The Donato house was cleaner than ever, as Kit had to keep herself busy. She'd felt anxious since that morning when Luca was acting so weird. She had a bad feeling, and it wasn't going away.

She had started putting together dinner when she heard the front door opening. She looked up to see Carly walking in.

"Is Andre here yet?" She asked as she stepped into the kitchen.

"No, did he say they were on their way?" Kit asked as she gave the contents in the pan a quick stir.

"Just Andre," Carly squeezed her shoulder as she looked over it. "What 'cha making?"

"A hamburger and rice hot dish," Kit explained. "Why just Andre?"

"Luca and Leo are going to the lake to talk."

"Oh," Kit's eyes misted up at that.

"Don't cry!" Carly pulled her away from the stove and peered into her eyes. "This is exactly what you wanted!"

"I know it is," Kit said with a trembling lip. "it's just, it feels like, if he's taking him to the lake, it's definitely a goodbye."

"It was always a goodbye," Carly said gently. "He's been very clear that he's leaving."

"I know, but I hoped"- Kit stopped and shook her head, "Never mind."

"You hoped he'd stay," Carly said with a sigh. "Sweetie, I told you not to get-"

"I know, Carly," Kit snapped, and the blonde flinched at her harsh tone.

"Sorry," Kit mumbled, and she blew out a breath. "I've been on edge all day."

"I shouldn't have encouraged the weekend," Carly muttered.

"It was going to happen regardless," Kit said and then sighed again.

"You don't get it. Something changed after or maybe during the weekend we were together. Last night it was so obvious; he made me dinner, bought us groceries, we cuddled on the couch all night, and watched not one but two Hallmark movies. Or one and a half...I fell asleep on him... and he carried me to bed! A guy doesn't do stuff like this for a casual hookup."

"He did all that?" Carly's eyes widened.

"But this morning, he was weird," Kit continued. "He wasn't his usual cocky, smoldering self. He hardly even looked at me."

"I'm sure he had a ton on his mind."

"I know, but I felt. I feel like he's backing out. We got too close, and now he's going to run away."

"Kit," Carly took her hands and clasped them. "Maybe it's for the best. I don't want to see you hurt again."

"He's not like Kyle."

"He's not that different, Kit," Carly shot back, "he's a-"

"Don't," Kit stopped her. "He's nothing like Kyle. He's cocky as hell, sure. He's an ass sometimes, yeah. But he's not someone that jerks girls around to hurt them."

Andre walked in and then interrupted the tense moment.

"Everything okay?" He asked, seemingly sensing the mood in the house.

"Yeah, it's fine," Kit looked at Carly with a soft look as she said that, letting her know she wasn't mad at her. She understood her best friend was watching out for her, but she didn't know Luca like Kit did or was starting to.

"How did it go, hon?" Carly asked as Andre joined them in the kitchen.

"It was a strange meeting," Andre said, "but I think they got everything sorted out."

"They?" Carly asked.

Kit started to scoop them some dinner plates as Andre sat on the island. He looked tired and pale. Carly brought him water and sat next to him.

"I felt like a little kid again in there," Andre said sullenly. "Everyone was talking about me like I had to be protected."

"Well," Carly said softly, "you do. It's a lot of money, and people will take advantage. You're such a kind soul. It's just a sad fact."

"Richard has always seemed to have my best interests at heart." Andre looked thoughtful, "But my mind has been on my father."

"You've been spread so thin for so long," Carly went to stand behind him and rubbed his shoulders. "You need a break,"

"Not possible," he sighed.

"Take a step back from the school and shadowing at the practice," Kit suggested. "Leo won't care; he'd encourage it."

"I don't know..."

"Think about it," Carly urged as she made her way to the seat next to him. "You've got a lot to deal with now with your dad. A hiatus from school and work is honestly expected."

"You know we're right, Andre," Kit chimed in.

"I'll think about it," he said thoughtfully.

They ate dinner quietly, Andre and Kit both lost in their thoughts. Carly was busy on her phone planning the town's block party. It would start Friday night and go all weekend.

That meant Jase's friends would be in and out of their house all weekend. Kit so wasn't in the mood for all that.

Andre's phone rang as they were cleaning, and he picked it up.

"Yeah...okay," he looked at Kit and then quickly looked away.

Her heart dropped. She knew.

"He dropped him off. I'll be right back," Andre mumbled as he dashed towards the door.

As it opened, Kit heard the familiar sound of Luca's loud car speeding off. He was leaving; he wasn't going to stay one more night. He wasn't going to say goodbye. She knew this morning, but now it was confirmed. Her heart felt like it sank right into her stomach.

Andre wheeled Leonardo in. He looked happy but tired. Kit could not cry in front of him, so she pulled all her strength to hold it together.

"Kit," Leonardo's hazy eyes found her, and she hurried over to him.

"Thank you," he said as he clasped her hand, and a tear fell down his cheek. "I can't thank you enough."

"You don't need to," Kit assured him.

"Was it a good talk?" Andre asked gently. Both he and Kit had knelt on either side of Leonardo's chair.

"It was quite heavy," Leonardo said. "But he was receptive. He's.. he's going to come back, and he's going to take me fishing. He said we'll have a good day."

"He did?" Andre was tearing up now, and Kit could no longer hold hers back either.

She was feeling such a vast mix of emotions, so happy for Leonardo, but.. he said Luca was coming back to take him fishing.

Not for her.

"He did," Leonardo started to doze off in his chair but looked like he was trying to force his eyes to stay open.

"Let's get you to bed, Leo," Carly took control of the chair and started wheeling Leonardo to the stair lift.

Kit stood slowly and headed to the kitchen to grab her purse. She was numb and moving as if on autopilot.

"Kit," Andre stopped her just as her hand reached the door handle. "He cares about you. I know he does."

"It's fine, Andre, okay," Kit managed to say. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She drove home with the slightest bit of hope. Maybe he'd surprise her, and he'd be at her house waiting for her.

The hope grew during her quick drive home but was crushed by the empty driveway she pulled into.

She walked into the house and headed right to her room. Luca's stupid tee shirt was lying on her floor.

She picked it up and curled into her bed with it, "Luca."

That was all it took, and she burst into tears.

****

Kit woke up the following day, still in her scrubs, clinging to Luca's shirt in the middle of her bed.

She sat up and brushed her unruly hair from her face. She spied her purse on the other end of the bed and grabbed it, reaching for her phone. She bit her lip as she glanced at the screen. But no missed calls. No texts.

He cares about you; I know he does. Andre's voice filled her head.

She knew he did too, and that was why he ran off because they got too close. He'd come back for Leonardo, and that would be that. She stood up and headed to her dresser to get her clothes out for the day.

"Get it together," she told her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were horribly puffy and red. She wasn't sure how long she sobbed last night. She was pretty sure she'd cried every tear in her out, though. "It hasn't even been that long," she muttered in a frustrated tone. She knew that didn't matter, though.

"You knew this was going to happen," she nearly snapped at her reflection. She knew where this was all headed when she put that red dress in the bag. She just chose to ignore her brain and lead with her heart.

In the end, it was worth it, though, for Leonardo and Luca, it was worth it. They talked and will have another good day together. Her heartbreak was the price to pay for that, and she was okay with that, no matter how much it hurt.

She wouldn't have gotten through to Luca had they not gotten so close. Once he let her in, he let his walls down and opened up. Not just to her but to everyone's advice, to what was in front of him.

He can't handle the emotion of caring for her and facing this thing with his dad. It was too much, so he had to get away. She'd rather it be her he pushed out so he'd let Leo in.

She just had to be okay with that... somehow.

With that in mind, she headed to her shower to ready herself for the day.

****

Leonardo was exhausted after the long day the day before. He only picked up the breakfast Kit brought up and fell back asleep after taking his medications.

Without much to do, she headed downstairs. She found herself wandering into the room Luca has chosen for himself. The bedspread was crumbled, and a random pair of jeans was draped across a chair; other than that, it was void and empty.

With a sad sigh, she backed out. She heard the sound of Leonardo coughing and raced upstairs to help to him.

It took several minutes this time for his coughs to cease. He pulled his hand back from his face, and she saw a good bit of mucus.

"You okay?" She asked as she took towel and started to clean his hands.

"Oh god, oh dear. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I've made a mess," his face was flushed red, and he looked humiliated.

She knew why in the next moment as the smell hit her. He must've lost control of himself when coughing and had an accident.

"It's okay, Leo," Kit spoke in a very calm and soft tone. "It's fine, okay, but I need to get you cleaned up."

"How awful... no, you can't. I can't ask you to do that!"

"I'm your nurse," she said firmly. "It's okay. What we're going to do is wheel you into the bathroom. I'll get the tub filled and help you in. Then I'll come to clean this up while you're in there."

She helped him out of bed and into his chair. His pajama pants were stained brown, as was his bed. The smell intensified when he'd gotten up. She was very careful not to react to it. It wasn't easy, but she maintained her composure.

"It's horrendous. I can't believe I'm subjecting you to this!" Leonardo exclaimed as he gagged from the smell.

"Leo, I intend to be a nurse," Kit spoke quietly and calmly as she wheeled him into the bathroom. She filled the tub, ensuring the water was warm enough.

"I will often do this in my career, " she continued. "I need to learn this, and it's okay. You're sick; please don't apologize for things you can't control."

"You are going to be an amazing nurse," Leonardo had tears running down his cheeks.

"Enough of that, or I'll start!" She sniffled, and she helped him out of his chair. He could undress; she kept her eyes averted for the most part but made sure he was steady.

Andre had installed a handle near the tub, so he used it to lower himself. She left him to be once she was sure he was in and okay. She grabbed his soiled pajamas and headed back into his room. She kept the bathroom door open, though, and kept an ear tuned in to him.

She wanted to gag and run away, but she refused to do so. She held her breath and worked fast. She'd never want to add to his embarrassment by reacting to it.

Luckily the mess didn't seep through to the mattress. She changed the sheets and then brought Leonardo a change of clothes.

It was harder to help him out of the tub without looking at him. She caught a glimpse of his bony ribs and his skinny frame. She was careful not to stare or show shock as she handed him the towel. She bruised herself, cleaning the tub as he dressed behind her.

Once he was dressed, she helped him settle back in bed again. She came over at sat at his bedside.

"Would you like some water or anything?"

"No. I .. thank you," he said as his eyes grew misty. "You handled that with such grace and calm. I was mortified, but you made it okay."

"It's nothing to be mortified about," she assured him as she squeezed his hand.

"I'm so glad Andre thought of you to care for me," he told her, "I'm very grateful you're my nurse."

"I'm grateful to be here," she said softly. "I am really enjoying getting to know you."

"You have gone so far and beyond. What you did for Luca and me...I'll never be able to thank you."

"I don't need thanks for that," she sighed. "Besides, all I did was get him to open the door to it; from there, it was all him."

"He listened to everything I had to say." She listened intently as he filled her in. "I don't think he'll forgive me, but he knows it was all me and not him now."

"He's going to come back and take me fishing," he said again and his eyes lit up at that; the embarrassment was starting to diminish as thoughts of Luca came to mind.

"I'm so glad, Leo," she spoke softly, trying to hide her hurt.

This was what mattered; she reminded herself. This was the goal.

"Chin up, young lady," he said, and she glanced over to see a knowing look in the older man's eyes. So, she didn't hide it so well after all. "He's not only coming back for me."

"I don't know about that," she mumbled.

"I do," he nodded; he reached for his water then, and she helped him take a sip.

"I'm sorry, Kit," he said once she'd settled him back into bed.

"For what?" She shook her head at the silly man.

"He left because he's had his heart shut off for so long, so he's overwhelmed by it. That's my fault because I destroyed his trust in love."

She was stunned he told her this and didn't know what to say.

"I assume he told you what I did?"

"Yeah," she admitted.

"I'm glad he found someone to confide in," Leonardo frowned, "but I'm sorry you know that side of me now."

"You made a terrible mistake," she agreed, "but you're sorry; what else can we do when we screw up?"

"I was so hard on Stone, and look what I did," he grimaced as he spoke.

"Stop that," she said, "he hasn't gambled, other than poker nights with his buddies, since you yelled at him."

"I didn't know that," Leonardo said, sounding stunned.

"You got through to him," she said, "he needed to be yelled at, and I think you knew that."

"Andre is seriously considering taking a hiatus from school and work for a while." She added stunning Leonardo all the more. "He would have never considered that before you spoke to him."

"You know people and what they need. You've made a positive impact on people in many ways. Never forget that," she told him.

A soft smile crossed his face as he wiped a tear.

"Thank you, dear," he said, "as have you."

She smiled back at him and took his hand in hers again.

*Not my intention to gross anyone out with the 'mess' scene, but this is a genuine thing to happen to someone going through what Leo is, and the first time can be so traumatizing if not handled correctly. It felt like a very important moment for both of them.