Cat is in the fetal position hugging her stuffed tiger. She couldn't stop crying. When Olivia suddenly appears in the room again. Cat slowly sits up. "Is he gone?"

Olivia nods. Something about what Alex said is getting to her. 'I'm not doing this to her. I'm doing it for her. Not everyone leaves because they don't care. Some of us are just trying to protect the ones we love.'

When he said those words, Dillion sprung to mind. Olivia damns her traitorous heart. Did he leave her to protect her? She immediately pushes the notion aside. No, that is a wish of a young girl whose heart was broken. Olivia swore she will never be that foolish again.

"What is it? Did he say something?" Cat inquires, uncertain how to read the expression on Olivia's face. She appears to be upset by something.

"He uh... he wanted me to give you this." Olivia holds out the folded piece of loose-leaf paper. Cat's hand shakes when she takes it. "Do you want a moment?" Olivia asks.

Cat nods slowly. 

"I'll be in the kitchen if you want to talk. Just come get me. Do you want anything to eat?"

Cat shakes her head no. 

"Okay." Olivia left to let Cat handle whatever is in that letter by herself, though she didn't like the idea. Not one bit.

Once the door closed behind Olivia, Cat unfolds the letter. The necklace Alex gave her fell onto her lap. She picks it up and puts it aside on the nightstand.

Why would he give her back her necklace? She noticed he kept the ring, and although she gave it back to him, it hurt.

She takes a deep breath in and exhales, trying to prepare herself for what the letter may contain.

Cat,

I know I'm the last person you wish to see or talk to, but I have to finish what I didn't get to say earlier. I need you to know why I left. I'm stuck, Cat. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, I swore I would never hurt you, or leave, that we were in this together and on the other, I learn my very presence in your life can lead to you losing your baby and I can't be responsible for that.

As much as it may hurt you to walk away, I assure you it hurts me 10x more. Still, I'd do it again if it means keeping you and the baby together and safe from Liam. He doesn't deserve either of you to be in his life; still, I have no say, as he is the baby's real father, not me.

Having you and Peanut in my life was some sort of beautiful dream, but like all dreams there comes a point where you have to wake up and face reality. I love you, Cat, with every fiber of my being, never doubt that, but I understand and will always do what is best for you and the baby. I promised to keep you safe, and that is what I'm doing. Take care of yourself and that little one for me. 

I'm sorry I didn't know you were in the hospital. I'm even sorrier to learn I was the cause. I hope one day you will forgive me.

Love always and forever,

Alex

P.S. The necklace is yours to do whatever you like with it. I don't feel right keeping it, as it was a birthday gift.

Cat didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream at the absurdity of Alex's letter. He's going to walk away to keep her safe, but him walking away lands her in the hospital. She feels the tear slip down her cheek and she wipes it away. She wants to scream at him. How dare he make such a decision for her? What the hell was is he thinking?

Yet, she knows she is a hypocrite. She feared this might be Liam's reaction if he learned they were engaged. It is why she wouldn't wear Alex's ring in school unless Alex was around to see her. She too feared Liam might make good on his threat to fight for custody. She should have known deleting the pictures from Liam's phone was pointless when he lived with the source. Jenny. God, how she hated that girl.

Her father warned her that the Davis family is wealthy, and if Liam fought, her father's resources would not be enough to protect her. Mr. Fischer didn't doubt that Alex truly loved her. It impressed him that Alex reacted so quickly to do what was right by her. 

Still considering the damning evidence of that picture and her Dad was certain there were more. The fact that, Cat began living with Alex the same day that Liam and she broke up. All can be misconstrued, twisted to make it look like Cat was the one who was unfaithful and in the wrong. Her father knew all too well from what happened to Dillion that justice is sometimes blind to the truth.

Cat looks down at the letter. He loves her. She loves him. This is ridiculous. She picks up Alex's necklace and put it back around her neck. They aren't over yet. Not by a long shot.

She takes the steps, two by two, coming down the stairs. "Olivia?!"

Olivia hollers to her from the kitchen where she is eating a salad.

Cat joins her there. "I'm going to the apartment. I need to talk to Alex."

"He's not there," Olivia says with sad eyes. She knew that hopeful look Cat wore, just as she knew this would not end well for her friend.

"That's right! He's staying at William's. Okay. I'll be right back."

"Cat, he's not at William's either," Olivia mentions as she toys with her food.

Cat stops in mid-stride and turns to look at Olivia. "What do you mean he's not at William's? William said Alex was going to stay with him."

Olivia shrugs. "Alex said he was going to be away from campus for a while. Something about a family matter."

"Family matter?" Cat couldn't figure it. Alex doesn't even talk to his family. What could have happened? Cat pulls out her phone to call William. The phone picks up on the first ring. "Cat? Everything okay?"

"No, but I'm hoping you can help me with that."

She can almost hear the smile in William's voice when he says, "I knew you wouldn't let me down. I'm with the movers they are loading the boxes into the storage unit now. I imagine they'll wrap up in about 10 more minutes. Then I'll swing by the sorority house and pick you up."

"Sounds perfect. Thank you!"

"No, thank you." For the first time today, William has hope.

Cat hangs up the phone and slips it into her back pocket.

"You're really going to do this, huh?" Olivia says, despondent she didn't want to see Cat get hurt any more than she already is.

"I can't let him go."

Olivia sighs. "Cat is it really worth putting yourself through all of this. You just got out of the hospital. Remember how you felt when they pulled me out of the water? That's how I feel every time you end up in the emergency room. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Cat walks over and hugs her best friend of all time. "I know and I'm sorry but, Olivia, if Alex still loves me, which I know he does, how do you expect me to walk away from that? I have to stand by him. I have to convince him we are in this together."

"And Liam?" Olivia asks, still fearful for her friend.

"I'll figure out a way to deal with Liam."

"I hope so. Your dad seemed pretty convinced if Liam fought for custody once the baby is born that he can win."

"I know, but I have a few months left before that happens to convince Liam otherwise."

Olivia has her doubts, but she keeps them to herself.

Soon enough, William is at the door to collect Cat. She says goodbye to Olivia and joins him outside. "Are you hungry?" he asks as they headed towards his car.

"Starving," Cat says with a giggle. Now that she has decided about Alex, her lost appetite has returned with a vengeance.

They get into the car. "How about the diner?"

Cat buckles her seatbelt. "Sounds good." And they are off.

"I have to admit you seem in a much better mood than when I saw you earlier," William says as he drives them to the restaurant.

"Alex stopped by."

"He did," William says, surprised. He really didn't expect Alex to take his advice, but now is very glad he offered it.

"I refused to see him, but he left me a letter."

"You didn't see him?" William's good mood deflates some. Poor Alex.

"Olivia said he was going out of town, something about a family matter?"

The way Cat is looking at him William knew she is expecting him to fill in the blanks but he isn't sure if he had the right to do so. Still, he didn't want Cat to think Alex would just abandon her.

"His mom called him. She needed him to come home right away."

So that's why he answered the phone. It must have been a shock to him to see his mom was calling. Cat feels like such an idiot for getting insulted and storming out.

"Why?"

William shrugs. "I don't know," he lies. "I just know it has to be something serious for him to even consider going back there, after everything they've done to him." William adds a little quieter, "to Aidan."

Cat reached out and squeezes his arm. William gives her a sad smile.

"Well, whatever it is, we'll all get through this together." Cat is determined. Now, more than ever, she has to see Alex. She must make this right. They belong together and they both deserve to be happy. She can't leave things this way.

Over dinner, Cat tries to come up with an idea that would work, but she ran into one obstacle after another. Her hope of trying to fix this is waning.

William reaches out and grabs her hand. "Look, the one thing you have on your side is time. You have a few more months before this baby arrives. We didn't get anywhere tonight but don't give up hope just yet."

"I wish I could reason with Liam. He's only doing this out of spite because I chose Alex over him."

William isn't so sure. "Are you certain there isn't more to it than that?"

Cat shrugs. "What else could it be?"

William pauses for a moment. "Regret." William knew he has his share.

"Regret?"

"Is it so hard to believe? You have both been together forever, and he didn't deserve you even back then, but it's obvious he took for granted you'd always be there for him. Then you get pregnant, drop the bomb on him, and move out. A few short months later your in love with someone else."

"Who's side are you on, the prosecutions?" Cat asks, not liking the picture William paints.

"I'm on your side of course, but Cat, Liam loved you, in his own twisted way. He didn't exactly get time to process what was really going on. What was important, before you moved on to someone else. He may regret what he said about the baby. Maybe he wants another chance?"

"Well, hell will freeze over before that happens. He's tried to make a move on me when I spent the time helping him get his life and school sorted out. I told him then we were over. I can't even be friends with him if that's how he is going to treat me."

"You know you have to talk to him though, right?"

Cat sighs. "Yeah. I'm just hoping it's not something I end up regretting."

William laughs. "If it involves Liam, I'm certain that you will."

Cat frowns. "Thanks a lot." Cat wonders which to deal with first Liam or Alex. If Alex has gone home to deal with something serious, should she really show up on his doorstep? Yet, if he really needs her, Cat wants to be there for him.

"William, can you give me Alex's home address?"

"You looking to go there?"

"I'm definitely considering it."

"I'd handle Liam first. You both disappearing off-campus may send up an alarm that you're running away together or something stupid."

Cat hadn't thought of that. "Damn it. You're right. I'd just be giving Liam more fuel for his fire. Okay. Liam, it is. I just hate thinking that Alex is going through something and I'm not there for him, you know? He's been there for me... always."

"I know. I'll talk to him tomorrow. See if I can't find out more about what's going on and I'll let you know whatever I find out. Deal?"

"Deal," Cat says, feeling slightly better.

Cat wonders how and what she will say to Liam when she sees him again. She is so mad at him for putting her in this position. She knows however she must keep her cool because her temper will get her nowhere.

William drops Cat off at the sorority house and she blows him a kiss goodbye as he drives away. Cat didn't know what she would do without friends like William and Olivia. She wonders how Alex is doing. Maybe she should call him herself instead of waiting on William to do it?

She pulls out her phone.

"Cat?"

So lost in thought, Cat didn't notice Liam sitting on the porch. Startled, she drops her phone and smashes the screen. "DAMN IT!" she yells. Her phone is toast. "Really? What the hell do you want?!" So much for not approaching him with anger.