Lis opened the door and stared wide eyed at the man on the step. "What happened to you B?" she asked, not sure what could have happened to him. He was only going to Kevin and Alec's anniversary party.
He walked past her inside the house without answering. "Lis honey, we have to talk. You alone?"
"Yeah, Shan went back to the hotel and Han's still at mom and dad's." she watched as he laid down on the sofa and she eased herself down on the armchair. "What is it Rok, you're scaring me."
He turned to her. "I don't meant to scare you. Tonight well AJ and I got in a fight."
"AJ did that to you?" she asked in shock, looking over the bruises on his face and the spot where his shirt had been ripped.
"Yeah, we got in a fight...Lis...do you think I'm trying to take Nick's place?"
Lis almost laughed. "No, B...you're not trying to take his place."
Bri took a deep breath and sat up facing her. "AJ said he thought that's what I was doing and I got to thinking..." he got up and knelt in front of her. "Don't interrupt me all right?" he stated and she nodded, too stunned by AJ's accusation to speak. "I got to thinking and I don't know how it happened over the last four months but I fell in love with you along the way Lissy." Brian paused. "I know you still love Nick and I hope he comes back because I know how much his disappearance hurts you...but Lisa I want to be here for you and the baby." he gazed deeply into her eyes and Lis' heart broke when she saw the tears in his eyes. She bit her lip to keep from crying herself. "Look, I know you'll never love me like you love Nick and I accept that, but could you let me be there for you?" he brushed away her tears.
Lis sighed, she was far from over Nick and as far as she could tell she never would be. As she stared into Bri's bright blue eyes and saw the love there she realized the baby needed a father. "All right B, the baby needs a father...and I...I don't think I can do this alone." her voice faltered over the words and Bri stared at her stunned for a moment then wrapped his arms around her.
Nick looked at E asleep on his sofa and sighed. Her voice kept repeating in his head to just call and let Lis know he was all right. He reached over and picked his cell phone off the coffee table and went into the kitchen, dialing the familiar number. It was after 2 am so he knew she'd be home.
Bri reached over a sleeping Lis and picked up the phone. "Hello?" he whispered.
On his end Nick froze, unsure for a minute he'd dialed the right number until he heard her sleepy voice in the background.
"Who is it Bri?" Lis asked.
Bri covered the phone. "I don't know," he moved his hand, "Hello? No one I guess."
Nick clicked the phone off, that's exactly who he was to them now, no one. He leaned against the counter blinking away his tears knowing from that moment on he'd be leading an entirely different life. A life without Lis with him. He set his cell phone down and walked back into the living room...
