Scene 1:

"Oh Gen, you should have seen Mother when she saw my dress, I thought she was going to faint!" Catherine squealed with sinister delight.

Genevieve rolled her eyes, "I'm starting to view your pleasure for torturing Mother as a little sick."

"Maybe I should have Tavish psychoanalyze me," Catherine laughed, grabbing her matching shawl. The dress was the kind of red identified with whores, but the princess style and class that Catherine managed to project (when she wasn't speaking) made the color perfectly acceptable. It had a feminine girlish quality in the cut, but a bold, womanly quality in color. Very Catherine. Catherine stopped to examine herself in the mirror.

"Hey, Cat, I have something that will complete that," Gen said, sliding from the vanity seat. Catherine's eyes followed the gentle swagger of her sister.

"Meme Calandra gave it to me unbeknownst to mother," Gen explained with her back turned to Catherine. She examined the antique choker in her hands, glancing once at Catherine to see if it matched her earrings. Deciding it did, Genevieve spun around and dramatically thrust it towards her. Catherine inhaled sharply at the sight of it. "Now you can upset mother even more," Genevieve laughed.

"You know me too well, sister dear," Catherine said allowing Genevieve to put the choker on. She spun Catherine around to face her and smiled warmly. Catherine's face was alive with girlish giddy. Catherine might die before admitting it, but she was head over heels for Jareth McCormick.

"You're pretty crazy about Jareth, huh?" she asked, her eyes softening to their gentle green.

"Oh, not you too," Catherine said, unconsciously evading the question. She examined herself in the mirror, taking in every angle. She was vain and egotistical like her mother. But, unlike Mother, Catherine knew she was capable of being much more than a beautiful face. "Jareth is my best friend, after Darcy. You know if I hadn't asked him to go, I would be stuck at the side of one of mother's choices, like Damien Lords."

"I thought you liked Damien."

Catherine shrugged flippantly, "I like Jareth more."

"Why did you ask Jareth to pick you up at my place?" Genevieve asked, laughing inwardly at how absorbed Catherine was with her own reflection.

"So I could have this lovely bonding slash interrogation moment with my beautiful sister," Catherine returned, finally turning away from the mirror. At the comment, Genevieve rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, Jareth always gets so uncomfortable when he comes to Fairview. He stiffens up and looks around as though he's afraid that if he breathes he'll break some family heirloom." Genevieve chuckled. "My turn! Why the hell are you going to the ball with Ian? I thought you hated him. In fact if I recall you labeled him a prick at that wonderful bonding session with our mother the other day," Catherine demanded, hands on hips.

Genevieve cringed, she had been expecting that one all day. "We're merely going as acquaintances. Ian asked and unlike you I don't want to listen to Mother nag me about not showing up at the Mason's ball without a man on my arm for the next ten years."

"Ah, and that my darling sister is where you and I differ," Catherine replied, hearing the doorbell ring. She peered out the window to see Jareth at the front door tugging on the collar of his shirt.

"I can think of many other things we differ on," Gen returned lightly. Catherine swiped an airy kiss across her cheek.

"I'll see you there and don't do anything I wouldn't," she laughed gaily.

"Oh that leaves me with only one option, to hold a séance at the ole' slave graveyards."



Scene 2:

"You are going and I don't want to hear another word about it. Now go get your suit ready for Loretta to press." Chris gave him another glare and stalked out of the room. The last thing he wanted to do was go to his grandmother's stupid charity function. He was more concerned with his mother and what was going on with her. The letter Jess had sent to him had been unclear about the future of their family and what their mother was currently doing in Canada. No way would he show it to Jamie, though. Jess had asked him not to and, besides, Jamie Mason wouldn't just give up on his wife. He'd find out what was going on regardless of what Chris or Jess did.

He slipped back to the door of Jamie's office, flattening himself against the wall. "Has he been like that since he got home?" He heard Jude ask.

"Like that and worse," Jamie replied. "Something is wrong with Michaela."

"What's the matter with her?"

"I wish I knew." Jamie's voice was filled with tension and worry. "She won't return calls and yesterday her father told me to leave her alone and that she was staying in Toronto indefinitely."

"That doesn't sound like Michaela... Are you planning on going up there?"

"Yes, tomorrow after this blasted charity ball is over. I'm sending to Chris over to Four Winds for a while..."

Chris edged away from the door, tiptoeing up the staircase. Jamie didn't know, but he was heading there. Good. If anyone could make sense of this than his father could. Of course, if he'd paid attention to all of Michaela's pleas for attention it might not have gone this far.

Once he was safely inside his room, Chris went to his closet and reached into his camp duffel bag for the crumpled letter from Jess. He smoothed it open and dropped to the floor to reread it.

"Hey Chris. Hope camp is fun. We're still in Toronto with Gran and Gramps. I don't think we're going home. I heard Mom tell Gran that she didn't ever want to go back. What is going on with our parents? Ever since we moved to Virginia, it's like they don't talk to each other. Mom acts like she's off in some other world and Dad acts like she doesn't exist. I don't know... And now Mom disappears at night. Gran says she's trying to get some of her youth back, whatever that means. Last night I heard Mom tell Gran she wasn't sure if she still loved Dad..."

"Chris."

Chris jerked his head up meeting Jamie's curious gaze. "What?" He snapped, crumpling the letter again.

"Get your suit and pack an overnight bag. We're leaving for Four Winds in fifteen minutes." Jamie gave him another curious gaze before leaving Chris' room. Shoving the note back into his duffel bag, Chris tried to think positively. Maybe there was hope for his parents after all. His dad never backed down from a fight and he was pretty sure that he still loved his mother. At least, he hoped Jamie did.


Scene 3:

Hallie laid the dress she picked out for the festivities on the bed, careful not to wrinkle the fabric. She'd spent some time agonizing over what to wear to Liza's first function as head of the Mason Foundation and the dark blue velvet dress she had chosen was deemed the best choice. She liked that it wasn't a serious dress; more of a dress for someone with no responsibilities like herself. Besides, she relished the idea of having fun at this charity function. After all, she would be able to watch Luke be miserable all evening. What more could she ask for?

She sat at the dressing table she'd had delivered and installed in the room she and Stephen were now sharing. Living with Stephen was different than what she had expected. She wouldn't call it boring exactly, but they had fallen into a comfortable routine together. It was as close to being married as she had ever been. Which wasn't saying much for her current legal marriage. The one thing she was sure of in the last week were her feelings for Stephen. She had grown more certain of them as each day passed even if she didn't have the courage to voice them.

Stephen emerged from the bathroom, pulling on his tuxedo shirt. He paused long enough to kiss the top of her head before sitting down on the edge of the bed. Hallie picked up a brush and ran it through her hair once, watching him as he slipped into his shoes. He was certainly acting as if they were husband and wife. He caught her eye and winked at her, grinning wildly.

"What?" He asked leaning back. "Is my hair blue?"

"No... I was just thinking about something you said the other day," Hallie replied. She turned back to the mirror and continued with her hair.

"Oh? And that was?"

"When you said you would be proud to have me as a wife."

"Oh yes...remind me not to talk like that anymore."

Hallie spun back around, facing him. "Are you taking it back?" She demanded.

"I thought you wanted me to. Remember, you would make a great girlfriend or mistress but a lousy wife? That's a direct quote I believe." He buttoned his shirt deftly giving her an appraising look. "Or has the last week in my house changed your mind on the whole thing?"

"No...I still don't think I would make a good wife. But I was curious why you thought I would."

"Ah, now that is an easy question. Look, Hal. I think somewhere you got this notion that a wife was dutiful and obedient. But my idea of a perfect wife is someone I can talk to, someone who will listen and someone who won't be afraid of me. You, in other words," he told her. She studied his face intently watching for some sign that he was acting but found none. "I don't care that you can't cook or that you are the worst slob I've ever known. I don't even care that you're a little conniving. Actually, I rather like that part of your personality. All I care about is that when you're in the room with me, I feel like I can do anything."

"Do you mean that? Really mean it?" Her heart raced at his admission. No one had ever said that to her before. Sure, she had heard false declarations of love before and assurances but never anything as honest as Stephen's words. Her life just gotten more complicated than ever before.

"Of course I do," Stephen replied. "Don't you believe me?"

Hallie set her brush down and got to her feet, facing Stephen. "I'm not good with trust, Stephen," she said edging closer to him. "But I'm trying...you can see I'm trying, can't you?"

"Of course I can," he returned as she slipped into his arms, nestling under his chin.

"Good, because Stephen...there is something I should tell you. Something that I haven't said in a long time and you deserve to hear it." She took a deep breath, looking up into his questioning eyes. "I've been so angry with you for so long and I'm tired. I don't want to be angry anymore. So I won't be. From now on, it's a clean slate. Because...because I love you."

"I know." The corner of Stephen's mouth turned up into a satisfied smile. "I've known since the day you married that idiot. Of course, you took your time saying it, didn't you?"

"But I said it! Isn't that more important?"

"It doesn't matter, Hallie. All that matters is that right now you and I are together finally. I don't think there's anything that could hurt us," he added bending towards her. Hallie sighed gently, letting his kiss envelope her.


Scene 4:

"I hate this town," Dinah muttered under her breath. Nicolas' limousine had entered the city limits, passing by the finished Mason Enterprises building. She studied the new building, sighing heavily at how little they had changed it. "Nothing ever changes here."

Tyler gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, offering her a sympathetic gaze. "It's not my favorite place in the world either."

"I rather like it," Nicolas added. Tyler and Dinah turned towards Nicolas, equally surprised by his admission. "What? It's a quiet town but booming. A lot of money to be made here."

Dinah rolled her eyes. "I guess if you want to think like that," she shrugged. "So, we're back in Conlan's Glen. What now?"

"Yeah, Nicky. Do I just waltz into the police department and turn myself in or what?" Tyler added impatiently. "Because if that's your idea, I might have to pass."

"Of course not. It just so happens that the detective assigned to your case has been rather persistent with me. I think I'll track her down and give her the tape, then bring her to you. She strikes me as a woman who will listen to reason."

"You mean that Detective Hamilton? I don't mean to contradict you, Nicolas," Dinah cut in. "But she's pretty sure Ty raped Missy Cravens." Nicolas Tejera turned a cold gaze on Dinah that chilled her straight through to the bone. She still wondered how Tyler could be related to this man, let alone brothers. "I'm just saying she seemed really set on arresting him."

"I am aware of that, Dinah. However, what she doesn't know is that I can be quite charming when I choose to be. I don't expect to change her mind completely. What I do expect is to place a small kernel of doubt in her steadfast belief in my brother's guilt." He paused and glanced out the window. "Stop here," he ordered the driver with a sharp rap on the window. "As for you two... You'll stay here until I come for you."

Dinah glanced out the window at the building in front of them, recognizing it immediately. They had come to a stop in front of a bed & breakfast near the downtown area. "You want us to stay here?"

"Yes, don't argue with me, Dinah. We don't have a lot of time before you two are spotted by some busybody nearby," Nicolas said climbing out of the limo. Dinah and Tyler climbed out after him following him closely as he climbed the back staircase to the second floor. He knocked on the door once before pushing it open. A man stood in the center of the room with a gun aimed at them for a moment until he saw who had opened the door.

"Mr. Tejera," the man said formally.

"Garcia, where is the detective?" Nicolas asked shedding his suit jacket.

Garcia pointed at a garment bag hanging over the back of a chair. "There's some big party going on at the country club. She's there," Garcia replied. "I figured you'd want to go."

"Good job. Watch over these two. I don't want either one of them to leave until I can bring that detective back here," Nicolas ordered pointing at Tyler and Dinah. "I'm serious. You don't want to wind up in prison, Tyler, you stay here. And Dinah...if your father is as terrible as you claim, I'd suggest you stay here as well. If you don't...I'm not sure I'll be able to help you. Am I clear?"

"Yes," Tyler answered for the both of them. Nicolas nodded and swept up the garment bag. "Garcia, I need to speak with you outside," he added and disappeared back the way he had come. Tyler exhaled a large breath and dropped onto a chair. "I hope this over soon."

"Do you really think your brother is going to help?" Dinah asked beginning to pace nervously. "Because I'll be honest with you, Tyler, I don't trust him. Not at all."

"Well, he's the only one who's willing to help us," Tyler replied. "Dinah, let's just do what Nicky says for now. If he doesn't come through then we'll work this out without him. Okay?"

She met his earnest gaze and nodded his head. "All right...if anything goes wrong though..."

"It won't. Everything is going to work out, I can feel it," he added leaning back in the chair. Dinah turned away, pacing the room nervously. She didn't feel the same at all.



Scene 5:

"God, Maura...you look great," Jory noted from his seat in the living room.

Maura blushed crimson and shook her head. "I do not. You're just saying that to be nice Jory." She pulled the shawl over her shoulders and arranged it carefully, pinning her diamond rose that Jude had given her for Valentine's Day to it. "Besides, I'm sure next to your date, I will look positively frumpy."

"You don't give yourself enough credit. And it isn't a date. She wanted to go," Jory shrugged. "And I wanted to be somewhere besides the hospital."

"Are you sure you're ready for this though? It's a big deal and a lot of people."

"I'm as ready now as I will ever be, Maura. Don't play mom tonight, okay?"

Maura smiled and nodded in acquiescence. She didn't want to ruin Jory's first night out after his release from the hospital. After all, this was big for him and for the family. It was a sign that he was back and safe and healthy. It was some good news at last in a particularly dismal summer. The doorbell rang interrupting their quiet moment.

"That's probably Georgia," Jory said struggling to get to his feet. No matter what he said, Jory was still hurting some from his many surgeries.

"Sit back down, Jory. I'll get the door. You need to learn how to keep your date waiting," she scolded playfully. She winked at him and left the living room, pausing briefly to readjust the shawl one more time. She was beginning to think the shawl would have to go before the night was over. She turned down the hallway towards the front door opening it just as the doorbell sounded again expecting to see Georgia Corelli. Instead, she locked eyes with Jude Fontaine dressed for the charity ball.

"Jude...."

"Maura." His eyes raked over her, making her self conscious about the sheer fabric of her dress. "I was in the neighborhood...at Jamie's," he offered. "I heard Jory was home from the hospital."

"Oh yes. He came home yesterday. Did you want to see him? I think he'd like to see you," she added quickly, hoping that the fact that she wanted more Jude than five minutes on the porch wasn't obvious to him.

"I don't want to be any trouble..."

"You won't be. Come in," she added stepping back.

He slipped by her, coming perilously close to her. Taking a deep breath, she motioned for him to follow her back towards the living room where Jory was getting to his feet, the pain of the movements etched into his eyes and the grim line of his mouth. Maura paused just outside the door until he was on his feet. Her heart ached for her brother. He looked so different than he had before the fire. Before that awful day, he had been vibrant and full of laughter. Since his return home, Maura had yet to see him smile.

She could feel Jude behind her, watching Jory over her head. "He's still in pain?" Jude asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes. But he's determined to go to this charity ball tonight no matter what anyone says," she murmured. Jory closed his eyes for a moment, swaying gently before regaining control. Maura took his cue and wiped her concerned expression from her eyes.

"Jory, you have a visitor," she called cheerfully motioning for Jude to follow her.

Jory's eyes lit up at Jude's entrance. "Jude. How the hell are you?"

"The question should actually be how the hell are you?" Jude countered giving him an appraising gaze.

"I'm alive," he answered with a grin. "And home. So...are you here to take Maura to the charity ball?"

Maura flushed and dropped her eyes. "Jude came by to see..."

"Yes," Jude interrupted. "I didn't ask her if she wanted an escort...or even needed one really."

"What if she had a date? What would you have done then?" Jory asked, giving Maura a wink.

Jude smiled and shook his head a little. "I have it on good information that she was alone tonight. I couldn't let that happen, could I?"

"I suppose not," Jory remarked. The doorbell rang again and he smiled at them taking a tentative step towards it. "That is Georgia and if it's all right with you, Maura, I'll go ahead and get that."

Maura nodded keeping her eyes on Jory and away from Jude for the moment. She watched as Jory took small painful steps toward the hallway. She wanted to help him desperately but kept her hands to her sides and her feet planted firmly to the floor. He wouldn't get better if they babied him all the time. Besides, he had Georgia to help him. It took a bit but he made it to the hallway, shutting the door carefully behind him.

"At least he looks better than he did the last time I saw him," Jude muttered.

Maura turned to Jude, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. "What are you really doing here Jude?"



Scene 6:

Dane waited in the foyer of the Country Club for Liza Gennaro to appear. He was beginning to regret telling Tiffani their date was off. If nothing else, she would have provided a bit of humor for tonight's festivities. At least the one positive side of agreeing to be seen with Liza Gennaro was that he would finally see what Luke saw. Or he hoped he would.

She emerged from the banquet room dressed in a scarlet ball gown that fit every curve of her torso. Her hair was up revealing a graceful neck unadorned by jewelry. For a woman unaccustomed to being in charge as Gwen claimed her to be, she had an air of command about her that kept the Country Club waiters at attention. No wonder Luke was attracted to her, Dane thought as his eyes met hers. She had something that was certain.

He took a step towards her, curiosity putting him in motion. "Liza. You look incredible," he offered.

She blushed lightly, a smile touching her eyes. "Thank you. I thought I should try to look decent for this." She studied his face for a brief moment, curiosity stamped across her own features. "You don't look like Hallie."

"I'm not sure how to take that, so I'll say...thank you." He glanced over his shoulder at the doors to the ballroom. "So, your first shindig. Think it'll go over well?"

"What do you think?" Liza returned carefully.

"I'd say so far so good. I hate these things personally. But since I'm obligated to come, why not make the best of them?" He offered her his hand but Liza only stared at it before raising a frowning gaze at him. "What?"

"If you hate these...things so much why are you even here?" She asked sounding quite a bit like his sister.

"I told you, obligation," Dane shrugged in reply.

"I see." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Was agreeing to 'escort' me an obligation as well?"

Dane took a step back at the leap she had made in reasoning. That was certainly odd. If he was a betting man and, by all accounts, he was, he would bet Liza had her own agenda with this agreement. Likely involving Hallie or Luke in some twisted fashion. He dropped his hand, shoving them nonchalantly in his pockets.

"No. It was a favor actually. Some might call it a demand."

"Gwen?" She asked. He shrugged indifferently. "Why did you agree to it?"

"Curiosity," Dane answered. "And you? I'm sure I wasn't the first choice for you. Why did you agree to be set up by my aunt? And go on tell the truth. It won't get back to her. Unlike Hallie, I do not have a issues with Gwen Mason."

"What about your sister?"

"What about her? I don't live my life to suit her." He turned away from her casually, viewing the art on the walls. The Country Club was building a nice collection of paintings by well known artists. He leaned closer to one of a lone dancer and read the name silently. Diana Sinclair. He would bet five hundred dollars she was frumpy and boring. Girls with beautiful names usually were.

"All right. I'll tell you. I don't care if you do tell Hallie," Liza said. He straightened and turned his head towards her. "My brother was supposed to be my escort. Until Gwen showed up here yesterday and asked me to consider going with you. I said yes because I thought it would drive Hallie nuts," she added brutally. "I want to see your sister squirm."

"What did she do?" Dane inquired lifting an eyebrow.

"Forget it. I'll just go to the ball by myself." She took a step forward towards the ballroom. Dane's hand snaked out to her elbow, reining her back. "Let go!"

"Liza wait. You don't have to tell me what Hallie did. I can guess." He eased his grip on her watching to see if she would bolt. When she didn't, he grinned devilishly at her. "I know she can be a terrible pain in the ass. I've seen her be quite awful to a number of women. But you are the first one who wanted to pay her back. And I'm going to help you. Because my sister needs a comeuppance badly."

This evening, Dane thought as Liza's face lit up, just got a whole lot better.


Scene 7:

"Are you sure about this Jory?" Georgia asked the concern etched into her face.

Jory gave her a disapproving glare before reaching for the door. "I just yelled at my sister not to act like a mother. Don't you start in on me too."

"Fine, but don't come crying to me when you're all tired and worn out just from walking into the room!"

"Come on, Georgia. I have to do this, you know I do." He gave her a smile that he normally saved for his sisters. It was his patented 'do it for me because I'm sweet and you love me' smile. "Please? Plus, just think of how jealous your doctor will be when you walk in on my arm." He could see her relent without saying anything. "Good. Now let's go."

"On one condition, Jory Conlan," Georgia said opening the door for him. "I am a registered nurse and if I see you in any kind of pain or completely exhausted, I intend to take you home whether you like it or not."

"Deal. Now let's go."

"What about your sister? I thought you said she was coming with us?"

"Plans have changed. I'll tell you in the car," Jory added at her confused expression. He followed her to the car, letting her help him more than he would have liked. But he wanted to be at that charity ball. He needed to prove to his family that he was still the same Jory from before. Even if he wasn't. And he had to be honest with himself if no one else. He had changed.

Even if no one else could see it, Jory could see the subtle changes in his own personality. He was angry more often, something that never seemed to be an issue before the fire. He was grouchy as Piper liked to say. Less patient and irritable was how he liked to think of it. But he had a right to be, didn't he? He was the one who almost died in the fire. He was the one who had been ignored by virtually everyone in his family the last few weeks.

Jory had never asked for anything before the accident. He had been the one to dispense advice and be a shoulder to cry on but when he needed it, who helped him? An outsider, that was who. Georgia Corelli had appeared from nowhere and lifted him out of his melancholy state and made him feel needed again. True, she wasn't his family but she needed him just as much as he needed her. He needed his family too, but right now his only concern was proving to them that he wasn't some helpless invalid that they had to tiptoe around. That was why he needed to be at this charity ball.

Once they were settled and on their way, Georgia asked about Maura. "She's got someone else to take her," Jory explained glad to be out of his own thoughts. "You know who Jude Fontaine is?"

"Um...nope. Should I?"

"I guess not. He's a Mason. Actually, long story short. He's Gwen Mason's eldest son. You know Jamie Mason?" Georgia nodded absently. Of course she did, he ran the hospital. "Brothers."

"Oh. He's probably cute then," Georgia said with a grin.

Jory shrugged, strangely annoyed by Georgia's interest in Jude's looks. "Who cares? He's a good guy." Which is more than I can say for your boyfriend, he added silently staring out the window. Whatever good thing she thought she had in Ian McCormick, Jory was certain it wasn't as good as she deserved.


Scene 8:

"What are you really doing here Jude?"

"I already told you why I'm here, Maura," Jude answered. The real reason seemed unimportant right now. From the moment she had opened the door, he had wanted nothing more than to forget why Kevin had asked him to take Maura to the charity ball and just enjoy the evening with her.

"Why are you really here though? The last time we talked you...you needed time. Has that changed?"

"No. Your dad said you didn't have a date. I didn't want you showing up there without one," he replied, watching what he said. There was no need to let her know it was all Kevin's idea.

"How noble but I'll survive, Jude." She pulled her shawl closer to her shoulders. His eyes fell to the rose pinned there. It had been some time since he'd thought of that. Maura's hand went to it protectively, covering it. "You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not," Jude answered quickly. "Why would I? I just didn't know you'd even received it. Let alone kept it."

"Of course I did...it's beautiful. I never got the chance to thank you for it either."

"Yes, well that was a rather tough time for the both of us. I think it's perfect for you, Maura." He resisted the urge to touch her forcing his hands to remain at his sides. Dammit, this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. "I never expected a thank you."

"Well, it's wonderful and I love it. Thank you," she said dropping her eyes.

They fell into an uncomfortable silence, broken by the sound of the door closing in the hall. Jory had made Maura's decision for her. Good for him, Jude thought. Maura's head lifted at the sound, meeting his eyes with an amused look, apparently having the same thought as he did.

"So...I guess that means you'll need a ride," Jude smiled innocently.

"I guess so. But Jude, if you don't want to do this...or if you're here because of my father alone, you don't have to. I'm an adult and I can take care of myself." She lifted her chin defiantly daring him to tell her she couldn't.

"I'm well aware of that," Jude countered with a grin. "All right, time for the hard sell, I see. Yes your father told me you didn't have a date and strongly hinted that I rescue you. But do you think, given everything we've gone through together, that I would be here if I didn't want to be? The truth is, Maura, I do still need time to sort out how I feel about us. But I do enjoy your company and I want to be with you tonight. Can't we go to this thing together and enjoy it?"

"You're asking a lot from me, Jude. How can you stand there and even consider this knowing how I feel about you?"

"Because I'm asking the same of myself," he returned the grin disappearing. "Do you think that this is at all easy for me? Every time I look at you, all I can see is this beautiful woman that told me to leave when I didn't want to. For me to come here tonight and tell you I wanted to spend the evening with you...don't you think that took a lot of courage?"

"But it just sounds like you're here because of my father..."

"I'm not!" Jude snapped. "Look, if you don't want to go, just say so, and I'll leave."

"No, wait. Don't go." She took a step forward, laying her hand on his arm lightly. "I'm sorry. I really want to spend the evening with you, but I don't want it to be because of my dad. Wait," she said when he opened his mouth to respond. "I told you that I loved you and I wanted to be with you but I haven't seen you since then and you show up tonight because my father told you I was dateless and more or less told you to be here, right?"

"Sort of..."

"Well then stop for a minute and think how that looks to me. I flat out told you how I felt and you ignored me but one comment from my father and here you are?"

When she put it that way... If it were the other way around, he would have kicked her out the minute she had admitted someone hinted at being his date. The last thing he would have wanted was a pity date. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made this decision because of your father. But I'm here now and I want to be here. I just needed a little prodding. I didn't think I would get the third degree about my motivations."

"Fine, I'm sorry I questioned you." She dropped her hand to her side, turning away a little.

Jude let out a heavy sigh. "So what now?" He asked. Nothing about being with Maura was easy. Especially now. "I still want to spend the evening with you."

"Even after that? No, don't answer. Pretend I didn't say just say that," she corrected herself. "I want to spend the evening with you too. So, let's just do that. Okay?"

Jude nodded, letting the tension that had built up since Jory left the room dissipate. "Sounds like a good idea to me," he replied motioning towards the door. Maura nodded, following his lead. Maybe, Jude thought, following Maura towards the front door, maybe there was hope for them after all.
 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...