Cammie POV

I couldn't steady my heartbeat, no matter how much I had tried, I just couldn't.

Zach had barely parked his bike before I leapt off and ran into the hospital.

'Cam!' Zach had to chase after me. I ran through the corridors all the way to the outside of the room. Then all of a sudden, my legs stopped working. I was paralysed on the spot.

'Are you okay?' Zach placed his hand on my lower back.

The tears I tried so hard to hide came bubbling up the surface.

'I don't think I can do this Zach' I said.

'Everything is going to be okay' Zach planted a kiss on my temple. I looked up at him and he gave me a reassuring smile. I took a deep breath and entered the room.

'Mom'

'Hey Kiddo' My mom gave a weak smile. I launched myself at her, burying my head in her chest.

'Not so tight, Squirt' Abby pulled on my shoulders.

'You're okay' I didn't stop the tears falling.

'I am kiddo' My mom brushed her hand down my face, wiping away some of my tears. 'I love you so much'

'I love you too mom' I gave her a (lighter) hug.

'So, when can you come home?' I asked.

'We don't know exactly yet' Joe informed me

'So I'll be staying a little longer' Abby said. There was a knock at the door.

'Knock, knock. It's only me' Edward entered 'I heard that Rachel was awake' He smiled at Rachel 'How are you feeling?'

'Tired and achy' Rachel moved and several bones clicked.

'Well, I'd recommend lots of bed rest, even when you return home. We'll keep you in for some more observations, a few more tests and we'll take it from there'

'Thank you' My mom smiled. Edward returned a smile & then his pager buzzed.

'Excuse me but I have another patient to attend to' Edward exited the room hastily.

'I have to go too' Zach said sheepishly 'I'm sort of meant to be in class'

'Thank you for looking after Cammie' My mom said 'She's lucky to have you'

'I'm lucky to have her' Zach retorted. I smiled at him, trying to hide the blush.

'I'll walk you out' I said, pulling away from my mom. Zach and I made our way outside.

'Thanks' I said once we got to his bike

'For what?' A small smirk played on his lips.

'For everything' I sighed 'I don't deserve you right now...or ever really. I'm sorry that I've been a bit of a bitch to you and not told you things and I'm sorry'

'Who are you and what have you done with my Gallagher Girl?' He teased. I rolled my eyes. 'I'm kidding' He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around my waist. 'I know you've had it hard and I know that you have your walls...but they're starting to come down a little bit and I'm grateful that you feel safe enough with me to do so...and…'

'And what?'

Zach's gaze drifted down to my lips momentarily before returning to my eyes. One of Zach's hands grazed my cheek, tilting my head up. A smirk tugging at the corner on his lips.

'I'll tell you on our second date, Gallagher Girl'

He placed a delicate kiss on the tip of my nose.

'I'll call you later' He said.

'Sure' I smiled. Zach unwound his arms & I watched him climb onto his bike and ride away. I spun around to see Abby standing a few feet away, her arms folded and a mischievous smile on her lips.

'Abby, I can explain'

'Save it, Squirt. I know everything'

'You...you do?' I gulped.

'Of course I do. I'm not just a regular Aunt' Abby shrugged and turned back towards the hospital. I stood there, pretty much gaping after her. Abby was right, she was far from a regular aunt.

…

It was a few days later, I was pacing up and down in my kitchen.

'If you keep that up, you'll wear a hole in the wood' Abby said from the sofa, her hand pressed against her lips.

'And if you keep biting your nails, you won't have any fingers left' I quipped back. Abby glared at me but only in semi-annoyance.

We both jumped when the doorbell rang.

Abby and I both rushed over to answer it, but when we got to the door, neither of us reached for the handle.

I looked up at Abby, unsure what to do.

'Go on Squirt' Abby nudged me, giving me an encouraging smile. I stayed frozen.

'Screw it' Abby opened the door for me, a wide smile on her face 'Welco- oh...it's you' She opened the door wider to reveal Zach standing there, a slight smirk on his face.

'It's nice to see you too, Abby' He then turned to me 'Hey'

'Hey' I smiled back

'Are you ready to go?'

'Go where?' I furrowed my brow in confusion.

'A place where we learn? Abby told me...' Zach raised his eyebrow, looking over at Abby. I turned to face Abby, folding my arms.

'Cam-' Abby began

'We agreed that I go back to school when Mom comes home'

'And she is on her way home. You've missed so much of school already and I don't think Rachel will be pleased to know exactly how much you've missed'

I winced. That's the one thing about having a teacher for a parent, when it comes to education, she's tough.

I turned back to face Zach.

'Give me two minutes, I just need to grab my bag'

…

I shut the door behind me, and gladly accepted the helmet Zach handed to me.

'Thanks'

I climbed onto the back, wrapping my arms around Zach. This has become our familiar routine.

We rode for a while, I hadn't really been paying attention to my surroundings until I noticed we missed the turning to head to school.

'Um, where are we going?' I yelled over the hum of the engine.

'Don't worry about it' He replied, pulling off towards the forest track.

'Zachary Goode, you promised my Aunt that you'd take me to school' I punched him when the bike came to a stop.

'Technically I said that I'd take you to a place where we learn, and what better place to do so than nature' Zach turned off the engine and helped take off my helmet.

'Come on' He offered me his hand. Graciously I accepted.

We made our way up a small trail until we got to a small treehouse clearing in the middle of a meadow.

'What is this place?'

'We used to come here all the time as kids. It was somewhere that we didn't have to think about what's going on and could just be kids. ' He turned to me with a smile 'You like it?'

'I love it'

The treehouse was old and musty. It clearly hadn't been touched in years. Zach pulled out a blanket and laid it out on the floor.

'Sorry I didn't have time to clean it up a little more'

'It's fine' I got on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

We sat down on the blanket and studied for a while helping with chemistry and biology until we got to English.

'Do we have to?' I groaned lying back on the blanket.

'Unfortunately' Zach chuckled, tracing his fingers lazily on my leg.

'I'll start' He grabbed his book with one hand, opening it to the correct page.

'Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops -' I sat up and looked over Zach's shoulder

'O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly charges in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable' I said, my arms resting on his shoulders.

'What shall I swear by?'

'Do not swear at all. Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee'

Zach looked at me

'If my heart's dear love -'

'Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contact tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say it lightens. Sweet, good night!'

'O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?' Zach had a smirk tugging on his lips. His hand is still on my leg.

'What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?' My voice caught in my throat as Zach continued to maintain eye contact.

'Th' exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine' He dropped the book and cupped my cheek.

'Cammie…' He began 'I'm falling in love in you'

'I think I am too' I whispered. Zach remained focused on me. He leant in and our lips connected. My hands immediately went to his neck, pulling him in.

Zach slowly lowered me down onto the blanket, the weight of his body felt perfect against mine.

This feels like a brand new start...oh how wrong I was...

Author's Note: And here it is! The long-awaited chapter! So sorry that it's taken me so long to do this, but at least Rachel is alive! What did you think of this chapter? Points if anyone can tell me the Act & Scene number from good old William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet that I used.

Alecks454: Do you still think Cammie will go to Spain if Rachel is alive? xxx

GallagherGirlsEmbassyRowFan: I know! Not long left to go! The ending will be very bittersweet. xxx

Guest: Thank you! What do you think of this chapter? xxx

Guest: Thank you so much! Rachel is alive...currently...xxx

boredboredbored: Thank you so much! I'm super excited to what might happen next xxx

Duchess12: Zach's last name is just absolutely perfect. Abby needs to think about what's best for Cammie even if it means having to move to Spain. Rachel is fineeeeeee...or is she...mwhahaha. I'm kidding, I'm kidding...maybe... I have sobbed in so many different parts of this story and other stories too. I just love the characters too much. Good and sad tears, but mainly Goode. Zach has always set my standard for men (which is probs why I'm still single) xxx

Guest: IT'S HERE! xxx

Guest: She's alive! xxx

Smiles180: Thank you so much! Zach always cares for Cammie, this version of him is super cute, though I do like spy Zach. xxx

Airhead: Thank you so much! xxx

the-markette: Rachel's not dead xxx