Jewel jerked Piper's head to the right in order to sweep some blush across her cheek.  "You okay, kiddo?" she asked.

"Nervous."

Jewel nodded, "don't worry, you'll bring the house down especially in this dress I so lovingly made for you."

"It's practically see-through!"

"Oh, you're so ungrateful, besides it covers all the right spots and you have a killer figure," Jewel said with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, and that makes it better!"

"Sure, if you had cellulite I would have used tarp."

Piper rolled her eyes and Jewel took a step back, eyeing her with scrutiny. Her face softened to show she was satisfied with what she had done.

"You're perfect," Jewel stated proudly.

Piper rolled her eyes again, "I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Well, if you do, just don't do so on the dress."

"Jewel!"

"I know, I know, but, hey you aren't going to barf, so get over it. You'll do fine."

"Ten minutes till curtain."

Piper felt butterfly wings beating fiercely against her insides.

"Hey, isn't Noah here tonight?"

"Oh, gawd do you have to remind me?"

"Yes, because it can be inspiration. He's going to be with Dinah right?"

"Could you get to the inspiration part already?" Piper demanded dryly. 

"Think of it like this. It's your job to go out there and mesmerize the audience, take Noah's focus off Dinah and completely on you. Helena is in love with Demetrius, but he thinks he's in love with Hermia, you can empathize with that."

Piper nodded, rising from her chair. She stopped to examine herself in the mirror. A blush crept into her face at the dress she wore. The thin material gathered in thickly in the middle, but fell to one sheer layer along the sides. Her blonde hair was piled atop her head in curls and waves, some falling to give an almost unkempt look. Tilting her head, slightly, she was enchanted by herself almost. She didn't look like the Piper she was familiar with at all, she looked beautiful, almost ethereal. She caught Jewel's eye from the mirror, holding it for a sense of reassurance. Jewel smiled softly and Piper was able to tear her eyes away from herself.

"See I told you, you are absolutely breathtaking, no one will be able to take their eyes off you...especially in that dress."

"Jewel!"

As soon as the play started she was to be out there, it felt like no time passed between the time the show started and she entered scene one. Alison looked wonderful as well.

"God speed, fair Helena! Whither away?"

"Call you me fair? That fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!"

It was easy for Piper to sound incredibly bitter, she had every right to understand what Helena felt.  "Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue's sweet air more tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear when wheat is green, when Hawthorne buds appear.   Sickness is catching. O, were favor so, Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go."

Helena's jealousy of Hermia reminded Piper of her own towards Dinah. She had grown up green with envy of Dinah's charm and aggressive nature. The way she flirted with boys and they flocked to her. Piper had stood wordlessly in the background and when someone spoke to her, all she could manage was a shy hello or some other small talk. She had grown insecure and doubtful of herself.

"My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, the rest I'd give to you to be translated. O, teach me how you look, and with what art you sway the motion of Demetrius' heart."

Ever so often, Piper would notice the audience, remember Noah being there in it. Her heart would rise to her throat, but she barreled past the emotion, translating it as best she could into Helena's own emotions. Eventually she forgot their was even an audience.



Scene 2:

Noah slid into his seat between Dinah and Maura, handing them each a program he had picked up from the usher. He studied his own looking for Piper's name. He found it at the top of the second page with a brief bio and small picture that did her no justice at all. Maura leaned close to him, holding the program to her mouth.

"If I fall asleep, nudge me awake as quietly as you can," she whispered. "I wouldn't want Piper to think her play bored me to sleep. But I'm still not 100%. Okay?"

Noah nodded, adding, "Are you sure you should even be here? Didn't the doctor tell you to stay at home until you were better?"

"It was the flu not pneumonia. But thank you for caring," she replied smiling. He could see dark smudges of exhaustion under her eyes. It wouldn't matter what he thought about her overexerting herself. Maura always did what she wanted. He shrugged and turned back to Dinah who looked most uncomfortable and unhappy. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her a bit closer to him.

"Thank you for coming, Dinah," he told her, kissing her cheek. "I know this isn't going to be easy for you."

"Noah, I love Piper, she...was my best friend. I'll always want to see her do well," she added. Noah nodded as the lights came down. It was moments before anyone appeared on stage, but he watched enthralled as the actors came out and spoke their lines in Shakespeare's English. Piper emerged from the side, hesitating slightly for only a moment before coming to life on the stage.

He felt his mouth widen in surprise at how different she was and stole a quick glance down the aisle at her family who appeared just as dazed as he was. It seemed no one in the Conlan family thought Piper could pull it off. He turned to whisper something to Dinah but paused at the last minute. With no one watching her, she had let her emotions play across her face as they would. What was that, he wondered. Jealousy, sadness, a bit of anger? He squeezed her fingers gently, shaking her out of her thoughts. She smiled up at him and all her emotions disappeared, replaced with a look of love for him.

Strange, he thought. That look should make me feel positively happy. But it didn't. He should look at Dinah and be overcome with...something for her. But all he felt was friendship. That was wrong. Dinah was a good girlfriend. She was sweet and accommodating, funny and smart too. He was attracted to her though they had done nothing more than kiss, a little heavy petting once or twice, but nothing that would be considered serious.

Turning back to Piper on the stage, he realized why he felt nothing more than friendship with Dinah. When he looked at Piper, his heart leapt in his chest. When he thought of her, his insides turned warm with a heat he couldn't describe. He sat and watched her, entranced at the way she moved and the sound of her voice as it floated through the auditorium.

He felt Dinah's gentle pressure on his fingers as the play edged closer to its finale. Piper was out of reach, he reminded himself. She had a boyfriend now. He had a girlfriend. He had blown it with Piper and the most he could ever be to her was a friend. As she came out to take her bow to a barrage of roaring approval though, he wondered if there might be some small chance for them in the future despite their current situation. He hoped there was.



Scene 3:

She was going to cry. Alison looked at her and giggled. "Don't cry because I'll cry," she said, biting her lip in the same way Piper was.

"I think it will mainly be from relief," Piper whispered as Puck said his final line to the audience silenced in awe. Alison squeezed Piper's eye hand as the lights came up and the audience jumped to their feet in applause. Piper saw Frank clench his fist in triumph from behind the curtains on the other side. If Frank was excited so was she. Jonathan came up behind the two.

"Pip, you didn't throw up," Jon teased. 

Piper rolled her eyes as everyone begin flowing on stage. Piper squeezed Alison's hand and Jonathan's hand. Everyone bowed and applauded for one another and Piper's eyes fell directly on Noah in the audience. Amazing how out of the huge auditorium she was able to find Noah...and Dinah next to him.  Piper tore her eyes away from the couple and continued to smile. No she wasn't going to let them bring her down. 

"Only three more!" Jonathan said as they hurried off the stage. Piper ran through the dressing room into the foyer, she searched the crowd for her father. "Dad!" she cried, pushing past people, some complimenting her on the way, and she threw herself into his arms.

"You were wonderful, Piper," Kevin said crushing her in a bear hug. "We  all enjoyed it didn't we?" Maura, Luke and Jory pressed around Kevin, nodding in agreement. "We brought some friends of yours back with us. They wanted to say hi." He let her go and motioned for the other kids to follow him.

"Hi Piper," Dinah said softly, his hand firmly tucked into Noah's. 

Well, why not rain on her parade, it would figure. Her eyes fell to their hands and she felt extreme contempt at that. "Hi," she said sweetly, too sweetly.

And as if on cue, Chase made his way through the crowd to her. He stopped to give Luke a firm handshake and the two joked about something. He then moved to Piper, wrapping his arm around her waist and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Chase smiled kindly at Kevin and shook his hand. 

"You were beautiful," he said, turning back to Piper giving her a squeeze. Normally Piper would be forcing a smile when Chase acted this way, but at the moment it felt good especially with Dinah and Noah right there.  

Dinah felt Noah stiffen at Chase's appearance. We'll make it short, he had said. Had he wanted some sort of confrontation, she wondered. "We won't keep you, Piper," she heard Noah saying. "Just wanted to let you know we thought you were...stunning up there."

"Thanks," she said quietly, turning back to her father before a blush could creep up in her face. "Do you like the costume?" she asked him, trying to divert her attention away from Noah and his hand entwined with Dinah's, the bitch. "Jewel made all the costumes for the play," she said, whirling around in the one shouldered, Greek goddess number. Kevin Conlan was a bit startled by Jewel, but none the less charmed by her character so he approved of Piper's off-beat friend.

"Come on," Noah whispered in Dinah's ear, tugging her away. "She doesn't want to talk to us." Dinah nodded numbly following him for a moment. Piper was being ridiculous. Wasn't she? Or was Piper justified? Seemed these days, Dinah wasn't so sure Piper was overreacting. Noah always seemed distant and tonight during the play...he had been rapt while looking at Piper. Anyone with eyes could see how he felt about her. It was all over his face.



Scene 4:

"You know what?" She said letting his hand go for a moment. "I think I  left my sweater in there. I'll be right back." She hurried back to where Piper was and grabbed her hand, yanking her away from the crowd before she could protest.

Piper darted a look over her shoulders towards her family and Chase. She looked back towards Dinah, an extremely disgusted frown crossing her face. Normally, Piper would be protesting by now, but for someone reason she was looking forward to this. It was probably the adrenaline rush from being in the play or the delight in being the center of attention. Dinah waited till they were far out of hearing distance to whirl on her.

In a calm, collected manner, Piper raised her eyebrows and said, "Obviously you have something profound to say, I'm looking forward to it."

"I think the way you are treating Noah is disgusting. Being mad at me is one thing, I probably deserve it, bit being rude to Noah? That's low, Piper."

"Oh, you do deserve it and I'm not treating Noah badly. I said thanks when he complimented me my performance, was I supposed to gush over him like I used to? Blush and giggle because Noah complimented me. Well, that was kind of wiped out of me when you took the wind from my sails, Dinah. It's really not worth it anymore. This is my night to enjoy and I really don't appreciate you trying to manipulate it into a teenage angst film." Piper was cold and distant, the years of memories between the two seeming to have completely disappeared from her mind. There was no fondness, no affection. The only thing of Dinah that consumed Piper's mind now was her betrayal.

"You're just jealous because I had the nerve to do what you were always afraid of," Dinah snapped back. "That's right, you pined away for Noah too afraid to do anything. But when I happened to luck into something, you got jealous. That's all this is. I didn't plan for anything to happen. I wouldn't purposely go out and hurt you. But if you want to play the victim, you go right ahead. Give me your best shot."

"Oh, go ahead and tell yourself that Dinah because you know you're a backstabbing bitch!" Piper snapped, noting how Dinah's eyes widened slightly at Piper's word, "yeah, that's what I said, a backstabbing bitch. And I'm jealous, believe me I don't have any hang ups about admitting that, but you have a hang up in the fact that you're a fraud, a so called friend, and you know it! If you wouldn't purposely hurt me then why are you dating Noah? You know, Dinah, that if you had been head over heels in love with Noah first I would never ever have touched him," Piper stepped forward, "and you know that's true."

"You're right about that. You wouldn't have because you're too meek.  That's why you've got yourself in trouble with that Chase. Don't give me that look! I know you do whatever he says don't you? That's pathetic Piper."

Piper opened her mouth again to shoot back another out another remark, but stopped herself. "Did you pull me aside so we could insult each other, Dinah?" she asked. It wasn't that she was avoiding the conflict because she knew Dinah was right and Dinah knew Piper knew she was right. Piper held no desire to be dragged into this with Dinah, it wasn't worth it. Arguing irrationally never got anywhere. "Dinah, I don't care to argue with you because no matter how much we argue nothing is going to get anywhere. You're going to keep telling me I'm too meek and pathetic and I'm going to keep telling you you're a selfish bitch, so what's the point? Just so I have to hear what you say? I didn't care to hear last time and I don't care to hear this time. Why? Because it's trivial, it's futile, and nothing ever comes of it. You're with Noah, go you. I'm trying to move on and I would really appreciate it if you would step off your fucking soapbox because I really don't care all that much about what comes out of your oversized mouth." Her words started out calm, but by the end they were stinging and vicious. "Now why don't you give me your last word because I'm sure you would like to have it and then keep this relationship at what it now is. Nothing."

Final word? What had she pulled Piper aside for after all? To chastise her about Noah after all? No. There was something more than that. Something that she had been meaning to say. No better time like the present. "All right, final words. And then I'll leave you alone, never speak to you if that's what you want." She took a breath. "I'm sorry. I never intended to steal Noah. Ever. It happened. You won't believe me. I know it. But I had to say it. I am sorry. I do know what a terrible thing it is that I've done."

Piper raised her eyebrows in surprise. She nodded, contemplating over Dinah's words. Finally, while she struggled to keep her self composed and succeeded easily she said, "and I'm sorry because I wish I could say I forgive you, but I don't think I ever will be able to. It's my turn to be selfish, but you get what you give." Piper gave Dinah one last final look, fully realizing how true her words were, she couldn't forgive Dinah. It disappointed Piper to find such a horrible flaw within herself, but she couldn't change it, if she attempted to she would merely be lying to Dinah when she said 'I forgive you.' "Again, I'm sorry," she repeated and turned on her heel back to the cluster of her family.

Dinah watched her go, feeling nothing but the sting of Piper's words. What else could she do? Nothing, save face up to the fact that she had lost her best friend. And quite possibly made an enemy out of her as well. Noah stuck his head inside the door and waved at her. Time to go, she thought. Go with a guy that your ex-best friend used to love beyond reason. She waved back, snatching her sweater from the chair she had dropped it on and headed to where Noah waited. She could always make another best friend. Couldn't she?



Scene 5:

Jude stopped short in the entryway of the theater. Maura was there, he had known she would be, he realized, in a cluster with her family. Her face was slightly flushed but she looked healthy enough. Perhaps the color was only her happiness showing on her face. His gaze circled the group, coming to rest on Rick Upton. He stood opposite Maura, his hand resting possessively on the small of Jillie's back but his eyes were fixed on Maura despite Jillie's attempt to sway his attention.  

Jude felt a twinge of jealousy as he recognized the same possessive attitude in Rick's eyes that he had seen that day in Maura's office. What gave him the right to still want ownership of Maura after so long? What kind of ego did he have to think Maura still wanted to be owned? Of course, Maura had asked for Rick, he reminded himself. He turned his eyes to Maura, blushing furiously as he met her eyes and realized she had been watching him as well. He tipped his head in a brief nod of greeting, his eyes locked on hers.  

She said something to her father and stepped away from the group. Taking his cue from her, he followed her to the parking lot, catching up to her just outside the building. The wind was colder now that it was later in the night and the air had a sharp bite to it. Maura pulled her coat tighter around herself, burying herself against the weather.

"You shouldn't be out here," he said at last. "It's too cold." Maura shrugged and looked towards the cars in the lot.

"Take me home then," she said simply. He nodded , leading the way to his car. He had no idea what they were doing, but there was, at least, no terrible awkwardness between them. He opened the door for her, helping her in before climbing in the driver's seat. He didn't turn the engine on right away though. He sat staring at the wheel trying to piece together what he wanted to say. Maura, though, broke his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Jude," she said softly staring down at her hands, folded neatly in her lap. He turned his head to look at her, watching the flush of the evening drain from her face with the chill in the air.

"Why?" He asked. She swallowed and kept her eyes down.  

"I didn't realize I was ill...and Rick...he was always there when I was sick before. I don't know why," she added lamely.

"Do you still love him?"  

"Do you still love Cynthia?" Maura shot back, returning his challenge. She raised her eyes carefully guarding her own feelings from him.  

Did he love Cynthia? No. He didn't. He cared about her, she was a part of his life but he didn't love her. Not anymore. He had moved on even if she hadn't. But Cynthia's stubborn clinging to the past risked his future with Maura, the one woman he had been able to get close to since Cynthia.

"No, I don't. But if it's Rick you want, I can step aside. I don't want to, but I will," he said at last.  

"I don't want Rick," she said , tears welling in her eyes. "Before he interrupted us, I was going to tell you that I was sorry I ever thought you would agree to Cynthia's stupid idea. I should have trusted you and I didn't. I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course I can, Maura! I've been absolutely miserable the last few days, knowing you were sick and thinking you didn't want to see me. It took all the courage I had to show up here tonight knowing you might be here," he answered, his voice growing husky with emotion.  

"I'm glad you came. Jude...I've missed you," Maura told him catching his hand in hers. He smiled and squeezed her hand.  

"Maura, you don't know how relieved I am to hear you say that."



Scene 6:

Piper emerged in the flood of smiling faces that belonged to fellow cast and family. Piper threw on a believable smile and broke back into the cluster of folks that was her family.

"Hey, I'm going to stick around her so I can change and hang out with everyone, celebrate our opening night," she said. She ignored the look Chase gave her.

Luke nudged past Chase and squeezed Piper's hand. "You were wonderful, Pip. Just amazing, wasn't she Hallie." Hallie smiled sweetly but looked as if she would rather be anywhere but where she was.

"Oh absolutely. You were very special," Hallie agreed.

Piper delivered a saccharine smile to Hallie and when she wasn't looking made gagging faces to Luke. He gave her a look of saccharine returned to her face. 

"Well, I'll see everyone tonight," she said, backing up towards the dressing room so she could steal away before Chase could speak up.

"I guess you're out in the cold tonight, Chase," Luke grinned taking Hallie by the arm and leading her away. "Good luck with Piper," he laughed over his shoulder at Chase.

Why did Luke have to go and be an idiot? Chase was at her before she could make it to the dressing room. 

"I thought we were going out to eat?" he demanded.

"You never mentioned it," Piper said, delivering the same attitude to Chase that she had given Dinah.

"I mentioned it yesterday."

Piper sighed, "no, you didn't, Chase and I have already made plans with everyone here." She saw the flash in Chase's eyes and the clustered foyer provided a sense of safety for her. She knew Chase wouldn't raise his voice with so many people around.

"You've turned into a real flake since you've met that Jewel girl, you know it?" he said.
Normally his words would make her cringe, but no expression reflected in Piper's face. She shrugged and with her back pushed the door open to the dressing room ever so slightly.

"Sorry," she said carelessly before leaving him alone in the foyer.

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

Episode 68