“What am I going to do?” Heather asked herself as she tapped her fingers against the steering wheel while she drove. She took this ride to try and forget everything about Kyle, but found herself thinking about him more and more as the time went by. She went off not quite sure knowing where she was driving, but knew that she would end up somewhere. The place she was headed was definitely not the place she thought she would end up. “You have to let him go Heather, you have to let him out of your heart forever.”

Trying to convince herself of something like this was harder than she thought. So many times in her life she was able to let go of a guy with a snap of her fingers and now that Kyle was back into her life, he was changing her lifestyle. He was changing the person she was meant to be, the person that everyone was suppose to hate. Now that Kyle took over her head and her heart, she couldn’t believe that she could be this upset over a single guy.

“You gave up on Brant, you can give up on Kyle,” she tried to urge herself again rolling her eyes as she stared out into the night before her that was only being brightened by the headlights of her car. “He left a long time ago and you were able to give up on him.”

Was that even true though? Every day of her life she thought about Kyle, whether it was about their past together or how he was doing. He was always on her mind and sure--there was a point in time she thought she could have actually loved again in Brant, but it was nothing like she was feeling for Kyle right now.

It was almost like Kyle changed her by just showing up in her life again, there was something that she wanted to share with him. This wasn’t right though, she was supposed to be strong, she was supposed to be able to live and not hurt. With Kyle back in her life, promising her and tempting her with the thoughts of a future was nothing but a tease. He was close for her to grab out and reach out to him, but then when she thought it was possible to have him in her life forever, he got stolen away again.

“It’s almost like it was supposed to turn out like this because history is repeating itself with Sarah having him again,” Heather whispered to herself stopping the car up on the dirt street she had been driving on for a while. Looking to the right she saw the house she thought she would never return to, the house that haunted her for years when she would stay alone in the darkness. “I wanted him so bad, but I have to get over this.”

Closing her eyes she thought about the past and how when everyone else would hurt her and cause pain in her heart, Kyle was her light when she was put away in the darkness to herself. When she was feeling down, Kyle was that one thing that could lift her up and make her feel like she was a real person. He was the only one that would treat her like a real person.

There were days when her mother and Sarah would get her down the most and she would go hide in the closet, hoping that they would just let her be and sure enough--they would forget her. It was better than having them hurt her and yell at her, but the pain would still settle in and crying for hours may have not made things better. The only thing that could make everything better would be Kyle. He would show up and get her out of sadness. Kyle was the only one that could pull her out of her pain and show her that there was a door to move through even if she forgot about it now.

Heather felt the coolness of the darkness around her as she leaned back against the floor of the closet, pushing away at her tears after her mother had again told her what a pain she was in her life and how she caused everything wrong.

“I wasn’t a mistake,” Heather tried to convince herself trying to push away her tears as she thought about how long she had been in the closet, knowing that it had to be a long time considering the pain she was starting to have by just lying on the carpeted floor. “I’ll show her one day that she is nothing without me. The she will truly realize everything she missed out on.”

Hearing a small creaking noise, Heather covered her eyes feeling a ray of light flash through her eyes passed the darkness as her closet door slowly opened. After a moment of covering her eyes, trying to adjust to the newfound light she saw Kyle standing before her, seeing him slowly close the door behind himself as he stepped into the closet with her.

“Hey you,” Kyle whispered slowly getting to the floor and lying down on his side to reach out and touch her cheek gently. Feeling her tears against his fingertips Kyle reached down grabbing his flashlight from his coat pocket and pulled it out of his pocket. Turning it on he set it to the side and saw the way Heather’s eyes had reddened over from crying. Reaching out to touch her cheek again, he caressed it slowly with his thumb seeing the way she stared out at him tears still slowly sliding down her face. “What happened beautiful?”

“What didn’t happen?” Heather muttered trying to look into his hazel eyes as she let out a small laugh before closing her eyes still feeling the pain in her chest from being yelled at for hours. Letting out a small whimper she felt Kyle push away her tears moving in closer to her and wrapping his arm around her, resting his chin against her forehead. “What did I do wrong Kyle? I try to be good, I try to be perfect for her.”

“Heather, you are perfect for anybody. If they don’t see that, they are blind,” he hushed lightly seeing the way she looked up at him with her green eyes as he nodded slowly. “I’m not kidding sweetheart, your everything to me and if I didn’t have you--I wouldn’t feel whole. You are what makes me perfect.”

“You’re just trying to make me feel better Kyle,” Heather half laughed pulling away from him and sitting up slowly seeing the way he looked up at her. “I know you are trying to be a good friend, but honestly--you’re the only one that says things like that to me.”

“Well if it makes you feel better than good, but this is true Heather,” Kyle stated clearly slowly sitting up and reaching out to grab her hand in his, caressing the top of it with his thumb. “Heather, you’re great and people push you around like a doll--a toy that doesn’t have a soul or feelings. You are so much more than that and you need to stand up for yourself. You can’t believe that you are what all these people say about you.”

“It sounds easier than it really is Kyle,” Heather shook her head slowly leaning it back against the wall as he stared out at her, closing her eyes she thought about all the pain she had been put through as a child. “Kyle, honestly--I wish I could believe you, but I can’t. I just want to get out of here and leave forever. No one here loves me and I want to be somewhere I’m meant to be. Somewhere where I feel like I belong.”

“You belong to be in my life--that’s somewhere you are meant to be,” Kyle assured her seeing her look up at with a small frown as he felt a muscle in his jaw tighten up when he spoke up again. “Listen, I’ve seen what’s life has done to you here. It’s thrown you up and down and all around. You feel like there is no way out Heather and I know you feel that way, but you can find a way out now that I'm here with you. I’m right here for you no matter. You have to be strong and you have to get back up and live your life because if you can’t--I can’t. You just need to see that I’m for you and don’t forget that you count on me to help you along everyway because you mean so much to me.”

Feeling Kyle push back a piece of her hair she moved her hand in over his wrist seeing the way he was staring out at her, but still she couldn’t say anything. It was almost like he was just trying to make her feel better, but the way he was looking at her--the way he said these things made her want to believe him.

“I think it’s been pretty clear that whenever you needed someone strong to lean on--I’ve always been here and I will always be the one next to you. We’ve done this so many times and you know, I just want hold you until your heart is healed,” Kyle muttered grabbing her hand and placing it over his chest before offering up a small smile. “I can’t do that unless you let me--unless you trust me I can’t make that happen.”

“I do trust you Kyle,” she tried to explain feeling his fingers tighten around hers as he held her hand in his. “I’m trying to see things that you're trying to tell me, but sometimes I just can’t help it.”

“Well now you can,” Kyle stood up slowly opening the door to her closet, the shining light of her room spread out throughout the darkness of the closet as he held his hand out to her. “You’re in the darkness, so let me be your light. Take my hand and I swear I will carry you out of this place you're stuck in. Go away with me and my family for the week and I promise you, I can be that light. All you have to do is trust me and take my hand.”

Looking up at Kyle, Heather hesitantly reached her hand out to his feeling his hand slip into hers as he pulled her up to him slowly. Stepping back he moved over toward the center of the room, pulling her in closer against him, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“Why can’t you see how much you mean to me?” Kyle half smiled moving forward to press his lips in against hers, feeling her fingers sliding in through his short hair before he pulled back slowly resting his forehead against hers. “I want to be your light--I just want to be that light that helps you.”

“I think you already are Kyle,” she whispered seeing him smile and bring her hand up to his lips as he pressed a small kiss in over the back of her hand before letting her go slowly. Walking into the closet, he came back out with her suitcase unzipping it slowly and motioning her to put a few things away. “What?”

“You’re going away with my family for a vacation and I do care what you say,” Kyle smirked seeing her smile as he reached out to touch her face gently. “Where we are going, there are going to be no dark closets for your heart to hide in, only bright sunny days. So start packing.”

Moving out of the car, Heather let out a deep breath when she shut the door tightly. This was supposed to be a trip that helped her get over Kyle, not one that brought back memories making her fall in love with him even more. Staring out at her old house Heather could just remember growing up in this place. Growing up with her family, wishing like she could just walk away and leave forever, but now as she found herself looking out to the left she wished that she was back. She wished that she could just go and crawl out the window into Kyle’s room and hide out with him in his arms while it stormed. She wished that he would tell her how important she was to him because of right now, that’s the thing she wanted the most in life. Him.

“Heather,” she heard a voice call out to her as she looked back behind herself seeing no one as she let out a long breath realizing that she must be hearing things. The voice almost sounded like Kyle’s, but it was obvious that now that Kyle was always in her thoughts, she had to be dreaming that. She just had to be thinking that he would be here, his old self--the one that would only be out for loving her.

“This is insane,” Heather walked back to the car getting in quickly and putting the keys back in to start the car. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath she realized that this was the place she was supposed to let go of. “I can’t do this anymore, I have to let go. I have to.”

Staring out at the house once more she looked back before starting to pull away thinking about all the things she was about to pull out of, but even now--she couldn’t help but wish for that light to reappear in her life again. Now as she left she could just tell that her life was going to be locked away forever again in that dark closest once Kyle got married. To be truthful she had to be ready, she had to be ready for the heartbreak or else it would hurt even worse.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kyle moved up the side of the hill slowly seeing the sites that seemed too familiar to him considering that this was where he hung out. The park that was right across the street from his house. Wanting to feel like he was back in his old life, the point in time when he was happy with his parents and Heather, he came back wanting to place himself in the past.

Once near the top of the hill Kyle let out a tight breath seeing that across from him was something he wasn’t expecting to see. Maybe he was just seeing things, hoping to see things, but he swore that he saw Heather before him with her car, staring out at her old house.

“Heather,” Kyle called out going to move forward before slipping against the wet grass, losing his footing and falling back down the hill that he was once standing on. Now as he laid out against the bottom he let out a small groan pressing his hand in over his back before quickly getting to his feet hoping that he was seeing correctly. “Heather, hold on.”

Quickly moving up the hill Kyle reached the top running out into the street, only to see the car pulling away as Kyle stopped in the middle of the street shaking his head slowly. Bending down he moved his hands in over his hips and let out a long breath.

“It wasn’t her, she wouldn’t be here,” Kyle tried to tell himself looking back toward his car deciding whether or not if he wanted to get in his truck and follow that car. Shaking his head slowly he looked back toward the park deciding that maybe he should just go back and walk around a little bit longer. “Even if it was her, she would have answered me when I called out to her. She wouldn’t have left, it wasn’t her.”

Hating the way his mind was playing tricks on him, Kyle kicked at the dirt that covered the road and threw his hands in the air, looking back over toward the hill. Slowly moving down the hill, Kyle walked over to the swings that Heather and him used to play on all the time when they were younger.

“What am I doing here?” Kyle questioned himself throwing his hands up in the air before shaking his head slowly and letting his hands rest at his side. Taking another look toward the swing set, Kyle walked over and sat down on one of the swings, holding the chains with his hands tightly. “I’m an idiot that’s why I’m here.”

He’d been here to try and open a door for himself, but he just found himself hoping--dreaming that he could gain the things he wanted in his future. It was his fault that he couldn’t have him, it was his own hopeless actions that got him in this state of life. Never did he have the guts to tell Heather the truth, never did he give her the heads up. It was her heart that he was breaking the whole time keeping secrets from her and now they were both going to be broken with his decisions.

“You told me to let go,” Kyle looked up toward the sky seeing the stars shining brightly above him and he couldn’t help, but wish upon a star to give him what he wanted so badly in life. “I just can’t let you go. I can’t let myself do that because I want you so bad.”

Everyone told him in the past that he should let go, it was just a matter of time before he met the right girl for him. It was horrible to live his college years the way he did--going from girl to girl trying to find that special person that meant everything to him when in reality it was Heather this whole time.

“Kyle come on,” Grady’s voice echoed the room as Grady walked into their dorm room and grabbed his wallet from the desk. Grady nodded over toward Kyle seeing Kyle sitting down on his bed his looking at a picture. “Seriously Kyle, get up.”

“I’m not interested tonight Grady,” Kyle ran his left hand through his mid length hair before rubbing his chin slowly, feeling the roughness behind the grizzle that had developed over his skin. “I’m just not in the mood.”

“Not in the mood? Come on Kyle, Paul is waiting for us,” Grady walked over toward the bed reaching out to grab his watch before turning back to Kyle. “Seriously man, the twins are going to be there. Twins Kyle, come on lets go.”

“Dude, I said no,” Kyle shook his head slowly before falling back against his bed, resting his head against his pillows. Looking down at the picture again he let out a long breath and looked over toward Grady, seeing Grady’s green eyes staring out at him confused. “It’s kind of a hard day, okay?”

“Let me see that,” Grady reached for the picture seeing Kyle pull it away before he could grab it. Placing his knee on Kyle’s right arm he reached for the picture that was in Kyle’s left hand before seeing Kyle hide the picture in his pants. “Oh, that’s real mature--putting the picture down the front of your pants.”

“Well, you aren’t going to go down there,” Kyle nodded slowly letting out a small laugh as Grady got up and rested his hands against his hips angrily. “If you go down there man, that’s going to be so wrong.”

“Like I give a damn,” Grady placing his knee over Kyle’s abdomen making sure that Kyle couldn’t move as Kyle struggled underneath him. Grady reached his hand underneath Kyle’s pants getting a hold of the picture before the door opened and their friend Paul stepped in letting out a small gasp, jumping back when he saw what position they were in. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Dude, are you trying to rape Kyle?” Paul questioned in almost a scared tone pushing back his long blonde hair before taking a step forward and seeing Grady quickly pull out the picture before shaking his head over and over again. “That’s so wrong man.”

“It’s not that, he his this picture and…,” Grady began looking between Paul and Kyle as Kyle slowly stood up from the bed reaching out to grab the picture. “You know what? I don’t have to explain myself. Who is this girl?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Kyle went to reach for the picture again before Paul snatched it and got a good look at the picture as Kyle reached for it. “Paul, come on. Give it back.”

“Alright man, chill,” Paul laughed seeing Kyle glare over at him before putting the picture back in his wallet before sliding his wallet into his pocket. “Who was the babe there? She’s hot.”

“Enough,” Kyle snapped sitting back down on his bed seeing Grady sit down on his own bed and Paul took a seat at their desk. Glaring over at the two he could tell that Grady and Paul were just waiting for a story. “Okay, she’s this girl okay. Today, about two years ago she left and I haven’t seen her since.”

“Oh, it’s a forbidden love. Like those things you see on those soap operas,” Paul clapped his hands together before leaning back in the chair staring out at Kyle before seeing Kyle get up slowly. “So, what happened? You banged her and left her? She banged you and left? You two bang?”

“Is that all you care about,” Kyle brought his foot into the chair seeing Paul fall back onto the floor and land on his back before letting out a small groan. Soon enough he heard a laugh escape Paul’s lips as he slowly got up. “And no, it was the girl I loved, but obviously something didn’t go right.”

“Okay, she left you. It’s over with,” Paul stood up walking over toward Kyle as Grady set the chair up right and Paul placed his hand over Kyle’s shoulder. “Move on man, there a ton of women out there that want some of what Grady was trying to get.”

“I wasn’t…,” Grady began in a angered tone before he held his hands up in the air, trying not to blow up at his friend. Letting out a few small breaths he looked over toward Kyle and nodded slowly. “He’s right man, why don’t you just give up on her. She left you, that means she was in the wrong and is missing out on a whole lot. Move on.”

“Whatever,” Kyle went back to the bed and sat down, resting his head back against the pillows looking up toward the ceiling. “I don’t feel like going tonight guys, just go by yourselves. I’ll be here.”

“Whatever man,” Paul reached out to grab the pizza box on Grady’s desk before opening it up and taking a piece. Smelling the pizza first, Paul shrugged his shoulders before taking a bite. “You should just move on.”

“That’s nice Paul,” Kyle got up pushing Paul over towards the door that Grady had already walked out of. Closing and locking the door behind him, Kyle slid down toward the ground resting his face in his hands before shaking his head slowly. “I can’t.”

Thinking back Kyle could remember the thoughts he had that night, wishing that him and Heather could have had some type of closure to their story. Some type of clue that led him to why she left him that night all alone. Just once he wish he could have understood why she didn’t give him a chance to explain why everything was happening. His story ended horribly with Heather because of the villain of the book and what he agreed to in most cases with many people--the villains always get what they deserve.

“Hello,” Kyle answered after feeling his phone start to go off as he stood up from the swing and started walking over toward the hill he had fell off only a couple of minutes ago. “Yeah, I’ll be right there to set everything up. Just make sure you have everything ready. I’m leaving right now.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Come on, how about we go take Kevin home? He‘s obviously out of it and I know I don‘t want to stay here any longer, so how about we leave?” Seth suggested standing up from the bench as he walked over toward the car to open the back door seeing Blake stare out at him angrily and he let out a long breath. “What is it now? You’re giving me that--I did something wrong look.”

“You’re not doing anything wrong,” Blake began in a small breath before shaking her head slowly and thinking about all the things that were going on. “We just can’t leave Sarah here like that--she’s in there and we have to go back in there for her. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I just left without her.”

“Why would we go back in there for her when it’s clearly obvious that she doesn’t even want to be coming anywhere with us?” Seth questioned throwing his hands up in the air seeing Blake step in closer to him as he unlocked his car only to feel Blake snatch the keys from his fingers. “Blake, come on. You know that she doesn’t want to come home with us--I don’t see why you are doing this. It’s stupid. You saw by the way she was all eager to get away from us that she didn’t want to be anywhere near Kevin, you, and me.”

“Well, stupid or not,” she began folding her arms out in front of her chest and taking in a sharp breath before thinking about all the things that had been going on with Sarah. Even though Sarah was acting weird, Blake couldn’t just leave her here with no way of getting home. “If she was stranded here for a few hours because we left, I would feel like a complete and total jerk. I know where you are coming from and I would most of the time agree, but right now--I just can‘t do that. You have to understand me when I say that.”

“Fine, but I really don’t understand why you would do something like this because I know she would never do it for you,” Seth pointed out snatching his keys back from Blake before putting them back in his pocket. Looking up, Seth took in a long breath trying to play out the reasons why Blake would still be so loyal to her best friend. “In all honesty if you were in this position she would leave you and--where did Kevin go?”

“He’s right there on the,” Blake turned to look back toward the spot where all three of them had been sitting earlier and she let out a small gasp when she saw that Kevin was no longer there. Moving her hands in over her lips she let out a small gasp. Pointing over toward the bench she shrugged her shoulders, looking around the area before her and shaking her head slowly. “He’s on the bench.”

“Unless Kevin just became the invisible man, I don’t think so,” Seth worried moving forward and looking around knowing that his cousin was in no condition to be by himself right now. “Blake--where did Kevin go? You were watching him, where did he go? He couldn’t have just disappeared like that.”

“I don’t know,” Blake answered truthfully seeing the look that Seth shot out at her as he started to pace back and forth looking down the sides of the buildings to see if he could find Kevin. Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, Seth pushed back his hair slowly and thought of the possibilities. “I was talking to you and we were just talking about Sarah. I guess…,”

“You just didn’t pay attention,” Seth ran his fingers through his hair worriedly looking out toward the end of the street, letting out an angered breath he looked across the street to see if Kevin went that way. “Honestly, he is a six foot six man that is very easy to spot when he is around. How could we have lost him?”

“I don’t know,” a voice answered behind Seth as Seth looked back over his shoulder letting out a long breath seeing the way Blake looked back too. “Who are we looking for?”

“Kevin, where in the world were you? We were looking for you Kev, you don’t just get up and walk away,” Seth looked at the things in Kevin’s hands before Kevin shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the items he just bought. “You just scared me half to death--I thought you ran off and you could have been lost.”

“Aren’t you the younger one? I feel like I‘m like your kid right now and it‘s kind of scary. I‘m sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving,” Kevin eyed Seth over carefully before letting out a laugh, looking over at Blake. Holding his things up proudly, he smiled seeing the way she was looking out at him. “What do you think? I got these roses for Ria and a teddy bear for her. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop thinking about her right now and I figured she might like the white teddy bear better. Feel him, he’s nice and soft.”

“That’s cute Kevin,” Blake touched the bear that Kevin held out for her before moving her hand in over the center of his back. Motioning him over toward the car she opened the backseat door for Kevin to set his things in. “Right now though, we are going to have to go get Sarah out of the club, so why don’t you sit right here and wait for us.”

“Why would I want to do that?” Kevin felt Blake pushing against his chest lightly to get him to sit down as he grabbed a hold of Blake’s hand and made her move back. Seeing the way that Blake looked up at him, he shook his head slowly not quite knowing what to say before nodding smiling widely. “I’m sure this stuff can wait in the car a couple of minutes--it‘s important to me, but it won‘t get hurt. I‘ll come with you, I‘m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Blake reassured that it was nothing that he couldn’t buy twice over, but still she had to think about his best interest when they felt he was drunk and just hit his head. “We will just make this really quick and you don’t have to follow us.”

“Yes, he does,” Seth wrapped his arm around Kevin’s, motioning Kevin over toward the club as Kevin nodded slowly and looked between both Seth and Blake. “I don’t want him disappearing on me like he just did.”

“All I did was buy Ria some flowers, I‘m not twelve years old you know,” Kevin frowned thinking about where they were going as he tried to tug his arms back a little bit. “Hey, if we are picking Sarah up--could you please make her sit in the front seat with you Seth? When I was with her she was trying to do everything but be my friend and what she was doing, I sure as hell don’t want to be doing with her.”

“Sure Kevin, whatever you want,” Blake muttered not really even knowing what Kevin was talking about, but went along with it for reasons because of his drinking earlier. If Kevin really was drunk, then she didn’t want to get in a fight with him when she was about to go look for Sarah. “I’ll sit in the back with you if you would like.”

“Thank you very much, I really appreciate that,” Kevin smiled widely pulling his arms away from Seth and Blake, not quite sure why they were using him like a tugging rope as he fixed the collar of his shirt. When Seth reached out to grab him again, Kevin frowned and pulled his arm away from Seth showing that he could walk by himself. “I’ll show you where I think I saw her last, I was the last person to be around her you know.”

Nodding slowly, they followed Kevin back into the club as he stepped in, pausing to look around the area before them and tried to see where Sarah had run off to. Pointing over toward the bar Seth and Blake moved forward, feeling him following them not far behind. When Blake moved in closer to the bar she realized that Kevin had been right in his predictions as to where Sarah was when she saw Sarah standing there with that guy she was with when they left.

“Oh my,” they heard a small gasp come out of Kevin’s mouth as they both turned around to see Kevin looking back toward a group of young females as Seth reached out to grab Kevin’s arm when Kevin motioned him to wait a second. “Who just grabbed my butt?”

“Kevin, come on,” Blake moved her hand in over Kevin’s shoulder seeing the way that Kevin looked back at her and the way the girls laughed. Seeing Kevin’s dark eyes look back over toward the group he saw one of the girls elbow the center girl lightly. “No one grabbed your butt.”

“I know someone grabbed my butt Blake, I think I know what it feels like when someone squeezes your butt when you are walking by,” Kevin stated once more moving in closer to the crowd of girls--staring into the dark brown eyes of the girl that was standing in the middle. “Were you the one that did it?”

Seeing the girl blush and look away from Kevin, Kevin felt one of the girl’s move her hand in over his shoulder and caress it gently as he arched his eyebrows up almost shocked by how free these girls felt to show they thought he was good looking.

“Honestly sweetheart, you were the one that grabbed me, weren’t you?” Kevin questioned noticing the way she tried to keep the eye contact away and Kevin reached his index finger out in underneath her chin before arching her head up towards him. “Was it you?”

“Come on girl,” one of the girl’s friends pushed at the girl’s shoulder gently before eyeing Kevin over slowly. “He’s a hunk and just let him know it was you.”

“You know, I understand you all think I’m a hunk because I am. But how would you like it if I just came over and grabbed your butt out of nowhere when you were just minding your own business?” Kevin questioned softly seeing the girls look at their friends before Kevin thought that over for a moment and shook his head slowly. “Never mind. You would probably like that.”

“Kevin,” Blake tried to urge Kevin back from the conversation as he motioned her to wait for him a second. Blake watched the girls smile up at Kevin like they thought Kevin was flirting with them or something as Kevin moved forward once more. “Kevin, seriously. It’s not worth your time.”

“Yes, it is. They need to know that it isn’t right to just come over and grab some random person’s butt,” Kevin replied once more seeing the way that Seth half laughed before straightening up when Blake looked back at him. “Now how would any of you girls like it if out of no where you were dancing and I just came up and started grinding into you and…yeah, you’d probably like that too.”

“Kevin, we have to get Sarah,” Blake looked back seeing Sarah laughing with the guy she was with before she tugged on Kevin’s arm again. Seeing Kevin shoot her back a glance motioning her to wait, she let go of Kevin’s arm and let out a long breath showing that this was taking too long for her. “If she leaves and we can’t find her, then I’m going to get really pissed.”

“I’ll think of something,” Kevin hushed her moving his index finger in over his lips motioning her to be quiet before looking back toward the girls. “How would you like it if I…I can’t think of anything.”

“How about, how would you like it if you just walked away and didn’t pay them any more attention?” Seth suggested seeing Kevin smile and look back toward him as Seth moved his hand in over Kevin’s shoulder. “Before Blake kicks your butt.”

“That’s a great one,” Kevin nodded quickly walking away from the crowd before following Seth behind Blake over toward the bar. Leaning down to speak more clearly to Seth over the loud music Kevin let out a small laugh. “How did you come up with such a good one?”

“Because I knew you would have gotten your butt kicked if you didn’t agree,” Seth added hearing Kevin let out a small laugh as he wrapped his arm around his cousin’s shoulders seeing Blake approach Sarah and stand before her. “I don’t think she’s really happy right now with Sarah.”

“Sarah,” Blake reached out to grab Sarah’s arm seeing the way that Sarah looked back and snarled at her as Blake took a small step back, arching her eyebrows as she motioned Sarah to follow her. “We have to get going now, you have a big day ahead of you.”

“I really don’t want to go right now, Drew and I are having a good time,” Sarah informed her with a small frown looking back toward Drew and her smile reappeared. “I have to tell you that I came here to have a good time and I swear to you that I will have a good time no matter what.”

“Sarah, honestly,” Blake tried to get a hold of Sarah’s arm again seeing Sarah pull it away from her angrily as Blake let out a long breath. “You really should come with me right now because I don’t think this place is good with you. I’m sure Kyle would agree with me and if you weren’t drunk--you probably would too.”

“You know what,” Kevin moved forward placing his hand over Blake’s shoulder seeing the way that Blake looked back at him with her blue eyes. “I know a way to get her to come with us, I promise. Hey Sarah, when we get back in the car--I’ll let you blow me.”

“Kevin,” Blake elbowed Kevin in the ribs hearing him let out a small noise before laughing as she stared up at him with her blue eyes. “You are bad with this whole kind of thing aren’t you?”

“I’m not kidding she wanted to earlier,” Kevin pointed out seeing Blake’s eyes get wider if that was even possible as he took in a small breath and watched Sarah move in toward her drink again. “So honestly Sarah, let’s just go.”

“Listen jerk, she doesn’t want to leave with you guys,” Drew pushed Kevin in the center of the shoulder seeing a muscle in Kevin’s jaw tighten as he looked down toward the spot Drew dug his fingers into. “She doesn’t want a Mexican like you, she wants a white boy,” Drew stated seeing the way that Kevin looked up at him with an angered expression and before he knew it, he felt Kevin’s fist collide with his jaw sending him back to the floor in a thud as he let out a long groan. “Oh shit.”

“Mexican?” Kevin questioned with an angered expression his eyebrows tensing together as he saw Sarah bend down to check if he was okay. Looking back at Seth, Kevin through his hands up in the air and shook his head slowly. “You racist son of a bitch, I’m Greek and Filipino. Beyond that fuzz bucket, I know that between me and you--I would get more chicks than you any day. So why don’t you back off white boy as you would put it.”

“You know what, get back here,” Drew got up from where he was on the ground as Kevin was about to walk away. Kevin turned around to face Drew and Drew went to hit him before Kevin ducked and Drew’s fist collided with Seth’s jaw. Before he could recognize what he did, he felt Kevin’s fist slam into the side of his face knocking him down toward the ground again. “Damn.”

“Watch what you do you asshole,” Kevin hissed down at Drew seeing the way that Sarah still seemed to care for this guy as he motioned Blake to follow him back. “You know what--it doesn’t matter with her anymore. Let’s just go, she isn’t worth it.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Seth twisted his jaw in a small amount of pain, trying to get it to loosen up just a little bit. “I’m ready to go because that’s what I told you from the beginning Blake. She is obviously busy with this jerk so lets just go before someone else decks me.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Kevin moved his hand in over Seth’s shoulder before looking down at Sarah and Drew and taking in a deep breath. “Sarah, honestly. You go from the top of the line to the bottom of the line. At least you could have picked someone a little good looking.”

Motioning Blake to follow him and Seth toward the door, Kevin looked back seeing Drew slowly getting up and Sarah standing over with him. Shaking his head slowly, Kevin finally realized that there was a lot of dumb people in the world today that were willing to do anything for just a little bit of attention.

“Remind me why she is your friend again,” Kevin looked over at Blake seeing Blake shrug her shoulders as they walked out of the club and Kevin got in the back of the car, laying back against the seat. “Honestly, she’s a jerk.”

“I think she is just a nice person,” Seth looked back at Kevin rubbing his jaw slowly and letting out a small hiss before starting up the car and reaching his right hand out to grab hers. “That’s one of the things I love the most about her too.”

"Yeah Blake is a sweetheart," Kevin closed his eyes tipipng his head back and grinning now that he was in the comfort of the car. "She’s a real princess and I love her. I really do. Seth you are one lucky man because Blake is gorgeous inside and out."

"I know," Seth sighed glancing over to where Blake still stood outside the car contemplating her next move. "She’s a good person."

"Yeah even if her best friend is a real bitch. And just for the record," Kevin wrinkled his nose at the very thought of Sarah, "I never, ever would’ve let that slut touch me. I was just trying to bait her into leaving with us."

"Yeah I know Kevin," Seth nodded glancing out towards Blake again.

"No I’m serious. She’s a bitch. A real bitch and no man deserves to be stuck with something that awful," Kevin groaned inwardly shaking his head again and wondering how in the world Kyle would want to marry someone so ridiculous.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You know I have a feeling that tonight is going to be something special,” Angela noted reaching out to embrace Brant all over again especially now after they were basking in the after math of their engagement. She slid her arms around his torso tighter than before and tipped her head up to tease her lips against his lightly, “First we have our good news and maybe by the end of the night we’ll see the same for Don and Shannon once they come on over here and see the romantic air we put to this place tonight.”

“As appreciated as this all is, it’s not going to happen,” Don informed the both of them as his voice slurred from the opposite side of the room. “Shannon’s not showing up tonight.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Brant frowned releasing Angela in order to turn around and face his friend. Before Brant could say anything further about Shannon, he noticed that Don had some kind of towel over the top of his head and it appeared to be covered with blood--Don’s blood. Frowning Brant took a step forward approaching his glossy eyed friend. “Don, what the hell just happened?”

“I’m fine,” Don tried to play down the situation that still had his head aching like no tomorrow. He pulled the white towel away from his head only to notice the blood soaking it and he let out a small groan. He staggered to the left stumbling into a chair before bringing his other hand over his stomach. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

“Let me take a look at you,” Angela rushed forward moving in to inspect Don’s injuries once he almost knocked another chair over.

Brant rushed over to him as well doing his best to help Don take a seat on one of the small, black couches that this particular restaurant had in the dining area in order to promote a more intimate feel for those couples looking to bring an air of closeness to the meal before them. He realized that Don’s blood was over his shirt as well and worry poured over him.

“What happened?” Brant asked again reaching out to snap his fingers in front of Don’s eyes once he realized that Don seemed to be out of the realm of reality for the moment.

“Shannon and I just got into a little fight--that’s all,” Don sighed heavily closing his eyes and moving to plop his head back against the wall behind where he was seated. He winced and let out a pinched moan, “Damn that hurt.”

“What the hell did she do to you?” Brant questioned anger pouring over him. “Damn it Don we need to get you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine,” Don waved his hand around in the air lazily, “I just drove over here and…”

“You drove over here in this condition,” Angela frowned realizing that there was more going on than what Don was telling them. She exchanged worried glances with Brant before moving in to inspect Don’s head once again. He gently pushed her hand away.

“I’m fine Angie,” Don shrugged off her efforts. “It’s just a minor head wound. You know how head wounds tend to bleed. It‘s like a fountain or something with the way they spray and…”

“And nothing,” she shook her head at him not buying into what he was telling her. Turning her attention to Brant she pointed over towards the bar area, “Go and see if they have a first aid kit or something back there and while you’re at it, get your coat because we’re taking him to the hospital.”

“No!” Don snapped, his eyelids popping open to reveal his wide blue eyes, “I’m fine…”

“The hell you are,” Brant argued with him all the while feeling his blood boil at the thought of what Shannon had done to his best friend. “What the hell caused her to hurt you like this?”

“She was drunk,” Don blurted out honestly feeling his frustrations mounting. “We got into an argument and before I knew it she hit me…”

“With what? Her truck?” Brant questioned with a concerned gaze.

“No,” Don laughed at the thought, “but damn that probably would’ve hurt a whole hell of a lot more than this.”

“What exactly is this?” Brant asked again seeing Don’s head drop back and hit the wall again.

“Man I’m tired. I really should’ve rested before I came over,” Don ignored his friend’s questioning before looking up at Angela, who was trying to maneuver her way into getting a closer look at his head. He waved his hand out in front of himself before offering up a lazy smile, “I think I’m just going to take a nap here for a while and…”

“Don no,” Angela spoke up watching Don plop over to his side on the sofa.

Don dropped the towel he’d been holding and Brant watched it fall to the floor with a horrified expression. He stood frozen for a moment before realizing that Angela was snapping her fingers at him to get his attention.

“Brant the first aid kit,” she instructed seeing Brant nod before she focused on Don once again. He curled his legs up on the cushion he was on and he closed his eyes as if he didn’t have a care in the world. She moved forward to try to reach out to him, but felt his arm flop to the floor in front of him causing her to step back.

“Don look at me,” Angela snapped seeing his eyes open for a brief moment before he closed them again.

“Just a few more minutes mom,” he yawned attempting to roll over when Angela saw Brant returning.

“Can you get him up a little bit?” Angela questioned reaching for the first aid kit Brant had brought over. “I need to look at his head and…”

“No problem,” Brant nodded getting to her request. He struggled to pull his much larger best friend up off of the couch into a seated position, but before Brant could get him right into place, Don flopped back onto the sofa with Brant beneath him. Don’s arm draped around Brant and Brant let out a small, pinched yelp.

“Angela…a little help would be nice…” Brant mouthed waving his hand at his fiancée.

She nodded accordingly and leaned over the both men to pull at the couch cushion, thus sending both men to the ground. Don rolled directly on top of Brant and Brant yelped now that his best friend was laying completely on top of him.

“Don! Don!” Brant shouted out his name hoping to rouse Don from the obvious slumber that was threatening. “Don, man wake up!”

“Huh?” Don’s blue eyes reopened and he focused on Brant for a second. A smile of recognition washed over Don’s features before Don’s head flopped forward over Brant’s shoulder.

“Don get off me,” Brant shouted feeling Don’s nose nuzzling into his neck.

“Oh come on baby you know you like to cuddle,” Don’s muffled voice whispered hotly against the side of Brant’s neck before Don’s arm curled around Brant’s torso.

“Don for the last damn time get off of me!” Brant practically leapt off of the floor and Don’s eyes snapped open with surprise.

“What in the world were you…” Don groaned feeling Brant push him back to sit up against the couch while on the floor. “How did you get there and…”

“Don, what happened with Shannon?” Brant questioned reaching out to steady his friend’s lingering gaze. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know,” Don shrugged. “I threw her out after she hit me with the bottle.”

“A bottle?” Brant repeated surprise in his tone. “She hit you with a bottle?”

Don nodded again, “Broke the damn thing over my head too and man did it hurt.”

“Damn her. When I get my hands on her,” Brant mouthed his blood boiling in learning what Shannon had done.

“Don, right now you have to let me look at your head,” Angela interrupted before Brant’s anger could get the best of him. “Will you stay still long enough for me to do that?”

Don nodded, “I don’t feel like moving right now. I think I’d like to rest and forget about the night I left behind me.”

“Don, we need to get you looked at,” Brant decided blurting out his thoughts, “You need to tell me where Matt is and…”

“He’s not home,” Don closed his eyes once again letting out an exaggerated breath, “At least I don’t think he’s home.”

“What do you mean you don’t think he’s home? Don, where is he? Is he with Shannon?” Brant questioned with a worried expression. “If he’s with her, you need to tell me where they are so that I can get him and…”

“I think he’s with my mom,” Don’s glazed over eyes snapped up to his pal, “at least I think he is. Oh God, Brant where is my son? What happened to my son?”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Angela glanced over at Brant, who was now just as worried as Don was. “In fact, why doesn’t Brant go call your mother just to make sure that Matt is still with her?”

“That’s a great idea,” Don smiled goofily tipping his head up to look at Angela, “You are so smart Angie. I knew that you were full of great ideas…”

“I try to be,” Angela smiled down at him before looking to Brant again, “Go call his mother and ask her about Matt, then get your car keys because we’re still going to take him in to get checked out.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital. Right now that’s not where I want to be,” Don pouted kicking his foot out in front of him and nearly falling over in the process.

“Don, we’re only going to do what’s best for you,” Brant tried to explain to him, a worried expression still lingering over his face.

“Then find Matt,” Don reached out to take Brant’s hand in his. “Find my son and make sure he is okay. I need to find him and…”

“I’ll be right on it,” Brant promised before eyeing Angela intently.

“I think we’ll be okay with what I have in here,” Angela promised seeing the hesitation in Brant to leave with Don still bleeding all over the place.

“Are you sure?” Brant couldn’t help but ask.

“Go find out about Matt. I can handle this,” Angela promised seeing Brant reluctantly get up off of the floor and walk over to the other side of the bar.

Once Angela was alone with Don, she moved in closer to take a look at his head. He turned ever so slightly to the left and she frowned. Taking in a breath, she placed her hands on his shoulders and took a step forward.

“Don, you have to stay still because I’m going to move over you and see what’s going on with your head,” she started to explain stepping over his legs and straddling his thighs.

“That’s a loaded statement because you might be afraid of what you find,” he laughed lightly, his blue eyes slowly coming into focus to find her right in front of him, his gaze fixed on her chest. His eyes widened and he let out a small yelp feeling her poke at his head. “Ouch!”

“I realize you’re hurt, but keep your eyes somewhere neutral,” she warned seeing the haze that seemed to sweep over him when she snapped on him. “Then again focus wherever you like if it keeps you awake.”

Don couldn’t help but laugh at the comment, raising his hand up a bit off of the ground to reach out to her, but instead he dropped his palm down to the floor again. “Does Brant realize what a tease he’s in love with? You’re a vixen, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been told I have the tendencies,” she nodded in response doing her best to clean up the wound on his head, “and you’ll be happy to know that this vixen doesn’t see anything that looks even remotely close to glass in here or…”

“I told you it was just a typical head wound,” he shrugged his shoulders absentmindedly.

“Don there is nothing typical about your wife slamming a bottle over your forehead,” she frowned wiping at his wound. She felt him flinch and she let out a long sigh, “speaking of which, what prompted her to do such a stupid thing?”

“She was drunk,” Don confessed with a small frown, “She’s an alcoholic and she’s been angry with me lately. I don’t know if it’s because she’s stressed out over Nate or because she just can’t accept the man that I am, but…”

“But nothing,” she touched his cheek gently, urging him to meet her worried gaze, “Don there is no excuse for any woman doing this to the man she loves.”

“Oh come on. You can’t tell me that you haven’t felt the need to do something like this to Brant maybe once or twice,” he wiggled his brow at her and let out a laugh upon the way her face twisted in expression, “Yeah that’s what I thought.”

“If I did something like that to Brant I’m sure he would deserve it. You on the other hand, well I’m not so convinced of that,” she continued to clean up the wound finding herself relieved that most of the blood on Don’s towel seemed to have been there before his arrival at the restaurant.

“Ah, and here we are again in a moment where you have more faith in me than my wife,” he mused with a tiny laugh, “How is it that you and I have forged such a bond in such a little time?”

“You’ve accepted me into your life and Brant’s,” she smiled down at him, a thoughtful expression sweeping over her, “Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

“You sure don’t have too high of expectations, do you?” he teased feeling a laugh build up in the back of his throat. “Oh that hurts…”

“But it feels good after the stress, doesn’t it?” she couldn’t help but feel a moment of relief at his newfound attempt at humor.

“Sometimes laughter is truly the only way to get through something,” he nodded in agreement bringing his hand up to his head. “Damn this hurts though.”

“It isn’t as bad as I thought it was, but I’d still like you to…” her words came to an abrupt stop when a gasp slipped from her lips.

“What’s wrong?” Don questioned his eyes widening when she released him and brought her hand over her own abdomen. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” she shook her head, unable to repress the grin that swept over her, “I mean not really I was just…”

“Just what?” he arched a curious brow before noticing the way she was holding her abdomen. “Are you hurting?”

“No,” she shook her head once more, “It’s just that they are…”

“What?” he asked worriedly.

“Moving,” Angela blurted out caught up in the moment. Another sensation poured over her and she laughed again, “I think they are kicking up a storm in there right now.”

“Really?” Don’s eyes widened with curiosity. He reached out in an attempt to touch her abdomen, but stopped himself mid-movement to look up at her again, “May I?”

“Um…sure,” Angela reached for his hand bringing it up over her stomach when she felt another flicker of movement.

“Oh my God,” Don’s eyes perked up excitedly. “They really are moving in there, aren’t they?”

“You’d think that they were having their own battle,” Angela leaned forward feeling another movement inside of her.

“Come here. Sit down,” Don instructed pulling her down onto his lap. He realized how it must’ve looked for a moment and he spoke up again, “I just want to get a closer look here…”

“I didn’t think you were trying to make a move on me,” she replied seating herself on his lap, “because if you did Brant would have to finish the job Shannon started.”

“I would do it for him if I sank that low,” Don informed her point blank, his hand returning to her abdomen. A wide grin spilled over his features and he looked down to her midsection curiously, “You know this was always my favorite part when Stephanie was pregnant with Matt. I know she used to think it was silly, but when Matt moved I would get all excited and spend hours just waiting beside her to feel him. I used to read to him and sing to him and tell him stories about the things Brant and I would do when we were younger, which Stephanie used to try to quiet me down about considering that some of them were a little too mature for him.”

“I’ll bet,” she laughed lightly seeing the way that his whole face lit up at the mention of his son.

“She didn’t let me get away with any crap you see,” Don laughed more so to himself than anything, “but she still let me do what I loved to do in talking to our son even risking my warping his mind at such a young age. I remember one time when I had a heavy work load I wasn’t able to be there, so I took this tape recorder with me and when she was sleeping, I would recite stories--you know like The Cat in the Hat and so forth. I’d tape them and then when I was at work, I would give her the tape and make her put some headphones on her abdomen just so he could hear my voice and know I loved him--so that he knew that I was always going to be there. I spent hours making those tapes--hours telling him about all the things he had ahead of him and even though it sounds crazy, it was something that I loved doing so very much when she was pregnant. It was such a special time for me…”

“It sounds like it,” Angela replied with a thoughtful expression, “You’re a wonderful father Don and you can see how much Matt loves you.”

“He’s everything to me,” Don mouthed with a proud smile, “Just like you and the little ones are everything to Brant.”

“I know,” she smiled thinking about Brant’s marriage proposal.

“So tell me,” Don couldn’t help but ask, “Do you two know what you’re having yet?”

“Not yet,” Angela shook her head.

“Don’t you want to know?” he arched a curious brow seemingly more alert once they started talking about their children. “Because if you want to, then I would be more than happy to help you find out. I could do an ultrasound for you and Brant and…”

“I just haven’t had the time to find out,” she informed him honestly, “Everything has been kind of up in the air lately and we haven’t really taken the time to…”

“Matt’s fine,” Brant explained entering the room to find Don and Angela on the floor with one another. He gave them a strange look before seeing that Don was more responsive than he’d been earlier.

“I think I’m going to steal her,” Don teased wrapping his arms around Angela’s waist and pulling her in closer to him.

“If I even half believed you I might have to break a bottle over your head,” Brant teased back taking note of his friend’s tone, “in which case you’d be in big trouble, but considering that you tried to make out with me a few minutes ago I think I’m willing to overlook it.”

“Oh you’ve got me,” Don snapped his fingers in front of himself before turning to Angela, “the truth is out. Brant’s my dream lover and he’s just in denial trying to resist my charms.”

“For the record bleeding all over the place isn’t a good start to turning me on Don,” Brant’s tone turned suddenly serious, “speaking of which…”

“He’s doing okay right now, though I wouldn’t mind taking a second look at the hospital,” Angela offered up carefully maneuvering herself off of Don’s lap.

“That sounds like a good plan considering that I called your mom and Matt is fine. He’s with them watching a movie and is going to stay the night there,” Brant continued to explain to his friend.

“So then he’s okay?” Don released a breath of relief.

Brant nodded, “He said that he loves you and wants to talk to you later.”

“I’ll have to call him,” Don paused a look of worry over him, “and my mom?”

“Even though I should have told her what happened considering the details were a bit hazy on my end, I figured that I would see what was happening before I got her in an uproar, so spill it,” Brant decided folding his arms in front of his chest, “What happened now with Shannon?”

“I don’t even want to get into it,” Don groaned inwardly.

“Good because right now isn’t the time. We’re going to take Don to the hospital,” Angela decided standing up again. “We’re going to take another look at his head and…”

“No way,” Don refused her offer and attempted to pull himself up off of the ground. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“Sure you are,” she looked over at Don again, “because I’m going to look at your head and then you’re going to let Brant and I know the truth about our babies.”

“The truth?” Brant arched a curious brow seeing the way that Don and Angela exchanged glances with one another. “What do you mean?”

“Well daddy,” Angela stepped towards him, reaching for his hand and placing it over her abdomen, “since your children want to make their presence known tonight, what do you say we take a trip and find out if we’re going to be needing to make a blue or pink nursery?”

“You mean,” Brant’s eyes widened when he felt movement in her abdomen. He looked to her in awe, “Is that really them?”

She nodded again, “Ready and eager to let us know that they are wanting to get out and start making our lives a living nightmare when we’re filled with constant worries about keeping them out of trouble.”

“And if they take after you and I Brant, then you know they are bound to be trouble,” Don added with a hearty laugh, “So what do you say buddy? Want to see what you’re going to be having so you can figure out how you’re going to name my god children after me?”

“God children?” Brant repeated with a curious expression.

“That’s right. Uncle Don isn’t going to accept anything less with these two,” Don explained matter of fact, “So what do you say? We go see what’s happening inside of my head and then we’ll see whether or not you’re going to need to invest in a new shotgun to keep the boys away from your daughters or a better security system to keep your sons from breaking out of the mansion like we used to do when we were young?”

“I say that my children aren’t going to be nearly as miserable as you and I were Don,” Brant mouthed watching Don spill into a fit of laughter.

“Whose delusional now,” Don chuckled with mild amusement pointing to his head, “I might have got knocked around tonight, but I’m even smart enough to know that any child of yours is doomed to be a holy terror.”

“Hey I resent that. Besides Matt is a good kid. You are doing just fine with him,” Brant countered with a frown.

“Yeah well that’s because he hasn’t realized that girls don’t have cooties yet. When he does I’m positive that I’m going to get gray hairs trying to keep him out of trouble and away from the things that I did,” Don confessed his face growing red at some of the memories coming back to him.

“You mean that you still do,” Brant taunted in response walking over to help his friend off of the ground. “But for what it’s worth, if getting you over to the hospital will help me get a look at my babies, then I’m all for it. I want to see them. It’s been far too long already.”

“Then we’re off,” Don stumbled forward nearly falling to the ground again when reaching in his pocket for his car keys.

“I’ll be driving,” Brant decided wondering if his friend was really going to be okay after the obvious encounter he’d had with Shannon. Looking over to Angela Brant knew that they had a lot to talk about, but for now he would go with the flow of the situation knowing that in getting Don to a hospital they might be able to get to the heart of what was going on with him and Shannon.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“So, what do you think?” Dean walked into the living room seeing Deidra laid out on the couch before him as a wide smile spread out over his features. “You look amazing I hope you know. Of course you always look amazing.”

“Is that so?” Deidra’s eyes perked up seeing the way that Dean was looking at her as he eyed her over walking over toward the couch. “I’m glad you think that way because I always think you look sexy no matter what.”

“Well then,” Dean moved forward placing his hand over the arm of the chair, tilting his head to the side seeing the way that Deidra’s dark eyes looked up into his. “I would have to say that right about now there are so many things I can think of doing right now. You’re the sexy one right now and if I told you what I was thinking, you might think I was crazy.”

“Well,” Deidra smiled looking over toward the side table seeing the champagne that rested on top of the table and a wide smile spread out over her beautiful features. Looking back toward Dean she slowly unbuttoned to two buttons on her shirt to tease him a bit. “I think I want to hear how crazy you really are.”

“I think I would have to be put into a mental institution for the thoughts I’m having right now,” he wiggled his eyebrows up and down, moving forward and getting in over her carefully. Feeling her fingers move in over his back, he let out a long breath feeling them slide in through his thick dark hair. “We have a bottle of champagne and we are all alone. Tell me, you have to have the same kind of thoughts I’m having.”

“Well, if I told you what I was thinking, it wouldn’t be much fun,” Deidra mused pushing at the center of Dean’s chest so that he was on his back and she moved in over him, straddling his waist slowly. Reaching out she slowly plucked open the buttons of his shirt slowly, feeling his hands slide in over the sides of her hips. “Now would it?”

“No fun at all,” Dean admitted nodding slowly before moving forward and pressing his lips in over the side of Deidra’s neck, taking tiny nibbles at her skin feeling her fingertips moving in over his bare abdomen. “I have to tell you, I happen to enjoy every moment we have alone together.”

“I need to talk to you,” a voice echoed through the room scaring both Deidra and Dean, making Deidra fall off Dean’s lap onto the floor in a flood. Seeing Shannon before him, Dean quickly buttoned up his shirt shaking his head slowly as Deidra slowly got to a sitting position on the floor. “I don’t know who Don thinks he is, but he sure as hell isn’t as great as he thinks he is.”

“Shannon, can I ask you something?” Dean questioned seeing Shannon nod slowly before moving across the room and sitting down on the chair that was next to the couch they were just on. “Why the hell are you here and how in the world did you get into the house?”

“Well, the door was unlocked. Hope that doesn’t bother you,” Shannon answered truthfully seeing Dean roll his eyes before running his hand through his messy dark hair. Leaning forward, Shannon rested her elbows against her knees before shaking her head slowly. “I don’t know what to say about why I am here. All I know is that Don is a jerk that doesn’t care about anyone.”

“He can’t be as bad as you are making him out to be,” Deidra sighed getting up from the floor and slowly wiping her hand off on her pants, seeing Shannon dark eyes staring out into hers. “He seems like a very nice guy at the hospital.”

“Are you married to him?” Shannon snapped glaring up at Deidra seeing her throw her hands up in the air. Leaning back against the couch Shannon let out a long sigh not quite sure knowing what to think as she sat in the middle of the room with Dean. “He is such an ass.”

“Whatever you say,” Deidra threw her hands up in the air and tried not to think of coming back with some jerky comment toward Shannon. Looking over at Dean she shrugged her shoulders and nodded over toward the kitchen. “I guess I’ll go put the champagne back on the ice.”

“That’s a good idea,” Dean decided with a small nod watching Deidra walk back into the kitchen before giving his attention back to Shannon and letting out a small breath. “Now how about we start from the beginning.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Ben questioned placing his hand on the small of Diane’s back as they stood with one another in the archway outside the quiet Italian restaurant that Diane had insisted upon them going out to once Ben had revealed his plans for the evening. At the time she‘d been thrilled about the idea of their reservations, but now he couldn‘t help but be worried about how tired she looked. “Because you know if you aren’t feeling up to this, we can always go home and…”

“And nothing,” Diane reached out to place her index finger over the center of his lips to silence him. “I think tonight is exactly what we need to unwind. This is good for us. You wouldn’t want to spend our lives like hermits now would you?”

“I wasn’t suggesting that, but…” Ben felt her press her index finger over his lips again, “never mind. Let’s go get something to eat.”

“Smart man,” she grinned triumphantly turning to walk into the restaurant ready to enjoy a night of fine dining and relaxation with the man she loved. Tipping her head up, she looked over at him with a bright grin, “It’s been far too long since we’ve just taken the time to unwind and have fun.”

“Hmm, well how about we work on changing that tonight?” Ben suggested stepping in behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He bent down to press a kiss over the back of her neck before whispering in her ear, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she arched back into him feeling her grin expand when she spotted someone out of the corner of her eye. She stiffened upon recognition of someone seated across the bar.

“What’s wrong?” Ben tipped his head up to see Diane’s gaze was centered on someone in front of them. His eyes followed hers and that’s when he felt himself tense up at the sight of JT. Frowning he curled his arm around Diane’s waist protectively. “Maybe this was a bad idea…”

“No,” she shook her head adamantly, “It’s not. Ben, we can’t avoid him forever and if we run out of here now it’ll just make him feel like he won here.”

“There isn’t anything to win in this situation Diane,” Ben reminded her with a small frown, “The last thing either one of us need is a confrontation.”

“JT is too much of a worm to weasel himself into a confrontation of any kind especially considering that,” Diane’s words came to a screeching halt when she spotted the slender brunette woman approaching JT.

Her eyes widened when she watched JT rise off of the stool near the bar to greet the petite woman at his side. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her in for a quick kiss before the girl flipped her long, dark hair over her shoulder with an amused round of laughter. She swatted at JT’s chest lightly before JT curled her in closer to him kissing her once again.

“Well what do we have here,” Diane couldn’t help but mouth aloud seeing the way JT seemed to be hanging all over the mystery girl at his side.

“I guess he won’t be a problem after all,” Ben decided giving Diane a second look, “though if it’s going to bother you that he’s here maybe we should just call it quits and leave for the night.”

“No,” Diane shook her head adamantly, “Just because JT picked up some new skank doesn’t mean that I have to go run in hiding.”

“Diane, I don’t know if…” Ben started again worried by the tone of her voice. He looked down at her seeing a spark of something that he hoped wouldn’t transcend into jealousy behind her eyes, but before he could issue another thought on the matter, he felt her reach for his hand decidedly as she guided him over towards the front area.

“We’re going to have a good time tonight Ben and we aren’t going to let JT or his latest plaything spoil that for us. I’m finished with him and he’s not a part of my life anymore,” she turned around to face him with a small smile, “You are and that’s what is important. He’s the past.”

“I’m not worried about that, but given what you just…” Ben started again with a small frown.

“Ben, trust me I couldn’t care less about him being here,” Diane promised glancing over her shoulder once again as she couldn’t help but wonder about JT’s latest plaything. Still while she told herself she was going to ignore JT, she decided that if by some chance she did happen to find out who the girl was that he was with, she would just find her way into warning the girl that it was smart to get away while she still could!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“So what do you think?” JT questioned pulling Evie closer to him once again. He tipped his head down to kiss her gently before smiling down at her. “Do you like this place?”

“It’s nice,” she reached out to slide her arms around his waist greedily, “but I have to admit I enjoy the company a whole lot more.”

“Keep talking that way and you’re going to swell my ego,” he laughed lightly offering up a small wink.

“Your ego isn’t the only thing I was planning on have swell tonight,” she whispered tipping up on her toes and nibbling on his lower lip in a seductive movement.

“As tempting as that sounds, I told you that we’re going to take things slow,” JT explained giving her a pointed look. “While you might think I’m what you want, when you get older…”

“I’ll see that I want you even more,” she spoke up ravenously reaching out to embrace him again when his gaze lingered over her shoulder to where Ben and Diane stood staring at the both of them. Immediately he stiffened trying to keep cool about the potentially uncomfortable situation that could be ahead of them.

“Um, you know on second thought maybe we should go somewhere else,” JT cleared his throat uneasily, his gaze still lingering over towards Ben and Diane.

“Why?” Evie frowned glancing over her own shoulder to see where JT was looking. Immediately her gaze zoomed in on the woman who clearly had captured JT’s attention. With a scowl she looked to him again and spoke up in an agitated tone, “Who is that?”

“No one,” JT lied trying to ignore the fact that Ben and Diane were no more than twenty feet away from them, “I just don’t feel like Italian anymore.”

“You’re such a bad liar,” Evie snapped back at him, heavy disapproval weighing in over her. “Why don’t you just tell me what it is about those two that has you so worked up?”

“It’s nothing,” he began to lie again when he noticed something behind her eyes that made him think twice of it. “Okay, fine she is someone that I used to know. Something that I used to…”

“To what?” Evie arched a curious brow, “Date?”

“Something like that,” he nodded in confession, “but it went a bit deeper than that. You see Diane is the one that…”

Before he could finish his statement his pager started to go off. Frowning, he reached for it and spotted the number before him. He looked up again over at Diane before focusing on Evie.

“It’s the bar. I have to go return the call,” he began apologetically seeing that the waiter was walking over to them to tell them that their table was finally ready.

“Okay,” Evie nodded with a small smile, “you go answer that and I’ll wait for you at the table.”

“Evie, I just don’t know if…” he began again clearly uncomfortable with the situation they were now in.

“You don’t have to know,” she promised reaching out to kiss him quickly, “because I’m as sure as ever that we’re going to have a great time with one another tonight. You have to just trust me. After all if you want me to trust you, it has to work both ways.”

“Fair enough,” JT nodded opting to give tonight’s plans another go now that Evie was offering a pep talk. If he could make it through the night being this close to Ben and Diane knowing how they’d taken away his hope for a future, then maybe just maybe there would be a way to keep pushing on after all.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“She’s ridiculous,” Ria laughed to herself thinking back to the way that Michelle had approached her and Deana in the mall earlier. Closing the door behind her, she walked over toward the kitchen setting her purse down before walking over toward the phone to check who called. “All you have to do is get changed and go over to meet Seth and Kevin. That’s all that matters right now.”

Picking up her purse, Ria walked over toward her bedroom and opened it up slowly seeing nothing but darkness before her. Moving over toward the corner she turned on her lamp and started to unbutton her shirt before her phone started to ring.

“Hey baby,” Kevin’s voice echoed through her phone as she answered and smiled widely leaning back against the bed to talk to him for a moment. “I miss you so much right now. I got you a present.”

“You did?” Ria chuckled hearing the excitement behind Kevin’s voice as she bit down on her bottom lip and put her arm behind the pillow. “What did you get me then?”

“Well, why would I tell you on the phone?” Kevin questioned with a small laugh taking in a small breath, looking back behind himself to see Seth and Blake talking to each other and he shrugged his shoulders. “I’d much rather show it to you when we are alone and then you can give me your thanks--perhaps in the bedroom or something like that. I don’t know, it’s your choice.”

“My choice?” Ria sat up slowly sitting on the edge of the bed before reaching out to the picture of her and Kevin together on the edge of her night stand. “What makes you think I would thank you in the bedroom.”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be in the bedroom,” Kevin teased hearing her laughter behind her voice as he shrugged his shoulders and spoke up in a low rumble. “It could be in the kitchen, in the shower, on the couch--it’s all your choice.”

“You know what? I’m supposed to meet up with you and Seth,” Ria pointed out standing up slowly before walking over toward the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. “I’ll meet up with you guys in a few and then we can finish this conversation later.”

“Sounds really, really good,” Kevin decided nodding slowly and pushing back his thick dark hair. Kevin turned toward Blake and Seth again knowing that he was somehow going to have to get into the conversation before getting totally pushed out. “I love you baby.”

“I love you too,” Ria muttered biting down on her bottom lip before hanging up the phone and holding the phone to her chest, looking at her ring in the mirror proud that she was with Kevin and that everything was going okay. “He’s absolutely perfect.”

Noticing that she left something in her purse Ria walked back to the bed unzipping it and reaching inside to only realize that she had left the tape in there earlier. Looking down at the tape she walked over toward the garbage with it in her hand, going to throw it away before something inside of her struck an interest.

“Lets see what her pathetic try was now,” Ria walked over toward the VCR going to put the tape in before realizing there was another one in there. Pulling it out she couldn’t help but laugh seeing the name that was printed in over it. “Ria’s favorite.”

“I can’t believe you are making me do this,” Kevin muttered stepping out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist seeing her wait for him with a camera in her hand. “Honestly, why are you doing this to me? I thought you loved me.”

“I do love you,” Ria laughed moving the camera down a moment seeing Kevin look down toward the ground nervously for a minute before his brown eyes met hers. “I’m wearing this for you, so you should like it.”

“You’re in a skirt and red tank top,” Kevin groaned seeing the way she laughed at him and raised the camera back up toward him as he smiled and shook his head slowly. “Fine, you wanted to see these. Then I’ll let you see them.”

Tugging his towel away from his waist he stood before her, dropping the towel to the ground and resting his hands at his side. Seeing her smile and move the camera in to pan in over his body Kevin let out a small laugh.

“Got a thing for spandex?” Kevin looked down at the dark red briefs costume that she had him in and he let out a small laugh. Moving over toward the corner of the room Kevin took a seat in the chair leaning back and seeing her pan the camera over him slowly. “It’s a little weird Ria.”

“It’s not that weird,” Ria tried to assure him setting the video camera down on the television towards Kevin before walking over toward him slowly. Moving in behind him she started to caress his bare chest slowly, hearing him inhale deeply. “Do you think it’s really that weird.”

“Depends,” Kevin muttered seeing her walk in front of him and move her legs in over his leg taking a seat on his knee gently, caressing his shoulders slowly. “I think if it goes further, it would be so far from weird.”

“You have problems Kevin,” she whispered moving forward and pressing her lips up against his, feeling him heat up to her kisses and start to kiss her more desperately.

A small gasp escaped her lips as she felt Kevin grab a hold of her leg and pull her in over him fully, her hips in over his as his right arm wrapped around her waist and his left hand pressed in over the back of her neck as they kissed.

“That was a great day,” Ria smiled to herself holding onto the tape and setting it down on the bed slowly before putting in Michelle’s tape and staring out at the picture before her. Seeing nothing weird about it she grabbed the remote and pushed fast forward, about to give up on what was going on as she noticed two familiar faces. A small gasp escaped her lips as she dropped the remote to the ground and she covered her hand over her mouth carefully after seeing something that shocked her. “No.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Diane,” Ben tried to recapture her attention, but it was clear that she was obviously in another place now that they’d been seated across the restaurant from JT and his date. Frowning he waved his hand in front of her face to recapture her attention once again, “hey are you listening?”

“What?” Diane snapped back into the moment turning her full attention to Ben once again. “Oh I’m sorry. I just can’t believe the nerve of that jerk. I mean who the hell does he think he is prancing around town like he’s better than the rest of us? He’s such a self centered prick and the last thing he should be doing is harassing us while we are out. You know I’ll bet that he called to find out we were having dinner here and then he decided to stalk us just so that you and I couldn’t have a good time while we were out.”

“You know on most days I would fully agree with you on this one, but today,” Ben glanced over at JT seeing that JT was clearly busy talking with his date, “well maybe it was just coincidence.”

“With JT it’s never a coincidence,” Diane huffed setting her napkin in her lap and getting up from her seat.

“Where are you going?” Ben couldn’t help but ask giving her a strange look.

“I’m going to take a trip to the ladies room to powder my nose and then when I get back I’m going to ignore the fact that troll is here trying to upset us,” she announced spinning on her heel and making a beeline for the ladies’ room.

During the walk she could practically feel JT’s eyes on her, but then again she hadn’t expected anything less when she’d gotten up from the table. It had been blatantly obvious from the moment she’d walked into the restaurant that JT was clearly stalking her and now his watching her only further proved that belief she had. She tossed her long hair over her shoulder before going into the ladies room to take a look at her appearance. While she couldn’t be bothered with JT, just the fact that he was clearly still obsessed with her made her blood boil.

“Get a grip,” Diane told her reflection reaching into her purse to pull out a lipstick, but just before she could press some more color onto her lips, she felt a firm shove from behind her causing her to gasp while the tip of her lipstick smeared all over the side of her face.

“What in the…?” Diane mouthed shuffling to her feet again only to discover JT’s brunette companion glaring over at her. Diane stood up taller, a huff falling from her lips as she looked at her face again, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Listen you,” Evie waved her finger in Diane’s face with heavy agitation, “I don’t know what your game is with JT, but back off. He’s not interested in you or anything you have to offer. He’s moved on.”

Diane chuckled with heavy laughter giving Evie a long once over. “Oh that’s rich,” she continued to chuckle at Evie, “and just what are you, his bodyguard now?”

“In case you haven’t noticed,” Evie spoke up in a warning tone, her long, dark hair framing the darkness behind her eyes, “he’s moved on, so leave him alone.”

“Anyone with eyes can see he’s far from moving on,” Diane taunted reaching for some tissue to try to wipe off the lipstick that covered her cheek, “Face it sweetheart regardless of whatever possessed you to think you could come in here and tell me all about JT, the fact to the matter is that he’s always been obsessed with me and he’s always going to be. You’re just some cheap fling because I’m not willing to give him the time of day.”

“JT doesn’t need you messing up his life,” Evie snarled at her, her voice laced with heavy distain, “Now I don’t know what kind of hold you think it is that you have on him, but the fact to the matter is that you don’t. He doesn’t want you bothering him and neither do I. Do I make myself clear?”

Diane stepped forward and laughed right in Evie’s face, “Do you really think I’m going to take orders from a little slut like you? I mean honestly, who the hell do you think you are?”

“Someone who can make you very miserable if you don’t leave JT alone,” Evie warned sharply, her voice straight to the point.

“Oh I’m so terrified,” Diane feigned concern raising her hands in the air in front of her with sarcastic intent before shoving Evie in the shoulder, “Just step off bitch because the last thing I need to be is bothered by pathetic little girls like you just because your boyfriend doesn’t know when to give up and get over me.”

“Oh he’s more than over you,” Evie hissed in response reaching out to shove Diane again.

“Don’t you touch me you bitch,” Diane moved forward knocking Evie back with a determined push. Evie smacked into the wall and Diane let out a laugh wiping at her hands, “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

“Not so fast,” Evie leapt forward reaching out to stop Diane before she could walk away. She felt Diane spin around to push her again, but this time Evie caught Diane’s arm and prevented her from making the movement.

“Let go of me, or else,” Diane warned, her eyes narrowing down at Evie.

“Or else what?” Evie taunted mocking Diane’s earlier tone. “What am I supposed to be afraid of a has been like you who can’t accept that JT has found someone better? I could see all night that you can’t keep your eyes off of him.”

“Wrong sister. He can’t keep his eyes off of me and that’s because he knows that I’m the best he’s ever had and the best he’ll ever get,” Diane moved to hit Evie, sending her free arm right down into Evie’s abdomen punching her with a firm movement, “the fact that he’s hanging out with bargain basement tramps like you more than proves it.”

Evie buckled over in agony before letting out a low groan. She saw Diane wiping at her face again and with a high pitched wail, Evie sprung forward plowing into Diane and sending her back into one of the stalls. Diane fell onto the toilet, but kicked her foot up to jab Evie in the face with the side of her high heel. Evie hissed before reaching out for Diane’s hair and yanking her up off of the toilet. Before Diane could get another jab in, Evie lifted the lid of the toilet bowl and sent Diane into it face first.

“You bitch…” Diane gurgled feeling Evie pull her head up ever so slightly before dunking it into the toilet water again.

“Stay away from JT!” Evie warned pushing Diane underneath the water’s surface again before reaching out to flush the toilet. She stepped back hearing Diane squeal with astonishment as she popped up from the front of the toilet. She could hear Diane muttering various curses, but rather than sticking around any longer, she took a step back and spoke up one last time, “Don’t make me tell you twice.”

Diane huffed, turning around to see the door to the ladies room swinging shut. She clenched her fists at her sides for a moment before feeling her damp hair stick to her face. Groaning she reached out to push her own dark hair from her eyes as she wondered who the hell JT’s newest psychotic plaything was as it was clear that she was even more insane than JT had ever been and that could only mean one thing--trouble!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

JT walked back over to the back of the restaurant looking around for Evie after he’d gone to pay their bill. He’d told her he’d only be gone for a moment, but when he returned to the table, he’d found that she’d not only up and disappeared, but that she’d left her purse behind. He’d picked up her purse and assumed that she was in the ladies room. Deciding that he would wait for her, JT had started to move over to this part of the restaurant, but as he spotted Ben approaching, he realized that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.

“What are you doing?” Ben demanded his voice tight with obvious animosity and distrust.

“Waiting for my date,” JT replied with a bored expression glancing over to the bathroom door again.

“The hell you are,” Ben stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at his adversary, “Maybe you haven’t gotten a clue yet, but the fact to the matter is that Diane doesn’t want to have anything to do with you. You’ve already caused her enough grief…”

“You mean by getting her pregnant with my baby?” JT countered, his jaw clenched with a moment of anger and remorse, “The baby that you both worked to eliminate?”

Ben didn’t say anything, but as JT looked at him, he could see that Ben’s eyes said it all.

“Yeah that’s what I thought,” JT shook his head feeling a newfound anger bubbling up inside of him, “You knew all along that baby was mine and that’s why you worked so hard to keep me away from Diane. You knew full well that I had a right to my child, but you both stole that from me.”

“You had no business being in her life in the first place,” Ben countered finally regaining his words, “She loves me JT, not you. The only reason you were able to manipulate her was because she was drunk and upset. You knew full well what you were doing when you took advantage.”

“I’ve never taken advantage of Diane. She knows what she wants and when she’s hot and bothered, she always wants me,” JT mouthed with an icy grin feeling empowered by the way his words bothered Ben, “She’s always been that way pal and regardless of how she dresses herself up and tries to play the good girl, the bad girl in her always wants to come out and play. That’s what she really is and when she’s ready to face that, she’ll find her way back to me.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Ben mouthed with a glare, “Diane doesn’t want you bothering her and neither do I.”

“Well then I guess it’s fortunate for the both of you that I’ve had an epiphany that lets me see that I wouldn’t want to waste my time associating with either one of you losers,” JT motioned to the door of the ladies room once again, “which is why I’ve moved up in the world to someone who puts Diane to shame.”

“As if I almost believe that,” Ben opened his mouth to say something more when Evie emerged from the bathroom and made her way over to JT to wrap her arm in his possessively.

“Let’s get out of this dump,” Evie leaned into him before glaring over at Ben, “they seem to be collecting a lot of trash here.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” JT placed his arm around Evie’s waist protectively before pushing past Ben and leading her out of the restaurant.

“Yeah, you keep walking on,” Ben called out after him, still angry at what JT had said about Diane. Ben couldn’t help but feel a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach over the idea that maybe just maybe Diane still had some lingering feelings for JT.

While Ben hadn’t told her about the baby being JT’s, he could also see that the two of them had some strange hold on one another. Then again maybe he was only imagining it because Diane had been in an uproar lately over Andy being back in town. With Andy came another whole new world of secrets from Diane and that left Ben feeling that there was even more trouble ahead--trouble that went beyond whatever it was that Diane had once upon a time with JT.

“I can’t believe the nerve of that little tramp,” Diane squealed stepping out of the ladies room to reveal her tangled, wet hair to Ben. She hissed as her fists sank into her sides.

“What happened to you?” Ben frowned seeing the woman he loved in an uproar.

“I’ll tell you what happened,” Diane blurted out with malicious intent. “That woman just started a war that she’s not going to win. She’s going down!”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“So I can’t believe he had the nerve to throw me out,” Shannon huffed waving her hands around in the air emphatically. She looked to Dean before scowling once again, “I mean what nerve? Why would he think he could just throw me out when it’s clear that I’m the one who wanted to get rid of him?”

“I think it’s clear that you need to sober up,” Deidra mouthed with a look of heavy disapproval, “I mean really what kind of person would want to put up with you in this kind of state.”

“Watch it or else I might take offense,” Shannon slurred glaring over at Deidra as Dean intervened.

“Deidra, why don’t you just let me take care of this one,” Deana suggested throwing a pleading look over at the woman he loved. Seeing her get up off of the couch she’d been previously seated at, Dean watched Deidra leave the room before he turned his focus to Shannon once again.

“You know you should really do something about her,” Shannon frowned over at him, “She really gives me reason to want to strangle her.”

“Hey, you were the one who showed up on my doorstep and ruined my romantic night with her,” Dean pointed out with a small frown, “The least you can do is try to get along with her especially considering that she has plenty of reason to be upset right now.”

“Yeah well I think I have even more of a right to be upset,” Shannon pouted sinking further onto the couch, “Not only did I find my husband with another woman, but then he has the audacity to throw me out. Me of all people!”

“Wait a second,” Dean frowned back at her taking in what she was saying all over again, “You say you saw Don with someone else?”

She nodded again, “That’s right. He was with some tramp at the hospital and she was all over him. I’ve seen her a few times in the past, but I paid no attention to her. She was just some perky young blonde that clearly he was more than interested in.”

“Okay, I have to intervene,” Deidra stepped in from her place across the room where she’d been trying to cool down away from Shannon. “First of all I have known Don almost all my life and when he’s serious about someone cheating is the last thing on his mind.”

“Obviously you don’t know him as well as you think you do,” Shannon glared over at her, “because I know what I saw.”

“And I think you were wrong. Don isn’t like that,” Deidra defended her friend, “In fact I’m willing to bet that you were mistaken. Don is a very friendly person and yes some people might think that is flirting, but it’s just the way Don is. He’s a good guy who doesn’t cheat.”

“Did I ask you for your opinion?” Shannon sneered over at her anger running through her veins.

“Maybe if you had you wouldn’t be here right now wondering why Don threw you out. You’d probably be at home with him having a nice evening if you had thought to ask someone’s advice,” Deidra folded her arms in front of her chest. “After having had a husband who was a cheater, I know what to look for and what not to. Top that off with the fact that Don has to be the most loyal, dedicated, romantic man in the world and I’d have to say that you clearly have your signals all wrong about him. I know he loves you Shannon and if you would’ve talked to him, which I’m assuming that you didn’t simply because you already had it in your mind that you were going to go nuts on him, then maybe just maybe you might’ve found that you were wrong.”

“What would you know,” Shannon snarled back at her, “Come to think of it, I don’t think you know anything. You didn’t see Don with that woman or with the one Brant’s been spending time with…”

“If she’s Brant’s girlfriend then you don’t have a thing to worry about,” Deidra rolled her eyes at Shannon, “Don’s his best friend and he would never, ever hurt Brant like that.”

“Yeah well if you’re such an expert on my husband, why don’t you go marry him and stop giving me a headache,” Shannon suggested bringing her hands up over her head. A groan overtook her and she turned a pale shade of green before sprinting up off of the couch and rushing to the bathroom. She slammed the door behind her leaving nothing to the imagination as she got sick in Dean’s bathroom.

Dean exchanged glanced with Deidra before offering up an apologetic expression, “I’m really sorry about this.”

“So am I,” Deidra sighed wondering how in the world she was unfortunate enough to have found herself sharing this night with a foul mouthed Shannon who was clearly drunk beyond comprehension. Oh yes, tonight was most certainly going down hill faster by the moment and as she heard Shannon getting sick again she knew full well it was going to be a very long night!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You sure you’re feeling up to this,” Brant questioned seeing his best friend setting things up for the impromptu ultrasound he’d put together for Brant and Angela. Angela lay on the table beside Brant, her worried gaze still settling in on Don.

“Hey, your sexy lady there checked this mess out,” Don pointed to the top of his head, “and all things were clear.”

“Even so you don’t have to do this Don,” Angela offered up seeing him move in on the other side of her.

“Nonsense, if nothing else you’ll learn that I like to know everything,” Don teased with a small wink, “and right now I want to see if Brant and I are going to be shopping for a lot of pink or blue things.”

“I’ll take either one,” Brant added reaching for Angela’s hand, “What about you? What are you hoping for?”

“Honestly a pregnancy that won’t end in disaster,” she admitted feeling a moment of worry crossing over her. She looked over at Don for a moment before turning to Brant again.

“You know I think I’ll be right back,” Don piped in taking a step back and opting to give the two of them a moment. “I’ll just go get that thing…”

“Right,” Brant nodded knowing full well what his friend was doing. Reaching for Angela’s hand again, he brought it to his lips and issued her soft skin a tender kiss, “Hey you don’t have a thing to worry about. You know that, right?”

“I know, but it’s easier not to focus on all of this when I’m distracted with other things,” she confessed a hint of nervousness in her voice. She squeezed his hand gently before looking to the floor, “I mean we should really try to get Don back to the mansion so that he can rest and…”

“And you’re doing it again,” Brant interrupted her reaching out to touch her cheek gently, “You’re trying to take the focus off of you so that I won’t see what’s really bothering you.”

“Brant it’s just…” she bit down on her lower lip in a nervous movement, “I just…I don’t want to get my hopes all up only to find out that something will go wrong.”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong,” Brant assured her with a small smile, his finger brushing up against hers now that she wore his ring proudly on it, “We’re going to get married and have two perfect, wonderful children and everything is going to be like you see in the movies.”

“God I hope not,” Angela groaned inwardly, “especially considering that the last movie I saw was a horror movie.”

“Hmm, well the last one I saw was a porn, so you know…” Brant teased feeling her reach out to slap his shoulder lightly.

“You’re such a goof,” she shook her head at him, an involuntary laugh spilling over her previously worried features, “but for what it’s worth I think it’s part of what I love about you.”

“I’m hoping that there’s a lot more going on there for me,” he mouthed seeing her nerves settling a bit, “I mean after all I don’t think our children are going to be old enough to appreciate my dirty jokes. Then again I think I may have to cut back on them given that they aren’t really appropriate for a father when…”

She reached out to place her hand over his mouth to silence him, “Don’t you dare change who you are because I happen to love you for the man that you are.”

“I love you too,” Brant leaned forward kissing her tenderly as there was a knock on the door indicating that Don had waited just long enough for them to have a moment together.

“You two ready?” Don wiggled his brow curiously making his way into the room with them. “So tell me, are we ready to see what is going to give Brant plenty of reason to worry for the next thirty plus years?”

“As long as my children don’t turn out like you and I were I think I’m going to be just fine,” Brant explained with a small laugh before looking to Don again, “Hopefully history won’t repeat itself.”

“God I hope not otherwise I’m sure Angela is going to want to murder the both of us,” Don feigned a shudder before leaning forward to whisper to Angela, “You should see this one home video we made back in college when…”

“Hey, can we just get with the ultrasound,” Brant snapped his fingers to keep Don from taking the conversation in a new direction that he was sure he didn’t want to go in.

“If you insist,” Don winked over at Angela, “I’ll have to show you that tape later.”

“I can’t wait,” Angela smiled over at Don before focusing on Brant, “I might see a whole new side of you after all.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve seen every side there is already,” Brant reminded her with a sexy, mischievous grin.

“And I like every single part of it,” Angela squeezed his hand lightly while Don moved forward and began to prepare the ultrasound.

“Now we know that this isn’t an exact science there given that there are times when people can be wrong about the sex of the baby or the babies in this case, but…” Don began the ultrasound looking to the screen next to Brant, “hopefully the little ones won’t be cryptic or impossible like their father can be at times.”

“Hey watch it or else…” Brant waved his hand in the air, but he was stopped by the first sounds of the ultrasound. Within a matter of seconds, he found himself surrounded by the very strong rhythm of his children’s hearts beating. His brown eyes grew wide and he looked over to the screen seeing a blurred image in front of him, “Is that…?”

“It looks like the babies are making their onscreen debut,” Don noted encouragingly, a bright smile on his face as the image grew a bit more clearer. He couldn’t help but find himself overcome by the moment upon seeing his best friend’s unborn children moving around inside their mother.

“I told you they were active today,” Angela mouthed squeezing Brant’s hand as there was movement on the screen in front of them.

“I don’t believe this,” Brant found himself mesmerize by the images in front of him. “This is just so…”

“Incredible,” Don finished for him taking a good look at the image in front of him, “and if I had to take a guess I would say that you’re going to have a very strong, very active little boy on your hands there.”

“A boy,” Brant’s eyes widened at what his friend had said. He looked to Don again and grinned, “really?”

“That’s right,” Don nodded pointing to the screen again, “you’ve got yourself a very active little man right here.”

“We’re having boys,” Brant reached out to hug Angela in his arms, “I’m going to have sons. We’re going to have two very happy, healthy boys keeping us on our toes and…”

“Correction,” Don interrupted once again, “You’re not only having a son, but it looks like you’re going to have a daughter as well.”

Brant looked to the image again seeing a glimpse of his second child and he found himself lost in a moment of silence. He sank back into the chair finding himself completely mesmerized by what he saw before him.

“A boy and a girl?” Angela questioned surprised by the revelation herself.

“That’s right, so I guess that means blue and pink for all of us,” Don explained matter of fact before motioning to the screen again, “I can get you a home video of this if you’d like. That way you’ll have this on film forever and always.”

“Could you really?” Brant asked eagerly, finding himself beyond excited about what this would mean for them. He reached out to touch Angela’s face lovingly, “Do you hear that? We’re having a little boy and a little girl?”

“So we are,” she smiled unable to mask her own emotions. “Brant I know that we’ve both been aware that we’re really going to be parents, but now…”

“It just makes it all the more incredible,” Brant finished leaning forward to kiss her tenderly, “I love you so much.”

“I love you,” she confessed kissing him in response realizing that now there was something more substantial in knowing that they were really going to be parents. Before it had been a thought, but after today it was becoming an even greater reality for them--one that left only promising things ahead for them.

“I promise you I’m going to be a good husband and father to these two and I swear to you we’re going to have it all together,” Brant continued seeing his best friend over in the corner in the room, “This is one of the happiest days of my life and we owe that to you.”

“Stop,” Don waved his hand dismissively, “I didn’t do anything really.”

“You just let me know that I’m going to have two beautiful, precious babies here soon--a son and a daughter with the woman I love and I couldn’t ask for more,” Brant explained proudly wrapping his arm around Angela’s shoulders. “For the first time in my life I can honestly say that I feel like everything is as it should be.”

“Me too,” Angela agreed with him lacing her fingers in his as it seemed that everything was turning around in both of their lives in the right direction for a change.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Are you sure you are okay with me coming here?” Drew asked as Sarah walked into the elevator with him and he eyed her over slowly with his blue eyes. Seeing her smile over at him, he offered up a small smile of his own before looking at the number she pushed. “I know that your friends seemed a little upset with you staying with me like that. That big guy especially.”

“I think he was ticked because you called him that name,” Sarah pointed out with a small laugh, realizing that--yeah, she would probably prefer to have Kevin with her right now, but Drew would do. “My friends don’t run my life so I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Everything will go by smoothly. Everything is okay and there is nothing to worry about.”

“Alright, if you say so,” Drew began with a small smile as Sarah stepped off the elevator and he pushed his long dark hair, following her down the hallway as he looked back behind him slowly. “I just don’t want you making any kind of mistakes. I want you to do something because you want to. Not because I am making you do something.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sarah muttered looking back at Drew over her shoulder before winking at him. Pulling her purse out in front of her, she started to pull out her key before feeling him step in behind her and press his lips in over her shoulder softly. “I’m doing what I want to be doing tonight.”

“That’s good,” Drew decided as she opened the room to the hotel and he followed her in slowly. Seeing her move forward toward him, he backed up slowly only to feel her push him back against the bed. “That’s very, very good.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Sarah moved in over Drew resting her hips in over his before moving down to press her lips in over his neck, feeling his hands press in over her hips to help her grind into him. “All I want to do is have some fun tonight and if they were here, that would never, ever happen.”

“I believe you,” Drew whispered lightly feeling her fingers pulling apart the buttons of his shirt before pulling it off his arms and throwing it to the side. Feeling her fingertips move in over his abdomen Drew let out a small gasp. “Wait, hold on a second.”

“What is it?” Sarah frowned seeing him get up and push back his long hair and move over toward his shirt that she threw over by the plant. “Is something wrong? I don’t understand. Are you leaving?”

“No, I’m not leaving,” Drew smiled back at her as he bent down over his shirt and motioned her to wait a second. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out something really quick, moving over toward the side to make sure that Sarah couldn’t see him clearly. Pushing it into the plant quickly Drew smiled widely before pulling something else out of his pocket. “I just needed one of these.”

“Right,” Sarah smiled nodding slowly seeing Drew hold up a condom before walking back over toward the bed and getting in over her. “You are very smart I hope you know.”

“Oh, I know I’m smart,” Drew smiled widely pressing his lips in over the side of her neck, taking the time to stare out over towards the plant he had tinkered with earlier. Smiling widely he couldn’t help but play into this further. “What I’m doing tonight with you, will change your life forever. You won’t even see it coming.”

“I’m sure I will,” Sarah gently bit at his skin hearing him let out small hiss before moving back and resting against his knees, slowly pulling down the zipper in his jeans. “I’m pretty sure I will.”

“Oh,” Drew shook his head slowly reaching out to push back her hair as he felt her tug down his jeans slowly and he let out small laugh. “You won’t know what hit you until it really does.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Moving into the empty building, Kyle noticed the darkness all around him as he moved forward and bumped into something making him let out a small groan.

“This is crazy,” Kyle repeated to himself as he walked through the hallways, bumping into another wall as he let out a small hiss pulling out his cell phone knowing that if he was going to do this right he shouldn’t knock himself out. “I have to do this though.”

Opening his cell phone, he used the dim light to find the right way to go as a wide smile spread out over his features and he moved forward looking for where the person had made plans to meet him.

“Where in the world are you?” Kyle questioned reaching his destination and looking around slowly before taking in a deep breath. Turning his cell phone toward him he noted that time was just right which meant the other person was late. “Where the hell are you?”

A light flickered on as Kyle quickly turned around to see the person that he was planning on meeting standing with a camera in their hands.

“You scared the hell out of me,” Kyle pointed out seeing their blue eyes meet his and they shrugged their shoulders. Moving over toward the corner of the room Kyle started to take off his jacket and motioned over toward the windows. “This was the perfect place to do it--when no body is here.”

“I know,” the person boasted proudly seeing Kyle set his jacket down on the ground and move over toward the window sill taking a seat on it before looking out the window. “Are you ready for this?”

“More ready than I will ever be in my whole life,” Kyle answered seeing them smile widely and put the recorder up to their eyes to get the right positioning of Kyle sitting there. This had to happen, this had to go on because if it didn’t, he just might lose everything that ever mattered to him. “I have a little announcement to make.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

...to be continued...