I disclaim. I don't own anything. :)

Chloe raced down the hallway and straight into the Black's living room, without so much as a knock. She raced up the stairs and straight into Bradys room. Brady stood there changing his shirt and didn't even hear her approach until he turned around. She pushed against his chest hard and sent him flying down onto the bed.

"You're so selfish Brady Black!"

Brady gazed up at her stunned. "What are you talking about?"

"You know damn well, what I'm talking about. Don't play dumb with me."

Brady sat up, pulling his shirt over his broad shoulders. "Chloe, I can honestly say, that I don't know what you're talking about."

"You should, Brady. You should know how I'm feeling. You're the one that's supposed to know me so well." Chloe's eyes began to fill with unwanted tears.

Brady padded the bed, next to where he sat. Chloe closed the space between them and joined him. He stared at her, stunned. She looked so beautiful. Her eyes flared with pain and anger, and he couldn't help, but be turned on.

He reached over and took her well-manicured hand in his. "Now, tell me what this is all about."

"You've been lying to me all this time."

"About what?"

"About how you feel."

"How I feel about what?"

"About me, Brady. Did you think that I couldn't handle it? You say you care about me, but you're leaving me. It was all a lie, wasn't it?"

"Chloe, I do care, but I need to help my Dad start up Basic Black."

"I know, but weren't you even going to tell me goodbye. Don't you at least owe me that much, after all we've been through?"

Brady stood up and paced in front of her. He polled out a tie and put it around his neck tying is loosely.

"The truth is I couldn't say goodbye, because if I did, I knew I wouldn't be able to go."

"Really?"

"Really." He said, bending down and wiping her tears with his thumbs. "Chloe, you say you want me to stop lying to you, but once I say what I'm about to say, I can't take it back. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Chloe stood then, and met his gaze, seeing the love in his eyes. She looked away ashamed."No, I guess I'm not."

"Okay. When you're ready then."

"Will I ever be ready, Brady?" She looked at him, confusion written all over her face.

"Someday, you will." He tipped her chin, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Can I come with you to the airport?"

"Yeah, I'd like that a lot."

Brady took Chloe in his arms and hugged her, never wanting to let go, but knowing he was not hers to hold onto.

------

"Last call flight, 490 to New York." A nasal twine belted out over the intercom.

"That's my flight. I guess this is goodbye."

"Does it have to be?" Chloe said, looking into his darkened eyes.

"It does. Maybe some time apart is what we need." Brady suggested, although every ounce of him was looking for one tiny excuse to say. More than anything he wanted to stay. To say those words to Chloe, but knew if he did, things would not be the same. Chloe wasn't ready for the kind of love he had to offer, not yet anyway.

"I'll miss you." He soothed as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. Brady, drew in a big breath and gently released it. Taking in her scent and fixing it to memory. It may be the only thing that would carry him through the next few months.

"I'll miss you to, Brady."

They parted and Brady looked into her azure eyes. He saw the sadness, the regret and knew that the months apart would be just as hard for her.

"I'll call, and I'll write. Okay? It'll be like I was never gone." He, soothed.

"Bye." She said, trying to maintain her composure.

"Bye, Diva." He smiled as he walked away.

Chloe nodded her head and watched as he handed the flight attendant his boarding pass. He turned to wave at her and then he was out of her view.

Chloe slumped down on a nearby bench, hoping that he would reappear and tell her he just couldn't leave her but, he didn't. She watched the plane leave, and let a single tear roll down her cheek.

Brady sat comfortable in first class, holding onto a picture of Chloe. He closed his eyes and tried to forget.