Amanda rolled over in bed as the alarm rang and went off. Today was the day that she had been looking forward to for two weeks. Cameron also woke up when the alarm went off and sighed. Today was the day that he had been dreading for two weeks. Today was November 15th. Amanda could leave the house and not have to rest constantly. The doctor had checked her out yesterday and had given guarded permission to start and pick up the shattered remains of her normal life. When she heard that she was no longer a prisoner, Amanda felt like she was going to jump for joy. Cameron on the other hand, when he learned that Amanda no longer had to be under his 24 hour watch, well, he felt like he was going to throw up.

Amanda sat up and stretched. She got out of bed and threw open the curtains and a stream of sunlight filled the room. She opened the door a crack and breathed in the crisp, fall air. Cameron stayed in bed and did not smile at the day the way Amanda did. She turned around and smiled at him and began pulling clothes out of the closet. She talked to him as she selected her outfit for her first day of freedom.

"You know Cameron, you really should stay in bed today and get your rest," Amanda teased, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

"Very funny," Cameron said, his voice flat and with out a hint of amusement or happiness. "And I suppose while I do that, your going to go out and run the Iron Man contest or something?"

"Why would I run the Iron Man contest, when I have to defend my title as the Ultimate Street fighter," Amanda said smiling at him. She looked closer and could see that he was really upset about her going out in to the world, totally unprotected. "Look, I took a partial leave of absence from BRAVA until next May. The wacko who tried to kill me is locked up. The doctors have given me a clean bill of health and and more importantly, given the baby a clean bill of health. You can't keep me locked up inside. It's not fair to me and it's defiantly not fair to the world to deprive them of me." She smiled again at him and he didn't quite smile back, but he did change his tone and his facial expressions.

"So what are you going to do on your first day of freedom?" Cameron asked.

"Well, I told Paulina that we could do a little early Christmas shopping and have lunch and oh yeah, we have to go to the video dating service and find my brother a soul mate," Amanda said as she was tying her hair up in a bun to get ready to hop into the shower.

All the while Amanda was telling him the events of her day, Cameron was getting himself out of bed. And when he heard the words, 'video service to find my brother a soul mate,' he paused half standing, and with one leg still in bed. He wasn't quite sure if he heard her right. "Amanda?" he called, but his only answer was the running shower water. He got out of bed and walked over to the bathroom. "Amanda?" he called again, louder to be heard over the running water.

"Yeah?"

"Did you just say that you and Paulina were going to a video dating service to find your brother a soul mate?" Cameron asked.

"Yeah that's right," came the voice from inside the shower.

"You want to run that one by me again?" Cameron asked, scratching his stubble and pulling out his shaving items.

"Well it's really brilliant really. It was Paulina's idea but I wish I could take credit. We figure that Matt's lonely for a woman and he needs to get back in the game and because we as his sisters know him better then he does, we're going to be the ones to find him that special some one," Amanda called over the hot, rushing water.

"You and Paulina think that you know that he's lonely for a woman?" Cameron asked, rubbing shaving cream over his face and throat. "You want to run that one by me again? How do two ditzy blondes know what this man is feeling?"

"Look, I know my brother and he's lonely. We need to find him some one before he starts wearing sweaters all the time and gets a couple of cats," Amanda called shutting the water off.

"What are you doing? I was just coming in." Cameron asked, turning towards her as she popped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her.

"Cameron, I don't have time for that now," Amanda said, rolling her eyes. "And you want to run what your doing now by me?" Amanda said nodding towards the shaving cream and razor. "I like the scruff."

"I'd keep the scruff, but you don't have anytime to enjoy it. Come to think of it," Cameron said, shaking his head, "when you go and find a girl for your brother, think of me, your husband. And know that while your looking for someone to make your brother happy here I am alone and deprived."

"You, deprived? I don't think so. Your probably the least deprived man alive," Amanda said as she walked and snapped him with the wet end of her towel.

"OWW!" Cameron yelped as he rubbed his snapped "spot" and held his hand on the nick on his face that the towel had caused him to get. "Oh, your going to get it now!" he said as he wiped off the rest of the shaving cream and went into the room to snap Amanda in a couple of spots of her own.

"I told you, I don't have time to fool around now," Amanda said as she dodged a few towel snaps. She dried her hair while sitting on the bed and Cameron gave up and went back to finish shaving.

"So, Matt's totally okay with all of this?" he called from the bathroom.

"Oh, no. What ever you do Cameron, you can't tell Matt about any of this!" Amanda said rushing into the bathroom, wide-eyed. "If he found out any of this, he'd put the cancel on it right away!"

Cameron just smiled and finished shaving. He wiped off his face and smiled again. "So you don't want me to say anything to Matt about this?" he said in a mischievous voice. "So what will you give me to keep my mouth shut?"

"What do you want?" Amanda asked. "Just don't say anything to Matt about this!" He smiled again and looked down at her towel. Amanda sighed. She went to the phone and dialed. "Hello, Paulina? Hi, look, can we push the lunch back and maybe do shopping and then have dinner? It's just that, well, something came up. We can go to the dating service this afternoon. Great, thanks a lot. See you later," Amanda said and turned back to Cameron. "Happy now?"

"Not yet, but I will be soon and so will you," Cameron said and smiled again.

Amanda and Paulina walked into the office and looked around skeptically. The decor was a little gaudy. It was red velvet with hearts and gold tassels all around. The women at the reception desk looked up at them and smiled. "May I help you?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, hi," Paulina said coming forward. "I was the one who called earlier and told you that we were here to try and find someone for my brother."

"Oh, yeah, I remember ya," the girl said all the while chomping on gum. "We have you all set up in viewing room #7. Right this way, follow me."

As Paulina moved forward Amanda grabbed her by the arm and whispered, "I'm really glad that we came here today. I'm getting some real great decorating ideas. Look at the sculpture of the man and women that glows electric blue. Maybe we could use that for the night light in the nursery."

"Knock it off! I think it's .... romantic," Paulina said. "Come on, let's go."

"What about that three foot statue of Cupid that's tinkling into the fish tank. Think that's Gucci or Ralph Lauren, because I hear they're both going to branch out into home decorating and maybe these are some of the original work," Amanda said, smuggling a laugh.

"Let's just find our brother a girlfriend, okay?" Paulina said trying not to crack up herself. They went down the hall and were shown into viewing room 7 where there were a couple of chairs and a TV/VCR there next to a stack of video tapes.

"Here you go. Those are the tapes of women that match up with your brother. Just let us know when your done." The girl smiled and exited.

"Okay, let's find our brother a gal," Amanda said as she popped in the first tape. They sat back and watched the footage on the tape. An attractive women came on.

"Hi, my name is Jen and I'm a single 31 year old corporate vice president. I've been divorced an am looking for someone to show me that there is still hope out there. I really can't believe that I'm doing this. I never would do something like this on my own. My sister's forced me into this..."

Amanda and Paulina watched a few more minutes and then Amanda paused the tape. "I think we found her! She seems perfect!"

"Do you think we should watch the rest of the tapes? I mean, what if there is one we like better?" Paulina said.

"Look at the time Paulina. I think we should go to the receptionist and have her set it up. I mean, if she doesn't work out, then we can always come back," Amanda pointed out.

"Your right. Let's go set it up and then we can go to dinner and do a little early Christmas shopping. We wouldn't have to rush if you weren't so late. What were you doing any way?" Paulina asked as she got up.

"Look it doesn't matter what I was doing! Can we just set this up? Amanda asked flushing red. "Let's see her number is 7425. Okay, let's go and tell the receptionist to set up a meeting."

The walked out and Amanda tossed the remote on the chair and walked out closing the door behind her and Paulina. When she did, she did not see that she had un-locked the pause button on the VCR. The tape ran through, showing the material that Amanda and Paulina didn't see. The tape went on to tell more about Jen then either Amanda and Paulina would have ever, ever wanted to know.

Gary walked in and looked around the room for Cameron. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Cameron.

"I was going to apologize for being late, but since you just got here, well then I won't," Cameron said, trying to crack a joke to ease both of their nerves. "How are you doing?"

"Look I know your just trying to voice for your concern but as far as I'm concerned, the women who orchestrated this whole deal was not my wife. I don't know who she was, but she was not the woman that I married," Gary said. "Now let's just go and extend the olive branch to our brother and see what happens."

"All right, but I have a feeling it will be easier said then done," Cameron said and they went into see their young brother.

Tucker was in his cell, and for the first time he was not just laying there staring at the ceiling. He had a notebook in his hand and a pencil in the other one. Cameron couldn't see what he was doing, but the moment that he saw that he wasn't alone, he shut the book and greeted them with an icy stare.

"Hey Tucker, how are you doing?" Cameron asked.

"I helped you find your wife and everything, now when am I getting out of here?" Tucker asked.

"Well, that's what we want to talk to you about. We went and spoke to the DA today and they're going to release you into one of our custody's as soon as next week," Gary said.

"You mean I have to live with you?" Tucker said.

"Yeah, that's what we wanted to talk with you about today," Cameron said. "You see, because of the repercussions of this case and stuff, Gary is now living all by his little lonesome and we think that it would be good for you to come and spend some time and help get both of your lives back on track."

"What are my other options?" Tucker asked, keeping his voice level and emotionless, but Cameron could see that there was more in his eyes. He wasn't sure yet what it was, but he could see that there was something there.

"Well, if you don't go to live with one of us, you could go to jail for a long, long time," Gary said.

"Fine, whatever. Just come and get me when you want me out of here. And now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll retire to the west wing for my evening tea," Tucker said and laid down to stare at the ceiling.

Cameron nodded and nudged Gary when he saw that he wasn't going to get anymore out of Tucker. They walked out and stopped to talk for a minute in the parking lot.

"Well, what do you think? I mean, he wasn't friendly, but he wasn't as nasty as he has been in the past," Gary said.

"Yeah, I think maybe in a while, we might actually be able to consider we have another brother," Cameron said and smiled. "Maybe when he gets settled in and such, we can really talk to him."

"Your probably right. How's Amanda doing?" Gary asked.

"Probably enjoying her dinner now and deliberately staying out late just to annoy me," Cameron said.

"Well, I wouldn't file for divorce right away," Gary said and smiled wistfully. "Go home and see your wife Cameron." Gary turned and left. After a moment, Cameron got in his car and did just that, praying that both of his brothers would at one time in their lives (hopefully soon) find happiness.

Amanda and Paulina sat down and finished their dinners. Amanda was enjoying her honey-glazed salmon with baked potato while Paulina was relishing her chicken picattia. They had arranged a meeting for tomorrow with Jen from the dating service. They had explained to her that Matt had no idea about any of this and she would defiantly go along with, because after all, it was he sisters who set her up, so she would play it their way. Paulina had just gotten off the cell phone and had made sure that Matt would come to dinner tomorrow at the Harbor Club. He wouldn't be alone, it was going to be a triple date, with him and Jen and Amanda, Cameron, Paulina and Joe. It was all set, Matt just thought it was going to be dinner so he was cool with it.

It had been a great day all around. They had done some Christmas shopping and had gotten much accomplished with that. Not to mention that is, the dating service and the stuff with Matt. And there were only five phone calls from Cameron to see what and how she was doing.

"Oh, man, am I stuffed," Amanda sat back in her chair. "That was delicious."

"So I'm taking you were enjoying the day out and the freedom?" Paulina asked.

"I swear, I thought that I would go crazy if I had to stay there for one more second!" Amanda laughed. "My own bedroom felt a little bit like a prison with all the time I had to spend in it!"

"But your out now. Are you going to go back to the magazine now?" Paulina asked, pouring them each a cup of coffee.

"Well, I took a somewhat temporary leave of absence and maternity leave until next May," Amanda said. "I felt that it would be best considering all that's been going on."

"How are you doing? And I mean really?" Paulina asked.

"Amanda didn't answer for a long time. "Well, I wake up at night and I have to have self control not to scream, because that would rouse Cameron and he's worried enough as it is. I was in the bathroom yesterday and I had a panic attack because it was so small and it reminds me of that place where she put me."

"Amanda, maybe you should talk to somebody," Paulina said with concern.

"No, I don't need to, really. It's getting much better all the time," Amanda assured her. "But I don't want to talk about it. You want to hear the ideas I got for the house while I was in bed resting for six years?"

Paulina laughed and for the rest of the night, they talked only about light, happy stuff and stayed away from the dark cloud that was hang just off to one side of their lives and always threatening to come over them.

Matt looked over at the clock and stretched his arms over his head. 10:45pm. Time to go home finally. He had been in meetings all day and now it had been time to head home and get some shut eye. He put the papers back in their respective files and went to lock them in his filing cabinet when he heard a ding! sound come from his computer and looked over to see the instant messenger box pop up with a message in it from Cantonata.

Matt smiled and signed on ready to respond. He noticed that when he read that message, he no longer felt tired. It was like he had gotten a second wind.

As Matt typed in these words, he thought of Sofia and the times they had spent together and he had to clear the lump that was forming in his throat.

Matt watched in instant messenger sign off and sat for a few moments looking at a blank computer screen. He finally got up and went to his car after carefully locking up his office. It was the conversation with Cantonata that started him thinking. He threw everything away when he let him self be manipulated into marrying Lila by the Lumina Foundation and threw away Sofia. How could he be so stupid and weak as to not see he was being controlled. Matt shook his head, there was no need to rehash all of that painful drama. It was over and there was nothing he could do about it. He started the engine and flipped on the radio. It's amazing how much one song can fit your life, he noticed as he listened to the lyrics of the song coming over the air waves.

Matt flipped of the radio with a rough move, sorry he had ever turned it on to begin with. He drove the rest of the way home in lonely silence.

(*The song "She's Out of My Life" was written by Tom Bahler and performed by 98* and can be found on their CD entitled 98* And Rising.)