She couldn't help it, as he pulled away she started to cry again. All she wanted to do now was hold him close. She squeezed him as tight as she could. "Help, I can't breathe anymore." He wanted her to laugh at it but it didn't seem to help. "Sorry Ki, I just..." The image of Peter appeared in front of her. Why? Why did she have to let go of him? He was like a brother to her... Kian saw her face turning into an expression of anger, and fear. He wiped the tears away.

"Shhh, hey, what is it? This isn't like you?" They sat down on the couch together. "I was just thinking about that guy again, you know, the one with..." "cancer?" She couldn't stand the word. "yeah with cancer. I lost him and I couldn't help him and now I am losing you to the same crazy disease!! I don't want to, I can't..." He took her in his arms and cradled her a bit. "That's why you ran away?" "I was just so scared. I just couldn't hear that anymore. He had to go in for a couple of tests and he never left the clinic again... and now you..."

She looked up at him and saw he was smiling. "You have nothing to be afraid of. I am not ill... it's just a check they want to do to make sure I don't put too much strain on my voice. That's all, really..." Esther felt relieved. "Really, is that it?" "Really. But it's nice to see you worrying about me though." She planted a soft kiss on his cheek and whispered the words she had been hiding in his ear. "I love you Kian." "I love you too. Gosh, you have no idea how long I wanted to say that to you!" He kissed her again when the door rang.

"It must be your mom, she forgot her key." Esther ran to the door to leave Patricia in. "Hey guess what, Kian is okay!" Esther didn't notice the tears that fell from Kian’s eyes...