Ignoring Angelo's sulky face i start to say goodbye to everyone. I need to leave now if i am going to be there before dark. Plus i have to pass through the apartment to get my things first.

"C'mon, let's go" I say to Angelo, when i am done saying goodbye.

"I just arrived." He mutters, stalling.

"Ok, Marco can you give me a lift back to the apartment please?" I ask, as i turn to face him.

Marco looks at Angelo instead, who turns to glare back at him.

"Sure, no problem" Marco grins at Angelo, then at me.

Angelo huffs in annoyance, then stands up. He walks to the car and i take that as my cue to follow. I turn back and wave at the kids one last time.

"What about the kids?" I asks as he stands aside after opening the door for me.

I don't know who brought them here because they were already here when i arrived with Marco who came to pick me up. He was with Aaron at the time, but he left shortly after arriving.

"Someone is on their way to pick them up and take them home." He says getting comfortable in the car besides me, his face a complete scowl.

"Stop making me feel so bad...." I say to him.

Instead of starting the car he turns to me.

"I thought you'ld want to spend some time together after how crazy it has been lately." He says heatedly to me.

"I do. But i didn't even know you would coming back home today" I say in defence.

"You also didn't have plans to travel today either." He rebuttals.

"It just came up. And i am trying to accommodate everyone" I murmur.

" You didn't even tell me you had plans to go to Milford this weekend"

"Because we haven't had proper time to talk recently"

"Exactly my point. Baby, if you really must go, can't you wait one night. I was really looking forward to finally spending some time with you today. Please, just one night" He murmurs softly, taking my hand.

"I already promised Jaden and Mom i would go today."

When i called Mom to tell her about the new development, she suggested i stop by any day before the trip even if it's only for one day, and i told her i would go tomorrow. But then insisted to talk to me and he said he had a gig over the weekend that he was really looking forward to having me attend, but since i can't come, he has another one tonight that he would like for me to attend instead.

So i said yes.

I explain that to Angelo and he sighs in defeat and starts the car.

When we arrive at the apartment, i quickly rush upstairs so i can pack some clothes, as Angelo follows slowly behind me.

I open the bedroom door and the sight that befalls me surprises me.

The bedroom floor as well as the bed is covered in flower petals. On the bed there is also a very nice flower arrangement done on top, and at the center, is a nicely wrapped gift bag.

I stand staring at the rest of the room which has unlit candles everywhere, that i am sure he planned to light up later tonight.

"I thought that maybe you and i could have a special evening tonight, in respect of everything that's happened lately." Angelo murmurs, as he comes to stand behind me.

"You did this?" I turn to face him.

"It probably looks ridiculous now, just forgot it" his hand rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably.

Angelo is a practical guy, through and through. Some of the things he does, like opening doors, buying expensive gifts, etc, though they may seem romantic, he does them cause it's what he feels is expected of him as a gentleman. I guess maybe he was raised that way too and i don't think he puts much thought to his actions.

But this here, this is him trying to be romantic and i can tell how awkward it's making him feel.

"It's perfect" I whisper, turning to look around, then i look at him again.

He blushes.

Ohh my poor baby.

"I am sorry..I wish i ......"

"It's ok... you didn't know....go on, you have a plane to catch" he murmurs, gently pushing me towards the closet.

I feel bad.

Like really really bad that my stomach is in knots. He must have come home much earlier and put in alot of effort to create a romantic evening for us. Maybe he is even the one that got Marco to pick me up so he could have the place to himself to do this.

Oh man!

If it is was just mom, i would have cancelled for sure, but i promised Jade i would be there.

After packing some clothes and some other stuff in a carry on bag, i walk back into the bedroom to find Angelo removing the flowers from the bed.

My heart shatters at the sight.

Then i see the gift bag in the middle of the bed and reach for it.

But before i can take it, Angelo pulls me away from it.

"No...you can only open that later, when we have time" he says.

"Why?" My curiosity at it's content peaks.

"It's a surprise" he murmurs.

"But....."

"I'll give it to you later." He smiles.

"When?"

"When you have time" he replies and walks around me to pick it up and takes it to the closet.

He walks back into the room while putting on a pair off dark jeans in place of his shorts, to find me sitting on the bed.

I watch him dress up, his fingers pulling the zipper up and then he starts to do the button at the waist but then he stops.

"Are you looking for something?"he asks corkily.

"Yes" I whisper and blush in response to getting caught gawking.

He is just so fine, and i miss what's inside those jeans.

He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the dressing table.

"You look very sexy when you are dressing up" I admit, hoping to lighten up the mood.

It works because he laughs.

"Do i" he whispers, coming to stand infront of me and looking down at me. He lifts the bottom of his shirt up, exposing his stomach and unbuttoned jeans.

He is so close i can feel the heat from his body, his scent feels like an afrodiasiac and the view of his body up close is amazing.

I look up at him.

"I need help with the button and belt." he whispers looking down.

Instead, i hook my fingers in the loops of his jeans and lean closer, and kiss the spot just below his bellow button.

He sucks in a breath, his hand touching the side of my face.

"I miss the view the shorts where giving" I say, looking up.

Truthfully, i did enjoy watching the muscles in his legs everytime he moved.

I kiss his stomach again.

"Oh yeah?" He clears his throat.

"You can have whatever view of my body you want and then soon, i am all yours." He murmurs.

"The button!" He utters, when place another kiss on him.

"Right" I bite my lip and finally button the damn thing, doing the belt too. He drops his shirt and tilts my head back.

"Let's go. Having you in this position this close is torture, if you are just going to be a tease. he murmurs, pecking my lips softly.

"I will do whatever you want....later" I stand up.

"I will hold you to that" he kisses me again, but more intimately.

*

We drive to the airport with Eli. At this time of the day, it's quite busy, and we walk in together though not quite so 'together'. We mostly walk with Eli ahead of us with my bag and Angelo slightly behind me.

As we move around, i can't help but notice family, friends and lovers, hugging and kissing each each goodbye or hello, and it just reminds me of the unconventional relationship Angelo and i current share.

We still haven't discussed the annulment and quite frankly, i don't see the need to push that subject anymore. I guess knowing the status of that situation won't change anything seeing that we are pretty much together again. I asso realise if i am going to be with him, i have to be in it wholeheartedly and hence will just have to be patient and trust him enough to sort that out swiftly.

"Hey" Angelo utters, gently pushing me forward in a different direction.

"Sorry" I mumble, noticing that i was so absentmind that i was stalling.

As we go up the escalator, i try to be in the present, but then i notice on the other side of the steps, moving in the opposite direction, is a couple holding and teasing each other. They look happy and carefree and i smile slightly at them.

Angelo is a step or two below me, but he must have noticed me staring, because i feel him move closer behind me and brush my fingers with his. I look back and offer him a small smile before looking away again.

I know he is trying his best but it's what it is.

My flight takes off at 3:40pm, so we only a couple of minutes before i board the plane. As we walk towards the check in point, Angelo stops to talk to someone he has recognized. Leaving him to talk in peace, i walk ahead of him towards the check in point and linger there to wait for him when i recognize someone of my own, and it's no other than, Shane Collins, Eric's father.

"Mary!" He murmurs, when he sees me.

"Mr Collins" I utter, knowing how it annoys him when i address him formally.

He smirks instead and steps closer, then proceeds to wrap his arms around my waist as he hugs me, taking me by surprise. His hand lingers on my lower back and i swear i feel his fingers brush my ass a little bit.

I step back and look around and find that Angelo is watching us. He didn't miss a thing.

"Going somewhere?" He asks and i turn back.

"Yeah, huh, Milford" I say, already walking in the direction of where i should be going.

"Well, will you look at that, So am i. I have some business to take care of there. It's good to see you Mary" he smiles and steps closer.

Then he proceeds to look me up and down appreciatively and smiles wider when he meets my disapproving eye.

"I love the casual look, it suits you. I am glad we met, i guess destiny has a plan for us, don't you think?" He utters, placing his hand below my elbow.

Before i can respond, i feel an arm wrap around my waist, drawing me back and into a warm hard body.

Shane Collins looks up in surprise at the stranger who dares to hold me so possessively. I don't, already knowing who it is.

Angelo's other arm comes to rub my arm up and down.

From his actions, it's safe to say we are throwing caution to the wind now huh?

"Hey" I murmur, finally looking up at him.

"Hai" he responds, kissing the side of my head.

Shane clears his throat, not wanting to be ignored.

"Babe, are you not going to introduce us?" Angelo asks softly.

"This is Shane Collins, he is a member of the school board" I say when the two men finally make eye contact.

Shane extends his hand which Angelo reluctantly takes.

"Collins?" He repeats but looks at me instead and i nod confirming the hidden question about his relation to Eric.

"Angelo Morreli" he introduces himself.

"Morreli? Morreli the lawyer right?" The older man asks thoughtfully.

"Yeah"

"Oh yes, small world, we have met before actually, at the UTL convention last year" Shane utters.

"I am sorry i don't remember" Angelo replies, rubbing my arm again.

Shane follows Angelo's action then looks at me and smiles.

The man is incorrigible.

"Well, shall we? don't want to miss our flight now do we?" He murmurs and winks at me.

I feel the tetestorone build up in the air as male egos clash, making me want to roll my eyes.

And true enough, Angelo's arm tightens around my waist and his breathing gets heavier.

"He is going to Milford too." I explain, as i look up to find his eyes dark, his face serious and drilling holes into the side of Shane's face before refocusing his gaze on me again.

I don't know why, but i want to laugh, really hard. The jealous look on Angelo's face is epic.

My lips twitch as i hold back a chuckle and Angelo catches it, before his eyebrow goes up.

"Ok, call me when you settle." He says.

"Ok" I reply, my smile getting wider by the minute before i turn away from him.

Shane steps aside to allow me to pass, but before i can take a step further, Angelo not wanting to be outdone obviously, turns me around, and stealing my smile with a hard and passionate kiss, his hand moves to the back of my head, the other on my lower back, living no doubt as to the nature of our relationship.

His tongue pushes between my lips and i allow him to kiss me the way he wants.

When he pulls back, my cheeks are covered in a deep blush, and i take a quick gasp of air. He thumb rubs my lower lip before stepping aside and immediately Eli steps closer.

"Take care of her" he says to him hoarsely, his eyes not leaving mine, this time his lips curl up in triumph, having had the last 'word' so to speak.

"Ofcourse" Eli replies and stretches his arm indicating for me to go ahead of him.

As i turn away, i focus my attention on the lady at the checkin point who smiles at me widely in return having been an obvious witness to our PDA.

I guess she thinks the action was a sweet gesture, much like i did the couple at the escalators.

As i walk, i don't dare to look back at him incase he does something crazy again.

Then all of a sudden i decide to do sometime totally crazy of my own.

I turn back and almost run to him.

Angelo is right where i left him, watching me leave.

His eyes sparkle when he sees me coming and opens his arms when i get closer.

I kiss his lovingly, giving my all to him, as his holds me up with his arms wrapped around my upper thighs.

"I love you" I whisper, as i get back on my feet.

"I love you more angel" he whispers back.

*

On the plane, Shane Collins sits a couple of sits infront of me as the plane takes off and as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off. I see him stand and walk towards me.

Eli clears his throat behind.

"It's ok" I murmur, knowing he is asking if he should interfere.

Shane Collins comes and sits adjacent to me.

"Well, that was quite a surprise young Mary.....but it explains the expensive car the other day" he murmurs, not even looking at me as he speaks.

The business section is almost empty and i assume it's because not alot of people travel to Milford, it being a quiet small town. I wonder what business Shane has got there though.

"What?" I ask, after i snap back to reality, when i find him looking at me expectantly.

"I was begining to think you were unattainable, but i guess not, right?" He says.

"What do you want, Shane" I sigh.

He smiles at the mention of his name, tilting his head sideways, closer to me and this time Eli clears his throat more aggressively, causing Shane to look back at him and then straightening up in his seat again.

"What i want? But that is very obvious Mary....and i think i was there long before Morreli showed up no? but everything has it's time right, and you will find that i can be a very patient man" He murmurs then stands up.

"It's a crazy world after all, who knows what will happen tomorrow." he winks before walking back to his seat.

I am not even sure how to respond or feel about his comments.

The apple certainly didn't fall far from the tree.

I turn to look at Eli who witnessed the whole exchange and find that much like Angelo earlier, he is staring daggers into Shane Collins back and i smile at the sight.

*

Despite missing her immensely, i find that i am able to use the few days of her absence productively in a way that i would not have been able to if she had been here, and i realise her trip has worked out for the better, because this way, i am.more focused and able to make sure i leave everything in order to cover the two weeks absence i intend to take.

Dad is also doing better everyday, which means i can be able to wholeheartedly devote myself to the vacation..so unless it's an emergency or absolutely necessary, i have made it clear i should not be disturbed in the next two weeks.

Today is Friday and our flight is scheduled to take off at 8:15pm tonight, which leaves me enough time to run a few last minute personal errands before leaving.

However, my phone has been ringing non stop with people needing my attention in anticipation of my impending leave from work.

Driving, through the traffic to my family home, my phone rings immediately i get off another call.

"This better be the last i hear from you for the next couple of days" I mutter to the car bluetooth speaker.

"Well you are not exactly my cup of tea yourself" Kyan grumbles from the other side of the connection.

"What's up?"

"You apparently. I don't know why i should bother cleaning up your mess if you are just going to do it again." He mutters.

"Speak English, what are you talking about?" I ask, turning a corner on the road.

" You and Marianne making out at the airport, like what the hell man, i thought you agreed to cut the PDA" he grunts.

I smile in response, then my smile turns into a chuckle.

Trust Kyan to be on top of his game. I respect his work, he is always on top of things. He has 'guy' as he puts it, at most media companies that lets him know things before they are told to the public. In my line of work, i have a several contacts that feeds me such information, but Kyan by far is the most efficient, i don't know how he does it sometimes.

"Can't people mind their fucking business for once" I chuckle.

"This is serious Angelo. Clint came by some pictures which he held off from publishing because he thought i would be interested and waited for me to get back in town, and guess what? you two look even more cozied up than the last time. You were hugging, kissing and li....." He explains.

"Yeah yeah, i know, i was there, no need to remind me" I cut him off.

"You sound relaxed about this"

"I am"

"So, what do you want me to do?" He asks.

"Nothing"

"Nothing? You sure?" He asks.

"Yeah"

"Ok. I thought as much...."

"Let me know how it goes, or if anything changes?" I inform him.

"Just read the papers tomorrow or something.... "

I laugh.

"What time do you guys leave?"

"Tonight"

"Alright, enjoy your break man."

" I will, if you don't call me with anymore news like this"

"Well, try not to do anything careless, but i can see you don't care anymore right"

" No. I. don't." I chuckle.

"Ok, i got to go and talk to my guy, he thought he would be receiving a big fat check to make this go away" he groans.

"Not this time.... Thanks for the heads up, but let's just roll with it. It will blow up, but when the dust clears, everything would have fallen into place and we will take it from there." I say.

"Sharp. Bye"

"Bye"

*

After spending some time at home and making sure everything is ok with dad, i head back home knowing Marianne will be there by now.

Seline is around too and has been helping to pack Marianne's things.

"Good afternoon Mr Morreli" she murmurs, when she sees.

"Afternoon Seline.....Is Marianne back?" I ask rhetorically.

"Oh yes..upstairs, but she is not feeling very well i am afraid." She says, looking at me regrettably.

I don't respond, but just rush upstairs.

Marianne is lying in the bed, half curled up into a ball. I sit down next to her.

"Hey, what's wrong" I ask, trying to feel her body temperature, which feels warm, come to think of it, it's been warm alot lately.