Layne walked up to the Corys' front door. Amanda had left some files for her on the desk in the living room. Layne knew Cameron had a special night planned for Amanda. She hoped to sneak in and out without interrupting them. She quietly opened the door and was halfway across the foyer when she heard Alli's malice-filled question. Layne stopped in mid-step and gasped.

"How long were you in prison? And how did you get out? I'm really curious to find out how you wormed your way into this house and my mother's life."

Cameron felt as if she had just punched him in the stomach. It took him a moment for all the words to sink in. This was the one subject that he did not want to discuss with anyone. Cameron looked at her, and he knew he had no choice. He had to tell her the things she wanted to know.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know, Alli."

Layne had regained her composure and stepped around the corner. "No, you won't, because Alexandra has forgotten her manners."

Layne did not stop as she strode across the living room and grabbed Alli by the arm. She pulled her over to the side, away from Cameron.

"Layne, it's okay. I. . ."

"No, it's not," Layne told him through clenched teeth.

Alli looked at Layne defiantly. Layne narrowed her eyes at Alli, then tightened her grip on Alli's arm.

Amanda walked in the room and smiled, but her smile faded as she took in the scene before her.

"What's going on?" Amanda asked.

Alli was shooting daggers at Layne with her eyes and chose to ignore the fact that Layne refused to loosen her grip. "When were you going to tell me you brought a murderer into our house? Have you lost your mind?"

Cameron shifted uncomfortably as he looked at Amanda. Layne flung Alli's arm from her and pushed her away. She turned her back on the other people in the room and walked to the terrace doors. Alli walked toward her mother.

"What did you do, Alli? Ambush Cameron?"

Alli looked at her mother in disbelief. "I can't believe you would allow him in this house. He could murder one of us in our sleep."

Cameron closed his eyes. "Look, Amanda, let me explain and leave."

Amanda grabbed his hand. "No, Alli is going to apologize to you."

"Amanda, she has a right to know. I'll answer any question you have, Alli."

Alli was very pleased with herself. She noted Amanda's shocked look and Layne's set jaw. "Why did you kill your father, and why are you walking around free?"

Cameron looked her in the eye. He was not satisfied until she returned his look. "My father beat my brother, my mother, and me everyday. One day he went too far. I came to Bay City as a mole for the FBI. I was sent here to protect this family. . . .your family. Part of the agreement was a completed assignment in exchange for my freedom."

Alli's stone cold stare wavered. She had not expected an explanation that would cause her to feel some sympathy for this man. She continued with her belief, however, that he would only cause her mother heartache, and she was not going to cut him any slack. "How do I know that you aren't going to hurt my mother?"

"I love your mother, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her."

Alli laughed without humor. "That's great. It sounds so easy and tidy, but my mother has not had a relationship with a man yet that turned out anything but messy. I've had a front row seat for the carnage. So excuse me if I'm not making this easy for you. Do us all a favor and just leave her alone."

"Alexandra!" Amanda cried. She could not believe the words coming out of her daughter's mouth. Where was the sweet child she had sent off to Switzerland?

"I understand." That was his answer. He knew nothing else to say, because, despite his love for Amanda, he understood Alli's apprehension and concern. Who would not be concerned having a person like him in their lives? He had thought with Amanda he could be the man he wanted to be. . . .the man Amanda wanted him to be. Maybe it was just predisposed that he be alone.

Alli did not like his answer. It tugged at her. She wanted him to rage at her so her mother could see the real Cameron Sinclair. But she would not get that satisfaction tonight.

"No, Cameron." Amanda said and laid her hand on his arm.

"Yes. Look, Amanda, I think there are more important things that need to be settled here. How about a raincheck on our date?"

Amanda could not hide her feelings of disappointment, but she finally nodded, knowing that she had to handle the situation with Alli. "I'll walk you to the door, Cameron," she said. Then to Alli she added, "Don't go anywhere."

Alli folded her arms and nodded. She turned to walk across the room and met Layne's icy, reproachful gaze. Alli spun around and walked in a different direction to avoid Layne. Her mother's wrath would be bad enough. She did not want to deal with Layne's.

Amanda walked beside Cameron. She put her hand on his arm so he would stop. Cameron faced her. Amanda could see the sadness in his eyes and the beginning of his own self-loathing seeping back.

"Cameron, I'm sorry."

Cameron smiled slightly. "There's nothing to be sorry for. Alli needs to spend some time with you and maybe one day she'll come around."

Amanda smiled back at him. "I love you, Cameron Sinclair. You are far too understanding."

Cameron shrugged, "I see where the kid's coming from. That's all."

Amanda placed her hands on his cheeks. "You had a special evening planned. I. . ."

Cameron placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh. . .there will be another night."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then left quickly. Cameron stopped just beyond the front door and leaned his forehead against the rough bricks of the house. He gently pounded his head against the wall as he admonished himself.

"You can't outrun your past, Sinclair," he said out loud, then walked away.

Layne was standing beside the desk when Amanda walked back into the room. With files in hand, she looked at Amanda silently telling her that she supported her. Layne walked to Amanda and hugged her. "I'm a phone call away," she told her, then left the house.

Amanda faced Alli, who refused to make eye contact. She walked to her, stopped directly in front of her, and sat on the table.

"You and I have some things to talk about. . . ."

*******************

Cameron stood on the hill looking down at the lights of Bay City. He kept his back to everything he had prepared for his night with Amanda. The miniature lights twinkled at him like a beacon. He reached for the extension cord and extinguished the lights.

"Why did you do that? They looked so pretty."

Cameron did not turn around. He was not surprised by the voice that spoke to him from a few feet away. Instead of facing the visitor, he walked to the table covered in a white table cloth. He had planned to blindfold Amanda and lead her here, then pull out the food he had picked up. Tonight was going to be a night just for the two of them. Cameron knew she wanted him to be romantic, and tonight he had wanted to fulfill that dream.

"The evening is over, Laynie. I just want to be alone."

Layne smiled at his use of her nickname that only her closest friends used. She walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Everything will work out, Cameron. I promise."

Cameron did not respond. He reached down and picked up the picnic basket. He was not sure why he had brought it with him from the car. It was obvious that it was wasted.

"No matter what I touch it always turns out wrong."

Layne moved so that she would be in Cameron's line of vision. "I'm not going to listen to you beat yourself up. Alli is in need of some guidance, and her tactics leave something to be desired. Unfortunately, boarding school does not work miracles."

"Don't blame Alli. Blame me. We should have told her."

"It's not exactly a subject that you bring up out of the blue, Cameron."

"I told you, and we barely knew each other." Cameron looked at her, then laughed. "You have a way of getting me to tell you things. One of these days I'll figure it out."

Layne smiled. She felt very close to Cameron. Their experiences in Boca Lynda had formed a bond. "I hope not. I like it that you feel comfortable enough to share your secrets with me . So have you got anything edible in that picnic basket of yours?"

Cameron looked down at the basket, then shook his head. He shoved the basket in her direction. "You're brave. Have a look."

Layne looked at the basket skeptically. "I have a much better idea. Come on, let's go." Layne started down the hill, then noticed Cameron was not following. She walked back to him. "What are you waiting on?"

"I'm not in the mood to go anywhere."

"So you're going to sit on this hill, in the dark, feeling sorry for yourself. Come on, Sinclair. I'm hungry." She saw that her words were not moving him. She sighed. "Alli will come around."

"How do you know?"

Layne shrugged. "She's a smart girl. She'll figure it out. Plus she does have the blood of Ada Hobson in her veins. That counts for a lot. Keep killing her with kindness in the meantime. Now quit dragging your feet, and let's go. I'm hungry." Cameron just looked at her. Layne grabbed his arm and began pulling him along.

"You don't take 'no' for an answer."

Layne smiled. "Nope. Now, come on."

*******************

Amanda paced in the living room. She was exasperated. Nothing she had said to Alli had changed her mind or even appeared to get through to her. She had started to go after Alli when she had stormed to her room, but then decided Alli needed time to cool off. Amanda was torn. She wanted to go to Cameron right now, but she also wanted to show Alli that she was not choosing one over the other. She was at a crossroads.

She had never thought this problem would arise. It was hard for her to see Alli's point of view when it came to Cameron. But then again, maybe it was not so different from her own mistrust of Carl. But even that was different. Carl had been her father's mortal enemy and had hurt this family on numerous occasions. No, there was no comparison. Cameron's purpose from the day she first laid eyes on him was to protect this family. . . .her.

Amanda drifted back to that night by the fountain. A runner in the night stopping out of concern for her. Those green eyes sparkling and his gentle touch. That was the moment. . . .the moment she had fallen head over heels in love with Cameron Sinclair. She smiled despite the turmoil in her life. She was always happy when she thought about him. Her heart filled with love and joy. When he had whispered "I love you" to her as Scott held them captive and their lives had hung in the balance, she had known that if she never drew another breath, her life was complete. Amanda sighed heavily. If she could not share her evening with him, then she would share her dreams with him. She went upstairs ending the evening, forcing herself to stop thinking about what could have been.

*******************

Alli sat in her room with tears streaming down her face. Why could her mother not see that Cameron Sinclair would only break her heart? Alli looked around her room. She had wanted to come home so badly for so long. Now all she wanted to do was get away from here. She had thought being here would make her happy.

Alli looked around at everything so familiar to her. They would never miss her if she was gone. Never.

Alli nodded. "I know what I have to do."

*******************

Cameron was looking at Layne as if she was out of her mind. She laughed when she saw the look on his face. She pulled at his hand as she led him to a small bar by the docks.

"You're going in there?" he asked in disbelief.

Layne looked at the front of the bar that faced the water. It was in a bad part of town, but it was a nice place. "Oh, come on. This is a good, clean place."

"In this part of town?"

"Just hush and come on."

Layne walked in first. The patrons in the bar turned around eyeing the new arrivals. Some of the occupants of the bar were already drunk and leered at Layne. Cameron stepped closer to her and grabbed her arm, not liking the looks she was receiving. She seemed oblivious to all of it.

"Hi, Smitty," Layne greeted the bartender with a smile. She turned to Cameron. "Why don't you find us a seat?"

Cameron did not want to let go of her, but she wiggled away and disappeared. He looked at the other people in the bar who were staring at him out of curiosity. He glared back at them. He found a table and sat uneasily wondering where Layne had disappeared. He paid no attention as the bartender stepped up to the microphone on the small stage in front of the bar and announced the singer. Cameron continued to look around the bar as he waited for Layne to come back, then his full attention was on the singer on stage. He shook his head.

Layne walked from the stage when she finished singing. She smiled at Cameron as she approached the table. She sat down beside him.

"What was that about?" Cameron asked, trying to hide a smile.

Layne shrugged. "The song? Or the singing?"

"Both."

"The song is one of my favorites. I always sing it for my husband. I think he's an angel in disguise. I'm sure he'd love to know I just shared that with you," she told him with a laugh. "As for the singing, everyone has an escape, and music is mine. You should try it."

"Thank you, but I think I'll stick to running."

"You run?"

"Yeah. You should come with me some time. I can't believe you come to this dive to sing. Does Amanda know you do this?"

Layne laughed. "You're the only one who knows. Now don't you feel privileged?"

Cameron smiled. It was the first time in a long time that he felt like he had found a true friend and ally. Sure Amanda was his friend, but their relationship went beyond friendship. With Layne, he felt like he had found a long lost sister. "Yep. Just promise me that you won't come here alone. . . . .ever."

Layne would not look him the eye. "So did you order me something to eat?"

Cameron shook his head as he recognized her ploy to change the subject. He wondered how much trouble he was going to have to get the both of them out of. . .Amanda and Layne. They were a pair.

After they ate, Cameron took Layne back to her car.

"Thanks for taking my mind off things."

"That's what friends are for, right?" Layne smiled.

"So I'll be by your apartment bright and early in the morning."

"Why?" Layne asked, confused by his statement.

"I've decided that you need to find a new escape, and you can start by jogging with me."

*******************

Layne and Cameron had been running for twenty minutes. Layne was having a difficult time keeping up with him. He ran like a cheetah or jaguar. She was panting as they made it to the park.

"Cameron," she gasped. "Come on. Can we rest?"

Cameron began jogging in place in front of her. "Wimp," he taunted.

Layne glared at him, then leaned down slightly and ran into him with her shoulder. Cameron grunted, bringing a smile to her face. They both were still laughing as they moved on. Layne ran into him as he stopped quickly in front of her.

"Cameron. . ."

Layne could see Gary sitting on the bench a few yards from where they were standing. Gary looked like he had a lot weighing on his mind. They walked over to him.

"Hey, you two are jogging together?" Gary asked.

Layne smiled at him. "He calls it 'jogging'. I call it 'running'. He's just trying to be a showoff. You know how he is."

Gary forced a smile. "That's my little brother."

Cameron was not saying a word.

Layne could tell that Gary had something to say, and Cameron was the one that needed to hear it. "Cameron, I need to get ready for work. I'll see you later. It's good to see you, Gary." Layne said, excusing herself.

"So what brings you to the park so early in the morning?" Cameron asked as he sat on the bench beside Gary.

Gary's face hardened and he pursed his lips as he shook his head from side to side, then shrugged. "Nothing you can do anything about."

"Come on. I'm not the one to ask for advice, but I can listen."

Gary continued to sit in silence and just when Cameron thought Gary was not going to say a word, he said, "It's Josie. I think I'm losing her."

Author's Note: The lyrics are from the song "Fly" recorded by The Wilkinsons.

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