Rachel was laying on a lawn chair out on the balcony of her apartment listening to music. The sun beat down on her skin as the sound of Brian McKnight's voice soothed her. Rachel was so relaxed, she didn't notice Brian come out to the balcony. She was startled when she finally saw him.

"Brian, what are you doing here? I thought you had to go to a meeting."

"It was a short meeting," he said as he settled himself on the chair next to her. "Kris told me you were out here. I figured you'd be out shopping or something. You don't usually stay home for long during the day."

"I know, but I didn't feel like going anywhere today," Rachel replied as she shut off her CD player and took off her headphones.

"Rach, you've been lounging around this apartment for days. What's going on? This isn't like you."

"Nothing's going on. I just don't feel like going anywhere." Rachel glanced over at Brian who was giving her a suspicious look. "You don't believe me do you?"

"Not even slightly."

Rachel sighed. "What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone about this?"

"Just talk to me."

"Brian it wouldn't do any good. You wouldn't understand."

"See something is bothering you. I knew it. So what if you think I wouldn't understand. You'll feel much better if you have about it. Come on," he said as he grabbed her hand.

"Where are we going?"

"To my place so we can talk."

Rachel sighed and stood up. "Fine, let me get changed out of this swim suit," she said as she headed to her room. When she changed she went with Brian to his place. Once they got there she sat on the couch with him. Brian intently waited for her to speak.

"I'm ready when you are," he said.

Rachel drew in a breath and began her story. "Okay the reason why I've been upset these past few days is because I've been thinking a lot about my Mom."

"What about your Mom?"

"I just don't understand what has happened to her. I mean she wasn't always like she is now."

"How does she act now?"

"Well, now she seems to only care about herself. She's always too busy with her bar hopping friends and her men to care about what I'm doing. I mean she knew I was having surgery but did she come see me? Of course not. She didn't even call. She knew my number here, she has Kris' cell phone number, and I gave her my pager number. Does she even attempt to contact me? I don't think so."

"When did all this start?"

"Well, she's always been a little self centered, but not this bad. I think after she and my dad got divorced is when she got this way," Rachel said tearfully. "As soon as they agreed on the divorce, he moved out and she started going to the bars and picking up men. She was drinking, sleeping around, and coming home at ungodly hours of the night. Soon things got even worse. She refused to work so I had to work 40 hours a week and try to graduate high school. The money I was bringing in wasn't enough because she kept spending it on her bar hopping. Everytime I turned around she was trying to change me. It's like she hated me for not being like her. Like she was so insecure with her own self she wanted to drag me down with her. The divorce was so hard on me and it was the time that I needed her the most....and it was almost like she abandoned me. I mean I would talk to Kristin about everything that was going on at home. But she lived in Chicago at the time and the Internet chats with her sometimes wasn't enough to fill in that empty hole in my heart that my Mom had caused. But I guess something is better than nothing." Rachel looked over at Brian who looked shocked. "Brian?" she whispered.

"Rach I'm so so sorry," Brian said gently.

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"Yes, I did. I put so much pressure on you to tell me about your Mom. And I feel really guilty for trying to get you to go see her."

"Brian you don't need to be sorry."

Brian held up his hand to interrupt. "You know what? You don't need her. You've got me. You've got Kris, the guys, my parents love you like their own, and everyone else love you too. You don't need your Mom. And I promise that I will never hurt you like that. And I won't ever bring her up again." Brian reached over and ran his fingers through Rachel's shoulder length brown hair. "I don't know how anyone could hurt you like she has. You don't deserve any of that." Rachel smiled through her tears. "I love you Rach. You know that right?"

Rachel nodded. "Yes....I do. I love you too."

Brian wiped the tears off her cheeks and kissed her. "I don't care what it takes...I'm going to take that hurt away from your eyes. Even if it takes forever."

"You too good to me," Rachel said with a smile.

"It gets better," Brian said quietly as he stood up.

"Oh really?"

"Yes...really," he replied as he lifted her up and carried her upstairs to his room and shut the door.