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                                   1995:
                               Introduction
                               by Elizabeth


	Ten.
	Sydney Rutledge stood in the middle of a party-her party-about to 
break into tears.

	Nine.
	Looking at the assembled guests, remembering their faces a year 
ago...and for some, memories stretched even further into the past.

	Eight.
	Callie was there, with Tim.  "She's beautiful," Sydney noticed of 
her old friend, surprised at the revelation.  Across the room, Jimmy thought 
the same thing and winced.

	Seven.
	Mila, blond, beautiful, and seductive in a dress more revealing 
than Sydney's own, had arrived alone.  It appeared she would not leave that 
way.

	Six.
	Saja, who still wore black, stood with a radiant Sandy.  "Strange," 
Sydney thought, "that Sandy Swan is so happy and I'm not."

	Five.
	Dylan stared at Sydney; she quickly averted her eyes.  His burned 
holes in her neck and she shivered...out of fear...or longing...

	Four.
	"Nancy Robbins is so..." Sydney's mind wandered, but could not come 
up with the proper adjective for her almost-friend.

	Three.
	Glory and J.T. were laughing and hugging.  Despite herself, Sydney 
smiled.  "They've been through a lot together," everyone said.  Sydney knew, 
more than almost anyone, how much.

	Two.
	Almost.  There was on other person, someone who Sydney could not 
forget, even after years of trying.

	One.
	Garrett.

	"Happy New Year!"  Everyone hugged, the lovers kissed, and Ralph 
entered with a tray of champagne flutes.  Callie, who knew Sydney better 
than most, walked over to her friend and handed her a glass.
	"Sydney, it's okay to miss him."
	"Who?  Dylan?  Never.  I'm perfectly happy it's over.  Thrilled, in 
fact."  Sydney brightened her smile, but even she could tell it wasn't 
working.  She couldn't let it get to her, though, not tonight.  "Cal, I'm 
fine.  Really."  She sipped her champagne, as if to prove it.  "Besides, I 
invited him."
	"Sydney, you left a message for him to 'tag along' with Glory.  You 
and I both know Garrett is too proud to be a third wheel, especially with 
J.T."
	"He still could have come if he wanted to."  Getting angry with 
Garrett made things easier for Sydney.  Her dark eyes flashed with the 
familiarity of the emotion.  Callie had seen Sydney angry many times, but 
she also knew that only Garrett made her equally happy.
	Owen, who had manned the stereo all night, cued up a slow, tender 
ballad.  "First dance of 1995."
	Callie drifted away to Tim's arms.  Sydney watched her friends, 
surrounded by them, but she felt lonely.  She felt older, somehow, but not 
mature and sophisticated.  "More like someone's grandmother," she thought 
wryly.  "Eighteen and I'm already nostalgic."
	Suddenly her body tensed as gentle fingertips grazed up her spine.  
A familiar palm cupped the side of her face as the other arm slid around 
her waist.  Twisting to see him, she started to speak, but Garrett held a 
finger to her lips.
	"Shh," he whispered, leaning close to her ear.  "Dance with me."
	Every instinct told Sydney to turn away, to protect herself from 
him, from what he had done to her, what he could do...but she couldn't.  
They had fought so long, so hard; it could all be over tomorrow, but-
	"I know," Garrett said, reading her mind.  As she turned to face 
him he tried to reassure the doubts in her eyes.  "It's okay.  It's time."  
He kissed the tear rolling down her cheek and pulled her close.  Cradling 
her against his chest, Garrett felt Sydney relax, almost collapse.  When 
she finally embraced him he felt stinging behind his own eyes, too.  Things 
were as they should be.
	Dylan saw them and stormed out.
	Mila narrowed her eyes, then flashed her dazzling smile at her 
dance partner.  "Brett," she thought.  Or was it Brad?
	Callie watched them smugly, but then couldn't help but think of 
last year, with Jimmy.  She quickly scanned the room, but he was gone.
	Saja looked over Sandy's shoulder and smiled knowingly.  He had 
always had a soft spot for Sydney, and knew that Garrett was the only one 
she wanted.  Sandy snuggling against his neck made him realize he had all 
he wanted too.
	Glory, who had been close to both of them their entire lives, felt 
a strange sort of pride.
	Sydney and Garrett were oblivious to everyone, for once not caring 
that they were the center of attention.  Sydney could only marvel at the 
way her head fit so perfectly against his chest, and how his hands felt so 
right on her back.  Garrett wondered how this had all happened, how the 
girl he had won and lost and loved and hated for so long was finally in his 
arms.  They were both afraid of what could happen, of what had happened in 
the past, but in the early moments of 1995 it didn't matter.  Later, Sydney 
would look back on that night as one of the happiest of her life.  She was 
the girl who had everything, but it wasn't until that moment that she 
finally felt complete.

                               (c) 1999 Elizabeth 

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