Lucy was late getting off from work. It was as if everything had been against her all day. When she raced home and entered her apartment it was to find Zeb sitting across from Paisley. Paisley looked a bit frustrated and, even though Zeb was wearing his aloof look, Lucy picked up on an underlying current of amusement from him as he and Paisley stared at each other.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I'll only be a few minutes, do I need to dress up?" she asked, hoping the answer was no. Lucy looked at his informal state of dress and realized that it would be easy for her to match, but she was relieved when he confirmed her guess with a shake of his head.

She raced around her room, discarding her uniform and reaching for a pair of jeans and a soft cotton t-shirt with a light sweater. She was changing out her shoes when Paisley entered her room, throwing herself on the bed with a pout.

"I tried to steal him, but he wasn't interested." She watched Lucy as she stood and moved to the mirror above her dresser to check her hair. "Then I tried to get him to share what was going on between the two of you, but I couldn't crack him"

Lucy smiled at the idea of anyone cracking Zeb. "I would have been disappointed if you had." She reached for her wallet, keys, and phone, shoving them into her pockets. "There is nothing going one between us," she insisted.

"That's not what Dean said, he said that you were Zebadiah's date to the annual Abbott Gala and that he bought you a very expensive strand of pearls."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "I was there as his friend and he had to buy something, he does every year. I did not get to keep the pearls, have you seen any pearls around here?" Lucy demanded, her anger getting the better of her. "Dean's a rat who is trying to make trouble for Zeb by going to the press with his lies."

Paisley held up her hands in surrender. "O.K mama bear, I believe you, but I will say that you must care a little to be so upset about it."

"Of course I care, he's my friend!"

"But that's all?" Paisley asked, watching her closely.

"That's all!" Lucy confirmed, turning and leaving her room in a rush. When Zeb stood as she entered the living room, she couldn't help but admire the way he filled out his jeans and t-shirt, and the leather black jacket he wore gave him a rebel vibe. Lucy had a feeling that she had just jumped from the frying pan right into the fire.

"Are you ready?" he asked as she joined him.

She couldn't speak so she nodded and headed for the door.

"I won't wait up!" Paisley called as Lucy closed the door behind them.

"Your roommate is..."

"Annoying?" Lucy supplied.

Zeb grinned, letting his guard down, she could actually feel the change in him. "Enthusiastic."

"Nosy."

"Curious."

"She said she hit on you and was upset because she couldn't get you to talk," Lucy watched his reaction to her blunt words.

"She did, and it was very flattering, but it would take a lot more than an annoyingly enthusiastic and curiously nosy roommate to break me." He led the way to his car, opening the door for her as she laughed at his witty reply.

He caught her face with his hand and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain," he said, and all she could do was nod in reply, breathless at his intense look. "There's a lot I want to say..." Lucy watched as he struggled to find the words and she felt her heart melt. "I am sorry that I hurt you."

She looked up at him and took a shaky breath. "Let's go get something to eat and talk about it."

He nodded, and she could see his shoulders relax as he closed the door. The smell of leather seats and Zeb enveloped her, and she leaned back into her seat, letting it sooth her.

The restaurant Zeb chose wasn't far from his house. It was a little hole in the wall pizza joint and Lucy looked it over as they pulled into the parking lot. "Is this so you won't have to be seen with me?" she asked before she could think better of it.

"No, this is one of my favorite places and I wanted to share it with you," he explained, not sounding angry or hurt by her comment. It was as if he realized she wanted him to prove something, although Lucy had no idea what that might be.

When they entered the restaurant, Zeb was greeted by everyone there, confirming that he did indeed eat there a lot.

"I'm sorry Zeb, that was a mean thing for me to say," she apologized as they were seated.

"I get it Lucy," he said, and she knew that he truly did.

They settled in as their waitress came over, looking surprised that Zeb had a guest with him.

"I've never brought anyone here before," he explained as Lucy realized that they were getting similar looks from the other staff. "I suppose that I should have asked you if you like pizza," he mused aloud as he watched her look over the menu.

"Sure, I like pizza," she said setting the menu aside. "Why don't you order your favorite," she suggested. Once that was done they looked at each other in silence and Lucy had the feeling that Zeb was trying to figure out where to start.

"Tell me about your mother?" she suggested.

"My mother?" he looked surprised at the request.

"Is that why you took a chance on me, decided to trust me, because I reminded you of her."

"Your situation reminds me of her, but you don't. I would say that watching how people treated her based on her heritage, not who she was, taught me not to judge people based on what others think, but I wouldn't say you remind me of her."

"No?" Lucy asked wanting more, "I'm a little relieved, after hearing Zelda describe her...situation... I thought that you might have some deep seated need to save me because you hadn't been able to save her." In for a penny in for a pound, if they were going to be honest she might as well start, and it was something that had been weighing heavily on her since she had learned about her the previous day.

"My mother didn't need saving." Lucy watched his face grow distant and she was sorry that she had opened that door. "She married my father and he adored her, but she didn't care for him the way he did her. I loved my mother, but her life had made her hard. She had been taught the hard way that the only one she could rely on was herself, and she only really loved herself. It was a relief when she left. The few times I visited her in her hometown, I was confused about why she had wanted to return, but as I grew up I realized that those in my father's circle didn't treat her any better. It was a case of the devil she knew."

Lucy nodded, she got it, how many times had she used that same excuse to stay in Belfort. The world could be a scary place. "But she left you and Zelda. I don't understand how a mother could just leave her children."

"That's one of the ways you're not like her. I watch you with Eden, you're both crazy about each other. My mother never had that type of relationship with either me or Zelda, perhaps it was because she never got it at home, or maybe she just wasn't meant to be a mother, not all women are. I do believe that one of the main reasons she left was because she thought her heritage was hurting us, and if she was out of sight it would be out of mind." He shrugged. "All I can say is that you are so much more than she ever was, but I'm thankful she was my mother because I learned a lot from her."

It was the most that she had ever heard talk about himself.

"But she is the reason you chose not to judge me despite what others told you?"

"Yes, and I'm glad I did-"

Lucy thought he was going to say more but their food was delivered, putting a stop to their conversation while they served themselves and started to eat.

"Why didn't you call Zeb?" she asked softly after a few minutes.

"The first few days were due to lack of ability because of the storm, but when I was able to get and receive messages there were a few very disturbing ones waiting for me, and I didn't know who they were from. All I knew was that whomever was sending them was smart enough to get a hold of my personal information, which isn't easy, and I knew that you were alone with Etta and there was no one to protect you. No one knows about us, and I was afraid if I called you it would alert whomever was making the threats and it would make you a target as well."

Lucy thought it over, it made sense it was just the sort of noble thing he would do.

"I wasn't overly worried because I only thought I would be a week, seven days tops, and our conversation before I left led me to believe that you understood, you said your visions showed you my decision."

"But Zeb, all it took was for you to change your mind, make another decision and those visions could have easily changed!" She clenched her napkin in her fist, angry once again that he didn't get it, so she decide to let him have.

"I gave you something I never gave any other man, to share that with you and then just have you leave...I thought you had gotten what you wanted so you were done with me, part of me still wonders if that's the case and you're only back for round two." She couldn't hold back the tears as she looked away from him.

He reached across the table the took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. Lucy was surprised to see tears in his eyes too. "I'm sorry Lucy, I'm sorry to have put you through that, but I would do it again if it meant keeping you from danger. All I thought about was you, I wanted to come home and hold you again, but I didn't dare. You had already been hurt once because of me, and I swore I would never let it happen again, and I won't. I would sooner die having you hate me than to ever see you hurt again."

"But you hurt me Zeb!"

"It's not the same thing Lucy, and I pray to God that you can forgive me, but I won't take it back. Summer's boyfriend was delusional, even Gianna was a fool for getting involved, but better her than you because it kept you safe."

Zeb took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "Tell me what you see Lucy?"

"I don't see anything Zeb." She shook her head.

He stood up and reached for her, pulling her close. When his lips landed on hers she gave a little cry and then lost herself to the feel of his kiss.

Then the visions came, so many of them all at once, they were the same as before but more vivid, stronger. When he pulled away he looked down at her. "Do you see them, are they still there?"

She nodded, and he pulled her close.

"Will you come home with me Lucy?"

All of her visions were still there, she would trust herself and go with him.

"Yes, but we still have more to talk about."

"We'll talk all night if that's what you want." He threw some money on the table then wrapped his arm around her and led her out into the cool evening.

She still doubted him and she prayed she was making the right decision.