This story was first written and published between 2001 and 2003 on the Tribeworld/Eyeboard forums. It was a co-written effort between me and Jianna aka TribalFreakForever. It took over 18 months to write and has lain on my hard drive(s) for the past 10 years, untouched and unseen until I decided that it was a shame for it to be hidden away. It's really rough around the edges compared to other stuff I've written, but it's still a good story and it brought back a lot of memories for me when I opened it up. Therefore I'm sure that if you read this way back when and you're re-discovering it after all that time I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.

The story is based loosely on some of the storylines that took place in the Aaron Spelling soap Sunset Beach and features all characters from the Cloud9 show The Tribe. This was written when The Tribe was in it's heyday and it was one of the first fanfictions that I wrote. It give me a twelve year writers block too. Anyhoo, all of the characters and situations in this story are completely fictitious and any similarities to persons either dead or alive are purely coincidental. All characters other than one or two originals who make brief appearances remain the property of Cloud9 Entertainment.

Prologue

A warm southern wind slowly travelled down the dark and deserted country road, stirring up dust and other long-forgotten particles in its wake. The pale full moon shone softly through the dark clouds that had rolled over it, blocking out the millions of twinkling stars that were desperately trying to shine through.

Amber Stevens, eighteen-years-old and a recent high school graduate, let out a heavy sigh as she stared up at the night sky above. It was such a beautiful night and she could already feel the stirring in her soul, telling her to leave the house and dance in the tall lush fields under the moonlight barefoot.

"Amber, you'll catch your death of cold if you linger by the window all night." Trudy Taylor, Amber's best friend since before she could walk, let out a small laugh from her position on Amber's large canopy bed. "And we couldn't have Bray's bride sniffling and sneezing on her wedding day."

Amber blushed a little and stepped away from the window. It wasn't very cold, though summer was quickly losing its battle to autumn and there was a bit of a nip in the air. "Alright." She murmured, closing her curtains and turning to face Trudy who was in the process of braiding her waist-length curtain of long chocolate brown hair.

"What's wrong, Amber? You look so…" Trudy paused, searching for the right word as she studied her best friend's face carefully. "So sad. Are you getting cold feet?"

Amber frowned, looking down at her slipper-clad feet. "No." Amber shook her head, feeling her long golden blonde hairbrush against her neck as she did so. "It's just, well, marriage is so permanent. It's a bit scary."

"Gawd, Amber," Trudy rolled her eyes, tossing back her mane of long hair. "You are so dramatic. You and Bray have to get married. You two have been together since freshman year. Besides, it's not like you couldn't get a divorce or something if things don't work out."

"Yeah, I know, it's just well…" Amber trailed off, a longing look in her eyes. She had dreamed of her wedding day for as long as she could remember, always holding it up in an almost magical romantic moment. However, her wedding day - just two days away now - was not yet living up to those inner fantasies she had always held.

"C'mon, Amber. Tonight is supposed to be our girl's night." Trudy leaped off the bed, her freshly painted toenails poking out from under her long flannel pyjamas. "Let's log on and see if there's anyone interesting on."

Amber made a face, but agreed to Trudy's suggestion. She followed Trudy over to her desk and silently turned on her computer, waiting for her log on screen to pull up. Moments later she was typing in her password then connecting to the 'net. She momentarily wondered if he would be on, but quickly dismissed the thought. He was never on this time of night.

He couldn't sleep, but that wasn't uncommon anymore. His thoughts were filled with her. Her sweet voice, soft skin, mesmerizing eyes, and beautiful hair - how he missed her so. She visited him always in his dreams, but that wasn't the same. He needed her. He needed her in real life.

Letting out a heavy sigh he pushed back his thick comforter and rose from his bed. He strode over to his laptop and flipped it on. Seconds later he was connected to the 'net. He navigated over to his favourite chat room and waited, hoping that by some small miracle she, not her, but she would appear.

Amber's heart fluttered. He was on. She glanced sideways over at Trudy to see if her best friend had noticed, but Trudy was busy flipping through an old photo album that Amber had set on her desk of their high school days.

"This is such a cute picture of you two." Trudy gushed, holding the album open to an image that had been captured on the night of Amber's junior prom. Bray had graduated the year before, but she had been able to convince him to prom with her - after all, she had gone to his.

"Wow. That feels such a long time ago." Amber stared at the picture, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. She reached for the album and ran her finger over Bray's face. He looked so young there - and that was less than two years before.

Trudy smirked a little, a strange expression on her face as she too studied Bray's fine features. "You guys broke up that night didn't you?"

Amber nodded, clearly remembering the argument she had had with Bray. He had gotten so upset with her for dancing with one of her friends that he had forbidden her from ever talking to him again. Of course Amber had told him he was being a jealous freak and somehow that led them to breaking up for nearly three weeks.

Amber snapped the photo album shut, pushing the not so fond memories to the shadows of her mind. "Enough with the past, Tru," Amber muttered, turning her attention back to the computer screen. "Let's focus on the present."

"And the future," Trudy winked. "Mrs. Fielding."

"Not yet." Amber pursed her lips, correcting Trudy. "Not till day after tomorrow."
Trudy nodded, her dark brow eyes glowing with a strange light. "Day after tomorrow." She echoed.