"W-what are you doing here?"she asked, but instead of answering he just pushed past her into the house. She shut the door gently following him into the living room.

"Taylor's gone."

Jade's eyebrows wrinkled."Um, I kind of know that. He's been gone almost a year, Isaac."

"A year on Tuesday."

So that was why he was there. He was upset. She knew she'd be more than a little weepy on Tuesday, but she hadn't realized how much it was affecting Isaac to be that close to the one year anniversary of his brother's death. She kicked herself for not realizing it sooner.

Resting her hand on his arm, she smiled warmly up at him."I know how you feel. We all miss him-."

"But most of all you?"he pleaded with his eyes. She had to know what he was trying to get at. He wasn't sure he'd be able to get out the words.

"Of course I miss him, but not as much as I'd have though I would six months ago. You really helped me through this, Ike. I don't know what I would have done without your friendship."

"Friendship?"The word literally hurt him physically."Just friendship?"

He wasn't trying to tell her that he.... no! She dismissed the thought. But what did he mean."I don't know what you mean, Ike."

Every bone in his body ached to show her, but he was far too afraid of how she would react."Are we just friends? Nothing else?"

"You've never offered me anything more than what we have."It was the only way she could think of avoiding the question. If she answered trustfully, well, she wasn't sure what would happen. Him rejecting her was something she didn't think she could handle.

Reaching out, he took her hands tightly in his, feeling the tremble that went through her body. Slowly he pulled her closer, giving her plenty of time to realize what was going to happen and pull away.

But she didn't.

There lips touched and with a sigh of relief, Jade pulled him closer. She was finally right where she belonged. Taylor would be missed forever, but she could almost see him smiling at what had become of the scared and depressed little girl he had seen her last as.

She could thank Isaac for that.