Just Hear Me Out

Bianca flinched as she heard the door loudly slam. She understood where her aunt was coming from but that didn't change the fact that she still thought what her younger cousin did was heroic and didn't deserve to be chastised. At least, not yet, not with everything still being so fresh.

"Aunt Lizzie, why did you do that?" Bianca questioned, breaking the silence that had set in between the two of them.

"What? Say what was on my mind? Be the voice of reason? Or was I supposed to think this is some joke, like the two of you seem to?" Elizabeth Robbins sneered at her niece. She turned her head back towards the door silently praying that he son would walk back through.

"No one thinks this is a joke," Bianca said, feeling insulted that her aunt would think she wouldn't take what could only be described as one of the worst days of her life seriously. Ever since the news story first broke about the bombing at Zander's school, all she had been doing was praying for his safety, sitting vigil in front of the television waiting for updates, and calling her aunt every half hour. How dare she think that!

"Hmph! Could have fooled me!" Elizabeth didn't look in Bianca's direction.

"Zan was just trying to make the best out of a bad situation, if he wanted to make a couple of jokes, then that's fine, I'll let him. There is absolutely no reason to make him feel worse one of the worst days of all of our lives!" Bianca all but screamed trying to make her aunt see her reasoning. Bianca was seething. "You also had no right to make him feel like absolute crap for what he did for his friend and himself"

"What do you mean I had no right?!" Elizabeth snapped her head away from the door and quickly turned around to face Bianca head on. "Bianca, your cousin could have died today because of the choices he made, I mean facing an armed gunman head on…" Elizabeth leaned her head down and sighed, not even wanting to think about this anymore. "He acted stupidly. I don't care what his reasons were. If me being mad at his decisions and voicing it makes me a shitty parent, then so be it."

Bianca sighed. She and Elizabeth stared at each other, the pain and anger on her aunt's face abundantly clear. She didn't want to fight with her aunt. She took a single step towards her aunt, trying to get closer to her but not too close to make it look confrontational. "No one is calling you a "shitty" parent," Bianca made sure to put air quotes around the word to make sure her aunt knew that was her choice of wording. "You're a great one. But I'm also not going to sit here and let you down play what he did."

"But…"

No, Aunt Elizabeth, you said your piece now please let me say mine." Elizabeth closed her mouth and folded her arms across her chest, signaling for Elizabeth to continue. "Now, do I agree with some of the choices Zander made? No. But he stands by them and I stand by him. I understand that you feel the way you do because of what could have happened. But why dwell on what could have happened? There's no point in it. Stop thinking about what could have happened and start rejoicing in what did. Your son is alive and generally unharmed and someone else is alive because of what your son did. He's a hero. I'm just calling it like I see it and I think he should be praised for that. Auntie, you can come up with all the could have, should have, would haves you want but it won't change what happened." Bianca finished completely exasperated, hoping her aunt at least heard her out if nothing else.

Elizabeth's face softened as she listened to her niece and realized that her niece was right. She should stop dwelling on the "what if's" and just enjoy the fact that her son is still here. She wasn't sorry for what she said and was nowhere near pretending to be, but her reaction to what happened could have waited. And the longer she listened to Bianca she realized that Zander was what many would considered a hero. Even if she did think his actions were dumb and thoughtless, she could at least give him credit for the outcome of them.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and sighed. "You're right."

Bianca couldn't help the Cheshire Cat like grin that crossed her face. "I'm sorry what was that? I didn't quite catch that."

"Bianca…" Elizabeth raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at her, letting her know she was pushing it.

The tension in the room started to disappear as the sound the sound of laughter replaced it. A comfortable silence fell between the two. Elizabeth looked on the hospital bed side table and saw an opportunity that she couldn't pass up.

"It looks like Zander left his phone" Elizabeth commented as she walked over to pick it up. "Maybe I should find him and give it to him"

Bianca smiled. "Maybe you should," Elizabeth stuffed the phone in the back pocket of her jeans, picked up her purse and headed towards the door. "Oh Aunt Lizzie" Bianca called out as Elizabeth walked over the threshold. She turned back to look at her. "When I first came in I ran into his friends that told me that Kacey's room was on this floor, so I don't think he's gone far"

Elizabeth walked out of her son's hospital room only to be met with the stares of the nurses and physicians that were at the nurse's station. Oh God! Had they heard all of that? They all looked at each other warily and looked back her. All of them were wondering what was going on, but none wanting to get involved in what they just chalked up to "family drama".

Elizabeth gave a shy slightly embarrassed wave the nurse's station and just keep on walking, not wanting to run the risk of questions being asked.

She rounded the corner when she saw Stevie coming out of the bathroom. "Stevie!" She called out a little more excitedly than she wanted to.

Stevie looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and saw Zander's mother walking towards her.

"Hey Ms. Robbins, how are you?" Stevie greeted her warmly, hoping that she removed all of the evidence of her recent breakdown.

"I'm as good as I can be given the recent situation." Elizabeth answered honestly.

Stevie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been a heck of a day." A somber look crossing her features.

"How are you holding up?" Elizabeth asked her looking at the change in her attitude.

"The same I guess. It hasn't been the best of days. But, I'm, um, fine. Yeah, I'm fine" Stevie stuttered the answer out fighting back tears. "I ran into Zander earlier" Stevie diverted quickly.

"I was looking for him actually, would you happen to know which way he went?" Elizabeth recognized that Stevie wanted to change the subject and complied.

"Oh, yeah, he's most likely in Kacey's room right now. Room 432" Stevie answered. Elizabeth nodded in response. She looked at Stevie for a second before she engulfed Stevie in a hug. Elizabeth knew Stevie wasn't much of hugger and that fact became even more obvious by the way that she tensed in her arms. As she held her a little longer, Stevie relaxed and put her arms around her, settling into her.

"Everything's gonna be okay" Elizabeth whispered into her hair and kissed the top of her head. She felt Stevie nod against her chest. She held Stevie a little longer before she felt her let go and break the hug.

Silently Stevie gave her a look of thanks and headed off in the other direction back towards the lobby. Elizabeth kept walking in the direction of the hospital rooms. As she read the passing numbers, she thought about what she was going to say to her son. Whether or not he was still mad at her. She approached her destination to find her son right where Stevie and Bianca said he would be.

She looked through the small window to see Zander and Kacey alone in the room. Even from her distance she could see how bad the injuries were. She bowed head in slight shame at what she had said to Zander, the way she had belittled what happened to Kacey. She needed to apologize.

She opened the door, her son oblivious to her presence in the room. He never took his eyes off of her. She looked at the way her son interacted with Kacey. She was in awe of the scene taking place. The sadness on her son's face as he looked at her, the way he looked her: adoringly, the way he held her hand, lightly running his thumb across her fingers. It all makes so much sense now!

"They love you Kacey, I love you" She heard her son say. She watched as her son kissed her hand. She let her jaw drop at her son's confession. She needed to talk to him.

"Zander" She called out to her son against her better judgment, but she needed to talk to him. She almost hated to interrupt the tender moment Zander was sharing with Kacey. And the look on Zander's face as she looked at her let her know that she hated it just as much, if not more, than she did.

Are you serious right now?! What the fuck does she want now? Zander thought the words he'd never say out loud. Zander was still angry and he really didn't think he had any more energy to continue the fight that they had. He looked at the clock on the white wall in front of him. He hadn't even had 15 minutes with Kacey. But he still rose from his chair silently, too caught up in his anger to feel Kacey's hand flinch in his. He reluctantly let go of Kacey's hand and walked towards the door where his mother stood. He pointed for her to lead the way out. They both walked out as he closed the door behind him.

They walked a little way down the corridor until they got to a more deserted part. Still not saying a word to each, they turned and face each other. Zander still wondered what his mother wanted as she just looked at him silently. She reached behind her into her back pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "I saw that you left your cell phone in the room and thought I'd bring it to you" He'd heard her say.

What? Really? Zander eyed his mother warily as he reached for the phone and took it from her. "Thanks" He decided to say. He knew his mother and something about her tone told him that wasn't all she had to say. He decided to end this thing before it could begin. He twirled the phone in his hand. "Well if that's it, all you had to say, I'll just be going…" Zander tried to pass her until he felt her grab his arm and pull him back.

"That's not all I wanted to say" His mom said as she pulled him back in front of her.

"Of course it isn't" He muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "Look mom I don't wanna…"

"I don't either, just hear me out" She cut him off and look at him with regretful eyes. Zander crossed his arms in front of his chest willing himself to listen. Something about the look in his mother's eye told him this might not be what he thinks he is. But he didn't let his guard down completely, ready to defend himself if the opportunity arose.

She took a deep breath. "Zander, I'm not going to apologize for what I said or how I feel about what you did today…"

Zander's anger was mounting and his eyes narrowed into slits. He did not want a repeat of what went down earlier between them. "Mom please don't…" Zander's words were cut when his mother put one finger up signaling for him to shut up. She's done this ever since he was a small child.

Zander rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair as an exasperated sigh left his lips. He respected his mother's wishes and closed his mouth. "As I was saying, I'm not going to apologize for that but I am going to apologize for the way my words made you feel. My response to what happened could have waited for another time. Instead of focusing on the fact you survived this horrific ordeal, I chose to dwell on what could happened if this or that would have been different. And though I don't agree with the choices you made, they did save some's life and the fact that you were willing to lay down your life for this—for Kacey is commendable at best. I guess you really care about her, huh.

"And I also apologize for putting more on your plate today. I was only thinking about how today had affected me without really thinking about how it had affected you. You went through something traumatic and you were just reacting. You didn't react the way I thought you should have and I just lashed out. I only reacted the way I did out of love. I love you, baby. This whole day has just been the worst for all of us" Elizabeth took a breath.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, hoping her apology would be good enough to end the feud that she never meant to start with her son. Zander looked directly into her eyes. The anger in them evaporating.

Zander was honestly not expecting all of that at all. "I love you too, mom. Although I'm fully fine with the decisions that I made and completely stand by them, I guess we'll agree to disagree at this point. But I do apologize for what I said to you and the way I just lost my temper like that" Zander saw his mother smile. "I forgive you"

Tears started to form in his mom's eyes. She pulled him in for a hug that he readily accepted. They stood there for a minute and for the first time since the day began Elizabeth just reveled in the fact that her son was alive and physically unharmed. She pulled them apart and looked at him. "I know you want to get back to your friend" Zander just smiled at her.

Zander turned as started to walk back towards Kacey's hospital room. "Oh Zander, does she know that you're in love with her?" She smirked.

Zander stopped in his tracks. How did she…? "I don't know what you're talking about" Zander said over his shoulder as he continued walking and headed back to Kacey's room.

Kacey's fingers flinched as she flexed them as she stressed them. Her arm twitched. Her legs began move slightly as her eyes finally fluttered open to the very unwelcoming light. The bright light murderous to her sensitive. She closed her eyes tightly trying to block out the offending light but that proved to be a mistake as the pain shot through her head. She had no idea where she was. She tried to move but that also proved to a bad idea. She didn't know much but the only thing she did know: she was in a lot of pain.

It was quiet, and the only thing could be heard was the beeping of what sounded to her like a heart monitor. Am I in the hospital? She turned her head to see if she was alone the room, her stiff muscles betraying her. She didn't see anyone. Where is everyone? As soon as the thought entered her head, memories of the day came flooding back. The bombing, the janitor's closet, Zander… oh God, Zander where was he? She looked straight up, eyes closed, praying that someone would walk through the door so they could tell her what was going on.

Not even thirty seconds later it seemed like her silent prayer had been answered, hearing the door to her room turning. She heard his voice as he entered the room. She'd know that voice anywhere. Zander. He was okay. She turned her head in the direction of the door, inwardly groaning as she did so. "Zander," her weak voice sounding foreign to her own ears. She wasn't sure if he heard her until she saw his face. Her blurred vision couldn't make out his eyes but she knew he was looking at her.

"Kacey?" He called out frantically convinced that he was seeing and hearing things.

"Zander" She groaned out again. Zander was at her bed in three short strides he was at her bedside. He brought a shaky palm to the side of her face, gently rubbing a palm along the bruised cheek.

"Welcome back" He stated simply.

A/N: *Rises out of coffin* I'm alive! I can explain why this took so long... really. Well, you see, what had happened was, real life got in the way and college took a lot of my free time. Plus I had a huge onset of writer's block but it's summer now and my muse has returned to me once again. Gosh I can't believe it's been a year, over a year. Actually, part of me didn't even want to update because it had been so long but the encouraging reviews and PMs told me to continue so I did. Thank you for those! They actually made me sit down and write until 6 am my time. And I vow to you guys it will not take me another year to update this.

On another note, I'm actually trying to fully through myself back into creative writing so if you guys have any prompt ideas for one shots for this couple or any other ship for the show I can definitely want to test them out and write them. You know how I am but I will say I have a lot of time at the moment.

Now about the update, I've been writing forever and changing and rearranging and finally deciding the direction I want to go with this and I still don't think I'm in love with this chapter. But I'm leaving that up to you guys. So hated it, liked it, loved it? Wanna kill me? You know what to! And sorry that this chapter was sorely lacking Kacey and Zander interaction but they'll be back in full force next chapter.

Special Shoutouts:

HappyorSmiling: hoped this chapter lived up to your expectations. Thank you for the love.

Star197: It's a good thing she didn't! :)

Glee Clue Rock 1251: Thank youse!

GinnyBloomPotter: Thank you. I feel when i write theses emotional scenes I tend to go a little overboard.

Reflections of Twilight: She didn't get all bitchy. everything is going to be touchy for everyone for a while while everyone is emotionally and physically recovering.

CandyCane: Thanks!

Guest: Happy Belated Birthday!

: Continued!

: Thank you!

Hannahb592: Thanks so much and I hope you're still interested in the story.

HisSecretLover18: I hope all of your burning questions have been answered.

Guest: Thank you so much for the interest. I didn't end this chapter in a cliff hanger I don't think.

Guest: And you're going to get them!

To the people that faved, alerted, liked but didn't do either: I love you, thank you for taking the time to put up with and my cray cray updating schedule.

~Peace, Zacey, Strawberries~