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Awww....Thanks for all the sweet comments, it was so nice getting back from vacation and having such positive reviews to read. Keep the feedback coming; I love hearing what you guys think !!!

N.B. A little snippet of conversation in Ch. 2 is taken from an actual episode of AMC that occured later in 2000. It will never happen like this in my little universe, but since I thought this excert was very telling about a certain person's character, I included it here. See if you can pick it out .

Alli

Chapter 2

As he got off the elevator, David observed that every hospital he had ever been in was the same. Rumor mills all of them, and PVH was no exception. It was the kind of place where everyone seemed to have a secret, the kind of secret everyone else wanted to know. David knew that as soon as the gossips were made aware of the fact that he was altering his daily routine their radar for a scoop would be up and running in no time. He hated this fact; he wanted to keep his relationship with Erica away from public scrutiny. He laughed sardonically knowing that would never happen. From the moment that they had outed themselves at Palmer and Vanessa’s party, David and Erica had been public fodder. He could hardly walk by the nurse’s station anymore without everyone there immediately shutting up and trying to look busy. As he reached the door to his office, he just prayed he would be able to keep his latest relationship secret away from prying eyes long enough that he could share the news with a couple of very important people privately first…

Speaking of secrets, there she was Alexandra Devane Marick. David had never been thrilled with the idea of sharing an office with the frigid Brit, and he knew that their confrontation two nights ago wasn’t going to help matters. He had agreed to shared space for only two reasons: first, it was for the good of the foundation, and second, he believed in that old adage about keeping your enemies close. As of right now, however, Dr. Marick was inconsequential; David had much more important things to attend to and he was going to make an effort to keep things brief but civil. “Morning,” he offered if for no other reason than to break the ice.

“Well at least you didn’t add good,” Alex snapped, “Because after that little stunt you pulled in the stairwell the other night, I know you don’t wish me well.”

“Oh, and were you wishing me well on New Year’s Eve when you pushed be down the stairs at Wildwind,” David retaliated. Even as the words were leaving his mouth he knew that he never should have said them. The look on Alex’s face indicated that he might just have to be here for a while.

“You certainly found a way to pay me back for that didn’t you Dr. Hayward, you and your cheeky little girlfriend. You just couldn’t wait to use a past I can’t remember against me.”

“At least you seem to know who I am today, Alex, that has to be a good thing.” Damn it, why did he keep saying things like that. The bloody woman really knew how to push his buttons.

“You just had to inform the whole world that I killed a man once, didn’t you?”

“Alex, I would hardly consider Erica and Edmund the entire world, and besides you really would be the expert on using the misfortunes in a person’s past against him.” He didn’t just bring up Siobhan; his thoughts of Erica and what he had planned were really starting to make him think unclearly. He had to get out of there and fast.

As if on cue, the door swung open and in walked Jake Martin. “Perfect…just perfect,” David mumbled under his breath, things just couldn’t get any better. David did notice one positive outcome from Jake’s arrival: it had managed to shut Alex up. There was no way she was going discuss her sordid past any further in front of the Chief of Staff’s son.

“What d’ya want, Martin?” David barked as Jake closed the door behind him.

“Hayward, a pleasure as always,” Jake retorted snarkily. David narrowed his brows, glaring at him. Jake nervously cleared his throat and continued, “Uh, David I had this patient come into the ER last night complaining of chest pains and I would really appreciate it if you would take a look at him for me.”

“Can’t,” David stated simply. “I’m going to make rounds and then I’m leaving for the day, but Dr. Bryant is covering my patients.”

“Your leaving for the day, just like that,” Alex inquired in disbelief.

“How did you get Tom to cover for you?” Jake asked, “He never misses his kid’s Saturday basketball game, thinks Shawn is going to be the next Michael Jordan.”

“Yeah well, he made an exception when I promised to give him my 76ers season tickets.”

“Season tickets?”

“Yeah, the governor gave me courtside seats when I saved his life…but you wouldn’t know about that sort of thing, would ya, Jake old boy?”

“Courtside seats…?”

“Yeah, courtside seats. Does little Jakey want to be my friend now that he knows about all the neat toys I have to play with?” David laughed, as Jake rolled his eyes.

“These plans of yours wouldn’t include your precious girlfriend Erica, would they?” Alex finally managed to ask.

David just smiled knowing that soon Erica would be a lot more than his girlfriend, “Gotta go, sorry I can’t stay and chat guys. I always find our conversations so…interesting.”

David hurried out the door, closing it behind him. “Something I said?” asked Alex. “I mean really, what got into him, one minute his laying into you and the next he’s in La La Land.” Jake just shrugged.
___________

David had quickly finished up his rounds and was able to board the corporate jet at exactly 9:30 a.m. Looking around he realized just how traceable his little trip to New York was going to be. It was at times like this that David wished he hadn’t sold his own leer before moving to Pine Valley. Hopefully this would turn out to be only a minor regret and not one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

He sat down on one of the plane’s plush leather seats and fastened his seatbelt. At that moment the intercom cut on and he heard the pilot say, “Good morning, Dr. Hayward. Skies are clear from here to New York. We should be there in just over an hour, sir, so sit back and relax.

“Relax,” David thought, easy for him to say. He rested his head back against the seat and prayed that Edward wouldn’t find out about his impromptu trip, which was ridiculous seeing as how Edward always had a way of learning about things David would prefer he didn’t.
___________

Erica sighed softly and laid her head back against the cream colored leather of her desk chair. She knew that she should be concentrating, preparing for the meeting she would be having later with the Japanese investors, but she just couldn’t keep her mind from wandering. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the previous night: the way David had looked in the firelight, the glow of his bronze skin, the touch of his hands all over her body, the feel of his lips on hers, and the way his hot, steamy kisses could take her breath away. She smiled remembering how it had felt to wake up next to him. She never felt as safe as she did when she was wrapped securely in his arms, like nothing could ever hurt her again, and yet at the same time she never felt more alive. She truly missed David when he wasn’t with her, especially at night. Thank god, that didn’t happen too often. They had exchanged keys at Christmas, and since then David had taken to spending the night even when a surgery kept him out late. Erica half mused whether he did this just in hopes of enjoying a morning quickie but dismissed the possibility. David seemed happy when he was with her, at peace somehow.

Erica sighed again more deeply this time. This was all she and David would ever have. He wasn’t the marrying kind; he was too jaded and his past had taught him time and again that trust and commitment were dangerous things. She understood and she knew in her heart that she could be truly content with the life they had, but somehow it still made her sad to realize that her dream would never come true, she would never have her fairytale ending.

Erica brightened again when it dawned on her that maybe the fairytale was overrated. Scarlett and Rhett hadn’t had the fairytale, but they had done all right hadn’t they? David was like Rhett; he wasn’t the good man, the honest man, the nice man…not by anyone’s standards. Erica had been with plenty of these nice guys, and none of them had made her happy, none of them had been able to touch her core. Yet all of them had been considered Mr. Right by someone…her mother, Myrtle, even Opal. It was at this moment that Erica realized that her entire life she had been trying to please others, and live by their ideas of what was good for her, but not anymore. David might not be the good man but he was the right man, the right man for her.

Erica knew that she had never felt about anyone the way she did about David. She didn’t love him in spite of his faults; she loved him because of them, the way he loved her. Her love for David was unconditional, sacrificing…not in the sense that she would stay with him at the expense of herself, but that for the first time she cared about her lover’s happiness above her own. She saw the same pain in David’s eyes that she dealt with on a daily basis and she desperately wanted to take that pain away. Everyday she was with him she could feel the darkness within her receding further and further away, and she could only hope she did the same for him. They belonged together, Erica was sure of this. Though she might not ever get her fairytale ending, maybe cohabitation wasn’t out of the question; they were practically living together anyway. She would have to bring the subject up to David carefully; she didn’t want to scare him by taking things to fast…

“I think it is imperative that you mention how well the skincare line is doing. The projections for next quarter have sells through the roof…Ms. Kane, Ms. Kane?” said her assistant Val trying to get her attention.

“Huh…”

“Earth to Erica Kane, come in Erica…where did you go just now? Did you get any of that?” he asked laughing.

“Oh, I’m sorry Val, my mind must have been somewhere else,” Erica apologized.

“Yeah, apparently.”

“Don’t give me a hard time,” she teased, “I’ve had a lot of things to think about as of late.”

“No kidding, like the new fragrance line, skincare, not to mention hair products…” he continued, stopping when he noticed that his boss had once again checked out. “Or maybe that Dr. Hayward you’ve been seeing so much of,” he added softly knowing that Erica was too lost in her daydreams to hear him.
___________

David arrived safely in New York and reached his appointed destination at just around noon. As he walked through the doors he was immediately greeted by a woman he knew quite well. She was an older lady with snow-white hair and a pleasant disposition. She had assisted not only David but ever man in his family really in selecting the ideal little trinkets for the array of women that came in and out of their lives. An astute observer of character, Beatrice Saunders, senior store manager at Tiffany & Co., was well aware, however, that this visit would be very different. Dr. Hayward had the look of a man in love, it was a look she could spot a mile away, and there was no doubt in her mind about what he was interested in today. “Dr. Hayward, it’s been awhile. I was so pleased when you called me this morning to set up an appointment; what can I help you with today?”

“Rings,” David responded, “I’m looking for an engagement ring.”

“Well you’ve come to the right place; I’m sure we can find something the lucky lady will absolutely adore.”
___________

It was around noon but Erica had made the decision to work through lunch. She really needed to get ready for her meeting later that evening and her distracting thoughts weren’t helping matters. She smiled as she looked over the quarterly projections; Enchantment was really taking off. Her product lines were receiving rave reviews in every demographic and the new skincare campaign wasn’t scheduled to begin until March, but she already had a whole list of items on backorder. Bianca was healthy and her own romantic life finally seemed to be falling into place. Life was good…

Just then Val buzzed her over the intercom. “Ms. Kane, I know you’re busy but do you have time for visitors?”

“Who is it, Val?”

“Us!” responded a very determined looking Opal as she pushed her way through the door and plopped herself down in one of the chairs in front of Erica’s desk. Myrtle followed a few seconds later and took the chair next to Opal.

Erica could tell this wasn’t a typical social call and she puffed up slightly in response to the intrusion. “I take it there is something you wish to discuss with me.”

“You took right!” Opal retorted.

Before he exited the room Val, forever the diligent assistant, asked, “Ms. Fargate, Ms. Cort…” he stopped noticing Opal’s grimace at the use of her ex’s name, “Opal – can I get you ladies anything.” They both just shook their heads.

“That’ll be all, Val,” Erica stated. As he turned to leave, Val gave his boss a sympathetic pout before closing the door.

“So what’s going on?” Erica inquired flatly. She didn’t really want to know, but she could tell that they weren’t going anywhere and she wanted to speed the process along a bit.

“Erica…” Myrtle started calmly in that special tone of voice that was all her own, a tone that was loving and interfering all at the same time.

But Opal interjected, “Girlfriend, Myrt here informs me that you’re still hanging around with that sleazy doctor and that on New Year’s Eve you lost your mind and actually mentioned that you two have a future. Now what’s going on with you and Dr. Demented?”

“Dr. Hayward and I are involved, we’re together, that’s all you need to know,” Erica growled. The shocked expressions on her friends’ faces were enough to let her know that they hadn’t expected such a frank response. But Erica didn’t care – she loved David and she was tired of everyone butting into her life. “And Myrtle, I mean I’m hurt,” Erica continued, “I would expect this kind of thing from a blabbermouth like Opal, but not from you. So how long did it take you to relay the details of our private conversation to everyone at the Glamourama.”

“Now darlin’ it wasn’t like that,” Myrtle responded. “We are your best friends and we love ya’. I was concerned for you sweetheart. I don’t like hearing you talk about Dr. High-and-Mighty Hayward in the future tense. Erica, I would hate to see you make a mistake you’ll come to regret.”

“You know what, I’ve made and married a great number of mistakes that you all approved off, so perhaps I should take any advice that you girls give me with a grain of salt.”

“Marriage!” yelled Opal, “You and Hayward?”

“Now who said anything about marriage,” Erica snapped defensively.

“You did honey,” Myrtle soothed, “But you can’t be serious…right?”

“Myrtle, Opal, you have nothing to worry about. David has no plans to marry me or anyone else in the near future.”

“It’s not his plans I’m worried about,” Myrtle responded softly.

“You know what, I’m very busy. I have an important business dinner tonight and I must finishing preparing…so if you don’t mind?”

“Ok darlin’ that’s fine, we’ll leave. But this discussion is not over,” Myrtle vowed.

“Uh huh, whatever,” Erica mumbled.

“Girlfriend…” began Opal.

“Get out!”

As Myrtle closed the door behind them, Erica sank down into her chair and moaned. “Life with David was certainly a challenge,” she thought.
___________

“No, No, No…” David yelled, “None of these are right.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Hayward, but we’ve looked at every diamond in the store…twice.”

“Look if your saying you don’t have what I’m looking for, I can always go somewhere else.” David had never been the type who cared about cut, carets, clarity, and that other ‘c’ when purchasing jewelry for any other woman. His basic method for picking it out had always been to go into the store and buy the most expensive bauble he could find, and experience had taught him it was a sure fire way to please most women…but Erica wasn’t most women. He never wanted to get her something meaningless or trivial, not for his Erica, his love. Somehow all the rings he had seen were wrong. Either the stone was too small, too plain, or at the other extreme overly large, gaudy, and sure to look ridiculous on Erica’s dainty finger.

“I’m the one who’s sorry Beatrice, you didn’t deserve that. It’s just that this ring has to be perfect just like the woman whose finger I intend to place it on.”

“Well, perhaps another stone. Amethysts are quite popular, or how about an emerald?”

“God no,” barked David, “it has to be a diamond. Diamonds are forever.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before…but I have something I’m just sure you’ll love. It’s in the back, in the safe. I’ll just go get it, I’ll only be a minute,” the flustered manager somehow got out.
___________

Myrtle and Opal couldn’t have been gone more than a few minutes when Val buzzed her again, “Ms. Kane, Mr. Montgomery is here to see you. He says it’s important.” Damn it, had she forgotten about a meeting she had scheduled with Jack?

“Send him in, Val. God, it’s like Grand Central Station in here today,” Erica groaned heavily. She immediately regretted her decision noting that they had no contracts to go over and she highly doubted that she would have planned a legal powwow for a Saturday. “So what does he want?” she asked rubbing her forehead in obvious displeasure.

No sooner had the thought passed through her mind before Jackson Montgomery came strolling into the room carrying what looked to be take-out bags from BJ’s. “I took the liberty of ordering us lunch,” declared Jack, “so I certainly hope your hungry.” Erica had to smile dryly, somehow Jackson always had a way of making even the simplest benevolent gesture sound as if he had just negotiated peace in the Middle East.”

“What, is the legal business so bad that you couldn’t spring for the Valley Inn,” Erica teased playfully as she opened the bag he placed on her desk and pulled out a cheeseburger and fries.

“Maybe I just assumed that you would be tired of the food served at the Valley Inn, considering you seem to be eating there so much these days,” Jack retorted haughtily.

Erica decided it would be best to ignore this obvious dig at David…for now. There was no way in hell she was going to give Jackson what he wanted without a fight. Subtlety had never been Jackson Montgomery’s strong suit: if he was already throwing barbs it meant he was ready to go a few rounds, and Erica certainly wasn’t willing to discuss David with her ex-fiancé. “Come on Jack,” Erica soothed, “I was just playing and it really was very thoughtful of you to bring this here to me. I haven’t eaten all day and I’m famished.”

At this Jackson’s feathers seemed to unruffle slightly; however, it was obvious to Erica that he still had no intention of abandoning his anti-David crusade. As she took a bite of her burger Erica looked over at her lunch companion and wondered what she had ever seen in the man. Everything about him screamed stuffy and overbearing from his tailored powder gray power suit to the highbrow manner in which he spoke, an intonation better suited for the stogy lecture halls of a conservative university than for polite conversation.

Erica’s musings ended abruptly as Jack began, “Well Erica, I had to bring you lunch. It seems to be the only way to get in touch with you these days since you are obviously incapable of returning your messages.”

His condescending attitude was like a slap in the face. Erica bit her lip softly and carefully brushed a strand of hair from her cheek before responding quietly, “I’ve been very busy Jackson, I just got back…”

Ever oblivious to her pain, he cut her off saying, “So busy you couldn’t pick up a phone.”

Anger flooded Erica’s face making her brown eyes glow with fire. “I was on vacation with my daughter, your niece Jack, and I’ve only been back two days,” she snapped.

“Oh, but I’m sure David Hayward managed to warrant a phone call,” Jackson nearly spit. Erica was a mystery to him, a puzzle he knew he would never solve. But by god he loved her, and the thought of her and Hayward made his blood run cold. Even to this day, after everything they had been through, he had a hard time not taking her in his arms right then and there…but Erica certainly wasn’t looking very receptive.

“Yes, Jackson,” Erica finally conceded, “I called David…we are together…we’re in love,” she said slowly making sure he heard every word. She didn’t want to hurt him, though she knew she was; her aim was to make him realize that his smear campaign wasn’t going to change her opinion.

But he was relentless, “Speaking of Bianca, what does she think of your new…relationship?”

“Bianca absolutely adores David,” Erica retaliated a little more defensively than she had intended.

Like the lawyer he was, Jack went in for the kill, “Yes, but does she adore David as a potential step-father, or as the latest in your rather long line of bedmates.”

Erica fumed and it took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to give the arrogant SOB a fat lip, “How dare you pass moral judgment on me Jackson Montgomery, it was our affair that cost me custody of Bianca to begin with…”

He interjected before she could continue, “It’s not moral judgment, Erica. It’s simple curiosity. I just want to know if there are any plans in the works to make David Hayward the next Mr. Erica Kane.”

“Oh, and you put that so nicely too,” Erica snarled.

“ Thank you…Well I do have to give the guy credit, he has been your lover a long time without falling into the marriage trap,” Jack added. He couldn’t help smiling at her; Erica always did look so damn beautiful when she was angry. And Hayward, bastard that he was, didn’t deserve her.

“Look Jack, David and I are completely happy with the way things are. I don’t want to change them or him,” Erica affirmed in a voice so full of conviction it almost stopped him in his tracks, almost…

In one last ditch effort to force her to see things his way, Jackson threw a very low blow, “You know she’s going to hate him Erica, just like the rest of the people who love you, once she gets to know him.”

“Bianca is a smart girl, Jack. She makes up her own mind about people, just like I do. Unless of course you and Travis are planning to brainwash her, turn her against me again.”

“We never did that, Erica…” Jack exploded, “Oh for god’s sake, is he really worth all this aggravation? Does he really mean that much to you?”

Erica smiled serenely, it was the most radiant sight Jack had ever witnessed, and then she got that far off look again, “Yes Jack…yes he does.”
___________

“It’s perfect,” David breathed, as he looked at the most stunning diamond he had ever seen. The stone was set in a platinum band and it was just the right size, large but not too garish. It was perfectly clear and the way it caught the light was mesmerizing; David new instantly that this ring belonged on Erica’s hand. Somehow it was just…right, but it took him a second to realize why. “Call me crazy,” he said, “but that diamond looks like…”

“An orchid, I know,” Beatrice cut in, “isn’t it amazing!”

“Yes amazing,” David marveled.

“The designer who made it planned to create a whole line of diamonds cut to look like flowers. A little garden you can wear on your finger,” she mused, “but the process was so intricate and time consuming that he knew the endeavor would never be profitable so the concept was scraped. There are only two others like it in the whole world, roses I think. I mean the thing costs a fortune…but I know that won’t be a problem for you.”

“No, definitely not,” said David laughing, “I’ll take it.”

“Wait a second,” Beatrice warned, “the band is too ornate to be resized so it must fit as is – I hope your lady love has small hands.”

David sighed and pulled Erica’s ruby ring from his pocket. “I came prepared,” he supplied handing the ring to her.

“Well this must me your lucky day, either that or destiny. Looks like you’ve got yourself a perfect fit.”

“Perfect,” he added grinning. “And I want to get it engraved.”

“The Band or the stone itself?” Beatrice asked.

David looked slightly taken aback, “Both I guess.”

“Just write what you want it to say on this piece of paper and I’ll have it done ASAP, but just remember that she can only read what you put on the stone under a microscope.”

“Uh, ok,” said David, “Oh, and can I see what you have to go on a charm bracelet.”

“Of course, you’ve come to the right place,” Beatrice said laughing.

To Be Continued…

Please give me lots of reviews!!!

This chapter introduces the first new character, please let me know what you think of him and the rest of the chapter.

N.B.
- While the character shares a name w/ an ex-character from OLTL this wasn't intentional. They are not the same person. The name is actually a combo of two people who were my inspiration.
- Italized text indicates a flashback

Chapter 4

Erica Kane was sitting up in bed with her left arm outstretched admiring her new engagement ring in the early morning light. She rotated her wrist slowly, watching mesmerized as it sparkled reflecting the sun’s rays as they entered the room. Suddenly the ring caught one particular beam in such a way that it made Erica gasp. “Oh god,” she exclaimed excitedly as she shook the sleeping figure lying next to her, “David, David, wake up baby.”

“Huh,” David mumbled awaking with a start, “What’s the patient’s BP…Order an EKG stat.”

Erica laughed softly at her lover’s disorientation and then leaned over placing a tender kiss on his lips. At least it was intended to be a tender kiss, but from the moment her lips touched his David became fully lucid. His hands were instantly wrapped around her waist and he quickly pulled her down on top of him kissing her with such fiery passion that she could hardly breath. When they finally parted, Erica was sitting with her legs straddling David’s hips smiling down at him.

He grinned back up at her adding playfully, “Good morning…soon-to-be Mrs. Hayward.”

Erica rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. “You’re really going to like saying that, aren’t you?” she teased, “Well, I guess Mrs. Erica Hayward does have a nice ring to it.”

“A very nice ring indeed.”

“Speaking of rings,” Erica said laughing bringing the morning’s conversation back to the purpose for which she had woken him up in the first place, “Mine has the most striking resemblance to an orchid.”

David cracked up, “I wondered when you would notice that, I had kinda figured it would have been last night when I gave it to you.”

“Well doctor,” teased Erica, “I wasn’t aware that you had any complaints about the course of events last night. And I mean you really would have preferred that we look at jewelry instead of having sex? What would the poets make of that?”

David smiled softly remembering the morning he had made a similar statement to her; that seemed so long ago, before he knew he loved her. “No complaints, none,” he murmured pulling her closer, “so all those poets can breath a sigh relief. I only assumed that you would look at it last night; I definitely don’t remembering mentioning that I would prefer it. In fact, I was rather flattered that you chose me over that hunk of coal, shows you really care.”

“Well,” said Erica, “My actions were all your fault. You just looked so damn sexy that I couldn’t keep my hands off you, and I mean ‘yes’ just came leaping out of mouth before I even had time to think straight.”

David laughed, “You wanna take it back.”

“No, of course not. It’s just that I never thought you would ask me so…I was surprised. Of course I don’t want to take it back.”

“Good,” replied David, “Then you had better get to work.”

“Excuse me.”

“I intend to marry you in a month, actually yesterday would have been a month, so you had better plan whatever kind of wedding you want by then,” he said silkily very much looking forward to his fiancée’s reaction.

Erica exploded, “A month…a month…that’s like 30 days. How in god’s name do you expect me to plan a wedding in a month? Damn it David, I said I would marry you; you don’t need to rush me down the aisle. What is so damn special about a month from yesterday, any way, why must we get married on…the fourteenth of?” The question hadn’t passed through her lips when Erica knew the answer. Her mouth quivered preventing her from speaking, so David took her hand and gently responded for her:

“Well, a month from yesterday is special because it is when I will make the woman I love my wife. And a year before that is special because it was the day I made the biggest mistake of my life.” He brushed a few errant tears from her right cheek before continuing, “It is a mistake I intend to correct, Erica. In a month I intend to replace one of the worst days of your life with the happiest. Sorry about the short notice.”

“Oh David,” Erica cried happily, “I think getting married on February 14th is perfect.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“You know you’re still always going to have to give me a Valentine’s Day present, I won’t stand for you buying me one gift and saying that it’s for both our anniversary and Valentine’s Day.”

“Damn, you discovered my evil plot.”

“David Hayward…”

“Two gifts, you really are high-maintenance, you know that. But just the same, I think it can be arranged,” he laughed pulling her in for a lingering kiss. The kiss quickly turned to passion, but Erica managed to pull away.

“Hey,” said David, “Why are you stopping? It’s Sunday, you have no where else to be.”

“Oh, I’m sorry Dr. Hayward,” said Erica kissing him on the cheek, “but you’ve only given me one month to plan this wedding and as you so eloquently put it I had better get to work. I’ve got to call Vera Wang, find the location, talk to the caterers…”

All David could do was laugh as he watched her head off to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed. “Whatever you want, Erica,” he whispered, “As long as I get to marry you, you can have whatever you want.”
___________

David had received an urgent sounding call from the hospital while Erica was in the shower regarding a dangerous heart arrhythmia experienced by one of his patients. As it turned out the problem required only a simple change in medication that could have been handled by any of the residents on staff, but David didn’t really mind the inconvenience. Erica was going into wedding mode and he had no real desire to be there for the fallout, besides the situation provided the perfect opportunity for him to catch up on some paperwork for the Andrassy Foundation. David’s mood instantly deflated as he walked through the door to his office: someone else had apparently decided to play catch-up as well.

“Well hello, Dr. Hayward,” Alex said curtly, her British accent only adding emphasis to her icy tone, “Did we actually decide to come to work today, instead of playing hooky like a delinquent little schoolboy?”

“I hardly think I require a note from home to take a single afternoon off, Dr. Marrick.”

“An unplanned, spur-of-the-moment afternoon.”

“Ah Alex, I know this may be hard for you to believe, but those of us not living at that dark, dank mausoleum known as castle Weirdwind actually have lives.”

“It’s amazing, you still honestly believe that you can just live your life any way you damn well please and in the process put everybody else at risk,” Alex practically snarled.

David’s temper flared at the mention of Siobhan. “Dr. Marrick,” he began with the utmost formality, “my patients were never in any danger, they were being covered by a very capable surgeon, and as for my life…that is really none of your concern.”

“All right, that’s fine…you just continue to take your little afternoon vacations and ignore all the responsibilities you once so coveted here, and I’ll…”

David interrupted before she continued further, “Alex, for god’s sake, I just can’t fathom why you are so worked up about a single afternoon, when you managed to skip out on your own career for years. Would you qualify that as playing hooky? Maybe you prefer the term sabbatical? No that’s right, what you did is correctly referred to as being admitted for extensive observation and analysis.”

Alex face radiated with murder and David was supremely thankful that they weren’t near any staircases. She opened her mouth to respond but the ringing of the phone prevented her effort. Without hesitation, she practically threw her arm across the desk snatching the offending instrument from its cradle. “Alexandra Marrick,” she snarled venomously.

“Well, well, well Dr. Devane, I think someone needs to work on her phone manners,” said Erica bitingly, “God forbid I had been one of your patients.”

“Yes, God forbid,” Alex screamed, “because if you were my patient I would seriously have to consider throwing my Hippocratic oath out the window and kicking your scrawny little…”

“Temper, Temper Alexandra. You really should get your rampant anger under control; I don’t believe this is what Dimitri had in mind for his foundation.”

The mention of Dimitri’s name really got to Alex. “And how can I help you today,” she said feigning politeness.

“You can help me by putting David on the line.”

“I’m sorry Dr. Hayward can’t come to the phone right now,” Alex replied snarkily and upon seeing David’s raised eyebrows added, “He’s busy.”

Erica fumed but by the grace of God was able to remain calm, “Now Alex, that might be the case, but I’m sure that if you inform Dr. Hayward that his little fiancée wishes to speak with him, he would be more than happy to oblige.”

Alex nearly dropped the phone out of her hand upon hearing Erica’s announcement. Too flustered to speak she quickly pressed ‘hold’ and turned her dumbfounded face toward the man scowling at her from across the room.

David threw his hands in the air and exploded, “What the hell! What’s wrong with you Alex…and since when do you have the right to speak for me.”

She just sat there with her mouth hanging open. “You…You,” she stammered in complete and utter disbelief.

“Oh for Christ’s sake, Alex, stop gapping and tell me who’s on the damn phone.”

“Your fiancée,” Alex managed to get out putting extra emphasis on the last word.

Alex expected him to laugh; she expected the whole thing to be a joke. David Hayward would never ask anyone to marry him; the idea was totally ridiculous. But David wasn’t laughing, in fact a smile that Alex could only describe as loving played on his lips. “Erica,” was all he said, confirming the news with that one word.

“You’re getting married…to Erica Kane?”

“Stranger things have happened.”

“No…you…you couldn’t possibly. Have you gone daft; are you bloody mad?

“I don’t know, maybe I should ask your shrink,” David smirked getting in a final dig.

“Oh, you’re…you’re. You know what, the pair of you deserve each other. I mean you’re both narcissistic, vindictive, and reprehensible. You would be doing the world a service by destroying each other,” Alex snarled as she stormed for the door. But David flew across the room and was able to grab her wrist preventing her from leaving.

“Let me go,” she seethed.

“Not until we get one thing straight,” David barked, “The next time my fiancée calls, you will show her a hell of a lot more respect and you will never again put her on hold. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

“Crystal,” Alex answered wrestling her arm away and proceeding quickly out the door. David slammed it behind her and turned the lock before returning to his desk.

He picked up the receiver and asked, “Erica love, you still there?”

“Yes damn it I am, but I wasn’t going to wait much longer. Who the hell does that bitch think she is putting me on hold?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of Alex. It won’t happen again.”

“Well good,” Erica said relaxing as she sat at the desk in her home office fiddling with her engagement ring. “So I guess your wondering why I called?”

“The thought did cross my mind,” smiled David.

“I was just sitting her admiring my beautiful ring…”

“Don’t you mean inspecting?” David teased cutting her off.

“David Hayward. Anyway, I was admiring my ring when I noticed the inscription: ‘To E.K., who will always hold my heart D.H.’ That’s so sweet baby, it’s like the charm bracelet you gave me!”

“I thought you’d like that…speaking of your bracelet, I got you something else. I put it in your purse before I left this morning.”

“Oh David, you certainly didn’t need to get me anything else,” Erica replied already digging in her purse to search for her fiancé’s surprise, “I mean this ring alone must have cost you a fortune.”

“Enough to feed a third world country, but your worth every penny.”

“I’ve got it,” said Erica pulling out a small blue box, “Can I open it now?”

“Of course.”

Erica untied the white ribbon and carefully lifted the lid. Inside was a little diamond ring charm engraved with ‘January 14, 2000.’ “Oh David, it’s beautiful, and I can add it to my bracelet.”

“That’s the idea, I plan to give you an entire lifetime of memories to fill it up.”

Erica felt tears of joy welling up in her eyes as she exclaimed, “Baby, how can I ever thank you.”

“I’m sure I can think of something,” David said seductively.

“How about a dance at S.O.S.,” Erica teased.

“I had something more private in mind.”

“Later. Meet me for dinner at 8 o’clock. We have some wedding details to go over.”

“I thought you wanted to thank me.”

“Well if you meet me for dinner, I guess I’ll have two things to thank you for, and I always repay my debts.”

“Lady, you got yourself a deal.”
___________

As soon as David hung up the receiver a deep feeling of dread sank in. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours and someone already knew about the engagement. Alex wasn’t one to tell tales out of school so he wasn’t overly concerned about her, but he realized that there was just no way to keep this thing under wraps much longer. Pine Valley was just too small, too intrusive, too interfering…it was only a matter of time before this secret blew up in both of their faces. Time was something David desperately needed, time and a plan. He had to make sure that the news was broken gently. He needed help because as much as it pained him to admit it he couldn’t do this alone. He needed an ally…He needed Max.

David Hayward had never trusted many people but Maxwell Holden was one of the few that he trusted with his life. Max was his best friend in the world, always had been, always would be. They had known each other since they were kids, since birth really. Max had come into the world a day after David and he often joked that he didn’t understand how his friend had survived that first day without someone to get him out of trouble. All David could do was laugh knowing that over the years his best buddy had gotten him in to just as many scrapes as he’d gotten him out of. But Max was just that kind of guy, one of those rare great friends that couldn’t bail you out of the Mexican jail at 3 o’clock in the morning because they were locked up sitting right there beside you. He was a playboy that could give David a run for his money, a schemer, a bona fide comedian, and bit of an ass but above all he was loyal beyond belief. He had been there when David’s dad died and through the whole Siobhan ordeal, and he needed him now. He needed someone to be on his side no matter what.

David ran his hands through his hair before picking up the phone again. He dialed quickly and waited for the call to connect. “Hello, Massachusetts General Hospital Nursing Station. How can I help you?” said the voice on the other end of the line.

“Could you page Dr. Maxwell Holden for me?” returned David.

“I’m sorry sir, Dr. Holden is with a patient,” the woman answered after a brief pause, “but he should be out soon if you wouldn’t mind holding.”

“That’s fine,” David replied. In all honesty, he needed a few minutes to get his thoughts together before he spoke with his friend. Max wasn’t the type of guy who put much stock in hearts and flowers; he’d only been “in love” once, and she had thoroughly broken his heart, though he would never admit it. Since that day Max had sworn off romance in favor of cheap sex with Miss Twenty-something of the Month, a concept that until he met Erica wasn’t far from David’s own heart. No, Max Holden certainly wasn’t going to be thrilled when he heard the news David thought sighing as he remembered his friend’s reaction to learning that he and Erica were dating…

It was the morning after Vanessa’s soiree and David had been in the OR all night repairing the damage to Palmer’s heart. He had just managed to make it back to his suite, kick off his shoes, and fall into bed when the phone rang, groaning he reached over and picked up the receiver.

“What the hell do you want?” he barked into phone.

“Morning sunshine,” he heard Max say in a voice full of sarcasm.

“Again, Max, I reiterate, what the hell do you want? I’ve been up all I night and I need some sleep.”

“I can imagine,” Max replied his voice dripping with innuendo.

“Now what’s that supposed to mean?” David snapped more harshly than he intended.

“Oh nothing…guess you haven’t seen the front page of the Exposer this morning.”

“The front page?” David asked ominously.

“Yep, pictures of you and your new girlfriend splashed all over the cover.”

“Crap,” bemoaned David, “Have they…”

“Oh yeah, not pretty. But I wanna know how it is that you’re doing Erica Kane and I wasn’t aware of it. What kind of friend are you?”

“Max,” he exploded, “I am not ‘doing’ Erica Kane?”

“Come on, you mean the two of you are going out but your not sleeping together, yeah right?”

“Now I didn’t say that.”

“See. So you’re doing Erica Kane and I want details, man.”

“I’m not discussing this with you.”

“Look Dave, I’ve heard all about your little teenie-boppers and Princess Gillian and now that you’re with a megastar like the Erica Kane, you’re refusing to spill. Come on man, I’m your best friend? I’d do this for you?” Max persisted laying the guilt on thick.

“Max, if I wanted to discuss Erica with you, don’t you think I would have mentioned her instead of waiting until you read about us in some tabloid rag.”

“Us…Oh god, you really care about her, don’t you?” that one word hitting him like a two ton brick.

“Max…”

“No, no, don’t try and deny it. Why else would you being screwing around…”

“Max,” David warned.

“I’m sorry, ‘making love’ to Erica Kane and holding out on me,” Max returned practically gagging on the words.

“I’m not going to deny it – I care about her,” David answered.

His declaration hung in the air for a few seconds before Max began to lay into him, “Are you freakin’ crazy? Have you lost your goddamn mind? You care about Erica Kane. I never thought I’d say this David but you’re a fool. Why her? That woman goes through men like they were tissues. And you choose her to go crazy for. You’re a goddamn fool, you know that.”

“That’s enough. Either you accept that Erica is a part of my life or you can get the hell out of it,” David fumed slamming the phone down…

They hadn’t spoken of Erica since, preferring to stick to safer topics like the Patriot’s Super Bowl chances, recent medical advances, and their mutual dislike for Alexandra Devane. David could only pray that his friend had warmed up to the subject in the last few months; however, he wasn’t holding his breath. Regardless of Max’s personal feelings, David was pretty sure he could count on his support one way or another.

David was jolted back to reality when he heard someone finally pick up on the other end of the line, “Dr. Maxwell Holden, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Are you really? I’m sure you enjoyed every minute of it.” David said trying his best to keep the conversation lighthearted.

“Hey Dave, what’s up,” Max asked attempting to mask the dread in his voice. David never called him at the hospital unless it was something important.

“Just trying to catch up on some paperwork,” David answered trying to buy some time. “How about you, still putting people to sleep?” He added making a thinly veiled reference to his friend’s selected specialty. David had always found it ironic that Max, always the life of the party, had chosen to become an anesthesiologist; it just didn’t gel with his personality.

“That’s the goal,” Max replied and then quickly redirected the conversation to end his suspense. “So listen David, level with me. What’s going on? You never call here. Did something happen?”

“Yeah, something did…It’s about Erica,” David said slowly fearing the reaction her name would receive.

Max had made a decision during the last few months regarding Ms. Erica Kane, he was going to do his best to keep an open mind at least until he met the woman. Despite his comments upon finding out the news, Max knew that David had a good head on his shoulders and that he had learned from his father’s mistakes. There was no doubt in his mind that his friend was above being duped by a pretty face and a killer smile; if David cared about Erica there had to be a reason. And Max would be there for David to find out what that reason was.

“By the tone in your voice, Dave, I would say that she didn’t leave you high and dry.”

“Max, I love her,” David blurted out.

Max was taken slightly aback by the sincerity radiating in David’s voice, “Well those are certainly words I’ve never heard you say before.”

“Well I’ve never felt like this before. I love Erica and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I asked her to marry me.”

“You what…”

“I asked Erica to marry me and she said yes. The wedding is in a month.”

“A month. David are you insane,” Max shouted shocked. “We haven’t met this woman…your family is going to kill you.”

“I know that, but look, Max, I need at least you to be happy for me. I love her and I don’t wanna wait any more.”

“Look man, I love pizza but that doesn’t mean I would run off and marry it before bringing it home to met my mother, or in your case my grandmother…oh, you know what I mean.”

“I know it’s short notice, but…”

“But jack shit. You know this is wrong and coming from me that’s saying a lot. This is exactly what your father did. How can you put them through that again…Edward…and, and Gina. They love you, this is gonna kill them and make everyone hate her more.”

“Max, don’t say that I’m like him, don’t. This is completely different. Erica isn’t like her, not at all.”

“Maybe not, but if you go in there announcing your engagement like this what are they supposed to think?”

“I don’t know. Look, I’m gonna tell them…in person. I’m going to have them meet her first and then they’ll see what I do.”

“I hope so, but damn it Dave, you’ve only got a month, and this thing is going to get out.”

“I know, that’s why I called. I need your help to make sure no one finds out before they hear it from me. You gotta run interference Max. And if god forbid they should find out…”

“I’m closer. Yeah I got it, you want me to do your dirty work for ya,” Max said jokingly.

“I’m sorry…”

But Max cut him off, “There’s nothing to apologize for. I’ve got your back…always. No questions asked. I gotta go, I just got paged. Talk to you soon, huh.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey Dave.”

“Huh.”

“I get to be the best man, right?”

“Of course, but you better throw me one hell of a bachelor party.”

To Be Continued…

Let me know what you think of Max

More soon...

Don't worry, Kami, I'd never make a D&E story that didn't have a happy ending; but I have to put them through hell first, or it wouldn't be much of story !!!

This chapter is dedicated to Kylie, she asked for the D&E dance and the first song choice -- I think it fits them perfectly. The second song is my pick and I always thought it was very D&E...Here's hoping you like!!!

Disclaimer: The flashbacks in this chapter never appeared on the show, but I always thought it seemed that D&E knew each other a little more than was played out at the first TAA party. I hope you guys like them !!!

Chapter 5

Even though it was a Sunday night S.O.S. was packed, in fact if it hadn’t been for their connections to the owner Tad and Dixie wouldn’t have been able to get a table. The Martins were supremely grateful for their connections seeing as how they had been looking forward to a night out on the town with friends for a week. The kids and Tad’s increasing devotion to his new television venture were starting to take their toll, and they were both hoping this evening would help to mend some of their issues.

“Tad, put that phone away,” Dixie ordered, “you just checked your messages and you’re not on the clock tonight.”

“Sorry Dix, it's just what if something important breaks while I’m sitting here at dinner,” Tad replied with the enthusiasm of an excited puppy.

“What’s more important than having dinner with your loving wife?” she sighed.

Tad brushed a blond curl from her cheek before answering, “Nothing. Look, I’m turning it off…I’m putting it away.” Dixie smiled for the first time all night as he quickly slipped his cell into his jacket pocket.

“Well, ok. Let’s just try and have a good time tonight,” she conceded.

“Deal.”

As he finished speaking, they looked up to see Jake and Gillian heading for the table.

“Hey bro, what’s up?” Tad asked extending his hand to Jake.

“Not much, just basking in the joy of being happily engaged,” the younger of the two men answered wrapping his arms around the dark haired beauty standing next to him.

“I’m just so happy for the two of you,” Dixie offered, “Have you set a date yet?”

“Well nothing’s in stone,” Jake told her as he and his fiancée sat down, “But since Adam’s lawyers managed to get the custody hearing pushed back until the beginning of summer, we no longer have a reason to rush things.”

“That’s good, you wanna do this thing up right.” Dixie added her southern charm on vivid display; however, she paused when Gillian’s unusually quite demeanor caught her attention, “Gillian is everything all right, you seem quite tonight?”

“Oh sorry,” mumbled Gillian distractedly, “I must have a cat’s tongue.” Upon hearing the collective giggles of her dinner mates the princess responded, “What’d I say?”

Tad recovered first offering, “I think the cat’s got your tongue, not the other way around.”

“Oh…well, I just meant that it’s been a long day and I’m a little tired, that’s all,” Gillian clarified, the blush on her cheeks owing not only to her metaphorical faux pas but also to the lie she had just told people she deeply cared for. She knew the secret of Colby’s true parentage and the pain of that fact was eating her alive day by day. She wanted to tell the truth to Jake and his family, but she just didn’t know how. She couldn’t hurt them like that, and she hated David Hayward all the more for putting her in this position.

Gillian suddenly realized that she hadn’t heard a word her companions had been saying for the last few minutes when she finally escaped from her musings long enough to notice that somehow Jackson Montgomery and Brooke English had made their way to the table. By some miracle she had tuned in just in time to join in the friendly greetings and free herself from the label of social outcast.

“So did the kids get signed up for spring soccer camp?” Brooke asked as soon as everyone had ordered, “All Jamie could talk about last week was how excited he was to finally be on a team with Junior.”

“Yeah, I registered them this morning,” responded Dixie, “You know, if Jamie is half as passionate about new endeavors as his father, I’m quite sure soccer is all your going to be hearing about until March rolls along.”

“That’s right,” Jack interjected, “How is your new show coming along, Tad? Nothing But The Truth, right?”

“That’s right buddy boy, it’s going to be a ratings grabber; I can tell you that already. I’m going to be covering some real hard-hitting stories.”

Tad would have continued further if not for Dixie’s intervention, “Yes, hard-hitting stories equal those that take him away from his family more often.”

“You know maybe you should listen to you wife, Tad. Nothing beats a happy marriage, not even ratings grabbers,” offered Jake squeezing Gillian’s hand.

“You might be on to something there, Jake…Holy shit!!! Gomez and Morticia just walked in,” Tad hissed.

The whole party turned their attention to the front of the club in time to see David Hayward and Erica Kane walking arm-in-arm through the door. They made a stunning couple of that there were no doubts and no arguments. Erica’s hair was curled into soft tendrils and her baby blue cocktail dress was the perfect counterpart to David’s tailored black suit. But it was something more than that, more than their fashionability. They walked with the dignity of royalty, and even though every eye in the room was fixed on them, they could only see each other.

“No Tad,” Gillian’s voice rang out breaking the stunned silence, “That’s Erica and David, not Gomez and Morticia.”

Tad couldn’t help rolling his eyes, as Jake informed her, “It’s an old t.v. show.”

“I have to agree with Tad on this one,” Brooke remarked, “that is one match made in hell, and for Erica that’s saying a lot.”

Tad couldn’t resist if for nothing other than his own amusement and began singing, “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky…”

Dixie elbowed him hard in the ribs before he could go any further. “Tad please, stop acting like a three year old. David’s not that bad.”

“With talk like that, you might want to find another table.” Jake stated only half joking.

“He saved my life or has everyone forgotten that?”

“He’s also destroyed a lot of lives, honey,” Tad interjected.

“Yes,” put in Jack, “And he certainly doesn’t deserve Erica.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” responded Brooke, “Erica’s known to be a one woman demolition crew herself. Maybe he doesn’t deserve her.”
___________

Oblivious to the gawkers, David and Erica made their way across the restaurant and slipped into a corner booth that had been reserved specifically for them. Despite the crowd, the spot was romantic enough and even afforded them a little privacy away from prying eyes. David took full advantage of the situation wrapping his right arm securely around his fiancée’s waist and pulling her close before leaning in to place a lasting kiss on her lips. Erica responded in kind not making the slightest attempt to stop him in spite of the very real possibility of being seen by overzealous onlookers. Even though he knew he shouldn’t, David held her closer and deepened the kiss; Erica moaned with delight as her arms found there way around his back tightly gripping his jacket with both hands.

They didn’t part until they the heard the sound of someone clearing her throat and looked up to see Tina, one of S.O.S.’s most diligent waitresses, standing beside the table with menus in hand. Erica blushed profusely at the intrusion and quickly slid away from her companion. David smiled slyly in response to this obvious gesture of discomfort, a look that wasn’t lost on Erica. “Two could play at this game,” she thought flashing him her sexiest grin while taking the menu Tina offered.

As Tina began to list the night’s specials, Erica started her mission by slowly slipping her right foot out of its strappy sling-back and proceeded to place it gingerly under the cuff of David’s pant leg; she smiled wickedly at his sudden intake of breath and continued to do so as she moved her bare foot up and down his leg knowing that all the while she was driving him absolutely mad.

David had barely been able to get his order out and as Tina walked away he took Erica’s hand in his and turned her chin to face him. “Keep that up, lady, and I’m going to have to skip dinner and go straight for dessert,” he moaned only partially teasing.

“Not on your life,” Erica laughed. “And you know, Doctor, you should really consider yourself lucky that I’m so famous that we were able to get this table; I mean the place is packed tonight,” she said gesturing around the room with her hand.

“Are you implying that I wouldn’t have been able to get us a good table,” David responded alluding back to their first real date at the Valley Inn.

“I’m not implying anything, baby. But no, I highly doubt you would have been able to get a table considering the fact that most people in this town, including the owners, hate you with a passion.”

“And yet you agreed to marry me?” David asked.

“Well doctor, there’s a very fine line between love and hate, you’re just lucky I ended up on the right side of it,” Erica giggled giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek before continuing, “Speaking of marriage, I think we should discuss some of the plans I’ve made for our wedding.”

“Do we have to,” David groaned pathetically, “Can’t you just tell me where and when and trust me to show up?”

“Sorry, no can do. Besides I really want your input.”

David rolled his eyes, “No you don’t; you just want me to agree with you.”

“Anyway,” continued Erica, “I talked to Vera Wang today and even though its short notice she agreed to design my dress, but who wouldn’t want to design my dress? Obviously we can’t talk about it too much, bad luck and all, but do you think it will be highly inappropriate if I wear white this being my tenth wedding and all.”

David had to smile at her ramblings before replying, “I think it’s your wedding and you should be able to wear anything you damn well please, but hey that’s just me.”

“Well my feelings are this: it’s a new millennium and everyone deserves a fresh start, even me.”

“Especially you,” David said kissing her hand gently.

“White it is then…Obviously we must have orchids and other white flowers. But since it will be Valentine’s Day I wanna stay away from the whole pink and red, hearts and flowers motif, that’s just so tacky. I was thinking of maybe going with royal blue and yellow, a sort of Midsummer Night’s Dream feel for the reception. Oh David, this is just going to be my fantasy wedding, everything I’ve ever wanted since I was a little girl.”

“So you’re trying to tell me that you’ve done this nine times and you still haven’t had the wedding of dreams?”

“Well something always got in my way: money, an elopement, or the two cents of my stupid groom,” Erica added eyeing David. “I’m almost afraid to ask but is there anything you had in mind.”

David laughed wholeheartedly before responding, “Erica you could have white doves released through the skylights for all I care. I want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted…I just have three requests.”

“Oh god…what?” Erica muttered.

“We have to get married in a Catholic church, there has to be at least one seafood item at the reception, and above all else I refuse, refuse to wear a bowtie.”

“Alright, the first two were never in question, but David Hayward you are wearing a tie to our wedding; I know you hate them and you aren’t very proficient at tying them, but you will wear one. And there is no room for negotiation.”

“Erica, I said I’m not wearing a bowtie, you can do with that what you will, but I’m not wearing one. No room for negotiation.”

“Let’s just table this discussion for now, shall we? What I really do need from you is some idea of how many people you want to invite to the wedding, I can’t really plan anything else until I have an estimate.”

David paled; that was something he wouldn’t know until he talked to his grandparents. If they came so would half of Boston, but he couldn’t count on them showing up and he didn’t know how to explain this to his fiancée. “Look Erica, eh…I haven’t spoken to my grandmother yet, so I’m not exactly sure but…”

“You haven’t spoken to Gina yet…well I guess we did just get engaged last night. You need to tell them soon David. I have to know. Don’t forget you’re the one who insisted we get married in a month,” Erica teased just as Tina returned to the table with their meal.
___________

Even though he had to crane his neck Jackson’s eyes were fixed firmly on the table across the room. Dixie’s eyes seemed to be glued to that spot as well though she didn’t know why. Jackson Montgomery knew why; he knew it in depths of his soul every time David would whisper something in Erica’s ear and get a smile in response and he knew it every time Erica would gently kiss that man’s lips before returning to her meal. It could’ve been, should’ve been him sitting there with her, loving her, and if it hadn’t been for Erica and the way she was it would’ve been. He hated the feelings that he still had for her but he couldn’t deny having them and this fact made him hate Erica almost as much as still loved her.

Brooke watched her date with a grimace; she could handle a part of his heart always belonging to Erica; she could understand that because it was the way she would always feel about Edmund, but what she couldn’t understand, couldn’t accept was Erica having the whole thing. Brooke had tried desperately time and again to win just a piece of Jack’s love but to no avail, he seemed to have given Erica permanent dominion over his heart and that was something Brooke just didn’t know how to compete with. As Brooke’s gaze left Jack’s face and moved to David and Erica’s table, it only took her a moment to observe that another man had taken up residence in Erica’s heart and that Jackson had been permanently evicted. However, this insight was of little comfort; Jack wasn’t the kind of man that let go easily and she truly feared what he would do if his ex’s latest fling became more serious…

As if on cue Brooke’s keen reporter’s eye zeroed in on her rivals left hand and even from across the room she could see the stone shimmering in the dim club light. “Their engaged…” she whispered in awe not realizing she had spoken out loud.

“Yes we are,” grinned Jake not aware of whom she was referring to.

“No,” said Dixie barely managing to mask her envy, “David and Erica…she has a diamond.” A collective gasp seemed to radiate around the table and for a moment no one spoke.

Tad was the first to recover and said with laugh, “Well, I use to think Erica was one of the smartest women I’d ever met, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Has she lost her mind,” asked Gillian, “How can she possibly marry David.”

“I wouldn’t be too concerned,” replied Brooke trying to ease the tension, “Engagements don’t mean the same thing to Erica that they do to other people.”

“You know it’s just like Hayward to try to ruin my engagement with one of his own,” Jake pouted revealing his totally egocentric focus.

“I hardly think David asked Erica to marry him to spite you,” Dixie retorted.

“I wouldn’t put it past him for a second.” Jake countered snidely.

“Shut up, just shut up,” Jack exploded suddenly recovering from his shock and jolting back to reality. “This can’t happen…I won’t let it,” he seethed jumping up from the table and heading determinedly across the floor.

“Where the hell’s he going,” Tad asked.

“Hopefully to kick Hayward’s godforsaken ass,” Jake put in.

“Oh god,” moaned Brooke rubbing her temple in frustration.
___________

Erica had just leaned over to give David a taste of her chocolate-covered cheesecake when she felt a pair of eyes boring into the back of her skull. She turned around quickly and was so shocked to see the face of the man staring down at her that the fork she was still holding slipped from her hand and fell to the table with a clatter. “Jack,” she screeched, “what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Jack hissed motioning toward her engagement ring.

“Careful Jack,” David warned putting a protective arm around Erica’s waist and pulling her close.

“I don’t remember addressing you, Hayward, and I certainly don’t believe this matter is any of your concern.”

“Anything of concern to my fiancée concerns me,” David stated flatly, flashing Jackson a venomous glare.

Jack’s eyes were equally as lethal, and Erica knew that if she didn’t do something quickly nothing short of a barroom brawl would break out in the middle of S.O.S.

“Erica, how can you possibly be considering marrying this guy?” Jack began.

“Stop Jack, please,” Erica begged, “Your making a scene.”

“Yes Jack, why don’t you just go sit down,” David offered in a tone that was more of a command than a suggestion.

“Why don’t you just shut the hell up, Hayward,” Jack barked, “before I make you.”

At that moment David had every intention of personally seeing to it that Jackson Montgomery was laying on the floor with a bloody lip, and if not for Erica’s intervention he would have. “David baby please,” she pleaded placing her hands firmly on his chest. It wasn’t so much her weak attempt at physical force that caused David to restrain himself, but more the look in her eyes. She didn’t want them to fight, not over her, and he knew it. He sighed and slowly sat back down as Erica turned to her ex and said insistently, “This has to stop now, Jackson. If you want to have this out, that’s fine, but we do it in private.”

“Perfect,” snapped Jack, “how about now, I’m sure Mateo wouldn’t mind if we use his office…this being such a good cause and all.”

“Perfect,” Erica mimicked ready to get this over with once and for all.

“Erica, I don’t think…” David protested but she placed a finger to his lips shushing him.

“David, I’ll be alright. I promise.” He knew their was no arguing with his fiancée once she’d made up her mind so he offered his silent concession hoping against hope that she would indeed be alright.

All David could do was watch as Jackson smiled triumphantly and proceeded to lead Erica to the back of the club. He hated that man, hated him with his entire being. It wasn’t that David was jealous of Jack or his relationship with Erica…these factors weren’t of any concern. No, what he despised was the hold that Jackson and his brother still had over her. The Montgomery boys seemed to possess the unique capacity to make Erica doubt herself and her abilities. They could always make her feel worthless, stupid, and everything less than the incredible woman that she was. That was something he couldn’t stand, something that had always infuriated him even before he had really known Erica, David mused thinking back to the first time he had experienced Jackson’s cruelty firsthand:

It was right after he moved back to town at a fundraiser Millicent Greenlee had organized for the hospital; David honestly would have preferred to be anywhere else, but he had felt obligated to attend the swanky affair due largely to the fact that he planned to petition the board to open a costly new cardiac wing within the next few weeks. Because he was on call that evening, David had thought it better not to bring a date to the party and as result was sitting alone at the bar silently surveying the room for the rare socialite who wasn’t as dull as dirt.

It was then that he saw the woman, standing not to far away clad in stunning saffron frock that on her appeared far more gold than yellow. It was Erica Kane, the most interesting person in Pine Valley and next to her stood her fiancé Jackson Montgomery; David once again couldn’t help but note that the pair seemed…odd. Erica was like an artist’s representation of life and passion personified and Jackson was well, Jackson was a little…stiff. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something seemed to be missing. They weren’t an unattractive couple; they just lacked a certain connection.

As David’s eyes scanned the group of people they were talking with, it didn’t take him long to discern that they were most likely Jackson’s lawyer buddies, one of which appeared to be the DA’s old legal partner Trevor Dillon. Though he doubted it would be very interesting, David attuned his ears to the conversation in time to hear Jackson say, “You know when Nixon began pulling troops out of Vietnam, he said he was initiating a policy of a…a…a?”

“Détente,” Erica offered softly.

Apparently David was the only one that could hear her because Jackson asked again, “What was that policy called?”

“It’s a French word, starts with a ‘d,’” Trevor responded.

“Détente,” Erica mumbled apprehensively but still no one seemed to notice.

“I bet if Tim were here he could tell us,” Jackson said with a laugh.

“I’m sure he could,” Trevor agreed beaming with fatherly pride.

David’s attention was instantly diverted as he saw Erica sigh and walk sadly away from the group. He was behind her in a matter of seconds and without hesitation he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Détente, I believe that is French for the gradual ending of tensions between two feuding nations, derived from the Latin ‘de’ meaning ‘from’ and ‘tenio’ meaning…”

“To hold,” Erica finished for him flashing a brilliant smile, and then without even having to turn around she added, “Dr. Hayward, I didn’t know you were back in town.”

“Well Ms Kane,” he said turning her to face him, “I thought Pine Valley would throw a parade in honor of my triumphant return, but…”

“You certainly did manage to ruffle a few feathers during your last stint with us,” Erica teased gently.

“Not everyone can be Mr. Popular,” David returned dryly motioning to Jackson and his posse of cronies.

Erica instantly decoded his statement’s true intentions and said slowly, “Jack just didn’t hear me, that’s all. He doesn’t know that I’m a little bit of History Channel geek.”

“Ah,” replied David, “The History Channel, great channel, right up there with the Discovery Channel.”

“The Discovery Channel has all of those programs that show disgusting medical procedures…I prefer history,” Erica smiled.

“And Latin apparently.”

“I took it in high school,”

“Well I took it in high school and college because it’s supposed to be useful in the medical profession…you know I can usually impress people with my superior knowledge at parties. Are you trying to deflate my ego, Ms. Kane?”

“Dr. Hayward, I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Ouch…that was a little harsh,” David joked.

“I’m very sorry,” Erica laughed.

“You know what you can do to make it up to me?” he asked pulling her closer.

“What?” She asked fearing the answer, fearing that she might not be willing to say no.

“Always remember,” David began his lips so close to hers that she could almost taste them, “that people as intelligent as you shouldn’t be ignored.”

Erica smiled softly truly touched by his statement. The moment was ruined, however, when they heard Jackson shout, “Erica, come here for a second.”

Erica’s head whipped around quickly and she muttered, “I’ve gotta go, but it was very nice to see you again.”

She had just started to leave when David grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him, “Just one more thing, Erica, do you ever wear red?”

“Excuse me,” she responded taken slightly aback.

“Not that you don’t look incredibly lovely tonight,” said David, “but red…red is definitely your color.”

“You giving me fashion advice now, Doctor?” Erica answered practically beaming as she walked away.

David returned to the bar and proceeded to lift his glass to her shrinking form. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” he whispered softly.

David’s train of thought abruptly ended when he became aware of the intense scrutiny he was receiving from the other side of the club. With a deep sigh he took a sip of his scotch and eyed the observers thoughtfully. This day just kept getting better and better; if a visit from his fiancée’s ass of an ex wasn’t enough, now he had to contend with half the Martin clan decked out in full regalia. Not being a man who shied away from a challenge, David Hayward quickly downed the rest of his drink and headed confidently in the direction of his adversaries. Upon reaching his destination, the good doctor grabbed a stray chair, positioned it at the head of the table, and proceeded to plop himself down into it much to the chagrin of his new dinner companions.

“Since none of you seem to be able to focus your attention on anything other than my fiancée and I, I thought I would come over here and make your task a bit easier,” David sneered in a voice dripping with pure venom.

“That word just has no trouble rolling off your tongue, does it?” an unwavered Tad inquired, the deadly look on David’s face revealing that the question had peaked his interest. “Fiancée,” Tad clarified, “though I’ll never understand how Erica Kane got duped into marriage by the likes of you?”

David shrugged before offering, “Maybe it was my loads of charm and winning personality.” The irony of the comment was lost to Gillian, who in state of shock swallowed her soda the wrong way and began to cough uncontrollably for a few seconds adding a comic air to the entire situation. Never missing a step, David smiled sardonically at her before adding, “Careful Princess, I know the news of my impending nuptials must break your heart, but it’s still nothing to get all choked up over.”

“Oh please, David,” Gillian groaned, “I can hardly wait till Erica comes to her senses and dumps you like the piece of trash you are.”

“Maybe you won’t have to…wait that is,” Jake insinuated motioning to the door of Mateo’s office.

“Good point,” Tad said snarkily, “You really think it’s a good idea to leave those two alone together, Hayward. I’m sure you would hate for Jackson to find some way to talk Erica out of marrying you.”

“For some reason I’m not too concerned,” David insisted, “I mean after all Erica is in there attempting to rein in Jack’s inevitable temper tantrum, so if anyone has a reason to keep their date on a shorter leash, its Ms. English.”

“Dr. Hayward, Jack and I are just friends.”

“His choice or yours?”

Dixie recognizing that there was no place for this conversation to go but down decided to intervene; she quickly got up from the table and threw her arms around David in a hug that was just a little too tight to be deemed appropriate before saying, “Well since no one else appears able to be civil, let me be the first to congratulate you. I’m sure you and Erica will be very happy together.”

“Thanks Dix, that means a lot coming from you…but you don’t have to be nice to me. I know you have to go home with this crowd.”

“Don’t be silly, David,” she nearly cooed returning to her seat. “By the way, when’s the wedding?”

“Next month.”

“Wow,” exclaimed Tad, “Talk about sprinting to the aisle; what’s the rush doc, afraid La Kane will bail?”

“I would hardly consider a month to be kidnapping the bride in the middle of the night and stealing her away to some undisclosed location, Thaddeus,” David leered icily before turning his attention to the younger of the two Martin brothers.

The realization that David Hayward would be getting married before him had hit Jake hard. He hated that man and the notion that his rival could achieve the same level of happiness made the whole engagement thing seem less desirable. Possessing an almost uncanny ability to read people’s minds, the cardiologist knew what Jake was thinking as clearly as if it had been printed on a bright neon sign. He could see past the simpering idiot to the whiney three year old boy demanding an explanation for why mean, nasty Davy got to get married first, and armed with this knowledge Dr. Hayward went in for the kill, “So Jake old boy, seems that you’ll be throwing rice at my wedding before your own, who would have ever thought it?”

The remark couldn’t have stung more if David had attached a right hook to it, and Gillian being all to well aware of her lover’s pain made her best effort to end the suffering. “Go away, David. You’ve hurt enough people here tonight,” she seethed with a shooing motion. But David was too quick for her, as he immediately snatched the princess’ milk white hand from the air, clutching it palm down in his own.

He peered over as if he were performing a comprehensive examination before scoffing, “Oh this must be the engagement ring, you know if you look real close you can almost see the diamond.”

Gillian pulled her hand away and glared at him. “David Hayward, you are just the most hateful man. I can’t wait until Erica sees you for the monster you really are. Do you honestly think a woman like her could ever possibly fit into your world?” Gillian demanded her question left hanging in the air with more validity than David was willing to admit.
___________       

Jackson led his ex into the office closing the door roughly behind them. He watched silently as she crossed the room and perched herself elegantly on the edge of Mateo’s desk. He searched her face carefully for some sign of weakness, but there was none; Erica was completely calm and ready for whatever he had to throw at her. “No matter,” Jack thought with a sly smile, he was an expert trial lawyer who could crack any witness, even the great Erica Kane. He took on an offensive stance and crossed his arms gruffly before firing, “So does this new development have anything to do with our conversation yesterday?”

“Why Jackson, whatever do you mean?” asked Erica folding her arms mockingly.

“You know perfectly well what I mean, Erica – you and Hayward…and this whole farce of an engagement,” Jack exploded, “Is it because I said that he would never marry you? Is this ring your oh-so-subtle way of informing me that I was wrong?”

“Not everything is about you Jack.”

“Oh come off it Erica. Yesterday you were telling me that you were happy with this…relationship the way it was, and now you expect me to believe that it wasn’t my warning that caused your change of heart.”

“Jack, honestly you had nothing to do with my decision. And what I said yesterday about being happy with David the way things were, it was the truth. He’s the one that wanted more, he’s the one who asked me to marry him, all on his own without any encouragement. And Jackson I said ‘yes’ because as good as things are between us, I have no problem making them better.

“Erica,” Jack began.

“No, listen to me. I’m marrying the man I love in a month, whether you like it or not.”

“The man you love…the man you love,” he yelled, “Erica, the man you love almost cost you your beautiful face.”

“Yes,” she interrupted, “and he saw past the scars and loved me anyway.”

“He broke up Ryan and Gillian’s marriage.”

“You’re hardly one to talk about breaking up marriages, Jackson Montgomery.”

“Erica, for god’s sake, he tried to kill Adam Chandler.”

“Who hasn’t wanted to kill Adam Chandler at one time or another? I would think that’s something that would get a person a parade and a key to the city, not jail time,” Erica sneered.

“Please don’t make him out to be some kind of saint.”

“That’s not what I’m doing. I know the man David is, and I love him anyway, faults and all. Jack, I’ve never felt this way about anyone; you can’t change my mind, not this time.”

“Never felt this way about anyone,” he repeated sadly.

“Jackson, I didn’t mean to hurt you…I.” But he raised his hand cutting her off.

“Erica please, you don’t have to finish. Your right this isn’t about me.”

“It’s not,” she asked skeptically.

“No,” he declared holding her by the shoulders and forcing her to look up into his eyes, “This is about you, and the mistake your getting ready to make.”

Erica didn’t want to hear what he had to say, she didn’t want his opinion on the current state of her life; she tried to pull away, to run, but his grip was too strong and she knew he had her cornered. More than anything, she wanted to turn away so she couldn’t see that look on his face, but something wouldn’t let her, something about the steady resolve in his ice blue eyes was holding her prisoner.

“You say that you’ve never felt this way before, that you love him faults and all,” Jack continued slowly making her hang on every word, “but what about him, does he really feel that way about you? I mean come on Erica, you’ve been here before, nine times, and and nine times you’ve failed. What makes this time any different? What happens when you can’t keep up the masquerade any longer, what happens when Dr. Demented sees that you’re not the perfect creature you pretend to be? What then, Erica? Do you honestly, honestly believe that this is the man that will stick by you through the hard times? When you’re at your worst and your darkest, where will he be? Will he be by your side or out the door…like all the others? Can you know for sure in a month, Erica, because you had better if you are really planning to say ‘I do’…can?”

“Stop, just stop Jack,” Erica whispered finally managing to pull away. Utterly confused she turned her back to him, refusing to let him see the tears that were welling up in her eyes. No one could hurt her like Jackson; no one else knew just where to aim to inflict the most damage. He threw her past in her face because he knew it would break her heart; he knew that her failures would crush her. She had to leave, had to get away from him before he could wound her further Erica thought already halfway to the door…
___________

Erica Kane plowed through the crowded restaurant headed in no particular direction, just trying to escape – escape Jack, escape his warnings, escape the demons in her head that wouldn’t be silent. Her heart beat high in her chest and her breathing was ragged, strained; for some reason the room appeared to be spinning out of control and it was making her dizzy. From above the whirling mass of lights and noise Erica heard Jack’s voice commanding her to stop:

“Erica, come back here! We’re not finished yet!”

The following events couldn’t have taken more than a few seconds, but for Erica they passed in slow motion…She turned her head around just in time to note that Jackson had closed the gap between them and was shooting his arm out to grab hold of her wrist. However, he wasn’t going to get the chance she realized as an iron fist seemed to come down from thin air and latch on to the offending appendage in a crushing grip stronger than any vice.

“Correction, Mr. Montgomery, you are finished,” a harsh voice threatened.

“David,” Erica mouthed utterly stunned. “How did he?” she began, but it was at this instant that Erica recovered from her altered state of consciousness and became fully aware of just where she was. It was S.O.S all right, but not her table. There were the Martins with their mouths hanging open blatantly gawking, and there…there was David Erica blinked. “Oh god,” she thought when it suddenly dawned on her that her lover still had Jack firmly by the wrist with no apparent intention of letting go. She watched motionless as his grip snapped rapid fire from the other man’s hand to the fabric of his shirt. Erica closed her eyes offering up a silent prayer to all the gods she knew that David would be safe; he had the look of a ferocious lion protecting its pride and she was seriously afraid of what he might do.

Erica had every reason to fear, because at that moment David had every intention of tearing Mr. Montgomery limb from limb. No one was allowed to hurt his love, not on his watch, David seethed staring into his captive’s eyes with the look of death. And from the second Erica emerged from that damn office it was clear that hurting her was exactly what Jackson Montgomery had done. Her haggard, worn appearance had been an instant giveaway and he could tell she was fighting back tears. It was that look that made David want to pummel Jack into the ground like the simpering, insignificant piece of shit he was, but something held him back.

Out of the corner of his eye David saw her, and it became painstakingly obvious that the look hadn’t gone away and that beating Montgomery to a pulp wasn’t going to help matters. No, as much as he would enjoy it, Jack could wait; Erica needed him now and he was bound and determined to give her what she needed. With a heavy sigh of frustration he relinquished his grip on the man’s shirt before shoving him forcibly against the table. Jack, though visibly shaken, glanced up at David just in time to see him drape a gentle arm around Erica’s slender waist and murmur, “I think you owe me a dance.”

Erica peered up at him with a soft smile, before nodding happily in agreement allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. Once there he placed a tender kiss on her forehead and brushed the unshed tears from the corners of her eyes with his thumbs. “I love you Erica,” he whispered enveloping her in his arms as the music began to play.

{Cause it's you and me and all of the people/ with nothing to do/ nothing to lose/ and it's you and me and all of the people/ and I don't know why/ I can't keep my eyes off of you}

The moved slowly in small orbit keeping perfect time to the beat. The song seemed to fit the mood perfectly Erica observed as she glided along keeping her eyes firmly fixed on David’s own; she knew that that this was the only thing holding her up, the only thing keeping her in motion. If she tore her gaze from his, the world and all of its trials would hurl down upon her, crushing her wholly.

“I don’t know how you do it?” she sighed.

“Private school,” David replied, “I wasn’t going to have my GPA ruined because I couldn’t dance.”

“I don’t mean the dancing,” Erica smiled sadly, “How do you…how do you ignore all the glares, and disapproving glances and just keep moving? Doesn’t it ever faze you?”

“Love, I learned a long time ago not to get bogged down by public opinion, besides I have you in my arms. All the nay-sayers can go to hell.”

Erica smiled for real this time, relaxing in the arms of the man she loved. She wrapped her own tightly around him and rested her head securely on his shoulder; as they moved she couldn’t help but melt into his body. She got lost in the sensation of his arms enveloping her and play of chest muscles as he held her. Erica knew that she could stay here forever, safe in this man’s warm embrace. It was where she belonged, a sentiment that had been obvious, even painfully so, from the first moment they’d been together like this Erica thought allowing the music to take her back…

{all of the things that I want to say/ just aren't coming out right/ I'm tripping inwards/ you got my head spinning/ I don't know where to go from here}

It was the night of Brooke’s Woman of the Year Dinner and Erica was sitting alone at the bar fiddling nervously with the fabric of her red silk evening gown. She didn’t know why she’d come; Jackson was gone and even her best friends had abandoned her by taking his side. They couldn’t understand why she’d done what she done…Hell, Erica couldn’t understand it herself. All she was sure of was that it wasn’t about Mike, she had been confused long before he came to town. No, Mike was a pawn, a means to an end…if it weren’t him it would have been something else that ended things between her and Jack. They had been headed nowhere all along, but what Erica didn’t know was why.

“You wore red,” an infinitely masculine voice said from behind her sending shivers up her spine. Erica didn’t need to turn around to see who was there; his presence was electric to her, it always had been. Why did this man get to her so much she begged silently as her heart rate accelerated and her breathing became shallow. As flustered as she might have been, however, Erica wasn’t going to let his perceived snide remark pass without a fight. She whirled around on her stool and flashed him a venomous glare:

“Dr. Hayward, if you’ve come over here to gloat, you’ll have to take a number and get in line.”

David was slightly taken aback by her tone but recovered quickly, “Ms. Kane, I highly doubt that I of all people have the right to pass moral judgment on you…that comment, it was in regards to a suggestion I made at our last meeting and was not intended as any reflection upon you’re character. Though, if I may say so, I don’t think Scarlett O’Hara herself could have pulled off coming here with as much grace and dignity as you’ve shown tonight.”

“I’m sorry…it’s just,” Erica stammered truly touched but horribly embarrassed.

“There’s no need to apologize, I take it you’ve had a pretty rough night.”

“You have no idea,” she sighed, “I’m sure you’ve heard by now about what happened with my broken engagement…what I did.”

David smiled gently and took her hand before responding, “Jackson Montgomery put the ‘jack’ in ‘jackass.’ As far as I’m concerned, that man got what he deserved. Anything you may or may not have done, I consider it to be more of strategically planned détente than some form of ultimate betrayal.”

“Do you remember everything people tell you, Dr. Hayward?”

“Only if they’re very interesting people, Ms. Kane.”

“You really know how to flatter a girl,” Erica teased coyly, “You here alone, doctor?”

David didn’t know how to answer; how was he supposed to explain that while he’d come alone he was supposed to be meeting a married women? And why did that woman suddenly seem far less appealing? “I’m on call…” he finally managed.

“I guess a doctor’s work is never done.”

“Occupational hazard,” David laughed. It was at that moment that he heard the soft strains of “Lady in Red” beginning to waft through the crowded room. “They’re playing our song.”

“Is that your subtle way of asking me to dance.”

“If it were, would you say ‘yes’?”

“I’d be delighted,” she replied softly as he took her hand and led her on to the floor.

{I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight/ I've never seen you shine so bright/ I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance/ They're looking for
a little romance, given half a chance/ I have never seen that dress you're wearing/ Or the highlights in your head that catch your eyes I have been blind/ The lady in red is dancing with me cheek to cheek/ There's nobody here, it's just you and me, It's where I wanna be/ But I hardly know this beauty by my side/ I'll never for get, the way you look tonight}

It wasn’t until she heard David’s soft laugh that Erica realized she’d been humming. “Hey love, where did you go just now, as if I have to ask?”

Erica blushed sweetly and David pulled her close and kissed her lips softly. “Let me take you home Erica? Let me show you how much I truly love you?”

{What day is it/ and in what month/ this clock never seemed so alive}
___________

As David and Erica left the club lost to everything but each other, a camera lens fell on the pair one more time. Donald Steele, the Exposer's sleaziest freelancer, smiled swarmily as he thought of all the juicy material his old “friends” had provided. He’d just scooped the biggest story of the year, and dollar signs could practically be seen gleaming in the rat’s beady little eyes as he thought of the pictures he could run: David and Erica canoodling at their table, the good doctor nearly coming to blows with his fiancée’s ex, or the happy couple’s very romantic dance. But the money shot, the money shot would be the up and close and personal he’d gotten with that ring.

To Be Continued…

Song Selection

You and Me by Lifehouse -- for Kylie
The Lady in Red by Chris De Burgh -- for me

I wanted to give D&E an unlikely ally...Lets just say you can learn a lot about a person while defacing a tomb LOL!!!

Chapter 6

“Sorry we’re late,” Alex apologized, “I got stuck in surgery and…why the long faces?”

“You couldn’t have missed us that much,” joked Edmund Grey trying to lighten the mood a bit as he surveyed his friends’ expressions, which ranged from semi-confusion to downright horror. “Jeez, it looks like you all lost your best friends.”

“I did,” Jack moaned burying his face in his hands.

“Wait a second,” Alex exclaimed remembering what had transpired at the hospital earlier that day. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with David and Erica and that they’re…?”

“Getting married,” Tad finished for her.

“The happy couple just left,” added Jake in response to Alex’s unasked question.

“How did you know?” Brooke inquired, not liking that the Brit had gotten a scoop before her.

“Oh, La Kane called the office today asking to speak to her fiancé.”

“Really. Wow, that woman sure doesn’t waste any time spreading the joy, does she?” Brooke asked derisively.

“I still think the whole thing will crash and burn before they make it up the aisle,” offered Tad as if it were some sort of conciliation.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Edmund responded half to himself. “I think Rhett and Scarlett just might make it work.”

“You can’t seriously liken David Hayward and Erica Kane to one of the greatest couples in all of literature,” exploded Brooke.

“Why not? It seems like a worthy comparison. Two outsiders find love with each other and don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. They struggle against all odds, live through triumph and tragedy, and somehow in the end their still together…stranger things have happened,” he suggested squeezing his sister-in-laws hand a little too tightly across the table, though no one seemed to notice.

“Your right,” Alex said shivering a little at his touch, “Stranger things have happened. Maybe their marriage will last.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Jack vowed glaring at them for daring to condone what he perceived to be such a completely ridiculous notion.
___________

Erica had been silent on the short car ride home, and her head was still pounding with Jackson’s words and what they meant for her coming nuptials. She wanted to tell David about her doubts, she really did, but she just didn’t know how…besides her soon-to-be husband seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. Thoughts that Erica knew had far less to do with any lingering reservations than with the doctor’s obvious intentions for the rest of the evening, and as they entered her bedroom she wished that her own mind could be filled with such enticing ideas.

Neither of them made a move to turn on the lights, and David taking this a sign of Erica’s receptivity to his plans quickly helped her remove her coat before shrugging out of his own. Then wrapping his arms around her, David began the task of placing passionate kisses on the back of her neck, an act that usually caused his fiancée to moan with pleasure. Much to his surprise, however, Erica stiffened sharply in response to his touch. “Love, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

She turned to face him before whispering, “Maybe were moving too fast with the wedding. We don’t want to rush things.”

David felt as if he’d been shot, as if his world was suddenly crumbling down around him. “You don’t want to marry me.”

It wasn’t a question really, more a statement of the facts or at least how David saw them. The meek sound of his voice and the pain in his eyes stung at Erica’s heart, and she wanted more than anything to go over and comfort him, but it was if suddenly an invisible wall had been erected between them. “No baby, I want to marry you. It’s just that a month is such a short time. Couldn’t we put it off a little?”

David watched miserably as the woman he loved moved to sit on the bed, in effect pulling even further away from him. “It wasn’t so short this morning, or an hour ago. What’s changed?” he asked pathetically before the answer dawned on him. “This has to do with Jack; he’s managed to turn you against me somehow, hasn’t he?”

“Jackson didn’t turn me against you, David. This has nothing to do with you…It’s what he said about me.”

“What he said about you…I’ll kill him!”

“David, no. He just reminded me off some things, that’s all,” Erica stammered.

“I don’t understand.”

“David this is your first marriage, so you have ever reason to optimistic, hopeful. But David,” Erica wailed, “I’ve done this before…nine times. And nine times I’ve failed. I just don’t know if I can risk it again, the odds aren’t in my favor.”

“When have the odds ever been in our favor?” David asked taking a step towards her.

“David…”

“And somehow we’ve always managed.” Two more steps, soon he would be close enough to touch her.

“Oh god, you just don’t get it!”

“So explain it to me,” he said standing over her. She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing:

“David, maybe I’m just not marriage material. I thought I was in love so many times, and so many times I would transform myself into the perfect wife, the perfect woman…what I thought they wanted. But it was just an act. So when the mask inevitably slipped…it was just me. And I guess no one liked what they saw, cause they were all out the door.”

“Erica love, we haven’t worn masks in a long time. I love the real you.”

“I know,” she moaned, “That’s just it…if you leave, you’ll be rejecting me, not a broken illusion…but me. It’ll mean you don’t love me, that you can’t love me…that I’m just inherently unlovable.”

David was by her side on the bed like lightning and just as quickly his arms were tangled comfortingly around her. “Erica, don’t say that. You are so lovable. You taught me how to love, what it meant. I’m not going to leave you, I told you that last night.”

“David, there are no guarantees,” Erica stated flatly. “One day I could do something crazy and then you’d be gone.”

“That won’t happen.”

“How do you know that? Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, and a hundred percent of mine. What makes you so sure ours wouldn’t?”

“Erica, do you want to know exactly what my limits are? Would it make you feel better to know all my conditions?” David teased her gently.

“Yeah,” replied Erica, “Yeah, it would.”

David suddenly turned gravely serious, “Well it’s a short list, love. There isn’t much that could ever make me walk away from you. There’s just one thing really…I couldn’t handle you having an affair. I wouldn’t want to leave you, but I would have to. My father lived like that and it killed him, I won’t repeat his mistakes. Other than that…I mean, I’ll always want the truth Erica, but I can handle lies and mistakes and craziness. Erica, I love you as you are, as I know you love me. We can make this work, I know it.”

“Oh David,” Erica smiled, “I feel exactly the same way. God, I’d kill you if you ever cheated on me…but anything else I could find a way to forgive. And don’t worry, I promise I’ll be your faithful wife. I’ll be your love, your comfort, your safe place – David, I’ll be your home.”

David brushed his lips gently to hers and responded, “Erica Kane, I’ll be your faithful husband, your lover, your best friend, your coconspirator…I’ll be your rock.”

With those words David laid down on the bed taking her with him; their mouths fused in total passion as they began to seal their deal in the only way they knew how, both knowing that the vows they had made were the vows they would keep.
___________

At that moment Donald Steele was making a vow of his own, a vow to have the best damn time possible blowing through all the money he had just received from the editor and chief of the Exposer for his scandalous photo op with the most notorious couple in Pine Valley. The weasely little man let out a sharp whistle as he gazed at the check wadded in his grubby hand and counted all those zeros. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” he sang with a perfectly ghastly grin.

To Be Continued…