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Twenty minutes away Win stood on the front step of Nick and Howie’s duplex. It looked as though there was a party going on upstairs and it took a few minutes before someone answered the door.

“Win! What are you doing here?” Nick asked surprised, inviting her in.

“Can we go some place quiet?” Win asked as the music blared around them.

“Yeah sure, here, give me your bag.” Nick said taking her backpack. He took her upstairs and led her to his bedroom and closed the door. The music was deadened to a dull thumping on the walls, but at least now Win could hear herself think.

“What happened?” Nick asked worried. Win was crying, something she avoided at all costs.

“We had a fight. A really big one.” Win replied.

“What about?”

“Edith.” That’s all Win had to say. Nick nodded in understanding.

“He didn’t tell you about her, did he?”

“Nope.”

“And he’s over there, playing house with her and Latecia, his surrogate daughter, and expects you to not notice.”

“How did you?” Win asked confused.

“How do you think his last girlfriend reacted? She lasted a lot less time than you did. He still doesn’t get it.” Nick replied.

“What I don’t get is why he can talk to her, but he can’t talk to me. He told me, that he doesn’t trust me.” Nick shook his head.

“What he needs to do, is get his head, out of his ass, and stop this playing around. Win, it’s not you that’s messed up. It’s AJ. You did nothing wrong, and don’t think that you did.”

“I did though, if I didn’t say anything,”

“If you hadn’t said anything, AJ would know that what he is doing in wrong. It is possible to have a girlfriend and girls who are friends, I’ve done it before. He just doesn’t get the boundaries he has to draw. He should have told you about her, he should make it very clear that she is the friend, and you the girlfriend.” Nick explained.

“I love him so much. I really do. I’ve never had a reason not to trust him, until now. And if he doesn’t trust me, what’s the point?” Win asked.

“I don’t know Win.” Nick replied sitting down next to her, he hated seeing her cry.

“He said, they were close because he spent a lot of time with her, when he came right out of rehab, you know, taking care of Latecia and everything. Said she took his minds off his problems.” Win said. Nick nodded.

“Yeah, that was a vulnerable time for him for sure, and it’s no doubt that they did get close.” Nick replied.

“I don’t know what to do now.” Win said. There was a knock at the door. Nick answered it.

“Hey man, look, AJ just called looking for Win, he said they had a fight and she, oh hey Win,” Howie said once he saw Win sitting on the bed beside Nick.

“Hang on a second, I’ll talk to him, just keep her company.” Nick said taking the phone and going down the hall to the bathroom.

“Hello?”

“Hey Nick, is Win there, I’m really worried about her, I tried Brian, and he hasn’t seen her, and the hotel, she’s not there.”

“She’s here AJ.”

“Oh thank god, I’ll be right over to talk to her.”

“I don’t think so AJ.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t you get it yet man?”

“Get what?”

“You’re too busy playing house again to notice you have a girlfriend.”

“I am not!”

“Yeah, then why did Win show up on my doorstep a few minutes ago?”

“Because she’s mad at me, I said I didn’t trust her and,”

“Why can’t you trust her?”

“Because, I can’t not yet.”

“What, does she have to spell her entire life story out for you? And if you’re screwing around with that woman again!”

“I never screwed around with Edith!”

“What happened tonight AJ? Did Edith come and comfort you, as usual?” the line was quiet.

“AJ, if you weren’t sure about Win, why did you rush into it with her?”

“I love Winifred! Don’t you dare say that I don’t!”

“If you loved her, you wouldn’t have done this to her. Now if you don’t tell her tomorrow, I’ll tell her for you, and it’s going to sound a whole lot worse coming from me!” Nick shut off the phone and slammed it down on the counter.

“How can he be so stupid!” he said aloud to himself.

“I heard you and Win arguing and woke up. I waited a little while, and then I saw that display out on the patio, and you know which one I am talking about.” Denise said, leaning in the doorway, her arms crossed.

“Mom, I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just did.” AJ pleaded, but his mother’s face remained stony.

“I don’t think I have ever been this disappointed in you in my entire life. AJ, how could you do this to Winifred! Don’t you care about her?”

“Of course I do, it was just a mistake!” AJ said panicked.

“You have been so irresponsible it makes me sick! You better find her and you better tell her what happened! You hope to god she understands, and forgives you and makes you pay for what you have done!” Denise turned on her heel and marched back upstairs. AJ shook his head and grabbed the phone.

She wasn’t anywhere he called. Finally he remembered Nick and Howie. He dialed the number and got Howie. He didn’t know anything, so he went to find Nick.

Never in his life did Nick ever talk to him like he did now. Deep down he knew Nick was right, but he just did not want to admit it. He wouldn’t let him talk to Win and hung up before he could say anything else. If he wanted to salvage anything with Win he had to break it off completely with Edith.

Walking out the kitchen door he knocked on Edith’s door and she answered quickly.

“What is it AJ?” she asked.

“Edith, we both know what happened up there was wrong, and we both know that we cannot be together.”

“AJ, I have something to tell you, I don’t think you’re going to be too happy about it either.” Edith replied.

“What’s that?”

“Robert is not Latecia’s father.”

"You want something to eat?" Nick asked as he reentered the room.

"Huh? Oh, no thanks. Was that AJ?" Win asked distantly. Howie was sitting on the bed next to her.

"Yeah, he wanted to talk to you."

"Is he still on the phone?" She asked worriedly, her eyes wide and stricken.

"No, I hung up on him. He needs to talk to you in person, he'll see you at the studio tomorrow when we start recording." Nick replied sitting down on his bed and watching her. She had stopped crying, only waiting now for the final blow to strike.

"Look, you can stay here as long as you want. Why don't Nick and I clear out the party, we'll go downstairs, listen to some music and just veg, you just relax." Howie said getting up.

"Okay." Win replied, nervously chewing on her nails. Nick looked at her sitting on the bed, hunched over, nervous looking, pathetic, broken, scared, he wasn't looking at the Winifred he knew anymore. AJ had hurt her deeply, he had never seen Win look so down trodden. He would make up for AJ had done, no matter what it took.

Howie pulled him back to reality and made him leave the room to get the people out of the house. It took the better part of an hour to get everyone to leave and when Nick returned to the room, Win had not moved. It took a little prodding to get her to come downstairs, but she finally did it. Howie was in the kitchen scrambling eggs and frying potatoes. The smell of burnt toast was in the air and

Howie popped up the toaster to empty its contents. Nick and the silent Win sat down at the counter. Howie placed a plate of eggs, home fries and toast in front of her with a fork. He leaned down on the counter and looked at Win's face.

"Come on, have something to eat, you'll feel better." Howie said going to the refrigerator. "I doubt it." Win replied.

"Oh come on. Like my mom says, if you don't eat anything when you are sick, you'll have nothing to throw up later when you are sick. It always feels worse when you feel like throwing up and you've got nothing to vomit." This made her laugh.

"See, I knew I could do it." Howie said pouring some juice for her. Timidly she picked up the fork and ate some of the eggs and potatoes.

"Good?" Howie asked. She nodded.

"Although the image of throwing it up later does take the enjoyment out of it a little." Win replied with a small laugh. Howie dished some eggs for Nick and himself and then stood at the counter eating. The only sounds for a few minutes were the clinking of plates and forks.

"What are you going to do Win?" Nick asked.

"I don't know. I love him, I do. And he must really be hurting himself." Win replied.

"Don't try to defend him Win." Howie said skeptically looking at Win.

"So I should just give him up?"

"That’s not for me to say.” Howie replied.

"He is the best thing to ever happen to me, and I love him, I'm not just gonna throw that away because I'm jealous of his friend!" Win said angrily.

"Why are you settling for him? There are plenty of other guys out there that would die to be with you." Nick asked.

"Don't you get it Nick? He is the best I can get. A former drug addict, a homeless drug addict, with a famous, talented guy like him? It's an oxymoron right there. I'm lucky to have him." Win replied.

"No Win, I'm talking about people actual people, and how they act. Not their pasts and their roots or their social status. I'm talking about how people treat one another. And if he can’t trust you, then, he’s not good enough for you." Howie said, putting his dish in the sink. She nodded her head, a few tears falling out of her eyes.

“You’re right.”

Howie made a motion with his head towards the stairs. Nick nodded and said,

"Come on, you can stay in my room, I'll sleep on the couch." Win got up and followed Nick to the stairs, she turned and said,

“Thanks for listening.”

In the morning Nick and Howie took Win to the recording studio to start work on the song. Kevin met them and Brian showed not long after. Clive and Dennis also showed, and AJ was last to show up. He approached Win cautiously and with looks of daggers from Nick and Howie.

"Can we go outside and talk?" he asked.

"Fine." Win said getting up. "We got to get started, hurry up!" Dennis called to their retreating backs. Outside Win walked to the front of the building and turned to face AJ. She folded her arms and waited. When he didn't say anything she decided to say something.

“What do you want to talk about?” she asked. He wouldn't look her in the eye.

“I have something to tell you, something that happened last night, after you left.” AJ said looking at the ground.

“What happened?” Win asked.

“She heard us fighting, and she came upstairs, to talk. I didn’t mean for it to happen, you have to believe me.” AJ said desperately.

“What didn’t you mean to happen?” Win asked confused. AJ shrugged his shoulders and bounced from one foot to the other.

“I was angry, and I was upset, and I didn’t want it to happen, but,” AJ stammered.

“What, AJ,” Win said getting thoroughly annoyed.

"I kissed her." He replied.

"You did what?”

“I kissed Edith, I knew that it was wrong, and I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t want it to happen.” AJ said coming towards her.

“Get away from me!” she yelled.

“Win, please, I am so sorry. I love you so much.”

“And you can't trust me? How long has this been going on?" Win said annoyed.

"Win, it's not like that."

"Then tell me what it's like! Make me understand!" Win was past all pretenses that she was in any way at fault for what had transgressed the previous night. Her tears fell out angrily and burned her cheeks.

“That’s not all of it Win. Before I went into rehab a bunch of our family and friends had gone out, and I got really smashed. When I woke up the next morning, she was in my bed. We agreed to forget about it."

"So you had a one night stand with her as well?" Win asked. He nodded, still looking at the ground.

"And there’s something else.”

“What else could there possibly be?” Win asked crying freely now.

“That one night stand, that was the night Latecia was conceived. She’s my daughter." Win felt her world crumbling around her. She remained quiet for a long time, just trying to feel again, trying to remember how only a few days ago she had been happy.

"What do you expect me to say?" she asked after a while. He took a few steps towards her.

"Win, I love you. I don't know how much, or how long it will take me to make it up to you, for what I did. But I want to prove to you, that I love you. I know I hurt you, and I will do anything to fix it." He stepped closer to her, reaching out a hand to touch her but she yanked out of his reach.

"How the hell am I supposed to trust you! Wasn’t it just the other day that you got on your knees and promised me that you would never let anyone hurt me, that you, would never hurt me? Wasn’t it you, who gave me this ring, as your promise to me that you were going to take care of me!" she shouted.

"I don't know. Win, I meant everything I said. I didn’t intend to hurt you, from the bottom of my heart I didn’t intend for it to be this way!" He said, his eyes full of tears. He touched her arm and she smacked at his hand, but he wouldn't let go. She kept trying to push him away, but he wouldn't let go.

“A hell a lot your intent means! To hell with what anyone’s intent is! What happens is what matters AJ! Seeing Red’s intent meant nothing until it happened. Your promise meant nothing until you couldn’t go through with it!” Win shouted, continuing to pull away from him, smacking his hands away from her arms.

"Please don't push me away, I know I deserve it, but please, give me a second chance!" he pleaded.

"Get off of me!" she screamed as he fell to his knees and clung to her waist.

"Just let me go!" she yelled trying to pry his arms off of her. AJ just held onto her, crying. She continued to try and push him away, but he wouldn’t let go of her. She shook her head and felt her hands entangle themselves in his hair.

“Why’d you have to do this?” she asked closing her eyes, “Why did you have to do this?”

Later, after AJ and Win had returned, to a load of questioning looks, they recorded a bit of the song. It took a while to get the song the way Clive wanted it, and it was obvious that they were not going to get any further today, so they departed. Out in the parking lot, Nick gave Win a look. She told AJ to go wait in his car.

“So are you two back together?” he asked looking away.

“Somewhat, not that we were ever really apart. We’re making some ground rules before I agree to go any farther.” Win replied picking at her nails. “What did he tell you?” Nick asked looking at her.

“That he kissed her, last night. And that he had a one-night stand with her before he went in to rehab. And, he’s Latecia’s father.” Win replied awkwardly.

“He’s actually Latecia’s real father?” Nick asked with raised eyebrows.

“Yeah, he is.”

“Win, don’t go back with him. He’ll do it again. If Edith is still around, which she will be, she’s the mother of his child for christ’s sake. He won’t have a reason to be loyal to you, he won’t have a reason to open up to you.” Nick said with worried face.

“Nick, I know you don’t understand, but I want to work it out with him. Is your offer to stay at your place still open?” Win asked biting her lip.

“Of course it is, you can come stay with me when ever you want.” Nick replied running his fingers through his hair.

“Thank you so much Nick, this really means a lot to me. You’ve been such a help.” Win said smiling.

“Win, please, don’t go with him.” Nick pleaded.

“Thank you Nick,” Win said again and pecked him on the cheek before running back to AJ’s car and getting inside. Nick stood by the car and watched them pull out of the parking lot. Howie came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“They working it out I see.” He said.

“He’s just going to do it to her again. He’s only going to break her heart.”

“Her heart, or yours man? Give it up, if she wants to be with him, she’ll be with him.” Howie said patting his shoulder and getting in the car.