"Sandy, this sucks. Talk to me," Paul pleaded. Unable to find where Damon and Jacki had disappeared to, and with Lilia heading back to her room early, Paul and Sandy had no alternative other than to celebrate their opening night together. They were hanging out in Paul's room, when the tension between the two of them had hit a level that was too unbearable for him to just ignore.

He regarded the women sitting cross-legged on the twin bed across from him. Other than Lilia, he was closer to no one. But with Lilia, he was simply an older brother, some one to look out for her, to be there for her when she needed him. But with Sandy he felt like so much more. She had been a part of his life forever, they went to kindergarten together. He knew, just knew whenever something was wrong with her. He even knew whenever she entered a room. Her very presence affected him. And this new awkwardness was just tearing him apart.

"What are you talking about Paul?" Sandy asked quietly, averting her gaze away from him.

"Sandy, you know what I'm talking about. We've been…weird around each other ever since…" Paul trailed off, knowing that Sandy would know what he was talking about.

"Paul, we made our decision. Nothing can change that. We chose Premiere over ourselves. We have to live with that. No matter how much it hurts," she added quietly.

"Oh Sandy," Paul sighed. She looked up at him, her eyes bright with tears. She stood up and paced around the room.

"What you do you care, anyway? You made the decision. I had no say in it at all. You just decided, without asking me what I thought or how I felt. You just assumed that it would be okay. Maybe it's not Paul!" she yelled.

"But you yourself said that it was better this way. It wouldn't complicate things this way," Paul reminded her.

"You call this not being complicated? Paul, I can barely stand being in the same room with you, let alone interacting on stage! It's just too much! We haven't talked in over a week and a half, not like we normally do. Remember how we used to phone each other at eleven at night, and talk all night? I'd normally fall asleep, and our phone lines would be tied up until one of us woke up. I miss that. I miss being able to talk to you Paul," Sandy said, stopping in her pacing, to look at him. He stood up and walked over to her.

"I miss that too Sandy, but it's-"

"-just too complicated? When are you going to come up with another excuse, because I'm tired of hearing that one! If you wanted…if you really wanted this, then we could find a way to un-complicate it. But you won't. You're too afraid to try," she yelled.

"You're right. I am scared. But not for why you think I am. I love you Sandy. But I don't know if I'm in love with you. And if we decided to try a relationship and it didn't work, what would happen-"

"-to the band," she finished for him.

"Screw the band. What would happen to us? Good lord, these past couple weeks without us talking to each other, ignoring each other, had been pure hell. What would happen if it didn't work, and I had to live without you in my life?" he asked.

"Aren't you already? Last week, when you kissed me, was the point of no return. Either we try it and risk losing each other, or we lose each other. It's not much of a choice, but we can't go on like this, in limbo, in denial. I can't anymore, Paul. I just can't," she said, her tears overflowing. Paul grabbed her and held her. Stroking his hands over her head, he reveled in the softness of her hair, and the feel of holding her in his arms. He kissed her lightly on the top of her head, then lifted her face so he could meet her eyes.

This was the worse he had ever seen her; eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying, mascara in black streaks down her cheeks, lower lip trembling. And it nearly broke his heart, watching her in pain, watching her hurt. And he made his decision. Without hesitation or regret, he lowered his lips to hers. He felt her arms tighten around him as they unleashed their pent up emotions. And he knew pure bliss.

* * * *

The bright sunlight woke Damon. Blinking, he rolled on to his side and observing the sleeping form beside him. Last night, he had seen the vulnerable, beautiful side of her. But now that morning had come, what if that part of she had hidden so deeply retreated again?

Leaning over, he trailed his hand down her back and kissed her soft hair. Breathing in suddenly, Jacki turned and smiled at him.

"Good morning," she said sleepily. He smiled at her.

"Regrets?" he asked slowly, knowing exactly how complicated their lives were about to become.

"Only one," she answered. She saw his face fall slightly, and beamed at him.

"Tell me, why on earth did we wait so long to get together?" she asked, sitting up to kiss him.