turned back in her seat and leaned against the door again, staring out the window. Meeting Kale was nice, he seems like a really great guy like how Tamara had always said he was. Tamara was a little upset when he hadn't popped the question to her, but she had hoped he will someday. Even if it take fives year, she knows she wants to marry Kale.

"So,", Ryan spoke after a few moments. "Valentine dance is less then a month away.".

Lillian sighed and sat up, "Nothing fits me, I don't want to go.".

"Is that a real reason or an excuse cause your still mad?", he asked and she wanted to say something snappy to him, but she was tired right now. It was true, all the nice dresses she own or the ones Jeanette had let her borrow didn't fit. Jeanette was a perfect size three and Lillian use to be a four, but she's gone up to dress sizes. She hated to admit it, but she has been sneaking candy around and while she been studying with Duncan, she had many fast food restaurant stuff. She not saying she's fat, but most every dress she has doesn't fit.

And it's not like she can go out and spend the money they have on a new dress. They need to save that money for food, diapers, and everything else.

"I'm being serious.", she said. "Your right, we don't have time to go to little school dances anyways.".

"You were so excited to go, though.", he said. "And your mom already agreed to watch Zane.".

She shrugged and fixed her scarf, "Maybe next year after Zane's a little older and I can work also. Maybe we can go to my senior prom together.".

Ryan looked at her for a second before turning back to the rode, "You want to go, I know you do. We could find your a dress that doesn't cost sixties dollars like the ones at the mall, I'm sure. My mom gets tones of dresses from stores like Ross's and you love the dresses she wears.".

"I know,", she said, her voice not even excited. She wasn't worried about dress, dances, or anything else. She was wanted to focus on school and Zane, that's all. She doesn't even feel like having small dumb fights with Ryan. She brought her hand up to her mouth and yawned.

When they pulled up to the house, she grabbed her purse and Ryan said he grabbed Zane. She nodded and walked up to the house, ready to crash.

When they got settled and Lillian changed Zane into some comfy bed clothes and placed him in his crib, she sat down on the bed and her shoulder slumped. She has to remember to stop doing that before she gets a hump back.

Ryan sat on the other side of the bed, his back facing hers. She didn't want to ask him, she felt like she was going to be nagging him. She has ask him before this question, but this time she wants to be serious. She took a deep breath, building up some courage, "Do you love me, Ryan?".

She felt him shift on the bed, "What?", he asked. "Of course I do.".

"When did you realize you did?", she asked.

"The day we told Jeanette, after when we were sitting in the back of my car.", he said.

"Why does it feels like it's been years?", she asked herself. "Are we drifting apart? Do you...do you want to be with someone else?".

Ryan half groaned, half sighed, "No, Lillian, I-"

"Don't say you don't and bring Zane into this.", she said. "You always say you don't and you want us to be together because of Zane. Don't act like it if you think it's just because of Zane should have both his parents together. We can't act like we're happy if we're not.".

"I am the happy one.", he said, his voice getting a little hard, like he was defending himself. "Who knows, maybe your the one that not.".

She turned finally, to face him, "How could you say that?".

He shrugged and got up, "I do everything right and yet, you make me feel like the bad guy. I have one friend who's a girl and now we're bashing head.".

She was about to bring Duncan into this, but she knew it was pointless. It would be pointless, just making them fight more. So, she was just going to get to the point, "I don't trust her, Ryan. She wants to get rid of me.".

He looked at her like she was crazy, "What? Lillian, she nothing but nice to you. She gave you her old phone.".

"Ever heard of keep your friends close and your enemies closer?", she asked and he scuffed. "I'm serious, Ryan. Why haven't you ever mentioned her before, then?".

His mouth dropped for a moment before he closed it and shrugged, "I didn't think it was so important. You were stressing so much about school, I didn't think you would care about who I was friends with right now.".

Lillian got up and walked around the bed over to him so she wouldn't start yelling across to him, "No one that pretty can just be friends with you, Ryan.".

"So that's it, huh? Your jealous.", he said and she pressed her lips together firmly. "Jeez, Lillian, you got to believe me when I say she won't take me away from you.".

She opened her mouth to say something, but her phone starting going off. It was pretty loud and it woke Zane up, making him fuss. Ryan snort, walking around her to go calm Zane down as she walked back over to her side and picked the phone up, seeing Tamara was calling her.

Hesitating on answer, she answered the call and brought it up to her ear, "Hello?", she said, a little coldly. She didn't mean to sound cold.

Tamara didn't seem to notice how she picked up cause all Lillian heard was squealing, "He proposed!", she yelled.

Lillian sat down on the bed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Wow, that's amazing, Tamara.", she said, trying hard to sound excited for her friend.

"I know!", she said. "He wanted to wait after the party, so it wouldn't take away the spot light for Julianna. Oh! It was so sweet.", she said, going off about how he did it. Apparently Kale got a hotel room at a really nice hotel for the three of them and he asked her.

Lillian turned her head and Ryan was rocking Zane back to sleep. He looked up at her and looked a little angry. She turned her head back and acted as if she was listening to her friend instead.

*

A week and half later..

"Which body part does a flatworm first use to to it's prey?", Duncan had asked, Lillian, quizzing her.

"It's mouth.", she said and he step the note card down on the coffee table. They had switch their studying to his house since it turned out his house was much closer to Ryan's parents house. And his mom making really good food. The library was getting to much of a boring setting.

He grinned, "From my guess, your going to at least get a B on this test.".

"Well I should have took Bio last year, I was much smarter.", she said as she packed up her stuff into her book bag.

"You still smart.", he said. "Some of the girls I use to tutor were much harder to teach. A few mistakes doesn't make you stupid, Lillian.".

"Oh, so you only tutor girls, huh?", Lillian playfully tease.

He chuckled and shrugged one of his shoulders, "I get along with girls then the guys.", he said. "Again, unlike you, I had to flirt study into those girls head to make them understand. It's nice to finally have someone who gets it.".

"Well nice to be a challenge.", she said as she got up from the couch.

He got up and cleared his throat, sticking his hands in his pocket, "So um, how are you and Ryan?".

Lillian eyebrows came together, a little confused by the questions, "We're...okay. Why?".

"Well you seem all last week distracted, you told me you two weren't so great right now. Is everything better?", he asked.

Her mouth formed a small 'o' when she realized he was right. All last week while they were study, she was nothing but distracted from fighting with Ryan. Now she blushed, "I didn't mean to come off as I was whining. I'm making it sound like it's worse then it is.", she said. "We're doing fine this time, we're not as arguing as much as I whine.".

"Hey, no need to apologize.", he said. "But I got a surprise for you.", he grinned and she seemed a little amused and confused as he ran upstairs, telling her to wait there.

She sit her bag back down on the couch and sat down, waiting for Duncan. A moment later, she heard him coming back down and she saw something purple in his hand. He paused in front of her, holding the dress out towards her.

Her mouth opened slightly as she stood back up, totally confused and really surprised. "What's this?", she asked.

"A dress, what else?", he asked, chuckling and she pursed her lips, giving him a 'shut up' look.

"No duh, why do you have it and showing me it?", she asked. "I'm sure you'll look awfully pretty in it.", she teased again.

He rolled his eyes, "It's for you, Lillian.".

Her eyes widen slightly, "Me?", she asked, taking the purple one strap dress. It was a short dress and where the one strap was was a rhinestone snow flake jewelery. "I don't get it?".

"It's for the Valentine dance.", he said. "You said you needed a dress and my mom over heard you last week before she lift to go back to work. She said you can have it.".

Lillian was completely embarrassed now, she really didn't want to come off as she whining. His mom was about the same height and weight as she was. "O-oh, um, Duncan, I didn't mean some I was whining or anything. Tell her thank you, but I can't take it.".

He looked a little confused, "Why not?", he asked, chuckling. "She doesn't wear it anymore, you can have it.".

Lillian frowned, "I'm not even sure if I want to go anyways.", she said as she sat down on the couch.

"Why not?", he asked, sitting down next to her. "I'm sure you haven't done anything fun since you had Zane. You need a little fun before you become depressed and end up like those women who get so unsociable.".

"Ryan not into the whole dance thing.", she said. "He only wants to go because I asked him to, but like, he's tired. He has school, take cares of Zane also, and he's working.".

"Doesn't mean he can't go to one little three hour dance.", he said. "Are you two going to Madison party after?".

She shrugged, "We're not sure yet, we were going to see how we feel after the dance.".

"Well I say you should go.", he said. "Have fun, be with friends, and I hear there going to be lots of cake there.", he said, trying to lighten the mood up by poking her on her side. "You got a date, the dress, what else do you need?".

Lillian thought about that-why isn't she so excited about going now? She should stop being such a crybaby about everything. She straighten her back up, "Nothing. I'm going and I will have fun.".

"Good.", he said, patting her back.

"So do you know who your going with?", she asked, curious who the lucky girl he was going to take.

"Emily Rice.", he said.

"Oh, of course.", Lillian teased as she grinned.

He looked confused and amused, "What?".

"Cheerleaders seems like your type.", she said, bring her hands up. "Hey, I get it. She's one of those nice cheerleaders who seem to catch everyone with those sparkling blue eyes.".

Duncan blushed a little, "Ha-ha,", he faked laughed. "She asked me and I said yes because I heard she wanted to badly go with me. Emily does seem nice, but she isn't my type.".

"Ohhh!", she said, playing curious as she leaned towards him. "Who is your type, Duncan? You been here for how long and you don't have a girlfriend?".

His blushed seem to deepen and she paused, realizing how close they were getting. She wasn't meaning to get that close, so she backed away and he cleared his throat, "I don't really have type, Lillian. But I can say I do like girls who can be real with me.".

"Good luck with that.", she said as she got up and he followed. She held the dress up to her and smiled, "This is really nice of your mom, I love the dress. Tell her thank you.", she said as she walked over towards the door and put her knitted beanie hat on.

"Yup.", he said. "Send me picture if you try it on so I can show her.".

She nodded, "Okay. See you tomorrow, Duncan.", she said before opening the door and left.

*

Lillian walked up stairs where Ryan was with Zane. Ryan had the day off, so he was bonding with Zane who was sitting on his chest as Ryan laid on the bed with some toys in their hands.

When she walked in, he turned his head towards her, "Hey.".

"Hey.", she said, setting the her bag down.

He looked down at her hands and his eyebrows came together, "What's that?".

Lillian smiled, excited to show Ryan she'll have a really nice dress to where to the dance. She wanted to look pretty that night next to him. Ryan always looks girl in a bottom shirt, so she didn't want to feel like a 5 to his ten. She would be at least a 8 or 9 now hopefully with a little help from Meredith. She took off her jacket and held it up to her, "Duncan gave me this dress, it's for the dance. Isn't it beautiful?".

"Duncan?", he questioned.

"Well, technically it was his mom.", she said. "She heard me talking to Duncan one day about me finding a dress and she decided to give me it. I'm going to try it on now.", she said, taking off all her cloths except for her bra and underwear. She slid the dress on and it was a little loose, but nothing a safty pin couldn't fix.

She went over to the mirror and turned side to side, feeling pretty. She brought her hands up and clapped excitedly, "I look pretty, don't I Ryan?".

"I can almost see your butt.", he said, not sounding excited at all.

She looked at him through the mirror, "No you can't, it goes to the middle of my thighs. And you know there will be way more worse dresses there.".

"I didn't say you look bad.", he shrugged. He raised his head more to look at her reflection in the mirror, his eyes soft now, "You look really beautiful, Lillian.".

She smiled and turned around, walking over to the bed and sat down on the bed next to him, "I want to look beautiful for you that night.".

"I know you will, you always do.", he said and she blushed a little. She petted Zane head, his hair so soft and silky feeling. She leaned down and kissed his cheek, then playfully kissed his neck, tickling him and he giggled, trying to push her away.

She leaned down on Ryan chest also and looked up at him, "I love you.", she said. "We fight, but I can't help but love you.".

He smiled a little, "I love you, Lillian.".